Container processing machine and method for operating a container processing machine

An apparatus for container processing, said apparatus comprising a container-processing machine, wherein said container-processing machine comprises a rotor configured to be driven to rotate about a vertical machine axis thereof, a first transfer station, a first lifting element, a drive associated with said lifting element, and a plurality of processing positions formed on said rotor, each of which comprises a processing head and a container carrier, wherein said first lifting element is a static lifting element that is used by all of said processing positions, wherein, when said processing position is at said first transfer station, said first lifting element is configured to cause relative motion between a container carrier and a processing head of said processing position, wherein said relative motion causes causing a transition of said processing position between a receiving state, and a discharge state, wherein, in said receiving state, said processing position is prepared to receive a container to be processed, wherein in said discharge state, said processing position is prepared to discharge a processed container, wherein containers to be processed are transferred to said first processing position at said first transfer station, and wherein containers that have been processed are transferred from said first processing position at said first transfer station.

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a transfer device that transfers containers to processing positions and that removes containers from said processing positions.

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rotor is configured to be driven cyclically.

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first static lifting element is the only static lifting element in the container-processing machine.

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second transfer station, wherein said first lifting element serves both said first transfer station and said second transfer station.

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second transfer station and a second lifting element, wherein said first lifting element serves said first transfer station and said second lifting element serves said second transfer station.

A method for operating a container-processing machine comprising a rotor configured to be driven to rotate about a vertical machine axis thereof and having processing stations formed thereon, each of which comprises a processing head and a container carrier, a static lifting element, and its associated drive, that is used by all of said processing stations, and a transfer station, said method comprising causing said rotor to bring a processing position to said transfer station, and, using said lifting element, causing relative movement between a processing head and a container carrier of said processing station.