Transporting apparatus and transporting method for container-handling installation, and container-handling installation with such a transporting apparatus

A transport unit for transporting containers, the transport unit comprising:

• a transport path between a first container treatment apparatus and a second container treatment apparatus, and along which containers can be transported from the first container treatment apparatus to the second container treatment apparatus, wherein:
• the first container treatment apparatus treats the containers;
• and
• the second container treatment apparatus is disposed downstream of the first treatment apparatus, and the second container treatment apparatus treats the containers following a treatment by the first container treatment apparatus;
• and
• at least one transport member movably mounted on the transport path for holding and transporting a container,
• wherein the at least one transport member is controlled separately from the transport path, wherein control of the at least one transport member occurs by an electronic control device so that a speed of the at least one transport member along the transport path corresponds to tangential speeds of the first container treatment apparatus and the second container treatment apparatus, wherein the at least one transport member runs through the electronic control device in a controlled manner along the transport path and is accelerated or decelerated, and
• wherein the transport path and the at least one transport member are structured and arranged such that the at least one transport member is capable, at least at times, of compensating, by varying a velocity of the transport member in a direction of the transport path,
• on its path between the first and second container treatment apparatus a difference in transport speed of the containers in the first and second container treatment apparatus.

A method for transporting containers the method comprising:

• transporting the containers along a transport path arranged between a first container treatment apparatus and a second container treatment apparatus using at least one transport member movable along the transport path and that can hold a container, wherein the at least one transport member is one of a plurality of transport members, the movements of which are controllable independently from movement of the transport path, wherein:
• the first container treatment apparatus treats the containers;
• and
• the second container treatment apparatus is disposed downstream of the first treatment apparatus, and the second container treatment apparatus treats the containers following a treatment by the first container treatment apparatus;
• and
• compensating a difference in transport speed of the containers in the first container treatment apparatus and the second container treatment apparatus on the path of the at least one transport member between the first and second container treatment apparatus by varying a velocity of the at least one transport member in a direction along the transport path.