Adjustable container handling device for handling containers, such as beverage bottles

A rotary container transport device comprising:

• a turntable being rotatable about a machine axis;
• said turntable comprising a plurality of container pockets disposed about the periphery of said turntable, and being configured to receive and hold containers;
• said turntable comprising a first format part and a second format part, disposed one above the other, each of which comprises a plurality of pocket openings disposed about the periphery thereof;
• each of said container pockets being formed by a pair of said pocket openings, one from each of said format parts;
• at least one of said first and second format parts being rotatable with respect to the other;
• said first format part comprising a first control element, and said second format part comprising a second control element;
• said first and second control elements being disposed one above the other and being oriented at a transverse angle or curvature with respect to a radius of said machine axis;
• an adjustment element being configured and disposed to engage both said first and second control elements;
• and
• an actuation element being configured and disposed to move said adjustment element in a radial direction to thereby engage said first and second control elements and cause a rotational movement of at least one of said first and second format parts, to thereby adjust the relative position of said pocket openings, and to thereby adjust the width and/or depth of said container pockets.

A method of transporting containers using a rotary container transport device comprising a turntable, which turntable comprises first and second format parts are disposed one above the other and each comprises a plurality of pocket openings disposed about the periphery thereof, said method comprising the steps of:

• positioning said first format part and said second format part with respect to one another, and thereby forming a plurality of container pockets from pairs of said pocket openings;
• receiving and holding containers of a first body size with said plurality of container pockets;
• moving said containers by rotating said turntable about a machine axis;
• actuating an actuation element and thereby moving an adjustment element in a radial direction;
• engaging, with said adjustment element, both a first control element of said first format part and a second control element of said second format part, which control elements are disposed one above the other and are oriented at a transverse angle or curvature with respect to a radius of said machine axis;
• causing a relative rotational movement of said first and second format parts, and thereby adjusting the relative position of said pocket openings, and thereby adjusting the width and/or depth of said container pockets to form different-sized container pockets;
• and
• receiving and holding containers of a second body size different from said first body size with said plurality of different-sized container pockets.