Patent ID: 8627945
Filing Date: 2014-01-14
Classification: B65C

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for treating containers said apparatus comprising a container treatment machine having a rotor, a plurality of treatment positions, a plurality of clamping and/or centering units, and a plurality of autonomous and/or individually controllable motorized actuating elements, wherein said plurality of clamping and/or centering units comprises at least a first clamping and/or centering unit and a second clamping and/or centering unit, wherein said plurality of autonomous and/or individually controllable motorized actuating elements comprises at least a first autonomous and/or individually controllable motorized actuating element and a second autonomous and/or individually controllable motorized actuating element, wherein said rotor is drivable to rotate about a vertical machine axis of said container treatment machine, wherein each of said treatment positions comprises at least one container carrier, wherein said first clamping and/or centering unit is movable, under control of said first autonomous and/or individually controllable motorized actuating element, between a first position and a second position, wherein said first autonomous and/or individually controllable motorized actuating element causes said first clamping and/or centering unit to move between said first position and said second position, wherein, when said first clamping and/or centering unit is in said second position, said first individually controllable motorized actuating element causes said first clamping and/or centering unit to apply a first preselected clamping force to said first container, said first preselected clamping force being independent of said first container height, wherein, in said second position, said first clamping and/or centering unit engages a first container having a first container height, and wherein in said first position, said first clamping and/or centering unit disengages from said first container, wherein said second clamping and/or centering unit is movable, under control of said second autonomous and/or individually controllable motorized actuating element, between a first position and a second position, wherein in said second position said second clamping and/or centering unit engages a second container having a second container height, and wherein in said first position, said second clamping and/or centering unit disengages from said second container, wherein said second autonomous and/or individually controllable motorized actuating element causes said second clamping and/or centering unit to move between said first position and said second position independently of movement of said first clamping and/or centering unit, and wherein, when said second clamping and/or centering unit is in said second position, said second individually controllable motorized actuating element causes said second clamping and/or centering unit to apply a second preselected clamping force to said second container, said first preselected clamping force being independent of said second container height, and wherein said second preselected clamping force is independent of said first preselected clamping force.