Abstract:
A formatting part for guiding containers in a container treatment installation includes first and second formatting part elements spaced apart along a first direction with an adjustable gap between them. Adjusting the gap between them causes a container guide rail to move an and out along a second direction perpendicular to the first to permit adjustment for different kinds of bottles.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the national stage, under 35 USC 371, of international application PCT/EP2014/001079, filed on Apr. 19, 2014, which claims the benefit of the May 27, 2013 priority date of German application DE 10 2013 105 431.5, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The invention relates container-treatment installations, and in particular, to guiding containers through such installations. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Container treatment installations comprise guide elements that are arranged to guide the containers through the installation. In most cases, the guide units will guide the containers through the installation from one processing station to the next. For example, a guide unit might guide a container from a filling station to a labeling station. These guide units are generally customized to the container being guided. In particular, the guide unit accommodates such container characteristics as container shape, weight, and/or size. 
     Since a container-treatment installation would be expected to handle different containers, the container guide must be arranged to match the different container sizes, the most significant being container height and the container diameter. For example, the ideal contact point between a container guide and a short bottle is perceptibly lower than the corresponding ideal contact point on a tall bottle. One way to achieve this is to have interchangeable parts. 
     Storing different parts for different containers is burdensome because one must acquire and store so many different parts. In addition, the labor associated with exchanging parts is time-consuming. This results in machine down-time and lost production. 
     SUMMARY 
     An object of the invention is that of providing a formatting-part with which different container sizes can be reliably guided through a container-treatment installation. 
     In one aspect, the invention features an apparatus for guiding containers in a container-treatment installation. Such an apparatus includes a formatting-part having first and second formatting-part-elements that are separated from each other along a first direction so that the separation defines a gap having an adjustable gap width. These formatting-part-elements connect to a guide-device that is configured so that adjusting the gap width adjusts a container guide-rail along a direction perpendicular to the first direction. A first joint-element connects the first joint-carrier to the first formatting-part-element and a second joint-element connects the second joint-carrier to the second formatting-part-element. Both joint-carriers connect to the connection-joint in a jointed fashion so that they can articulate about the connection-joint. 
     Some embodiments include a third formatting-part-element and a second guide-device. In these embodiments, the third formatting-part-element is separated from the second formatting-part-element by a second gap that also has an adjustable width. The second guide-device connects to the second formatting-part-element and also to the third formatting-part-element. 
     Other embodiments include a third formatting-part-element separated from the second formatting-part-element by a second gap that also has an adjustable width. In these embodiments, the third joint-element connects the second formatting-part-element to the third joint-carrier, and the fourth joint-element connects the third formatting-part-element to the fourth joint-carrier. Both the third and fourth joint-carriers are connected in jointed fashion to the second connection-joint so that they can articulate about the second connection-joint. 
     Other embodiments include a third joint-carrier that is parallel to the first joint-carrier, and a fourth joint-carrier that is parallel to the second joint-carrier. 
     In yet other embodiments, the first connection-joint comprises a rail carrier for guiding the first container-guide-rail. 
     Also among the embodiments are those that have first and second rail-carriers and a second container-guide-rail. In these embodiments, the first connection-joint comprises the first and second first rail-carriers that guide the first and second container-guide-rails respectively. 
     Other embodiments include those in which first and second rail-carriers are arranged in a horizontal plane with a spatial interval therebetween. In these embodiments, the first container-guide-rail is arranged in a displaceable manner in the first and second rail-carriers. 
     Also among the embodiments are those in which the first guide-device is narrower in a middle region opposite a connection region of the first guide-device at the first formatting-part-element. 
     In another aspect, a formatting-part for the guiding of containers in a container-treatment installation includes parallel first and second formatting-parts separated from each other by an adjustable gap. The term “adjustable” is understood to mean that the extent of the gap between the formatting-parts can be changed without having to dismantle them. Throughout this specification, the term “perpendicular spacing” shall be construed to mean the extent of this gap. 
     The formatting-part elements, which form the formatting-part, are arranged one above the other in a manner analogous to building stories. The gap separates the two planes occupied by the two formatting-part elements. The extent of this gap depends on the bottle size that is to be transported. 
     Because the gap is adjustable, one formatting-part can be used for a plurality of different containers with different sizes and shapes. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the time-consuming exchange of parts that delayed the changeover of a container-processing machine to accommodate different elements. 
     In some embodiments, adjustment of the formatting-parts in relation to one another can be carried out with a mechanical drive, such as a spindle drive, or by an electrical, pneumatic, or hydraulic drive. In addition, it can be carried out manually. For example, by turning a crank. 
     According to a further embodiment of the invention, the formatting-part includes a guide-device connected to the first and second formatting-part elements. The guide-device guides containers using a container guide-rail that is adjustable along a direction that is transverse to the perpendicular spacing of the formatting-part elements. 
     Also among the embodiments are those in which a container guide-rail adjusts in and out along a radial direction, with the adjustment being a function of the type of container to be guided. 
     Also among the embodiments are those in which various actuating devices can be used to change the perpendicular spacing between the formatting-parts. These actuating devices include a hand crank, an electrically powered actuator, and a pneumatically powered actuator. 
     The guide-device is arranged in such a way that at least sections of it project over an outer edge of the formatting-part elements or over an edge of the formatting-part. 
     In some embodiments, the container guide-rail&#39;s direction of movement is perpendicular to the direction in which the two formatting-part elements move. In other embodiments, the container guide-rail&#39;s direction of movement is 90 degrees relative to the direction in which the two formatting-part elements move. In other embodiments, in response to a change in the perpendicular spacing, the container guide-rail undergoes a movement transverse to the perpendicular spacing of the formatting-part elements. And in yet other embodiments, the container guide-rail moves in a direction that is orthogonal to the direction in which the two formatting-part elements move. 
     The container guide-rail is therefore movable along a horizontal plane of the container-treatment installation, while the formatting-part elements are adjustable along a vertical plane of the container-treatment installation. The adjustability of the container guide-rail allows the formatting-part to easily adjust to different container thicknesses. As a result, only one formatting-part is needed to guide containers with different diameters. 
     In some embodiments, the guide unit is arranged so that adjusting the perpendicular spacing between the formatting-part elements simultaneously adjusts the container guide-rail. 
     In other embodiments, a coupling exists between the movement transverse to the perpendicular spacing and movement along the perpendicular spacing. Among these embodiments are those in which the container guide-rail moves toward the outer edge of the formatting-part when the spacing increases and moves the other way as the spacing decreases. 
     Embodiments include those in which the guide-device has two jointed elements and a connection-joint. Some of these embodiments use conventional joint or hinge elements both for the joint-elements as well as for the connection-joint. Other embodiments use film hinges. 
     In some embodiments, the container guide-rail&#39;s direction of movement is normal to the direction in which the two formatting-part elements move. In other embodiments, the container guide-rail moves in a direction that is transverse to the direction in which the two formatting-part elements move. 
     According to a further embodiment of the invention, the guide-device comprises two joint-carriers. A first joint-element arranged at the first joint-carrier connects to the first formatting-part element, a second joint-element arranged at the second joint-carrier connects to the second formatting-part element, and the first and second joint-carriers connect in a jointed or articulating fashion to the connection-joint. 
     Embodiments include those in which a joint&#39;s basic body has two movable joint or hinge connections. In these embodiments, a first jointed connection is formed at the connection-joint with the first joint-carrier, and a second jointed connection is formed with the second joint-carrier. 
     In some embodiments, the connection-joint is a container guide-rail. In others, the connection-joint engages the container guide-rail. In either case, the result is that bottles are guided through the container-treatment installation using the connection-joint or the container guide-rail arranged at the connection-joint. 
     The three-jointed guide-device is simple to construct and user-friendly. It also makes it possible to simultaneously adjust the two formatting-parts in relation to one another, and to thus adjust the distance from the container guide-rail to the outer edge of the formatting-part. 
     With particularly tall containers, it may be necessary to arrange two or more container guide-rails against the container&#39;s side to more securely support the container. To achieve this, some embodiments feature a third formatting-part element separated from the second formatting-part element, and a second guide-device connected to the second and third formatting-part elements. The perpendicular spacing between the second and third formatting-part element is adjustable. 
     The third formatting-part element can be arranged in relation to the second formatting-part element in the same way that the second formatting-part element is arranged in relation to the first formatting-part element. The first, second, and third formatting-part elements are therefore arranged one on top of the other in the form of building stories. In particular, the three formatting-part elements would define a structure not unlike a two-story building in which the floor-to-ceiling heights of each story are adjustable. 
     The adjustability of the third formatting-part element can either depend or be independent of the adjustability between the first and second formatting-part elements. It is therefore possible, for example, for the adjustment of the second and third formatting-part elements to be carried out by a common adjustment device. It is also possible to have a separate adjustment device for each adjustable spacing interval. In such a case, the space between the first and the second formatting-part elements can be different from the space between the second and third formatting-part elements. 
     In some embodiments, the second guide-device is arranged so that it corresponds to the first guide-device and thus does whatever the first guide-device does. In this embodiment, the second guide-device, like the first, is adjustable in a direction that is perpendicular to the a plane defined by the second and third formatting-part elements. 
     In other embodiments, the second guide-device is arranged to be adjusted independently of the adjustability of the first guide-device. These embodiments are useful to accommodate bottles whose shape is such that the bottle&#39;s diameter varies as a function of location along the bottle&#39;s axis. For example, a bottle with a narrow neck has a wide diameter at its belly but a narrower diameter as one approaches the neck. When the two guide-devices are independently adjustable, it is possible to move one guide device further towards the bottle&#39;s axis to engage the neck or shoulder while leaving the other guide device further from the bottle&#39;s axis so that it can engage the wider belly. 
     A particularly simple, economical, and low-maintenance formatting-part has a second guide-device that has, in addition to the first and second joint-carriers, a third joint-carrier connected to the second formatting-part element with a third joint-element, and a fourth joint-carrier connected with a fourth joint-element to the third formatting-part element. The third and fourth joint-carriers connect in jointed fashion to the second connection-joint. 
     The second guide-device can therefore be arranged in a manner corresponding to the first guide-device. Because the same parts are used, this embodiment is particularly economical for manufacturers since fewer kinds of parts need to maintained in inventory, and also for the users of the container-treatment installation who need to maintain a spare-parts inventory with fewer species of parts. 
     In order to achieve a particularly reliable container guide arrangement, in particular one that has to guide heavy bottles, such as glass bottles, it is useful to provide a guide-device in which each joint-carrier has another joint-carrier parallel to it. This results in the formation of a pair of a parallelograms in which a pair of parallel sides is formed by a pair of parallel joint-carriers. The four corner angles of each parallelogram are a function of the spacing between the formatting-part elements. 
     To further improve the container guide system, there are embodiments with two or more rail carriers that are spaced apart from one another for guiding a container guide-rail. The rail carriers are spaced apart to form a gap therebetween such that two guide points engage a container at two different points along the axis of the container. This configuration achieves particularly high guide stability, especially when guiding heavy bottles, or when guiding containers through areas where guidance is difficult and precision movement of the bottles is necessary. 
     In some embodiments, the connection-joint has plural vertically spaced rail carriers extending longitudinally, i.e. in a perpendicular direction. In those embodiments that have joint-carriers arranged in parallelogram form, the connection-joint can also be formed so that it is shaped like a box. 
     Regardless of whether container transport is linear or rotational, a plurality of rail carriers can be arranged horizontally next to one another. As a result, a rail-type container guide-rail, along which the containers slide can be inserted into the rail carrier. 
     When the bottles have to go around a curve, the path&#39;s radius of curvature changes. This change is noticeable particularly with wider bottles. This means that the length of the container guide-rail must be adjusted according to the position of the rail carriers. Accordingly, in some embodiments, a plurality of rail carriers are arranged in a horizontal plane and spaced apart from each other. In these embodiments the container guide-rail is arranged in the rail carriers in a displaceable manner. This means that when the path&#39;s radius of curvature changes, the guide-rail can move to accommodate the change in curve radius. For this purpose, the container guide-rail is securely connected to the rail carriers located horizontally next to one another, while in the other rail carriers it is mounted so as to be capable of displacement. 
     In another embodiment, the guide-device is formed from a flexible material. The flexible material is connected to and extends between the first formatting-part element and the second formatting-part element. A suitable flexible material is a dimensionally stable flexible plastic, or rubber. 
     In some embodiments, when viewed in cross-section, the flexible material forms a bell-shaped projection between the two formatting-part elements. The bell is oriented such that the interior of the bell faces the formatting-part elements. The shape of the bell defines its camber. 
     In the region at which the bell connects to the formatting-part element, the flexible material defines a joint. This guarantees that, as the formatting-part elements move towards or away from each other, the camber&#39;s curvature changes accordingly. Thus, when the formatting-part elements move closer to each other, the camber&#39;s radius-of-curvature becomes smaller. This means that each point of the camber moves away from the outer edge of the formatting-part. Conversely, when the formatting-part elements move apart, the camber&#39;s radius-of-curvature becomes greater. This means that each point on the camber moves towards the outer edge of the formatting-part. The flexible material is therefore particularly well-suited for adapting the guide unit to bottles of different thickness. 
     The point of the camber that is furthest from the formatting-part is the camber&#39;s vertex. In some embodiments, the guide section is formed at this vertex of the bell-shaped flexible material. Thus, in operation, the vertex comes into contact with the respective container. 
     The flexible material does not need to be homogeneous. It can be composed of different materials at different locations. It is thus possible, for example to use a more rigid material where desirable. For example, it may be useful if the region at which the bell connects to the formatting-part elements is more rigid. Or it may be desirable to make the region near the guide section more rigid. However, a bell made with a homogeneous single piece of material is not without advantages. Such a bell would be durable and be easy to manufacture. 
     In rotational guide regions, in particular in transfer star elements with bottle projections, the flexible material can be adapted to the projections. For this purpose, a material section can be arranged in each projection. Advantageously, these material sections are wider at their connection regions with the formatting-part elements than they are about a region between the connection regions. Such a shape, being narrow in the middle, allows for particularly easy adjustment of the flexible material in the event of changes in the curve radius. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1 a    shows a view from above a formatting-part designed as a transfer star element for the rotational transport of containers; 
         FIG. 1 b    shows the formatting-part of  FIG. 1  but adjusted for the transport of bottles with a particularly large diameter; 
         FIG. 2 a    is a cross-section of a formatting-part with a guide-device; 
         FIG. 2 b    is a cross-section of the embodiment from  FIG. 2 a   , but adjusted for bottles with large diameter; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-section of a formatting-part with three formatting-part elements and two guide-devices; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-section of a formatting-part with joint-carriers arranged in a parallelogram; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-section of an embodiment similar to that shown in  FIG. 4  but with two container guide-rails separated by a gap; 
         FIG. 6  is a view from above a formatting-part for rotational container transport with a displaceable container guide-rail; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-section representation of an embodiment of the formatting-part with a guide-device made of a flexible material; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the formatting-part of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view of a transfer star element that features a motorized central adjustment of the space between formatting-part-elements; and 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view of a transfer star element with a manual adjustment of the space between formatting-part-elements. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b    show a first and second formatting-parts  1 ,  4  used in guiding containers  2 . The first formatting-part  1  is a transfer star having projections  2  to accommodate containers  3 . In the illustrated embodiment, these containers are bottles. The second formatting-part  4  is a ring section that corresponds to the shape of the first formatting-part  1 . 
     For convenience of discussion, the center of the transfer star defines an axis of a cylindrical coordinate having an axial direction, a circumferential direction, and a radial direction. 
     The first and second formatting-parts  1 ,  4  define a curve guide unit having a guide channel  5  formed therebetween. It is through this guide channel  5  that containers  3  are guided through the container-treatment installation.  FIG. 1 a    shows the curve guide unit adjusted for containers with small diameters.  FIG. 1 b    shows the same curve guide unit for containers with large diameters. 
     Arranged at both the first and second formatting-part  1 ,  4  are one or more guide-devices  6 . As the first formatting-part  1  transports containers  3 , the containers  3  contact the one or more guide-devices  6 . 
       FIGS. 1 a , 1 b    further show a container guide-rail  7  arranged at the guide-devices  6  of the second formatting-part  4  as well as at the guide-devices  6  of the first formatting-part  1 . 
     The first and second formatting-parts  1 ,  4  consist of an upper formatting-part element  8  and a lower formatting-part element below the upper formatting element  8 . The lower formatting element is therefore not visible in  FIGS. 1 a    and  1   b.    
       FIG. 1 a    shows a first spacing A 1  between the container guide-rail  7  and the first and second formatting-parts  1 ,  4 .  FIG. 1 b    shows a second spacing A 2  between the container guide-rail  7  and the same formatting-parts  1 ,  4 . As is apparent from inspection of the figures, the second spacing A 2  is greater than the first spacing A 1 . As a result, in  FIG. 1 b   , the container guide-rail  7  is closer an the outer edge  9  of the second formatting-part  4  than it is in  FIG. 1 a   . As a result, the guide channel  5  is wider in  FIG. 1 b    than it is in  FIG. 1 a    and therefore suitable for containers with larger diameters. 
       FIG. 1 a    also shows a first distance A 3  between a contact region  6   a  at which the guide-device  6  contacts a container and an outer edge  9   a  of the first formatting-part  1 .  FIG. 1 b    shows a corresponding second distance A 4 . As is apparent, the first distance A 3  is also greater than the second distance A 4 . 
       FIG. 2 a    shows a cross-section through a formatting-part  10  that has a first formatting-part element  11  and a second formatting-part element  12  arranged above the first formatting-part element  11  and separated by a gap C. Both the first and second formatting-part elements  11 ,  12  are coupled to a first guide-device  13 . 
     The first guide-device  6  includes first and second joint-carriers  14 ,  15 . The first joint-carrier  14  has a proximal end that connects to a first connection section  19  at the first formatting-part element  11  via a first film hinge  18  and a distal end that connects to a first joint-element  22   a . Similarly, the second joint-carrier  15  has a proximal end that connects to a second connection section  21  at the second formatting-part element  12  via a second film hinge  20  and a distal end that connects to a second joint-element  22   b . The first and second joint-elements  22   a ,  22   b  are, in turn, coupled to a first connection-joint  16  that supports a first container guide-rail  17 . 
       FIG. 2 a    further shows a narrow bottle  10   a  that is in contact with the first container guide-rail  17 .  FIG. 2 b    shows the formatting-part  10  from  FIG. 2 a    but with the second formatting-part element  12  having been raised by a drive unit. As a result, the gap C between the first formatting-part element  11  and the second formatting-part element  12  has grown. 
     Because the gap C has grown, the connection-joint  16  has been displaced along a displacement direction B so that it is now closer to the outer edge  23  of the formatting-part  10 . As a result, the guide channel  5 , best seen  FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b   , has become wider, thus making it possible to transport a wide bottle  10   b.    
       FIG. 3  shows an embodiment similar to that shown in  FIGS. 2 a , 2 b    but with a third formatting-part element  24  arranged above the second formatting-part element  12 . A second guide-device  25  arranged between the second formatting-part element  12  and the third formatting-part element  24  has a structure and function similar to that of the first guide-device  6 . The second guide-device  25  includes a second container guide-rail  26  whose position can be adjusted in the same manner as the first container guide-rail  17 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , a first distance separates the first container guide-rail  17  and a line along the outer edges of the first, second, and third formatting-part elements. Similarly, a second distance separates the second container guide-rail  26  from the same line. A gap between the first formatting-part element  11  and the second formatting-part element  12  controls the first distance. Similarly, a gap between the second formatting-part element  12  and the third formatting-part element  24  controls the second distance. These gaps are determined by the vertical movement of the second formatting-part element  12  and the third formatting-part element  24 . The vertical movements are independently controlled. As a result, the gaps, and hence the first and second distances, are also independently controlled. 
       FIG. 4  shows a particularly stable embodiment of a formatting-part  28  having first and second formatting-part elements  29 ,  30  and a guide-device  31  arranged therebetween. 
     The guide-device  31  comprises a first joint-carrier  32 , a second joint-carrier  33 , and a connection-joint  34  connecting the first and second joint-carriers  32 ,  33 . The first and second joint-carriers  32 ,  33  correspond to the first and second joint-carriers  14 ,  15  shown in  FIGS. 2 a , 2 b   . These connect via corresponding film hinges  39   a ,  39   b  at corresponding first and second connections section  40   a ,  40   b  at the first and second formatting-part elements  29 ,  30 . 
     In addition to the first and second joint-carriers  32 ,  33 , the guide-device  31  also includes third and fourth joint-carriers  35 ,  36 . The third joint-carrier  35  is parallel to the first joint-carrier  32 ; the fourth joint-carrier  36  is parallel to the second joint-carrier  33 . Distal ends of the third and fourth joint-carriers  35 ,  36  connect in jointed fashion to the connection-joint  34  via first and second joint-elements  37   a ,  37   b . Meanwhile, proximal ends of the third and fourth joint-carriers  35 ,  36  connect via corresponding third and fourth joint-elements  38   a ,  38   b  to the first and second formatting-part elements  39 ,  30  respectively. 
     The connection-joint  34  extends longitudinally in a radial direction from a first end to a second end. The first end of the connection-joint  34  defines a joint-carrier  41  that supports the container guide-rail  42 . The second end is opposite the second end. The first and second joint-carriers  32 ,  33  connect to the connection-joint  34  at the first end. The third and fourth joint-carriers  35 ,  36  are offset radially and connect to the connection-joint  34  at the second end. The first and third joint-carriers  32 ,  35  thus define parallel sides of first parallelogram. Meanwhile, the second and fourth joint-carriers  33 ,  36  define parallel sides of a second parallelogram. The first and second parallelograms have a common side defined by the connection-joint  34 . The first and second connection sections  40   a ,  40   b  form the remaining sides of the first and second parallelograms respectively. 
       FIG. 5  shows a further embodiment of a formatting-part  43  that works much like the formatting-part shown in  FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b   . The formatting-part  43  includes a guide-device  46  arranged between first and second formatting-part elements  44 ,  45  in a manner similar to the guide-device  31  shown in  FIG. 4 . The guide-device  46  features a first joint-carrier  47   a  having a distal end that connects to a connection-joint  48  and a proximal end that connects to a first formatting-part element  44 , a second joint-carrier  47   b  having a distal end that connects to the connection-joint  48  and a proximal end that connects to a second formatting-part element  45 , a third joint-carrier  47   c  having a distal end that connects to the connection-joint  48  and a proximal end that connects to a first formatting-part element  44 , and a fourth joint-carrier  47   d  having a distal end that connects to the connection-joint  48  and a proximal end that connects to the second formatting-part element  45 . The first and third joint-carriers  47   a ,  47   c  define opposite sides of a first parallelogram. The second and fourth joint-carriers  47   b ,  47   d  define opposite sides of a second parallelogram. 
     The connection-joint  48  has a rectangular cross-section that extends in both a radial direction B and an axial direction C. Arranged on an outer side  50  of the connection-joint  48  are first and second rail carriers  51 ,  52  spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction. The first rail carrier  51  supports a first container guide-rail  53  and the second rail carrier  52  supports a second container guide-rail  54  that is arranged above the first guide rail  52 . This results in two contact surfaces, which provides a particularly secure guide for heavy containers, such as filled glass bottles. 
       FIG. 6  shows the second formatting-part  4  from  FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b    in more detail. When the spacing between the upper formatting-part element  8  and the lower formatting-part element arranged beneath it changes, then the radius of the container guide-rail  7  also changes, as shown in  FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b   . In order to achieve a flexible adjustment of the container guide-rail  7  as this spacing changes, the container guide-rail  7  is fixed securely to a rail carrier  55 . As a result, when the spacing between the upper formatting-part element  8  and the lower formatting-part element changes, the container guide-rail  7  is automatically pushed along a direction  7   a  and into the rail carrier  55  and adjusted to the changed radius. 
       FIG. 7  shows a formatting-part  60  with a first formatting-part element  61  and a second formatting-part element  62  offset from each other in the axial direction to form a gap. The extent of this gap is adjustable. 
     A guide-device  63  extends between the first and second formatting-part elements  61 ,  62 . In the illustrated embodiment, the guide-device  63  is a bell-shaped diaphragm  64  having a cambered outer side  65  that points away from outer edges  66   a ,  66   b  of the first and second formatting-part elements  61 ,  62 . A first free end  67  of the diaphragm connects to the first formatting-part element  61  and a second free end  68  of the diaphragm  64  connects to the second formatting-part element  62 . The vertex of the cambered outer side  65  defines a guide section  69  that contacts containers. The diaphragm  64  itself is made from a flexible material, such as a rubber. 
     The formatting-part element  60  with its flexible diaphragm  64  functions in the same manner described in connection with embodiments of  FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b   . A change in the extent of the gap between the formatting-part elements  61 ,  62  changes the bell-shaped camber of the diaphragm  64 . Reducing this gap reduces the camber&#39;s radius and moves the guide section  69  of the diaphragm  64  away from the outer edges  66   a ,  66   b . Increasing this gap increases the camber radius and moves the guide section  69  towards the outer edges  66   a ,  66   b.    
       FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a first formatting-part  70  formed in a star shape for the rotational transport of bottles and an associated second formatting-part  71  formed as a section of a ring and partially surrounding the first formatting-part  70 . The first formatting-part  70  has upper and lower formatting-part elements  75 ,  74 . The second formatting-part  71  likewise has upper and lower formatting-part elements  77 ,  76 . 
     Both the first and second formatting-parts  70 ,  71  correspond in cross-section to the embodiment in  FIG. 7 . The first formatting-part  70  has projections  72  for bottles. Arranged between the projections  72  are guide-devices  73  made of a flexible material, in this case rubber. The guide-devices  73  extend between upper and lower formatting-part elements  75 ,  74  of the first formatting-part  70 . 
     When a change takes place in the gap between the upper formatting-part elements  75 ,  77  and the lower formatting-part elements  74 ,  76 , the guide-device  73  forms a butterfly shape. In particular, a wide upper side  78  of the flexible guide-device  73  connects to the upper formatting-part element  75  and a wide underside  79  connects to the lower formatting-part element  74 . This forms a narrow camber  80  between the upper side  78  and the underside  79 . 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  show sectional representations of a transfer star unit  81  having a central adjustment mechanism. In  FIG. 9 , the central adjustment is motor driven and in  FIG. 10  it is manually driven. All the formatting-parts and guide-devices referred to and described heretofore are in principle suitable, possibly after minor adaptation, for either embodiment. 
     In both embodiments, a power cable  82  for the rotational drive  84  of the transfer star  81  passes through a central column  88 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 9 , the central column  88  also accommodates a concentrically mounted central actuating drive  85 . The actuating drive  85  drives a spindle  86  that extends from a proximal end of the actuating drive  85  to a distal end having an internal thread  87 . This internal thread  87  connects to the second formatting-part element  12  such that rotating the spindle  86  raises and lowers the second formatting-part element  12 . This, in turn, changes the radial coordinate of the container guide-rail  7 . Guide pins  89  secured on the first formatting-part element  11  prevent the second formatting-part element  12  from rotating. 
       FIG. 10  shows a comparable transfer star  81  with the exception that the spindle  86  is a part of a hand crank  91  or can be connected to a hand crank  91  by means of a mating shape element. The internal thread  87  is, in turn, coupled to the second formatting-part element  12  in a manner analogous to that described in connection with  FIG. 9 .