Patent ID: 6938753

Claim:
A transfer unit for containers, rotatable about a vertical axis and comprising: a vertical shaft extending upward from a bed concentrically with the vertical axis; at least one set of means by which to take up and hold a relative container leaving a first conveyor positioned at a first height; said holding means being associated with respective means, slidable vertically in relation to a frame, which comprise a slide carrying said holding means; feed means by which the holding means are caused to advance along a predetermined path extending at least between the first conveyor and a second receiving conveyor positioned at a second height; said feed means comprising said frame, said frame constructed and arranged to be set in motion along said predetermined path consisting of a closed loop; means operating in conjunction with the holding means, by which the height of the selfsame holding means is varied during the course of their passage along the predetermined path; wherein said means operating in conjunction with the holding means for varying the height of the holding means includes means by which to guide the movement of the slides comprising a generally tubular element centered about the vertical shaft and which presents a C-shaped cross-sectional profile having a longitudinal opening through which the vertical shaft can laterally pass to allow replacement of the means by which to guide the movement of the slides to vary the movement of the slides.