Importance

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Abstract

A preliminary stage of a container processing machine, including a container inlet for containers that are to be processed, a container outlet for processed containers, and transport elements for effecting the flow of containers between the inlet and outlet, with at least one of these transport elements including a transport star, which rotates about a vertical shaft, and a restraining element, with the transport star having a peripheral surface that concentrically encircles the axis of rotation of the latter and that is provided with a plurality of uniformly spaced recesses that are radially open in the direction of said peripheral surface and serve to transport the containers along a circular path from an inlet of the transport star to an outlet thereof. The restraining element is disposed to the side of the circular transport path opposite the peripheral surface, and is formed from at least one free length of at least one belt-like element that is disposed externally of the star, forms a closed loop, and is endlessly guided, in a tension state, over rollers that are provided on the machine frame. Each free length is disposed radially remote from the axis of rotation of the peripheral surface of the transport star, and each peripheral surface is embodied in such a way that the free length rests thereagainst at least when the transport star is not filled with containers.

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First Claim