Apparatus for transporting plastics preforms with elimination of disruptions

A method for transporting plastics preforms, wherein the plastics preforms are conveyed along a first transport element, which extends along a transport path of the plastics preforms, along with along a second transport element, which extends parallel to the first transport element, wherein the first transport element and the second transport element are spaced apart from one another such that a gap is formed between the first transport element and the second transport element such that a base body of the plastics preforms passes through this gap, but a support ring of the plastics preforms does not pass through this gap, wherein the apparatus furthermore has a hold-down device that is arranged above the transport elements and/or above the mouths of the plastics preforms,

• wherein
• the hold-down device has a first hold-down element movable in two opposite directions in a longitudinal direction of the plastics preforms along with a drive device that causes these movements during a transport operation of the apparatus.