Machine for blow-molding containers, with means for orienting the preforms in the blow mold

Machine for blow-molding thermoplastic containers, of the type having at least one blow-molding station (10) having a blow mold (12) in which there is a cavity (16) in the final shape of the container to be produced, of the type in which a preform (14) previously produced by injection molding is engaged in the cavity (16) in such a way that only one open upper end of the reform, its neck (18), extends outside the mold (12), of the type in which the blow-molding station (10) has a blow pin (20) that is axially moved against the open end (18) of the arm (14) in order to inject pressurized air therein so as to mold the preform into the final shape of the container,

• characterized in that the blow-molding station (10) has a device for orienting the preform (14) in the mold (12), said device being composed of:
• a gripping device (30) that can grasp the preform (14) by its neck (18) when it is engaged in the cavity (16) of the mold (12);
• a drive device (64) for riving the gripping device (30) in rotation to turn the preform (14) around its axis (A1);
• a device for detecting (70) at least one angular position of reference of the preform (14);
• and
• control means that are suitable for controlling the drive device in order to cause the rotation of the gripping device (30) until the detection device detects the angular position of reference of the preform (14).