Method and apparatus for making a plastic container having an oriented finish portion

A blow molding apparatus for making a plastic container, comprising:

• an injection mold adapted to form a container preform having a finish portion and a body portion, the container preform defining a longitudinal axis;
• a transfer arm adapted to transfer the container preform from the injection mold to a blow mold station;
• a first brake located on the transfer arm and adapted to maintain the finish portion in a predetermined orientation with respect to the transfer arm;
• and
• a blow mold located at the blow mold station, the blow mold adapted to form the container preform into a plastic container;
• wherein the first brake is movable from a first position spaced from the container preform to a second position contacting the container preform.

A blow molding apparatus for making a plastic container, comprising:

• an injection mold adapted to form a container preform having a finish portion and a body portion, the container preform defining a longitudinal axis;
• a transfer arm adapted to transfer the container preform from the injection mold to a blow mold station;
• a first brake located on the transfer arm and adapted to maintain the finish portion in a predetermined orientation with respect to the transfer arm;
• a blow mold located at the blow mold station, the blow mold adapted to form the container preform into a plastic container;
• a blow molding wheel located at the blow mold station;
• a mandrel located on the blow molding wheel, the mandrel adapted to support the container preform on the blow molding wheel;
• and
• a second brake located on the mandrel and adapted to substantially prevent rotation of the container preform with respect to the mandrel.