Patent ID: 8807986

Claim:
A blow moulding machine for blow moulding a container having an integrally formed handle; said container blow moulded from a previously injection moulded preform; said preform comprising a body portion and said integrally formed handle; said handle being integrally attached at a first and a second point along a body of said preform so as to form a closed loop; said machine including a preform loading station at which said preform is oriented by a preform orienting apparatus; said apparatus orienting said preform to align said handle with a predetermined orientation; said apparatus including a vertical cylindrical sleeve provided with a handle guiding slit along one side of said sleeve; said sleeve further provided with upper edges sloping down to said handle guiding slit; said upper edges interacting with said handle so as to induce rotation in said preform for alignment of said handle with said guiding slit; wherein an internal diameter of said sleeve allows passage of said body of said preform therethrough; width of said slit allowing passage of said handled therethrough.