The apparatus serves for blow molding containers. Preforms of a thermoplastic material are heated in the region of a heating zone and subsequently transferred to a blow molding device. The blow molding device is provided with at least one blow molding station for transforming the preforms into the containers. Provided for handling the preforms is a gripper-like transporting element (41) with two gripper arms (45, 46), which are arranged pivotably in relation to a gripper carrier (42). Each of the gripper arms can be pivoted by means of at least one lever and is coupled with a central element (49). The central element is arranged at least partly between the gripper arms. Each of the gripper arms is resiliently clamped with respect to the central element by at least one spring (56, 57).