Device (1) for switching containers rotating about a fixed axis (10) of rotation and comprising, arranged peripherally around the axis (10) of rotation, a plurality of arms (7, 188) for gripping at least one container, each gripping arm (7, 188) comprising a cam follower (98, 186) for engagement in a cam raceway (91, 184), the raceway (91, 184) comprising at least one fixed section (111, 112, 115) and at least one removable section (120a, 120b, 194, 196) for a retractable cam, said device being characterized in that it comprises at least one rotary transverse plate (152, 153, 185) on which are fixed the radially mobile gripping arms (7, 188) and at least one fixed transverse plate (90a, 90b, 182) containing the raceway (91, 184) of the cam follower (98, 186) of the gripping arm (7, 188), and in that the removable section (120a, 120b, 194, 196) is retractable in a direction approximately parallel to the axis (10) of rotation by means of an actuator (140a, 140b) mounted on the fixed transverse plate (90a, 90b, 182).