A storage system for storing objects of plastic material processed in a bottling line (45) comprises: a plurality of drawers (4) configured to contain groups of objects (5); a frame (2) which defines a plurality of compartments (3) configured to house the drawers (4); a conveyor (8) movable in the storage system (1) itself and configured to access the compartments (3) in such a way as to withdraw and place drawers (4) from and into the compartments (4); a loading bay (11) having one or more loading compartments for receiving corresponding drawers (4) and having a loading manipulator (28) configured to place in the drawers (4) the loose objects (5) received from an infeed conveyor (29); an unloading bay (12) having at least one unloading compartment for receiving a corresponding drawer (4) and having an unloading manipulator (41) configured to place onto an outfeed conveyor (43, 44) the loose objects (5) stored in the drawer (4).

The unit (1) for processing hollow-body plastic blanks (2) includes a chamber (6) wherein the blanks (2) move along a predetermined path. The chamber (6) is defined, on both sides of the path, by two side walls (3, 4) having inner surfaces (5) that face each other. The chamber (6) includes a main section (9) wherein at least one of the walls (3, 4) is provided with a plurality of electromagnetic radiation sources (10). The side walls (3, 4) define therebetween, on at least one end of the chamber, an opening (8) for the preforms to pass therethrough. The chamber (6) includes at least one optical confinement section (12) that extends between the main section (9) and the opening (8) and wherein the inner surfaces (5) of the side walls (3, 4) are optically reflective and converge toward the opening (8).

The unit (1) for processing hollow-body plastic blanks (2) includes a chamber (6) wherein the blanks (2) move along a predetermined path. The chamber (6) is defined, on both sides of the path, by two side walls (3, 4) having inner surfaces (5) that face each other. The chamber (6) includes a main section (9) wherein at least one of the walls (3, 4) is provided with a plurality of electromagnetic radiation sources (10). The side walls (3, 4) define therebetween, on at least one end of the chamber, an opening (8) for the preforms to pass therethrough. The chamber (6) includes at least one optical confinement section (12) that extends between the main section (9) and the opening (8) and wherein the inner surfaces (5) of the side walls (3, 4) are optically reflective and converge toward the opening (8).

A blow molding apparatus comprises: a continuous transport section 150 provided with a loop-shaped transport path 151 for continuously transporting a preform 200; an intermittent transport section 160 for intermittently transporting the preform 200 to a blow molding section 140; and a delivery section 170 for holding the preform 200 being transported on the transport path 151, and delivering it to the intermittent transport section 160. The delivery section 170 is equipped with a cooling means 300 for jetting a cooling fluid from a first nozzle member 301 onto an outer surface of the preform 200 to cool the preform 200 locally.

An apparatus (1) for the heating of plastics material pre-forms (10) with a conveying device (2) which conveys the plastics material pre-forms (10) along a pre-set conveying path (T), with at least one heating element (4) which is arranged along the conveying path (P) of the plastics material pre-forms (10) and which heats the plastics material pre-forms (10), wherein in addition a cooling device is provided which cools the plastics material pre-forms (10) and/or at least one element of the apparatus (1) during the heating of the plastics material pre-forms (10) by acting upon them with a gaseous medium.

An apparatus (1) for the heating of plastics material pre-forms (10) with a conveying device (2) which conveys the plastics material pre-forms (10) along a pre-set conveying path (T), with at least one heating element (4) which is arranged along the conveying path (P) of the plastics material pre-forms (10) and which heats the plastics material pre-forms (10), wherein in addition a cooling device is provided which cools the plastics material pre-forms (10) and/or at least one element of the apparatus (1) during the heating of the plastics material pre-forms (10) by acting upon them with a gaseous medium.

An apparatus for heating plastics material preforms includes a transport device which transports the plastics material preforms along a predefined transport path, wherein the transport device has a circulating transport device on which a plurality of holding devices for holding the plastics material preforms to be heated are arranged. The apparatus has an inspection device which is configured for inspecting holding devices not loaded with plastics material preforms.

A temperature adjustment device and a temperature adjustment method for a preform in a blow molding device with which it is possible to reduce a molding cycle time is provided. A temperature adjustment device for a preform in which a hollow rod member is inserted into an injection-molded, bottomed preform retained by a retention member, and a first air circulation path is formed between the preform and the hollow rod member to adjust the temperature of the preform. The temperature adjustment device is characterized in that a flow path adjustment member is fitted and attached to the outer periphery of the hollow rod member, whereby the cross-sectional area of the first air circulation path is partially adjusted and changed.

A temperature adjustment device and a temperature adjustment method for a preform in a blow molding device with which it is possible to reduce a molding cycle time is provided. A temperature adjustment device for a preform in which a hollow rod member is inserted into an injection-molded, bottomed preform retained by a retention member, and a first air circulation path is formed between the preform and the hollow rod member to adjust the temperature of the preform. The temperature adjustment device is characterized in that a flow path adjustment member is fitted and attached to the outer periphery of the hollow rod member, whereby the cross-sectional area of the first air circulation path is partially adjusted and changed.

A blow moulding machine for producing blown containers with an integrally formed handle; the machine including a preform injection moulding stage wherein the preform comprising a body portion, a neck portion and an integrally moulded handle; the machine further including a handle orientation stage, a preform conditioning stage and a blow moulding stage, and wherein the preform is nested in cavities provided in opposing portions of a conditioning module; the integrally moulded handle nested in cavities lined with an insulating material. Also disclosed is a method of producing a blown container with an integrally formed handle in a blow moulding machine; the blow moulding machine including a preform injection moulding stage for moulding a preform comprising a body portion and an integrally moulded handle; the blow moulding machine further including a handle orienting stage, a preform conditioning stage and a blow moulding stage; the method including the steps of: Injection moulding the preform with an integrally moulded handle, Orienting the handle of the preform into a predetermined orientation, Transferring the preform to a preform conditioning module, Transferring the preform from the preform conditioning module to a die of a blow moulding machine when the preform body and integrally moulded handle are at predetermined temperatures, Blowing the container in the blow moulding machine, and wherein the preform is nested in cavities provided in opposing portions of the conditioning module; the integrally moulded handle nested in cavities lined with an insulating material.