An apparatus for the orientation and alignment of plastic preforms provided with collars having greater dimensions than the preform body, includes a device for feeding the preforms at a first end of an unloading and conveyance surface that includes a conveyor device for conveying the preforms from the first end towards a second end, the conveyor device includes a slot formed by a pair of longitudinal movement bodies which move the preforms along a direction of longitudinal extension of the slot. The conveyor device includes at least one conveyor element which forms a resting surface for the preforms and is adapted to move the preforms arranged on the resting surface along a movement direction, which is opposite to the conveyance direction, in order to move the preforms not received by the slot from the second end toward the first end.

Ways to produce a plurality of preform (5) temperature profiles are provided that employ systems having a first heating means, a second heating means, and a first transfer means. The a first heating means has a first preform (5) path, imparts a first temperature profile to a preform (5) passing through the first preform (5) path, and has a first dispensing means configured to selectively dispense the preform (5) passing through at least a portion of the first preform (5) path. The second heating means has a second preform (5) path, imparts a second temperature profile to a preform (5) passing through the second preform (5) path, and has a second dispensing means configured to selectively dispense the preform (5) passing through at least a portion of the second preform (5) path. The first transfer means selectively transfers a preform (5) between the first preform (5) path and the second preform (5) path.

An Infrared heating system (101) designed for the efficient heating of preformed plastic tubes (106). The system comprises an infrared housing unit with multiple longitudinal strips (107N) of infrared heating elements (103), surpassing the length of the preformed tubes. A handling arrangement involving a series of rollers (202) facilitates the simultaneous oscillation and rotation of the plastic pipes. The inner surface of the infrared housing (102) features strategically positioned reflectors (109N) to enhance the infrared heating effect. The handling arrangement includes longitudinally spaced motorized rollers for axial movement, and motorized wheels (110) and tracks (111) for transverse movement. The infrared housing unit offers multiple temperature zones to suit the characteristics of the plastic pipes and employs temperature sensors (114N) for uniform and precise temperature control. A corresponding process for heating preformed plastic pipes is also described, integrating these features for effective and controlled heating.

An apparatus for handling plastic preforms includes a feeding line for preforms that comprise a preform body and a preform mouth, a conditioning oven, a setdown device for the preforms being provided which is designed to feed the preforms to a transfer or blow-molding carousel, the conditioning oven being associated with a closed conveyance circuit which includes supporting elements to support respective preforms. The feeding line has a feeding device to feed the preforms to respective supporting elements; the setdown device has an overturning element adapted to pick up the preforms and to bring them to a pickup condition in which the respective mouths are directed upward. The setdown device further includes a pickup device to pick up the preforms in the pickup condition from the overturning element to feed them to the transfer or blow molding carousel.