An apparatus for producing plastic containers with a heating device configured to heat plastic preforms and with a forming device which forms the heated plastic preforms into plastic containers, wherein this forming device being arranged downstream of the heating device in the transport direction of the plastic preforms, and wherein the heating device and/or the forming device having at least one regulating device which makes it possible to regulate the heating process and/or the forming process as a function of at least one property of the plastic preforms. According to the invention, the at least one control device for controlling takes into account in advance at least one variable value which influences the heating process and/or the forming process.

The invention relates to a heating apparatus (H) having at least one heating line (24) for the thermal conditioning of preforms (1) made of thermoplastic material to a temperature profile which is suitable for blow shaping, wherein the heating apparatus (H) comprises a transport device for transporting the preforms (1) along a transport path (T) of the heating apparatus (H), said transport device comprising a revolving conveyor chain (F) having a plurality of pivotably interconnected chain links (33), and wherein the transport device comprises handling means (39) for holding and manipulating a single preform (1) each, wherein the transport device is embodied and configured such that the preforms (1) are guided in a single row in at least a first section of the transport path (T), and are guided in two adjacent rows in at least a second section of the transport path (T), and wherein each chain link (33) comprises a bracket (41) on which a first handling means (39) and a second handling means (39) are arranged, and wherein the bracket (41) comprises a main arm (42) and a pivot arm (43), pivotably connected to the main arm (42), and wherein a change between a single-row transport of the preforms (1) and a double-row transport is enabled by pivoting the pivot arm (43).

An apparatus for conveying a container made of plastic material comprising a supporting frame (3), sliding along a predetermined path; a longitudinal rod (20), defining an axis (X), adapted to translate along axis (X) and/or to rotate about axis (X) through guide-holes (24, 25) provided in the supporting frame; a gripping device (22), fixed to the longitudinal rod, for picking and withholding an end of the container to be conveyed; wherein the translation strokes of the longitudinal rod (20) and of the gripping device (22) can be adjusted along axis (X) so that the gripping device (22) can operate at three working levels or positions: a resting position (L0), a gripping position (L1) and a releasing position (L2).

A method for ejecting a vessel (12), carried by a transporting device (10), the vessel (12) being provided with a neck (16) including a mouth (18), the transporting device (10) including: a mobile support (28); a gripping mandrel (30) that grips by vertical engagement with the neck (16); an ejection face (64) mounted on the mobile support (28), the gripping mandrel (30) being mounted vertically slidable relative to the ejection face (64) to allow the gripping mandrel (30) to be extracted from the neck (16) when it slides via contact between the ejection face (64) and a bearing face (24) of the neck (16); characterized in that the bearing face (24) of the neck (16) is formed by a shoulder face that protrudes radially towards the outside relative to the mouth (18) and is arranged under the mouth (18) in the vertical direction.

A plant for making containers of thermoplastic material in continuous cycle comprises: a rotary molding machine (1) configured to make parisons (2) of thermoplastic material having a body (3) with a closed bottom and a neck (4) which defines an opening; an oven (5) for heating the parisons (2), connected to the molding machine (1) and equipped with heating means (6) operating on the body (3) of the parisons (2); a rotary blow-molding machine (7) configured to receive the parisons (2) heated in the oven (5) and to blow-mold them in molds (8) to make the containers; and a management unit (9) for the plant (10), configured to switch off the oven (5) heating means (6) during a shutdown period of the blow-molding machine (7) but without interrupting the operation of the molding machine (1), so as to enable the parisons (2) located in the oven (5) to cool down during their transit through the oven (5).

A device for transporting a hollow body provided with a neck which includes a vertically oriented internal wall, the device including at least elements for gripping the hollow body by engaging with the internal wall of the neck, which are mounted on the lower free end of a rod and movably connected thereto, the rod being mounted to be vertically movable between a high position and a low position, wherein the gripping elements are mounted to be radially movable between a retracted position in which the gripping elements are vertically inserted from top to bottom into the neck, without contacting the internal wall, and a deployed position in which the gripping elements engage the internal wall of the neck, and the change in position of the gripping elements from the retracted to the deployed position and/or from the deployed to the retracted position is actuated by a magnetic field.

An apparatus for conveying a container made of plastic material comprising supporting frame (3), sliding along a predetermined path; a longitudinal rod (20), defining an axis (X), adapted to translate along said axis and/or to rotate about said axis through guide-holes (24, 25) provided in the supporting frame; a gripping device (22), fixed to a first end of the longitudinal rod, for picking and withholding an end of the container to be conveyed; wherein actuation means are provided for actuating the translation strokes of the longitudinal rod (20) and of the gripping device (22) along said axis (X), so that the gripping device (22) can operate at three working levels or positions: a first resting position (L0), a second gripping position (L1) and a third releasing position (L2).

An oven for preforms and in particular a preform rotation system heats portions of the preform in a preferential manner. An oven (1) for blowing or stretch-blowing preforms (P) to provide containers (C) with oval section includes a path (2) for the preforms (P), transfer system (3) of the preforms (P) from a transport system upstream of the oven (1) and a transfer system (4) of the heated preforms (P) from the oven (1) to a downstream transport. Mandrels (9) are slidingly carried along the path (2), the mandrels temporarily engage with the preforms (P) to conduct the preforms along the path (2). The oven (1) includes at least one first heating module (10) and at least one second heating module (10). The oven (1) includes elements (22, 25) for rotating the preforms (P) by 180, the elements being in median position of the second heating module (10).

A method for tempering preforms in a blowing machine, wherein at least one heating box is arranged along a transport path for the preforms. The heating box has reflective walls and forms a heating channel through which the preforms are guided. The heating box also has a heater for heating the preforms in the heating channel, and a cooling device, having a blower, for cooling the reflective walls. The walls are cooled by a quantity of air flowing along the walls outside the heating channel. The heating output of the heater is adjustable. A control device provides open loop and closed-loop control of the cooling output produced by the cooling device, in particular the supplied quantity of air, depending on the respective heating output of the heater, depending on a measurement of the heating output.

A device for transporting a hollow body provided with a neck which includes a vertically oriented internal wall, the device including at least elements for gripping the hollow body by engaging with the internal wall of the neck, which are mounted on the lower free end of a rod and movably connected thereto, the rod being mounted to be vertically movable between a high position and a low position, wherein the gripping elements are mounted to be radially movable between a retracted position in which the gripping elements are vertically inserted from top to bottom into the neck, without contacting the internal wall, and a deployed position in which the gripping elements engage the internal wall of the neck, and the change in position of the gripping elements from the retracted to the deployed position and/or from the deployed to the retracted position is actuated by a magnetic field.