Provided is a method for verifying holding members in a heating station equipped with a device for transporting the preforms. The device includes a plurality of movable supports circulating in a closed circuit and members for individually holding the preforms by their neck, where each of the holding members is borne by a movable support. The method includes setting the movable supports in movement to bring them successively into an acquisition zone, acquiring an image of each individual holding member in the acquisition zone, and automatically verifying the presence of a holding member on each of the images taken.

A continuously rotating, non-symmetric preform feed, stretch-blow-moulding machine dedicated to the stretch-blow-moulding of containers from non-symmetric injection moulded preforms; the non-symmetric preforms including an integral handle extending from a first junction point to a second junction point on a body of the preform; the body of the preform and the integral handle constituted from the same material.

A method for heating a preform (1) comprising a body portion (4) extending along a longitudinal axis (A1). The method comprises the following steps: introducing the preform (1) into a heating apparatus (5) comprising an array of infrared emitters (50) arranged in multiple columns (Cj) and rows (Ri); setting power levels of the infrared emitters (50) so as to divide said array into subsets of columns (SCn); andheating the preform while translating it in a direction parallel to the rows (Ri), and simultaneously rotating it around its longitudinal axis, the rotation and translation speeds, and the power levels of the infrared emitters (50) being set so that the power levels of the subsets of columns (SCn) facing zones (42) of the body portion extending longitudinally are different from the power levels of the subsets of columns facing the rest of the body portion, said zones extending relative to one another in a polygonal array.

A method and system for manufacturing containers are disclosed. The system includes one or more manufacturing cells comprised of an unloading station, a queuing/sequencing station, a heating station, an unloading station, and a molding station. The queuing/sequencing station utilizes a plurality of carrier shuttles configured to traverse a platform comprised of a plurality of induction coil sections. Each of the carrier shuttles is provided with a preform mount for receiving a preform thereon. The preforms are selected and the carrier shuttles are arranged in accordance with a predetermined sequence. At least one heater of the heating station is disposed over one of the induction coil sections and adapted to heat the preform. The heated preforms are transported by the carrier shuttles from the heating station to an unloading station, which transitions them to the molding station for a fluid (e.g., gas or liquid) blow molding operation to form the containers.

A thermal conditioning device for thermally conditioning preforms, comprising a heating module provided with an enclosure with a transport volume for said preforms; a heating means and a cooling means that are oriented toward the volume; a control means for controlling said heating and cooling means; said cooling means comprising a circulating means for circulating a flow of air with a nominal flow rate determined by said control means; a channel between said circulating means and said enclosure and leading toward said volume; wherein it comprises, along said channel, a measuring means for measuring the actual flow rate and an adjusting means for adjusting said nominal flow rate with respect to said actual flow rate, by controlling the control means. The invention also relates to a corresponding thermal conditioning method.

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.