Provided is an apparatus for heating plastic preforms with a transport device which is suitable and intended for transporting the plastic preforms along a predetermined transport path, with at least one stationary arrange heating device which heats the plastic preforms transported along the transport path, wherein the heating device has at least one heating element which emits radiation which heats the plastic preforms and at least one focusing device which focuses the radiation emitted by the heating element onto predetermined regions of the plastic preforms to be heated, wherein a position of this focusing device is changeable.

An apparatus is provided for heating plastics material pre-forms, with a movable carrier on which a plurality of heating devices is arranged; wherein the heating devices are controllable independently of one another and have in each case a heating element as well as at least one regulating element for regulating the heating output; and wherein the heating devices have in each case one heating area inside which the plastics material pre-forms are capable of being heated, as well as a movement device which introduces the plastics material pre-forms into this heating area. Each heating device has associated with it in each case one control device for controlling a heating procedure.

Apparatus for heating plastic preforms, having a microwave generating device which generates microwaves, and having a resonator device which forms a receiving space into which the plastic preforms can be introduced so as to be acted upon by the microwaves in the resonator device in order to be heated, wherein the apparatus has a reflector element which is arranged at least partially in the receiving space and which is suitable and intended for conducting microwaves in the direction of a base region of the plastic preforms. According to the invention, the reflector element is movable relative to the receiving space and the apparatus has a drive device for moving the reflector element relative to the receiving space.

Provided is a machine for heating plastic parisons, including a transport device which transports the plastic parisons along a predetermined transport path, a heating device which heats the plastic parisons at least intermittently, wherein the heating device includes at least: a bottom heating element which is suitable and intended for heating a bottom portion of the plastic parisons; a reflector element which is installed below the bottom portion of the plastic parisons in the longitudinal direction of the plastic parisons and reflects thermal radiation onto the plastic parisons; an adjusting device which is suitable and intended for adjusting the reflector element in the longitudinal direction of the plastic parisons; and wherein the bottom heating element is arranged on the reflector element and/or is adjustable jointly therewith.

A device for processing performs may include at least a holder device for holding at least one preform and for at least temporary contacting arrangement of at least one wall part of the preform on at least one contact device. By the at least one contact device, a temperature of the first wall part can be prespecified, which at least temporarily differs from the temperature of a second wall part that is always spaced from the contact device. The contact device may be releasably held by a carrier device forming at least in parts a holding zone for the contact device.

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).

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.