Apparatus and method for heating pipes made of thermoplastic material

An apparatus for heating end portions of pipes made of thermoplastic material, comprising:

• an internal heating element, configured to be inserted at least partially inside an end portion of a pipe made of thermoplastic material for heating an inner cylindrical surface of the portion,
• the internal heating element comprising an infra-red ray radiation unit which has an operating zone arranged to face at least partially the inner cylindrical surface, the operating zone extending longitudinally along a predetermined direction, parallel to a central axis of the pipe to be heated,
• a conditioning device for conditioning infra-red rays emitted by the infra-red ray radiation unit, the conditioning device being configured to limit, in an intermediate position along a longitudinal extension of the operating zone, the heating of the inner cylindrical surface;
• wherein the conditioning device comprises a first screening element including an annular extension about the infra-red ray radiation unit, for partially screening the infra-red rays emitted by the infra-red ray radiation unit, the first screening element being connected relative to the infra-red radiation unit, such that during operation, the first screening element maintains with respect to the infra-red radiation unit, a predetermined intermediate position along the longitudinal extension of the operating zone.