Device and method for the thermal conditioning of preforms

A thermal conditioning device (2) for thermally conditioning preforms (1) made of a plastic material, comprising:

• at least one heating module (3) provided with:
• an enclosure (4) defining at least one transport volume (40) for said preforms (1);
• at least one heating device (5) oriented toward the transport volume (40) and at least one reflector (51) located opposite the at least one heating device (5);
• at least one cooling device (6) oriented toward the transport volume (40) via at least one channel (8);
• at least one control (9) for controlling at least said heating device (5) and said cooling device (6);
• wherein said cooling device (6) comprises:
• at least one circulating device (7) for circulating a flow of air through the channel to the transport volume (40) with a nominal flow rate, said nominal flow rate being determined by said control (9) of said at least one circulating device (7);
• and
• the at least one channel (8) extending from said circulating device (7) as far as said enclosure (4) and leading toward said transport volume (40), wherein the flow of air enters the transport volume (40) via openings in the reflectors (51);
• the thermal conditioning device (2) further comprising:
• along said channel (8), at least one measuring means (10) for measuring, in real time, at least one component of an actual flow rate of said air flow prior to entry into the transport volume (40), wherein the at least one measuring means (10) is located along the channel between the at least one circulating device (7) and the enclosure (4);
• and
• an adjusting means (11) for adjusting said nominal flow rate with respect to said actual flow rate of the real-time measurement, by controlling the control (9) of said circulating means (7).