Method and apparatus for temperature conditioning parts

A process for temperature-conditioning elongated parts which comprises:

• a. loading a plurality of said parts in side-by-side relationship into part-supporting bar assemblies consecutively releasably detained at a loading station;
• b. releasing each bar assembly from the station after loading with said parts;
• c. conveying the loaded bar assemblies along a heat transfer zone toward a discharge end thereof;
• d. continuously metering loaded bar assemblies downwardly at the discharge end out of the heat transfer zone;
• e. accumulating a series of successive, loaded bar assemblies in the heat transfer zone while continuing said continuous metering out of the heat transfer zone;
• f. releasing the parts from the bar assemblies at the discharge end after said downward movement;
• g. conveying empty bar assemblies in the opposite direction toward the loading station;
• h. establishing a reservoir of empty bar assemblies upstream of the loading station;
• and
• i. sequentially metering bar assemblies upwardly from the reservoir into the loading station to accept additional parts.

A process for temperature-conditioning thermoplastic preforms, each of which has a finish portion and an elongated tubular body portion with a closed end, said process comprising:

• a. loading a plurality of said preforms at substantially room temperature in side-by-side relationship into consecutively presented part-supporting assemblies at a charging station;
• b. passing the preforms while supported in substantially vertical position in the assemblies in a forward direction through a series of generally parallel paths, each of which is vertically circumscribed by horizontally adjacent, upright heat transfer assemblies arranged in said direction of movement, such that for a given assembly a major part of the body portion of a single preform only is within a path;
• c. rotating the preforms about their vertical axes during movement through said paths;
• d. transferring heat between said parts of the body portions and the heat transfer assemblies during movement through said paths to increase the temperature of such body portions to within the molecular orientation temperature range of the thermoplastic material forming said preforms substantially as a result of exposure to such heat transfer assemblies;
• e. discharging said preforms from said assemblies after movement through said paths without any blow molding of said parts after heat transfer and before said discharge;
• and thereafter
• f. recycling said assemblies in the opposite direction substantially parallel to said forward direction back to the charging station to receive additional preforms.