Process for heating a blow molding preform

Abstract

A preform of a thermoplastic material, especially a material which is orientable during blow forming, has an opening region, a closed bottom as well as walls connecting the bottom with the opening region. In the region of at least a part of the surface demarcating the preform a texturing enlarging the surface is provided, which has a low profile depth relative to the wall thickness of the preform. A process for heating a preform of a thermoplastic material is also disclosed which includes texturing a portion of the surface of the preform to enlarge the surface area thereof whereby the time required to heat the preform to a desired temperature suitable for blow molding is reduced. The preform is also rotated as it is moved past a heating device and the heating device is controlled such that the heating device combination with the texturing provides a desired temperature profile rendering the preform suitable for blow molding.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.