Molded article conditioning and storage system, method and resulting preform

A process for molding, handling and blow molding preforms, comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one injection molding machine and at least one blow molding machine;
• injection molding a first plurality of preforms in injection mold cavities within said injection molding machine, said cavities being arranged in a pattern having a first X direction and a second Y direction;
• providing a plurality of preform carrier means, each carrier means including locations to hold at least said first plurality of preforms in said X-Y pattern and also a second plurality of preforms in said X-Y pattern;
• transferring said first plurality of preforms into a first of said preform carrier means in said X-Y pattern;
• injection molding said second plurality of preforms in said injection mold cavities arranged in said X-Y pattern;
• transferring said second plurality of preforms into said first preform carrier means in said X-Y pattern so that said first preform carrier means holds said first and second plurality of preforms;
• transferring at least said first preform carrier means including said first and second plurality of molded preforms to a storage means which includes conditioning means for temperature conditioning the molded preforms;
• transferring at least a second preform carrier means containing a second set of first and second plurality of molded preforms to said storage means and storing said first and second carrier means with molded preforms in said storage means;
• temperature conditioning the molded preforms in said carrier means in said storage means;
• transferring temperature conditioned molded preforms from said storage means to said at least one blow molding machine for blow molding;
• blow molding said temperature conditioned molded preforms,
• whereby the steps of injection molding and transferring said carrier means into said storage means may continue even if said step of blow molding is interrupted.