Apparatus for manufacturing and unloading preforms for manufacturing plastic containers

Abstract

The present application relates to a device (1) for manufacturing and unloading preforms (10) for the manufacture of plastic containers, comprising a molding apparatus (2) for injection molding a plurality of preforms and a cooling and extraction apparatus (3) for cooling and extracting the preforms from the molding apparatus, the cooling and extraction apparatus comprising a gripping assembly (4); a transfer apparatus is also provided for transferring the still warm preforms from the molding apparatus to the gripping assembly, the cooling and extraction apparatus comprising an unloading plate (20) supporting a plurality of gripping bodies (21) arranged in a matrix and movable on command so as to selectively engage the gripping assembly; a selective extraction apparatus (30) is also provided, as well as control and checking apparatus (40) for sequentially transferring predetermined subsets (31) of preforms suitable for performing at least one control on the predetermined subsets of preforms. The device of the present application allows to minimize the handling of the preforms to be controlled.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing and unloading prefabricated components for manufacturing plastic containers. Background Technology

[0002] Equipment consisting of apparatus for manufacturing preforms made of plastic material by molding and apparatus for unloading and storing the manufactured preforms is known.

[0003] The unloading device typically consists of a cooling plate that forms multiple containers arranged in a matrix and designed to hold the preform for the time required to at least partially cool the still warm preform.

[0004] Typically, these preforms are supplied directly from a press, usually of the injection type, to a cooling plate and held in a corresponding container for a predetermined time.

[0005] Specifically, once the injection molding process is complete, the mold is opened and the cooling plate moves toward the preform partially housed in one of the two mold components, so that the container can engage the corresponding portion of the preform emerging from the mold component to remove it, thereby allowing the mold to close and a new molding cycle to begin.

[0006] An apparatus for cooling and removing preforms for manufacturing plastic containers is known from international application PCT / EP2021 / 052440 filed in the name of the applicant. The apparatus includes at least one clamping assembly forming multiple containers for respective preforms and means for transferring the still-warm preforms from an injection molding apparatus to the clamping assembly. The apparatus includes a cooling removal assembly comprising a cooling plate arranged facing the clamping assembly and movable, upon instruction, between a position closer to the clamping assembly and a position spaced apart from the clamping assembly. The cooling plate supports multiple cooling channels designed to lead to the respective preforms contained within the respective containers when the cooling plate is in the closer position, so as to deliver air jets into the preforms, thereby increasing their cooling rate. The cooling removal assembly includes an unloading plate arranged on the opposite side of the clamping assembly relative to the cooling plate and supporting a plurality of clamping bodies that can be moved on command to cross the cooling plate, thereby selectively engaging with corresponding preforms when the cooling plate is in a closer position to allow these preforms to be removed from their respective containers.

[0007] Devices for controlling the quality of molded preforms are also known.

[0008] The first method for performing quality control of preforms is to use a device for quality control of molded preforms, which consists of a quality control unit arranged in a straight line downstream of the press and configured to control all preforms manufactured, perform all necessary controls, and optionally exclude non-conforming preforms.

[0009] If a non-conforming preform is detected, it is reported on the unit's display and may optionally be discarded. An orienting device is positioned between the press and the control unit, receiving unoriented preforms from the press's unloading belt and orienting them for delivery to the quality control unit. The sequence is random, therefore the unit must be equipped with a dedicated camera to read the number of mold cavities in order to identify which cavity each controlled preform originated from.

[0010] A second method for performing preform quality control provides the use of a unit not arranged in a straight line with the press. In this case, the operator picks up, for example, at least one molded part from the press and transfers it to a quality control unit, which performs the necessary controls, including weight control. In this case, the unit must also be equipped with a camera dedicated to reading the number of mold cavities in order to identify which cavity each preform originates from.

[0011] The last method is used to perform so-called partial statistical control. Specifically, solutions have been developed that allow for camera mounting to perform controls (e.g., controlling the color of the preforms) directly at the cooling plate or on the preform discharge belt. However, using this control method, it may be possible to identify only some defects and only some preforms that do not overlap or are oriented, in order to allow the camera to acquire a valid image.

[0012] Although the above solutions are widely used, they have some drawbacks.

[0013] In the first two cases, an orientation device, i.e., an additional machine, is required. Its introduction involves costs, higher consumption, and possible machine downtime. However, due to mechanical orientation systems, there is a risk of damaging the precast components in most cases.

[0014] In these cases, powder and / or residues of plastic that may contaminate the product may also be generated.

[0015] In addition, in all the solutions described, a dedicated camera must be provided to read the number of mold cavities of the controlled preform.

[0016] Furthermore, known solutions are difficult to integrate with devices used for manufacturing by molding preforms made of plastic materials, as well as with unloading and storage devices: in fact, each device, including quality control devices, is functionally connected to a computer, to an electrical panel, to a control system, etc., resulting in optimizable component redundancy.

[0017] If statistical control is performed online, the hourly productivity of the equipment must be aligned with the manufacturing unit (press) and the quality control unit, and in order to ensure the operation of the equipment as a whole, a bypass system that can intervene in case of problems at the quality control unit must be provided.

[0018] If control is performed offline, then if quality control of the molding process is desired, intervention is required from the operator who is feeding the material to the control machine.

[0019] Furthermore, in this case, it is impossible to use any information obtained from controls performed for feedback or adjustment of process parameters, because there is a time delay between the event and its detection, and this time delay is not constant.

[0020] Regarding solutions that implement partial statistical control, it should be noted that they provide inaccurate general information based on a very small sample size of preforms for each molding analysis, since it is not always possible to read the number of cavities and thus locate defects.

[0021] Furthermore, since it is uncertain whether the preforms produced by the mold cavity, which was intervened in in an attempt to resolve earlier detected problems, will be analyzed in subsequent cycles, it is impossible to verify whether any problems that have emerged have been resolved. Summary of the Invention

[0022] The objective of this invention is to provide an apparatus for manufacturing and unloading prefabricated components for manufacturing plastic containers, which improves upon the prior art in one or more of the aforementioned aspects.

[0023] Within this objective, the object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for manufacturing and unloading preforms for manufacturing plastic containers, which allows for minimizing the handling of the preforms to be controlled.

[0024] Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for manufacturing and unloading preforms for manufacturing plastic containers, which allows for a reduction in the number of units currently in use, eliminating the need for, for example, using cameras to detect the number of mold cavities or for supply and orientation devices, thereby saving in terms of economics and space, while avoiding dust generation.

[0025] Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for manufacturing and unloading preforms for manufacturing plastic containers, which is highly reliable, relatively readily available and cost-competitive.

[0026] This objective, and these and other objectives, will become more apparent below, and are achieved by an apparatus according to this application for manufacturing and unloading preforms for manufacturing plastic containers, the apparatus optionally being provided with one or more features described in the specific embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of some preferred, but non-exclusive, embodiments of the apparatus according to the invention for manufacturing and unloading preforms for manufacturing plastic containers, which are illustrated by non-limiting examples in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 This is a top view of an apparatus for manufacturing and unloading prefabricated components according to the present invention; Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A side view of the device; Figure 3 This is a magnified top view of a portion of the cooling removal device, where the selective removal device is shown in dashed lines at the pickup position and in solid lines near the transfer position. Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Side view of the portion shown; Figure 5 This is a top view of the selective removal device; Figure 6 yes Figure 5 Side view of the selective retrieval device; Figure 7 This is a top view of the control and inspection device under the first condition; Figure 8 Is in Figure 7 Front view of the control and inspection device under the conditions shown; Figure 9 Is in Figure 7 and Figure 8 Side view of the control and inspection device under the conditions shown; Figure 10 This is a top view of the control and inspection device under the second condition; Figure 11 Is in Figure 10 Front view of the control and inspection device under the conditions shown; Figure 12 Is in Figure 10 and Figure 11 Side view of the control and inspection device under the conditions shown. Detailed Implementation

[0028] Referring to the accompanying drawings, the apparatus for manufacturing and unloading preforms for manufacturing plastic containers according to the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 1, and includes a molding device 2 for molding (by injection) a plurality of preforms 10 and a cooling removal device 3 for cooling the preforms 10 and removing them from the molding device.

[0029] The cooling removal device 3 includes a plurality of clamping assemblies 4 forming cooling containers for the respective preforms 10, and a transfer device for transferring the still warm preforms from the molding device 2 to the clamping assemblies 4.

[0030] The cooling removal device 3 also includes an unloading plate 20 that supports a plurality of clamping bodies 21 arranged in a matrix and movable upon instruction to selectively engage the clamping assembly 4, thereby allowing the cooled preform 10 to be removed from the respective container and unloaded onto the unloading surface 22 of the preform 10.

[0031] According to the invention, the device 1 includes a selective removal device 30 for selectively removing preforms 10 of a predetermined subset 31 supported by an unloading plate 20 in a sequential manner along at least one pick-up direction 201, and means for sequentially transferring the preforms 10 of the predetermined subset 31 to at least one control inspection device 40, the control inspection device being adapted to perform at least one control on the preforms 10 of the predetermined subset 31.

[0032] The unloading plate 20 supports a plurality of clamping bodies 21 arranged in a matrix and along a plurality of rows 22a and a plurality of columns 22b, the columns being substantially perpendicular to the plurality of rows 22a.

[0033] A predetermined subset 31 of the preforms 10 supported by the unloading plate 20 corresponds to the preforms 10 supported by at least one row 22a of the clamping body 21 or by at least one column 22b corresponding to the clamping body 21.

[0034] Advantageously, the selective removal device 30 includes an elongated body 32 that forms a support for supporting the preform to be removed.

[0035] The selective retrieval device 30 is configured to selectively pick up preforms 10 supported by clamping bodies in different rows 22a and / or by clamping bodies in different columns 22b.

[0036] Conveniently, the control inspection device 40 is functionally associated with a moving device for moving the elongated body 32, which is adapted to be in the pickup position (at Figure 3(shown in dashed and broken lines) and a position for conveying substantially at the unloading area, where the elongated body 32 is arranged close to the unloading plate 20 and faces at least one corresponding row 22a and / or corresponding column 22b respectively, and the unloading area is arranged close to the conveyor 50 adapted to sequentially send the preform 10 at the control inspection device 40.

[0037] The moving device for moving the elongated body 32 includes, for example, a linear guide associated with a corresponding actuator to allow it to move at least from a pick-up position to a transfer position along a direction of motion 202, and optionally also along a substantially vertical direction 203 to enable programming of an optimal motion trajectory.

[0038] Referring to the actual implementation shown in the figure, the direction of movement can extend substantially perpendicular to the pickup direction 201.

[0039] The elongated body 32 conveniently includes a clamping structure to hold the preform 10 at its mutually facing longitudinal edges 32a.

[0040] Conveniently, the control inspection device 40 includes at least one unit selected from the group consisting of: - Top-sealed inspection unit with camera 41; - Bottom inspection unit with camera 42; - A main body defect inspection unit with camera 43; - A PET body stress inspection unit equipped with a camera 44 that uses polarized light or a grid; - Thread parting line inspection unit with camera 45; - Thread and bottleneck defect inspection unit with camera 46; - Prefabricated component color inspection unit with camera; - A unit used to detect the number of mold cavities; - A unit used to measure the body and threads using a camera, including thickness measurement; - A unit for measuring temperature using a pyrometer 47; - Weight control unit 48.

[0041] The control inspection device 40 also includes at least one unit selected from the group consisting of: - A unit for measuring thickness using optical sensors; - A unit for color control using a spectrometer; - A unit used for 3D reconstruction via tomography; - A unit used to detect acetaldehyde using an olfactory sensor.

[0042] The transmitter 50 is selected, for example, from a group that includes the following: - Belt or chain conveyor; - Air jet conveyor; - A pair of rollers rotating in opposite directions.

[0043] Device 1 includes an accumulation system downstream of conveyor 50.

[0044] A timing system can also be installed downstream of the accumulation system.

[0045] The operation of the device 1 according to the present invention is as follows.

[0046] The selective removal device 30 and the control and inspection device 40 can be arranged within the space occupied by the molding and cooling removal device.

[0047] Plastic is injected into a molding device through an extruder and then compressed.

[0048] The clamping assembly 4 removes the preform from the molding device 2 and controls the cooling of the preform 10 using known solutions.

[0049] The unloading plate 20 picks up the preform 10 from the clamping assembly 4 and its task is to move the preform onto the unloading surface 22 formed by the extrusion take-off belt. The preform 10 is released by the unloading plate 20, conveyed toward the exit by the take-off belt, and fed into the octabin by the take-off belt.

[0050] The selective removal device 30 includes, for example, an elongated body 32 that is movable along the direction of movement 202 to transfer the removed preform 10 to the control inspection device 40.

[0051] The elongated body 32 can also move along a substantially vertical direction 203 to pick up and receive the preform 10 from the unloading plate 20 in a controlled manner, and release it to the conveyor 50 in a controlled manner again.

[0052] Nothing prevents the possibility of moving the slender body 32 along different motion trajectories, such as combinations of motions along direction 202 and along direction 203.

[0053] The slender body 32 intervenes by picking up preforms directly from the unloading plate 20, wherein the preforms are arranged in a matrix of the replica mold matrix as explained.

[0054] Since the elongated body 32 may move near the unloading plate 20, the present invention allows the preform 10 to be picked up without the risk of causing defects during the transfer step.

[0055] The elongated body 32 picks column 22b and / or row 22a and / or the entire matrix. Picking occurs on each mold or at specific time intervals. If the system picks a single column 22b or a single row 22a, it can do so by deciding each time which of the i-th row 22a or j-th column 22b to pick.

[0056] Therefore, it is evident that the entire matrix or centralized picking of the mold may be reconstructed within a predetermined time, and thus controlled by triggers on a single row 22a or column 22b of the matrix, identified as a potential key for any reason, the triggers may be reported by the automation system or by the control system or by the operator's choice, with the prospect of increasing its total and thus its statistical value.

[0057] Since this control is performed by the clamping assembly, a reference to the individual mold cavity is maintained until inside the control inspection device 40, thereby allowing on-site control of individual specific mold cavities.

[0058] Once the preform 10 of the predetermined subset 31 has been picked up from the elongated element 32 and supported due to its geometry, for example, supported under the neck, it is transferred to the control inspection device 40 by means of movement along the direction of movement 202.

[0059] The control and inspection device 40 loads the prefabricated component 10 via a conveyor 50 configured to maintain its sequence and / or orientation.

[0060] However, there is nothing that prohibits the use of systems that may not guarantee order and / or orientation.

[0061] If orientation is not maintained, a rough inspection of precast component 10 may be necessary under any circumstances.

[0062] Advantageously, the conveyor 50 may include, for example, two relatively rotating rollers that maintain the order and orientation of the preforms 10, but do not maintain their spacing.

[0063] This type of roller conveyor allows preforms 10 to be supplied to the control and inspection device 40 without causing defects in the preforms 10. For this purpose, the conveyor 50 is adapted to be tilted at a certain angle, which may also be fixed, allowing the preforms 10 to form queues and continue their flow.

[0064] Downstream of the roller, there is an accumulation system with gravity guides that allow the roller to return horizontally at the pick-up position once the preform 10 has been unloaded.

[0065] Downstream of the buffer is a timing system, which may or may not be used as the first check tracking device.

[0066] The timing system includes, for example, a formatted star transmitter 51, which also serves as a first tracking device, but by way of non-limiting examples, it could also be a friction feeder or a pair of belts or chains.

[0067] Inspect the top seal and bottom of prefabricated part 10 along the star-shaped conveyor 51.

[0068] Upon exiting from the star-shaped conveyor 51, the preform 10 is handled below the seal and tamper-evident ring or via another characteristic geometry through a transfer jig 52 (which is pneumatic or electric). The transfer jig 52 serves three stations and advantageously transfers two preforms at a time via an actuation system consisting of pneumatic cylinders or electric actuators.

[0069] These three stations can be taken out by a star-shaped conveyor device, which consists of a weighing module including a weight control unit 48 and a second rotational inspection and tracking device.

[0070] There may be only two of these stations, and the weighing module, including the weight control unit 48, may be located downstream of the second tracking device.

[0071] The weighing module, including the weight control unit 48, has a plate that supports the prefabricated component below the bottleneck (or, if it is arranged after the second tracking device, on the body or below the neck).

[0072] Weighing is performed by mechanically or electronically isolating the weighing module, including the weight control unit 48, from the vibration of the press.

[0073] Due to weighing, the preform 10 is led to the second tracking device, where it is picked up by vacuum (or by clamp).

[0074] The axis of motion allows the preform 10 to be translated upwards, thereby allowing one or more pyrometers 47 to detect one or more temperature distributions on the outer body of the preform 10. A pyrometer 47 can also be positioned inside the preform 10 to detect internal distributions.

[0075] Once translated to the inspection position, the following operations are controlled on preform 10 during rotation permitted by the dedicated rotation axis: - Use cameras to inspect for defects in the main body; - Use polarized light or a grid to perform stress checks on PET bodies using a camera; - Use a camera to inspect the thread parting line and the main body; - Use a camera to inspect for thread and neck defects; - Use a camera to check the color of prefabricated components; - Detect the number of mold cavities; - Utilize a camera to measure the body and threads, including thickness.

[0076] The detection of the number of mold cavities allows the actual order in which preforms arrive at the control and inspection device 40 to be compared with the matrix arrangement of the molds, identify any preforms lost during transport, and thus report potential problems to the automation system.

[0077] During rotation, the circumferential temperature distribution can be detected using a pyrometer 47.

[0078] At this point, control of the preform 10 has been implemented, quality reports for individual preforms 10 have been recorded and / or released, and the preform is released from the vacuum jig onto a belt that removes the flow from the belt and reconnects it to the tray. If it is identified as defective, it may be rejected or it may continue in the flow of the preform: this distinction is achieved by a suitable separation device, such as a trapdoor, pneumatic device, etc., known in the prior art.

[0079] If the operator wishes to exercise further control (e.g., destructive control) over the preform via the separation device, for example, consisting of a trapdoor, he may decide to pick up the preform for sampling.

[0080] If the control and inspection device 40 detects a certain number of defective prefabricated parts with functional or aesthetic defects, under certain conditions, it may assume, based on these data, the relatively low overall quality of the prefabricated parts contained in the predetermined tray, and thus report the tray to assess any subsequent intervention.

[0081] The control inspection device 40 can be configured to control a series of parameters suitable for verifying, for example, the “trend” of device 1 or certain components thereof, which can signal to the operator without causing rejection of the controlled prefabricated part 10.

[0082] For example, if the control and inspection device 40 detects that the temperature or a dimension in a preform 10 manufactured in a predetermined mold cavity is slowly tending to deviate (while remaining within a consistent range), the inspection and control device 40 can report and recommend an inspection of the mold cavity during a subsequent machine downtime intervention, thus also offering the prospect of preventative / predictive maintenance.

[0083] The control inspection device 40 can also be used as a system for rapid sampling of precast components via a dedicated cycle selectable in an interface that accelerates the removal and exclusion of components for inspection, thereby allowing the operator immediate control without contamination.

[0084] Sampling can also be used to check the device's calibration via bench testing. Sampling is then performed again through a rejection trapdoor that directs the flow into a box that can be removed from the window.

[0085] This application is particularly useful for process control because it does not introduce defects into the product. This means that defects and measurements performed by the control system are only relevant to the press's process.

[0086] Furthermore, there is no operator-related contamination, such as sweating, because everything is automated.

[0087] Furthermore, it allows product temperature to be detected by a pyrometer within seconds and in a repeatable manner over time, thus allowing for practical control of the exit temperature of each mold cavity.

[0088] The inspection system can also be installed as a retrofit kit, that is, as an add-on device that can be installed on an already running system.

[0089] All values ​​detected by the system can be attributed to each individual mold cavity. This allows this information to be fed back onto the press and fixes any possible drift in each individual mold cavity.

[0090] As an alternative approach, this information may be correlated with certain parameters, and interventions or maintenance may be performed or predicted, or trends associated with certain parameters may be calculated.

[0091] The area where the control and inspection device is located may have an isolated entrance relative to the molding device.

[0092] This allows for parallel efficiency between the two machines, and therefore the efficiency of the control inspection device does not affect the efficiency of the press.

[0093] In addition, it may be used to resolve blockages or problems in the control and inspection devices and in the fixtures used to remove the molded device from the unloading plate when the molding device is opened.

[0094] Separation between two areas can be achieved by maintaining a safe distance for entry, by using a photoelectric barrier, by using an actuated isolator, or by other systems known in the art.

[0095] In fact, it has been found that the present invention has achieved the intended goals and objectives.

[0096] The present invention, conceived in this way, is readily subject to various modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all details may be further replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

[0097] Therefore, for example, it may also be provided that the unloading plate 20 can directly pick up a predetermined subset 31 of the prefabricated part 10 (e.g., one or more rows 22a and / or one or more columns 22b) via the adjustment device in order to send it to the control inspection device 40.

[0098] In fact, the materials used can be any materials according to requirements and existing technology, as long as they are compatible with the specific purpose and the possible shape and size.

Claims

1. An apparatus (1) for manufacturing and unloading preforms (10) for manufacturing plastic containers, comprising: A molding device (2) for injection molding multiple preforms (10) and a cooling removal device (3) for cooling and removing the preforms (10) from the molding device (2), the cooling removal device (3) including a clamping assembly (4) forming multiple cooling containers for the respective preforms (10), and a transfer device for transferring the still warm preforms from the molding device to the clamping assembly (4), the cooling removal device (3) including an unloading plate (20) supporting multiple clamping bodies (21) arranged in a matrix and movable according to instructions to selectively engage the clamps. The device (4), which allows the cooled preform (10) to be removed from the corresponding container and unloaded onto the unloading surface (22) of the preform (10), is characterized in that the device includes a selective removal device (30) for selectively removing a predetermined subset (31) of the preform (10) supported by the unloading plate (20) in a sequential manner along at least one pick-up direction (201), and at least one control inspection device (40) for sequentially transferring the predetermined subset (31) of the preform (10) to be adapted to perform at least one control on the predetermined subset (31) of the preform (10).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The unloading plate (20) supports a plurality of clamping bodies (21) arranged in a matrix along a plurality of rows (22a) and a plurality of columns (22b) substantially perpendicular to the plurality of rows. The predetermined subset (31) of the preforms supported by the unloading plate (20) corresponds to a preform (10) supported by at least one row (22a) of the clamping bodies (21) or by at least one column (22b) of the clamping bodies (21).

3. The device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The selective removal device (30) includes an elongated body (32) that forms a support for a preform (10) to be removed, the selective removal device (30) being configured to selectively pick up the supported preform (10) from different rows (22a) and / or from different columns (22b) of the clamping body (21).

4. The device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The control inspection device (40) is functionally associated with a moving device for moving the elongated body (32), the moving device being adapted to move the elongated body (32) between a pick-up position close to the unloading plate (20) and facing at least one corresponding row (22a) and / or corresponding column (22b), the conveying position being substantially close to the unloading area arranged near the conveyor (50), the conveyor being adapted to send the preform (10) to the control inspection device (40) in a sequential manner.

5. The device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control inspection device (40) includes at least one unit selected from the group consisting of: - A top-sealed inspection unit with a camera (41); - A bottom inspection unit with a camera (42); - A main body defect inspection unit equipped with a camera (43); - A PET body stress inspection unit equipped with a camera (44) that uses polarized light or a grid; - A thread parting line inspection unit with a camera (45); - A thread and bottleneck defect inspection unit with a camera (46); - Prefabricated component color inspection unit with camera; - A unit used to detect the number of mold cavities; - A unit used to measure the body and threads using a camera, including thickness measurement; - A unit for measuring temperature using a pyrometer (47); - Weight control unit (48).

6. The device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The control inspection device (40) further includes at least one unit selected from the group consisting of: - A unit for measuring thickness using optical sensors; - A unit for color control using a spectrometer; - A unit used for 3D reconstruction via tomography; - A unit used to detect acetaldehyde using an olfactory sensor.

7. The device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The transmitter is selected from the group consisting of: - Belt or chain conveyor; - Air jet transmitter; - A pair of rollers rotating in opposite directions.

8. The device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The device includes an accumulation system downstream of the transmitter (50).

9. The device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The device includes a timing system downstream of the accumulation system.

10. The device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The control and inspection device (40) includes a clamp (52) for transferring to three stations, the second station including a weighing module, which includes the weight control unit (48).

11. The device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The at least one pyrometer (47) is associated with a corresponding axis of motion adapted to allow relative movement between the at least one pyrometer (47) and the preform in order to detect at least one temperature distribution of the preform (10) along an extension axis of the preform (10).

12. The device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The device includes means for moving the preform (10) about a rotation axis relative to the at least one unit, so as to perform inspection and / or detection of the temperature distribution on the periphery of the preform (10) during rotation.

13. The device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The area where the control and inspection device (40) is located has an entrance that is isolated from the entrance of the molding device.

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