Preform ejection device for a blow molding plant manufacturing thermoplastic containers from preforms

Abstract

Title: Preform ejection device for a blow molding plant for thermoplastic containers from preforms The present invention relates to a preform ejection device (11) for a blow molding plant for thermoplastic containers from preforms, of the type comprising a conveying means including a succession of gripping devices (14) intended to carry a preform in order to circulate it in a vertical position along a substantially horizontal path, each preform being made up of a substantially cylindrical body and a neck having at least one collar, the gripping devices (14) carrying the preforms at the level of the neck of the latter by engaging axially in the neck of the preform to grasp it;said device is remarkable in that it comprises at least one finger (35) extending above the collar in a so-called rest position and an actuator (36) cooperating with said finger (35) to move the latter downwards in a substantially vertical plane from its rest position to a so-called active position in which said finger (35) bears against the upper face of the collar of the preform to detach said preform from its gripping device (14) before returning to its rest position. Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 5;

Description

Title of the invention: 1. Preform ejection device for a blow molding plant manufacturing thermoplastic containers from preforms technical field

[0001] The field of the invention is that of the design and manufacture of plastic containers. The present invention relates more particularly to a preform ejection device for a blow molding plant for manufacturing thermoplastic containers from preforms, of the type comprising a series of transport elements, each of which is equipped with at least one gripping device for carrying a preform in order to move it in a vertical position along a substantially horizontal path. State of the art

[0002] In the field of manufacturing plastic containers from preforms, it is well known of conveying systems for said preforms of the type comprising a series of transport elements which are each equipped with at least one gripping device intended to carry a preform in order to circulate it in a vertical position along a path, oriented from upstream to downstream, inside the installation, of the type in which each gripping device is mobile along a vertical axis relative to the transport element which carries it so that, when brought from a high clear position to a low gripping position, it engages axially in the neck of the preform and grasps it.

[0003] Such a system is described for example in document FR2794109.

[0004] Such conveying systems are found in container blow molding machines in which the container is obtained by blow molding, introducing a preform previously produced by injection molding into a blow mold. These machines are used, for example, for the manufacture of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles.

[0005] This type of machine usually includes an oven designed to heat the preforms inside at least one heating tunnel before the blowing operation.

[0006] This oven includes a conveying system which allows the preforms to circulate inside the heating tunnel.

[0007] The conveying system can for example consist of a chain of link-shaped transport elements animated by a continuous movement on itself.

[0008] To grasp the preform, each transport element includes a device for gripping which is axially mobile relative to the transport element and which, when brought from an extreme unobstructed position to an extreme gripping position, engages axially in the neck of the preform.

[0009] To achieve this, the preform must be brought below the corresponding transport element and must be held perfectly vertically above it throughout the gripping operation. However, during this gripping operation, the transport element moves continuously, so the preform must also be moved continuously.

[0010] For this purpose, the preform is, for example, supported by a conveyor wheel comprising a disc that is driven in rotation about its axis and which is provided, on its periphery, with substantially semi-circular notches. A circular arc guide is arranged around a portion of the periphery of the disc such that a preform can be radially clamped between a notch in the disc and the guide. The preform then rests, by means of a collar located at the base of its neck, on both the disc and the guide, the neck and the body of the preform extending respectively above and below the level of the disc. Thus, the preform is carried by the conveyor wheel and, due to the rotation of the disc, is driven along a circular trajectory.

[0011] The preforms and transport elements are positioned on the transport wheel so that each preform is axially arranged directly above the gripping device of one of the transport elements. Thus, the gripping device can be controlled, at a point on the circumference of the wheel, to its lower gripping position to grasp the preform by its neck.

[0012] It is therefore noted that, at this point on the circumference of the wheel, the preform is still in contact with the transport wheel and with the guide, which ends just after this point to allow the preform to follow the trajectory of the transport element.

[0013] In theory, at this point on the circumference of the wheel, the preform is therefore supported by its collar on the transport wheel and its position is perfectly defined by the notch in the disc in which it is held captive.

[0014] However, in practice, it is necessary to provide some clearance between the preform, the disc, and the guide. The preform therefore has a certain degree of freedom of movement relative to these two elements. It has been observed that this freedom allows the preform to vibrate on the conveyor wheel, which is particularly noticeable in high-speed installations where the speed of the preform's movement at the conveyor wheel is relatively high. These vibrations can affect the accuracy of the actual position of the preform's neck at the gripping point, such that, in some cases, the gripping device and the neck may be slightly but sufficiently misaligned. point of preventing the correct grasping of the preform.

[0015] It is already known to provide devices to improve the stability of the preform at the time of its grasping, for example in document FR2794109.

[0016] These devices, although satisfactory, nevertheless have certain limitations, particularly when the conveying system is required to operate at very high speeds, so that some preforms may be grasped incorrectly by a gripping device, which can produce significant malfunctions in the machine.

[0017] To remedy this drawback, a conveying system has already been devised that includes means for ejecting preforms that are incorrectly positioned on the associated gripping device. Such a system is described in particular in document EP1781460.

[0018] Said document EP1781460 discloses a conveying system in which each gripping device is linked in axial movement, upwards and downwards, to an associated boom which is mounted to slide axially in one direction and which carries, at its lower axial end, a cam follower element, the boom being axially forced downwards so that the cam follower element cooperates with a surface of a fixed cam which is intended to drive the gripping device from its clear upper position to its lower gripping position.The said gantry includes a pad with a bearing surface designed to cooperate by sliding with a fixed ramp having a control surface inclined with respect to the vertical and generally oriented upwards, when the gripping device occupies an axial position intermediate between its clear upper position and its low gripping position, this intermediate axial position corresponding to an incorrect positioning of the gripping device in the preform, so that the fixed ramp drives the pad upwards and causes the axial sliding of the gripping device to its clear upper position in order to allow the ejection of the associated preform, the fixed ramp extending axially to a determined height so that, when the gripping device occupies its low gripping position, the pad can move under the fixed ramp in a passage provided for this purpose.

[0019] This type of ejection device nevertheless has the disadvantage of not being suitable for very high production rates, i.e. rates exceeding 60,000 bottles per hour and depositing grease in the preforms. Disclosure of the invention

[0020] One of the aims of the invention is therefore to remedy these drawbacks by providing a device for ejecting preforms that are mispositioned and / or defective after their heat treatment, of simple and inexpensive design, and allowing ejection of preforms at high rates while avoiding a deposit of grease on the other preforms, i.e. the non-ejected preforms.

[0021] To this end and in accordance with the invention, a preform ejection device is proposed for a blow molding installation of thermoplastic containers from preforms, of the type comprising a conveying means including a succession of gripping devices intended to carry a preform in order to circulate it in a vertical position along a substantially horizontal path, each preform being made up of a substantially cylindrical body and a neck having at least one flange and an annular groove extending above said flange, the gripping device carrying the preforms at the level of the neck of the latter by engaging axially in the neck of the preform to grasp it;said ejection device being remarkable in that it comprises at least one finger extending above the collar in a so-called rest position and an actuator cooperating with said finger to move the latter downwards in a substantially vertical plane from its rest position to a so-called active position in which said finger bears against the upper face of the collar of the preform to detach said preform from its gripping device before returning to its rest position.

[0022] Preferably, said finger moves along a linear trajectory.

[0023] According to one embodiment, said finger moves along a curvilinear trajectory.

[0024] Furthermore, said finger is fixed to a carriage mounted movable along a guide.

[0025] Preferably, the ejection device according to the invention comprises two fingers extending, in their rest positions, on either side of the neck of the preforms and above the collars of said preforms.

[0026] Each finger is attached to a carriage mounted movable on a vertical guide.

[0027] Furthermore, each vertical guide consists of a vertical cylindrical rod.

[0028] In addition, each carriage is equipped with a ball or needle bearing.

[0029] Preferably, each finger is formed by a horizontal triangular plate.

[0030] In a particularly advantageous manner, said actuator takes the form of a linear actuator.

[0031] Said linear actuator preferably consists of a linear electromagnetic actuator.

[0032] Said linear electromagnetic actuator comprises two rods whose free ends are respectively attached to a carriage.

[0033] Another object of the invention consists of a blow molding installation for manufacturing thermoplastic containers from preforms, of the type comprising a conveying means comprising a succession of gripping devices intended to carry a preform in order to circulate in a vertical position along a substantially horizontal path, each preform being made up of a substantially cylindrical body and a neck having at least one collar, the gripping device carrying the preforms at the level of the neck of the latter by engaging axially in the neck of the preform to grasp it, said installation comprising at least one thermal conditioning unit and one forming unit; said installation being notable in that it comprises at least one ejection device according to the invention. Brief description of the drawings

[0034] Other advantages and features will become clearer from the following description of several embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, of the preform ejection device according to the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0035] [Fig-1] is a schematic general view of a re-production installation containers seen from above,

[0036] [Fig.2] is a detail view of the medallion in [Fig.1] representing a preform,

[0037] [Fig.3] is an overview of a toumette,

[0038] [Fig.4] is a view of the nose of the toumette,

[0039] [Fig. 5] is a perspective view of the preform ejection device following the invention,

[0040] [Fig.6] is a side view of the preform ejection device according to the invention represented in [Fig.1].

[0041] [Fig.7] is a side view of the fingers of the following preform ejection device the invention shown in figures 5 and 6. Method of embodying the invention

[0042] In the remainder of the description of the preform ejection device according to the invention, the same numerical references designate the same elements. The different views are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0043] A schematic representation is shown in [Fig.1], of a series production installation 1 of containers 2 made of thermoplastic material from preforms 3.

[0044] In the following description, the preforms 3 and the containers 2 move within the production installation along a circulation path from upstream to downstream. The preforms 3 are moved in a line along a heating path by conveying means which will be detailed later.

[0045] Without limitation, the containers 2 are herein bottles. The thermoplastic material is, for example, here formed by polyethylene terephthalate, designated by the continued under its acronym "PET".

[0046] With reference to [Fig. 2], each preform 3 has a principal "X" axis shown vertically in [Fig. 2]. Each preform 3 has a cylindrical body 4 with tubular walls, closed at one of its axial ends by a bottom 5, and open at its other end by a neck 6, also tubular. The neck 6 is delimited downwards by a collar 7 and upwards by an upper end edge called the drinking rim 8.

[0047] The neck 6 generally presents its final shape while the body 4 of the preform 3 is intended to undergo a relatively large deformation to form the final container 2 during a forming step.

[0048] With reference to [Fig.1], the container manufacturing installation includes at least one heat conditioning unit 9, one forming unit 10 and at least one ejection device 11 which will be detailed later.

[0049] The heat conditioning unit 9, also called an oven, heats a series of preforms 3 to a reference temperature. The reference temperature is chosen so that the body 4 of each preform 3 exiting the heat conditioning unit 9 is in a malleable state, allowing the body 4 of the heated preform 3 to be deformed in order to form the container 2 in the forming unit 10. The reference temperature is between the glass transition temperature and the crystallization temperature of the plastic material of the preform 3. In the case of PET, the reference temperature is, for example, close to 110°C. The value of the reference temperature may vary depending on the product with which the container 2 will be filled or depending on the container filling technique. Thus, the reference temperature is different for hot filling or for a carbonated product, for example.

[0050] According to the embodiment shown in [Fig.1], the heat conditioning unit 9 is a scroll oven, in which the preforms 3 are transported to be exposed to a plurality of heating radiation sources 12.

[0051] For this purpose, the thermal conditioning unit 9 includes a means of conveying 13 of the preforms 3 through the thermal conditioning unit 9 along a heating path extending between an inlet and an outlet of the thermal conditioning unit 9.

[0052] With reference to Figures 1 and 3, said conveying means 13 comprises a succession of gripping devices 14, each capable of supporting a preform 3, mounted on a chain, moving along the heating path in the thermal conditioning unit 9.

[0053] Each gripping device 14 is, for example, capable of receiving a preform 3 by fitting the neck 6 onto a swivel 15 as shown in [Fig. 3]. Each swivel 15 is, for example, rotationally mobile relative to the chain around of an axis A of rotation coinciding with the principal axis X of a preform 3 when the latter is supported by the turntable 15.

[0054] The thermal conditioning unit 9 also includes a heating cavity which includes two side walls facing each other and at least one of these walls being the one which supports several radiation sources 12 arranged one above the other and one next to the other facing the preforms.

[0055] In other words, the heat conditioning unit 9 comprises a plurality of radiation sources 12 distributed along the heating path and at a height substantially corresponding to the height of the preforms, such that the entire height of the body 4 of each preform 3 is exposed to the radiation sources 12 along the preform's path in the heat conditioning unit 9. By rotating the preforms 3 around their principal axis X, the turntables 15 allow the entire body 4 of the preforms to be uniformly exposed to the radiation sources 12. In this particular embodiment, the radiation sources 12 are distributed on only one side of this path, and a reflective wall 16 is arranged on the other side of the heating path to reflect the heat back towards the preforms 3.

[0056] In another embodiment not shown, the radiation sources 12 can be distributed on either side of the heating path without going out of the scope of the invention.

[0057] It should also be noted that the radiation sources 12 are arranged, where appropriate, so as not to expose the neck 6 to the heat emitted by the radiation sources 12. Indeed, as previously stated, only the body 4 of the preform 3 is formed to produce the container 2. Therefore, the neck 6 must not be deformed during forming and must not be heated. To prevent heating of the neck 6, the heat treatment unit 9 may include a ventilation device positioned at the necks 6 of the preforms 3 to remove the heat that may be absorbed by said necks 6.

[0058] Each radiation source 12 is formed by an incandescent lamp emitting infrared radiation.

[0059] In another embodiment, each radiation source 12 is a laser diode emitting infrared radiation.

[0060] In other words, each source 12 of radiation is a laser (for example laser diodes) emitting in the infrared and arranged by juxtaposition and / or superposition to form one or more matrices.

[0061] In another embodiment, each radiation source 12 is a microwave generator.

[0062] Then, once the preform 3 has been heat-conditioned through the heat-conditioning unit 9, it is transferred to the forming unit 10 to be formed.

[0063] Said container forming unit 10 from preforms 3, with reference to [Fig. 1], comprises a forming wheel 17 rotating a plurality of blowing stations 18 from an inlet to an outlet, at which a succession of containers 2 are formed from the preforms 3, and then extracted, as shown in [Fig. 1]. The axis of rotation of the forming wheel 17 is, for example, substantially parallel to the principal axis X of the preforms 3 when they are conveyed by the forming wheel 17.

[0064] Each blowing station 18 includes a mold 19 forming a molding cavity having the shape of the container 2 to be formed and arranged to receive a preform 3 so that the body 4 of the preform 3 extends into the molding cavity.

[0065] The container manufacturing installation also includes at least one preform ejection device 11, namely an ejection device 11 positioned in the heat treatment unit 9, along the heating path, and / or a second ejection device 11 positioned at the outlet of the heat treatment unit 9, i.e., between the heat treatment unit 9 and the forming unit 10, along the circulation path. This ejection device 11 will be described in more detail later in the description.

[0066] With reference to [Fig.3], the gripping device 14 usually includes a support also called a link 20, which although represented individually on [Fig.3], is in fact integrated into a chain which includes a multitude of such links 20.

[0067] In this embodiment, the link 20, preferably metallic (e.g. steel), comprises two superimposed arms 21, 22, which protrude laterally from a core 23. The arms 21, 22 are pierced with coaxial holes 24 which together define a main axis.

[0068] The gripping device 14 further comprises a mandrel 25 with an axis of revolution mounted in the holes 24 of the link 20 via a sliding pivot connection relative to the link 20, the main axis of the holes 24 and the axis of revolution of the mandrel 25 being thus coaxial, a pinion 26 fixed in rotation to one of the free ends of the mandrel 25, the pinion 26 being advantageously formed on a spool-shaped end 27, press-fitted onto the mandrel 25, and a spool 15 mounted on the other end of the mandrel 25.

[0069] Said toumette 15 comprises at least one toumette nose 28 which is fixed to the mandrel 25 in a removable manner, in this case by means of a bayonet (not shown in the figure), said toumette nose 28 being intended to receive the neck 6 of the preform 3, and an ejector 29 secured to the link 20 by removable fixing means well known to the person skilled in the art.

[0070] Said ejector 29 has a substantially cylindrical shape and comprises at one at least one of its extremities, called the preform ejection surface 3.

[0071] The chuck 25 and the toumette nose 28 extend coaxially to the ejector 29 in such a way that the free end of the toumette nose 28 protrudes from the ejector 29.

[0072] According to an alternative embodiment, not shown in the figures, the link 20 can be a linear motor also comprising at least one hole and in which the chuck, the sprocket, the pinion are mounted by sliding pivot, without going out of the scope of the invention.

[0073] In another embodiment not shown, the conveying means 13 comprises, for example, a series of gripping devices 14, each capable of supporting a preform 3, mounted on a linear motor-type shuttle circulating on a closed magnetic loop. The movement of each of these shuttles is then controlled independently of each other by a control unit (not shown in the figures).

[0074] It is clear that the toumette 15 is a mobile assembly intended to ensure the gripping of a preform 3 by its neck 6, and mounted on the link 20 with two degrees of freedom: a translation along the main axis A and a rotation around the main axis A.

[0075] With reference to [Fig.4], the toumette nose 28 comprises a radially expanding head 30 which is force-inserted into the neck 6 of the preform 3, a radiator 31, and a shaft 32.

[0076] Said cylindrical head 30 with vertical axis "A" has an outside diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the neck 6 of the preform 3 so that there remains a radial sliding clearance between the head 30 and the neck 6 of the preform 3 when the head 30 is fitted into said neck 6.

[0077] Preferably, the head 30 comprises rings 33 which are in the form of ring sectors. Each ring 33 is received to slide radially in a radial housing of the head 30 between a so-called retracted position towards the axis "A" of the head 30 in which the toumette 15 can slide vertically relative to the neck 6 and a so-called radial expansion position in which they are likely to be clamped against the internal cylindrical face of the neck 6 to retain the preform 3 by friction.

[0078] The rings 33 are elastically constrained towards their expansion position by means of an elastic ring which is interposed radially between the bottom of the housing made in the head and the ring 33.

[0079] Furthermore, the head 30 is delimited vertically downwards by a section of larger diameter delimiting an annular shoulder face which is turned downwards and which forms a positioning face against which the drinking 8 is received vertically when fitting the head 30 into the neck 6.

[0080] The radiator 31 is arranged above the head 30 and includes fins 34 which present a generally cylindrical shape with a main vertical axis A, coaxial with the axis A of the head and whose diameter is equivalent to the diameter of the section with a larger diameter than the head 30.

[0081] The shaft 32 is fixed at one of its ends to the radiator assembly 31 and head 30, while the other end of the shaft 32 is fixed to the chuck 25 in a detachable manner, in this case by means of a bayonet (not shown in the figures), the head 30, the radiator 31, the shaft 32 and the chuck 25 being coaxial.

[0082] In order to remove preforms 3 which are incorrectly positioned on the associated gripping device 14 before their heat treatment and / or to eject preforms 3 which, after their heat treatment, have a defect likely to prevent proper blowing into the forming unit 10, with reference to Figures 1 and 5 to 7, the installation advantageously includes at least one ejection device 11 for the preforms 3, namely a first ejection device 11 positioned in the heat treatment unit 9, along the heating path, and / or a second ejection device 11 positioned at the exit of the heat treatment unit 9, i.e. between the heat treatment unit 9 and the forming unit 10, along the circulation path.

[0083] With reference to figures 5 to 7, said ejection device 11 comprises at least one finger 35 extending above the collar 7 of the preform 3 in a so-called rest position and an actuator 36 cooperating with said finger 35 to move the latter downwards in a substantially vertical plane from its rest position to a so-called active position in which said finger 36 bears against the upper face of the collar 7 of the preform 3 to detach said preform 3 from its gripping device 14 before returning to its rest position.

[0084] More specifically, said ejection device 11 comprises a plate 37 suitable for being fixed to the frame of the heat treatment unit 9, for example, and carrying said actuator 36 which, in this particular embodiment, comprises two vertical rods 38 at the upper end of which two fingers 35 are fixed. Said fingers 35 extend on either side of the axis of the preforms 3, along their path, above the collars 7 of said preforms 3 in the so-called rest position.

[0085] Each finger 35 and / or rod 38 of the actuator 36 is integral with a carriage 39 mounted to move along a vertical guide 40. Thus, the ejection device 11 comprises two vertical guides 40 in the form of cylindrical rods extending parallel to the vertical rods 38 of the actuator 36 and along which the carriages 39 carrying the fingers 35 slide. Said guides 40 are integral with the plate 37.

[0086] In order to facilitate the sliding of the carriages 38 along the guides 39, said carriages advantageously include a ball or needle bearing.

[0087] In this particular embodiment, each finger 35 is formed by a triangular plate extending substantially horizontally and whose tip is substantially oriented towards the axis of preforms 3.

[0088] It is quite obvious that the ejection device 11 according to the invention could comprise only one finger 35 and each finger 35 could have any shape whatsoever without going out of the scope of the invention.

[0089] Advantageously, said actuator 36 takes the form of a linear actuator, and more particularly the form of a linear electromagnetic actuator. Thus, the speed of movement of the fingers 35 provided by said actuator makes it possible to eject the preforms one by one at high rates, i.e., rates exceeding 60,000 bottles per hour. Furthermore, the use of such an actuator 36 prevents any grease from being projected onto the preforms.

[0090] It is quite obvious that said actuator 36 may consist of any other equivalent actuator well known to a person skilled in the art without going out of the scope of the invention.

[0091] Thus, when a preform 3 is incorrectly positioned on the associated gripping device 14 before its heat treatment and / or when a preform 3 with a defect is detected by an appropriate sensor, not shown in the figures, the actuator 36 is activated in such a way that the fingers 35, which in the rest position extend above the collar 7 of the preforms, are moved rapidly along a linear downward trajectory to take hold of the upper face of the collar 7 and eject the preform 3 from the head 30 of the nose of the preform 28 of its gripping device 14, said fingers 35 returning to their initial rest position rapidly after ejection, ready for a new ejection of a preform.

[0092] According to an alternative embodiment, not shown in the figures, the ejection device 18 could include one or two fingers 35 mounted at the end of a lever articulated around an axis, the other end of the lever being attached to the rod 38 of the actuator 36 in such a way that said finger 35 moves along a curvilinear trajectory without going out of the scope of the invention.

[0093] Finally, it is quite clear that the examples just given are only particular illustrations and in no way limiting as to the fields of application of the invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Device (11) for ejecting preforms (3) for a manufacturing installation (1) for blow-molding containers (2) made of thermoplastic material from preforms (3), of the type comprising a conveying means (13) comprising a succession of gripping devices (14) intended to carry a preform (3) in order to circulate it in a vertical position along a substantially horizontal path, each preform (3) consisting of a substantially cylindrical body (4) and a neck (6) comprising at least one flange (7), the gripping devices (14) carrying the preforms (3) at the neck (6) of the latter by engaging axially in the neck (6) of the preform (3) to grip it,characterized in that it comprises at least one finger (35) extending above the collar (7) in a so-called rest position and an actuator (36) cooperating with said finger (35) to move the latter downwards in a substantially vertical plane from its rest position to a so-called active position in which said finger (35) bears on the upper face of the collar (7) of the preform (3) to detach said preform (3) from its gripping device (14) before returning to its rest position.,

2. Preform ejection device according to claim 1 characterized in that said finger (35) moves along a linear trajectory.

3. Preform ejection device according to claim 1 characterized in that said finger (35) moves along a curvilinear trajectory.

4. Preform ejection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that said finger (35) is integral with a carriage (39) mounted to move along a guide (40).

5. Preform ejection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises two fingers (35) extending, in their rest positions, on either side of the neck (7) of the preforms (3) and above the collars (7) of said preforms (3).

6. Preform ejection device according to claim 5 characterized in that each finger (35) is integral with a carriage (39) mounted movably on a vertical guide (40).

7. Preform ejection device according to claim 6 characterized in that each vertical guide (40) consists of a rod vertical cylindrical.

8. Preform ejection device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that each carriage (39) is provided with a ball or needle bearing.

9. Preform ejection device according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that each finger (35) is formed by a horizontal triangular plate.

10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 characterized in that said actuator (36) takes the form of a linear actuator.

11. Device according to claim 10 characterized in that said linear actuator (36) consists of a linear electromagnetic actuator.

12. Device according to claim 10 and any one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that said linear electromagnetic actuator (36) comprises two rods (38) whose free ends are respectively secured to a carriage (39).

13. Manufacturing installation (1) by blowing containers (2) made of thermoplastic material from preforms (3), of the type comprising a conveying means (13) comprising a succession of gripping devices (14) intended to carry a preform (3) with a view to circulating in a vertical position along a substantially horizontal path, each preform (3) consisting of a substantially cylindrical body (4) and a neck (6) comprising at least one flange (7), the gripping device (14) carrying the preforms (3) at the neck (6) of the latter by engaging axially in the neck (6) of the preform (3) to grip it, said installation (1) comprising at least one thermal conditioning unit (9) and a forming unit (10), characterized in that it comprises at least one ejection device (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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