HEATING DEVICE FOR A BLOWING MACHINE WITH CONVEYOR CHAIN FOR A DOUBLE ROW TRANSPORT OF PREFORMS

The invention relates to a heating apparatus (H) having at least one heating line (24) for the thermal conditioning of preforms (1) made of thermoplastic material to a temperature profile which is suitable for blow shaping, wherein the heating apparatus (H) comprises a transport device for transporting the preforms (1) along a transport path (T) of the heating apparatus (H), said transport device comprising a revolving conveyor chain (F) having a plurality of pivotably interconnected chain links (33), and wherein the transport device comprises handling means (39) for holding and manipulating a single preform (1) each, wherein the transport device is embodied and configured such that the preforms (1) are guided in a single row in at least a first section of the transport path (T), and are guided in two adjacent rows in at least a second section of the transport path (T), and wherein each chain link (33) comprises a bracket (41) on which a first handling means (39) and a second handling means (39′) are arranged, and wherein the bracket (41) comprises a main arm (42) and a pivot arm (43), pivotably connected to the main arm (42), and wherein a change between a single-row transport of the preforms (1) and a double-row transport is enabled by pivoting the pivot arm (43).