The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing glass containers for pharmaceutical use. This method allows obtaining containers with a low degree of alkalinity. In some preferred embodiments the process allows the manufacture of sterile containers and substantially free of particles ready to be used by the pharmaceutical industry.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing glass containers for pharmaceutical use. This method allows obtaining containers with a low degree of alkalinity. In some preferred embodiments the process allows the manufacture of sterile containers and substantially free of particles ready to be used by the pharmaceutical industry.

A glass tube semi-finished product or a hollow glass product manufactured from the glass tube semi-finished product is provided with a first marking with information on the origin and/or tube-specific production data of the glass tube semi-finished product, which marking is read from the hollow glass product after its manufacture to determine the origin and/or the tube-specific production data of the glass tube semi-finished product, e.g., to identify the semi-finished glass tube from which the hollow glass product has been made, and/or trace the tube-specific production data of this glass tube semi-finished product. This means that the entire supply chain for the hollow glass product from the supplier of the originally used glass tube semi-finished product up to the end product can be determined. The physical and chemical characteristics of the glass tube semi-finished product are not altered for producing the first marking.

A glass tube semi-finished product or a hollow glass product manufactured from the glass tube semi-finished product is provided with a first marking with information on the origin and/or tube-specific production data of the glass tube semi-finished product, which marking is read from the hollow glass product after its manufacture to determine the origin and/or the tube-specific production data of the glass tube semi-finished product, e.g., to identify the semi-finished glass tube from which the hollow glass product has been made, and/or trace the tube-specific production data of this glass tube semi-finished product. This means that the entire supply chain for the hollow glass product from the supplier of the originally used glass tube semi-finished product up to the end product can be determined. The physical and chemical characteristics of the glass tube semi-finished product are not altered for producing the first marking.

A glass tube element having a hollow cylindrical section with a shell having an outer diameter is provided. A first ratio is a difference value to a mean value. The difference value is a difference of a minimal and maximal value of the outer diameter. The mean value is a mean of the minimal and maximal values. A sub-section having a start, an end, and a distance of 1 meter measured along a straight line from the start to the end and intersecting with a center axis of the sub-section at the start and the end. The sub-section having, for every point of the center axis, a shortest distance to the straight line. A second ratio of a specific distance to 1 meter, the specific distance being defined as a largest of all shortest distances. A product of the first and second ratio is smaller than 4×10.sup.−6.

A glass container comprises a glass body comprising a first region under a compressive stress extending from a surface of the glass body to a depth of compression and a second region extending from the depth of compression into a thickness of the glass body, the second region being under a tensile stress. The glass container also includes a localized compressive stress region having a localized compressive stress extending from the surface to a localized depth of compression within the body. The localized depth of compression is greater than the depth of compression of the first region. The glass container also includes a crack re-direction region extending in a predetermined propagation direction, wherein the crack re-direction region possesses a higher tensile stress than the tensile stress in the second region in a sub-region of the crack re-direction region, the sub-region extending substantially perpendicular to the predetermined propagation direction.

A glass container comprises a glass body comprising a first region under a compressive stress extending from a surface of the glass body to a depth of compression and a second region extending from the depth of compression into a thickness of the glass body, the second region being under a tensile stress. The glass container also includes a localized compressive stress region having a localized compressive stress extending from the surface to a localized depth of compression within the body. The localized depth of compression is greater than the depth of compression of the first region. The glass container also includes a crack re-direction region extending in a predetermined propagation direction, wherein the crack re-direction region possesses a higher tensile stress than the tensile stress in the second region in a sub-region of the crack re-direction region, the sub-region extending substantially perpendicular to the predetermined propagation direction.

An apparatus and process for processing outer surfaces of glass containers (50) for use in pharmaceutical, medical or cosmetic applications, said glass containers (50) having a cylindrical main body (52). The process comprises: providing (S1) a plurality of containers (50); separating individual containers from said plurality of containers (50); and sequentially conveying said individual containers (50) through a processing station (1; 61). In the processing station (1; 61), the individual containers (50) are rotated about a longitudinal axis thereof while outer surfaces of the cylindrical main bodies (52) are in contact with a scrubbing member (27; 30, 35), for reducing an adhesive surface behavior of the outer surfaces of the cylindrical main bodies (52) of the individual containers. In this manner the surface properties of glass containers may be enhanced significantly with a cost-efficient and simple processing to thereby prevent undesired ‘stickiness behavior’ of the glass containers.

An apparatus and process for processing outer surfaces of glass containers (50) for use in pharmaceutical, medical or cosmetic applications, said glass containers (50) having a cylindrical main body (52). The process comprises: providing (S1) a plurality of containers (50); separating individual containers from said plurality of containers (50); and sequentially conveying said individual containers (50) through a processing station (1; 61). In the processing station (1; 61), the individual containers (50) are rotated about a longitudinal axis thereof while outer surfaces of the cylindrical main bodies (52) are in contact with a scrubbing member (27; 30, 35), for reducing an adhesive surface behavior of the outer surfaces of the cylindrical main bodies (52) of the individual containers. In this manner the surface properties of glass containers may be enhanced significantly with a cost-efficient and simple processing to thereby prevent undesired ‘stickiness behavior’ of the glass containers.

A glass container comprises a glass body comprising a first region under a compressive stress extending from a surface of the glass body to a depth of compression and a second region extending from the depth of compression into a thickness of the glass body, the second region being under a tensile stress. The glass container also includes a localized compressive stress region having a localized compressive stress extending from the surface to a localized depth of compression within the body. The localized depth of compression is greater than the depth of compression of the first region. The glass container also includes a crack re-direction region extending in a predetermined propagation direction, wherein the crack re-direction region possesses a higher tensile stress than the tensile stress in the second region in a sub-region of the crack re-direction region, the sub-region extending substantially perpendicular to the predetermined propagation direction.