A glass tube cleaning and cutting device includes a glass tube cutting device configured to cut an end portion of a glass tube while the glass tube cutting device rotates the glass tube having a predetermined length about a tube axis of the glass tube and conveys the glass tube in a direction orthogonal to the tube axis, at least one blower configured to blow air into an opening located on a first end portion side of the glass tube, and at least one cutting blade provided at a position opposite to the at least one blower interposing the glass tube therebetween, the at least one cutting blade being configured to impose thermal shock and scratches on an outer circumference surface of a second end portion side of the glass tube to cut the second end portion side of the glass tube.

A system for producing articles from glass tube includes a converter having a base with a plurality of processing stations and a turret moveable relative to the base. The turret indexes a plurality of holders for holding the glass tubes successively through the processing stations. The system further includes a thermal imaging system that includes a thermal imager coupled to the turret for movement with the turret. The thermal imaging system may also include a mirror coupled to the thermal imager and positioned to reflect infrared light from one of the plurality of holders to the thermal imager. The thermal imaging system may measure one or more characteristics of the glass tube during the conversion process. Processes for controlling the converter using the thermal imaging system to measure one or more process variables are also disclosed.

A system for producing articles from glass tube includes a converter having a base with a plurality of processing stations and a turret moveable relative to the base. The turret indexes a plurality of holders for holding the glass tubes successively through the processing stations. The system further includes a thermal imaging system that includes a thermal imager coupled to the turret for movement with the turret. The thermal imaging system may also include a mirror coupled to the thermal imager and positioned to reflect infrared light from one of the plurality of holders to the thermal imager. The thermal imaging system may measure one or more characteristics of the glass tube during the conversion process. Processes for controlling the converter using the thermal imaging system to measure one or more process variables are also disclosed.

A system for producing articles from glass tube includes a converter having a base with a plurality of processing stations and a turret moveable relative to the base. The turret indexes a plurality of holders for holding the glass tubes successively through the processing stations. The system further includes a thermal imaging system that includes a thermal imager coupled to the turret for movement with the turret. The thermal imaging system may also include a mirror coupled to the thermal imager and positioned to reflect infrared light from one of the plurality of holders to the thermal imager. The thermal imaging system may measure one or more characteristics of the glass tube during the conversion process. Processes for controlling the converter using the thermal imaging system to measure one or more process variables are also disclosed.

A system for producing articles from glass tube includes a converter having a base with a plurality of processing stations and a turret moveable relative to the base. The turret indexes a plurality of holders for holding the glass tubes successively through the processing stations. The system further includes a thermal imaging system that includes a thermal imager coupled to the turret for movement with the turret. The thermal imaging system may also include a mirror coupled to the thermal imager and positioned to reflect infrared light from one of the plurality of holders to the thermal imager. The thermal imaging system may measure one or more characteristics of the glass tube during the conversion process. Processes for controlling the converter using the thermal imaging system to measure one or more process variables are also disclosed.

A method for handling and forming may include: arranging glass tubes horizontally in a glass tube magazine; gripping and picking up a tube using a first manipulator from the magazine; rotating the tube gripped by the first manipulator from a horizontal position to a vertical position and inserting the tube into a revolver magazine; picking up the tube from the revolver magazine using a second manipulator; inserting the tube vertically from above into a single chuck of a first vertical rotating crown of rotating chucks; treating the tube at work stations to provide a tip-shaped end; transferring the tube to an intermediate rotating turret; releasing the single glass tube to a transfer-overturning assembly, rotating the tube to a horizontal position; inserting the tip-shaped end of the tube into a horizontal rotating chuck; and treating the tube at subsequent work stations to provide a flange-shaped end.

A method for handling and forming may include: arranging glass tubes horizontally in a glass tube magazine; gripping and picking up a tube using a first manipulator from the magazine; rotating the tube gripped by the first manipulator from a horizontal position to a vertical position and inserting the tube into a revolver magazine; picking up the tube from the revolver magazine using a second manipulator; inserting the tube vertically from above into a single chuck of a first vertical rotating crown of rotating chucks; treating the tube at work stations to provide a tip-shaped end; transferring the tube to an intermediate rotating turret; releasing the single glass tube to a transfer-overturning assembly, rotating the tube to a horizontal position; inserting the tip-shaped end of the tube into a horizontal rotating chuck; and treating the tube at subsequent work stations to provide a flange-shaped end.