A method of manufacturing a tip for use with smokeable substances. A tube is rotated while applying heat to a section. The heated section is squeezed with tapered rollers and a pivoting rod is inserted. The rollers and rod are removed and heat is again applied. The heated portion is squeezed a second time with the tapered rollers and the rod is reinserted. The rollers and rod are removed and heat is again applied. The heated portion is again squeezed with the tapered rollers and the pivoting rod is again reinserted. The rollers and rod are removed and heat is applied to the end of the tube. The tube is scored above the end to form a scored line. Heat is applied to the scored line. Water is sprayed onto the scored line to split the tube into two pieces. Heat is applied to the tube at the split end.

A method for producing a vial with low alkali elution by removing a deteriorated region caused by processing on an internal surface of a vial is disclosed. The method involves forming vials from borosilicate glass tubes including a first step of forming a borosilicate glass tube into a cup-shaped body by formation of a bottom of a vial, and a second step of forming the cup-shaped body into the vial by formation of a mouth of the cup-shaped body.

A method for producing a vial with low alkali elution by removing a deteriorated region caused by processing on an internal surface of a vial is disclosed. The method involves forming vials from borosilicate glass tubes including a first step of forming a borosilicate glass tube into a cup-shaped body by formation of a bottom of a vial, and a second step of forming the cup-shaped body into the vial by formation of a mouth of the cup-shaped body.

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 device for the shaping of glass bodies, in particular of pharmaceutical vials, comprises a clamping chuck for holding a glass body, a rotary drive for driving the clamping chuck rotatingly, further at least one heat source for heating a glass body held within the clamping chuck, and further a controller which is coupled to the rotary drive so that the clamping chuck can be driven at variable rotational speed.

A method for molding end portions on glass containers that store pharmaceutical active ingredients is provided. The glass containers are produced from a glass tube by hot-forming, an end portion having a neck opening using a centrally disposed opening forming tool interacting with a shaping tool at one end of the glass containers. In the method, dimensional data is provided for the respective glass tube and the position of the shaping tool is adjusted in a motorized manner in the axial direction (z) of the glass containers so as to correspond to the provided dimensional data for the respective glass tube.

A hot forming device for producing glass containers from a glass tube is provided. The device includes a machine frame, a turntable, a plurality of holding chucks, and a direct drive motor. The turntable is mounted on the machine frame. The holding chucks are arranged on the turntable. The turntable is connected to the machine frame directly by the direct drive without a transmission. The direct drive has a stator arranged in an upper region of the machine frame and a rotor on the turntable.

A hot forming device for producing glass containers from a glass tube is provided. The device includes a machine frame, a turntable, a plurality of holding chucks, and a direct drive motor. The turntable is mounted on the machine frame. The holding chucks are arranged on the turntable. The turntable is connected to the machine frame directly by the direct drive without a transmission. The direct drive has a stator arranged in an upper region of the machine frame and a rotor on the turntable.

A process for the preparation of a glass container from a glass tube in a glass processing machine includes the steps of: I) heating the glass tube at a defined position between a first portion and a second portion to a temperature above a glass transition temperature of the glass tube while the glass tube is rotating around its longitudinal axis L.sub.tube and pulling apart the first portion and the second portion thereby separating the first portion from the second portion and forming a closed bottom at one end of the first portion; and II) moving a mold matrix of the glass processing machine towards the closed bottom and bringing the mold matrix into contact with the closed bottom. While bringing the mold matrix into contact with the closed bottom, a distance Y.sub.m between the mold matrix and a first clamping chuck of the glass processing machine is decreased stepwise.

A process for the preparation of a glass container from a glass tube in a glass processing machine includes the steps of: I) heating the glass tube at a defined position between a first portion and a second portion to a temperature above a glass transition temperature of the glass tube while the glass tube is rotating around its longitudinal axis L.sub.tube and pulling apart the first portion and the second portion thereby separating the first portion from the second portion and forming a closed bottom at one end of the first portion; and II) moving a mold matrix of the glass processing machine towards the closed bottom and bringing the mold matrix into contact with the closed bottom. While bringing the mold matrix into contact with the closed bottom, a distance Y.sub.m between the mold matrix and a first clamping chuck of the glass processing machine is decreased stepwise.