Method and System for Producing a Glass Container as Well as Said Container

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a glass container, such as a glass syringe or a glass ampule, having a form-specific dispensing portion and optionally a form-specific counter support, from a glass container blank, wherein the basis weight of the glass container blank is detected indirectly or directly and the overall longitudinal extent of the glass container to be produced is determined on the basis of the detected basis weight.

Claims

1.-20. (canceled)

21. A method for producing a glass container having a form-specific dispensing portion and optionally a form-specific counter support, from a glass container blank, comprising the steps of: indirectly or directly detecting the basis weight of the glass container blank; and determining, on the basis of the detected basis weight, an individual overall longitudinal extent of a semi-finished glass container to be formed to create the glass container.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the semi-finished glass container is cut from the glass container blank according to the overall longitudinal extent determined.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein an individual longitudinal extent of a leading end portion, from which the dispensing portion is to be formed, and optionally of a trailing end portion, from which the counter support is to be formed, is/are determined on the basis of the detected basis weight of the glass container blank, and wherein the overall longitudinal extent of the semi-finished glass container is determined on the basis of the determined longitudinal extent.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the separated semi-finished glass container is heated at least in portions in order to form the dispensing portion and optionally the counter support.

25. The method according to claim 21, wherein a deformation behavior of the semi-finished glass container during heating and/or forming of the dispensing portion and optionally of the counter support is anticipated on the basis of a glass-specific material constant, and wherein the overall longitudinal extent is determined taking into account the anticipated deformation behavior.

26. A method for producing a glass container having a form-specific dispensing portion and optionally a form-specific counter support, from a glass container blank, comprising the steps of: heating the glass container blank at least in portions in order to form the dispensing portion and optionally the counter support; and indirectly or directly detecting the basis weight of the glass container blank before forming the dispensing portion and optionally the counter support; determining, on the basis of the detected basis weight of the glass container blank, an individual longitudinal extent of a leading end portion, from which the dispensing portion is to be formed, and optionally of a trailing end portion, from which the counter support is to be formed, is/are on the basis of the detected basis weight of the glass container blank; and determining an axial deformation point on the glass container blank on the basis of the determined longitudinal extent(s) to create the dispensing portion and optionally the counter support.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the axial deformation point is defined such that an axial end portion of the glass container blank delimited by the axial deformation point has a predetermined mass for creating the dispensing portion and optionally the counter support.

28. The method according to claim 26, wherein a semi-finished glass container to be formed to create the glass container is cut from the glass container blank according to a predefined or predetermined overall longitudinal extent.

29. The method according to claim 26, comprising determining or measuring a flatness of an axial end face of the glass container blank or of the cut semi-finished glass container.

30. The method according to claim 26, wherein the glass container blank or the cut semi-finished glass container is positioned on the basis of the axial deformation point and optionally of the flatness of the axial end face with respect to a forming tool for creating the dispensing portion and optionally the counter support.

31. The method according to claim 26, wherein a deformation behavior of the glass container blank or semi-finished glass container during heating and/or forming of the dispensing portion and optionally of the counter support is anticipated on the basis of a glass-specific material constant, and the longitudinal extent of the dispensing portion to be formed and optionally of the counter support to be formed is determined on the basis of the anticipated deformation behavior.

32. The method according to claim 26, comprising detecting an external diameter, an internal diameter and/or a wall thickness of the glass container blank, and determining the basis weight of the glass container blank, on the basis of the measured external diameter, the internal diameter and/or the wall thickness.

33. A glass container comprising a cylindrical base body, a tapering dispensing portion connecting to the base body, wherein the dispensing portion creates a front open end of the glass container and a rear end, optionally formed as counter support, which is in contact with the base body, wherein the front and the rear open ends are thermally cut.

34. The glass container according to claim 33, wherein the overall longitudinal extent is subject to a tolerance of +/−0.4 mm.

35. A glass container produced by the method according to claim 21.

36. A system for producing a glass container having a form-specific dispensing portion and optionally a form-specific counter support, from a glass container blank, said system comprising: sensor system for indirectly or directly detecting the basis weight of the glass container blank; and a processor unit designed to determine an individual overall longitudinal extent of a glass container to be formed to create the glass container on the basis of the detected basis weight.

37. The system according to claim 36, further comprising a cutting tool for cutting the semi-finished glass container according to the determined overall longitudinal extent of the glass container blank, wherein the sensor system is upstream of the cutting tool.

38. The system according to claim 36 comprising: a heat source, such as a burner, for at least partially heating the glass container blank; a forming tool designed to deform the heated glass container blank in order to create the dispensing portion and optionally the counter support; a sensor system for indirectly or directly detecting the basis weight of the glass container blank, wherein the sensor system is upstream of the forming tool; and a processor unit designed to determine an individual longitudinal extent of a leading end portion, from which the dispensing portion is to be formed, and optionally of a trailing end portion, from which the counter support is to be formed; and to determine an axial deformation point on the glass container blank for the forming tool on the basis of the determined longitudinal extent(s) in order to form the dispensing portion and optionally the counter support.

39. The system according to claim 36, wherein the sensor system for detecting the basis weight comprises an optical sensor device for measuring an external diameter, an internal diameter and/or a wall thickness of the glass container blank, and/or for measuring the flatness of an axial end face of the glass container blank or of the cut semi-finished glass container product.

40. A system for producing a glass container having a form-specific dispensing portion and optionally a form-specific counter support, from a glass container blank, said system configured to carry out the method according to claim 21.

Description

[0048] Other properties, features and advantages of the invention become apparent below from the description of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying exemplary drawings, which show:

[0049] FIG. 1 a schematic illustration of a system for producing glass containers;

[0050] FIG. 2 a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a cutting device of a glass container production plant according to the invention;

[0051] FIG. 3 a schematic representation of the manufacturing stages of a glass container according to the invention; and

[0052] FIG. 4 a schematic representation relating to the development of excess masses or lengths of glass containers according to the prior art.

[0053] In the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, a glass container according to the invention is typically designated by reference sign 4. For the description of the exemplary embodiments, it can be assumed, for example, that the glass container 4 is produced from borosilicate glass. Generic glass containers 4 are used predominantly in medical or pharmaceutical use.

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an installation 3 for producing a glass container 4 in which four forming devices 1.sup.I, 1.sup.II, 1.sup.III, 1.sup.IV are depicted schematically. FIG. 1 schematically shows a receptacle 5 for rotatably holding a glass container blank 9 or a semi-finished glass container 10. The glass container blank 9 can be present, for example, as an endless blank, in particular as an endless glass tube, or prefabricated in a certain way to a predetermined axial length. In the context of the present invention, a semi-finished glass container 10 is to be understood to mean a portion separated or cut from a glass container blank 9, which portion is characterized in that it is to be further processed substantially exclusively by forming, in particular thermoforming, in order to produce the glass container 4. In the event that a semi-finished glass container 10 is inserted into the system 3, a cutting device 25 (FIG. 2) not shown in FIG. 1, such as a so-called tube cutter, can be arranged upstream of the system 3, which cutting device produces an individual semi-finished glass container 10 of an individual overall longitudinal extent, in particular axial length, from a glass container blank 9 in accordance with one of the aspects of the invention.

[0055] The system 3 comprises a carousel 11 to which the receptacle 5 is attached. The carousel 11 can be rotated about a carousel shaft 13, whereby the receptacle 10 together with the semi-finished glass container 10 can be fed to the four forming devices illustrated 1.sup.I, 1.sup.II, 1.sup.III, 1.sup.IV. The semi-finished glass container is fed successively in the circumferential direction of production 15 to the individual forming devices 1.sup.I, 1.sup.II, 1.sup.III, 1.sup.IV. Burners 2 for heating the glass intermediate 10 are arranged in each case upstream of the first forming device 1.sup.I and between the subsequent forming devices 1.sup.II, 1.sup.III and downstream of the last forming device 1.sup.IV.

[0056] A first test station 17 is provided in the circumferential direction of production 15 upstream in the direction of production of the first forming device 1.sup.I in order to be able to measure and control the position and the axial run-out of the semi-finished glass container 10 in the receptacle 5.

[0057] In the circumferential direction of production 15 downstream in the direction of production of the last forming device 1.sup.IV and of the last burner 2, a first cooling device 7 is provided for cooling the glass body after forming has taken place.

[0058] A second testing station 110 for checking the geometry of the glass container 4 is provided in the circumferential direction of production 15 downstream in the direction of production of the last forming device 1.sup.IV and of the first cooling device 7. A second cooling device 7 and subsequently a third testing station 41 for detecting scratches and/or cracks in the glass container 4 are provided in the circumferential direction of production 15 downstream in the direction of production of the second testing station 110. A third cooling device 7 is provided downstream in the direction of production of the third testing station 41 in the circumferential direction of production 15. A transfer device 43 for transferring the glass container 4 for further processing is provided in the circumferential direction of production 15 downstream in the direction of production of the third cooling device 7. The transfer device may have means for collecting glass containers 4 ejected from the receptacle 5 and/or for transporting the glass containers 4 to a further processing station (not shown), such as, for example, a flangeforming station.

[0059] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a cutting device 25 for cutting semi-finished glass containers 10 of a predetermined axial length from a glass container blank 9 in abstract form and perspective view. The cutting device 25 is designed in such a way that the glass container blank 9 is substantially horizontal, which means that its axis of rotation is oriented substantially in the horizontal direction. In principle, the cutting device 25 comprises a frame 27 which has two support columns 29, 31 in the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 2. The frame 27 carries the further components of the cutting device 25. This includes, inter alia, a chuck 33 for rotatably supporting the glass tube blank 9. The chuck 33 can be, for example, a three-jaw chuck. For example, the chuck 33 has a clamping device, such as clamping jaws, for at least partially circumferentially gripping the glass container blank 9 and for fixing the glass container blank 9 inside the chuck 33. The chuck can have a drive device, not shown, by means of which the glass container blank 9 can be rotated in particular continuously about its axis of rotation, which can correspond to a central axis.

[0060] For further bearing of the elongated glass container blank, at least one bearing 37, such as, for example, an air bearing, which is arranged, for example, on a support 39, is provided between the chuck 33 and a cutting tool 35 opposite the chuck 33. By means of the air bearing, it is possible to support the glass container blank in a contactless manner and to hold it in position with respect to its direction of rotation, so that the cutting process can be performed reliably by means of the cutting tool 35. The cutting tool can be, for example, a CO.sub.2 laser.

[0061] Furthermore, the cutting device 25 comprises a sensor system 41 for indirectly or directly detecting the basis weight of the glass container blank 9. For example, the sensor system 41 can have an optical wall thickness sensor 43 as well as a flatness sensor for measuring the flatness of an axial end face of the glass container blank or of the cut semi-finished glass container 10. The wall thickness sensor 43 is designed, for example, to detect an internal diameter, an external diameter and/or a wall thickness of the glass container blank 9 at various positions, in particular axial points, along the glass container blank, in particular while this is continuously rotated and optionally conveyed, in particular moved, with an axially translational movement.

[0062] With respect to the system 3 in FIG. 1, the cutting device 25 can be connected upstream of the system 3 in terms of production. For example, the glass container blanks 9 are cut in the cutting device 25 according to the overall longitudinal extent, detected by means of a method according to the invention, of the semi-finished glass container 10 to be formed to create the glass container 4. Subsequently, the semi-finished containers 10 are fed to the system 3. The advantages according to the invention of high product quality, low manufacturing inaccuracies or tolerances and more cost-effective production can thus be established.

[0063] FIG. 3 schematically shows the individual production stages in the production of glass containers 4 according to the invention: Starting from a glass container blank 9, a semi-finished glass container 10 corresponding to an individual, determined overall longitudinal extent L.sub.10 is cut from the glass container blank 9. In FIG. 3, two axial interfaces 45, 47 are depicted by a dashed line, according to which the glass container blank 9 is cut to produce the semi-finished glass container 10. It is also possible that only one separating line 45, 47 or one cutting operation is necessary in order to produce the semi-finished glass container 10. This can be achieved by positioning the glass container blank 9 prior to cutting in such a way that a front end 49 of the glass container blank creates the front end 49 of the semi-finished glass container.

[0064] The object of the present invention is to generate the semi-finished glass container 10 for creating the glass container 4 substantially exclusively by means of forming, in particular thermoforming. To produce the glass container 4 from the semi-finished glass container 10, the individual of a leading end portion 51, from which the dispensing portion 53 is to be produced by forming, and a trailing end portion 55, from which the counter support 57 is created by forming, are formed. The dashed connecting lines between the semi-finished glass container 10 and the glass container 4 indicate which axial portion of the semi-finished glass container results in which axial portion of the glass container 4. It can be seen that a substantially cylindrical base body 59 remains substantially unchanged between the semi-finished glass container and the glass container, that is to say, has the same axial length L.sub.59. In a further aspect of the present invention, an individual longitudinal extent of the leading and the trailing end portions 51, 55 is determined on the basis of the detected basis weight, from which the dispensing portion 53 or the counter support 57 are then to be formed, as indicated schematically in FIG. 3. The individual longitudinal extents of the leading end portion 51, the trailing end portion 55, or the dispensing portion 53 and the counter support 57 are indicated by the reference signs l.sub.55,10, l.sub.51,10, l.sub.57,4 and l.sub.53,4.

[0065] On the basis of the longitudinal extents determined l.sub.55,10 and l.sub.51,10, an axial deformation point on the glass container blank 9 or, as shown schematically in FIG. 3, on the semi-finished glass container 10 can be determined in order to form the dispensing portion 53 and the counter support 57. The axial deformation points 61, 63 are those axial points on the semi-finished glass container at which the forming tools for forming the semi-finished glass container for creating the finished glass container 4 with the dispensing portion 53 and the counter support 57 are to be placed. By means of the individually defined axial deformation points 61, 63 for the dispensing portion 53 and the counter support 57 as well as their axial length l.sub.55,10 and l.sub.51,1o, it can be ensured that the in particular precisely required forming mass or melting mass is present for forming the form-specific dispensing portion 53 and the form-specific counter support 57. Excesses can thereby be avoided. The production tolerances with respect to the glass container 4 according to the invention are significantly reduced in comparison with the prior art and are approximately ±0.4 mm, or in particular ±3 mm, ±0.2 mm or ±0.1 mm.

[0066] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a production process of the prior art for producing glass containers, wherein the representation focuses on the production tolerances and manufacturing inaccuracy arise. The top half of FIG. 4 indicates the forming 65 of the conical dispensing portion and the bottom half of FIG. 4 indicates the forming of the rear counter support. For each forming station 65, 67 it can be seen that three partial images are to be seen, each of which a semi-finished glass container or glass container blank 73 resp. 75 clamped in a chuck 69 or 71 are clamped. The three individual partial images are each referred to by a subscript numeral, wherein I in each case denotes the top variant in which the glass container blank 73.sub.I is delivered with a wall thickness considerably greater than standard, the middle variant II represents a glass container blank 73.sub.IIprovided according to a standard, that is, with no and/or substantially negligible production tolerance, and the bottom variant III in each case represents a glass container blank 73.sub.III delivered with a considerably reduced wall thickness compared to the standard. Reference sign 75 denotes the glass container blank in each case, which already has a formed dispensing portion 77.sub.I,II,III. The respective reference for determining the length tolerances or length inaccuracies on the glass container blanks 73, 75 is indicated in each case by an axial stop of the glass container blank 73, 75 in the chuck 69 which is indicated by the reference sign 79. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the glass container blanks 73 provided have a length tolerance a, in particular an overall length tolerance. In the production process, the dispensing portion 77 is usually formed first and then the counter support. In FIG. 4, above, it is schematically indicated which volumes, in particular masses, have to be provided on the glass container blanks 73.sub.I-III in each case in order to subsequently form the dispensing portion 77.sub.I-III and the counter support. Reference sign 83 denotes the counter support volume and reference sign 85 denotes dispensing portion volume. It can be seen that the necessary axial length varies as a function of the wall thickness of the glass container blanks 73.sub.I-III. In order to offset the overall length tolerance a and to prevent glass containers 4 from being produced outside the permissible tolerance, a permissible tolerance b is estimated as to how the glass container blanks 73.sub.I-III are permitted to deviate from one another so that glass containers 4 can still be produced within the production tolerance. It can be seen that, in the production of a glass container 4 according to standard, bottom of FIG. 4, variant II, an excess length 81 is provided, which subsequently has to be separated in an additional work step. It is clear that the excess length 81 is also present in the minimum wall thickness, FIG. 4, bottom, variant III. This additional work step impairs the quality of the glass container 4 and requires an additional step and thus costs.

[0067] The features disclosed in the above description, the figures, and the claims may be important both individually and in any combination for realizing the invention in the various embodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0068] 1 Forming device (1.sup.I, 1.sup.II, 1.sup.III, 1.sup.IV, 1.sup.V) [0069] 2 Burner [0070] 3 System [0071] 4 Glass container [0072] 5 Receptacle [0073] 7 Cooling device [0074] 9 Glass container blank [0075] 10 Semi-finished glass container [0076] 11 Carousel [0077] 13 Carousel axis [0078] 15 Circumferential direction of production [0079] 17 First test station [0080] 19 Second test station [0081] 21 Third test station [0082] 23 Transfer device [0083] 25 Cutting device [0084] 27 Frame [0085] 29, 31 Column [0086] 33 Chuck [0087] 35 Cutting tool [0088] 37 Bearing [0089] 39 Bearing column [0090] 41 Sensor system [0091] 43 Wall thickness sensor [0092] 45, 47 Cut line [0093] 49 End [0094] 51, 55 End portion [0095] 53 Dispensing portion [0096] 57 Counter support [0097] 59 Base body [0098] 61, 63 Axial deformation point [0099] 65, 67 Forming [0100] 69, 71 Chuck [0101] 73 Glass container blank variant I, II, III [0102] 75 Glass container blank with formed dispensing portion variant I, II, III [0103] 77 Dispensing portion variant I, II, III [0104] 79 Chuck stop [0105] 81 Excess length [0106] 83 Counter support volume [0107] 85 Dispensing portion volume [0108] L.sub.i Length of the respective component i (glass container, base body, semi-finished glass container or glass container blank) [0109] L.sub.x,i Length of the respective portion x of component i (glass container, semi-finished glass container or glass container blank) [0110] a Overall length tolerance [0111] b Tolerance