METHOD FOR PRODUCING GLASS BOTTLES WITH A LOW DELAMINATION TENDENCY UNDER THE EFFECT OF A PURGE GAS FLOW

Abstract

In a method for producing glass bottles having a flat base and an opposite filling opening, the base of the glass bottles is further formed at a plurality of processing positions. During the entire further forming of the base, with the aid of a purge gas which by way of the filling opening of the glass bottle flows in or out in a centric manner and flows out or in in an eccentric manner, a purge gas flow is generated in the interior of the glass bottle in order for delamination effects to be reduced. A tube or a nozzle serves for blowing in or suctioning out the purge gas. Various geometries and arrangements of the tube or of the nozzle are disclosed. A multiplicity of geometric constellations of the tube diameters and various mass flow settings are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for producing glass bottles having a flat base and an opposite filling opening, the method comprising the following steps: locally heating one end of a glass tube; configuring a flange or a rolled rim having the filling opening at the locally heated end of the glass tube; severing the locally heated end of the glass tube while configuring a glass bottle having a closed base; holding the configured glass bottle upside down after severing from the glass tube; and further forming the base of the glass bottle, wherein in the further forming of the base of the glass bottle a purge gas flow is generated in an interior of the glass bottles with the aid of a purge gas flowing in or out in a centric manner and flowing out or in in an eccentric manner by way of the filling opening.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the purge gas is blown into the interior of the glass bottle by way of a tube or is suctioned out of the interior of the glass bottle by way of the tube, wherein the tube is a cylindrical tube, and the purge gas is blown in or suctioned out by way of a front end of the tube.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the cylindrical tube has a conically tapered external profile at the front end.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the cylindrical tube has a conically tapered internal profile at the front end.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the cylindrical tube has a portion having a cylindrical internal profile at the front end.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the cylindrical tube has a portion having a cylindrical external profile at the front end.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the glass bottles have a filling opening internal diameter d.sub.g,i, and the tube has a tube external diameter d.sub.r,a as well as a tube internal diameter dr,i, and wherein d.sub.g,i.sup.2d.sub.r,a.sup.2d.sub.r,i.sup.2.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the tube is disposed outside the glass bottle at a predetermined axial spacing from the filling opening.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the tube is disposed so as to be locationally fixed in relation to the filling opening at the predetermined axial spacing from the filling opening.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined axial spacing is in a range between 0.1 mm to 5.0 mm.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the tube is disposed on a surface, wherein the front end of the tube is disposed at a predetermined spacing from the surface, the predetermined spacing being in a range from 5.0 mm to 15.0 mm.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the tube by way of the filling opening plunges axially into the glass bottle by a predetermined distance, wherein the tube in the further forming of the base of the glass bottle is axially adjusted in a manner corresponding to a movement path of the glass bottle such that the tube for generating the purge gas flow plunges axially into the glass bottle by the predetermined distance, and for onward transportation of the glass bottle is axially retracted to a position outside the glass bottle, so as to clear the movement path of the glass bottle.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the tube is disposed in a head region of the glass bottle.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the tube plunges into a main volume of the glass bottle.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the purge gas with the aid of a ring nozzle flows eccentrically into the interior of the glass bottle, and is suctioned out of the interior of the glass bottle through a centrically disposed tube.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the ring nozzle is disposed outside the glass bottle at a predetermined axial spacing from the filling opening, wherein the predetermined axial spacing is in a range between 0.1 mm to 5.0 mm.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the tube by way of the filling opening plunges axially into the glass bottle by a predetermined distance, wherein the tube in the further forming of the base of the glass bottle is axially adjusted in a manner corresponding to a movement path of the glass bottle such that the tube for generating the purge gas flow axially plunges into the glass bottle by the predetermined distance, and for onward transportation of the glass bottle is axially retracted to a position outside the glass bottle, so as to clear the movement path of the glass bottle.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein an internal diameter d.sub.r,i of the tube is at least 1.5 mm.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein a tube external diameter d.sub.r,a of the tube meets the correlation d.sub.r,a<d.sub.r,i2.0 mm.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the glass bottles are narrow-neck bottles having a neck internal diameter in the range from 6.0 mm to 13.0 mm and a neck length of at most 12.0 mm.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the further forming of the base of the glass bottle comprises a plurality of processing steps, wherein a mass flow of the purge gas flow in at least one of the plurality of processing steps is different from the other processing steps.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the mass flow of the purge gas flow entering the glass bottles is in a range between 2.4 standard liters/min and 20 standard liters/min according to ISO 2533.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein an additional heating output that acts eccentrically is provided at least in portions for compensating an additional cooling effect by virtue of the purge gas flow in the further forming of the base of the glass bottle, the additional heating output comprising an eccentric disposal of a plurality of gas burners which in each case act on the base of the glass bottle.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein an additional heating output that acts centrically on the base of the glass bottle is provided in the further forming of the base of the glass bottle.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the additional heating output comprises a gas burner and the gas burner generates a gas flame which acts perpendicularly on the base of the glass bottle.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the purge gas flow is generated in the interior of the glass bottle during the entire further forming of the base of the glass bottle at temperatures between 1000 C. and 1200 C. in the region of the closed base.

27. A method for producing glass bottles having a flat base and an opposite filling opening, the method comprising the following steps: locally heating one end of a glass tube; configuring a flange or a rolled rim having the filling opening at the locally heated end of the glass tube; severing the locally heated end of the glass tube while configuring a glass bottle having a closed base; holding the configured glass bottle upside down after the severing from the glass tube; and further forming of the base of the glass bottle, wherein a continuous purge gas flow is generated in an interior of the glass bottle during the entire further forming of the base of the glass bottle at temperatures between 1000 C. and 1200 C. in a region of the closed base with the aid of a purge gas.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of the processing positions of the production method of an exemplary embodiment provided according to the present invention;

[0050] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a glass bottle which has been produced by a production method provided according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0051] FIG. 3A shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a cylindrical tube of the production method of the present invention;

[0052] FIG. 3B shows a schematic illustration of another exemplary embodiment of a cylindrical tube of the production method of the present invention;

[0053] FIG. 3C shows a schematic illustration of another exemplary embodiment of a cylindrical tube of the production method of the present invention;

[0054] FIG. 3D shows a schematic illustration of another exemplary embodiment of a cylindrical tube of the production method of the present invention;

[0055] FIG. 4A shows a schematic illustration of placing a tube in front of the filling opening of a glass bottle during the production method of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0056] FIG. 4B shows a schematic illustration of placing a cylindrical tube in the head region of a glass bottle during the production method of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0057] FIG. 4C shows a schematic illustration of placing a cylindrical tube in the main volume of a glass bottle during the production method of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0058] FIG. 5A shows a schematic illustration of a phase of the blowing-out process of the production method in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0059] FIG. 5B shows a schematic illustration of another phase of the blowing-out process of the production method in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0060] FIG. 5C shows a schematic illustration of yet another phase of the blowing-out process of the production method in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0061] FIG. 5D shows a schematic illustration of yet another phase of the blowing-out process of the production method in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[0062] FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of an additional gas burner of the production method in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0063] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0064] An exemplary embodiment of a device 1 provided for producing glass bottles according to the present invention is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1. Illustrated are a so-called mother machine MM and a downstream so-called base machine BM having various processing positions, wherein a multiplicity of burners B1-B15 are disposed at specific processing positions. Both the base machine BM, as well as the mother machine MM, are composed of a rotor proportion and a stator proportion, wherein the rotor proportions rotate once about their own axis during one production cycle. In the transfer from the mother machine MM to the downstream base machine BM, a flange or a rolled rim, having the filling opening at the locally heated end of the glass tube, is configured by locally heating one end of a glass tube. Furthermore, the severing of the locally heated end of the glass tube is performed while configuring a closed base. The processing positions of the base machine BM that are mutually spaced apart in spatial terms serve for the further forming of the bases of the glass bottles 100 that are severed from the glass tube (cf. FIG. 2) and comprise at least one severing step 2 at which the actual severing of a locally heated end of the glass tube is performed while configuring the closed base, a first base forming step 3, a second base forming step 4, a third base forming step 5, a die base forming step 6, a base cooling step 7, a retrieval step 8, and an idle step 9. The glass bottles 100 are held upside down in all of aforementioned processing steps. The glass bottles 100 in the base machine BM by the rotor proportion are moved in a cycled manner along a predetermined movement path from a processing position that is situated upstream to a processing position that is situated downstream. In some embodiments, no height adjustment of the glass bottles 100 is performed herein, so that the rolled rim, or the flange, respectively, of the glass bottles 100 is at all times at the same height level in the base machine BM.

[0065] In detail, the following processing procedures are carried out successively in a cycled manner in the previously described steps: [0066] In the severing step 2, one end of a glass tube is locally heated, such as by gas burners, and a flange or a rolled rim, having the filling opening at the locally heated end of the glass tube, is configured by locally heating the end of a glass tube. Furthermore, the severing of the locally heated end of the glass tube while configuring a closed base is performed. The glass bottles 100 being created, the neck of said glass bottles 100 already having been formed and the base of said glass bottles 100 being heated, are first received upside down by a holding device of the base machine BM; [0067] in the first base forming step 3, the bases of the glass bottles 100 are processed by way of at least one burner so as to roughly form the bases of the glass bottles; [0068] in the second base forming step 4, the bases of the glass bottles 100 are further processed by way of at least one burner so as to form the bases of the glass bottles 100 to be flat; [0069] in the third base forming step 5, the bases of the glass bottles 100 are further processed by way of at least one burner so as to further refine the already formed bases of the glass bottles 100; [0070] in the die base forming step 6, the bases of the glass bottles 100, while applying a relatively high gas pressure (such as 0.5 to 3.0 bar) are pressed into a mold so as to finally form the bases; [0071] in the base cooling step 7, the bases of the glass bottles 100 are cooled; [0072] in the retrieving step 8, the finished glass bottles 100 are retrieved from the base machine BM; and [0073] in the idle step 9 the holding unit of the base machine is empty so as to again receive a new glass bottle 100 in the next step.

[0074] In the production method 1 described previously, the bases of the glass bottles 100 are relatively plastic, in particular in steps 2 to 5 (but also in step 6), that is to say that said bases have a relatively low viscosity. The further forming of the bases of the glass bottles is expediently performed at temperatures between 1000 C. and 1200 C. in the region of the closed base, such as in any case at temperatures above 1100 C. in the region of the closed base. In order for the bases not to fall (that is to say collapse) into the glass bottles, a static back pressure is generated in the interior of the glass bottles in the case of some known methods. By contrast, according to the present invention a purge gas flow which acts permanently at least during the further processing steps for the forming of the base 2 to 5 (but also 6) and which flows through the interior of the glass bottles, as is explained further herein, so as to additionally clean the glass bottles of arising alkali borates in a controlled manner and to counteract any delamination.

[0075] A glass bottle 100 as a product of the production method provided according to the present invention is schematically illustrated in FIG. 2. The glass bottle has a flat base, a cylindrical, smooth side wall, a tapered shoulder portion, a constricted neck portion adjoining said shoulder portion, and an upper end having a filling opening and a flange having a rolled rim or a molded external thread. The glass bottle herein has an overall height h.sub.g, wherein the glass bottle main segment has a height h.sub.v, and wherein the glass bottle head segment has a height h.sub.k, and wherein the glass bottle rolled rim has a height h.sub.r. The glass bottle 100 furthermore has a filling opening external diameter d.sub.g,a and a filling opening internal diameter d.sub.g,i. A knot-shaped region made from glass is illustrated in the central region of the glass bottle base in FIG. 2, said knot-shaped region potentially being created during the severing step 2 and being minimized and homogenized in the subsequent base forming steps 3 to 5, so as to configure an ideally flat base.

[0076] An exemplary embodiment of the tube 200 for blowing in or suctioning out the purge gas is illustrated in FIG. 3A, said purge gas being used in the production method, wherein the tube 200 according to this embodiment is configured as a cylindrical tube 210 having a front open end. The cylindrical tube 210 herein furthermore has a consistent tube external diameter d.sub.r,a, a consistent tube internal diameter d.sub.r,i, and a consistent tube wall thickness d.sub.r,a. The cylindrical tube 210 can in particular be disposed in relation to a holding unit of the base machine BM, so as to blow a purge gas into a glass bottle 100 or suction said purge gas out of the latter. Depending on the stress in terms of pressure or heat, the tube wall thickness d.sub.r,a of the cylindrical tube 210 that is open at the top can vary.

[0077] Another exemplary embodiment of the tube which may be used in one further embodiment of the production method is illustrated in FIG. 3B, wherein the tube 220 according to this embodiment is configured as a tube having a conically converging and tapering end. More specifically, the tube 220 has a tapered tube internal diameter d.sub.r,i, wherein the tube external diameter d.sub.r,a is substantially consistent across the entire length of the tube but close to the front end converges in a conical manner. The length across which the tube internal diameter d.sub.r,i decreases is significantly greater than the length across which the tube external diameter d.sub.r,a decreases. Using such a tube 220, purge gas flows having a comparatively high pressure can in particular be generated, since the conically converging and tapering end of the tube 220 is configured overall as a nozzle. Moreover, the purge gas proportion flowing out of the interior of the glass bottle can efficiently flow away on the external surface of the tube 220. Because of the tube internal diameter d.sub.r,i being comparatively large across the major part of the tube 220, a comparatively low flow resistance can thus be overall achieved in the tube 220, this enabling significant advantages in terms of the mechanical implementation, in particular not requiring any complex sealing measures.

[0078] Another exemplary embodiment of the tube in which the length across which the tube external diameter d.sub.r,i decreases is equal to the length in the embodiment according to FIG. 3B, but the length across which the tube internal diameter d.sub.r,i decreases is significantly smaller is shown in FIG. 3C. The purge gas flow in the case of this embodiment is indeed formed in a less gentle manner to a purge gas flow having a smaller diameter. This can however be sufficient. The same advantages as have been described above in the context of the embodiment according to FIG. 3B are maintained herein.

[0079] A cylindrical portion as is shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C can be configured at the exit opening of the tube 220 in the case of the embodiments according to FIGS. 3B and 3C.

[0080] Another exemplary embodiment of the tube in which this cylindrical portion at the front end is lengthened in the axial direction by a sleeve having an internal diameter d.sub.r,a so as to suitably form the exiting purge gas flow is shown in FIG. 3D. The same advantages as have been described above in the context of the embodiment according to FIG. 3B are also maintained in the case of this embodiment.

[0081] A placement of the tube 200 in the production method is illustrated in FIG. 4A, in which the tube 200 is disposed at a predetermined spacing A from the filling opening and outside the glass bottle 100. In this embodiment, the tube 200 during the production process 1 does not penetrate the glass bottle 100 and can therefore be disposed so as to be immovable in relation to a holding unit of the base machine BM. In order for an optimum purge gas flow to be provided in the glass bottle, the tube 200 must not be too far from the filling opening, since an insufficient mass flow M of the purge gas flow 50 would be provided in this case. The predetermined axial spacing A from the filling opening can in particular be in a range between 0.1 mm to 5.0 mm, more preferably in a range between 0.1 mm to 2.0 mm, even more preferably however in a range between 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm. The predetermined axial spacing A from the filling opening is in any case larger than 0.0 mm, thus not minuscule. The tube 200 can in particular be configured such as has been described in an exemplary manner above by FIGS. 3A to 3D.

[0082] Because the tube 200 in the further forming of the base of the glass bottle 100 is disposed outside the glass bottle 100, no adjustment installation for the axial adjustment of the tube 200 is required in principle. A locationally-fixed position of the tube 200 outside the glass bottle 100 is thus enabled. The tube 200 does not have to be moved into the glass tube 100 and be moved out of the latter again in each cycle of the rotor proportion of the base machine BM, this potentially significantly simplifying the further forming of the base of the glass bottle 100.

[0083] In some embodiments, the tube 200 is disposed on or fastened to, respectively, a surface, for example a chuck having a planar surface, wherein the front end of the tube 200 is disposed at a predetermined spacing from the surface, said spacing being in a range from 5.0 mm to 15.0 mm. Said surface during the further processing steps for the forming of the base is disposed so as to be locationally fixed relative to the glass bottle 100, for example relative to a chuck or a mounting, by way of which the glass bottle is held during the further processing steps for the forming of the base. The chuck, or the mounting, respectively, in the base machine BM thus rotates in a manner synchronous to the respectively assigned glass bottle along the movement path on the processing stations of the base machine BM. The purge gas flow exiting the glass bottle impacts said surface and prior thereto has to be sufficiently discharged in a manner directed radially outward so as to avoid any undesirable influence on the flow conditions in the interior of the glass bottle or else in the environment of the filling opening. This can be set in a simple manner by way of a suitable choice of the spacing of the front end of the tube from said surface.

[0084] This embodiment may be particularly advantageous for tubes which at the front end thereof have a conically tapered external profile, when in this instance at least the portion having the conically tapered external profile projects from the surface, in particular by a length in a range from 5.0 mm to 15.0 mm, such as in a range from 6.0 mm to 12.0 mm or at most 10.0 mm.

[0085] Another exemplary placing of the tube 200 in the production method in which the tube 200 for generating the purge gas flow is disposed in the head region of the glass bottle is illustrated in FIG. 4B. An advantageous purging effect can be achieved in the interior of the glass bottle 100 on account of this embodiment. However, the tube 200 has to be introduced to a certain extent into the glass bottle 100, this necessitating an additional plunging device which axially adjusts the tube 200 and plunges the latter into the glass bottle. To this end, the tube 200 per cycle of the rotor proportion of the base machine BM is in each case expediently introduced first by an axial adjustment into the glass bottle 100, so as to generate the aforementioned purge gas flow in the interior of the glass bottle, and after carrying out the respective processing procedure at the processing station is withdrawn again by an axial adjustment. The plunged position of the tube 200 at the respective processing station of the base machine BM is thus not prevalent over the entire cycle time.

[0086] Another exemplary placing of the tube 200 in the production method in which the tube 200 is plunged into the main volume of the glass bottle 100 is illustrated in FIG. 4C. In the case of this embodiment, the front end of the tube 200 (or of the nozzle, respectively) should have a sufficient spacing from the base of the glass bottle 100, in order for the base not to be excessively cooled by the purge gas or indeed for the purge gas not to contact said base. The plunging device described above is also required according to this embodiment, so as to axially adjust the tube 200 and to plunge the latter into the glass bottle. To this end, the tube 200 per cycle of the rotor proportion of the base machine BM is in each case expediently introduced first by an axial adjustment into the glass bottle 100, so as to generate the aforementioned purge gas flow in the interior of the glass bottle, and after carrying out the respective processing procedure at the processing station is withdrawn again by an axial adjustment. The plunged position of the tube 200 at the respective processing station of the base machine BM is thus not prevalent over the entire cycle time.

[0087] Four phases of a purging procedure of an exemplary embodiment of the production method provided according to the present invention are illustrated in FIGS. 5A to 5D. The individual phases during the further forming of the bases of the glass bottles are described hereunder: [0088] first phase 10 (cf. FIG. 5A): start of the purging process, wherein a purge gas flow 50 in the interior of the glass container 100 is first built up in this phase, and wherein the purge gas flowing out of the tube 200 herein is blown at an appropriate pressure into the interior of the glass bottle 100 such that said entering purge gas flow proportion 51 first presses against the hot gas 54 on the base zone of the glass container 100. The start of the purging process may be performed already when severing the locally heated end from the glass tube, thus at the position 2 in FIG. 1, or else shortly prior thereto. [0089] second phase 20 (cf. FIG. 5B): configuring a cleaning purge gas flow proportion 52, wherein said cleaning purge gas flow proportion 52 is configured in a semi-circular manner between the hot gas 54 at the base zone of the glass container 100 and the entering purge gas flow proportion 51 in the proximity of the glass bottle base. This phase commences immediately after the first phase 10, this being a function in particular of the pressure of the inflowing purge gas and the geometric conditions in the environment of the front end of the tube and the filling opening. The onset of this phase can in particular take place in the transition between the processing steps 2 and 3 in FIG. 1. [0090] third phase 30 (cf. FIG. 5C): configuring an exiting purge gas flow proportion 53, wherein said exiting purge gas proportion 53 if at all interacts to a minimum extent with the entering purge gas proportion 51 and the cleaning purge gas flow proportion 52 and in particular does not configure any turbulences so that the contaminated, hot purge gas 54 is blown out or suctioned out of the glass bottle 100. This phase can in particular begin with the processing step 3 in FIG. 1 and be maintained during the entire processing steps 3 to 6, wherein the mass flow of the purge gas can also be varied between the individual processing steps 3 to 6. [0091] fourth phase 40 (cf. FIG. 5D): terminating the purging process, wherein the pressure of the inflowing purge gas 50 is reduced and the last impurities are purged out of the glass bottle 100.

[0092] The onset of the purging procedure can be set in motion either at the beginning of the severing step 2 (cf. FIG. 1) or shortly prior thereto. The purging process may be maintained continuously during the various base forming steps 3 to 5, wherein the respective pressure of the purge gas 50 in the individual steps can readily also be adapted and varied in temporal terms so as to overall achieve an optimum purging effect. In the case of small to medium glass bottle volumes, the purging process is terminated at the beginning of the die base forming step 6. However, in the case of some glass bottles having comparatively large volumes, the glass bottle base, even after the die base forming step 6, is still so hot that alkali borates continue to evaporate on the base, such that maintaining the purge gas flow 50 in this case is also necessary during the base cooling step 7. The cooling effect of the purge gas 50 in this scenario can indeed be desirable.

[0093] Further Considerations Pertaining to the Mass Flow of the Purge Gas

[0094] The supplied mass flow of the purge gas serves for uniformly coating the internal shell face of the glass bottle. Said mass flow therefore has to be theoretically proportional to the circumference, thus proportional to the tube diameter. Moreover, said mass flow must flow sufficiently rapidly along the wall of the glass bottle and have a sufficient layer thickness in order for all evaporating alkali borates and further proportions to be able to be received and discharged.

[0095] The mass flows used are functions of the procedures at the individual processing stations, since the required supporting effect always has to be achieved during the forming of the base but the cooling effect should not exceed a certain degree. Table 1 shows possible values to this end, wherein the mass flows are stated in standard liters/min (sl/min) according to ISO 2533.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 relating to preferred mass flows Minimum Spacing of rotating Cycle Diameter of Internal blower tube from speed of rate of Length of Diameter filling opening diameter of filling opening chuck of base blower of glass tube of phial blower tube of phial MFC 2 MFC 3 MFC 4 MFC 5 MFC 6 phial machine tube [mm] [mm] [mm] [mm] [sl/min] [sl/min] [sl/min] [sl/min] [sl/min] [rpm] [l/min] [mm] 14.0 7.0-8.0 2.0/3.0 0.5-2.0 2.4 5.0 5.0 3.4 4.2 230 40 4 19 16.3 19.3 23.3 29.3 19.3 11.8-13.4 2.0/3.0 0.5-2.0 5.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 12.0 230 32 3 15 23.3 5.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 12.0 230 33 3 15 29.3 3.0/4.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 8.0 12.0 230 28 3 15 36.3 6.0 6.0 9.0 12.0 16.0 130 16 2 16 44.3

[0096] The MFC numbers in Table 1 relate to the processing positions 2 to 5 in FIG. 1. MFC 6 relates to the processing position 6 in FIG. 1 (die base forming step). The assembly spacing of the tube relates to the spacing of the front end of the blower tube above a planar surface, in this case above a chuck base on which the blower tube is assembled so as to be locationally fixed relative to the assigned glass bottle in the base machine. A sufficiently large assembly spacing guarantees a piece of clear axial path for the return flow of the purge gas, until said return flow can be directed in a radially outward manner. This assembly spacing should in principle be chosen to be as small as possible, and may be in a range from 5.0 mm to 15.0 mm, such as in a range from 6.0 mm to 12.0 mm or at most 10.0 mm.

[0097] It can be derived from Table 1 that the mass flows used (and the other parameters) primarily depend on the diameter of the bottle and the diameter of the mouth opening. Exemplary ratios and absolute values of the mass flows pertaining to the respective phases of the further base processing can also be derived from Table 1.

[0098] The mass flow of the purge gas flow entering the glass bottles according to the invention is expediently in a range between 2.4 standard liters/min and 20 standard liters/min according to ISO 2533, wherein in some embodiments a maximum value of 20 sl/min is not exceeded.

[0099] Another exemplary embodiment of the production method in which an additional heating output in the form of a gas flame 310 is provided in the further forming of the bases of the glass bottles on the external side of the glass bottle base by at least one additional gas burner 300 is illustrated in FIG. 6. The gas flame 310 herein can in particular act perpendicularly on the glass bottle base, so as to keep the glass bottle base sufficiently hot and plastic, and on account thereof to in particular counteract the cooling effect of the purge gas 50 in the interior of the glass bottle.

[0100] The additional gas burner 300 may be disposed centrically above the base 110 of the glass bottle 100 and directs the gas flame 310 in a centric and coaxial manner onto the base 110 such that a thickened base region (also referred to as a so-called knot) that is optionally configured there is sufficiently heated, such that said thickened base region by way of further measures, in particular a rapid rotation of the glass bottle, can be reduced and, on account thereof, the base of the glass bottle can be configured so as to be planar and having a uniform thickness while adhering to very tight tolerances.

[0101] According to some embodiments, for compensating an additional cooling effect by virtue of the purge gas flow, in the further forming of the bases of the glass bottles an additional heating output that acts eccentrically is provided at least in portions, in particular by way of an eccentric disposal of a plurality of gas burners which at a respective processing station are disposed so as to be distributed about the external circumference of the glass bottles, such as at uniform mutual angular spacings, and which in each case act on the bases of the glass bottles.

[0102] While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0103] 1 Device for producing glass bottles [0104] 2 Severing step [0105] 3 First base-forming step [0106] 4 Second base-forming step [0107] 5 Third base-forming step [0108] 6 Die base-forming step [0109] 7 Base-cooling step [0110] 8 Retrieving step [0111] 9 Idle step [0112] 10 First phase (start of the purging process) [0113] 20 Second phase (cleaning of the glass bottle base segment) [0114] 30 Third phase (cleaning of the glass bottle head segment) [0115] 40 Fourth phase (end of the purging process and outflow of the last impurities) [0116] 50 Purge gas flow (or purge gas, respectively) [0117] 51 Entering purge gas flow proportion [0118] 52 Purging purge gas flow proportion [0119] 53 Exiting purge gas flow proportion [0120] 54 Hot gas (having impurities) [0121] 100 Glass bottle [0122] 110 Bulge of the glass bottle base [0123] d.sub.g,a Opening external diameter of the glass bottle [0124] d.sub.g,i Filling opening internal diameter of the glass bottle [0125] h.sub.g Overall height of the glass bottle [0126] h.sub.v Height of the glass bottle main segment [0127] h.sub.k Height of the glass bottle head segment [0128] h.sub.r Height of the glass bottle rolled rim [0129] 200 Tube [0130] 210 Tube having an open end [0131] 220 Conical tube having a conical end [0132] d.sub.r,a Tube external diameter [0133] dr,i Tube internal diameter [0134] d.sub.d,i Tube nozzle internal diameter [0135] d.sub.r,a Tube wall thickness [0136] 300 Gas burner [0137] 310 Gas flame [0138] BM Base machine [0139] MM Mother machine [0140] A Predetermined spacing of the tube from the filling opening [0141] M Mass flow of the entering purge gas flow 51 [0142] AL Axial centerline of the glass bottle [0143] NL Line orthogonal to the centerline ML at the height of the glass bottle filling opening