METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PRODUCING GLASS HOLLOW PRODUCTS AS WELL AS GLASS HOLLOW PRODUCTS AND THEIR USE

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a method for producing hollow glass products, to an apparatus for producing hollow glass products, to a hollow glass product per se, and to the use of these hollow glass products.

[0002] Hollow glass products can include both finished hollow glass products and pre-finished hollow glass products that can or must still be subjected to further processing, such as hollow glass sections. These hollow glass products or glass containers can also have round or non-round cross-sections, elongated hollow bodies with a constant or variable diameter along their length.

[0003] The invention preferably relates to hollow glass body products, in particular at least predominantly cylindrical hollow glass body products, such as glass tubes or glass tube sections, as well as hollow glass products produced from the hollow glass body product by further processing, such as glass tube vials, glass ampoules, glass carpules or glass syringes. Background of the invention

[0004] Typically, in the tube manufacturing process, for example, for the production of primary packaging for pharmaceutical products, individual tubes are produced from a continuous strand using brittle fracture. The disadvantage of conventional brittle fracture is the generation of splinters or glass particles, which can also penetrate the interior of the tube.

[0005] Such splinters or glass particles can be avoided by a heat-soft separation process.

[0006] DE 44 44 547 C2 provides a method for the heat-softened separation of glass tubes or glass plates by softening the glass tube or glass plate at the separation point, reducing the wall thickness in the softened area by drawing it out and then separating it by further heating, whereby in the case of thin-walled tubes or plates with a wall thickness of at most 0.2 mm, the glass is softened over a width of at most 0.4 mm, the softened area is brought to a wall thickness of at most 0.05 mm by drawing it out, the drawing length being at least five times the original wall thickness, and then separating it by further heating in the drawn-out area.

[0007] DE 100 47 850 A1 describes a method for cutting glass tubes from a running glass strand without creating splinters that would subsequently have to be removed by a washing process. In this method for cutting glass tubes, a glass strand is drawn, a heating device is moved along with the glass strand and directed toward a desired cutting point, the glass strand is stretched in the region of the desired cutting point, a cutting device is moved along with the glass strand, and the cutting device is actuated to cut the glass strand at the desired cutting point.

[0008] DE 10 2015 116 848 A1 relates to a method for producing a workpiece from a dielectric material having at least one zone with a defined strength. For this purpose, a short-pulse or ultrashort-pulse laser with a wavelength in the transparency range of the workpiece is used to create cavities in the workpiece. These cavities are essentially tubular in shape, such that their length is greater than their diameter, and the regions of the dielectric material surrounding the cavities have, at least in part, a greater density than the regions located outside the zone with a defined strength.

[0009] US 2015 / 0034612 A1 describes a non-ablative method for machining openings, in particular for drilling holes in materials by laser filamentation. Another application mentioned for a drilled substrate is the use as a filter for air monitoring, particle monitoring, and the like. These typically require openings with a diameter of a few hundred nanometers to a few tens of micrometers. US 2015 / 0140735 A1 also describes a method for material processing by inserting filaments using an ultrashort pulse laser to create openings in glass panes.

[0010] DE 1114992A describes a method for protecting the ends of glass tubes used to make ampoules from breakage. One end is completely sealed with a torch, while the other end is sealed except for a small opening. The purpose of the opening at one end is to allow atmospheric pressure equalization and the escape of the air heated within the tubes during the melting process.

[0011] Since the separation process in the continuous glass hollow body drawing process takes place at a glass temperature of approximately 150°C to 350°C, a negative pressure develops in the glass hollow body during cooling to room temperature. This negative pressure can negatively impact further processing, as conventional processes are not designed for negative pressure inside the glass hollow body. In particular, opening a glass hollow body with negative pressure inside poses a high risk of particle penetration into the glass interior and can potentially hinder the forming process.

[0012] To equalize pressure, the state of the art involves creating a vent hole in the hot glass tube using a laser or, conventionally, a burner. This prevents the formation of a negative pressure within the tube volume. This is disclosed, for example, in EP 1 369 389 A2.

[0013] During the assembly of glass tubes, a particle-free seal cannot usually be guaranteed. In addition to open tube ends, there is the Densocan ®< design, in which the tube ends are closed and pressure equalization within the tube is achieved through a lateral vent with a diameter of approximately 1 to 3 mm or 1.5 to 3.5 mm. Particles such as contaminants can penetrate through this vent, particularly during transport of the otherwise hermetically sealed tube. In addition, the process of creating the vent hole poses a risk of particle generation within the tube.

[0014] Although such vent openings enable further processing of the pipes without the negative influence of a negative pressure in the pipe, they can have the disadvantage that the initial freedom from particles in the pipe interior is not ensured and thus particle ingress cannot be completely avoided.

[0015] Consequently, there is a risk of glass particle formation during the manufacture of a vent opening itself as well as a risk of particles of various kinds penetrating through such a vent opening. General description of the invention

[0016] The invention therefore aims to provide a method for producing a hollow glass body with a pressure equalization system and to specify a hollow glass body with a pressure equalization system and with at least reduced particle loading or even no particle loading at all. The aim is thus to avoid the disadvantage that particles or splinters are generated during the production of the hollow glass body and the pressure equalization system itself, and that particles or splinters can penetrate the interior of the hollow body through the pressure equalization system itself. Consequently, both particle sources should be reliably excluded.

[0017] This is particularly important for the manufacturing process of primary packaging for pharmaceutical products as well as for primary packaging for pharmaceutical products themselves.

[0018] The stated problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. The dependent claims contain embodiments and further developments of the invention.

[0019] For this purpose, the method according to the invention for producing a hollow glass product comprises the following steps: Providing a hollow glass body with a wall and with an outer surface, shaping the hollow glass body product with a first end region and a second end region, wherein the first end region is closed with a first bottom and the second end region is closed with a second bottom, and laser-based irradiation of the hollow glass body with focused laser radiation to produce a plurality of spaced-apart filament-like defects in a predetermined arrangement on the outer surface at least in the first end region, wherein at least a portion of the filament-like defects form a plurality of open channels connecting the interior of the hollow glass body to the outer surface, wherein the diameter of the channels is set to greater than 0 to less than 50 micrometers and a gas-permeable connection to the interior is established through a plurality of the open channels.

[0020] The ends can be sealed to form the hollow glass product either before or after the channels are inserted with the laser. One end can also be sealed before the channels are inserted and the other end after the channels are inserted.

[0021] The process therefore allows a sufficiently large cross-sectional area for ventilation and / or pressure equalization to be created by inserting a sufficient number of channels.

[0022] The hollow glass body product according to the invention accordingly comprises a hollow glass body with an outer surface which has a first end region and a second end region, wherein the end regions are each closed with a bottom, i.e. the first end region is closed with a first bottom and the second end region with a second bottom, wherein a plurality of spaced-apart filament-like defects are arranged on the outer surface and at least some of the defects form open channels connecting the interior of the hollow glass body with the outer surface.The diameter of each individual channel is in the micrometer range, and several open channels set in the micrometer range form a sufficiently large cross-sectional area for venting and / or pressure equalization, with the filamentary damage and / or the open channels arranged at minimum intervals of at least 7 micrometers, and particularly preferably at least 10 micrometers, around the circumference of the outer surface of the hollow glass body. Typically, the hollow glass body product is tubular, i.e., has the shape of a tube closed at both ends.

[0023] By producing or having a sufficiently large cross-sectional area for venting or pressure equalization through several open channels set in the micrometer range or a large number of open channels set in the micrometer range, the build-up or maintenance of an undesirable pressure difference between the interior and the environment of the hollow glass body, in particular a negative pressure inside the hollow glass body, is prevented.

[0024] The required number of open channels formed by the filament-like damage can be determined by a person skilled in the art from the opening cross-section or diameter of an open channel and the pressure equalization rate, which depends on the application. Therefore, smaller open channels are usually sufficient for pressure equalization during cooling and transport of a hollow glass body over several hours.

[0025] Due to the small size of each open channel, the generation of particles, especially those with a critical size for penetration, can be prevented. The small diameter of the open channels prevents particles larger than the diameter of the channels from entering the interior of the hollow glass body. The diameter of an individual open channel thus acts as a barrier to larger particles.

[0026] Particularly in the production of pharmaceutical primary packaging, glass particles up to a size of approximately 50 micrometers are considered harmless.

[0027] Depending on the application of the hollow glass product, the diameter of each individual channel can be adjusted to between 0 and 50 micrometers. The diameter is to be understood as the average width of the channel, since the cross-section does not have to be strictly circular or of a constant size along the channel.

[0028] Particularly preferably, the diameter of each individual channel is set to greater than 0 micrometers to less than 3 micrometers, more preferably to 1 micrometer to less than 3 micrometers, so that the diameters of the open channels in the hollow glass product are preferably in the stated ranges.

[0029] The open channels, which are set or present in the micrometer range, thus represent vent openings and thus a pressure equalization system, through which an undesirable negative pressure build-up inside the hollow glass body can be prevented.

[0030] In an advantageous embodiment, the open channels have a total gas flow resistance which is so high that at a pressure difference of 1 bar between the interior of the hollow glass product and the environment of the hollow glass product, the volume flow for air is less than 2*10 -2< liters / s.

[0031] The Hagen-Poiseuille law describes the volume flow per unit time for a laminar flow of a homogeneous Newtonian fluid, such as air, through a pipe with radius r and length l: V = dV dt = π r 4 8 η dρ l n = dynamic viscosity of the fluid, dρ = pressure difference between the beginning and end of the channel)

[0032] The relevant length l is given by the wall thickness of the hollow glass product 1, the tube diameter is the diameter of the channel inserted with the laser.

[0033] As the Hagen-Poiseuille law shows, the volume flow increases particularly strongly with the radius r of the hole or the open channel with the exponent 4. Accordingly, a slow gas exchange is caused by the individual channels.

[0034] The channels are formed and their diameters adjusted by laser-based irradiation of the hollow glass body. Particularly small diameters are preferably produced using an ultrashort pulse laser, preferably with laser pulses with a pulse length of less than 10 picoseconds and / or preferably with a pulse frequency of greater than 100 kHz.

[0035] This ensures at least very low particle contamination or even complete absence of particles, thus largely preventing contamination inside the hollow glass body. This is particularly important for use in the pharmaceutical sector, especially as a pharmaceutical container.

[0036] Consequently, even future requirements of the pharmaceutical industry for vent hole production and pressure equalization including particle barrier during transport and storage can be met by preventing particles from being generated during vent hole production and by preventing particles from the environment above a certain size, for example equal to or larger than 50 micrometers, from penetrating into a glass container.

[0037] This reliably excludes both particle sources.

[0038] Because the first end region and the second end region of the outer surface of the hollow glass body are each closed with a base, the hollow glass body is completely closed, so that the freedom from particles and contamination is preserved during the process for manufacturing the glass body product as well as during transport or storage.

[0039] Thus, in the production of hollow glass body products according to the invention, pressure equalization is ensured by the creation and arrangement of open channels with cross sections in the micrometer range, which function as vent openings, and at the same time the penetration of unwanted particles and thus contamination with them inside the hollow glass body is reliably excluded.

[0040] Both the method according to the invention and the hollow glass body product according to the invention can ensure pressure equalization and a particle barrier, which is particularly important during transport and storage of the hollow glass bodies.

[0041] In order to prevent breakage or separation of the hollow glass body or the glass, the filament-like damages or the open channels are arranged at appropriately large minimum distances, depending on the thickness and composition of the glass.

[0042] To ensure the mechanical strength of the hollow glass body, particularly during handling and transport of, for example, glass tubes, glass tube vials, glass ampoules, glass carpules, or glass syringes in the pharmaceutical sector, the filament-like defects and / or the open channels according to the invention are arranged at minimum distances of at least 7 micrometers, and particularly preferably at least 10 micrometers, around the circumference of the outer surface of the hollow glass body. This distance is measured from the center to the center of the channels.

[0043] An apparatus for producing hollow glass products according to the method according to the invention preferably comprises a transport device for the hollow glass body with an outer surface having a first end region and a second end region, a laser-based irradiation device for generating focused radiation by means of focusing optics, and a device for guiding the focused laser radiation over the outer surface and generating the plurality of spaced-apart filament-like defects in a predetermined arrangement on the outer surface at least in the first end region of the hollow glass body, in order to form, through at least some of the defects, a plurality of open channels connecting the interior of the hollow glass body to the outer surface, in order to adjust the diameter of each individual channel in the micrometer range, and in order to establish a gas-permeable connection to the interior through a plurality of open channels whose diameters are greater than 0 to less than 50 micrometers,in particular to produce a sufficiently large cross-sectional area for venting and / or pressure equalization, as well as a thermal sealing device for hot forming the hollow glass body in such a way that a hollow glass body product with two closed ends is produced.

[0044] If necessary, a separate removal device can be provided for the hollow glass body provided with the open channels, or the removal or further transport can also be carried out by the transport device.

[0045] The laser-based irradiation device comprises a laser with upstream focusing optics and a guide device for stably guiding and positioning the focusing optics along a desired arrangement, at the desired distance and at the desired irradiation angle relative to the outer surface of the hollow glass body. This means that the optics are movable to move and guide the laser radiation or laser beam in a focused manner, allowing the respective point of impact of the laser beam on the outer surface of the hollow glass body to be processed to be precisely determined.

[0046] The optimal irradiation angle also depends on the thickness and / or diameter of the glass hollow body and the optical properties of the material. The most favorable value is determined through testing or calculations.

[0047] In one embodiment of the method for producing hollow glass body products, the generation of the filament-like damage on the outer surface of the hollow glass body is preferably preceded or followed by a process of preferably continuous, heat-soft separation of the hollow glass body into predetermined sections, wherein the sections of the hollow glass body each have a first end region and a second end region, and wherein the first end region and the second end region are each closed to form a base.

[0048] Preferably, the separation of the hollow glass body into predetermined sections is carried out by continuous heat-soft separation, whereby preferably sealed hollow glass body products are obtained, without or already with venting.

[0049] To extend the method to include the heat-soft separation of the hollow glass body into predetermined sections, the aforementioned device is preferably also supplemented as follows.

[0050] The expanded device preferably comprises a thermal sealing device designed as a separating and sealing device for thermally separating the hollow glass body into predetermined sections, each having a first end region closed by a base and a second end region. In other words, the thermal sealing device is designed to simultaneously separate sections from the hollow glass body during the sealing process, which then form the hollow glass body product, in particular in the form of a tube closed at both ends. The hollow glass body product preferably has a circular cross-section, but this is not mandatory. Tubes with an elliptical or polygonal cross-section are also conceivable.

[0051] By thermally or heat-softening the hollow glass body into sections, separation can be easily achieved without the formation of splinters or glass particles.

[0052] Thus, in this process for the production of hollow glass products, which is supplemented by thermal separation, the possible sources of unwanted particles, i.e. both their generation during the production process of the hollow glass product and their penetration into the interior of the hollow glass product from the environment, are excluded.

[0053] In the case of heat-soft separation, the hollow glass body is preferably heated at a predetermined separation line to temperatures significantly greater than the transformation temperature of the glass and the separation of the hollow glass body into the predetermined sections is carried out either by increasing the distance between adjacent sections and pulling off with tapering of the heated separation line until it breaks off in the middle of the hollow glass body with the formation of two predetermined sections, wherein the sections each have a first end region and a second end region, and wherein the first end region and the second end region are each closed to form a bottom under the influence of the surface tension of the glass.

[0054] Alternatively, the heated parting line of the hollow glass body can be separated by a scissor cut to form two predetermined sections, each section having a first end region and a second end region, and each of the first end region and the second end region being closed to form a bottom under the influence of the surface tension of the glass.

[0055] In both cases, the continuous separation process produces completely closed hollow glass bodies, with the inner surface remaining particle-free.

[0056] The aforementioned measures ensure that, even in the presence of particles, the particle sizes inside the hollow glass product are preferably smaller than 50 µm, preferably smaller than 25 µm, and particularly preferably smaller than 10 µm. This can, for example, also achieve low contamination or even eliminate contamination by microorganisms.

[0057] In an advantageous embodiment of the method for producing a hollow glass product, in particular a pharmaceutical primary packaging material, an individual coding of the hollow glass product can be formed by some of the filament-like defects and / or the open channels, with a freely selectable geometric arrangement of the defects and / or the open channels in the form of squares, rectangles, parallelograms, circles, ellipses, mixed forms thereof, or 2D coding, such as variants of data matrix codes. Therefore, in general, a further development provides that the arrangement of the channels or filament-like defects contains coded information, or that the channels are inserted in such a way that information is encoded in their positioning on the hollow glass product.This information may include technical data of the hollow glass product, such as the glass type, dimensions or date of manufacture, as well as, where appropriate, information on defects in the glass, in particular their location.

[0058] In a hollow glass body product according to the invention with a pressure equalization system, the open channels, which are preferably present in a freely selectable geometric arrangement, such as in the form of squares, rectangles, parallelograms, circles, ellipses or in mixed forms, or in variants of data matrix codes, can simultaneously represent an individual coding of the hollow glass body or additively form additional filament-like damages with an individual coding of the hollow glass body.

[0059] In a preferred embodiment of the method, at least some of the filament-like defects and / or the open channels form a general or individual coding of data relating to the hollow glass body. In a preferred embodiment of the hollow glass body product, at least some of the filament-like defects and / or the open channels, with a freely selectable geometric arrangement, form a general or individual coding of the hollow glass body, which contains or indicates information relating to process parameters, product specifications, defect type, and / or defect location.This makes it possible to obtain important information about the origin, originality, manufacture, specific production data of the hollow glass body or hollow glass product and technical data on dimensions and glass type, in particular for traceability, further processing, determination of originality, quality control and quality improvement, protection against counterfeiting and / or for combating product piracy.

[0060] Furthermore, the method for producing hollow glass body products can also be designed in such a way that, in particular for further processing, a predetermined breaking line is formed by at least some of the filament-like damage and / or the open channels for a subsequent separation of the hollow glass body into predetermined sections, which also enables a low-splinter and precise separation of the hollow glass body.

[0061] A similar method for separating a portion from a flat glass element along a provided separating line, which divides the glass element into a portion to be separated and a main part to remain, wherein filament-shaped damages are generated in the volume of the glass element next to one another along the separating line, is described in WO 2017009149 A1.

[0062] An advantage of this process is the high stability of the predetermined breaking line created in this way, which is stable over time and thus tolerates moderate mechanical stress during transport and further processing without fracture growth.

[0063] Usually, the separation along the predetermined breaking line is carried out with thermal stresses, for example by local heating with a burner or preferably with a CO2 laser irradiation, or by mechanical stresses.

[0064] It is known from the literature that separation processes of this type can be carried out with minimal splintering. The use of a laser also makes the process cleanroom compatible.

[0065] This separation or breakage can be carried out both during the final processing by the hollow body manufacturer and during the further processing of the hollow body by the customer.

[0066] This allows the pharmaceutical industry's requirements to be met, namely that no harmful particles are generated, especially those that pass through the cross-section of the open channels and / or lead to undesired contamination of the interior of the hollow glass body, and that, at the same time, no particles can penetrate into the interior of the hollow glass body through the vent openings and / or pressure equalization openings. The particle sizes are less than 50 µm, preferably less than 25 µm, and particularly preferably less than 10 µm.

[0067] The invention also relates to the use of hollow glass products produced according to the invention and of hollow glass products according to the invention as pharmaceutical packaging or primary packaging for pharmaceutical products, or to the production thereof from hollow glass products according to the invention, for example for the production of glass tube vials, glass ampoules, glass carpules or glass syringes. Brief description of the drawings

[0068] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached figures.

[0069] In the figures, like reference numerals designate like or corresponding elements. They show: Fig. 1 shows a diagram of an apparatus for producing a hollow glass product with filament-like damage and open channels; Fig. 2 shows a schematic drawing of a hollow glass product according to the invention with inserted open channels for venting and / or pressure equalization, which can simultaneously represent individual coding; Fig. 3 shows a schematic drawing of a hollow glass product with inserted open channels for venting and / or pressure equalization and with filament-like damage as a predetermined breaking line; Fig. 4 shows a diagram of an apparatus according to the invention with a device for forming hollow glass; Fig. 5 shows a hollow glass product with filament-like damage arranged along an annular line; Fig. 6 shows the hollow glass product according to Fig. 5with a part of the wall removed along the annular line, Fig. 7 a device for further processing of hollow glass products, Fig. 8 an arrangement of open channels in the form of a 2D code. Detailed description of the invention

[0070] In Fig. 1 an embodiment of a device 2 for producing a hollow glass body product 1 is shown, which device comprises a transport device 4 for a hollow glass body 6, a laser-based irradiation device 8 with an ultrashort pulse laser 30 for generating focused laser radiation 10 by means of a focusing optics 12 in order to introduce into the hollow glass body 6 a plurality of spaced-apart filament-like defects 14 which form at least partially open channels 16 and an optional guide device (not shown) for guiding the focusing optics 12.

[0071] The transport device 4 can be a pulling or pulling device. It can be designed to move the hollow glass body 6 intermittently (discontinuously) or continuously in the direction of the longitudinal axis or perpendicular thereto in a translational manner. At the same time, the hollow glass body 6, in particular the glass tube, can preferably also be rotated. The transport device 4 can therefore also be a positioning device for positioning the hollow glass body 6 under the laser radiation 10, or be a component of the device for guiding the focused laser radiation 10 over the outer surface 28 and thus creating a plurality of spaced-apart open channels.

[0072] The device 2 can also represent a part of a hollow glass body producing device or shaping device (not shown), for example for a glass tube, wherein the transport device 4 feeds the hollow glass body 6 to the laser-based irradiation device 8, possibly still in the hot state.

[0073] If the glass is to be worked on in motion, for example, if the process is to be carried out on a continuously produced, tubular hollow glass body 6 directly during drawing from the melt or after partial melting of a hollow glass body 6, then it is preferable for the laser-based irradiation device 8 and the guide device (not shown) for guiding the focusing optics 12 to be designed to move in line with the transport direction of the hollow glass body. In this way, the filament-like damage 14 and / or the open channels 16 can be created in the desired arrangement during the movement.

[0074] In a particular embodiment of the device 2 for producing hollow glass products 1, the device 2 can have a Fig. 1not shown upstream thermal separation and sealing device or a thermal separation and sealing device downstream of the laser-based irradiation device 8, wherein the thermal separation and sealing device thermally separates the hollow glass body 6 into predetermined sections, each having a first end region 20 and a second end region 22, and seals the first end region 20 to form a first base 24 and the second end region 22 to form a second base 26. During sealing in the hot-forming process, a pressure difference can build up between the interior of the hollow glass body 6 and the environment. This pressure difference can be equalized again by the open channels 16 inserted with the laser-based irradiation device 8 until the hollow glass body product 6 is later divided.

[0075] With the laser-based irradiation device 8, a plurality of spaced-apart filament-like defects 14 can be introduced into the glass hollow body 6 in order to form, through at least a portion of the defects 14, a plurality of open channels 16 connecting the interior of the glass hollow body 6 with its outer surface 28.

[0076] The laser-based irradiation device 8 comprises an ultrashort pulse laser 30 with the upstream focusing optics 12 and, if appropriate, a guide device for stably guiding the focusing optics 12 along a desired arrangement, at the desired distance and at the desired irradiation angle to the outer surface 28 of the hollow glass body 6 in order to correctly focus and position the laser beam 10. This means that the optics 12 can be movable in order to move and guide the laser radiation 10 or the laser beam in a focused manner, so that the respective point of impact of the laser beam of the ultrashort pulse laser 30 on the outer surface 28 of the wall 27 of the hollow glass body 6 to be processed can be precisely determined.In this case, the guide device is accordingly a component of the device for guiding the focused laser radiation 10 over the outer surface 28 in order to produce the plurality of spaced-apart filament-like damages 14 in a predetermined arrangement on the outer surface 28 at least in the first end region 20 of the hollow glass body 6. The optimal irradiation angle also depends on the thickness of the wall 27 and / or the diameter of the hollow glass body 6 and the optical properties of the material. The most favorable value in each case is determined by tests or calculations. For example, smaller angles are more advantageous for tubes with a larger diameter and larger angles for tubes with a smaller diameter.

[0077] A suitable ultrashort pulse laser 30 for the device 2 for producing a hollow glass product 1 is a neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser with a wavelength of 1064 nanometers, which can also operate with frequency doubling. The suitable pulse duration of a laser pulse is preferably shorter than 10 picoseconds. The pulse frequency is preferably more than 100 kHz.

[0078] Preferably, the control of the ultrashort pulse laser 30 and the guide device (not shown) for the focusing optics 12, as well as optionally also the control of the transport device 4 for positioning the hollow glass body 6 under the laser beam 10, is carried out by means of a program-configured computer device 32. This is done in particular by reading in position data, preferably from a file or via a network.

[0079] In this way, a plurality of spaced-apart filament-like defects 14 can be produced in a predetermined arrangement on the outer surface 28 and open channels 16 connecting the interior of the hollow glass body 6 to the outer surface 28 can be formed, wherein the diameter of each individual channel 16 is set in the micrometer range, in particular with a diameter of less than 10 micrometers, and a sufficiently large cross-sectional area for venting and / or pressure equalization is produced by a plurality of open channels 16 set in the micrometer range.

[0080] Fig. 2shows a plan view of a hollow glass product 1 according to the invention with inserted open channels 16, which form a sufficiently large cross-sectional area for venting and / or pressure equalization. In general, without limitation to the example shown, the channels 16 are preferably not distributed throughout the hollow glass product 1, but rather inserted in a grouped arrangement close to one another. The spacing between the channels 16 is preferably less than 1 millimeter.

[0081] The hollow glass body product 1 has the first end region 20 and the second end region 22 on the outer surface 28, wherein the first end region 20 and the second end region 22 are closed by the first bottom 24 and the second bottom 26.

[0082] In order to produce a channel 16 passing through the glass hollow body 6, glass with a wall thickness 27 of greater than 5 millimeters is also suitable, but generally thinner glass is preferred.

[0083] Without being limited to the examples shown in the figures, a further development of the invention provides that the hollow glass body product 1 has a wall thickness 27 of a maximum of 5 millimeters. For pharmaceutical applications, particularly for syringes or cartridges, wall thicknesses 27 of a maximum of 2.5 millimeters are usually used.

[0084] The choice of glass composition is diverse, as long as it can be processed with a laser. Examples include borosilicate glass or aluminosilicate glass.

[0085] On the outer surface 28, in particular in the first end region 20 of the hollow glass body 6, a plurality of spaced-apart open channels 16 connecting the interior of the hollow glass body 6 with the outer surface 28 are arranged, with a set diameter of each individual channel 16 in the micrometer range, in such a way that it can be inscribed in the outer surface 28 of the hollow glass body 6 by the above-described control of the ultrashort pulse laser 30 by the computer device 32 and the control of the guide device (not shown) for the focusing optics 12 and optionally also the control of the transport device 4 as a positioning device of the hollow glass body 6.

[0086] The diameter of each individual channel 16 is preferably greater than 0 to less than 10 micrometers. Particularly preferably, it is greater than 0 to 3 micrometers, and further preferably, it is 1 to less than 3 micrometers.

[0087] By means of several open channels 16 set in the micrometer range, a sufficiently large cross-sectional area for venting and / or pressure equalization is achieved and the build-up of an undesirable negative pressure inside the hollow glass body 6 is prevented.

[0088] The necessary number of open channels 16 formed by the filament-like damage can be determined by a person skilled in the art from the opening cross-section or diameter of an open channel 16 and the magnitude of the pressure equalization rate, which depends on the application. Therefore, smaller open channels are sufficient for pressure equalization during the cooling and transport of a hollow glass body over several hours.

[0089] Due to the small size of each open channel 16, the generation of particles, especially those with a critical size for penetration, can be prevented. Due to the small diameter of the open channels 16, no particles larger than the diameter of the channels 16 can penetrate into the interior of the hollow glass body 6. The diameter of an individual open channel 16 thus acts as a barrier for larger particles.

[0090] To ensure the mechanical strength of the hollow glass body 6, and in particular to prevent breakage or undesired separation of the hollow glass body 6 during handling and transport, for example, of glass tubes, glass tube vials, glass ampoules, glass carpules, or glass syringes in the pharmaceutical sector, the filament-like defects 14 and / or the open channels 16 according to the invention are arranged at intervals of at least 7 micrometers and particularly preferably of at least 10 micrometers around the circumference of the outer surface 28 of the hollow glass body 6. These distances are measured from center to center of the channels.

[0091] In the hollow glass body product 1 according to the invention with pressure equalization system, the open channels 16 can thus be present in a freely selectable geometric arrangement, such as in the form of a square, as in Fig. 2shown, and thus simultaneously represent an individual coding of the hollow glass product 1.

[0092] Filament-like damages 14 can also mark defects and thus, for example, form a "defect map" on the wall 27 of the hollow glass body 6 or, through an arrangement of the channels 16 in the form of a code, contain information about the location of defects.

[0093] In addition to information on process parameters, product specifications, defect type and / or defect position, important information on the origin, originality, manufacture, specific production data of the hollow glass body 6 or the hollow glass body product 1 can be obtained, in particular for traceability, further processing, determination of originality, quality control and quality improvement, security against counterfeiting and / or for combating product piracy.

[0094] Fig. 3shows a plan view of a hollow glass body product 1 with inserted open channels 16 for venting and / or pressure equalization, for example in the form of a ring 18 running around the circumference of the tubular hollow glass body product, as a predetermined breaking line 35 for a subsequent separation of the hollow glass body 6 along this annular line.

[0095] Alternatively or cumulatively to the separation of the hollow glass body 6 into predetermined sections at the predetermined breaking line, the filament-like damages 14 and the open channels 16 can also be arranged, for example, in a ring shape only to form an opening on the wall 27 on the outer surface 28 of the hollow glass body 6, preferably with a total diameter of the opening in the range of a few or fewer millimeters, in particular as a vent opening.

[0096] If the hollow glass body 6 is arranged vertically in the form of a tube glass with an opening directed upwards, the chimney effect of the vertically upward air flow can be used to discharge air through the upper opening.

[0097] According to one embodiment of the invention, the device and method for producing hollow glass products 1 may in particular comprise a device 3 for producing tubular glass. Fig. 4shows a schematic of such a device. The glass tube formed from a melt 7 by the device 3 represents the hollow glass body 6, which is further processed by the device 2 into a hollow glass body product 1 according to the invention. For this purpose, the glass tube is fed to the thermal sealing device 5. This heats the glass tube in a ring shape. The glass tube constricts due to softening and separates, with the severed ends simultaneously closing and the bases 24, 26 forming. In the embodiment shown, the laser-based irradiation device 8 is arranged downstream of the sealing device 5. However, it is also possible to insert the channels 16 into sections before separation. In a further development, the tubular hollow glass body product obtained in this way generally has an outer diameter in the range from 4 mm to 120 mm, preferably in the range from 6 mm to 30 mm.Preferred individual values of the outer diameter are: 6.85 mm, 8.15 mm, 10.75 mm, 10.85 mm, 12.75 mm, 14.45 mm, 14.75 mm, 16 mm, 17.05 mm, 17.75 mm, 22 mm, 22.05 mm, 22.5 mm, 24 mm, and 30 mm.

[0098] According to one embodiment, the length is in the range of 0.4 meters to 2.5 meters, preferably in the range of 1.2 meters to 1.8 meters. A preferred length is 1.5 meters.

[0099] Typical and preferred wall thicknesses range from 0.1 mm to 2.5 mm. Wall thicknesses in the range from 0.4 mm to 16 mm are preferred. Such hollow glass products are particularly suitable for further processing of hollow glass products such as syringes, ampoules, and glass vials. Preferred individual wall thicknesses are: 0.5 mm, 0.55 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.9 mm, 1.1 mm, 1.3 mm, 1.4 mm, and 1.5 mm.

[0100] Fig. 5shows a hollow glass product 1 with a predetermined breaking line 35 running annularly on the lateral surface of the tubular hollow glass product 1 and consisting of adjacent channels 16. In contrast to the Fig. 3 In the embodiment shown, the predetermined breaking line 35 does not divide the hollow glass body 1 into two axial sections, so that the end face or tube end is opened upon separation. Rather, the resulting opening lies on the lateral surface.

[0101] Fig. 6shows the tubular hollow glass product 1 after an opening 36 has been created in the outer surface of a tubular hollow glass product 1 by detaching part of the wall. The annular predetermined breaking line 35 is not inserted circumferentially around the outer surface, dividing the hollow glass product 1 into two axial sections, but rather to create an opening 36 in the outer surface. Accordingly, at least the center point of the opening 36 is spaced from the nearest end of the tubular hollow glass product 1.

[0102] Fig. 7shows a device for further processing hollow glass products 1, such as those that can be produced using the method described so far. Further processing typically involves the production of hollow glass products, such as glass tube vials, glass ampoules, glass carpules, or glass syringes. These glass products are generally made from shorter sections of the hollow glass product 1. At the beginning of further processing, the hollow glass product 1 is opened. This opening can be achieved by a cold process, such as, in particular, scoring. However, glass splinters can enter the hollow glass body during this process.In order to avoid this, according to one embodiment of the invention, without being limited to the specific example shown, a device and a method are provided in which the hollow glass body product 1 is separated for further processing, wherein before the separation a pressure difference is created between the interior of the hollow glass body product 1 and its surroundings, so that the pressure in the interior is higher than the pressure in the surroundings, and wherein the pressure difference is created by a gas exchange through the open channels 16, wherein particles formed during the separation are transported away from the hollow glass body 6 by the escaping excess pressure.

[0103] For further processing, the tubular hollow glass product 1 can be clamped in a chuck 38. The chuck 38 rotates the hollow glass product 1 about its longitudinal axis. A scoring device 40 inserts a score 41 running circumferentially around the hollow glass product 1. The cutting at the score 41 to separate the end region 22 can be achieved, for example, by an impulse exerted laterally on the hollow glass product. In any case, when the end region is broken off, glass particles can be created by the tearing of the glass, which then also enter the interior of the hollow glass product and remain there. These particles may then also be found in the products manufactured from the hollow glass product. To avoid this, the device 33 for further processing hollow glass products 1, according to one embodiment, has a differential pressure device 9.This creates a pressure difference so that the pressure inside the hollow body is greater than the ambient pressure at the location of the scoring 41. The differential pressure device 9 can, for example, have a housing 45 with an opening into which the hollow glass product 1 is guided. The opening is sealed with a seal 43. In the example shown, the lining 38 is also arranged in this housing. In particular, however, the area of the hollow glass product 1 in the housing 45 where the open channels 16 are located is arranged. Finally, a pump 47 is connected to the housing 45 and generates an overpressure in the housing 45. As a result, gas also flows through the channels 16 into the interior of the hollow glass product 1 and the pressure inside equals the pressure in the housing 45.If the end region 22 is now cut off at the notch 41, the gas under excess pressure escapes at the break point and blows away the resulting particles.

[0104] Following the opening of the tubular hollow glass product, hollow glass products such as vials, ampoules or syringes can then be manufactured from sections of the same by further processing, in particular by hot forming.

[0105] As already explained, additional information can be inserted into the lateral arrangement of the open channels 16. Thus, in one embodiment, it is generally provided that the channels 16 are inserted such that their lateral positions form a 2D code, for example, a data matrix code. An example of this is shown in Fig. 8. The 2D code 19 of this arrangement of channels 16 is a data matrix code in the example shown. Various details, such as the glass type and dimensions, can be stored in the code. Purely as an example, the information stored in the example shown includes a date, the glass type (borosilicate glass), the outer diameter (30 mm), and the length of the tubular hollow glass product 1 (1500 mm). The pattern 19 can also serve as an adjustment or holding aid when clamping in the chuck 38 of a device for further processing. However, in order to serve as an adjustment or marking, the arrangement of channels 16 does not necessarily have to take the form of a code. If necessary, the position of the channels on the hollow glass product 1 is sufficient as a reference position.

[0106] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments described above are to be understood as examples, and that the invention is not limited to them, but can be varied in many ways without departing from the scope of the claims. Furthermore, it is clear that the features, regardless of whether they are disclosed in the description, the claims, the figures, or otherwise, also individually define essential components of the invention, even if they are described together with other features. List of reference symbols

[0107] 1 Hollow glass product 2 Device for producing a hollow glass product 1 3 Device for producing glass tubes 4 Transport device 5 Thermal sealing device 6 Hollow glass body 7 Melt 8 Laser-based irradiation device 9 Differential pressure device / overpressure system 10 Laser radiation 12 Focusing optics 14 Filament-like damage(s) 16 Open channel / open channels 18 Ring 19 2D code 20 First end region 22 Second end region 24 First base 26 Second base 27 Wall 28 Outer surface 30 Ultrashort pulse laser 32 Computer device 33 Device for further processing of hollow glass products 35 Predetermined breaking line 36 Opening in 27 38 Lining 40 Scoring device 41 Scoring 43 Seal 45 Housing 47 Pump

Claims

1. A method for producing a hollow body glass product (1), comprising the steps of: - providing a hollow glass body (6) having an outer surface (28); - forming the hollow body glass product (1) so as to have a first end portion (20) and a second end portion (22), the first end portion (20) being sealed by a first bottom (24) and the second end portion (22) being sealed by a second bottom (26); - laser-based irradiating of the hollow glass body (6) with focused laser radiation (10) to produce a plurality of spaced apart filamentary defects (14) in a predetermined arrangement in the outer surface (28) of at least the first end portion (20), with at least part of the filamentary defects (14) defining a plurality of open passages (16) connecting the interior of the hollow glass body (6) to the outer surface (28) thereof, wherein the diameter of the passages (16) is set to be between more than 0 and less than 50 micrometres, and wherein a plurality of the open passages (16) provide gaseous communication to the interior.

2. The method for producing a hollow body glass product (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the filamentary defects (14) form a plurality of open passages (16) in a manner to provide a total cross-sectional area sufficiently large for venting and / or for pressure equalization.

3. The method for producing a hollow body glass product (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the diameter of each individual passage (16) is set to be between more than 0 and less than 10 micrometres, preferably between more than 0 and 3 micrometres, and most preferably between 1 micrometre and less than 3 micrometres.

4. The method for producing a hollow body glass product (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the open passages (16) are arranged along the perimeter of the outer surface (28) of the hollow glass body (6) at intervals of at least 7 micrometres and preferably at least 10 micrometres.

5. The method for producing hollow body glass products (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising, prior to or following the producing of the filamentary defects (14) in the outer surface (28) of the hollow glass body (6), a process of separating, by heat-softening, the hollow glass body (6) into predetermined sections, the sections each having a further first end portion (20) and a further second end portion (22), the first end portion (20) being sealed by forming a first bottom (24) and the second end portion (22) by forming a second bottom (26).

6. The method for producing a hollow body glass product (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least part of the filamentary defects (14) and / or of the open passages (16) define an individual code of the hollow glass body with a freely selectable geometric arrangement of the filamentary defects (14) and / or of the open passages (16) in the form of squares, rectangles, parallelograms, circles, ellipses, mixed shapes, or variants of data matrix codes.

7. The method for producing a hollow body glass product (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least part of the filamentary defects (14) and / or of the open passages (16) define an individual code of the hollow glass body with a freely selectable geometric arrangement of the filamentary defects (14) and / or of the open passages (16), which code includes or indicates information about process parameters, product specification, a type of error, and / or an error position.

8. A method for further processing hollow body glass products (1) produced by the method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hollow body glass product (1) is separated for further processing, and wherein, prior to the separating, a pressure difference is created between the interior of the hollow body glass product (1) and the exterior thereof such that the pressure inside is higher than the exterior pressure, and wherein said pressure difference is created through gas exchange through the open passages (16), wherein particles produced during the separating are transported away from the hollow glass body (6) by the escaping overpressure.

9. The method for further processing according to the preceding claim, characterised by forming, from the hollow body glass product (1), hollow glass articles in the form of glass tube vials, glass ampoules, glass cartridges, or glass syringes.

10. An apparatus for producing hollow body glass products (1) according to the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising: - conveying means (4) for the hollow glass body (6) that has an outer surface (28) with a first end portion (20) and a second end portion (22); - a laser-based irradiation device (8) for generating focused laser radiation (10) using focusing optics (12) and means for directing the focused laser radiation (10) over the outer surface (28) for producing the plurality of spaced apart filamentary defects (14) in a predetermined arrangement in the outer surface (28) in at least the first end portion (20) of the hollow glass body (6), for defining, by at least part of the filamentary defects (14), a plurality of open passages (16) connecting the interior of the hollow glass body (6) to the outer surface (28) thereof, for setting the diameter of each individual passage (16) in the micrometre range, and for providing gaseous communication to the interior by a plurality of open passages (16) which have a diameter between more than 0 and less than 50 micrometres; and - thermal sealing means (5) for hot forming the hollow glass body (6) such that a hollow body glass product (1) is produced, which has two closed ends.

11. The apparatus for producing hollow body glass products (1) as claimed in the preceding claim, comprising conveying means (4), thermal sealing means in the form of a separating and sealing device (5) for separating the hollow glass body (6) in a thermally softened state into predetermined sections, each one having a further first end portion (20) and a further second end portion (22), and for sealing the first end portion (20) by forming a first bottom (24) and the second end portion (22) by forming a second bottom (26).

12. The apparatus for producing hollow body glass products (1) according to claim 10 or 11, comprising an device (3) for producing tube glass.

13. A hollow body glass product (1), comprising a hollow glass body (6) having an outer surface (28) with a first end portion (20) and a second end portion (22), the first end portion (20) being sealed by a first bottom (24) and the second end portion (22) being sealed by a second bottom (26), wherein a plurality of spaced apart filamentary defects (14) are provided in the outer surface (28) and at least part of the filamentary defects (14) define open passages (16) connecting the interior of the hollow glass body (6) to the outer surface (28) thereof, wherein each individual passage (16) has a diameter in the micrometre range between greater than 0 and smaller than 50 micrometres, and wherein a plurality of the micrometre range-sized open passages (16) provide a total cross-sectional area sufficiently large for venting and / or for pressure equalization, wherein the filamentary defects (14) and / or the open passages (16) are arranged along the perimeter of the outer surface (28) of the hollow glass body (6) at intervals of at least 7 micrometres and preferably at least 10 micrometres.

14. The hollow body glass product (1) of claim 13, wherein the diameter of the passages (16) ranges from more than 0 to less than 10 micrometres, preferably from more than 0 to 3 micrometres, and most preferably from 1 micrometre to less than 3 micrometres.

15. The hollow body glass product (1) according to any one of claims 13 to 14, wherein at least part of the filamentary defects (14) and / or of the open passages (16) define an individual code of the hollow glass body (6), by a geometrical arrangement of the filamentary defects (14) and / or of the open passages (16) in the form of squares, rectangles, parallelograms, circles, ellipses, mixed shapes thereof, or variants of data matrix codes.

16. The hollow body glass product (1) according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the arrangement of the passages (16) includes coded information of technical data of the hollow body glass product (1), preferably at least information about one of glass type, dimensions, and date of manufacture.

17. The hollow body glass product (1) according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein, if particles are present in the interior of the hollow body glass product (1), the size of said particles is less than 50 µm, preferably less than 25 µm, and most preferably less than 10 µm.

18. The hollow body glass product (1) according to any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein the open passages exhibit a total gas flow resistance sufficiently high such that at a pressure difference of 1 bar between the interior of the hollow body glass product (1) and the exterior of the hollow body glass product (1), the volume flow for air is less than 2 * 10-2 litres / s.

19. Use of hollow body glass products (1) produced by the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 or according to any one of claims 13 to 18 for producing pharmaceutical packaging or primary packaging for pharmaceutical products.