METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING A GLASS CONTAINER AND AIR STORAGE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and a system for producing a glass container, such as a glass syringe or a glass ampoule, from a glass tube blank and to an air bearing for such a system.

[0002] Glass bodies for glass syringes or glass ampoules are subject to very tight manufacturing tolerances, both to ensure high product quality and to comply with partially standardized interfaces, for example, in the funnel-shaped end section. Another factor affecting the quality and accuracy of the glass container is the production-specific tolerances when cutting glass container blanks from the glass tube blank. In the production of rotationally symmetrical glass tubes, the state of the art involves scoring the (continuous) glass tubes at a predefined position along the longitudinal axis of the glass tube, heating them, shock-cooling them, and reheating them.During processing, the glass tube is rotated around its longitudinal axis and, after a cutting process, is moved in the direction of the longitudinal axis so that a subsequent cutting process can be carried out.

[0003] Until now, storage took place in a chuck that only allows the glass tube to rotate around its longitudinal axis. The storage is arranged so that the glass tube's longitudinal axis is oriented vertically. Stop plates are provided below the chuck to position the glass tubes vertically. For this purpose, the chuck must be opened so that the glass tube held by the chuck is released and, due to gravity, falls vertically downwards onto the stop plates when the chuck is open. For the subsequent translational ejection of the severed glass container along its longitudinal axis and to prepare the glass tube for another cutting process, the chuck must be opened again to release and move the glass tube. This allows the severed glass container to fall into another processing station under the influence of gravity, and the glass tube is then allowed to fall against the stop plates again under the influence of gravity.A schematic representation of a state of the art tube cutter is shown as . Fig. 1 attached to the present application documents.

[0004] DE3125521 A1 teaches a system for producing a glass tube that can be used for glass containers. The tube is supported on an air bearing and then cut off.

[0005] GB 1025500 A teaches the cutting of a hot glass tube supported by an air bearing.

[0006] US2017283299 A1 discloses the cutting of cooled glass blanks which are rotated by means of a spindle inside the blank, wherein the spindle is held by an air bearing.

[0007] The manufacturing process has proven itself fundamentally successful. However, the inventors of the present invention have discovered that damage to the glass containers can occur, particularly if the glass tubes are dropped onto the stop plates. A further disadvantage of the previous method is that storage is subject to wear and contamination. Furthermore, the glass tubes are only easily handled, as they can only be inserted into the chuck along their longitudinal axis. Furthermore, a considerable clamping length of the chuck is required to hold the glass tube sufficiently stable in a vertical orientation to allow for a satisfactory section of the glass tube.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, in particular to improve a glass container manufacturing plant and / or to provide a bearing for a glass tube processing station which is structurally simple to implement and less susceptible to wear and contamination, in which damage to the glass tube is avoided and / or which is more flexible in handling.

[0009] This problem is solved by the features of the independent claims.

[0010] According to this, a system for producing a particularly rotationally symmetrical glass container, such as a glass syringe, a glass carpule, a glass vial, or a glass ampoule, is provided. The glass container production system produces the particularly rotationally symmetrical glass container from a particularly rotationally symmetrical glass tube blank, which defines a rotation axis. The glass container production system can, for example, be continuously supplied with glass tube blanks, which are stored, for example, in a storage facility that can be located, for example, in the immediate vicinity of the glass container production system. Furthermore, the glass container production system can be configured such that it is supplied directly from a glassblowing station, in particular with a continuous glass tube blank.

[0011] The system according to the invention comprises a chuck for rotatingly supporting the glass tube blank. In the case of a rotationally symmetrical glass tube blank, the rotation axis corresponds to the central axis of the glass tube blank. The chuck, also called a clamping chuck, is designed to grip and hold the glass tube blank at least in circumferential sections. For example, the clamping chuck can be coupled to a drive device, such as a motor, which causes the rotation of the chuck and thus of the glass tube blank. For example, the chuck can be a three-jaw chuck. The clamping chuck can also serve to fix the glass tube blank in position along its longitudinal axis so that machining operations, in particular shaping operations such as deformation or a cutting operation, can be carried out.

[0012] The system further comprises a cutting device for cutting glass containers of a predetermined length from the glass tube blank. By means of the system, glass containers can be automatically cut from the glass tube blank according to a predefined, desired length viewed in the longitudinal direction of the glass tube blank. A specific length can also be understood to mean that before each individual cutting process for each individual glass container, an individual length is set, for example, entered manually or retrieved from a centrally stored control program. The cutting device can perform several sub-steps or have several sub-stations. For example, the cutting process takes place essentially without contact, for example through the introduction of heat and the resulting material stress within the glass tube blank, which leads to a separation, in particular a blasting, of the glass container from the glass tube blank.For example, the cutting to length may comprise the following steps or the cutting device may comprise the following stations: scoring the glass tube blank; local heating of the glass tube blank, in particular in the region of the scoring point, for example by means of a burner or a CO2 laser; subsequent local cooling, in particular by applying a cooling fluid flow, in particular a cooling air flow or a cooling liquid flow, to the scored and locally heated region of the glass tube blank; and renewed local heating of the region of the glass tube blank exposed to the cooling fluid flow to initiate the separation of the glass container, for example by a so-called thermoshock separation; optionally fusing the separation point in order to close the end of the glass tube blank.

[0013] According to the invention, the system comprises an air bearing downstream of the chuck and upstream of the cutting device for contactless storage of the glass tube blank. The air bearing can be designed according to one of the following inventive aspects or exemplary embodiments. The terms upstream and downstream are to be understood with reference to a glass tube blank's longitudinal axis. By means of the air bearing, the glass tube blank can be at least partially encompassed in a contactless manner in the circumferential direction in order to impart a contactless holding and / or bearing force to the glass tube blank. On the glass side, the air bearing ensures the continuous rotation of the glass tube blank about its rotation axis. In general, in the air bearing, a particularly thin air film is formed between the glass tube blank and the air bearing, which separates the glass tube blank and the air bearing from one another, in particular ensuring contactless storage.Air bearings are known for their stick-slip and friction-free bearing properties. Surprisingly, the air bearing has proven advantageous and suitable for use in glass container manufacturing systems, as the air flow occurring in the air bearing, which enables contactless storage of the glass tube blank, also has a cleaning effect, in particular a self-cleaning effect. Glass and / or dirt particles adhering to the glass tube blank are removed by the air flow, so that the surface of the glass tube blank is essentially free of particles and / or contamination. In general, the air bearing utilizes the Bernoulli effect and enables a degree of freedom of movement of the glass tube blank, both rotationally in the rotational direction and translationally displaceable along its longitudinal direction.The air bearing can be designed to absorb all relevant forces, in particular the weight of the glass tube blank as well as process forces, for example due to the rotation of the glass tube blank, without contacting the glass tube blank.

[0014] According to an exemplary embodiment of the system according to the invention, the air bearing has a receptacle for the glass tube blank, which extends along the axis of rotation of the glass tube blank, which in particular corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the glass tube blank. The receptacle can form the component of the air bearing which directly faces the glass tube blank and which is responsible for the contactless storage and holding of the glass tube blank. The receptacle can be shaped, at least in sections, to an outer circumference of the, in particular, rotationally symmetrical glass tube blank. For example, it can be ensured that a distance existing between the glass tube blank and the receptacle due to the contactless storage of the glass tube blank is essentially constant. Alternatively or additionally, the receptacle can be partially open in cross-section, so that the glass tube blank can be inserted into the receptacle in a direction transverse to the axis of rotation.With state-of-the-art systems, inserting the glass tube blanks into the chuck and the corresponding bearings was previously only possible along the rotational or glass tube blank's longitudinal axis. The system according to the invention is now significantly more flexible in handling and orientation.

[0015] According to an exemplary development of the system according to the invention, the receptacle is essentially partially cylindrical. In particular, the receptacle forms a partially cylindrical receiving area into which the rotationally symmetrical glass tube blank is inserted and in which it is partially received. According to an exemplary embodiment, the receptacle is concave in sections, in particular to form the partially cylindrical shape. Alternatively or additionally, the receptacle can be convex in sections. In this case, a concave section of the receptacle can form a receptacle base and / or a convex section can form a receptacle side flank at least in sections. The receptacle base can open into two receptacle side flanks. In particular, the receptacle has a particularly concave receptacle base and two opposite receptacle side flanks.Furthermore, the receiving side flanks can be concave in sections, with the concave region of the receiving side flanks being arranged directly adjacent to the receiving base. According to another exemplary embodiment, the receptacle is formed in several parts. The receiving side flanks can be made from one part, and the receiving base can be made from at least one additional part.

[0016] In a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the air bearing is arranged at an axial position of the system in the range of 1 / 3 to 2 / 3 of an axial distance between the cutting device and the chuck. The axial position or the axial direction is to be understood in relation to the rotational axis direction and / or the longitudinal axis direction of the glass tube blank. Alternatively, the system can have at least one further air bearing for contactless bearing of the glass tube blank. A chuck-side air bearing can be located at an axial position in the range of 1 / 4 to 1 / 2 of an axial distance between the cutting device and the chuck. A cutting device-side air bearing can be located at an axial position of at least 3 / 4 of an axial distance between the cutting device and the chuck. According to an exemplary development, the cutting device-side air bearing is located in the immediate vicinity of the cutting device.The described arrangements of the at least one air bearing provide a stable support for the glass tube blank in order to be able to reliably carry out the subsequent cutting process.

[0017] According to a further aspect of the present invention, which can be combined with the preceding aspects and exemplary embodiments, a system is provided for producing a particularly rotationally symmetrical glass container, such as a glass syringe, a glass carpule, a glass vial or a glass ampoule, from a particularly rotationally symmetrical glass tube blank which defines a rotation axis.

[0018] The system comprises a cutting device for cutting glass containers of a predetermined length from the glass tube blank. By means of the system, glass containers can be automatically cut from the glass tube blank according to a predefined, desired length viewed in the longitudinal direction of the glass tube blank. A specific length can also be understood to mean that before each individual cutting process for each individual glass container, an individual length is set, for example, entered manually or retrieved from a centrally stored control program. The cutting device can perform several sub-steps or have several sub-stations. For example, the cutting process takes place essentially without contact, for example through the introduction of heat and the resulting material stress within the glass tube blank, which leads to a separation, in particular a blasting, of the glass container from the glass tube blank.For example, the cutting to length may comprise the following steps or the cutting device may comprise the following stations: scoring the glass tube blank; local heating of the glass tube blank, in particular in the region of the scoring point, for example by means of a burner or a CO2 laser; subsequent local cooling, in particular by applying a cooling fluid flow, in particular a cooling air flow or a cooling liquid flow, to the scored and locally heated region of the glass tube blank; and renewed local heating of the region of the glass tube blank exposed to the cooling fluid flow to initiate the separation of the glass container, for example by a so-called thermoshock separation; optionally fusing the separation point in order to close the end of the glass tube blank.

[0019] According to the invention, the system comprises a chuck arranged upstream of the cutting device for rotatingly supporting the glass tube blank. With reference to the glass tube blank, the term "upstream" refers to the direction of the glass tube blank's axis of rotation or its longitudinal axis. In the case of a rotationally symmetrical glass tube blank, the axis of rotation corresponds to the central axis of the glass tube blank. The chuck, also called a clamping chuck, is designed to grip and hold the glass tube blank at least in circumferential sections. For example, the clamping chuck can be coupled to a drive device, such as a motor, which causes the rotation of the chuck and thus of the glass tube blank. For example, the chuck can be a three-jaw chuck.The chuck can also be used to fix the glass tube blank in position along its longitudinal axis so that machining operations, in particular shaping operations such as deformation or cutting, can be carried out.

[0020] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the chuck has a feed device for displacing the glass tube blank, in particular horizontally. For example, the feed device is designed to displace the glass tube blank essentially exclusively in a translational direction. The feed device can be a separate component with respect to a drive device for rotating the glass tube blank by means of the chuck. An advantage of the feed device assigned to the chuck is that the chuck, which holds and rotates the glass tube blank, no longer needs to be opened in order to displace the glass tube blank, in particular horizontally and / or translationally. The chuck therefore has a rotational and a translational degree of freedom. This allows time to be saved during the production of glass containers and the cycle time for producing the glass containers to be increased.The step of opening the chuck prior to the translational advancement of the glass tube blank, which was necessary in the prior art, can now be omitted. A glass tube blank, from which several glass containers can usually be produced, can now be cut to length multiple times without opening the chuck. It is not necessary to move the cutting device. By means of the feed device, the glass tube blank can be moved further after a cutting process of a first glass container in order to bring the glass tube blank into a cutting position again with respect to the cutting device. In particular, the glass tube blank can be displaced at least so far, in particular horizontally and / or translationally, that after a first cutting process, at least one further cutting process can be carried out to produce another glass container of the predetermined length, i.e. axial length.

[0021] According to an exemplary development of the system according to the invention, the feed device is configured such that it can displace the glass tube blank, including the chuck, particularly horizontally and / or translationally. Thus, the rotating support of the glass tube blank within the chuck can be maintained while the glass tube blank is displaced, particularly in the direction of the cutting device.

[0022] According to a further exemplary embodiment of the system according to the invention, the chuck is displaceable relative to a stationary housing of the system, particularly translationally and / or horizontally. For example, the housing or frame is placed on a surface, such as a factory floor.

[0023] According to an exemplary development of the system according to the invention, the chuck is mounted on a stationary housing of the system by means of a linear guide, for example a rail guide, in particular one that is translationally and / or horizontally displaceable. By means of the linear guide, the chuck, including the glass tube blank, can be moved linearly relative to the housing and the cutting device. For example, the linear guide can be designed as a rail guide, which can have a movable guide carriage attached to the chuck and at least one stationary rail, in particular one fixed to the housing, relative to which the guide carriage can be displaced linearly.

[0024] In a further exemplary embodiment of the system according to the invention, the feed device is configured to gradually translate the glass tube and, if applicable, the chuck, particularly toward the cutting device and / or away from the cutting device. For example, the feed device can comprise a stepper motor or be coupled to a stepper motor. However, it is also possible to implement continuous translational displacement of the chuck. For example, the gradually translational displacement of the chuck can be coordinated with a process cycle time and / or a process sequence. For example, the feed device is activated to translate the chuck once a cutting process has been completed. During the cutting process, it can be ensured that the feed device is deactivated so that the chuck does not move and remains stationary.

[0025] According to an exemplary development of the system according to the invention, the feed device has, in particular, predetermined and / or preset movement increments. The movement increments, which define translational, in particular horizontal, displacement movements of the chuck including the glass tube blank, can be coordinated with a predetermined axial length of the glass containers. In this way, it can be ensured that the glass tube blank is conveyed further in the longitudinal direction of the glass tube blank by exactly the length that corresponds to an axial length of the glass container to be produced, so that the glass tube blank is again in position for a subsequent cutting process.

[0026] According to a further aspect of the present invention, which can be combined with the preceding aspects and exemplary embodiments, a system is provided for producing a particularly rotationally symmetrical glass container, such as a glass syringe, a glass carpule, a glass vial or a glass ampoule, from a particularly rotationally symmetrical glass tube blank which defines a rotation axis.

[0027] The system comprises a cutting device for cutting glass containers of a predetermined length from the glass tube blank. By means of the system, glass containers can be automatically cut from the glass tube blank according to a predefined, desired length viewed in the longitudinal direction of the glass tube blank. A specific length can also be understood to mean that before each individual cutting process for each individual glass container, an individual length is set, for example, entered manually or retrieved from a centrally stored control program. The cutting device can perform several sub-steps or have several sub-stations. For example, the cutting process takes place essentially without contact, for example through the introduction of heat and the resulting material stress within the glass tube blank, which leads to a separation, in particular a blasting, of the glass container from the glass tube blank.For example, the cutting to length may comprise the following steps or the cutting device may comprise the following stations: scoring the glass tube blank; local heating of the glass tube blank, in particular in the region of the scoring point, for example by means of a burner or a CO2 laser; subsequent local cooling, in particular by applying a cooling fluid flow, in particular a cooling air flow or a cooling liquid flow, to the scored and locally heated region of the glass tube blank; and renewed local heating of the region of the glass tube blank exposed to the cooling fluid flow to initiate the separation of the glass container, for example by a so-called thermoshock separation; optionally fusing the separation point in order to close the end of the glass tube blank.

[0028] According to further aspects of the present invention, the system comprises a chuck, in particular a clamping chuck, arranged upstream of the cutting device for rotatingly supporting the glass tube blank, which chuck rotates the glass tube blank in such a way that the axis of rotation of the glass tube blank is oriented substantially horizontally. With reference to the glass tube blank, the term "upstream" refers to the direction of the axis of rotation or its longitudinal axis. In the case of a rotationally symmetrical glass tube blank, the axis of rotation corresponds to the central axis of the glass tube blank. The chuck, also called a clamping chuck, is designed to grip and hold the glass tube blank at least in circumferential sections. For example, the clamping chuck can be coupled to a drive device, such as a motor, which causes the chuck and thus the glass tube blank to rotate.For example, the chuck can be a three-jaw chuck. The chuck can also be used to fix the glass tube blank in position along its longitudinal axis so that machining operations, in particular shaping operations such as deformation or cutting, can be carried out. The inventors of the present invention have discovered that by orienting the glass tube blank horizontally during machining, damage to the glass tube blanks, and in particular to the glass containers, can be avoided in a structurally simple manner. For forwarding orWhen conveying the glass tube blank and the separated glass containers, they are no longer dropped by gravity and caught by stop plates, which could cause damage. Instead, they are passed on and removed in a controlled horizontal direction. The horizontal orientation also simplifies the insertion of the glass tube blanks perpendicular to their rotational direction and / or the longitudinal axis of the glass tube blank. This makes the system significantly more flexible in handling.

[0029] According to an exemplary embodiment of the system according to the invention, the chuck has a clamping length of less than 80 mm, in particular less than 60 mm, less than 40 mm or less than 20 mm, for example approximately 10 mm. The clamping length can be understood as the axial length by which the glass tube blank is encompassed and held within the chuck. In order to be able to clamp and rotate the glass tube blanks in a vertical orientation or alignment such that they rotate and are mounted with sufficient stability to avoid impact and, if possible, rotate without deflections, considerable axial clamping lengths within the chuck were necessary. The present invention now makes it possible to save considerable installation space in the axial direction and to dimension the chucks significantly smaller, and in particular to design them more cost-effectively.

[0030] According to a further aspect of the present invention, which can be combined with the preceding aspects and exemplary embodiments, an air bearing is provided for a system, particularly designed according to one of the preceding aspects or exemplary embodiments, for producing a rotationally symmetrical glass container, such as a glass syringe, a glass carpule, a glass vial, or a glass ampoule, from a rotationally symmetrical glass tube blank that defines a rotational axis. The terms "upstream" and "downstream" are to be understood with reference to a glass tube blank's longitudinal axis.

[0031] The air bearing allows the glass tube blank to be at least partially gripped in a contactless manner in the circumferential direction, in order to impart a contactless holding and / or bearing force to the glass tube blank. On the glass side, the air bearing ensures the continuous rotation of the glass tube blank around its rotational axis. Generally, a thin air film is formed between the glass tube blank and the air bearing in the air bearing, separating the glass tube blank and the air bearing from each other, in particular, ensuring contactless support.

[0032] The air bearing according to the invention comprises a compressed air source. The compressed air source can be designed to generate compressed air of up to 5 bar. For example, the compressed air source generates compressed air in the range from 1 bar to 4 bar. For example, the compressed air source can be controlled to adjust the level of the compressed air. The compressed air can be adjusted to the weight of the glass tube blank to be stored. As a rule, the compressed air should be selected so that the suction and repulsion forces with respect to the glass tube blank cancel each other out, so that the glass tube blank can be stored reliably.

[0033] The air bearing according to the invention further comprises a receptacle for the glass tube blank, extending along the rotational axis of the glass tube blank, in particular along the longitudinal axis of the glass tube blank. The receptacle can be the component of the air bearing that directly faces the glass tube blank, surrounds it at least in sections of its circumference, and thus supports it. The receptacle can be shaped, at least in sections, to an outer circumference of the rotationally symmetrical glass tube blank in such a way that when the receptacle is pressurized with compressed air from the compressed air source, the glass tube blank is supported without contact.

[0034] This enables particularly friction-free storage of the glass tube blank. Furthermore, the air bearing of the glass tube blank is characterized by a self-cleaning effect, since dirt and / or glass particles can be removed by means of the provided air flow. Furthermore, the air bearing according to the invention offers both a rotational and a translational degree of freedom for the glass tube blank, so that on the one hand it can be mounted in a contactless rotational manner and on the other hand it is possible to displace the glass tube blank in a contactless translational manner relative to the air bearing, in particular to the holder, while maintaining the bearing forces. In particular, the compressed air source is designed to generate an air film flowing around the glass tube blank and along the holder, which film firstly ensures the freedom from contact between the air bearing, in particular the holder, and the glass tube blank.In general, the air bearing utilizes the Bernoulli effect and allows the glass tube blank to move freely, both in the direction of rotation and in translation along its longitudinal direction. The air bearing can be designed to absorb all relevant forces, in particular the weight of the glass tube blank as well as process forces, for example, due to the rotation of the glass tube blank, without contacting the glass tube blank.

[0035] According to an exemplary development of the air bearing according to the invention, the glass tube blank is mounted in the receptacle in such a contactless manner that a distance, in particular vertical distance, between the receptacle, in particular a central receptacle base, between the receptacle and the glass tube blank is in the range of 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm, in particular in the range of 0.01 mm to 0.3 mm, in particular approximately 0.2 mm.

[0036] According to a further exemplary embodiment of the air bearing according to the invention, the receptacle is essentially partially cylindrical. In particular, that region of the receptacle which surrounds the rotationally symmetrical glass tube blank at least in circumferential sections is partially cylindrical and / or partially open. For example, the receptacle is partially concave and / or partially convex. The receptacle can also be designed in several parts or be made from several parts. For example, a concave section of the receptacle forms a receptacle base and / or a convex section forms at least partially a receptacle side flank. For example, two opposite receptacle side flanks and an intermediate receptacle base are provided. The receptacle side flanks can be made from one piece. The receptacle base can be made from another piece, separate from the receptacle side flanks.

[0037] According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the receptacle has a particularly concave receptacle base and two opposing, particularly convex, i.e., partially convex, receptacle side flanks, each of which is arranged at a substantially constant distance from the receptacle base in the direction of the rotation axis or the longitudinal axis of the glass tube blank, forming a gap. For example, the distance is in the range of 0.05 mm to 0.15 mm, for example, approximately 0.09 mm. The gap can form a fluid connection between the compressed air source and the receptacle, in particular the receiving space in which the glass tube blank is at least partially received.For example, the system is designed in such a way that the compressed air provided by the compressed air source enters the holder via the gap, whereby the gap is responsible for generating the Bernoulli effect in order to provide the holding forces in the holder for the glass tube blank.

[0038] According to a further aspect of the present invention, which can be combined with the preceding aspects and exemplary embodiments, a method is provided for producing a particularly rotationally symmetrical glass container, such as a glass syringe, a glass carpule, a glass vial or a glass ampoule.

[0039] According to the method according to the invention, a glass tube blank is provided that defines a rotation axis. The glass container manufacturing plant can, for example, be continuously supplied with glass tube blanks, which are stored, for example, in a storage facility that can be located, for example, in the immediate vicinity of the glass container manufacturing plant. Furthermore, the glass container manufacturing plant can be configured to be supplied directly from a glass blowing station, in particular with a continuous glass tube blank.

[0040] Furthermore, the glass tube blank is continuously rotated about its axis of rotation and is supported in sections in a contactless manner, in particular by means of an air bearing designed according to one of the above aspects or exemplary embodiments.

[0041] Furthermore, the method according to the invention can comprise the cutting-to-length step in which the glass tube blank is deflected to a predetermined length, in particular axial length, for separating the glass container.

[0042] According to a further aspect of the present invention, which can be combined with the preceding aspects and exemplary embodiments, a method for producing a particularly rotationally symmetrical glass container, such as a glass syringe, a glass carpule, a glass vial or a glass ampoule, is provided.

[0043] In the method according to the invention, a glass tube blank defining an axis of rotation is provided.

[0044] Furthermore, the glass tube blank is continuously rotated around its rotational axis, which essentially corresponds to a longitudinal axis of the glass tube blank, and in particular is gradually displaced in the direction of the rotational axis. The displacement can, for example, be translational and / or essentially exclusively horizontal.

[0045] According to the method according to the invention, the axis of rotation of the glass tube blank is oriented substantially horizontally.

[0046] According to an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention, the method is designed to implement the system according to the invention according to one of the previously described aspects or exemplary embodiments.

[0047] Preferred embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

[0048] In the following, further properties, features and advantages of the invention will become clear by describing preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying exemplary drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a prior art tube cutter of a glass processing plant; Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a section of a plant according to the invention for producing a glass container; Fig. 3 is a schematic view from above of the plant according to Fig. 2 , wherein a cutting device of the system is also shown; Fig. 4 a schematic front view of the system according to Fig. 3 ; Fig. 5 a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an air bearing according to the invention; Fig. 6 a sectional view of the air bearing according to Fig. 5 ; and Fig. 7 a detailed view VII according to Fig. 6

[0049] With reference to Fig. 1 A state-of-the-art tube cutter, generally designated by reference numeral 200, of a state-of-the-art glass processing system is explained. The tube cutter 200 is basically used to separate glass containers from a glass tube blank 201. The individual processing operations or stations are designated by consecutive capital letters A - K. At A, a rotationally symmetrical glass tube blank 201 is provided and mounted in a rotating manner by a chuck 203. A glass tube blank longitudinal direction, which also corresponds to the rotation axis of the glass tube blank 201, is designated by reference symbol R. As in Fig. 1 As can be seen, at A, the glass tube blank 201 protrudes axially downward from the chuck 203. The glass tube blank 201 and the chuck 203 are oriented in the vertical direction V. The stations BD refer to a positioning station 205, which serves to align the glass tube blank 201 with respect to the vertical direction V. This is done by means of stop plates 207, 209 and 211 assigned to the respective stations BD, which extend essentially in the horizontal direction H and against which the glass tube blank 201 is dropped when the chuck 203 is open. The stop plates 207, 209, 211 are arranged at a predetermined vertical distance with respect to the chuck 203, so that the same vertical distance is always achieved between the chuck 203 and the stop plates 207, 209, 211, so that by means of the subsequent cutting process essentially the same axial length of glass containers 213 (station J) can always be cut off.

[0050] After the glass tube blank 201 has been positioned with respect to the vertical direction V, the glass tube blank 201 is again gripped and fixed by the chuck 203 in order to fix the vertical position of the glass tube blank 201. Steps E to J essentially summarize the cutting process 206: At E, preparation for the cutting process takes place, for example by scoring with a scoring knife 215; at stations F and G, strong heating takes place, in particular in a local area on the glass tube blank 201, for example by means of a comb burner 217; at H, a cooling process takes place, for example by means of a cooling air flow or a cooling fluid flow 219; at I, the arrow with the reference number 221 indicates renewed local heating, which results in thermal shock detachment; under J it can be seen that the cut orseparated glass container 213 is separated from the remaining glass tube blank 201 and falls downwards in the vertical direction V; at K, an optional fusing process, indicated by the arrows with the reference number 223, can take place, for example to close the glass tube blank 201 remaining in the lining 203 at the end, for example to form a bottom of a glass container 213.

[0051] The process can then start from the beginning A and the remaining glass tube blank 201, which is still clamped in the chuck 203, can be initially positioned again BD with respect to the vertical direction V.

[0052] In Fig. 2 is a section of a system 1 according to the invention for producing a particularly rotationally symmetrical glass container of a predetermined axial length in a perspective view and shown in a simplified manner. One aspect of the present invention is that the system 1 or in particular its individual components are designed such that a rotational axis R of the rotationally symmetrical glass tube blank 3 to be processed is oriented substantially in the horizontal direction H. This results in significantly more flexible handling of the system 1 as well as simplified operation and in particular loading of the system 1 with glass tube blanks 3 compared to the prior art. In particular, loading can take place transversely to the rotational axis direction R, which substantially corresponds to a longitudinal direction of the glass tube blank. Basically, the system 1 according to Fig. 2 a frame 5, which according to the exemplary embodiment in Fig. 2 essentially has three identically designed support columns 7, 9, 11. The frame 5 carries the other components of the system 1. These include, among other things, a chuck 13 for rotatingly supporting the glass tube blank 3. The chuck 13 can, for example, be a 3-jaw chuck. For example, the chuck 13 has a clamping device 15, such as clamping jaws, for at least partially encompassing the glass tube blank 3 and for fixing the glass tube blank 3 within the chuck 13. The chuck 13 can have a drive device (not shown) by means of which the glass tube blank 3 can be rotated, in particular continuously, about its rotation axis R.

[0053] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the chuck 13 has a feed device, which is generally provided with the reference number 17, which is designed to be able to translationally displace the chuck 13 including the glass tube blank 3 clamped and fixed therein and mounted in a rotating manner. As in Fig. 2 As can be seen, the translational displacement takes place along the longitudinal direction of the glass tube blank, i.e., in the horizontal direction H. The feed device 17 can, for example, have a stepper motor for the stepwise translational displacement of the chuck 13. For example, the stepwise movement increments can be coordinated with a predetermined axial length of the glass containers to be produced.

[0054] According to Fig. 2 A linear guide, in particular a rail guide 19, is provided for translationally displacing the chuck 13. The linear guide 19 comprises a rail-like sliding device 21 extending in the horizontal direction H between two of the support columns 9, 11, along which a guide carriage 23 attached to the chuck 13 can be displaced relatively. As shown, for example, in Fig. 2 As can be seen, the guide carriage 23 can be shaped in relation to the rail 19 and / or be connected to it in a form-fitting manner. For example, the guide carriage 23 can form the feed device 17 or have a drive device, such as the stepper motor, for the translational displacement of the chuck 13. Furthermore, a further drive carriage 25 can be provided, which is in sliding engagement with the rail 21 and can be brought into contact with the guide carriage 23 and is designed to displace the guide carriage 23, which does not have a drive unit and is firmly connected to the chuck 13. During the processing of the glass tube blank 3 and the production of several glass containers, the glass tube blank 3 is translationally displaced by means of the chuck 13 by a translational movement force from the feed device 17 in order to successively advance the glass tube blank 3 further in the direction of the Fig. 2 cutting device 27 (not shown) (see Fig. 3 ), so that several glass containers can be produced from one glass tube blank 3. The advantage of system 1 of the present invention also lies in the fact that, due to the translatory mobility of the chuck 13, the chuck 13 does not have to be opened after a successful cutting operation in order to reposition the glass tube blank 3. This is done with the glass tube blank 3 still clamped in the chuck 13 by means of the feed device 17.

[0055] For further storage of the elongated glass tube blank 3, between the chuck 13 and the Fig. 2 not visible cutting device 27, which is in Abbildung 2 is to be arranged on the far left, two air bearings 29 are provided which are provided at a horizontal distance from one another. The air bearings 29 can, for example, be designed according to one of the aspects of the invention or exemplary embodiments. The air bearings 29 are held on one of the supports 7, 9 and are arranged such that the air bearings 29 are open upwards in the vertical direction V in order to receive the glass tube blank 3. The air bearings 29 serve to support the glass tube blank 3 without contact and to hold it in position with respect to the direction of rotation R so that the cutting process can be carried out reliably by means of the cutting device 27. For example, the air bearing on the cutting device side (in Fig. 2 left) is positioned in the immediate vicinity of the cutting device 27. By means of the air bearing 29, the glass tube blank can be mounted in a rotating manner, and the air bearing 29 also provides a translational degree of freedom of movement, so that the translational displacement movement initiated by the feed device 17 can take place without any problems, in particular without having to remove any bearings.

[0056] In the schematic view according to Fig. 3 , which is a plan view of Annex 1 according to Fig. 2 can be understood, an exemplary embodiment of a cutting device 27 is additionally shown. The glass tube blank 3, which is mounted in rotation by the chuck 13, is constantly rotated about its rotation axis R, which is indicated by the curved arrow with the reference numeral 31. The two air bearings 29 are shown schematically and support the glass tube blank 3. The cutting device 27 can, for example, have a CO 2 laser, which is indicated as a whole by the reference numeral 33, and an energy source 35, a laser device 37 and a mirror device 39 for focusing a laser beam 41 onto the glass tube blank 3, as well as a cooling device 43, by means of which a cooling fluid jet 45 can be applied to the glass tube blank 3. As in Fig. 3 As can be seen, both the heating via the CO2 laser 33 and the cooling by means of the cooling device 43 take place locally, in particular at the same local point. This local point, which is provided with the reference number 47, represents the axial point on the glass tube blank 3 at which the glass tube blank 3 is deflected to form a glass container. This axial position is fixed. This is achieved in that the cutting device 33 is positioned in a fixed position and the glass tube blank 3 is translationally displaceable in the horizontal direction H, which is indicated by the reference number a. Alternatively, for example, a burner could also be provided to heat the glass tube blank 3 locally.

[0057] Fig. 4 represents a frontal view according to Fig. 3 (from right to Abbildung 3 viewed), wherein a spring-loaded scoring wheel 49 is additionally shown for pretreating, in particular scoring, the separation point 47. As in Fig. 4 As can be seen, the cooling fluid jet 45 is oriented eccentrically with respect to the rotation axis R of the glass tube blank 3 and is directed substantially tangentially to an outer circumference 51 of the glass tube blank 3. It has been found that the eccentricity or offset has a beneficial effect on the effectiveness of cooling the heated glass tube blank 3.

[0058] Based on the Fig. 5 bis 7 An exemplary embodiment of an air bearing 29 according to the invention is explained. In general, the air bearing 29 is designed such that it enables contactless mounting of the glass tube blank 3 by utilizing the Bernoulli effect, whereby both a rotational and a translational degree of freedom is created, resulting in the particularly flexible system according to the invention for producing glass containers. The basic structure of the air bearing 29 is shown in Fig. 5 to see, the functioning of the air bearing 29 is mainly explained by the Fig. 6 and 7 The air bearing 29 can comprise a substantially planar support 53 and a housing 57 forming a receptacle 55 for the glass tube blank 3, which housing is connected to the support 53. The housing 57 is, according to the exemplary embodiment in Fig. 5 formed as a substantially cuboid block, the extension of which in the direction of rotation axis R of the glass tube blank is larger than transverse to the direction of rotation axis R. The glass tube blank 3, which is supported by the air bearing 29 and inserted into the receptacle 55, is in Fig. 5 shown in dashed lines for better illustration of the air bearing 29.

[0059] Referring to the Fig. 6 and 7 The exemplary design of the air bearing 29 is described in a sectional view as well as a schematic representation of its operation. In particular, Fig. 6 It can be seen that the air bearing 29 is constructed in several parts, in particular that the housing 57 is constructed in several parts. The air bearing 29 comprises a base or a base part 59, into which compressed air channels 61, 63, which are in Fig. 6 are oriented essentially in the vertical direction V, for connection to a compressed air source or compressed air generator (not shown). The compressed air ducts 61, 63 open up to an end face 65 forming an upper side of the base 59. Above the base 59 there is a cover part 67 which partially delimits the receptacle 55. The cover part 67 is placed on the base part 59 to form two horizontally oriented compressed air ducts 71, 69, into which the vertical compressed air ducts 61, 63 open. The horizontal compressed air ducts 69, 71 are also closed off laterally in a particularly fluid-tight manner by means of closures 73, 75. The housing part 67 has a recess formed on its upper side which partially forms the receptacle 55. The hollow cylindrical, rotationally symmetrical glass tube blank 3 is received and mounted in the receptacle 55. The cross-section of the receptacle 55 is adapted in sections to an outer circumference of the glass tube blank.The housing 67 essentially delimits the receptacle 55 on both lateral sides and has a substantially central recess 75 that opens into the receptacle 55 and into which an insert 79 forming a receptacle base 77 is inserted. The insert 79 is also received in a central recess 81 within the base part 59.

[0060] Crucial to the functioning of the air bearing 29 is the formation of a fluid connection between the compressed air source (not shown) and the receptacle 55 via the compressed air channels 61, 63, 71, 69. On both sides, i.e. assigned to the respective compressed air channels 69, 71, the insert 79 is recessed to form a gap 83, 85 oriented essentially vertically. Compressed air can reach the receptacle 55 via the gap 83, 85 via the compressed air channels. This means that the housing cover part 67 is arranged at a distance from the insert 79. The gap 83, 85 tapers increasingly towards the receptacle 55 to create a type of nozzle effect, which is ultimately responsible for the Bernoulli effect to generate the bearing and / or holding force for the glass tube blank 3.

[0061] Referring to Fig. 7The receptacle 55 is shown in detail. It can be seen that the housing part 67 forms two lateral receiving flanks 87, 89 for delimiting the receptacle 55, which are essentially concavely curved at least in sections. Together with a likewise concavely curved receiving base 77, which is formed by the insert 79, a receptacle 55 is formed which is essentially adapted to an outer circumference of the glass tube blank 3, ensuring that a continuous distance exists between the glass tube blank 3 and the receiving walls 77, 87, 89. A compressed air flow, which creates the air film between the glass tube blank 3 and the receiving wall for contact-free storage of the glass tube blank 3, is indicated by the arrow with the reference number 91. A distance, in particular a vertical distance, set between the receiving base 77 and the glass tube blank 3, which defines a gap 93, is in the range of 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm, in particular approximately 0.2 mm.Viewed in the direction of the rotation axis R, there is a substantially uniform distance or gap between the glass tube blank 3 and the receiving side flanks 87, 89 of approximately 0.05 mm to 0.15 mm, for example, 0.09 mm. These gaps have proven advantageous in the system according to the invention for producing glass containers. For example, the compressed air provided by the compressed air source is in a range of 1 bar to 4 bar. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0062] 1System 3Glass tube blank 5Frame 7, 9, 11Support column 13Chuck 15Clamping device 17Feed device 19Linear guide 21Rail 23Guide carriage 25Drive carriage 27Cutting device 29Air bearing 31Rotational movement 33CO 2 laser 35Energy source 37Laser source 39Mirror device 41Laser beam 43Cooling device 45Cooling fluid flow 47Local cutting point 49Scribing wheel 51Outer circumference 53Support 55Holder 57Housing 59Base part 61, 63, 71, 69Compressed air duct 65Top face 67Cover housing part 73, 75Closure 77Holder base 79Insert 81Recess 76Recess 83, 85, 93Gap space 87, 89Receiving side flank 91Compressed air flow 93Gap space 200State-of-the-art tube cutter 201Glass tube blank 203Clamping chuck 205Positioning station 206Separation process 207, 209, 211Stop plate 213Glass container 215Scribing device 217Heating device 219Cooling device 221Heating device 223Fusing device A-K State-of-the-art tube cutter stations B-D Positioning station E-J Cutting process V Vertical direction H Horizontal direction R Rotation direction a Translation movement

Claims

1. System (1) for producing a particularly rotationally symmetrical glass container, such as a glass syringe, a glass carpule, a glass vial or a glass ampoule, from a particularly rotationally symmetrical glass tube blank (3), which defines a rotational axis, comprising: - a chuck (13) for mounting the glass tube blank in a rotating manner, wherein the chuck (13) is arranged to grip and hold the glass tube blank at least in sections circumferentially; - a length-cutting device (27) for cutting to length glass containers of predetermined length from the glass tube blank; and - an air bearing (29), arranged downstream of the chuck (13) and upstream of the length-cutting device (27) for contactlessly mounting the glass tube blank.

2. System (1) according to claim 1, wherein the air bearing (29) has a receptacle (55) for the glass tube blank (3), which extends along the rotational axis of the glass tube blank (3) and is adapted at least in sections to the shape of an outer circumference of the particularly rotationally symmetrical glass tube blank (3) and / or is partially open in cross-section, such that the glass tube blank (3) can be inserted into the receptacle (55) in a direction transverse to the rotational axis.

3. System (1) according to claim 2, wherein the receptacle (55) is essentially partially cylindrical, wherein particularly the receptacle (55) is shaped concavely in sections and / or convexly in sections, wherein particularly a concave section of the receptacle (55) forms a receptacle base and / or a convex section forms a receptacle side flank.

4. System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the air bearing (29) is arranged at an axial position in the range of 1 / 3 to 2 / 3 of an axial distance between the length-cutting device (27) and the chuck (13), or wherein at least one further air bearing (29) for contactlessly mounting the glass tube blank (3) is provided, wherein an air bearing (29) on the chuck side is arranged at an axial position in the range of 1 / 4 to 1 / 2 of an axial distance between the length-cutting device (27) and the chuck (13) and an air bearing (29) on the side of the length-cutting device is arranged at an axial position of at least 3 / 4 of an axial distance between the length-cutting device (27) and the chuck (13).

5. System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising: - a chuck (13), arranged upstream of the length-cutting device (27), for mounting the glass tube blank in a rotating manner, wherein the chuck (13) has a feeding device (17) for particularly horizontally displacing the glass tube blank (3).

6. System (1) according to claim 5, wherein the feeding device (17) is configured in such a way that it can displace, particularly horizontally, the glass tube blank (3) along with the chuck.

7. System (1) according to one of claims 5 or 6, wherein the chuck (13) can be displaced, particularly translationally, relative to a stationary housing of the system (1).

8. System (1) according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the chuck (13) is mounted, particularly in a translationally displaceable manner, on a stationary housing of the system (1) by means of a linear guide, for example a rail guide.

9. System (1) according to one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the feeding device (17) is configured to displace the glass tube and optionally the chuck (13) in a stepwise translational manner in the direction of the length-cutting device (27).

10. System (1) according to claim 9, wherein the feeding device (17) has movement increments, which are matched to a predetermined axial length of the glass containers.

11. System according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising: - a chuck that is arranged upstream of the length-cutting device (27) and that mounts the glass tube blank (3) in a rotating manner in such a way that the rotational axis of the glass tube blank (3) is oriented essentially horizontally.

12. System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the chuck (13) has a span length of less than 80 mm, particularly less than 60 mm, 40 mm or less than 20 mm, for example of approximately 10 mm.

13. System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the air bearing (29) comprises: - a compressed-air source; and - a receptacle (55) for the glass tube blank, which extends along the rotational axis of the glass tube blank (3) and is adapted at least in sections to the shape of an outer circumference of the rotationally symmetrical glass tube blank (3) in such a way that the glass tube blank (3) is mounted contactlessly when the receptacle (55) is supplied with compressed air by the compressed-air source.

14. System (1) according to claim 13, wherein the glass tube blank (3) is contactlessly mounted in the receptacle (55) in such a way that a distance, particularly a vertical distance, between the receptacle (55) and the glass tube blank (3) is in the range of 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm, particularly in the range of 0.01 mm to 0.3 mm, particularly approximately 0.2 mm.

15. System (1) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the receptacle (55) is partially open in cross-section, such that the glass tube blank (3) can be inserted into the receptacle (55) in a direction transverse to the rotational axis.

16. System (1) according to one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the receptacle (55) is essentially partially cylindrical, wherein particularly the receptacle (55) is shaped concavely in sections and / or convexly in sections, wherein particularly a concave section of the receptacle (55) forms a receptacle base and / or a convex section forms a receptacle side flank.

17. System (1) according to one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the receptacle (55) has a particularly concave receptacle base and two opposite, particularly convex, receptacle side flanks, each of which is arranged at a distance essentially constant in the rotational axis direction, for example in the range of 0.05 mm to 0.15 mm, forming a gap space to the receptacle base, wherein particularly the gap space forms a fluid connection between compressed-air source and receptacle (55).

18. Method for producing a particularly rotationally symmetrical glass container, such as a glass syringe, a glass carpule, a glass vial or a glass ampoule, with which: - a glass tube blank (3), which defines a rotational axis, is provided; - a glass tube blank (3) is mounted in a rotating manner, gripped and held in place in sections circumferentially by a chuck (13); - the glass tube blank (3) is continuously rotated about its rotational axis and is contactlessly mounted in a rotating manner in sections; - wherein particularly the glass tube blank (3) is cut to a predetermined length.

19. Method according to claim 18, which is configured to realize the system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 17.