Method and equipment for manufacturing glass containers and glass containers

Abstract

To provide a method and a system for producing a glass container as well as a glass container, which has higher quality and / or is subject to lower production tolerances.SOLUTION: The invention relates to a method for producing a glass container 4, such as a glass syringe or a glass ampoule, having a form-specific dispensing portion 53 and optionally a form-specific counter support 57, from a glass container material 9, wherein the surface density of the glass container material is detected indirectly or directly and the overall longitudinal extent of the glass container 4 to be produced is determined on the basis of the detected surface density.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a glass container such as a glass syringe or a glass ampoule. The present invention further provides a glass container such as a glass syringe or a glass ampoule. Furthermore, according to the present invention, an apparatus for manufacturing a glass container such as a glass syringe or a glass ampoule is provided.

[0002] Glass containers or glass bodies for glass syringes or glass ampoules have extremely small manufacturing tolerances, on the one hand, in order to be able to guarantee a high quality of the product segments, and on the other hand, in order to be able to maintain a partially standardized interface, for example at the funnel-shaped end. A fundamental influencing factor is the wall thickness setting of the cylindrical glass tube blank, which has manufacturing-induced tolerances. Another factor that impairs the quality or precision of the glass container is the manufacturing-specific tolerances when cutting the glass container blank from the glass tube blank. When cutting, length tolerances occur.

[0003] Basically, an effort is made to produce glass containers with a constant, predefined overall length. This effort is undermined by the above-mentioned manufacturing errors, which result in different weights of the glass container blanks cut from the glass tube blanks. Due to the different weights of the glass container blanks, the sections produced by hot forming for the funnel-shaped end sections or the radially extending support shoulders or flange shoulders cannot be produced with a constant or predefined length setting. This leads to an increase in defects due to quality losses, especially in the region of the funnel-shaped end sections or the support shoulders.

[0004] In the prior art, this problem is solved by providing an excess mass for each glass container, which appears as an excess length. In particular, due to the hot deformation process which produces the constriction in the region of the funnel-shaped end section and, if necessary, in the region of the radially extending support step, an excess mass of glass is generated, which is converted into an excess length, resulting in an excess length. The excess length can amount to a millimeter range. In order to compensate for this excess length again, it is cut off by a mechanical cutting device in a subsequent process step. However, it has been found that this cutting step, on the one hand, involves new production-specific length errors, and on the other hand, surface defects and stains on the end side due to glass particles generated by the cutting step. The surface defects and stains make it difficult to carry out further processing of the glass syringe body, such as, for example, sterilization. Furthermore, the subsequent mechanical cutting generates chips which have a negative effect on the costs of the manufacturing method.

[0005] For example, WO 2005 / 092805 discloses a glass processing machine with a forming tool for hot forming, for example, a glass tube blank. WO 2005 / 092805 aims at as accurate a positioning of the forming tool as possible in order to reduce production errors, particularly in the deformation area where the aperture of the nozzle of the glass syringe is formed. This is achieved by measuring the positioning of the glass tube blank to be deformed with respect to the position of the forming tool and comparing it with a setpoint value stored in a control unit in order to achieve a higher quality in production. However, WO 2005 / 092805 does not provide any measures for compensating for and in particular reducing the above-mentioned production-specific wall thickness dimensional errors as well as length errors. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for producing glass containers which have a higher quality and / or are subject to smaller manufacturing tolerances, as well as such glass containers.

[0007] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims.

[0008] According to one aspect of the invention, a method for producing glass containers is provided. The glass containers may be, for example, glass syringes, glass ampoules, glass carpules or glass vials. Typically, the glass containers are rotationally symmetric. Such glass containers typically have a total longitudinal extension in the range of 50 mm to 90 mm and / or an outer diameter in the range of 6.5 mm to 10.85 mm and / or a wall or wall thickness in the range of 0.8 mm to 1.3 mm. The glass containers are produced from glass container blanks that are formed hollow. The glass container blanks may define a rotation axis, with respect to which the glass container blanks are formed rotationally symmetric. In this case, they may also be referred to as glass tube blanks. The glass container blanks may be continuously supplied, for example, from a storage vessel in which they are stored and which is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the glass container production facility. Furthermore, the supply of the glass container blanks may be arranged in such a way that the glass container blanks are taken directly from the glassblowing station, in particular in the form of endless glass container blanks. The glass container to be produced has a shape-defined discharge section and possibly a shape-defined counter support. "Shape-defined" is understood in particular to mean that the shape and / or geometry of the discharge section and possibly the counter support are predefined, for example standardized and / or shaped according to defined requirements. The discharge section can be, for example, a conical section. The conical section can have a frustoconical shape and / or taper towards the discharge opening formed at the end of the glass container or the discharge section on the end face side. The counter support can be formed as a radially extending support step or flange step, in particular for supporting or resting the fingers of the user, that runs transversely to the longitudinal extension of the glass container. The counter support is usually likewise formed rotationally symmetrical and / or runs circularly or annularly surrounds the glass container body, which is in particular cylindrical. The discharge section and the counter support are usually formed by hot forming.For example, it may be provided that a glass container blank is at least partially heated to its transformation temperature and subsequently deformed to define a shape by a forming tool.

[0009] According to this method, the areal density of the glass container blank is indirectly or directly detected, and based on the detected areal density, the total longitudinal extent, in particular the axial extent, of the individual glass container blanks to be deformed, in particular to be hot deformed, for the production of glass containers is determined. The areal density is understood to be the mass that the glass container blank has in relation to the infinitesimal length in the longitudinal direction of the blank. In other words, the areal density can be understood as the mass of the cross section of the glass container blank. The areal density therefore depends on the density of the glass as well as on the cross section of the glass container blank. This cross section in turn depends on the outer dimensions, inner dimensions and / or wall thickness of the hollow, in particular cylindrical tubular glass container blank. The areal density can be detected directly or indirectly. For example, the areal density can be measured. The areal density can also be determined via detection of dimensions related to the areal density, such as, for example, the inner dimensions, in particular the inner diameter or the outer dimensions, in particular the outer diameter and / or the wall or wall thickness of the glass container blank, and then, for example by calculation or scaling methods, by assigning the detected, in particular measured, dimensions to the areal density. For example, the glass container blank may be a stock material that is, for example, prefabricated and / or present in a predefined blank length.

[0010] A glass container semi-finished product can be understood as an intermediate product or intermediate product between the glass container blank present as a raw material and the finished glass container to be produced. In particular, the glass container semi-finished product is characterized in that the glass container semi-finished product does not need to be cut any more in order to produce the glass container or does not undergo any further cutting processes, but is produced essentially exclusively by a deformation process, in particular a hot deformation process. This means that only surface post-treatment measures may be necessary. For example, the method can provide for determining the individual longitudinal length of the glass container semi-finished product to be subsequently processed essentially exclusively by a deformation process, in particular a hot deformation process, in order to produce the glass container, based on the detected areal density. The "individual longitudinal length of the glass container semi-finished product" can be understood as the axial or longitudinal length of the glass container semi-finished product that the glass container semi-finished product must have in order to achieve the desired and / or predefined glass container length as accurately as possible without production errors, in particular also reducing and especially avoiding defects in the glass container blank. Due to the individual determination of the optimal total longitudinal extension length of the glass container blank, excess masses or excess lengths, which have been provided in the prior art, can be omitted. In particular, this makes it possible to avoid a subsequent cutting process step, which was previously necessary. This makes it possible to produce glass containers of significantly higher quality. Furthermore, the production time can be reduced and / or the cycle during the production of glass containers can be increased. The inventors of the present invention have found out, on the one hand, that the dimensioning and / or the quality of the glass container blanks can vary, in particular that the glass container blanks have manufacturing errors. Furthermore, the inventors of the present invention have found out that the variations or manufacturing errors can be compensated for via the individual determination of the areal density of the glass container blanks and via determining the individual total longitudinal extension length of the glass container blanks to be subsequently processed to form glass containers.Furthermore, the method according to the present invention makes it possible to produce glass containers of a constant glass container length, where "constant" is understood to mean, in particular, that the desired and / or predefined glass container length is produced with extremely small production tolerances and high production precision.

[0011] According to an exemplary refinement of the method according to the invention, glass container blanks are cut from the glass container blank in accordance with the determined total longitudinal extent. In other words, glass container blanks with individual axial lengths are cut from the glass container blank. The glass container blanks can then be processed exclusively to form, in particular by a deformation process, such as a hot deformation process, in order to produce, in particular to shape, the glass containers, in which an end section of the glass container blank can be deformed to form a shape-defined discharge section and, if necessary, an opposite end section can be deformed to form a shape-defined counter support. Since the individual glass container blanks are formed with knowledge of the shape-defined end sections, i.e. the discharge section and, if necessary, the counter support, taking into account the surface density of the glass container blank and the geometric parameters related to this surface density, glass containers can be produced with significantly smaller production tolerances.

[0012] In another exemplary configuration of the invention, an individual longitudinal extension of an end section, in particular a front end section, in which a shape-defined discharge section is to be or will be formed, of the glass container blank is determined based on the detected areal density. If desired, an individual longitudinal extension of a second end section, in particular a rear end section, in which a counter-support is to be or will be formed, can also be determined. The terms "rear" or "front" can be understood with respect to the glassblowing direction and / or with respect to the processing sequence. Usually, the discharge section is formed first, possibly followed by the counter-support.

[0013] According to one exemplary further refinement, the total longitudinal extent of the glass container semi-finished product is determined based on the determined longitudinal extent of the discharge section and possibly the counter-support. In particular, in order to produce a glass container from the glass container semi-finished product, only the discharge section and possibly the counter-support need to be formed, which is realized by a deformation process, in particular a hot deformation process. In other words, one idea of ​​the present invention according to the exemplary configuration is to determine the formed mass, in particular the melted mass, of glass required for the shaping step for the deformation of the discharge section and possibly the counter-support, which have a predetermined size and / or shape, in order to avoid defects and to improve the product quality. The length of the individual glass container semi-finished product allows the production of glass containers of a constant or predefined length with a constant, shape-defined discharge section and possibly with a constant, shape-defined counter-support, despite geometrical variations and / or manufacturing errors of the glass container blank.

[0014] In another exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention, the cut-off glass container semi-finished product is at least partially heated to form the discharge section and possibly the counter-support. For example, the heating is carried out by means of at least one burner. In particular, the glass container semi-finished product can be heated partially to the transformation temperature range. In particular, the glass container semi-finished product is heated in the region of the front end section, in particular for the discharge section, and in the region of the rear end section, in particular for the counter-support, in particular. In particular, the heat is supplied locally over the determined individual longitudinal extension length of the front end section, in particular for the discharge section, and the rear end section, in particular for the counter-support, in particular.

[0015] According to one exemplary refinement of the method according to the invention, the deformation behavior, in particular the melting behavior, of the glass container semi-finished product during heating and / or forming of the discharge section and possibly the counter-support is predicted based on the glass-specific material constants. Furthermore, the total longitudinal extension is determined, in particular calculated, taking into account the predicted deformation behavior or based on the predicted deformation behavior. For example, based on the predicted deformation behavior of the discharge section and possibly the counter-support, the individual longitudinal extension of one end section for the discharge section and the individual longitudinal extension of another section for the counter-support can be determined, in particular calculated, and based on the determined longitudinal extension for the discharge section and possibly the counter-support, the total longitudinal extension of the glass container semi-finished product can be determined.

[0016] According to another aspect of the present invention, which can be combined with the above-mentioned aspects and exemplary configurations, a method for manufacturing a glass container is provided. The glass container may be, for example, a glass syringe, a glass ampoule, a glass carpule or a glass vial. Typically, the glass container is rotationally symmetric. Such a glass container typically has a total longitudinal extension in the range of 50 mm to 90 mm and / or an outer diameter in the range of 6.5 mm to 10.85 mm and / or a wall or wall thickness in the range of 0.8 mm to 1.3 mm. The glass container is manufactured from a glass container blank that is formed hollow. The glass container blank may define a rotation axis, with respect to which the glass container blank is formed rotationally symmetric. In this case, it may also be called a glass tube blank. The glass container blank may be continuously supplied, for example, from a storage vessel in which the glass container blank is stored and which is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the glass container manufacturing facility. Furthermore, the supply of the glass container blank may be configured in such a way that the glass container blank is directly removed from the glassblowing station, in particular in the form of an endless glass container blank. The glass container to be produced has a shape-defined discharge section and possibly a shape-defined counter support. "Shape-defined" is understood in particular to mean that the shape and / or geometry of the discharge section and possibly the counter support are predefined, for example standardized and / or shaped according to defined requirements. The discharge section can be, for example, a conical section. The conical section can have a frustoconical shape and / or taper towards the discharge opening formed at the end of the glass container or the discharge section on the end face side. The counter support can be formed as a radially extending support step or flange step, in particular for supporting or resting the fingers of the user, that runs transversely to the longitudinal extension of the glass container. The counter support is usually likewise formed rotationally symmetrical and / or runs circularly or annularly surrounds the glass container body, which is in particular cylindrical. The discharge section and the counter support are usually formed by hot forming.For example, it may be provided that a glass container blank is at least partially heated to its transformation temperature and subsequently deformed to define a shape by a forming tool.

[0017] According to the method, the glass container blank is at least partially heated for forming the discharge section and possibly the counter-support. For example, the heating is performed by at least one burner. In particular, the glass container blank can be partially heated to the transformation temperature range. In particular, the glass container blank is heated in the region of the end section, particularly the front end section, for the discharge section and in the region of the end section, particularly the rear end section, for the counter-support, if necessary.

[0018] Furthermore, the areal density of the glass container blank is indirectly or directly detected before the discharge section and, if necessary, the forming of the counter support. The areal density is understood to be the mass that the glass container blank has in relation to the infinitesimal length in the longitudinal direction of the blank. In other words, the areal density can be understood as the mass of the cross section of the glass container blank. The areal density therefore depends on the density of the glass as well as on the cross section of the glass container blank. This cross section in turn depends on the outer dimensions, inner dimensions and / or wall thickness of the hollow, in particular cylindrical tubular, glass container blank. The areal density can be detected directly or indirectly. For example, the areal density can be measured. The areal density can also be determined via detection of dimensions related to the areal density, such as, for example, the inner dimensions, in particular the inner diameter or the outer dimensions, in particular the outer diameter and / or the wall or wall thickness of the glass container blank, and then, for example, by calculation or scaling methods, by assigning the detected, in particular measured, dimensions to the areal density. For example, the glass container blank is, for example, a raw material that is ready-made and / or present in a predefined blank length.

[0019] In this method, based on the detected areal density of the glass container blank, an individual longitudinal extension of an end section, in particular a front end section, in which a shape-defined discharge section is to be or will be formed, is determined. If desired, an individual longitudinal extension of a second end section, in particular a rear end section, in which a counter-support is to be or will be formed, can also be determined. The terms "rear" or "front" can be understood with respect to the glassblowing direction and / or with respect to the processing sequence. Usually, the discharge section is formed first, and if desired, then the counter-support.

[0020] According to a second aspect of the invention, on the basis of the determined longitudinal extensions, i.e. the respective longitudinal extensions for the discharge section and, if appropriate, the respective longitudinal extensions for the counter-support, an axial deformation location is determined in the glass container blank for forming the discharge section and, if appropriate, the counter-support. "Axial" can be understood with reference to the longitudinal direction of the glass container blank. By knowing the respective longitudinal extensions of the discharge section and, if appropriate, the counter-support, it is possible to determine the axial deformation location in the glass container blank, depending on the respective glass container blank, in particular on its geometrical shape, dimensioning and / or manufacturing tolerances, at which deformation of the glass container blank for forming, in particular for forming, the discharge section and, if appropriate, the counter-support, must take place, without excess masses and / or excess lengths having to be provided in order to compensate for possibly existing manufacturing tolerances. By individually defining the deformation location depending on the geometrical conditions in the respective glass container blank, it is possible to determine and adopt or use the most optimal axial deformation location possible.

[0021] The shaping, in particular the hot deformation, of the discharge section and the counter-support is usually carried out by at least one forming roller, in particular a pair of forming rollers arranged in correspondence with one another and facing one another, which can come into forming rolling contact with the glass container blank or the glass container semi-finished product for shaping. The forming rollers usually have a substantially cylindrical structure or are conically shaped. According to an exemplary refinement, the axial deformation points in the glass container blank for the discharge section and possibly the counter-support are determined on the basis of the determined longitudinal extensions of the end sections for the discharge section and possibly the end sections for the counter-support and on the basis of the predetermined or determined axial length of the glass container. By knowing the areal density of the individual glass container blanks and the respective longitudinal extensions of the end sections for the discharge section and possibly the end sections for the counter-support, which are derived from the areal density, it is possible to reliably ensure that the formed or melted mass of glass for the discharge section and possibly the counter-support can be kept constant and / or that the discharge section and possibly the counter-support can be produced according to the shape setting. The shape settings exist, for example, according to standards which can prescribe both the glass mass for the discharge section and the counter support as well as their dimensions, in particular the outer diameter, the inner diameter and / or the wall thickness.

[0022] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the axial deformation point is determined in such a way that the axial end section of the glass container blank, which is defined by the axial deformation point, has a predefined mass, in particular a predefined formed mass and / or melt mass, for forming the discharge section and possibly the counter support. This makes it possible to ensure that the discharge section, whose shape and / or dimensions are predefined, and possibly the counter support, whose shape and / or dimensions are predefined, have a predefined mass of glass. This significantly improves the product quality. Furthermore, defects can be avoided. Unnecessary excess masses or lengths can be avoided, so that a cutting step, which is subsequently required in particular for the compensation of the excess mass or length, is also omitted, which on the one hand means an additional process step and therefore costs, and on the other hand has additional manufacturing errors and defects.

[0023] In another exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention, a glass container blank is cut from the glass container blank according to a predetermined or determined total longitudinal extent, in particular determined according to the first embodiment of the method according to the invention, to be deformed to form a glass container, in particular exclusively deformed and / or to be further processed for the production of the glass container by a deformation process, such as a hot deformation process. The essential difference between the glass container blank and the glass container blank is that the glass container blank is further processed substantially exclusively by deformation, in particular by hot deformation, to produce the glass container. Naturally, however, surface processing measures may also be required. However, it is not necessary to cut the glass container blank and / or form a section of the glass container blank to compensate for the excess mass or excess length. The glass container blank is then formed according to a corresponding axial length, in particular optimized, which is selected in such a way that the glass container is completed after forming the discharge section and, if necessary, the counter support. In this case, a high manufacturing precision is achieved.

[0024] According to another exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention, the flatness, also called planarity or flatness, of the axial end faces of the glass container blank or the cut glass container semi-finished product is determined, in particular measured, which can be a measure for the surface quality. In this connection, a flatness sensor can be used. The flatness sensor can have, for example, a measuring range of 6.4 mm, a resolution of 2 μm, a reproducibility of ±0.2 μm and / or a sampling rate of 0.65 kHz in order to obtain reliable and reproducible results. The inventors of the present invention have determined that the flatness of the end faces of the glass container blank or the glass container semi-finished product to be subsequently processed by a deformation process, such as hot deformation, in particular in a forming tool, has an effect on the production accuracy, in that the flatness of the end faces affects the axial positioning, in particular during the subsequent forming steps of the ejection section and, if necessary, the formation of the counter support. By measuring the flatness of the end faces, positioning or insertion errors in the forming tool can be reduced and in particular avoided.

[0025] According to another exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention, the glass container blank or the cut glass container semi-finished product is positioned with respect to a forming tool, such as at least one forming roller, in particular a forming roller pair, for forming the ejection section and possibly the counter-support, based on the axial deformation location and possibly the flatness of the axial end surface. The formation of the ejection section and the counter-support is usually carried out by a forming process, in particular a hot forming process. Due to the additional information on the axial deformation location and possibly the flatness, the glass container blank or the glass container semi-finished product to be formed can be inserted as optimally as possible into the forming tool, so that the shape-defined area for the ejection section and possibly the counter-support can be produced as accurately as possible in order to achieve the lowest possible manufacturing errors.

[0026] According to another exemplary refinement of the method according to the invention, the deformation behavior, in particular the melting behavior, of the glass container blank or the glass container blank during heating and / or forming of the discharge section and possibly the counter-support is predicted based on the glass-specific material constants. Furthermore, the longitudinal extension of the discharge section to be formed and possibly the counter-support to be formed is determined, in particular calculated, taking into account the predicted deformation behavior or based on the predicted deformation behavior. For example, based on the predicted deformation behavior of the discharge section and possibly the counter-support, the respective longitudinal extension of one end section for the discharge section and possibly the respective longitudinal extension of another section for the counter-support can be determined, in particular calculated, and based on the determined longitudinal extension of the discharge section and possibly the counter-support, the total longitudinal extension of the glass container blank can be determined. By knowing the glass-specific material constants for deformation or melting of the glass and the predefined dimensions and / or mass of the ejection section and, if applicable, the counter-support in the finished glass container, it is possible to determine or predict the axial length of the respective end section of the glass container blank or semi-finished glass container from which the ejection section or counter-support, respectively, is produced by deformation processing and, in connection with this, in particular the axial deformation point at which the forming tool must engage.

[0027] According to another exemplary configuration of the method according to the invention, which may be related to all the above-mentioned aspects and exemplary configurations, the outer diameter, the inner diameter and / or the wall thickness of the glass container blank are detected, in particular measured. For example, the wall thickness sensor may be an optical sensor capable of measuring the intensity of reflection. Furthermore, the areal density of the glass container blank can be determined, in particular calculated, based on the measured outer diameter, the measured inner diameter and / or the wall thickness. It is clear that the density of the glass is known.

[0028] According to another aspect of the present invention, which can be combined with the above-mentioned aspects and exemplary configurations, there is provided a glass container, such as a glass syringe, glass vial, glass carpule or glass ampoule, in particular made or manufactured from borosilicate glass.

[0029] The glass container according to the invention comprises a cylindrical base body and a tapered discharge section, in particular a conical or frusto-conical section, which is continuous with the base body and which forms or has an open front end of the glass container. The glass container according to the invention further comprises a rear end, which is continuous with the base body and is located opposite the discharge section and is possibly shaped as a counter support. For example, the counter support is formed as an annular flange which projects radially outward from the cylindrical base body and surrounds the cylindrical base body. For example, the counter support has a flat finger support surface which forms the end face of the glass container and which is oriented substantially perpendicular to the axial longitudinal extension of the glass container.

[0030] According to this aspect of the invention, the front edge and the rear edge are thermally cut. The thermal cutting can be performed by gas, gas discharge or beam irradiation, for example according to DIN standard 2310-6. For example, a suitable cutting method is based on the fact that very high material stresses, especially mechanical stresses, are generated locally in the area to be cut, which stresses lead to the cutting, especially cracking, tearing or rupture of the glass material. For example, a quenching method can be used, in which material stresses are formed by local heating and shock quenching, with or without cracking. In some cases, the cutting process can be assisted by local reheating. According to another exemplary configuration, a laser method can be used. The preparation for the cutting process, especially the crack formation, can be performed with a pulsed laser, especially a high-pulse laser, in order to locally weaken and especially perforate the glass. The weakened points can then be locally heated in a separate laser heating step, for example with a CO2 laser, in order to perform the cut. Laser methods are distinguished by a particularly high quality of the cut surface.

[0031] In the prior art, it has always been necessary to mechanically cut off at least one end, for example by means of a notch cutter, in order to compensate for the excess mass or excess length set in to compensate for manufacturing tolerances. The advantage of thermal cutting is that it is possible to avoid laborious post-treatment steps of the cut edge or surface for grinding, smoothing and / or repairing surface cracks.

[0032] An exemplary configuration of the glass container according to the invention has a total longitudinal extension, in particular its axial length, defined to a tolerance of ±0.4 mm, in particular ±0.3 mm, ±0.2 mm or ±0.1 mm. Tolerance is understood, for example, in relation to the setting of standards, etc. Prior art glass containers have significant manufacturing inaccuracies or errors.

[0033] In another exemplary configuration of the glass container according to the present invention, the glass container is manufactured according to an embodiment or exemplary configuration of the method according to the present invention.

[0034] According to another aspect of the present invention, which can be combined with the above-mentioned aspects and exemplary configurations, an installation for manufacturing glass containers, such as glass syringes or glass ampoules, glass vials or glass carpules, is provided. Typically, the glass containers are rotationally symmetric. Such glass containers typically have a total longitudinal extension in the range of 50 mm to 90 mm and / or an outer diameter in the range of 6.5 mm to 10.85 mm and / or a wall or wall thickness in the range of 0.8 mm to 1.3 mm. The glass containers are manufactured from glass container blanks that are formed hollow. The glass container blanks may define a rotation axis, with respect to which the glass container blanks are formed rotationally symmetric. In this case, they may also be referred to as glass tube blanks. The glass container blanks may be continuously supplied, for example, from a storage vessel in which they are stored and which is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the glass container manufacturing installation. Furthermore, the supply of the glass container blanks may be configured in such a way that the glass container blanks are taken directly from the glassblowing station, in particular in the form of endless glass container blanks. The glass container to be produced has a shape-defined discharge section and possibly a shape-defined counter support. "Shape-defined" is understood in particular to mean that the shape and / or geometry of the discharge section and possibly the counter support are predefined, for example standardized and / or shaped according to defined requirements. The discharge section can be, for example, a conical section. The conical section can have a frustoconical shape and / or taper towards the discharge opening formed at the end of the glass container or the discharge section on the end face side. The counter support can be formed as a radially extending support step or flange step, in particular for supporting or resting the fingers of the user, that runs transversely to the longitudinal extension of the glass container. The counter support is usually likewise formed rotationally symmetrical and / or runs circularly or annularly surrounds the glass container body, which is in particular cylindrical. The discharge section and the counter support are usually formed by hot forming.For example, it may be provided that the glass container blank is at least partially heated to its transformation temperature and subsequently deformed to a defined shape by a forming tool. For example, the apparatus may be configured to manufacture glass containers made of borosilicate glass. The apparatus may be configured and arranged to manufacture glass containers having a manufacturing tolerance of, for example, ±0.4 mm, in particular ±0.3 mm, ±0.2 mm or ±0.1 mm.

[0035] The installation according to the invention comprises a sensor device for indirectly or directly detecting the areal density of the glass container blank and a processor unit which is configured to determine the respective longitudinal extents of the semi-finished glass container blanks to be deformed to form the glass containers based on the detected areal density. The semi-finished glass container blanks can be understood, for example, as intermediate stages between the glass container blanks and the finished glass containers, which are cut from the glass container blanks and / or further processed substantially exclusively by deformation methods, in particular hot deformation methods, in particular by shaping to form the ejection section and possibly the counter support, to form the glass containers.

[0036] According to an exemplary configuration of the glass container manufacturing installation according to the invention, the installation further comprises a cutting tool for cutting the glass container blank from the glass container blank in a length corresponding to the determined total longitudinal extension, whereby individual glass container blanks are produced which compensate for manufacturing inaccuracies and / or errors in the glass container blank, so that the glass containers can be subsequently formed essentially by deformation alone, without the need for a separate cutting step, e.g. to compensate for excess mass or excess length provided for compensating for existing inaccuracies in the glass container blank.

[0037] According to another exemplary embodiment, the sensor device is arranged before the cutting tool. According to another exemplary embodiment, the sensor device is associated with or integrated into a cutting device or cutting station having the cutting tool. The cutting device may further have a chuck for rotatingly supporting the glass container semi-finished product and, if necessary, a support, in particular a pneumatic support, for the glass container semi-finished product.

[0038] According to another aspect of the present invention which can be combined with the above-described aspects and exemplary configurations, there is provided an apparatus for manufacturing glass containers, such as glass syringes, glass ampoules, glass carpules, or glass vials, from a glass container blank.

[0039] The apparatus according to the invention comprises a heat source, such as a burner, for at least partially heating the glass container blank, which may be configured such that it can apply heat substantially exclusively, i.e. predominantly locally, to a predefined area, in particular an axial section, of the glass container blank.

[0040] The installation further comprises a forming tool which is configured to deform the heated glass container blank to form the discharge section and possibly the counter support. For example, the forming tool has at least one shaping roller, in particular a pair of correspondingly arranged and / or facing shaping rollers. The shaping rollers can be configured, for example, cylindrical or frustoconical. To deform the discharge section and possibly the counter support, the forming tool can be in rolling-forming contact with the heated glass container blank section.

[0041] Furthermore, the system according to the invention includes a sensor device for indirectly or directly detecting the areal density of the glass container blank, the sensor device being arranged upstream of the forming tool, in other words, the areal density of the glass container blank is detected before deformation to form the ejection section and, if necessary, the counter support.

[0042] According to another aspect of the invention, the installation further comprises a processor unit which is configured to determine the respective longitudinal extensions of, in particular the front end section, at which the discharge section is to be formed, and, in particular the rear end section, at which the counter-support is possibly to be formed. Furthermore, the processor unit is configured to determine, based on the determined longitudinal extensions, an axial deformation location in the glass container blank for the forming tool in order to form the discharge section and, in particular, the counter-support. The axial direction can be understood with respect to the longitudinal direction of the glass container blank. By knowing the respective longitudinal extensions of the discharge section and, in particular, the counter-support, it is possible to determine an axial deformation location in the glass container blank, depending on the respective glass container blank, in particular on its geometrical shape, dimensioning and / or manufacturing tolerances, at which deformation of the glass container blank for forming, in particular forming, the discharge section and, in particular, the counter-support, must take place, without excess masses and / or excess lengths having to be provided in order to compensate for possibly existing manufacturing tolerances. By individually defining the deformation location depending on the geometrical conditions in the respective glass container blank, it is possible to determine and adopt or use the most optimal axial deformation location possible.

[0043] According to one exemplary configuration of the installation according to the invention, the sensor device for detecting the areal density comprises an optical sensor device, which in particular measures the outer diameter, the inner diameter and / or the wall thickness of the glass container blank. For example, the wall thickness sensor can be an optical sensor capable of measuring the intensity of reflection. Furthermore, based on the measured outer diameter, the measured inner diameter and / or the wall thickness, the areal density of the glass container blank can be determined, in particular calculated. It is clear that the density of the glass is known. Alternatively or additionally, the optical sensor device can be configured to measure the flatness of the axial end surface of the glass container blank or of the cut glass container semi-finished product.

[0044] In another exemplary configuration of the equipment of the present invention, the equipment is configured to carry out the manufacturing method of the present invention according to the above-mentioned embodiment or exemplary configuration, in particular for producing glass containers according to the above-mentioned embodiment or exemplary configuration.

[0045] In summary, the present invention allows glass containers to be produced with increased quality and increased manufacturing accuracy. The inventors have found that the glass container blanks used for the production of glass containers, in particular glass tube blanks that are formed rotationally symmetrically, have manufacturing inaccuracies or manufacturing errors. On the one hand, length and flatness errors occur at the cut surfaces or cutting edges when cutting the glass container blanks to be deformed to form the glass containers from the glass container blanks. Furthermore, length errors occur during shaping, which are caused in particular by the glass container blanks or glass container blanks used having different wall thicknesses, which are manifested in the form of variations in the shaping mass or melt mass to be deformed, which results in different lengths for the discharge section and the counter support. The inventors of the present invention have addressed the problem of variable wall thicknesses of the glass container blanks by recognizing the basic conditions that must be observed for the glass containers to be produced, namely, predetermined or constant length dimensions and constant or predetermined length dimensions and masses for the discharge section and the counter support, as well as constant wall thicknesses in the area of ​​the counter support and the discharge section. For example, there are specifications to which the discharge section and, if applicable, the counter support must be correspondingly shaped. Surprisingly, it has been found that it is possible to counteract the manufacturing errors that arise through the variations in the total mass of the individual glass containers, which arise due to the variations in the wall thickness in the cylindrical base body part between the discharge section and the end section located on the opposite side of the glass container, which may be formed as a counter support, resulting in different and different masses of the cylindrical base body. In this case, the basic conditions are maintained. According to the invention, this is achieved on the one hand by forming the individual glass container semifinished products with individual axial dimensions that are formed based on the respective areal density of the individual glass container blanks. The variations in wall thickness directly affect the areal density.According to another aspect of the invention, it has been found that the manufacturing precision can be further improved by individual feeding of the deformation tool for forming the ejection section and, if necessary, the counter-support, and thus by individual adjustment of the axial deformation points for the ejection section and, if necessary, the counter-support, i.e. by compensating for flatness errors which occur, in particular when separating the glass container blank or the glass container semi-finished product.

[0046] Preferred configurations are set out in the dependent claims. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0047] Further characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred configurations of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying exemplary drawings. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a facility for manufacturing glass containers. [Diagram 2] 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a configuration of a cutting device of a glass container manufacturing facility according to the present invention; [Diagram 3] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the steps of manufacturing a glass container according to the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the formation of excess mass or length in a glass container according to the prior art.

[0048] In the following description of exemplary configurations of the invention, a glass container according to the invention is generally provided with the reference number 4. For the description of the exemplary configurations, it can be assumed, for example, that the glass container 4 is made from borosilicate glass. Such glass containers 4 are used in particular in medical or pharmaceutical applications.

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a facility 3 for manufacturing glass containers 4. The facility 3 includes four forming devices 1 I ,1 II ,1 III ,1 IVis depicted diagrammatically. In FIG. 1, a receiver 5 for rotatably holding a glass container blank 9 or a glass container semi-finished product 10 is depicted diagrammatically. The glass container blank 9 can be present, for example, as an endless blank, in particular as an endless glass tube, or can be prefabricated in a known manner with a predefined axial length. The glass container semi-finished product 10 can be understood in the sense of the present invention as a section cut off or cut from the glass container blank 9, which is characterized in that it is subsequently processed essentially exclusively by deformation, in particular by hot deformation, in order to produce the glass container 4. In case the glass container semi-finished product 10 is inserted in the facility 3, the facility 3 can be preceded by a cutting device 25 (FIG. 2), not depicted in FIG. 1, such as a so-called tube cutter, which produces, according to one embodiment of the present invention, from the glass container blank 9, individual glass container semi-finished products 10 with individual longitudinal lengths, in particular axial lengths.

[0050] The installation 3 includes a carousel 11 on which the receiver 5 is attached. The carousel 11 is rotatable about a carousel axis 13, so that the receiver 10 transfers the glass container semi-finished products 10 to the four forming devices 11 shown in the figure. I ,1 II ,1 III ,1 IV The semi-finished glass containers can be fed into the individual forming devices 1 one after the other in the production circumferential direction 15. I ,1 II ,1 III ,1 IV The first shaping device 1 I and the first shaping device 1 I Next, forming device 1 II ,1 III Between and final forming device 1 IV A burner 2 for heating the glass intermediate product 10 is disposed downstream of each of the burners 2 .

[0051] In the production circumferential direction 15, the first shaping device 1 IA first inspection station 17 is provided upstream in the production direction so that the position and axial run-out of the glass container semifinished product 10 in the receiving part 5 can be measured and controlled.

[0052] The last forming device 1 in the manufacturing circumferential direction 15 IV And downstream of the last burner 2 in the production direction, a first cooling device 7 is provided for cooling the glass body after it has been shaped.

[0053] The last forming device 1 in the manufacturing circumferential direction 15 IV And downstream in the production direction of the first cooling device 7, a second inspection station 110 is provided for inspecting the geometric shape of the glass container 4. Downstream in the production direction of the second inspection station 110 in the production circumferential direction 15, the second cooling device 7 is provided, followed by a third inspection station 41 for detecting scratches and / or cracks in the glass container 4. Downstream in the production direction of the third inspection station 41 in the production circumferential direction 15, the third cooling device 7 is provided. Downstream in the production direction of the third cooling device 7 in the production circumferential direction 15, a transfer device 43 is provided for transferring the glass container 4 for further processing. The transfer device may have means for collecting the glass container 4 discharged from the receiver 5 and / or for transporting the glass container 4 to a further processing station (not shown), such as, for example, a flange forming station.

[0054] In Fig. 2, an exemplary configuration of a cutting device 25 for cutting a glass container blank 10 of a predefined axial length from a glass container blank 9 is illustrated in an abstracted perspective view. The cutting device 25 is configured such that the glass container blank 9 is located substantially horizontally, i.e. the axis of rotation of the glass container blank 9 is oriented substantially horizontally. Basically, the cutting device 25 comprises a frame 27, which according to the exemplary configuration of Fig. 2 has two support columns 29, 31. The frame 27 supports the further components of the cutting device 25. This includes, in particular, a chuck 33 for supporting the glass container blank 9 in a rotatable manner. The chuck 33 can be, for example, a three-jaw collet chuck. For example, the chuck 33 has a clamping device, such as chuck jaws, for at least partially gripping the glass container blank 9 in the circumferential direction and for fixing the glass container blank 9 in the chuck 33. The chuck may have a drive, not shown, by means of which the glass container blank 9 can be rotated, in particular continuously, about its axis of rotation, which can correspond to the central axis.

[0055] For further support of the long glass container blank, at least one support 37, for example a pneumatic support, is provided between the clamping chuck 33 and the cutting tool 35, which is located on the side opposite the chuck 33. This pneumatic support is arranged, for example, on a support 39. By means of the pneumatic support, the glass container blank can be supported without contact and held in position in the direction of rotation, so that the cutting process can be carried out reliably by the cutting tool 35. The cutting tool can be, for example, a CO2 laser.

[0056] Furthermore, the cutting device 25 is equipped with a sensor device 41 for indirectly or directly detecting the areal density of the glass container blank 9. For example, the sensor device 41 may have an optical wall thickness sensor 43 and a flatness sensor for measuring the flatness of the axial end faces of the glass container blank or the cut glass container semi-finished product 10. The wall thickness sensor 43 is configured, for example, to detect the inner diameter, the outer diameter and / or the wall thickness of the glass container blank 9 at different positions, in particular axial locations, along the glass container blank 9, which is, in particular, continuously rotated and possibly axially translated during the detection, and which is, in particular, moved.

[0057] With regard to the plant 3 shown in Fig. 1, a cutting device 25 can be arranged upstream of the plant 3 from a manufacturing technology point of view. For example, the glass container blank 9 is cut in the cutting device 25 in accordance with the entire longitudinal extension of the glass container semi-finished product 10 to be deformed to form the glass container 4, as determined by the method according to the invention. The glass container semi-finished product 10 is then fed to the plant 3. Thus, the advantages according to the invention of a high production quality, small manufacturing inaccuracies or errors and cheaper production can be obtained.

[0058] 3, the individual manufacturing stages during the manufacture of a glass container 4 according to the present invention are shown diagrammatically. Starting from a glass container blank 9, a glass container semi-finished product 10 is formed to an individually determined total longitudinal extension length L 10 3, two axial cut positions 45, 47 are depicted by dashed lines, according to which the glass container blank 9 is cut to form the glass container blank 10. It is also possible that only one cut-off line 45, 47 or one cutting step is necessary to produce the glass container blank 10. This can be achieved in that the glass container blank 9 is positioned before cutting in such a way that the front end 49 of the glass container blank forms the front end 49 of the glass container blank.

[0059] According to the invention, the glass container blank 10 can be formed essentially exclusively by deformation, in particular hot deformation, in order to produce the glass container 4. To produce the glass container 4 from the glass container blank 10, a front end section 51 is formed, in which the ejection section 53 is to be produced by deformation, and a rear end section 55, in which the counter support 57 is to be produced by deformation. The dashed joining line between the glass container blank 10 and the glass container 4 indicates which axial section of the glass container blank realizes which axial section of the glass container 4. The substantially cylindrical base body 59 remains substantially unchanged between the glass container blank and the glass container, i.e. has the same axial length L 59 According to another embodiment of the invention, based on the detected areal density, the respective longitudinal extensions of the front end section 51 and the rear end section 55 are determined, on the basis of which the discharge section 53 or the counter-support 57 can then be molded, as is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3. The respective longitudinal extensions of the front end section 51 and the rear end section 55 or the discharge section 53 and the counter-support 57 are indicated by the reference symbols l 55,10 ,l 51,10 ,l 57,4 ,l 53,4 As shown by:

[0060] Calculated longitudinal extension length l 55,10 ,l 51,10 Based on this, it is possible to determine axial deformation points in the glass container blank 9, or in the glass container blank 10, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3, in order to form the discharge section 53 and the counter-support 57. The axial deformation points 61, 63 are axial points in the glass container blank at which a forming tool is applied in order to deform the glass container blank 4 to form the finished glass container 4 with the discharge section 53 and the counter-support 57. The individually defined axial deformation points 61, 63 for the discharge section 53 and the counter-support 57 as well as the axial lengths l of the discharge section 53 and the counter-support 57 are also determined. 55,10 ,l 51,10This ensures that a particularly precise forming or melting mass is present, which is required to form the shape-defined discharge section 53 and the shape-defined counter support 57. Overfills are thus avoided. The manufacturing tolerances for the glass container 4 according to the invention are significantly smaller than those of the prior art and are approximately ±0.4 mm, or in particular ±0.3 mm, ±0.2 mm or ±0.1 mm.

[0061] In Fig. 4, a schematic diagram of a manufacturing process according to the prior art for producing glass containers is shown. In the drawing, the occurrence of manufacturing errors and manufacturing inaccuracies is highlighted. In the upper half of Fig. 4, the shaping of a conical discharge section 65 is suggested, and in the lower half of Fig. 4, the shaping of a rear counter support is suggested. It can be seen that for each shaping station 65, 67, three partial views can be seen, in which a glass container semi-finished product or glass container blank 73, 75 is clamped in a chuck 69, 71, respectively. The three individual partial views are referred to by respective subscripts, I respectively showing a glass container blank 73 with a significantly increased wall thickness with respect to the standard. I The upper variation shows a glass container blank 73 supplied according to the standard, i.e. without any manufacturing error and / or with a manufacturing error that can be practically ignored. II The lower variant III shows a glass container blank 73 supplied with a wall thickness significantly reduced relative to the standard. III The reference numeral 75 denotes the already formed discharge section 77. I,II,III4. The glass container blanks 73, 75 are respectively shown having a length error a, in particular an overall length error. The respective criterion for determining the length error or inaccuracy in the length of the glass container blanks 73, 75 is represented by an axial stop of the glass container blanks 73, 75, respectively, in the chuck 69. This is indicated by the reference number 79. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the supplied glass container blank 73 has a length error a, in particular an overall length error. During the manufacturing process, the discharge section 77 is usually formed first, and then the counter support is formed. The upper part of FIG. 4 shows the glass container blanks 73, 75, respectively. I-III How much volume, especially mass, of the waste is then classified into emission categories 77 I-III It is indicated diagrammatically which parts must be provided to form the counter-support. Reference numeral 83 denotes a counter-support volume, and reference numeral 85 denotes a discharge section volume. I-III It can be seen that the required axial length varies depending on the wall thickness of the glass container 4. In order to compensate for the overall length error a and to avoid the glass container 4 being manufactured outside the permissible error range, the glass container blank 73 is used to manufacture the glass container 4 within the manufacturing tolerances. I-III A permissible error b is estimated, how much the wall thicknesses may differ from one another. It can be seen that during the production of the glass container 4 according to the standard of variant II, lower part of FIG. 4, an excess length 81 is provided, which then has to be cut off in an additional work step. It is clear that the excess length 81 is also present with the minimum wall thickness of variant III, lower part of FIG. 4. This additional work step deteriorates the quality of the glass container 4 and requires additional steps and therefore costs.

[0062] The features disclosed in the above description, in the drawings and in the claims may, both individually and in any combination, be important for realizing the invention in its various different configurations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1 Excipient device (1 I ,1 II,1 III ,1 IV , 1V ) 2 Burner 3 Equipment 4. Glass container 5 Receptor 7 Cooling device 9. Glass container material 10 Glass container semi-finished products 11 Rotating Conveyor 13 Rotating conveyor axis 15 Manufacturing circumferential direction 17 First Inspection Station 19 Second Inspection Station 21 Third Inspection Station 23 Delivery device 25 Cutting device 27 Frame Columns 29 and 31 33 Chuck 35 Cutting tools 37 Supporting body 39 Support column 41 Sensor Equipment 43 Thickness sensor 45,47 Cutting line 49 End 51,53 End section 53 Emission category 57 Counter support 59 Base 61,63 Axial deformation points 65,67 Shaping 69,71 Chuck 73 Glass Container Material Variations I, II, III 75 Glass container material with molded discharge section Variations I, II, III 77 Emission Classification Variation I, II, III 79 Chuck Stopper 81 Excess length 83 Counter support volume 85 Discharge Section Volume Li Length of each component i (glass container, base, glass container semi-finished product or glass container material) l x,i The length of each section x of component i (glass container, glass container semi-finished product or glass container material) a Total length error b error

Claims

1. 1. A method for producing a glass container (4), such as a glass syringe or a glass ampoule, with a geometrically defined discharge section and possibly with a geometrically defined counter support, from a glass container blank, comprising: - indirectly or directly detecting the areal density of said glass container blank (9), - determining the individual longitudinal lengths of the glass container blanks (10) to be deformed to form the glass containers (4) based on the detected areal density; cutting the glass container blank (10) from the glass container blank (9) in accordance with the determined total longitudinal extension length; method.

2. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: determining an individual longitudinal extension length of an end section in which the discharge section is to be formed and an individual longitudinal extension length of an end section in which the counter support is to be formed based on the detected areal density of the glass container blank (9).

3. 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising at least partially heating the separated glass container blank (10) for forming the ejection section and possibly the counter support.

4. 4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising predicting the deformation behavior of the glass container semi-finished product (10) during the heating and / or forming of the discharge section and, if necessary, the counter support, based on material constants specific to glass, and determining the total longitudinal extension length while taking into account the predicted deformation behavior.

5. 1. An installation for producing glass containers (4), such as glass syringes or glass ampoules, with a geometrically defined discharge section and possibly with a geometrically defined counter support, from glass container blanks, comprising: a sensor device for indirectly or directly detecting the areal density of said glass container blank, a processor unit adapted to determine, based on the detected areal density, the individual longitudinal lengths of the glass container blanks (10) to be deformed to form the glass containers (4); The equipment includes a cutting tool for cutting the glass container semi-finished product (10) from the glass container blank (9) in accordance with the determined total longitudinal extension length, and the sensor device is disposed in front of the cutting tool.

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