Cut Elongated Glass Elements With Continuous Inner-Diameter Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing glass tubes for pharmaceutical packaging fail to maintain precise geometric parameters, such as inner diameter, within the μm range, leading to inconsistent quality and reduced dose capacity in auto-injectors or wearable delivery devices.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for continuously measuring and adjusting geometric parameters, like inner diameter, of elongated glass elements during production, ensuring precise control by connecting continuous and individual measurements to improve reliability and quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the size of the syringe or cartridge is reduced to minimize the size of auto-injectors or wearable delivery devices, then the size of the device is reduced, but the volume of the syringe or cartridge is also reduced leading to a reduced number of doses
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the glass tube, specifically increasing the inner diameter while maintaining outer diameter constraints. This allows the syringe to hold larger volumes of pharmaceutical composition, thereby increasing the number of doses that can be administered with a single auto-injector or wearable delivery device without increasing the overall device size
2Quantity of substance
If the concentration of the medical compound in the syringe or cartridge is increased to decrease the volume of pharmaceutical composition administered per dose, then the volume per dose is reduced, but precise geometric parameters of the syringe or cartridge must be known and controlled within μm range
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces mechanical measurement and control methods with optical measurement techniques. A laser-based optical system is used to continuously measure the inner diameter of the glass tube during production, providing precise measurements in the μm range without complex mechanical gauges. This optical substitution enables accurate geometric parameter control while simplifying the manufacturing process
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements a feedback control system where the optical measurement of inner diameter is continuously monitored during glass tube production. The measured values are fed back to the production process to automatically adjust parameters and maintain the inner diameter within the required μm-range tolerances, ensuring consistent geometric quality without manual intervention
3Productivity
If continuous glass tube is produced and then cut to length using conventional methods, then production efficiency is maintained, but geometric parameters like inner diameter are not precisely controlled along the cylindrical portion
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements continuous measurement of the inner diameter throughout the entire length of the glass tube during the drawing and cutting process. The optical measurement system operates continuously without interruption, monitoring every section of the tube as it is produced and cut, ensuring that geometric parameters remain consistent along the entire cylindrical portion while maintaining high production efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs preliminary measurement and control of the inner diameter during the glass tube drawing process, before the tube is cut to final length. By establishing precise geometric parameters during production rather than after cutting, the system ensures that each cut tube segment inherits the correct dimensions, eliminating the need for post-cutting adjustment or selection
Data Source
AI summary
A bundle includes five or more cut elongated glass elements. Each cut elongated glass element includes a first end, a cylindrical portion, and a second end. At least one of the following equations is fulfilled: i) (Icenter(max)−Icenter(min))/Icenter(mean)≤4.0×10−2 [μm/μm]; or ii) (Icontinuous(max)−Icontinuous(min))/Icenter(mean)≤4.0×10−2 [μm/μm]. Icenter(max) is a maximum center inner diameter of the cylindrical portions of all cut elongated glass elements; Icenter(min) is a minimum center inner diameter of the cylindrical portion of all cut elongated glass elements; Icenter(mean) is a mean of inner diameters at a center of the cylindrical portions of all cut elongated glass elements; Icontinuous(max) is a maximum continuous inner diameter of the cylindrical portion of any single cut elongated glass element; and Icontinuous(min) is a minimum continuous inner diameter of the cylindrical portion of the single cut elongated glass element.