Axial Tool Adjustment for Glass Container Dimensional Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hot-shaping devices for producing glass containers, particularly for pharmaceutical packaging, face challenges in achieving consistently precise dimensions due to variations in glass tube dimensions, leading to dimensional inaccuracies and potential cosmetic faults in the finished products.
Innovation Solution
A method and device where the position of shaping tools is automatically adjusted in the axial direction to match the dimensional data of each glass tube, ensuring precise dimensions by compensating for variations in glass volume, thereby maintaining consistent dimensions perpendicular to the axial direction, even at high cycle rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional hot-shaping devices are used with fixed shaping tool positions, then the production process is simple and fast, but dimensional accuracy varies due to glass tube dimension variations
Solution Approach 1:
The shaping tools are made dynamically adjustable in the axial direction through motorized drive mechanisms. The position of shaping tools can be automatically changed based on measured glass tube dimensions, transforming a static system into a dynamic one that adapts to variations in input material.
Solution Approach 2:
The axial position parameter of the shaping tools is varied according to the actual dimensions of each glass tube. By changing the position parameter dynamically, the system compensates for dimensional variations in the glass tube, ensuring consistent output dimensions despite input variations.
2Manufacturing precision
If shaping tool positions are manually adjusted for each glass tube, then dimensional accuracy improves, but production speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Manual mechanical adjustment of shaping tool positions is replaced by an automated measurement and control system. Optical or laser measurement devices automatically determine glass tube dimensions, and motorized drives automatically position the shaping tools accordingly, eliminating manual intervention and maintaining high production speed.
Solution Approach 2:
A feedback loop is established where the actual dimensions of each glass tube are measured and used to automatically adjust the shaping tool positions. The measurement result feeds into the control system, which then modifies the tool positions to compensate for dimensional variations, achieving both precision and speed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If shaping tools are positioned to accommodate maximum glass tube variation, then all tubes can be processed, but precision for individual tubes decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The actual dimensions of each glass tube are measured before the hot-shaping process begins. This preliminary measurement allows the system to pre-calculate the optimal shaping tool positions needed to compensate for the specific tube's dimensional variations, ensuring both adaptability and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than using a fixed position that accommodates all variations, the system dynamically adjusts the shaping tool position to match each individual tube's dimensions. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize for each tube rather than compromise for the worst-case scenario.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly improves the dimensional accuracy of glass containers, reducing variance to less than 0.01% of the nominal value, ensuring reliable and efficient production of glass containers with precise dimensions, particularly in the neck opening region, enhancing sealing fit and overall product quality.
Implementation Method 1
the end region is heated until the end region becomes plastic
Implementation Method 2
the end region is heated until the end region becomes plastic
Data Source
AI summary
A method for molding end portions on glass containers that store pharmaceutical active ingredients is provided. The glass containers are produced from a glass tube by hot-forming, an end portion having a neck opening using a centrally disposed opening forming tool interacting with a shaping tool at one end of the glass containers. In the method, dimensional data is provided for the respective glass tube and the position of the shaping tool is adjusted in a motorized manner in the axial direction (z) of the glass containers so as to correspond to the provided dimensional data for the respective glass tube.