Medical Glass Vial Fire Blasting with Shielded Point Burner
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The generation of cracks in medical glass containers during the manufacturing process, particularly near the opening, due to the heating from the flame of a point burner used for fire blasting to remove alkaline components, is a significant issue that existing methods have not adequately addressed.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a controlled fire blasting process where the point burner's flame is applied with varying heating power, and a shielding mechanism is used to prevent direct contact with the glass container's opening, reducing heat exposure and minimizing the risk of cracking. The process includes specific steps to ensure the flame is weaker during insertion and withdrawal, and a shielding plate is positioned to block the flame during initial and final stages, preventing heat from reaching the glass container's opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the nozzle of the point burner is inserted into the internal space of the vial to adjust the flame to the optimal position, then the fire blasting effectiveness is improved, but the heating of the vicinity of the opening causes crack generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different heating conditions to different regions of the vial. The flame is directed to concentrate on the bottom portion where alkaline components need removal, while the opening region is protected from direct heating. This local differentiation of thermal treatment resolves the contradiction by maintaining effective fire blasting where needed while preventing crack generation at the opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a shielding mechanism (such as a shield or baffle) as an intermediary element between the flame and the vial opening. This intermediary blocks or redirects the flame to prevent direct heating of the opening region while allowing the flame to effectively treat the bottom portion, thus resolving the contradiction between fire blasting effectiveness and crack prevention.
2Productivity
If the flame is applied strongly to remove the deteriorated region from the inner surface, then the processing efficiency is improved, but the heat exposure to the opening increases causing cracks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements localized flame application where the intense heating is concentrated on the bottom portion of the vial that requires removal of deteriorated regions, while the opening area is excluded from direct flame exposure through positioning and shielding. This allows high processing efficiency for the deteriorated regions without causing thermal damage at the opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent addresses the heating problem by changing the spatial dimension of flame application. Instead of uniform heating, the flame is directed along the axial dimension to focus on specific zones (bottom portion) while protecting other zones (opening). This dimensional control of heat distribution enables efficient processing without crack generation.
3Ease of operation
If the point burner is positioned to face the opening for easy access, then the operation simplicity is improved, but the flame contacts the opening causing thermal damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a shielding structure as an intermediary that allows the burner to be positioned in a convenient location while preventing direct flame contact with the opening. The shield acts as a barrier that redirects the flame away from the opening while maintaining operational simplicity, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and prevention of thermal damage.
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 method effectively reduces the generation of cracks in medical glass containers by minimizing heat exposure near the opening, ensuring the glass container remains stable and crack-free, while efficiently removing the region deteriorated by processing from the inner surface.
Implementation Method 1
a third process of applying the flame ejected from the tip of the point burner to the inner surface of the glass container
Implementation Method 2
When the borosilicate glass is heated, alkaline components contained in the borosilicate glass are volatilized
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(A)~3(B)
AI summary
[Object] To provide a means manufacturing a medical glass container with less generation of a crack. [Solution] A method for manufacturing a medical glass container includes a first process of moving the tip of an ignited point burner 30 from a standby position where a flame 31 does not contact a vial 10 to a position where the tip of the ignited point burner 30 faces an opening 16 in the outside of the vial 10, a second process of inserting the tip of the point burner 30 into an internal space 14 of the vial 10, a third process of applying the flame 31 to an inner surface 15 of the vial 10 while holding the tip of the point burner 30 in the internal space 14, a fourth process of moving the tip of the point burner 30 to the outside from the internal space 14, and a fifth process of moving the tip of the point burner 30 from the position where the tip of the point burner 30 faces the opening 16 to the standby position. At least in the second process and the fourth process, the flame 31 having heating power weaker than the heating power of the flame 31 of the point burner 30 applied to the inner surface of the vial 10 in the third process is ejected from the point burner 30.