Systems and methods for minimizing SHR from piercing during pharmaceutical part converting using a gas flow

A system for producing glass articles from glass tubing comprising:

• a converter comprising a plurality of processing stations, a base, a main turret, and a secondary turret, wherein:
• the plurality of processing stations comprise at least one heating station, at least one forming station, and a separating station;
• the main turret comprises the at least one heating station, the at least one forming station, and the separating station;
• and
• the converter is operable to index a glass tube through the plurality of processing stations;
• and
• a gas flow system comprising:
• a manifold fluidly coupleable to a gas source, wherein:
• the manifold is separate from and positioned above the base and the main turret;
• and
• the manifold comprises an inner ring having a gas supply channel and an outer ring surrounding the inner ring and rotatable with the main turret of the converter relative to the inner ring;
• and
• a plurality of glass tube connectors, each glass tube connector removably coupleable to a distal end of the glass tube and fluidly coupled to the manifold by a conduit, wherein when each glass tube connector is coupled to the glass tube, at least a portion of the glass tube connector is disposed inside of the glass tube and the glass tube connector forms an interference fit with an inner surface of the glass tube, the interference fit maintaining the orientation of the glass tube connector relative to the glass tube upon a movement of either the glass tube or the glass tube connector;
• wherein for at least one of the glass tube connectors, the gas flow system is operable to pass a gas from the manifold, through the conduit, through the glass tube connector, and into the glass tube through the distal end of the glass tube, and wherein passing the gas into the distal end of the glass tube produces a flow of gas adjacent to a proximal end of the glass tube, the flow of gas operable to remove at least a portion of an atmosphere from an interior of the glass tube and reduce contamination of an inner surface of the glass tube by alkali released from the glass tube.