Device and process for deformation of the heat-softened end of a glass tube
AssigneeSchott Glaswerke
InventorsReinhard Mannl, Alfons Wolfrum, Franz Neumeier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and process is provided for the deformation of the heat-softened end of a glass tube. In the formation of hollow articles such as, for example, vials from glass tubes, either large processing pauses occur or the formation elements have to be moved with high speed to the next tube being processed. To keep the processing pause short a forming roller is provided, which is shifted back and forth relative to the glass tube. Shifting of the forming roller takes place in such a manner that the forming roller, toward the end of the rolling, is at the starting position for forming the next glass tube.
Claims16
A process for forming vials from glass tubes wherein each vial is formed from one end of a glass tube comprising the steps of:
- conveying a number of glass tubes at equal spacing distances continuously along a feed path,
- heating one end of each glass tube to form a heat softened glass tube end,
- forming a mouth on each glass tube by rolling the heat-softened glass tube end with a forming roller against a forming finger as the glass tube rotates around its longitudinal axis,
- wherein the step for forming the mouth includes moving the forming roller back and forth relative tot he feed path in coordination with the frequency at which the glass tubes move past the forming roller, reducing the distance of a peripheral point of the forming roller closest to a longitudinal axis of the glass tube as the glass tube moves therepast in a curved manner, and moving the forming roller with eh approach of a subsequent glass tube back from the feed path of the glass tube moving away form the forming roller and then again moving the forming roller forward toward the feed path into the space between the departing glass tube and subsequent glass tube,
- separating a glass tube section from each glass tube having opposite ends with the mouth at one end of the glass tube section, and
- forming a vial bottom at the other end of the glass tube section.
An apparatus for deformation of end areas of glass tubes (12) which have heated glass tube ends heat softened to form mouth areas (M) of vials (56) formed from the glass tubes (12), the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of holding chucks (7), each holding chuck (7) retaining one of a plurality of glass tubes (12) in alignment with a chuck axis (AL);
- mounting means (4) for mounting the holding chucks (7) in equal spaced relation with respect to one another to move in a direction defined by a feed path (L);
- means (57) placed proximate the feed path (L) for heating the glass tube ends (38);
- at least one forming roller station (35) having a forming roller (36) positionable against exterior surfaces of the heated glass tube ends (38);
- at least one forming finger (43), the forming finger (43) being insertable sequentially into successive ones of the glass heated tube ends (38) to provide a surface for supporting interior surfaces (67) of the heated glass tube ends (38) as the exterior surfaces (67) of the heated glass tube ends (38) are worked by the forming roller (36);
- means (75) for mounting the forming roller (36) proximate the path (L), the mounting means (75) including means (62, 41) for allowing movement of the forming roller (36) toward and away from the path (L);
- a first drive means (17) for continuously advancing the mounting means for the holding chucks (7) along the feed path (L) at a selected rate determining a selected frequency with which the glass tubes (12) pass the forming roller (36);
- a second drive means (39) connected to the means for mounting the forming roller (36) for moving the forming roller (36) toward and away from the path (L) at a selected rate as the glass tubes move continuously along the feed path over a portion thereof to maintain contact between the forming roller (36) and the exterior surface (67) at a point (X) on each of the heated glass tube ends (38) as the glass tubes (12) move past the forming station (35).
A device for deformation of the end area of a glass tube-softened on its end, especially for forming the mouth area of vials to be produced from glass tubes comprising:
- a number of rotatable holding chucks spaced from one another at equal spacing distances for receiving glass tubes,
- means for mounting the rotatable holding chucks for motion over a path of a selected radius about a center point,
- means placed on the path for heating the glass tube ends projecting from the holding chucks,
- at least one forming roller device, of which at least one forming roller is mounted to rotate around an axis and be positioned against a softened glass tube end,
- a forming spike interacting with the forming roller device during the forming as a countertool and being insertable in the open end of a glass tube,
- first advancing means for continuously advancing the mounting means for the rotatable holding chucks along the circular path in proximity with the forming roller at a selected rate to establish a selected frequency with which the individual holding chucks move past the forming roller,
- second advancing means for advancing the forming roller toward and away from the center point of the path along a path parallel to a radius of the path of the rotatable holding chucks, said second advancing means being controllable to move in coordination with the first advancing means, whereby the forming roller engages each softened glass tube at a first position upstream of the radius and moves away from the center point to a second position when the axis of rotation of the rotatable holding chuck approaches the arius and then back toward the center point as the glass tube approaches a third position at which engagement between the forming roller and the glass tube ceases.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.