The present invention relates to a device used for processing a glass member, for example, a device used for processing a heated glass member for manufacturing a glass container, particularly for molding a glass member. Such devices can be used, for example, in the manufacture of glass containers with mouths and bottoms, especially medical glass containers such as vials, ampoules, syringes, cartridges and the like. The present invention also relates to a method of processing a glass member using such a device. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a glass container using such a device and a processing method, and also relates to a glass container to be manufactured.
Background technology
[0002]
As a method for manufacturing a glass container for containing a medical drug, the method described in Patent Document 1 below is known. In this method, a mandrel is placed inside one end of a heated glass tube and a pair of rollers is placed outside the mandrel so that the end of the glass tube is sandwiched between the mandrel and the pair of rollers. By rotating these around the axis, the end of the glass tube is formed by a mandrel and a roller into a mouth having a shoulder portion and a flange portion located at the tip thereof. Then, a part of the glass tube located at a predetermined length (upward) away from the tip of the glass tube is heated, and the mouth portion thus formed and the glass tube portion having the predetermined length are left. Burn off from the glass tube. A roller paired with the bottom plate is pressed against the separated part of the heated glass tube part, the shape of the separated part is adjusted and formed into a surface shape, and the other end of the glass tube part forms the bottom part. To have. The result is a glass container with a molded mouth and bottom.
[0003]
In the manufacture of the conventional glass containers described above, the parts of devices such as rollers, mandolels and bottom plates that come into contact with formably heated glass tubes are usually made of metal or ceramics. Although the metal part of such a device is suitable for processing glass members, it is necessary to oil the metal part in order to improve the slipperiness of the metal part with respect to the glass tube. Therefore, since the oil is attached to the obtained glass container, an additional step of removing the oil from the glass container is required. In addition, the metal portion may be worn by long-term use, or in addition, fine glass particles may adhere to the metal portion, resulting in unevenness on the contact surface of the metal portion that comes into contact with the heated glass tube. When a glass member is molded using a device having a metal portion having such unevenness, the surface of the glass container may be roughened by the unevenness, and as a result, a smooth surface having good light reflectivity may not be obtained. There is.
[0004]
When using a device having a ceramic part, there is a possibility that fine ceramics scraped by the contact between the glass tube and the ceramic part may adhere to the surface of the glass container. As a result, an additional step is required to remove such deposits.
Prior art literature
Patent documents
[0005]
Patent Document 1: US2935819 (Disclosure of the entire manufacturing process of glass containers)
Outline of the invention
Problems to be solved by the invention
[0006]
Therefore, it is desired to provide a method for manufacturing a glass container, which simplifies the additional steps as described above in the method for manufacturing a glass container, and most preferably can be omitted. Further, it is desired that the surface of the manufactured glass container has better smoothness and light reflectivity.
Means to solve problems
[0007]
As a result of various studies on the materials used for the above-mentioned devices, the inventors have found that a heated portion of a glass member is used to process a heated glass member such as a glass tube or a portion of a glass tube of a predetermined length. When at least a portion of the device, such as a roller, mandrel and bottom plate, which comes into contact with, preferably contacts the heated portion, substantially all parts of such a device are made of impregnated graphite material. The present invention has been completed by finding that the above-mentioned additional steps can be simplified and omitted in a preferred embodiment.
[0008]
In the first gist, the present invention provides a device for processing a glass member that is at least partially heated to a processable temperature, usually a temperature above the softening point, and the device contacts the heated portion of the glass member. It is characterized in that at least a part thereof is made of an impregnated graphite material. When processing a glass member using such a device, not only can the additional steps be simplified, but in a preferred embodiment, the smoothness and light reflectivity of the processed surface of the obtained glass member are good, preferably. It has also been found to improve the light reflectivity achieved by conventional processing methods.
[0009]
In the present invention, the "glass member" is an object to be processed made of a glass material, and is not particularly limited as long as it is made of the glass material. The glass member is usually a glass tube or a part of a glass tube having a predetermined length. The glass member is usually tubular (or annular or hollow), but it is not always necessary. Optionally, it may be lumpy, rod-shaped, plate-shaped or any other required shape. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the glass member is axisymmetric, for example, in the form of a cylindrical tube, a columnar shape, or the like, and the diameter may change or be constant along the axial direction. In the case of axisymmetry, the glass member and / or device can be axially rotated.
[0010]
The "glass material" constituting the glass member is not particularly limited, and may be a material generally called glass. In one preferred embodiment, the glass material is borosilicate glass, which is particularly preferred when making medical glass containers. If necessary, the glass material may be other types of glass, such as soda-lime glass, quartz glass, and the like.
[0011]
In the present invention, "processing" means to make a predetermined portion of a glass member (for example, a main surface, an inner surface, an outer surface, a bottom portion, a mouth portion, a side surface portion, etc.) into a form required macroscopically (for example). , Flattening, recessing, protruding, constricted, etc.), microscopically required (eg, shaping the surface of the glass member) It means at least one of the above, and microscopically less unevenness, smoothness, etc.), preferably both. Therefore, "processing" means molding a glass member, particularly in a predetermined form. In general, at the time of processing, at least one of the glass member and the device is axially rotated relative to the other, and the shape of the glass member is adjusted to form a predetermined shape.
[0012]
At the time of processing, the predetermined part of the glass member is preheated to a temperature at which it can be processed. In general, a predetermined portion is heated to a temperature above the softening point of the glass material, preferably to a temperature in the working range, for example to a working point. If necessary, heating may be carried out during processing. Such a temperature is an inherent temperature depending on the type of the glass material, and a person skilled in the art can appropriately select the temperature at which the glass member should be heated.
[0013]
In one embodiment, when a glassy container having a mouth, bottom and sides is obtained by "processing", a circular tubular glass member is used and the device of the invention (eg, a roller and, if necessary, a mandrel) is used. And / or using the device of the invention (eg, a bottom plate and, if necessary, a roller), the other end of the glass member has a desired form of bottom so that one end of the glass member has a desired form of mouth. The glass member is processed so as to have. For example, the mouth is shaped to have a shoulder portion and / or a flange portion located at the tip thereof (ie, an open end) such that the bottom has an outer surface as a flat bottom surface.
[0014]
In the device of the present invention, at least a part of a portion in contact with the glass member during processing of the glass member is preferably substantially entirely composed of an impregnated graphite material. The device of the present invention may have such an impregnated graphite material in any form. In one embodiment, the device of the invention may have such an impregnated graphite material in the form of a thin layer, in which case a substrate constituting the device (eg, a graphite substrate) may be used. The device can be formed by attaching a thin layer of impregnated graphite material to the portion in contact with the glass member. In another aspect, the device may be configured with substantially only impregnated graphite material. For example, a mass of impregnated graphite material can be machined to form a device having a predetermined shape (eg, roller, mandrel, bottom plate, etc.), which will be described later with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
In the device of the present invention, the "impregnated graphite material" is a material in which another carbon material is present in the pores of a substrate made of the graphite material, and therefore is in a state of being impregnated with another carbon material. Means. Conceptually, the "impregnated graphite material" is a form in which the graphite material constituting the substrate is coated with another carbon material on a macroscopic basis, and the graphite particles and / or the graphite particles constituting the substrate microscopically. Alternatively, the aggregate is coated with another carbon material, and / or another carbon material is present in the voids in the portion inner from the surface of the substrate, preferably the voids, more particularly the predetermined depth from the surface. It can be explained that it is a form that fills the voids up to that point. As "another carbon material", carbon materials such as glassy carbon (Glassy Carbon) and thermally decomposed carbon can be exemplified, and glassy carbon is particularly preferable.
[0016]
When such an impregnated graphite material is used, the properties of the graphite material as a base material are appropriately combined with the strength of glassy carbon or pyrolytic carbon, and a device suitable for processing a glass member can be provided. Another impregnated carbon material can maintain the integrity of the graphite material constituting the base material and suppress the desorption of graphite particles from the base material of the graphite material. As a result, while the generation of graphite particles can be suppressed during processing, the moderate softness of the graphite material substrate results in moderate slippage on the glass member of the device with a smaller amount of oil, preferably without oil. Conceivable.
[0017]
In a particularly preferred embodiment in which glassy carbon is used as the other carbon material, both the device and the glass member are slid relative to each other in contact with each other, preferably while rotating the axis to process the glass member. In manufacturing the glass container, the combination of the base material of the graphite material and another impregnated carbon material gives the resulting glass container the desired morphology and good surface light reflectivity. In addition to having, the transparency of the surface of the molded glass container is improved. Moreover, when manufacturing the glass container in this way, the use of oil can be suppressed, preferably omitted.
[0018]
As the graphite material impregnated with glassy carbon, a material in which glassy carbon is added to the surface of the base material and impregnated into the inside (glassy carbon impregnated graphite material) can be preferably used. The impregnation depth is, for example, preferably 1 mm or more, and more preferably 10 mm or less. As such a graphite material, for example, VGI (graphite product of IBIDEN Co., Ltd.) can be used. Further, as the graphite material having a surface-treated layer made of pyrolytic carbon, a graphite material having a film formed by chemical vapor deposition of carbon can be used. Preferably, the graphite material is isotropic graphite. As such a graphite material, for example, Pyrocurve (PYROCARB, a graphite product of IBIDEN Corporation) can be used.
[0019]
In the second gist, the present invention provides a method for processing a glass member, and when processing, the present invention described above and / or described later.b It is characterized by using a device. More specifically, the device of the present invention described above, specifically, the portion made of the impregnated graphite material of the device is brought into contact with a predetermined portion of the glass member heated to a processable temperature for processing. It is a feature. For example, when both are in contact with each other, one is moved so as to move relative to the other. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the device of the invention is used in a method of processing a tubular glass member, with at least one of the glass member and the device preferably axially rotated in contact as described above, one of which is the other. These are moved so as to rotate in the opposite directions to each other. For easy understanding, when these are axially rotated in contact, the glass member is axisymmetric, eg, cylindrical or cylindrical, and the contact portion of the device in contact with it is axisymmetric, eg, circular. It is preferably in the form of an annular shape, a cylindrical shape, a disc shape or a columnar shape, or a combination thereof.
[0020]
In the third gist, a method for manufacturing a glass container is provided, and the device and processing method of the present invention described above and / or described later are applied using a glass tube having a predetermined length as a glass member. .. In one embodiment, (1) a step of heating a part of a glass tube as a glass member (for example, one end part) to a processable temperature, and (2) the heated part is impregnated with graphite of the device of the present invention. It comprises a step of axially rotating at least one of a glass member and a device so that they rotate in relatively opposite directions while a portion of the material is pressed against it.
[0021]
In the fourth gist, the present invention also provides a glass container manufactured by the method for manufacturing a glass container of the present invention described above and / or described later.
[0022]
In the present invention, the glass container is a glass container having a mouth and a bottom, and is manufactured from, for example, borosilicate glass. The glass container is preferably a medical container, for example, a container for containing a liquid or solid, for example, a powdered medical composition, for example, a drug. Specifically, the glass container includes, for example, a vial, an ampoule, a syringe, a cartridge and the like.
[0023]
Further, in a fifth gist, the present invention provides a glass member processing apparatus comprising the device of the present invention described above and / or described below, which is the apparatus of the present invention described above and / or described below. In addition to the device, it comprises various other elements, members, and other devices necessary for processing glass members using it. For example, the processing apparatus of the present invention is an apparatus for molding a glass container from a heated glass member, and is a mandrel and a roller forming the mouth of the glass container, and a bottom plate forming the bottom of the glass container and, if necessary. It comprises rollers and is characterized in that at least one of these is the device of the invention.
[0024]
In addition, in a sixth gist, the present invention provides a glass member processing system comprising the processing apparatus of the present invention described above and / or described below, wherein the system is described above and / or described below. In addition to the processing equipment of the present invention, various other equipment necessary for processing the glass member using the apparatus, for example, an apparatus for transporting the glass member, an apparatus for heating the glass member as predetermined, and these. It consists of a device that controls the operation of the device.
The invention's effect
[0025]
When the device of the present invention is used in processing a glass member, particularly in manufacturing a glass container, the slipperiness between the portion made of the impregnated graphite material of the device and the heated portion of the glass member is improved. As a result, the amount of oil used when processing the glass member, particularly when shaping the glass member, can be reduced as compared with the case where the conventional method is used. In a preferred embodiment, the amount of oil used can be significantly reduced, and in a particularly preferred embodiment, no oil needs to be used. As a result, the load of oil removal in the oil removing step, which has been carried out by the conventional method, can be reduced, and as a result, this step can be simplified. Further, in a particularly preferable embodiment, the oil removing step can be omitted.
[0026]
Further, when processing a glass member using impregnated graphite in the device of the present invention, it is suppressed that irregularities are formed on the portion of the device that comes into contact with the glass member, and as a result, horizontal wrinkles are suppressed on the processed surface of the glass member. , Vertical wrinkles, cracks, etc. are drastically reduced, the smoothness of the processed surface of the glass member is improved, and the reflectivity of the obtained glass container is improved. In a particularly preferred embodiment, in the obtained glass container, the arithmetic average roughness (Ra) of the surface of the portion formed by using the device of the present invention is very small, for example, 0.035 mm to 0.045 mm, and the conventional metal device is used. The smoothness is greatly improved as compared with the case of processing using.
A brief description of the drawing
[0027]
[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 schematically shows a method for manufacturing a glass container by molding a glass member using the device of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows a state in which the mandrel of the device of the present invention is inserted from the lower end of the glass member, and the inside of the flange portion is machined by rotating the axis while the inside of the flange portion of the glass member and the mandrel are in contact with each other. Is schematically shown.
[0028]
Next, with reference to the drawings, the device for processing the glass member of the present invention of the first gist, particularly the molding device, will be mainly described. Basically, the invention of another gist is characterized by having or using such a device. Therefore, by describing the device of the present invention, the present invention of another gist can also be described. Those skilled in the art can easily understand it.
[0029]
FIG. 1 schematically shows a method of processing a glass member using the device of the present invention, that is, a method of molding a glass member to manufacture a glass container for each process. In the illustrated embodiment, the device 14 of the present invention is brought into contact with the open end 12 of the glass member 10 to form a shoulder portion 16 and a mouth portion 12'having a flange portion 18 at the end thereof to form glass. The state of manufacturing the container 10'is shown step by step. The right half of the glass member 10 is schematically shown in a cross-sectional view.
[0030]
In FIG. 1, in step (a), the heated glass member 10 is preformed. At least one of the devices 14-1 of the present invention (also referred to as an auxiliary forming roller (1)) in the form of a roller is brought into contact with one end 12 of the glass member 10 preheated to a processable temperature. It is configured to rotate the axis and rotate the axis in opposite directions as shown by the arrow. Although only one roller device 14-1 is shown, the devices are located on both sides of the glass member 10 in pairs (that is, they are separated from each other by 180 ° around the axis of the glass member). preferable. In another aspect, three or more roller devices that are equidistant around the axis of the glass member (eg, three roller devices that are separated by 120 ° around the axis of the glass member) may be used. As shown in FIG. 1 (a), the glass member 10 is processed (that is, deformed) to form a shoulder portion 16 at the end portion 12 and a flange portion 18'in a preliminary state. ..
[0031]
As can be easily understood, the device 14-1 of the present invention has a truncated cone-shaped portion as a whole and two disc-shaped portions (including a connecting portion between these disks) connected to the bottom surface thereof. The contact portion of the device, which is in contact with the heated end portion 12 of the glass member 10, is made of an impregnated graphite material, for example, a glassy carbon impregnated graphite material. That is, at least the outer peripheral surface of the roller 14-1 (that is, the side surface portion of the truncated cone and the side surface portion of the two discs and the connection portion between them) is made of the impregnated graphite material. Although the aspect in which the surface of the roller device 14-1 in contact with the glass member 10 is the side surface portion of the truncated cone is illustrated, the contact surface may be formed of a curved surface in which the line corresponding to the generatrix of the side surface is curved. ..
[0032]
In FIG. 1, in the step (b), after the step (a), the vicinity of the flange portion 18'where the temperature has dropped is heated to a processable temperature by the burner 20. In FIG. 1, in step (c), another form of device 14-2 (also referred to as auxiliary forming roller (2)) of the present invention, which is a pair of rollers outside the heated flange portion 18', is flanged. In a state of being in contact with the vicinity of 18', these are axially rotated in the same manner as in FIG. 1 (a) to be further preformed. The device 14-2 of the present invention has a form in which three disc-shaped portions having different diameters are stacked and integrated, and similarly to the device 14-1, the device 14-2 is in contact with the heated flange portion 18'. The contact portion is made of an impregnated graphite material, for example a glassy carbon impregnated graphite material. That is, at least the outer peripheral surface (that is, the side surface portion of the disc) of the two disc-shaped portions above the roller 14-2, and the tip of at least the flange portion 18'of the lower disc-shaped portion (that is, the opening surface of the glass member). The outer peripheral portion of the upper surface of the disc-shaped portion in contact with 19) is made of an impregnated graphite material.
[0033]
In FIG. 1, in step (d), after step (c), the flange portion 18'is heated again to a processable temperature by the burner 22. In FIG. 1, in step (e), the heated flange portion 18'is finished and molded. FIG. 1 (c) shows the device 14-3 (also referred to as a finish forming roller) of the present invention, which is the same roller as that shown in FIG. 1 (c), in contact with the flange portion 18'. These are rotated in the same manner as in the above. The device 14-3 of the present invention also has a form in which three disc-shaped portions having different diameters are stacked, and like the device 14-2, the portion of this device in contact with the heated flange portion 18'is impregnated graphite. It is composed of a material, for example a glassy carbon impregnated graphite material.
That is, at least the outer peripheral surface (that is, the side surface portion of the disc) of the two disc-shaped portions above the roller 14-3, and the tip of at least the flange portion 18'of the lower disc-shaped portion (that is, the opening surface of the glass member). The outer peripheral portion of the upper surface of the disc-shaped portion in contact with 19) is made of an impregnated graphite material. When processed as shown in FIG. 1 (e), the edge of the flange portion 18'shown in FIG. 1 (d) is chamfered and rounded, corresponding to the side surface shape of the device 14-3. , Processed to deform into the form of the flange portion 18 with corners.
[0034]
Although not shown in FIG. 1, for example, when processing the glass member 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 (a), (c) and / or (e), it is schematically shown in FIG. 2 (FIG. 1 (c)). The mandrel 24 as the device of the present invention is inserted upward (as indicated by an arrow) from the opening 19 at the lower end of the glass member 10 into the inside thereof (as shown by an arrow), and then the glass member is inserted. In a state where the inside of the flange portion 18'of 10 is in contact with the mandrel 24 which is the device of the present invention, the glass member, particularly the inside of the flange portion, may be machined by rotating them around the axis as shown by an arrow. In this case, at least a part, preferably the entire outer peripheral portion (that is, the side surface portion) of the mandrel that contacts the inside of the flange portion is composed of an impregnated graphite material, for example, a glassy carbon impregnated graphite material.
[0035]
For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, when the roller 14-1 is used, the auxiliary forming shaft (1) 24 may be inserted and processed as a mandrel inside the glass member 10, and in addition to or in place of the auxiliary forming shaft (1) 24. When the roller 14-2 is used, the auxiliary forming shaft (2) may be inserted and processed as a mandrel inside the glass member 10, and when the roller 14-3 is used in addition to or instead of the auxiliary forming shaft (2), the glass member is used. A finish forming shaft may be inserted as a mandrel inside the 10 and processed.
[0036]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the case where all three types of rollers (14-1, 14-2 and 14-3) are the devices of the present invention has been described as an example, but in the present invention, the glass member has been described. A device that contacts and processes the heated part of At least one of (for example, rollers 14-3) may be the device of the present invention. Further, when using the mandrel as shown in FIG. 2 as described above in addition to or in place of the device of the present invention of FIG. 1, at least one of these may be the device of the present invention.
[0037]
Generally, when processing a glass member using a device such as a roller, mandrel or bottom plate to manufacture a glass container such as a vial, the processed devices are pressed against the surface of the glass member and brought into contact with each other. When sliding in opposite directions, the contact surface of the device will wear due to friction with the surface of the glass member. When a large number of glass containers are continuously manufactured, the surface of the device in contact with the glass member, for example, the surface of the plate is roughened. If processing is continued using such a device, the surface of the glass container is roughened and the light reflectivity is reduced, so it is necessary to replace it with a new device.
[0038]
Oil is used to suppress such wear and improve the slipperiness between the device and the glass member. However, when a device using the impregnated graphite material of the present invention is used, even if the amount of oil used is reduced, and in a particularly preferable embodiment, even if no oil is used, the device needs to be replaced after the start of use. The number of glass containers that can be manufactured during the period is comparable and, in a preferred embodiment, higher than when devices of other types of materials (eg, made of ordinary metal or graphite) are used. In other words, the device replacement intervals are equal or the device replacement intervals are longer. When the amount of oil used is reduced, the additional steps for removing it are simplified, and when the amount used is zero, no additional steps are required.
[0039]
Although not bound by a specific theory, it can be inferred that the reasons why the amount of oil used can be reduced when processing glass members using impregnated graphite materials, especially glassy carbon impregnated graphite:
In addition to the inherently good slipperiness between the glass member and the impregnated graphite material of the device, in a preferred embodiment, the impregnated graphite material wears moderately without excessive wear. As a result, fine particles of graphite generated by wear can exist between the device and the glass member and act as a lubricant. Even if the graphite fine particles adhere to the glass container, the amount thereof is so small that the graphite fine particles burn at the temperature in the post-treatment (for example, annealing) of the glass container and disappear. Does not adversely affect.
Example
[0040]
Using the device and process shown in FIG. 1, a glass member formed from a glass tube was molded to produce a vial as a glass container. In this embodiment, the rollers 14-1 and 14-2 in the steps (a) and (c) of FIG. 1 are metal rollers, respectively, and the rollers 14-3 in the step (e) of FIG. 1 are the rollers 14-3 of the present invention. A device was used. Further, in any of the steps using the rollers, the forming shaft was inserted inside the glass member and used as a mandrel. The details are as follows:
[0041]
・ Roller 14-1: Auxiliary molding (preforming) roller (1)
Base material: Stainless steel (S45C), using lubricating oil
・ Auxiliary molding (preforming) shaft (1)
Base material: Stainless steel (S45C), using lubricating oil
[0042]
・ Roller 14-2: Auxiliary molding (preforming) roller (2)
Base material: Stainless steel (S45C), Surface treatment: None, Lubricating oil used
・ Auxiliary molding (preforming) shaft (2)
Base material: Stainless steel (S45C), Surface treatment: None, Lubricating oil used
[0043]
・ Roller 14-3: Finish molding (final forming) roller (device of the present invention)
Base material: ET-10 (graphite, IBIDEN Co., Ltd.),
Surface treatment: Glassy carbon impregnated graphite (VGI (registered trademark, IBIDEN Co., Ltd.),
No lubricating oil used
・ Finish molding (final forming) axis
Base material: Stainless steel (S45C), using lubricating oil
[0044]
Glass tube (made of borosilicate glass): diameter 24.5 mm, wall thickness: 1.2 mm
Manufactured vial: diameter 24.5 mm x height 50 mm, capacity 10 mL
[0045]
As shown in FIG. 1A, the auxiliary forming roller (1) 14-1 is brought into contact with one end 12 of the glass member 10 heated to a processable temperature (about 800 ° C.), and the auxiliary forming shaft is attached to the glass member. (1) 24 was inserted and the shoulder portion 16 was auxiliary molded. In this step, the glass member was axially rotated. Further, oil was adhered to the surfaces of both the roller 14-1 and the shaft 24.
[0046]
Next, after heating the area around the shoulder portion to a temperature (about 800 ° C.) that can be processed again as shown in FIG. 1 (b), the auxiliary forming roller (2) 14-2 is used as shown in FIG. 1 (c). The auxiliary forming shaft (2) was inserted into the glass member 10 in contact with the flange portion 18', and the opening portion 12'was auxiliary formed (or preformed). In this step, the glass member was axially rotated. Further, oil was adhered to the surfaces of both the roller and the auxiliary forming shaft (2).
[0047]
Next, as shown in FIG. 1 (d), the area around the auxiliary molded shoulder is heated to a temperature (about 800 ° C.) that can be processed again, and then, as shown in FIG. 1 (e), the glass member is subjected to the present. The finish forming rollers 14-3 of the present invention were brought into contact with each other, and the finish forming shaft was inserted into the glass member to finish form the shoulder portion and the flange portion 18. In this step, the glass member was axially rotated. Further, the oil was adhered to the surface of the finish forming shaft, but the oil was not adhered to the surface of the roller.
Comparative example
[0048]
The examples were repeated except that the finishing roller (corresponding to device 14-3) was made of stainless steel (S45C base material) and oil was adhered to the surface.
Test example
[0049]
For the vials obtained in the examples and the vials obtained in the comparative examples, imaging and surface roughness measurement were performed as follows:
[0050]
(Image shooting)
A plate with 0.25 pt thickness lines drawn at equal intervals was prepared, the plate was placed behind the manufactured vial, and the state of the line seen through the side surface of the flange portion 18 of the vial was photographed with an optical camera. The distortion and sharpness of the lines in the captured image were evaluated. The evaluation was carried out for each of the vials produced in Examples and Comparative Examples.
[0051]
As a result, the line of the plate located behind the flange portion of the vial obtained in the example is clearly clearer than that of the vial obtained in the comparative example, and the line itself is distorted. The degree of was also small.
[0052]
(Surface roughness)
The surface roughness (arithmetic mean roughness: Ra) on the outer side surface of the flange of the vial manufactured using a surface roughness measuring machine (SURFTEST SJ-500, manufactured by Mitutoyo Co., Ltd.) was measured. The measurement was carried out three times for each of the vials produced in Examples and Comparative Examples. The results are shown in Table 1 below:
[0053]
[table 1]

[0054]
Furthermore, the state near the flange was visually observed. Compared with the vial produced in Comparative Example, the vial produced in Example had no wrinkles or horizontal streaks on the open end face or the flange portion, and a glossy vial was obtained on the open end face. This means that the smoothness of such parts is improved.
Industrial applicability
[0055]
According to the above-mentioned device, processing method, etc. of the present invention, a glass container, for example, a vial can be manufactured by a simplified method, and the manufactured glass container, for example, a vial has better smoothness. Have. Therefore, when the device of the present invention is used for forming a glass container, for example, a vial, the smoothness of the portion formed by using the device is improved, so that when the glass container, for example, a vial is optically automatically inspected, an opening is opened. The light transmittance on the surface and flange is improved. As a result, the rate determined to be off-spec due to insufficient smoothness of the glass container, for example, the vial in the automatic inspection step, that is, the false positive rate is reduced. Therefore, the detection accuracy in the inspection of a glass container, for example, a vial is improved.
Code description
[0056]
10 ... glass member, 10'... glass container, 12 ... one end, 12'... mouth,
14 ... Device (roller) of the present invention, 16 ... Shoulder portion, 18, 18'... Flange portion,
19 ... opening, 20, 22 ... burner, 24 ... mandrel.
The scope of the claims
[Claim 1]
A device for processing a glass member whose at least a part has been heated to a processable temperature, and characterized in that at least a part of a part in contact with the heated part of the glass member is made of an impregnated graphite material.
[Claim 2]
The device according to claim 1, wherein the impregnated graphite material is a glassy carbon impregnated graphite material.
[Claim 3]
The device according to claim 1 or 2, which is a roller, mandrel or bottom plate used for molding a glass member to manufacture a glass container.
[Claim 4]
Using the device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, a predetermined portion of a glass member heated to a processable temperature is brought into contact with a portion made of an impregnated graphite material for processing. A characteristic method for processing glass members.
[Claim 5]
A method of manufacturing a glass container using the device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 using a glass tube as a glass member.
(1) The process of heating a part of the glass tube to a processable temperature
(2) With the portion of the impregnated graphite material of the device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 pressed against the heated portion, at least one of the glass tube and the device is axially rotated to make them relative to each other. And the process of rotating in the opposite direction
A method for manufacturing a glass container, which comprises.
[Claim 6]
A glass container manufactured by the method according to claim 5.
[Claim 7]
A glass member processing apparatus comprising the device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
[Claim 8]
A glass member processing system comprising the processing apparatus according to claim 7.