FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
As amended by the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
As amended by the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2006
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10 and rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
METHOD FOR DEALKALISATION OF BOROSILICATE GLASS
CONTAINERS BY LIQUID MEANS
APPLICANT
SGD S.A., a French company, having its address at 14 bis Terrasse Bellini,
92800 PUTEAUX, France
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the nature of this invention and
the manner in which it is to be performed:
2
METHOD FOR DEALKALISATION OF BOROSILICATE GLASS
CONTAINERS BY LIQUID MEANS
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to the general technical field of methods for the treatment of
5 glass containers, and more specifically the technical field of methods for the
dealkalization treatment of the inner wall of glass containers, such as for example
containers forming pharmaceutical glass primary packaging.
PRIOR ART
In the field of pharmaceutical glass primary packaging, the purpose is to propose
10 containers, in particular of the vial type, that have an excellent chemical
compatibility with the product or preparation they are intended to contain. Indeed,
the aim is to prevent any harmful interaction between a species from the glass
forming the container and the product contained by the latter.
In this respect, it is known to subject containers made of soda-lime-silica glass (or
15 “Type III” glass), before their use, to a dealkalization treatment that consists in
extracting, over a depth of several dozens of nanometres, the alkaline ions – and in
particular the sodium ions – present in the vicinity of the surface of the inner wall
of the container, and evacuating them, in order to avoid as much as possible the
elution of the alkaline ions over time into the product contained by the container.
20 Such a treatment is generally carried out by introducing into a glass container to be
treated a solid or gaseous reactive substance that is capable, under the action of heat,
to generate an acid gas liable to chemically react with the alkaline ions present in
the glass of the container.
A dealkalization treatment method is known, which consists in introducing into a
25 hot glass container ammonium sulphate (NH4)2SO4 in solid form, for example in
3
the form of a crystalline powder or tablets. Under the effect of heat, the ammonium
sulphate sublimates and forms a gas that reacts with the sodium contained in the
glass in the immediate vicinity of the inner surface of the container treated. The
sodium so extracted from the glass is then deposited at the surface of the inner wall
5 of the container in the form of a residual powder compound of sodium sulphate
Na2SO4, which can then be removed by washing. It is also known, according to a
similar reaction principle, a dealkalization treatment method that consists in
introducing into a glass container, while the latter is upstream from or within the
annealing arch, sulphur dioxide SO2 or sulphur trioxide SO3 in gaseous form.
10 Such known dealkalization methods nevertheless have a number of drawbacks.
Indeed, if the use of a powder reactive substance allows glass containers to be
treated at a relatively high rate, thanks to a continuous dispensing of a powder
reactive substance into containers in motion on a conveyor, there exists a significant
risk of deposition and reaction of the reactive substance on the outer wall of the
15 container, and in particular on the ring of the latter, which leads to aesthetic defects,
or even to a local weakening of the container. Moreover, it is difficult to accurately
control the dose of reactive substance really introduced into the container, unless
oversizing the quantity of reactive substance dispensed, which is not without
economical and environmental consequences. The use of a solid reactive substance
20 in tablet form generally allows a more accurate dispensing of the reactive substance
into the containers. However, it is often difficult, or even impossible, to efficiently
treat that way containers of small volume and/or small ring diameter, and especially
at high rates. On the other hand, the implementation of sulphur dioxide SO2 or
sulphur trioxide SO3 in gaseous form poses significant health, environmental and
25 technical problems, given the toxic and corrosive nature of these gases. Moreover,
the dealkalization treatment of the glass is not always carried out in a sufficiently
uniform and repeatable manner, and the level of chemical (or hydrolytic) resistance
of the treated container remains perfectible.
4
Soda-lime-silica glass containers treated that way are conventionally said of "Type
II". Their mechanical strength, and in particular their level of hydrolytic resistance
provided by the treatment, make them suitable for the storage and preservation of a
large number of pharmaceutical products and substances.
5 However, when it turns out that the chemical resistance of such known “Type II”
containers is insufficient to allow a storage and preservation in good conditions of
certain pharmaceutical products and substances known to be particularly aggressive
and/or unstable with respect to the glass of the containers in which they are
contained, it is also known to use containers made of borosilicate glass (or “Type I”
10 or “neutral” glass). Indeed, if they are generally more expensive than “Type II”
glass containers, the “Type I” glass containers have intrinsically an excellent
chemical resistance due in particular to their lower alkaline or alkaline-earth oxide
content. However, it turns out that the performances of such “Type I” glass
containers in terms of chemical resistance sometimes remain themselves
15 insufficient to allow a storage and preservation in optimum conditions of certain
pharmaceutical products and substances extremely aggressive or sensitive with
respect to the elements contained in the glass of the containers.
That is the reason why it has been proposed to subject borosilicate glass containers
to a treatment of internal siliconization, in such a way as to cover the inner surface
20 of the containers with a protective silicone layer. Such a treatment makes it possible
to improve the chemical resistance of a borosilicate glass container to certain basic
products (pH10, for example), but, in some other cases, it offers no particular
advantage with respect to an uncoated borosilicate glass container. Moreover, such
an internal siliconization treatment may turn out to be complex and expensive to
25 implement, and the deposited silicone layer generally begins to deteriorate above
350°C, which may be a problem when the container treated is intended to undergo
a subsequent high temperature sterilization step. Moreover, the resistance of the
deposited silicone layer remains dependent on the chemical composition of the
5
contained product, and in particular on the dissolving power of the latter on silicone,
which thus limits the field of application of the siliconized glass containers.
It has also been proposed to coat the inner surface of containers made of drawn
“Type I” glass with a thin layer of pure silica SiO2, in such a way as to form a barrier
5 layer between the glass of a container and the product contained in this latter. Such
silica-coated containers generally have a satisfying chemical resistance for the
storage of ultra-pure water, but a low to moderate chemical resistance for more
aggressive solutions, pH8 or pH10, for example. Relatively expensive and complex
to implement, the deposition of a pure-silica barrier layer is moreover generally
10 limited to containers of small capacity.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The objects assigned to the present invention therefore aim to remedy the different
drawbacks listed hereinabove, and to propose a new dealkalization method that
allows obtaining glass containers of any size and capacity, having an excellent
15 chemical resistance to a wide range of products and substances to be stored and
preserved.
Another object of the invention aims to propose a new dealkalization method that
allows treating efficiently a large number of glass containers, and that at very high
rates.
20 Another object of the invention aims to propose a new dealkalization method that
allows treating glass containers in a particularly reliable and repeatable manner.
Another object of the invention aims to propose a new dealkalization method that
allows treating efficiently glass containers without thereby degrading the
mechanical strength thereof.
6
Another object of the invention aims to propose a new dealkalization method,
whose implementation is particularly simple and economical.
The objects assigned to the invention are achieved by means of a method for
dealkalizing the inner face of the wall of a glass container, such as a vial, which
5 wall delimits an accommodation cavity for a product, said method being
characterized in that it comprises:
- a step of supplying a borosilicate glass container, the inner face of the wall of
which is at a temperature of at least 350°C, and
- a step of introducing into said accommodation cavity, with said inner face being
10 at a temperature of at least 350°C, a treatment liquid containing a treatment
substance designed to react under the effect of the heat from the inner face of
the container wall to bring about dealkalization of the glass.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages of the invention will appear in more detail upon
15 reading of the following description, with reference to the appended drawings,
given by way of purely illustrative and non-limitative examples, in which:
- Figure 1 schematically illustrates an example of glass container of the
vial type subjected to a step of introducing a treatment liquid into its
cavity, in accordance with a preferential embodiment of the
20 dealkalization method according to the invention;
- Figure 2 schematically illustrates, in a side view, an embodiment of an
installation for implementing a preferential embodiment of the
dealkalization method according to the invention;
- Figure 3 schematically illustrates, in a top view, the dealkalization
25 installation of Figure 2.
-
7
WAYS TO IMPLEMENT THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method for treating a glass container 1, such as a vial,
comprising a wall 2 delimiting an accommodation cavity 3 for a product (or a
substance). Advantageously, the wall 2 also delimits an opening 4 providing access
5 to the accommodation cavity 3 of the container 1. The glass wall 2 of the container
1 has a lower face 5, located facing said accommodation cavity 3 and preferentially
intended to come into direct contact with said product, and an opposite outer face
6. Preferentially made of moulded or drawn glass, and formed of a single,
monolithic piece of glass, the container 1 the invention relates to may have any
10 shape adapted to its function, such as for example the shape of a vial or a bottle. As
illustrated by way of example in Figure 1, the wall 2 of the container 1 is
advantageously formed by a glass bottom 7, a glass lateral wall 8 that rises from the
periphery of the bottom 7, and a neck 9 provided with a ring 10 that delimits the
opening 4 of the container 1, to allow the accommodation cavity 3 to be put in
15 communication with the outside. Advantageously, said opening 4 is designed so as
to be able to be closed by a removable or pierceable plug or membrane seal.
Preferably, the product intended to be received into the cavity 3 of the container 1
is advantageously fluid, i.e. likely to flow like, for example, a liquid, pasty (such as
a liquid with a high degree of viscosity) or powder substance. Preferably, it is a
20 pharmaceutical product or a substance, such as for example a medication,
potentially intended to be administered by parenteral route (general or locoregional)
or to be ingested or absorbed by a patient, or also a diagnostic substance, as for
example a chemical or biological reagent. By extension, the container 1 can be
designed to contain a biological substance (or body fluid), such as for example
25 blood, a blood product or by-product, urine, etc. Even if the application to the
pharmaceutical and diagnostic fields is preferred, the invention is however not
limited to pharmaceutical and diagnostic containers and may in particular also relate
to a container designed to contain a liquid, pasty or powder substance for industrial
(storage of chemical products, etc.), veterinary, food or also cosmetic use.
8
More specifically, the method according to the invention is a method for
dealkalizing the inner face 5 of the wall 2 of such a glass container 1. Such a
dealkalization method aims to extract, typically over a depth of several dozens of
nanometres, the alkaline and/or alkaline-earth ions (and in particular the sodium
5 ions) present in the glass in the vicinity of the surface of the inner face 5 of the wall
2 of the container 1. At the end of the method according to the invention, the glass
in the vicinity of the surface of the inner face 5 of the wall 2 of the treated container
1 is thus, preferably significantly, depleted in alkaline and/or alkaline-earth ions.
In the sense of the invention, the word “glass” refers to a mineral glass. It is typically
10 a glass containing at least one alkaline or alkaline-earth species, such as sodium in
particular. More specifically, it is a borosilicate glass (called “Type I” glass,
according notably to the European and American Pharmacopoeias, or “neutral”
glass). Typically, a borosilicate glass (or borosilicated glass or also borosilicatebased glass) is a silica glass that advantageously contains between 7 % and 13 %,
15 for example between 10 % and 13 %, in mass of boron trioxide (B2O3). By
comparison with a soda-lime-silica glass (called “Type III” glass), a borosilicate
glass, of Type I, has intrinsically a better hydrolytic resistance insofar as the
borosilicate glass contains a lower proportion of alkaline or alkaline-earth species,
in particular sodium. That is the reason why the borosilicate glass containers are
20 generally not subjected to a dealkalization treatment.
Preferentially, the glass constituting the wall 2 of the container 1 is transparent (or
at least translucent) in the visible domain. It may be either a colourless glass or a
coloured glass, for example to protect the fluid substance in the container against
the effects of light, in particular in certain wavelength ranges (UV, etc.).
25 Firstly, the method according to the invention comprises a step of supplying a
borosilicate glass container 1 as described hereinabove, (at least) the inner face 5 of
the wall 2 of which is at a temperature of at least 350°C, preferably between 350°C
and 850°C, preferably between 350°C and 800°C, preferably between 350°C and
9
700°C, preferably between 500°C and 700°C, and still preferably between 500°C
and 650°C. The container 1 so supplied is a pre-existing container, fully formed,
which thus advantageously has its definitive shapes and sizes. It is hence not a glass
preform (such as for example a tube) intended to be lately transformed into a
5 container.
As an alternative, this supply step comprises an operation of heating, using any
known suitable heating means, a pre-existing borosilicate glass container as
described hereinabove and whose wall inner face is initially at a temperature close
(if not equal) to the ambient temperature, in order to heat it in such a way that the
10 temperature of at least the inner face of its wall reaches a value of at least 350°C,
preferably between 350°C and 850°C, preferably between 350°C and 800°C,
preferably between 350°C and 700°C, preferably between 500°C and 700°C, and
still preferably between 500°C and 650°C. According to another, more preferential
alternative, the step of supplying the container 1 comprises an operation of
15 collecting a glass container 1 as described hereinabove at the exit of a machine for
hot forming a borosilicate glass container from a glass preform, while said container
1 is still hot enough so that (at least) the inner face 5 of the wall 2 of the container
1 is at a temperature of at least 350°C, preferably between 350°C and 850°C,
preferably between 350°C and 800°C, preferably between 350°C and 700°C,
20 preferably between 500°C and 700°C, and still preferably between 500°C and
650°C. According to this preferential alternative, the method according to the
invention thus does not require the implementation of a particular heating operation,
the inner face 5 of the wall 2 of the container 1 being heated to a temperature of at
least 350°C, preferably between 350°C and 850°C, preferably between 350°C and
25 800°C, preferably between 350°C and 700°C, preferably between 500°C and
700°C, and still preferably between 500°C and 650°C, as a direct consequence of a
previous forming operation of said container 1. Such a forming operation can be
carried out using any known borosilicate glass container forming installation, such
as for example an IS machine in the case of a container made of moulded glass. The
30 implementation of the method according to the invention is thus simplified, in
10
particular when the latter is implemented in an industrial context of manufacture of
glass containers.
The method according to the invention also comprises a step of introducing into the
accommodation cavity 3 of the container 1 to be treated, with the inner face 5 of the
5 wall 2 of the latter being at a temperature of 350°C, preferably between 350°C and
850°C, preferably between 350°C and 800°C, preferably between 350°C and
700°C, preferably between 500°C and 700°C, and still preferably between 500°C
and 650°C, a treatment liquid containing a treatment substance (or dealkalization
substance) designed to react under the effect of the heat from the inner face 5 of the
10 wall 2 of the container 1 to bring about dealkalization of the glass, typically in the
vicinity of the surface of the inner face 5 of the wall 2. It may be a substance that,
as such, is capable of coming into direct contact with the hot inner face 5 of the wall
2 of the container 1 to react, under the effect of heat, with one or several alkaline
species present in the glass forming the wall 2 of the container 1 or also a substance
15 capable of decomposing under the effect of the heat inside the cavity 3 of the
container, due to the above-mentioned temperature to which the inner face 5 of the
wall 2 is heated, to produce one or several new chemical species or substances,
which are capable of coming into contact with the surface of the inner face 5 of the
wall 2 of the container 1 and reacting with one or several alkaline or alkaline-earth
20 species present in the glass forming said wall 2 in order to obtain the desired effect
of dealkalization.
The invention is hence based on the idea of subjecting to a dealkalization treatment
the inner face 5 of the wall 2 of a container 1 made of borosilicate glass (Type I),
and not of soda-lime-silica glass (Type III), by introducing into the container 1 a
25 heat reactive dealkalization substance, this dealkalization substance being
introduced in liquid phase (and not in solid or gaseous phase), and that with the
inner face 5 of the wall 2 of the container 1 being at a temperature at which said
dealkalization substance is likely to react immediately under the effect of heat to
bring about dealkalization of the glass.
11
It has been observed that the fact to introduce the treatment substance, what’s more
in liquid phase, into a container 1 already heated to the treatment temperature (i.e.
a temperature included in the above-mentioned temperature ranges) makes it
possible to obtain far better performances, in particular in terms of homogeneity of
5 the dealkalization treatment of the inner face 5 of the wall 2 of the container 1 and
of hydrolytic resistance of the so-treated container 1, than when the same treatment
substance is introduced into a cold container 1 before the latter is heated to the
treatment temperature to make said treatment substance react under heat.
Thanks to such a particular combination of features, the method according to the
10 invention makes it possible to obtain glass containers 1 that have a significantly
better hydrolytic resistance than that of the conventional known Type I or Type II
glass containers, and that, independently of the size and capacity of the considered
containers. The method according to the invention thus makes it possible to obtain
glass containers 1 having an excellent chemical resistance to a wide range of
15 products and substances to be stored and preserved.
It is commonly admitted that, over a long period of manufacture of conventional
Type I borosilicate glass containers, the performances of these latter, in terms of
hydrolytic resistance, are not always perfectly stable, identical. Indeed, over one
year of manufacture, the value of the hydrolytic resistance of borosilicate glass
20 containers coming from a same glass production line is likely to vary by a few tens
of percent, while remaining in full compliance with the applicable Pharmacopoeia.
Now, it has surprisingly been observed that the method according to the invention
makes it possible to obtain borosilicate glass containers 1 whose performances in
terms of hydrolytic resistance are not only far better than those of glass containers
25 1 not treated according to the invention, but are also more stable, more reproducible,
over time than those of conventional borosilicate glass containers.
Moreover, it has also been observed that, very interestingly, the method according
to the invention makes it possible to obtain containers 1 having far better
12
performances in terms of quantity of elements, other than alkaline or alkaline earth
species, likely to be extracted from the glass by interaction with a product contained
in the containers 1. In particular, it has notably been advantageously measured, for
containers 1 treated in accordance with the invention, significantly lower quantities
5 of aluminium released in comparison with quantities measured reciprocally on
containers made of untreated borosilicate glass (measurement of concentrations of
extractable species, after having maintained the containers to be tested during 1 h
in autoclave at 121°C with ultra-pure water).
Preferably, said treatment substance comprises a sulphur compound, and still
10 preferably a compound containing sulphur combined with oxygen, in solution or in
suspension in a volatile liquid, i.e. in a liquid likely to evaporate under the effect of
heat, and at least at temperatures of at least 350°C, preferably between 350°C and
850°C, preferably between 350°C and 800°C, preferably between 350°C and
700°C, preferably between 500°C and 700°C, and still preferably between 500°C
15 and 650°C. Advantageously, this volatile liquid can be a solvent of said compound.
Still more preferentially, said sulphur compound is an ammonium sulphate, and
said volatile liquid is preferably water. It is then preferentially in this case
demineralised water or, still more preferentially, ultra-pure water. The ammonium
sulphate is then advantageously at least partially (and preferably totally) dissolved
20 in water, in a predefined concentration.
Apart from the fact that the production, the storage and the implementation of such
a treatment liquid are relatively easy, safe and inexpensive, it has been observed
that excellent results in terms of hydrolytic resistance of the glass can further be
obtained using such a treatment liquid formed of ammonium sulphate dissolved in
25 water. In particular, very good results have been obtained for glass containers 1 the
inner face 5 of the wall 2 of which is at a temperature preferentially between 500°C
and 700°C, and more preferentially between 500°C and 650°C, during the step of
introducing the treatment liquid. These results could be explained by a phenomenon
13
of absorption of the water molecules evaporated under the effect of heat, which
facilitates or improves the dealkalization treatment of the glass by the ammonium
sulphate. However, the invention is of course not limited to this example of
treatment substance and volatile liquid, and other substances and volatile liquids
5 can actually be used to obtain the desired effect of dealkalization by reaction with
the glass under the effect of heat. For example, the treatment substance may
comprise a sulphur compound formed of gaseous sulphur dioxide or trioxide, which
would then be dissolved in the liquid solvent (volatile liquid), or also a mixture of
a sulphur compound and a fluorine compound. In these cases also, the volatile liquid
10 may advantageously be water (preferably, demineralised water and, still more
preferentially, ultra-pure water), both for practicality and safety of implementation
and for questions of treatment efficiency, as mentioned above.
As already mentioned hereinabove, the container 1 the method according to the
invention relates to is preferentially made of moulded or drawn glass. However, it
15 is still more advantageous that the container 1 is made of moulded glass, and not of
drawn glass (i.e. manufactured from a preform, such as a tube, made of drawn
glass). For example, such a moulded glass container 1 can be obtained by a “blowand-blow” or “press-and-blow” process, for example using an IS machine. Indeed,
it has been observed that a drawn glass container, and what’s more made of
20 borosilicate glass, suffers intrinsically, due to its forming method, from an increased
risk of delamination (that is to say a risk of detachment of glass flakes or particles
from the surface of the inner face of the container wall by interaction of the glass
with the product contained in the container) with respect to a moulded glass
container. The risk of delamination is even greater when the container has been
25 subjected to a dealkalization treatment. Now, the presence of free particles of glass
in a product, in particular a pharmaceutical product, may have very serious health
consequences. By thus preferentially implementing a moulded borosilicate glass
container 1, the method according to the invention advantageously allows obtaining
a treated container 1 that has not only an excellent hydrolytic resistance (control of
30 the risk of elution of alkaline and alkaline-earth ions into the product contained in
14
the container) but also an excellent resistance to delamination by interaction of the
glass with the product contained in the container. The so-obtained container is
hence particularly safe.
Preferably, the step of introducing the treatment liquid into the accommodation
5 cavity 3 of the container 1 to be treated comprises at least one operation of injecting,
into said cavity 3, a predetermined dose of said treatment liquid. Still more
preferentially, said injection operation is made using an injection head (or nozzle)
11, which is located at a distance from the opening 4 of the container 1 to be treated
and outside said container 1. Thus, the injection head 11 does not enter the cavity 3
10 of the container 1 during, or for the purpose of, said injection operation. In a
preferential embodiment, and as schematically illustrated in Figure 1, said injection
head 11 is thus advantageously located facing the opening 4 of the container 1, and
above said opening 4, the container 1 being positioned vertically, with its bottom 7
directed towards the ground. Advantageously, said injection operation is then
15 carried out in such a way as to inject said predetermined dose of treatment liquid as
a spray cone C that is narrow enough relative to the opening 4 of the container 1 for
substantially all of said predetermined dose to end up inside the cavity 3 of the
container 1 at the end of said injection operation. When the injection head 11 is
located facing and at a distance from the opening 4 of the container 1, said spray
20 cone C hence advantageously has a cross-section, included in a plane in which the
opening 4 of the container 1 is inscribed, whose size is lower than that of said
opening 4 of the container 1 in said plane. As schematically illustrated in Figure 1,
the spray cone C generated by the injection head 11 can then advantageously have
a (dummy) base of size lower, and preferably far lower, than that of the opening 4
25 of the container 1, in such a way that all of the predetermined dose of treatment
liquid (to within the potential unavoidable but nevertheless negligible losses) can
be injected into the cavity 3 of the container 1, and hence with substantially no
dispersion of treatment liquid next to the container 1 or on the outer face 6 of the
wall 2 and the ring 10 of the latter. It will be noted that, in the context of the
30 invention, “spray cone” is not to be considered according to a strict mathematical
15
definition of the term “cone", but preferentially mean a dummy envelope (whether
conical, frustoconical, or even ideally substantially cylindrical) inside which is
contained substantially all the predetermined dose of treatment liquid sprayed by
the injection head 11 towards the cavity 3 of the container 1, as illustrated in dotted
5 line in Figure 1.
Said predetermined dose of treatment liquid advantageously corresponds to an also
predetermined and known dose of treatment substance, insofar as, on the one hand,
the volume of the predetermined dose of treatment liquid sprayed by the injection
head 11, and on the other hand, the (mass or molar) concentration of treatment
10 substance in the treatment liquid, are known. Thus, according to the quantity of
treatment substance required to obtain the desired level of dealkalization
(advantageously characterized by a measurement of the hydrolytic resistance HR
of the container glass according to the usual measurement protocols) for a container
1 of given size, it is advantageously possible either to modulate the volume of the
15 predetermined dose for a fixed and known concentration of treatment substance, or
on the contrary to modulate the concentration of treatment substance for a known
and fixed volume of the predetermined dose, or also, as will be seen hereinafter, to
repeat the injection operation.
The particular combination of the feature of temperature of the inner face 5 of the
20 wall 2 of the container 1 to be treated, on the one hand, and the above-mentioned
preferential technical features of the step of introducing the treatment liquid into
the cavity 3 of the container 1 thus advantageously makes it possible to dealkalize
borosilicate glass containers 1 in a particularly efficient manner, whatever their size
and capacity, and that at very high rates when the method according to the invention
25 is applied successively to a plurality of borosilicate glass containers 1. Indeed, it is
not necessary to proceed to cycles of insertion and removal of the injection head 11
into, and from, the cavity 3 of containers 1 to be treated, in order to treat a plurality
of containers successively brought facing the injection head 11. Moreover, the
method according to the invention is particularly economical, clean and
16
environmentally friendly because it allows avoiding any overdose of treatment
substance and the useless dispersion of a quantity of this treatment substance
outside the container to be treated.
It is desirable that the injection head 11 is not located too close to the container 1 to
5 be treated during the operation of injecting said predetermined dose of treatment
liquid, in order in particular to avoid the injection head 11 to be damaged by the
heat from the container 1. On the other hand, it is preferable that the injection head
11 is not either located at a too great distance d from the opening 4 of the container
1, in order in particular not to degrade the accuracy of the injection operation and
10 to facilitate the practical implementation thereof. Finally, it is advisable to choose
the distance d between the injection head 11 and the opening 4 of the container 1 in
such a way as to limit the risk of evaporation of the treatment liquid, under the effect
of the heat from the container 1, even before the dose has been able to fully enter
the cavity 3 of the container 1. As such, during the operation of injecting said
15 predetermined dose of treatment liquid, the injection head 11 may be
advantageously located substantially facing the opening 4 of the container 1 (as
contemplated hereinabove) and at a distance d preferentially between 1 cm and 20
cm, and still more preferentially between 1 cm and 5 cm, from said opening 4 during
the injection step. This distance d is here preferentially understood as the average
20 distance measured in straight line between, on the one hand, the outlet 12 of the
injection head 11 (through which the predetermined dose of treatment liquid exits
from the injection head 11) and a plane containing the opening 4 of the container 1,
as illustrated in Figure 1.
In order to facilitate the injection, in accordance with the above, of all the
25 predetermined dose of treatment liquid into the cavity 3 of the container 1 to be
treated, the spray cone C of said predetermined dose of treatment liquid is formed,
by the injection head 4, in such a way as to preferentially have an apex angle (or
opening angle) θ substantially between 0° and 5°. Still more preferentially, the apex
angle θ of the spray cone is substantially between 0° and 1°, in such a way that the
17
predetermined dose of treatment liquid is advantageously injected into the cavity 3
of the container 1 as a cylindrical or almost-cylindrical dummy envelope. Thus, if,
at the exit of the injection head 11, the predetermined dose of the treatment liquid
is for example in the form of a plurality of treatment liquid droplets, more or less
5 distinct from each other, these latter can then form, between the injection head 11
and the cavity 3 of the container 1, a substantially rectilinear trickle or jet of
treatment liquid.
Preferentially, and whatever the arrangement chosen for the injection head 11
during the injection operation, the volume of the predetermined dose of treatment
10 liquid injected by the injection head 11 is chosen substantially between 5 µL and
50 µL, and preferably between 5 µL and 30 µL, which advantageously allows
limiting the risk of damage to the container 1 by thermal shock when the treatment
liquid enters into contact with the hot inner face 5 of the wall 2 of the container 1.
Moreover, the choice of such a limited volume of treatment liquid helps to facilitate
15 the injection of all the predetermined dose of treatment substance into the cavity 3
of the containers 1 to be treated, and that even at very high rates, in the case where
the head is preferentially located at a distance from the opening 4 of the container
1 to be treated and outside the latter during the injection operation.
Preferentially, the treatment liquid has a predefined concentration of said treatment
20 substance in solution that it close (if not equal) or just below the saturation
concentration. In other words, the treatment liquid contains said treatment
substance, which is substantially totally dissolved in a liquid, and preferably a
volatile liquid as mentioned hereinabove, in a quantity close or just below the
maximum quantity able to be dissolved in the considered liquid for a chosen
25 temperature of implementation of the treatment liquid. The predetermined
concentration thus advantageously corresponds to the highest possible
concentration of treatment substance, without exceeding the saturation
concentration. Typically, the predefined concentration is hence substantially
between about 70 % and 100 % of the saturation concentration, preferably between
18
about 80 % and 100 % of the saturation concentration, still preferably between
about 90 % and 100 % of the saturation concentration for a chosen temperature of
implementation of the treatment liquid. That way, it is advantageously possible to
introduce into the container 1, an optimum quantity of treatment substance in the
5 smallest possible volume of treatment liquid introduced. When the treatment liquid
is introduced as a predetermined dose of treatment liquid, as contemplated
hereinabove, it is thus possible to introduce into the container 1, a predetermined
dose of treatment liquid that contains an optimum quantity of treatment substance
in the smallest possible volume of predetermined dose. That way, the quality of the
10 dealkalization treatment is optimized while limiting the risk of damage to the
container 1 by thermal shock when the treatment liquid enters into contact with the
hot inner face 5 of the wall 2 of the container 1. Maintaining a concentration of
treatment substance lower than or equal to the saturation concentration
advantageously makes it possible to guarantee an excellent reproducibility of the
15 quantity of treatment substance introduced into the container 1, and also to limit the
risk of clogging of the injection head 11 when the treatment substance is a solid
substance, dissolved in a volatile liquid to form the treatment liquid (risk of
precipitation). For example, when the treatment liquid comprises a ammonium
sulphate (treatment substance) dissolved in water (volatile liquid), as already
20 contemplated hereinabove, the predefined concentration of ammonium sulphate in
the treatment liquid may generally be between about 0.1 g/mL and about 1 g/mL,
according in particular to the temperature of implementation of the treatment liquid
and the desired level of hydrolytic resistance. However, in view of the above, it is
therefore more advantageous that the predefined concentration of dissolved
25 ammonium sulphate in the treatment liquid is between about 0.5 g/mL and about
0.8 g/mL for a temperature of the treatment liquid between about 0°C and about
40°C, and preferably between about 10°C and about 40°C. The predefined
concentration of dissolved ammonium sulphate in the treatment liquid could go up
to about 1 g/mL for a temperature of the treatment liquid of about 90°C.
19
Although the method according to the invention can be of interest for treating a
container 1 that remains stationary relative to the injection head 11 during the
injection operation, the injection operation of the method according to the invention
is advantageously carried out while the container 1 to be treated is in motion relative
5 to the injection head 11, preferably at a speed of at least 25 m per minute, still
preferably at least 30 m per minute, and still preferably up to 40 m per minute, so
that in particular a plurality of containers 1 can be treated using the injection head
11 at a particularly high rate. According to an alternative, the injection head 11
moves, during the injection operation, relative to the container 1 to be treated, which
10 is itself held stationary (in the earth reference system). According to another, more
preferential alternative, the injection head 11 is on the contrary held stationary (in
the earth reference system), while the container 1 to be treated moves relative to the
injection head 11, for example on a conveyor positioned under and facing the
injection head 11.
15 In the particular case in which the injection operation of the method according to
the invention is hence advantageously carried out while the container 1 to be treated
is in motion relative to the injection head 11, the method according to the invention
preferentially comprises a step of detecting the presence of the container 1 upstream
from the injection head 11 (considering the direction of relative movement of the
20 injection head 11 and the container 1), previously to the injection operation, to
synchronize the triggering of the injection operation with the arrival of the container
1 at the injection head 11, and preferably facing the outlet 12 of the latter. Indeed,
knowing the speed of movement of the container 1 relative to the injection head 11,
and on the basis of a detection signal, generated during the detection step, of the
25 presence of the container 1 at a known distance downstream from the injection head
11, it is hence advantageously possible to trigger the injection of the predetermined
dose by the injection head 11 at the precise moment when the container 1 is
positioned facing the outlet 12 of the injection head 11, and preferably just in
alignment therewith.
20
Advantageously, the step of introducing the treatment liquid into the
accommodation cavity 3 of the container 1 may comprise a plurality of successive
operations of injection of said predetermined dose of said treatment liquid. Indeed,
it may be necessary, according to the size of the glass container 1 to be treated, to
5 implement a significant quantity of treatment substance to achieve the desired
dealkalization level, without having to use for that purpose predetermined doses of
treatment liquid of significant volumes, which could lead to a high risk of thermal
shocks detrimental to the mechanical strength of the container 1. If it is conceivable,
as discussed hereinabove, to increase the quantity of treatment substance by playing
10 on the concentration of the latter in the treatment liquid, it may thus also be
advantageously contemplated (as a complement or as an alternative) to subject
several times a same glass container 1 to the injection operation of the method
according to the invention by implementing, at each iteration, a predetermined dose
of treatment liquid of limited volume (for example, between 5 µL and 50 µL, and
15 preferably between 5 µL and 30 µL, as mentioned hereinabove). In such a case,
said injection operation can then be carried out, for example, using a single and
same injection head 11, the container 1 then remaining preferentially stationary (at
least temporarily) facing the injection head 11. As an alternative, said injection
operation could be carried out using a plurality of distinct injection heads 11,
20 positioned for example one after the other along a path of movement of the
container 1.
In order to further improve the repeatability and the reliability of the dealkalization
treatment, by taking into account potential variations of weather conditions, the
method according to the invention preferably comprises, previously to the step of
25 introducing a treatment liquid into the cavity 3 of the container 1, an operation of
regulating and controlling the temperature of the treatment liquid in order to make
sure that this temperature remains substantially constant over time, and
advantageously equal to a predefined setpoint temperature. Therefore, the treatment
liquid, and preferably said predetermined dose of the latter, is injected into the
30 cavity 3 of the container 1 at an advantageously predefined temperature, which is
21
then substantially identical for each container 1 to be treated according to the
method of the invention.
As an alternative or as a complement, the method according to the invention may
comprise, previously to the step of introducing the treatment liquid into the cavity
5 3 of the container 1, an operation of preheating the treatment liquid (typically to a
temperature higher than the ambient temperature), in such a way as to reduce the
difference between the temperature of the treatment liquid, and preferably of said
predetermined dose of the latter, injected during the injection operation, and the
temperature of the inner face 5 of the wall 2 of the container 1 to be treated. This
10 makes it possible in particular to further reduce the risk of thermal shock during the
treatment of the container 1, and hence the risk of damage to the latter.
The method according to the invention may advantageously comprise, after the step
of introducing the treatment liquid into its cavity 3, a step of transferring the sotreated container 1 to a glass container annealing device, such as a conventional
15 industrial annealing arch, in order to advantageously subject the treated container 1
to an annealing step.
The installation 13 for treating a glass container 1, intended for implementing the
above-described method according to the invention, will now be described. It is
thus advantageously an installation 13 for dealkalizing the inner face 5 of the wall
20 2 of such a borosilicate glass container 1, which wall 2 delimits an accommodation
cavity 3 for a product and an opening 4 providing access to said accommodation
cavity 3. The above description related to the method according to the invention
remains valid and applicable, mutatis mutandis, to the present installation 13, and
vice versa. It is preferentially an industrial installation, advantageously automated.
25 Still more preferentially, said installation 13 is designed to treat in a substantially
uninterrupted manner a large number of containers 1. A preferential embodiment
of the installation 13 is schematically illustrated by way of example in Figures 2
and 3.
22
The installation 13 comprises a means 14 for supplying a borosilicate glass
container 1, as described hereinabove, (at least) the inner face 5 of the wall 2 of
which is at a temperature of at least 350°C, preferably between 350°C and 850°C,
preferably between 350°C and 800°C, preferably between 350°C and 700°C,
5 preferably between 500°C and 700°C, and still preferably between 500°C and
650°C. According to an alternative, this supply means comprises a heating means,
of any known suitable type (for example, of the arch or oven type), designed to heat
a pre-existing borosilicate glass container as described hereinabove and the inner
face of the wall of which is initially at a temperature close (if not equal) to the
10 ambient temperature, in such a way that the temperature of at least the inner face of
the container wall reaches a value of at least 350°C, preferably between 350°C and
850°C, preferably between 350°C and 800°C, preferably between 350°C and
700°C, preferably between 500°C and 700°C, and still preferably between 500°C
and 650°C. According to another, more preferential alternative, the means 14 for
15 supplying the container 1 comprises a system 15 for collecting a borosilicate glass
container 1 as described hereinabove at the exit of a machine 16 for hot forming a
glass container from a glass preform, while said container 1 is still hot enough so
that (at least) the inner face 5 of the wall 2 of said container 1 is at a temperature of
at least 350°C, preferably between 350°C and 850°C, preferably between 350°C
20 and 800°C, preferably between 350°C and 700°C, preferably between 500°C and
700°C, and still preferably between 500°C and 650°C. According to this
preferential alternative, the installation 13 according to the invention thus
advantageously does not comprise a specific heating means for heating the
container 1,the inner face 5 of the wall 2 of the container 1 being heated to a
25 temperature of at least 350°C, preferably between 350°C and 850°C, preferably
between 350°C and 800°C, preferably between 350°C and 700°C, preferably
between 500°C and 700°C, and still preferably between 500°C and 650°C, as a
direct consequence of a previous forming operation of said container 1 by said
forming machine 16. As mentioned hereinabove in relation with the method
30 according to the invention, this machine or installation 16 for forming borosilicate
glass containers may be of any known forming type, such as for example an IS
23
machine in the case of a container made of moulded glass. The collecting system
15 may, for example, comprise an arm, advantageously robotic, and/or a conveyor
17 (for example, of the belt or roll type), designed, arranged and sized to collect a
glass container 1 at the exit of a forming machine 16, close enough to the latter so
5 that (at least) the inner face 5 of the wall 2 of the container 1 is still at a temperature
of at least 350°C, preferably between 350°C and 850°C, preferably between 350°C
and 800°C, preferably between 350°C and 700°C, preferably between 500°C and
700°C, and still preferably between 500°C and 650°C.
The installation 13 also comprises a means (or station) 18 for introducing into the
10 accommodation cavity 3 of the container 1 to be treated, with the inner face 5 of the
wall 2 of the latter being at a temperature of 350°C, preferably between 350°C and
850°C, preferably between 350°C and 800°C, preferably between 350°C and
700°C, preferably between 500°C and 700°C, and still preferably between 500°C
and 650°C, a treatment liquid containing a treatment substance (or dealkalization
15 substance) designed to react under the effect of the heat from the inner face 5 of the
wall 2 of the container 1 to bring about dealkalization of the glass, typically in the
vicinity of the surface of the inner face 5 of the wall 2. The treatment liquid and
substance implemented by the installation, as well as the reaction principles
associated therewith, are advantageously consistent with the treatment liquid and
20 substance described hereinabove in relation with the method according to the
invention.
Preferentially, the means 18 for introducing the treatment liquid comprises at least
one injection head (or nozzle or valve) 11, designed to be located (and held) at a
distance from the opening 4 of the container 1 and outside the latter, and to inject
25 (while the injection head 11 is located that way) a predetermined dose of the
treatment liquid, preferably as a spray cone C that is narrow enough relative to the
opening 4 of the container 1 for substantially all of said predetermined dose to end
up inside the cavity 3 of the container 1. In other words, the introduction means 18
is then advantageously designed and configured to hold the injection head 11 in
24
such a way that the latter does not enter the cavity 3 of the container 1 when the
injection head 11 is in operation and injects said predetermined dose of treatment
liquid into the cavity 3 of the container 1. The injection head 11 is designed to
generate, at an outlet (opening) 12, said predetermined dose of treatment liquid, and
5 to inject it, to spray it as a spray cone C having a (dummy) base of size lower, and
preferably far lower, than that of the opening 4 of the container 1, as shown in
Figure 1 and described hereinabove in relation with the method according to the
invention.
The particular combination of the features of the means 14 for supplying the
10 container 1, on the one hand, and such preferential features of the means 18 for
introducing the treatment liquid into the cavity 3 of the container 1 thus makes the
installation 13 advantageously capable of carrying out a particularly efficient
dealkalization treatment of glass containers 1, whatever their size and capacity, and
that at very high rates when the installation is implemented to treat successively a
15 plurality of glass containers 1. Moreover, the installation 13 is particularly
economical, clean and environmentally friendly because it allows avoiding any
overdose of treatment substance and the useless dispersion of a quantity of this
treatment substance outside the container to be treated.
In a preferential embodiment, and as schematically illustrated in Figure 2, the
20 means 14 for supplying the glass container 1 to be treated is designed to bring the
container 1 to the introduction means 18 in such a way that the container 1 is
positioned vertically, with its bottom 7 directed towards the ground, and the
introduction means 18 is designed in such a way that the injection head 11 can be
located facing the opening 4 of the container 1 and above said opening 4.
25 Advantageously, the introduction means 18 may comprise an adjustable support for
adapting, preferably automatically, the position (or altitude) of the injection head
11 as a function of the size of the container(s) 1 to be treated.
25
Preferably, and for the reasons and advantages explained hereinabove in relation
with the method according to the invention, the introduction means 18 is designed
to position, and also preferably to hold, the injection head 11 substantially facing
the opening 4 of the container 1 and at a distance d between 1 cm and 20 cm, and
5 preferably between 1 cm and 5 cm, from said opening 4, when the injection head
11 is in operation, that is to say when it forms the predetermined dose and sprays it
towards the cavity 3 of the container 1. This distance d is here too preferentially
understood as the average distance measured in straight line between, on the one
hand, the outlet 12 of the injection head 11 and a plane containing the opening 4 of
10 the container 1, as illustrated in Figure 1.
Preferentially, the injection head 11 is designed to generate a spray cone C of said
predetermined dose of treatment liquid having an apex angle θ substantially
between 0° and 5°. Still more preferentially, the injection head 11 is designed to
generate a spray cone C of said predetermined dose of treatment liquid with an
15 angle θ substantially between 0° and 1°, in such a way that the predetermined dose
can be advantageously injected into the cavity 3 of the container 1 as a substantially
cylindrical or almost-cylindrical dummy envelope.
In order to limit the risk of damage to the container 1 by thermal shock when the
treatment liquid enters into contact with the hot inner face 5 of the wall 2 of the
20 container 1, but also to advantageously facilitate the injection of all the
predetermined dose of treatment liquid into the cavity 3 of the containers 1 to be
treated, and that even at very high rates, the injection head 11 is preferentially
designed in such a way that the volume of said predetermined dose of said treatment
liquid is between 5 µL and 50 µL, and preferably between 5 µL and 30 µL.
25 According to a preferential embodiment, the injection head 11 comprises an
electromechanical actuator driven by a piezoelectric device, to allow the dosing and
the injection of volumes of liquid between 5 µL and 50 µL, and preferably between
5 µL and 30 µL, in response to an electric control signal. As an alternative, and in
26
particular for higher volumes of treatment liquid to be dosed and injected, the
injection head 11 may comprise, for example, an electromechanical actuator driven
by a solenoid device.
Although the installation 13 can be of interest for treating a container 1 that remains
5 stationary relative to the injection head 11 during the operation of the latter, the
installation 13 is preferentially designed to allow a dealkalization treatment of one
or several glass containers 1 in motion relative to the injection head 11, preferably
at a speed of at least 25 m per minute, still preferably at least 30 m per minute, and
still preferably up to 40 m per minute, so that in particular a plurality of containers
10 1 can be treated using the injection head 11 at a particularly high rate. According to
an alternative, the installation 13 comprises, on the one hand, means for moving the
injection head 11 during its operation, preferably at the above-mentioned speed,
relative to the container 1, which itself remains stationary (in the earth reference
system). According to a more preferential alternative, and as schematically
15 illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the installation 13 preferably comprises a conveyor
19 (for example of the belt or roll type), or any other suitable known means,
designed to, adapted to, put the container(s) 1 to be treated in motion relative to the
injection head 11, which is held stationary (in the earth reference system, for
example “through a frame fixed to the ground”), preferably at a speed of at least 25
20 m per minute, still preferably at least 30 m per minute, and still preferably up to 40
m per minute. In this case, and as illustrated by way of example in Figure 2, the
conveyor 19 can then be preferentially positioned under and facing the injection
head 11, with the container 1 positioned vertically, with its bottom 7 resting on the
conveyor 19 and its opening 4 directed upward, in such a way that said opening 4
25 comes under (and preferably in alignment with) the outlet 12 of the injection head
11. Potentially, the conveyor 19 may be the same as the conveyor 17 comprised, in
the example proposed hereinabove, in the system 15 for collecting the glass
container 1 at the exit of a forming machine 16.
27
Preferentially, the installation 13 comprises a means 20 for detecting the presence
of the container 1 upstream from the injection head 11, and a control unit 21
connected, mechanically or electrically, on the one hand to the detection means 20,
and on the other hand to the injection head 11, to synchronize the triggering of the
5 operation of the injection head 11 with the arrival of the container 1 at the injection
head 11, and preferably facing the outlet 12 of the latter, as contemplated
hereinabove in relation with the method according to the invention. For example,
the detection means 20 may be of the optical barrier type and comprise either a light
beam emitter (for example, of the infrared type) positioned opposite a photoelectric
10 cell, or a detection cell 22 comprising both a light beam emitter (for example, of the
infrared type) and a photoelectric cell and a light reflector 23 positioned opposite a
photoelectric cell, as in the example illustrated in Figure 3. The detection cell 22
and the reflector 23 are advantageously positioned on either side of the path of
movement of the container 1, at a known distance from the injection head 11. In the
15 absence of container 1, the detection cell 22 emits a light beam (represented in
dotted line in Figure 3), which is reflected by the reflector 23 and detected by the
photoelectric cell of the detection cell 22. In this case, the control unit 21 controls
the stop of the operation of the injection head 11. In the presence of a container 1,
the light beam is interrupted (or at least disturbed) by the container 1, in such a way
20 that the photoelectric cell does not detect the light beam (or detects a disturbed light
beam), which signs the presence of a container 1. In this case, the control unit 21
controls, with a time delay defined according to the known speed of movement of
the container 1, the triggering of the operation of the injection head 11. In a
particularly advantageous manner, such a detection means 20 of the optical barrier
25 type may be designed and arranged in such a way that the light beam emitted is
interrupted by the neck 9 or the ring 10 of a container 1, and not by the body of the
latter, in order to allow a finer synchronization of the operation of the injection head
11, and hence a more accurate injection of the predetermined dose of treatment
liquid into the cavity 3 of the container 1, when the latter arrives at the injection
30 head 11. Of course, other known and suitable detection means, not necessarily
optical, may be contemplated.
28
Advantageously, the means 18 for introducing the treatment liquid may comprise a
plurality of injection heads 11, or a single injection head 11 provided with a
plurality of outlets 12, in order to allow the injection of a predetermined dose of
treatment liquid simultaneously into the cavity 3 of a plurality of glass containers 1
5 (whether these latter are then in motion or not relative to the injection heads 11),
and/or to allow the successive injection of several predetermined doses into the
cavity 3 of a same container 1. The introduction means 18 can then comprise, for
example, a plurality of distinct injection heads 11, mounted one after the other along
the path of relative movement of the injection heads and the container(s) 1. As an
10 alternative and/or a complement, the introduction means 18 may comprise a
plurality of distinct injection heads 11 mounted next to each other in a direction
transverse to the path of relative movement of the injection heads and the
container(s) 1, in order to allow the treatment of glass containers 1 arranged in rows.
As a complement or alternative to such a means 20 for detecting the presence of the
15 container 1 upstream from the injection head 11, the installation 13 advantageously
comprises, when it is provided to treat successively or simultaneously a plurality of
glass containers 1, a means for controlling the relative position and aligning the
containers, upstream from the injection head(s) 11, in order to further improve the
accuracy of injection of the predetermined dose of treatment liquid into the cavity
20 3 of the containers 1 to be treated. Such means for controlling the relative position
and aligning the containers are known as such in the field of glass container
treatment, so that it is not necessary to describe them here in more detail.
Advantageously, the installation 13 comprises a system 24 for preparing and/or
storing the treatment liquid, upstream from the injection head 11 of the introduction
25 means 18. This preparation and/or storage system 24 can advantageously comprise
a system 25 for mixing the treatment substance and the volatile liquid, to obtain
and/or preserve a perfectly homogeneous treatment liquid. In order to further
improve the repeatability and the reliability of the dealkalization treatment, by
taking into account potential variations of weather conditions, the installation 13
29
preferably comprises, and for example at the above-mentioned system 24 for
preparing and/or storing the treatment liquid, a heat regulation system 26 for
holding the treatment liquid at a constant predefined temperature before the latter
is injected into the cavity 3 of the container 1 by the injection head 11.
5 Advantageously, the introduction means 18 may comprise, and for example at said
system 24 for processing and/or storing the treatment liquid, a system 27 for
pressurizing the treatment liquid upstream from or within the injection head 11, for
example at a relative pressure comprised between 0.5 bar and 4 bar.
The installation 13 may advantageously comprise, downstream from the means 18
10 for introducing the treatment liquid into the cavity 3 of the container 1, and
preferably above the opening 4 of the container 1, one or several extraction hoods
28 to efficiently extract and evacuate the off-gases resulting from the glass
dealkalization reaction. The installation 13 may advantageously comprise,
downstream from the means 18 for introducing the treatment liquid into the cavity
15 3 of the container 1, a means 29 for transferring the treated container 1 to the entry
of a glass container annealing device 30, such as a conventional industrial annealing
arch 30. The transfer means 29 may, for example, comprise an arm, advantageously
robotic, and/or a conveyor 31 (for example, of the belt or roll type), designed,
arranged and sized to collect the treated glass container 1 at, or downstream from,
20 the introduction means 18 and to bring it to the entry of the annealing device 30.
As understood from the above detailed description, the method according to the
invention and the above-described installation for the implementation of the latter
can advantageously be directly integrated to industrial borosilicate glass container
production methods and line, wherein the installation in question can be positioned
25 in a production line, between a machine for forming borosilicate glass containers
and a device for annealing these latter.
Advantageously, the method according to the invention and the installation for the
implementation of the latter allow the dealkalization of the inner face of the wall of
30
a large number of borosilicate glass containers, at a rate that may be higher than
400 vials / minute in single row (a single injection head) or 800 vials / minute in
dual row (two parallel rows of containers on the conveyor, two injection heads), in
particular for containers of rated capacity of 5 mL to 50 mL, and that, while
5 achieving a better hydrolytic resistance level of the treated containers than that
usually achieved using known methods and installations of dealkalization by a solid
or gaseous treatment substance.
POSSIBILITY OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION
The invention finds its application in the field of methods for the treatment of glass
10 containers, and more specifically the technical field of methods for dealkalizing the
inner wall of glass containers, such as containers forming pharmaceutical glass
primary packaging.
31
WE CLAIM:
1. A method for dealkalizing the inner face (5) of the wall (2) of a glass
container (1), such as a vial, which wall (2) delimits an accommodation
cavity (3) for a product, said method being characterized in that it comprises:
5 - a step of supplying a borosilicate glass container (1), the inner face (5)
of the wall (2) of which is at a temperature of at least 350°C, and
- a step of introducing into said accommodation cavity (3), with said inner
face (5) being at a temperature of at least 350°C, a treatment liquid
containing a treatment substance designed to react under the effect of
10 the heat from the inner face (5) of the wall (2) of the container (1) to
bring about dealkalization of the glass.
2. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein
- said supply step is a step of supplying a borosilicate glass container (1),
the inner face (5) of the wall (2) of which is at a temperature between
15 350°C and 850°C, preferably between 350°C and 800°C, still preferably
between 350°C and 700°C,
- said introduction step being a step of introducing said treatment liquid
into said accommodation cavity (3), with said inner face (5) being at a
temperature between 350°C and 850°C, preferably between 350°C and
20 800°C, still preferably between 350°C and 700°C.
3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step
of supplying the container (1) comprises an operation of collecting a
borosilicate glass container (1) at the exit of a machine for hot forming a
borosilicate glass container from a glass preform, with said container (1)
25 being still hot enough so that the inner face (5) of the wall (2) is at a
temperature of at least 350°C, preferably between 350°C and 850°C,
32
preferably between 350°C and 800°C, still preferably between 350°C and
700°C.
4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said
substance comprises a sulphur compound, in solution or in suspension in a
5 volatile liquid.
5. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein said sulphur
compound is an ammonium sulphate, said volatile liquid being preferably
water.
6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said
10 treatment liquid has a predefined concentration of said treatment substance
in solution that it close or just below the saturation concentration.
7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said
introduction step comprises at least one operation of injecting a
predetermined dose of said treatment liquid.
15 8. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein the volume of said
predetermined dose of treatment liquid is chosen substantially between 5 µL
et 50 µL, and preferably between 5 µL et 30 µL.
9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the wall (2) of the container
(1) delimits an opening (4) providing access to the accommodation cavity
20 (3) of the container (1), said injection operation being carried out using an
injection head (11) located at a distance from the opening (4) of the container
(1) and outside the latter, said predetermined dose being injected as a spray
cone (C) that is narrow enough relative to the opening (4) of the container
(1) for substantially all of said predetermined dose to end up inside the cavity
25 (3) of the container (1).
33
10. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein the injection head
(11) is located substantially facing the opening (4) of the container (1) and
at a distance (d) between 1 cm and 20 cm, and preferably between 1 cm and
5 cm, from said opening (4) during said injection step.
5 11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein said spray cone (C) has an
apex angle (θ) between 0° and 5°, preferably between 0° and 1°.
12. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein said injection
operation is carried out while the container (1) is in motion relative to the
injection head (11), preferably at a speed of at least 25 m per minute, still
10 preferably at least 30 m per minute, still preferably up to 40 m per minute.
13. The method according to the preceding claim, which comprises a step of
detecting the presence of the container (1) upstream from the injection head
(11), previously to the injection operation, to synchronize the triggering of
said injection operation with the arrival of the container (1) at the injection
15 head (11).
14. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 13, wherein said step of
introducing the treatment liquid into the accommodation cavity (3) of the
container (1) comprises a plurality of successive operations of injection of
said predetermined dose of said treatment liquid.

15. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said
container (1) is made of moulded glass.