EP3666680B1 - Glass body layer, glass body bundle and packaging method - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a vitreous body layer according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a vitreous body bundle and a packing method for producing a vitreous body layer.

When packaging glass bodies, especially glass tubes, glass-to-glass contact occurs on the external surfaces during the manufacturing process. It begins with arranging the glass tubes into layers of glass tubes and then into a bundle of glass tubes, which is held in a rectangular shape by shrink caps at the ends. The arrangement is carried out in the tightest packaging possible. When the pipe surfaces are forced into contact, a linear contact (contact line) results. Surface injuries or scratches can occur at the contact points along the contact line.

When palletizing, these bundles are grouped in layers and stacked on a pallet. As bundle is pressed against bundle, the external glass tubes touch each other, which also poses the risk of surface damage and scratches.

It has been shown that with the previous packing process, relative movements from pipe to pipe cannot be completely ruled out, especially in unfavorable transport conditions, such as bad roads, high seas for sea freight, and turbulence for air freight. As a result, the rubbing movement creates scratches, which in the simplest case cause cosmetic defects, but often also make the pipe unusable and, in extreme cases, even lead to the pipe breaking.

In the first phase of glass-to-glass friction, small microcracks appear, which significantly reduce the strength of the tube. If small glass particles are released as friction continues, unwanted sharp contact points arise of all things, start on the already weakened surfaces of the pipe and lead to fractures.

Another disadvantage is that freshly manufactured glass surfaces tend to stick due to the chemically active surface (reaction with humidity). Although this effect is reduced by the coating used on the lenses, it cannot be completely avoided in practice. Gluing the pipes together can lead to micro-cracks in the surface when unpacking, which are critical in that they greatly reduce stability.

Between the individual vitreous layers z. B. Cardboard intermediate layers are arranged, but these can lead to marks on the glass tubes. In addition, the cardboard usually does not separate the glass tubes within a layer of glass tubes. After the layers have been completely arranged, the entire pallet is protected and held together with shrink film. The average weight of a pallet is around 800 kg.

During storage and transport until delivery to the customer, the pallet is lifted and lowered at least six to seven times. During this process, the pipe surfaces of the pipes move against each other. During transport to the customer, the movement of the transport means there is a high probability that the glass tube surfaces will rub against each other. The probability of surface damage to the glass tubes is very high.

When the pallet is unstacked, the tube bundles are broken down again in the reverse order as during packaging, down to the individual glass tube, which is then fed into the processing machine, e.g. B. a vial machine etc., is fed either by hand or by means of a robot. Here, too, there is unavoidable contact between the pipe surfaces and thus surface injuries and scratches.

In order to minimize scratching of the glass tubes on the way to the customer, the glass tubes are often surface-coated. However, the layer, which is several nanometers thick, only offers protection as long as this layer is not scraped off by mutual contact becomes. Despite the coating, this often leads to surface damage and scratches. A surface coating cannot prevent scratches, but at best minimizes them.

Surface violations cause several problems.

Scratches on the surface of the glass tubes due to mutual contact during packaging, in the packaging, on the pallet, during transport and when unstacking the pallet at the customer's premises lead to a reduction in visual quality and even non-compliance with the required specification.

The surface damage significantly reduces the strength of the entire glass tube, which also applies to the pharmaceutical containers made from it.

Surface injuries can lead to breakage in the pallet and thus contamination of the adjacent glass tubes or tube bundles. Scratches can lead to incorrect detections in the customers' optical online inspection devices. Such scratches are even detected in the filling systems and inspection systems of pharmacists, which leads to corresponding complaints from customers.

From the DE 27 29 966 is a container of tubes made of brittle material, such as glass or glass ceramic, whereby the tubes are packed tightly and in a rectangular arrangement and are exclusively covered at least at the ends and at the end faces by a shrink film in such a way that they are fixed in their position . In the container, the pipes lie on top of each other and can become scratched.

In the EP 0 132 587 A1 In order to prevent the glass tube bundle from rolling apart, it is suggested to place a film or foil strips on each layer of pipe. Instead of a film, the individual pipes can also be provided with an anti-slip coating, for example made of sprayed silicone, or with pushed-on rings made of polyethylene rubber or textile material.

The DE 20 121 582 U1 discloses protective caps attached to both ends of a glass tube to prevent the tubes from coming into contact and scratching the surface during packaging and transportation. The protective caps serve both as spacers and to seal the open pipes.

The DE 42 25 876 C2 discloses a packing holder for rod-shaped objects, such as glass tubes and glass rods. Two strips made of a film-like material enclose glass tubes arranged next to one another, thereby forming a multi-part belt which has receiving members for the engagement of one glass tube in each case. The adjacent receiving members are connected to one another via a two-layer intermediate web. In the area of the intermediate webs, the two strips are connected to one another using an adhesive and/or embossed seam. A layer of glass tubes has such a belt at a distance from the ends of the glass tubes. Layers of glass tubes stacked on top of each other touch each other in the area of the belts.

The DD 224 555 A1 describes a method for packaging glass tubes using shrink film, in which a prefabricated, rectangular film sleeve made of plastic material is pushed onto the two ends of a glass tube package and these film sleeves are shrunk with appropriate shrink units. Before the prefabricated film covers are pushed on, the glass tube ends can be completely or partially surrounded with further stabilizing agents.

The DD 82 301 discloses packaging for shock-sensitive, tubular glass bodies. Equally spaced, trapezoidal flaps are punched into a pallet made of corrugated cardboard material, which are arranged offset from one another in the opposite unfolding direction and are raised to one side of the surface of the pallet. The raised flaps form a lateral boundary of the packaging items and prevent lateral contact.

The JP H09-295686 A discloses a spacer for a stack of glass tubes. The spacer has semicircular recesses that are separated by ribs and in each of which a glass tube can be arranged. As opposed to the one in the JP H09-295686 A As described in the prior art, the glass tubes can be arranged with an offset by the spacer, whereby more glass tubes can be arranged in the same total volume.

The spacer of the JP H09-295686 A takes up a lot of space between the tubes, which means that only a small number of glass tubes can be arranged compared to the total volume of the stacked composite. The same applies to some of the... WO 2015/037361 A1 known spacers. In addition, the production of this type of spacer is complex.

The WO 2015/037361 A1 but also reveals another possibility for a spacer. Accordingly, a band-shaped spacer made of paper or cardboard is arranged between the glass tubes. The spacer then takes on a wave shape. In this way, the distance between the glass tubes is reduced, so that more glass tubes can be arranged in the same volume.

The US3373540 discloses a vitreous body layer according to the preamble of claim 1.

The object of the invention is to provide a glass body layer and a glass body bundle in which surface injuries and scratches on glass bodies can be easily avoided from packaging to delivery to the customer. It is also the task to specify a method for producing such vitreous body layers.

This task is achieved with a vitreous body layer with the features of patent claim 1.

The glass body layer comprises at least two glass bodies which extend in a z-direction and which are arranged next to one another in an x-direction, with at least two spaced spacer positions being provided in the z-direction along the glass body, in which spacers are arranged between the glass bodies. The spacers are thread-like elements, with at least one thread-like element being provided in each spacer position.

According to the invention, at least one thread-like element is arranged between all glass bodies in each spacer position.

The term “glass” also includes thermally treated glass, in particular glass ceramic.

The x and z directions mentioned refer to an orthogonal xyz coordinate system, which is drawn in the figures for better understanding.

A “thread-like element” is preferably understood to mean a thin structure made of twisted fibers or strips of material. In the context of the invention, the term “thread-like element” also includes cords, lines or ropes. Preferably, the thread-like element is a round cord, an oval cord, a braided cord or a cord, for example. B. from twisted foil strips. The thread-like element can also be made from an extruded material.

The material of the spacers is preferably chosen such that there is no contamination of the glass surface through the formation of deposits or abrasion. At the same time, the material and shape of the spacers should also be chosen in such a way that production is as cost-effective as possible.

Without the spacers, surface injuries and scratches occur on the outer surfaces of the glass bodies along the contact line extending in the z direction of the glass bodies arranged next to one another. These surface injuries and scratches are avoided by the spacers.

“Between the glass bodies” means that the spacers are arranged at least in the line of contact between the glass body surfaces of glass bodies arranged next to one another.

The thread-like elements keep the vitreous bodies of a vitreous body layer at a distance. The thread tension should be chosen such that the vitreous body layer, which contains up to 30 vitreous bodies can include, to the extent that it is stabilized so that the vitreous body layer can be handled and can be stacked with further vitreous body layers to form a vitreous body bundle.

A vitreous body bundle can have up to 30 layers of vitreous body. For the vitreous body bundle, the thread-like elements do not have to have a holding or stabilizing function, since the necessary stability of the vitreous body bundle is preferably achieved by the coverings provided at the ends of the vitreous body bundle, for example by applied hoods, which can consist of shrink film, for example.

The use of thread-like elements has the advantage that prefabricated spacers, which have to be arranged between the glass bodies and/or the glass body layers, can be dispensed with. There is no need to transport the prefabricated spacers back from the customer to the manufacturer or to dispose of the prefabricated spacers after unpacking the vitreous body bundles.

Although the thread-like elements also have to be disposed of or recycled, the volume of thread to be disposed of is very small.

It has been shown that despite the very small contact areas of the threads on the outer surface of the vitreous body, breakage or damage to the vitreous body could be reliably ruled out.

The load built up over the respective vitreous body layer is transferred through further vitreous body layers within a vitreous body bundle exclusively at the support points of the thread-like elements.

A further advantage of the thread-like elements is that the production of vitreous layers can be automated and that unpacking the vitreous layers is simplified.

In the respective spacer position, the thread-like element preferably wraps around at least one glass body, in particular all glass bodies of the glass body layer, at least partially.

“Wrap around” is preferably understood to mean gripping around the outer circumference of the glass body, with the thread-like element preferably also at least partially resting on the outer circumference of the glass body.

Preferably, two thread sections of the thread-like element or elements are arranged in each spacer position between two adjacent glass bodies. The thread sections as components of the thread-like element(s) form the spacers. Two thread sections between two adjacent glass bodies have the advantage that under load the force is distributed over two contact points, which reduces the risk of the glass bodies breaking.

The glass bodies are preferably glass tubes or glass rods.

Glass tubes and/or glass rods can be arranged in a glass body layer as glass bodies. In contrast to glass tubes, glass rods are made of solid material.

The glass bodies are preferably cylindrical.

According to the invention, the thread-like element has a thread thickness S with 0.25 mm ≤ S ≤ 2.5 mm, in particular with 1.5 mm < S ≤ 2.5 mm, preferably with 0.25 mm ≤ S ≤ 1.25 mm, particularly preferably with 0.5 mm ≤ S ≤ 1 mm. In particular, the thread-like element can have a thread thickness S of at least 0.5 mm, or a thread thickness S of at least 4.0 mm.

The thread-like element has a thread thickness between at least 0.25 mm and at least 2.5 mm, in particular from at least 1.5 mm to at most 2.5 mm, preferably from at least 0.25 mm to at most 1.25 mm, preferably at most 1.0mm.

But it is also possible for the thread thickness of the thread-like element to be 0.1 mm, or 0.2 mm, or 0.3 mm, or 0.4 mm, or 0.5 mm, or 0.6 mm, or 0 .7mm, or 0.8mm, or 0.9mm, or 1.05mm, or 1.1mm, or 1.5mm.

The thread thickness of the thread-like element can, for example, be determined in accordance with or based on the projection microscope method, for example described in DIN EN ISO 137.

The thread-like element preferably consists of a plastic material.

Preference is given to elastic plastic materials that enable the spacers to absorb vibrations of the vitreous bodies that occur during the transport of vitreous layers and bundles of vitreous bodies. This further reduces the risk of breakage of the vitreous body.

The plastic material preferably comprises polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), preferably high density polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene wax, polyamide (PA), styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN), polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyurethane (PU), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and/or polycarbonate (PC) or the plastic material consists of the polymer(s) mentioned in each case.

In particular, the thread-like element can include polypropylene (PP), polyethylene, in particular high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene wax, polyamide (PA), styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN), polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyurethane ( PU), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and/or polycarbonate (PC) or the thread-like element can consist of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene, in particular high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene wax, polyamide ( PA), styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN), polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyurethane (PU), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and/or polycarbonate (PC ).

The spacer positions are preferably arranged in the z direction at distances A in the range of 20 cm to 80 cm, in particular between 40 cm and 60 cm. The length of the glass bodies is preferably 1 to 4 m, in particular 1 to 2 m, so that preferably 4 to 10 spacer positions are provided and accordingly a corresponding number of thread-like elements is required. The diameters of the glass bodies are preferably in the range from 5 mm to 40 mm.

The spacer positions can in particular be between at least 20 cm and at most 90 cm.

If reference is made in the context of the present disclosure to the diameter of a glass body, for example a glass tube, this is the outer diameter of the glass body. The outer diameter can be between 6 mm and 50 mm, depending on the end product addressed.

For example, the outer diameter can be 6.85 mm, 8, 15 mm, 10.85 mm, 14.45 mm, 17.05 mm or 22.05 mm, in particular for a glass tube for a syringe body as an addressed end product, or 8.65 mm, 10.85 mm, 10.95 mm, 11.60 mm, 14.00 mm, 14.45 mm or 18.25 mm, especially for so-called cartridge tubes, or are between 6.8 mm and 8.9 mm, or between 9.0 mm and 14.9 mm, or between 15.0 mm and 17.9 mm, or between 18.0 mm and 19.9 mm, or between 20.0 mm and 24.9 mm, or between 25 .0 and 30.9 mm, or between 31.0 mm and 34.9 mm, or between 35.0 mm and 42.9 mm, or between 43.0 mm and 50.0 mm, especially for glass tubes for vials addressed end products, or between 9.0 mm and 14.9 mm, or between 15.0 and 17.9 mm, or between 18.0 mm and 19.9 mm, or between 20.0 mm and 24.9 mm, especially for glass tubes for ampoules as addressed end products.

In the context of the present disclosure, the outer diameter is understood to mean the maximum distance from two points on the outer surface of the glass body, for example from two points on the outer surface of a glass tube.

A glass body can in particular have a round cross section. A glass body is described as round within the scope of measurement accuracy if its roundness error is not greater than a certain value. The roundness error is a measure of the deviation of the vitreous body cross-section from the ideal shape of a circle, particularly in a direction perpendicular to the length of the vitreous body. The circumferential line of each cross section of the test specimen, i.e. the glass body to be tested, must be between two concentric circles lying in the same plane and at a distance t from each other. A glass body is said to be round if its roundness error has a value less than or equal to t. The roundness error is calculated as half of the maximum outside diameter difference in a measuring plane. In practice, the term ovality is often used, which is the difference between the maximum and minimum outside diameter in a measuring plane, i.e. the maximum outside diameter difference. The ovality is therefore twice as high as the roundness error value.

vitreous body, such as B. Glass tubes have a curvature due to production, which can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Each manufacturer specifies a maximum curvature value for its products in its technical delivery conditions. The curvature is a product-specific parameter that is known for the respective product. The curvature for the glass tube lengths mentioned is typically in the range of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm. Taking this known size into account, the distances and the thread thickness S should be chosen so that the glass bodies, for example. B. cannot touch when arranging next to each other or stacking on top of each other despite the existing curvature.

It is advantageous if a safety distance is taken into account in addition to the curvature.

The safety distance ensures that the cylindrical glass bodies do not touch each other, even if, for example, B. vibrations of the cylindrical glass body should occur during transport. The vibration behavior of the cylindrical glass bodies can e.g. B. can be determined by vibration tests on the relevant glass bodies, so that these findings can be taken into account when choosing the thread thickness S and the distances A.

In general, the larger the distance A is chosen, the larger the thread thickness S should be.

A thread size S that is too large, i.e. H. a thread thickness S > 2.5 mm, in a vitreous body layer or a vitreous body bundle in which there are a large number of vitreous bodies, reduces the volume available for the vitreous bodies in a vitreous body bundle.

According to a first embodiment, a thread-like element is arranged in each spacer position. With this single-thread variant, only one thread-like element is required for all vitreous bodies in the vitreous body layer in each spacer position. This single-thread variant has the advantage that the vitreous body layers can be produced in a simple manner.

Preferably the two thread sections are sections of a thread-like element. The two thread sections, which are arranged between two adjacent glass bodies in each spacer position, are preferably sections of this one thread-like element.

Preferably, the two thread sections extend at an angle α of 80° ≤ α ≤ 100° to the z-axis. The angle is preferably α = 90°. Since the thread sections are arranged in the line of contact, the thread sections also extend at an angle α to the line of contact.

Each thread section preferably wraps around at least 5% of the outer circumference of a glass body, in particular between 5% and 20% of the outer circumference.

The two thread sections are preferably arranged in such a way that one thread section extends over at least 5% of the outer circumference of a glass body and the other thread section extends over at least 5% of the outer circumference of the adjacent glass body extends. This ensures that even if the glass body slips in the γ direction within a glass body layer, the thread section always acts as a spacer.

The two thread sections are preferably arranged next to one another in the z direction. The width B of the gap between the adjacent glass bodies therefore corresponds to the thread thickness S of the thread-like element.

According to the invention, the thread-like element has a loop in the γ direction under or above each vitreous body of the vitreous body layer. The loop is located along the thread-like element, preferably between the two thread sections, and serves as an additional or exclusive spacer between the vitreous bodies of adjacent vitreous body layers.

The thread-like element preferably wraps around at least 70% of the outer circumference of the glass body, in particular at least 90% of the outer circumference of the glass body. The thread-like element thus lies - viewed in the γ direction - on the bottom and/or top of the outer surface of the glass body and thus also serves as a spacer between the glass bodies of glass body layers stacked on top of one another.

According to the invention, the two ends of the thread-like elements are not connected to one another. According to the invention, the thread ends hang down laterally on the vitreous body layer. The length of the thread-like elements is preferably so long that the ends of the thread-like elements hang down laterally on the vitreous body bundles. The ends of the thread-like elements can therefore be easily grasped when unpacking the vitreous bundles and/or the vitreous layer and the vitreous bodies can be separated.

It has been shown that after the vitreous body bundles have been produced, in particular after the coverings have been attached to the bundle ends, the vitreous body bundle is stable enough so that there is no risk that the bundles can be dissolved by pulling on the ends of the thread-like elements.

According to a second embodiment, not according to the invention, a first thread-like element and a second thread-like element are arranged in each spacer position.

In this embodiment, two thread-like elements are required for each spacer position for all glass bodies in a glass body layer.

This two-thread variant has the advantage that a more stable vitreous body layer can be produced.

Preferably, a thread section is a section of the first thread-like element and a thread section is a section of the second thread-like element. The two thread-like sections, which are arranged between two adjacent glass bodies in each spacer position and form the spacers, are therefore sections of two thread-like elements. Each thread section preferably rests on the outer circumference of both adjacent glass bodies.

The first thread-like element preferably wraps around the upper half and the second thread-like element wraps around the lower half of the outer circumference of the glass body. The first thread-like element forms the so-called upper thread and the second thread-like element forms the so-called lower thread.

The two thread sections of the two thread-like elements preferably each form a loop. The loop of the second thread-like element is hooked into the loop of the first thread-like element and vice versa. The two thread sections preferably form a loop between the adjacent glass bodies, especially in the line of contact. By mutually tensioning the upper thread and lower thread, the adjacent vitreous bodies can be pulled together, so that a compact and stable vitreous body layer is achieved.

The two thread sections preferably form a knotted entanglement between the adjacent glass bodies, especially in the line of contact. This knotted entanglement brings about a further improvement in terms of stability. Accidental slipping of vitreous bodies out of the wrappings and thus slipping out of the vitreous body position is effectively prevented.

Preferably the two ends of the two thread-like elements are not connected to one another. The thread ends preferably hang down the side of the vitreous layer. The length of the thread-like elements is preferably so long that the ends of the thread-like elements hang down laterally on the vitreous body bundles. The ends of the thread-like elements can therefore be easily grasped when unpacking the vitreous body bundles and/or the vitreous body layer and the vitreous bodies can be separated when any covering that may be present has been removed.

The vitreous body bundle according to the invention has at least two vitreous body layers according to the invention arranged one above the other in the γ direction, the vitreous body layers being arranged offset one above the other. The vitreous bodies are arranged in the closest packing in the vitreous body bundle, which not only saves space, but also gives the vitreous body bundle improved stability.

The vitreous body bundle preferably has 5 to 30 vitreous body layers.

The thread-like elements of the vitreous body layers preferably also form the spacers between the vitreous bodies of adjacent vitreous body layers.

In particular, the first embodiment of the vitreous body layer according to the invention is advantageous because the loops provided above or below the vitreous bodies provide additional support points that better distribute the load within a vitreous body bundle. This further reduces the risk of breakage in the vitreous bundle.

The vitreous body bundle preferably has a covering at least at the ends of the vitreous body bundles. The ends of the vitreous bundle are located where the ends of the vitreous bodies are. Preferably, the openings in glass tubes are also closed by means of the covering, so that the interior of the glass tubes, e.g. B. is not contaminated during transport. This covering can consist, for example, of shrink film.

The task is also solved using a packing process.

The packing method according to the invention for producing a glass body layer has the features of claim 9.

The wrapping process is comparable to the single-thread chain stitch process known from sewing machines for producing seams. The sling can therefore also be used as a Chain sling can be called.

According to a second embodiment, not according to the invention, in step e) the glass bodies are wrapped in each spacer position with a first thread-like element and with a second thread-like element. This is a process for producing the two-thread version.

Preferably, in step e), the first thread-like element wraps around the upper half and the second thread-like element wraps around the lower half of the outer circumference of the glass bodies, the two thread-like elements being wrapped around each other between the glass bodies. This process works with the so-called upper thread and the so-called lower thread, forming entanglements.

The wrapping process is comparable to the lockstitch process known from sewing machines for producing seams.

According to a further development of the process, the two thread-like elements can be additionally knotted between the glass bodies. In this case, the wrapping process essentially corresponds to the knotted lockstitch process.

Preferably, between steps f) and g), in a step f1) after wrapping around the last glass body of a glass body layer, the thread-like elements are severed.

After completion of the glass body layers, the ends of the thread-like elements are preferably left hanging freely so that the glass bodies can be unpacked in a simple manner without the aid of tools such as. B. knives or scissors.

If increased stability of the vitreous body layer is desired, the ends of the first thread-like element can be connected to one another with the ends of the second thread-like element. The connection can be a knot or the ends can be welded together, especially in the case of thread-like elements made of plastic. Gluing or connecting using a clip is also possible.

The methods are preferably carried out in such a way that at least two glass body layers, in particular a plurality of glass body layers, are continuously produced and packed one after the other.

It is also possible not to cut the thread-like elements of a finished vitreous body layer and to continue packing the next vitreous body layer. Preferably, between steps f) and g) in a step f2), the wrapping process for wrapping around a further glass body layer is continued without prior separation of the thread-like elements after wrapping around the last glass body of a glass body layer.

In this case, the vitreous body layers remain connected and form a band of vitreous body layers. To produce a vitreous body bundle, the vitreous body layers do not have to be transported individually and placed on top of each other, but can be used, for example. B. be stored continuously in a container. For this purpose, the storage band in the container is folded alternately so that the glass body layers lie on top of each other.

In a further step, the glass body layers stacked one on top of the other to form a vitreous body bundle are provided with a covering at their ends.

The present disclosure therefore also relates to a vitreous body bundle comprising at least two vitreous body layers, in particular vitreous body layers according to embodiments of the present application and/or vitreous body layers which are produced or can be produced in a packing process according to embodiments according to the present document.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the drawings.

Figur 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Glaskörperbündels mit mehreren Glaskörperlagen,

Figur 2

die Draufsicht auf eine Glaskörperlage,

Figur 3

eine perspektivische Darstellung von Glaskörperabschnitten einer drei Glaskörper aufweisenden Glaskörperlage gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform,

Figur 4

eine Draufsicht auf die Stirnseite der in Figur 3 dargestellten Anordnung,

Figur 5

eine Seitenansicht eines Abschnitts eines Glaskörpers,

Figur 6

ein Schnitt längs der Linie X - X durch den in Figur 5 dargestellten Glaskörper,

Figur 7

eine Draufsicht auf einen Ausschnitt der Glaskörperlage gemäß der Figur 3,

Figur 8

eine Stirnansicht eines Glaskörperbündels mit Glaskörperlagen gemäß der Figuren 3 bis 7,

Figur 9

eine perspektivische Darstellung von Abschnitten von Glaskörpern einer Glaskörperlage gemäß einer zweiten, nicht erfindungsgemäßen, Ausführungsform,

Figur 10

eine Draufsicht auf die Stirnseite der in Figur 9 dargestellten Glaskörperlage,

Figur 11

eine schematische Darstellung einer Verschlingung,

Figur 12

eine schematische Darstellung einer verknoteten Verschlingung,

Figur 13

eine Draufsicht auf die in Figur 9 dargestellte Anordnung von Glaskörpern einer Glaskörperlage,

Figur 14

eine Draufsicht auf die Stirnseite eines Glaskörperbündels mit Glaskörperlagen gemäß der Figuren 9 bis 13,

Figur 15

eine schematische Darstellung eine Verpackungsanlage zur Herstellung von Glaskörperlagen und Glaskörperbündeln,

Figuren 16 - 19

verschiedene Verfahrensschritte eines Umschlingungsverfahrens gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform,

Figuren 20 - 25

verschiedene Verfahrensschritte eines Umschlingungsverfahrens gemäß einer zweiten, nicht erfindungsgemäßen, Ausführungsform,

Figur 26

eine Darstellung zur Erläuterung der Herstellung eines Glaskörperbündels.

Show it:

Figure 1

a perspective view of a vitreous body bundle with several vitreous body layers,

Figure 2

the top view of a layer of vitreous body,

Figure 3

a perspective view of vitreous body sections of a vitreous body layer having three vitreous bodies according to a first embodiment,

Figure 4

a top view of the front side of the in Figure 3 arrangement shown,

Figure 5

a side view of a section of a vitreous body,

Figure 6

a cut along the line X - X through the in Figure 5 vitreous body shown,

Figure 7

a top view of a section of the vitreous body layer according to Figure 3 ,

Figure 8

a front view of a vitreous body bundle with vitreous body layers according to Figures 3 to 7 ,

Figure 9

a perspective view of sections of glass bodies of a glass body layer according to a second embodiment not according to the invention,

Figure 10

a top view of the front side of the in Figure 9 vitreous body position shown,

Figure 11

a schematic representation of an entanglement,

Figure 12

a schematic representation of a knotted entanglement,

Figure 13

a top view of the in Figure 9 illustrated arrangement of vitreous bodies of a vitreous body layer,

Figure 14

a top view of the end face of a vitreous body bundle with vitreous body layers according to Figures 9 to 13 ,

Figure 15

a schematic representation of a packaging system for producing vitreous layers and vitreous bundles,

Figures 16 - 19

various process steps of a wrapping process according to a first embodiment,

Figures 20 - 25

various process steps of a wrapping process according to a second embodiment not according to the invention,

Figure 26

a representation to explain the production of a vitreous body bundle.

In the Figure 1 A vitreous body bundle 100 is shown schematically in perspective, which has six vitreous body layers 110. The glass body layers 110 lie in an xz plane, with the glass bodies 50 extending in the z direction and being arranged next to one another in the x direction. The glass body layers 110 are stacked one on top of the other in the γ direction.

Each glass body layer 110 has four spacer positions 112, which are arranged at a distance A. In the embodiment shown here, two different distances A1 and A2 are provided.

At the ends 102, 104 of the glass body bundle 100, a wrapping 120 made of a shrink film is arranged, which extends over an end section of the glass body layer 110 and thus over end sections of the glass body 50 and covers the end faces of the glass body bundle 100. Since the embodiment shown here involves glass tubes, the casing 120 also covers the tube openings, so that the interior of the glass tubes is protected from contamination.

In the Figure 2 a top view of a glass body layer 110 is shown, which includes six glass bodies 50.

In the Figure 3 a glass body layer 110 with only three glass bodies 50 is shown in perspective in order to explain the arrangement of a thread-like element 10. Only the sections of the glass body 50 are shown where, for example, a spacer position 112 is located.

For better understanding, the distance between the glass bodies 50 is shown significantly larger and the thread-like element 10 is provided with arrows P in order to clarify the running direction of the thread-like element 10, which is in connection with the manufacturing process of the glass body layer 110 (see Figures 16 to 19 ) will be explained in more detail.

In the Figure 4 is a top view of the in Figure 3 shown section of a vitreous body layer 110 can be seen.

A single thread-like element 10 with the ends 11 and 12 wraps around all three glass bodies 50, whereby the thread-like element 10 does not have to rest against the outer surface of the glass bodies 50 everywhere. Whether the thread-like element 10 rests on the outer surface of the glass body 50 depends on the selected thread tension of the thread-like element 10 during the manufacturing process of the glass body layer 110. The distance between the adjacent glass bodies 50 can also be adjusted via the thread tension.

In the Figure 3 the center points MP of the glass body 50 are shown, which lie on a line L. The center lines ML of the glass bodies 50 lie in a common plane E, which intersects the outer surfaces of the glass bodies 50 in the so-called contact line 114. The glass bodies 50 arranged next to one another would contact each other at this contact line 114 if no spacers were provided.

The thread-like element 10 wraps around the upper outer circumference of the glass bodies 50 and forms a loop 13 there, which merges into the thread section 14 in the area of the contact line 114, which forms the spacer between the glass bodies 50. In the embodiment shown here, each thread section 14 wraps around approximately 10% of the outer circumference of the glass body 50. Between the spacers, the thread-like element 10 each has a loop 16, which is located with the first and second loop sections 17 and 18 under the respective glass bodies 50. The two loop sections 17 and 18 are connected to one another via a third loop section 19, which is essentially located in a lower wedge-shaped space 15.

Two of the three loops 16 each wrap around a neighboring loop 16. Here, the loop sections 17 and 18 of one loop 16 are passed through the neighboring loop 16. It is also possible to arrange the thread-like element 10 so that the loops 16 lie on the top of the glass body 50.

While the thread sections 14 form the spacers between adjacent glass bodies 50, the loops 16, in particular the loop sections 17 and 18, are available as spacers between the glass bodies 50 of two glass body layers 110 lying one on top of the other in the γ direction.

Figure 5 shows the top view of a glass body section with a thread-like element 10, the thread section 14 forming an angle α of 90 ° with the z-axis and thus with the contact line 114.

Figure 6 shows a section through the vitreous body 50 along the line XX in Figure 5 to illustrate the thread section 14 acting as a spacer. The in connection with the Figure 4 The mentioned ten percent coverage of the outer circumference of the glass body 50 means that the thread section 14 extends on both sides of the contact line 114 over approximately 5% of the outer circumference of the glass body 50. If adjacent glass bodies 50 slip in the γ direction, the thread section 14 always prevents contact between the surfaces of the adjacent glass bodies 50.

The Figure 7 shows a top view of the vitreous body layer 110 Figure 3 , so that it can be seen that the distance B between adjacent glass bodies 50 corresponds to the thread thickness S of the thread sections 14.

In the Figure 8 the top view of the end face of a vitreous body bundle 100 is shown, which has three vitreous body layers 110 according to the Figures 3 to 7 having. The glass body layers 110 are arranged offset from one another, so that when the glass body layers 110 have assumed their final position, the closest packing of the glass bodies 50 is achieved. In the representation of the Figure 3 The vitreous body layers 110 have not yet reached their final position for a better representation of the thread courses. It can be seen that the loops 16 form spacers between glass bodies 50 lying one above the other.

In the Figure 9 Sections of three glass bodies 50 are shown, which form a glass body layer 110 according to a second embodiment not according to the invention.

In the Figure 9 are like in the Figure 3 the center points MP, the center lines ML, the line L, the plane E and the contact lines 114 are shown. In the Figure 10 is a top view of the in Figure 9 shown section of a vitreous body layer 110 can be seen.

In this embodiment, two thread-like elements 20, 30 are provided in each spacer position 112. The first thread-like element 20, which can also be referred to as the upper thread 20, wraps around the upper half of the outer circumference of the glass body 50 and forms an upper loop 25, while the second thread-like element 30, which can also be referred to as the lower thread 30, wraps around the lower half the outer circumference of the glass body 50 wraps around and forms a lower wrap 35.

The ends 21, 23 of the upper thread 20 are connected to the ends 31, 33 of the lower thread 30, for example by welding or gluing.

The thread sections 24 forming the spacers are located between the upper loops 25. The thread sections 34 forming the spacers are located between the lower loop 35. Each thread section 24, 34 rests both on the outer circumference of one glass body 50 and on the outer circumference of the adjacent glass body 50 . The thread sections 24, 34 are loops 27 which are hung one inside the other and form a loop 40. The thread sections 24, 34 are the spacers and are located with the loops 40 in the area of the contact line 114.

The entanglement 40 is in Figure 11 shown enlarged.

In the Figure 12 1, a modification of the tangle 40 is shown, referred to as a knotted tangle 40'. The thread section 24 is designed as a loop 26, with the thread section 24 crossing each other. The loop 27 of the thread section 34 is hooked into this loop 26 and when the loop 26 is closed, the thread section 34 is fixed in the loop 26.

The Figure 13 shows a schematic top view of the vitreous body layer 110 Figure 9 , so that it can be seen that the distance B between the adjacent glass bodies is 50 due to the entanglement 40 can be larger than the thread thickness S of the thread sections 24,34.

In the Figure 14 the end face of a vitreous body bundle 100 is shown, which has three vitreous body layers 110 stacked on top of one another in the Y direction according to FIG Figure 9 having. The glass body layers 110 are arranged offset from one another so that the closest packing is achieved.

In the Figure 15 a packaging system 60 for producing glass body layers 110 and glass body bundles 100 is shown schematically. The glass bodies 50 are provided on an inclined plane 64 and taken over by a first conveyor belt 66 in a feed station 62. The individual glass bodies 50 are transferred to a second conveyor belt 70 and fed to a separation station 68.

The isolated glass bodies 50 are fed with the conveyor belt 70 to a packing station 80, which has at least two wrapping stations 82. The wrapping stations 82 are arranged next to each other at a distance A which corresponds to the distance between the spacer positions 112 of the vitreous body layer 110, so that the wrapping process can be carried out in the spacer positions 112 of the vitreous body layer 110. The second conveyor belt 70 consists of several individual belts 71 arranged next to one another and operated synchronously, the number of which depends on the number of wrapping stations 82.

Preferably, at two wrapping stations 82, three individual belts 71 are provided, which are arranged at a distance from one another. The space between the individual belts 71 is required for the needles 84 of the wrapping stations 82 to be pierced.

After the thread-like elements 10, 20, 30 have been separated, the finished glass body layer 110 is then fed to a container 130 in a displacement station 95, in which the individual glass body layers 110 are stacked one on top of the other in the closest packing. There is therefore a vitreous body bundle 100 in the container 130, which is transported away and in a wrapping station, not shown, is provided with a wrapping 120 by means of a shrink film at the ends 102, 104.

In the Figure 16 As an example, such a wrapping station 82 according to a first embodiment is shown in a side view, which is preceded by the separating station 68. In this separating station 68, a separating tool 72 is provided, which is wedge-shaped and is inserted in the vertical direction between the glass bodies 50 arriving on the second conveyor belt 70 in order to separate the glass bodies 50. The isolated glass body 50 is then fixed on the second conveyor belt 70 by means of a hold-down device 83 and is wrapped in the wrapping station 82 with a thread-like element 10, which is fed from above to an eyelet 85 of a needle 84. In the Fig. 16 the side view of an individual belt 71 of the second conveyor belt 70 can be seen.

The needle 84 is located above the second conveyor belt 70 and is moved in a vertical direction. The needle 84 works together with a thread driver 86, which is arranged under the second conveyor belt 70. The thread driver 86 is a loop catcher 87, which captures the loop 16 of the thread-like element 10 extending through the space between two adjacent individual belts 71 of the second conveyor belt. The thread-like element 10 is guided through the existing loop 16 using the needle 84.

The individual stages of the wrapping process are described in the Figures 17 to 19 explained in more detail. The method is characterized by a needle 84 moving up and down and a loop catcher 87 swinging back and forth.

The wrapping process is comparable to the single-thread chain stitch process known from sewing machines.

In the Figure 17 the needle 84 is lowered further and the loop catcher 87 releases the loop 16, as in Figure 18 can be seen, the needle 84 holds the loop 16 in place and stretches it until the needle 84 has entered the loop 16, which is held open. The loop catcher 87 is then retracted and releases the loop 16. At the Subsequently pulling up the needle 84, the loop catcher 87 grasps the new loop 16, which is located in the previous loop 16 and ties it. The process then begins again in order to wrap around the subsequent glass body 50.

In the Figure 20 By way of example, a wrapping station 82 according to a second embodiment not according to the invention is shown in a side view, which is preceded by the separating station 68. In this separating station 68, a separating tool 72 is provided, which is wedge-shaped and is inserted in the vertical direction between the glass bodies 50 arriving on the second conveyor belt 70 in order to separate the glass bodies 50. The isolated glass body 50 is then fixed on the second conveyor belt 70 by means of a hold-down device 83 and wrapped in the wrapping station 82 with a first thread-like element 20 (upper thread) and a second thread-like element 30 (lower thread).

The upper thread 20 is fed from above to an eyelet 85 of a needle 84, which is located above the second conveyor belt 70. The lower thread 30 is wound on a spool 89 and is fed to the glass bodies 50 from below through a gap between adjacent individual belts 71 of the second conveyor belt 70.

As in the previous embodiment, the second conveyor belt 70 consists of two or more synchronously driven belt belts arranged in the direction of travel, which form the individual belts 71. These individual bands 71 are positioned in the axis of the glass bodies 50 so that the needles 84 can be positioned in the free spaces and are not hindered by the individual bands 71.

The spool 89 is arranged in a spool housing 91, which is surrounded by an annular thread driver 86, which is also referred to as a ring gripper 88. The coil 89 and the ring gripper 88 rotate together in the direction of the arrow about a horizontal axis 90.

The needle 84 is moved down into the area of the bobbin 89, whereby the upper thread 20 forms a loop 27, which is caught by the ring gripper 88 (see Fig. Fig. 21 , 22 ). During the progressive rotation of the ring gripper 88, the upper thread 20 is moved around Bobbin 89 is pulled around and the needle 84 is pulled back upwards, at the same time the lower thread 30 being inserted into the loop 27 of the upper thread 20 (see Fig. Fig. 23 ). The loop 27 of the upper thread 20 is then released by the ring gripper 88 (see Fig. Fig. 24 ). This creates the entanglement 40 (see Fig. Fig. 25 ). The process then begins again in order to wrap around the subsequent glass body 50.

In the Figure 26 the production of a vitreous body bundle 100 is shown. The individual vitreous body layers 110 are not separated from each other after the wrapping process has been carried out, as is the case in connection with Figure 15 was explained. A strip of layers 132 made of glass body layers 110 is fed to a U-shaped container 130, in which the strip of layers 132 is placed folded so that the individual glass body layers 110 lie on top of each other in the closest packing. When the container 130 is filled and a glass body bundle 100 is thus completed, the layer band 132 is separated between two glass body layers 110. The vitreous body bundle 100 is provided with a covering 120 from both ends and then removed from the container 130.

Reference symbol list

10

Thread, thread-like element

11

first ending

12

second ending

13

wrapping

14

Thread section

15

wedge-shaped space

16

loop

17

first loop section

18

second loop section

19

third loop section

20

first thread-like element, upper thread

21

first ending

23

second ending

24

Thread section

25

upper wrap

26

loop

27

loop

30

second thread-like element, bobbin thread

31

first ending

33

second ending

34

Thread section

35

lower wrap

40

Devouring

40'

knotted entanglement

50

Vitreous body

60

Packaging facility

62

Feeding station

64

inclined plane

66

first conveyor belt

68

Isolation station

70

second conveyor belt

71

Single volume

72

Separation tool

80

packing station

82

wrapping station

83

Hold-down device

84

needle

85

eyelet

86

Thread driver

87

Snare catcher

88

Ring gripper

89

Kitchen sink

90

horizontal axis

91

Coil housing

95

Shifting station

100

Vitreous bundles

102

End of the vitreous bundle

104

End of the vitreous bundle

110

Vitreous position

112

Spacer position

114

line of contact

120

wrapping

130

Container

132

Layer tape made of vitreous body layers

A, A1, A2

Distance of the spacer position

L

Line that runs through the centers of the vitreous bodies

S

thread thickness

E

level

P

Arrow for running direction

ML

Centerline

MP

Focus

Claims (11)

1. A glass body layer (110) comprising at least two glass bodies (50) that extend in a z-direction and are arranged side by side in an x-direction;

   wherein at least two spacer positions (112) are provided spaced apart at an interval A in the z-direction longitudinally of the glass bodies (50), where spacers are arranged between the glass bodies (50);

   wherein the spacers are thread-like elements (10) having two ends (11, 12);

   wherein at least one thread-like element (10) is provided at each spacer position (112); and wherein the two ends (11, 12) of the at least one thread-like element (10) are not connected to one another;

   characterized in

   that the thread-like element (10) has a thread thickness S, with 0.25 mm ≤ S ≤ 2.5 mm; that the two ends (11, 12) of the at least one thread-like element (10) hang down laterally of the glass body layer (110); and

   that the thread-like element (10) includes a loop (16) in the y-direction below or above every glass body (50) of the glass body layer (110).
2. The glass body layer (110) according to claim 1,

   characterized in that at the respective spacer position (112), the thread-like element (10) is at least partially wrapped around every glass body (50) of the glass body layer (110);

   and/or that at each spacer position (112), two respective thread sections (14) of the one or more thread-like element(s) (10) is/are interposed between two adjacent glass bodies (50); and/or that the glass bodies (50) are glass tubes or glass rods.
3. The glass body layer (110) according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the thread-like element (10) is made of a plastics material, wherein, preferably, the plastics material comprises at least one of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene wax, polyethylene (PE), in particular high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyamide (PA), styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN), polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyurethane (PU), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), and polycarbonate (PC), or is made of said polymers.
4. The glass body layer (110) according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the spacer positions (112) are provided at intervals A between 20 cm and 80 cm.
5. The glass body layer (110) according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
   characterized in that the two thread sections (14) are sections of a single thread-like element (10), wherein, particularly preferably, the two thread sections (14) extend at an angle α relative to the z-axis, with 80° ≤ α ≤ 100°.
6. The glass body layer (110) according to claim 5,

   characterized in that each thread section (14) is wrapped around at least 5 % of the outer circumference of a glass body (50); and/or

   that the thread sections (14) are juxtaposed in the z-direction; and/or

   wherein the thread-like element (10) is wrapped around at least 70 % of the outer circumference of the glass bodies (50).
7. A glass body bundle (100) comprising at least two glass body layers (110) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the glass body layers (110) are arranged on top of each other with an offset to one another.
8. The glass body bundle (100) according to claim 7,

   characterized in that the thread-like elements (10) of the glass body layers (110) define spacers between the glass bodies (50) of adjacent glass body layers (110);

   and/or that the glass body bundle (100) comprises a cover sheath (120) at least at both ends (102, 104) of the glass body bundle (100), wherein in particular the cover sheath (120) is made of a shrink film.
9. A packing method for producing a glass body layer (110) that comprises at least two glass bodies (50) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising the following steps in the following order:

   (a) providing the glass bodies (50);

   (b) continuously feeding at least two glass bodies (50) and separating the glass bodies (50) at a separation station (68);

   (c) continuously feeding the separated glass bodies (50) to a packing station (80) that comprises at least two wrapping stations (82) arranged at predetermined spacer positions (112);

   (d) continuously feeding a respective thread-like element (10) to each wrapping station (82);

   (e) wrapping the thread-like elements (10) around the glass bodies (50) at the predetermined spacer positions (112) using a wrapping procedure;

   (f) completing the wrapping procedure; and

   (g) removing the glass body layer (110);

   wherein the thread-like element (10) has a thread thickness S, with

   0.25 mm ≤ S ≤ 2.5 mm, and has two ends (11, 12), wherein the two ends (11, 12) of the thread-like element (10) are not connected to one another and hang down laterally of the glass body layer (110); and

   wherein one thread-like element (10) is provided at each spacer position (112) and the thread-like element (10) includes a loop (16) in the y-direction below or above every glass body (50) of the glass body layer (110).
10. The method according to claim 9,
    wherein in step (e) the wrapping procedure comprises interposing two juxtaposed thread sections (14) between the glass bodies (50) at each spacer position (112).
11. The method according to claim 9 to 10,
    wherein between steps (f) and (g), the following step is performed:

    (f1) severing the thread-like element (10) once the last glass body (50) of a glass body layer (110) has been wrapped therewith; or

    wherein between steps (f) and (g), the following step is performed:

    (f2) once the last glass body (50) of a glass body layer (110) has been wrapped, continuing the wrapping procedure to wrap a further glass body layer (110) without severing the thread-like element (10) prior thereto.

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