MXPA99010563A - Method and machine for the manufacturing of syringes - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and an machine for the manufacturing of syringes by vertically feeding long glass tubes to an intermittently rotary forming machine, having two horizontally rotary machine sections each intermittently rotating on a central vertical axis of a stationary machine frame, to a plurality of forming stations, each machine section having a plurality of continuously rotary gripping chucks mounted on the stationary machine frame, a plurality of burner nozzles and a plurality of forming tools, for firstly opening a closed lower end of a glass tube, forming a tip for a needle at the lower end of the glass tube, cutting off a syringe body including the tip at a lower end, and then translating the syringe body to the second machine forming section for opening a closed upper end of the syringe body, forming a finger flange at the upper end of the syringe body and release the finished syringe body at a discharging machine

Description

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SYRINGES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION. A. FIELD OF THE INVENTION. The present invention relates to a method and a machine for the manufacture of syringes and, more particularly, to a method and a machine for the manufacture of glass syringe bodies, from long tubes fed vertically into a horizontally rotary forming machine which includes two training sections. B. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED TECHNIQUE. Typical glass syringes typically comprise a tubular syringe body that includes a clamping flange and a needle tip, a stainless steel needle having a flared end to be inserted under pressure into the tip of the syringe body, a piston that it has a rod with a rubber plunger at its lower end and a flat upper end, which is normally inserted in the tubular syringe body, to complete the syringe. The syringe body has typically been produced in horizontal forming machines typically used to produce glass ampoules, from short glass tubes having a length equal to twice the length of the syringe body, which are fed horizontally to the machine Forming from a hopper of glass tubes stacked horizontally.

In said horizontal forming machine, each glass tube is fed horizontally from a tube deposit, to a conveyor that intermittently advances by driving the tubes through a plurality of forming stations that include a plurality of burner nozzles and forming tools. The tip portion of the syringe body is first formed at the first end of the glass tube in a first machine section, then the glass tube is raised, rotated horizontally and lowered to be fed to a second longitudinal machine section, for forming a tip portion at the second end of the glass tube, and then the glass tube having a tip portion formed at each end thereof, is cut by its middle part to be processed independently to form the retaining flange of the tube. syringe body. The forming and feeding of short double-length glass tubes has been an inconvenient step in the manufacture of glass syringe bodies. Additionally, the production capacity of said machines is limited due to the length of the forming machine. The forming cycle in these machines can take a considerable time and may require independent machines for forming the fastening flange in each of the syringe bodies obtained from a glass tube. Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to produce finished syringe bodies including the tip and clamping flange, in a single forming machine in a single forming cycle, from long glass tubes, to avoid the need to form short glass tubes , double size. There are some intermittent rotary type forming machines, known in the art, for producing glass ampoules and vials, from a plurality of vertical glass tubes, such as those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,080,189 and 4,092,142, both by Dichter. , Y 4,330,317 from Vertova. These rotary machines normally include a stationary machine frame and an intermittent rotation machine frame, mounted on the stationary machine frame, which rotates toward a plurality of forming stations; a plurality of continuous rotation carriers mounted equidistantly on the stationary machine frame, which rotatably hold the glass tubes; a plurality of equidistant and stationary burner nozzles mounted on the stationary machine frame in the forming stations, providing a flame jet for heating, smoothing, forming and flaring the glass tubes or products, and forming rollers, to form the mouth of a vial. These rotary forming machines have the enormous advantage that they produce ampoules and vials continuously, from long glass tubes in a single machine and in a single forming cycle. Investigating about the shape of the way in which glass syringes can be formed in a single cycle of continuous forming, from long glass tubes, the inventors have developed a method for the continuous manufacture of syringe bodies in a only forming cycle, which can be carried out in a forming machine of the intermittent rotation type, by appropriate equipment of the machine and supplementing it with another forming section in order to form a finished syringe body at a high production speed. The method for manufacturing syringe bodies from a plurality of glass tubes in an intermittent horizontal rotation machine including first and second sections of intermittent horizontal rotation machine, comprises: vertically placing a plurality of glass tubes in a first machine section of the intermittent horizontal rotating machine, which rotates towards a plurality of forming stations; mounted on a central axis of a stationary machine frame; continuously clamping each tube by means of rotary holding carriers mounted equidistantly and stationary in the stationary machine frame; moving a tube to a plurality of forming stations by intermittently rotating the first machine section; opening a closed bottom end of a glass tube by a vertical flame directed upwards, provided by a vertical burner nozzle stationary mounted on the stationary machine frame in an opening station; forming a tip for a needle, at the lower end of the glass tube by continuous rotating forming rollers mounted horizontally and rotatably on the stationary machine frame at a tip forming station; and cutting a syringe body from the glass tube having the needle tip formed at its lower end, by means of a horizontal flame jet provided by a burner nozzle mounted horizontally on the stationary machine frame, at a cutting station; then moving the syringe body having the needle tip formed at its lower end and a closed upper end, up to second rotation machine section intermittently, to a plurality of continuously rotating stations, which fasten each syringe body by means of rotary holder carriers mounted equidistantly and stationary in the stationary machine frame; moving the syringe body to a plurality of forming and finishing stations by intermittently rotating the second machine section; opening the closed upper end of the syringe body by means of a downward vertical flame jet, provided by a vertical burner nozzle stationary mounted on the stationary machine frame at an opening station; forming a perpendicular clamping flange on the open upper end of the syringe body by means of an inclined flame jet provided by an inclined burner nozzle, mounted inclined and stationary in the stationary machine frame in a clamping flange forming station; flaring the newly formed fastening flange by means of a burner nozzle mounted horizontally and stationary in the stationary machine frame at a fire finishing station; and finally unloading the syringe body in a discharge station. The method described above has to be carried out in a forming machine of the intermittent rotation type having a specifically invented equipment for carrying out this method, as described in relation to the method. In this form, the syringe body can be produced continuously from a plurality of long glass tubes automatically fed in a single forming cycle in a forming machine of the horizontal and intermittent rotation type, at a high production speed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION. It is therefore a principal objective of the present invention to provide an intermittent horizontal rotation forming machine, for the manufacture of syringe bodies from long glass tubes fed vertically, in a single continuous forming cycle. It is also a principal object of the present invention to provide an intermittent horizontal rotation forming machine for the manufacture of syringe bodies, of the nature previously described, including two forming machine sections, a first machine section for forming a tip at a lower end of the glass tube and cutting a syringe body therefrom, and a second machine section to form a fastening flange at a closed upper end of a newly formed syringe body including the tip for a needle. It is still a main objective of the present invention, providing an intermittent horizontal rotation forming machine, for the manufacture of syringe bodies, of the nature previously described, including a plurality of heating and softening burners and a plurality of forming mechanisms, respectively mounted on a stationary machine frame a first and second machine sections, for forming the needle tip portion at the lower end of the glass tube, cutting a syringe body from the glass tube and forming a clamping flange at the upper end of the syringe body. It is a further main objective of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing syringes by vertically feeding long glass tubes to an intermittent horizontal rotation forming machine that includes two forming sections. It is a further main objective of the present invention to provide a method for the manufacture of syringes, of the aforementioned nature, by first forming a tip portion at a lower end of the glass tube, in a first machine section, cutting a body of syringe including the needle tip portion at its lower end and then opening a closed upper end of the syringe body and forming a fastening flange at the upper end of the syringe body.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention may be visualized by those persons having ordinary skill in the art, of the following detailed description of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS. Figure 1 is an exploded side view of a typically known glass syringe, made according to the method and a machine of the present invention; Figure 2a is an elevational view of the syringe manufacturing machine according to the present invention, and Figure 2b is a schematic side view of the machine of Figure 2a in a complete production line; Figure 3a is a schematic plan view of the machine for the manufacture of syringes, according to the present invention, in a simple configuration and, Figure 3b is the machine illustrated in Figure 3a, in a double configuration of the first machine section, for feeding a second machine section on each side of the double configuration of the first machine section; Figures 4a to 4v are a series of drawings depicting the sequence of steps and components involved in a syringe body forming cycle in the machine of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a front elevational view of a neck portion forming tool of the first machine section, according to the syringe making machine of the present invention; Figure 6 is a front elevational view of the needle tip portion forming tool of the first machine section according to the syringe making machine of the present invention; and Figure 7 is a front elevational view of the needle tip finishing tool of the first machine section according to the syringe making machine of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION. With reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a conventional glass syringe body, typically comprises a syringe cylindrical body SB that includes a tip NT for a needle and a retaining flange FF; a steel needle N having a flared plastic end FE to be inserted under pressure into the needle tip NT of the syringe body SB; a rod S having a rubber plunger P at its rear end and a flat upper end TE, which is normally inserted into the tubular syringe body to complete the syringe. The steel needle N and the rod S are not part of the invention. _____ _______-! '-' * '- -' ~? For a better understanding of the present invention, the forming machine of the present invention will first be described and then the method of the present invention, carried out in said forming machine, will be described. The rotary machine for the manufacture of syringes, of this The invention, as illustrated in Figures 2 to 7, produces only the SB syringe bodies including the NT tip and the retaining flange FF, from a plurality of long glass T tubes. Each SB syringe body is cut, by means of a flame jet provided by a burner nozzle, from a glass tube T and consequently the cut end UEB of the the syringe body and the lower end LET of the tube T, both are closed and both have to be opened by a flame jet. With reference to Figures 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b and 4a to 4v, the rotary machine horizontally and intermittently for the manufacture of syringe bodies, according to a specific and preferred embodiment of the present invention, comprises: A first section of machine 1 to first form the NT tip for a needle at the closed lower end LET of a glass tube T which is finally cut forming the syringe body SB that includes the tip NT at its lower end, and a second machine section 20 to form the one pair 20 of tip forming rotary rollers 10, 10 'at the upper end UEB of the syringe body SB, each section having a plurality of forming stations; - ~ -a ~ * - ° ** - '"-" - • "'" * - * "- * - • * '" Ir1? ?? ? ? r __? ? _? __? The first machine section 1 initiates a tip and body forming cycle once a previously formed SB syringe body has been cut out of a long glass tube T and transferred to a second section 20 and the second section 20 initiates its retention tab forming and finishing cycle once the syringe body SB having the tip NT formed has been cut and received and its cycle completed once the retention flange has been finished and the syringe body SB is delivered to a hauler; the first section of the machine 1 has: a stationary machine frame 2; a rotating machine frame 3, which rotates intermittently and horizontally on a vertical axis of a rotary motor (not shown) mounted centrally in the stationary machine frame 2, towards a plurality of forming stations; a plurality of tube carrying sleeves CS, each equidistantly distributed in the rotating frame 3 for vertically carrying a glass tube T; a plurality of continuous rotating fasteners 4 (such as a mandrel having a plurality of fingers that open and close), each distributed equidistantly around the rotating machine frame 3 under the tube carrying sleeves CS, and including an opening and closing mechanism (not shown), for opening to receive a glass tube T and closing to retain said glass tube T, and is mounted on a rotary drive mechanism (not shown) to be rotated continuously and horizontally; a first burner nozzle 5 (Figure 5c) mounted vertically and stationary in the stationary machine frame 2 at a first station S1, which opens the closed lower end LET of the glass tube T by means of a vertical flame jet directed towards top provided by the vertical burner nozzle 5; a first horizontal burner nozzle 6 (Figure 4d) mounted horizontally and stationary in the stationary machine frame 2 at a second station S2, for heating and softening the lower end LET of the glass tube T; a pair of neck-forming rotating rollers 7, 7 '(Figure 4e), each mounted horizontally and rotatably on the stationary machine frame 2 at a third station S3, each rotating on a vertical axis and mounted on a laterally oscillating mechanism OM1 which will be described below, and which oscillates to the lower end LET of the glass tube T from a distal end, to form a neck portion N, in preparation for an NT tip for a needle, and then to said distal end a once the neck portion N has been formed; a second horizontal burner nozzle 8 (FIG. 4f) mounted horizontally and stationary in the stationary machine frame 2 in a fourth station S4, to fire the neck portion N at the lower end LET of the glass tube T; a third horizontal burner nozzle 9 (Figure 4g) mounted horizontally and stationary in the stationary machine frame 2 in a fifth station S5, to heat and soften the neck portion N; a pair of tip forming rotary rollers 10, 10 '(Figure 4h), each mounted horizontally and rotatably on the stationary machine frame 2 at a sixth station S6, each rotating on a vertical axis and mounted on a mechanism that laterally oscillates OM2 which will be described below, and which oscillates up to the neck portion N at the lower end LET of the glass tube T, from a distal end, to form the tip NT for a needle, and then to said distal end a once the NT tip has been formed; a fourth horizontal burner 11 (Figure 4i) mounted horizontally and stationary in the stationary machine frame 2 in a seventh station S7, for heating and softening the newly formed needle tip NT; 13 _______________________ a tip finishing mechanism 12 (Figure 4j) mounted vertically in the stationary machine frame 2, in an eighth station S8, including a lifting and lowering mechanism 13, for vertically lifting and inserting a piercing needle 14 into a vertical hole of the tip NT at the lower end LET of the glass tube T, finishing the tip NT, and lowering the piercing needle 14 once the tip NT has been completed; a fifth horizontal burner nozzle 15 (Figure 4k) mounted horizontally and stationary in the stationary machine frame 2, in a ninth station S9, to finish the NT tip on fire; a support plate 16 (Figure 4m) mounted on the stationary machine frame 2, in a tenth station S10, mounted on a lifting and lowering mechanism (not shown) to receive and lower the glass tube T, which has the tip NT formed at its lower end LET, momentarily released by the fastener 4, in said tenth station S10, at a distance corresponding to the length of the syringe body SB, which is then retained again by the continuous rotation holder 4; a sixth horizontal burner nozzle 18 (Figure 4n) mounted horizontally and stationary in the stationary machine frame 2, at an eleventh station S11, for heating and 14 _______________ softening the glass tube T in the area where a SB syringe body including the newly formed NT tip will be cut; and a seventh horizontal burner nozzle 19 (FIG. 4) mounted horizontally and stationary in the stationary machine frame 2, in a twelfth station S12, for cutting the syringe body SB of the tube T, by means of a horizontal flame jet provided by the horizontal burner nozzle 19, consequently closing a lower end LET of the glass tube T retained by the fastener 4, and the upper end UEB of the newly formed syringe body SB, which is retained by a fastener 23 of the second section 20 , as will be described in the following, which lowers the SB syringe body during a short stroke; and a second machine section 20 rotating intermittently or horizontally towards a plurality of stations and having :: a stationary machine frame 21; a rotary machine frame 22, which rotates intermittently and horizontally on a vertical axis of a rotary motor (not shown) mounted centrally in the stationary machine frame 21, towards a plurality of forming stations; a plurality of continuous rotation fasteners 23 (FIG. 4o), equidistantly distributed around the horizontal rotation frame 22, each fastener 23 includes an open and close mechanism, to be opened in order to receive a syringe body SB and closed to retain said syringe body SB, a rotating mechanism , to rotate on a vertical axis and which is mounted on a lifting and lowering mechanism (not shown), on the rotating machine frame 22, adapted to be raised vertically in order to receive and retain a freshly cut SB syringe body a first station SS1 when delivered by the fastener 4 of the first section 1 at the twelfth station S12, and lower it to a level of forming; a first horizontal burner nozzle 25 (Figure 4p) mounted horizontally and stationary on the stationary machine frame 21 at a second station SS2, for heating and softening the closed upper end CUE of the syringe body SB; a first vertical burner nozzle 26 (Figure 4q) mounted vertically and stationary in the stationary machine frame 21, in a third station SS3, which opens the closed upper end CUE of the SB syringe body by means of a directed vertical flame jet down, provided by the horizontal burner nozzle 26; a second horizontal burner nozzle 27 (Figure 4r) mounted horizontally and stationary in the stationary machine frame 21, for heating and softening the open upper end UEB of the SB syringe body, in a fourth SS4 station; a first inclined burner nozzle 28 (Figure 4s), located inclined and stationary in the stationary machine frame 21, in a fifth station SS5, which directs a flame jet inclined towards an inner edge of the open upper end UEB of the syringe body SB to form a perpendicular flat retaining flange FF at the upper end UEB of the syringe body SB; a second inclined burner nozzle 29 (Figure 4t) mounted horizontally and stationary in the stationary machine frame 21, to fire the newly formed retaining flange FF, in a sixth station SS6; a discharge evacuation cone 30 (Figure 4v) stationary located the stationary machine frame 21, in a seventh station SS7, in which the fastener 23 is opened (Figure 4u) releasing the newly formed SB syringe body which is discharged towards the evacuation cone 30 to be led to a conveyor belt; and a preparation station in the eighth station SS8 (Figures 3a and 3b) to prepare the fastener 23 to start another forming cycle. 17"- ** - • '" _--- • - The mechanism that oscillates laterally OM! to oscillate the neck forming rollers 7,7 ', towards the lower end LET of the glass tube T from a distal end, to form the neck portion N and then towards the distal end, may be of any appropriate type, such as the one illustrated in Figure 5, which is of the type that includes a linkage system LS1 driven by a cylinder-piston assembly CPA1 to a first position, to move the neck-forming rollers 7, 7 'to the lower end LET of the glass tube T, and then to a second position, to rotate the neck forming rollers 7,7 'toward the distal end. It is convenient that one of the rollers 7 'can be progressively tilted downwards by a thrust member PM driven by the cylinder and piston assembly CPA1. In addition, a vertical burner VB1 can be provided between the rollers 7, 7 ', in order to provide a thin flame jet which is introduced through the open lower end LET of the glass tube T, to ensure that the open passage is maintained. in the neck N. The lateral oscillation mechanism OM2 for oscillating the rotary tip forming rollers 10, 10 ', to the neck portion N at the lower end LET of the glass tube T from a distal end, to form the NT tip for a needle and then to said distal end, illustrated in figure 6 and which is similar to the mechanism OM1, except for the push mechanism PM, and may include in linkage system LS2 acting by means of a piston cylinder assembly CPA2 to a first position; to move the tip forming rollers 10, 10 'to the neck N of the lower end LET of the glass tube T, and then to a second position, to rotate the tip forming rollers 10, 10' to the distal end. In this case, a vertical burner VB2 can be placed between the rollers 10, 10 ', to provide a thin jet flame which is introduced through the upper part NT at the lower open end LET of the glass tube T, to ensure that the open passage is maintained within the NT tip. As well as a syringe body under one of the tip forming rollers 10 'to provide a thin flame jet to condition the forming operation of the tip. In the opening stage the closed lower end LEB of the body of the SB syringe by means of a vertical flame jet provided by the vertical burner nozzle 8, it is convenient to further include a horizontal burner 8 'to prevent flare or deformation of said burner. lower end of the body LEB. Similarly, some conditioning stations may be added to prepare and heat-condition the body of the SB syringe for a subsequent SS6 station; an FFM mechanism can be provided, in addition to the horizontal burner nozzle 29 for the fire finish of the newly formed retaining flange FF, to properly form the retaining flange. Said FFM mechanism may include an oscillatory member OM for introducing a forming disk FD under the newly formed retaining flange, such that, while the burner nozzle is terminating the retaining flange FF with fire, it could be properly flattened and formed by the disk FD, which is then oscillated out of coincidence with the holding tab FF. Or also, some of the softening and heating steps can be eliminated if, for example, the intensity of the flame and / or the forming time is increased. Additionally, the forming step of the neck portion could be avoided, depending on the time and intensity of the flame jet or the efficiency of the forming tool of the tip that has been introduced. A good practice is to include one or more sets of sleeve carriers placed in rows or in a circular position for each of the rotating carriers, so that the glass tubes are fed automatically when the length of a previous glass tube has been completed. Furthermore, it is also a good practice that the first section of the machine is equipped with a double number of stations, to deliver a SB syringe body having its already formed NP needle tip, to a second second machine sections 16, 16 ', each placed on each side of the first section of the machine 1, said second sections of the machine delivering the finished body of the syringe, including its tip NT and its retaining flange FF to the same carrier carriers 22, which leaves the finished syringe bodies SB in an inspection station, a reheat station and a packing station which are not part of this machine. As for the method for manufacturing syringes, of the vertical machine described above, in a specific embodiment thereof, according to the present invention, it comprises: vertically placing a plurality of long glass tubes T in a first section of machine 1, of the intermittent horizontal rotation machine (Fig. 4 a), which rotates intermittently to a plurality of stations, mounted on a central axis of a stationary machine frame 2; 10 clamping in continuous rotary fashion each tube T by means of rotating carriers of CS sleeves mounted stationary in the stationary machine frame; moving a tube T towards an opening station S1 (figure 4c) by intermittently rotating the first machine section; Opening a closed lower end LET of the glass tube T by means of a vertical flame jet directed upwards, by means of a vertical burner nozzle 5 mounted stationary in the stationary machine frame 2 at the opening station S1 (FIG. 4c); moving the glass tube T having its open lower end LET, at 20 a heating and softening station S2 (figure 4d) by means of intermittent rotation of the first section of the machine 1; 21 heating and softening the lower end LET of the glass tube T by means of a horizontal flame provided by means of a burner nozzle 6 which is placed horizontally in the stationary machine frame 2, in the heating and softening stations S2 (FIG. 4d); moving the glass tube T having its lower end open LET, to a neck forming station S3 through the intermittent rotation of the first section of the machine 1; forming a neck portion N at the lower end LET of the glass tube T by means of rotating neck forming rollers 7, 7 ', each mounted horizontally and rotatably in the stationary machine frame 2, at the neck forming station S3 (Figure 4e); moving the glass tube T, having its lower end open LET, to a fire finishing station S4 (figure 4f) by means of the intermittent rotation of the first section of the machine 1; brazing the neck portion N of the glass tube T by means of a horizontal flame provided by a burner nozzle 8 mounted horizontally in the stationary machine frame, in the fire finishing station S4 (figure 4f); moving the glass tube T having its neck portion N at its lower end LET, to a heating and softening station S5 (figure 4g) by means of the intermittent rotation of the first section of the machine 1; 22 ? -. .. j. i .j -. t. heating and softening the neck portion N of the glass tube T by means of a horizontal flame which is provided by a burner nozzle 9 which is mounted horizontally in the stationary machine frame 2, in the heating and softening station S5 (FIG. 4g); moving the glass tube T having its neck portion N at its lower end LET, to a tip forming station S6 (figure 4h) by means of intermittent rotation of the first machine section 1; forming an NT tip for a needle, in the neck portion N of the lower end LET of the glass tube T by means of rotary tip forming rollers 10, 10 'mounted horizontally and rotatably on the stationary machine frame 2 at said station formed from tip S6 (figure 4h); moving the glass tube T having the tip NT at its lower end, to a heating and softening station S7 (figure 4i) by means of intermittent rotation of the first machine section 1; heating and softening the NT tip of the glass tube by means of a horizontal flame provided by a burner nozzle 11 mounted horizontally in the stationary machine frame 2, in the heating and softening station S7 (Figure 4i); moving the glass tube T having the tip and its lower end LET, to a tip finishing station (figure 4j); finishing the tip NT at the lower end LET of the glass tube T by means of tip finishing mechanism 12 mounted on the stationary machine frame S8, by means of introducing a piercing needle 14 into a vertical hole of the NT tip (figure 4j); moving the glass tube T having its tip terminated at its lower end LET, to a fire finishing station S9 (figure 4k) by means of the intermittent rotation of the first machine section 1; firing the tip at the lower end LET of the glass tube T by means of a horizontal flame provided by a burner nozzle 17 mounted stationary in the stationary machine frame 2 at the fire finishing station S9 (Fig. 4k); moving the glass tube T having its finished tip NT at its lower end LET, to a sizing station S10 (figure 4m) by the intermittent rotation of the first machine section 1; releasing the glass tube T having its tip terminated NT by a momentary opening of the fastener 4, and receiving the glass tube T at a distance corresponding to the length of the body of the syringe SB, which is again clamped by the fastener 4, in said dimensioning station (figure 4m); moving the glass tube T, to a heating and softening station S11 (figure 4n) by the intermittent rotation of the first machine section 1; heating and softening the lower end LET of the glass tube T by means of a horizontal flame provided by a burner nozzle 18 mounted horizontally in the stationary machine frame 2, in the heating and softening station S11, in an area where a SB syringe body including NT tip, will be cut (figure 4n); moving the glass tube T having the tip NT formed at its lower end LET, to a cutting station 12 (figure 4o); cutting a syringe body SB from the glass tube having the tip NT formed at its lower end, by means of a horizontal flame jet provided by a burner nozzle 19 which is mounted horizontally in the stationary machine frame 2, in said cutting station S12 (figure 4o); moving the syringe body SB having a tip NT at its lower end LEB and a closed upper end UEB, to a second section of the machine 20 of an intermittent horizontal rotation machine 1, to rotate intermittently to a plurality of stations mounted on a central axis of a stationary machine frame 21; holding with a continuous rotational movement each SB syringe body by means of a rotary grip holder 23 mounted stationary in the stationary machine frame 21 at a receiving station SS1 (Figure 4o); moving the syringe body SB, to a heating and softening station SS2 (figure 4p) by means of the intermittent rotation of the second section of the machine 20; -_-_ - - - - heating and softening the closed upper end CUE of the body of the SB syringe by means of a horizontal flame provided by means of a burner nozzle 25 mounted horizontally in the stationary machine frame, in the station of heating and softening SS2 (Figure 4p); moving the syringe body SB to an opening station SS3 (Figure 4q) by intermittently rotating the second section of the machine 21; opening the closed upper end CUE of the syringe body SB, by means of a vertical flame directed downwards, which is provided by a vertical burner nozzle 26 mounted stationary in the stationary machine frame 21 in the opening station SS3 (figure 4q); moving the syringe body SB to a heating and softening station SS4 (figure 4r) by means of intermittent rotation of the second section of the machine 21; heating and softening the open upper end UEB of the syringe body SB by means of a horizontal flame provided by a burner nozzle 27 mounted horizontally in the stationary machine frame in the heating and softening station SS4 (Fig. 4r); moving the syringe body SB to a forming station of a retaining flange SS5 (Figure 4s) by means of the intermittent rotation of the second section of the machine 21; 26 - - - - iBittttiiirt to form a perpendicular flat retaining flange FF at the upper end UEB of the syringe body SB by means of a flame jet inclined by means of an inclined burner nozzle 28, mounted stationary and inclined in the frame of stationary machine 21 in said forming station of the retaining flange SS5 (Figure 4s); moving the syringe body SB to a firing finishing station SS6 (Figure 4t) by means of the intermittent rotation of the second section of the machine 21: finish fire the newly formed retaining flange FF by means of a stationary mounted burner nozzle and in a horizontal position in the stationary machine frame 21 in said fire finishing station SS6 (figure 4t); SB syringe to an SS7 discharge station (figure 4u and 4v) by means of the intermittent rotation of the second section of the machine 21, unloading the finished syringe body SB in said discharge station SS7 (figures 4u and 4v); and, moving the carrier 23 to a conditioning station SS8 (Figures 3a and 3b), by intermittently rotating the second section of the machine 21, to prepare the fastener 23 to initiate another forming cycle.

Again, some of the heating and softening steps and neck forming step can be eliminated if, for example, the flame intensity is increased and, if an efficient tip forming tool is introduced. Therefore, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the specific modalities described above, and that persons skilled in the art will be prepared by the teachings of the present invention to introduce changes in the type and distribution of the components and sequence of operation, which will be within the scope of the invention as claimed in the following claims:

Claims (32)

1. CLAIMS 1. A machine of intermittent horizontal rotation for the manufacture of syringes from a plurality of vertically fed glass tubes, comprising: a first machine section, which rotates intermittently towards a plurality of forming stations, having: a stationary machine frame; a rotary machine frame, which rotates intermittently and horizontally on a vertical axis of drive means mounted on the stationary machine frame, towards a plurality of forming stations; a plurality of continuous rotation glass tube fastening means, each mounted equidistantly around the means of carrier means, which rotate continuously on a vertical axis to receive and rotationally retain a vertical glass tube; a plurality of burner means, each mounted stationary around the stationary machine frame in a forming station, which provides a flame jet to open a closed end of a glass tube, to heat and soften a lower end of the tube. glass, for firing a portion of needle tip at the lower end of the glass tube and for cutting a syringe body from the glass tube; Y
2. 29 l «M-ft - l_Í_« l _______ l__________ rotary tip finishing means mounted horizontally and rotatably on the stationary machine frame at a tip forming station, to form a tip for receiving a needle, at the lower end of the tube glass; and a second machine section that rotates intermittently and horizontally towards a plurality of stations and that has: a stationary machine frame; a horizontal rotary machine frame, which rotates intermittently and horizontally on a vertical axis of drive means mounted on the stationary machine frame, towards a plurality of forming stations; a plurality of continuous rotation fastening means, each mounted equidistantly around the horizontal rotary machine frame, continuously rotating on a vertical axis to rotatably receive and retain a vertical syringe body and release a finished syringe body; a plurality of burner means, each mounted stationary around the stationary machine frame, in a forming station, to heat and soften an upper closed end of the syringe body, open the closed upper end of the syringe body, form a retaining tab
3. 30
4. ...- t, .-----. • - - - - - - "- 'rtluft.f-ifafi ^ JL perpendicular to an open upper end of the syringe barrel and finish the newly formed retention flange on fire 2. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stationary machine frame includes a plurality of tube carrying means, each equidistantly distributed over the rotating machine frame to vertically hold the glass tube 3. The machine as claimed in FIG. Claim 1, wherein each of the continuous rotation clamping means of the first machine section includes a plurality of open-close gripping fingers for rotatably holding and releasing a glass tube. claims in claim 1, which comprises means of burners in a first station, mounted vertically in the stationary machine frame of the first section of the machine, to direct a jet of flame projecting upwards to the closed lower end of a glass tube that is held by the fastening means, to open said closed end in said first station.
5. 5. The machine as claimed in claim 1, which comprises means of burners in a second station, mounted horizontally in the stationary machine frame of the first section of the machine, for directing a jet of flame horizontally to the lower end of a glass tube that is held by the fastening means, to heat and soften the lower end of the glass tube, preparing it for a neck formation in the third station.
6. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotary tip forming means comprises rotary neck forming means, which are mounted on the stationary machine frame at a neck forming station, to form a neck portion at a lower end of the glass tube, to prepare the latter for a tip forming station.
7. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotating neck forming means comprises a pair of rotary neck forming discs mounted horizontally and rotatably on the stationary machine frame at a third station, each said discs being mounted to rotate on a vertical axis and on a lateral oscillation mechanism which oscillates the glass tube from a distal distance to form a neck portion at the lower end of the glass tube and to form a neck portion and, then to said distal end once the neck portion has been formed, as a preparation for the formation of the tip.
8. 8. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the burner means in a fourth forming station is mounted horizontally in the stationary machine frame of the first section of the machine, directing a flame jet in a form horizontal to the lower end of a glass tube that is retained by the fastening means, to finish firing the neck portion of the lower end of the glass tube.
9. 9. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the burner means is mounted horizontally in the stationary machine frame of the first section of the machine, directing a flame jet horizontally to the lower end of a machine. glass tube that is retained by the fastening means, to heat and soften the neck portion at the lower end of the glass tube, preparing it for a tip forming station.
10. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the needle tip finishing means comprises a pair of tip forming discs mounted horizontally and rotatably in the stationary machine frame in a sixth station, each of said disks being mounted to rotate on a vertical axis and on a lateral oscillation mechanism, which swings the neck portion of the lower end of the glass tube from a distal distance to form a tip for a needle at the lower end of the tube. glass, and then to said distal end once the tip has been formed.
11. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the burner means in a seventh station are mounted horizontally in the stationary machine frame of the first section of the machine, directing a flame jet horizontally towards the tip of a glass tube that is retained by the fastening means, to heat and soften the tip, preparing it for a tip finishing station.
12. 12. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tip finishing means includes tip finishing means vertically mounted on the stationary machine frame in an eighth station, having a drilling needle mounted on lifting and lowering means , to rise vertically and introduce the piercing needle into a vertical hole in the tip of the lower end of the glass tube, finishing the tip and, lowering said piercing needle once the tip has been finished.
13. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the burner means in a ninth station are mounted horizontally in the stationary machine frame of the first section of the machine, directing a flame jet horizontally towards the tip recently finished at the lower end of a glass tube that is retained by the fastening means, for the fire finish of the tip.
14. 14. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the burner means in an eleventh station are mounted horizontally in the stationary machine frame of the first section of the machine, directing a flame jet horizontally to heat and softening the glass tube to a height where a syringe body including the newly formed tip, to be cut from the glass tube.
15. 15. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the burner means in a twelfth station is mounted horizontally in the stationary machine frame of the first section of the machine, directing a flame jet horizontally to cut a body of syringe including the tip, of the glass tube.
16. 16. The machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising stop means mounted in a tenth station, in the stationary machine frame of the first section of the machine, to stop the glass tube, including a tip formed at the lower end, which is momentarily released by one of the continuous rotation clamping means, to fall at a distance equivalent to the length of the syringe body, which is again clamped by the continuous rotation clamping means.
17. 17. The machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising stop means mounted in a tenth station, in the stationary machine frame of the first section of the machine, including lifting and lowering means for receiving and lowering a glass tube having the tip formed at the lower end, which is momentarily released one of the fastening means in said tenth station, at a distance equivalent to the length of the body of the syringe, which is again held by the fastening means of continuous rotation.

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    * * - - * - ^ - * - «> -
18. 18. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the continuous rotation fastening means of the second section of the machine includes a plurality of gripping fingers to open and close, to rotationally grip and release a body of syringe.
19. 19. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the continuous rotation clamping means of the second machine section includes lifting and lowering means, for vertically raising the rotating fastening means, for receiving and holding a syringe body to be cut, when it is cut from the lower end of the glass tube and lowering the syringe body to a forming level.
20. 20. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the burner means in a second station of the second section of the machine are mounted horizontally and stationary in the stationary machine frame, for heating and softening a closed upper end of the syringe body in said second station.
21. 21. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the burner means in a third station of the second section of the machine are mounted vertically in the stationary machine frame, of the second section of the machine, for directing a flame jet down towards the closed upper end of the syringe body which is retained by the fastening means, to open said closed upper end in said third station.
22. 22. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the burner means in a fourth station of the second section of the machine are mounted stationary and horizontally in the stationary machine frame, of the second section of the machine , for heating and softening the open upper end of a syringe body.
23. 23. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the burner means in a fifth station of the second section of the machine are mounted stationary and in an inclined position in the stationary machine frame, of the second section of the machine, for directing a flame jet inclined to an inner edge of an upper end of an open syringe body, to form a flat retaining flange perpendicular to said open upper end of the syringe body.
24. 24. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the burner means in a sixth station of the second section of the machine are mounted stationary and horizontally in the stationary machine frame, for fire finishing to a retention tab newly formed in said sixth station.
25. 25. The machine as claimed in claim 1, including unloading means in a seventh station of the second section of the machine, including a discharge evacuation cone stationary mounted in the stationary machine frame of the second section of the machine, by means of which the syringe body holding means are opened to release the newly formed syringe body which is discharged towards said evacuation cone to be led to a conveyor belt.
26. 26. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holding means of the syringe body is prepared in an eighth station, to initiate a new forming cycle.
27. 27. The machine as claimed in claim 1, comprising a first machine section including a first set of forming stations, followed continuously by a second set of forming stations distributed in said stationary machine frame and a pair of second machine sections, each placed laterally with respect to the first section of the machine and including, a set of forming stations, by means of which the first set of forming stations of the first section of the machine deliver the syringe bodies to one lateral of the second section of the machine and, the second set of forming stations deliver the bodies of syringes to a second of the second sections of the machine, to be finished therein.
28. 28. An intermittent horizontal rotation machine for the manufacture of syringes from a plurality of glass tubes, comprising: a first machine section, which rotates intermittently towards a plurality of forming stations, having: a machine frame stationary;

    a rotary machine frame, which rotates intermittently and horizontally on a vertical axis of a rotary motor mounted on the stationary machine frame, towards a plurality of forming stations; a plurality of glass tube holding means, each mounted equidistantly around the stationary machine frame, vertically retaining a glass tube; a plurality of continuous rotation fasteners mounted equidistantly around the stationary machine frame, each fastener including opening and closing mechanism for opening to receive a glass tube and closing to hold the tube and, a rotation mechanism for continuously rotating said fastener on its vertical axis; a first burner nozzle placed horizontally and stationary in the machine frame would be stationed in a second station, to heat and soften the lower end of the glass tube; a pair of rotary neck forming discs, each mounted horizontally and to rotate on the stationary machine frame at a third station, each rotating on a vertical axis and mounted on a lateral oscillation mechanism, which oscillates to the body of the syringe from a distal end, to form a neck portion, and then to said distal end once the neck portion has been formed; a second burner nozzle placed stationary and in horizontal position in the stationary machine frame, in a fourth station, to fire the neck portion of the lower end of the glass tube; a third burner nozzle placed stationary and horizontally in the machine frame would be stationed in a fifth station, to heat and soften the neck portion; a pair of rotary tip forming discs, each mounted horizontally and rotatably on the stationary machine frame in a sixth station, each rotating on a vertical axis and mounted on a laterally oscillating mechanism, which oscillates to a tube glass from a distal end to form a needle tip portion and then to said distal end once the tip has been formed; a fourth burner mounted horizontally and stationary in the stationary machine frame, in a seventh station, to heat and soften the newly formed needle tip; a needle-tip finishing mechanism mounted vertically in the stationary machine frame, in an eighth station, including a lifting and lowering mechanism, for vertically raising and inserting a piercing needle into a vertical hole of the tip at the lower end of the glass tube, finishing the needle tip portion, and lowering said piercing needle once the needle tip portion has been completed; a fifth horizontal burner nozzle mounted horizontally and stationary in the stationary machine frame, in a ninth station, to finish the tip portion of the needle with fire; a stop support plate mounted on the stationary machine frame, in a tenth station, mounted on a lifting and lowering mechanism for receiving and lowering the glass tube, having the needle tip portion formed at its lower end, momentarily released by a fastener, in said tenth station, at a distance corresponding to the length of the syringe body, which is immediately retained by the continuous rotation holder; a sixth horizontal burner nozzle mounted horizontally and stationary in the stationary machine frame, in an eleventh station, to heat and soften the glass tube in the region where a syringe body including the newly formed needle tip will be cut; and a horizontal seventh horizontal burner nozzle mounted horizontally and stationary in the stationary machine frame, in a twelfth station, for cutting the syringe body of the glass tube, by means of a horizontal flame jet provided by the horizontal burner nozzle 19 , consequently closing a lower end of the tube retained by the fastener y, and the upper end of the newly formed syringe body; and, a second machine section that rotates intermittently to a plurality of stations and that has: a stationary machine frame; a rotary machine frame, which rotates intermittently and horizontally on a vertical axis relative to the stationary machine frame, towards a plurality of forming stations; a plurality of fasteners a plurality of continuous rotation fasteners, equidistantly distributed around the horizontal rotation frame, each fastener including an open and close mechanism, to be opened in order to receive a syringe body and closed to retain said syringe body , a rotation mechanism for rotating on a vertical axis and which is mounted on a lifting and lowering mechanism, on the rotating machine frame, adapted to be raised vertically in order to receive and retain a freshly cut syringe body in a first station when it is delivered by the bra of the first section, in the twelfth station, and lower it to a level of formed; a first horizontal burner nozzle mounted horizontally and stationary on the stationary machine frame in a second station, for heating and softening the closed upper end of the syringe body; a first vertical burner nozzle mounted vertically and stationary in the stationary machine frame, in a third station, which opens the closed upper end of the syringe body by means of a vertical flame directed downward, provided by the first vertical nozzle of burner; a second horizontal burner nozzle mounted horizontally and stationary in the stationary machine frame, for heating and softening the open upper end of the syringe body, in a fourth station; an inclined burner nozzle, located inclined and stationary in the stationary machine frame, in a fifth station, which directs an inclined flame jet to form a flat retaining flange perpendicular to the upper end of the syringe body;

    a third horizontal burner nozzle mounted horizontally and stationary in the stationary machine frame, for fire finishing of the newly formed retaining flange, in a sixth station; a discharge evacuation cone located stationary in the stationary machine frame, in a seventh station, in which the fastener is opened releasing the newly formed syringe body which is discharged to said evacuation cone to be driven to a conveyor belt; and a preparation station in the eighth station, to prepare the fastener to start another forming cycle.
29. 29. A method for manufacturing syringes from a plurality of glass tubes in an intermittent horizontal rotation machine that includes first and second horizontal machine sections of intermittent rotation, comprising: vertically placing a plurality of glass tubes in a first machine section, of the intermittent horizontal rotation machine, which rotates intermittently a plurality of stations, mounted on a central axis of a stationary machine frame; rotatingly holding each tube by means of rotary grip carriers stationary mounted on the stationary machine frame;

    moving a pipe to an opening station by intermittently rotating the first machine section; opening a closed bottom end of the glass tube by means of a vertical flame directed upwards, by means of vertical burner means which are stationary mounted in the stationary machine frame in the opening station; moving the glass tube having its lower end open, to a tip forming station by means of the intermittent rotation of the first section of the machine; forming a tip for a needle, at the lower end of the glass tube by means of tip forming means mounted horizontally and rotatably on the stationary machine frame at said tip forming station; moving the glass tube having a tip formed at its lower end, to a cutting station; cutting a syringe body from the glass tube having the tip formed at its lower end, by means of a horizontal flame jet provided by burner means which are mounted on the stationary machine frame, at said cutting station; moving the syringe body having a tip at its lower end and a closed upper end, to a second machine section, to rotate intermittently to a plurality of stations;

    holding with a continuous rotational movement each syringe body by rotary gripping means stationary mounted on the stationary machine frame; moving the syringe body to an opening station by intermittently rotating the second section of the machine; opening the closed upper end of the syringe body, by means of a vertical flame directed downwards, which is provided by vertical burner means mounted stationary in the stationary machine frame, in the opening station; moving the syringe body to a forming station of a retaining flange, by intermittently rotating the second section of the machine; forming a perpendicular flat retaining flange at the upper end of the syringe body by means of an inclined flame jet provided by inclined burner means, which are stationary and inclined mounted on the stationary machine frame at said forming station of the retaining tab; moving the syringe body to a discharge station by intermittently rotating the second section of the machine; and, discharging the syringe body at said discharge station.
30. 30. The method as claimed in claim 29, which includes the steps of moving the glass tube having its lower end open, to a neck forming station by means of intermittent rotation of the first section of the machine; and, forming a neck portion at the lower end of the glass tube through rotary neck forming means which are mounted horizontally and rotatably on the stationary machine frame, at the neck forming station.
31. 31. The method as claimed in claim 29, including a plurality of heating and softening, for heating and softening the lower end of the glass tube and the upper end of the body of the syringe, preparing them for a forming step and , a plurality of fire finishing stages, to finish each of the neck portions, the tip and the retaining flange with fire.
32. 32. A method for manufacturing syringes from a plurality of glass tubes in an intermittent horizontal rotation machine that includes first and second horizontal machine sections of intermittent rotation, comprising: vertically placing a plurality of long glass tubes in a first machine section, of the intermittent horizontal rotation machine, which rotates intermittently a plurality of stations, mounted on a central axis of a stationary machine frame;

    continuously clamping each tube by means of rotating sleeve carriers mounted on the stationary machine frame; moving a pipe to an opening station by intermittently rotating the first machine section; opening a closed bottom end of the glass tube by means of a vertical flame directed upwards, by means of a vertical burner nozzle mounted stationary in the stationary machine frame at the opening station; moving the glass tube having its lower end open, to a heating and softening station by means of the intermittent rotation of the first section of the machine; heating and softening the lower end of the glass tube by means of a horizontal flame provided by means of a burner nozzle which is placed horizontally in the stationary machine frame, in the heating and softening stations; moving the glass tube having its lower end open, to a neck forming station through the intermittent rotation of the first section of the machine; forming a neck portion at the lower end of the glass tube by means of rotary neck forming rollers mounted horizontally and rotatably on the stationary machine frame, at the collar forming station;

    moving the glass tube, having its lower end open, to a fire finishing station by means of the intermittent rotation of the first section of the machine; flaring the neck portion of the glass tube by means of a horizontal flame provided by a burner nozzle mounted horizontally on the stationary machine frame, at the fire finishing station; moving the glass tube having its neck portion at its lower end, to a heating and softening station by means of the intermittent rotation of the first section of the machine; heating and softening the neck portion of the glass tube by means of a horizontal flame which is provided by a burner nozzle which is mounted horizontally in the stationary machine frame, in the heating and softening station; moving the glass tube having its neck portion at its lower end, to a tip forming station by means of the intermittent rotation of the first machine section; forming a tip for a needle, in the neck portion of the lower end of the glass tube by means of rotary tip forming rollers mounted horizontally and rotatably on the stationary machine frame at said tip forming station;

    moving the glass tube having the tab at its lower end, to a heating and softening station by means of the intermittent rotation of the first machine section; heating and softening the tip of the glass tube by means of a horizontal flame provided by a burner nozzle mounted horizontally in the stationary machine frame, in the heating and softening station; moving the glass tube having the tip and its lower end, to a tip finishing station; finishing the tip at the lower end of the glass tube, by means of a tip finishing mechanism mounted on the stationary machine frame, by means of inserting a piercing needle into a vertical hole of the tip; moving the glass tube having its tip terminated at its lower end, to a fire finishing station by means of the intermittent rotation of the first machine section; frying the tip at the lower end of the glass tube by means of a horizontal flame provided by a burner nozzle mounted stationary in the stationary machine frame, in the fire finishing station;

    moving the glass tube having its tip terminated at its lower end, to a sizing station by means of the intermittent rotation of the first section of machine; releasing the glass tube having its tip terminated by a momentary opening of the holder, and receiving the glass tube by means of a plate which lowers the glass tube at a distance corresponding to the length of the body of the syringe, which is then clamped again by the fastener, in said sizing station; moving the glass tube to a heating and softening station by the intermittent rotation of the first machine section; heating and softening the lower end of the glass tube by means of a horizontal flame provided by a burner nozzle mounted horizontally in the stationary machine frame, in the heating and softening station, in an area where a syringe body including the tip, will be cut; moving the glass tube having the tip formed at its lower end, to a cutting station; cutting a syringe body from the glass tube having a tip formed at its lower end, by means of a horizontal flame jet provided by a burner nozzle which is mounted horizontally on the stationary machine frame, at said cutting station;

    moving the syringe body having a tip at its lower end and a closed upper end, to a second section of the machine, of an intermittent horizontal rotation machine, to rotate intermittently to a plurality of stations mounted on a central axis of a stationary machine frame; holding with a continuous rotational movement each syringe body by means of a rotary grip holder stationary mounted on the stationary machine frame, at a receiving station; moving the syringe body to a heating and softening station by intermittently rotating the second section of the machine; heating and softening the closed upper end of the syringe body by means of a horizontal flame provided by means of a burner nozzle mounted horizontally in the stationary machine frame, in the heating and softening station; moving the syringe body to an opening station by intermittently rotating the second section of the machine; opening the closed upper end of the syringe body, by means of a downward vertical flame jet, which is provided by a vertical burner nozzle mounted stationary in the stationary machine frame, in the opening station;

    moving the syringe body to a heating and softening station by intermittently rotating the second section of the machine; heating and softening the open upper end of the syringe body by means of a horizontal flame provided by a burner nozzle mounted horizontally in the stationary machine frame, in the heating and softening station; moving the syringe body to a forming station of a retaining flange, by intermittently rotating the second section of the machine; forming a perpendicular flat retaining flange at the upper end of the syringe body by means of an inclined flame jet provided by means of an inclined burner nozzle, which is mounted stationary and inclined in the stationary machine frame at said station formed from the retention tab; moving the syringe body to a fire finishing station by intermittently rotating the second section of the machine; frying the newly formed retaining flange with fire by means of a stationary mounted burner nozzle and in a horizontal position in the stationary machine frame, in said fire finishing station; moving the syringe body to a discharge station by intermittently rotating the second section of the machine;

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    unloading the finished syringe body at said discharge station; Y. moving the carrier to a conditioning station, by intermittently rotating the second section of the machine, to prepare the holder to initiate another forming cycle.