Patent ID: 9458045
Filing Date: 2016-10-04
CPC Classification: C03B

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus for the sealing of glass tubes in a hot softened state, comprising: a heating device configured for softening an end portion of the glass tube, a conveying device configured for continuously conveying the glass tube along a conveying path and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the glass tube along the heating device, and a pulling device configured for pulling off an end portion of the glass tube softened by the heating device, wherein the conveying device is further configured for rotating the glass tube about its longitudinal axis while it is conveyed along the heating device, and the pulling device is rotationally fixed or rotates at an angular speed which is different to the angular speed of the glass tube, for pulling off the softened end portion from the glass tube in such a manner that the glass tube is sealed by fusion at the severing zone, wherein the conveying device comprises a plurality of contact pins, which contact the glass tube in sections, for pushing the glass tube along the heating device, and at least one stationary supporting strip inclined obliquely upward on which the moving glass tube is supported; wherein the glass tube is put into a rotation about the longitudinal axis by the continuous conveying along the conveying path and by rolling on the inclined supporting strip, to be conveyed transverse to the longitudinal axis along the pulling device in a continuous rolling forward movement, wherein at least one drive is assigned to the pulling device for moving the pulling device transverse to the longitudinal direction in correspondence to the movement of the glass tube while the end portion is pulled off from the severing zone, wherein the respective drive is controlled by a controlling device such that the pulling device is displaced along a pulling-off trajectory corresponding to the movement of the glass tube in the direction of the longitudinal axis and/or transverse to the longitudinal axis.