The elimination of a fault in glass containers produced automatically

Abstract

One of the processes by which glass containers are produced automatically is described briefly. Among the faults to which containers thus produced are subject is one in which a strand of glass is produced within the container. This is regarded as serious if the container is to be used to hold a food-stuff since there is the danger that the strand may be broken and, subsequently, the glass fragments may be swallowed by the consumer. Two hypotheses to explain the formation of this fault are advanced but only one is found to be consistent with observations obtained by examining containers showing the fault. Using this hypothesis, experiments were planned and carried out to find the conditions under which the fault could most easily be produced. Thereafter, steps taken to prevent the occurrence of the fault are described. The importance of controlling the temperature of the glass during an intermediate stage of production and of preventing excess pressure build-up around the part-formed container at a later stage in the process are emphasized.