CH715672A2 - Method of manufacturing a watch case from a metal can for empty drinks. - Google Patents

Abstract

Method of manufacturing a watch or alarm clock box from a metal can (1) for empty drink, comprising the following steps: i) placing the empty can on the side in a press, resting on a portion of lateral face (4); ii) press the bobbin with the press; iii) arrange the bobbin in a folder and fold the bobbin along its median axis so that the outer face of the top and the outer face of the bottom (2) are aligned with each other, back to back ; iv) place the can in a transformation mold (20) and press the can in the mold to transform the can into a watch or alarm clock case; v) unmolding the middle thus formed.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a watch or alarm box from an empty metal beverage can, and a corresponding watch or alarm box. The box can be for example aluminum or tinplate.

State of the art

In the recycling sector, various methods are known for compacting or compressing cans to ensure that their volume is reduced, for example in order to transport them economically to a processing site.

[0003] For example, document FR2935960 describes a method making it possible to reduce the volume of an empty can by compacting. Such a process only makes it possible to facilitate the further processing of the product, which still has to be carried out. No finished product results from this process.

[0004] Document EP1238316 discloses a process for manufacturing a part of a case or a piece of stamped sheet metal jewelry. The process uses empty beverage cans. In the preparatory phase, the empty cans are machined in order to remove the bottom and the top of the cans, so as to use only the cylindrical part. Besides the fact that this process generates rejects, the preparation phase is relatively complex and expensive to implement.

[0005] In the technical field of watchmaking, various modes of implementation are known using used objects or materials, with a view to their reuse.

[0006] For example, document US Pat. No. 5,502,690 describes a method making it possible to manufacture a watch case from an empty beverage can, simply by crushing the can placed in a suitable mold. The process admittedly allows the recycling of cans, but the watch cases thus obtained do not contain any originality or any specific sign indicating that it is a green technology.

[0007] Since none of the current solutions is truly optimal, there is therefore a need for a recycling process which makes it possible to use entire cans, and which makes it possible to produce original objects at attractive costs.

Brief summary of the invention

[0008] An aim of the present invention is to provide an economical manufacturing process, making it possible to recycle beverage cans in order to obtain a useful, original and unique object.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a watch case from an empty can while making it possible to highlight the decorative part of the can.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a watch case making it possible to individualize the appearance thanks to the use of colored cans which can be chosen by the recipient of the watch.

According to the invention, these goals are achieved in particular by means of a method of manufacturing a watch or alarm box from an empty metal drink can, comprising the following steps: <tb> i) <SEP> place the empty bobbin on its side in a press, resting on a portion of the side face; <tb> ii) <SEP> press the bobbin with the press; <tb> iii) <SEP> Arrange the bobbin in a folder and fold the bobbin along its center axis so that the outer face of the top and the outer face of the bottom are aligned with each other, spine back; <tb> iv) <SEP> placing the can in a transformation mold and pressing the can into the mold to transform the can into a watch or alarm case; <tb> v) <SEP> unmold the caseband thus formed.

[0012] Such a process makes it possible to manufacture a unique, original, inexpensive watch or alarm box by recycling a common object and thus contributing to the efforts to recycle materials.

[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment, the transformation mold comprises a portion in the form of the middle part of a watch or alarm clock, allowing the shaping of the can according to the profile of a middle part. This portion allows the shaping of the can according to the desired box profile, to the desired dimensions.

[0014] According to an advantageous embodiment, the transformation mold comprises a funnel-shaped sector, the method further comprising a step of reducing the diameter of the can during the passage of the can under transformation through the funnel . These technical characteristics make it possible to plan the manufacture of various types of watch cases, with the desired dimensions.

According to another advantageous embodiment, the transformation mold comprises a mandrel adapted to push the can towards the converging section of the funnel of the transformation mold.

[0016] The invention also relates to a watch case, as obtained by the implementation of the manufacturing method stated above.

[0017] According to an advantageous embodiment, the walls of the case are sealed.

[0018] According to yet another advantageous embodiment, the outer side face of the middle part corresponds to the side face of the source can which has been used for the implementation of the watch case. In this way, we can highlight the colorful decorative elements of the can to make an original, playful, and environmentally friendly case, being made of recycled material. Each case is unique and original, depending on the bobbin used and its decorative elements.

Brief description of the figures

Examples of implementation of the invention are indicated in the description illustrated by the appended figures in which: <tb> • <SEP> Figure 1 is a schematic perspective representation of an exemplary beverage can; <tb> • <SEP> Figure 2 is a top view of the bobbin of Figure 1 after crushing; <tb> • <SEP> FIG. 3A is a top view of the bobbin of FIG. 2 and of the central axis M-M serving for the subsequent folding step; <tb> • <SEP> Figure 3B shows the bobbin during the folding phase; <tb> • <SEP> Figure 3C illustrates the bobbin at the end of folding; <tb> • <SEP> Figure 4 illustrates the bobbin at the end of folding and before shaping; <tb> • <SEP> FIG. 5 illustrates, in perspective, an example of tooling used to transform a folded can such as in FIG. 4, into a watch case as in FIG. 6. <tb> • <SEP> FIG. 6 illustrates, in perspective, an example of a watch case obtained according to the method previously described.

Example (s) of embodiment of the invention

Figures 1 to 6 illustrate a method of manufacturing watch case 10 from a beverage can 1 made of aluminum, tinplate or similar material.

FIG. 1 illustrates a can 1, serving for example as a container for a drink or other liquid product. The can 1 consists of a bottom 2 and a top 3, between which a face 4 or cylindrical side wall is arranged. The can 1 is made of metal, preferably aluminum. Conventionally, the cylindrical side face comprises one or more patterns or colors, generally serving to identify the product contained in the can.

The main steps of the method according to the invention are indicated in the functional flowchart of Figure 7. These steps are described in more detail in the following, in relation to Figures 2 to 6, illustrating the can 1 in the various intermediate stages, until obtaining a watch case.

First, in step 20, the can 1 is placed on the side, so that the side face rests on a flat base of a press or other device suitable for performing an operation. flattening.

In step 21, in relation to Figure 2, the can is crushed by the press, until a planar shape is obtained, the bottom 2 and the top 3 then being coplanar, separated one of the other by the lateral face, flattened.

In step 22, in relation to Figures 3A to 3C, the bobbin 1 is arranged in a folder, or other suitable device, to perform a folding along its median axis M-M, shown in Figure 3A. Figure 3B shows the bobbin 1 during folding, before the rear of the bottom 2 and the rear of the top 3 come into contact with each other. Figure 3C shows bobbin 1 folded. In this state, the top 3 and the bottom 2 are aligned and placed back to back. The side face 4 is folded in two, and extends laterally, in the extension of the bottom 2 and the top 3.

In step 23, the can 1 is placed in a shrinking mold 20, having a funnel-shaped section followed by a watchband-shaped section, as illustrated in Figure 5. This mold makes it possible to reduce the diameter of the folded can and to perform a shaping to obtain a watch case profile 10. A mandrel 21 makes it possible to implement this new transformation of the can, which adopts the profile of the mold 20 as the force applied by the mandrel 21. During this transformation, the bottom 2 of the can forms the bottom 11 of the watch case 10. The top 3 of the can forms the internal faces 12 of the caseband. Finally, the outer side face 4 of the can is transformed into the outer side face 13 of the middle part. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a watch case 10 resulting from such a transformation, after demoulding in step 24.

One of the advantages of this method consists in using the patterns and colors of the lateral face 4 of the can to form the lateral face of the middle part, as if the can had simply been narrowed. By using cans with playful and varied colored aspects, the process makes it possible to create, in a very economical way, original and varied watch cases, while contributing to the recycling of the cans used.

[0028] The transformation does not alter the integrity of the metal, so that the housing thus formed is sealed.

The case manufactured according to the previously described method is then used in a conventional manner to manufacture a watch.

Reference numbers used in figures

1 Empty metal can 2 Bottom of the can 3 Top of the can 4 Tubular side face of the bobbin 10 Watch or alarm box 11 Bottom 12 Internal face of the middle part 13 External side face of the middle part

Claims (9)

1. A method of manufacturing a watch or alarm box (10) from a metal can (1) for an empty drink, comprising the following steps: i) placing (20) the empty can on the side in a press, resting on a portion of the side face; ii) press (21) the bobbin with the press; iii) placing (22) the bobbin in a folder and folding the bobbin along its center axis so that the outer face of the top and the outer face of the bottom are in alignment with each other, back to back; iv) placing (23) the can in a processing mold and pressing the can in the mold to transform the can into a watch or alarm case; v) unmolding (24) the caseband thus formed. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transformation mold (20) comprises a portion in the form of the middle part of a watch or alarm clock, allowing the shaping of the can according to the profile of a middle part. 3. Method according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the transformation mold comprises a funnel-shaped sector, the method further comprising a step of reducing the diameter of the can during the passage of the can in. transformation through the funnel. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the transformation mold comprises a mandrel adapted to urge the can towards the converging section of the funnel of the transformation mold. 5. Watch or alarm box (10) obtained according to the manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 6. Watch or alarm box (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the walls are sealed. 7. Watch or alarm box (10) according to any one of claims 5 or 6, wherein the outer side face (13) of the middle part corresponds to the side face (4) of the can (1) source having used for the implementation of the watch or alarm box. 8. Watch or alarm box (10) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the outer face of the bottom of the middle corresponds to the bottom of the can (1) source used for the implementation of the watch or alarm box. 9. Watch or alarm box (10) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the internal face of the bottom of the middle part corresponds to the upper face of the can (1) source having served for setting. artwork of the watch or alarm box.