EP0013530B1 - Device for pressing and plying caps on bottle necks - Google Patents

Abstract

The device comprises a first pair of pressure chambers, the facing inner walls of which are provided with contoured pleating pads, and a second pair or pressure chambers, the facing inner walls of which are provided with contoured pressing and lapping pads, each said pad being outwardly shaped to substantially correspond to the shape of a bottle neck. The pleating pads have a substantially constant thickness when the pressing and lapping pads have lateral end portions of a greater thickness than the mid-portion thereof. The method comprises the step of first pressure applying the pleating pads, then the pressing and lapping pads to tightly press the cap onto the bottle neck with formation of two symmetrical pairs of outwardly extending pleats, to retract all the pads and to bring back the pressing and lapping pads into pressure contact against the neck to cause said lateral end portions thereof to overflow around the bottle neck, thereby to fold or lap over the thus formed pleats. The apparatus is more particularly useful for overcapping champagne or sparkling wine bottles.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for folding, pressing and smoothing the folds of overcap capsules placed on the neck or the neck of a bottle, more particularly for bottles of champagne or sparkling wines.

There are known devices comprising chambers for pressurized fluid disposed in the vicinity of one another in an annular or closed configuration and being opposite each other, in pairs, these chambers comprising elastic extensible walls, the opposite walls of two opposite chambers which can move towards one another by introducing into said chambers a pressurized fluid. In these devices, developed to overcome the drawbacks, essentially due to their complexity and their fragility, of mechanical folding and pressing devices, the simultaneous introduction into the various chambers of a pressurized fluid causes an extension, one towards the other. the others, internal walls of the chambers to come into pressure contact with a bottle cap disposed on a bottle neck. The walls of the chambers thus take support laterally on each other to finally come to apply tightly against the neck of the bottle, which achieves the pressing of the capsule on the latter by providing folds, which, in a later step will then folded down or smoothed.

Experience has shown that these devices do not make it possible to fold or correctly fold the capsules having a certain rigidity. The walls of the pressure relief chambers have in themselves, at the beginning of the expansion by introduction of a pressurized fluid, only a very low rigidity which does not allow sufficient pressure to be transmitted over a relatively thick capsule to form folds thereon according to perfectly determined positions, the capsules being generally simply pressed on the neck of the bottle with the formation of numerous undulations or wavy streaks which provide a deplorable final appearance to the capsule, by affecting on the other hand greatly the visibility of the indications or marks normally affixed on this capsule. Furthermore, these devices prove to be fragile and unreliable in use.

There are also known devices using shaped pads that can be moved two by two in diametrically perpendicular directions to press a cap on a bottle neck and thereby form, on the periphery of the neck, four folds extending outwards, these folds must however be folded down and pressed on the neck of the bottle in a subsequent pressing station.

French Patent No. 1,322,257 further describes a machine of the type of the device mentioned last and performing, in a single station and in four stages, the folding, pressing and smoothing of the folds. However, in this document, the pressure members are made up of rubber blocks supported by frames mounted to slide in a main frame and can be actuated individually by means of pneumatic cylinders against return springs, according to a complex arrangement and difficult to implement. In addition, the blocks have a convex shape which requires, to obtain an enveloping application on the neck of the bottle, a very high pressure and a very significant crushing of the central area of the block probably harmful to the neck of the bottle if the slightest imbalance is created between the two blocks of each part. The effectiveness of the latter turns out to be insufficient, however, since it is necessary to add lateral air bladders to the smoothing blocks, which further requires another set of two pressurized fluid intake pipes for the bladders and means of synchronized valves to activate all these elements in sequence.

The object of the present invention is to propose a device making it possible, in a single treatment station, to carry out successively the pressing with formation of folds then the folding back with smoothing of these folds, in a reliable, precise and rapid manner, for significant variations dimensions or tolerances of the bottles or bottle caps used ,. as well as for a wide range of bottle neck or overcap caps.

To do this, according to a characteristic of the present invention, the pressing and pleating device with smoothing of an overcaping capsule placed on the neck of a bottle, comprising two pairs of pressing members opposite opposite arranged in a crown in a rigid envelope structure, and fluid pressure means for selectively moving the pressing members of each pair towards one another, is characterized in that it comprises, in the rigid envelope two pairs pressure chambers facing each other, means for simultaneously supplying pressurized fluid to the chambers of each pair of chambers, a pair of pleating pads, shaped to correspond to the transverse shape of the neck of a bottle, arranged on the facing walls of the chambers of the first pair of chambers, and a pair of pressing and smoothing pads, shaped to correspond to the transverse shape of the neck of a bottle, arranged on the walls of the chambers of the second pair of chambers, the pressing and smoothing pads having, in cross section, in the vicinity of the middle zone of the pressure application surface, a part of thickness reduced compared to that of the opposite lateral ends of these pads, the folding pads having, in cross section, a constant thickness over the width of their pressure application surface, this thickness being such that the pads wrinkles only slightly deform.

• La figure 1 représente de façon schématique, en coupe transversale, et en position de repos, un dispositif de pressage, de plissement et de lissage d'une capsule de surbouchage sur un col de bouteille selon la présente invention;
• La figure 2 est une vue en coupe longitudinale du dispositif de la figure 1;
• La figure 3 représente en détail un col de bouteille sur lequel a été apposée simplement une capsule dans la configuration préalable représentée sur la figure 1;
• La figure 4 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 1 montrant la première étape d'application des patins de plissement;
• La figure 5 est une vue en détail du col de la bouteille avec la capsule partiellement appliquée suivant l'étape représentée sur la figure 4;
• La figure 6 est une vue analogue à la figure 4, montrant l'étape ultérieure d'application des patins de lissage;
• La figure 7 est une vue sortie de col de bouteille avec la capsule appliquée dans l'étape de la figure 6, montrant les plis formés;
• La figure 8 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 6 montrant l'étape ultérieure de lissage des plis après recul des patins de plissement;
• La figure 9 est une vue en détail du col de la bouteille avec les plis ainsi rabattus;
• La figure 10 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 1, représentant un mode de réalisation préférentiel du dispositif selon la présente invention; et
• La figure 11 représente dans un stade analogue à celui de la figure 6, le dispositif de la figure 10 en position de pressage de la capsule et de formation de plis.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the following description of embodiments, given by way of illustration but in no way limiting, made in relation to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 shows schematically, in cross section, and in the rest position, a device for pressing, folding and smoothing an overcap on a bottle neck according to the present invention;
• Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 shows in detail a bottle neck on which has been affixed simply a cap in the prior configuration shown in Figure 1;
• Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 showing the first step of applying the folding pads;
• Figure 5 is a detailed view of the neck of the bottle with the capsule partially applied according to the step shown in Figure 4;
• Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the subsequent step of applying the smoothing pads;
• Figure 7 is an exit view of the bottle neck with the cap applied in the step of Figure 6, showing the folds formed;
• FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 6 showing the subsequent step of smoothing the pleats after the pleating pads have receded;
• Figure 9 is a detailed view of the neck of the bottle with the folds thus folded;
• Figure 10 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, showing a preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention; and
• Figure 11 shows in a stage similar to that of Figure 6, the device of Figure 10 in the pressing position of the capsule and fold formation.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, two diametrically opposite pleating pads, and orthogonal to the previous ones, two pressing and smoothing pads 2, also diametrically opposite, are formed in one piece on the walls internal of corresponding respective pressure chambers 3 and 4. The walls 6 of the pressure chambers opposite the respective pads 1 and 2 bear on the internal face 7 of a tubular structure 8 forming a frame enclosing all of the pressure chambers.

The elastic folding pads 1 have, over the major part of the width of their pressure application surface 9, substantially the same thickness d. The pressure chambers 3 associated with the pleating pads 1 have a cross section substantially matching the curvature of the tubular structure 8.

The pressing and smoothing pads 2 have, in cross section, a thickness D which varies according to the development of their pressure application surface 10. These pads 2 have, at the level of the middle zone of the pressure application surface , a reduced thickness Dm and, in the vicinity of the lateral ends of the pressure application surface, a thickened section Dr. The pressure chambers 4, associated with the pads 2, have a general appearance substantially matching the curvature of the cylindrical structure of contention 8 and a substantially triangular cross section with a corner part forming a corner 11 projecting inwardly up to the level of the middle part of reduced thickness of the pads 2.

The pads 1 and 2, as well as the pressure chambers 3 and 4, are made from a flexible elastic elastic plastic material, all of these elements being made in one piece in the embodiment of the figure 1. The adjacent parts of the partitions delimiting the pressure chambers 3 and 4 are thus connected to each other, as well as the outer walls of the chambers bearing against the internal face 7 of the cylindrical structure forming a chassis 8.

In the pressure chambers 3 and 4 are arranged cores 12 and 13 having the abovementioned conformations of the pressure chambers in their rest position, the walls of these chambers thus resting, in this rest position, against the external faces of these cores 12 and 13, as shown in FIG. 1, so that the internal space of these pressure chambers, in this configuration, is entirely occupied by said cores. In these cores are provided pressurized fluid pipes 14, which open, through openings 15, in the corresponding chambers 3 and 4 at the level of the internal faces of the pads 1 and 2, these pipes 14 being connected to supply pipes. of pressurized fluid 16 opening to the outside, passing through the passive zones of the walls of the pressure chambers, as shown in FIG. 2. The pressure supply lines 16 are mounted, in the embodiment of FIG. 2 , in a cover 17 resting on the upper part of the cylindrical structure 8 and fixed to the latter, these supply pipes 16 being designed to be connected to a system for supplying pressurized fluid, for example pressurized air.

The cores 12 and 13 serve as molding cores for the manufacture of the pressure chambers equipped with the pleating and pressing-smoothing pads, for example by casting, injection or spraying of an elastic material, for example an elastic rubber, preferably a natural rubber.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11, the support structure forming a chassis 8 has a rectangular shape with a square section, the different pressure chambers 3 and 4 being distinct and produced in the form of unitary assemblies around their internal cores. respective 12, 13, which here have an at least partially planar back face for their mounting in abutment against the internal faces of the frame 8 by means of locking screws 20 each received in a shoulder portion of the back face of these cores directly taking bearing on the internal face of the chassis 8, the main parts set back from these dorsal faces serving to hold by pinching, between this chassis 8, the portions of external walls of the pressure chambers. As in the previous embodiment, the mounting screws 20 can be used for the passage of the pressure fluid supply lines or, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, for closing plugs for the drilling hole of the pressure lines. fluid under pressure.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the pressing-smoothing pads 2 have, at their median zones, a thickened convex zone 21 separating two zones of reduced thickness Dm. In this embodiment as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 9 and 10, it is advantageous to provide a flexible reinforcement 22, embedded under the pressure application surface 10 of the pressing and smoothing pads 2.

The operating mode of the device according to the present invention will now be described in relation to the phases shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 6 and 8. The pressure chambers are not stressed by the fluid under pressure, that is to say say with the internal walls, bearing the pads 1 and 2, bearing against the respective cores 12 and 13, the facing pressure application faces 9, respectively 10, of the pads 1 and 2 define, at the center of the device, a passage of evolving shape converging upwards, corresponding substantially to the external contour of a cap or overcap capsule 19 normally affixed to a bottle already provided with a stopper, possibly held by a wire cap, as shown in FIG. 2. The pressurized fluid is then introduced into the conjugate pair of pressure chambers 3, to bring the pleating pads 1 to pressurely press against the side of the bottle, applying, in doing so, the cap against the latter ier, the edges 30, delimiting the pressure application surface 9 of these pads 1, producing an internal fold initiation, as can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. As can be seen in FIG. 4, during this application, the folding pads 1 only deform very slightly due to their relatively large thickness d.

As shown in FIG. 6, the pads 1 being kept applied to the neck, the pressurized fluid is then also sent to the conjugate pressure chambers 4, which causes the internal walls of these chambers to peel off from the corresponding cores 13 to bring the pads 2 in contact under pressure against the neck of the bottle, thus pressing the not yet pressed areas of the capsule 19 against the neck of the bottle and simultaneously forming the outwardly projecting folds 20 at the contact area of the lateral parts of the pressing and smoothing pads 2 against the lateral faces of the pleating pads 1. In a third step, the pressure is successively released in the pressure chambers 4 and 3, so that all of the pads 1 and 2 return to their rest position shown in Figure 1, the capsule 19 on the neck of the bottle keeping the configuration shown in Figure 7, that is to say tightly pressed uniformly on the neck of the bottle except for the narrow areas of the folds 20, which are formed with precision, on the sides of the neck.

In the subsequent step, the pressure chambers 4 of the pressing and smoothing pads 2 are again supplied with pressurized fluid to bring the pads 2 back into pressure contact against the neck of the bottle 18. The pleating pads 1, remaining in their recessed position, due to the extra thickness Dr of the lateral parts of the pressing and smoothing pads 2, and the reserve of elastic material R (FIG. 10) formed by the connection zone between these lateral parts of the pads 2 and the body of the corresponding pressure chamber 4, these lateral ends of the pads 2 can deform in order to conform more closely to the outline of the neck of the bottle and come to occupy the position shown in FIG. 8, that is to say beyond the folding zones 20, in order to fold the folds in a controlled manner over the neck of the bottle and thus smooth them out, as shown by the arrows 21 in FIG. 9. This overflow, making the pads more enveloped pressing and smoothing 2 around the neck of the bottle, is favored, in addition by the reserve of an elastic material R, by the generally trapezoidal shape of the internal wall of the pressure chamber carrying the pressing and smoothing pad and by the central zone of reduced thickness of the latter. The embodiment of FIG. 11, with the extra thickness 23 or with the flexible reinforcement 22, allows a more regular pressure application of the pressing and smoothing pads 2 by limiting the amplitude of the overflow of the lateral wings of this pad around the bottle neck and thus limiting the risks of entrainment by sliding in rotation of the cap pressed on the bottle neck. An important feature of the present invention resides in that this overflow of the lateral wings of the pressing and smoothing pads is obtained practically without extension of the wall of the pressure chamber, by pivoting of the portion of greater thickness Dr and of the reserve of elastic material R around the end parts of the central zone of reduced thickness of the pressing and smoothing pads, these deployment and contraction operations thus being carried out without creating any noticeable tension within the material of the wall, thereby guaranteeing a duration of life and increased reliability of the device.

The device according to the present invention, in addition to its simplicity and reliability, makes it possible to accommodate different diameters of bottle neck, for example, by admitting, for a device calculated for a nominal diameter of bottle neck of 32 mm, variations in bottle necks between approximately 25 and 40 mm in diameter, the actuation pressures being between approximately 2 and 4 bars. The device according to the present invention also presents great security against possible bursting due to overpressures in the absence of the neck of the bottle, unlike existing devices.

Claims (8)

1. A device for pressing and smoothingly pleating an overcapping cap disposed on a bottle neck, which comprises two pairs of pressing members facing each other and arranged to define a ring in a rigid envelope structure and fluid pressure means to selectively move said pressing members of each pair towards each other, including: in said rigid envelope (8), two pairs of facing pressure chambers (3, 4), means (16) for admitting simultaneously pressurized fluid into the chambers of each pair thereof, a pair of pleating pads (1), shaped to substantially correspond to the transversal shape of a bottle neck, provided on the walls facing the chambers of said first pair of chambers (3), and a pair of pressing and pleating pads (2), shaped in order to match the transversal shape of a bottle neck, provided on the chamber walls of said second pair of chambers (4), pressing and pleating pads (2) showing, in transversal cross section, adjacent to the middle region of the pressure applying surface (10), at least one reduced thickness portion (Dm) as compared to that (Dr) of laterally opposed ends of said pads, said pleating pads (1) showing, in transversal cross section, a steady thickness (d) along their pressure applying surface (9) width, said thickness being such that said pleating pads only slightly distort.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said pressure chambers (4) associated to said pressing and pleating pads (2) show a transversal section of generally triangular configuration, with an angle portion extending up to the region adjacent to the middle region of said associated pressing and pleating pad (2).

3. The device of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said pressing (1) and pressing/pleating (2) pads are integral with the walls of said associated pressure chambers (3, 4).

4. The device of any claim 1-3, wherein the walls (6) of said various pressure chambers (3, 4) opposed to associated pads (1, 2) are applied against the internal face (7) of said rigid envelope structure (8) including said pressure chambers.

5. The device of any claim 1-4, wherein in said pressure chambers (3, 4) are disposed cores (12, 13) having a shape matching the transversal section of said pressure chambers and on which resilient walls of said pressure chambers bear when at rest.

6. The device of claim 5, which includes, extending through said cores (12, 13), tubes (14) for supplying pressure chambers (3, 4) with pressure fluid.

7. The device of claim 5 or claim 6, wherein said cores (12, 13) are fixed to said rigid envelope structure (8) including said pressure chambers.

8. The device of any claim 5-7, wherein said cores (12, 13) are shaped so that, in a rest condition, facing walls defining pressure chamber pads form, in longitudinal cross section, a changing section channel matching the shape of a bottle neck.

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