EP2846945B1 - Method and machine for producing a muselet for bottles of effervescent drinks - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of closing and capping bottles containing effervescent drinks, such as champagne bottles. These bottles therefore contain drinks exerting a certain amount of gas pressure, particularly on the closure member of the bottle, which must be hermetically closed for months and more often for years.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

The known bottles each have a neck provided with a ring and the closure member conventionally comprises a cap including cork partially embedded in the neck and retained by a wire cap. The cap is generally metallic and essentially comprises two parts: a cage around the cap, and a belt that connects the free ends of the tabs constituting the cage and which is clamped under the neck ring of the bottle. When the cap is made of cork or an equivalent material, a metal cap can be inserted between the flat and protruding part of the cap and the associated part of the cage, so that the metal cap does not sink into the cap. In fact, depending on the type of beverage contained in the bottle, the metal capsule is present or not.

In the document FR 2,589,760 there is described a method for making wirewires comprising forming a ring from which four tabs, formed by twisting two wires over a portion of their length, extend; the ends of the legs form loops wrapped around the belt of the muzzle, of oval overall shape and which has a ring intended to be twisted to lock the belt on the neck of the bottle. The characteristic of this cap relates to the fact that at least one of the tabs is twisted in the opposite direction of the twisting direction of the locking ring.

Multiple machines and processes have existed for years, intended to form these closure bodies and implant them on the bottlenecks of effervescent beverage bottles.

As an illustration, the document WO 89/11360 describes a machine intended to assemble the cage and the belt of a muselet, at the level of the loops disposed at the ends of the four legs of the cage of the muselet.

We also know the document DE 696 00 632 which discloses a machine for forming wire caps and assembling them with the capsule covering the cork.

The prior art further includes the application WO 2010/143220 A1 which describes a machine for making cages, more specifically for twisting two son intended to form the four legs of the cage of the muzzle. Another wire is used to form the belt which is then associated with the cage.

In order to improve this type of closing and sealing device for bottles of effervescent drinks, the applicant has obtained the patent FR 2 918 042 on which is based the preamble of claim 1 and which protects a wire cage whose cage comprises three legs (or legs) arranged in Y and which meet at the top of the cage. This muzzle allows a saving of thread seen the reduced number of legs, especially since the three legs are not necessarily all twisted and / or formed of two son.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the state of the art and in particular to manufacture in a simple and ergonomic manner of the cap of the type comprising three legs.

To do this is proposed a method of manufacturing a Y-shaped muselet for bottles of effervescent drink, said muselet comprising a cage cooperating with a belt, the cage being formed by a first and a second wire and the wire cap by a third wire.

• Le tortillage d'une extrémité du premier fil sur une zone située approximativement au milieu du deuxième fil, les fils faisant partie d'un même premier plan et y étant orientés de façon à former un angle sensiblement droit entre l'extrémité non tortillée du premier fil et l'une des extrémités libre du deuxième fil, et à former un angle d'environ 135° entre les extrémités libres du deuxième fil ;
• La formation d'une première boucle à chaque extrémité libre des premier et deuxième fils, dans ledit premier plan ;
• La formation d'une deuxième boucle dans un plan sensiblement perpendiculaire au premier plan, par pliage ;
• Le pliage des trois fils à une certaine distance dudit tortillage, dans un plan sensiblement perpendiculaire audit premier plan.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the formation of the cage comprises:

• Twisting an end of the first wire on an area located approximately in the middle of the second wire, the son forming part of the same first plane and being oriented there to form a substantially straight angle between the non-twisted end of the first wire and one of the free ends of the second wire, and to form an angle of about 135 ° between the free ends of the second wire;
• Forming a first loop at each free end of the first and second wires in said first plane;
• The formation of a second loop in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane, by folding;
• The folding of the three son at a certain distance from said twisting, in a plane substantially perpendicular to said first plane.

Furthermore a closed periphery belt is inserted and passes in the three second loops by translation in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first plane of the cage, and the three second loops are then closed by pressing their free ends in a direction parallel to said first plan.

Preferably the belt must remain free in the loops after their closure, as will be explained later.

In addition and more specifically, the manufacture of the belt of the muzzle consists of: cutting a length of wire, greater than the circumference of the ring of the neck of the bottle; - Bend the wire in a portion of a circle, substantially in the middle of said wire; -replying each free end of the wire by forming a right angle at a distance from the free end so as to obtain an overlap of said ends for a certain distance; - wiggle the wires at the overlap area to form a closed periphery; - deform said periphery to create two points of inflection in its curvature, each inflection points delimiting a portion of a circle. The smaller diameter circle portion constitutes a surplus of wire for creating an unclogging ring.

In order not to have any element that protrudes outside the muzzle, it crushes pressing or ends of yarn protruding from the twisting of said belt.

Interestingly for balancing efforts, the belt is oriented vis-à-vis the cage so that the two loops of the cage angularly spaced 90 ° are placed near each of said points of inflection. Thus the two legs of the cage placed at 90 ° to one another are at the base of the excess wire of the belt which forms the unclogging ring.

The belt must remain free with respect to the legs of the cage, particularly with respect to the two tabs placed at 90 °. Thus the cages provided with their belts can be stacked with the legs at 90 ° arranged alternately and joined. This characteristic makes it possible to obtain stackings (piles) straight and well wedged.

Advantageously a heel is formed in each of said tabs, above said belt, by pressing said wire of the tab in said first plane, towards the inside of the cage. This feature allows the second loop legs (or legs) to be housed, recessed under the neck of the neck of the bottle, and thereby the belt to be perfectly housed.

In addition, said second loops of the legs are oriented such that their opening zone is turned towards the top of the neck of the bottle.

Preferably, said second loops are oriented such that their free leg is disposed towards the outside of the cage. Given the arrangement of the three legs, this feature is quite suitable and ensures good retention of the cap by the muzzle. This characteristic thus makes a kind of jamming of the opening by the ring of the bottle.

The invention is further directed to a machine for making Y-shaped bottles for effervescent beverage bottles which comprises: - means for manufacturing a cage provided with three legs; means for associating a belt by simultaneous passage through the three second loops of said cage.

• des moyens pour fabriquer une cage comprenant les étapes de :
  • des moyens de tortillage d'une extrémité d'un premier fil sur une zone située approximativement au milieu d'un deuxième fil, les fils faisant partie d'un même premier plan et y étant orientés de façon à former un angle A sensiblement droit entre l'extrémité non tortillée du premier fil et l'une des extrémités libre du deuxième fil, et à former un angle B d'environ 135° entre les extrémités libres du deuxième fil ;
  • des vérins pneumatiques pour la formation d'une première boucle à chaque extrémité libre des premier et deuxième fils, dans ledit premier plan et pour la formation d'une deuxième boucle dans un plan sensiblement perpendiculaire au premier plan, par pliage ;
  • un gabarit pour le pliage des trois fils à une certaine distance dudit tortillage, dans un plan sensiblement perpendiculaire audit premier plan ;
  • des moyens pour associer une ceinture par passage simultané à travers les trois deuxièmes boucles de ladite cage par translation selon une direction sensiblement perpendiculaire audit premier plan de la cage, et des moyens pour refermer les trois deuxièmes extrémités libres dans une direction parallèle audit premier plan.

Interestingly, the machine for making Y-shaped bottles for effervescent beverage bottles comprises:

• means for manufacturing a cage comprising the steps of:
  • means for twisting an end of a first wire on an area approximately in the middle of a second wire, the wires being part of the same first plane and being oriented therein to form a substantially straight angle A between the non-twisted end of the first wire and one of the free ends of the second wire, and to form an angle B of about 135 ° between the free ends of the second wire;
  • pneumatic cylinders for forming a first loop at each free end of the first and second wires, in said first plane and for forming a second loop in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane, by folding;
  • a template for folding the three wires at a distance from said twisting, in a plane substantially perpendicular to said first plane;
  • means for associating a belt by simultaneous passage through the three second loops of said cage by translation in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first plane of the cage, and means for closing the three second free ends in a direction parallel to said first plane.

More precisely, the pneumatic cylinders are adapted to actuate two parallel axes rotating relative to one another. As will be explained later, the pneumatic cylinders are adapted to actuate motors with horizontal or vertical axis depending on the orientation of the loops to be formed.

Regarding the formation of the cage itself, the machine includes the jig which is capsule-shaped support substantially in said first plane, and three peripheral pads at each leg and intended to bend said legs by pressure on the jig.

Advantageously, the means for forming the belt of the muzzle comprise several positions arranged carousel. This reduces the size of the machine. A similar provision may be provided for the posts necessary for the manufacture of the cage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

• la figure 1, une vue en perspective d'une cage d'un muselet obtenu par un procédé selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2, une vue en perspective d'un muselet obtenu par un procédé selon l'invention ;
• la figure 3, une vue des moyens de formation d'une première boucle aux extrémités libres des fils ;
• la figure 4, une vue en perspective des moyens de formation d'une deuxième boucle aux extrémités libres des fils ; et
• la figure 5, une vue des moyens de pliage des trois fils pour former le volume de la cage.

[001] Other features, details and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the description which follows, with reference to the appended figures, which illustrate:

• the figure 1 , a perspective view of a cage of a muselet obtained by a method according to the invention;
• the figure 2 a perspective view of a muselet obtained by a method according to the invention;
• the figure 3 a view of the means for forming a first loop at the free ends of the wires;
• the figure 4 a perspective view of the means for forming a second loop at the free ends of the wires; and
• the figure 5 , a view of the folding means of the three son to form the volume of the cage.

For the sake of clarity, identical or similar elements are marked with identical reference signs throughout the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

The figure 1 thus illustrates a wire cage obtained by a method according to the invention. It is clearly seen that this cage has three legs (or legs) respectively formed by a first 1 and a second 2 son. As shown in figure 2 a belt 3 formed by a third wire 3 is associated with the cage to form the muzzle.

Interestingly, the formation of the cage comprises twisting an end 10 of the first wire 1 on an area 20 substantially in the middle of the second wire 2. At this stage, the son 1, 2 are part of the same foreground , substantially coincident with the plane of the top of the cage once formed. In addition the son are here oriented so as to form in the first plane: a substantially straight angle A (90 °) between the non-twisted end of the first wire 1 and one end of the second wire 2; an angle B of about 135 ° between the free ends of the second wire 2. The angles A and B are clearly represented on the figure 1 . The template 19 used to place the wires in this configuration is visible on the figure 4 . In view from above the son thus oriented form a Y which gives the generic name of the muselet. Provided that the necessary length of wire is determined, no loss of material is made.

The next step is to form a first loop 5 at each free end of the first 1 and second 2 wire in said first plane. These loops 5 are somehow security loops. They can be formed by an apparatus as represented on the figure 3 which comprises in particular three pneumatically actuated motors, each carrying an axis 15 and an eccentric tip 16 between which are placed the three ends of the Y-shaped wires and retained over most of their length in a jig such as 19. A rotation of motors can simultaneously form the first three loops 5 in said first plane.

A second loop 6 is then formed by folding the wire at the heel of the first loop 5, at each of said first loops 5. The folding takes place in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane and it makes it possible to form second loops 6 open up as will be discussed below.

Another step of the method consists in bending each of the wires at a certain distance from said twisting zone 20 in order to make them take the upper outer shape of the wire. For this and as illustrated by the figure 5 , the son are placed and pressed against a jig 17 in the form of a cap, said jig being further grooved in order to accommodate and position the three branches of the Y contained throughout their length in the foreground. The muzzle is positioned so that the second loops are turned away from the face of the jig. Three pads 18 arranged at the three son ensure their folding substantially at right angles to the first plane, each in a plane substantially perpendicular to said first plane. Thus, a wire cage is formed as shown in FIG. figure 1 .

To form the muzzle, we come to associate a belt 3 contained in a single plane and inserted simultaneously in the three second loops 6. The figure 2 illustrates this assembly. Given its specific shape, the belt 3 is simply moved by a translation perpendicular to the first plane, so that it fits into the three loops 6 open towards the top of the cage. 'Upwards' here means 'towards the junction portion by twisting the wires of the cage'.

Of course, once this combination has been achieved, the three loops 6 are closed, for example by pressing, on themselves, enclosing the belt 3 while leaving it free, that is to say not totally fixed with respect to the loops. 6.

In order to improve the behavior of the muzzle on the neck of the bottle, a heel 7 can be formed just above the closing zone of the second loop 6. This heel consists of a folding of the wire by forming an angle substantially straight; we seek here to conform the wire with the profile of the bottle and more specifically with the collar of the neck so that the wire fits perfectly this shape and takes full support on the lower surface of the ring.

It will now be specified a preferred way of making the belt 3. Cut a length of wire, of course greater than the circumference of the neck ring of the bottle on which the muzzle must be adapted. Curve the wire in a portion of circle 30 located substantially in the middle of the length some thread. Each end of the wire 3 is folded at a right angle at a distance from each end, so as to obtain an overlap of the ends for a certain distance. The ends are twisted at the overlap zone 31; this results in forming a closed outline of the wire 3. Any known material allowing the twisting can be used such as for example a system with pinions and rack; the two wires pass between the gables in order to be mutually twisted. Then, for example using an axis, and while maintaining the wire between two stops, one draws in a specific direction to deform the belt 3 and to form including two points of inflection 32, 33 at the level of two stops disposed outside the closed contour of the belt 3. Finally, the two inflection points separate a first zone whose circumference substantially corresponds to the first circle portion 30 and a second zone which corresponds to the unclogging ring 34.

The twisting of the belt 3 may have a wire end protruding outwardly of the cage; we then choose to exert pressure on this point that exceeds because likely to disrupt the conveying of the wire in the production line, especially in the trunking transport. Indeed, exceeding one end of the wire towards the outside of the volume defined by the cage may cause the manufacturing process to be stopped, either by direct detection by sensors or by hooking up in the conveying zones of the wires, in particular for high speed production. The outer circumference of the belt must therefore be smooth, without asperities.

Moreover, the cage 1, 2 and the belt 3 are advantageously oriented in the following manner: the two loops forming an angle of 90 ° between them are placed at the points of inflection 32, 33 of the belt 3. Thus the third buckle is placed near the zone of squirming 31. This arrangement ensures better resistance to the forces exerted by the cap on the muzzle.

The second loops 6 of the cage are arranged with their opening directed towards the top of the neck of the bottle; their free branch is disposed towards the outside of the cage.

The present invention further relates to the machine for making the wire strings described above. Known means in themselves are provided for certain steps including for the manufacture of the belt; specific means are here used to make said y-wire.

Advantageously, pneumatic cylinders associated with the engines are chosen which allow the main steps constituting the manufacture of both the cage and the belt of the wire.

In order to optimize the space required for this manufacture, the posts necessary for the manufacture of the belt are arranged in a carousel.

Different technologies and tools can be chosen by the skilled person to ensure the main steps set out above. In particular, automata are envisaged in order to optimize in particular the manufacturing times on an industrial scale.

Claims (9)

1. Method for manufacturing a Y-shaped muselet for bottles of effervescent drinks, said muselet comprising a cage cooperating with a rim, the cage being formed by a first (1) and second (2) wire and the muselet by a third wire (3), the formation of the cage comprising:

   - the twisting of one end of the first wire (1) over a region (20) situated approximately in the middle of the second wire (2), the wires forming part of the same first plane and being oriented therein so as to form an approximate right angle A between the non-twisted end of the first wire and one of the free ends of the second wire, and to form an angle B of approximately 135° between the free ends of the second wire; and

   - the folding of the three wires at a certain distance from said twisting, in a plane substantially perpendicular to said first plane;

   characterised:

   - in that the method comprises, before the folding step:

   - the formation of a first loop (5) at each free end of the first and second wires, in said first plane;

   - the formation of a second loop (6) in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane, by folding;

   - in that a rim (3) with a closed periphery is inserted and passed through the three second loops (6) by translation in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first plane of the cage, and in that the three second loops (6) are closed by pressing their free ends in a direction parallel to said first plane.
2. Manufacturing method according to claim 1, characterised in that the manufacture of the rim (3) with a closed periphery of the muselet consists in: - cutting a length of wire, greater than the circumference of the collar of the neck of the bottle; - curving the wire in a portion of a circle, substantially in the middle of said wire; - folding each free end of the wire by forming a right angle at a certain distance from the free end so as to obtain an overlap of said ends over a certain distance; - twisting the wires at the overlap region (31) in order to form a closed periphery; - deforming said periphery in order to create two inflection points (32, 33) in its curvature, each of the inflection points delimiting a surplus of wire intended for the creation of an unstoppering ring (34).
3. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that the wire end or ends projecting beyond the twisting (31) of said rim (3) are flattened by pressing.
4. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the rim (3) is oriented relative to the cage (1, 2) so that the two loops of the cage oriented at 90° from each other are placed close to each of said inflection points (32, 33).
5. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a heel (7) is formed in each of said lugs, above said rim, by pressing said wire of the lug along said first plane, towards the inside of the cage.
6. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said second loops (6) are oriented so that their opening region is turned towards the top of the neck of the bottle.
7. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said second loops (6) are oriented so that their free branch is disposed towards the outside of the cage.
8. Machine intended for manufacturing Y-shaped muselets for bottles of effervescent drinks, characterised in that it comprises:

   - means for manufacturing a cage comprising:

   - means for twisting of one end of a first wire (1) over a region (20) situated approximately in the middle of a second wire (2), the wires forming part of the same first plane and being oriented therein so as to form an approximate right angle A between the non-twisted end of the first wire and one of the free ends of the second wire, and to form an angle B of approximately 135° between the free ends of the second wire;

   - pneumatic cylinders for forming a first loop (5) at each free end of the first and second wires, in said first plane, and for forming a second loop (6) in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane, by folding; said cylinders being able to actuate two parallel spindles rotating with respect to each other and motors with a horizontal or vertical axis depending on the orientation of the loops to be formed;

   - a template in the form of a cap serving as a support substantially in said first plane, and three peripheral shoes at each leg intended to fold said legs by pressing for folding the three wires at a certain distance from said twisting, in a plane substantially perpendicular to said first plane;

   the machine furthermore comprising:

   - means for connecting a rim by simultaneous passage through the three second loops (6) of said cage by translation in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first plane of the cage, and

   - means for closing the three second loops by pressing their second free ends in a direction parallel to said first plane.
9. Machine according to any of claims 8, characterised in that the means intended to form the rim comprise several stations disposed in a carousel.

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