Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12G—WINE; PREPARATION THEREOF; ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; PREPARATION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES NOT PROVIDED FOR IN SUBCLASSES C12C OR C12H
  • C12G1/00—Preparation of wine or sparkling wine
  • C12G1/08—Removal of yeast ["degorgeage"]
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67B—APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS TO BOTTLES JARS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; OPENING CLOSED CONTAINERS
  • B67B7/00—Hand- or power-operated devices for opening closed containers
  • B67B7/02—Hand- or power-operated devices for opening closed containers for removing stoppers
  • B67B7/06—Other cork removers
  • B67B7/066—Other cork removers specially adapted for opening pressurised bottles, e.g. champagne or sparkling wine bottles

Definitions

• the invention relates to an installation for disgorging bottles of sparkling wine.
• the so-called disgorging operation consists in extracting undesirable yeast and fermentation residues for final consumption, these residues being most often located in a room called a "gadget" in the trade.
• the widget and the residue are ejected during decapping under the effect of the pressure inside the bottle. An external force must be applied to remove the capsule and the gadget at a so-called “disgorging” station.
• a manual method is known for disgorging bottles of sparkling wine.
• a stationary machine is also known for treating the disgorging of the bottles one by one.
• a method is also known consisting in freezing the neck portion of the bottles, prior to the disgorging operation; however, this operation is costly in terms of time and resources.
• passage path (3) extending generally along a general axis (X), to guide bottles (9) to be disgorged, between an inlet zone (31) and an outlet zone (32) of the installation,
• a disgorging station (5), with a bottle opener configured to remove the cap present on the neck of the bottle present at the disgorging station,
• each bottle is found oriented in a predetermined manner at the level of the disgorging station, the axis of the bottle A at this location forming a predetermined angle (0d) with a horizontal plane, the axis of the bottle A being defined in an oriented manner as going from the center of the base to the center of the neck,
• each bottle is introduced with an orientation (b) such that its axis (A) is at least 90 ° with the ascending axis of the local vertical (Z), and preferably upside down.
• the position of each bottle is perfectly controlled along the passage path of the bottles from the introduction into the installation to the disgorging station, and in particular the successive positions are such that the bubble air remains at a distance from the gadget, and this from the entry area to the disgorging station.
• the fairly precise timing of the operations leading to the removal of the capsule prevents the dispersion of yeast and fermentation residues into the rest of the bottle, these residues remain concentrated at the place of the gadget, and are ejected with it.
• the orientation of the bottle at the time of decapping can advantageously be perfectly controlled due to the fact that the passage path constrains the position of the bottles along the bottle passage path.
• the bottles can remain substantially at the ambient temperature of the cellar, without any particular thermal stress.
• no energy and no glycol-type materials are expended to freeze the necks of the bottles.
• the moving system (1) comprises at least one worm (10) rotated by a motor (12). It is a simple and reliable solution for advancing bottles.
• the worm (10) comprises a metal frame, cylindrical or in the form of a helical screw, and an overmolding of helical outer shape.
• the structure is formed by the metal frame and the overmolding, due to its elasticity, allows the bottles to be pushed without risking breaking them.
• the endless screw pushes the bottles up to shoulder height (96) or substantially halfway between the base and the neck. As a result, the thrust exerted on the bottle is substantially balanced and the risk of the bottle becoming biased is reduced.
• the passage path comprises a plurality of guides (21 - 26) which generally extend in the longitudinal direction of the installation (general or longitudinal axis X). These guides form guide rails. These guides are twisted, that is to say the guide slides have at least one part with a substantially helical shape to constrain the rotation of the bottles around the longitudinal axis X when the latter advances along the longitudinal axis X. Note that the pitch of the helical shape of the guides is a long pitch, it corresponds to a rotation of half a turn on the main portion of the machine where the bottle passes from the head down position to the head up position .
• Round section preferably. Simple construction and easy to adjust, the guides being fixed on supports with the possibility of adjustment.
• some guides can be interrupted along the longitudinal axis, so the number of guides is not necessarily constant when moving from the start of the machine (input) to the end. of the machine (output).
• the guides are shaped to impart a progressive rotational movement of the bottle around the general axis of the installation (around the endless screw) between the inlet zone (31) and the exit zone (32) of the installation. This results in a gradual rotation without homeling the wine inside the bottle, and furthermore without shock or acceleration.
• a motorized toothed wheel (52) configured to remove the capsule is provided as a bottle opener at the disgorging station. Whereby this motorized toothed wheel exerts a sufficiently large force to deform and eject the capsule which closed the bottle previously.
• the bottle opener member may have a general spherical shape. Such a shape advantageously reduces the risks of mechanical interference between the bottle opener member and the glass bead which forms the upper end of the neck of the bottle. So no risk of damaging the bottle.
• a passive cam may be provided as a bottle opener for removing the capsule. This turns out to be a simple and rustic solution, for example with a knife blade that the neck of the bottle comes up against as it advances. In this configuration, although the cam itself is not in motion, provision can be made for the rotational movement of the bottle to naturally accentuate the action of the passive cam to remove the cap.
• the predetermined angle (0d) can be between 5 ° and 30 ° and preferably between 10 ° and 20 °. So the bubble joins the gadget just at the right time and there is no dispersion of yeast and fermentation residues in the rest of the bottle,
• the installation may further include at least one wedge wheel (6.66) to hold the bottle in a precise position during the decapping operation. This improves the positioning accuracy of the neck relative to the position of the bottle opener.
• each bottle is rotated 180 ° between the inlet and the outlet, and more preferably each bottle between the head down and the spring resting on its base, head up.
• a conveyor belt may be provided at the outlet to convey the bottles to a capping machine.
• the installation is configured to process 750 cl bottles, at a rate of at least 80 bottles per minute.
• the longitudinal axis (X) is arranged in a horizontal plane.
• an active advancement system may be provided on one or more guide (s).
• this complements the action of the endless screw.
• the active advancement system can be an endless belt or belt conveyor, this is a simple and rustic solution.
• the active advancement system may be an endless belt conveyor (75) and in which the belt has a round section, received in a groove with a half-moon profile formed longitudinally in a auxiliary guide (250).
• the advancement system with the belt can follow a curved shape in space while being supported by the guide having a twist shape.
• the belt can be made of an elastomeric material and there can be provided a grooved drive pulley, a grooved return pulley and a tensioner roller.
• the belt can come into contact with the bottle (s) without running the risk of damaging it and transmitting by friction on its side a tensile force in the direction of advance.
• Figure 1A illustrates a bottle of sparkling wine upside down, with a cap and a gadget, as used during fermentation
• Figure 1B illustrates the bottle of sparkling wine upside down, with an air bubble at the base and fermentation residues at the level of the capsule closing the neck, the gadget being adjacent to the capsule / under the capsule.
• Figure 2 schematically illustrates the position of the bottle in the entrance area of a disgorging installation according to the present invention
• Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view, seen from the inlet of the bottles of a disgorging installation according to the present invention
• Figure 4A is similar to Figure 2 and schematically illustrates the position of the bottle in the entry area of the disgorging installation
• Figure 4B is similar to Figure 4A and shows the situation and the position of the bottle a little further, just after the start of the rotation,
• Figure 4C is similar to Figure 4A and shows the situation and the position of the bottle a little further, during the rotation,
• Figure 4D is analogous to Figure 4A and shows the situation and position of the bottle when it is substantially horizontal
• FIG. 4E shows the situation and the position of the bottle when it is at the disgorging station
• Figure 4F is similar to Figure 4E and shows the bottle after expulsion of the capsule and the gadget
• Figure 4G and schematically illustrates the position of the bottle in the outlet area of the disgorging installation
• Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view, seen from the inlet of the bottles, of a disgorging installation according to the present invention
• Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view, seen from the outlet of the bottles, of a disgorging installation according to the present invention
• FIG. 7 illustrates the disgorging station in more detail
• Figure 8 illustrates in more detail the worm which advances the bottles
• FIG. 10 illustrates the disgorging station in more detail
• Figure 1 1 illustrates the disgorging station in more detail, seen from the side of the bottle opener
• Figure 12 illustrates in more detail the cap and the gadget in place on the mouth of the bottle.
• Figure 13 is similar to Figure 4B and illustrates a variant with a guide equipped with an active advancement system.
• Figure 14 illustrates in more detail a cross section of the guide equipped with the active advancement system.
• Figure 15 illustrates a longitudinal section of the active advancement system.
• the bottle 9 comprises a base 90, a body 92, and a neck 91.
• the bottle 9 is made of glass, transparent or translucent, colorless or slightly colored.
• shoulder area 96 is located substantially at the point where the body of the bottle begins to shrink to gradually decrease to the neck 91.
• the axis of the bottle is defined oriented as going from the center of the base 90 to the center of the neck 91.
• the shape of the bottle is of revolution around the axis A.
• the body 92 is cylindrical; however the body of the bottle may be slightly conical.
• the volume of the bubble 7, at the end of the process can typically range from 1 cm 3 to 4 cm 3 .
• the bottle is closed with a cap 8.
• an element called gadget 82 which is located under the cap.
• the capsule 8 is made of metal. Generally, the cap is crimped onto the upper bead of the neck 91 of the bottle.
• the gadget 82 is received in contact with the capsule 8 in the upper part of the neck.
• a seal marked 81 may be provided in the capsule.
• the gadget is made of plastic.
• the capsule and the gadget are formed as two separate parts, adjacent to each other in a configuration of use as illustrated in FIG. 12. In an alternative configuration, a single part could also be considered.
• the MD installation is advantageously used for this, in particular shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6.
• This installation generally extends along a main longitudinal axis denoted X.
• the longitudinal axis X extends according to a mode realization in a horizontal plane.
• the longitudinal axis X in the embodiment illustrated in the figures is rectilinear.
• the longitudinal axis X could according to one embodiment not be strictly rectilinear. For example, it could be curved (not shown).
• the arrangement of the installation along the longitudinal axis allows for a minimum footprint, but also gives easy access to both sides of the installation, whether for maintenance of the installation or to monitor correct operation. of the installation.
• This installation comprises a passageway 3 extending generally along the longitudinal axis X, to guide bottles 9 to be disgorged, between an inlet zone 31 and an outlet zone 32 of the installation.
• Each bottle enters the installation upside down and comes out on its head upside down base.
• Each bottle 9 is rotated 180 ° between the inlet and the outlet around the longitudinal axis X.
• the installation comprises a system for setting the bottles in motion 1 along the passageway.
• the setting in motion system 1 comprises at least one endless screw 10 driven in rotation by a motor 12.
• the endless screw pushes the bottles up to shoulder height. 96 of the bottle or substantially halfway between the base and the neck of the bottle.
• the worm 10 comprises a metal frame 14, cylindrical or in the form of a helical screw.
• the frame 14 extends along the longitudinal axis X.
• the endless screw 10 comprises an overmolding 16 of helical outer shape.
• the overmolding 16 is formed from a plastic polymer material typically high density polyethylene otherwise called in brief HDPE. It is not excluded to use a relatively hard elastomer, natural or synthetic rubber or polyurethane foam. It is also not excluded to use a material of the Teflon type.
• the overmolding 16 forms helical grooves in which the bottles are received, the edges of the groove framing the body of the bottle.
• the passage path 3 comprises a plurality of guides 21 -26. There are at least 3 guides which generally extend as longitudinal guides in the installation.
• a shoulder guide 23 is arranged in opposition to the contact zone of the worm.
• each guide extend longitudinally with a twist shape which imparts and accompanies the rotational movement of the bottle around the longitudinal axis in its movement along the machine along the longitudinal axis X.
• each guide has a long pitch helical shape.
• the lower guide 21 stops, for example, in the vicinity of the place where the bottle becomes horizontal.
• Another complementary guide 27 is provided which begins in the zone where the bottle passes in a horizontal position and which extends to the exit of the machine at the place where the base of the bottle bears on the complementary guide 27 .
• Each of the guides has a diameter of between 5 mm and 15 mm, preferably with a round section.
• the guides are shaped along the longitudinal axis X to impart a progressive rotational movement of the bottle around the general axis (around the worm) between the inlet zone 31 and the zone of output 32 of the installation.
• the installation comprises a disgorging station 5, with a bottle opener member configured to remove the cap present on the neck of the bottle.
• the passage path 3 is such that each bottle 9 is found oriented in a predetermined manner at the level of the disgorging station, as illustrated in FIG. 4E, the axis of the bottle A at this location forming a predetermined angle 0d with the horizontal plane notes PH (see Figure 4C).
• the letter b indicates the angle between the axis of the bottle A relative to the vertical Z directed upwards, see figure 4C, b therefore represents the absolute orientation of the bottle.
• the predetermined angle 0d can be between 5 ° and 30 ° (that is to say 60 ° ⁇ b ⁇ 85 °) and preferably between 10 ° and 20 ° (c 'i.e. 70 ° ⁇ b ⁇ 80 °).
• a motorized toothed wheel 52 configured to remove the capsule is provided.
• the motorized toothed wheel is driven by a motor 54; the motor rotor and the motorized toothed wheel rotate relative to an axis marked W.
• the installation further comprises at least one wedge wheel 6 for maintaining the bottle in a precise position during the decapping operation.
• the installation further comprises at least one wedge wheel 6 for maintaining the bottle in a precise position during the decapping operation.
• wedging wheels which accost the bottles at the level of the body of the bottle and upper wedging wheels denoted 66, which accost the bottles at the level of their neck, in order to guarantee precision.
• the motorized toothed wheel 52 only touches the capsule 8 and not the bottle itself.
• each bottle is introduced with an orientation b such that its axis A is at least 90 ° with the ascending axis of the local vertical Z, and preferably upside down and remains with its axis A directed down to the approach to the disgorging station.
• We can have the bottle upside down b 180 ° or the bottle at an angle b between 100 ° and 170 ° for example.
• the absolute orientation of the bottle b remains greater than 100 ° and preferably> 130 °.
• the operation is in continuous mode, with a withdrawal of the capsule on the fly on the disgorging station.
• the setting in motion system can be formed as an endless conveyor with a belt / chain in closed loop equipped with pushing fingers.
• the return is empty.
• the push fingers are coated with elastomer material, natural or synthetic rubber or polyurethane foam.
• the guide rods can be of rectangular, ellipsoid, etc. section.
• a cover 17 forming a protective screen is provided for containing the capsules when they are ejected at the disgorging station, as illustrated in Figures 10 and 11.
• a small conveyor belt supporting the bottles by their capsules, to prevent the bottles from grazing.
• the small conveyor belt is driven in synchronism with the worm 1.
• a conveyor belt 40 is provided in the exit zone of the machine for discharging the bottles, the conveyor belt replacing the lower guide 27 (cf. figure 4G) to support the bottles on their bottom / base for destination. 'a liquor dispensing and corking machine.
• the lower guide 21 is replaced by a small belt conveyor.
• the capsule is on this small conveyor.
• This conveyor can be an endless conveyor. Preferably, it advances at the same speed as the recesses of the worm 10.
• auxiliary means for advancing the bottles of reliable and controlled manner.
• This auxiliary means is formed as an active advancement system associated with a guide.
• the active advancement system can be an endless belt conveyor.
• the active advancement system is an endless conveyor belt 75.
• the belt 75 has a round section, received in a groove with a half-moon profile formed longitudinally in an auxiliary guide. 250.
• the belt is made of an elastomeric material, or of reinforced rubber.
• the belt is in contact with the side of the bottle 9. The radial pressure and friction make it possible to transmit a force to the side of the bottle in the direction of advance of the bottle
• the belt forms a loop installed astride the pulleys.
• the rate of advance of the belt in contact with the bottles is substantially the same as the rate of advance imparted by worm 10.
• a passive tubular guide is arranged along the introduction part of the machine (bottles upside down). Then, further in the direction of movement of the bottles, the passive guide 25 is replaced by the auxiliary guide equipped with the belt conveyor 75.
• the belt conveyor 75 extends from position X1 to position X2. Beyond position X2, another passive tubular guide marked 25B is provided, for example in continuity. Position X2 can correspond to the position of the disgorging station.
• the auxiliary guide 250 comprises a longitudinal groove 252.
• This groove has a semi-circular section in order to be able to accommodate the round section belt in a complementary manner.
• the round belt 75 remains housed in the groove even if the auxiliary guide 250 is not rectilinear and has a curvature in space due to the general twist necessary for the rotation of the bottles.

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• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Genetics & Genomics (AREA)
• Biochemistry (AREA)
• Bioinformatics & Cheminformatics (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
• Zoology (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
• Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)

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• 2019
  • 2019-07-11 FR FR1907788A patent/FR3098523B1/fr active Active
• 2020
  • 2020-07-09 WO PCT/FR2020/051237 patent/WO2021005313A1/fr unknown
  • 2020-07-09 EP EP20750343.4A patent/EP3997204A1/de active Pending

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