FR2831766A1 - PROCESS AND INSTALLATION FOR MAKING FLOWER BOUQUETS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a method which consists in positioning the plants (2) constituting the bouquet in a receptacle (1), and in intertwining the stems of said plants before completely bundling the stems on a specific zone of their height, to obtain a round bouquet . The process for bundling the plants may be carried out manually, but is preferably performed by automatic means. After the plant stems have been mechanically bundled, the method consists in automated setting of an attachment or ligature around said stems, on the bundling zone or proximate to said zone. Preferably, the inventive method consists in mechanically twisting or curling the base of the bouquet, while using the means for bundling the plant stems to obtain a round bouquet with a curled base , The invention concerns also the installation for implementing the method, to obtain floral bouquets, and in particular round bouquets with curled base .

Description

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The present invention relates to a method and an installation for making tight tufts of plants consisting of a combination of flowers, plants, herbs and / or various foliage on stems, commonly and generically called bouquets of flowers. .

Obtaining an aesthetic bouquet of flowers takes time and requires minimal technicality. Indeed, after having made a judicious choice of plants, it is still necessary to know how to organize these plants in relation to each other, and also to be able to structure, that is to say to shape the bouquet, especially when these are bouquets with a round top and a twisted or twisted base, commonly referred to as round bouquets in the technical field concerned.

This is why labor costs represent an important part of the cost price of a bouquet of flowers presented for sale in florists or in more general stores.

On the other hand, due to the preponderance of human and manual interventions, it is not very easy to obtain repetitive products in large numbers, which is however more and more demanded in particular by wholesalers or power plants. of purchases.

The present invention proposes an original method and installation for making bouquets of flowers automatically or semi-automatically, thus making it possible to reduce the production costs of these bouquets by limiting the labor required for their preparation, and also making it possible to obtain bouquets of repetitive structure, suitably standardized.

The method according to the present invention consists in positioning the plants constituting the bouquet (flowers, plants, herbs or various foliage) in a receptacle, then in clamping together by mechanical means the stems of said plants, over a determined area of their height , in order to format said bouquet.

Preferably, after the operation of mechanically tightening the plant stems, a tie or a ligature is automatically placed around these stems, on the tightening zone or near this zone, in order to keep the bouquet in shape. But we can also consider clamping the stems of plants together

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directly by means of the tie or ligature placed automatically, or again, after mechanical tightening, to install the tie or ligature manually.

Still preferably, the method consists, after having cut the stems of the plants to the desired length, in positioning these stems vertically or substantially vertically in the receiving receptacle, then in carrying out the aforementioned tightening and tying operations.

According to another characteristic, the method consists in positioning the stems of the plants by unit or by small groups in a plurality of suitable housings arranged in the reception receptacle, in particular to allow precise structuring of the bouquet.

Still according to another characteristic, the method consists in moving away the receptacle which receives the plant stems and the means for clamping these stems, by a relative translational movement, in order to extract the bouquet formed from said receptacle.

According to yet another particularity, to obtain a round bouquet with a twisted foot, the process consists in performing a mechanical twist or twisting of the foot of the bouquet, while using the means for tightening the plant stems.

This twisting or twisting of the foot of the bouquet is advantageously obtained by arranging the plant stems individually or in small groups in a plurality of suitable housings arranged in the receiving receptacle, then by combining a rotational movement of this receptacle around a vertical axis, and a vertical translational movement between said receptacle and the clamping means of said rods.

The invention also relates to the installation for implementing the aforementioned method, for making bouquets of plants, which installation comprises a receptacle for positioning the plants, as well as means for clamping the stems of these plants together, on a determined zone of their height, in order to shape the corresponding bouquet.

The means for clamping the stems of the plants together may consist of means for placing a tie or a ligature surrounding said stems, or else of a system of clamps or mechanical jaws arranged opposite each other. Preferably, these clamping means consist of a

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system of clamps or mechanical jaws, associated with means for placing a link or a ligature surrounding the stems of plants.

Still preferably, the installation comprises a system of two clamps or jaws of the male / female type, capable of interlocking with each other to optimize the clamping and limit the deterioration of the plant stems.

According to yet another particularity, the installation comprises means for allowing a relative movement of separation by vertical translation between the means for clamping the bouquet and the receptacle for receiving the plant stems, in order to extract the bouquet from said receptacle.

According to yet another characteristic, the receptacle is provided with a plurality of housings for the reception of individual or small groups of plant stems, in particular to allow precise structuring of the bouquet.

Still according to the invention, to obtain a round bouquet with a twisted foot, the installation comprises means for twisting or twisting the foot of the bouquet, simultaneously with the use of the clamping means. For this, the installation preferably comprises: - a receptacle provided with a plurality of housings for the individual reception or in small groups of the plant stems, - means for allowing a relative movement of separation by vertical translation between the means of clamping of the bouquet and the receptacle for receiving the plant stems, and - means for rotating the receiving receptacle about a vertical or substantially vertical axis.

The twisting or twisting of the base of the bouquet is then obtained by combining a rotational movement of the receptacle and a translational movement between this receptacle and the means for clamping the rods.

Preferably, at least some of the housings of the receiving receptacle have a generally tubular shape, the axis of which is inclined relative to the vertical to optimize the operation of twisting the base of the bouquet. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the receptacle is provided with a plurality of tubular housings distributed substantially on concentric rings, the axis of said housings being inclined along the same slope on each of said said housings.

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crowns, and this inclination being produced substantially on the tangent of said crowns, the slope of the axis of said housings decreasing from the center of the receptacle towards the outside.

However, the invention will be further illustrated, without being in any way limited, by the following description of a particular embodiment, given solely by way of example and shown in the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a general schematic view an installation for making a round bouquet with a twisted foot according to the present invention; - Figure 2 is a perspective view of the receptacle which allows the reception of the stems of the plants; - Figures 3 to 7 illustrate, in five steps, the method according to the present invention for making a round bouquet with twisted foot.

The installation illustrated in the appended figures is particularly suitable for making bouquets with a round top whose foot is twisted or twisted, that is to say bouquets composed of plants whose stems cross at the level of the zone of tightening equipped with a tie or a retaining ligature.

The installation shown schematically in Figure 1 comprises: - a receptacle 1 for the vertical or substantially vertical reception of plants 2 that it is desired to group into a tuft (these plants 2 are here represented in dotted lines in the form of flowers) , - a system of two clamping jaws 3,4 arranged above the receptacle 1, mounted on a frame 5 mobile in vertical translation, and - means 6,7 for placing a tie or a ligature around the foot of the formed bouquet , these particular means being located substantially at the level of the clamping zone of said jaws 3, 4.

The receptacle 1 comprises a plurality of housings 10 of generally tubular shape which allow the individual reception or in small groups of the plant stems. The height of these housings 10 is adapted so as to ensure that the plants are maintained in a vertical or substantially vertical position, compatible with the size and shape of the jaws 3, 4. Their size, number and distribution depend on the plants used and the desired bouquet structure; one can for example provide 35 to 40 housings 10 in the receptacle 1.

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The bottom of all the housings 10 is preferably located in the same horizontal plane, this plane serving as a reference level for cutting the plant stems 2 to length beforehand, depending on the desired structuring of the bouquet.

The receptacle 1 is rotatably mounted on a support 12, around a vertical or substantially vertical axis 13. The corresponding rotation is subjected to the action of appropriate mechanical means, here illustrated in the form of a rack 15, movable under the effect of a jack 16, and engaging a toothed pinion 17 integral with the receptacle 1.

Of course, the means for rotating the receptacle 1 can be in other forms.

Preferably, the receptacle 1 is removably mounted on the support 12 (or the pinion 17). It is then possible to envisage making a choice from among several different receptacles available, used according to the size and / or the type of bouquet that is to be produced.

As shown in detail in Figure 2, the housings 10 of the receptacle 1 have a particular configuration which is adapted to optimize the twisting or twisting of the stems of plants during the shaping of the bouquet, and in particular to avoid, or at least limit as much as possible the deterioration of plants.

In fact, for this, the axis 10 ′ of each housing 10 is oriented as best as possible according to the inclination that the stem of the plant that it receives in the finished bouquet will take.

Thus, in FIG. 2, it can be seen that the housings 10 are substantially distributed over concentric rings centered on the axis of rotation 13 of the receptacle 1. On each of these different rings the axis 10 ′ of the housings 10 is inclined by the same value with respect to the vertical, and this tangent or substantially tangent with respect to said ring; and the corresponding angle of inclination is increasing on the different rings, starting from the center outwards.

On each ring, the axes 10 ′ of the housings 10 can also be slightly oriented in a converging manner upwards. The axis of the central housing, if it exists, is placed on the axis of rotation 13.

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The general orientation of the axes 10 ′ of the housings 10 is of course a function of the direction of rotation of the receptacle 1 for shaping the twisted bouquet; for this purpose, the embodiment of the receptacle 1 illustrated in FIG. 2 takes into account the direction of rotation defined by the orientation arrow 18.

Above the receptacle 1, the two jaws or clamps 3, 4 are positioned symmetrically with respect to the vertical axis 13; they are both subjected to the action of maneuvering means 19 which allow their tightening and their spacing as required, in a plane or on an axis perpendicular to the vertical axis 13.

The corresponding maneuvering means here have the form of hydraulic jacks 19 mounted on the frame 5, but any other equivalent principle can be considered.

avantageusement entre les 2/5ème et le tiers de la hauteur des végétaux, en partant de leur extrémité inférieure. The two jaws 3 and 4 are adapted to tighten the stems of the plants 2 together over a determined zone of their height which is located

advantageously between 2 / 5th and a third of the height of the plants, starting from their lower end.

Preferably, these jaws are of the male / female type, that is to say, as illustrated in FIG. 1, that they have the possibility of coming to fit into one another so as to limit the alteration of plant stems during tightening.

In fact, in the schematic representation of FIG. 1, the female jaw 3 and the male jaw 4 facing each other can be observed, making it possible to apply clamping pressures in the same plane or on the same area to avoid a break. or a bending of the stems.

In general, the shape and size of the jaws are adapted to obtain optimum and non-destructive tightening of a well-defined zone of the base of the bouquet; this tightening is preferably carried out over a maximum height of the order of 1 to 2 cm.

The frame 5 which carries the clamping jaws 3 and 4 is movable vertically under the effect of translational movement means, shown here in the form of a hydraulic jack 20. The corresponding movement allows in particular the extraction of the stems from the plants. of their housings 10 during the shaping of the bouquet.

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Of course, the means for maneuvering in vertical translation of the supporting frame 5 can be in other forms, such as a motorized worm screw, rack or other ...

The means 6, 7 for placing the tie or the ligature around the foot of the bouquet have been shown schematically in FIG. 1, in association with the two clamping jaws 3 and 4. These particular means can consist of any which ligating device known per se (strapping device, torsion attachment fixing device, etc.). The link system used can be a thread of any material suitable for limiting the deterioration of the stems of plants; it may be a plastic material, a metal material, a metal wire coated with plastic material, a plant material (raffia for example), or even an elastic link.

In FIG. 1, we see the spool 21 for storing the wire material 22 allowing the corresponding tie or ligature.

The ligating means 6, 7 can be adapted to place the link or the ligature just below the level of tightening by the two jaws 3 and 4, as shown in FIG. 1. It is also possible to envisage performing the ligature on the corresponding clamping area, or just above.

Depending on their structure, the means 6.7 for laying the link or the ligature can be arranged directly on the frame 5; depending on the case, they can also be placed on an independent support structure.

The movements of the receptacle 1, of the jaws 3, 4 and of the frame 5, as well as the fitting of the link or the ligature are advantageously managed automatically by a programmable controller, or equivalent, in the manner detailed below in relation to the figures. 3 to 7.

The rotation of the receptacle 1 and the translational movement of the frame 5, in particular, can be mechanically linked.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the first step in making the bouquet consists in manually positioning the plants 2 in the receptacle 1.

As a rule, a single plant stem is placed in a housing of the receptacle; but it is also possible to envisage grouping the plants in pairs or in threes in each housing or only in some of the housing.

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The corresponding positioning of the plants depends on the structure of the bouquet that is to be produced. This individualized positioning allows a very precise structuring of the bouquet, and the configuration of the housings 10 (in particular their distribution and their inclination) prepares the bouquet for the subsequent operation of twisting its base.

The plants 2 can be introduced into the receptacle 1 on the shaping station, between the jaws 3 and 4. It is also possible to carry out this operation on one or more independent preparation stations, then to return the loaded receptacle between said jaws 3 and 4.

Once the receptacle 1 is correctly placed on the bouquet shaping station, an operator controls the start of the cycle. The two jaws 3 and 4 begin to tighten by the activation of the control means 19 (Figure 4), then while continuing this tightening, the receptacle 1 begins to rotate on itself, by actuation of the rack 15, to initiate the operation of twisting the foot of the bouquet (figure 5).

The rotational movement of the receptacle 1 stops when the jaws 3, 4 exert an action such that the plant stems can no longer move or organize themselves with respect to each other, or just before this moment.

Simultaneously with the twisting operation, and / or just after, the bouquet formed begins to disengage from the receptacle 1 by the vertical translational movement of the frame 5 (FIG. 6). The link 24 can be placed when the jaws 3 and 4 exert their maximum tightening on the plant stems, to obtain the knotted round bouquet illustrated in FIG. 7. The operation of twisting or twisting the base of the bouquet causes the clusters to intersect. plant stems 2 at link 24.

Jaws 3 and 4 then loosen their grip to return to the inactive position. The tied bouquet is removed manually or by appropriate mechanical means for storage or packaging.

The coordination of the various movements which have just been described is adapted to obtain the best possible result in terms of aesthetics and plant preservation. The upward translational movement of the frame 5 is adapted to ensure the total extraction of the bouquet from the receptacle 1; the

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rotation of this receptacle 1 to obtain a bouquet whose foot is suitably twisted or twisted may be of the order of half a turn.

It will be understood that the inclination of the housings 10 of the receptacle 1 promotes the organization of the plant stems to obtain a twisted foot clump, and this inclination limits the deterioration of the plant stems during the corresponding twisting operation.

The precise positioning of the plants in the receptacle 1 allows great repetitiveness of the general aesthetics of the bouquets produced; it is thus possible to obtain identical or almost identical bouquets in large numbers, if a raw material having regular characteristics is available.

All the housings 10 of the receptacle 1 are not necessarily used for making the bouquets. It will be noted here that in order to avoid overloading the appended drawings, the plants 2 used to form the illustrated bouquet have been shown in small number and not very substantial. In reality, the bouquets will be obtained from a large number of very leafy plants to constitute a dense aesthetic whole.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the operation of extracting the bouquet from the receptacle 1 is carried out by a vertical translation of the frame 5. Equivalently, this extraction can be carried out by a combination of movements between the frame 5 and the support 12 of the receptacle 1.

It is also possible to envisage an installation in which the jaws 3 and 4 are carried by a fixed frame, only the receptacle 1 being mounted on a vertically movable support.

On the other hand, depending on the flexibility characteristics of the plant stems, in particular, it is possible to envisage using a receptacle 1 provided with tubular housings 10 all having vertical axes parallel to the axis of rotation 13; in this case, however, the operation of twisting the foot of the bouquet is not optimized.

In a simplified installation for shaping bouquets, the link or the ligature can be positioned manually, after mechanical tightening by means of the jaws 3 and 4. On the other hand, it is also possible to consider using the system for placing the link or ligature to gradually tighten the foot of the bouquet, thus avoiding the presence of mechanical clamping jaws.

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Also, in other types of simplified installations, it is possible to envisage dispensing with the means for setting the receptacle 1 in rotation, if it is desired to obtain bouquets with a non-twisted foot, or if the simple inclined configuration of the housings 10 is sufficient. to obtain a twist of the legs of the bouquets at the time of vertical translation of the frame.

Claims (18)

- CLAIMS - 1. - Method for making a bouquet of plants consisting of an association of flowers, plants, herbs and / or various foliage on stems, characterized in that it consists in positioning the plants (2) constituting the bouquet in a receptacle (1), then clamping together by mechanical means (3, 4; 6, 7) the stems of said plants (2), over a determined area of their height, in order to shape said bouquet. 2. - Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists, after the operation of mechanical clamping of the plant stems (2), in automated manner a link or a ligature (24) around said stems, on the clamping area or near this area, to keep the bouquet in shape. 3. - Method according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it consists, after having cut the stems of the plants (2) to the desired length, in positioning them vertically or substantially vertically in the receiving receptacle (1 ), then to perform the tightening and binding operations of said rods. 4. - Method according to claim 3, characterized in that it consists in positioning the stems of the plants (2) by unit or in small groups in a plurality of suitable housings (10), arranged in the receiving receptacle (1) . 5. - Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it consists in moving away the receptacle (1) for receiving the plant stems (2) and the clamping means (3,4) of these rods, by a relative translational movement, in order to extract the bouquet formed from said receptacle (1). 6. - Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it consists in performing a mechanical twisting or twisting of the base of the bouquet, while implementing the clamping means (3,4) of the plant stems (2), to obtain a round bouquet type bouquet with twisted foot. 7. - Method according to claims 4,5 and 6 taken together, characterized in that it consists in performing a twist or twisting of the foot of the bouquet by combining a rotational movement of the receptacle (1) for receiving the plant stems (2) around a vertical axis (13), and a vertical translational movement between said receptacle (1) and the clamping means (3,4) of said rods. <Desc / Clms Page number 12> 8.-Installation for making a bouquet of plants consisting of an association of flowers, plants, herbs and / or foliage on stems, characterized in that it comprises a receptacle (1) for the positioning of the plants (2), and means (3, 4; 6, 7) for clamping the stems of said plants (2) together, over a determined zone of their height, in order to shape the bouquet. 9. - Installation according to claim 8, characterized in that the means for clamping together the stems of the plants (2) consist of means (6,7) for placing a link or a ligature (24) from girdle said rods. 10. - Installation according to claim 8, characterized in that the means for clamping together the plant stems (2) consist of a system of grippers or mechanical jaws (3,4) arranged vis-à-vis. 11. - Installation according to claim 8, characterized in that the means for clamping together the plant stems consist of a system of grippers or mechanical jaws (3,4) arranged vis-à-vis, associated with means laying (6,7) of a link or a ligature (24) surrounding said rods. 12. - Installation according to any one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that it comprises a system of two clamps or jaws (3, 4) of the male / female type, able to come to fit together to optimize tightening and limiting alteration of plant stems (2). 13. - Installation according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that it comprises means (5.20) to allow a relative movement of separation by vertical translation between the clamping means (3,4) of the bouquet and the receptacle (1) for receiving the plant stems (2), in order to extract said bouquet from said receptacle (1). 14. - Installation according to any one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that it comprises a receptacle (1) provided with a plurality of housings (10) for individual reception or in small groups of plant stems ( 2). 15. - Installation according to any one of claims 8 to 14, characterized in that it comprises means for performing a twist or twisting of the base of the bouquet, simultaneously with the implementation of the clamping means, to obtain a bouquet type round bouquet with twisted foot. <Desc / Clms Page number 13> 16. - Installation according to claims 13,14 and 15 taken together, characterized in that at least some of the housings (10) of the receiving receptacle (1) have a generally tubular shape, the axis (10 ') is inclined by vertical relation to allow or optimize the operation of twisting the foot of the bouquet. 17. - Installation according to claim 16, characterized in that it comprises a receptacle (1) provided with a plurality of tubular housings (10) distributed substantially on concentric rings, the axis (10 ') of said housings (10 ) being inclined at the same slope on each of said rings and this inclination being produced substantially on the tangent of said rings, the slope of the axis (10 ') of said housings (10) being decreasing from the center of said receptacle (1) towards the 'outside. 18. - Installation according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that it comprises means for ensuring rotation of the receiving receptacle about a vertical or substantially vertical axis (13).