FR3069800A1 - METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANUFACTURING LUMINOUS DECORATION - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a luminous decor comprising the steps of: - securing an extruder (3) to a moving means (2, 8), - extruding a hot bead (300) of thermoplastic material to through the extruder (3), - moving the extruder (3) along a path so as to form a decorative structure (1) having at least one curved contour; - embedding a light string (100) in at least one target portion of the bead (300), which coating is performed during the displacement of the extruder (3), when said bead is in a pasty state.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANUFACTURING A LUMINOUS DECOR

Description

Technical field of the invention.

The subject of the invention is a method and a system for manufacturing a light decoration.

It concerns the technical field of temporary or permanent light decorations, and in particular light decorations located outside, such as those traditionally installed for parties or other events. The invention can however find many other applications, for example in the field of advertising light decorations or for the animation of commercial windows.

State of the art.

Light decorations are usually made from a support frame on which one or more light garlands are joined, generally formed by a succession of LEDs. The fixing of the garland on the support frame is generally carried out by means of quick couplers, such as cable ties of the Rislan® type. These operations of installation and fixing of garlands require significant labor time resulting in high manufacturing costs.

-2 In the patent document FR 2796446 (BLACHERE), the support frame can be produced by injection of plastic material. Surfaces conditioned to receive the light garland are fitted on the support frame during injection. This technical solution simplifies the fixing of the garlands since the quick couplers are no longer necessary. The installation of the garlands remains manual, however, and generates significant labor time. In addition, the injection of the support frame requires the use of molds which can be expensive.

The invention aims to remedy this state of affairs. In particular, an objective of the invention is to simplify the process of manufacturing light decor, by making it faster and less expensive.

Another objective of the invention is to automate the process of manufacturing a light decor so as to eliminate, or at least limit, the workforce.

Yet another objective of the invention is to propose a method of manufacturing a light decoration which makes it possible to obtain complex shapes.

Disclosure of the invention.

The solution proposed by the invention is a process for manufacturing a light decor comprising the steps consisting in:

- securing an extruder to a displacement means,

- hot extrude a bead of thermoplastic material through the extruder,

- move the extruder along a path so as to form a decor structure having at least one curved outline,

-3- coat a light garland in at least a target portion of the cord, which coating is carried out during the movement of the extruder, when said cord is in a pasty state.

This process is based on the principle of 3D printing where the thermoplastic material is extruded using an extruder which moves in space. The decor can thus have a structure whose shape is complex, in particular a volume structure and / or with one or more curved contours. This process is in practice faster and less expensive than the injection solution described in the aforementioned patent document FR 2796446 and can be fully automated. In addition, the cooling of the thermoplastic material causes the light chain to be joined to said thermoplastic material. It is therefore no longer necessary to provide a fixing of the garland by quick couplings, nor to arrange specific reception surfaces on the structure of the decoration. Labor times are therefore considerably reduced.

Other advantageous characteristics of the process which is the subject of the invention are listed below. Each of these characteristics can be considered alone or in combination with the remarkable characteristics defined above, and be the subject, if necessary, of one or more divisional patent applications:

- Advantageously, the light string is continuously unwound along a trajectory coinciding with the trajectory of the extruder when the latter extrudes the target portion of the cord (300); and synchronizing the unwinding of the light garland and the extrusion of the cord, so that the extrusion of said cord is carried out simultaneously with the unwinding of said garland during movement of the extruder along said path.

- Preferably, a reel is secured to the displacement means, so that said reel moves at the same time as the extruder and according to the same trajectory.

In an alternative embodiment, the method advantageously comprises the following steps consisting in: securing a reel to a second displacement means; move this reel along the trajectory coinciding with the trajectory of the extruder when the latter extrudes the target portion of the bead; unwinding the light garland from the reel, during the movement of said reel along said path.

- The extruder can be moved so that the structure is obtained by an extruded cord which is stacked in layers, and preferably so that the structure is in 3D (3 dimensions).

- The light garland can be trapped between two superimposed layers of extruded thermoplastic material.

- According to one embodiment, the bead is extruded over the light garland so that said garland is partially coated with the thermoplastic material; and the thermoplastic material is cooled, which cooling causes the light chain to be attached to the cord.

- According to another embodiment, the light garland is unwound on the cord so that said garland is partially coated with the thermoplastic material; and the thermoplastic material is cooled, which cooling causes the light chain to be attached to the cord. The light string can also be pushed into the cord, which is still in a pasty state, before the thermoplastic material has cooled. Alternatively, the light chain is secured to the cord by means of staples. These staples can be inserted into the bead still in the pasty state, before the thermoplastic material has cooled, or said staples can be heated before being pressed into the thermoplastic material.

- According to another embodiment, the light garland is unwound in the thickness of the bead, so that said garland is completely coated with the thermoplastic material.

- Advantageously, the light garland is housed in a translucent or transparent heat-shrinkable sheath, before its unwinding.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a system for the manufacture of a light decoration, said system comprising:

- a light garland,

- an extruder secured to a displacement means, and through which a bead of thermoplastic material is hot extruded,

a management unit adapted to control the means of movement and move the extruder, the control of said means of movement being carried out so that: the extruder moves along a path so as to form a decor structure having at minus a curved outline; and the light garland is coated in at least one target portion of the cord, which coating is carried out during the movement of the extruder, when said cord is in a pasty state.

Other advantageous characteristics of the system which is the subject of the invention are listed below. Each of these characteristics can be considered alone or in combination with the remarkable characteristics defined above, and be the subject, if necessary, of one or more divisional patent applications:

- A reel to unwind the light garland is advantageously secured by means of displacement.

- According to an alternative embodiment, a reel for unwinding the light garland is secured to a second displacement means; a management unit controls the second displacement means for moving the reel along a trajectory coinciding with the trajectory of the extruder when the latter extrudes the target portion of the cord.

- The means of movement of the extruder is advantageously a robotic handling arm, preferably a 6-axis articulated arm.

- In another embodiment, the means for moving the extruder is a mobile carriage along the X, Y and Z axes of a Cartesian coordinate system.

Description of the figures.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear better on reading the description of a preferred embodiment which will follow, with reference to the appended drawings, produced by way of indicative and nonlimiting examples and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a luminous decoration capable of being obtained by implementing the method which is the subject of the invention,

FIG. 2 illustrates another example of a luminous decoration capable of being obtained by implementing the method which is the subject of the invention,

FIG. 3 shows diagrammatically different elements of a system for manufacturing 10 a light decoration in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 4 diagrammatically shows a stack of beads of extruded thermoplastic material,

FIG. 5a shows diagrammatically a first mode of coating a light garland in the extruded thermoplastic material,

FIG. 5b is a cross-sectional view of a bead of extruded thermoplastic material in which the light garland is coated according to the first coating method of FIG. 5a,

FIG. 6a shows diagrammatically a second mode of coating a light garland in the extruded thermoplastic material,

FIG. 6b is a cross-sectional view of a bead of extruded thermoplastic material in which the light garland is coated according to the second coating method of FIG. 6a,

FIG. 7a shows diagrammatically a third mode of coating a light garland in the extruded thermoplastic material,

FIG. 7b is a cross-sectional view of a bead of extruded thermoplastic material in which the light garland is coated according to the third coating method of FIG. 7a,

FIG. 8a shows diagrammatically a fourth mode of coating a light garland in the extruded thermoplastic material,

FIG. 8b is a cross-sectional view of a bead of extruded thermoplastic material in which the light garland is coated according to the fourth coating method of FIG. 8a,

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a bead of extruded thermoplastic material in which the light garland is coated according to another coating method,

- Figure 10 shows schematically a fifth mode of coating a light garland in the extruded thermoplastic material,

FIG. 11 shows diagrammatically a reel for unwinding a light garland,

- Figure 12 shows schematically a light garland,

FIG. 13 shows diagrammatically different elements of a system for the manufacture of a light decoration according to the invention, according to an alternative embodiment,

- Figure 14 shows schematically different elements of a system for the manufacture of a light decoration according to the invention, according to another alternative embodiment.

Preferred embodiments of the invention.

The method and the system which are the subject of the invention make it possible to produce light decorations. These decorations each comprise a rigid structure forming a support frame, and in which one or more light garlands are installed.

In FIG. 1, the structure 1 of the light decoration represents a stylized snowflake installed on a volute. For example, its length is between 50 cm and 2 m, its width between 20 cm and 1 m and its thickness between 4 mm and 5 cm. The thickness being relatively small compared to the other dimensions, it is understood that this structure is a 2D structure. This structure 1 can be attached to a cable or fixed to a post or a wall for a

-8 installation outdoors (for example in a street or on the facade of a monument) or inside a home.

In FIG. 2, the structure 1 represents a stylized Christmas tree, the height of which is for example between 50 cm and 2 m, and the diameter of the base of which is for example between 20 cm and 1 m. The tree can be hollow or partially filled with material by creating a honeycomb network to stiffen the structure 1 while retaining weight gain. It is understood that this fir structure is a volume structure, or a 3D structure.

The structure 1 incorporates one or more light garlands 100. In FIG. 1, a garland 100 is arranged in each of the branches of the volute arranged on either side of the stylized snowflake. In Figure 2, a garland 100 is arranged in a helix, from the base to the top of the tree.

In FIG. 12, the chain 100 is composed of a succession of light sources 101 which are preferably monochrome or multi-color light-emitting diodes (or LEDs). They are soldered to the wires 102 of an electrical circuit. The garland 100 can be housed in a heat-shrinkable sheath 104, in particular a teflon sheath. This sheath 104 is preferably translucent or transparent so as to let the light emitted by the light sources 101 pass.

The LEDs 101 used preferably operate at very low voltage, typically 5V, 12V, 24V, but also at 230V, which makes it possible to mount directly on the electrical network. By way of example, the garland 100 may have a length which varies from 50 cm to 3 m, and may comprise from 5 to 200 light sources 101 distributed over its length.

The garland 100 is advantageously connected to a control unit 103 programmed to issue instructions for controlling the ignition of the light sources 101. This housing 103 can be provided under the

-9 form of a computer or a programmable logic circuit of the integrated circuit, microcontroller, microprocessor, or other type, assembled on an electronic card. This box 103 makes it possible to supply groups - or portions - of light sources 101 independently and sequentially.

In practice, the housing 103 integrates a processor which executes one or more programs, sub-programs, microprograms, the instructions of which make it possible to manage the various functionalities linked to the said housing, and in particular the issuing of the instructions for controlling the lighting of the light sources 101 The housing 103 is connected to a current source 105 and adapted to supply the light sources 101 with an acceptable voltage, for example a voltage of 5 Volts.

According to the invention, the structure 1 is obtained by the hot extrusion of a thermoplastic material. A thermoplastic material can be understood as a material which softens - or returns to a pasty state when it is heated above a certain temperature (plasticity temperature), but which, below this temperature, becomes hard and freezes. Such a material generally reversibly retains its initial thermoplasticity, which makes it easily recyclable.

The thermoplastic material used can be translucent, transparent or opaque. It is preferably based on polymers or copolymers of the ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate) or SMMA (Styrene Methyl Methacrylate) type, for their good impact resistance and aging. These polymers or copolymers can be mixed with dyes and / or adjuvants, for example to improve resistance to aging and / or to UV. A translucent or transparent material allows the light emitted by light sources 101 to pass through.

To melt the thermoplastic material, an extruder heats it to a temperature varying from 160 ° C to 400 ° C depending on the plasticity temperature of the

- 10 material used. A cord comes out of the extruder. It is advantageous to adjust the heating temperature so that the bead does not come out in fusion, or in a liquid state, but rather in a pasty state. For example, for an ABS type polymer, the heating temperature is adjusted to around 200 ° C.

As described further in the description, the coating of the light garland in a pasty bead allows better positioning of said garland on or in said bead, compared to a molten bead. In addition, the molten material, due to its relatively high temperature, risks degrading the physical integrity of the elements of the garland, in particular its light sources.

According to the invention, the extruder is secured to a means of movement. In FIG. 3, this displacement means is a robotic manipulation arm 2. The extruder 3 is secured to this robotic arm 2, which moves it longitudinally, transversely and possibly vertically.

The robotic manipulation arm 2 is an articulated arm with 3 axes or, preferably, an articulated arm with 6 axes.

The 3-axis articulated arm allows the extruder 3 to be displaced in translation along the X (abscissa), Y (ordinate) and Z (rib) axes of a Cartesian coordinate system, or orthonormal coordinate system. The outlet nozzle of the extruder 3 remains oriented vertically, to keep the direction of extrusion perpendicular to the surface of the plate 5. A 3-axis articulated arm makes it possible to produce relatively complex structures, in 2D or 3D, with one or more curved contours, like those illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

The articulated arm 6 axes, in addition to the aforementioned translations, also allows rotation of the extruder 3 along each of the axes X, Y and Z. The outlet nozzle of the extruder 3 can thus be oriented in any position, which is an advantage when the structure 1 has a particularly complex shape.

-11 The robotic arm 2 of Figure 3 comprises: a base 21 mounted movable in rotation about a vertical axis on a base 20; a main arm 22 mounted mobile in rotation about a horizontal axis on the base 21; a forearm 23 mounted mobile in rotation about a horizontal axis on the main arm 22. A joint makes it possible to assemble a coupling head 24 at the end of the forearm 23, which head cooperates with a member d coupling 30 of the extruder 3.

The connections between the base 21 and the base 20, between the main arm 22 and the base 21, between the forearm 23 and the main arm 22, and between the forearm 23 and the coupling head 24, form the joints of the robotic arm 2.

Actuating means, of the type V cylinders and / or rotary motors M, arranged at these joints, produce translational and possibly rotational movements of the extruder 3.

The movements of the robotic arm 2 are controlled by an electronic management unit 25. This management unit 25 is in particular in the form of a portable or stationary computer, provided in particular with a processor, microprocessor or CPU (for Central Processing Unit ) and a memory, in which software is stored, the instructions of which, when executed by the processor, microprocessor or CPU, make it possible to control the movement of the extruder 3 in space.

The term "software" can be understood as: computer application, computer programs or software. For the sake of clarity, it should be understood in the sense of the invention that "the robotic arm 2 does something" means "the software executed by the processor, microprocessor or CPU of the electronic management unit 25 does something".

The displacement of the extruder 3 according to a predefined trajectory makes it possible to manufacture a structure 1 by adding material (additive manufacturing), and more particularly by a bead of extruded thermoplastic material which is stacked in layers. These layers can be stacked on top of each other and / or next to each other. This stack creates the volume of the structure.

- 12 The trajectory of the extruder 3 along the X and Y axes, and possibly Z, makes it possible to produce the curved contours of the structure 1.

Figure 4 shows schematically a bead 300 which is stacked on four layers a, b, c, d superimposed one above the other. The arrows to the right of the figure illustrate the trajectory of the extruder 3. The bead 300 is deposited in a first straight or curved line "a" on the surface of the plate 5. To form the layer "b", the bead 300 is repositioned over the first line "a" and is joined - by gluing - to the latter during the cooling of the thermoplastic material. The other lines c and d come together in the same way to what has been previously deposited. The structure 1 is therefore produced by a single cord 300 which is extruded along a path in space and which is stacked in successive layers.

In practice, a designer draws structure 1 using a computer-aided design (CAD) tool. The file obtained is processed by the software stored in the memory of the management unit 25, which organizes the slicing of the different layers necessary for the realization of the structure. The robotic arm 2 is controlled according to this slicing, so that the extruder 3 deposits the bead 300 layer by layer, until the final structure 1 is obtained. Structure 1 is thus obtained quickly, precisely and with optimal repeatability.

In FIG. 3, the thermoplastic material is in the form of granules 6 stored in a reservoir 60. A conduit 61, provided with a pump 62, makes it possible to aspirate the granules 6 to transport them to the extruder 3. The latter is provided with an endless screw 31 making it possible to bring the thermoplastic material to an outlet nozzle 33. One or more heating resistors 32 are installed around the endless screw 31 to heat the granules 6 so that 'a pasty bead comes out of nozzle 33. The dimensions of

- 13this latter, in particular its diameter, are adapted to create a cord 300 with a diameter between 4 mm and 7 mm.

The robotic arm 2 is for example controlled so that the speed of movement of the extruder 3 is between 50 mm / s and 110 mm / s, this speed depending in particular on the material used, its fluidity and the diameter of the nozzle 33.

The light garland 100 is coated in at least one target portion of the cord 300 when the latter is in a pasty state. By “target portion” is meant at least one length of the cord 300 in which the garland 100 is coated. This coating is carried out during the movement of the extruder 3 by the robotic arm 2. Preferably, the garland 100 is continuously unwound along a trajectory coinciding with the trajectory of the extruder 3 when the latter extrudes the target portion of the bead 300.

In Figure 1, the garland 100 is installed only in the branches of the volute. The hypothesis adopted, by way of illustrative example only, is that the structure 1 consists of a stack of four layers a, b, c, d, and that the garland 100 is coated in the second layer “b”, as illustrated in figure 4.

There are in this case two target portions of the cord 300 in which the garland 100 is coated. The first target portion corresponds to the second layer "b" serving to form the upper branch 1a of the volute. And the second target portion corresponds to the second layer "b" used to form the lower branch 1b of the volute.

The garland 100 is continuously unwound along a first trajectory coinciding with the trajectory of the extruder 3 when the latter extrudes the cord 300 according to the second layer "b" constituting the upper branch 1a of the volute. The garland 100 is also unwound continuously along a second trajectory coinciding with the trajectory of the extruder 3 when the latter extrudes the cord 300 according to the second layer "b" constituting the lower branch

- 141b of the scroll. These trajectories are curved and located in a horizontal plane (X, Y), at a certain coast (Z). The garland 100 is not unwound at the portion of the cord 300 forming the stylized snowflake. The garland 100 is therefore generally unwound discontinuously in the structure 1: the garland 100 is first unwound in the upper branch 1a of the volute, at the same time as the extrusion of the latter; then the flake is extruded without the garland being unwound in this part of the decoration; the garland 100 is finally unwound in the lower branch 1b of the volute, at the same time as the extrusion of the latter.

In Figure 2, the garland 100 is installed along the entire length of the extruded cord, from the base of the stylized tree to its top. The hypothesis adopted by way of illustrative example only, is that the structure 1 is made up of a number "n" of layers stacked in a helix, and that the garland 100 is coated in each of these layers. The target portion in this case corresponds to the entire length of the bead 300.

The garland 100 is unwound continuously, along a helical path coinciding with the helical path of the extruder 3 when the latter extrudes the cord 300 according to the "n" constituent layers of the structure 1 of the stylized fir. The garland 100 is therefore generally unwound continuously throughout the structure 1.

A reel is advantageously used to unwind the garland 100. In FIG. 11, the reel 4 comprises a compartmentalized box 40, advantageously made of folded and / or assembled sheets. A first compartment 41 contains a reel 410 on which is wound the garland 100. The winding / unwinding of the garland 100 on the reel 410 is facilitated when said garland is housed in a heat-shrinkable sleeve 104. A second compartment 42 comprises a mechanism for driving the chain 100 towards an outlet 423 of the reel 4. This outlet 423 can be shaped so as to orient the chain 100 in a desired direction. The two compartments 41 and 42 communicate by a passage 400 through

- 15duquel which passes the garland 100. The drive mechanism may consist of wheels or rollers of drive 420 between which the garland 100 is engaged. When the wheels or rollers 420 are rotated, they exert a pulling force on the chain 100 tending to unwind it and force its extraction from the box 40 by the outlet 423. The rotation of the wheels or rollers 420 is preferably carried out at by means of one or more electric motors (not shown) controlled by the management unit 25.

The unwinding of the garland 100 and the extrusion of the cord 300 are synchronized, so that the extrusion of said cord is carried out concomitantly with the unwinding of said garland during the movement of the extruder 3 along the extrusion path of the target portion.

By synchronization, it is meant not only that the reel 4 and the extruder 3 move concomitantly along the same trajectory, but also that the speed of unwinding of the chain 100 corresponds to the speed of movement of the extruder 3. The wire feed speed 100 is notably controlled by the management unit 25 by adjusting the speed of rotation of the wheels or rollers 420.

In FIGS. 5a, 6a, 7a and 8a, the reel 4 is secured to the robot arm 2 so that it moves at the same time as the extruder 3 and according to the same trajectory.

More particularly, the reel 4 is positioned so that its outlet 423 coincides with the outlet of the nozzle 33 of the extruder 3. By “coincides”, it is meant that the outlet 423 and the outlet of the nozzle 33 are adjacent or slightly distant, for example at least 15 cm apart.

Associating the reel 4 and the extruder 3 with the same displacement means 2 makes it possible to ensure that these two elements move concomitantly along the same trajectory.

In the variant embodiment of FIG. 14, the reel 4 is installed on another robotic manipulation arm 2 ′ which is distinct from the robotic arm 2 on which the extruder is fixed 3. The robotic arm 2 ′ can be an arm articulated 3 axes or 6 axes. In practice, the two robotic arms 2 and 2 ’are identical. They can be managed by the same management unit 25, or by two separate management units 25, 25 ’. In the latter case, the two management units 25 and 25 'communicate advantageously with each other, via a wired or wireless link 250.

This configuration where the reel 4 and the extruder 3 are fixed on their own means of movement, is likely to offer several advantages. Indeed, each arm 2, 2 ’is less constrained because it supports a lighter load. It is therefore possible to use two arms 2 and 2 ′ of smaller dimensions, and therefore less expensive, compared to the solution illustrated in FIG. 3.

Also, the head of the robotic arm 2 ′ can be pivoted independently of that of the arm 2. The output of the reel 4 can thus be optimally oriented, according to a different orientation of the extruder nozzle 3, so that the garland 100 is unwound very precisely at the target portion of the cord 300, even if this portion has a complex shape.

Furthermore, in the case of FIG. 1, the garland 100 is not coated over the entire length of the cord 300, but only in one or more target portions of the latter. Outside the coating sequences in the target portion (s), it is therefore possible to move the reel 4 away from the extrusion zone 5, to leave more space for the robotic arm 2. It is also possible to move the reel 4 to another work station, to unwind the garland 100 in the target portion of a cord of another structure. A single 2 ’arm can thus be used for the manufacture of several light sets extruded at the same time, but on different stations.

In any event, the robotic arm 2 ′ moves the reel 4 along the trajectory coinciding with the trajectory of the extruder 3 when the latter extrudes the target portion of the cord 300. The management unit 25 ′ then controls the unwinding of the light garland 100 from the reel 4, during the movement of said

- 17 reel along this trajectory. This ensures synchronization of the unwinding of the garland 100 with the extrusion of the cord 300.

According to a first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5a, the garland 100 is unwound in the thickness of the bead 300, when the latter is still in the pasty state. The arrow indicates the direction of movement of the extruder 3 and the reel 4.

The most pasty area of the bead 300 has the reference 300P and coincides with the outlet of the nozzle 33 of the extruder 3. It is indeed at this location that the bead 300 is the warmest and therefore the most fluid, and where the garland penetrates with the least effort inside the thermoplastic material.

As illustrated in FIG. 5b, the garland 100 is thus completely coated with the thermoplastic material. When the latter cools and hardens, the garland 100 is protected from physical shocks and perfectly held in position in the structure 1. In addition, no live element of the garland 100 is accessible, the thermoplastic material thereby conferring a perfect protection against electric shock and / or electric shock.

A second embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 6a. The cord 300 is here extruded over the garland 100. The latter can for example be first unwound on the surface of the plate 5, the cord 300 is then extruded above. The garland 100 may also not be unwound, but be previously installed on the surface of the plate 5, according to a desired conformation (a volute conformation in the case of Figure 1).

After extrusion of the bead 300, the garland 100 is then partially coated with the thermoplastic material (FIG. 6b). Indeed, the face of the garland 100 which is against the face of the plate 5, is not covered with thermoplastic material. When the thermoplastic material is cooled and solidifies, the garland 100 is secured to the bead 300, as a result of bonding, so that it remains perfectly maintained in position in the structure 1. A partial coating of the garland 100 can be found in advantage when recycling the decor

- 18 bright. It is sufficient for an operator to manually pull the chain 100 to easily detach it from the solidified cord 300.

To avoid having access to the live elements of the garland 100, the latter will advantageously be housed in a heat-shrinkable sheath before its unwinding. FIG. 10 illustrates this alternative embodiment where the heat-shrinkable sheath 104 tightens around the garland 100 when it is exposed to the heat of the extruded bead 300. It should be noted that the heat-shrinkable sheath 104 makes it possible to detach the garland 100 even more easily from the cord 300, during a recycling phase.

FIG. 7a illustrates a third embodiment where the garland 100 is unwound on the cord 300. The garland 100 remains partially coated with the thermoplastic material (FIG. 7b), only the face of the garland 100 which is against the cord 300 being coated in said matter.

When the thermoplastic material is cooled and solidifies, the garland 100 solidifies with the cord 300 as explained in the preceding paragraph. Once again, an operator just has to manually pull the chain 100 to easily detach it from the solidified cord 300 during a recycling operation.

To avoid having access to the live elements of the garland 100, the latter will advantageously be housed in a heat-shrinkable sheath before its unwinding, further facilitating the detachment of said garland during recycling.

A roller or roller 440 is advantageously provided for driving the garland 100 into the bead 300 still in the pasty state, before the thermoplastic material has cooled. This makes it possible to further coat the garland 100 in the thermoplastic material to improve its attachment to the cord 300 after cooling of said material. In FIG. 7a, this roller or roller 440 is integral with the reel 4, and disposed at the outlet 423, downstream of the latter, relative to the direction of movement of said reel.

The fourth embodiment of FIGS. 8a and 8b is similar to the third mode. However, the garland 100 is no longer pressed into the cord 300 by means of the roller or roller 440. Here the garland 100 is secured by means of staples 60. The latter are installed in a stapler 6 secured to the reel 4, and arranged at the outlet 423, downstream of the latter, relative to the direction of movement of said reel.

The clips 60 are advantageously made of steel, but can be made of any other material suitable for a person skilled in the art, for example plastic.

The staples 60 can be inserted into the bead still in the pasty state, before the thermoplastic material has cooled. They can also be heated before being inserted into the thermoplastic, even if the latter is already cooled and hardened. In this case, the staples 60 are brought to a temperature such that they cause a localized softening of the thermoplastic material allowing them to sink.

In practice, the staples 60 are installed at regular intervals, and for example spaced from 1 cm to 10 cm. The stapler 60 can be a pneumatic stapler connected to a compressed air network and the actuation of which is for example activated by the aforementioned management unit 25.

In the alternative embodiment of Figure 9, the garland 100 is trapped between two superimposed layers 300a, 300b of extruded thermoplastic material. The garland 100 is first unwound on the first layer 300a (as for the third and the fourth embodiment) then the second layer 300b is extruded over the garland 100 (as for the second embodiment). When the thermoplastic material has cooled, the garland 100 is fully coated with said material (as for the first embodiment).

Figure 13 illustrates an alternative embodiment where the extruder 3 is secured to a carriage 8 which is movable along the axes X, Y and Z of a reference

-20cartésien. The carriage 8 is for example movably mounted on a first slide or rail - 80 of axis X. This first slide is itself movably mounted on a second slide 81 of axis Y.

A drive mechanism, for example of the rack or jack type, controlled by the aforementioned management unit 25, makes it possible to translate the carriage 8 on the first slide 80, and to translate said first slide on the second slide 81. It is thus possible to move the extruder 3 longitudinally and transversely relative to the surface of the plate 5.

The vertical movement of the extruder 3 (along the Z axis) is made possible by mounting the second slide 81 movable in translation on vertical guides 83. A drive mechanism, for example of the rack or jack type, controlled by the above-mentioned management unit 25, it is possible to translate the second slide 81 along the vertical guides 83.

Obviously, the aforementioned reel 4 can also be secured to the carriage 8. The reel 4 can also be secured to another similar carriage, as described above with reference to FIG. 14.

The arrangement of the various elements and / or means and / or stages of the invention, in the embodiments described above, should not be understood as requiring such an arrangement in all implementations. In any event, it will be understood that various modifications can be made to these elements and / or means and / or stages, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular :

- The structure 1 can be produced by several separate cords of extruded thermoplastic material, which cords stack one above the other and / or one next to the other.

- The joints of the robotic arm 2 can be prismatic joints for movements along the X, Y, Z axes, and rotoid joints for rotations along the X, Y, Z axes.

- The reel 410 can be located outside the box 40 and / or be offset from the reel 4 and the drive means 2, and be fixed.

Claims (19)

1. Method of manufacturing a light decor comprising the steps of: - securing an extruder (3) to a displacement means (2, 8), - hot extrude a bead (300) of thermoplastic material through the extruder (3), - move the extruder (3) along a path so as to form a decor structure (1) having at least one curved outline, - coating a light garland (100) in at least one target portion of the cord (300), which coating is carried out during the movement of the extruder (3), when said cord is in a pasty state. 2. Method according to claim 1, comprising the steps consisting in: - continuously unwinding the light garland (100) along a trajectory coinciding with the trajectory of the extruder (3) when the latter extrudes the target portion of the cord (300), - synchronize the unwinding of the light garland (100) and the extrusion of the cord (300), so that the extrusion of said cord is carried out simultaneously with the unwinding of said garland during movement of the extruder (3) along said trajectory. 3. Method according to claim 2, comprising a step of securing a reel (4) by means of displacement (2), so that said reel moves at the same time as the extruder (3) and along the same path. 4. Method according to claim 2, comprising steps consisting in: -22 - securing a reel (4) to a second displacement means (2 ’), - move the reel (4) along the trajectory coinciding with the trajectory of the extruder (3) when the latter extrudes the target portion of the cord (300), - unwinding the light garland (100) from the reel (4), during the movement of said reel along said path. 5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a step of moving the extruder (3) so that the structure (1) is obtained by an extruded bead (300) which is stacked in layers (a, b , c, d, 300a, 300b). 6. Method according to claim 5, consisting in moving the extruder so that the structure (1) is in 3D. 7. Method according to one of claims 5 or 6, comprising trapping the light garland (100) between two superimposed layers (300a, 300b) of extruded thermoplastic material. 8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, comprising steps consisting in: - extruding the cord (300) over the light garland (100) so that said garland is partially coated with the thermoplastic material, - Cooling the thermoplastic, which cooling causes the light chain (100) to join to the cord (300). 9. Method according to one of claims 2 to 6, comprising steps consisting in: - unwinding the light garland (100) on the cord (300) so that said garland is partially coated with the thermoplastic material, - Cooling the thermoplastic, which cooling causes the light chain (100) to join to the cord (300). -2310. The method of claim 9, comprising a step of driving the light garland into the bead (300) still in a pasty state, before cooling of the thermoplastic material. 11. The method of claim 9, comprising a step of securing the light garland (100) to the cord (300) by means of staples (60), which staples are pressed into said cord still in the pasty state, before cooling thermoplastic material. 12. The method of claim 9, comprising a step of securing the light garland (100) to the cord (300) by means of staples (60), which staples are heated before being pressed into the thermoplastic material. 13. Method according to one of claims 2 to 6, comprising a step of unwinding the light garland (100) in the thickness of the bead (300), so that said garland is completely coated with the thermoplastic material. 14. Method according to one of claims 2 to 13, comprising a step of housing the light garland (100) in a heat-shrinkable sheath (104) translucent or transparent, before its unwinding. 15. System for the manufacture of a luminous decoration characterized by the fact that it comprises: - a light garland (100), an extruder (3) secured to a displacement means (2, 8), and through which a bead (300) of thermoplastic material is hot extruded, -24- a management unit (25) adapted to control the displacement means (2, 8) and move the extruder (3), the control of said displacement means being carried out so that: o the extruder (3) moves along a trajectory so as to form a decor structure (1) having at least one curved outline, o the light garland (100) is embedded in at least one target portion of the cord (300) , which coating is carried out during the movement of the extruder (3), when said bead is in a pasty state. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein a reel (4) for unwinding the light garland (100) is secured to the displacement means (2, 8). 17. The system as claimed in claim 15, in which: a reel (4) for unwinding the light garland (100) is secured to a second displacement means (2 ’), - a management unit (25, 25 ') controls the second displacement means (2') to move the reel (4) along a trajectory coinciding with the trajectory of the extruder (3) when the latter extrudes the target portion of the cord (300). 18. System according to one of claims 15 to 17, in which the means for moving the extruder (3) is a robotic handling arm (2). 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the robotic manipulation arm (2) is a 6-axis articulated arm. 20. System according to one of claims 15 to 18, in which the means for moving the extruder (3) is a carriage (8) movable along the axes X, Y and Z of a Cartesian coordinate system.