FR2853634A1 - Bottles e.g. magnums, packing box for turning apparatus, has panels with complimentary coupling unit, which locks itself on non-deformable structure to define box for different modules of bottles - Google Patents

Abstract

The box has vertical struts (1) and orthogonal cross units (2) assembled between the struts to form a non-deformable structure whose faces are defined by panels (5, 7, 10). The panels are removable and interchangeable to vary meshing of parallel attachments according to type of bottles. Each panel has a complimentary coupling unit, which locks itself on the structure to define the box for different modules of bottles.

Description

Bottle packaging case for riddling apparatus

  Company EUROPFIL The invention relates to a bottle packaging case for manual or automatic riddling apparatus, according to the so-called "champenoise" method consisting in rotating the bottles on themselves and moving them, from the horizontal position to the vertical position , to take off the lees and lead it towards the neck of these bottles.

  The packaging boxes for bottles intended to be housed in the baskets of the riddling apparatuses generally consist of a non-deformable structure, of parallelepiped shape, with ski legs, or integrated gripping pins, for lift trucks whose faces are defined by fixed panels formed of bars or parallel wires defining bottle retaining grids, the mesh of the wires being determined and corresponding to a defined module of bottles so that at least two of these wires interest the section of a bottle and ensure its rigging.

  These riddling boxes are therefore intended, depending on the mesh size of the wires, for a very specific type of bottles and can only receive an identical population of bottles, otherwise the setting would be random and the risks of breakage significant.

  This specificity forces wine-growers to equip themselves with 20 full cases, specific to each specimen of bottles, which generates relatively heavy investments and creates storage difficulties, due to the size of these non-removable cases, some of which remain long immobilized in the park.

  The object of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks, both technical and economic, in order to provide professionals with a riddling box, the definition of which can be modified to acquire a versatile character and authorize, in the same box. , the packaging and perfect wedging of bottles of different shapes and sizes, whether standard bottles, half-bottles, magnums, or others. (

  The invention therefore relates to riddling boxes of which one or more of the panels fitted to each of the faces of the structure are removable so that they can be replaced by other sets of panels adapted to the shapes and dimensions of another population of bottles. .

  The invention therefore relates to a case for packaging bottles for apparatus, manual or automatic, for riddling according to the so-called "champenoise" method, of the type consisting of uprights and orthogonal crosspieces, assembled together to form a non-deformable case structure, of which the faces consist of panels formed by 10 parallel bars defining grids for retaining bottles, this box being characterized in that some of these panels are removable and interchangeable, to vary the mesh of the wires, each panel being provided with means of 'complementary coupling to self-lock each other on the body structure, which makes it possible to adapt the definition of said body to different bottle modules.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the removable panels are those constituting the rear face, one of the two lateral sides and the bottom wall of the box.

  According to a characteristic of the invention, the sets of removable panels constituting the rear face are formed of at least two parallel uprights on which are fixed, at a variable pitch from one panel to another, parallel and spaced slides, in the form of a gutter, the opening of which is directed towards the inside of the body structure in order to receive the neck of the bottles.

  Advantageously, the sets of panels constituting the removable lateral side are formed of bars or parallel metal wires, spaced from one panel to the other by a pitch corresponding to the module of the bottles to be packaged.

  Preferably, the bottom wall is formed by a grid made up of wires parallel to the generatrices of the bottles, the pitch of which varies from one grid to another depending on the model of the bottles, so that the section of the bottles is tangent. with at least two contiguous wires, also ensuring good timing.

  Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the description below and the attached drawings in which: - Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the body and four of its panels, except the front panel and the access doors to the volume of the body, - Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the front panel and the two gates forming the upper face of the body, - Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the circle A of Figure 1, Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of part B of Figure 1, - Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of part C of Figure 1, - Figure 6 shows the detail of the fixing lugs of the rear panel, - Figure 7 is a plan view of the detail of the locking of the gates on the body structure, - Figures 8A and 8B including perspective views illustrating the assembly detail of the two gates constituting the upper face of the box.

  The versatile riddling box according to the invention, used in the wine making cycle in the Champagne method, is intended to ensure the positioning and maintenance of the bottles during the riddling phase, the latter passing from the horizontal position in the vertical position.

  The external dimensions of the box being identical so that it can be positioned correctly in the baskets of the riddling apparatus, the invention consists, in order to avoid having to use a large stock of boxes, to make some of the panels interchangeable , so as to give the body the desired versatile character.

  The box is conventionally made up of uprights 1 and orthogonal crosspieces 2, assembled together, for example by welding, to define a one-piece, non-deformable box structure, of parallelepiped type, each box being composed of: - a straight side 3, with multipurpose fixed grid in small meshes, - on a left side 4 capable of receiving a specific adaptable grid 5 (FIG. 1), - of a bottom 6 capable of receiving a specific adaptable grid 7, - of two closing gates 8, common to all types of bottles and adjustable in height, in order to adapt to variations in diameter of the different types of bottles, - a front panel 9 allowing the bottles to be kept during riddling and during the movement of the boxes , 10 of a rear panel 10 provided with slides.

  The adaptation kit, that is to say the removable and interchangeable panels, relates, in the example considered: - the compensating grid 5 of dimension to the pitch of the bottles, adaptable on the left lateral side, - the grid wire bottom 7 adapted to the pitch of the bottles, - the rear face 10 provided with sheet metal slides for maintaining the necks of the bottles.

  These panel kits are identified by marking (colors, letters, paint, etc.) in order to easily recognize the type of bottles for which they have been designed.

  These interchangeable panels include complementary coupling means for self-locking each other on the body structure, so that they can be easily removed and replaced by another panel having a mesh suitable for a new 25 bottle module.

  The side panel 5 is formed by two uprights 51 assembled with two crosspieces 52 connected together by orthogonal wires 53, 54 defining a specific mesh adapted to a determined module of bottles. The side panels 5 are, moreover, of a thickness varying from one panel 30 to another in order to serve as a compensation wedge adapted to these different modules of bottles.

  The uprights have hooks 55 on their outer faces, welded at the top and bottom, intended to penetrate and hang, by simple gravity, in buttonholes 1 1 welded to the internal face of the 35 uprights 1 of the body structure .

  The lower cross member 52 has two welded legs 56 directed towards the inside of the body to receive the bottom grid 7 and oppose its removal from the top.

  The bottom grid is formed by two parallel beams 71 joined by 5 cross members 72 and is formed by a grid of wires, the pitch of which is adapted to a determined diameter of bottles. Preferably, the section of a bottle is tangent to at least two wires if it is desired to obtain a good setting of the first layer of bottles placed on the grid. This layer is formed by several successive rows of bottles aligned 10 in the same direction, the necks of the first row being in contact with the slides of the rear panel 10 then the other successive rows coming to be placed, by their respective necks, in the bottom. hollowed out rows of adjoining bottles.

  The two side members 71 of the bottom wall are folded at their front part 15 to form hooks 73 capable of coming to grip on the front cross member 2 of the body structure, and their rear end is folded at right angles to form retainers 74 abutting behind the rear face 10.

  This rear face 10 is formed of two uprights 12 on which are fixed by welding, riveting or screwing, slides 13 parallel and spaced apart by a predetermined pitch, these slides being formed of section of sections open towards the internal volume of the box, and being intended to receive the end of the neck of the successive layers of bottles.

  As can be seen in FIG. 6, the uprights 12 have lugs 14 pierced with an orifice 15 intended to be housed in a hole 21 in the cross-member 2 (FIG. 5) to receive a fixing pin.

  The closure panel 8 (FIG. 2) consists of two doors common to all types of bottles, adjustable in height in order to adapt to variations in diameters of the different types of bottles.

  These gates visible in Figures 8A, 8B, have at their joint a stud 81 and an orifice of the same diameter 82 so that the two contiguous crosspieces 83, 84 of these two gates can be coupled to one another by simple indexing.

  These gates have on the outer face of their crosspieces 85 lugs 86 for height adjustment, coming to be positioned in the notches 41 and in the strikes 42 of the body structure (FIG. 2), the two gates thus being able to penetrate more or less deep in the box and be maintained at a desired level by a rack lock 43, known per se, (Figure 7).

  The assembly of the box, according to the invention, is carried out as follows.

  Considering that the right side panel 3, the front panel 9 and the 10 closing gates 8 are versatile, the adaptation kit therefore only concerns the left lateral compensation grid 5, the bottom grid 7 and the rear face 10.

  Based on this definition, the operator must choose from these adaptation kits the panels corresponding to a determined population of bottles 1 5, according to the marking provided by the manufacturer.

  When the kit is chosen, the operator first of all fixes the side panel 5 by sliding it vertically inside the non-deformable structure of the body until the cross-member 52 comes to rest on the bottom of the structure. During this installation, the 20 hooks 55 are brought opposite the buttonholes 11 of the uprights of the box, so that they come to hang by simple gravity.

  Next, the bottom grid 7 is put in place until the hooks 73 of the side members 71 come to grip on the outer cross member 2 of the body structure. The longitudinal members 71 of the bottom grid come to rest on the horizontal part of the welded tabs 56 of the side panel 5, so as to lock the latter in position in addition to the hooks 55 trapped in the buttonholes 1.

  The rear face 10 is then put in place by sliding it vertically inside the crosspieces 2, so that the slides 13 are directed towards the contents of the body and that the tabs 14 (FIG. 6) can be inserted into the holes 21 of the crosspieces 2 to receive stop pins (not shown) which are introduced into the orifices 15 of the tabs 14 opening out to the outside 35 of the crosspieces 2.

  The bottom grid 7 is held by the rear face by pressing the retainers 74 behind the panel 10.

  Thus, the three removable panels include complementary coupling means and self-lock each other, the bottom grid opposing the removal of the side panel 5 and the rear panel 10 prohibiting the removal of the grid from bottom 7, this rear face 10 being itself locked by the pins on the cross members 2 of the one-piece structure of the body 1.

  The front face is constituted, in a conventional manner, of a grid, the mesh of which is versatile, this comprising cross members 91 folded at their ends so as to be housed in buttonholes 92 (FIG. 2) and a locking system by condemnation pull 93.

  Finally, after filling the box, the closing gates, already assembled to one another, are put in place, by sliding the pins 86 in the notches 41 and in the keepers 42 of the structure of case, until they come into contact with the top layer of bottles. At this stage, a slight pressure is applied to the gates and then they are locked in position by the rack system, visible in FIG. 7, known per se.

  The body assembled in this way can then be taken over by a lifting device, the forks of which are brought under the ski base Pi, P2 (FIG. 1) of the body structure, or in the absence of such a base, by a trunnion lift. gripping, known per se, integrated into the thickness of the side panels of the body structure.

  This versatile box has many advantages; not only is it common to several types of bottles, but it also makes it possible to hold the bottles identical to that of a standard box and is perfectly compatible with the fleet of existing boxes and riddling equipment.

  In addition, the cost of the basic structure is competitive compared to a specific complete box, and considerably reduces the volume of immobilized boxes, and consequently the bulk due to storage. In fact, the removable panel kits being flat, these can be stored by simple stacking in stackable containers.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the example of embodiment described above for which we can provide other alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

  This is how one could modify the coupling and locking devices of the panels between them, without changing anything to the invention, the main thing being that certain panels are removable and interchangeable to adapt the body to modules. of different bottles thanks to a choice of mesh adapted to these different types of bottles.

Claims (9)

  1 - Bottle conditioning case for manual or automatic riddling apparatus, according to the "champenoise" method of the type consisting of uprights (1) and orthogonal crosspieces (2), assembled together to form a non-deformable case structure whose faces 5 are defined by panels formed from parallel wires constituting bottle retaining grids, box characterized in that some of these panels (5, 7, 10) are removable and interchangeable to vary the mesh of the wires as a function of determined type of bottle, each panel being provided with complementary coupling means 10 for self-locking each other on the structure of the box, which makes it possible to adapt the definition of said box to different modules of bottles .   2 - bottle packaging case according to claim 1 characterized in that the removable panels relate to the rear face 15 (10), one of the two lateral sides (5) and the bottom wall (7).   3 - bottle packaging case according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the sets of panels constituting the rear face (10) consist of at least two parallel uprights (12) on which are fixed, according to a variable pitch from one panel to another, parallel and spaced slides (13), in the form of gutters, the opening of which is directed towards the interior of the body.   4 - bottle packaging case according to claims 1 and 2 characterized in that the sets of panels constituting the removable side wall (5) are of variable thickness from one panel to another and 25 are formed of bars in parallel metal wires spaced at a corresponding pitch, from one panel to another, to the different modules of bottles to be packaged.   - Bottle packaging case according to claims 1 and 2 characterized in that the panels constituting the bottom wall (7) 30 are formed of a grid consisting of wires parallel to the generatrices of the bottles, the pitch of which is variable from one grid to another, according to the module of the bottles so that the section of the periphery of the bottles which rests on this grid is tangent to at least two contiguous wires.   6 - bottle packaging case according to claim 1 characterized in that the rear face (10) comprises, at the lower and upper ends of its uprights, fixing lugs (14) directed towards the outside of the case and pierced with an orifice (15) intended to receive a locking pin.   7 - bottle packaging case according to claim 1 characterized in that the side panel (5) comprises outside of these two vertical uprights assembly hooks (55) cooperating with buttonholes (11) fixed on the two uprights (1) of the lateral frame 10 of the body structure.   8 - bottle packaging case according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the side panel (5) has on its lower crosspiece (52) self-locking tabs (56) with the bottom wall (7) directed towards the inside of the body structure.   9 - bottle packaging case according to claims 1 and 2 characterized in that the bottom wall (7) has two side rails (71) whose front ends are bent to form hooks (73) which hang on the front crossmember (2) of the structure 20 of the body, the rear ends of these same longitudinal members being bent at right angles to form retainers (74) which lock behind the rear panel (10).   - Bottle packaging case according to any one of claims from 1 to 9 characterized in that the gates (8) 25 have on their contiguous longitudinal members pins (81) which are indexed in complementary orifices (82), these gates comprising lugs (86) capable of sliding in notches (41) and keepers (42) provided in the body structure in order to be locked in all relative positions by rack latches (43).   11 - Bottle packaging case according to any one of claims from 1 to 10 characterized in that the removable panel kits (5, 7, 10) include an identification sign corresponding to each bottle module.