METHOD FOR PRODUCING A GLASS STOPPER FOR SEALING BOTTLES

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a glass stopper with a head portion for sealing bottles, more particularly bottles for wine and sparkling wine, wherein an upper mould and a lower mould are provided.

Claims

1-17. (canceled)

18. A method for producing a glass stopper for sealing bottles, the stopper comprising a length and a head section, wherein the length of the stopper refers to that portion of the glass stopper which is arranged within the neck of the bottle, when the glass stopper is used in accordance with its purpose, the method comprising: providing a bottom mold, the bottom comprising: a press ram; and an annular bottom mold piece for molding at least a portion of the head section, wherein the bottom mold piece encloses the press ram; providing a top mold, the top mold comprising: an upper top mold piece; an annular lower top mold piece; and at least one medial top mold piece, the medial top mold piece being arranged between the lower top mold piece and the upper top mold piece, wherein the medial top mold piece comprises a first mold piece and at least one second mold piece; supplying liquid glass to the bottom mold; and press-molding a glass stopper for sealing bottles from the liquid glass by means of the bottom mold and the top mold.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the lower top mold piece is monolithic.

20. The method as claimed in claim 18, the lower top mold piece being configured for molding a part of the length of the stopper.

21. The method as claimed in claim 18, the lower top mold piece being configured for molding at least a portion of the head section.

22. The method as claimed in claim 18, the lower top mold piece being configured for molding a part of the length of the stopper and for molding at least a portion of the head section.

23. The method as claimed in claim 20, the medial top mold piece being configured for molding a part of the length of the stopper.

24. The method as claimed in claim 20, the medial top mold piece being configured for molding at least a part of the length of the stopper having a shape configured for fixing a seal.

25. The method as claimed in claim 18, the medial top mold piece being configured for molding at least a part of the length of the stopper having a shape configured for fixing a seal.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, before press-molding, moving the bottom mold and the top mold towards each other essentially in a vertical direction such that they form a closed mold entity.

27. The method as claimed in claim 26, while press-molding, pressing the press ram into the head section.

28. The method as claimed in claim 27, thereafter, moving the bottom mold and the top mold apart from one another.

29. The method as claimed in claim 28, thereafter, moving the first mold piece and the second mold piece apart from one another.

30. The method as claimed in claim 28, thereafter, moving the first mold piece and the second mold piece apart from one another essentially in a horizontal direction.

31. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the medial top mold piece is heated.

32. The method as claimed in claim 18, before press-molding, moving the bottom mold and the top mold towards each other essentially in a vertical direction such that they form a closed mold entity.

33. The method as claimed in claim 32, while press-molding, pressing the press ram into the head section.

34. The method as claimed in claim 33, thereafter, moving the bottom mold and the top mold apart from one another.

35. The method as claimed in claim 28, thereafter, moving the first mold piece and the second mold piece apart from one another essentially in a horizontal direction.

36. A method for producing a glass stopper for sealing bottles, the stopper comprising a length and a head section, wherein the length of the stopper refers to that portion of the glass stopper which is arranged within the neck of the bottle, when the glass stopper is used in accordance with its purpose, the method comprising: providing a bottom mold, the bottom comprising: a press ram and an annular bottom mold piece for molding at least a main portion of the head section or a portion of the head section, wherein the bottom mold piece surrounds the press ram, providing a top mold, the top mold comprising: an upper top mold piece and an annular lower top mold piece for molding at least a portion of the head section, supplying liquid glass to the bottom mold, and press-molding a glass stopper for sealing bottles from the liquid glass by means of the bottom mold and the top mold.

37. The method as claimed in claim 36, the lower top mold piece being configured for molding a part of the length of the stopper.

38. The method as claimed in claim 37, before press-molding, moving the bottom mold and the top mold towards each other essentially in a vertical direction such that they form a closed mold entity.

39. The method as claimed in claim 38, while press-molding, pressing the press ram into the head section.

40. The method as claimed in claim 39, the method further comprising: thereafter, moving the bottom mold and the top mold apart from one another; afterewards discharging the readily molded glass stopper; and afterewards providing the readily molded glass stopper with a monolithic seal.

41. A method for producing a glass stopper for sealing bottles, the stopper comprising a length and a head section, wherein the length of the stopper refers to that portion of the glass stopper which is arranged within the neck of the bottle, when the glass stopper is used in accordance with its purpose, the method comprising: providing a top mold, the top mold comprising: a press ram; and a sleeve for molding at least a portion of the head section, the sleeve surrounding the press ram; providing a bottom mold, the bottom comprising: a lower bottom mold piece; an annular upper bottom mold piece for molding at least a portion of the head section; and least one medial bottom mold piece for molding at least one part of the length of the stopper, the medial bottom mold piece being arranged between the lower bottom mold piece and the upper bottom mold piece, wherein the medial bottom mold piece comprises a first mold piece and at least one second mold piece; supplying liquid glass to the bottom mold; press-molding the glass stopper from the liquid glass by moving the upper mold and the bottom mold towards each other in an essentially vertical direction such that they form a closed mold entity, and, while press-molding, pressing the press ram into the head section; and afterewards moving the first mold piece and the second mold piece apart from one another in an essentially horizontal direction.

42. The method as claimed in claim 41, during press-molding drawing the glass into the bottom mold by means of depression.

43. The method as claimed in claim 42, after press-molding, drawing the glass stopper out of the bottom mold by means of a depression generated in the sleeve.

44. The method as claimed in claim 42, after press-molding, drawing the glass stopper out of the bottom mold by means of a depression generated in the top mold.

45. The method as claimed in claim 44, thereafter cooling down the glass stopper in a suspended state.

46. The method as claimed in claim 41, before press-molding heating at least one of the group consisting of the bottom mold, the lower bottom mold piece, and the medial bottom mold piece.

47. The method as claimed in claim 41, during press-molding heating at least one of the group consisting of the bottom mold, the lower bottom mold piece, and the medial bottom mold piece.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] FIG. 1 shows an example of an embodiment of a closed mold entity of a multi-station press for implementing a method for the production of a glass stopper for sealing bottles and provided with a head section;

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a further example of embodiment of a closed mold entity of a multi-station press for implementing a method for the production of a glass stopper for sealing bottles and provided with a head section;

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a top mold of the mold entity according to FIG. 2;

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a bottom mold of the mold entity according to FIG. 2;

[0037] FIG. 5 shows the bottom mold according to FIG. 4 in a position immediately before adding liquid glass; and

[0038] FIG. 6 shows an upper top mold piece of the top mold according to FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] FIG. 1 shows an example of embodiment of a closed mold entity (total or entire mold) 1 of and/or in a multi-station press for implementing a method for manufacturing a glass stopper S for sealing bottles, in particular bottles for wine and sparkling wine, said bottles being provided with a head section/head part. The mold entity 1 comprises a top mold including a pressure exerting or press ram 6 and a sleeve 2, which encloses the press ram 6. Moreover, the mold entity 1 comprises a bottom mold including an annular monolithic upper bottom mold piece 3 for molding at least the main portion of the head section of the glass stopper S, a medial bottom mold piece (for molding a fixation configuration or shape for a seal), which comprises a mold piece (or mold part) 4A and a mold piece (or mold part) 4B, as well as a lower bottom mold piece 5. Channels for generating a depression in the bottom mold or in the mold entity 1 are arranged in the lower bottom mold piece 5. The partial molds 4A and 4B are arranged to be moved or shifted against each other horizontally such that they can be moved to open and to close.

[0040] For manufacturing the glass stopper S, the mold pieces/mold parts 4A and 4B are first of all made to move towards and against each other so that they result in a closed mold ring. Subsequently, a drop of liquid glass is supplied to the bottom mold. Thereafter, the bottom mold is moved against the sleeve 2, so that the sleeve 2 abuts the upper bottom mold piece 3. Subsequently the press ram 6 is moved in the direction towards the bottom mold, so that it presses into the head section of the glass stopper S. Simultaneously, a depression is generated in the bottom mold by means of the channels within the lower bottom mold piece 5.

[0041] For removing the press molded glass stopper S, the mold pieces/parts 4A and 4B are first moved apart. Subsequently, a depression is generated in the top mold, by means of which depression the glass stopper may be lifted out from the bottom mold by moving the bottom mold downwardly. In an embodiment of the invention, a depression is simultaneously generated in the channels of the lower bottom mold piece 5. The top mold including the sucked-in glass stopper S is supplied to a removing or discharging station, and the glass stopper S is stripped off by mechanically shifting the sleeve 2 relative to the press ram 6 while simultaneously generating a depression in the top mold.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows a preferred example of embodiment of a closed total mold or mold entity 10 of and/or within a multi-station press for implementing a method for the production of a glass stopper S for the sealing of bottles, in particular of bottles for wine and sparkling wine, said bottles being provided with a head section or piece. The mold entity 10 comprises a top mold 10A represented in FIG. 3 as well as a bottom mold 10B represented in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. The top mold 10A comprises an upper top mold piece 15 shown in FIG. 6 and mounted in a floating manner, and an annular monolithic (one-part) lower top mold piece 13 for molding a part of the stopper length of the stopper S as well as a part of the head section of the stopper S. The top mold 10A, moreover, comprises a medial top mold piece, arranged between the lower mold piece 13 and the upper mold piece 15, for molding a part of the length of the stopper having a fixation formation for a seal. Herein, the medial top mold piece includes a (horizontally movable) first mold piece (or mold part) 14A and a (horizontally movable) second mold piece (or mold part) 14B. The first mold piece 14A includes a thread-like indentation 140A, and the second mold piece 14B includes a thread-like indentation 140B. The indentations 140A and 140B form a negative mold for a thread-like fixation formation (for a seal) of the stopper S, said fixation formation being formed as an indentation. The upper top mold piece 15 comprises an annular gap 150, for example for generating a depression within the upper top mold piece 15 in the top mold 10A. The bottom mold 10B comprises an press ram 16 as well as an annular, sleeve-like bottom mold piece 12 for molding at least a main portion of the head section of the stopper S. The annular bottom mold piece 12 encloses the press ram 16 which can be shifted within the annular bottom mold piece 12.

[0043] For manufacturing the glass stopper S, the mold pieces 14A and 14B are moved (horizontally) towards and (horizontally) against each other so that they result in a closed mold ring. Moreover, the press ram 16 is moved into a position with respect to the bottom mold piece as has, by way of example, been represented in FIG. 5. Thereafter, a drop of liquid glass is supplied into the bottom mold 10B. Subsequently, the top mold 10A and the bottom mold 10B are moved towards each other in a vertical direction so that they result in a closed mold ring and the lower top mold piece 13 comes to lie on the annular bottom mold piece 12, wherein, after closing the mold entity 10, a depression of between 0.1 bar and 0.5 bar is generated in the annular gap 150. Moreover, the press ram 16 is moved upwardly ((in the direction) towards the top mold) and pressed into the head section of the stopper S, in order to mold or press-mold, respectively, the stopper S as has been represented in FIG. 2.

[0044] After exerting pressure on or blank- or press-molding, respectively, the glass stopper S, the top mold 10A and the bottom mold 10B are moved apart, wherein the glass stopper S remains in the top mold 10A. Subsequently, the top mold 10A is moved into a position of deposition. The mold pieces 14A and 14B are moved apart and the glass stopper is discharged. It may be provided for that the discharging the glass stopper S the depression within the annular gap 150 is substituted by normal pressure or by overpressure. Subsequently, the glass stopper S will be provided with a seal.