Removable panel with simplified locking mechanism

Abstract

The invention relates to a locking mechanism (1) for a removable wall (11) of a stirring crate (21) comprising a rack (4) and a shaft (5) one end of which is arranged to selectively cooperate along an actuation axis (A) with the rack (4) between a locked position and an unlocked position. Figure for the abstract: Figure 5

Description

Title of the invention: Removable wall with simplified locking Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to the field of riddling boxes for glass bottles for sparkling wine, and more particularly to the field of riddling boxes with removable walls. Technical background

[0002] Riddling is a step in the preparation of sparkling wines intended to eliminate sediment contained in the wine. This step allows the wine to be more transparent and prevents the formation of a deposit at the bottom of the bottles.

[0003] During the riddling stage, the bottles are slowly rotated around their axis in one direction and the other. Simultaneously with this rotation, the bottles are gradually straightened "on point". This process allows all the sediment suspended in the wine to be collected in the neck of the bottles. Riddling is followed by a disgorging stage, the aim of which is to remove the sediment present at the neck.

[0004] The movement of riddling the bottles can be carried out manually or can be automated and controlled by machines. Automating this step can significantly reduce the time it takes. In fact, manual riddling can last around a month and a half, while when it is automated, it only takes around seven days.

[0005] To gather a large number of bottles and rotate them simultaneously, it is known to use a device called a riddling box. In this type of box, a large number of bottles can be arranged so that they all have the same orientation. Thus, by coupling the riddling box to automatic movement means, it is possible to rotate all the bottles simply by changing the orientation of the riddling box. To perform the riddling, the box is attached to a riddling device, also called a stirrer. This stirrer rotates the entire box to perform the riddling of all the bottles at the same time.

[0006] Riddling crates are usually of a generally parallelepiped shape and comprise six walls for holding the bottles in the crate. All the bottles are placed on top of each other, in a staggered pattern, in several layers. Riddling crates of this type can contain around 500 bottles.

[0007] More particularly, in a riddling box, one of the walls is removable from so as to allow the riddling box to be filled with bottles. This removable wall generally comprises two gates, each parallel to the same plane, which are adjustable in spacing and lockable / unlockable using at least one bolt as, for example, described in document FR 3 049 286. Each gate comprises cams intended to cooperate with a cam path provided in an upright of the riddling box.

[0008] While this solution has the advantage of being simple to implement, it does have drawbacks. Indeed, contrary to expectations, tightening using bolts causes rapid fatigue for this type of application. Thus, the large number of bottles encourages users to overtighten the stud to ensure that the gates remain in place, which leads to premature wear of the nut. In addition, it is tedious to tighten / loosen a bolt (especially if it is too tight) and requires having a dedicated tool available. Finally, this type of gate is very difficult to install / remove using a robot. Summary of the invention

[0009] The invention aims in particular to propose a locking mechanism for a removable wall which is compatible with existing removable walls of riddling boxes, which is robust in order to allow a very long service life without having to change parts and which is simple to lock / unlock in order to be able to be handled by both a user and a robot without any tools.

[0010] To this end, the invention relates to a locking mechanism for a removable wall for a riddling case comprising a plate with a first side wall comprising a cam intended to cooperate with a cam path provided on the riddling case, the plate being arranged to be mounted by sliding connection in a slot in the removable wall, characterized in that the locking mechanism comprises a rack mounted on a second side wall of the plate, opposite the first side wall, and a shaft one end of which is arranged to selectively cooperate with the rack of the plate between a first position, called locking, in which the shaft is meshed with the rack, blocking the sliding connection of the plate, and a second position, called unlocking, in which the shaft is moved away from the rack, allowing the sliding connection of the plate.

[0011] Advantageously according to the invention, the locking mechanism can thus be interchanged with an existing locking / unlocking system using at least one bolt which requires the changing of a part such as, for example, its nut. The locking mechanism is then mounted in a slot in the removable wall, that is to say for example in a slot in one of the two gates without adaptation by particular. In addition, the cam of the locking mechanism cooperates in the same way as that of an existing locking / unlocking system using at least one bolt. It is therefore perfectly conceivable to change each existing locking / unlocking system using at least one bolt by the locking mechanism according to the invention as and when wear requires a change of part or to change them all before filling a riddling box. In the latter case, the removable wall is locked in position by several points which are individually lockable / unlockable without the need for a dedicated tool.

[0012] Furthermore, the locking mechanism advantageously uses, according to the invention, a simple mesh between a shaft and a rack, which makes the locking / unlocking movement very robust while avoiding the need for screw tightening, which generates wear. In addition, the actuating axis of the shaft is substantially parallel to the axis of the cam of the plate, which allows a progressive movement of the rack in front of the end of the shaft until the removable wall is pushed into the riddling box as close as possible to the bottles, in which it is sufficient to move the shaft from the unlocking position to the locking position to block all the bottles in the riddling box by the removable wall. This simple locking movement can be obtained by manipulation by a user or a robot without any tools.

[0013] Finally, several locking positions are obtained. This is particularly advantageous when unboxing the bottles. Indeed, when unboxing, the bottles are in a vertical position (neck downwards with the deposit in the neck), it may be necessary to "give play" to the removable wall relative to the bottles in order to more easily remove the bottles by a robot or a user. Here again, both the partial unlocking movement and the bottle removal movement can be obtained by manipulation by a user or by a robot without any tools.

[0014] The invention alternatively comprises one or more of the following optional features, taken alone or in combination.

[0015] The rack may comprise a toothing, the spaces between the teeth of which each have a shape complementary to that of the end of the shaft in order to offer several stable locking positions. Typically, complementary concave and convex surfaces are possible to make it more difficult for the rack tooth to pass through the end of the shaft in order to make each position between two rack teeth very stable.

[0016] The locking mechanism may comprise a frame in which the shaft is mounted with a sliding pivot connection along the actuation axis. The frame thus ensures the movement of the shaft relative to the rack. Typically, maintaining the actuation axis of the shaft substantially parallel to the axis of the cam of the plate ensures perpendicular orientation relative to the rack teeth.

[0017] The other end of the shaft may be extended perpendicularly by a gripping element to assist in manipulating the shaft between the locking and unlocking positions. Here again, the locking / unlocking movements are thus simplified for both user and robot manipulation without the need for a dedicated tool.

[0018] The frame comprises two stops arranged to receive the gripping element and oriented perpendicularly to each other at two different distances along the actuation axis in order to maintain the locking position by blocking the gripping element against the first stop of the frame and the unlocking position by blocking the gripping element against the second stop of the frame. It is understood that the locking / unlocking movements are thus formed by a movement comprising a translation and a rotation.

[0019] The locking mechanism comprises at least one elastic element mounted under stress between the frame and the shaft in order to impose on the shaft an elastic force for moving towards the locking position. This advantageously makes each locking position more stable. Indeed, each time the shaft moves away from the rack, the force of the elastic element must be countered to move the shaft, for example, when moving from the locking position to the unlocking position.

[0020] The invention also relates to a removable wall for a riddling box, characterized in that it comprises at least one locking mechanism as presented above, each mounted in a slot in the removable wall.

[0021] As explained above, all or part of the existing locking / unlocking systems using at least one bolt of the removable wall can be replaced by the locking mechanism according to the invention. By way of non-limiting example, the removable wall can thus be locked in position by several points which are individually lockable / unlockable according to several locking positions without the need for a dedicated tool. This is particularly advantageous when unboxing the bottles. Indeed, during unboxing, the bottles are in a vertical position (deposit in the neck facing downwards), it may be necessary to "give play" to the removable wall relative to the bottles, that is to say without completely removing the removable wall, in order to more easily remove the bottles by a robot or a user.

[0022] The invention alternatively comprises one or more of the following optional features, taken alone or in combination.

[0023] The removable wall may be substantially parallel to a plane, called a wall plane, and comprising two parts, called first and second gates, each parallel to the wall plane and movable relative to each other using a spacing device in order to adjust the distance between the gates parallel to the wall plane. The spacing device can thus be the same as an existing system, i.e. already belonging to the removable wall on which all or part of the existing locking / unlocking systems using at least one bolt of the removable wall can be replaced by the locking mechanism according to the invention. The spacing device can comprise connecting arms of a first gate intended to be slidably mounted in holes of the other gate.

[0024] The removable wall may comprise two locking mechanisms, typically diametrically opposed, on each of the first and second gates.

[0025] Finally, the invention relates to a stirring box characterized in that it comprises a removable wall as presented above and a box body in which at least one cam path associated with the cam of the locking mechanism of the removable wall is provided.

[0026] Advantageously according to the invention, the riddling box makes it possible to benefit from the advantages of the removable wall as presented above. Thus, during riddling, the bottles remain pressed against the riddling box and, during unboxing, when the bottles are in a vertical position (deposit in the neck facing downwards), the riddling box advantageously according to the invention can "give play" to the removable wall relative to the bottles, that is to say without completely removing the removable wall, in order to more easily remove the bottles by a robot or a user. Brief description of the figures

[0027] Other features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the description given below, for information purposes only and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0028] [Fig. 1] is a partial perspective view of an example of a riddling box suitable for bottles of sparkling wine comprising an example of a removable wall according to the invention;

[0029] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of an example of a riddling box face comprising two cam tracks intended to cooperate with the example of a removable wall according to the invention;

[0030] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of the example of a removable wall according to the invention;

[0031] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of one of the gates of the example of a removable wall according to the invention;

[0032] [Fig.5] is a perspective view illustrating an example of cooperation of a cam of a gate with a cam path arranged on the riddling box containing bottles with an example of a locking mechanism according to the invention in the unlocked position;

[0033] [Fig.6] is a front perspective view of the example of a locking mechanism according to the invention in the unlocked position;

[0034] [Fig.7] is a perspective view of the back of the example of a locking mechanism according to the invention in the unlocked position;

[0035] [Fig.8] is a perspective view illustrating the example of cooperation of a cam of a gate with a cam path arranged on the stirring box with the example of a locking mechanism according to the invention in the locked position;

[0036] [Fig.9] is a front perspective view of the example of a locking mechanism according to the invention in the locked position. Detailed description

[0037] In the various figures, identical or similar elements bear the same references, possibly with the addition of an index. The description of their structure and function is therefore not systematically repeated.

[0038] In all that follows, the orientations are the orientations of the figures. In particular, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right”, “above”, “below”, “forward” and “backward” are generally understood in relation to the direction of representation of the figures. The term “horizontal” is therefore understood as a direction parallel to the main plane P of the removable wall and the term “vertical” is understood as a direction perpendicular to the main plane P of the removable wall.

[0039] An example of a riddling box 21, sometimes called a block, is illustrated in [Fig.l]. As explained above, such a riddling box 21 is suitable, in the case of the example described in [Fig.l], for containing, for example, more than five hundred glass bottles 22 (five hundred and four bottles 22 in [Fig.l]) containing sparkling wine. The riddling box 21 comprises a body 23 of generally parallelepipedal shape, that is to say is provided with six walls of generally rectangular shapes. It will be noted that [Fig.l] corresponds to the end of the step of filling the box 21 with bottles after which the sixth bottom wall, generally a grid of metal wires, will be mounted against the bottom (opposite the neck) of the bottles 22 to form the entire riddling box 21 using fixing elements known to those skilled in the art. As seen in the example of [Fig.l], the body 23 also comprises feet 23A and 23B intended to respectively support the riddling box 21 during the filling of the bottles 22 (horizontal position of the bottles 22 as illustrated in [Fig.l]) and at the end of the riddling process of the bottles 22. (vertical position of the bottles 22 with the neck downwards).

[0040] When the riddling box 21 is filled with bottles 22, the latter are arranged in a staggered pattern in several layers. All of the bottles 22 are generally retained by the different walls of the riddling box 23. The bottles 22 are oriented in the same direction and in the same sense. The riddling box 21 comprises, more particularly:

[0041] a tip wall 23D intended to cooperate with the necks of the bottles 22 adjacent to this tip wall 23D (generally a plate profiled in regular notches delimiting parallel rectilinear grooves as better visible in [Fig.2]).

[0042] the bottom wall (not shown in [Fig. 1]) intended to cooperate with the bottoms of the bottles 22 adjacent to this bottom wall;

[0043] and four lateral walls 23C, 11 intended to cooperate with the barrels of the bottles 22 adjacent to these lateral walls, one 11 of the lateral walls 23C, 11 having to be removable in order to make the stirring step possible.

[0044] As for example illustrated in [Fig. 2], each of the three fixed walls 23C comprise metal bars 25 and rectilinear metal wires 26 assembled according to methods known to those skilled in the art, in particular by welding. The metal wires 25 of the side walls 23C are intended to cooperate with barrels of the bottles 22 so as to retain them in the riddling box 21. Two of the metal bars 25 each further comprise two cam paths 24 arranged in order to cooperate with the removable wall 11 as will be explained below. As illustrated in [Fig. 2], each cam path 24 comprises a ramp-forming portion 24A. It will be noted that the two ramp-forming portions 24A of the same bar 25 are of opposite inclinations to provide a particular movement of the removable wall 11 when it approaches the bottles 22 as will be explained below.

[0045] The removable wall 11, called the stirring wall, is, when assembled on the body 23, connected to two fixed lateral walls 23C. The removable wall 11 is substantially parallel to a plane P, called the wall plane. In the example of Figures 3 and 4, the removable wall 11 is illustrated alone. The removable wall 11 comprises a first gate 11A and a second gate 11B, each parallel to the wall plane P and movable relative to each other using a spacing device 15 in order to adjust the spacing distance E between the gates 11A, 11B parallel to the wall plane P. In the example of figures 3 and 4, the spacing device 15 comprises arms 16A for connecting the gate 11A (better visible in [Fig.4]) intended to be slidably mounted in holes 17B of the gate 11B so as to connect the two gates 11A, 11B together.The gate 1 IB carrying the holes 17B is also provided with two folded arms 16B intended to cooperate with a groove 23E of the tip wall 23D.

[0046] Each gate 11 A, 1 IB comprises at least one cam 2 (two cams 2 diamé trally opposed for each gate 1 IA, 1 IB in [Fig.3]) substantially L-shaped intended to cooperate with a cam path 24 of the body 23 of the stirring box 21 and more particularly on the two fixed lateral walls 23C carrying the bars 25 with the cam paths 24.

[0047] Thus, to be able to fill the riddling box 21 with bottles 22, the removable wall 11 is mounted on the body 23. To this end, the bent arms 16B are placed in the groove 23E and the cams 2 of the gates 11A, 11B are introduced into the cam paths 24 provided on the two fixed lateral walls 23C as visible in [Fig.5]. The two gates 11A, 11B kept linked by the spacing device 15 are then moved apart, the inclination of the ramps 24A tending to bring the gates 11A, 11B as close as possible to the center of the riddling box 21. It is understood that each L-shaped cam 2, once it has started its cam path 24, is retained in the bar 25 as visible in particular in [Fig.8].

[0048] In order to make this movement possible, each cam 2 is mounted on a plate 3 at a first lateral wall 3A and the plate 3 is arranged to be mounted by sliding connection in a slot 13 of the removable wall 11. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 9, the sliding connection is obtained by two bolts 18A, 18B each formed of a stud and a nut. More precisely, as illustrated in the example of FIGS. 6 and 7, each bolt 18A, 18B is arranged to slide in the slot 13 to keep the plate 3 aligned with the slot 13 so that the latter can translate along the slot in a reversible manner.

[0049] In order to lock the position of the removable wall 11 relative to the stirring case 21, a locking mechanism 1 is used. Advantageously according to the invention, the locking mechanism 1 comprises the plate 3 provided with the cam 2 but also with a rack 4 mounted on a second lateral wall 3B of the plate 3, opposite the first lateral wall 3A. In addition, the locking mechanism 1 comprises a shaft 5, one end 5A of which is arranged to selectively cooperate with the rack 4 of the plate 3 between a first position, called the locking position visible in FIGS. 8 and 9, in which the shaft 5 is meshed with the rack 4 by blocking the sliding connection of the plate 3 and a second position, called the unlocking position visible in FIGS. 5 to 7, in which the shaft 5 is moved away from the rack 4 by authorizing the sliding connection of the plate 3.

[0050] Advantageously according to the invention, the locking mechanism 1 can thus be interchanged with an existing locking / unlocking system using at least one bolt which requires the changing of a part such as, for example, its nut. The locking mechanism 1 is then mounted in a slot 13 of the removable wall 11, that is to say for example in a slot 13 of one of the two gates 1 1A, 1 1B without any particular adaptation. In addition, the cam 2 of the locking mechanism 1 cooperates in the same way as that of an existing locking / unlocking system using at least one bolt. It is therefore perfectly conceivable to change each existing locking / unlocking system using at least one bolt by the locking mechanism 1 according to the invention as wear requires a change of part or to change them all before filling the riddling box 21. In the latter case, the removable wall 11 is locked in position by several points (four points in [Fig. 1]) which are individually lockable / unlockable without a dedicated tool required.

[0051] Furthermore, the locking mechanism 1 advantageously uses, according to the invention, a simple meshing between a shaft 5 and a rack 4 which makes the locking / unlocking movement very robust while avoiding the need for screw tightening which generates wear. In addition, the axis A of actuation of the shaft 5 is substantially parallel to the axis of the cam 2 of the plate 3 which allows a progressive movement of the rack 4 in front of the end 5A of the shaft 5 until the removable wall 11 is pushed into the riddling box 21, that is to say in particular as close as possible to the bottles 22, in which it is sufficient to move the shaft 5 from the unlocking position visible in Figures 5 to 7 to the locking position visible in Figures 8 and 9 to block all the bottles 22 in the riddling box 21 by the removable wall 11.This simple reversible locking / unlocking movement, i.e. translation -T or T, can be achieved by manipulation by a user or a robot without any tools.

[0052] Finally, several locking positions are obtained. This is particularly advantageous when unboxing the bottles 22 for the disgorging step (step of removing the deposit present in each bottle 22). Indeed, during unboxing, the bottles 22 are in a vertical position (deposit in the neck facing downwards), it may be necessary to “give play” to the removable wall 11 relative to the bottles 22 in order to more easily remove the bottles 22 by a robot or a user. Here again, both the partial unlocking movement and the removal movement of the bottles 22 can be obtained by manipulation by a user or by a robot without any tools.

[0053] In the example illustrated in Figures 5 to 9, it is visible that the rack 4 comprises a toothing 4A, the spaces between the teeth of which each have a shape complementary to that of the end 5A of the shaft 5 in order to offer several stable locking positions. Typically, complementary concave and convex surfaces are used in Figures 5 to 9 to make it more difficult for the tooth of the rack 4 to pass through the end 5A of the shaft 5 in order to make each locking position between two teeth of the rack 4 very stable.

[0054] Furthermore, in the example illustrated in Figures 5 to 9, the locking mechanism 1 comprises a frame 7 in which the shaft 5 is mounted with a sliding pivot connection along the actuation axis A. Typically, the frame 7 comprises two slots receiving the shaft 5 in order to guarantee a movement along the actuation axis A of the shaft 5 relative to the rack 4, that is to say a translational movement T, -T substantially perpendicular to the teeth 4A of the rack 4.

[0055] As visible in the example illustrated in [Fig.5], the other end 5B of the shaft 5 is extended perpendicularly by a gripping element 6 in order to help manipulate the shaft 5 between the locking positions visible in figures 8 and 9 and the unlocking positions visible in figures 5 to 7. Here again, the locking / unlocking movements are thus simplified both for the manipulation of a user and for a robot without needing a dedicated tool.

[0056] In the example illustrated in Figures 5 to 9, the frame 7 comprises two stops 7A, 7B arranged to receive the gripping element 6 and oriented perpendicularly to each other at two different distances along the actuation axis A in order to maintain the locking position by blocking the gripping element 6 against the first stop 7A of the frame 7 and the unlocking position by blocking the gripping element 6 against the second stop 7B of the frame 7. It is understood that the locking / unlocking movements are thus formed by a displacement comprising a translation T, -T and a rotation R, -R.The difference in distance along the actuation axis A between the two stops 7A, 7B is advantageously chosen to, on the one hand, in the locking position visible in Figures 8 and 9, provide meshing of the end 5A of the shaft against the teeth 4A of the rack 4 and, on the other hand, in the unlocking position visible in Figures 5 to 7, release the plate 3 from any contact with the end 5A of the shaft 5.

[0057] Finally, in the example illustrated in Figures 5 to 9, the locking mechanism 1 comprises at least one elastic element 8 mounted under stress between the frame 7 and the shaft 5 in order to impose on the shaft 5 an elastic force of displacement towards the locking position visible in Figures 8 and 9, that is to say capable of moving the shaft 5 at least according to the translation -T. This advantageously makes it possible to make each locking position more stable. Indeed, at each separation of the shaft 5 relative to the rack 4, the force of the elastic element 8 will have to be countered to begin to move the shaft 5 as, for example, when passing from the locking position visible in Figures 8 and 9 towards the unlocking position visible in Figures 5 to 7.

[0058] As explained above, all or part of the existing locking / unlocking systems using at least one bolt of the removable wall 11 can be replaced by the locking mechanism 1 according to the invention. The riddling box 21 makes it possible to benefit from the advantages of the removable wall 11 as presented above. Thus, during riddling, the bottles 22 remain pressed against the riddling box 21 and, during unboxing, when the bottles 22 are in a vertical position (deposit in the neck facing downwards), the riddling box 21 advantageously according to the invention can, without a dedicated tool, “give play” to the removable wall 11 relative to the bottles 22, that is to say without completely removing the removable wall 11, in order to more easily remove the bottles 22 by a robot or a user.

[0059] The invention is not limited to the example presented and other embodiments and variants will become clear to those skilled in the art. Without being limiting, it is possible for the plate 3 and / or the rack 4 and / or the shaft 5 and / or the frame 7 to be of different dimensions and / or mounting and / or geometry without departing from the scope of the invention. By way of non-limiting example, the toothing 4A of the rack 4 could have more or fewer teeth than in the example illustrated in Figures 5 to 9 without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0060] According to a variant not illustrated, the locking mechanism 1 may further comprise at least one other elastic element (i.e. in addition to or in substitution for the elastic element 8) mounted under stress between the removable wall 11 and each plate 3, the elastic relaxation of which exerts a force oriented in the direction of the length of the slot 13. Thus, an elastic force is imposed by each other elastic element on each plate 3, inducing mechanical assistance in pushing the removable wall 11 into the riddling case 21.

[0061] More precisely, the mechanical aid makes it possible to move from the position visible in [Fig. 5] in which each plate 3 is in a proximal position relative to the light 13 allowing the introduction of each cam 2 into its associated cam path 24 (each other elastic element being in maximum relaxation) to the position visible in [Fig. 8] in which the plate 3 is in a distal position relative to the light 13 (each other elastic element being in lesser relaxation but still in relaxation) in order to provide an assistance force for the movement of each cam 2 in its associated cam path 24 and, incidentally, an assistance force for the separation of the gates 1 1A, 1 1B relative to each other.

[0062] Advantageously according to the invention, each locking mechanism 1 therefore makes it possible to block (locking position as illustrated in [Fig. 8]) each plate 3 in its proximal position relative to its associated lumen 13 in order to introduce each cam 2 of the removable wall 11 (four cams 2 in [Fig. 3]) into its associated cam path 24 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5. Each locking mechanism 1 is then deactivated (locking position as illustrated in [Fig. 8] towards the unlocking position as illustrated in [Fig. 5]) in order to release the sliding connection of each plate 3 in its associated lumen 13 and thus allow each other elastic element to exert its elastic relaxation force oriented so as to force each plate 3 to move towards its distal position relative to its lumen 13 associated as illustrated in [Fig.8]. It is understood that the combined actions of each other elastic element allow, by their combined relaxation forces, to partially (an additional force must be provided by a user or a robot), or even totally (no other force to be provided), bring the removable wall 11 of the bottles 22 closer together. Each locking mechanism 1 can then block (locking position as illustrated in [Fig.8]) each plate 3 in its distal position relative to its associated light 13 to hold the bottles 22 in the riddling box 21. List of references

[0063] A: actuating axis

[0064] E: spacing distance between gates 1 IA, 1 IB

[0065] P: wall plane

[0066] T: translational movement of shaft 5

[0067] R: rotational movement of shaft 5

[0068] 1: locking mechanism

[0069] 2: came

[0070] 3: platinum

[0071] 3A: first side wall of the plate 3

[0072] 3B: second side wall of the plate 3

[0073] 4: rack

[0074] 4A: teeth of rack 4

[0075] 5: tree

[0076] 5A: first end of the shaft 13

[0077] 5B: second end of the shaft 13

[0078] 6: gripping element

[0079] 7: frame

[0080] 7A: first stop of the frame 7

[0081] 7B: second stop of frame 7

[0082] 8: elastic element

[0083] 11: removable wall

[0084] 1 IA: first gate of the removable wall 21

[0085] 1 IB: second gate of the removable wall 21

[0086] 13: light

[0087] 15: spacer device

[0088] 16A: connecting arm of gate 1 IA

[0089] 16B: angled connecting arms of gate 1 IB

[0090] 17B: holes in gate 11B

[0091] 21: riddling box

[0092]

[0093]

[0094]

[0095]

[0096]

[0097]

[0098]

[0099]

[0100]

[0101] 22: bottle 23: body of case 21 23A: feet of body 23 23B: feet of body 23 23C: fixed side walls of body 23 23D: tip wall of body 23 23E: groove of tip wall 23D 24: cam track 25: metal bar 26: metal wire

Claims

Claims

1. Mechanism (1) for locking a removable wall (11) for a riddling case (21) comprising a plate (3) with a first lateral wall (3A) comprising a cam (2) intended to cooperate with a cam path (24) provided on the riddling case (21), the plate (3) being arranged to be mounted by sliding connection in a slot (13) of the removable wall (11), characterized in that the locking mechanism (1) comprises a rack (4) mounted on a second lateral wall (3B) of the plate (3), opposite the first lateral wall (3A), and a shaft (5) one end (5A) of which is arranged to selectively cooperate along an actuation axis (A) with the rack (4) of the plate (3) between a first position, called locking, in which the shaft (5) is meshed with the rack (4) by blocking the connection to slide of the plate (3) and a second position, called unlocking,in which the shaft (5) is moved away from the rack (4) allowing the sliding connection of the plate.,

2. Locking mechanism (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the rack (4) comprises a toothing (4A) the spaces between the teeth of which each have a shape complementary to that of the end (5A) of the shaft (5) in order to offer several stable locking positions.

3. Locking mechanism (1) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a frame (7) in which the shaft (5) is mounted with a sliding pivot connection along the actuation axis (A).

4. A locking mechanism (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the other end (5B) of the shaft (5) is extended perpendicularly by a gripping element (6) to assist in manipulating the shaft (5) between the locking and unlocking positions.

5. Locking mechanism (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the frame (7) comprises two stops (7A, 7B) arranged to receive the gripping element (6) and oriented perpendicularly to each other at two different distances along the actuation axis (A) in order to allow the locking position to be maintained by blocking the gripping element (6) against the first stop (7A) of the frame (7) and the unlocking position by blocking the gripping element (6) against the second stop (7B) of the frame (7).

6. Locking mechanism (1) according to any one of the claims- indications 3 to 5, comprising at least one elastic element (8) mounted under stress between the frame (7) and the shaft (5) in order to impose on the shaft (5) an elastic force of displacement towards the locking position.

7. Removable wall (11) for a stirring box (21), characterized in that it comprises at least one locking mechanism (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, each mounted in a slot (13) of the removable wall (11).

8. Removable wall (11) according to the preceding claim, being substantially parallel to a plane, called the wall plane (P), and comprising two parts, called first (1 IA) and second (1 IB) gates, each parallel to the wall plane (P) and movable relative to each other using a spacing device (15) in order to adjust the distance between the gates (1 IA, 1 IB) parallel to the wall plane (P).

9. Removable wall (11) according to the preceding claim, comprising two locking mechanisms (1) on each of the first (1 IA) and second (11B) gates.

10. A stirring case (21) characterized in that it comprises a removable wall (11) according to any one of the preceding claims and a case body (23) in which at least one cam path (24) is provided, associated with the cam (2) of the mechanism (1) for locking the removable wall (11).

Images