Method of disassembling a handle from a cooking vessel

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for disassembling a cooking vessel (1) comprising a handle body (2) made of a non-metallic material fixed to a vessel body (3) made of aluminium, a stud (5) being fixed to the vessel body (3), one end of the handle body (2) comprising a protrusion forming a housing adapted to receive said stud (5), this housing being extended by an orifice passing through said protrusion, a screw (7) being mounted in this orifice to engage in an opening (6) of the stud (5) and assemble the handle body (2) with the vessel body (3), said method consisting of exerting a force on the handle body (2) while the vessel body (3) is immobilised against a support plane, said force comprising a component directed perpendicular to the support plane, to break the handle body (2) at the orifice,and separate the handle body (2) from the metal parts comprising the container body (3), the stud (5) and the screw (7). Figure for abstract: Fig. 1,

Description

Title of the invention: Method for disassembling a handle of a cooking container Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the recycling of cooking containers comprising a handle fixed to a container body made of aluminum.

[0002] The present invention relates more particularly to the disassembly of cooking containers of the aforementioned type, the handle of which comprises a handle body made of non-metallic material. State of the art

[0003] Document EP1972244 discloses a cooking container comprising a container body, a stud fixed to the container body, for example by welding, and a handle body, one end of which comprises at least one protuberance forming a housing which is adapted to receive the stud and which is extended by an orifice allowing the passage of a screw and its insertion into the opening of the stud to assemble the handle body with the container body.

[0004] Document WO2015110747 discloses an example of a method for recycling cooking containers which comprises a step of grinding the cooking containers prior to sorting the materials. A disadvantage of the aforementioned method lies in the fact that while grinding makes it possible to reduce the steels into fractions of a few centimeters, it has the disadvantage of reducing the organic materials, and in particular the bakelites, into a powder which is difficult to recover. In addition, when the handle comprises an annular aluminum base surrounding the end of the handle body fixed to the container body, the alloy of this base, usually a 6060 alloy typical of the extrusion process used for the manufacture of said base, is mixed with the aluminum of the container body, made from another aluminum alloy.As it is difficult to sort aluminium by alloy category, the aluminium from the bases is recycled with the aluminium from the container bodies, and the aluminium alloy thus obtained does not have formability properties that would allow new bases to be produced. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks.

[0006] The technical problem underlying the invention consists in improving the recycling of cooking containers comprising a handle body made of non-metallic material fixed to a container body made of aluminum.

[0007] For this purpose, the invention relates to a method for disassembling a container of cooking comprising a handle body made of non-metallic material fixed to a container body made of aluminum, a stud being fixed to the container body, one end of the handle body comprising a protrusion forming a housing adapted to receive said stud, this housing being extended by an orifice passing through said protrusion, a screw being mounted in this orifice to engage in an opening of the stud and assemble the handle body with the container body, said method consisting of exerting a force on the handle body while the container body is immobilized against a support plane, preferably on said support plane, said force comprising a main component directed perpendicular to the support plane, to break the handle body at the orifice, and separate the handle body from the metal parts comprising the container body, the stud and the screw.The higher toughness of the metal parts such as the container body, stud and screw, and the container body / stud and stud / screw assemblies, compared with the toughness of the handle body made of non-metallic material, makes it possible to separate the handle body from the metal parts, with a simple operation.

[0008] The force can be exerted on a lower face of the handle body. This arrangement makes it easier to break the handle body at the orifice, because the bending resistance of the handle body for such a direction of force is less than for an opposite direction of force corresponding to the conditions of use of the cooking container gripped by the handle body.

[0009] The force thus exerted may comprise a main component directed perpendicular to the support plane. This arrangement increases the effectiveness of the force exerted.

[0010] The force thus exerted may comprise a main component directed perpendicular to the handle body. This arrangement also increases the effectiveness of the force exerted.

[0011] The container body may comprise a container bottom and an upper edge, the container body preferably being held between the container bottom and the upper edge when force is exerted on the handle body.

[0012] The upper edge of the container body may rest on the support plane, and said force may comprise a main component directed towards the support plane. This arrangement makes it easier to recover debris from the handle body.

[0013] Said effort can be a shock. This arrangement makes it possible to reduce the cycle times of the process.

[0014] Said force can be exerted on the handle body in the half of the handle body opposite the container body, and preferably in the extreme third of the handle body opposite the container body. This arrangement makes it possible to increase the effect of the force exerted. This arrangement thus makes it possible to reduce the force required for get the handle body broken.

[0015] The handle body may have an eyelet provided for suspending the cooking container, said force being exerted on the handle body in a portion between the eyelet and the protrusion. This arrangement makes it possible to prevent the handle body from breaking at the eyelet.

[0016] Said force can be exerted on the handle body closer to the eyelet than to the protrusion. This arrangement makes it possible to increase the effectiveness of the force exerted.

[0017] The cooking container may comprise an annular base mounted around the stud between the container body and said end of the handle body, said method then being able to comprise a step of removing the annular base after the separation of the handle body and the metal parts. Due to the presence of the screw inserted into the stud, the annular base may remain mounted on the screw and / or the stud when the container body rests on the support plane.

[0018] The annular base may be metallic. The method then makes it easier to recover the annular base for recycling.

[0019] The annular base may be made of an aluminum alloy different from the aluminum alloy(s) of the container body. The method then makes it easier to recover the annular base separately for recycling.

[0020] The handle body may comprise at least one metal insert. These metal inserts may be used separately from the container bodies, these metal inserts not usually being made of aluminum alloy, but rather of stainless steel.

[0021] The handle body may include at least one metal trim. These metal trims may be used separately from the container bodies, these metal trims not usually being made of aluminum alloy, but rather of stainless steel.

[0022] The handle body may include at least one overmolding made of flexible material. These overmoldings may be used with the other non-metallic materials of the handle body.

[0023] The handle body can be made of bakelite. This material has the advantage of being able to be ground to be recovered in the form of fillers.

[0024] The method may, if desired, include a subsequent step of removing the screw from the container body. This arrangement allows for better control of the composition of the aluminum alloy obtained during remelting of the container bodies. Brief description of the figures

[0025] The aims, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the description given below of a particular embodiment of the invention, presented as a non-limiting example, and as variants, with reference to the attached drawings in which:

[0026] [Fig.l] is a partial schematic sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a cooking vessel used in the cooking vessel disassembly method according to the invention,

[0027] [Fig. 2] is a partial schematic sectional view illustrating a step of the method of disassembling a cooking container according to the invention.

[0028] Only the elements necessary for understanding the invention have been shown. To facilitate reading of the drawings, the same elements bear the same references from one figure to another.

[0029] [Fig.l] illustrates a cooking vessel 1 comprising a handle body 2 attached to a vessel body 3. The vessel body 3 comprises a vessel bottom 31 and a side wall 32 rising around the vessel bottom 31. The side wall 32 has an upper edge 33. The vessel body 3 is made of aluminum. If desired, the cooking vessel 1 may comprise an induction bottom made of ferromagnetic material, assembled with the vessel bottom 31. If desired, the cooking vessel 1 may be at least partially coated. In particular, the inner part of the vessel body 3 and the outer part of the side wall 32 may be coated.

[0030] A stud 5 is fixed to the container body 3. The stud 5 is for example made of aluminum, in particular alloy 6062 or alloy 5754. The stud 5 is fixed to the side wall 32, for example by welding. The stud 5 has an opening 6 provided to receive a screw 7.

[0031] The handle body 2 is made of non-metallic material, advantageously bakelite. The handle body 2 is mounted on the stud 5. One end of the handle body 2 has a protrusion 20 forming a housing 21 adapted to receive the stud 5. The housing 21 is extended by an orifice 22 passing through the protrusion 20. The screw 7 is mounted in the orifice 22 to engage in the opening 6 of the stud 5 and assemble the handle body 2 with the container body 3.

[0032] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the handle body 2 has an eyelet 23 provided for suspending the cooking container 1. The eyelet 23 is arranged near a free end 24 of the handle body 2. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the figures, the eyelet 23 extends between a lower face 25 and an upper face 26 of the handle body 2.

[0033] If desired, the handle body 2 may include at least one metal insert (not shown in the figures). If desired, the handle body 2 may include at least one metal trim (not shown in the figures). If desired, the handle body 2 may include at least one overmolding made of flexible material (not shown in the figures).

[0034] The cooking container 1 may comprise an annular base 4 mounted around the stud 5 between the container body 3 and the end of the handle body 2. The annular base 4 is held between the container body 3 and the end of the handle body 2 by tightening the screw 7 in the opening 6 of the stud 5. The annular base 4 may be metallic. In particular, the annular base 4 may be made of an aluminum alloy different from the aluminum alloy(s) of the container body 3.

[0035] The method of disassembling the cooking container 1 consists of exerting a force on the handle body 2 while the container body 3 is immobilized against a support plane. The force comprises a main component directed perpendicular to the support plane. This arrangement makes it possible to break the handle body 2 at the orifice 22, and thus to separate the handle body 2 from the metal parts comprising the container body 3, the stud 5 and the screw 7, which remain attached to the container body 3.

[0036] In the embodiment illustrated in [Fig.2], the upper edge 33 rests on the support plane. The container body 3 is held between the container bottom 31 and the upper edge 33 when the force is exerted on the handle body 2. Thus the force is exerted on the handle body 2 while the container body 3 is immobilized on the support plane. The container body 3 is turned over on the support plane.

[0037] More particularly, the force exerted on the handle body 2 is exerted on the lower face 25 of the handle body 2, the lower face 25 of the handle body 2 relating to the position of the handle body 2 in the configuration of use of the cooking container 1, and not in the configuration of disassembly of the cooking container 1. In other words, the lower face 25 of the handle body 2 extends on the side of the container bottom 31, and not on the side of the receptacle formed by the container body 3. The upper face 26 of the handle body 2 extends on the side of the receptacle formed by the container body 3.

[0038] More particularly, this force is exerted in the half of the handle body 2 opposite the container body 3. Preferably this force is exerted in the extreme third of the handle body 2 opposite the container body 3. Preferably this force is exerted on the handle body 2 in a portion between the eyelet 23 and the protuberance 20, advantageously closer to the eyelet 23 than to the protuberance 20.

[0039] The force exerted on the handle body 2 is advantageously an impact. The force exerted on the handle body 2 is not necessarily perpendicular to the handle body 2 or to the support plane. The force illustrated in [Fig. 2] has a main component which is directed towards the upper edge 33. The force illustrated in [Fig. 2] also has a main component which is directed perpendicular to the handle body 2. The force illustrated in [Fig. 2] also has a principal component which is directed perpendicular to the support plane.

[0040] As illustrated in [Fig.2], the force exerted on the handle body 2 comprises a main component oriented towards the support plane. Since the upper edge 33 rests on the support plane, this arrangement makes it easier to break the handle body 2 at the orifice 22 housing the screw 7. This arrangement also makes it easier to recover debris from the handle body 2.

[0041] The method according to the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 operates as follows. The cooking container 1 is turned over to place the upper edge 33 on a support plane, and a support is made on the container base 31 to hold the cooking container 1. An impact is made on the handle body 2, which has the effect of breaking the handle body 2 at the orifice 22 formed in the protuberance 20. The stud 5 remains integral with the container body 3, the screw 7 remains integral with the stud 5, and the annular base 4 remains carried by the stud 5. The materials of the handle body 2 have been detached from the container body 3, which retains only its metal parts, which makes it easier to carry out subsequent operations for recycling the container body 3.

[0042] Furthermore, when the force is exerted on the lower face 25 of the handle body 2 while the container body 3 is turned over on the support plane, at least the main debris of the handle body 2 tends to be projected downwards rather than upwards, which makes it easier to recover said debris.

[0043] The method according to the invention may, if desired, include a subsequent step of removing the screw 7 from the container body 3. Even if the aluminum alloy of the stud 5 is different from the aluminum alloy of the container body 3, the presence of the stud 5 on the container body 3 is not such as to hinder the recycling of the aluminum from the container body 3, in particular due to the very low mass of the stud 5 compared to the mass of the container body 3. On the other hand, the screw 7 is generally made of a ferrous alloy, in particular bichromated steel, i.e. non-stainless steel covered with layers of chromium, or stainless steel. The presence of the screw 7 on the stud 5 attached to the container body 3 can thus affect the composition of the aluminum alloy that will be obtained during the remelting of the container body 3.The step of removing the screw 7 may in particular consist of dismantling the screw 7, for example by unscrewing the screw 7 from the opening 6 of the stud 5. The step of removing the screw 7 may also consist of tearing off the screw 7, such an operation of tearing off the screw 7 leading for example to the destruction of the threads of the opening 6 of the stud 5, or to a break in the stud 5 between the opening 6 and the connection of the stud 5 with the container body 3, or to a break in the connection between the stud 5 and the container body 3. The step of removing the screw 7 may also consist of exerting a force on the screw 7 and / or on the stud 5 in order to obtain a break in the stud 5 between the opening 6 and the . connection of the stud 5 with the container body 3, or to a break in the connection between the stud 5 and the container body 3.

[0044] As a variant, the proposed method may relate to a cooking container 1 comprising several studs 5 fixed to the container body 3, each stud 5 having an opening 6. The cooking container 1 may comprise at least one handle body 2 comprising one or more housings 21 arranged in the same protuberance 20 or in separate protuberances 20, the or each housing 21 being adapted to receive one of the studs 5, or at least one of the studs 5, the or each housing 21 being extended by an orifice 22 passing through the or one of the protuberance(s) 20, a screw 7 being mounted in each of the orifices 22 to engage in the opening 6 of one of the studs 5 and assemble the handle body 2 with the container body 3. Such a handle body 2 may in particular form a handle providing a passage with the container body 3, such a handle having at least two points of attachment to the container body 3.The cooking container 1 may also comprise several handle bodies 2 each comprising a housing 21 adapted to receive one of the studs 5. The proposed method may then consist of exerting a force on each of the handle bodies 2, or at the level of each of the housings 21, simultaneously and / or successively.

[0045] As a variant, the proposed method may relate to a cooking container 1 comprising a stud 5 fixed to the container body 3, said stud 5 having several openings 6, preferably two openings 6. The cooking container 1 may then comprise a handle body 2 comprising a housing 21 adapted to receive the stud 5, this housing being extended by several orifices 22 passing through the protuberance 20, a screw 7 being mounted in each of the orifices 22 to engage in one of the openings 6 of the stud 5. The proposed method may then consist of exerting a force on the handle body 2 at one of the orifices 22, then at the other orifice 22 or another orifice 22, to break the handle body 2 in several stages.The proposed method may then consist of exerting a force on the handle body 2, for example at the different orifices 22, or at least two orifices 22, or several simultaneous forces on the handle body 2, for example at the different orifices 22, or at least two orifices 22, to break the handle body 2 at the different orifices 22.

[0046] The proposed method can thus use simultaneous and / or successive forces on the handle body 2, with a view to breaking the handle body 2.

[0047] Various modifications and / or improvements obvious to those skilled in the art may be made to the exemplary embodiments of the invention described in the present description without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims

1. A method of disassembling a cooking vessel (1) comprising a handle body (2) made of a non-metallic material fixed to a vessel body (3) made of aluminum, a stud (5) being fixed to the vessel body (3), one end of the handle body (2) comprising a protrusion (20) forming a housing (21) adapted to receive said stud (5), this housing (21) being extended by an orifice (22) passing through said protrusion (20), a screw (7) being mounted in this orifice (22) to engage in an opening (6) of the stud (5) and assemble the handle body (2) with the vessel body (3), said method consisting of exerting a force on the handle body (2) while the vessel body (3) is immobilized against a support plane, preferably on said support plane, said force comprising a main component directed perpendicular to the support plane, to break the handle body (2) at level of the orifice,and separating the handle body (2) from the metal parts comprising the container body (3), the stud (5) and the screw (7).,

2. A method of disassembling a cooking vessel (1) according to claim 1, wherein said force is exerted on a lower face (25) of the handle body (2).

3. A method of disassembling a cooking vessel (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the vessel body (3) has a vessel bottom (31) and an upper edge (33), and wherein the vessel body (3) is preferably held between the vessel bottom (31) and the upper edge (33) when force is exerted on the handle body (2).

4. A method of disassembling a cooking vessel (1) according to claim 3, wherein the upper edge (33) of the vessel body (3) rests on the support plane, and wherein said force comprises a main component directed towards the support plane.

5. A method of disassembling a cooking vessel (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said force is an impact.

6. A method of disassembling a cooking vessel (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said force is exerted on the handle body (2) in the half of the handle body (2) opposite the vessel body (3), and preferably in the extreme third of the handle body (2) opposite the vessel body (3).

7. A method of disassembling a cooking vessel (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the handle body (2) has an eyelet (23) provided for suspending the cooking vessel (1), and wherein said force is exerted on the handle body (2) in a portion between the eyelet (23) and the protrusion (20).

8. A method of disassembling a cooking vessel (1) according to claim 7, wherein said force is exerted on the handle body (2) closer to the eyelet (23) than to the protrusion (20).

9. A method of disassembling a cooking vessel (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said cooking vessel (1) comprises an annular base (4) mounted around the stud (5) between the vessel body (3) and said end of the handle body (2), said method comprising a step of removing the annular base (4) after separating the handle body (2) and the metal parts.

10. A method of disassembling a cooking vessel (1) according to claim 9, wherein the annular base (4) is metallic.

11. Method for disassembling a cooking container (1) according to one of claims 9 or 10, in which the annular base (4) is made of an aluminum alloy different from the aluminum alloy(s) of the container body (3).

12. A method of disassembling a cooking vessel (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the handle body (2) comprises at least one metal insert.

13. A method of disassembling a cooking vessel (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the handle body (2) comprises at least one metal trim.

14. Method for disassembling a cooking container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, in which the handle body (2) comprises at least one overmolding made of flexible material.

15. A method of disassembling a cooking vessel (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the handle body (2) is made of bakelite.

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