Method for manufacturing a glass bottle and packaging device comprising such a bottle

Abstract

Method for manufacturing a glass bottle and packaging device comprising such a bottle. Method for manufacturing a glass bottle (11), comprising the steps of: Hot-forming a section of glass tube (1) to form a cane (7) closed at one end, or providing such a cane (7) prefabricated; Placing the cane (7) in a mold (8) having a mold cavity (10); Causing expansion of the cane (7) in the mold by applying a pressure differential between the inside of the cane and the mold cavity outside the cane. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: Method for manufacturing a glass bottle and packaging device comprising such a bottle technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the manufacture of glass bottles and packaging devices comprising such bottles. Previous technique

[0002] It is known to package certain cosmetic compositions, such as lotions, oils or serums, in packaging devices comprising glass bottles.

[0003] The bottles classically comprise a body surmounted by a neck, and are manufactured according to a conventional process called press-blowing, as illustrated in [Fig.1] or by a process called blow-blowing on machines called "I / S".

[0004] The press-blowing process comprises (step A) depositing a droplet 1 of glass at a temperature above its softening temperature, typically soda-lime glass, into a blank mold 2, pressing this droplet to form a blank 3 (steps B and C), inverting the blank 3 using a rotating arm 5 to transfer it into a finishing mold 6 (steps D and E), and blowing the bottle (step F). In the case of the blow-blowing process, the step of pressing the glass droplet is replaced by a blowing step.

[0005] The vials obtained by such a process have a relatively thick wall, typically greater than 1mm, and are relatively heavy.

[0006] A ratio "L" has been proposed by the company Bûcher Ernhart Glass to quantify the weight reduction of a bottle. This ratio is given by the formula L=0.44*m / V°'77 where m represents the empty weight of the bottle, and V the capacity measured to the brim of the neck.

[0007] Figure [Fig.2] shows the curves corresponding to different values ​​of mass and capacity to the brim of the neck for given values ​​of the ratio L.

[0008] Existing bottles have a value of the ratio L significantly greater than 0.7, typically greater than 1, with essentially cylindrical shapes of revolution.

[0009] We also know of processes for manufacturing electric light bulbs in which the glass bulb of the bulb is formed by a process comprising the use of a section of glass tube, heating it, forming a rod closed at one end and placing it in rotation in a mold, then expanding the rotating rod in the mold. Description of the invention

[0010] The proposal of eco-responsible, environmentally friendly solutions, whose design and development take into account environmental issues, is becoming a major concern in order to contribute to meeting planetary challenges.

[0011] It is therefore essential to design more durable products, thereby reducing the amount of materials used.

[0012] In this context, it is important to develop containers optimized for the quantity of product transported.

[0013] There is therefore a need to reduce the carbon footprint associated with the manufacture of glass bottles and to reduce the value of the parameter L as much as possible, and in particular to bring it below the threshold of 0.7 in order to maximize the capacity according to its weight.

[0014] The invention aims to meet this need. Summary of the invention

[0015] The invention thus relates to a method for manufacturing a glass bottle, comprising the steps of: - To hot-form a section of glass tube to create a cane closed at one end,

[0016] or provide such a prefabricated cane, - Place the cane in a mold with a mold cavity, - Cause the hot expansion of the can in the mold by applying a pressure differential between the inside of the can and the mold cavity outside the can.

[0017] The tube can be stationary in rotation relative to the mold during its expansion. However, in the case of a bottle whose body is symmetrical about revolution, the tube can be rotated within the mold, which avoids parting line marks.

[0018] Thanks to the invention, it is possible to manufacture a relatively light bottle, in particular one whose L ratio value is less than 0.7, but which nevertheless meets the requirements for use, in particular in terms of mechanical strength.

[0019] The parameter L for the bottle is given by the formula L = 0.44 * m / V°'77 where m denotes the empty weight of the bottle, and V the capacity measured to the neck. The parameter L of a bottle according to the invention is preferably less than or equal to 0.7, better to 0.6, even better between 0.4 and 0.6. The wall thickness of the bottle, measured at the body of the bottle, in particular at mid-height of the bottle, may be less than 1 mm, better less than or equal to 0.8 mm, even better between 0.5 mm and 0.8 mm.

[0020] The pressure differential is advantageously obtained by subjecting the mold cavity to a vacuum, this vacuum being obtained, for example, by suction generated by the Venturi effect. The wall of the rod is thinned during its expansion in the mold.

[0021] The mold is preferably heated to a temperature between 100 and 400°C.

[0022] The capacity of the bottle (measured to the top of the neck) is preferably between 5 and 100 mL, and better from 5 to 75 mL, even better from 5 to 50 mL, for example between 10 and 50 mL.

[0023] The invention makes it possible to produce small bottles with a wide variety of geometries.

[0024] The mold cavity may have a cross-section having symmetry with respect to a median plane.

[0025] The mold cavity may, in particular, have a non-symmetrical shape of revolution. The bottle may have a polygonal cross-section over part of its height, with a mold parting line preferably passing through two opposite vertices of the polygon. This allows, in particular, the creation of a multitude of facets on the body of the bottle.

[0026] The mold cavity can still have a symmetrical shape of revolution.

[0027] The mold cavity may have a substantially flat bottom. By "substantially flat", It is important to understand that the shape of the base of the bottle allows it to stand upright when placed on a flat horizontal surface.

[0028] The mold cavity can be configured to form the bottle with a body connected to a neck by shoulders extending downwards at an angle p relative to the perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bottle greater than or equal to 3°, preferably 20°. This improves the axial compression resistance of the bottle.

[0029] The neck of the bottle may have a relief suitable for attaching a closure and / or dispensing means.

[0030] The glass is preferably a soda-lime glass.

[0031] The invention further relates to a glass bottle obtained by the process according to the invention, having a parameter value L less than or equal to 0.7, having a substantially flat bottom.

[0032] The invention further relates to a packaging device comprising a bottle according to the invention. This packaging device may include a closure and / or dispensing means mounted on the neck of the bottle. This closure and / or dispensing means may include a collar fixed to the neck and a sealing and / or dispensing element mounted on the collar or held in the neck by means of it. The collar may be made of plastic or metal. The sealing element may be a hinged lid or a screw or snap-on cap. The dispensing element may be a pump, a pipette, or a valve, among others.

[0033] The device may contain a cosmetic, skincare, or makeup composition, for example a lotion, an oil or a serum, or even a perfume. Brief description of the drawings

[0034] The invention will be better understood upon reading the detailed description that follows, a non-limiting example of its implementation, and upon examination of the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0035] [Fig-1] [Fig.1], previously described, illustrates a manufacturing process according to the art prior,

[0036] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] illustrates different curves showing the weight as a function of the capacity for various values ​​of the parameter L,

[0037] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] illustrates different stages of an example manufacturing process according to the invention,

[0038] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] represents a variant of the process of [Fig.3],

[0039] [Fig. 5] [Fig. 5] represents in perspective, schematically and partially, a example of a bottle,

[0040] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is an elevation view of the bottle of [Fig.5],

[0041] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is a side view along VII of [Fig.6],

[0042] [Fig.8] [Fig.8] is a top view along VIII of [Fig.7],

[0043] [Fig.9] [Fig.9] is a partial and schematic view of the mold used to make the bottle of the [Fig.5], and

[0044] [Fig. 10] Figure 10 shows in elevation an example of a device packaging made with the bottle of [Fig.5]. Detailed description

[0045] Figure 3 illustrates an example of a method for manufacturing a glass bottle according to the invention.

[0046] This manufacturing process can begin with the formation in step A of a starting section 1, which can be extruded from a molten glass droplet and retained by a support 2.

[0047] The support 2, also called a mandrel, may belong to a carousel of a vertical rotary machine having, for example, between 9 and 18 such mandrels. The bottle manufacturing installation may be such that a complete revolution of the machine allows all the operations of [Fig. 3] to be carried out successively.

[0048] Section 1 can be preheated in step B by heating means 3 when it is lowered from the mandrel 2 to the correct length, which corresponds substantially to the future height of the bottle, and rotation of the entire mandrel-tube assembly.

[0049] In step C, the lower end of the tube 4 is heated during rotation by heating means 6 such as burners, to a temperature typically between 700 and 1000°C; under the combined effect of heating and rotation, this end closes to form a roughly hemispherical base 5. This results in a rod 7 closed at one end. If necessary, to assist in deforming and closing the base, a clamp (not shown) can be used.

[0050] During steps A to C, the support 2 can be rotated about itself around the longitudinal axis of the tube.

[0051] In step D, the cane 7 is heated, particularly in its middle portion, before being introduced in step E into a finishing mold 8 having an internal cavity 10 whose shape corresponds to that of the bottle to be produced. At this step, the mold 8 is relatively cold, preferably at a temperature between 100 and 400°C.

[0052] A pressure differential 9 is applied at step E between the outside of the cane 7 and the mold 8 to cause the cane 7 to expand in the mold, thus forming a glass bottle 11.

[0053] During this step E, in the illustrated example the rod 7 is not driven in rotation on itself, the cavity 10 having a non-symmetrical shape of revolution.

[0054] The rod 7 can however rotate in the mold in a variant where the cavity 10 is symmetrical of revolution.

[0055] The bottom 34 of the mold is substantially flat to ensure a stable base for the bottle.

[0056] A relief 12 such as a collar can be formed on the collar 21, as illustrated in [Fig.5].

[0057] After molding, the neck 21 of the bottle is separated from the glass stem in a manner known per se, after creating a thermal shock at the cutting area by a mixture of heating and cooling by blowing cold air, using a cutting means 13 such as a cold cutting wheel applied below the mandrel 2 on the rotating neck 21, as illustrated in step F. The bottle 11 is thus separated from the support 2.

[0058] The manufacturing process can conventionally include annealing the bottle after step G, in an annealing arch at a temperature typically between 500 and 600°C for a period of approximately 20 to 45 minutes to eliminate residual internal stresses.

[0059] The glass can receive various treatments known to improve its resistance, where appropriate.

[0060] The glass bottle 11 obtained by the process according to the invention can, as illustrated in figures 5 to 8, have a polygonal cross-section over part of its height, with facets 17.

[0061] The bottle 11 may have shoulders 18 formed of facets 18 extending obliquely.

[0062] The neck 21 of the bottle can be connected to the body by a frustoconical base 20.

[0063] The base 35 of the bottle is substantially flat, ensuring optimal stability.

[0064] The base 35 can be connected to the facets 17 by means of upward-facing facets 19 and outwards, of lesser height than facets 17.

[0065] The height H of the bottle 11 ranges, for example, from 40 to 80 mm.

[0066] The external diameter D of the collar 21, at its upper end, outside the relief 12, ranges for example from 10 to 30 mm

[0067] The largest transverse dimension W of the bottle body, when viewed from the front as in [Fig.6], ranges for example from 20 to 60 mm.

[0068] The width l of the body of the bottle, when viewed from the side as in [Fig.7], ranges for example from 15 to 50 mm.

[0069] The angle p of the shoulders 18 with respect to the perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the bottle can be greater than or equal to 3°, preferably 20°, as illustrated.

[0070] Figure 9 shows the glass bottle 11 in the mold 8, after it has been formed therein. The parting line of the mold preferably corresponds to edges located at the junction of consecutive facets 17.

[0071] The depression can be created in the cavity 10 of the mold 8 by means of internal channels 25. These can communicate with a vacuum source, for example a Venturi.

[0072] The neck 21 of the bottle 11 is intended to be equipped with a closing and / or dispensing means.

[0073] This closing and / or distribution means may include, as schematically represented in [Fig.10], a fret 30 fixed on the neck 21, carrying a closing or distribution member 31.

[0074] The fret 30 can be a piece of thermoplastic material or a metal piece crimped onto the neck 21.

[0075] The component 31 mounted on the fret 30 is, for example, a removable plug, which can be snapped into a distribution orifice formed with the fret 30, or fixed onto a distribution nozzle formed with the fret 30.

[0076] The component 31 can also be a pump carried by the fret 30, or a pipette.

[0077] The process illustrated in [Fig.3] corresponds to a manufacturing process on a production line that continuously carries out all the steps from the formation of the tube section 1 to the molding of the bottle 11.

[0078] Without departing from the scope of the present invention, the canes 7 can first be made by implementing steps A to C of [Fig.3], let them cool and store them.

[0079] Next, these canes 7 can be received cold and processed, as illustrated in [Fig.4], on the same site or on a different site, by implementing steps D to F of [Fig.3].

[0080] Thanks to the manufacturing process according to the invention, the parameter L for the bottle can be less than or equal to 0.7, better to 0.6, even better between 0.4 and 0.6. The wall thickness of the bottle measured at the level of the body of the bottle, for example in the middle of a facet 17, can be less than 1mm, better less than or equal to 0.8mm, even better between 0.5mm and 0.8mm. Examples

[0081] A soda-lime glass bottle with the geometry illustrated in Figures 5 to 8, a capacity of 30 mL, and a weight of 12 g, was manufactured using the process shown in [Fig. 3]. The values ​​of H, W, Z, and D are 63.7 mm, 37.9 mm, 33.9 mm, and 18 mm, respectively. The starting tube section has a thickness of approximately 1.5 mm. The resulting bottle has a thickness of approximately 0.6 mm at mid-height.

[0082] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples just described.

[0083] In particular, the shape of the bottle 11 illustrated in the figures is given only by way of non-limiting example, and the mold cavity 10 can be made with a different shape.

[0084] The dimension ranges H, W, D and / mentioned above are valid for bottles having different shapes.

Claims

Demands

1. A method for manufacturing a glass bottle (11), comprising the steps of: - Hot deforming a section of glass tube (1) to form a cane (7) closed at one end, or providing such a cane (7) prefabricated, - Placing the cane (7) in a mold (8) having a mold cavity (10), - Causing hot expansion of the cane (7) in the mold by applying a pressure differential between the inside of the cane and the mold cavity outside the cane.

2. Method according to claim 1, the cane being immobile in rotation relative to the mold during its expansion.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, the pressure differential being obtained by subjecting the mold cavity (10) to a vacuum.

4. Method according to claim 3, the vacuum being obtained by a suction generated by Venturi effect.

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, the capacity to the brim of the neck of the bottle (11) being between 5 and 100 mL, and better from 5 to 75 mL, even better from 5 to 50 mL.

6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, the mold cavity (10) having a cross-section having symmetry with respect to a median plane.

7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, the mold cavity (10) having a non-symmetrical shape of revolution.

8. Method according to the preceding claim, the bottle (11) having over a part of its height a polygonal cross section, a parting plane of the mold preferably passing through two opposite vertices of the polygon.

9. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, without reference to claim 2, the mold cavity (10) having a symmetrical shape of revolution and the rod (7) being driven in rotation during its expansion in the mold (8).

10. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, the mold cavity (10) having a substantially flat bottom (34).

11. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, the thickness of the bottle measured at the body of the bottle being less than 1 mm, better less than or equal to 0.8 mm, even better between 0.5 mm and 0.8 mm.

12. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, the parameter L for the bottle being less than or equal to 0.7, better to 0.6, even better between 0.4 and 0.6, this parameter being defined by L=0.44*m / V°'77 where m denotes the empty weight of the bottle, and V the capacity measured to the brim of the neck.

13. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, the mold cavity (10) being configured to form the bottle with a body connected to a neck (21) by shoulders (18) extending downwards at an angle (p) relative to the perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X) of the bottle greater than or equal to 3°, preferably 20°.

14. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, the glass being soda-lime glass.

15. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mold (8) is heated to a temperature between 100 and 400°C.

16. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, the bottle having a neck (21), this neck having a relief (12) suitable for allowing the attachment of a closure and / or dispensing means (30,31).

17. Glass bottle (11) having a parameter value L less than or equal to 0.7, having a substantially flat bottom (35), the parameter L being defined by L=0.44*m / V°'77 where m denotes the empty weight of the bottle, and V the capacity measured to the brim of the neck.

18. Bottle according to the preceding claim, having over a part of its height a non-symmetrical cross-section of revolution.

19. Bottle according to one of claims 17 and 18 having a capacity to the neck of between 5 and 100mL.

20. Bottle according to any one of claims 17 to 19, the wall thickness of the bottle measured at the body of the bottle being less than 1mm, better less than or equal to 0.8mm, even better between 0.5mm and 0.8mm.

21. Bottle according to any one of claims 17 to 20, having a body connected to a neck (21) by downward-extending shoulders (18), 10 in particular with an angle (p) relative to the perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bottle greater than or equal to 3°, preferably 20°

22. Packaging device comprising a bottle (11) according to any one of claims 17 to 21 and a closing and / or dispensing means (30, 31) mounted on the neck (21) of the bottle.

23. Device according to claim 22, containing a cosmetic composition.

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