Process for manufacturing a glass bottle and packaging device having such a bottle

Abstract

Process for manufacturing a glass bottle (20) having a ratio L=0.44*m / V0.77 of less than or equal to 0.7, involving the steps consisting of: - depositing a gob of molten glass (1) in a blank mould (11), - forming a parison (15), - opening the blank mould (11) and transporting the parison (15) into a finishing mould (17), this transport being carried out with the neck of the parison (15) being retained via a holding part (14) so as to allow the parison (15) to stretch during the transfer, - blowing air into the parison (15) to form the bottle (20), said attachment relief (21) being formed by said holding part (14).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Title: Process for manufacturing a glass bottle and packaging device having such a bottle

[0003] Technical field

[0004] The present invention relates to the manufacture of glass bottles and the packaging devices having such bottles.

[0005] Prior art

[0006] It is known to package certain cosmetic compositions, such as lotions, oils, serums or perfumes, in packaging devices having glass bottles.

[0007] The bottles conventionally have a body surmounted by a neck, and are manufactured according to a conventional process referred to as press and blow, as illustrated in Figure 1, or by a process referred to as blow and blow on machines known as "US" machines.

[0008] The press and blow process involves (step A) depositing a gob 1 of glass at a temperature higher than the softening temperature, typically a soda-lime glass, in a blank mould 2, pressing this gob to form a blank 3 (steps B and C), turning the blank 3 over with the aid of a rotary arm 5 in order to bring it into a finishing mould 6 (steps D and E), and blowing the bottle (step F). In the case of the blow and blow process, the step of pressing the glass gob is replaced by a blowing step.

[0009] The bottles obtained via such a process have a relatively thick wall, typically greater than 1 mm, and are relatively heavy.

[0010] A ratio “L” was proposed by Bucher Ernhart Glass to quantify the weight reduction of a bottle. This ratio is given by the formula L=0.44*m / V°77where m denotes the empty weight of the bottle in g, and V the capacity in cm3measured at the level of the neck.

[0011] Figure 2 shows the curves corresponding to various values of mass and capacity at the level of the neck for given values of the ratio L.

[0012] Existing bottles with a capacity greater than 100 ml have a value of the ratio L that is much greater than 0.7, typically between 1 and 1.2, with shapes that are essentially in the form of a cylinder of revolution. Manufacturing processes for stemmed glasses, referred to as "rotary press and blow", are also known, in which a gob of molten glass is deposited in a blank mould where a plunger is applied, then the blank mould is opened and the parison is transported into a finishing mould, this transport being carried out with the neck of the parison being retained in the machine via a holding piece, and this allows the parison to stretch under the effect of gravity. In the finishing mould, the parison is driven in rotation with respect to the finishing mould and air is blown into the parison to press the latter against the wall of the finishing mould and form the bowl of the glass. Next, the stem and the foot of the glass are attached, and the portion of the neck previously engaged in the holding piece of the machine is separated by cutting to form the rim of the glass. The part retained in the holding piece that is thus cut off is returned to the furnace.

[0013] Application US2018 / 0072603A1 describes an installation that makes it possible to form glass containers, with a machine having a system for holding the neck that makes it possible to form reliefs thereon. This application more particularly describes a process for manufacturing a container in the form of a pot, made of glass, having a body in the form of a cylinder of revolution, in which the parison is driven in rotation in the finishing mould during the blowing, this rotation being possible by virtue of the vapour generated on the surface of the finishing mould as a result of the spraying of water for the cooling thereof. This application mentions the possibility of obtaining a thin lateral wall, with a thickness of less than 1 mm, and a weight / capacity ratio of less than 2g / cm3, which may go as far as 0.5 g / cm3.

[0014] Disclosure of the invention

[0015] Proposing ecologically responsible, environmentally friendly solutions, of which the design and development take into account environmental issues, has become a major concern for tackling global challenges.

[0016] It thus proves essential to design more durable products that thus make it possible to reduce the amount of materials used.

[0017] In this context, it is important to develop containers that are optimized for the amount of product transported.

[0018] There is therefore a need to reduce the carbon footprint associated with the manufacture of glass bottles and to reduce the value of the aforementioned parameter L as much as possible, and in particular to bring it below the threshold of 0.7, in order to maximize the capacity of the bottle as a function of its weight.

[0019] The invention aims to meet this need.

[0020] Summary of the invention

[0021] The subject of the invention is thus a process for manufacturing a glass bottle having a body surmounted by a neck, the neck having a relief for attaching a shut-off and / or dispensing means, the bottle having a ratio L (given by the formula L=0.44*m / V°77where m denotes the empty weight of the bottle in g, and V the capacity in cm3measured at the level of the brim of the neck) of less than or equal to 0.7, the process involving the steps consisting in: depositing a gob of molten glass in a blank mould, forming a parison, opening the blank mould and transporting the parison into a finishing mould, this transport being carried out with the neck of the parison being retained via a holding part so as to allow the parison to stretch during the transfer, blowing air into the parison present in the finishing mould to form the bottle, said attachment relief being formed by said holding part.

[0022] By virtue of the invention, it is possible to manufacture a bottle that is relatively lightweight, in particular of which the value of the ratio L is less than 0.7, but that nevertheless meets the requirements of use, in particular in terms of mechanical integrity.

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

[0024] In the invention, the shape resulting from the holding part is preserved on the container to make a bottle with a neck therefrom. The attachment relief present on the neck may be an annular bead (also called a ring), a bayonet, one or more screw threads, among other possibilities.

[0025] The body may have a shape that is not rotationally symmetrical, the finishing mould having an inner surface that is not rotationally symmetrical, the parison being immobile in rotation with respect to the finishing mould during the blowing of the air. As a variant, the body has shape that is rotationally symmetrical, the parison being able to be driven in rotation in the finishing mould during the blowing of the air. The attachment relief can be formed with its final shape by the blank mould The neck can be made with a relatively small manufacturing tolerance, for example of + / -0.4 mm or less.

[0026] The bottle may have a relatively large capacity (measured at the level of the brim of the neck), in particular greater than or equal to 100 ml, preferably between 100 and 500 ml, and better still ranging from 100 to 250 ml.

[0027] Preferably, the parison is formed with the aid of a plunger in the blank mould.

[0028] During the transport of the parison, the latter can stretch, and this contributes to reducing the thickness of its wall. The stretching of the parison from the bottom can take place under the effect of gravity, being suspended from the top, the hot glass also still being fluid, and this causes the thinning of its wall and the attainment of the desired length

[0029] The parameter L of a bottle according to the invention is preferably less than or equal to 0.6, even better still between 0.4 and 0.6.

[0030] The thickness of the wall of the bottle, measured at the body of the bottle, in particular halfway up the bottle, may be less than 1 mm, better still less than or equal to 0.8 mm, even better still between 0.3 mm and 0.8 mm.

[0031] The blank and / or finishing moulds may be cooled by water flow or spraying, in particular on their inner wall.

[0032] The mould cavity of the finishing mould may have a cross section exhibiting symmetry with respect to a median plane.

[0033] The body of the bottle may have facets. The body of the bottle may in particular have facets extending from the base of the shoulders of the bottle obliquely downwards and outwards as far as an edge face defining the greatest width and depth of the body of the bottle, and facets extending obliquely downwards and inwards from this edge face towards the bottom of the bottle. Such a bottle shape offers good mechanical strength.

[0034] The cavity of the finishing mould may be configured to form the bottle with a body connected to a neck by shoulders extending obliquely downwards with an angle with respect to the perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bottle that is greater than or equal to 10°, for example of 30°. Such a shape contributes to imparting good axial compressive strength to the bottle.

[0035] The mould cavity of the finishing mould may have a substantially flat bottom. "Substantially flat" should be understood to mean that the shape of the bottom of the bottle allows it to rest vertically when placed on a horizontal flat surface. The glass is preferably a soda-lime glass.

[0036] A further subject of the invention is a glass bottle, in particular obtained via the process according to the invention, having a capacity greater than or equal to 100 ml, a value of parameter L less than or equal to 0.7, a substantially flat bottom, a body that is preferably without symmetry of revolution and a neck having a relief for the attachment of a closure and / or dispensing means. This relief is preferably an annular bead.

[0037] A further subject of the invention is a packaging device having a bottle according to the invention. This packaging device may have a closure and / or dispensing means mounted on the neck of the bottle. This closure and / or dispensing means may have a collar fastened to the neck, for example snap-fastened thereto, and a shut-off and / or dispensing member mounted on the collar or held in the neck by virtue thereof. The collar may be made of plastic material or metal. The shut-off member may be a hinged lid or a snap-fastened or screw stopper. The dispensing member may be a pump, a pipette or a valve, inter alia.

[0038] The device may contain a cosmetic, care or make-up composition, for example a lotion, an oil or a serum, or else a perfume.

[0039] Brief description of the drawings

[0040] The invention may be better understood upon reading the following detailed description of a non-limiting implementation example thereof and upon studying the appended drawing, in which:

[0041] [Fig 1] Figure 1, described above, illustrates a manufacturing process according to the prior art,

[0042] [Fig 2] Figure 2 illustrates various curves giving the weight as a function of the capacity for a variety of values of the parameter L,

[0043] [Fig. 3] Figure 3 illustrates various steps of an exemplary manufacturing process according to the invention,

[0044] [Fig 4] Figure 4 shows an exemplary packaging device made with a bottle according to the invention,

[0045] [Fig 5] Figure 5 is an elevation view of the bottle in Figure 4,

[0046] [Fig 6] Figure 6 is a side view along VI in Figure 5, and

[0047] [Fig 7] Figure 7 is a top view along VI in Figure 5. Detailed description

[0048] Figure 3 schematically illustrates steps of an exemplary process for manufacturing a glass bottle according to the invention.

[0049] This manufacturing process can begin with the provision, in step A, of a blank mould 11 and the deposition, in step B, of a gob of molten glass 1 in this mould.

[0050] The blank mould 11 may belong to a carousel of a vertical rotary machine and has a removable upper part 14.

[0051] The blank mould 11 may have a removable bottom I la and may be cooled prior to the closure of the bottom I la by water flow or spraying on its inner wall, as illustrated schematically.

[0052] In step C, a plunger 13 presses the gob in the mould 11 to form a parison 15. The pressing by the plunger forces the glass to be in contact with the upper part 14 of the mould 11.

[0053] The parison 15 is then transported in step D by the upper part 14 of the mould 11, which serves as a holding part, towards a finishing station.

[0054] During this transport, the parison 15 is suspended from the holding part 14 and can stretch under the effect of its weight, in order to assume its final shape.

[0055] On arrival at the finishing station, in step E, a finishing mould 17 cooled by water spraying is closed on the parison in step F. This mould 17 has, for example, two lateral parts 17a and a bottom 17b.

[0056] The holding part 14 forms the upper part of the finishing mould 17.

[0057] A gas, for example compressed air, is injected into the parison 15 in step G, to form the body of the bottle 20.

[0058] The bottle 20 can then be extracted from the mould 17 and released by the holding part 14. The latter can be made with mobile parts that can move away from one another.

[0059] The bottle 20 is, for example, as illustrated in Figures 4 to 7.

[0060] It has a body 24 surmounted by a neck 23.

[0061] The holding part 14 has an internal surface allowing the formation of an attachment relief 21 on the neck of the bottle, for example in the form of an annular bead. The holding part 14 can be made in accordance with the teaching of application US2018 / 0072603A1 while at the same time being modified to form preferably an annular bead, but in a variant screw threads or other reliefs.

[0062] During the blowing of the parison in step G, the parison 15 is immobile in rotation relative to the mould 17, the mould having, in the example illustrated, an internal surface 80 that is not rotationally symmetrical corresponding to the shape to be given to the body 24. In a variant that is not illustrated, the inner surface 80 is rotationally symmetrical, in which case the parison can be driven in rotation during the blowing.

[0063] The manufacturing process may involve conventional additional steps such as annealing.

[0064] In the example illustrated, the body 24 of the bottle 20 has a polygonal cross section, with, for example, facets 124a and 124b at the centre of the front and rear faces, and facets 126a, 126b, 128a and 128b, which are narrower, on the sides.

[0065] The facets 124a, 126a and 128a extend from the base of the shoulders 27 of the bottle, obliquely downwards and outwards, as far as an edge face 29 extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the bottle, and defining the greatest width W and depth I of the body 24 of the bottle.

[0066] The facets 124b, 126b and 128b extend obliquely inwards and downwards, from the edge face 29 towards the bottom 30.

[0067] The width .s' of the body at the base of the shoulders 27 is less than the depth I of the bottle.

[0068] The shoulders 27 may have a slope that goes from the base of the neck 23 to the facets 124a, 126a and 128a, which makes an angle p with the perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of at least 20°, for example of 30° as illustrated.

[0069] The glass may receive a variety of known treatments to improve its strength, if appropriate.

[0070] The bottom 30 of the bottle is substantially flat, ensuring optimum stability.

[0071] The total height of the bottle 20 ranges, for example, from 100 to 200 mm.

[0072] The outer diameter D of the neck 23, at its upper end, excluding the relief 21, ranges, for example, from 30 to 40 mm.

[0073] The greatest width W of the body of the bottle, when viewed from the front as in Figure 5, ranges for example from 35 to 100 mm. The depth I of the body of the bottle, when viewed from the side as in Figure 6, ranges for example from 100 to 200 mm.

[0074] The neck 23 of the bottle 20 is intended to be equipped with a closure and / or dispensing means.

[0075] This closure and / or dispensing means may have, as shown schematically in Figure 4, a collar 40 fastened to the neck 23, bearing a shut-off or dispensing member 41.

[0076] The collar 40 may be a piece made of thermoplastic material having reliefs for snap-fastening onto the relief 21, or a metal part crimped onto the neck 23.

[0077] The member 41 mounted on the collar 40 is, for example, a removable stopper, which can be snap-fastened into a dispensing orifice formed with the collar 40, or be fastened to a dispensing endpiece formed with the collar 40.

[0078] The member 41 may also be a pump borne by the collar 40, or a pipette.

[0079] By virtue of the manufacturing process according to the invention, the parameter L for the bottle is less than or equal to 0.7, better still to 0.6, even better still between 0.4 and 0.6. The thickness of the wall of the bottle, measured at the body of the bottle, for example in the middle of a facet 124a, may be less than 1 mm, better still less than or equal to 0.8 mm, even better still between 0.5 mm and 0.8 mm.

[0080] Example

[0081] A soda-lime glass bottle having the geometry illustrated in Figures 4 to 7, with a capacity of 370 ml and a weight of 96 g, having a value of the parameter L of 0.5, was manufactured by implementing the process in Figure 3. The values of W, I and s are respectively 82 mm, 57.8 mm and 55 mm.

[0082] Of course, the invention is not limited to the example that has just been described.

[0083] In particular, the shape of the bottle 20 illustrated in the figures is given merely by way of non-limiting example, and the mould cavity of the finishing mould 17 can be made with another shape.

[0084] The ranges for dimensions W and I mentioned above are applicable to bottles having different shapes.

Claims

Claims1. Process for manufacturing a glass bottle (20) having a body (24) surmounted by a neck (23), the neck (23) having a relief (21) for attaching a shut-off and / or dispensing means (40, 41), the bottle having a ratio L, given by the formula L=0.44*m / V°77where m denotes the empty weight of the bottle in g, and V the capacity in cm3measured at the level of the brim of the neck, of less than or equal to 0.7, the process involving the steps consisting in: depositing a gob of molten glass (1) in a blank mould (11), forming a parison (15), opening the blank mould (11) and transporting the parison (15) into a finishing mould (17), this transport being carried out with the neck of the parison (15) being retained via a holding part (14) so as to allow the parison (15) to stretch during the transfer, blowing air into the parison (15) present in the finishing mould (17) to form the bottle (20), said attachment relief (21) being formed by said holding part (14).

2. Process according to Claim 1, the body (24) having a shape that is not rotationally symmetrical, the finishing mould having an inner surface (80) that is not rotationally symmetrical, the parison being immobile in rotation with respect to the finishing mould during the blowing of the air.

3. Process according to Claim 1 or 2, the parison (15) being formed with the aid of a plunger (13) in the blank mould (11).

4. Process according to one of Claims 1 to 3, the finishing mould (17) and / or the blank mould being cooled by water flow or spraying, in particular on their inner wall.

5. Process according to any one of the preceding claims, the capacity at the level of the neck of the bottle (20) being between 100 and 500 ml, and better still from 100 to 250 ml.

6. Process according to any one of the preceding claims, the cavity of the finishing mould (17) having a cross section exhibiting symmetry with respect to a median plane.

7. Process according to any one of the preceding claims, the cavity of the finishing mould (17) having a substantially flat bottom (17b).

8. Process according to any one of the preceding claims, the thickness of the wall of the bottle (20) measured at the body (24) of the bottle being less than 1 mm, better still less than or equal to 0.8 mm, even better still between 0.5 mm and 0.8 mm.

9. Process according to any one of the preceding claims, the parameter L for the bottle being less than or equal to 0.6, even better still between 0.4 and 0.6.

10. Process according to any one of the preceding claims, the cavity of the finishing mould (17) being configured to form the bottle with a body (24) connected to a neck(23) by shoulders (27) extending obliquely downwards with an angle (p) with respect to the perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X) of the bottle that is greater than or equal to 10°.

11. Process according to any one of the preceding claims, the glass being a soda-lime glass.

12. Glass bottle (11) having a capacity at the level of the neck greater than 100 ml, a value of parameter L less than or equal to 0.7, a substantially flat bottom (35), a body(24) that is preferably without symmetry of revolution and a neck (23) having a relief (21) for the attachment of a closure and / or dispensing means (40, 41).

13. Bottle according to Claim 12, the thickness of the wall of the bottle measured at the body of the bottle being less than 1 mm, better still less than or equal to 0.8 mm, even better still between 0.5 mm and 0.8 mm.

14. Bottle according to either of Claims 12 and 13, having a body (24) connected to a neck (23) by shoulders (27) extending obliquely downwards with an angle (p) with respect to the perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X) of the bottle that is greater than or equal to 10°.

15. Bottle according to any one of the preceding claims, the body (24) being without symmetry of revolution.

16. Packaging device having a bottle (20) according to any one of Claims 12 to 15 and a closure and / or dispensing means (40, 41) mounted on the neck (23) of the bottle.

17. Device according to Claim 16, containing a cosmetic composition

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