Magnetic Muselet Locking Unit for Sparkling Wine Bottles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for locking and transferring bottle cork muselets between working stations often damage the surface finish due to friction, are unreliable, or require complex and costly mechanisms, failing to balance locking effectiveness with surface protection and machinery space.
Innovation Solution
A unit with sliding pegs that engage the muselet's legs internally, actuated only during insertion and expulsion, uses pneumatic, mechanical, or electronic pressure to lock the muselet in place without sliding, allowing precise locking without damaging the wire or surface finish.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a C-shaped locking structure is used to lock muselets axially during transfer, then the muselets are securely locked in position, but the friction between the rotating table and the C-shaped structure damages the painting/polishing quality on the surface of the muselets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical C-shaped locking structure with a magnetic field-based locking system. Magnets embedded in the housing elements create magnetic attraction forces that hold the muselets in position during transfer, eliminating the need for physical contact and friction-based locking. This substitution of mechanical locking with magnetic field locking resolves the contradiction by maintaining secure locking while preserving surface finish quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces magnetic fields as an intermediary between the housing elements and the muselets. Instead of direct mechanical contact between the locking structure and the muselet surface, the magnetic field acts as a mediator that exerts holding force through the housing elements. This intermediary approach allows reliable locking without direct frictional contact that would damage the surface finishing.
2Reliability
If magnets are inserted in each housing element to lock muselets, then the muselets are held in position, but the magnets attract iron dust that dirties the environment and requires frequent cleaning operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the magnets from direct exposure to the environment by embedding them within sealed housing elements. The magnetic field penetrates through the housing material to lock the muselets, but the physical magnets themselves are isolated from the production environment. This extraction eliminates the harmful effect of magnet attraction on iron dust while maintaining the locking function.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnets are nested within the housing elements, with the magnetic field extending outward to perform the locking function. This nested configuration allows the magnets to be protected from environmental contamination while still exerting their magnetic influence on the muselets through the housing structure.
3Reliability
If a mobile pin with ramp means is used to lock muselets, then the locking function is achieved, but the system becomes complex and costly with coordination of many machine members
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic locking system is self-activating based on the position of the muselet within the housing element. When the muselet enters the housing element during transfer, the magnetic field automatically engages to hold it in position. When the muselet leaves, the magnetic hold is automatically released. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex mobile pins, ramp means, and coordinated machine members, significantly simplifying the device structure.
4Reliability
If lever means pushed by elastic means are used to lock muselets axially, then the muselets are locked in a releasable manner, but the sliding of the annular element and cap generates friction that affects surface finishing quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical lever means with elastic means with a magnetic field-based locking system. The magnetic attraction provides the holding force without requiring physical sliding or contact between locking components and the muselet surface. This substitution eliminates the friction-generated surface damage while maintaining reliable and releasable locking functionality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides precise locking without deforming or scratching the muselets, maintains surface quality, and is cost-effective with minimal interference to machinery, enabling more precise cap insertion and gauging for higher-quality products.
Implementation Method 1
there is a relative sliding with friction between the muselets and the structure and, since the muselets are painted and/or polished, the friction exerted in the mutual sliding seriously harms the painting/polishing quality on the surface of the muselets themselves
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention refers to the field of manufacturing systems for the corkage of bottles, and in particular it concerns apparatuses for making wirehoods or retention muselets for equipping bottles of spumante, champagne and sparkling wine in general. Even more specifically, the invention concerns a unit that, in one of the aforementioned apparatuses, is intended for housing and locking the muselets between subsequent working stations of the muselets themselves.