Wine Bottle Neck Finish Molding for Dual Closure Adaptability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional glass wine bottle manufacturing processes require laborious changes in both neck rings and blow molds to switch between Stelvin-type and cork-type neck finishes, complicating the production line change-over.

Innovation Solution

Employing a single blow mold at the mold stage for both Stelvin-type and cork-type closures, with different neck ring molds at the blank stage, allowing for seamless change-over without altering the blow mold, enabling the formation of neck finishes adapted for either closure type.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional glassware manufacturing machines are changed over between Stelvin-type and cork-type bottles, then both neck rings and blow molds must be changed, but this makes the change-over process laborious and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to produce different closure typesVSAvoidchange-over time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The manufacturing process is segmented into two independent stages: blank stage (forming neck finish) and blow stage (forming body and neck). By decoupling these stages, the blow mold remains unchanged while only the neck ring at the blank stage needs to be changed, reducing change-over complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A single blow mold is designed to accommodate both Stelvin-type and cork-type bottle configurations. The blow mold forms the body and neck portion, which are common to both closure types, making the blow mold universal and eliminating the need to change it when switching between closure types

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional glassware manufacturing machines are changed over between Stelvin-type and cork-type bottles, then both neck rings and blow molds must be changed, but this increases labor requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to produce different closure typesVSAvoidchange-over labor
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The manufacturing process is segmented into two independent stages: blank stage (forming neck finish) and blow stage (forming body and neck). By decoupling these stages, the blow mold remains unchanged while only the neck ring at the blank stage needs to be changed, reducing change-over complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A single blow mold is designed to accommodate both Stelvin-type and cork-type bottle configurations. The blow mold forms the body and neck portion, which are common to both closure types, making the blow mold universal and eliminating the need to change it when switching between closure types

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-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

Facilitates efficient production line reconfiguration by allowing the same blow mold to be used for both closure types, reducing labor and time required for change-over and maintaining consistent bottle quality.

Implementation Method 1

a hot glass gob is introduced into a blank mold and formed into a parison configuration

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal heating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

The parison with the completed neck finish it is transferred to the blow mold for final blowing, in which the intermediate or temporary body of the parison is blown into the final neck and body of the bottle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure-driven deformation: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP2588421B1Stelvin/cork glass wine bottles and method of molding
Publication Date: 2018.12.05 OWENS BROCKWAY GLASS CONTAINER INC
  • EP2588421B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2588421B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A method of molding a wine bottle adapted for use with one but not both of a cork-type plug closure or a Stelvin-type threaded closure includes forming a glass parison having a temporary body and a completed neck finish contoured for receiving either a cork-type plug closure or a Stelvin-type threaded closure. The glass parison is transferred to a mold stage, and the temporary body of the parison is blow molded at the mold stage to form a glass container having a neck coupled to the neck finish. With both neck finish geometries, the neck adjacent to the neck finish has external (L and K) dimensions adapted to receive a Stelvin-type threaded closure and a cylindrical interior adapted to receive a cork-type plug closure.