DEVICE AND PROCESS TO USE THE QUALITY OF CORK STOPPERS

Description

Introduction

[0001] The invention concerns a device to select the quality of cork stoppers, and a process for doing the same, respectively according to the preamble of claims 1 and 4. Such a device and process are known from the document EP2093032A1. Natural cork stoppers, obtained exclusively using the bark from cork oak, are subsequently selected, according to lenticel size and quantity, into several, usually nine, distinct qualities.

[0002] Unlike the good quality corks (the first 4 categories), the medium and low quality corks (last 5 categories) are not products with appealing aspect and consequently are products not much appreciated by the market.

[0003] In addition to the question of lenticels size and quantity, some cork stoppers are affected by so-called critical defects (slits, darker zones, softer zones, top-to-bottom crevices, Green zones, Bug zones, Dry Year Cork and long cavities). These defects, in addition to the bad visual aspect they originate, cause the stopper to lose its sealing property, causing leakage of liquid in the bottle that is sealed by it.

[0004] The profitability of the cork industry depends on the use and maximum valorization of the raw material (cork). Since the cork stopper is a product that can vary from 1 to 100 (in relation to its quality/size), it is fundamental to maximize the product value by eliminating critical defects or decreasing the size/quantity of lenticels in each stopper. In summary, the real problem is the quantity and size of the pores in the medium and low quality corks, as well as the existence of critical defects.

[0005] On the other hand, the cork industry professionals know that in all corks there is one side with a better quality (normally the side of the cork originally leaning against the trunk of the tree is of better quality (less and smaller lenticels and less critical defects (cracks and sits)) than the side of the cork that is toward the outside the tree (immediately after the bark).

State of the art

[0006] Conscious of the problem described above, the cork industry has tried to solve this problem by sealing (filling lenticels) the medium and low quality stoppers (with a larger quantity/size lenticels) and even rejecting stoppers wherein there are critical defects (in order to prevent the use of corks that give rise to liquid leakage).

[0007] Although the sealing process improves the performance and visual appearance of medium- and low-quality cork stoppers, the resulting cork stoppers continue to be low-value products. On the other hand, the rejection of stoppers wherein there are critical defects, leads to a strong devaluation of the raw material.

[0008] Patent application PT 103749 discloses a quality control system for cork stoppers, which uses a light source, a laser device and among other technical features, means to obtain 2D and 3D images. The main differences between this application (PT 103749) and the present application are at the level of use of the cork stoppers formed by the two halves of better quality, constituting a huge advantage and innovation in relation to the existing state of the art.

[0009] Patent application EP 2 093 032 A1, discloses a method and apparatus for manufacturing multilayer natural cork stoppers. The main difference between this application (EP 2 093 032 A1) and the present application are at the level of the cutting device. The present application is able to cut a stopper longitudinally separating the stopper in two halves along its length, one of the halves being the one having a larger surface with a good quality and the other half having the larger surface with a bad quality.

Detailed description of the invention

[0010] The device and the method according to the invention are presented in independent claims 1 and 4. Preferred embodiments are stated in the dependent claims.

[0011] The present invention consists of a device comprising a support platform (1), a device (2) capable of rotating a cork with precision, at least one digital camera (3) capable of acquiring 2D or 3D images of the stopper's body, at least two digital cameras (4) and (5) capable of 2D or 3D image acquisition of each of the stopper's tops, two support means (6) and (7) equipped with at least two elements (B) and (c) at the extremities, capable of holding and of moving at least one half of a stopper, a stopper discharge device (8) and a moveable cutting device (9).

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to implement a method of exploiting the best quality of cork stoppers, during which the following steps are extremely important: Device (2), capable of rotating a stopper, includes four rotating cylindrical means (A) which are rotated by a precision engine (servo-motor/stepwise engine).

[0013] The stopper is placed among the four rotatable cylindrical means (A) of the device (2) able to rotate the stopper. The stopper then rotates while an optical reading of the cork surface (body and tops) is carried out by means of color digital cameras and/or depth sensors (3), (4) and (5).

[0014] The data read is communicated to a computer equipped with software capable of processing the received data and identifying which part of the surface of the cork has better quality (less and smaller lenticels and/or absence of critical defects). After this identification, the computer leads the four rotating cylindrical means (A) of the device (2) to rotate the stoppers, so as to place the stopper in the cut position. The two support means 6 and 7 equipped with the support elements b and c at their extremities, capable of holding and moving a half-stopper are then driven so that one of the elements, (b) or (c), holds the half of the stopper with the best quality and the other element (c) or (b) holds the half of the stopper with the lowest quality.

[0015] A cutting device capable of movement (9) is then driven, separating the half-stopper with better quality from the half-stopper with the worse quality.

[0016] Also according to the analysis of the quality of the stopper, both the better quality half-stopper and the lesser quality half-stopper are deposited into one of the holes of the stopper discharge device (8), according to the size/quantity of the lenticels in each half-stopper.

[0017] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a cork stopper comprising two halves of better quality, previously selected by the recovery device and provided by the respective above mentioned process.

[0018] In summary, the invention may classify according to quality, each of the half-stoppers processed into one of 5 or more distinct classes.

[0019] Subsequently, the top quality half-stopper is glued to another half-stopper of better quality, extracted from another stopper. The end result is a stopper made of two or more pieces of "better quality parts" of two or more stoppers.

[0020] The process of bonding the two halves of the stopper is then performed manually by the operator, which places food glue on each of the stopper-halves and attaches them to each other.

Legend

[0021] 

1- Supporting platform

2- Device capable of rotating a stopper

3- Digital camera for the capture of the image of the stopper body

4- and 5- Digital cameras for the capture of the stoppers' tops

6- and 7- support means

8- Device for discharging stoppers

9- Cutting device

a- Cylindrical means

b and c - support elements

Brief description of the figures

[0022] 

Fig.1 represents a perspective view of the device to select the quality of cork stoppers, with its main constitutive elements.

Fig.2 represents a detail of the system, especially the support means (6) and (7), the elements (b) and (c) and the digital cameras.

Claims

1. A device to select the quality of cork stoppers, including:

- a device (2) capable of rotating the stoppers, which contains at least four cylindrical means (A)able to place the stopper in a cutting position;

- a support platform (1), which contains a device (8) to download stopper on at least two of its extremities;

- at least one digital camera (3) capable of capturing 2D and 3D pictures, comprising also two digital cameras (4) and (5) capable of capturing pictures of the stoppers' tops;

- at least two means of support and movement (6) and (7), comprising two support elements (b) and (c) capable to withhold at their extremities any cutted half of a cork stopper;
characterized in that

- the support platform is substantially quadrangular,

- a cutting device (9) is capable of moving and capable to separate by cutting longitudinally and along its length the half stopper exhibiting the larger surface with a good qualityfrom the half-stopper exhibiting the larger surface with a bad quality.

2. A device to select the quality of cork stoppers according to claim 1, characterized by the stopper download device (8) comprising various holes capable of receiving each of the halves of the cork stoppers depending on their larger surface quality.

3. A device to select the quality of cork stoppers according to claim 1, characterized by the cutting device (9) being able to cut the stopper longitudinally and along their length.

4. Process to select the quality of cork stoppers, including the following steps:

- an initial rotation of a cork stopper among at least four cylindrical means due to a device (2) capable of rotating said stopper;

- simultaneously with the rotation of the cork an optical reading of the cork's surface is obtained, by the digital cameras (3, 4 and 5);

- reading the obtained data and transmission of it to a computer possessing software capable of processing said data and identifying the one or more surfaces of the cork exhibiting the best quality;

- placement of the stopper in a cutting position by the rotating means (A);

- acting the support and movement means (6) and (7) so that one of the support elements (b) or (c) holds the half-stopper of better quality and the other support element (b) or (c) holds the half-stopper of worse quality, whilst the cutting element (9) acts, characterized in that the cut is made longitudinally, separating the stopper in two halves along its length, one of the halves being the one having a larger surface with a good quality and the other half having the larger surface with a bad quality;

- ending the process by discharging the half-stoppers into individual holes of the downloading device (8), according to the quality of each of the said halves.

5. Process to select the quality of cork stoppers, according to claim 4, characterized by, in the step of moving the stopper to the cutting position, the rotating means (A) being commanded by a computer.

Ansprüche

1. Eine Vorrichtung zur Qualitätsauswahl von Korken einschließlich:

- einer Vorrichtung (2), die in der Lage ist, die Korken zu drehen, mit mindestens vier zylindrischen Teilen (A), durch die der Korken in eine Schneideposition positioniert werden kann;

- eine Stützfläche (1) mit einer Vorrichtung (8) zum Abladen des Korkens auf mindestens zwei äußere Enden;

- mindestens eine digitale Kamera (3) zur Aufnahme von 2D- und 3D-Bildern, sowie ferner zwei digitale Kameras (4) und (5) zur Aufnahme von Bildern der Korkenoberseiten;

- mindestens zwei Stütz- und Bewegungsinstrumente (6) und (7), darunter zwei Stützelemente (b) und (c), deren Enden die Hälften eines Korkens aufnehmen, mit folgenden Eigenschaften:

- die Stützfläche ist rechteckig;

- eine Schneidevorrichtung (9), die beweglich und in der Lage ist, den halben Korken mit mehr guter Oberflächenqualität vom halben Korken mit mehr schlechter Oberflächenqualität zu trennen.

2. Eine Vorrichtung zur Qualitätsauswahl von Korken gemäß Anspruch 1, bestehend aus der Vorrichtung zum Abladen des Korkens (8) mit verschiedenen Löchern zur Aufnahme der Korkenhälften je nach ihrer Oberflächenqualität.

3. Eine Vorrichtung zur Qualitätsauswahl von Korken gemäß Antrag 1, bestehend aus der Schneidevorrichtung (9), mit dem der Korken längsseitig geschnitten werden kann.

4. Ein Verfahren zur Qualitätsauswahl von Korken, das folgende Schritte umfasst:

- eine anfängliche Drehung des Korkens inmitten vier zylindrischer Teile mittels einer Vorrichtung (2) zur Rotation des Korkens;

- gleichzeitig mit der Drehung des Korkens findet eine optische Aufnahme der Korkenoberfläche durch die digitalen Kameras (3), (4) und (5);

- Einlesen der aufgenommenen Daten und ihre Übermittlung an eine Software zur Verarbeitung der Daten und Identifizierung der Korkenoberfläche/n mit der besten Qualität;

- Positionierung des Korkens in eine Schneideposition durch den Drehmechanismus (A);

- Einsatz der Stütz- und Bewegungsinstrumente (6) und (7), so dass eins der Stützelemente (b) oder (c) die Korkenhälfte mit der besseren Qualität und das andere Stützelement (b) oder (c) die Korkenhälfte mit der schlechteren Qualität aufnimmt, während die Schneidevorrichtung (9) den Korken längsseitig in zwei Hälften schneidet. Eine dieser Hälften weist eine größere gute Oberflächenqualität auf, die andere eine größere schlechte Oberflächenqualität;

- Abschluss des Verfahrens durch Ablegen der Korkenhälften in einzelne Löcher der Vorrichtung zum Abladen (8), je nach Qualität der einzelnen Hälften.

5. Verfahren zur Qualitätsauswahl von Korken gemäß Anspruch 4, wobei der Drehmechanismus (A) bezüglich des Schritts der Positionierung des Korkens in eine Schneideposition durch einen Computer gesteuert wird.

Revendications

1. Dispositif permettant de sélectionner la qualité des bouchons en liège, notamment:

- un dispositif (2) capable de faire tourner les bouchons, qui contient au moins quatre moyens cylindriques (A) capables de placer le bouchon dans une position de coupe;

- une plate-forme de support (1), qui contient un dispositif (8) pour décharger le bouchon sur au moins deux de ses extrémités;

- au moins une caméra numérique (3) capable de capturer des images 2D et 3D, comprenant également deux caméras numériques (4) et (5) capables de capturer des images du dessus des bouchons;

- au moins deux moyens de support et de mouvement (6) et (7), comprenant deux éléments de support (b) et (c) capables de retenir à leurs extrémités la moitié coupée d'un bouchon de liège, caractérisés en ce que:

- la plate-forme de support est sensiblement quadrangulaire;

- un dispositif de coupe (9) est capable de se déplacer et de séparer le demi-bouchon présentant la plus grande surface de bonne qualité du demi-bouchon présentant la plus grande surface de mauvaise qualité.

2. Dispositif permettant de sélectionner la qualité des bouchons en liège selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de décharge de bouchon (8) comprend divers trous capables de recevoir chacune des moitiés des bouchons en liège en fonction de la qualité de leur surface plus grande.

3. Dispositif permettant de sélectionner la qualité des bouchons en liège selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de coupe (9) est capable de couper le bouchon longitudinalement et dans le sens de la longueur.

4. Procédé pour sélectionner la qualité des bouchons en liège, y compris les étapes suivantes:

- une rotation initiale d'un bouchon de liège parmi au moins quatre moyens cylindriques grâce à un dispositif (2) capable de faire tourner ledit bouchon;

- simultanément avec la rotation du liège, une lecture optique de la surface du liège est obtenue par les appareils photo numériques (3, 4 et 5);

- lire les données obtenues et les transmettre à un ordinateur possédant un logiciel capable de traiter ces données et d'identifier la ou les surfaces du liège présentant la meilleure qualité;

- placement du bouchon dans une position de coupe par le moyen de rotation (A);

- actionnement des moyens de support et de déplacement (6) et (7) de sorte que l'un des éléments de support (b) ou (c) retienne le demi-bouchon de meilleure qualité et que l'autre élément de support (b) ou (c) retienne le demi-bouchon de moins bonne qualité, tandis que l'élément coupant (9) agit, caractérisé en ce que la coupe est faite longitudinalement, séparant le bouchon en deux moitiés sur sa longueur, l'une des moitiés étant celle ayant une plus grande surface de bonne qualité et l'autre moitié ayant la plus grande surface avec une mauvaise qualité;

- mettre fin au processus en déchargeant les demi-bouchons dans des trous individuels du dispositif de décharge (8), en fonction de la qualité de chacune desdites moitiés.

5. Procédé pour sélectionner la qualité des bouchons en liège selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que, lors de l'étape consistant à déplacer le bouchon en position de coupe, le moyen de rotation (A) est commandé par un ordinateur.

Drawing