FR3036689A1 - PLIERS FOR HANDLING BOTTLES, ESPECIALLY WINE BOTTLES OF IMPORTANT VOLUME - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a clamp (1) for manipulating an object such as a bottle (2) or a similar container by a gripping zone (3) such as the neck of a bottle comprising two gripping jaws (4) each presenting a housing (5) adapted to match the gripping area (3) of the object; and two handles (6) each consisting of two pieces (7) arranged in parallel and interconnected by a handle (8) on the one hand and by a gripping jaw (4) on the other hand. The invention is characterized in that the two handles (6) are articulated about an axis (A) and that, in an open position, to position the gripping jaws (4) are positioned around the gripping zone (3); and in a closed position, the bottle (2) or the like container is held, lifted and / or moved).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a gripper for handling bottles having a large volume, especially bottles of wine of large capacity.

STATE OF THE ART In recent years, there has been a growing interest in high-capacity beverage bottles, especially wine bottles. Indeed, apart from the prestigious aspect of a bottle of great capacity, it has been shown that the wine ages better in a bottle whose volume is greater than the volume of a conventional bottle of 75 cl. Thus, a magnum with a capacity of 1.5 liter has the advantage of keeping the wine longer than a conventional bottle of 75 cl. This is due in particular to the phenomenon of oxidation. In a magnum of 1.5 liters for example, the amount of air exchanged through the cap is almost identical to the amount of air exchanged for a conventional bottle of 75 cl. Oxygen thus has, in a magnum, a slower action on the wine. Oxidation being slowed down, this leads to a more moderate aging of the wine contained in a large capacity bottle. There are many sizes of high capacity bottles. For example: - a bottle with a capacity of 1.5 liter is commonly called Magnum; - a bottle with a capacity of 3 liters is commonly called Double-Magnum (or Jeroboam in Champagne); A bottle with a capacity of 5 liters is commonly called Jeroboam; 3036689 2 - a bottle with a capacity of 6 liters is commonly called Imperial (or Methuselah in Champagne); - a bottle with a capacity of 9 liters is commonly called Salmanazar; 5 - a bottle with a capacity of 12 liters is commonly called Balthazar; - a bottle with a capacity of 15 liters is commonly called Nebuchadnezzar; a bottle with a capacity of 18 liters is commonly called Melchior or Solomon; - a bottle with a capacity of 27 liters is commonly called Primate; and - a bottle with a capacity of 30 liters is commonly called Melchizedech.

Such bottles have a weight and dimensions making their handling difficult or impossible. Indeed, for example, a Bordeaux bottle containing 9 liters of wine comprises about 4 kg of glass, which brings its total weight to about 13 kg. The height of such a bottle is about 555 mm and its diameter is about 190 mm. A Bordeaux bottle containing 27 liters of wine contains about 10 kg of glass, which brings its total weight to around 37 kg. The height of such a bottle is about 779 mm and its diameter is about 271 mm. It is therefore rare for one person to handle such bottles without hindrance. Handling large bottles (27, 18, 15, 12, 9, 6 or 5 liters) is usually complicated, perilous or impossible. In order to overcome these disadvantages and to be able to transport bottles more easily and reliably, means have been developed such as transport bags for wine bottles or bottle holders.

EP1669301 describes for example a bag for transporting wine bottles made of rigid material provided with handles. However, such bags are not suitable for handling or transporting large capacity bottles, since it is very difficult to place a large capacity bottle in such a carrier bag. The document W09601068 describes a device that is a bottle holder in the form of a removable handle to be mounted on the upper part of a bottle. However, the force exerted by this device on the neck of a glass bottle, for example, is too great for large capacity bottles. Also, such a device is not entirely satisfactory, especially for large capacity wine bottles, whose total weight is greater than about 13 kg. In addition, this bottle holder with a single removable handle does not allow two carriers to handle large capacity bottles. It also does not allow a vertical translation movement of a bottle but forces a flip-flop of the bottle when lifted. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, there is therefore a need to develop a device overcoming the above drawbacks, in particular to provide an accessory which is practical, easy and quick to implement and that allows to handle large capacity bottles by one or more carriers without the risk of breaking them and with less effort.

Thus, a technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to develop a simple and reliable device for easily handling an object such as a bottle, especially a large capacity bottle by minimizing the efforts of the carrier (s) of this bottle. A large capacity bottle means a bottle with a capacity of more than 75 cl. Preferably, a large capacity bottle has a capacity greater than 1.5, advantageously 3 liters, 6 liters, 9 liters, 12 liters, 15 liters, 18 liters, 27 liters or 30 liters. More preferably still, a large capacity bottle has a capacity greater than 6 liters, preferably 9 liters, 12 liters, 5 liters, 18 liters, 27 liters or 30 liters. The solution proposed by the invention to this problem has for its first object a clamp for handling a bottle or similar container by a gripping zone such as the neck of a bottle comprising: - two gripping jaws each having a housing 10 marry the grasping area of the object; and two handles, preferably in Ertalon TM or HDPE so as to avoid the breakage of the subsequent bottle of a possible shock between the handles and the shoulder of the bottle, the most fragile part of these bottles, each composed of two pieces, said two parts being arranged in parallel and connected to each other by a handle on the one hand and by a gripping jaw on the other hand, characterized in that the two handles are articulated around an axis A, and in that In an open position, the gripping jaws are positioned around the gripping zone; and in a closed position, the bottle or the like container is held, lifted or moved. Surprisingly, the Applicant has been able to develop a device which is a clamp that is both simple to install on an object, compact and easy to use. The clamp according to the invention facilitates and makes reliable the handling of bottles of large capacity and clearly limits the efforts required to move them, mainly due to their weight and their size. The gripping pliers according to the invention have been developed to perform all types of manipulations of these high capacity bottles. The clamp object of the invention advantageously allows to leave the bottle in a vertical position during handling. The second object of the invention is a method of handling a bottle or similar container comprising the following steps: spacing and positioning of a clamp according to the invention, in an open position, on the zone of gripping a bottle or similar container, preferably around the neck of a bottle; and - clamping the gripping area which is the neck of a bottle or similar container by pulling both handles upward, to place the clamp in a closed position allowing it to hold, lift and / or temporarily moving said bottle or similar container. Its third object is the use of a clamp according to the invention, for handling a bottle with a capacity greater than or equal to 9 liters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood on reading the nonlimiting description which follows, written with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 represents a front view of a gripper according to the invention; 20 in the closed position, handles upwards; - Figure 2 shows a top view of a clamp according to the invention, in the closed position; FIG. 3 represents a front view of two gripping jaws of a gripper according to the invention; FIG. 4 represents a view from above of two gripping jaws of a gripper according to the invention; Figure 5 shows a front view of two triangular plates of two handles of a clamp according to the invention; - Figures 6 and 7 show a front view of a diagram of a clamp according to the invention, in the open position, with the handles downwards; - Figure 8 shows a front view of a diagram of a clamp 5 according to the invention, in the closed position, with the clamps upwards; - Figure 9 shows a front view of a preferred clamp according to the invention further comprising a spring, in the closed position, handles upwards; and - Figure 10 shows a top view of a preferred clamp 10 according to the invention further comprising a spring, in the closed position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a gripper for manipulating an object such as a bottle or similar container by a gripping zone. The gripper is a gripper particularly suitable for handling high capacity wine bottles. In general, a bottle of wine consists of several parts. The ring is the part that surrounds the top of the bottle. The collar corresponds to the tapered portion at the top. The shoulder is the flared portion that connects the neck to the barrel. The barrel is the main and widest part of the bottle. The bottom can be flat, pique, or semi-pique. The gripping zone on which the clamp object of the invention is placed is advantageously located at the neck of a bottle, under the counter ring and / or under the ring. The Applicant has been able to determine that this gripping zone at the neck of a bottle was particularly advantageous because it allows carriers to limit their efforts when handling high capacity bottles. Indeed, when the clamp is disposed on the neck of a bottle of very large capacity (18 liters, 27 liters or even 30 liters), the handles of the clamp are at a height of about 70 cm. This generally allows the wearers to not have to bend down to hold, lift and / or move the bottle. Thus, the manipulation efforts of the carrier (s) are greatly diminished. Moreover, the Applicant has also been able to highlight that this gripping zone at the neck of a bottle also makes it possible to limit or even eliminate any risk of breakage of the bottle. Indeed, the forces exerted by the gripper during the handling of a bottle are distributed so that the gripping jaws of the clamp can not break the neck of the bottle (the strongest part of the bottle). As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 6, 7 and 8, the clamp 1 according to the invention makes it possible to handle an object that is preferably a bottle 2, more preferably a bottle 2 of wine, more preferably still a bottle 2 of high capacity wine. The clamp 1 is fixed on a gripping zone 3 as defined above. The clamp 1 comprises two gripping jaws 4 which each have a housing 5 to match the shape of the object to handle. This housing 5 thus allows to marry the gripping zone 3 of said object. The clamp 1 also comprises two handles 6 which each comprise two parts 7 arranged in parallel and interconnected by a handle 8 on the one hand and by a gripping jaw 4 on the other hand. The two handles are articulated about an axis A and allow: in an open position, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, to position the gripping jaws 4 around a gripping zone 3; and in a closed position, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 8, to hold, lift and / or move an object such as a bottle 2. In the closed position, the carrier (s) pull the handles upwards, which has the effect of clamping and blocking gripping jaws 4 around the gripping zone 3 of the object. The force exerted by clamping the gripping jaws 4 on the gripping zone 3 of the object when the handles are lifted allows the manipulation of said object, which is advantageously a bottle 2 of wine of great capacity.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the gripping jaws 4, when they are contiguous, have a housing 5 of cylindrical or truncated cone-shaped shape. This housing 5 is adapted to marry the gripping zone 3 of an object, which is preferably a bottle 2 and, more preferably 5, a bottle of wine of great capacity. Advantageously, the upper diameter d of the housing is between 20 mm and 100 mm, preferably between 50 mm and 60 mm. More preferably still, the upper diameter d of the housing is 54 mm.

Advantageously, the lower diameter D of the housing is between 25 mm and 120 mm, preferably between 60 mm and 70 mm. More preferably still, the lower diameter D of the housing is 63.4 MM. Advantageously, the height H of each gripping jaw 4 is between 50 mm and 100 mm, preferably between 60 mm and 80 mm. More preferably still, the height of each gripping jaw is 70 mm. Advantageously, the length L of each gripping jaw 4 is between 50 mm and 150 mm, preferably between 100 mm and 140 mm. More preferably still, the length L of each gripping jaw is 120 mm. Advantageously, the width I of each gripping jaw 4 is between 25 mm and 70 mm, preferably between 40 mm and 60 mm. More preferably still, the width I of each gripping jaw is 50 mm. Advantageously, each gripping jaw comprises two threaded holes 31 each adapted to receive a pivot means 30 which is preferably a screw or a threaded rod. Preferably, each threaded hole 31 is disposed on the outer part of the gripping jaw 4, so that the axis formed by the two threaded holes 31 on one and the same jaw 30 does not cut the housing 5. Thus, the threaded holes 31 are advantageously located at a distance of between 10 mm and 20 mm from the outside face F opposite the face of the gripping jaw 4 comprising the housing 5. Advantageously, the tapped holes 31 are centered on the height H of the jaw gripper 4, so the center of each tapped hole 31 is located at a height H / 2, for example 35 mm when the height of the gripper jaw is 70 mm. The diameter of the tapped holes is preferably between 8 mm and 15 mm, preferably it is 12.2 mm. The gripping jaw 4 is advantageously made of a material 10 having optimized strength, stiffness, toughness and damping power. Preferably, the material is made of polyamides such as Ertalon® products. Preferably, the two threaded holes 31 of each jaw are included in a metal rod 33, which is preferably made of stainless steel alloy (stainless steel). The rod 33 may also be in the form of a threaded rod sleeve. The diameter of this metal rod 33 is preferably between 8 mm and 15 mm. It is more preferably still 12 mm. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the gripper jaw furthermore also comprises tapped holes each suitable for receiving a pivot means 40 which is preferably a screw or a threaded rod. Preferably, each threaded hole 41 is disposed on the outer portion of the gripping jaw as the threaded hole 31 described above. The tapped hole 41 is advantageously located at a distance of between 10 mm and 20 mm from the outside face F opposite to the face comprising the housing 5. Advantageously, the tapped hole 41 is situated on the lower part of the gripping jaw, approximately at a height H / 6 of the height H of the gripping jaw 4. Thus, the center of the tapped hole 41 is located at a height H / 6, for example about 12 mm when the height of the 30 jaw gripper is 70 mm.

3036689 10 As illustrated in Figure 1, the threaded hole 41 can accommodate a threaded body with lug 10. This lug 10 attached to a gripper jaw 4 is freely sliding at a groove 9 located on the part 7 of the handle 6. The part 7 which comprises this groove 9 is advantageously 5 a triangular plate 7. This freely sliding lug at the groove 9 allows a guide in translation of the gripping jaws 4. This offers a degree of freedom to the user. object, preferably a bottle of wine, which is held by the clamp 1 and in particular prevents the neck of the bottle from breaking during handling.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8, the gripper 1 which is the subject of the invention comprises two handles 6. Each handle 6 is composed of two parts 7, preferably triangular plates. The triangular plates 7 are preferably metallic. More preferably, they are composed of an alloy of stainless steel (stainless steel) or aluminum. Advantageously, as illustrated in FIG. 5, each triangular plate 7 has a base length B of between 100 mm and 300 mm, a height h of between 50 mm and 100 mm and a thickness of between 3 mm and 15 mm. More preferably, each triangular plate 7 has a base length B of 145.5 mm, a height h of 65 mm and a thickness of 5 mm. Each triangular plate has a hole in each top part of the triangle. The hole 22 allows passage through the triangular plate 7 of the block fixing means 20 into a threaded hole in the handle 8. The hole 32 allows passage through the triangular plate 7 of the pivot means 30 into the hole The hole 42 allows passage through the triangular plate 7 of the pivot means 40. This pivot means 40 is for example a bronze bolt consisting of a screw and a nut. This bolt has an ISO 3036689 11 ISO thread (M) with a large pitch of nominal diameter advantageously between 8 mm and 15 mm, with a head length of between 5 mm and 25 mm, preferably the ISO (M) thread with a large pitch of nominal diameter between 8 mm and 12 mm, under head length between 5 mm and 15 mm. More preferably still, the block fixing means are screws having an ISO thread (M) with large pitch of nominal diameter of 10 mm, length under head of 10 mm. The pivot means 40 are aligned on an axis A and allow the two handles 6 to be connected together. They also allow the two handles to pivot about the axis A. The two handles 6 are thus articulated about an axis A and allow: in an open position, to position the gripping jaws 4 around an area of grasping 3; and in a closed position, to hold, lift and / or move an object such as a bottle 2. The tightening of the grip zone 3 which is the neck of a bottle 2 or a similar container is obtained by pulling both handles 6 upwards, as shown in Figure 7, to place the clamp 1 in a closed position allowing it to hold, lift and / or temporarily move said bottle 2 or the like container.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, each triangular plate 7 comprises a groove 9. As indicated above, this groove makes it possible to guide the gripping jaws in translation 4. Preferably, the groove 9 is in the shape of a circular arc. It preferably allows the pin 10 to slide by an angle α in the groove 9. The vertex of the angle is at the center of the hole 32. Preferably, the angle α is between 15 ° and 45 ° . More preferably, the angle is 30 °. The triangular plates 7 are arranged in parallel and connected to each other by a handle 8 on the one hand and by a gripping jaw 4 on the other hand. The handle according to the invention is preferably cylindrical.

Advantageously, the length of the handle 8 is between 70 mm and 150 mm, preferably between 125 mm and 140 mm. More preferably still, the length of the handle 8 is 134 mm or 122 mm.

Advantageously, the diameter of the handle 8 is between 10 mm and 30 mm, preferably, the diameter of the handle 8 is 20 mm. Advantageously, each handle 8 comprises two threaded holes adapted to each accommodate a block forming means 20 which is preferably a screw or a threaded rod. Preferably, each threaded hole 10 is disposed in the center of each parallel plane of the cylinder of the handle 8. The diameter of the tapped holes is preferably between 8 mm and 15 mm, preferably it is 10 mm. The handle 8 is advantageously also constituted, as the gripping jaws 4, a material having optimized mechanical strength, stiffness, toughness and damping power. Preferably, the material of the handle 8 is made of polyamides such as Ertalon TM products (Ertalon TM or HDPE so as to avoid breakage of the bottle after a possible shock between the handles and the shoulder of the bottle, 20 most fragile part of these bottles). As illustrated in FIG. 2, each piece 7 is assembled to the handle 8 by fixing means forming a block 20. Preferably, these block-forming fixing means 20 are screws such as, for example, hollow hexagonal head screws. (TCHC), hollow hexagonal countersunk screws (TFHC) or hollow hexagonal head screws (TBHC). These screws advantageously have an ISO thread (M) with a large pitch of nominal diameter between 4 mm and 12 mm, with a head length of between 20 mm and 50 mm, preferably the ISO thread (M) with large pitch of nominal diameter. between 5 mm and 10 mm, length under 30 head between 20 mm and 25 mm. More preferably still, the block fixing means are screws having an ISO thread (M) with large pitch of nominal diameter of 10 mm, length under head of 25 mm. Each piece 7 is further assembled to the gripping jaw 4 by pivot means. Preferably, these pivot means are screws such as for example hollow hexagonal head screws (TCHC), hollow hexagonal countersunk screws (TFHC) or hollow hexagonal head screws (TBHC). These screws advantageously have an ISO thread (M) with a large pitch of nominal diameter between 4 mm and 12 mm, with a head length of between 20 mm and 50 mm, preferably the thread 10 ISO (M) with large pitch diameter nominal between 5 mm and 10 mm, with a head length of between 20 mm and 25 mm. More preferably still, the pivot means are screws having an ISO thread (M) with large pitch of nominal diameter of 8 mm or 5 mm, head length of 25 mm or 20 mm. If necessary, for assembly, rings and / or washers may be used to improve the attachment of the different parts together. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the clamp further comprises, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, a spring 50 fixed to the clamp by two pivot means 30.

This spring 50 allows, in the open position, to maintain and position the clamp on the front neck lift. This spring makes it possible in particular to grip the gripper according to the invention by a mechanical lifting system such as a weight compensator or a forklift, replacing one or two carriers.

In order to facilitate the gripping of the gripper by a mechanical lifting system, the spring makes it possible to keep the gripper closed on the neck while the wearer or the operator is hooking the assembly to the chosen mechanical lifting system. Preferably, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the handles are also adapted to allow, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 9, a strap 51 connecting the two handles 3036689 14 to remain centered on said handles. This adaptation makes it possible to ensure stability of the assembly and to eliminate any physical effort on the part of the wearer or carriers. The invention also relates to a method of handling a bottle or similar container comprising the following steps of: - spacing and positioning of a clamp 1 as described above, in an open position, on the zone gripping 3 of a bottle 2 or a similar container, preferably around the neck of a bottle; 10 - tightening the gripping zone 3 which is the neck of a bottle or similar container by pulling the two handles 6 upwards, in order to place the clamp 1 in a closed position allowing it to hold, lift and or temporarily move said bottle or similar container. The invention also relates to the use of a gripper according to the invention for handling a bottle with a capacity greater than or equal to 9 liters. More preferably, the use of a clamp according to the invention is particularly suitable for holding, lifting and / or temporarily moving a bottle, preferably a bottle of wine, with a capacity of 9 liters or about 13 kg, 12 liters or about 18 kg, 15 liters or about 22 kg, 18 liters or about 25 kg or 27 liters or about 37 kg. In order to best use the clamp according to the invention, the carrier positions the clamp according to the invention, handles down. The wearer then takes the clamp by the sleeves 8 of the two handles 6 which are advantageously round and black. The wearer then spreads the gripping jaws 4 of the gripper 25 to pass around the neck of the bottle, as shown in Figures 6 and 7. The upper part of the gripping jaws 4 is positioned against the lower part of the ring or against -bague of the bottle of wine. The wearer (s) then tighten the collar by pulling both handles upwards, with one hand on each handle. The bottle can thus be lifted, as shown in FIG. 8. If the weight of the bottle is too great for a single carrier, the clamp can be used by two carriers. Advantageously, the carriers are positioned on each side of the bottle and each hold a handle. It is preferable that the two carriers simultaneously exercise an equivalent force on both handles in order to limit the risk of falling or breaking the bottle.

Claims (11)

REVENDICATIONS1. Gripper (1) for handling a bottle (2) or a similar container by a gripping area (3) such as the neck of a bottle comprising: - two gripping jaws (4) each having a housing (5) suitable for marrying the gripping zone (3) of the object; and - two handles (6) each composed of two pieces (7), said two pieces (7) being arranged in parallel and interconnected by a handle (8) on the one hand and by a gripping jaw (4) d on the other hand, characterized in that the two handles (6) are articulated around an axis (A), and in that - in an open position, the gripping jaws (4) are positioned around the gripping zone ( 3); and in a closed position, the bottle (2) or the like container is held, lifted and / or moved. 15 2. Pliers (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the gripping jaws (4) contiguous have a housing (5) of cylindrical shape or truncated cone-shaped, suitable to marry, in the closed position, the area of gripping (3) of the object, whose upper diameter (d) is between 20 mm and 100 mm and whose lower diameter (D) is between 25 mm and 120 mm. 3. Pliers according to claim 2, characterized in that the upper diameter (d) of the housing (5) is between 50 mm and 60 mm, preferably 54 mm and the lower diameter (D) of the housing (5) is included between 60 mm and 70 mm, preferably 63.4 mm. 3036689 17 4. Clip according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the height (H) of each gripping jaw (4) is between 50 mm and 100 mm, the length (L) is between 50 mm and 150 mm and the width (I) is between 25 mm and 70 mm. 5 5. Clip according to claim 4, characterized in that the height (H) of each gripping jaw (4) is between 60 and 80 mm, preferably 70 mm, the length (L) is between 100 mm and 140 mm, preferably 120 mm and the width (I) is between 40 mm and 60 mm, preferably 50 mm. 6. Clip according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each handle (6) is composed of two pieces which are triangular plates (7), the length of the base (B) of each plate (7) is between 100 mm and 300 mm and whose height (h) of each plate (7) is between 50 mm and 100 mm, said triangular plates (7) being arranged in parallel and interconnected by a handle (8) , preferably cylindrical, on the one hand and by a gripping jaw (4) on the other hand. 7. Clip according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the parts (7) comprise a groove (9) and the gripping jaws (4) comprise a lug (10) for a translation guide of the gripping jaws (4). . 8. Clip according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a spring (50) which allows, in the open position, to maintain and position the clamp on the front neck lift .. 3036689 18 9. A method of handling a bottle or similar container comprising the following steps of: - spacing and positioning of a clamp according to one of claims 1 to 8, in an open position, on the gripping zone 5 (3) a bottle or similar container, preferably around the neck of a bottle; and - clamping the gripping zone (3) which is the neck of a bottle or similar container by pulling the two handles (6) upwards, in order to place the clamp in a closed position allowing it to hold, lift and / or temporarily displace said bottle or similar container. 10. Use of a clamp according to one of claims 1 to 8 for handling a bottle with a capacity greater than or equal to 9 liters. 15 11. Use of a clamp according to claim 10 for holding, lifting and / or temporarily moving a bottle, preferably a bottle of wine, with a capacity of 9 liters or about 13 kg, 12 liters or about 18 kg. liters or about 22 kg, 18 liters or about 25 kg or 27 liters or about 37 kg.