The invention has been developed for application to the closure of wine bottles of any type, but is applicable to the closure of the neck of any container by means of a cork stopper when it is desired to isolate the contents of the container completely from the stopper.

Throughout the present description,"cork stopper"defines either a natural cork stopper or a reconstituted cork stopper formed from granules, small disks or other elements of cork.

Many solutions have been adopted to eliminate the known disadvantages of cork stoppers, amongst which is the problem of corked wine; the most usual solutions consist in closing the wine bottles with screw caps or with crown caps.

These solutions are undesirable to many consumers if only because the uncorking of a wine bottle constitutes a rite which has to be celebrated with a corkscrew.

As far as sparkling wines are concerned, plastics stoppers having the same mushroom-like shape as cork stoppers are used to eliminate the same problem, but these are just as undesirable, even to undemanding consumers.

In order to satisfy consumers'tastes, other solutions in which cork stoppers, particularly reconstituted cork stoppers, of which at least the end facing towards the contents of the bottle is covered by a barrier layer of plastics material have already been proposed.

For example, the document FR-A-1 534 142 proposes a stopper at least one of the end faces of which is covered by a thin polyethylene film.

The document FR-A-2 678 585 proposes a cork stopper at least an end portion of which is coated by immersion in a plastics or polymerizable elastomeric material such as a polysiloxane. The characteristics of this stopper are those defined in the preamble of Claim 1.

These last two known solutions presuppose a preliminary treatment of the cork stoppers which has to be performed by the manufacturer of the stoppers or by the supplier to the bottler, at considerable additional cost.

Moreover, the barrier layer which is applied to the stopper beforehand has a different elasticity from that of cork and therefore opposes the desirable ability of the stopper to contract during corking and then to expand in the neck of the bottle.

The main object of the invention is to provide a process of the type in question which can be carried out in a conventional bottling installation, slightly modified by the addition of one station, and which uses, in addition to conventional cork stoppers, extremely inexpensive barrier elements which can isolate the cork from the contents of the container but which do not alter the elastic properties of the cork.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by means of a process as claimed.

The barrier elements used in the process according to the invention consist of an extremely inexpensive cap made of plastics material.

According to the invention, a cap as defined in Claim 2 is preferably used.

In this preferred embodiment, the cap is similar to those used, for example, under the screw caps of certain medicine bottles or the like.

In the known caps which are intended for medicine bottles or the like, the shoulder consists of a flange which remains imprisoned between the screw cap and the rim of the mouth of the bottle. In the case of the invention, however, the shoulder of the cap, which initially serves to support the cap on the rim of the neck of the bottle or other container, is then drawn along by the stopper and is"swallowed"by the neck, disappearing from view.

The shoulder, which is deformed and pressed into the cork of the stopper, forms an anchorage which ensures that, when the stopper is removed by a corkscrew or, in the case of a mushroom-shaped stopper, is pushed out, the cap is pulled away by the stopper.

The invention also relates to the cap-shaped barrier element used in the process and, by way of a product produced by the process, a bottle or similar container closed in the manner claimed.

The invention also includes a bottling installation arranged to carry out the process.

In order to carry out the process according to the invention, this installation requires only one additional station for the supply and fitting of the caps, this station being interposed between a station for filling the bottles or other containers and a station for closing them with cork stoppers.

The invention will be understood better from a reading of the following detailed description, given with reference to the appended schematic drawings, which are provided by way of non-limiting example, and in which: Figure 1 is a schematic elevational view of a bottling installation arranged to carry out a closure process according to the invention, Figure 2 is a diametral section of a first embodiment of a barrier element in the form of a cap used in the process according to the invention, Figures 3 to 8 are sectioned elevational views which show six successive steps of a preferred embodiment of the closure process according to the invention, Figures 7 and 8 being drawn on a larger scale than Figures 3 to 6, for clarity, Figure 9 is a sectioned elevational view which shows the neck of a bottle closed by means of a stopper for sparkling wine or the like by a closure process according to the invention, similar to that of Figures 3 to 8, Figure 10,11 and 12 are diametral sections of three further embodiments of the barrier elements in the form of caps, Figure 13 is a plan view of the cap of Figure 12, taken as indicated by the arrow XIII, and Figures 14 to 19 are sectioned elevational views which show a variant of the closure process according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a bottling installation which may equally well be of the linear-transportation type or of the carousel type.

Successive bottles to be filled and closed are indicated B.

The direction of movement of the installation is indicated by the arrow F1.

The installation comprises a filling station S1 at which the bottles B arrive in succession, from the left in Figure 1.

In the filling station S1 there is a filling device 10 which is engaged from time to time in the neck of a bottle B and which is connected to a tube 12 for the supply of a liquid such as wine for filling the bottle B.

A subsequent station, indicated S2, is for fitting on the neck of each successive bottle B a barrier element in the form of a cap 14 which will be referred to further below with particular reference to Figure 2 and then, with regard to four variants, with reference to Figures 10 to 14.

Successive caps 14 coming from a feeder move downwards along a duct 16 and are brought one by one to the position above the neck of the bottle B in the station S2. A thrust element 18 engages a cap 14 in the neck of the each bottle, as indicated by the arrow F2 and in the manner which will be described further below with reference to Figures 3 and 4.

In the next station S3, the successive bottles B, each provided with a cap 14, are closed by means of a closure unit, generally indicated 20.

In the manner which will be explained further below with reference to Figures 5 to 8, the unit 20 inserts a cork stopper 22 in the neck of each successive bottle B, driving it in by means of a thrust element 23 which acts in the direction of the arrow F3.

The closed bottles B then leave the bottling installation, as shown schematically by the bottle farthest to the right in Figure 1.

Reference will now be made to Figure 2 to describe in detail a cap used in the closure process which will be described further below with reference to Figures 3 to 8.

The cap 14, which is intended to constitute a barrier element, is an element made of moulded plastics material, preferably low-density polyethylene suitable for foodstuffs.

It comprises a lateral skirt 24, a base wall 26, and an outer, deformable shoulder 28.

In the embodiment of Figure 2, the deformable shoulder 28 is annular, continuous and substantially toroidal.

The function of the shoulder 28 will be explained below.

The skirt 24 preferably has at least one inner annular anchoring rib and two of these ribs are shown, indicated 30.

The ribs 30 have substantially sawtooth-shaped profiles for the purpose which will be explained below.

Reference will now be made to Figures 3 to 8 in which the neck of a bottle is indicated N and the rim of the mouth of the neck N is indicated M.

In Figure 3, it is assumed that the neck N is in the station S2 of Figure 1 and that a cap 14 has arrived above the mouth defined by the rim M.

In Figure 4, the thrust element 18 of Figure 1 has fitted the cap 14 on the neck N in the direction of the arrow F2, in an arrangement in which the skirt 24 is inserted in the neck N and the shoulder 28 bears on the rim M.

Once the operation of Figure 4 has been performed, the bottle is transferred to the closure station S3 of Figure 1.

In this station, the closure unit 20 is disposed above the neck N.

This device comprises a support plate 32 which is disposed above the neck N and which has a through-hole 34 situated on the axis of the neck N.

Jaws 36 disposed above the support plate 32 serve, in conventional manner, to constrict a cork stopper 22 interposed between the jaws and bearing on the support plate 32, above the hole 34.

A constricting device of another type, for example, such as a device comprising a conical duct in known manner, could be used instead of the jaws 36.

Still in the closure station S3, once the stopper 22 has been positioned as shown in Figure 5, the jaws 36 are closed towards one another, in known manner, in the directions of the arrows F4, constricting the stopper 22 to a diameter both smaller than the diameter of the hole 34 and smaller than the inside diameter of the cap 14.

Once the condition of Figure 6 has been reached, the thrust element 23, also shown in Figure 1, is urged with force in the direction of the arrow F3 (Figures 1 and 7). The stopper 22, in the constricted condition, then moves downwards through the through-hole 34 and enters the cap 14 until it reaches the base wall 26 thereof.

Once this condition has been reached, the stopper 22 continues to move downwards into the neck N, drawing the cap 14 along with it to a final, fitted position of the stopper 22, shown in Figure 8.

When the cap 14, which is drawn along by the stopper 22, enters the neck N, the shoulder 28 is deformed, being constricted inwardly in the directions of the arrows F5 of Figure 7, and being pressed into the cork of the stopper 22.

The shoulder 28, pressed into the cork of the stopper 22 in the condition shown in Figure 8, forms an anchorage by means of which the stopper 22 draws the cap 14 along with it when the bottle is uncorked.

The internal ribs 30 of the skirt 24, which are shown in Figure 2 and also indicated in Figure 8, are provided to further ensure the anchorage of the cap 14 to the stopper 22.

The ribs 30 are also pressed into the cork of the stopper 22. Their preferred, substantially sawtooth-shaped profiles are oriented so as to allow the stopper 22 to enter the cap 14 during the step shown in Figure 7 but to oppose release of the stopper 22 from the cap 14 when the bottle is uncorked.

In the condition of Figure 8, the resilient expansion force of the stopper 22, indicated by the arrows F6, both against the neck N and against the skirt 24 of the cap 14, ensures that the bottle is hermetically sealed.

At the same time, the base wall 26 and the skirt 24 of the cap constitute a barrier which completely isolates the contents of the bottle from the stopper 22.

Figure 9 shows a stopper 22a for a bottle for sparkling wine or the like.

The stopper 22a comprises a cylindrical shank 22b which is coupled with a cap 14 as a result of a process similar to that of Figures 5 to 8, but in which a portion of the stopper has not been introduced into the neck N of the bottle and has been allowed to re-expand.

Figure 10 shows a cap 14a usable as an alternative to the cap 14 of Figure 2.

The skirt and the base wall of the cap 14a are again indicated 24 and 26, respectively.

The skirt 24 again has internal ribs 30.

The cap 14a of Figure 10 differs from the cap 14 of Figure 2 in that its substantially toroidal annular shoulder 28a is joined to the skirt 24 by an annular deformable wall portion 29a which converges towards the base wall 26.

The deformable wall portion 29a facilitates the entry of the shoulder 28a into the neck N of the bottle during the step shown in Figure 7.

Figure 11 shows another cap 14b which can be used as an alternative to the caps 14 and 14a of Figures 2 and 10.

The cap 14b of Figure 11 differs from the caps 14 and 14a in that it has an annular shoulder 28b having a hooked profile with a radially inner annular edge 28b'for further favouring the pressing of the shoulder 28a into the cork of the stopper.

The shoulder 28b is also joined to the skirt 24 by a deformable wall 29b similar to the wall 29a of Figure 10.

Figures 12 and 13 show a fourth embodiment of the cap, indicated 14c.

The cap 14c again comprises a skirt 24 with internal ribs 30 as well as a base wall 26.

In the embodiment of Figures 12 and 13, the shoulder is generally indicated 28c.

The shoulder 28c is constituted by a ring of projections 28d each having a tip 28e pointing radially inwardly to favour the pressing of the projections 28d into the cork of the stopper.

The projections 28d are joined to the skirt 24 by a deformable wall portion 29c similar to the wall portions 29a and 29b of Figures 10 and 11.

Reference will now be made to Figures 14 to 19 to describe a second embodiment of the closure process according to the invention.

In these drawings, the neck of a bottle is again indicated N and the rim which surrounds the mouth is again indicated M.

The cap, indicated 14d, differs from the caps 14,14a, 14b and 14c of Figures 2,10,11 and 12 in that it does not have a shoulder. It is again constituted by a piece of moulded plastics material, preferably low-density polyethylene suitable for use with foodstuffs.

The cap 14d comprises a skirt 24d and a base wall 26d.

Instead of being cylindrical, the skirt 24d is frustoconical, converging toward the base wall 26d.

The skirt 24d again preferably has internal annular anchoring ribs 30d similar to the ribs 30 of Figures 2,10, 11 and 12.

In the process of Figures 14 to 19, the caps 14d are fitted in a closure station similar to the station S3 of Figure 1.

The closure unit of this station, again indicated 20, comprises, as before, a support plate 32d with a through- hole 34d similar to the hole 34 of Figures 5 to 8.

The through-hole 34d has a frustoconical shape corresponding to that of the skirt 24d of the cap 14d.

The jaws of the closure unit 20 are again indicated 36.

In a first step corresponding to Figure 14, the jaws 36 are moved apart and a feed device, not shown, causes a cap 14d to move downwards between the jaws 36, as indicated by the arrow F7, until it is deposited in the hole 34d.

As shown in Figure 14, by virtue of the corresponding frustoconical shapes of the skirt 24d and of the hole 34d, the cap 14d remains in the hole 34d, above the mouth of the neck N.

Once this condition has been reached, as shown in Figure 15, a cork stopper, again indicated 22, is caused to move downwards, in the direction of the arrow F8, between the opened-out jaws 36 until it bears substantially on the support plate 32d in the condition shown in Figure 16.

At this point, the jaws 36 are closed, in the directions of the arrows F9 of Figure 17, until the stopper 22 is constricted to a diameter substantially smaller than the diameter of the smaller base of the cap 14d.

Once this condition has been reached, a thrust element, again indicated 23, urges the stopper 22 in the direction of the arrow F10, first driving it into the cap 14d in the manner shown in Figure 18 and then drawing the cap 14d along into the neck N, still in the direction of the arrow F10, as shown in Figure 19.

Figure 19 also shows the final closure condition in which the cap 14d constitutes a barrier between the stopper 22 and the contents of the closed bottle, as described with reference to Figure 8.