US 4,596,469 A · Method and apparatus for mechanical riddling of bottled wine

Abstract

A method and apparatus for mechanically accomplishing riddling of bottled wines contained in shipping cartons by inverting pallet loads of the cartons so the bottles stand on their capped ends, jostling the bottles as by rapid tilting at predetermined intervals and in predetermined directions, and vibrating the cases and the bottles they contain at desired frequency and amplitude and for periods of predetermined duration. The apparatus provides a bed for receiving pallets loaded with stacked cases of bottled wine to be riddled, the bed being supported at its corners on pivot balls liftable from their supporting sockets which, in turn, have resilient supports. Selective tilting of the bed and its cargo is accomplished by inflatable air bags controlled by a timing system.

Claims52

Dependent claims

Apparatus for riddling bottled wine, comprising

holding means formed for carrying a bottle of wine in generally neck down inverted position,
jostling means having an operative connection to said holding means and formed for selectively effecting an abrupt limited lateral back and forth movement of said bottle in a plurality of different directions,
and control means for said jostling means formed for controlling the direction of said abrupt limited lateral movement of said bottle so as to accomplish riddling of the wine therein.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for mechanical riddling of bottled wine

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for mechanical riddling of bottled wine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims52