Method and apparatus for manufacturing multilayer natural cork stoppers, and multilayer natural cork.

摘要

Method for manufacturing multilayer natural cork stoppers made up of several plug elements (3; 4) of natural cork juxtaposed and joined at their bases by adhesive, each of said cap members (3; 4) used a substantially cylindrical surface (3c; 4c) about a longitudinal axis (5) and two opposing base surfaces (3a, 3b; 4a, 4b) substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis (5), wherein one of said base surfaces (3a, 3b; 4a, 4b) of the plug elements (3; 4) are mutually joined, forming at least one interface (6d) in the multilayer stopper (6), each plug member (3; 4) veins of substantially parallel arranged natural cork to longitudinal axis (5), a lenticels natural cork arranged substantially perpendicular to said veins, a corresponding portion to the belly of the natural cork and another part corresponding to the back of the natural cork on opposite sides of to the longitudinal axis (5), as well as imperfections and / or defects, comprising the steps of: randomly taking at least two of said cap members (3; 4) of natural cork; inspect some areas including at least said two base surfaces (3a, 3b; 4a, 4b) of at least two plug elements (3; 4) provided to form taken end elements of said multilayer stopper (6); designate depending on the result of said inspection and a first selection criterion preset relative angular positions about the plug elements (3; 4) with respect to their longitudinal axes (5) to fill in said multilayer stopper (6); arranging the stopper elements (3; 4) in said relative angular positions and aligned with respect to their longitudinal axes (5) and; contacting the respective base surfaces (3a, 3b; 4a, 4b) of the plug elements (3; 4) to be mutually joined in contact with intermediation of an adhesive, according to said respective relative angular position.