EP1358982B1 - Unité de traitement et procédé pour décorer des objets en céramique - Google Patents

Unité de traitement et procédé pour décorer des objets en céramique Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1358982B1
EP1358982B1 EP03009956A EP03009956A EP1358982B1 EP 1358982 B1 EP1358982 B1 EP 1358982B1 EP 03009956 A EP03009956 A EP 03009956A EP 03009956 A EP03009956 A EP 03009956A EP 1358982 B1 EP1358982 B1 EP 1358982B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
etching
suction
unit
openings
colouring
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
EP03009956A
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1358982A3 (fr
EP1358982A2 (fr
Inventor
Giancarlo Fiandri
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tecno Europa SRL
Original Assignee
Tecno Europa SRL
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tecno Europa SRL filed Critical Tecno Europa SRL
Publication of EP1358982A2 publication Critical patent/EP1358982A2/fr
Publication of EP1358982A3 publication Critical patent/EP1358982A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1358982B1 publication Critical patent/EP1358982B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B28—WORKING CEMENT, CLAY, OR STONE
    • B28B—SHAPING CLAY OR OTHER CERAMIC COMPOSITIONS; SHAPING SLAG; SHAPING MIXTURES CONTAINING CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL, e.g. PLASTER
    • B28B13/00—Feeding the unshaped material to moulds or apparatus for producing shaped articles; Discharging shaped articles from such moulds or apparatus
    • B28B13/02—Feeding the unshaped material to moulds or apparatus for producing shaped articles
    • B28B13/0295—Treating the surface of the fed layer, e.g. removing material or equalization of the surface
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B28—WORKING CEMENT, CLAY, OR STONE
    • B28B—SHAPING CLAY OR OTHER CERAMIC COMPOSITIONS; SHAPING SLAG; SHAPING MIXTURES CONTAINING CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL, e.g. PLASTER
    • B28B13/00—Feeding the unshaped material to moulds or apparatus for producing shaped articles; Discharging shaped articles from such moulds or apparatus
    • B28B13/02—Feeding the unshaped material to moulds or apparatus for producing shaped articles
    • B28B13/0215—Feeding the moulding material in measured quantities from a container or silo
    • B28B13/022—Feeding several successive layers, optionally of different materials
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B28—WORKING CEMENT, CLAY, OR STONE
    • B28B—SHAPING CLAY OR OTHER CERAMIC COMPOSITIONS; SHAPING SLAG; SHAPING MIXTURES CONTAINING CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL, e.g. PLASTER
    • B28B13/00—Feeding the unshaped material to moulds or apparatus for producing shaped articles; Discharging shaped articles from such moulds or apparatus
    • B28B13/02—Feeding the unshaped material to moulds or apparatus for producing shaped articles
    • B28B13/0215—Feeding the moulding material in measured quantities from a container or silo
    • B28B13/023—Feeding the moulding material in measured quantities from a container or silo by using a feed box transferring the moulding material from a hopper to the moulding cavities

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a processing unit for decorating ceramic products.
  • products are decorated by depositing colouring substances on a flat surface of a semifinished product of fresh clay, and then pressing the semifinished product to press the colouring substances into the clay.
  • the drawbacks of this method derive from the limited amount of colouring substance that can be deposited, and possible loss of definition caused by pressing.
  • One solution to the above drawbacks is to etch the pattern on the semifinished product and deposit the colouring substances inside the depression, thus increasing the amount of colouring substance that can be used, and preventing the coloured pattern from being flawed when pressed.
  • One etching method employs a roller having a raised outer surface defining the pattern to be reproduced on the semifinished ceramic product.
  • the roller is placed idly on the semifinished product, which, as it travels beneath the roller, rotates it and at the same time is impressed with the desired pattern.
  • This solution has the drawback of requiring periodic maintenance of the roller, on which a layer of soft clay is inevitably deposited during operation, thus impairing the efficiency of the roller.
  • Another decorative requirement of the ceramic industry is to produce ceramic products with etched patterns on the visible surfaces.
  • This type of product is normally made using dies at the pressing step, on which the pattern to be etched is formed in relief and impressed onto the semifinished ceramic product.
  • This solution has the drawback of etching the pattern after the colouring step, thus altering or even impairing the existing coloured decoration.
  • EP-A-0927687 describes a method and means for transferring granular materials.
  • a screen constituted by a weft of wires, having permeable and non-permeable zones surrounds a chamber in which a underpressure is kept. The screen is brought in contact with a layer of granular material and takes according to a desired pattern a surface portion away.
  • a unit for decorating ceramic products comprising etching means and characterized in that said etching means comprise shielding means having a number of openings; and suction means for removing non-pressed ceramic material through said openings by suction.
  • a method of decorating ceramic products comprising at least one etching step of etching a semifinished ceramic product, and characterized in that said etching step comprises a suction operation to remove non-pressed ceramic material by suction through a number of openings defining as a whole a decorative pattern.
  • the processing unit according to the present invention therefore produces the etched pattern prior to the colouring step, and does not require frequent maintenance, in that, as opposed to preventing continuation of the operation, the dust removed by suction is recycled, thus solving the problem of material wastage and disposal. Moreover, the above method also enables alterations to the pattern by adjusting the amount of suction or closure of certain openings.
  • Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates as a whole a system for producing ceramic products.
  • Figure 1 shows a cavity 2 for receiving fresh clay to form a semifinished ceramic product 3, and for supporting the semifinished product at the decorating step; and a carriage 4 located over and movable with respect to cavity 2 in a direction Z.
  • Carriage 4 supports a grille 5 defining a loading station 5a for loading cavity 2; and a unit 6 for decorating the semifinished product.
  • unit 6 comprises etching means 7 defining an etching station 7a; and colouring means 8 defining a colouring station 8a.
  • etching means 7 comprise a container 9 having a convex bottom wall 10, in which is formed an opening 11; a vacuum pump 12 (shown schematically) for producing a vacuum inside container 9; and a flexible shielding member 13 having a number of microholes 14 formed using LASER techniques and defining as a whole a decorative pattern.
  • Shielding member 13 is defined by a belt member 15 moving with respect to and sliding in contact with bottom wall 10. More specifically, belt member 15 is made of thermoplastic material, and is wound at the ends about two respective rollers 16 for moving belt member 15.
  • belt member 15 is made of thermoplastic material, and is wound at the ends about two respective rollers 16 for moving belt member 15.
  • etching step to produce depressions 17 carriage 4 moves with respect to cavity 2 in direction Z, and microholes 14 in belt member 15 travel past opening 11 to select the parts of semifinished product 3 from which to remove fresh clay by suction and so form the etched pattern.
  • the area of semifinished product 3 from which clay has been removed by suction is brought into follow-up colouring station 8a, where colouring means 8 deposit colouring substances into depressions 17 formed in the semifinished product by etching means 7.
  • System 18 indicates as a whole a system for producing ceramic products, any parts of which identical to the corresponding parts of system 1 are indicated using the same reference numbers with no further description.
  • System 18 comprises a decorating unit 19, in which etching means 20, defining an etching station 20a, comprise a cylinder 21, in which a number of microholes 22 are formed using LASER techniques; and a suction inlet 23 housed inside cylinder 21, having an opening 24 facing the semifinished product, and connected to a vacuum pump indicated schematically by 25.
  • Cylinder 21 rotates about an axis of rotation 26, and, as carriage 4 moves along, feeds microholes 22 past opening 24 facing the semifinished product, to select the parts of semifinished product 3 from which to remove fresh clay by suction.
  • the unit according to the present invention thus provides, in an extremely straightforward manner, for producing a well defined etched pattern, while at the same time salvaging and recycling the removed soft clay for further use.
  • the processing unit according to the present invention is also highly versatile by producing both ceramic products with etched patterns, and ceramic products with much more attractive coloured patterns than those obtainable by the known state of the art. As stated, in fact, by depositing the colouring substances inside preformed depressions, definition of the coloured portion is enhanced, and a larger quantity of colouring substance can be used to achieve a highly attractive effect.
  • the pattern can be changed easily and cheaply by simply changing the belt member, which, being flexible, is extremely easy to carry.
  • the removed fresh clay may be salvaged continuously by providing the vacuum pump with a clay dumping conduit.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Devices For Post-Treatments, Processing, Supply, Discharge, And Other Processes (AREA)

Claims (11)

  1. Unité (6 ; 19) pour la décoration de produits en céramique, comprenant des moyens de décapage (7 ; 20) et caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens de décapage (7 ; 20) comprennent des moyens de protection (13 ; 21) ayant un certain nombre d'ouvertures (14 ; 22) ; et des moyens d'aspiration (9 ; 12 ; 23 ; 25) afin d'éliminer le matériau en céramique non compressé par lesdites ouvertures (14 ; 22) par aspiration.
  2. Unité selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens de protection comprennent un cylindre (21) ayant un certain nombre d'ouvertures (22) et en rotation autour d'un axe de rotation (26) ; et en ce que lesdits moyens d'aspiration comprennent une pompe à vide (25), et une entrée d'aspiration (23) reliée à ladite pompe (25) et logée à l'intérieur dudit cylindre (21).
  3. Unité selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens de protection sont définis par un élément de ceinture flexible et mobile (15) ayant un certain nombre d'ouvertures (14) ; lesdits moyens d'aspiration comprennent un récipient (9) ayant une paroi du fond convexe (10) sur laquelle une ouverture (11) est formée, et une pompe à vide (12) destinée à produire un vide dans ledit récipient (9) ; ledit élément de ceinture (15) étant en contact et glissant par rapport à ladite paroi du fond (10).
  4. Unité selon la revendication 3, caractérisée en ce que ledit élément de ceinture (15) est fabriqué à partir d'un matériau thermoplastique, et est enroulé au niveau des extrémités autour de deux rouleaux respectifs (16).
  5. Unité selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que lesdites ouvertures sont des microtrous (14 ; 22).
  6. Unité selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens de décapage (7 ; 20) sont fixés à un chariot (4) conjointement avec les moyens de coloration (8).
  7. Système pour produire des produits en céramique, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend une unité de traitement (6 ; 19) destinée à produire des décorations selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes.
  8. Procédé de décoration de produits en céramique, comprenant au moins une étape de décapage pour décaper un produit en céramique semi-fini, et caractérisé en ce que ladite étape de décapage comprend une opération d'aspiration afin d'éliminer un matériau en céramique non compressé par une aspiration à travers un certain nombre d'ouvertures défini dans son ensemble comme un modèle décoratif.
  9. Procédé selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend une étape de coloration après ladite étape de décapage.
  10. Procédé selon la revendication 9, caractérisé en ce que ladite étape de coloration comprend le dépôt de substances colorantes dans la dépression décapée.
  11. Procédé pour produire des produits décorés en céramique, comprenant le procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 8 à 10.
EP03009956A 2002-05-03 2003-04-30 Unité de traitement et procédé pour décorer des objets en céramique Expired - Fee Related EP1358982B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT2002BO000253A ITBO20020253A1 (it) 2002-05-03 2002-05-03 Gruppo di lavorazione per la realizzazione di decori su manufatti ceramici e relativo
ITBO20020253 2002-05-03

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1358982A2 EP1358982A2 (fr) 2003-11-05
EP1358982A3 EP1358982A3 (fr) 2004-05-19
EP1358982B1 true EP1358982B1 (fr) 2005-10-05

Family

ID=11440099

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03009956A Expired - Fee Related EP1358982B1 (fr) 2002-05-03 2003-04-30 Unité de traitement et procédé pour décorer des objets en céramique

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1358982B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE60301754T2 (fr)
ES (1) ES2247450T3 (fr)
IT (1) ITBO20020253A1 (fr)

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH07179100A (ja) * 1993-12-21 1995-07-18 C C A Kk 気流制御装置を用いた粉粒体重合層による模様入り成形体の成形方法
EP0927687B1 (fr) * 1997-12-23 2004-05-26 Maris Algeri Procédé et dispositif pour transférer un matériau granuleux
IT1311905B1 (it) * 1999-04-02 2002-03-20 Martinelli Ettore Srl Pressa per la produzione di piastrelle con dispositivo di caricamentoa doppio strato.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1358982A3 (fr) 2004-05-19
DE60301754T2 (de) 2006-07-06
ITBO20020253A1 (it) 2003-11-03
ITBO20020253A0 (it) 2002-05-03
ES2247450T3 (es) 2006-03-01
DE60301754D1 (de) 2005-11-10
EP1358982A2 (fr) 2003-11-05

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