EP3380290A1

EP3380290A1 - Servo fettling machine

Info

Publication number: EP3380290A1
Application number: EP17713496.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Serhat AYDIN
Original assignee: Ng Lojistik Pazarlama Yatirim Ve Gayrimenkul Anonum Sirketi
Current assignee: Ng Lojistik Pazarlama Yatirim Ve Gayrimenkul Anonum Sirketi
Priority date: 2016-02-16
Filing date: 2017-02-14
Publication date: 2018-10-03
Also published as: WO2017142499A1; TR201601991A2; CN108602200A

Abstract

The invention relates to servo fettling machines (1) used for cleaning the burrs occurring at the rims of the plates and making plate rims into the desired shapes, subsequent to forming with a press, during manufacture of porcelain plates.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Servo Fettling Machine TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to fettling machines used for cleaning the burrs occurring at the rims of the plates and making plate rims into the desired shapes, subsequent to forming with a press, during manufacture of porcelain plates. The invention particularly relates to the fettling machines in the drive systems of which servo motors are used.

STATE OF THE ART

The reason for using servo motors in fettling machines is the inability to use standard AC motors in square and oval shaped plates, other than circular shaped plates. The servo motors used in fettling machines not only provide the linear movement of the arms according to the plate form in operating stations, but they are used for providing the plate holders, where the plates are located, with rotational movement during fettling operation as well. The servo motors that enable the stations to move according to the form of the plate and the servo motors that rotate the plate holders must move in synchronization.

In the existing servo fettling operational system, the plate having been formed in the porcelain press is located by means of various transfer mechanisms such that it will assume a proper position on the plate holder. Servo fettling machines are provided with a total of 8 stations: 1 loading station, 1 chip crush station, 2 grinding stations, 3 sponging stations, and 1 emptying station. Before the operational process in the stations starts, the operation is required to start from a reference point suitable for the plate form. In the fettling machines with servo motors used in the existing method, only the plate holders and plate holder shafts are mounted on the rotary table; wherein the table rotates subsequent to the completion of an operation in a station, and then transfers the plate on the plate holder to the next station.

In the present system, on the other hand, the servo motors are mounted on the machine body and drive the plate holder as a result of the contact of the motor with the drums on the plate holder shaft. Accordingly, the referencing operation is carried out by means of the metal sensor and the metal piece on the plate holder drum. In this technique, said motors are mounted on the body since the cables allowing power and data flow to the servo motors do not provide the rotation of the table. Due to such mounting, the referencing operation starts once the drums in the plate holders and the motor are in contact upon the rotation of the table and the plates arriving at the next station. As the plate holders are idle during the rotation of the table, their position becomes disarranged; therefore, the durations of the referencing operation performed by means of the metal piece and sensor positioning is longer. In other words, the rotation of the table and the following referencing operation cause high dead times in the production time analysis. As a result of this, not only the number of production is low, but also the product unit costs are high and unwanted stopping occurs in the plate presses, which have to operate in synchronization with the servo fettling machine. Moreover, in the existing system, two operating stations are driven by one linear servo motor mounted on the station arm. Hence, the locations of the plates opposite the station must be identical for the station motors having to operate back-and-forth in synchronization with plate holder motors. As a result of possible reference deviations, the problem of defective manufacturing of products arises. Further, when any one of the operating stations stops as a result of a failure experienced therein, the other operating station in the same station arm will have to stop due to the inability of performing linear movement. Since the desired product quality level will not be obtained as a consequence of both the stations stopping, the entire machine will have to be stopped and emergency maintenance will have to be carried out, thereby causing the whole production line to stop.

Another disadvantage of the fettling machines in the state of the art is that the power and communication cables of all of the servo motors are connected to the servo motors, extending separately from the electrical panel. Consequently, due to the drawbacks mentioned above and the insufficiency of the existing solutions in the subject matter, it has deemed necessary to make a development in the technical field of the servo fettling machines.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a servo fettling machine which meets the aforementioned requirements, eliminates the drawbacks, and at the same time provides additional advantages.

The primary object of the invention is to mount the servo motors in the rotary table, instead of the body, and thus to allow them to directly drive the plate holders. Thus, the rotational movement of the table, which is required for operating the fettling machine, and the referencing operation are performed simultaneously, thereby minimizing the dead times within the existing system.

An object of the invention is to allow the entry of the power and communication cables, which are required for servo motors, using a slip ring. The cables extending from the slip ring are connected to the first servo motor, and the cable extending from the first servo motor is input into the second servo motor. Thus, the communication between the other servo motors is provided as well. This, in turn, enables the servo motors to rotate along with the table and to drive the plate holder directly.

Another object of the invention is to ensure that the servo motors assume home position and that the operation in the next station starts without loss of time, during the rotation of the table after the completion of an operation in the stations, thanks to the capability of the servo motors to rotate together with the table and drive the plate holder directly. Thanks to these changes having been made, up to 40% saving on time can be achieved.

And another object of the invention is to provide linear movement of the operating stations by means of individual servo motors. Thus, the entire station arm, and thus the machine, will be prevented from stopping due to the failures likely to occur; moreover, with the incorporation of a software solution, the failing operating station will be bypassed and the machine will continue functioning, and so a suitable time, not a shutdown of the system, will be waited for repair and maintenance.

In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, a servo fettling machine which is used for cleaning the burrs occurring at the rims of the plates and making plate rims into the desired shapes, subsequent to forming with a press, during manufacture of porcelain plates and the servo fettling machine comprises; a body on which all the components of the machine are accommodated and mounted; a plate holder on which the pressed porcelain plate is located during the process, which is custom manufactured according to the form of each porcelain plate, and which is rotated by a servo motor driving the plate holder; a plate holder shaft transferring the drive to the plate holder; a rotary table on which said plate holder is mounted and which allows the plate holders to be transferred to the stations thanks to the rotational movement thereof; plate holder compression arms which apply compression on the plates on the plate holders prior to an operation in a station as a result of downward movement and hold the plates; station arms on which the operating stations and station linear servo motors are mounted; subsequent to exiting the press, a plate is positioned on the fettling machine by means of various transfer mechanisms and where other operations are performed in an entry station and/or chip crush station and/or grinding station and/or sponging station and/or exit station; in order to ensure that rotational movement of the rotary table and referencing operation are performed simultaneously, both of which are required for operating said fettling machine characterized in further comprising;

• servo motors driving plate holders which are engaged on the rotary table, rotate together with the rotary table, and drive the plate holder directly; and

• a slip ring which allows the communication of the power and communication cables, which are necessary for the servo motors driving plate holders engaged on the rotary table, in association with one another; and which is located on the body (10).

The structural and characteristic features and all advantages of the invention will be understood more clearly by referring to the following figures and the detailed description written with reference to these figures; therefore, these figures and the detailed description should be taken into consideration while making an evaluation.

FIGURES FOR A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 : Top perspective view of the servo fettling machine according to the invention.

Fig. 2: Bottom perspective view of the servo fettling machine according to the invention.

The drawings do not necessarily need to be scaled and the details that are not required for understanding the invention may have been omitted. Apart from that, the elements that are at least substantially identical or have at least substantially identical functions are referred with the same reference number.

DESCRIPTION OF PART REFERENCES

1. Servo fettling machine

10. Body

11. Plate holder

12. Servo motors driving plate holder

13. Plate holder shaft

14. Slip ring

15. Rotary table

16. Rotary step module

17. Plate holder compression arms

18. Plate holder compression driving piston 19. Station linear servo motors

20. Station arms

21. Entry station

22. Chip crush station

23. Grinding station

24. Sponging station

25. Exit station

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the preferred embodiments of the servo fettling machine (1 ) according to the invention are described only for a better understanding of the subject matter, without any limitations.

The invention provides performing the rotational movement (15) of the rotary table and the referencing operation simultaneously, both of which are required for operating the servo fettling machine (1 ) used for cleaning the burrs occurring at the rims of the plates and making plate rims into the desired shapes, subsequent to forming with a press, during manufacture of porcelain plates; wherein the servo motors driving plate holder (12) are mounted in the rotary table (15), instead of the body (10), and drive the plate holder (1 1 ) directly in order to minimize the dead times experienced in the existing system.

The servo fettling machine (1 ) according to the invention comprises a body (10) on which all the components of the machine (1 ) are accommodated and mounted; a plate holder (1 1 ) on which the pressed porcelain plate is located during the process and which is custom manufactured according to the form of each porcelain plate; servo motors driving plate holders (12) which provide the rotation of said plate holder (1 1 ); a plate holder shaft (13) allowing connection between the plate holder (1 1 ) and the servo motors driving plate holders (12) and transferring the drive to the plate holder (1 1 ); a slip ring (14) by which the power and data cables connected to said servo motors (12) first enter the system and which is an electrical configuration; a rotary table (15) on which said plate holder (1 1 ) and servo motors driving plate holders (12) are mounted and which allows the plate holders (1 1 ) to be transferred to the stations thanks to the rotational movement thereof; a rotary step module (16) consisting of an electric motor and reducer and providing the movement of said rotary table (15); plate holder compression arms (17) which apply compression on the plates on the plate holders (1 1 ) prior to an operation in a station as a result of downward movement, thereby holding the plates; plate holder compression driving piston (18) allowing up-and- down movement of said plate holder compression arms (17); station arms (20) on which the operating stations and station linear servo motors (19) are mounted; subsequent to exiting the press, a plate is positioned on the fettling machine by means of various transfer mechanisms and where other operations are performed in an entry station (21 ) and/or chip crush station (22) and/or grinding station (23) and/or sponging station (24) and/or exit station (25); and station linear servo motors (19) which enable the stations to be driven individually and to move according to the form of the plates during the process and which are mounted on the station arms (20).

The entry station (21 ) allows the plate, subsequent to exiting the press, to be located on the fettling machine by means of various transfer mechanisms; the chip crush station (22) allows first chip crush of the burrs occurring at the periphery of the pressed porcelain plate as a result of die separations; the grinding station (23) is two in number on the machine and clears the small burrs remaining at the rims of the plates upon the plate leaving said chip crush station (22); the sponging station (24) is preferably three in number on the machine and performs cleaning of the plate rims such that the desired smooth rims will be obtained upon the plate leaving said grinding station (23); and the exit station (25) permits the plate, having been undergone all of the stations, to exit the machine (1 ) for stacking by means of various transfer mechanisms. A distinctive characteristic of the invention over the existing technique: the servo motors driving plate holders (12) are mounted in the rotary table (15), not in the body (10). This, in turn, enables the said servo motors driving plate holders (12) not only to rotate along with the rotary table (15) but also to drive the plate holder (1 1 ) directly. Thus, the rotational movement of the rotary table (15), which is required for operating the fettling machine (1 ), and the referencing operation are performed simultaneously, thereby minimizing the dead times within the existing system.

Another characteristic of the invention: the fact that said servo motors driving plate holders (12) are capable not only of rotating along with the rotary table (15) but also of driving the plate holders (1 1 ) directly is achieved by means of a slip ring (14) which allows communication of the power and communication cables, which are required for said servo motors driving plate holders (12), in association with one another. The cables extending from the slip ring (14) are connected to the first servo motor (12), and the cable extending from the first servo motor (12) is input into the second servo motor (12). Thus, the communication between the other servo motors (12) is provided as well. As a result, during the rotation of the rotary table (15) after the completion of an operation in the stations, the servo motors driving plate holders (12) assume home position and the operation in the next station starts without loss of time. Hence, up to 40% saving on time can be achieved.

And another characteristic of the invention: the linear movement of the operating stations by means of individual servo motors is ensured. Said station linear servo motors (19) are mounted on the station arms (20). They drive the operating stations and allow them to move in accordance with the form of the plates and they are separately engaged on each operating station. As a consequence, the entire station arm, and thus the machine, will be prevented from stopping due to the failures likely to occur; moreover, with the incorporation of a software solution, the failing operating station will be bypassed and the machine will continue functioning, and so a suitable time, not a shutdown of the system, will be waited for repair and maintenance.

The working principle of the servo fettling machine (1) according to the invention is as follows:

The servo fettling machine (1 ) clears off the rims the pressed porcelain plate subsequent to having undergone various operations, thereby making it ready for being baked in a biscuit baking oven. The pressed porcelain plate is positioned on the entry station (21 ) by way of various transfer mechanisms. By means of the sensors in the transfer mechanism, the information regarding the plate being placed in the entry station (21 ) is reported to the PLC system of the servo fettling machine. Upon receipt of this information, the rotary step module (16) mounted on the body (10) rotates the rotary table (15) and transfers the plate holder (1 1 ) to the chip crush station (22). During every movement of the rotary table (15), the servo motors driving plate holders (12) assume reference position with respect to the next station; and since the plate holder (1 1 ) in the entry station (21 ) is empty subsequent to each movement of the rotary table (15), reloading of a new plate is performed while the operations in the stations continue. In order to prevent the plates from falling off during the operation, as soon as the plate holder (1 1 ) with a plate thereon gets to the chip crush station (22), the plate holder compression driving piston (18) moves downwards and the plate is retained between the plate holder (1 1 ) and plate holder compression arms (17) by means of said compression arms (17). Once the information regarding the downward movement of the plate holder compression driving piston (18) reaches the PLC, the power and energy cables input into the system by way of the slip ring (14) inform the servo motors driving plate holders (12) to move, thereby rotating the plate holder shaft (13) and plate holder (1 1 ) itself. The chip crush station (22) does not include linear servo motor (19) movement. Therefore, during the rotation of the plate, the plastic cylinder contacts with the plate rim by the pneumatic piston movement and chips off the burrs. Upon completion of the operation, the plate holder compression arms (17) release the plate. With the movement of the rotary table (15), the plates are transferred to the next station. After the chip crush station (22), the plate moves to the grinding station (23). There exist two grinding stations (23) in the machine (1 ). Once the plate gets to the grinding station (23) and rotation starts, the station linear servo motors (19) move in line with the plate form information entered in the system. The main principle of this movement is to provide the movement of the operating stations by the station linear servo motor (19) according to the distance of the point of the plate being processed at that moment to the center of the plate. When the operation commences in the grinding station (23), the electric motor on the station rotates the sandpaper with its rotation, and thus cleaning the small burrs remaining at the rims of the plate. Afterwards, the plate, after the operation in the second grinding station (23), is transferred to the sponging station (24). There exist three sponging stations (24) in the machine (1 ). During the transfer of the plate to the stations, the routine processes continue as stated previously. The working principle of the sponging station (24) is identical to that of the grinding station (23). Here, grinding is performed with a round sponge attached to the electric motor shaft. The sponge is wetted with water during said operation. In the sponging station (24), the hard portions at the rims of the plate are softened, thereby creating a smooth rim. The plate having undergone treatment in all of the sponge stations (24) gets to the exit station (25). Therefrom, it is transferred to the place of stacking by way of various transfer mechanisms.

Claims

1. A servo fettling machine (1 ) which is used for cleaning the burrs occurring at the rims of the plates and making plate rims into the desired shapes, subsequent to forming with a press, during manufacture of porcelain plates and the servo fettling machine (1 ) comprises; a body (10) on which all the components of the machine (1 ) are accommodated and mounted; a plate holder (1 1 ) on which the pressed porcelain plate is located during the process, which is custom manufactured according to the form of each porcelain plate, and which is rotated by a servo motor driving the plate holder (12); a plate holder shaft (13) transferring the drive to the plate holder (1 1 ); a rotary table (15) on which said plate holder (1 1 ) is mounted and which allows the plate holders (1 1 ) to be transferred to the stations thanks to the rotational movement thereof; plate holder compression arms (17) which apply compression on the plates on the plate holders (1 1 ) prior to an operation in a station as a result of downward movement and hold the plates; station arms (20) on which the operating stations and station linear servo motors (19) are mounted; subsequent to exiting the press, a plate is positioned on the fettling machine by means of various transfer mechanisms and where other operations are performed in an entry station (21 ) and/or chip crush station (22) and/or grinding station (23) and/or sponging station (24) and/or exit station (25); in order to ensure that rotational movement of the rotary table (15) and referencing operation are performed simultaneously, both of which are required for operating said fettling machine (1 ) characterized in further comprising;

• servo motors driving plate holders (12) which are engaged on the rotary table (15), rotate together with the rotary table (15), and drive the plate holders (1 1 ) directly; and

• a slip ring (14) which allows the communication of the power and communication cables, which are necessary for the servo motors driving plate holders (12) engaged on the rotary table (15), in association with one another; and which is located on the body (10).

2. The servo fettling machine (1 ) according to Claim 1 , characterized in comprising station linear servo motors (19) which enable the operating stations to move in accordance with the plate form by driving the same; which are separately engaged on each operating station; and which are mounted on the station arms (20).