ES2246305T3 - GRINDING MACHINE FOR CERAMIC TILES OR TILES. - Google Patents

Abstract

The glazing machine for ceramic tiles comprises a glaze distributing device (4), predisposed above a tile (3) conveyor plane (2). The glaze is supplied under pressure to a chamber having an outlet (6) which is narrow, straight and elongate in a transversal direction to the advancement direction (F) of the transiting tiles (3). A vertical continuous veil of glaze (7) drops onto the upper surface of the transiting tiles (3) on the conveyor plane (2). The conveyor plane (2) comprises a first conveyor (2a) supplying the tiles (3) and a second conveyor (2b) removing the tiles (3), the first conveyor (2a) being arranged upstream of the glazing zone and the second conveyor (2b) being arranged downstream thereof. The first and second conveyors (2a and 2b) are coplanar and distanced from one another in the advancement direction (F). The invention reduces glaze waste and especially maintain a glaze delivery at a constant level, so that a same quantity of glaze is distributed onto each tile (3). <IMAGE>

Description

Tile or tile enamelling machine ceramic

The present invention relates to a machine glazing tile or ceramic tiles.

Specific although not exclusively, this invention finds useful application in the distribution of a layer continuous and uniform enamel over the entire upper surface of ceramic tiles.

In particular reference will be made to a machine enamelling machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

The Italian invention patent IT-MO98014, on behalf of the same requesting party, publishes an enamelling machine of the type indicated above, in which the tiles move along a conveyor of chain. One of the problems of known enamelling machines is that the links of the conveyor get dirty with enamel when they pass through the distribution area of the same enamel, with a consequent waste of enamel and malfunction of the conveyor plane

Another problem is caused by the need to ensure that the amount of enamel spread over each tile or tile be consistent and uniform.

The American invention patent US-A-4,249,478 publishes a machine to cover workpieces with a curtain of material in liquid state and deals with means to automatically control the thickness of the coating layer applied to the surface top of the workpiece while it passes through a curtain created by conventional means that include a pump positive displacement together with some elongated opening which defines an area in the transverse direction such that the speed of volumetric flow of the coating material be directly related to the pump motor speed. The pieces of work generally have a flat shape and are moved by a conveyor.

The apparatus defined in claim 1 solve the problems mentioned above pertaining to The known technique.

An advantage of the present invention is that reduces the fouling of the conveyor plane.

Another advantage is given by the fact that the amount of enamel distributed on the tiles is kept under control even before changes of some parameters of machine operation, such as speed of tile advance, enamel flow rate, especially mass flow rate of enamel, viscosity of enamel, density of enamel, etc.

These goals and advantages and still others are achieved in its entirety by the present invention, as is characterized by the claims that follow.

Other features and advantages of this invention will become even more apparent from the detailed description that follows from a preferred execution but not exclusive to the present invention, illustrated purely exemplifier and not limiting by the figure in the attached drawing, in which:

- Figure 1 is a diagram of a machine enameler made according to the present invention.

With reference to the aforementioned figure, the numeral 1 denotes in its entirety an enamelling machine for ceramic tiles, which is in a position to distribute a continuous and uniform layer of enamel over the upper surface of the tiles.

The machine (1) comprises a conveyor plane horizontal (2), along which the tiles advance (3) in an orderly manner, one after the other in a given forward direction (F).

Above the conveyor plane (2) is located at least one device (4) for the distribution of enamel on the tiles that travel on such a plane. This device (4) comprises a hermetic distribution chamber provided with an inlet (5) connected to the part of supply of enamel and an outlet (6) of the enamel. Mouth output (6) is configured so that the enamel can exit in the shape of a thin veil (7), a continuous and vertical rain that is deposited on the upper surface of the tiles underlying (3) while passing arranged above the plane conveyor (2). The outlet (6) is presented as a slot fine, right and extending along one direction transverse to the direction of advance (F) of the tiles (3). The length of the longitudinal enamel exit groove does not It is shorter than the cross-sectional dimension of the tiles (3). The width of the enamel exit slot is adjustable, from so that you can adjust the width of the veil (7) of the enamel that It falls on the tiles.

The conveyor plane (2) comprises a first conveyor (2a) that feeds the tiles (3) and a second conveyor (2b) for the extraction of tiles or tiles (3); the first conveyor (2a) is before the zone of enamel distribution, while the second conveyor (2b) It is located after such area. Both conveyors (2a and 2b) preferably they are of the type of tape.

The first conveyor (2a) has an end of unloading of tiles that is located at a distance predetermined, measured in the forward direction (F), with respect to the vertical line of the outlet (6) of the chamber of enamel distribution.

The second conveyor (2b) has an end of collection of tiles that is predisposed to receive the tiles (3) coming from the end of unloading of tiles from the first conveyor (2a), the which is located at a predetermined distance, measured according to the feed direction (F), relative to the vertical line of the mouth out of the enamel distribution chamber. Between the end of unloading of tiles of the first conveyor (2a) and the tile collection end of the second conveyor (2b) there is an empty space, which is crossed by the vertical line of the outlet of the distribution chamber of enamel (6). Basically, the two conveyors (2a and 2b), which they are located reciprocally separated and on the same plane, define a kind of interruption of the general transport plane (2) in correspondence of the area where the enamel falls. This interruption of the transport plane does not constitute a detention of the advance of the tiles along the plane (2), therefore there is no hesitation of the advance movement of the tiles or tiles.

The conveyor plane (2) is driven through of a means comprising at least one motor (8a) that drives the first conveyor (2a) and a motor (8b) that drives the second conveyor (2b).

The means of enamel supply are predisposed to feed the enamel to the chamber under pressure Airtight enamel distribution. The means to supply the enamel include at least one hydraulic power circuit that flows into the enamel distribution chamber under pressure; to what long enamel supply circuit operates at least one pump (9), preferably of the positive displacement type.

The pump (9) is provided with means for control and regulate the dosed supply of the enamel to the chamber of distribution, which means preferably include a enamel flow rate measuring device (10) in the circuit supply, which supplies one or more signals that can be use to control the pump (9).

The enamel flow rate measuring device (10) advantageously it is constituted by a flowmeter of mass that also measures the density of the product supplied.

A central control unit (11) of the circuit enamel supply is predisposed to receive signals of flow sent by the measuring device (10) and, in turn, supplies a control signal to a drive motor (12) of the pump (9). The central control unit (11) is predisposed to compare the flow signals (mass and density) sent by the measuring device (10) with the flow values (mass and density) predetermined to keep the flow rate constant (in terms of mass) in the enamel supply circuit.

A pressure gauge is predisposed on the circuit Enamel supply to control the discharge pressure of the pump (9).

The central control unit (11) is predisposed to establish and maintain a predetermined relationship between the conveyor motors and the pump motor (12).

Both the pump motor (12) and the motors of belt drive (8a and 8b) (tapes (2a and 2b) preferably They are electric and are controlled by an inverter.

The enamelling machine is also provided with means for collecting excess enamel, which carry the excess enamel (enamel that has left the chamber of distribution but that has not been used to cover the tile or tile) to a collection tank (14) connected to the circuit supply. Means for collecting excess enamel comprise a small tank (15) predisposed below the plane conveyor (2) (and in particular below the distribution area of the enamel and under the space where the two tapes (2a and 2b) leave the empty space) that collects the excess enamel, and a device (16), located before the collection tank (14), for filter the enamel.

The system could be provided with a remote personal computer (17) to simultaneously monitor the control units of a plurality of enamelling machines that they work in sequence along a single line of enamel.

During operation, the tiles or tiles are fed at a predetermined constant speed at the enamelling zone located under the distribution device. He enamel is supplied under pressure to the distribution chamber and from there it falls in the form of a continuous and uniform veil over the tiles that pass under it, leaving a regular and continuous layer on the tiles.

In the area where the enamel falls, which effectively corresponds to the vertical projection of the mouth of lower outlet (6) of the pressurized chamber of the device distribution (4), there is an interruption of the conveyor plane (2), so that the same plane (2) does not get dirty with enamel. The part of enamel distributed but not deposited on the tiles or tiles are recovered and therefore the waste is reduced to minimum.

As mentioned earlier, the central unit (11) is also able to maintain a reciprocal relationship of the feed rate of the conveyor plane and of the flow in terms of mass of the enamel in the circuit of supply. If, for any reason (for example, an error of the operator, or a change in viscosity or density of the enamel, or a wear of the conveyor plane or the supply pump, etc.) one of the aforementioned parameters undergoes a sudden change, the central unit (11) automatically corrects the other parameter of way to keep the amount of enamel distributed constant on each tile (3). This allows to improve the quality of production and also avoids manual control by the enamel thickness operator.

Claims (2)

1. Tile or tile enamelling machine ceramic, comprising: - a horizontal conveyor plane (2), motor driven (8a and 8b), along which they advance tiles one after the other in a certain direction forward (F); - at least one enamel distributor device (4), predisposed above the conveyor plane (2), to distribute enamel on the tiles (3) that are transit, the at least one enamel distributor device (4) comprising a hermetic distribution chamber provided with an inlet (5) and an outlet (6) of the enamel, the outlet (6) being right, narrow and elongated in a direction transverse to the direction of advance (F) of the tiles or tiles (3); - means for supplying enamel under pressure to the inlet port (5) of the distribution chamber, which means for supplying comprise a supply circuit of enamel along which a pump (9) operates, which pump (9) it is driven by a motor (12); - the enamel leaves the outlet (6) with the form of a vertical veil and is deposited on the surfaces upper of the tiles (3) that pass on the conveyor plane (2); where: - the conveyor plane (2) comprises a first conveyor (2a) to feed the tiles and a second conveyor (2b) to receive the tiles (3), the first conveyor (2a) being located before the zone of enamel distribution and the second conveyor (2b) being located after the enamel distribution zone; - the first conveyor (2a) has one end discharge of the tile located at a distance default, measured in the direction of advance (F) of the tiles or tiles, with respect to the vertical projection that originates in the outlet (6) of the enamel distribution chamber; - the second conveyor (2b) has one end of collection of tiles or tiles, predisposed to receive the tiles (3) from the first discharge end of the first conveyor (2a), located at a distance default, measured in the direction of advance (F) of the tiles or tiles, with respect to the vertical projection that originates in the outlet (6) of the enamel distribution chamber; - between the discharge end of the tiles or tiles of the first conveyor (2a) and the collection end of the tiles of the second conveyor (2b) there is a space that is crossed by the vertical projection that originates at the outlet (6) of the distribution chamber of the enamel; - a central control unit (11) has been provided to synchronize the motors (8a and 8b) of the plane conveyor (3) according to a fixed relationship with the motor (12) of the pump (9) of the supply circuit, characterized in that said central control unit (11) is connected to a measuring device (10) of the mass flow rate of the enamel working in the supply circuit, the central control unit (11) being predisposed to compare a signal of the mass flow rate provided by the measuring device (10) with a predetermined mass flow rate value in order to keep the mass flow rate in the supply circuit at a constant level.
so much. 2. Enamelling machine according to claim 1, characterized in that under the conveyor plane (2), between the discharge end of the first conveyor (2a) and the collection end of the second conveyor (2b), collection means are arranged that collect excess enamel not deposited on the tiles (3).