GB2053886A

GB2053886A - Treating ceramic articles

Info

Publication number: GB2053886A
Application number: GB7923768A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: British Ceramic Research Association Ltd
Current assignee: British Ceramic Research Association Ltd
Priority date: 1979-07-06
Filing date: 1979-07-06
Publication date: 1981-02-11
Also published as: GB2053886B

Abstract

Apparatus for handling and treating ceramic articles includes article holding means 18 mounted on a rotatable arm 16 which may be raised and lowered. At one station when the arm is lowered the holding means picks up e.g. by suction an article to be treated. The arm is then raised and rotated so that at a second station the holding means is rotated so that the article is sponged prior to the holding means being lowered to enable the treated article to be deposited on a conveyor. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An apparatus for handling and treating ceramic articles The present invention concerns apparatus for handling and treating ceramic articles, especially but not exclusiveiy articles of tableware.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for handling and treating ceramic articles including article holding means rotatably mounted on transfer means, drive means for moving the transfer means to index the holding means from one station to another, article treating means operable on the article at one of said stations and means for actuating and releasing said holding means.

Preferably the transfer means has two arms rotatable about a central axis, holding means being provided on each arm.

Preferably the means for actuating and releasing the holding means includes lifting means for moving said holding means towards and away from said articles. The lifting means are preferably operable on the transfer means such that the arms and the holding means thereon are movable towards and away from said articles.

Preferably the holding means includes a pickup bar mounted on the arm, suction means at the lower end of said bar and drive means for rotating the bar at or near the upper end thereof. The drive means may comprise a wheel which may contact a movable belt arranged at said one station. Each holding means may include two side by side assemblies of bars, suction devices and drive means. Each bar may be capable of limited movement relative to the arm.

Preferably the article treatment means includes a sponge operable on the rim of an article held by the holding means. The sponge is preferably an endless belt passing over two drums the axes of which are vertical, the lower edge of the sponge being-notched or slit. Means are preferably provided for wetting and cleaning the sponge.

The apparatus is particularly advantageously employed with the arms of the transfer means diametrically opposed and arranged such that as one holding means is at said one station the other holding means is positioned at a second station above a mould carrying an untreated article. The holding means may be arranged to pick up and remove articles from the mould or moulds at said second station and to deposit them after they have been treated at said other station. It is preferable that the treated articles are deposited on a conveyor belt.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig, 1 is a plan view of an apparatus for handling and treating ceramic articles; and Fig. 2 is an elevation thereof.

The apparatus is arranged intermediate the end of an endless conveyor C and station S on a mould track to which moulds containing ceramic articles, for example cups to be sponged, are transported.

The apparatus comprises a stanchion 10 on which is rotatably mounted a shaft 1 2 the stanchion carrying also drive means 14 for intermittently rotating the shaft through intervals of 1 800 and lift means 40 for raising and lowering drive means 14 and the shaft 12. At its upper end the shaft 12 carries two diametrically opposed arms 1 6 which are each provided at their outer ends with holding means comprising two assemblies 18 arranged in side by side relationship. Each assembly includes a pick-up bar 20 slidably mounted for limited vertical movement relative to the arm, and freely rotatable relative to the arm 16, the bar being provided at its lower end with a suction cup 22 and a drive wheel 24 at its upper end.The arms 1 6 with the pick-up bars 20 are raised and lowered by the lift means 40 such that with a pair of moulds M (only one of which is shown in Fig. 2) positioned under each assembly 1 8 the pick-up bars 20 can be lowered to bring the suction cups 22 in engagement with the bottom of cups in the moulds and below atmospheric pressure can be induced in the suction cups 22 such that when the pick-up bar is raised the cup is lifted clear of the mould.

The drive means 14 is then actuated to index the arm 1 6 through 1 800 to bring the assemblies 1 8 to a sponging station shown to the right of the drawing. A second stanchion 26 is arranged at the sponging station and carries a further drive means 28 which imparts movement to an endless belt 30 passing over two pulleys 32 which are so arranged that the drive wheels 24 on each of the pick-up bars 20 at the sponging station contact and are driven by the belt 30. Shafts 34 carrying the pulleys 32 carry also at their lower end drums 36 on which is arranged a belt sponge 38 having a notched or slit lower edge which is arranged below the lower edge of the drums 38 such that it passes over the rim of a rotating cup held on the end of a pick-up bar 20 at the sponging station.

Known means are provided for wetting and cleaning the sponge and after the sponging operation has been completed arms 1 6 and thus the pick-up bars 20 are lowered to disengage the drive pulleys 24 from the drive belt 30 and move the cup rims out of contact with the sponge, the lowering ceasing when the cups are near the endless conveyor C at which stage the vacuum is released from the vacuum cup 22 to release sponged cups onto the conveyor. The arms 1 6 and the pick-up bars 20 are then raised.

It will be realised that as one set of assemblies 1 8 release the sponged cups onto the conveyor 3 the other set at the end of the other arm 1 6 is picking up further cups from the moulds M.

Conveniently the drive means for the shaft S and pulleys and drums are electric motors and the means for intermittently rotating the arms and moving them vertically are pneumatic devices.

Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, more than one pick up and sponging station may be provided so that the apparatus has a corresponding additional number of arms.

Where different articles of ware, for example plates have to be sponged the sponging arrangement may be suitably modified in any known manner.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. Apparatus for handling and treating ceramic articles including article holding means rotatably mounted on transfer means, drive means for moving the transfer means to index the holding means from one station to another, article treating means operable on the article at one of said stations and means for actuating and releasing said holding means.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the transfer means has two arms rotatable about a central axis, holding means being provided on each arm.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the means for actuating and releasing the holding means includes lifting means for moving said holding means towards and away from said articles.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the lifting means are operable on the transfer means such that the arms and the holding means thereon are movable towards and away from said articles.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the holding means includes a pick-up bar mounted on the arm, suction means at the lower end of said bar and drive means for rotating the bar at or near the upper end thereof.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the drive means comprises a wheel which contacts a movable belt arranged at said one station.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, in which each holding means includes two sideby-side assemblies of bars, suction devices and drive means.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which each bar is capable of limited movement relative to the arm.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the article treatment means includes a sponge operable on the rim of an article held by the holding means.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which the sponge is an endless belt passing over two drums the axes of which are vertical.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in which the lower edge of the sponge is notched or slit.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, 10 or 11, in which means are provided for wetting and cleaning the sponge.

1 3. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 1 2, in which the arms of the transfer means are diametrically opposed and arranged such that as one holding means is at said one station the other holding means is positioned at a second station above a mould carrying an untreated article.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, in which the holding means are arranged to pick up and remove articles from the mould or moulds at said second station and to deposit them after they have been treated at said other station.

1 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, in which a conveyor is provided for receiving the treated articles.

1 6. Apparatus for handling and treating ceramic articles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.