GB2155819A

GB2155819A - Decorating ceramic workpieces

Info

Publication number: GB2155819A
Application number: GB08506719A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Owen
Original assignee: MALKIN Ltd
Current assignee: MALKIN Ltd
Priority date: 1984-03-17
Filing date: 1985-03-15
Publication date: 1985-10-02
Also published as: GB8407014D0; GB8506719D0

Abstract

An apparatus for decorating ceramic workpieces, especially flatware, comprises a framework carrying a turntable (14) with its axis of rotation horizontally arranged in the fore-and-aft direction of the apparatus and carrying at least two arms (16) pivotally mounted thereon about axes extending radially of the turntable, each arm having two workpiece holders (20) at its ends. Two decoration applicators are arranged to apply decoration to workpieces held by the holders of an arm arranged with its axis parallel to the fore-and-aft axis (solid line in Figure 3) while the other arm is arranged in an upper position with its axis normal to the said fore-and-aft axis (dotted line in Figure 3) to allow loading and unloading from position P while decoration of the workpieces on the other arm is carried out. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to apparatus for decorating workpieces The present invention concerns improvements in or relating to apparatus for decorating workpieces, especially but not exclusively machines for apply.

ing decorative bands to items of ceramic ware.

It has been known in the past to apply decorative bands to items of ceramic ware by supporting the ware on a turntable and as the turntable rotates applying decorative bands either by means of a brush held against the ware and supplied with a constant flow or decorating medium or by running an applicator roller in contact with the ware so that it deposits a decorative band parallel to the periphery of the ware.

In certain past machines the ware has been placed and centred on the turntable by an operative who then causes the decorating device to come into contact with the workpiece but thereafter is idle during the decorating process. Attempts have been made to increase the operative's productivity including the placing of two similar machines side-by-side such that the operative can be loading one machine as the other machine is carrying out the decorating process. This is expensive and relies on a certain degree of skill from the operator to ensure that he operates the machines in a productive sequence.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate these disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for decorating workpieces, comprising a rotatable member which carries at least two workpiece holding arrangements, decorating means alongside a first one said workpiece holding arrangement and means for rotating the shaft to move said first arrangement to a loadinglunloading station while the or one of the other arrangements is moved alongside the decorating means.

Preferably each workpiece holding arrangement comprises two workpiece holders mounted on a support member which is mounted on said rotatable member. Preferably a said support member is pivotable about an axis which is arranged substantially radially of the axis of rotation of the rotatable member and means is provided for rotating the support member about the said radial axis such that at the loading station the line joining the centres of the workpiece holders is arranged substantially transversely of the axis of the rotatable member while at the decorating means the said line is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotatable member.

Preferably the decorating means includes a roller applicator operable in association with each workpiece holder. Each roller applicator may have one or more applicator rollers, a decorating medium supply for the roller(s) and follower means having a mechanical connection with the applicator roller and being adapted to run along the periphery of the workpiece to be decorated such that the roller, in operation, applies a band of decoration parallel to the periphery of the workpiece.

Preferably each workpiece holder is provided with drive means for rotating it about its axis of rotation. Conveniently the drive means may comprise a driven roller mounted with its centre coincident with the axis of rotation of the workpiece holder and a drive wheel adapted to frictionally engage the driven roller when the workpiece holding arrangement is alongside the decorating means. Preferably the rotatable drive wheel is fixed on the apparatus so that drive is applied to a driven roller of a workpiece holder only when the workpiece holding arrangement is alongside the decorating means.

In a modified arrangement more than two workpiece holding arrangements are arranged on the rotatable member, the arrangements being mutually equispaced.

In an apparatus including more than two workpiece holding arrangements there may be provided additional decorating means.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic side elevation of a decorating apparatus; Figure 2 an end elevation; and Figure 3 a plan of the decorating apparatus.

A decorating apparatus comprises a framework 10 on which is mounted a control panel 12 for electrical and pneumatic operating and control gear which does not form part of the present invention and will not be described. A rotatable member or turntable 14 is rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis running along the fore-andaft a is of the apparatus and fixed at 90 intervals to the turntable 14 are four workpiece holding arrangements each having support members or arms 16. The arms 16 are pivotally mounted on mounting blocks 18 fixed to the turntable 14 so that each arm 16 can be rotated through 90 about an axis which is radial to the axis of rotation of the turntable 14, from the position shown in full lines in Figure 3 to that shown in dotted lines.Means (not shown) are provided for pivoting each arm 16 about its axis only when the arm is in the uppermost position on the apparatus.

Each workpiece holding arrangement includes two workpiece holders 20 freely rotatably mounted on the arm, the holders being provided with workpiece fixing means, for example, vacuum pads which do not form part of the present invention and will not be described in detail. A driven roller 22 having an outer periphery manufactured from a substance having a high coefficient of friction is fixed to the mounting shaft 24 of each workpiece holder 20 and drive wheels 26 each having its own electric motor 28 are mounted on the framework 10 so that when the workpiece holding arrangements are arranged with their axes of rotation horizontal the drive wheels 26 are in frictional engagement with the driven rollers 22. Thus drive is transmitted from the electric motors 28 to the workpiece holders and consequently the work pieces carried thereon.Figure 1 illustrates that the point of contact of the drive wheels 26 with the driven rollers 22 is below the centre line of the rollers.

Means (not shown) are provided for indexing the turntable 14 about its axis of rotation in 90" steps.

The framework 10 carries on rails 34 mounting means 32, the mounting means supporting applicator units 36 (shown in phantom lines in Figure 3) for applying decorative medium to workpieces carried by the workpiece holders. The applicator units do not form part of the present invention and will not be described in detail but our prior U.K. Patents 1384464, 1588224 and 1588225 disclose applicator units suitable for use with the apparatus.

Each applicator unit comprises one or more banding roller arranged to contact the workpiece and deposit a line thereon and means for guiding the applicator roller such that it travels over the workpiece parallel to its periphery, the said means including a mechanical connection between the applicator roller and a profile follower roller assembly which tracks over the periphery of the workpiece as it rotates past the applicator unit. It will be realised therefore that each applicator will apply a band to the workpiece irrespective of the shape or size of the workpiece so that one workpiece holding arrangement can carry and simultaneously decorate workpieces of different shapes.

In operation, an operator standing at the position shown by the reference letter P in Figures 1 and 2 simultaneously loads two plates to be decorated on to the workpiece holders occupying the uppermost position shown in dotted lines in dotted lines in Figure 3. The operator then causes the apparatus to commence its decorating operation and this results in the turntable 14 automatically indexing through 90" while the uppermost arm 16 simultaneously pivots through 90" such that it occupies the position shown in full lines in Figure 3, that is the axis of the arm 16 lies along the fore-and-aft axis of the apparatus.At the end of the 90" index of turntable 14 drive wheels 26 come into driving contact with the driven rollers 22 thereby causing the workpiece holders 20, which now lie alongside the applicator units, to rotate. Automatic means can then bring the applicator units into engagement with the workpieces so that they are decorated as described above. As this decoration operation is taking place the operative can remove from the workpiece holders 20, which have been brought to the uppermost position on indexing the turntable, the decorated ware carried thereon and replace this ware with ware to be decorated so that when the decoration of the first mentioned pair of plates is complete the apparatus indexes again to bring a newly loaded pair of plates to the decorating means and a further pair of decorated plates to the loading/unloading station.

If a multi-colour decoration has to be applied to the workpieces a second decorating station can be provided on the other side of the machine, this second station functioning simultanteously with the first station.

Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, it is necessary to supply only two workpiece supporting assemblies but if required three or more than the four described above can be provided, dependent upon the number of lines to be applied to the workpieces.

Claims

1. Apparatus for decorating workpieces, comprising a rotatable member which carries at least two workpiece holding arrangements, decorating means alongside a first one said workpiece holding arrangement and means for rotating the shaft to move said first arrangement to a loadinglunloading station while the or one of the other arrangements is moved alongside the decorating means.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which each workpiece holding arrangement comprises two workpiece holders mounted on a support member which is mounted on said rotatable member.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which said support member is pivotable about an axis which is arranged substantially radially of the axis of rotation of the rotatable member.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which means is provided for rotating the support member about the said radial axis such that at the loading station the line joining the centres of the workpiece holders is arranged substantially transversely of the axis of the rotatable member while at the decorating means the said line is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotatable member.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the decorating means includes a roller applicator operable in association with each workpiece holder.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which each roller applicator has one or more applicator rollers, a decorating medium supply for the roller(s) and follower means having a mechanical connection with the applicator roller and being adapted to run along the periphery of the workpiece to be decorated such that the roller, in operation, applies a band of decoration parallel to the periphery of the workpiece.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which each workpiece holder is provided with drive means for rotating it about its axis of rotation.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which the drive means comprises a driven roller mounted with its centre coincident with the axis of rotation of the workpiece holder and a drive wheel adapted to frictionally engage the driven roller when the workpiece holding arrangement is alongside the decorating means.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which the rotatable drive wheel is fixed on the apparatus so that drive is applied to a driven roller of a workpiece holder only when the workpiece holding arrangement is alongside the decorating means.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the pre ceding claims including more than two workpiece holding arrangements, said arrangements being mutually equispaced about the rotatable member.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, including additional decorating means.

12. Apparatus for decorating workpieces, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. 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.