GB2183537A

GB2183537A - Finishing ceramics

Info

Publication number: GB2183537A
Application number: GB08628494A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frank Wootten
Original assignee: STAFFORDSHIRE CERAMIC SYSTEMS
Current assignee: STAFFORDSHIRE CERAMIC SYSTEMS
Priority date: 1985-11-29
Filing date: 1986-11-28
Publication date: 1987-06-10
Also published as: GB8529384D0; GB8628494D0

Abstract

Apparatus for finishing the rims or edges of ceramic ware while in the unfired clay state comprises a holder (10) for rotatably supporting the ware, and a band (18) of spongy material mounted on a disc (16) which is rotatable. The disc (16) can be rotated about its axis to maintain the spongy material in edge contact with a circular piece of ware, but can be eccentrically mounted on a drive shaft (22) for use with non-circular ware. A motor drives both shafts (12, 22) in a desired ratio by means of suitable gearing so that the sponge band (18) can apply a substantially constant pressure to the ware by moving towards and away from the ware in accordance with differences between maximum and minimum diameters of the ware, such as a flat-ware item of octagonal shape. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ware Treatment Apparatus This invention relates to apparatus for treating articles of ware, particularly ceramic ware, and is especially concerned with the finishing ofthe rims or edges of ceramic ware while in the unfired clay state.

By sponging the edges of ceramic ware in the unfired clay state, any imperfections left on the ware edges arse removed and the edgesarefinishedtoa satisfactorily smooth contour. Heretofore this sponging operation has been satisfactorily carried out on circularware automatically by machine, but the sponging operation for non-circularware has had to be carried out by hand.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for treating articles ofware, the apparatus comprising means for rotatably supporting an article of ware whereby an edge of the article is accessible, wiping means so positioned relative to the article supporting means that a surface of the wiping means is engageable with the accessible edge of the article, and meansformountingthewiping means relative to a drive, whereby to vary the position of the surface of the wiping means relative to the article supporting means during each rotation ofthewiping means.

Preferably the wiping means is arranged to be rotatable and can be eccentrically mounted relative to the drive therefor.

Preferably also the wiping means is adjustably mounted on the drive so as to selectively vary the amount of eccentricity.

Further the drive for the wi pi ng means may be con necked to a power source common to the article supporting means, and gearing is provided forthe power source so that the rotational speeds of the article supporting means and the wiping means are in a desired ratio.

The wiping means comprises a band of spongy material secured to a disc which is mounted on the drive. The band of spongy material is removably mounted on the disc to enable replacement.

Advantageously means are provided for supplying fresh water at a location on the band of spongy material priorto engagementwith the article,and means is provided for removal of waste water from the band of spongy material art a location between the location of the supply of fresh water but prior to engagement with the article.

The article supporting means and thewiping means may be movable relative to one anotherto enable loading and unloading of articles relative to the supporting means.

Preferably the article supporting means comprises a removable support to enable replacement. Where articles of flatware areto befinished,the article sup- porting means may be provided with suction means to hold the flatware in position.The articlesupport- ing means may be so shaped as to automatically centerthe article. Alternatively where an article of holloware isto be finished, the article supporting means may comprise a hollow containerwithasponge insertso shaped that in use an item of holloware is retained in position but extends upwardly of the art icle supporting means to provide the accessible edge.

An embodimentofthe presentinventionwill now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of part of an apparatusac- cording to the invention for use with one design of flatware; Figure2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1 in one position; Figure3 is a plan view ofthe apparatus of Figure 1 in another position; Figure4is an elevation similarto Figure 1 butwith the apparatus adjusted for use with a different article offlatware; Figure5is a plan viewofthe apparatus of Figure4 in one position; and Figure 6is a plan viewofthe apparatus of Figure4 in another position.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 ofthe drawings, there is shown partofan edgefinishing apparatusforcer amicflatware, where the ware has an octagonal shape.

Aware support or holder 10 is mounted on averti cal shaft 12for rotation by a suitable drive (not shown) which will be referred to hereinafter. Aflatware article 14 has an octagonal shape and is held in position on the holder 10,for example by suction.

An edge wiping arrangement comprises a disc 16 which mounts a peripheral band 18 of spongy material. The disc 16 has an elongate slot 20 extending from a central position partly radially outwardly and is adapted to be rotatably mounted on a horizontal drive shaft 22. The disc 16 can be clamped to the shaft 22 with the latter in any desired position within the slot 20. In this embodiment the disc 16 is positioned on the shaft 22 so that the latter is slightly offset from the centre of the disc 16 and thus the disc 1 6with the band 18 is eccentrically mounted on the shaft 22.

A power source (not shown) is provided, for example intheform of an electric motor, and drives both the shafts 12,22, with suitable gearing being provided to drive the shafts in a desired ratio. It will be appreciated that, with the octagonal flatware 14, there is a minimum diameter between the midpoints of opposed straight edge 24, increasing to a maximum diameter between opposed junctions between adjacent edges 24.The disc 16 is mounted on the shaft 22 to be so positioned relative to the holder 10 that the sponge band 18 can engage with the per ipheral edge of the flatware 14. Itwill be appreciated thatforthe sponge band 18 to apply a constant pres suretotheflatware 14,the position of the sponge band 18 must vary in accordance with thevarying diameters of the flatware 14 as hereinbefore described approaching the engagement location. The eccentric mounting of the disc 16 on the shaft 22 effectively moves the sponge band 1 8towards and away from the flatware 14, the spacing between the centre ofthe shaft 22 andthe centre ofthe disc 16 being proportional to the difference between the maximum and minimum diameters oftheflatware 14.As there are eight points of minimum diameter ontheflatware 14, the sponge band 18 is required to be rotated eight times for every rotation oftheflat ware 14, so that a gear ratio of8:1 is employed.

Figure 2 shows the sponge band 18 in contact with a minimum diameter partoftheflatwarel4,while Figure3showsthecontactwith a maximum diameter part.

Thus the sponge band can remain in contact with the edge of the flatware 14 during rotation thereof, the eccentric mounting of the disc 16 with the sponge band 18 andthe gear ratio accommodating the changing contour of the edge of the flatware 14 and maintaining a substantially constant pressure on the flatware.

Referring to Figures 4to 6,the eccentric mounting ofthe disc 16 and the sponge band 18 on the shaft 22 is adjusted to accommodate an article of flatware 26 having an oval shape. The shaft 22 is positioned further from the centre ofthe disc 16 and a gear ratio of 2: 1 utilised.

In use fresh water is supplied to the sponge band 18 priorto the location of a roller (notshown) which is biassed into contact with the sponge band 18so as to remove waste water before the sponge band 18 contacts the ware.

The invention thus provides an apparatus which can carry out an edge sponging operation on both circular and non-circularware, the shaft being located co-axially with the discwhen used with circular ware. There is produced an apparatus which can automatically finish non-circularware without having to rely on the skill of operatives to ensure satisfactory results.

It into be appreciatedthat,where appropriate,the disc 16 and sponge band 18 may be mounted own a vertically extending shaft to be rotatable in substantiallythe same horizontal plane as the ware. Also the apparatus of the invention may be utilised with holloware where it may be appropriate for the sponge band to have a toothed or otherwise shaped periphery.

Various other modifications may be made without departing from the invention. Forexamplethe apparatus can be used with articles other than the octagonal and oval articles as described and shown.

Whilst endeavouring in theforegoing Specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance is should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentabie feature or combination offeatures hereinbefore referred to whetherornot particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. Apparatus for treating articles of ware,the apparatus comprising means for rotatably supporting an article of ware whereby an edge of the article is accessible, wiping means so positioned relative to the article supporting means that a surface of the wiping means is engageable with the accessible edge of the article, and meansfor mounting thewiping means relative to a drive, whereby to varythe position ofthe surface of the wiping means relative to the article supporting means during each rotation ofthewiping means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wiping means is arranged to be rotatable and can be eccentrically mounted relative to the drive therefor.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the wiping means is adjustably mounted on the drive so as to selectively vary the amount of eccentricity.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the drive for the wiping means is connected two a power source common to the article supporting means.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein gearing is provided forthe power source so that the rotational speeds of the article supporting means and the wiping means are in a desired ratio.

6. Apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the wiping means comprises a band of spongy material secured to a disc which is mounted on the drive.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the band of spongy material is removably mounted on the discto enable replacement.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6or7,wherein means are provided for supplying fresh water at a location on the band of spongy material priortoen- gagementwith the article.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein means is provided for removal of waste water from the band of spongy material at a location between the location of the supply of fresh water but priorto engagement with the article.

10. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the article supporting means and the wiping means are movable relative to one anotherto enable loading and unloading of articles relative to the supporting means.

11. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the article supporting meanscom- prises a removable support two enable replacement.

12. Apparatus accordingto any ofthe preceding claims, wherein the article supporting means is provided with suction means to hold the flatware in position.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the article supporting means is so shaped as to automatically centerthe article.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12,wherein the article supporting means comprises a hol low con- tainerwith a sponge insert so shaped that in use an item of hollows rue is retained in position but extends upwardly of the article supporting meanstoprovide the accessible edge.

15. Apparatus for treating articles ofware sub- stantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed in the foregoing Specification or Claims and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.