IT202100015323A1 - MACHINE FOR THE DECORATION OF CERAMIC PRODUCTS - Google Patents

Description

Description of Patent for Industrial Invention entitled: ?MACHINE FOR DECORATION OF CERAMIC PRODUCTS?.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention refers to a machine for decorating ceramic articles.

In the industrial field, specifically in the ceramic sector, ? extremely well known? use of machines suitable for distributing one or more? layers of a decorative product on a manufactured article, where with ?decorative product? they mean, for example, enamels, slips, paints or other products, generally in liquid, semi-liquid or powder form.

This treatment involves the application of at least one layer of decorative product on the exposed surface of the product to be decorated.

Pi? in particular, the operation must necessarily be performed in such a way that the decorative product is distributed evenly over the entire surface of the product.

This need? motivated by the fact that a non-homogeneous distribution of the decorative product would compromise the quality? aesthetics of the final product and, therefore, its economic value.

It is therefore essential, in order to obtain a satisfactory aesthetic result, that the decorative product is applied uniformly and in quantity? such as to obtain a value of weight/unit? of default surface.

In this regard, machines are known provided with a support surface on which the ceramic articles are transported and with a plurality of of sliding trolleys, arranged transversely to the advancement direction of the ceramic product and parallel to each other, where each trolley is provided with at least one nozzle for dispensing the decorative product.

In particular, the sliding carriages are mounted above the support surface and move with an alternating motion between two end-of-stroke positions.

What? doing, thanks to the alternating motion of the dispensing nozzles, the decorative product is dispensed more? times on each artefact, obtaining a homogeneous distribution of the same.

There? said, in order to maximize production, ? is known as nowadays the trend is to increase as much as possible? is the speed possible? progress of the artifacts.

? therefore it is evident that, in order to obtain the? application of a quantity? enough of the decorative product and its homogeneous distribution on the artefact to be decorated, as the speed increases? of advancement of the article must consequently also increase the number of dispensing nozzles and, with it, the number of sliding carriages on which the dispensing nozzles themselves are mounted.

This fact implies, therefore, that, with the increase of the speed? of advancement, the known machines become more and more? long and cumbersome, having to include an increasing number of sliding carriages.

Appears for? obvious how there? turns out to be decidedly inconvenient.

In fact, as the overall dimensions grow, more and more spaces must be dedicated for the installation of the machines.

Not only that, but the production of known machines is evidently limited if there is no availability of sufficiently large spaces in which to install the machines.

The main task of the present invention ? that of devising a machine for the decoration of ceramic artefacts which makes it possible to obtain a uniform distribution of the decorative product on ceramic artefacts while reducing the overall dimensions, at the same time? of speed? of advancement of the manufactured article, with respect to machines of the known type.

Another object of the present invention ? that of devising a machine for decorating ceramic articles which allows the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art to be overcome within the ambit of a simple, rational solution which is easy and effective to use and has a low cost.

The purposes set out above are achieved by the present machine for decorating ceramic articles having the characteristics of claim 1.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more evident from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a machine for decorating ceramic articles, illustrated by way of example, but not in limitation, in the accompanying tables of drawings in which:

figure 1 ? an axonometric view of a machine according to the invention; figure 2 ? an axonometric view of a unit for applying the decorative product of the machine of figure 1;

figure 3 ? another axonometric view of the application group of figure 2;

figure 4 ? a top plan view of the application group of figure 2;

figure 5 ? a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of a detail of an assembly for applying the decorative product according to the invention;

figure 6 ? a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of a detail of an assembly for applying the decorative product according to the invention.

With particular reference to these figures, yes? The reference number 1 generally designates a machine for decorating ceramic articles.

The machine for decorating ceramic articles 1 comprises at least one base frame 2 and at least one support surface 3 of at least one article 4 associated with the base frame 2 and movable along an advance direction A.

In particular, the support surface 3 ? of the type of a rotating conveyor belt.

Does machine 1 comprise a plurality? of application groups 5 of at least one decorative product on the article 4 associated with the base frame 2 and arranged in succession along the advancement direction A.

Each of the 5 application groups includes:

- at least one dispensing nozzle 7 of the decorative product arranged above the support surface 3e

- movement means 8 of the relative dispensing nozzle 7 with respect to the support surface 3 along a decoration direction B transversal to the advancement direction A.

In particular, the application groups 5 are arranged aligned parallel to each other along the advancement direction A. According to the invention, at least one of the application groups 5 comprises a plurality of of dispensing nozzles 7 that can be moved with respect to each other along at least one working direction C transversal to the decoration direction B.

In particular, the dispensing nozzles 7 are mutually misaligned with respect to the working direction C, as represented in the embodiments of figures 5 and 6.

However, different embodiments are not excluded, such as the one represented in figures 1 to 4, in which the dispensing nozzles 7 of one or more? application groups 5 are arranged aligned with each other along the working direction C.

Conveniently, the application groups 5 each comprise a support element 9 for the relative dispensing nozzles 7 which can be moved by the movement means 8 along the decoration direction B, where the dispensing nozzles 7 are integral with the support element 9 along the direction of decoration B and where at least one of the dispensing nozzles 7 ? movable with respect to the support element 9 along the working direction C.

Pi? in detail, the support element 9 extends at least partially cantilevered with respect to the handling means 8.

Furthermore, the support element 9 extends transversally with respect to the handling means 8.

Pi? in particular, the support element 9 extends along the working direction C.

Advantageously, the adjustment means 10 comprise at least one slot 11 defined on the support element 9 and extending along the working direction C and comprise at least one actuator device 12 which can be operated to move at least one of the dispensing nozzles 7 along the slot 11 .

In particular, the adjustment means 10 allow at least one of the dispensing nozzles 7 to be moved along the slot 11, positioning it in a position selected in a substantially continuous manner between two extreme positions defined by the dimensions of the slot 11 along the working direction C.

In an alternative embodiment, the adjustment means 10 allow to move at least one of the dispensing nozzles 7 by positioning it along the slot 11 in a discrete manner between a plurality of of predefined positions.

Preferably, as in the embodiment shown in the figures, at least one of the dispensing nozzles 7? mobile along the working direction C and at least one ? fixed with respect to the relative support element 9. Pi? particularly, the support element 9 comprises at least one insertion area 18 of at least one dispensing nozzle 7.

Depending on whether the fixed dispensing nozzle 7 is misaligned or aligned with the dispensing nozzle 7 movable along the working direction C, the insertion area 18 defined on the support element 9 is therefore, respectively, misaligned or aligned with respect in buttonhole 11.

Pi? in detail, the? insertion area 18 ? of the type of a through hole having an axis arranged substantially vertically and capable of being crossed by at least one fixed dispensing nozzle 7.

However, different embodiments in which the dispensing nozzle 7 is fixed are not excluded. integrally associated with the support element 9 by means of an interlocking connection, a threaded connection or by means of other types of connection known to those skilled in the art. Usefully, the machine 1 comprises means 10 for adjusting the position of at least one of the dispensing nozzles 7 along the working direction C.

Conveniently, at least one of the plurality? of dispensing nozzles 7 ? associated with the slot 11 and at least one other of the plurality? of dispensing nozzles 7 ? associated with the arming area 18.

Conveniently, the adjustment means 10 comprise a number of actuator devices 12 at least equal to the number of dispensing nozzles 7 associated with the slot 11.

In an alternative embodiment, in which the dispensing nozzles 7 are mutually aligned along the working direction C, each of the dispensing nozzles 7 associated with the slot 11? movable by a respective actuator device 12.

What? doing, each of the delivery nozzles 7 ? individually positionable in a different position from the position of the other dispensing nozzles 7 associated with the slot 11.

In a further embodiment, not shown in the figures, at least one of the application groups 5 comprises a plurality of dispensing nozzles 7 which can be moved along relative working directions C, which can be parallel or inclined to each other.

Pi? in detail, the actuator device 12 comprises at least one body 13 integrally associated with the support element 9 and at least one stem 14 which can be moved with respect to the body 13 and associated with at least one of the dispensing nozzles 7.

The actuator device 12 is, for example, of the type of a fluid dynamic actuator.

In the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the working direction C ? arranged perpendicular to the decoration direction B.

Furthermore, the decoration direction B ? arranged perpendicular to the forward direction A.

In other words, the working direction C ? substantially parallel to the feed direction A and both are perpendicular to the decorating direction B.

Conveniently, the movement means 8 are able to move at least one dispensing nozzle 7 with reciprocating motion along the decoration direction B between two end-of-stroke positions.

Pi? in particular, the two end-of-stroke positions are defined in such a way that the decorative product can be distributed in a uniform and homogeneous manner on the article 4.

In particular, the handling means 8 comprise at least one motorized trolley 15 kinematically connected to the support element 9.

In particular, the support element 9 ? integrally associated with the motorized carriage 15 along the decoration direction B and is moved by the latter with an alternating motion between the two end-of-stroke positions.

Furthermore, the motorized trolley 15 ? slidably mounted on at least one straight slide 17 associated with the base frame 2.

In particular, the straight slide extends along the decoration direction B.

Advantageously, the motorized carriage 15 has at least one longitudinal axis L extending along the decoration direction B, the dispensing nozzles 7 being mutually arranged on the same side with respect to the longitudinal axis L.

In other words, the dispensing nozzles 7 are all arranged either to the left or to the right of the motorized trolley 15.

In particular, the support element 9 extends at least partially cantilevered from one side of the motorized carriage 15, i.e. from the same side as the dispensing nozzles 7.

Alternatively, at least one of the plurality? of dispensing nozzles 7 ? disposed to the left of the motorized trolley 15 and at least one other of the plurality? of the dispensing nozzles 7 ? arranged to the right of the motorized carriage 15.

In this case, in particular, the support element 9 extends at least partially cantilevered from both sides of the motorized trolley 15. Preferably, the machine 1 comprises at least one unit? processing and control electronics 16 operatively connected to the support surface 3 and to the application groups 5, the unit? processing and control electronics 16 being configured to adjust the speed? movement of the dispensing nozzles 7 along the decoration direction B on the basis of the speed? of the support surface along the feed direction A.

Usefully, the unit? processing and control electronics 16 ? configured to adjust the mutual distance of the delivery nozzles 7 according to the speed? of the support surface 3 along the feed direction A.

Preferably, with the term ?distance? used here means the linear distance along the feed direction A, i.e. the distance measured between the projections of the positions of the movable dispensing nozzle 7 and the fixed dispensing nozzle 7 along the feed direction A. Advantageously, the unit ? processing and control electronics 16 ? configured to increase the mutual distance between the delivery nozzles 7 as the speed increases? of progress.

In particular, in this embodiment, the unit? processing and control electronics 16 ? configured to receive in input at least one value corresponding to the speed? support surface advancement 3.

Conveniently, the unit? electronic processing and control 16 change the speed? movement of the dispensing nozzles 7 along the decoration direction B and, at the same time, their mutual distance based on the speed? of incoming received progress.

Pi? in detail, the unit? processing and control electronics 16 reduces the mutual distance between the dispensing nozzles 7 if the speed? of progress detected ? greater than the previous one and, similarly, increases if the speed? of progress detected ? less than the previous one. In this way, the unit? processing and control electronics 16 allows the same quantity to be dispensed on each manufactured article 4 of decorative product and to distribute it evenly on the surface of the product itself as the speed varies? of progress.

Yes ? in practice it has been observed that the described invention achieves the proposed aim and objects

In particular, it emphasizes the fact that the particular trick of providing for a plurality? of dispensing nozzles which can be moved along a direction parallel to the direction of advancement of the support surface and, at the same time, which can be moved with respect to each other along a direction transversal to it, allowing, by suitably adjusting the reciprocal position of the dispensing nozzles, to distribute the decorative product evenly and precisely on the artifacts regardless of their speed? of progress.

Claims (13)

1) Machine for decorating ceramic articles (1) comprising: - at least one base frame (2); - at least one support surface (3) of at least one product (4) associated with said base frame (2) and movable along an advancement direction (A); - a plurality? of application groups (5) of at least one decorative product on said article (4) associated with said base frame (2) and arranged in succession along said advancement direction (A), where each of said application groups ( 5) includes: - at least one dispensing nozzle (7) of the decorative product arranged vertically above said support surface (3); and - means (8) for moving said at least one dispensing nozzle (7) with respect to said support surface (3) along a decoration direction (B) transversal to said advancement direction (A); characterized in that at least one of said application groups (5) comprises a plurality? of said dispensing nozzles (7) which can be moved with respect to each other along at least one working direction (C) transversal to said decoration direction (B). 2) Machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said application groups (5) comprise a support element (9) of said dispensing nozzles (7) which can be moved by said movement means (8) along said direction decoration (B), said delivery nozzles (7) being integral with said support element (9) along said decoration direction (B) and at least one of said delivery nozzles (7) being movable with respect to said support element (9) along said working direction (C). 3) Machine (1) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means (10) for adjusting the position of at least one of said dispensing nozzles (7) along said working direction (C). 4) Machine (1) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that said adjustment means (10) comprise at least one slot (11) defined on said support element (9) and extending along said working direction (C) and comprise at least one actuator device (12 ) operable to move at least one of said dispensing nozzles (7) along said slot (11). 5) Machine (1) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that said actuator device (12) comprises at least one body (13) integrally associated with said support element (9) and at least one stem (14) which can be moved with respect to said body (13) and associated with at least one of said dispensing nozzles (7). 6) Machine (1) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that said working direction (C) ? arranged perpendicularly to said decoration direction (B). 7) Machine (1) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that said dispensing nozzles (7) are mutually misaligned with respect to said working direction (C). 8) Machine (1) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that said movement means (8) are able to move said at least one dispensing nozzle (7) with reciprocating motion along said decoration direction (B) between two end-of-stroke positions. 9) Machine (1) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that said movement means (8) comprise at least one motorized carriage (15) kinematically connected to said support element (9). 10) Machine (1) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said motorized carriage (15) has at least one longitudinal axis (L) extending along said decoration direction (B), said dispensing nozzles (7) being mutually arranged on the same side with respect to said axis longitudinal (L). 11) Machine (1) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one unit? processing and control electronics (16) operatively connected to said support surface (3) and to said application groups (5), said unit? processing and control electronics (16) being configured to adjust the speed? movement of said dispensing nozzles (7) along said decoration direction (B) on the basis of the speed? of said support surface (3) along said advancement direction (A). 12) Machine (1) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said unit? processing and control electronics (16) ? configured to adjust the mutual distance of said dispensing nozzles (7) according to the speed? of said support surface (3) along said advancement direction (A). 13) Machine (1) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said unit? processing and control electronics (16) ? configured to increase the mutual distance between said dispensing nozzles (7) as said speed increases? of progress.