WO2006027212A1 - Method and device for decorating ceramic tiles - Google Patents

Method and device for decorating ceramic tiles Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2006027212A1
WO2006027212A1 PCT/EP2005/009570 EP2005009570W WO2006027212A1 WO 2006027212 A1 WO2006027212 A1 WO 2006027212A1 EP 2005009570 W EP2005009570 W EP 2005009570W WO 2006027212 A1 WO2006027212 A1 WO 2006027212A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
decorating
ceramic tiles
printing system
ceramic
printing
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2005/009570
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Claudio Ricci
Pierugo Acerbi
Original Assignee
Sacmi Cooperativa Meccanici Imola Societa' Cooperativa
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sacmi Cooperativa Meccanici Imola Societa' Cooperativa filed Critical Sacmi Cooperativa Meccanici Imola Societa' Cooperativa
Publication of WO2006027212A1 publication Critical patent/WO2006027212A1/en

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B28—WORKING CEMENT, CLAY, OR STONE
    • B28B—SHAPING CLAY OR OTHER CERAMIC COMPOSITIONS; SHAPING SLAG; SHAPING MIXTURES CONTAINING CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL, e.g. PLASTER
    • B28B11/00—Apparatus or processes for treating or working the shaped or preshaped articles
    • B28B11/04—Apparatus or processes for treating or working the shaped or preshaped articles for coating or applying engobing layers
    • B28B11/044—Apparatus or processes for treating or working the shaped or preshaped articles for coating or applying engobing layers with glaze or engobe or enamel or varnish
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B28—WORKING CEMENT, CLAY, OR STONE
    • B28B—SHAPING CLAY OR OTHER CERAMIC COMPOSITIONS; SHAPING SLAG; SHAPING MIXTURES CONTAINING CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL, e.g. PLASTER
    • B28B11/00—Apparatus or processes for treating or working the shaped or preshaped articles
    • B28B11/001—Applying decorations on shaped articles, e.g. by painting
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B28—WORKING CEMENT, CLAY, OR STONE
    • B28B—SHAPING CLAY OR OTHER CERAMIC COMPOSITIONS; SHAPING SLAG; SHAPING MIXTURES CONTAINING CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL, e.g. PLASTER
    • B28B11/00—Apparatus or processes for treating or working the shaped or preshaped articles
    • B28B11/04—Apparatus or processes for treating or working the shaped or preshaped articles for coating or applying engobing layers
    • B28B11/046—Apparatus or processes for treating or working the shaped or preshaped articles for coating or applying engobing layers by rolling
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J3/00—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
    • B41J3/407—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J3/00—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
    • B41J3/54—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed with two or more sets of type or printing elements
    • B41J3/546—Combination of different types, e.g. using a thermal transfer head and an inkjet print head
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M1/00—Inking and printing with a printer's forme
    • B41M1/26—Printing on other surfaces than ordinary paper
    • B41M1/34—Printing on other surfaces than ordinary paper on glass or ceramic surfaces
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M3/00—Printing processes to produce particular kinds of printed work, e.g. patterns
    • B41M3/008—Sequential or multiple printing, e.g. on previously printed background; Mirror printing; Recto-verso printing; using a combination of different printing techniques; Printing of patterns visible in reflection and by transparency; by superposing printed artifacts

Definitions

  • the present invention relates in a general sense to the manufacture of ceramic products for wall facings or flooring.
  • the present invention relates to a method and plant for decorating ceramic tiles.
  • Such decoration is known to be implemented by subjecting the ceramic tile, generally still unfired, to one or more printing operations by which shapes and/or figures of various types are produced on the exposed face of the tile.
  • plants are known using contact printing systems, i.e. systems using a suitable matrix to impress the decoration on contact with the exposed face of the tile.
  • contact printing systems i.e. systems using a suitable matrix to impress the decoration on contact with the exposed face of the tile.
  • the most widespread of such contact systems are: silk-screen printing using flat or cylindrical screens which selectively allow a colouring ceramic paste to pass; flexographic printing using elastomer plates which receive a suitable ceramic ink on the top of reliefs provided on their surface; and rotary- recess printing using silicone rollers, the outer surface of which is provided with small recesses for receiving the ceramic ink.
  • said systems leave an undecorated outer border on the tile, due to the fact that although the matrices deform elastically on contact, they do not enable the exposed face of the tile to be printed up to its edge, as this latter is generally radiused.
  • contact printing systems which are particularly suitable for pronounced decorations, have difficulty in representing light shading or faint tones, which would tend to display the weave of the screen (silk- screen printing), the individual recesses (rotary-recess printing), or the individual reliefs (flexographic printing).
  • these digital printing systems use print heads able, without using contact members, to directly sprinkle the exposed face of the tiles with metered and controlled quantities of ceramic inks in the form of small droplets, said droplets forming said elemental graphic units.
  • these print heads are usually controlled by a processor, they usually provide digital systems with high flexibility in use, the resultant decorations being able to be varied at will for each tile processed.
  • digital printing systems still currently present decoration reliability and print quality problems; in particular, the maximum resolution of figures obtainable with ceramic inks perfectly compatible with the materials usually used is still insufficient.
  • the object of the present invention is to overcome said drawbacks related to contact printing systems (silk-screen, flexographic, rotary-recess printing) and to digital printing systems, in order to achieve a variegated non-repetitive decoration on ceramic tiles, in particular a decoration which imitates the appearance of natural materials (stone, marble, granite).
  • This object is attained by a method for decorating ceramic tiles, comprising the steps of: A) decorating at least one first portion of the exposed face of the ceramic tile by means of at least one printing operation by a digital printing system;
  • the digital printing system which does not use contact members, enables the most outer edges of ceramic tiles to be decorated.
  • that portion of the exposed face decorated by the contact printing system is at least partly superimposed on the portion decorated by the digital system.
  • a background decoration is produced on the entire exposed face of the tile using a digital printing system, and on which a completing decoration is superimposed using a contact printing system, which does not occupy more than 5% of said exposed face.
  • decorations can be achieved simultaneously presenting faint tones and light shading, and precise well defined edges.
  • the appearance of natural materials can be imitated by superimposing prominent veining typical of marble or hard stone slabs on a variegated background decoration.
  • the step of decorating by a digital printing system is implemented by executing a plurality of printing operations, each of said printing operations involving the use of ceramic ink of a different colour.
  • shapes or figures of different colours can be printed superimposed or inserted, with reproduction of the entire range of colour visible to the human eye, or a significant portion thereof, if the primary colours (yellow, red, blue and black) are used.
  • the step of decorating by a contact system can be implemented by executing a plurality of printing operations.
  • said decoration steps A and B can be preceded by a step in which the exposed face of the tile is covered by a preparation base layer, preferably of ceramic glaze; this step is necessary if the ceramic tile mass is of inexpensive material (for example simple clay), in order to improve its appearance, render it impermeable to soiling, and enable the ceramic inks to correctly adhere. Finally, said decoration steps A and B can be repeated until the required final decoration quality is achieved.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic view of a decoration plant applying the method of the invention
  • Figure 2 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the plant of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 3 is a plan view of a second preferred embodiment of the plant of
  • Figure 4 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the plant of
  • Said figures show a plant 1 for decorating ceramic tiles 2.
  • Said plant 1 comprises an automatic feed system 10 for ceramic tiles 2, and an assembly of print units disposed in succession along the path of said feed system 10, each of which is arranged to carry out at least one printing operation on the exposed face 20 of the tiles 2, to form part of the final decoration.
  • each print unit pertaining to a plant 1 generally depends on the final decoration to be obtained,
  • Figure 1 shows only those print units strictly necessary to implement the invention, but without affecting the generality of the description.
  • said plant 1 comprises two print units of which the first 12 is a digital printing unit, i.e. a unit using a digital printing system, while the second 13 is a rotary-recess printing unit using a rotary-recess printing system.
  • the digital printing unit 12 comprises a print head 15 provided with a reservoir 16 for containing the ceramic ink and at least one dispensing device 17 (see Figure 1 ); said dispensing device 17 is arranged to dispense ceramic ink droplets G which, by expanding and adhering to the exposed face 20 of the tile 2, provide the elemental graphic units (pixels) which form the decoration.
  • the dispensing device 17 comprises: a tubular conduit 18 having an angularly cut first end open to the outside, and a second end associated with the reservoir 16; and piezoelectric means 19 associated with said tubular conduit 18 to vibrate this latter.
  • the ceramic ink contained in the reservoir 16 reaches by capillarity the free end of the tubular conduit 18, from which it cannot escape because of its surface tension; when the piezoelectric means 19 are activated, the tubular conduit 18 vibrates so that said ceramic ink emerges in the form of small droplets G.
  • the print head 15 is provided with a plurality of close-together parallel dispensing devices 17 disposed transversely to the advancement direction A of the ceramic tile 2.
  • the number of said dispensing devices 17 is such as to occupy the entire length of the tile 2, so that the ceramic ink can be delivered to each point of the exposed face 20 by a single printing operation; alternatively (see Figure 4), the same result can be achieved by installing the print head 15 on suitable drive means arranged to move it transversely to said ceramic tile advancement direction A.
  • the digital printing unit 12 can comprise a plurality of identical print heads 15 disposed in succession along the advancement direction A, so that it is able to carry out a plurality of consecutive digital printing operations.
  • the digital printing unit 12 is provided with a succession of identical print heads 15 mutually offset in a direction transverse to the advancement direction of the tile 2 (see Figure 3).
  • the rotary-recess printing unit 13 comprises a silicone roller 14 which receives the ceramic ink in small recesses provided in its outer surface and which, in the manner of a matrix, is able to transfer it onto the tile 2 on contact (see Figures 1-4).
  • said rotary-recess printing unit 13 can also comprise a plurality of rollers 14 with which to carry out several consecutive printing operations.
  • the tile 2 When in use, the tile 2, possibly subjected to a preliminary step of glazing its exposed face 20, is positioned on the feed system 10 of the plant 1 which conveys it automatically towards the digital printing units 12 and rotary-recess printing units 13 (see Figures 1-4).
  • the print head 15 dispenses ceramic ink while the tile 2 translates along the advancement direction A, enabling a printing operation to be carried out on the exposed face 20, in order to decorate at least a first portion thereof; said portion preferably comprises the entire exposed face 20, including the most outer edges which are unreachable by other known printing systems.
  • said digital printing unit 2 is provided with a plurality of print heads 15, the tile 2 is subjected to successive digital printing operations by which, by filling the reservoirs 16 of each print head 15 with ink of a different colour, polychrome decorations can be obtained.
  • the tile 2 is conveyed by the feed system 10 to the print unit 13 where at least one second portion of the exposed face 20 is decorated by the roller 14; said second portion is preferably superimposed on the first portion previously decorated by the digital system, in order to obtain a final decoration presenting a variegated background plus more pronounced regions.
  • said decorating steps using a digital printing system and then a contact printing system can be repeated until the final required result is achieved, by simply providing the plant with further print units 12 and/or 13, or by configuring the feed system 10 so that it returns the processed ceramic tile 2 to the commencement of the plant 1.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Printing Methods (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)

Abstract

A method for decorating ceramic tiles (2), comprising the steps of: decorating at least one first portion of the exposed face (20) of the ceramic tile (2) by means of at least one printing operation by a digital printing system; decorating at least one second portion of the exposed face (20) of the ceramic tile (2) by means of at least one printing operation by a contact printing system.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DECORATING CERAMIC TILES
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates in a general sense to the manufacture of ceramic products for wall facings or flooring.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and plant for decorating ceramic tiles.
PRIOR ART Such decoration is known to be implemented by subjecting the ceramic tile, generally still unfired, to one or more printing operations by which shapes and/or figures of various types are produced on the exposed face of the tile. To carry out said printing operations, plants are known using contact printing systems, i.e. systems using a suitable matrix to impress the decoration on contact with the exposed face of the tile. The most widespread of such contact systems are: silk-screen printing using flat or cylindrical screens which selectively allow a colouring ceramic paste to pass; flexographic printing using elastomer plates which receive a suitable ceramic ink on the top of reliefs provided on their surface; and rotary- recess printing using silicone rollers, the outer surface of which is provided with small recesses for receiving the ceramic ink. Although said printing systems are the result of lengthy technological refinement in the ceramics sector, they present certain limitations which prejudice the decorating quality.
In particular, said systems leave an undecorated outer border on the tile, due to the fact that although the matrices deform elastically on contact, they do not enable the exposed face of the tile to be printed up to its edge, as this latter is generally radiused. Moreover, contact printing systems, which are particularly suitable for pronounced decorations, have difficulty in representing light shading or faint tones, which would tend to display the weave of the screen (silk- screen printing), the individual recesses (rotary-recess printing), or the individual reliefs (flexographic printing). Another unwelcome limitation of contact printing systems is the fact that the decoration is repeated always totally or partially identical, without any possibility of modification; this characteristic, which is essential if the decoration to be printed is geometrical or intentionally repetitive, becomes unacceptable if the decoration is required to imitate the appearance of natural materials (stone, marble, granite). In an attempt to solve some of the aforesaid problems, and in particular decoration repetitiveness, digital printing systems are currently under development, i.e. printing systems able to produce on the tile exposed face, either consecutively or continuously, a plurality of identical elemental graphic units(pixels), the distribution, density and arrangement off which enable any type of shape or complex figure to be recreated.
Generally, these digital printing systems use print heads able, without using contact members, to directly sprinkle the exposed face of the tiles with metered and controlled quantities of ceramic inks in the form of small droplets, said droplets forming said elemental graphic units. As these print heads are usually controlled by a processor, they usually provide digital systems with high flexibility in use, the resultant decorations being able to be varied at will for each tile processed. However, digital printing systems still currently present decoration reliability and print quality problems; in particular, the maximum resolution of figures obtainable with ceramic inks perfectly compatible with the materials usually used is still insufficient.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to overcome said drawbacks related to contact printing systems (silk-screen, flexographic, rotary-recess printing) and to digital printing systems, in order to achieve a variegated non-repetitive decoration on ceramic tiles, in particular a decoration which imitates the appearance of natural materials (stone, marble, granite).
This object is attained by a method for decorating ceramic tiles, comprising the steps of: A) decorating at least one first portion of the exposed face of the ceramic tile by means of at least one printing operation by a digital printing system;
B) decorating at least one second portion of the exposed face of the ceramic tile by means of at least one printing operation by a contact printing system. With this solution, the decoration step by means of the digital system enables faint tone and light shading shapes and figures to be produced, variable at will for each tile, while the next decoration step by means of the contact printing system enables more pronounced parts to be produced.
Moreover, the digital printing system, which does not use contact members, enables the most outer edges of ceramic tiles to be decorated.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, that portion of the exposed face decorated by the contact printing system is at least partly superimposed on the portion decorated by the digital system. According to said embodiment, a background decoration is produced on the entire exposed face of the tile using a digital printing system, and on which a completing decoration is superimposed using a contact printing system, which does not occupy more than 5% of said exposed face. My means of this solution, decorations can be achieved simultaneously presenting faint tones and light shading, and precise well defined edges. In particular, the appearance of natural materials can be imitated by superimposing prominent veining typical of marble or hard stone slabs on a variegated background decoration.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the step of decorating by a digital printing system is implemented by executing a plurality of printing operations, each of said printing operations involving the use of ceramic ink of a different colour.
In this manner, shapes or figures of different colours can be printed superimposed or inserted, with reproduction of the entire range of colour visible to the human eye, or a significant portion thereof, if the primary colours (yellow, red, blue and black) are used. Likewise the step of decorating by a contact system can be implemented by executing a plurality of printing operations.
In another embodiment of the invention, said decoration steps A and B can be preceded by a step in which the exposed face of the tile is covered by a preparation base layer, preferably of ceramic glaze; this step is necessary if the ceramic tile mass is of inexpensive material (for example simple clay), in order to improve its appearance, render it impermeable to soiling, and enable the ceramic inks to correctly adhere. Finally, said decoration steps A and B can be repeated until the required final decoration quality is achieved.
The dependent claims define particularly advantageous preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the ensuing description provided by way of non- limiting example, with the aid of the figures shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic view of a decoration plant applying the method of the invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the plant of Figure 1 ;
Figure 3 is a plan view of a second preferred embodiment of the plant of
Figure 1 ;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the plant of
Figure 1.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Said figures show a plant 1 for decorating ceramic tiles 2. Said plant 1 comprises an automatic feed system 10 for ceramic tiles 2, and an assembly of print units disposed in succession along the path of said feed system 10, each of which is arranged to carry out at least one printing operation on the exposed face 20 of the tiles 2, to form part of the final decoration.-
As the number, the arrangement and type of each print unit pertaining to a plant 1 generally depends on the final decoration to be obtained, Figure 1 shows only those print units strictly necessary to implement the invention, but without affecting the generality of the description. Specifically, said plant 1 comprises two print units of which the first 12 is a digital printing unit, i.e. a unit using a digital printing system, while the second 13 is a rotary-recess printing unit using a rotary-recess printing system.
It should however be noted that for the purposes of the invention, said rotary-recess printing unit 13 could be replaced by any other print unit using a contact printing system, for example flexographic or silk-screen. The digital printing unit 12 comprises a print head 15 provided with a reservoir 16 for containing the ceramic ink and at least one dispensing device 17 (see Figure 1 ); said dispensing device 17 is arranged to dispense ceramic ink droplets G which, by expanding and adhering to the exposed face 20 of the tile 2, provide the elemental graphic units (pixels) which form the decoration. In detail (see Figure 1 ), the dispensing device 17 comprises: a tubular conduit 18 having an angularly cut first end open to the outside, and a second end associated with the reservoir 16; and piezoelectric means 19 associated with said tubular conduit 18 to vibrate this latter. By virtue of this solution, the ceramic ink contained in the reservoir 16 reaches by capillarity the free end of the tubular conduit 18, from which it cannot escape because of its surface tension; when the piezoelectric means 19 are activated, the tubular conduit 18 vibrates so that said ceramic ink emerges in the form of small droplets G. Preferably (see Figures 2-4), the print head 15 is provided with a plurality of close-together parallel dispensing devices 17 disposed transversely to the advancement direction A of the ceramic tile 2.
Specifically (see Figure 2), the number of said dispensing devices 17 is such as to occupy the entire length of the tile 2, so that the ceramic ink can be delivered to each point of the exposed face 20 by a single printing operation; alternatively (see Figure 4), the same result can be achieved by installing the print head 15 on suitable drive means arranged to move it transversely to said ceramic tile advancement direction A. According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the digital printing unit 12 can comprise a plurality of identical print heads 15 disposed in succession along the advancement direction A, so that it is able to carry out a plurality of consecutive digital printing operations.
In particular, as dispensing devices 17 associated with a fixed print head 15 (see Figure 2) are inevitably spaced apart and consequently unsuitable for achieving a uniform colour on the exposed face 20 of the tile 2, the digital printing unit 12 is provided with a succession of identical print heads 15 mutually offset in a direction transverse to the advancement direction of the tile 2 (see Figure 3).
Instead, the rotary-recess printing unit 13 comprises a silicone roller 14 which receives the ceramic ink in small recesses provided in its outer surface and which, in the manner of a matrix, is able to transfer it onto the tile 2 on contact (see Figures 1-4). According to a particular embodiment of the invention, said rotary-recess printing unit 13 can also comprise a plurality of rollers 14 with which to carry out several consecutive printing operations.
When in use, the tile 2, possibly subjected to a preliminary step of glazing its exposed face 20, is positioned on the feed system 10 of the plant 1 which conveys it automatically towards the digital printing units 12 and rotary-recess printing units 13 (see Figures 1-4). When the tile 2 reaches the digital printing unit 12, the print head 15 dispenses ceramic ink while the tile 2 translates along the advancement direction A, enabling a printing operation to be carried out on the exposed face 20, in order to decorate at least a first portion thereof; said portion preferably comprises the entire exposed face 20, including the most outer edges which are unreachable by other known printing systems. If said digital printing unit 2 is provided with a plurality of print heads 15, the tile 2 is subjected to successive digital printing operations by which, by filling the reservoirs 16 of each print head 15 with ink of a different colour, polychrome decorations can be obtained.
After the digital printing step at 12 (see Figures 1-4), the tile 2 is conveyed by the feed system 10 to the print unit 13 where at least one second portion of the exposed face 20 is decorated by the roller 14; said second portion is preferably superimposed on the first portion previously decorated by the digital system, in order to obtain a final decoration presenting a variegated background plus more pronounced regions. Finally, said decorating steps using a digital printing system and then a contact printing system can be repeated until the final required result is achieved, by simply providing the plant with further print units 12 and/or 13, or by configuring the feed system 10 so that it returns the processed ceramic tile 2 to the commencement of the plant 1.

Claims

1. A method for decorating ceramic tiles (2), comprising the steps of:
A) decorating at least one first portion of the exposed face (20) of the ceramic tile (2) by means of at least one printing operation by a digital printing system;
B) decorating at least one second portion of the exposed face (20) of the ceramic tile (2) by means of at least one printing operation by a contact printing system.
2. A method for decorating ceramic tiles (2) as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that said second portion is at least partly superimposed on said first portion.
3. A method for decorating ceramic tiles (2) as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that said first portion comprises the entire exposed face (20) of the tile (2).
4. A method for decorating ceramic tiles (2) as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that said second portion is a portion not exceeding 5% of the entire exposed face (20) of the tile (2).
5. A method for decorating ceramic tiles (2) as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that said step A is achieved by carrying out a plurality of printing operations by a digital printing system.
6. A method for decorating ceramic tiles as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that each of said printing operations takes place using a ceramic ink of different colour.
7. A method for decorating ceramic tiles (2) as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that said step B is achieved by carrying out a plurality of printing operations by a contact printing system.
8. A method for decorating ceramic tiles (2) as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that said steps A and B are preceded by the step of: C) applying a layer of preparation base to the exposed face (20) of the ceramic tile (2).
9. A method for decorating ceramic tiles (2) as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that said layer of preparation base consists of ceramic glaze.
10. A method for decorating ceramic tiles (2) as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that said contact printing system is chosen from the group comprising: a silk-screen printing system, a flexographic printing system, and a rotary-recess printing system.
11. A method for decorating ceramic tiles (2) as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that said step A is repeated a plurality of times.
12. A method for decorating ceramic tiles (2) as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that said step B is repeated a plurality of times.
13. A plant for decorating ceramic tiles (2) comprising a feed system (10) for the tiles (2), and an assembly of print units, each of which is arranged to carry out at least one printing operation on the exposed face(20) of the tile, characterised in that said assembly of print units comprises at least one digital printing unit (12) arranged to decorate at least one first portion of the exposed face (20), and at least one contact print unit (13) arranged to decorate at least one second portion of the exposed face (20).
14. A plant as claimed in claim 13, characterised in that said digital printing unit (12) comprises at least one print head (15) provided with at least one reservoir (16) for containing the ceramic ink, and at least one device (17) for dispensing said ceramic ink.
15. A plant as claimed in claim 14, characterised in that said dispensing device (17) comprises a tubular conduit (18) having a first end associated with the reservoir (16) and a second end open to the outside, and means (19) for vibrating said conduit (18) so that the ceramic ink contained in the reservoir (16) emerges in the form of small droplets from the second end of the tubular conduit (18).
16. A plant (1 ) as claimed in claim 14, characterised in that said digital printing unit (12) is provided with a plurality of print heads (15).
17. A plant (1 ) as claimed in claim 14, characterised in that the feed system (10) conveys the tiles (2) along an advancement direction (A), the digital printing unit (12) being provided with a succession of print heads (15) disposed along said advancement direction (A); said print heads (15) being mutually offset in a direction transverse to the advancement direction (A).
18. A plant (1 ) as claimed in claim 14, characterised in that said print head (15) is provided with a plurality of dispensing devices (17).
19. A plant (1) as claimed in claim 14, characterised in that the feed system (10) conveys the tiles (2) along an advancement direction (A), the digital printing unit (12) comprising drive means arranged to move the print head (15) in a direction transverse to said advancement direction (A).
20. A plant (1 ) as claimed in claim 14, characterised in that said contact printing system is chosen from the group comprising: a silk-screen printing system, a flexographic printing system, and a rotary-recess printing system.
PCT/EP2005/009570 2004-09-08 2005-09-06 Method and device for decorating ceramic tiles WO2006027212A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITRE2004A000106 2004-09-08
ITRE20040106 ITRE20040106A1 (en) 2004-09-08 2004-09-08 METHOD AND PLANT FOR THE DECORATION OF CERAMIC TILES

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Cited By (24)

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WO2007091136A1 (en) * 2006-02-07 2007-08-16 System S.P.A. An apparatus for decorating ceramic products
WO2007147175A2 (en) * 2005-12-28 2007-12-21 Moshe Zach A digital printing station in a multi-station discrete media printing system
WO2008081500A2 (en) * 2007-01-04 2008-07-10 Nitty Gritty S.R.L. Apparatus and method for decorating objects
WO2009003607A2 (en) * 2007-06-29 2009-01-08 Manroland Ag Method for printing a substrate
WO2009015606A1 (en) * 2007-07-31 2009-02-05 Dening Yang A device system for printing on objects in predefined different patterns or colors
ITRE20080065A1 (en) * 2008-07-09 2010-01-10 Sacmi '' METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE CONTROLLED DELIVERY OF COLORED SUBSTANCES ''
ES2344387A1 (en) * 2008-06-03 2010-08-25 Creta Print, S.L. Printing system in ceramic tile (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)
ITMO20100206A1 (en) * 2010-07-09 2012-01-10 Tecno System S R L DIGITAL MACHINE FOR DECORATION OF CERAMIC TILES
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EP2436527A2 (en) 2010-06-14 2012-04-04 Tecglass SL Machine and method for digital ink-jet glass printing with simultaneous drying
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EP2596959A2 (en) 2011-08-16 2013-05-29 Birgit Evermark Method and system for production of a picture by means of tiles on a wall, floor or ceiling
ITVR20110228A1 (en) * 2011-12-20 2013-06-21 Projecta Engineering S R L PRODUCT DECORATION MACHINE
WO2013160506A1 (en) 2012-04-24 2013-10-31 Esmalglass, Sau Digital enamel ink
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EP2436527A2 (en) 2010-06-14 2012-04-04 Tecglass SL Machine and method for digital ink-jet glass printing with simultaneous drying
EP2404724A1 (en) 2010-07-09 2012-01-11 Tecno System S.r.l. Method for the digital decoration of ceramic tiles and machine for implementing such method
ITMO20100206A1 (en) * 2010-07-09 2012-01-10 Tecno System S R L DIGITAL MACHINE FOR DECORATION OF CERAMIC TILES
ES2404729A2 (en) * 2011-02-17 2013-05-28 Tecglass Sl Machine and procedure for digital printing with ink on glass with simultaneous drying of the ink by radiation emission. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)
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