WO2020254164A1

WO2020254164A1 - Dip glazing of sanitary ceramics

Info

Publication number: WO2020254164A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/066068
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jürgen Ebner
Original assignee: Lippert Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2019-06-18
Filing date: 2020-06-10
Publication date: 2020-12-24
Also published as: CN114008002A; EP3986686A1; DE102019116461A1; CN114008002B

Abstract

A method for glazing sanitary ceramics is proposed, wherein blanks (9) to be glazed are delivered by a feed device (2) in an automatically driven manner and are picked up by a workpiece gripper (8) and automatically transported to a dip tank (4) with glaze (43) and immersed there. Subsequently, the finish-glazed blank (9) is transported to a removal device (3), to allow it to be processed further. In order to ensure a high quality of the dip glazing, it is proposed that the blanks (9) are automatically picked up from the feed device (2) by a multiaxis robot (16) with a workpiece gripper (8) and are immersed in the glaze (43) by the multiaxis robot (16) and the glazed blanks are subsequently transported to a removal device (3).

Description

Dip glazing of sanitary ware

The invention relates to a method for glazing sanitary ware according to the features of the preamble of claim 1. In practice, blanks of sanitary ware are glazed by spraying. A spray gun is used manually or automatically to apply the glaze to the blank.

A corresponding spray glazing process for sanitary ceramics is known from WO 20018/042399 A1. The disadvantage of spray glazing is that the glaze consumes a lot of material, for example due to overspray

is caused, and also in certain areas a reduced surface quality compared to dip glazing. Dip glazing of sanitary ware is due to its size and size

Weight of the blanks is hardly possible or only possible under very special conditions. Thus, from document CN 108407059 A, a method for dip glazing a wash basin is known. A special holder must be used there to hold the sink and to glaze it in a plunge pool. Furthermore, an immersion glazing system tailored to the wash basin to be glazed is required.

The present invention is based on the object of creating a universally applicable, automated dip glazing process for sanitary ceramics, in which a high surface quality of the glaze is possible and at the same time a high throughput is achieved. In addition, the method should enable low manufacturing and / or material costs.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a method for glazing sanitary ware having the features of claim 1, and by a

Dip glazing device for sanitary ceramics with the features of claim 11 solved.

According to the invention, a method for glazing sanitary ware is provided, wherein a blank of sanitary ware to be glazed is picked up by a feed device via a workpiece gripper and transported to a plunge pool with glaze and immersed in the glaze, the finished glazed blank being transported to a discharge device.

It is essential that the blank and / or that the blanks are picked up by a multi-axis robot with a workpiece gripper and transported and dipped into the glaze.

According to the invention, an immersion glazing device for sanitary ceramics is also provided, with a feed device for feeding in what is to be glazed Blanks of sanitary ware, and with a plunge pool with glaze to glaze the blanks by dipping them into the plunge pool, and with a discharge device to transport the glazed blanks further.

It is essential that a multi-axis robot is provided with a workpiece gripper, which is controlled by a control device in such a way that the multi-axis robot with the workpiece gripper picks up a blank to be glazed on the feed device and transports it to the plunge pool and dips into the glaze there, and that the multi-axis robot transports the glazed blank to the discharge device and transfers it to it for further transport.

Using a multi-axis robot with a workpiece gripper enables individual and automated handling of a blank for

Sanitary ware made possible. The multi-axis robot enables an individually programmable sequence of movements and the workpiece gripper enables handling that is tailored to a specific blank of sanitary ware. This enables the dip glazing process to run fully automatically. Any errors caused by manual intervention or

Quality deviations are avoided.

Preferably under sanitary ceramics or bathroom ceramics a

Understood utility ceramics, such as washstands and / or wash basins and / or toilet bowls and / or others

Utensils that are essentially made of ceramic. One feature of sanitary ceramics and / or bathroom ceramics is, for example, that sanitary ceramics or bathroom ceramics are permanently installed, for example mounted on a wall and / or mounted standing on a floor surface. The weight of a blank made of sanitary ceramic can be more than 3 kg, preferably more than 4 kg, most preferably more than 5 kg.

The maximum weight of a blank can be up to 50 kg or 60 kg. In particular, the multi-axis robot is designed for the corresponding weight of the sanitary ware.

A ceramic dip glaze can be used as the glaze.

In particular, a multi-axis robot is understood to be a permanently installed, movably driven robot which is freely programmable and has at least three rotationally driven axes. In particular, a

A five-axis robot or a six-axis robot or a seven-axis robot can be used. A corresponding articulated arm robot can also be used.

The feed device is preferably an automatically driven device for feeding or feeding blanks of the sanitary ware to the multi-axis robot and / or a robot cell. A robot cell is understood to mean a certain area, in particular a locked area, within which the multi-axis robot is arranged. The

Feeding device transports the blanks of the sanitary ware preferably in their position of use. The position of use of the sanitary ware is understood to mean a spatial orientation which corresponds to and / or approximates the later spatial orientation in the assembled state of the sanitary ware.

In one embodiment, it can be provided that the multi-axis robot moves a blank to be glazed into the glaze of the dip tank by means of a linear, straight-line movement or a circular pivoting movement immersed and / or removed. For a high quality of the glaze on the blank, it must be ensured that it is enclosed on all sides by the glaze. The wetting of the surface of the blank can be supported and / or improved via the movement of the multi-axis robot when the blank is dipped into the plunge pool. The application of the glaze can be improved in particular by a pivoting movement of the multi-axis robot while the blank is being immersed in the plunge pool.

It can preferably be provided that the speed of the

Swivel movement and / or the immersion movement during the

Dip glazing is limited in order to limit the forces that occur. Due to the weight and / or dimensions of the blank for

Sanitary ware occur during the immersion of the blank into the

Plunge pool with the glaze or during the swivel movement of the

Blank in the glaze of the dip tank on relatively high forces. In order to prevent the blank from tearing off the workpiece gripper, provision can be made to limit the speed of the pivoting movement and / or the speed of the plunge movement to a maximum speed in order to prevent the blank from being torn off or damaged.

It can preferably be provided that the glaze in the immersion tank is impressed with a flow which is essentially transverse to the

Immersion movement of the blank runs. By putting the glaze in the

Dip basin a flow is impressed essentially transversely to the immersion movement of the blank, the glaze application on the surface of the blank is further improved. In particular, the direction and / or the strength of the flow can be adjustable, for example by means of corresponding controllable valves. Through this flow the glaze in the plunge pool becomes enables inclined surfaces or undercut surfaces of the blank to be reached by the glaze. This allows an all-round

Glaze application of the blank achieved or the quality of the glaze application can be improved. The dwell time of the blank in the glaze can preferably be reduced at the same time. After a specified immersion time has elapsed, the multi-axis robot can remove the blank from the immersion pool.

In particular, it can be provided that the blank removed from the dip basin is held by the multi-axis robot for a predetermined time in a position of use above the dip glaze basin

Allow excess glaze to drain off.

In order to reduce the forces when excess glaze drains onto the blank, it is preferably provided that a drainage frame is provided and the glazed blank is held by the multi-axis robot for a predetermined time in a position of use, or in a predetermined or defined position of the blank on the Drain frame is supported or is laid down to allow excess glaze to run off. The drainage frame can be arranged in such a way that the blank is supported directly above the dip basin and the excess glaze runs back into the dip basin. Alternatively, the drainage frame can be arranged above a separate drainage basin, the excess glaze then draining into this drainage basin.

In one embodiment it can also be provided that the drain rack is designed as a carousel. The multi-axis robot can use a blank

Place the drips on the carousel, preferably in its position of use lay down. This transports the blank on. In a preferred embodiment, the carousel can also have a sponge unit in order to remove glaze from the mounting surface of the blank. As an alternative or in addition, the carousel can also be designed as a drying rack. I.e. the blank can remain on the carousel until the glaze has dried or has dried in between.

After the glaze has dripped off and / or dried on the carousel, the blank can be picked up again by the robot arm or the workpiece gripper from the carousel. Alternatively, the carousel can also be used as a

Be designed discharge unit, and to transport the blank after the dripping and / or drying of the glaze for further processing or to transport it out of the dip glazing device or out of a robot cell.

The dripping of the glaze can preferably last over a period of 10 seconds up to 120 seconds. At the same time as the glaze drips off, the glaze can also dry on or pre-dry.

A drying unit with an IR radiator, hot air or a similar heater can be provided for pre-drying or initial drying of the glaze.

In particular, after removing a blank from the

Dipping basin a drying or predrying of the glaze by means of a

Drying device are carried out, the

Drying device preferably comprises a hot air blower and / or an IR radiator. After the excess glaze has drained off, the glaze is scheduled to be dried. It can be provided that a

Drying rack is provided and the blank is placed on the drying rack by the multi-axis robot after the glaze has been applied before the multi-axis robot takes over another blank to be glazed from the feed device, or before the multi-axis robot picks up another glazed blank on the drying rack and closes it the discharge device is transported.

While an already glazed blank has been placed on the drying rack, the multi-axis robot can already have a second to be glazed

Pick up the blank from the feeding device and glaze it accordingly. Alternatively, the multi-axis robot can pick up an already dried blank from the drying rack and take it to a discharge device

transport. In this way, throughput is increased by the parallelization of work steps. It has been shown that overall cycle times of 30 seconds to 120 seconds can be achieved per blank.

In order to enable a high quality of the glaze, it can be provided that the workpiece gripper is cleaned by the multi-axis robot at a cleaning station before a new blank is picked up with the workpiece gripper.

In particular, it can be provided that the blanks to be glazed are transported on the feed device in such a way that a mounting surface of the blanks to be glazed is oriented in the direction of the multi-axis robot. In addition, an automatic moistening of the articles can be integrated on the feed device to improve the quality of the glaze. For this purpose, the feed device can have a humidification system. In particular, individual areas of the blank can be selectively moistened in order to influence the suction behavior of the blank and thereby obtain a high-quality, in particular uniform, glaze application.

It can also be provided that the glazed blanks on the

Discharge device can be transported standing on its mounting surface, or transported on a surface that remains free of glaze.

The mounting surface is understood to mean that surface of the blank of the sanitary ceramic with which the finished sanitary ceramic or bathroom ceramic is mounted on a wall or on a floor. The mounting surface is preferably not provided with a glaze. In particular, the mounting surface or at least a part of the mounting surface is covered by the workpiece gripper and is not wetted by glaze. A cleaning station can also be provided in order to remove glaze residues from the assembly surface before the glaze is fired. In this way it can be ensured that the mounting surface remains free of glaze.

In one embodiment, the multi-axis robot can be controlled in such a way that it dips the blank to be glazed into the plunge pool and / or removes it from the plunge pool in an article-specific movement. An article-specific movement can include a linear movement and / or a circular pivoting movement and / or a specific sequence of linear and circular pivoting movements. In the case of the article-specific movement, in particular the linear movement and / or the circular swivel movement of the multi-axis robot can

Maximum speed be limited to a predetermined value in order to limit the forces occurring on the blank due to the flow resistance of the glaze. Alternatively or in addition, the

Workpiece gripper, a force sensor can be provided which measures a force acting on the blank to be glazed and controls the multi-axis robot in such a way that the speed of the linear plunging movement or the circular pivoting movement is limited to a value below a permissible maximum force or maximum speed.

In one embodiment it can be provided that the multi-axis robot or a control device has an article-specific memory and an article-specific movement profile can be stored in the memory, preferably can be saved as an article-specific glazing program. The article-specific movement profile can, in addition to a movement sequence, also speeds or speed profiles, in particular

Include maximum speeds. The article-specific movement profile can also include maximum forces. During operation, an article-specific movement profile can then be called up from the memory in order to enable a quick changeover to a new article.

In a preferred embodiment it can be provided that the

Dip basin has a plurality of nozzles which are arranged next to one another and / or one above the other in the dip basin or in the region of a wall of the dip basin in order to create a flow around the glaze in the dip basin

memorize. Using the nozzles, it is possible in a simple manner to impress a flow on the glaze in the plunge pool. At the same time, the plunge pool can be supplied with fresh glaze via the nozzles, so that the fill level of the glaze in the plunge pool remains constant or is kept constant.

For example, it can be provided that the nozzles of the glaze impress a flow which is directed essentially transversely to the immersion movement and / or removal movement of the blank, preferably that several of the nozzles, in particular all of the nozzles, are arranged parallel to one another.

In order to keep the filling level of the glaze in the immersion basin constant, it can be provided that the immersion basin has an overflow which is connected to an overflow basin and the nozzles into the glaze

Bring in the plunge pool in such a way that glaze over the overflow is applied to the

Surface of the plunge pool flows to the overflow pool. In particular, the overflow can be arranged in an upper area of the dip basin in order to allow the glaze to flow off the surface of the dip basin.

The formation of bubbles in the glaze can also be reduced or prevented via the nozzles and / or the overflow. By dipping the blank into the glaze, air pockets can be introduced which rise as bubbles to the surface of the glaze. Such bubbles lead to a reduced quality of the glaze application and must therefore be prevented. It can therefore be provided that glaze is introduced into the plunge pool via the nozzles in such a way that any bubbles floating or located on the surface of the glaze are discharged via the overflow before a new blank to be glazed is introduced into the plunge pool. In particular, the nozzles can form a nozzle wall or be arranged in a 2D matrix. A two-dimensional matrix is understood, for example, to be an N * M matrix in which the nozzles are arranged in columns and rows. For example, a 5 * 4 matrix or a 5 * 10 matrix or a 15 * 20 matrix or any other arrangements can be provided. An arrangement of the nozzles in a nozzle wall or 2D matrix allows a particularly homogeneous flow and thus a high quality

Product surface. In particular, the nozzles in the plunge pool are arranged in such a way that they are at regular intervals from one another along a longitudinal side of the plunge pool and / or at regular intervals

are arranged one above the other at the level of the plunge pool.

It can be provided that individual nozzles of the matrix or all nozzles of the matrix can be switched in order to generate or set a flow that is adapted to a specific type of blank of the sanitary ware.

In particular, the nozzles or a part of the nozzles with regard to

The conveying direction and / or conveying strength can be configured to be adjustable.

For example, it can be provided that the nozzles or some of the nozzles are designed to be pivotable.

In one embodiment, the nozzles in the plunge pool can be on

be arranged opposite sides in order to realize a countercurrent flow. A counter-current flow in the plunge pool results in an improved application of glaze on all sides of the blank to be glazed.

In one embodiment, it can be provided that the workpiece gripper is designed as a vacuum gripper which grips the blank on a mounting surface of the blank, preferably only grips the mounting surface. In particular is a vacuum pump connected to the workpiece gripper is provided, which produces a corresponding vacuum in order to grip the blank of the sanitary ware and connect it to the workpiece gripper.

In order to achieve a mechanically good holding and / or stable support by the workpiece gripper, it can be provided that the workpiece gripper has a support surface or has several support surfaces that rest on a mounting surface of the blank in order to support it. The

Support surfaces form additional bearing surfaces in order to hold the blank of the sanitary ware in a mechanically stable manner on the workpiece gripper.

In one embodiment, it can be provided that the control device monitors the vacuum of the workpiece gripper in order to detect proper gripping of the blank and / or to detect detachment of the blank.

In particular, the control device can trigger an alarm and / or a predefined alarm if the blank is unexpectedly detached

Initiate movement of the multi-axis robot. With dip glazing, it can happen that too long a blank remains in the glaze soiling it. In order to avoid this, a tearing or falling of the blank must be detected by the workpiece gripper. Unless the

Control device detects a corresponding unforeseen detachment of the blank of the sanitary ware, countermeasures are to be initiated, such as triggering an alarm in order to alert an operator that he can remove the blank from the glaze basin. For this purpose, a movable basket or a movable rake can be arranged in the glaze basin, for example, in order to remove a fallen blank from the glaze remove. For example, an operator can pull out the basket together with the detached blank in order to remove the blank from the glaze basin. Alternatively, the basket can be lifted automatically, or it can be lifted by the multi-axis robot.

A counter-holding device can be provided in order to enable the workpiece gripper to grip the blank well. This can for example be arranged at the end of the feed device. The counter-holding device can have a tensioning cloth or an air cushion in order to support a blank on a side facing away from the workpiece gripper and to build up a counterforce against the pressing of the multi-axis robot or the workpiece holder. Alternatively, the counter holding device can also have a counter bearing made of foam or rubber.

In one embodiment, it can be provided that a drying rack is provided and the control device controls the multi-axis robot in such a way that this glazed blank moves from the immersion tank to the

Transported drying rack and stores there in a position of use of the glazed blank.

In particular, the control device can control the multi-axis robot after a predetermined, preferably adjustable, drying time has elapsed in such a way that it picks up the glazed blank on the drying rack and transports it to the removal device. The drying time can be between 30 seconds and 120 seconds, for example.

In order to be able to process differently shaped or different types of blanks of sanitary ware, it is preferable to change the Workpiece gripper provided on the multi-axis robot. In particular, the workpiece gripper can be connected to the multi-axis robot via a change system that can be controlled by the control device. By exchanging the workpiece gripper, it can thus be ensured that different types of sanitary ceramic blanks or different sanitary ceramic blanks can be glazed with the dip glazing device according to the invention.

In order to enable an automated exchange of the workpiece gripper, it can be provided in a preferred embodiment that a

Storage device is provided for one or more workpiece grippers and the control device the multi-axis robot for automatic

Connecting and / or automatically depositing a workpiece gripper and / or for the automatic exchange of a workpiece gripper for another workpiece gripper controls such that the multi-axis robot drives to the storage device and there automatically deposits and / or picks up a workpiece gripper. Alternatively or in addition, a new workpiece gripper can be manually attached to the robot arm of the multi-axis robot.

In one embodiment, the workpiece gripper can have a rinsing device in order to rinse the vacuum grippers and / or the vacuum lines if glaze gets onto the vacuum gripper or grippers or into the vacuum lines. This prevents malfunctions of the workpiece gripper when gripping or holding the blanks.

In order to ensure a high quality of the glaze application, soiling and / or glaze residues must be prevented

Workpiece gripper are transferred to a blank. A Cleaning device can be provided and the control device can control the multi-axis robot in such a way that it brings the workpiece gripper to the cleaning device in order to clean it. Cleaning is preferably carried out before a new blank to be glazed is picked up. A cleaning of the workpiece gripper can be provided automatically by the control device, for example at regular time intervals, or after certain steps, for example before a new blank is gripped by the workpiece gripper and / or before the workpiece gripper is deposited and / or replaced and / or after a new one

Workpiece gripper has been picked up. The cleaning device can be, for example, an immersion basin with a cleaning liquid and / or a mechanical cleaning device that cleans the workpiece gripper by means of nozzles and / or brushes.

In one embodiment, it can be provided that the feed device is used as a conveyor belt with one conveyor belt, or with several in parallel

arranged conveyor belt, or one or more conveyor chains or is designed as an article holder on a motor-driven linear axis.

It can preferably be provided that the discharge device as a

Conveyor belt with one conveyor belt or with several parallel ones

Conveyor belts or chains are formed.

After the glaze has dried on the glazed blank, it is transferred to the discharge device for further processing. In order to achieve a smooth transfer of the blank by the multi-axis robot, it can be provided in one embodiment that the discharge device has a height-adjustable rake and the multi-axis robot the glazed one The blank is transferred with the mounting surface down to the removal device in such a way that in a position above the removal device the rake grips with a prong under the mounting surface of the blank, then the control device releases the workpiece gripper from the mounting surface so that the mounting surface is supported by the prongs of the rake is and the rake then moves down and puts the glazed blank on the discharge device. In this way, an automated transfer of the glazed blank to the discharge device is possible without fear of contamination of the glazed blank.

To ensure that the mounting surface of the glazed blank is free of contamination, it can be provided in one embodiment that the discharge device has a cleaning device for cleaning the mounting surface of glaze residues, in particular a cleaning device with a roller or brush or a sponge.

After the glazed blank has been transported further through the discharge device, an operator can pick up the blank from the discharge device for further processing. In particular, the removal device can comprise a lifting table in order to facilitate the removal of the blank.

The invention can be used in the automated production of

Sanitary ware are used. The method according to the invention and / or the dip glaze device according to the invention can be used in particular in the production of high-quality sanitary ceramic articles and enables a high throughput with a high throughput

Manufacturing quality. At the same time, unnecessary material costs are avoided, since in the method according to the invention there is no overspray of glaze as is the case with conventional spray glazing process for sanitary ware inevitably occurs.

Further embodiments of the invention are shown in the figures and described in the following description of the figures. Show:

Fig. 1: a plan view of an inventive

Dip glazing device;

Fig. 2: a further embodiment of an inventive

Dip glazing device in plan view;

3: a schematic side view of the dip glazing device in FIG

Area for receiving a blank;

4: a schematic side view of the dip glazing device in FIG

Plunge pool area;

5: a schematic side view of the dip glazing device in

Area of removal;

6a, 6b: an enlarged representation of the transfer of a glazed

Blank to the discharge device;

Fig. 7a,

7b, 7c: an enlarged view of a workpiece gripper;

8a: a plan view of the plunge pool; 8b: a sectional representation in side view of the immersion basin;

In the figures, different examples of embodiments of the invention are shown. Components that are the same or have the same effect have been given the same reference symbols. Where the configurations shown in the figures have common features, to avoid repetition, apart from describing these common features several times. The respective differences between the configurations are described in relation to the figures. It goes without saying that the person skilled in the art within the scope of protection of the claims individual

Modify configurations or combine individual features of the configurations with one another. In Fig. 1 is a first embodiment of an inventive

Dip glazing device 1 shown in a schematic plan view. The

Dip glazing device 1 has a robot cell 12. The robot cell 12 is framed by a wall in order to prevent people from entering the danger area during operation of the robot. Doors 13 and 14 are provided in the wall of the robot cell in order to be able to carry out maintenance or cleaning of the robot cell.

Inside the robot cell 12 are individual components of the

Dip glazing device 1 arranged within the range of a multi-axis robot 16. For example, in the center of the robot cell 12 is the

Multi-axis robot 16 mounted. The multi-axis robot 16 is permanently installed on a base 17 in the robot cell 12 (see FIG. 3) and has several rotationally driven axes and a robot arm 18. Via a feed device 2, blanks 9 to be glazed are inserted into the

Robot cell 12 delivered. To this end, an operator loads the feed device 2 with blanks 9 to be glazed. A workpiece gripper 8 arranged on the robot arm 18 of the multi-axis robot 16 picks up the blanks 9 within the robot cell 12 from the feed device 2 and transports them to a plunge pool 4 where they are glazed by immersion. The dipping basin 4 contains a glaze 43. Within the dipping basin 4, two rows of nozzles or nozzle walls 41 and 42 are arranged opposite one another. A drain frame 5 is positioned next to or above the immersion tank 4. During the immersion, the blank 9 is wetted or coated by the glaze 43. After the glaze has been applied, the blank 9 is removed from the glaze basin or the immersion basin 4 by the multi-axis robot 16 and placed on a drying rack 6 for intermediate drying. In the meantime, while the glaze is drying on the blank 9, the multi-axis robot 16 can pick up a new blank 9 to be glazed from the feed device 2 and immerse it in the

Glaze plunge pool 4. After the predefinable drying time, which can preferably be between 30 seconds and 2 minutes, the multi-axis robot 16 removes the dried blank from the drying rack 6 and brings it to the discharge device 3. There, the blank 9 is transferred to the discharge device 3 by means of a height-adjustable rake 33 and transferred from the robot cell 12 by means of motor-driven conveyor belts 31

transported out. Outside the robot cell 12, the finished glazed blanks 9 can be taken over by an operator and thus transported to further stations for further processing. New blanks 9 can likewise be transferred to the feed device 2 by an operator in order to transport them into the robot cell 12 and to glaze them.

In order to prevent contamination of the workpiece gripper 8 and thus possibly contamination of the blanks 9 to be glazed, a

Cleaning station 7 is provided, which is also arranged within the robot cell 12. The multi-axis robot 16 can, for cleaning the

Workpiece gripper 8 to bring this to the cleaning station 7. The cleaning station 7 has nozzles and / or brushes to the

Workpiece gripper 8 to be cleaned. After successfully cleaning the

Workpiece gripper 8, the multi-axis robot 16 can take over a new blank 9 from the feed device 2 by means of the now cleaned workpiece gripper 8.

In order to ensure an automated process, a programmable control device 15 is provided which is connected to the multi-axis robot 16 and / or the nozzles 41 and 42 and / or the feed device 2 and / or the discharge device 3. Via the programmable

Control device 15, the multi-axis robot 16 can be controlled individually.

In FIG. 1, the multi-axis robot 16 is shown by way of example in a basic position. The radius of action of the multi-axis robot 16 is outlined by a dashed circle. All components of the

Dip glazing devices 1 are of this type within the robot cell 12 arranged that this by the multi-axis robot 16 or its

Robot arm 18 are accessible.

In the illustration of FIG. 1, both the reception of a blank 9 on the feed device 2 and the immersion of the blank 9 in the

Dipping basin 4 and also the delivery of the blank 9 to the discharge device are shown schematically in each case with cut-out detailed drawings, without the robot arm 18 or multi-axis robot 16 being drawn in its entirety. This reduced representation is used for improved

Clarity.

FIG. 2 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the dip glazing device 1. A robot cell 12 is also arranged in FIG. 2

Multi-axis robot 16 is shown.

In contrast to the configuration of the dip glazing device in FIG. 1, the cleaning station in FIG. 2 is between the dip basin 4 and the

Arranged drying rack 16. The opposite nozzles 41 and 42 in the plunge pool 4 are further provided with individually controllable valves 41 a and 42 a. Via the valves 41a and 42a, the

Control device 15 can be controlled, the flow of the glaze 43 within the dip basin 4 can be adjusted or adapted to a specific type of blank 9. This makes it possible to adapt the flow of the glaze 43 within the dip basin 4 to the product to be glazed.

A recording of the blank 9 by the multi-axis robot 16 from the

Feed device 2 is shown in FIG. 3. After an operator has placed the blank in a transport slide 21 of the feed device 2, this is driven by a drive motor 23, automatically into the

Robot cell 12 transported. The transport of the blank 9 in the

Transport slide 21 takes place with the mounting surface 91 of the blank 9 in

Direction aligned with the multi-axis robot 16. As an alternative to this, the blank 9 can also be transported in another defined position. When transporting a blank 9, care must be taken that all blanks 9 are transported in a predetermined or defined position in which the

Workpiece gripper of the multi-axis robot 16 can grip the blank 9 well. In particular, all blanks 9 are transported in the same predetermined position.

At the end of the feed device 2, as shown in the center of FIG. 3, the blank 9 is picked up by the blank 9 attached to the robot arm 18

Workpiece gripper 8. The workpiece gripper 8 is brought to the assembly surface of the blank 9 by the multi-axis robot 16. After the workpiece gripper 8 contacts the mounting surface 91 of the blank 9, the switches

Control device 15 the vacuum to the blank 9 to the

To fix workpiece gripper 8. The multi-axis robot 16 can then lift the blank 9 and transport it to the plunge pool 4.

As shown in the side view in FIG. 3, the multi-axis robot 16 is permanently installed on the floor of the robot cell 12 via a base 17.

The immersion process, i.e. the immersion glazing itself, is in the

Side view of Fig. 4 shown schematically. After the

The multi-axis robot 16 has picked up the blank 9 on the feed device 2, it transports it to the plunge pool 4. The plunge pool 4 has a nozzle wall or an N * M on each of the opposite walls Matrix consisting of a large number of individual nozzles 41 and 42. About the plurality of nozzles 41 and 42, the glaze 43 is inside the

Immersion pool 4 impressed a flow. The flow runs transversely to the immersion direction of the blank 9 and thus supports the wetting of the blank with glaze. The flow in the plunge pool 4 makes it possible that even complex shaped blanks, for example blanks with

undercut walls and / or cavities are completely wetted by the glaze.

To support wetting it can be provided that the

Multi-axis robot 16 with its robot arm 18 pivots the blank 9 when it is immersed in the plunge pool 4. The pivoting takes place essentially laterally to that impressed by the nozzles 41 and 42

Direction of flow and additionally supports the wetting of the blank 9 with glaze.

In Figures 8a and 8b, an enlarged view of the immersion basin 4 is shown. In particular, one can see in the enlarged illustration the plurality of nozzles 41 and 42, which are arranged in parallel, each in an N * M matrix, i.e. are arranged in rows and columns on a wall within the dip tank 4. As shown in Fig. 8b, occurs after the

Robot arm 18 has removed the blank 9 from the plunge pool 4, a

Lingering of the blank 9 above the dip basin 4 in order to allow excess glaze to run back into the dip basin 4. In order to minimize the forces acting on the blank 9 during draining, a drain rack 5 is provided which forms a support for the blank in the draining position or the draining position. The robot arm 18 places the side of the blank 9 opposite the workpiece gripper 8 on Support bearings of the discharge frame 5 in order to minimize the forces acting on the blank 9 in the area of the workpiece gripper 8.

After the glaze has run off, the multi-axis robot 16 brings the blank 9 onto the drying rack 6 in order to allow the glaze to dry there.

After the glaze has dried on the blank 9, it removes it

Multi-axis robot 16 with its robot arm 18 or the workpiece gripper 8 attaches the blank 9 to the drying rack 6 and, as shown in FIG. 5, brings it to the discharge device 3. The discharge device 3 has a height-adjustable rake 33 with which the Blank 9 from the workpiece gripper 8 takes place.

In Figures 6a and 6b, the transfer of the blank 9 to the

Discharge device 3 with the aid of the height-adjustable transfer rake 33 shown in an enlarged side view (FIG. 6a) and in plan view (FIG. 6b).

The multi-axis robot 16 rotates the blank 9, as shown in FIG. 5, into a vertical position. The prongs of the rake 33 engage in the workpiece gripper 8. After releasing the workpiece gripper 8 from the blank 9, it rests with its mounting surface 91 down on the

height adjustable rake 33. The height adjustable rake 33 can now together with the blank 9 on the discharge device 3 or on the

Conveyor belt 31 of the discharge device 3 are lowered so that the conveyor belt 31 transports the blank 9 out of the robot cell 12. For this purpose, the conveyor belts 31 are rotated by a drive motor

driven. The discharge device 3 has one or more cleaning devices 32. The cleaning devices 32 comprise brushes or rotatable ones

Brush rollers or sponges to clean the mounting surface 91 of the blank 9. During the cleaning process, any glaze residues adhering to the mounting surface 91 are removed to ensure that the

Mounting surface 91 of the blank 9 is not glazed.

A workpiece gripper 8 is shown enlarged in FIGS. 7a to 7c. The dimensions of the workpiece gripper 8 are adapted to the mounting surface 91 of the blank 9. In the example shown, the workpiece gripper 8 has two vacuum grippers 821 and 822. These are arranged on the back of the workpiece gripper 8 and, as can be seen in FIG. 7b, with

Provided vacuum connections to a vacuum hose system

to be connected. In addition to the vacuum grippers 821 and 822, the workpiece gripper 8 has three support surfaces 831, 832 and 833. The support surfaces 831, 832 and 833 also serve as mechanical ones

Support of the blank 9 on the workpiece gripper 8.

It is provided that a correspondingly adapted workpiece gripper 8 is provided for each product group of blanks 9. I.e. the workpiece grippers 8 can differ from one another in their dimensions and in the number of vacuum grippers and / or support surfaces. I.e. a workpiece gripper 8 can have more than two vacuum grippers and / or more or less than three support surfaces.

The workpiece gripper 8 can be automatically connected to the robot arm 18 or detached from the robot arm 18 via a coupling 81. For this purpose, the clutch 81 is designed as a switchable clutch that is controlled by the Control device 15 is controllable. So it is possible one

Workpiece gripper 8 automatically picked up and / or deposited and / or exchanged by the robot arm 18. This facilitates the conversion of the dip glazing device 1 to a different product group and / or the maintenance and / or cleaning of the dip glazing device 1.

List of reference symbols

1 dip glazing device

12 robot cell

13 doors

14 doors

15 control device

16 multi-axis robots

17 base

18 robotic arm

2 feeding device

21 Transport carriage

22 conveyor belt

23 feed motor

3 discharge device

31 conveyor belts

32 Cleaning device / brush roller

33 rake

4 plunge pools

41 nozzles

42 nozzles

43 glaze 5 drainage frame

6 drying rack

7 cleaning station

8 workpiece grippers

81 clutch

821 vacuum gripper

822 vacuum gripper 831 support surface

832 support surface

833 support surface

9 blank

91 mounting surface

Claims

Expectations

1. A method for glazing sanitary ware, wherein a blank (9) of sanitary ware to be glazed is picked up by a feeding device (2) via a workpiece gripper (8) and transported to a plunge pool (4) with glaze (43) and dipped into the glaze , and wherein the finished glazed blank (9) is transported to a discharge device (3),

characterized,

that the blank (9) and / or that the blanks of a

Multi-axis robot (16) is picked up and transported with a workpiece gripper (8) and is dipped into the glaze (43).

2. A method for glazing sanitary ware according to claim 1,

characterized,

that the multi-axis robot (16) a blank (9) to be glazed by means of a linear, rectilinear movement or a circular movement Pivoting movement immersed in the glaze (43) of the dip tank (4) and / or removed.

Method for glazing sanitary ware according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that

that the glaze (43) in the immersion tank (4) is impressed with a flow which runs essentially transversely to an immersion movement of the blank (9).

Method for glazing sanitary ware according to one of Claims 1 to 3,

characterized,

that the blank (9) removed from the plunge pool (4) is held by the multi-axis robot (16) for a predetermined time in a predefined position or a position of use above the plunge pool (4) in order to allow excess glaze to run off and / or to to dry out the glaze.

Method for glazing sanitary ware according to one of the

preceding claims,

characterized,

that after a blank (9) has been removed from the immersion tank (4), the glaze is dried or predried by means of a

Drying device is carried out, the

Drying device preferably comprises a hot air blower and / or an IR radiator. Method for glazing sanitary ware according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

that a run-off frame (5) is provided and the glazed blank (9) is supported or placed on the run-off frame (5) by the multi-axis robot (16) for a predetermined time in a position of use or a predefined position of the blank (9) in order to

Allow excess glaze to run off and / or dry the glaze.

Method for glazing sanitary ware according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

that a drying rack (6) is provided and the blank (9) is placed on the drying rack (6) by the multi-axis robot (16) after the glaze has been applied, before another blank (9) to be glazed by the multi-axis robot (16) the feed device (2) is taken over, or before another glazed blank is picked up on the drying rack (7) by the multi-axis robot (16) and transported to the discharge device (3).

Method for glazing sanitary ware according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

that the workpiece gripper (8) is cleaned by the multi-axis robot (16) at a cleaning station (7) before a new blank (9) is picked up with the workpiece gripper (8). Method for glazing sanitary ware according to one of the

preceding claims,

characterized,

that the blanks (9) to be glazed are transported on the feed device (2) in such a way that the blanks (9) to be glazed are aligned with regard to their position in a predetermined position.

Method for glazing sanitary ware according to one of the

preceding claims,

characterized,

that the glazed blanks (9) are transported standing on the discharge device (3) on their mounting surface (91).

Dip glazing device for sanitary ceramics,

with a feeding device (2) for feeding in to be glazed

Blanks (9) of sanitary ware,

and with a plunge pool (4) with glaze (43) to glaze the blanks (9) by dipping them into the plunge pool (4),

and with a discharge device (3) to transport the glazed blanks (9) further,

characterized,

that a multi-axis robot (16) with a workpiece gripper (8) is provided which is controlled by a control device (15) in such a way that the multi-axis robot (16) with the workpiece gripper (8) picks up a blank (9) to be glazed on the feed device and this is transported to the plunge pool (4) and there dips into the glaze (43), and that the multi-axis robot (16) the glazed The blank (9) is transported to the removal device (3) and is transferred to it for further transport.

12. Dip glazing device for sanitary ware according to claim 11,

characterized,

that the multi-axis robot (16) dips the blank (9) to be glazed in a linear movement or in a circular pivoting movement into the plunge pool (4) and / or removes it from the plunge pool (4).

13. Dip glazing device for sanitary ware according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that

that the immersion basin (4) has several nozzles (41, 42) which are arranged in the immersion basin (4) or in the area of a wall of the immersion basin (4) next to one another and / or one above the other, around the glaze

(43) to impress a current in the plunge pool (4).

14. Dip glazing device for sanitary ware according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that

that the nozzles (41, 42) of the glaze (43) impress a flow that is in the

Essentially transverse to the immersion movement and / or

Removal movement of the blank (9) is directed, preferably that several of the nozzles (41, 42), in particular all nozzles (41, 42) are arranged parallel to one another.

15. Dip glazing device for sanitary ware according to one of claims 12 to 14,

characterized, that the plunge pool (4) has an overflow with a

Overflow basin is connected and the nozzles (41, 42) bring glaze (43) into the dip basin (4) in such a way that glaze (43) is carried away from the surface of the dip basin and flows to the overflow basin via the overflow.

Dip glazing device for sanitary ceramics according to one of Claims 12 to 15,

characterized,

that the nozzles (41, 42) are arranged in a 2D matrix.

Dip glazing device for sanitary ceramics according to one of Claims 12 to 16,

characterized,

that the nozzles (41, 42) or that some of the nozzles are designed to be pivotable.

Dip glazing device for sanitary ceramics according to one of Claims 12 to 17,

characterized,

that the nozzles (41, 42) in the plunge pool (4) are arranged on opposite sides in order to realize a countercurrent flow.

Dip glazing device for sanitary ceramics according to one of Claims 11 to 18,

characterized,

that the workpiece gripper (8) is designed as a vacuum gripper that attaches the blank (9) to a mounting surface (91) or a later grips unglazed surface of the blank, preferably only on the mounting surface (91), or only on the later unglazed surface.

20. Dip glazing device for sanitary ware according to one of claims 11 to 18,

characterized,

that the workpiece gripper (8) has a support surface (831) or has several support surfaces (831, 832, 833) which are attached to a

The mounting surface (91) of the blank (9) in order to support it.

21. Dip glazing device for sanitary ware according to one of claims 11 to 20,

characterized,

that the control device (15) monitors the vacuum of the workpiece gripper (8) in order to detect proper gripping of the blank (9) and / or to detect detachment of the blank (9).

22. Dip glazing device for sanitary ware according to claim 20,

characterized,

that the control device (15) triggers an alarm in the event of an unforeseen detachment of the blank (9) and / or carries out a predefined movement of the multi-axis robot (16), preferably that the blank is automatically controlled by the control device (15) and lifted out of the plunge pool with a flub basket becomes.

23. Dip glazing device for sanitary ware according to one of claims 11 to 22,

characterized, that a drying rack (6) is provided, and the

Control device (15) controls the multi-axis robot (16) in such a way that it transports a glazed blank (9) from the plunge pool (4) to the drying rack (6) and deposits the glazed blank (9) there in a predetermined position.

Dip glazing device for sanitary ware according to claim 23,

characterized,

that the control device (15) controls the multi-axis robot (16) after a predetermined, preferably adjustable, drying time in such a way that it attaches a glazed blank (9) to the

Receives drying rack (6) and transported to the discharge device (3).

Dip glazing device for sanitary ceramics according to one of Claims 11 to 24,

characterized,

that the workpiece gripper (8) via one of the control device

(15) controllable changing system (81) is connected to the multi-axis robot (16).

Dip glazing device for sanitary ware according to one of claims 11 to 25,

characterized,

that a storage device is provided for one or more workpiece grippers (8) and the control device (15) the multi-axis robot

(16) for automatically connecting and / or automatically depositing a workpiece gripper (8) and / or for automatic exchange controls a workpiece gripper (8) against another workpiece gripper (8) in such a way that the multi-axis robot (16) drives to the storage device and automatically deposits and / or picks up a workpiece gripper (8) there.

Dip glazing device for sanitary ware according to one of Claims 11 to 26,

characterized,

that a cleaning station (7) is provided and the

Control device (15) controls the multi-axis robot (16) in such a way that it brings the workpiece gripper (8) to the cleaning station (7) in order to clean it, preferably before a blank (9) to be glazed is picked up.

Dip glazing device for sanitary ware according to one of Claims 11 to 27,

characterized,

that the feeding device (2) is a motor-driven conveyor belt (22) or several motor-driven ones running in parallel

Has conveyor belts or conveyor chains, or has an article receptacle on a motor-driven linear axis.

Dip glazing device for sanitary ceramics according to one of Claims 11 to 28,

characterized,

that the discharge device (3) has a motor-driven conveyor belt or several motor-driven conveyor belts (31) or conveyor chains running in parallel. 30. Dip glazing device for sanitary ware according to one of claims 11 to 29,

characterized,

that the discharge device (3) has a height-adjustable rake (33) and the multi-axis robot (16) transfers a glazed blank (9) with the mounting surface (91) down to the discharge device (3) in such a way that in a position above the discharge device the Rake (33) with a prong under the mounting surface (91) of the blank (9) engages, then the control device (15)

The workpiece gripper (8) is released from the mounting surface (91) so that the

Mounting surface is supported by the prongs of the rake (33) and the rake (33) then moves down and places the glazed blank (9) on the discharge device (3).

31. Dip glazing device for sanitary ware according to one of claims 11 to 30,

characterized,

that the discharge device (3) has a cleaning device (32) for cleaning the mounting surface (91) of glaze residues, in particular a cleaning device (32) with a roller or brush.