WO2021086278A1

WO2021086278A1 - Vertical rotation unit

Info

Publication number: WO2021086278A1
Application number: PCT/TR2019/050915
Authority: WO
Inventors: Uluğ Kerim YÜCEL
Original assignee: U.K.Cast Serami̇k Kalip Döküm Teknoloji̇si̇ Araştirma Geli̇şti̇rme Maki̇ne İmalat Sanayi̇ Ve Ti̇caret Li̇mi̇ted Şi̇rketi̇
Priority date: 2019-11-01
Filing date: 2019-11-01
Publication date: 2021-05-06
Also published as: EP4051471A1; EP4051471A4

Abstract

The invention is related to a vertical rotation unit (10) developed to be used in the toilet machine with robotic high pressure ring adhesion in the sanitary ware sector. Said vertical rotation unit (10), provides casted semi-finished products flat without formation of any defect by means of making the counter gravity casting possible. Said vertical rotation unit (10) allows for selecting a lower capacity robot by decreasing the total load of the robot and thus it both decreases the costs and extends the lifecycle of the product.

Description

VERTICAL ROTATION UNIT

Technical Field

The invention is related to a vertical rotation unit which is developed to be used in the toilet machine with robotic high pressure ring adhesion.

The invention is particularly related to a vertical rotation unit which extends the usage life and decreases the costs by means of making selection of a lower capacity robot possible by decreasing the total load of the robot, by providing casted semi-finished products to be flat without any fault by making the counter gravity casting possible.

State of the Art

All products made of ceramic in general such as lavatory, toilet stone, toilet, bathtub, and shower tube etc. are called sanitary ware. The sanitary ware consists of ceramic from the mixture of clay and kaolin. After the mixture is made, during cooking process, the kaolin is provided to have mass bulk forming consistency. Then fine grinded quartz and feldspar is added to the mixture. Quartz which influences the calorie expansion also provides formation of the ceramic glaze in an efficient manner. High pressure casting machines are the leading machines widely used today in the ceramic sector.

Today in the sanitary ware sector, the toilet production with ring adhesion is made in a flat manner. Robot systems used in this production method; a tool changer is used during the semi-finished transfer in robot systems. An excessive load is imparted on the robot during taking the semi finished products by means of aid tool changer apparatuses. During transfer step, the excessive load of the robot leads to use a larger capacity robot usage and thus increase the costs. On the other hand, current robot semi-finished product receiving and servicing systems, electric, electronic and pneumatic elements are in an assembled manner on the robot. This situation increases the possibility of defect and also makes it difficult to determine a defect. In case there is a failure, the machine is totally switched off and it leads to a shift in the production plan. During the rotation motion in semi-finished products received by means of said tool changer, many production defects are seen. This situation influences the general productivity with the formation of crack and deformation. In the patent application No WO2019035795 and titled as “A Vitrified Product Casting Machine and Method Thereof” included within the present state of the art, is related to a casting machine of a vitrified product by means of which vitrified products are produced with two moulds and comprises a chassis, at least two rotating plates which are connected to said chassis with at least one suspension arm. At least one mould is coupled and comprises at least one control unit which controls the rotating plate. The inventive substance vitrified casting machine is characterized by the following; at least one drive element which provides the rotation of the rotating plates about the rotation axis and are connected to the rotating plates; at least one control unit which controls the operation of each rotating plate independent from each other and connected to the rotating plate and can be able to communicate with said main control unit.

Patent application No TR201907415 titled as “A pressurized casting machine for the sanitary ware” included in the present state of the art; is related to a pressurized casting machine which comprises a chassis, an upper table which is connected with said chassis and a lower chassis, a first upper mould which is engaged to the face of said upper table facing said lower table, a second lower mould which is engaged with the face of the lower table facing the upper table and a mould pressure element which is engaged with the upper table for enabling motion to the upper table. As a novelty; it comprises at least one casting unit which has at least one intermediate table which is engaged with the chassis in a manner such that it is disposed between the upper table and the lower table and can move simultaneously with the upper table, at least one first lower mould which is engaged to the face of said intermediate table facing the upper table and at least one second upper mould which is engaged to the face of said intermediate table facing the lower table.

As a result, an improvement is required in the relevant technical field due to the insufficiency of the current solutions and the presence of a requirement for the vertical rotation unit which is developed to be used in the toilet machine with robotic high pressure ring adhesion which eliminates the current disadvantages in the present state of the art.

Brief Description of the Invention

The present invention is related to a vertical rotation unit which is developed to be used in the toilet machine with robotic high pressure ring adhesion in the sanitary ware sector which fulfills the abovementioned requirements, eliminates all disadvantages and brings some additional advantages.

The aim of the invention on the basis of the present state of the art, by means of the developed vertical rotation unit, it is possible to perform counter gravity casting in the toilet machine with robotic high pressure ring adhesion and it is possible to provide not seeing the production and asymmetrical faults during the flat positioning process semi-finished products.

The aim of the invention is to extend the usage life and to decrease the costs based on the possibility of selecting a lower capacity robot by decreasing the total load of the robot by means of providing a vertical rotation unit which fulfills the work of the tool changer included within the robot system.

Another aim of the invention, by means of positioning electric, electronic and pneumatic systems belong to the semi-finished product receiving and serving system independent from the robot on the vertical rotation unit, the failure detection is facilitated, it is provided to continue the production in a controlled manner without totally closing the machine in case a failure occurs.

The structural and characteristic features of the present invention will be understood clearly by the following drawings and the detailed description made with reference to these drawings and therefore the evaluation shall be made by taking these figures and the detailed description into consideration.

Brief Description of Drawings

In order to understand the advantages together with the structure and additional aspects of the present invention, it shall be evaluated together with the following figures.

Figure-1 ; is a schematic general view of the inventive vertical rotation unit in a disassembled manner,

Figure-2; is a schematic view of the inventive vertical rotation unit in an assembled manner.

Reference Numbers

10. Vertical rotation unit

11 . Rotation body

12. Rotation head

13. Body

14. Fork

15. Pallet

16. Rear surface

17. Reducer and motor group 18. Rotation shaft

Detailed Description of the Invention

In this detailed description, the vertical rotation unit (10) which is developed to be used in the toilet machine with robotic high pressure ring adhesion in the sanitary ware sector is described in a manner only to clarity the subject of the invention without creating any limiting effect.

The vertical rotation unit (10) shown in Figure-1 , makes the counter gravity casting possible, provides the casted semi-finished products subjected to flat positioning without causing any production defects. Said vertical rotation unit (10) decreases the total load that the robot is subjected to and allows for selecting a lower capacity robot and thus it both decreases the cost and also extends the lifetime. By means of positioning electric, electronic and pneumatic systems belong to the semi-finished product receiving and serving system independent from the robot on the vertical rotation unit (10), the failure detection is facilitated; it is provided to continue the production in a controlled manner without totally closing the machine in case a failure occurs. The vertical rotation unit (10) basically comprises; a rotation head (12) which provides a rotational motion, a body (13) which can be rotated 180° and a fork (14) made of aluminum material which carries the semi-finished product turned down. All elements belong to the vertical rotation unit (10) are disposed on the rotation body (11). The rotation body (11) carries all elements by means of keeping them together. Said rotation head (12) comprises a reducer and a motor group (17) which provides the required energy for the rotational motion. The rotational motion occurs as a result of the produced energy by means of said reducer and motor group (17) is transferred to the body (13) by means of the rotation shaft (18). The body (13) which is formed in L form carries the units which carry the semi-finished product. The pallet (15) wherein the robot leaves the semi-finished product with its jacket is a structure that performs the carrying and locking processes. Said pallet (15) has a mechanism which holds and releases the jacket. Dropping the semi-finished product during rotation is prevented by means of the rear surface (16). The semi-finished product abuts to the rear surface (16) during rotation which is formed in an angled and support added manner according to the model.

The rotation body (11) which is shown in Figure-2 is fixed to the designed position within the main structure. During this fixation, parallel position is provided to the floor plain and the height of the rotational axis is adjusted in a precise manner. After the casting process, the robot brings the semi finished product with a carrying jacket; the semi-finished product with jacket is left on the locking pallet (15). The fork (14) with rubber surface which is made of aluminum material is positioned in a manner such that it remains on the upper portion and is parallel to the ground. When the robot leaves the semi-finished product on the pallet (15) and is withdrawn, the locking mechanism on the pallet (15) catches the jacket and secures to it. The rear surface (16) proceeds until it contacts to the ridge of the semi-finished product. There is a sloping mechanism on the rear surface (16), which is able to make adjustment on the ridge of the semi-finished product. Contact of the ridge plain to the semi-finished product can be adjusted by means of the sensors on it. The fork (14) contacts to the bottom portion of the semi-finished product by means of lowering in order to keep the semi-finished product stable without falling down by the gravity during the rotation of it from the counter position to the flat position. The position of the fork (14) can be adjustable by means of motion sensors. The body (13) brings the semi-finished product from the counter position to the flat position by turning 180° by means of the drive redu cer and the motor group (17) which turn the rotation head (12). Before the semi-finished product which is on a flat position on the fork (14) is transferred to another station, the rear surface (16) which gives support from the rear part separates from the product by means of withdrawing. When the fork (14), moves in a downward manner, the product is kept in a suspended manner by means of creating a sufficient gap in which the semi-finished product is received to the other transfer unit. During first handling of the semi finished product, the used jacket holds the locking mechanism in the pallet (15), it does not fall. However, in its normal position, the locking mechanism is in open position (unlocked). As a result of lowering said semi-finished product on the fork (14) and of suspension of the other unit on the fork (14), the action is completed. The pressurized casting table returns to its initial position with an 180° angle after the action of the vertical rotation unit (10) is completed in the program cycle.

Claims

1. A vertical rotation unit (10) to be developed for using in the toilet machine with robotic high pressure ring adhesion in the sanitary ware sector, characterized in comprising the following;

- A rotation head (12) which provides a rotational motion,

A body (13) which can turn 180°,

- A fork (14) which carries the semi product when it is turned down.

2. The vertical rotation unit (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in comprising a rotation body (11) on which all elements are positioned, carries the units that carry the semi-finished product.

3. The vertical rotation unit (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that; the rotation body (11) has a L-shape.

4. The vertical rotation unit (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in comprising a reducer and a motor group (17) which are positioned on the rotation head (12), provides required energy for the rotational motion.

5. The vertical rotation unit (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in comprising a rotation shaft (18) which transmits the rotational motion to the body (13) that occurs as a result of the energy produced by means of the reducer and the motor group (17).

6. The vertical rotation unit (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in comprising a pallet (15) on which the semi-finished product is left firstly by means of the jacket of the robot, performs the carrying and locking processes.

7. The vertical rotation unit (10) according to claim 6, characterized in comprising a mechanism which holds and releases the jacket.

8. The vertical rotation unit (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in comprising a rear surface (16) which prevents the semi-finished product during turning down from falling.

9. The vertical rotation unit (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that; it creates angle and support for the rear surface (16) to abut during the semi-finished product is turned down.

10. The vertical rotation unit (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in that; the fork (14) is made from an aluminum material with rubber surface.

11. The vertical rotation unit (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in that; the fork (14) is positioned parallel to the ground in a manner such that it remains on the upper part.

12. The vertical rotation unit (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in that; the electric, electronic and pneumatic systems belong to the semi-finished product receiving and serving system are positioned thereon independent from the robot.

13. A vertical rotation unit (10) which makes the counter casted semi-finished products flat, characterized in that;

Leaving the semi-finished product on the pallet (15),

- The jacket holds the locking mechanism in the pallet (15) for preventing the product from falling down,

- Supporting the semi-finished product left on the pallet by means of abutting thereof to the rear surface (16),

Rotating the semi-finished product from counter position to the flat position by means of rotating the body (13) 180°,

- Carrying the semi-finished product turned to the flat position by means of the fork (14),

- Before the semi-finished product is transferred to another station, separating the rear surface (16) from the product by means of withdrawing,

Keeping the product in a suspended manner by means of creating a sufficient gap with the motion of the fork (14) in a downward manner.

14. The vertical rotation unit (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that; the rotation body (11) is fixed to the designed position within the main structure in a parallel manner by means of adjusting the rotational height.

15. The vertical rotation unit (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that; the robot leaves the semi-finished product with a jacket on the carrying locking pallet (15) after the casting process with a carrying jacket.

16. The vertical rotation unit (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that; when the robot leaves the semi-finished product on the pallet (15) and with draws, the locking mechanism on the pallet (15) catches the jacket and secures thereof.

17. The vertical rotation unit (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that; the position of the fork (14) is adjusted by means of the motion sensors.

18. The vertical rotation unit (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that; the fork (14) contacts to the bottom portion of the semi-finished product by means of lowering in order to keep the semi-finished product stable without falling down by the gravity during the rotation of it from the counter position to the flat position.

19. The vertical rotation unit (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that; an adjustment is made on the ridge of the semi-finished product by means of the sloping mechanism on the rear surface (16) and the contact of the ridge plain to the semi-finished product is adjusted by means of the sensors on the rear surface (16).

20. The vertical rotation unit (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that; the body (13) brings the semi-finished product from the counter position to the flat position by turning 180° by means of the drive reducer and the motor group (17) which turn the rotation head (12).

21. The vertical rotation unit (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that; before the semi finished product which is on a flat position on the fork (14) is transferred to another station, the rear surface (16) which gives support from the rear part separates from the product by means of withdrawing.

22. The vertical rotation unit (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that; during first handling of the semi-finished product, the used jacket holds the locking mechanism in the pallet (15) for preventing its falling down and in its normal condition the locking mechanism is in open position.

23. The vertical rotation unit (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that; as a result of lowering said semi-finished product on the fork (14) and of suspension of the other unit on the fork (14), the action is completed.

24. The vertical rotation unit (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that; the pressurized casting table returns to its initial position with an 180° angle after the action of the vertical rotation unit (10) is completed in the program cycle.

25. The vertical rotation unit (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that; the electric, electronic and pneumatic systems belong to the semi-finished product receiving and serving system on the vertical rotation unit (10) independent from the robot.