Automatic molding machine of ceramics

Abstract

To provide an automatic molding machine of irregular-shaped ceramics such as a cup with a narrowed mouth and a plate with a polygonal rim.SOLUTION: An automatic molding machine of ceramics comprises: a trowel 11 provided rotatably in a horizontal direction; a plaster mold 12 provided rotatably in the horizontal direction at a lower part in a vertical direction of the trowel 11; a first movement mechanism using a first servo motor 13 for vertically moving the trowel 11; a second movement mechanism using a second servo motor 14 for longitudinally moving the trowel 11; a rotation mechanism using a third servo motor 15 for varying a tilt angle of the trowel 11 vertically in a front view and circumferentially in a side view; an input device; and a calculation processing device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic molding machine for ceramic ware such as plates, bowls, and cups. [Background technology]

[0002] When automatically forming ceramics such as circular-rimmed plates, circular-rimmed bowls, and circular-rimmed cups, a horizontally rotating trowel (upper mold) is pressed against the clay (base material) placed in a horizontally rotating plaster mold (lower mold), and the clay is stretched and shaped between the trowel and the plaster mold.

[0003] As a conventional technology, there is an automatic ceramic molding machine that has a servo motor for freely adjusting the up-down direction, front-back direction, and tilt angle of the trowel, and a control system consisting of an input device, a processing unit, and a servo motor controller (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] Conventional automatic ceramic molding machines use a processing unit to calculate basic data (shape, size, etc.) and correction data for the ceramics to be molded. Conventional automatic ceramic molding machines operate servo motors based on operation instruction data obtained by a processing unit.

[0005] Conventional automatic ceramic molding machines automatically move a trowel up and down, back and forth, and inclined directions based on operation instruction data to automatically mold ceramics. When molding ceramics such as circular-rimmed plates, circular-rimmed bowls, and circular-rimmed cups, the trowel and the plaster mold are rotated in the same direction and a difference in rotation between the trowel and the plaster mold can be provided, thereby making it difficult for the clay to stick to the trowel. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-198612 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, conventional automatic ceramic molding machines have the following problems: In conventional automatic ceramic molding machines, the tilt angle of the trowel is adjusted and then fixed during molding. For this reason, conventional automatic ceramic molding machines are unable to simultaneously and interlock the forward and backward and up and down movements of the trowel and the change in the tilt angle of the trowel.

[0008] For this reason, while conventional automatic ceramic molding machines can mold ceramics such as circular-rimmed plates, circular-rimmed bowls, and circular-rimmed cups, they are unable to mold ceramics with shapes that would interfere with the molded product when the trowel is removed from the plaster mold in the final molding process. In the final molding process, ceramics with shapes that interfere with the molded product when the trowel is removed from the plaster mold include, for example, cups with narrow mouths that bulge from the top to the bottom of the outer periphery, or gourd-shaped vessels.

[0009] Conventional automatic ceramic molding machines can mold ceramics such as circular-rimmed plates, circular-rimmed bowls, and circular-rimmed cups, but they cannot mold irregularly shaped ceramics such as polygonal-rimmed plates, oval-rimmed plates, plates with polygonal recesses on the inside, and polygonal-rimmed bowls. Traditionally, irregularly shaped ceramics such as plates with polygonal rims, plates with oval rims, plates with polygonal indentations on the inside, and bowls with polygonal rims have often been made by slip casting (a molding method in which slip is poured into a plaster mold to create a layer of ceramic). In the present invention, irregularly shaped ceramics refer to ceramics that cannot be molded using conventional automatic ceramic molding machines.

[0010] To solve the above problems, the present invention provides an automatic molding machine for irregularly shaped ceramics such as cups with a bulge from the top to the bottom of the outer periphery and a narrow mouth, gourd-shaped vessels, plates with polygonal rims, plates with oval rims, plates with polygonal concave and convex portions on the inside, and rice bowls with polygonal rims. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The first means for solving the problem of the present invention is an automatic ceramic molding machine having a trowel that is rotatable horizontally, a plaster mold that is rotatable horizontally vertically below the trowel, a first movement mechanism using a servo motor to move the trowel up and down, a second movement mechanism using a servo motor to move the trowel back and forth, a rotation mechanism using a servo motor to change the inclination angle of the trowel vertically when viewed from the front and circumferentially when viewed from the side, an input device, and an arithmetic processing unit.

[0012] The second means for solving the problem of the present invention is an automatic ceramic molding machine having a trowel that is rotatable horizontally using a servo motor, a plaster mold that is rotatable horizontally using a servo motor vertically below the trowel, a pair of reference marks for aligning the rotational positions of the trowel and the plaster mold, a first movement mechanism that uses a servo motor to move the trowel up and down, a second movement mechanism that uses a servo motor to move the trowel back and forth, a rotation mechanism that uses a servo motor to change the inclination angle of the trowel vertically when viewed from the front and circumferentially when viewed from the side, an input device, and an arithmetic processing unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] The first means for solving the problem of the present invention allows the up-down and back-and-forth movements of the trowel and the change in the trowel's tilt angle to be simultaneously and interlockedly controlled during molding, without the trowel's tilt angle being fixed. For this reason, even for irregularly shaped ceramics such as cups with narrow mouths that bulge from the top to the bottom of the outer periphery, or gourd-shaped vessels, the trowel can be moved evenly along the shape, and the clay can be stretched from the center outward between the trowel and the plaster mold to form the shape.

[0014] The first means for solving the problem of the present invention allows the trowel to be freely moved, and the amount of force used to stretch and mold the clay from the center outward between the trowel and the plaster mold can be adjusted. The first means for solving the problem of the present invention allows the trowel to be freely moved, and the clay can be repeatedly stretched and molded from the center outward between the trowel and the plaster mold.

[0015] The first means for solving the problem of the present invention is to freely move the trowel at the initial or intermediate stages, stretching and shaping the periphery of the clay between the trowel and the plaster mold, and then stretching and shaping the clay from the center outward between the trowel and the plaster mold. This allows the density of the clay to be increased from the periphery to the entire body during molding. This allows for the molding of ceramics with minimal distortion.

[0016] The second means for solving the problems of the present invention can share the effects achieved by the first means for solving the problems. The second means for solving the problem of the present invention is capable of simultaneously and interlockingly controlling the up-down and forward-backward movements of the trowel, changes in the trowel's tilt angle, the horizontal rotation of the trowel, and the horizontal rotation of the plaster mold during molding, without fixing the tilt angle of the trowel. The second means for solving the problem of the present invention is capable of aligning the rotational positions of the trowel and the plaster mold by using a pair of reference marks for aligning the rotational positions of the trowel and the plaster mold.

[0017] Therefore, by aligning the convex portion of the trowel with the concave portion of the plaster mold and aligning the rotational positions of the trowel and the plaster mold, then rotating the trowel and the plaster mold in the same direction and at the same rotation speed, and tilting the trowel, a difference in peripheral speed is created between the rotation of the trowel and the rotation of the plaster mold, and the clay can be molded while being stretched between the trowel and the plaster mold from the center outward.

[0018] Therefore, even for irregularly shaped ceramics such as a plate with a polygonal rim, a plate with an oval rim, a plate with a polygonal recess on the inside, or a rice bowl with a polygonal rim, the trowel can be moved uniformly along the shape and the clay can be stretched from the center outward between the trowel and the plaster mold to form the shape. Therefore, it is possible to form irregularly shaped ceramics such as plates with polygonal rims, plates with oval rims, plates with polygonal recesses on the inside, and rice bowls with polygonal rims without using slip casting.

[0019] When molding irregularly shaped ceramics such as plates with polygonal rims, plates with oval rims, plates with polygonal recesses on the inside, and rice bowls with polygonal rims, if the convex part of the trowel is aligned with the recess of the plaster mold and the trowel and plaster mold are rotated in the same direction and at the same rotation speed, the resistance of the clay to the trowel during molding will be greater, and the clay will tend to stick to the trowel.

[0020] However, the second means for solving the problems of the present invention allows the trowel to be tilted freely. Therefore, even if the rotation speeds of the trowel and the plaster mold are the same, by tilting the trowel at an optimum angle, a difference in peripheral speed can be created between the rotation of the trowel and the rotation of the plaster mold, and the clay can be molded while being stretched between the trowel and the plaster mold from the center outward. This reduces the resistance of the clay to the trowel during molding, making it less likely for the clay to stick to the trowel. This does not cause any problems in molding the ceramics. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of the main body of the automatic ceramic molding machine of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is another side view of the main body of the automatic ceramic molding machine of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cup of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 1(a) is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of embodiment 1. FIG. 1(b) is another partial cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of embodiment 1. [Figure 5] 1(a) is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of embodiment 1. FIG. 1(b) is another partial cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of embodiment 1. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a plate according to a second embodiment. [Figure 7]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a trowel and a plaster mold according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] 10(a) is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of embodiment 2. FIG. 10(b) is another partial cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of embodiment 2. FIG. [Figure 9] 10(a) is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of embodiment 2. FIG. 10(b) is another partial cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of embodiment 2. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another plate according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] A first embodiment of the automatic ceramic molding machine of the present invention will be described (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Explanations of air piping, electrical wiring, etc., which are considered common technical knowledge, will be omitted.

[0023] Embodiment 1 of the automatic ceramic molding machine of the present invention mainly comprises a main body 10 having a trowel 11 that is rotatable horizontally, a plaster mold 12 that is rotatable horizontally vertically below the trowel 11, a first movement mechanism using a first servo motor 13 for moving the trowel 11 up and down, a second movement mechanism using a second servo motor 14 for moving the trowel 11 back and forth, and a rotation mechanism using a third servo motor 15 for changing the tilt angle of the trowel 11 vertically when viewed from the front and circumferentially when viewed from the side. It has an input device (not shown) and a processing unit (not shown). In the present invention, a front view means a view from the front Z, and a side view means a view from a side relative to the front Z.

[0024] The main body 10 of the automatic ceramic molding machine is provided with a base frame 16. A moving body 17 is provided on the underframe 16 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction on the underframe 16 . A support arm 18 is provided on the front surface of the moving body 17 so as to be movable up and down.

[0025] The support arm 18 is for supporting the trowel 11 relative to the moving body 17 . The support arm 18 consists of a pair of plate-like members that support and sandwich two opposing rotating shafts (not shown) provided on the side of the cylindrical member 20 described later using bearings (not shown) so that the shafts can rotate freely vertically when viewed from the front and circumferentially when viewed from the side.

[0026] The support arm 18 is provided so as to be movable up and down via a linear guide (a ball circulating linear bearing or linear guideway carriage 24, a pair of rails 25, 25) provided vertically on the front surface of the moving body 17.

[0027] The trowel 11 is the upper mold. Trowel 11 is intended for use as an external or internal trowel. The trowel 11 is detachably attached to the lower end of a trowel rotation shaft (not shown), which is rotatable horizontally using a motor 19 provided at the top of the cylindrical member 20, via an upper mold mounting bracket 33.

[0028] The trowel rotating shaft is rotatably housed inside the cylindrical member 20. Therefore, by rotating the motor 19, the iron 11 can be rotated freely in the horizontal direction. When used as an outer trowel or an inner trowel, the trowel 11 is provided with a shape having protrusions corresponding to the shape of the ceramic to be molded.

[0029] The trowel 11 is rotatable vertically when viewed from the front and circumferentially when viewed from the side, with the cylindrical member 20 fulcrum-shaped at the support arm 18, so that the trowel 11 is rotatable vertically when viewed from the front and circumferentially when viewed from the side.

[0030] The plaster mold 12 is a lower mold. The plaster mold 12 may be a resin mold or a rubber mold. The plaster mold 12 is detachably attached via a lower mold mounting bracket 37 to the upper end of a lower mold rotation shaft 21 that is rotatable horizontally using a motor (not shown). Therefore, the plaster mold 12 can be rotated horizontally by rotating the motor. The plaster mold 12 is provided with a shape having a recess corresponding to the outer shape of the ceramic to be molded.

[0031] The first moving mechanism has a first servo motor 13 provided on the upper part of the moving body 17, and a first ball screw (a first screw shaft 22, a first nut 23) provided vertically within the moving body 17. The first screw shaft 22 is connected to the first servo motor 13 and is provided so as to be rotatable. The first nut 23 is attached to a carriage 24 of the linear guide.

[0032] Therefore, when the first servo motor 13 rotates, the first screw shaft 22 rotates, and the first nut 23 moves up and down, and the carriage 24 of the linear guide moves up and down in synchronization with the rotation of the first servo motor 13. Therefore, the support arm 18 can move freely in the up and down direction on the front surface of the moving body 17 via the linear guide. Therefore, the position of the iron 11 can be freely moved in the vertical direction via the support arm 18.

[0033] The second movement mechanism has a second servo motor 14 provided at the rear of the frame 16 and a second ball screw (second screw shaft 26, second nut 27) provided horizontally across the front-to-rear direction within the frame 16. The second screw shaft 26 is connected to the second servo motor 14 and is provided so as to be rotatable. The second nut 27 is attached to the lower end of the moving body 17 .

[0034] Therefore, when the second servo motor 14 rotates, the second screw shaft 26 rotates, and the second nut 27 moves in the front-to-rear direction, thereby synchronously allowing the movable body 17 to move freely in the front-to-rear direction on the frame 16. Therefore, the position of the iron 11 can be freely moved in the front-rear direction via the moving body 17.

[0035] The rotation mechanism includes a precision reducer (not shown) connected via a flange to a rotating shaft supported by bearings on one side of a pair of plate-shaped members of the support arm 18, and a third servo motor 15 connected to the precision reducer.

[0036] Therefore, by rotating the third servo motor 15, the cylindrical member 20 can rotate freely in a vertical direction when viewed from the front and in a circumferential direction when viewed from the side, with the rotation axis supported by the bearings on one side of the pair of plate-like members of the support arm 18 as the fulcrum.

[0037] Therefore, the inclination angle of the iron 11 can be freely changed via the cylindrical member 20 in the vertical direction when viewed from the front and in the circumferential direction when viewed from the side. The rotation mechanism is not limited to the above, and may have any structure that allows the tilt angle of the iron 11 to be freely changed in the vertical direction when viewed from the front and in the circumferential direction when viewed from the side.

[0038] The input device is used to input basic data and correction data for ceramics. Specifically, data is entered by touching the LCD panel input screen with a finger, and the dimensions of the ceramics and other items are used as basic data and correction data.

[0039] The basic data to be input include the diameter of the ceramic, the height of the plaster mold 12, the inner depth of the ceramic, the diameter of the foot, the thickness of the bottom, the height of the ceramic, the shape of the trowel 11, the diameter of the trowel 11, the length of the trowel 11, the horizontal distance between the center of the plaster mold 12 and the center of the trowel 11, the peripheral angle, etc. The input items of the correction data are modified based on the basic data.

[0040] The arithmetic processing unit is a device that calculates operation instruction data from input basic data and correction data using a pre-set program. The input device and the arithmetic processing device are connected by electrical means such as electrical wiring.

[0041] The arithmetic processing unit is connected to a storage device (not shown) by electrical means such as electrical wiring. The storage device is a device for storing the operation instruction data calculated by the arithmetic processing device. The arithmetic processing unit and the servo motor controller (not shown) are connected by electrical means such as electrical wiring.

[0042] The first servo motor 13, the second servo motor 14, and the third servo motor 15 are connected to a servo motor controller and a servo amplifier (not shown) by electrical means such as electrical wiring. The required operating amounts of the first servo motor 13, the second servo motor 14 and the third servo motor 15 are given by operation instruction data obtained by arithmetic processing.

[0043] The processing unit transmits operation instruction data to the servo motor controller. The servo motor controller transmits operation instruction data to the first servo motor 13, the second servo motor 14 and the third servo motor 15 through the servo amplifier. A feedback signal is transmitted from the encoder of each servo motor to the servo amplifier. Based on the operation instruction data, the first servo motor 13, the second servo motor 14 and the third servo motor 15 are operated accurately.

[0044] The motors that rotate the trowel 11 and the plaster mold 12 are also connected to the processor by electrical means such as electrical wiring, and are operated by receiving operation instruction data from the processor. Therefore, by inputting basic data and correction data for the ceramics into the input device, the trowel 11 and plaster mold 12 of the main body 10 can be rotated horizontally, and the up-down and back-and-forth movements of the trowel 11 and the change in the tilt angle of the trowel 11 can be simultaneously controlled in conjunction with each other.

[0045] The operation of the first embodiment of the automatic ceramic molding machine 10 of the present invention will be described.

[0046] The ceramics to be formed is a cup 28 (see Figure 3) that bulges from the top to the bottom of the outer periphery and has a narrow mouth. The cup 28 is an irregularly shaped ceramic object that is difficult to mold using conventional automatic ceramic molding machines. The trowel 11 is an inner trowel and is provided in a ball shape for forming the cup 28 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). The plaster mold 12 is provided in a shape having a recess corresponding to the outer shape of the cup 28 .

[0047] The clay X is placed in the center of the recess of the plaster mold 12. Basic data of the cup 28 to be formed is input into the input device. After the basic data is processed by the arithmetic processing unit, operation instruction data is transmitted to the motor of the trowel 11, the motor of the plaster mold 12, the first servo motor 13, the second servo motor 14, and the third servo motor 15.

[0048] Based on the operation instruction data, the trowel 11 and the plaster mold 12 rotate horizontally, and the trowel 11 moves up and down and back and forth, and the tilt angle of the trowel 11 changes vertically when viewed from the front and circumferentially when viewed from the side, thereby molding the clay X in the plaster mold 12 into a cup 28. The rotation direction of the trowel 11 and the plaster mold 12 may be changed midway based on other operation instruction data.

[0049] The vertical and longitudinal movements of the trowel 11 and the change in the tilt angle of the trowel 11 are simultaneously controlled in an interlocking manner. The trowel 11 is moved uniformly along the shape, and the clay X is stretched from the center outward between the trowel 11 and the plaster mold 12, thereby forming the cup 28.

[0050] The trowel 11 is tilted to form the center of the clay X on the center line Y of the plaster mold 12 (see FIG. 4(a)). In this state, the trowel 11 is moved outward little by little, uniformly following the shape, to form the shape (see FIG. 4(b)). In this state, the trowel 11 is moved outward little by little, uniformly following the shape, to form the shape (see FIG. 5(a)). The trowel 11 then moves uniformly along the shape, shaping the periphery of the narrowed mouth to form a cup 28 (see FIG. 5(b)).

[0051] The trowel 11 can be freely moved to spread the clay X from the center outward between the trowel 11 and the plaster mold 12, thereby forming the cup 28. Therefore, the resistance of the clay X to the trowel 11 during molding is reduced, and the clay X is less likely to stick to the trowel 11. Therefore, there is no problem in forming the cup 28.

[0052] A second embodiment of the automatic ceramic molding machine of the present invention will now be described. Explanations of air piping, electrical wiring, etc., which are considered common technical knowledge, will be omitted.

[0053] Regarding the second embodiment of the automatic ceramic molding machine of the present invention, only the changes from the first embodiment will be explained, and other explanations will be omitted. The symbols for the names of common parts are the same as those in the first embodiment.

[0054] Embodiment 2 of the automatic ceramic molding machine of the present invention is the same as embodiment 1 above, except that the motor 19 for enabling the trowel 11 to rotate freely in the horizontal direction is changed to a fourth servo motor (not shown), and the motor for enabling the plaster mold 12 to rotate freely in the horizontal direction is changed to a fifth servo motor (not shown).

[0055] The fourth and fifth servo motors, together with the first, second and third servo motors 13, 14 and 15, are connected to a servo motor controller and a servo amplifier by electrical means such as electrical wiring.

[0056] The processing unit transmits operation instruction data to the servo motor controller. The servo motor controller transmits operation instruction data to the first servo motor 13, the second servo motor 14, the third servo motor 15, the fourth servo motor and the fifth servo motor through the servo amplifier.

[0057] A feedback signal is transmitted from the encoder of each servo motor to the servo amplifier. Based on the operation instruction data, the first servo motor 13, the second servo motor 14, the third servo motor 15, the fourth servo motor, and the fifth servo motor are accurately operated.

[0058] Therefore, by inputting basic data and correction data of the ceramics into the input device, the up-down and back-and-forth movements of the trowel 11, the change in the tilt angle of the trowel 11, the horizontal rotation of the trowel 11, and the horizontal rotation of the plaster mold 12 can be simultaneously and interlockingly controlled.

[0059] A pair of reference marks (not shown) for adjusting the rotational positions of the trowel 11 and the plaster mold 12 are provided on the trowel 11 side and the plaster mold 12 side. The reference mark on the trowel 11 side is provided at the position of a knock pin (not shown) that aligns the fixing position of the trowel 11 with that of the upper die mounting bracket 33. By providing the reference mark on the trowel 11 at the position of the knock pin, the position of the knock pin can always be provided as the reference mark on the trowel 11 even if the type of trowel is frequently changed.

[0060] Position information of the reference mark on the iron 11 side is transmitted to the servo amplifier as a feedback signal from the encoder of the fourth servo motor. The servo amplifier adjusts the operation instruction data and the feedback signal from the servo motor controller, and transmits the correct operation instruction data to the fourth servo motor. The fourth servo motor is operated based on the operation instruction data.

[0061] The reference mark on the plaster mold 12 side is provided at the position of a reflective tape (not shown) provided on the lower mold mounting metal fitting 37 so as to coincide with the reference mark on the trowel 11 on a line perpendicular to the line. The reflective tape that serves as the reference mark position on the plaster mold 12 side is detected by a photoelectric sensor (not shown).

[0062] The detected position information is transmitted as a feedback signal from the encoder of the fifth servo motor to the servo amplifier. The servo amplifier adjusts the operation instruction data and the feedback signal from the servo motor controller, and transmits the correct operation instruction data to the fifth servo motor. The fifth servo motor is operated based on the operation instruction data. The reference mark on the plaster mold 12 may be detected by an ultrasonic proximity sensor or a magnetic proximity sensor.

[0063] Therefore, the horizontal rotation position of the trowel 11 can be aligned with the horizontal rotation position of the plaster mold 12, and the convex portion 31 of the trowel 11 can be aligned with the concave portion 32 of the plaster mold 12 during molding (see FIG. 7). Therefore, by aligning the convex portion 31 of the trowel 11 with the concave portion 32 of the plaster mold 12 and aligning the rotational positions of the trowel 11 and the plaster mold 12, the trowel 11 and the plaster mold 12 are rotated at the same rotational speed and tilted, a difference in peripheral speed is created between the rotation of the trowel 11 and the rotation of the plaster mold 12, and the clay X can be molded while being stretched between the trowel 11 and the plaster mold 12 from the center outward.

[0064] The reference mark on the trowel 11 side may be provided as the position of a reflective tape (not shown) provided on the upper mold mounting bracket 33. In this case, the reflective tape that serves as the reference mark position on the iron 11 side is detected by a photoelectric sensor (not shown).

[0065] The detected position information is transmitted as a feedback signal from the encoder of the fourth servo motor to the servo amplifier. The servo amplifier adjusts the operation instruction data and the feedback signal from the servo motor controller, and transmits the correct operation instruction data to the fourth servo motor.

[0066] The fourth servo motor is operated based on the operation instruction data. The reference mark on the iron 11 side may be detected by an ultrasonic proximity sensor or a magnetic proximity sensor. The reference mark on the plaster mold 12 side may be provided at the position of a knock pin (not shown) that aligns the fixing position of the plaster mold 12 with the lower mold mounting bracket 37.

[0067] The pair of reference marks for aligning the rotational positions of the trowel 11 and the plaster mold 12 is not limited to the above. Reference marks such as dots or lines written, painted, or engraved may be provided at appropriate locations on the trowel 11 and the plaster mold 12. Reference marks such as dots or lines written, painted, or engraved may be provided at appropriate locations near the trowel 11 and the plaster mold 12.

[0068] The operation of the automatic ceramic molding machine 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0069] The ceramic to be formed is a rectangular dish 30 (see FIG. 6) with a rectangular recess 29 on the inside. The rectangular dish 30 is an irregularly shaped piece of ceramic that is difficult to mold using conventional automatic ceramic molding machines. The trowel 11 is an outer trowel, and is provided with a protrusion 31 that corresponds to the shape of the inner surface including the rectangular recess 29 of the plate 30 in order to form the plate 30 (see FIG. 7). The convex portion 31 is provided in a shape that can represent a convex portion that matches the shape of the inner surface of the plate 30, including the concave portion 29, with one rotation. The plaster mold 12 is provided with a shape having a recess 32 corresponding to the outer shape of the dish 30 .

[0070] The clay X is placed in the center of the recess 32 of the plaster mold 12. Basic data of the plate 30 to be formed is input into the input device. After the basic data is processed by the arithmetic processing unit, operation instruction data is transmitted to the first servo motor 13, the second servo motor 14, the third servo motor 15, the fourth servo motor, and the fifth servo motor.

[0071] Based on the operation instruction data, the trowel 11 and the plaster mold 12 are aligned with their respective reference marks, the convex portion 31 of the trowel 11 is aligned with the concave portion 32 of the plaster mold 12, and then rotate in the same direction and at the same number of rotations in the horizontal direction with a rotation ratio of 1:1. The same applies to other irregularly shaped ceramics such as oval-rimmed dishes (not shown). The rotation direction of the trowel 11 and the plaster mold 12 may be changed midway based on other operation instruction data.

[0072] The trowel 11 moves up and down and back and forth, and the tilt angle of the trowel 11 changes vertically when viewed from the front and circumferentially when viewed from the side, thereby molding the clay X in the plaster mold 12 into the dish 30. The vertical and longitudinal movements of the trowel 11, the change in the tilt angle of the trowel 11, the horizontal rotation of the trowel 11, and the horizontal rotation of the plaster mold 12 are all controlled simultaneously and in an interlocking manner. The trowel 11 is moved uniformly along the shape, and the clay X is stretched from the center outward between the trowel 11 and the plaster mold 12, thereby forming the plate 30.

[0073] The trowel 11 shapes the center of the clay X on the center line Y of the plaster mold 12 (see FIG. 8(a)). In this state, the trowel 11 moves outward while tilting little by little, uniformly following the shape, to form it (see FIG. 8(b)). The trowel 11 is then used to reshape the clay X along the center line Y (see FIG. 9(a)). In this state, the trowel 11 moves outward while gradually tilting along the shape uniformly, shaping up to the periphery to form the plate 30 (see FIG. 9(b)).

[0074] The optimum range of the tilt angle R of the trowel 11 is 10 to 30 degrees, with the center line Y of the plaster mold 12 being 0 degrees, and angles exceeding this range may cause problems in molding (see Figures 8 and 9). When the rotation ratio of the trowel 11 and the plaster mold 12 is 1:1, the resistance of the clay X to the trowel 11 during molding increases, and the clay X tends to stick to the trowel 11 .

[0075] However, in the second embodiment of the automatic ceramic molding machine 10 of the present invention, the trowel 11 can be tilted freely. Therefore, by tilting the trowel 11 at an optimum angle, a difference in peripheral speed is provided between the rotation of the trowel 11 and the rotation of the plaster mold 12, and the clay X can be molded while being stretched between the trowel 11 and the plaster mold 12 from the center outward. Therefore, the resistance of the clay X to the trowel 11 during molding is reduced, and the clay X is less likely to stick to the trowel 11. Therefore, there is no problem in forming the plate 30.

[0076] In addition, it is possible to easily mold irregularly shaped ceramics such as a plate 36 (see FIG. 10) with a rectangular rim that has a pair of rectangular recesses 34 on one side and a rectangular recess 35 on the inside. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 10. Main body of automatic ceramic molding machine 11 Trowel (upper type) 12 Plaster mold (lower mold) 13 First servo motor 14 Second servo motor 15 Third servo motor 16 Frame 17 Mobile 18 Support Arm 19 Motor 20 Cylindrical member 21 Lower die rotation axis 22 First screw shaft 23 First Nut 24 Carriage 25 Rail 26 Second screw shaft 27 Second Nut 28 cups 29 Plate recess 30 Rectangular Plate 31 Trowel convex part 32 Plaster mold recess 33 Upper die mounting bracket 34 Recess on one side 35 Plate recess 36 Rectangular Plate 37 Lower die mounting bracket R Trowel inclination angle X clay Y center line Z front

Claims

1. a trowel that is rotatable horizontally; A plaster mold is provided vertically below the trowel and rotatably in the horizontal direction; a first moving mechanism using a servo motor for moving the trowel freely in the up and down direction; a second movement mechanism using a servo motor for moving the trowel back and forth; a rotation mechanism using a servo motor for freely changing the tilt angle of the trowel in a vertical direction when viewed from the front and in a circumferential direction when viewed from the side; An input device; a processing unit; Automatic ceramic molding machine with

2. a trowel that is rotatable horizontally using a servo motor; A plaster mold is provided vertically below the trowel so as to be rotatable horizontally using a servo motor; A pair of reference marks for aligning the rotational positions of the trowel and the plaster mold; a first moving mechanism using a servo motor for moving the trowel freely in the up and down direction; a second movement mechanism using a servo motor for moving the trowel back and forth; a rotation mechanism using a servo motor for freely changing the tilt angle of the trowel in a vertical direction when viewed from the front and in a circumferential direction when viewed from the side; An input device; a processing unit; Automatic ceramic molding machine with

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