Piece of equipment for glazing manufactured articles

Abstract

The piece of equipment (1) for glazing manufactured articles, comprises: - a load-bearing frame (2); - movement means (3) for moving at least one manufactured article (M) to be decorated along one direction of forward movement (4); - at least one decoration assembly (5) comprising dispensing means (6) of a working liquid adapted to dispense droplets of the working liquid which define an application substantially by points on the manufactured article (M); wherein the dispensing means (6) are cyclically movable along a direction of flowing (7) which is transverse with respect to the direction of forward movement (4) between a plurality of work positions which are separate from each other so that the droplets of the working liquid applied on the manufactured article (M), when the dispensing means (6) are in one work position, are offset along the direction of forward movement (4) with respect to the droplets of the working liquid applied on the manufactured article (M) when the dispensing means (6) are arranged in another work position.

Description

[0001] PIECE OF EQUIPMENT FOR GLAZING MANUFACTURED ARTICLES

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a piece of equipment for glazing manufactured articles, particularly for glazing ceramic manufactured articles.

[0004] Background Art

[0005] Methods and equipment are currently known for decorating manufactured articles, and particularly for glazing ceramic manufactured articles, which involve dispensing glaze in the form of droplets onto the manufactured article to be decorated.

[0006] In particular, the owner noted that a recently designed piece of equipment provides for a load-bearing frame, movement means for moving the manufactured articles to be decorated and the use of glaze dispensing means, arranged above the movement means, comprising a hollow container provided with a plurality of orifices and inside which is arranged a cylindrical roller provided with a series of protrusions adapted to open and close the orifices cyclically as a result of the rotation of the roller itself.

[0007] The glaze is kept pressurized inside the container and flows out intermittently as a result of the rotation of the roller, settling on the manufactured articles that are moved below the container itself.

[0008] Although this technology allows for uniform glazing of the manufactured articles, in the opinion of the owner, it nevertheless has some drawbacks.

[0009] In particular, the droplets of glaze flowing out in succession from the orifices are deposited on the manufactured article in rows parallel to the direction of movement of the manufactured article itself.

[0010] This means that the droplets released from two adjacent orifices during the forward movement of the manufactured article are deposited thereon in such a way as to form the vertices of a quadrilateral (see Figure 1), the central area of which is furthest from the droplets deposited in this way and, therefore, more difficult to cover.

[0011] In order to ensure that the glaze dispensed also arrives at these areas, so as to obtain uniform coverage of the manufactured article, the deposited droplets must contain a sufficient amount of glaze to allow each of them to expand and overlap the area that is progressively covered by the other adjacent droplets.

[0012] This, on the other hand, leads to an increase in the final weight of the glaze applied onto each manufactured article, as well as an uneven spreading of the glaze per unit area. In other words, the amount of glaze applied onto the manufactured article is greater in some areas (those where the droplets fall) and less in others (the central areas mentioned above), which can give rise to a sort of “streaking” on the decorated surface that compromises the aesthetic quality of the manufactured article.

[0013] Description of the Invention

[0014] The main aim of the present invention is to devise a piece of equipment for glazing manufactured articles that allows for the most uniform coverage of the manufactured article possible and, at the same time, minimizes the amount of glaze applied onto each manufactured article.

[0015] Within this aim, one object of the present invention is to devise a piece of equipment that is flexible in use and allows its operation to be adapted to individual requirements.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to devise a piece of equipment for glazing manufactured articles that allows the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art to be overcome with a simple, rational, easy-to-use, effective, and inexpensive solution.

[0017] A piece of equipment for glazing manufactured articles according to the invention comprises: a load-bearing frame; movement means for moving at least one manufactured article to be decorated along a direction of forward movement; at least one decoration assembly comprising dispensing means of a working liquid adapted to dispense droplets of working liquid that define an application substantially by points on the manufactured article; wherein the dispensing means can be moved cyclically along a direction of flowing which is transverse with respect to the direction of forward movement between a plurality of work positions which are separate from each other so that the droplets of the working liquid applied onto the manufactured article when the dispensing means are at one work position are offset along the direction of forward movement with respect to the droplets of working liquid applied on the manufactured article when the dispensing means are arranged at another work position.

[0018] Preferably, at each work position, the dispensing means are arranged on top of the movement means.

[0019] Preferably, the decoration assembly comprises actuation means of the dispensing means along the direction of flowing.

[0020] Preferably, the actuation means are selected from the group comprising: a cam motion system and a piezoelectric actuator.

[0021] Preferably, the actuation means are adapted to discreetly move the dispensing means between the work positions.

[0022] Preferably, the actuation means are adapted to continuously move the dispensing means between the work positions.

[0023] Preferably, the dispensing means of the working liquid comprise an internally hollow container for the collection of the working liquid, where the container has an elongated shape and is provided with at least one group of passing-through orifices for the outflow of the working liquid, at least one roller accommodated within the container and operable in rotation around a relevant axis, where the volume located between the inner walls of the container and the roller defines a containment chamber of the working liquid, the roller being provided with a set of protrusions adapted to open and close the orifices to allow and prevent, respectively, the outflow of the working liquid from the container.

[0024] Preferably, the dispensing means are movable between the work positions in a synchronized maimer with the rotation of the roller.

[0025] Preferably, the actuation means are associated with at least the orifices.

[0026] Preferably, the actuation means are adapted to move the orifices between the work positions with respect to the container and to the roller.

[0027] Preferably, the actuation means are adapted to move the orifices together with the container between the work positions with respect to the roller.

[0028] Preferably, the actuation means are adapted to move the orifices together with the container and the roller between the work positions. Preferably, the group of orifices comprises at least one series of orifices running along a first direction, the set of protrusions comprises a plurality of rows of protrusions which are angularly spaced apart from each other along the outer surface of the roller, wherein the protrusions of each row are aligned with each other along the first direction and wherein a groove is defined between each consecutive pair of rows, the protrusions arranged along each of the rows being substantially aligned along the first direction to the orifices which are arranged along at least one of the series so that when the groove arrives at the series of orifices, the working liquid flows outwardly, and wherein the actuation means are operationally connected to the orifices in such a way that the latter are arranged at a work position when one of the grooves arrives at the series of orifices and are arranged at another work position when the next groove arrives at the series of orifices.

[0029] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more evident from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a piece of equipment for glazing manufactured articles, illustrated by way of an indicative, yet non-limiting example, in the attached drawings, in which:

[0030] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a decoration pattern obtainable with a piece of equipment of known type;

[0031] Figure la is an enlargement view of a detail of the pattern in Figure 1;

[0032] Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a decoration pattern obtainable with a piece of equipment according to the invention;

[0033] Figure 2a is an enlargement view of a detail of the pattern in Figure 2;

[0034] Figure 3 is an axonometric view of a piece of equipment according to the invention;

[0035] Figure 4 is an axonometric view of the decoration assembly of the piece of equipment in Figure 3;

[0036] Figure 5 is an exploded axonometric view of the dispensing means of the piece of equipment in Figure 3.

[0037] Embodiments of the Invention

[0038] With particular reference to these figures, reference number 1 globally denotes a piece of equipment for glazing manufactured articles, particularly for glazing ceramic manufactured articles.

[0039] The piece of equipment 1 comprises a load-bearing frame 2, movement means 3 for moving at least one manufactured article M to be decorated along one direction of forward movement 4 and at least one decoration assembly 5 of the manufactured article M. The movement means 3 define a resting plane of the manufactured article M and consist, e.g., of a plurality of motorized belts.

[0040] The decoration assembly 5 comprises, in turn, dispensing means 6 of a working liquid arranged above the movement means 3 and adapted to dispense the working liquid in the form of droplets so as to give rise to an application substantially by points on the manufactured article M.

[0041] The term “working liquid” refers to a liquid selected from the group comprising: glue, engobe, glazes and the like.

[0042] The term “glazing” refers to the full-field application of the working liquid to the exposed surface of the manufactured article M to be glazed.

[0043] According to the invention, the dispensing means 6 are alternately movable along a direction of flowing 7 which is transverse with respect to the direction of forward movement 4 between a plurality of work positions which are separate from each other so that the droplets of the working liquid applied on the manufactured article M when the dispensing means 6 are at one work position are offset along the direction of flowing 7 with respect to the droplets of the working liquid applied on the manufactured article M when the dispensing means 6 are at another work position.

[0044] More specifically, the dispensing means 6 are movable with respect to the movement means 3 between the work positions.

[0045] In this way, the droplets of the working liquid applied in succession during the forward movement of the manufactured article M are misaligned with each other along directions parallel to the direction of forward movement 4.

[0046] Advantageously, the dispensing means 6 are cyclically movable between at least two work positions, of which one is a first work position and the other is a second work position.

[0047] Figure 2 shows a pattern of deposition of the droplets of the working liquid obtainable with a piece of equipment according to the invention and wherein the first and second work positions are offset from each other in such a way that the droplets deposited when the dispensing means 6 are at the second work position are arranged, along the direction of flowing 7, at an intermediate position between two adjacent droplets deposited when the dispensing means 6 are at the first work position.

[0048] Appropriately, the decoration assembly 5 comprises actuation means 8 of the displacement of the dispensing means 6 along the direction of flowing 7.

[0049] More particularly, the actuation means 8 are adapted to discreetly move the dispensing means 6 between the work positions. In other words, the work positions are predefined and, as a result of the actuation of the actuation means 8, the dispensing means 6 are exclusively moved between these positions.

[0050] In an alternative embodiment, the actuation means 8 are adapted to continuously move the dispensing means 6 between the work positions. In other words, the actuation means 8 are adapted to displace the dispensing means 6 between two predefined work positions, which define the end-of-stroke positions, passing through a plurality of intermediate work positions.

[0051] Advantageously, the dispensing means 6 comprise an internally hollow container 9 for the collection of the working liquid, which has an elongated shape and is provided with at least one group of passing -through orifices 10 for the outflow of the working liquid, and at least one roller 11 accommodated within the container 9 and operable in rotation around a relevant axis X, where the volume located between the inner walls of the container 9 and of the roller 11 defines a containment chamber 12 of the working liquid. The roller 11 is provided with a set of protrusions 13 adapted to open and close the orifices 10 to allow and prevent, respectively, the outflow of the working liquid from the container 9.

[0052] More specifically, the protrusions 13 are angularly spaced apart from each other along the circular development of the roller 11 so as to open and close the orifices 10 cyclically during the rotation of the roller itself. Therefore, droplets of working liquid are dispensed through the orifices 10 which droplets, as mentioned above, give rise to an application substantially by points on the manufactured article M. As the opening time of the orifices 10 increases, the size of the droplet dispensed increases. Appropriately, the orifices 10 are aligned parallel to the longitudinal development of the container 9.

[0053] Preferably, the dispensing means 6 are movable in a synchronized maimer with the rotation of the roller 11.

[0054] More specifically, the actuation means 8 are operationally connected to the roller 11 in such a way that their operation is synchronized with the rotation of the roller itself

[0055] In other words, the operational connection between the actuation means 8 and the roller 11, which may be of the electronic or mechanical type, is configured to “read” the angular position of the roller 11 during the rotation thereof and to control the actuation of the actuation means 8 so that their operation is in phase with the rotation of the roller itself

[0056] Appropriately, at each work position, the dispensing means 6 are arranged on top of the movement means 3.

[0057] More specifically, at each work position, the orifices 10 are arranged facing the movement means 3 and, therefore, the manufactured article M to be glazed.

[0058] The actuation means 8 may be, e.g., of the type of a cam motion system, where the movement of the cam is synchronized with the rotation of the roller 11, or of the type of a piezoelectric actuator which is synchronized with the roller 11. Embodiments other than those mentioned above and falling within the knowledge of the average technician in the field cannot however be ruled out.

[0059] Advantageously, the group of orifices 10 comprises at least one series 14 of orifices 10 running along a first direction 15, and the set of protrusions 13 comprises a plurality of rows 16 of protrusions 13 which are angularly spaced apart from each other along the outer surface of the roller 11, wherein the protrusions 13 of each row 16 are aligned with each other along the first direction 15 and wherein a groove 17 is defined between each consecutive pair of rows 16. The protrusions 13 arranged along each row 16 are substantially aligned along the first direction 15 with the orifices 10 which are arranged along at least one of the series 14 so that, when a groove 17 arrives at the series 14 of orifices 10, the working liquid flows outwardly. The protrusions 13 belonging to each row 16 may be separated from each other or may be joined together without interruption to define a single protrusion 13. Appropriately, the actuation means 8 are operationally connected to the roller 11 in such a way that each time one of the grooves 17 arrives at the series 14 of orifices 10, the dispensing means 6 are arranged at a different work position from that corresponding to the previous groove 17, considering the way of rotation of the roller 11. In other words, the actuation means 8 are operationally connected to the roller 11 in such a way as to displace the dispensing means 6 from one work position to another each time one of the rows 16 of protrusions 13 arrives at the series 14 of orifices 10.

[0060] In detail, the dispensing means 6 may comprise a supporting body of the orifices 10 associated with the container 9 in a removable maimer.

[0061] Advantageously, the actuation means 8 are associated with at least the orifices 10.

[0062] More specifically, the actuation means 8 are adapted to move at least the orifices 10 between the work positions.

[0063] In one possible embodiment shown in the figures, the container 9 is provided with a single series 14 of orifices 10 aligned with each other along the first direction 15 and the roller 11 is provided with a plurality of rows 16 of protrusions 13 angularly spaced apart from each other and adapted to overlap the orifices 10 as a result of the rotation of the roller 11. In this embodiment, the actuation means 8 are adapted to displace the container 9 together with the roller 11 between the work positions.

[0064] More specifically, each time a row 16 of protrusions 13 overlaps the orifices 10, by obstructing them, the actuation means 8 displace both the container 9 and the roller 11 along the direction of flowing 7 so as to bring them to a work position different from the current one.

[0065] In this way, as each groove 17 passes over the orifices 10, the latter are arranged, with respect to the movement means 3 (and therefore with respect to the manufactured article M), at a different position from that taken when the previous groove 17 passed over. It follows, therefore, that the droplets of the working liquid flowing out of the orifices 10 as each groove 17 passes are misaligned on the manufactured article M with respect to the droplets dispensed as the previous groove 17 passed over along a direction parallel to the direction of forward movement 4.

[0066] For example, in order to obtain the pattern shown in Figure 2, the dispensing means 6 are moved between two separate work positions, a first and a second work position, where at the second work position they are shifted along the direction of flowing 7 by an amount equal to half the distance between two adjacent orifices 10. In this way, during the forward movement of the manufactured article M, the droplets of working liquid deposited by two orifices 10 are arranged along four lines parallel to the direction of forward movement 4 and equidistant from each other along the direction of flowing 7.

[0067] In one alternative embodiment, the actuation means 8 are adapted to move only the orifices 10 with respect to the roller 11 along the direction of flowing 7.

[0068] More specifically, in a first alternative embodiment, the actuation means 8 are adapted to move the orifices 10 between the different work positions, e.g. by moving the relevant supporting body, with respect to both the container 9 and the roller 11.

[0069] In a second alternative embodiment, the actuation means 8 are adapted to move the container 9 together with the orifices 10 between the different work positions with respect to the roller 11.

[0070] The effect of each of the described embodiments is therefore to displace the position of the orifices 10 with respect to the movement means 3, so as to modify the area where the droplets of working liquid fall on the manufactured article M to be glazed and obtain the desired pattern.

[0071] It has, in practice, been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects and, in particular, the fact should be noted that the displacement of the dispensing means of the droplets of working liquid along a direction of flowing transverse to the direction of forward movement of the manufactured articles allows the droplets deposited in succession by the same orifices to be misaligned during the forward movement of the manufactured article to be glazed, thus achieving optimal coverage of the surface to be decorated. On the one hand, this makes it possible to avoid, or at least minimize, the formation of surface defects which can compromise the aesthetic quality of the manufactured article, and at the same time to optimize the total amount of working liquid applied onto each manufactured article, with consequent savings in terms of cost and advantages in terms of environmental sustainability.

Claims

CLAIMS1) Piece of equipment (1) for glazing manufactured articles, comprising: a load-bearing frame (2); movement means (3) for moving at least one manufactured article (M) to be decorated along one direction of forward movement (4); at least one decoration assembly (5) comprising dispensing means (6) of a working liquid adapted to dispense droplets of the working liquid which define an application substantially by points on the manufactured article (M); characterized by the fact that said dispensing means (6) are cyclically movable along a direction of flowing (7) which is transverse with respect to said direction of forward movement (4) between a plurality of work positions which are separate from each other so that the droplets of the working liquid applied on the manufactured article (M), when said dispensing means (6) are in one work position, are offset along said direction of forward movement (4) with respect to the droplets of the working liquid applied on the manufactured article (M) when said dispensing means (6) are arranged in another work position.2) Piece of equipment (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that in each work position said dispensing means (6) are arranged on top of said movement means (3).3) Piece of equipment (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that said decoration assembly (5) comprises actuation means (8) of said dispensing means (6) along said direction of flowing (7).4) Piece of equipment (1) according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that said actuation means (8) are selected from the group comprising: a cam motion system and a piezoelectric actuator.5) Piece of equipment (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said actuation means (8) are adapted to discreetly move said dispensing means (6) between said work positions.6) Piece of equipment (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said actuation means (8) are adapted to continuously move said dispensing means (6) between said work positions.7) Piece of equipment (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said dispensing means (6) of the working liquid comprise: an internally hollow container (9) for the collection of the working liquid, where said container (9) has an elongated shape and is provided with at least one group of passing -through orifices (10) for the outflow of the working liquid, at least one roller (11) accommodated within said container (9) and operable in rotation around a relevant axis, where the volume located between the inner walls of said container (9) and said roller (11) defines a containment chamber (12) of the working liquid, said roller (11) being provided with a set of protrusions (13) adapted to open and close said orifices (10) to allow and prevent, respectively, the outflow of the working liquid from said container (9).8) Piece of equipment (1) according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that said dispensing means (6) are movable between said work positions in a synchronized maimer with the rotation of said roller (11).9) Piece of equipment (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said actuation means (8) are associated with at least said orifices (10).10) Piece of equipment (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said actuation means (8) are adapted to move said orifices (10) between said work positions with respect to said container (9) and to said roller (11).11) Piece of equipment (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterized by the fact that said actuation means (8) are adapted to move said orifices (10) together with said container (9) between said work positions with respect to said roller (11).12) Piece of equipment (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterized by the fact that said actuation means (8) are adapted to move said orifices (10) together with said container (9) and with said roller (11) between said work positions.13) Piece of equipment (1) according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that said group of orifices (10) comprises at least one series (14) of orifices (10) running along a first direction (15), by the fact that said set of protrusions (13) comprises a plurality of rows of protrusions (13) which are angularly spaced apart from each other along the outer surface of said roller (11), wherein the protrusions (13) of each row are aligned with each other along said first direction (15) and wherein a groove (17) is defined between each consecutive pair of said rows (16), the protrusions (13) arranged along each of said rows (16) being substantially aligned along said first direction (15) to the orifices (10) which are arranged along at least one of said series (14) so that when said groove (17) arrives at said series (14) of orifices (10) the work liquid flows outwardly, and by the fact that said actuation means (8) are operationally connected to said orifices (10) in such a way that the latter are arranged in a work position when one of said grooves (17) arrives at said series (14) of orifices (10) and are arranged in another work position when the next groove (17) arrives at said series (14) of orifices (10).

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