Rotating Glaze Container for Faster Glaze Changeover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glazing equipment for ceramic articles faces challenges in efficiently changing glaze types, effectively washing orifices, and preventing condensation droplets from contaminating the articles during decoration.
Innovation Solution
A piece of equipment with a hollow container that rotates between work and unloading configurations for easy glaze exchange, incorporates hydraulic circuits for glaze transfer, and includes cleaning mechanisms to wash orifices and remove condensation droplets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the hollow container is emptied by making the glaze flow out or by suctioning it through pumping means, then the glaze can be removed from the container, but the operation is uncomfortable, impractical, and ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of removing glaze through the small orifices at the bottom of the container (which is difficult and impractical), the invention inverts the approach by providing a discharge opening at the top of the container. This allows glaze to be easily removed by gravity flow or suction through the top opening, making the emptying operation comfortable and effective.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the spatial dimension of glaze removal by moving the discharge opening from the bottom (through orifices) to the top of the container. This dimensional change transforms the removal process from a difficult bottom-up extraction to an easy top-down discharge, significantly improving operational ease.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the hollow container is emptied and washed to change glaze types, then color changes can be made for different production batches, but the process is time-consuming and reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables preliminary emptying of the container through the top discharge opening before washing and color change operations. This preliminary action of easy emptying reduces the overall time required for glaze changeover, thereby maintaining high productivity while preserving the ability to adapt to different glaze colors for various production batches.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the discharge function from the bottom orifices and relocates it to the top of the container. This extraction allows for rapid removal of glaze without affecting the washing process, enabling quick color changes while minimizing downtime and maintaining production efficiency.
3Ease of manufacture
If the orifices are not effectively washed, then accumulations of glaze form at the orifices, but this glaze falls onto the manufactured articles, jeopardizing proper glazing
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of trying to clean glaze accumulations from the bottom orifices (which is difficult and ineffective), the invention inverts the cleaning approach by providing a discharge opening at the top. This allows washing fluid to flow downward through the container, effectively flushing out glaze accumulations from all surfaces including the orifices, ensuring reliable glazing quality.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If condensation droplets form on the outer surface of the container during decorating phases, then they may fall onto the manufactured articles below, but there is no mechanism to prevent this
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful condensation droplets from the container surface by providing a discharge opening at the top. This opening allows condensation that forms on the outer surface during decorating phases to be drained away before it can fall onto the manufactured articles, eliminating contamination without adding complex prevention mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables quick and effective glaze changes, thorough orifice cleaning, and prevents condensation droplets from falling on articles, ensuring uniform and high-quality glazing.
Implementation Method 1
the glaze contained within the hollow container flows out by gravity intermittently arranging itself onto the manufactured articles
Implementation Method 2
a piece of equipment with a hollow container that rotates between work and unloading configurations for easy glaze exchange, incorporates hydraulic circuits for glaze transfer
Data Source
AI summary
The equipment for glazing manufactured articles, comprises: a load-bearing frame (2); movement means (3) of at least one manufactured article (M) to be decorated along one direction of forward movement (4); glazing means (5) of the manufactured article (M) to be decorated comprising—an internally hollow container (6) for the collection of glaze provided with at least one set of through orifices (7) for the outflow of the glaze, —at least one roller (8) housed inside the container (6) and operable in rotation around a relevant axis, wherein the volume positioned between the inner walls of the container (6) and the roller (8) defines a containment chamber (9) of the glaze, the roller (8) being provided with a set of projections (10) are adapted to open and close the orifices (7) in a sequential and cyclic manner respectively to allow and prevent the release of the glaze from the container (6); wherein the container (6) is provided with at least one pair of openings (11) communicating with the containment chamber (9) and it is movable in rotation with respect to the frame (2) between at least one work configuration and at least one unloading configuration so as to change the orientation of the openings (11).