Rotating Glaze Container for Fast Ceramic Color Change
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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, with operations being impractical and ineffective.
Innovation Solution
A glazing equipment with a hollow container that rotates between work and unloading configurations for easy glaze exchange, incorporates hydraulic circuits for emptying and cleaning, and uses pressurized air to prevent condensation droplets, featuring motorized components for precise control and adjustment.
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:
The container is inverted to allow gravity to facilitate glaze removal. The container has a first position for glazing and a second inverted position for emptying, where the opening is at the lowest point to enable complete drainage of glaze by gravity without requiring pumping or manual manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The container is designed to be movable between two positions (glazing position and emptying position). This dynamic positioning allows the container to be tilted or inverted to facilitate complete glaze drainage, making the emptying operation simple and effective without complex pumping mechanisms.
2Reliability
If washing operation is performed on the hollow container to prevent contamination, then the container can be cleaned, but the orifices are difficult to wash effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The container is inverted during the washing phase so that the opening is at the lowest point. This allows washing fluid to effectively reach and flush through the orifices and containment chamber, ensuring complete cleaning and preventing glaze accumulation that could cause contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The design replaces complex mechanical washing mechanisms with a simple gravitational flow system. By inverting the container, washing fluid naturally flows through the orifices and containment chamber under gravity, effectively cleaning all surfaces without requiring complex pumping or spraying mechanisms.
3Manufacturing precision
If the hollow container is used for glazing operations, then uniform glazing can be obtained, but condensation droplets form on the outer surface and may fall onto the manufactured articles
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful condensation droplets are extracted or removed from the system by providing a separate drainage path. The container includes a bottom portion with a drainage opening that allows condensation droplets to drain away from the glazing surface, preventing them from falling onto the manufactured articles while maintaining the glazing function.
4Adaptability or versatility
If color changes are made to meet different production batches, then different glaze types can be used, but the container must be emptied and washed which is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The container can be quickly inverted to the emptying position to rapidly drain glaze by gravity, and then inverted to the washing position for efficient cleaning. This simple positional change mechanism eliminates the need for time-consuming manual emptying and washing operations, enabling quick transitions between different glaze types.
Solution Approach 2:
The design replaces complex mechanical emptying and washing systems with simple gravitational flow. By inverting the container, both emptying and washing operations are accomplished through natural fluid flow under gravity, dramatically reducing the time required for these operations and enabling rapid glaze type changes.
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 rapid and efficient glaze changes, effective orifice cleaning, and prevents condensation droplets from falling on articles, enhancing operational simplicity and cost-effectiveness.
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 flow of pressurized air is delivered to a lower surface of the container opposite to the direction of alignment of the orifices with one another, so as to prevent any condensation droplets that may form on the hollow container from falling onto the manufactured articles
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2a
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).