Slab Article Edge Coating to Prevent Glaze Residue

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The glazing operation on slab-shaped manufactured articles leads to glaze dripping on perimeter surfaces, causing aesthetic faults, increasing production time, and risking breakage, necessitating additional cleaning and smoothing operations.

Innovation Solution

A process and equipment that apply a reserving agent to perimeter surfaces before glazing to prevent glaze accumulation, using coating means integrated with the production line to apply a water-repellent substance simultaneously with the glazing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If glazing operation is performed on the decorative surface, then a glossy or matte finish is achieved, but glaze residues accumulate on perimeter surfaces causing aesthetic faults

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface finish qualityVSAvoidglaze residue accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies a repelling agent to the perimeter surfaces before the glazing operation. This preliminary action creates a protective barrier that prevents glaze from adhering to the perimeter surfaces during the subsequent glazing process, thereby eliminating glaze residue accumulation while maintaining the desired surface finish on the decorative surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The repelling agent acts as an intermediary substance between the glaze and the perimeter surfaces. It mediates the interaction by creating a chemical or physical barrier that repels the glaze material, preventing it from contaminating the perimeter surfaces while allowing the glazing process to proceed normally on the decorative surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If additional cleaning and smoothing operations are performed after glazing, then glaze residues are removed, but production time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperimeter surface cleanlinessVSAvoidproduction time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

By applying the repelling agent before glazing, the invention prevents glaze residue formation in the first place. This eliminates the need for subsequent cleaning and smoothing operations, thereby maintaining high perimeter surface cleanliness while significantly reducing total production time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the potentially harmful effect of glaze spillage during the glazing process into a beneficial outcome. By using the repelling agent, any glaze that reaches the perimeter surfaces is automatically repelled and prevented from adhering, turning what would be a defect-requiring-correction situation into a self-correcting process that requires no additional operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Manufacturing precision

If additional cleaning and smoothing operations are performed after glazing, then glaze residues are removed, but the risk of breakage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperimeter surface cleanlinessVSAvoidarticle integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The repelling agent is applied before glazing to prevent glaze residue accumulation. This eliminates the need for subsequent cleaning and smoothing operations that would require handling the delicate glazed articles, thereby maintaining perimeter surface cleanliness while minimizing the risk of breakage during additional processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts or removes the need for additional cleaning and smoothing operations from the production process. By preventing glaze residue formation through the repelling agent, the process eliminates subsequent steps that would expose the glazed articles to handling and potential breakage, thereby maintaining surface cleanliness while preserving article integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

Prevents glaze residues on perimeter surfaces, reducing production time and costs by eliminating the need for additional cleaning and smoothing operations while minimizing breakage risk.

Implementation Method 1

coating means (11), arranged upstream of the application means (9) with respect to the direction of forward movement (D) and adapted to coat at least one of the perimeter surfaces (4, 5, 6) with a reserving agent (10)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWater-repellent property: Hydrophobe

Data Source

PatentEP4684884A1Process and equipment for the decoration of manufactured articles
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 TECNOCER ITALIA SRL
  • EP4684884A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4684884A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4684884A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The process for the decoration of manufactured articles comprises the following phases: - supplying a slab-shaped manufactured article (2) provided with at least one decorative surface (3), a laying surface, opposite the decorative surface (3) and a plurality of perimeter surfaces (4,5,6) transverse to the decorative surface (3); - moving the slab-shaped manufactured article (2) along a direction of forward movement (D); - applying at least one layer of glaze (8) on the decorative surface (3); where, prior to the phase of applying, it comprises a phase of coating at least one of the perimeter surfaces (4,5,6) with a reserving agent (10) having a repellent function with respect to the glaze (8).