Vibrating Glazing Equipment for Uniform, Low-Waste Tile Coating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing glazing equipment for ceramic tiles faces issues such as high material waste, uneven glaze application, difficulty in applying glaze evenly on large tiles, and the need for vacuum systems to manage glaze particles, leading to inefficiencies and quality concerns.

Innovation Solution

A glazing equipment with a hollow main body and removable bar elements featuring adjustable orifices, pulsing and vibration mechanisms, and electronic control for precise glaze distribution, allowing flexible management of glaze amplitude, frequency, and position, reducing material waste, and eliminating the need for vacuum systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If bell-type equipment is used to maintain continuity of glaze film, then glaze application coverage is improved, but material waste increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveglaze application coverageVSAvoidmaterial waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The glazing equipment divides the glaze application into multiple discrete nozzles arranged in rows, each nozzle applying glaze to a specific zone. This segmentation allows precise control of glaze distribution, eliminating the excessive material waste associated with bell-type equipment while maintaining continuous coverage through coordinated nozzle operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements nozzles with locally optimized characteristics, including variable spray patterns and adjustable flow rates for different zones. This allows tailored glaze application to specific areas of the tile surface, ensuring adequate coverage where needed while minimizing waste in other areas, directly addressing the material efficiency problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Area of stationary object

If bell-type equipment is used to cover entire tile surface, then coverage area is improved, but glaze application uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidglaze application uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The glazing system segments the coverage area into multiple zones, each served by dedicated nozzles or nozzle groups. This segmentation enables independent control of glaze application in different regions, allowing the system to maintain uniformity across the entire tile surface while achieving complete coverage, directly resolving the uniformity problem of bell-type equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates adjustable and controllable nozzle systems that can dynamically modify spray patterns, flow rates, and positioning. This dynamic capability allows real-time optimization of glaze distribution across the tile surface, ensuring uniform application regardless of tile size or shape, thereby solving the uniformity issue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of substance

If multiple nozzles are used to dispense glaze strips, then material waste is reduced, but shading appears at strip junction areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial wasteVSAvoidsurface quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple nozzle outputs into a coordinated system where glaze strips overlap or meet without gaps. The nozzles are positioned and controlled to ensure continuous glaze deposition, eliminating the visible shading at junction areas while maintaining material efficiency. This merging approach combines the benefits of multiple nozzles without their drawbacks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary positioning and calibration of nozzles to ensure proper spacing and alignment before glaze application begins. This preliminary action prevents shading issues at strip junctions by pre-establishing the correct geometric relationships between nozzles, allowing material-efficient multi-nozzle operation without surface quality defects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Productivity

If airless misting methodology is used, then glaze application speed is improved, but material waste increases due to suspension

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveglaze application speedVSAvoidmaterial waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful suspension and waste generation characteristics of airless misting by replacing the misting mechanism with direct nozzle application. This extraction eliminates the problem of glaze particles remaining in suspension while maintaining high application speed through efficient nozzle design and positioning, directly addressing the material waste issue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

5Object-affected harmful factors

If vacuum system is added to manage glaze particles, then environmental control is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveglaze particle dispersionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potential harm of glaze particle dispersion into a benefit by using the nozzle positioning and glaze flow control to ensure complete transfer of glaze to the substrate. The system design ensures that glaze is deposited directly where needed with minimal aerosol generation, eliminating the need for vacuum systems while maintaining environmental control.

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

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

Achieves uniform glaze distribution on tiles of varying sizes, minimizing material waste, and enhancing productivity and efficiency while maintaining high surface quality.

Implementation Method 1

The piece of equipment comprises a pulsing device associated with the main body and adapted to set the latter in high-frequency vibration

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

The piece of equipment comprises vibration means associated with the main body and which can be activated to set the latter in vibration, moving it along at least one direction of agitation C

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP4321258B1Piece of equipment for glazing manufactured articles
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 TECNOCER ITALIA SRL
  • EP4321258B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4321258B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4321258B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The piece of equipment (1) for glazing manufactured articles comprises: - one base frame (2); - one line of forward movement (3) adapted to move at least one manufactured article (M) to be decorated; - one main body (4) arranged on top of the line of forward movement (3) and made hollow to define one inner chamber (4a) for the collection of liquid glaze to be applied onto the manufactured article (M), wherein the inner chamber (4a) is provided with one feeding opening (5) of the liquid glaze and with a plurality of orifices (6) for dispensing the liquid glaze connected to the feeding opening (5); - one adjustment assembly (8, 11) of the dispensing of the liquid glaze from the orifices (6); - vibration means (16) associated with the main body (4) and which can be activated to set the latter in vibration.