DE19505713A1 - Decorative machine for ceramic tiles - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a conveyor (1) for tiles (2), and a drum (4) given discontinuous rotary motion synchronized with the conveyor motion. Pads (4a) on the drum carry images to be printed on the tiles, and between the pads are channels (4b). A roller glazing assembly (5) having an axis parallel to an axis of said drum transfers glaze to the pads on the drum. Each time the drum finishes a partial rotation, a channel (4b) is arranged to finish opposite the glazing roller (5a) of the assembly. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a Decorative machine for ceramic tiles.

Ceramic tiles are decorated with different matrices, where the on the Tile image to be played out is worked out and the transfer of the glaze to the tile in accordance with the image to be displayed allow.

For example, it is using Screen printing nets on rotating cylinders known where the die is perforated from the side Surface of the network exists, and the plot the glaze on the surface of the tile that is on the conveyor runs, takes place through the cylindrical Surface of the network in a similar manner is rolled on the tile.

The glaze contained inside the mesh is by a spatula through the holes of the Net pushed outwards so that they are on deposits on the surface of the tile.

The synchronized rotation of the network and the Allow the tile to advance along the line  performing screen printing by contacting the without sliding between a section of the cylindrical outer surface of the network and the top of the tile to be decorated. Realization forms are also known at which the decoration of the ceramic tiles by extremely common in printing "Transfer process" takes place in which the decor is worked out directly from the roller that comes into contact with the tile, or through a rotating gravure roller fed with glaze and with one below it Transfer roller is in contact, which too rotates and in direct contact with the tile stands on which it from the gravure roller transferred decor transfers.

The decor machines shown, both those with transmission methods, as well those with rotating screen printing cylinders, each have limitations and disadvantages. For example, with screen printing decor machines the area of the outer surface of the relevant network of glaze residues that inevitably accumulate on it, cleaned to ensure proper implementation of the  following pressure and to ensure none To cause errors.

The decorative machines with "transmission processes" come from, as already said Continuous printing machines, have rollers that are constantly on the move and are only for some Suitable applications. In particular, they almost become used exclusively for decorations that Example changes of stone materials, marble and play something like that. This is due to the Fact that the print medium (the tile) is discontinuous and not a correct one Positioning of the finished picture allowed.

The purpose of the present invention is the above to avoid disadvantages described and a To provide decor machine that has no problems with the cleaning of the die, which for the screen printing decor machines are typical, and the at the same time achieving an exact aligned and positioned finished image allowed on the tile.

One advantage of the decor machine in question is that that different images on the same line can be printed.

These and other purposes and advantages are from  fully achieved the present invention, as characterized in the claims and one a conveyor for the tiles and one Drum covers that with the conveyor is rotated discontinuously and on the side surface of those to be printed Images from tampons are worked out and between which grooves are provided; a roller Glazing device using a glaze roller is equipped, which is to the axis of the The drum is located in parallel, transfers the glaze on the tampons of the drum and is like that angled that they are in accordance with the grooves when the drum is in Rest position.

Further properties and advantages of the present Invention will become apparent from the following Description of a preferred form of implementation better emerge from a not restrictive example in the following Illustrations are shown in which:

• - Fig. 1 is a schematic view of the decor machine in question;
• - Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of the decor machine in question.

The decorative machine in question comprises a conveyor ( 1 ) which is inserted into the conveyor line (not shown) of the tiles ( 2 ); the conveyor ( 1 ) is equipped with stops and a drive ( 3 ) which allow correct alignment of the tile ( 2 ) and move the tile on the conveyor. Above the conveyor ( 1 ) there is a drum ( 4 ), the axes of which are perpendicular to the direction of advance of the conveyor ( 1 ), which is rotated synchronously with the conveyor ( 1 ) and on the lateral surface of which the images to be printed are located.

With synchronizing devices of known design, a discontinuous rotation of a drum ( 4 ) is produced in such a way that the drum begins to rotate and comes into contact with the tile ( 2 ) with a surface line and transfers the image worked out from the drum onto the tile ( 2 ), when a tile ( 2 ) comes close to the drum ( 4 ). A sensor ( 7 ) is normally also provided, which checks whether a tile ( 2 ) is present or not and only sets the drum ( 4 ) in motion when the presence of a tile is determined; otherwise the drum ( 4 ) does not rotate and waits for the next tile ( 2 ).

This mechanism for synchronizing the conveyor drum is of a known type and is normally used in the screen printing decoration of the tiles; In contrast to the screen printing cylinders, the drum ( 4 ) in question has no nets, but is a simple printing drum, on the side surface of which one or more tampons ( 4 a) are attached, as are used in the so-called transfer printing process, from which the image to be printed is worked out.

Between a tampon ( 4 a) and the following tampon ( 4 b) (or between the beginning and the end of the tampon ( 4 a), if only a single tampon ( 4 a) is attached to the drum ( 4 )) Grooves ( 4 b) worked out along the surface lines of the drum ( 4 ); essentially, the drum ( 4 ) in accordance with the grooves ( 4 b) has a slightly reduced diameter compared to the diameter of the drum at the locations of the tampons ( 4 a). The grooves ( 4 b) can be worked out very easily and keep the distance between the different tampons ( 4 a); if the thickness of the tampon ( 4 a) is not sufficient or if the printing surface of the tampon ( 4 ) is made from a single plate, the grooves ( 4 b) can be worked out by mechanical or chemical processing or the like.

The decorating machine also includes a roller glazing device ( 5 ) of known type, which is equipped with a glaze roller ( 5 a) and a roller ( 5 b), which is partially immersed in a bowl ( 5 c) containing the glaze. In addition, a drive ( 6 ) is provided which is separate from the drive of the drum ( 4 ) and the conveyor ( 1 ) and which keeps the rollers of the glazing device ( 5 ) in continuous rotation; in this way the glaze picked up by the roller ( 5 b) from the shell ( 5 c) is transferred by rotating contact without sliding onto the glaze roller ( 5 a), which is thus always covered with a fine glaze layer.

The drive ( 6 ) is also synchronized with the movement of the drum ( 4 ) so that the glaze roller rotates at the same angular velocity as the drum ( 4 ) when it rotates.

The glaze roller ( 5 a) is angled relative to the drum ( 4 ) such that the roller ( 5 a) is in line with one of the grooves ( 4 b) when the drum ( 4 ) stops. The tampons ( 4 a) are of course attached to the drum ( 4 ) in such a way that the drum ( 4 ) always remains in the same position with the grooves ( 4 b).

In Fig. 1 you can clearly see, for example, that the drum ( 4 ) is equipped with two tampons ( 4 a) separated by grooves ( 4 b), which are diametrically opposite one another; the drum ( 4 ) performs half a turn each time the presence of a tile ( 2 ) is indicated in order to transfer the already colored image of the right tampon ( 4 a) to the incoming tile ( 2 ) or to the left tampon ( 4 b) to color for the following tile. With each cycle of half a revolution, the grooves ( 4 b) align with the glaze roller ( 4 b) or the opposite position.

When the diameter of the drum increases or when decorating small tiles three, four or more tampons, each of grooves separately, placed on the drum; the Tampons can work on the same Decor line also have different decors.

The decor machine described does not use any  Screen printing nets and thus avoids all cleaning the holes in the screen printing nets related problems.

It also uses a synchronized one Device conveyor drum that allows single and non-continuous elements like decorate the tiles on the conveyor and that Decor to be reproduced perfectly on the tiles align and position. In this way it is possible from figures or pictures existing decors precisely on the tiles to apply, and not just motifs in random Way to apply to the tiles as with the known decor machines with the Transfer procedure was the case.

The presence of the grooves ( 4 b), which is essential for achieving good results, prevents the glaze roller ( 5 a) from depositing glaze on the drum when the drum ( 4 ) is at a standstill or from producing a glaze trace on the contact surface line. which would lead to unacceptable errors in the decoration of the tiles or an excess of glaze in the drum, which necessitates complex and not always effective cleaning systems.

It should also be noted that the presence of the grooves ( 4 b) prevents sliding between the drum ( 4 ) and the glaze roller ( 5 a), which would contaminate the drum ( 4 ) and, as already said, would lead to unacceptable errors in a decorating machine of this type .

In practical application, the constructive details of the invention numerous Subject to changes without this therefore from the scope of protection of the invention falls out according to the following claims.

Claims (3)

1. Decorative machine for ceramic tiles, which comprises:

• - A conveyor ( 1 ) for the tiles ( 2 ), equipped with stop elements and a drive ( 3 ) for the transport and for the correct alignment and positioning of the tiles ( 2 );
• - a drum (4), which is aligned at right angles to the advancing axis of the conveyor (1) which is rotated synchronized with the conveyor (1) and which has the side on its surface images to be printed;
• - A device for synchronized movement of known type for coordinating the advance of the tile ( 2 ) and for starting the drum ( 4 ), such that the image to be printed is brought into line with the tile ( 2 ); characterized in that:
• - The images to be printed are worked out from one or more tampons ( 4 a) attached to the side surface of the drum ( 4 );
• - It has one or more grooves ( 4 b) which are located along the surface line of the drum ( 4 ) between a tampon ( 4 a) and the following tampon ( 4 a);
• - It has a roller glaze device ( 5 ) of a known type, equipped with a glaze roller ( 5 a), the axis of which is parallel to the axis of the drum ( 4 ) and which by contact between its surface line and the surface line of the drum ( 4 ) Transfers the glaze to the tampons ( 4 a) of the drum ( 4 ),
• - The glaze roller ( 5 a) relative to the drum ( 4 ) is angled such that it is in line with a groove ( 4 b) when the drum ( 4 ) stops.

2. decorative machine according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it has a drive ( 6 ) which is separated from the synchronized drive of the drum ( 4 ) and the conveyor ( 1 ) to the glaze roller ( 5 a) constantly with to move the same angular velocity as the drum ( 4 ) when it rotates. 3. A decorative machine according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that from the attached on the drum (4), the tampon (4 a) different decors are worked out.