HK1208011B - Machine for the decoration of tridimensional products - Google Patents

Description

Machine for decorating three-dimensional products

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a machine for the decoration of three-dimensional products.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a machine for the decoration of three-dimensional products such as plates, bowls, trays and the like.

Background

In industries for decoration of three-dimensional products such as plates, bowls, trays and the like, industrial production lines are used in which conventional techniques such as pad printing, screen printing and the like are applied.

More generally, such products are usually decorated on a production line provided for the use of tools, such as pads and the like, suitable for imprinting a given decoration pattern, differentiated by a given hue, on the surface of a tray.

The main advantage obtained with this type of production line is the high productivity, since it is capable of managing a large number of products; the use of such a production line is thus facilitated in the case of mass production.

In contrast to this, the above-mentioned production lines are absolutely rigid and therefore less versatile, since obtaining even small modifications of the decorative pattern applied on the product generally requires replacing mechanical parts — that is, generally tools for applying the colour on the surface of the product to be decorated, such as for example printing boxes.

Thus, each time it is necessary to change, for example, the format to be provided on the product or the format of the product, or even other production parameters, it is necessary to postpone the production for a period of time such as: this time is required for the replacement of mechanical parts directly related to the provision of decoration, possible adjustment and calibration and testing of the aforementioned mechanical parts, and even other operations.

In addition, it should be noted that these conventional decoration lines are not suitable, due to the natural nature of the decoration devices used, to obtain results differentiated by high graphic quality and satisfactory repeatability of the results.

In other words, the results that can be obtained using these production lines do not always satisfy the variable market needs that can be perceived in the market, in terms of quality and precision and repeatability of the decoration.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore a technical task of the present invention to improve the state of the art.

Within this technical task, an object of the present invention is to provide a machine for the decoration of three-dimensional products which is very versatile with respect to the conventional decoration lines as regards the decoration styles that can be used.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine for decorating three-dimensional products which allows to obtain effects of higher quality and therefore more repeatable than those which can be obtained using conventional decorating lines.

This task and this aim are achieved by a machine for the decoration of three-dimensional products according to the present invention.

The machine according to the invention is provided with a decoration unit comprising a movable arm to which an ink-jet print head is slidably associated. The degrees of freedom associated with the type of product and with the surface area to be provided with decoration, imparted by the rotation of the movable arm and by the translation of the print head along the aforesaid arm, allow to obtain on the product, according to an infinite combination of figures and colours, decoration patterns of considerable quality and repeatability compared to those obtainable using conventional production lines.

The invention also relates to a decoration method that can be implemented using the machine according to the invention.

The present invention relates to preferred and advantageous embodiments.

Drawings

The characteristics of the invention will be more apparent to a person skilled in the art from the following description and the attached drawings, provided by way of non-limiting example, in which:

figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine according to the invention;

figure 2 is a perspective view of a detail of the machine according to the invention, in its operating step;

fig. 3 is a perspective view of a detail of the machine according to the invention, in another operating step.

Detailed Description

With reference to figure 1, a machine for the decoration of three-dimensional products according to the present invention is indicated as a whole by 1.

The machine is suitable for the surface decoration of three-dimensional products of any shape and size, such as plates, bowls, trays and the like, for example made of ceramic material and, without any limitation, of other materials.

However, the machine can also be used for surface decoration of other types of three-dimensional products such as bottles, drinking glasses, vials, etc.

Moreover, the machine 1 described hereinafter is indifferently suitable for autonomous operation or insertion in more complex production lines for the decoration of products, in which the machine may constitute one of the various production stations.

In other words, the machine is very versatile to be used in a number of applications for product decoration.

In fig. 1 to 3, the product 2 to be decorated is constituted by a plate, by way of example only.

However, as mentioned, the product 2 may be of any other type, for example the product 2 may be a bowl, a plate, or even a drinking glass, a bottle, more generally any three-dimensional product whose surface is to be decorated according to a given design.

It should be noted that the machine 1 can also operate on flat or two-dimensional products such as panels, tiles and the like, but as can be clearly noted in the following description, the most advantageous application of the machine 1 occurs in three-dimensional products 2.

The machine 1 comprises, in a manner known per se, a base, indicated as a whole by 3.

In more detail, the base 3 comprises a base 4, which base 4 has, for example, adjustable feet 5.

As can be observed in fig. 1, the base 3 of the machine 1 according to the invention has a substantially vertical development (vertical development) so as to obtain a structure that is light, compact and has minimum overall dimensions.

The machine 1 comprises support means, indicated as a whole by 6, for the products 2 to be decorated, associated with the base 3.

The machine 1 also comprises a decoration unit, indicated as a whole by 7, which is also associated with the base 3.

The machine also comprises a process control unit, not shown in the figures, which manages the overall operation of the machine.

Both the means for supporting the product 6 and the decoration unit 7 are connected to the process control unit according to the method set forth hereinafter.

According to one aspect of the invention, the decorative unit 7 comprises a movable arm 8, the movable arm 8 being rotatably associated with the base 3.

The decoration unit 7 also comprises a plurality of print heads 9 sliding along the movable arm 8.

The print head 9 is of the ink jet type.

In other words, each printhead 9 comprises one or more respective heads 10, each of the one or more respective heads 10 being provided with a nozzle for ejecting printing fluid, not shown in the figures but of a known type.

The printing fluid dispensed by the head 10 may be constituted, for example, by ink of a given colour.

Alternatively, the printing fluid dispensed by the head 10 may be constituted by a glaze or any other fluid suitable for being applied on the surface of the product 2 to obtain a decorative effect, or the like.

In one embodiment of the machine, each print head 9 may be associated with a single colour; however, in other embodiments, each printhead 9 may be associated with more than one color, for example by mounting several heads 10 on the same printhead 9.

Typically, the head 10 is of the following type: adapted to dispense, in time units, a controlled quantity of droplets of printing fluid, for example ink, intended to be deposited on the surface of the product 2 to be decorated.

In any case, the head 10 is of a type known per se in the product decoration industry, and this head 10 will not be described in greater detail in terms of its structure and operation.

Obviously, the type of head 10 may vary according to the specific application to be provided.

For example, it is possible to use a head 10 that is commercially available and should therefore be mounted only on the print head 9.

Also, the means for electronic control of the operation of each of the heads 10 are of the type known in the inkjet printing industry and will not be described in greater detail.

In an embodiment of the machine 1 according to the invention, the head 10 may be associated with a respective recirculation system of the printing fluid, which maintains the same fluid in optimal conditions for its application on the surface of the product 2 to be decorated.

As explained in more detail below, each of the print heads 9 is movable from a respective inoperative position, shown in fig. 1, 2, in which it is spaced apart from the product 2, to a respective operative position, shown in particular in fig. 3, in which it is instead approached by each of the print heads 9 to obtain a decoration on the surface of the product 2.

The print head 9, i.e. in particular the head 10 associated therewith, can be arranged in the aforementioned operating position at a distance of a few millimetres, for example typically 2 to 3 millimetres or even less, from the surface of the product 2.

Obviously, the operating position of each print head 10 with respect to the surface of the product 2 can be suitably varied according to various needs, for example according to the results to be obtained.

In the aforementioned operating position, each print head 9 provides a given pattern of a given colour or even more than one colour on the surface of the product 2, if several heads 10 are mounted on the same print head 9.

The combination of the individual decorative patterns provided by the various print heads 9 generally provides complex and multicoloured decorative patterns on the surface of the product 2 with high quality and repeatability, as explained hereinafter.

The movable arm 8 is rotatably associated with the base 3 according to an axis of rotation a.

The movable arm 8 has its own longitudinal axis B.

The axis of rotation a is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis B of the movable arm 8.

In other words, the movable arm 8 can rotate in a plane parallel to the front surface of the base 3.

The machine 1 comprises means for actuating the movable arm 8 from a non-operating position, in particular the position shown in fig. 1, to a plurality of operating positions, one of which is shown in fig. 2, 3, in which it is inclined with respect to the means 6 for supporting the products 2, as explained hereinafter.

The means for actuating the movable arm 8, not shown in the figures, can be constituted, for example, by a gear motor unit operatively connected to a process control unit of the machine.

The aforementioned gear motor unit has an output axis which in the embodiment shown is horizontal or substantially horizontal; the movable arm 8 is connected to the aforementioned output axis, for example, at its centerline point.

The movable arm 8 comprises a longitudinal sliding guide 11.

The print head 9 is associated with a sliding guide 11, as described in more detail below.

In more detail, the slide guide 11 of the movable arm 8 is constituted by a groove provided in the front surface of the arm 8; obviously, the sliding guide 11 can also be of any other type, for example the sliding guide 11 can be constituted by a convex profile provided on the outer surface of the arm 8.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 3, the print head 9 is mounted on a single slidable carriage 12 associated with the sliding guide 11.

In more detail, the support 12 can be provided, for example, with wheels sliding inside the guide 11, or it can be provided with other equivalent means for sliding inside the guide 11.

The movable arm 8 comprises means 13 for translating the print head 9 along the sliding guide 11.

In more detail, the translation means 13 are associated with the carriage 12, with which the print head 9 is in turn associated.

The translation means 13 are operatively connected to a process control unit of the machine 1.

The translation means 13 are constituted by a controlled shaft which is moved by the carriage 12 along the guide 11, i.e. along the longitudinal axis B of the movable arm 8.

In more detail, the translation means 13 can be constituted by a gear motor unit associated with a screw (screw) engaged in a corresponding nut screw (nut screw) provided in the carriage 12.

Alternatively, the gearmotor unit of the translation means 13 may be associated with a toothed belt which meshes with a gear provided in the carriage 12.

More generally, without any limitation and according to the specific application requirements, the translation means 13 may be of any other type suitable for displacing the print head 9 along the guide 11 in a very accurate manner.

As shown in fig. 3, the print heads 9 are movable from the respective inoperative positions to the respective operative positions and vice versa according to respective translation directions C parallel to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis B of the movable arm 8.

The aforementioned direction of translation C of the print head 9 is perpendicular to the axis of rotation a of the movable arm 8, as shown in fig. 2.

In other embodiments of the machine according to the invention, the axis of rotation a of the movable arm 8, the longitudinal axis B of the arm 8 and the direction of translation C of the print head 9 from the inoperative position to the operative position may be arranged differently and in a manner suitable to the specific application needs, for example to meet given requirements concerning the overall dimensions or spatial orientation requirements of the components.

Each of the print heads 9 comprises a fixed portion 14 associated with the sliding guide 11 and a portion 15 that movably carries one or more heads 10 having a plurality of ejection nozzles.

The movable portion 15 of each print head 9 can translate along a respective translation direction C.

More specifically, each print head 9 comprises a respective unit 16 for translating the movable portion 15 along a translation direction C with respect to the fixed portion 14.

Each unit 16 for translating the respective print head 9 is operatively connected to a process control unit of the machine 1.

Each translation unit 16 may be of any type: for example, it may be constituted by a gear motor unit associated with a screw that moves the movable portion 15, or it may be of any other type, for example of the belt type or the like.

Each print head 9 also comprises one or more reservoirs for decorative printing fluid, or other devices equivalent and known in the industry.

In more detail, the means 6 for supporting the products 2 comprise a rotatable platform 17.

The platform 17 rotates about a vertical axis D, as shown in fig. 2.

In other embodiments, the axis of rotation of the rotatable platform 17 may be inclined at a given angle relative to the vertical.

The platform 17 can be rotated about the vertical axis D manually or by using special rotating means 18 associated therewith.

The rotating means 18 may be constituted, for example, by a gear motor group coupled to the platform 17 and operatively connected to a process control unit of the machine.

In some particular embodiments of the machine according to the invention, the rotating means 18 may be of a type suitable for generating a movement of the rotatable platform 17, the movement of the rotatable platform 17 developing according to a trajectory that is non-circular, for example elliptical or the like. This solution therefore allows to perform decorations on non-circular products 2.

The rotatable platform 17 can also be associated with means for holding the products 2, for example of the suction cup type, clamp type, etc.

The rotatable platform 17 is supported by a bracket 19 associated with the base 3.

In more detail, the carriage 19 can be adjusted in height direction manually or automatically by suitable translation means, not shown in the figures but of known type.

In particular, the possibility of adjusting the height of the supporting means 6 with respect to the base 3 allows the machine to be adapted to operate with products 2 even having extremely different shapes and sizes.

A method for decorating a three-dimensional product 2 using the machine according to the invention is described hereinafter.

In a first operating step, the product 2 to be decorated is positioned on the supporting means 6 of the machine 1.

In more detail, the product 2 is positioned on the rotatable platform 17 and the product 2 is held in this position by holding means provided on the platform 17.

The products 2 may be positioned manually on the rotatable platform 17, or the products 2 may reach the rotatable platform 17 by means of a conveying device, such as a conveyor belt or the like, provided; alternatively still, the product 2 may be positioned on the rotatable platform 17 by a robotic arm or by other similar positioning devices.

Subsequently, the machine rotates the movable arm 8 with respect to the supporting means 6 and, that is, with respect to the rotatable platform 17, by an angle substantially corresponding to the angle of inclination of the surface of the product 2 to be decorated.

In the embodiment shown, if the product 2 is constituted in particular by a plate, the movable arm 8 is thus rotated by an angle corresponding substantially to the angle of inclination of the inner surface of the plate with respect to the rotating platform 17, the rotating platform 17 thus constituting a horizontal reference.

When this position of the movable arm 8 is reached, the machine translates at least one of the print heads 9 along the translation direction C from the respective inoperative position of fig. 2 to the respective operative position of fig. 3, in which said print head 9 is close to the surface of the product 2 to obtain a given decorative pattern thereon.

In this case, the plane in which the spray nozzles of the head 10 lie is substantially tangential to the surface of the product 2 to be decorated.

In other words, the ejection nozzles of the head 10 are all spaced substantially equidistant from the surface to be decorated to prevent non-uniform distribution of the printing fluid on the surface.

At this point, the machine actuates, within a given time frame, the ejection nozzles of the head 10 of the aforesaid print head 9 to deposit a given quantity of printing fluid, for example ink, on the surface of the product 2.

The above-described operating steps of translating the print head 9 and actuating the ejection nozzles can be repeated several times, for example by using the same print head 9, as regards the particular decorative pattern to be provided.

If each print head 9 is associated with a respective color and if the need arises to provide a multicolored decorative pattern on the product 2, the machine translates the print head 9, i.e. in particular the carriage 12 supporting this print head 9, along the longitudinal axis B of the movable arm 8 to position each print head 9 or even only some of the print heads 9 in succession at the surface of the product 2 to be decorated.

For example, if it is desired to provide on the product 2 a decoration pattern comprising all the colours of the various print heads 9 to be applied according to a determined sequence, the translation means 13 of the carriage 12 perform a series of brief displacements of the carriage 12 along the longitudinal axis B of the movable arm 8 to bring the print heads 9 close to the surface to be decorated in the aforementioned sequence one after the other.

This allows the print heads 9 to dispense the printing fluid on the surface to be decorated one after the other and in the aforementioned sequence, according to the desired sequence, through the respective heads 10.

The method can be implemented to obtain, for example, a multicolored decorative pattern at determined portions of the surface of the product 2.

By varying the angle of inclination of the movable arm 8 so as to guide the plane of the head 10 differently, it is possible to obtain a decorative pattern on other parts of the surface of the product.

Alternatively or in combination, the supporting means 6 can be rotated by a given angle determined by the processing and control unit to position the desired portion of the surface of the product 2 in an area that can be reached in the easiest way by the head 10 of the decoration unit 7.

If it is desired to provide a circumferential decoration, for example on a product 2 consisting of a plate or the like, the machine operating parameters should be set such that the selected heads 10 of the print heads 8 release the printing fluid uniformly in the following given time ranges: this given time range is sufficient to allow the rotating means 18 to impart to the rotatable platform 17 and thus to the product 2 a complete rotation about the vertical axis D.

The operations can be performed sequentially by the other print heads 8 if it is desired to provide a circumferentially multicoloured decorative pattern.

It has thus been observed that the invention achieves the proposed objects.

The decorating machine according to the invention allows to provide on three-dimensional products even multi-coloured and complex decorations of considerably higher quality than that which can be obtained by using a conventional decorating line, but with production costs lower than those of the aforesaid conventional line.

Moreover, the decoration that can be obtained by using the machine according to the invention is distinguished, with greater precision and repeatability, from that provided by using a conventional production line.

The machine according to the invention can be used in a very versatile manner with respect to conventional decoration lines, since it does not require any replacement or adjustment interventions involving mechanical parts to obtain different decorations or to obtain decorations on products having different shapes or sizes.

In fact, the use of accurately controlled inkjet print heads by the processing control unit of the machine allows to obtain infinite graphic solutions and infinite color combinations on the surface of the product without any intervention on the adjustment or replacement of parts.

Another but not insignificant advantage lies in the fact that the machine is simple and of small dimensions, so that it can be simply inserted even in existing production lines; furthermore, the machine can be made to operate even without specific technical skills, since it differs by a few and simple movements.

The present invention has been described according to a preferred embodiment, but equivalent variants can be envisaged without departing from the scope of protection outlined by the appended claims.

Claims (14)

1. A machine for the decoration of three-dimensional products comprising:

a base (3);

-supporting means (6) associated with said base (3) for supporting the product (2) to be decorated;

a decoration unit (7) associated with the base (3) for decorating the product (2);

the decoration unit (7) comprises:

a movable arm (8) having a longitudinal axis (B) and being rotationally connected with the base (3), wherein the movable arm (8) is connected with the base (3) in a rotatable manner according to a rotation axis (A) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (B) of the movable arm (8) and is rotatable in a plane parallel to a front surface of the base (3);

characterized in that the decoration unit (7) comprises a plurality of inkjet printing heads (9) provided with at least one head (10) with ejection nozzles and sliding along the movable arm (8);

each of said print heads (9) is movable along a translation direction (C) from a non-operative position, in which it is spaced apart from said product (2), to an operative position, in which it is close to said product (2) to obtain a decorative pattern, wherein said translation directions (C) of said print heads (9) are parallel to each other and perpendicular to said longitudinal axis (B) of said movable arm (8) and to said rotation axis (a) of said movable arm (8).

2. Machine according to claim 1, wherein the movable arm (8) comprises a longitudinal sliding guide (11) to which the print head (9) is connected.

3. Machine according to claim 2, wherein the movable arm (8) comprises translation means (13) for translating the print head (9) along the longitudinal sliding guide (11).

4. A machine according to claim 3, wherein the print head (9) is mounted on a single slidable carriage (12) associated with the longitudinal sliding guide (11), the translation means (13) being associated with the single slidable carriage (12).

5. Machine according to claim 2, wherein each of said printing heads (9) comprises a fixed part (14) associated with said longitudinal sliding guide (11), and a movable part (15) movable along the respective translation direction (C) and carrying said head (10) with ejection nozzles.

6. Machine according to claim 5, wherein each of said print heads (9) comprises a respective translation unit (16) for translating said movable portion (15) with respect to said fixed portion (14) along said translation direction (C).

7. Machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said supporting means (6) for supporting said products (2) comprise a rotatable platform (17) supported by brackets (19) associated with said base (3).

8. Machine according to claim 7, wherein the carriage (19) is adjustable in height manually or automatically.

9. Machine according to claim 7, wherein said supporting means (6) for supporting said products (2) comprise rotating means (18) for rotating said rotatable platform (17).

10. Machine according to claim 7, comprising means for actuating the movable arm (8) from a non-operative position to a plurality of operative positions in which the movable arm (8) is inclined with respect to the rotatable platform (17) by an angle corresponding to the angle of inclination of the surface of the product (2) to be decorated.

11. Method for the decoration of three-dimensional products, carried out by using the machine according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

-positioning said product (2) on said supporting means (6);

rotating the movable arm (8) having a longitudinal axis (B) with respect to the supporting means (6) by an angle corresponding to the angle of inclination of the surface of the product (2) to be decorated, wherein the movable arm (8) is connected to the base (3) in a rotatable manner according to a rotation axis (A) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (B) of the movable arm (8);

translating at least one of said print heads (9) along a respective translation direction (C) from said inoperative position to said operative position close to said surface of said product (2), wherein said translation directions (C) of said print heads (9) are parallel to each other and perpendicular to said longitudinal axis (B) of said movable arm (8) and to said rotation axis (A) of said movable arm (8);

-actuating the ejection nozzles of the head (10) of the print head (9) to deposit a determined quantity of printing fluid on the surface of the product (2) to obtain decoration.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising the steps of: -translating at least one of said print heads (9) along the longitudinal axis (B) of the movable arm (8) to position the print head (9) at the surface of the product (2) to be decorated.

13. Method according to claim 11 or 12, comprising the step of rotating the support means (6) to position different portions of the surface of the product (2) at the decoration unit (7).

14. The method according to claim 11 or 12, comprising the steps of: -sequentially translating a plurality of said print heads (9) along respective said translation directions (C) from respective said inoperative positions to respective said operative positions close to said surface of said product (2), and-actuating the ejection nozzles of the heads (10) of said print heads (9) in respective said operative positions to deposit a determined quantity of printing fluid on said surface of said product (2) to obtain a multicoloured decoration.