IT201900006615A1 - DEVICE FOR WASHING A DECORATION CABIN - Google Patents

Description

DEVICE FOR WASHING A DECORATION CABIN

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is part of the technical sector relating to machinery for the ceramic industry, with particular reference to those intended for tile decoration lines.

Along the aforementioned decoration lines, a certain number of decoration booths are located in succession, shaped like a tunnel, in which the ceramic tiles, moving on a conveyor, enter, pass through a battery of nozzles that deliver ceramic glaze and then they go out.

The number of decoration booths can vary according to the type of decoration, or how many different colors of enamel must be applied; in certain lines there may be six or more cabins.

At programmed intervals, typically every 2-3 working hours, the decoration line is stopped for maintenance and washing; normally, the downtime of the line is contained within one hour, to minimize production loss.

At this juncture we also try to wash the decoration booths, especially inside them, but when the number of them is high it becomes impossible to do everything without expanding the downtime of the line, with the consequent inconveniences.

The purpose of the present invention is therefore to provide each decoration booth with its own washing device, capable of cleaning the interior walls of the booth as well as the operating elements housed therein with water, detergent or water pressure jets. mixed with detergents.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide that the washing device operates automatically according to a predefined work cycle, implemented in conjunction with the said programmed stop of the decoration line.

A further purpose of the invention is to program the automatic washing cycle in such a way as to minimize the steps required to clean the entire cabin.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the device a closed circuit power supply system, equipped with means capable of filtering and purifying the liquid resulting from the washing, in order to be able to clean and reuse it.

These and other purposes are fully achieved by means of a device for washing a decorating booth, with the latter associated with a line for decorating ceramic tiles and provided with: a box-like protective structure, in which two opposite openings are provided , respectively for the inlet and outlet of a conveyor on which said ceramic tiles are made to advance; nozzles for spraying ceramic glaze on said ceramic tiles, with said nozzles arranged in a battery inside the aforementioned protective box structure; at least one tank for collecting the excess glaze, arranged in the bottom of said box-like structure, with the aforementioned device comprising:

- at least one swiveling washing head, associated with the lower end of a movable arm, the latter supported by the protective box structure, the swiveling washing head being equipped with one or more spray nozzles;

- � first actuator organs, for the movement of the mobile arm according to a predefined program and with predetermined speed, for the movement of the swiveling washing head inside the protective box structure;

- second actuator members, for moving the washing head, according to at least one rotation axis, in a suitable phase relationship with said movement of the mobile arm; - it is a system for feeding water and / or cleaning liquid under pressure, with pressure ranges typically between less than 10 bar and over 100 bar, to the spray nozzles of the washing head, with the jet coming out of the spray nozzles intended to clean the components inside the cabin and the internal walls of the protective box structure. The resulting liquid is destined to be conveyed, by gravity, towards the collection tank, from which it is evacuated by means of relative drainage pipes.

The characteristics of the invention in question will become evident from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the device for washing a decoration booth, of which the object, in accordance with what is proposed in the claims and with the aid of the attached tables drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an axonometric view of a decorating booth equipped with the washing device in question;

Fig.2 shows a front view of the cabin of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 illustrates a sectional view of the decorating booth, according to plan II-II of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 illustrates, in an axonometric view similar to Fig. 1, the decorating booth with a part of the relative decorating line and a feeding plant associated with the washing device;

- Fig.5 illustrates a side view of what is illustrated in Fig.4; - Fig. 6 illustrates a front view of Fig. 5.

In the figures listed above, reference 1 indicates the washing device object of the present invention, as a whole.

The washing device 1 is associated with a ceramic tile decoration booth 2 (not shown), arranged along a decoration line L, partially visible in Fig. 4, and in which a conveyor T is included, for example with belts, for the advancement of said ceramic tiles.

The same decoration line L can provide a plurality of said decoration booths 2, arranged in succession at predetermined distances from each other, all advantageously equipped with a corresponding washing device 1.

Each decoration booth 2, in a per se known manner, is provided with: -� a protective box structure 20, in which two opposing openings 21, 22 are provided, respectively for the entrance and exit of the conveyor T;

-� a battery of nozzles 23 for spraying ceramic glaze on ceramic tiles, arranged inside the protective box structure 20;

- at least one collection tank 24 (two in the example referred to in the figures) of the excess glaze, arranged in the bottom of the protective box structure 20.

It is omitted to describe in detail the further constructive characteristics of the protective box structure 20, as well as other known members present in the painting booth 2, as they are irrelevant for the understanding of the invention in question.

The washing device 1, according to the invention, comprises at least one swiveling washing head 3, provided with at least one spray nozzle 30 and associated with the lower end of a movable arm 4, with the latter supported in the upper part of the box-like structure protection 20 and extended downwards.

In the preferred embodiment of the attached figures, two movable arms 4 are provided, each with a relative swiveling washing head 3. The latter is provided with 3 or 4 spray nozzles 30, to optimize the area covered during operations. washing.

The two movable arms 4 are arranged mutually symmetrical at the opposite ends of the protective box structure 20, placing themselves above said inlet 21 and outlet 22 openings respectively made in the latter.

The box-like protective structure 20, in the non-limiting example illustrated, conforms two turrets 25, rising from its top, each of which is designed to house the upper portion of the corresponding mobile arm 4.

In a preferred construction solution, as shown in the figures, the movable arms 4 are of the oscillating type and lie on a vertical plane coinciding with the vertical longitudinal center line of the protective box structure 20.

First actuator members 5 are associated with each of the aforementioned movable arms 4, for the movement of the same on the vertical plane, according to a predefined program and with predetermined speed, for the movement of the washing head 3 inside the protective box structure 20.

In the illustrated construction solution, the first actuator members 5 are advantageously housed in the turret 25 of the corresponding mobile arm 4, so as to be in areas protected from splashes and, at the same time, easily inspectable from the outside of the protective box structure 20.

Each washing head 3 has associated second actuator members 6, comprising a nozzle holder body, for its movement according to at least one rotation axis, in a suitable phase relationship with the movement of the relative movable arm 4. Preferably the nozzle holder body is subject with two movements combined according to two different degrees of freedom, to ensure maximum coverage of the washing area, and therefore operate at 360 ° for each movement.

The aforesaid first and second actuator members 5, 6 are for example of the pneumatic type.

In any case, the movable arms 4 can be operated between a rest position, illustrated in Figure 5 and, partially in broken lines, in Figure 3, in which they do not interfere with the operation of the cabin 2, and a plurality of operating positions, given from all the positions that can be assumed by the washing head 3, and allowed by the aforementioned first 5 and second 6 actuator members.

In a construction variant not shown, each of said movable arms 4 is constituted by a robotic arm with controlled axes, which incorporates said first and second actuator members 5, 6, with electromechanical drive, in addition to any others to move both the movable arm 4 than the washing head 3 according to other axes.

The washing device 1 can also provide fixed auxiliary spray nozzles 33 intended to act in predetermined areas of the aforementioned protective box structure 20 not reached by the nozzles 30 of the directional washing heads 3.

For example, some of said fixed auxiliary spray nozzles 33 (of which only one is visible in Fig. 5) are present in the suction boxes 26 present inside the protective box structure 20.

In the washing device 1 additional spray nozzles 34 can be further provided, intended to be activated subsequently to those of said directional washing heads 3, suitable for washing the aforementioned collection tanks 24.

The spray nozzles 30 of the washing heads 3, the fixed auxiliary spray nozzles 33 as well as the additional spray nozzles 34 receive water and / or detergent liquid from an associated supply system 70, of a substantially known type, illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, 7, whose components are mostly outside the protective box structure 20.

For information purposes only, in the above figures the following components of said power supply system 70 can be distinguished:

- a hydraulic control unit 71;

-� a pump group 72;

-� a mixing tank 73, as well as valves and pipes.

The feeding system 70, activated together with the aforementioned first and second actuator members 5, 6, supplies water and / or detergent liquid at high pressure to the spray nozzles 30 of the washing heads 3, while the fixed auxiliary spray nozzles 33 and the nozzles additional sprayers 34, the water and / or the cleaning liquid preferably arrives at low pressure.

The jets that come out of said spray nozzles 30, 33, 34 clean respectively the members inside said decoration booth 2, the internal walls of the box-like protection structure 20 and to follow the collection tanks 24, during the time in which the decoration line L is stopped for scheduled maintenance.

The resulting liquid is conveyed, by gravity, to the underlying collection tanks 24, from which it is evacuated by means of the relevant drainage pipes, by the action of the appropriate pumps, provided in the system 70.

The aforementioned resulting liquid is then conveyed to the water purification plant of the plant, to be duly treated before being disposed of.

In a construction variant, not shown in detail, it is possible to provide that said feeding system 70 comprises a tank for collecting the residual liquid evacuated from the collection tanks 24, and a purification and filtering unit intended to treat said residual liquid, so as to regenerate clean water destined to be recycled in the washing cycle of the device 1 itself.

According to known technique, it is of course possible to provide that said power supply system 70, as well as the possible filtering and recirculation group, can be centralized for all the decoration booths 2 present in the decoration line L.

From the previous description, all the advantageous aspects of the proposed device for washing a decoration booth emerge clearly, capable of cleaning the internal walls of the latter, as well as the operating elements housed therein, with jets of water or detergent liquid which thanks to the movable arms and the rotating washing heads, they are able to reach all areas.

It should be noted that the washing device operates automatically according to a predefined work cycle, therefore without the need for an operator to intervene, with said cycle advantageously implemented in coincidence with said stop of the decoration line for scheduled maintenance.

In this way, the washing operations of the decoration booths do not have any impact on the duration of the line stop.

The automatic washing cycle, that is the programmed sequence of the movements of the mobile arms and the changes in the orientation of the washing heads, is designed to ensure that the areas already cleaned are not again soiled by splashes of dirty water coming from other areas of the cabin in which the jets of the spray nozzles are directed.

Of particular interest, from the point of view of respect for the environment, is the variant described in which the power supply system operates in a closed circuit, thanks to the reuse of the washing liquid, obtained with means capable of filtering and purifying it.

As is also evident to those skilled in the art, the washing device proposed with the present invention can be easily manufactured, with elements of simple design and certain reliability, many of which are normally commercially available, to guarantee low production costs.

However, it is understood that what has been described above has an exemplary and non-limiting value, therefore any detailed variations that may be necessary for technical and / or functional reasons, are considered from now on to fall within the same protective scope defined by the claims reported below.

Claims (8)

CLAIMS 1. Device for washing a decoration booth (2), with the latter associated with a line (L) for the decoration of ceramic tiles and equipped with: a protective box structure (20), in which two opposite openings (21, 22), respectively for the inlet and outlet of a conveyor (T) on which said ceramic tiles are made to advance; nozzles (23) for spraying ceramic glaze on said ceramic tiles, with said nozzles (23) arranged in a battery inside the aforementioned protective box structure (20); at least one collecting tank (24) of the excess glaze, arranged in the bottom of said box-like structure (20), with the aforementioned device (1) characterized in that it comprises: - it is at least one movable arm (4), mounted in said box-like structure (20) and operable between a rest position, not interfering with the activity of these nozzles (23), and operating positions for washing the interior of said booth decoration (2); - � at least one swiveling washing head (3), associated with the lower end of a relative aforementioned movable arm (4) and equipped with at least one spray nozzle (30), capable of delivering water or detergent liquid; - first actuator members (5), for moving said movable arm (4) according to a predefined program and with predetermined speed, for moving said swiveling washing head (3) inside the aforementioned protective box structure ( 20); - second actuator members (6), for the movement of said swiveling washing head (3), according to at least one axis of rotation, in a suitable phase relationship with said movement of the movable arm (4); - it is a plant (70) for feeding water and / or detergent liquid under pressure to the aforementioned at least one spray nozzle (30) of the swiveling washing head (30), with the jet coming out of said at least one spray nozzle (30 ) intended to clean the organs inside said decoration booth (2) as well as the internal walls of said protective box structure (20), with the resulting liquid intended to be conveyed, towards the outside of the aforementioned decorating booth (2). 2. Device according to rev. 1, characterized in that two of said movable arms (4) are provided, extending downwards, each with a relative swiveling washing head (3) and arranged at one of the opposite ends of the aforementioned protective box structure (20), above the said inlet (21) and outlet (22) openings respectively formed in the latter. 3. Device according to rev. 1 or 2, characterized in that the aforementioned box-like protective structure (20) forms turrets (25) rising from the relative top, each of which is provided to house the upper portion of the corresponding movable arm (4). 4. Device according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, characterized in that each of said movable arms (4) is of the oscillating type on a vertical plane coinciding with the vertical longitudinal centreline plane of said protective box structure (20), and by the fact that said first actuator members (5) are housed in the respective turret (25). 5. Device according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, characterized in that each of said movable arms (4) is constituted by a robotic arm with controlled axes, which incorporates said first and second actuator members (5, 6). 6. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that fixed auxiliary spray nozzles (33) are provided, connected to said system (70) for the supply of water and / or detergent liquid and intended for washing predetermined areas of the aforementioned protective box-like structure (20) not reached by said at least one orientable washing head (3). 7. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that supplementary spray nozzles (34) are provided, connected to said system (70) for the supply of water and / or detergent liquid, intended to be activated subsequently to those of said at least one swiveling washing head (3) and suitable for carrying out the washing of the aforementioned at least one collection tank (24). 8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in said plant (70) for the supply of water and / or detergent liquid a tank is provided to collect the resulting liquid evacuated from said at least one collection tank ( 24), and comprises a purification and filtering unit intended to treat said residual liquid, so as to regenerate clean water intended to be recycled in the washing cycle of the device (1) itself.