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EP-4737013-A1 - MACHINE FOR THE DECORATION OF MANUFACTURED ARTICLES

EP4737013A1EP 4737013 A1EP4737013 A1EP 4737013A1EP-4737013-A1

Abstract

The machine (1) for the decoration of manufactured articles (M) comprises a frame (2) defining at least partly a decoration booth (3) of at least one manufactured article (M), the frame (2) being provided with at least one pair of enclosing walls (4, 5) bounding an inlet opening (4a) and an outlet opening (5a), movement means (6) associated with the frame (2) and configured to move the manufactured article (M) along a direction of movement (A) from the inlet opening (4a) toward the outlet opening (5a); at least one application assembly (7) associated with the frame (2) and arranged in the decoration booth (3) between the inlet opening (4a) and the outlet opening (5a) along the direction of movement (A), the application assembly (7) being configured to apply at least one decorative product to the manufactured article (M), and wherein the machine (1) comprises at least one collection channel (8) associated with at least one of the enclosing walls (4, 5), the collection channel (8) being configured to collect at least a part of the decorative product deposited on the relevant enclosing wall (4, 5); a recovery system (9) associated with the collection channel (8) and configured to automatically collect and recover the decorative product contained within the collection channel (8).

Inventors

  • BOTTI, Luca

Assignees

  • Tecnocer Italia S.r.l.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20251028

Claims (15)

  1. Machine (1) for the decoration of manufactured articles (M), preferably ceramic manufactured articles, the machine (1) comprising: a frame (2) defining at least partly a decoration booth (3) of at least one manufactured article (M), said frame (2) being provided with at least one pair of enclosing walls (4, 5) bounding an inlet opening (4a) and an outlet opening (5a), movement means (6) associated with the frame (2) and configured to move the manufactured article (M) along a direction of movement (A) from the inlet opening (4a) toward the outlet opening (5a); at least one application assembly (7) associated with the frame (2) and arranged in the decoration booth (3) between the inlet opening (4a) and the outlet opening (5a) along the direction of movement (A), the application assembly (7) being configured to apply at least one decorative product to said manufactured article (M), characterized by the fact that the machine (1) comprises: at least one collection channel (8) associated with at least one of said enclosing walls (4, 5), the collection channel (8) being configured to collect at least a part of said decorative product deposited on the relevant enclosing wall (4, 5); a recovery system (9) associated with the collection channel (8) and configured to automatically collect and recover the decorative product contained within the collection channel (8).
  2. Machine (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the collection channel (8) has a linear development and extends between two opposite ends (8a, 8b) seamlessly, the recovery system (9) comprises a movable element (10) coupled to the collection channel (8) in a sliding manner and adapted to recover the decorative product contained in the collection channel (8) during its movement along the collection channel itself (8).
  3. Machine (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said movable element (10) is configured to move along the collection channel (8) transversely to the direction of movement (A) between two end-of-stroke positions.
  4. Machine (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the recovery system (9) comprises a movement assembly (15) operationally connected to the movable element (10) and adapted to move the latter along the collection channel (8) and/or between said two end-of-stroke positions.
  5. Machine (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said movable element (10) comprises: at least one fluid containment chamber (9a) adapted to receive and contain the decorative product recovered from the collection channel (8), at least one cleaning medium (11) associated with and placed inside and/or outside the collection channel (8) and sliding with respect thereto to move the decorative product from the collection channel (8) toward the containment chamber (9a).
  6. Machine (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the movable element (10) comprises: - a fixed portion (14) and a movable portion (12), wherein said movable portion (12) is movable between a closed configuration, wherein it is moved close to said fixed portion (14) so as to define said containment chamber (9a), and an open configuration, wherein it is moved away from said fixed portion (14) so as to define an outlet of the decorative product from said containment chamber (9a).
  7. Machine (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the movable element (10) comprises counteracting means (13) coupled to the movable portion (12) and configured to counteract the displacement of said movable portion (12) from the closed configuration to the open configuration.
  8. Machine (1) according to claim 6 or 7, comprising at least one actuator associated with said enclosing wall (4, 5) and configured to contact said movable portion (12) and cause it to move in the open configuration.
  9. Machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the recovery system (9) comprises cleaning means (16) of said movable element (10) and adapted to remove residues of decorative product.
  10. Machine (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said cleaning means (16) comprise at least one of: a brush element (16a, 16b) adapted to contact an outer surface of said movable element (10), washing means (17) adapted to dispense a washing fluid on said movable element (10).
  11. Machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said cleaning means (16) are arranged where at least one of said opposite ends (8a, 8b) of the collection channel (8) and/or at least one of said end-of-stroke positions is located.
  12. Machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the collection channel (8) is arranged where an edge (18) of the enclosing wall (4, 5) is located bounding said inlet opening (4a) and/or said outlet opening (5a).
  13. Machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the collection channel (8) is arranged where at least one inner face of said enclosing wall (4, 5) is located facing the inside of the decorating booth (3).
  14. Machine (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the collection channel (8) is arranged where said inner face and an outer face opposite the inner face of the same enclosing wall (4, 5) is located.
  15. Machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a control unit (19) in signal communication with said recovery system (9) and configured to move at least partly said recovery system (9) along said collection channel (8) to recover said decorative product deposited where said enclosing wall (4, 5) is located.

Description

Technical Field The present invention relates to a machine for the decoration of manufactured articles, preferably manufactured ceramic articles. Background Art In the industry, specifically in the ceramic sector, the use of machines adapted to distribute one or more layers of a decorative product onto a manufactured article is very well known, where "decorative product" means, e.g., glazes, engobes, paints or other products, generally in liquid, semi-liquid, or powder form. This treatment involves the application of at least one layer of decorative product onto the visible surface of the manufactured article to be decorated. More specifically, the operation must necessarily be carried out in such a way that the decorative product is evenly distributed over the entire surface of the manufactured article. This requirement is motivated by the fact that uneven distribution of the decorative product would jeopardize the aesthetic quality of the final product and, therefore, its economic value. It is therefore essential, in order to obtain a satisfactory aesthetic result, that the decorative product be applied evenly and in such a quantity as to obtain a predefined weight/surface area value. Known machines for such applications are described, for example, in Italian patent publication 102021000015323. The known machines are provided with a supporting surface on which the ceramic manufactured articles are transported and with a plurality of sliding carriages, arranged transversely to the direction of forward movement of the ceramic manufactured article and parallel to each other, where each carriage is provided with at least one nozzle for dispensing the decorative product. In particular, the sliding carriages are mounted on top of the supporting surface and move alternately between two end-of-stroke positions. In this way, thanks to the alternating motion of the dispensing nozzles, the decorative product is dispensed several times on each manufactured article, thus achieving an even distribution of the same. In particular, the decorative product is dispensed and applied inside a booth that extends between an inlet opening, through which the ceramic manufactured articles are received, and an outlet opening, through which the decorated manufactured articles leave the booth to be sent to downstream machines intended for subsequent stages of the decoration process. The openings are sized depending on the manufactured process to allow sufficient ventilation of the booth and reduce condensation of the decorative product on the walls of the booth itself. In fact, the decorative product condensing on the walls of the booth and falling onto the surface of the manufactured articles causes imperfections and unevenness in the finished products. The dimensions of the inlet and outlet openings of the manufactured articles are therefore sized in such a way as to reduce as much as possible the phenomenon of condensation of the decorative product which is sprayed inside the booth, i.e., in such a way as to allow at least some of the product particles not falling on the manufactured article to escape. However, this entails a further drawback in that a significant portion, estimated at around 15-20%, of the product dispensed escapes outside the booth without the possibility of being recovered (a phenomenon also known as "overspray"), resulting in high product waste and environmental damage. The overspray phenomenon is further highlighted by the high speeds at which the manufactured articles are generally moved forward through the decoration booth, causing a sort of "trailing effect", i.e., the dragging of product particles remaining in suspension and, therefore, an increase in the amount of product escaping through the inlet and outlet openings. Description of the Invention The main aim of the present invention is to devise a machine for the decoration of manufactured articles that allows for even distribution of the decorative product on ceramic manufactured articles while reducing the amount of product escaping to the outside. Within this aim, one object of the present invention is to limit the overspray effect and the trailing effect described above. A further object of the present invention is to devise a machine for the decoration of manufactured articles that allows for a reduction, compared to known types of machines, in the waste of decorative product dispensed, thus increasing the percentage of product that is recovered. A further object of the present invention is to devise a machine for the decoration of manufactured articles that allows for a reduction in the emissions of decorative product into the environment surrounding the machine during the production process. Yet another object of the present invention is to devise a machine for the decoration of manufactured articles that allows increasing the quality of the decorated ceramic manufactured articles. Another object of the present invention is to devise a machine f