Apparatus for decorating cups and other ceramics articles of manufacture of complex shape, by hot transfer of decalcomanias

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus (1) for decorating cups and other ceramics articles of manufacture of complex shape, by hot transfer of decalcomanias, the main features of said apparatus being that it comprises, on a supporting framework (2), a rotary plate (3) associated with a decalcomania loader and provided for cooperating with a conical pad (10) for taking up a decalcomania. The conical pad is designed for transferring the decalcomania on the cup (24) or the like, the latter being supported in a rotatable idle manner on a supporting arm (20). Driving means are moreover provided for synchronously turning the rotary plate and conical pad.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for decorating cups and other ceramics articles of manufacture of complex shape, by hot transfer of decalcomanias. Apparatus for decorating ceramics articles of manufacture by transferring decalcomanias are already known and commercially available, as for example illustrated in WO-A-9 405 515 or in US-A-4 806 197 or in US-A-5 147 495. These apparatus, however, are exclusively designed for operating on cylindrical articles of manufacture, and they can not operate on cups having a complex configuration, for example of frustum of cone shape. For decorating ceramics cups and articles of manufacture of complex configuration are at present used manual decalcomania transfer methods, with consequent drawbacks of long processing times, and unsatisfactory application accuracy, thereby the end products are not satisfactory from a quality standpoint. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing an apparatus for decorating ceramics cups and other articles of manufacture, having a complex shape, by hot transfer of decalcomanias, which apparatus is specifically designed to fully automatically operate so as to provide a perfect transfer and proper locating of decalcomanias on cups having, for example, a frustum of cone configuration. Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus affording the possibility of automatically carrying out the several decalcomania taking and transferring operations, while providing a perfect locating of the taken up decalcomanias under all of the operating conditions. Another object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus, which, owing to the constructional features thereof, is very safe and reliable in operation. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus which can be easily made by using easily available elements and materials and which, moreover, is very competitive from a mere economic standpoint. According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by an apparatus for decorating ceramics cups and other articles of manufacture, of complex shape, by hot transfer of decalcomanias, characterized in that said apparatus comprises, on a supporting framework, a rotary plate associated with a decalcomania loader and cooperating with a conical pad for taking up a decalcomania, said pad operating so as to transfer a decalcomania on a cup which is idly rotatably supported on a supporting arm, driving means being moreover provided for timely turning said rotary plate and conical pad. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of an apparatus for decorating cups and other ceramics articles of manufacture of complex shape, by hot transfer of decalcomanias, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative, but not limitative, example, in the figures of the accompanying drawings, where: Figure 1 is a schematic elevation view illustrating the apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a top plan view illustrating the apparatus according to the invention; Figure 3 is a further schematic top plan view illustrating a starting operating step in which a decalcomania is located on a rotary plate; Figure 4 is an elevation view illustrating the decalcomania locating step; Figure 5 is a top plan view illustrating a decalcomania taking up step performed by a rotary pad; Figure 6 is a further elevation view illustrating the decalcomania taking up step performed by the mentioned rotary pad; Figure 7 is a top plan view illustrating an end decalcomania taking up step; Figure 8 is an elevation view illustrating a starting step of the cooperation between the pad and cup; Figure 9 is a top plan view illustrating a middle operating step for applying a decalcomania on the cup; Figure 10 is an elevation view illustrating a middle step for applying the decalcomania on the cup; Figure 11 is a top plan view illustrating an end operating step performed after the application of the decalcomania; and Figure 12 is an elevation view illustrating the end step in which the cup with applied thereon the decalcomania is removed from the apparatus. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to the number references of the above mentioned figures, the apparatus for decorating ceramics cups and other articles of manufacture of complex shape, by hot transfer of decalcomanias, according to the present invention, which has been generally indicated by the reference number 1, comprises a supporting framework 2, on which is supported a rotary plate 3, which cooperates with a decalcomania loader assembly, indicated by the reference number 4. More specifically, the decalcomania loader assembly can be radially displaced, with respect to the rotary plate, and is provided with stroke adjustment means 5 in order to properly locate a decalcomania 6 on a suction portion 7 of the rotary plate 3. On the rotary plate operates a conical decalcomania taking up pad 10, which is advantageously made of a silicone rubber and has substantially a half of cone configuration, that is it presents the conical pad along a suitable angular extension. In particular, the pad 10 is supported, as it will become more apparent hereinafter, so as to turn about an axis thereof and being arranged so that its side surface will interact with the decalcomania 6, for taking up it. On a side of the pad 10 is arranged a heater 11 which, during the rotation of the pad 10, will contact the latter thereby properly heating it. If desired, it is also possible to provide a hot air heating of the pad. At the working region of the pad 10 is arranged a supporting arm, generally indicated by the reference number 20, which is pivoted about a horizontal axis 21, to a carousel 22. As shown, the supporting arm is swingably mounted by means of the operation of a piston 23, so as to bring a cup 24 to cooperate with the pad 10 or so as to remove the cup from said pad, depending on the provided operating steps. Moreover, the carousel is caused to turn step by step so as to transfer the cup from a loading station to a cup handle locating station, to a standby station, wherein the decalcomania is applied, and then to an unloading station. A very important feature of the invention is that are provided driving means for timely turning the rotary plate 3 and conical pad 10. These driving means comprise a driving motor 30, operating the shaft 31, rotatably driving the gear element 33, which, in turn, meshes with a side pinion 32. The shaft 31 is connected, through a synchronization clutch 34, to a second side pinion 35, which meshes with a pinion 36 of the rotary plate, which has a tooth number substantially twice that of the pinion 35, so as to provide synchronized movements, as it will become more apparent hereinafter. From the central pinion 32 extends a vertical small shaft 36 which supports a top pinion 37, meshing with a pinion 38 of the conical pad. The pinions 32, 33, 35, 37 and 38 have all the same number of teeth, thereby synchronized rotary movements of the conical pad and rotary plate are obtained. Moreover, the provision of the synchronous clutch 34 provides a possibility of carrying a perfect timing between the rotation of the rotary plate on which is arranged the decalcomania and the rotation of the conical pad operating as a transfer element. In operation, the starting operating step is performed by arranging at a suitable location the decalcomania 6, which is brought by the loader 4 on the suction plate 7, holding the decalcomania at a set location. Under these conditions, the cup 24 will be arranged in a standby position with the cup handle facing downwardly and removed from the silicone pad. Then, the rotary plate rotation is started so as to displace the rotary plate toward the pad, which is also provided with a synchronous rotation, to cause the decalcomania to contact the pad. The starting portion of the pad which, as stated, has a frustum of cone shape, will coincide, owing to the set synchronism, with the starting portion of the decalcomania to be taken up. Under these conditions, the cup will be always held in a standby condition. By continuing the rotary movement, the decalcomania will be fully transferred onto the pad. The cup, as on the top portion thereof there is no pad portion, will achieve its working position owing to the rotary movement of the arm 20, which will cause the cup to contact the pad. As the starting portion of the pad, on which the decalcomania is applied, begins to contact the cup, also the latter is turned, since it is supported in a rotatable idle condition. As the pad transfer on the cup ends, the cup is removed from the pad, the decalcomania supporting paper is ejected as a waste, and the rotary plate is brought again to the starting position thereof, in order to identically repeat the above disclosed operating cycle. In this connection, it should be also pointed out that, during the subsequent rotary step of the pad, the latter will contact the conical heater 11 thereby the pad will be always held at the desired temperature in order to provide an optimum transfer of the decalcomania. From the above disclosure it should be apparent that the invention fully achieves the intended objects. In particular, the fact is to be pointed out that a decorating apparatus has been provided which can perform in an automatic perfectly synchronized manner the transfer of decalcomanias on cups, having a complex configuration, thereby automatically and safely applying the provided decalcomania. The invention, as disclosed, is susceptible several modifications and variations all of which will come within the scope of the inventive idea, as defined in the following claims- Moreover, all of the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements. In practicing the invention, the used materials, provided that they are compatible to the intended use, as well as the contingent size and shapes, can be any, depending on requirements.

Claims: An apparatus for decorating ceramics cups and other articles of manufacture, of complex shape, by hot transfer of decalcomanias, characterized in that said apparatus (1) comprises, on a supporting framework (2), a rotary plate (3) associated with a decalcomania loader (4) and cooperating with a conical pad (10) for taking up a decalcomania, said pad operating so as to transfer the decalcomania on a cup (24) which is idly rotatably supported on a supporting arm (20), driving means (30-37) being moreover provided for timely turning said rotary plate and conical pad. An apparatus, according to Claim 1, characterized in that said decalcomania loader is radially movable with respect to said rotary plate and is pivoted at the center of said rotary plate. An apparatus, according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said decalcomania loader is provided with stroke adjusting means, for properly locating said decalcomania. An apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that on said rotary plate is provided a suction plate designed for holding in a set position said decalcomania. An apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding clams, characterized in that said pad has a substantially half-conical configuration and can rotate about an axis thereof. An apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus further comprises a conical heater designed for heating said rotary pad. An apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cup support is pivoted to a rotary carousel provided for successively bringing said cup to the different processing steps thereof. An apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said supporting arm is swingably mounted about a substantially horizontal axis and being driven by a piston. An apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said driving means comprise a driving motor driving a shaft which rotatively drives a gear element, meshing with a side pinion coupled, through a synchronization clutch, to a pinion of said rotary plate, said central pinion being coupled to a shaft on which is keyed a top pinion meshing with a pinion of said pad. An apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pinions have all the same number of teeth, with the exception of the pinion of the rotary plate which has a double number of teeth. An apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said supporting arm is driven toward and away from said conical pad in order to bring a cup from a region away from said conical pad into contact with said conical pad.

Inventors: SALA RICCARDO, SALA ROBERTO, SALA, RICCARDO, SALA, ROBERTO, Sala, Riccardo, I.P.A. Industria Porcellane S.p.A, Sala, Roberto, I.P.A. Industria Porcellane S.p.A.
Applicants: I P A IND PORCELLANE S P A, I.P.A. INDUSTRIA PORCELLANE S.P.A.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B44C1
IPC codes: B65C9, B44C1