Improvements in or relating to a method of and apparatus for applying glaze to ceramic articles

摘要

PICT:0490770/III/1 PICT:0490770/III/2 A method of applying glaze to ceramic articles consists in spraying the glaze from a number of sprayers each of which applies a thin coat over the greater part of the articles, and conveying the article through the sprays successively at such a speed that a substantially dry coat of glaze is received from each spray. The sprayers are oscillated during the application of the glaze. The articles are carried past the sprayers by an endless belt conveyer 10, Fig. 1, of flexible material, preferably rubber belting reinforced with fabric, the upper run of which is supported. on balls 28, Fig. 3, preferably of glass, held stationary in horizontal rows. The belt 10 is provided with rows of upright pins 34 with tips enclosed in conical rubber caps 41 on which the articles to be glazed are supported. Fig. PICT:0490770/III/3 1, disposed along the upper run of the conveyer. Spray guns 59, Fig. 5, project through openings in the lower parts of the booths 45, 46 and direct their sprays upwards to coat the undersides of articles supported on the pins 34. The guns are mounted on a shaft 62 which extends alongside the booths, and means are provided for oscillating this shaft so that the sprays from the guns 59 cover the articles completely. The booth 47 contains spray guns 118, 119, 212 and 122, which are oscillated, for applying glaze to A pan 42 arranged beneath one end of the conveyer contains a bath for washing off any glaze that adheres to the pins 34. The sprayers are mounted in casings or booths 45, 46, 47, the upper parts of the articles on the conveyer. In order to protect the conveyer from drippings of glaze, its edges are enclosed by shields 78, Fig. 5. A large drum 81 rotatably mounted in the upper part of each booth 45, 46 intercepts and collects sprayed particles of glaze which miss the ware. A wiping-strip 91 removes the glaze from the surface of the rotating drum and allows the glaze so collected to fall to a drain pan 53 at the bottom of the booth.