WO2004002699A1 - Adjustable funnel for controlling the flow of clay entering moulds used to produce ceramic parts - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an adjustable funnel which is used to control the flow of clay entering moulds used to produce ceramic parts. The inventive funnel comprises a body (2) which is equipped with a central cavity (3), the inner lateral walls thereof comprising built-in brakes (5) which are disposed in upper (4) and lower (4') grooves. According to the invention, the aforementioned brakes (5) can be adjusted independently using adjustable elements (6 and 6') which act on the upper (7) and lower (7') flat bars thereof. The other end of said flat bars is articulated to a part (9) which is in turn connected to another part (11) which rubs against the clay.

Description

 ADJUSTABLE EMBUDE TO CONTROL THE CLAY FLOW THAT ENTERS THE PARTS MANUFACTURING MOLDS

CERAMICS

D E S C R I P C I Ó N

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present specification refers to an adjustable funnel to control the flow of clay that enters the molds of manufacture of ceramic pieces, whose purpose is to allow the control of the flow of clay that enters the molds, with the sole purpose of directing the aforementioned flow to the areas that need it most.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention has its application within the industry dedicated to the manufacture of ceramic pieces and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The applicant is aware of the existence of a plurality of molds for the production of ceramic pieces, which are of various types, varying shapes, lengths and manufacturing methods.

On the part of the applicant it has also been found that one of the important problems posed by the models currently used to regulate the flow of mud at different points of the mold, entails the fact that the brakes that are currently being used are introduced perpendicular to the clay flow, which implies that if said brakes are placed far away from the final output of the mold it has no effect, since the friction zone is very small and the clay returns to its initial channel, since it has a lot of trajectory to travel, but nevertheless if the brakes are placed closer to the exit, if it manages to regulate this clay flow to a greater or lesser extent, but in its against it can appear undulations and scratches in the piece at the exit of the mold, and the friction zone in many cases is still scarce.

The obvious solution to this problem would be to have an invention that totally obviates the aforementioned inconveniences.

However, the applicant is not aware of the existence of an invention that has adequate characteristics for its use instead of the current ones.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The adjustable funnel to control the flow of clay that enters the molds for the manufacture of ceramic pieces, which the invention proposes, is configured in itself as an obvious novelty within its specific field of application, by gathering in its context a plurality of features that adequately improve the applications currently used for the realization of different ceramic pieces. More specifically, the adjustable funnel to control the flow of clay that enters the molds for manufacturing ceramic pieces object of the invention, is constituted from the fitting of brakes on the walls and in upper and lower body pockets of the funnel, so that said brakes are coupled to the walls of the hollow of the funnel body and its upper and lower pockets, thus allowing those walls to be adjustable by areas due to the movement of the brakes, and thus control the flow of clay where necessary, and in the same sense of the flow of the clay, this very important data, since it allows the friction zone between the brake and the clay to be much greater, specifically the entire height of the funnel, with its consequent increase in the braking action and in turn prevent the ceramic pieces from leaving marked or scratched at the exit of the mold by not braking by an action perpendicular to the flow l of clay exerted on certain points or along a line, if not offer a braking surface parallel to the flow direction.

A very important application to take into account in the adjustable funnel is that applied to a mold for the manufacture of ceramic pieces of several outlets, these can independently regulate the flow of clay that reaches them as they need to obtain a ceramic piece of better quality.

The funnel body is basically constituted by an upper platform on which the mold for manufacturing ceramic pieces and a lower platform that holds the funnel body itself to the extruder that is responsible for pushing the flow of clay into the funnel and into the mold.

The upper and lower platforms of the funnel body have some pockets where they are going to house some pieces that together with those that are attached to the wall inside the funnel body form each of the brakes, all of which form together with the body itself from the funnel the adjustable funnel.

Each of the brakes consists of four parts, the upper part as well as the lower part being constituted by flat tracks in which an adjustable thrust system acting on the plate itself is arranged at one end, and at the other end there is a system of articulated anchor that joins the upper and lower part respectively of the piece that attaches to the funnel wall.

The piece that attaches to the funnel wall has at its ends articulated anchoring systems to the upper and lower plates, in turn incorporating two holes where a fourth piece is attached, which occupies the contact position with the mud flow or clay

This fourth piece is the one that rubs with the mud, and the one that wears out, with which this piece can be manufactured in material more resistant to wear and being able to be replaced when it is considered appropriate, for example when it deteriorates.

The movement of the thrust system over the plates of the upper and lower parts of each brake causes said brakes to be introduced towards the mud flow in the part and with the depth that is considered appropriate for each particular mold.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, a descriptive set of drawings is attached as an integral part thereof, with an illustrative character and non-limiting, the following has been represented:

Figure number 1.- Corresponds to a perspective view of the adjustable funnel to control the flow of clay entering the molds for manufacturing ceramic pieces object of the invention, in which not all brakes have been arranged for the purpose of facilitate understanding

Figure number 2.- Corresponds to a perspective view of one of the adjustable brakes where the different parts can be seen and how they are coupled together.

Figure number 3.- Corresponds to a section by A-B of the object represented in figure number 1, in which the brake is in the position of maximum opening, engaging the funnel hollow wall.

Figure number 4.- Corresponds to the same view of the previous figure, in which the plate lower has moved into the funnel hole.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of these figures, it can be seen as the adjustable funnel (1) to control the flow of clay that enters the molds of manufacture of ceramic pieces, is constituted from a body (2) whose sides delimit in its central area a recess (3) with a truncated pyramid shape and a rectangular plan, with recesses or pockets (4) and (4 ').

The brakes (5) have at their ends adjustable thrust systems (6) and (6 ') that act on the upper (7) and lower (7') plates respectively, as well as articulated anchoring systems (8) and (8 ') located at opposite ends of both plates (7) and (7').

The central part (9) of the brake (5) has at its ends notches (10) and (10 '), intended to accommodate the articulated anchors (8) and (8').

In summary, the funnel (1) to control the flow of clay that enters the molds of manufacture of ceramic pieces, presents in the body of the funnel (2) a hole (3) that has on its walls some brakes (5) supported on the upper (4) and lower (4 ') pockets of the funnel body (2), such that said brakes (5) are coupled to the inner walls of the hollow (3) of the funnel body (2), allowing these walls to be adjustable by zones due to the movement of the brakes, and in this way manage to control the flow of clay where its application is required, and this by means of a braking action exerted consistently along the same direction of the flow of the clay, allowing the friction zone between the brake and the clay is substantially greater, as can be the entire height of the funnel (1), with its consequent braking and in turn preventing the ceramic pieces from leaving marked or scratched at the exit of the mold, when the braking action is not performed perpendicular to the flow of clay over certain points or along a line.

Each of the brakes (5) consists of four parts, indicating that the upper (7) and lower (7 ') parts are each constituted by a plate in which at one end there is an adjustable thrust system (6) and (6 ') acting on the plate itself to achieve its mobility, and on the other end or end there is an anchoring system (8) and (8') that allows its articulation with the top and bottom of the piece ( 9) which is coupled to the wall of the hole (3) of the funnel body (2).

The piece (9) that attaches to the funnel wall, joins in an articulated way at its 2 ends to the upper (7) and lower (7 ') plates, and in turn incorporates two holes where the piece (11 ) which is intended to rub over the mud, and can be made of material more resistant to wear and allow it to be changed when it is damaged, and can be manufactured with a greater or lesser thickness if deemed necessary. The movement of the pushing system (6) and (6 ') on the upper (7) and lower (7') plates makes its displacement, making the brake (5) be introduced towards the mud flow in the hollow area (3) and with the depth considered appropriate for each particular mold.

Claims

1.- Adjustable funnel to control the flow of clay that enters the molds for the manufacture of ceramic pieces, characterized by being constituted from a body (2) provided with a central hollow (3), whose internal side walls are arranged brakes (5) housed in upper (4) and lower (4 ') pockets of the funnel body (2), being coupled to the inner side walls of the hole (3) and each and every one of these brakes being adjustable ( 5) independently, by means of adjustable thrust systems (6) and (6 '), each brake (5) counting on a piece (11) to friction with the clay. 2.- Adjustable funnel to control the flow of clay that enters the molds for manufacturing ceramic pieces, according to the first claim, characterized in that each of the brakes (5) consists of four pieces, the upper part being constituted by a plate (7) which has at one end an adjustable thrust system (6) and at the other end an articulated anchor system (8) that joins with the upper part of the piece (9) that attaches to the inner wall of the hollow (3) of the funnel body (2), staying in a notch (10). 3.- Adjustable funnel to control the flow of clay that enters the molds for manufacturing ceramic pieces, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower part is constituted by a plate (7 ') that has at one end a thrust system adjustable (6 ') and at the other end an articulated anchoring system (8') that joins the bottom of the piece (9) which is coupled to the inner wall of the recess (3) of the funnel body (2), being housed in a notch (10 '). 4.- Adjustable funnel to control the flow of clay entering the molds for manufacturing ceramic pieces, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the piece (9) that is coupled to the inner wall of the hollow (3) of the funnel body (2) internally incorporates two holes (12) and (12 ') where the fourth part (11) of the brake (5) is coupled.