Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes – With measuring – testing – or inspecting – Controlling fluid pressure in direct contact with molding...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-03
2001-05-29
Vargot, Mathieu D. (Department: 1732)
Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes
With measuring, testing, or inspecting
Controlling fluid pressure in direct contact with molding...
C264S571000, C264S299000, C264S334000, C264S335000, C425S139000, C425S437000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06238603
ABSTRACT:
This application is a national stage application, according to Chapter II of the Patent Cooperation Treaty. This application claims the priority date of Aug. 29, 1996 for United Kingdom Patent Application No. 9618091.4.
This invention concerns a ware forming method and apparatus, and also particularly but not exclusively a method and apparatus for removing a piece of shaped clay from a mould.
Conventionally hollowware and flatware have been shaped on a roller machine With such a machine a plaster of paris mould is loaded onto the machine. Typically the mould is held in a metal mould carrier. A piece of clay is placed onto the mould which is then spun and a counter-rotating shaped roller head is brought into contact with the clay to provide the required shape. The ware carrying mould is then removed from the machine and placed in a drier to obtain mould release. Disadvantages are encountered with this system in that, as the shaped clay is held in the moulds during drying a large number of moulds are required which thus occupy a relatively large area in a production area.
WO A 96/31328 discloses a method and apparatus for removing an item of shaped clay from a mould.
According to the present invention there is provided a method of forming clayware, the method comprising locating a piece of clay on a mould, shaping the clay on the mould, locating a receiving member of a resilient material against the shaped clay on the opposite side thereof to the mould, urging the receiving member against the shaped clay such that said member substantially adopts the shape of the clay to provide a close fit thereagainst, and blowing a fluid through the mould to blow the shaped clay off the mould and onto the receiving member, such that as the shaped clay is blown off the mould, the receiving member is compressed a little further to receive the shaped clay off the mould.
The clay is preferably shaped by a roller head.
The invention also provides a method of removing a piece of shaped clay from a mould, the method comprising locating a receiving member of a resilient material against the shaped clay on the opposite side thereof to the mould, urging the receiving member against the shaped clay such that said member substantially adopts the shape of the clay to provide a close fit thereagainst, and blowing a fluid through the mould to blow the shaped clay off the mould and onto the receiving member, so that as the shaped clay is blown off the mould, the receiving member is compressed a little further to receive the shaped clay off the mould.
The fluid preferably comprises air, and the air may be warmed.
The receiving member preferably comprises a block of resilient material, which is desirably of greater thickness than the depth of the shaped clay.
Alternatively the receiving member may comprise a piece or pieces of resilient material mounted on a rigid support. The shape of the support may be adjustable, for instance to accommodate shaped articles of different depths.
A rigid member may be provided on a part of the receiving member to provide support for a part of the shaped clay, for instance the underside of a plate within the foot.
The receiving member may be formed such that it returns to substantially its initial shape whilst the shaped clay is thereon, after the mould has been moved away from said member.
The resilient material may comprise a sponge or foamed material, and preferably comprises a plastics material.
The receiving member may be shaped to support particular parts of the shaped clay when located thereon. For example, the receiving member may include an upstanding annular projection for supporting the rim of shaped clay flatware. For use with holloware an upstanding projection may be provided on the receiving member which is locatable within the shaped clay. Said projection may be shaped to substantially conform to the internal profile of the shaped clay.
The receiving member may be mounted on a carrier.
Air, which may be warmed, is preferably blown through the mould following removal of the shaped clay, to condition the mould.
First detection means may be provided for sensing when the shaped clay has been blown off the mould, and said means may comprise second detection means for sensing a reduction in the back pressure in the mould. The first detection means may be connected to means for automatically separating the mould and receiving member when the shaped clay has moved onto the latter.
The mould may be rotated relative to the receiving member once fluid is being blown through the mould, whereby to shear the water film between the mould and the clay.
The mould may be made of an acrylic plastics material and preferably an acrylic bead. The plastics material is preferably mounted on a carrier. The carrier may be made of a plastics material such as acrylic, or of metal. Alternatively the mould may be made of plaster of paris.
The invention also provides apparatus for removing a piece of shaped clay from a mould, the apparatus being usable with a method according to any of the preceding thirteen paragraphs.
The invention further provides apparatus for forming clayware, the apparatus being usable with a method according to any of the preceding sixteen paragraphs.
According to the present invention there is still further provided a receiving member usable in a method according to any of said preceding sixteen paragraphs.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2584109 (1952-02-01), Blackburn et al.
patent: 2584110 (1952-02-01), Blackburn et al.
patent: 2632227 (1953-03-01), Steele et al.
patent: 3885522 (1975-05-01), MacDonald et al.
patent: 4413966 (1983-11-01), Mills et al.
patent: 5935495 (1999-08-01), Turner et al.
patent: 2 057 484 (1971-05-01), None
patent: 2 343 571 (1977-10-01), None
patent: 08216142 (1996-12-01), None
patent: WO 96 31328 (1996-10-01), None
Burnett John Michael Victor
Deakin Robert Norman
Podmore Dennis
Turner John Barrie
Adams, Schwartz & Evans P.A.
British Ceramic Research Limited
Vargot Mathieu D.
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