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EP 1 468 825 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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15.06.2011 Bulletin 2011/24 |
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Date of filing: 23.02.2004 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC):
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Tubular decorating means
Zylindrische Dekoriervorrichtung
Dispositif cylindrique de décoration
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Designated Contracting States: |
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ES IT |
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Priority: |
24.02.2003 IT MO20030041
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Date of publication of application: |
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20.10.2004 Bulletin 2004/43 |
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Proprietor: TECNO-ITALIA S.R.L. |
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41043 Formigine,
(Modena) (IT) |
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Inventors: |
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- Fiandri, Giancarlo
41030 Prignano sulla Secchla (MO) (IT)
- Elmetti, Valdo Vittorio
42014 Castellarano RE) (IT)
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Representative: Crugnola, Pietro et al |
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Luppi Crugnola & Partners S.r.l.
Viale Corassori 54 41124 Modena 41124 Modena (IT) |
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References cited: :
AT-B- 294 868 US-A- 4 044 669
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NL-C- 1 007 430
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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[0001] The invention relates to tubular decorating means, particularly for decorating ceramic
products.
[0002] Exist in the prior art silk-screen printing machines provided with silk-screen printing
screens formed by a tubular skirt coupled with end flanges. The screens can be internally
coupled with a pair of struts that are suitable for keeping the screens tightened
during storage and are arranged to be removed when the screens are assembled on the
aforementioned silkscreen printing machines in operating conditions.
[0003] The tubular skirt is permanently connected to the end flanges, for example by means
of gluing.
[0004] This makes the above-disclosed silkscreen printing screens bulky and difficult to
transport.
[0005] Furthermore, printing rollers are known for decorating flexo-printing machines of
ceramic tiles, comprising a tubular decorating element, externally carved so as to
define a decorative pattern to be printed on the tiles.
[0006] Also in these printing rollers, are internally provided tensioning struts that must
be removed when the rollers are mounted on the decorating machines.
[0007] Analogously to the above-disclosed silkscreen printing screens, the printing rollers
are rather bulky, which makes transport and storage difficult.
[0008] Furthermore, at the moment of mounting, the aforementioned printing rollers must
be axially tightened so as to distance from one another the end flanges with which
the aforementioned printing rollers are provided. Tightening is rather critical, inasmuch
as it may cause the deformation of the decorative pattern and, therefore, negatively
affect print quality.
[0009] Such printing rollers, being flabby, may be subjected to ovalization or to torsional
deformation during operation.
[0010] In order to compensate for this drawback, printing rollers have been developed having
a greater rigidity, the printing rollers comprise a support body made of plastic material,
for example a polymeric resin, having the form of a hollow cylinder, on the outside
of which is provided a tubular body made of elastomeric material, such as silicon,
for example. The tubular body is provided with a smooth external surface arranged
to interact with a visible face of the ceramic products to be decorated. On the aforementioned
external surface a plurality of cavities is formed, obtained for example by means
of laser beam engraving, which cavities are arranged according to a preset pattern
to be impressed on the aforementioned visible face.
[0011] Opposite ends of the support body are solidly fixed, for example by means of gluing,
to flanges suitable for enabling the roller to be mounted on a decorating machine.
[0012] The above-disclosed printing rollers do not substantially have deformations or ovalizations
during use.
[0013] Such printing rollers, however, are rather bulky and hard to handle.
[0014] A further drawback of the aforementioned printing rollers consists of a certain manufacturing
complexity due, in particular, to difficulties with which may meet fixing the tubular
body to the support body.
[0015] From
US-A-4 044 669 it is known a printing roller according to the preamble of claim 1.
[0016] An object of the invention is to improve the tubular decorating means of the prior
art.
[0017] Another object of the invention is to obtain tubular decorating means having reduced
dimensions.
[0018] A further object of the invention is to obtain tubular decorating means easier to
transport.
[0019] A further object of the invention is to obtain tubular decorating means having great
rigidity and being particularly easy to manufacture.
[0020] According to the invention, there is provided roller decorating means for decorating
items, comprising tubular transferring means arranged to transfer a decorating product
to said items, supporting means associated with said tubular transferring means and
fixing means arranged to fix said tubular transferring means to said supporting means,
said fixing means comprising elastic connecting means arranged to press said tubular
transferring means against said supporting means, characterized in that said elastic
connecting means comprises lamina means arranged to movably fix said tubular transferring
means to said supporting means, said lamina means defining sleeve means that are elastically
deformable, said supporting means comprises wall means defining chamber means arranged
to receive ends of said tubular transferring means, said lamina means being associable
with said supporting means in such a way that said ends are interposed between said
lamina means and said wall means. In one embodiment, said supporting means comprises
a pair of flanges each one of which is suitable for being associated with a respective
end of the tubular transferring means.
[0021] In a further embodiment, the elastic connecting means comprises a pair of elastic
sleeves suitable for being inserted inside the tubular transferring means and for
being positioned in such a way that each one of the aforementioned ends of the tubular
transferring means is interposed between one of the aforementioned elastic sleeves
and a wall delimiting the flange, so as to movably fix the tubular transferring means
to the flanges.
[0022] Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to obtain roller decorating
means provided with tubular transferring means that can be separated from the respective
supporting means when the roller decorating means has to be stored and/or transported.
[0023] The tubular transferring means may therefore take on a folded configuration that
enables its dimensions to be significantly limited.
[0024] In one embodiment, the flexible supporting means is made of a material that is substantially
inextensible and preferably geometrically stable at least in the absence of external
forces.
[0025] In another embodiment, the flexible supporting means comprises a plastic laminate.
[0026] In a further embodiment, the aforementioned plastic laminate comprises a plurality
of through holes.
[0027] The flexible supporting means is made of a material sufficiently rigid so as to ensure
that a regular cylindrical form is maintained when the roller is not subjected to
external forces, as occurs for example during handling, storage and during phases
of mounting on and dismounting from a decorating machine.
[0028] The invention may be better understood and implemented with reference to the attached
drawings, which illustrate some exemplifying and not limiting embodiments thereof,
in which:
Figure 1 is a partially sectioned side view of tubular decorating means according
to the invention;
Figure 2 is a cross-section taken along the plane II-II of Figure 1;
[0029] With reference to Figures 1 and 2, it is shown roller decorating means 1 comprising
sleeve decorating means 2 suitable for transferring a decorating product onto an item
to be decorated, for example a ceramic support.
[0030] The sleeve decorating means 2 can comprise a silkscreen printing screen, or a skirt
in elastomeric material, or finally a skirt in elastomeric material inside which a
laminar element in a material flexible and substantially inextensible is embedded,
as will be better disclosed below.
[0031] The roller decorating means 1 further comprises a pair of flanges 4 associable with
opposite ends 5 of the sleeve decorating means 2 to enable the roller decorating means
1 to be mounted on decorating machines.
[0032] The roller decorating means 1 further comprises elastic connecting means 6 arranged
to movably fix the ends 5 to the flanges 4.
[0033] The flanges 4 comprise walls 7 defining cylindrical chambers 51 arranged to receive
the ends 5.
[0034] The elastic connecting means 6 comprises a pair of laminas 8 that can be folded in
such a way as to form sleeves 10 arranged to press the ends 5 against the walls 7.
[0035] As shown in Figure 2, the laminas 8 may take on a folded mounting configuration,
indicated by A, in which they can be positioned in relation to the walls 7, and an
extended locking configuration, indicated by B, in which they fix the sleeve decorating
means 2 to the flanges 4.
[0036] During mounting the roller decorating means 1, first of all, an end 5 is inserted
inside the cylindrical chamber 51 of the respective flange 4.
[0037] Next, a lamina 8 is taken into the folded mounting configuration A and inserted inside
the sleeve decorating means 2 by an opening 9 obtained in the flange 4.
[0038] The lamina 8 can be manually maintained by an operator in the folded mounting configuration
A.
[0039] The aforementioned operator then releases the lamina 8, after positioning it, in
such a way that the latter takes on the extended locking configuration B.
[0040] To dismount the roller decorating means 1, operations analogous to the above-disclosed
ones are followed.
[0041] First of all, it is possible to act on the sleeve 10, by inserting a hand through
the opening 9, so as to take it from the extended locking configuration B to the folded
mounting configuration A.
[0042] Subsequently, the flange 4 is separated from the sleeve decorating means 2 and lastly
the lamina 8 is removed.
[0043] The sleeve decorating means 2 is provided, at each end 5, with a first groove 11
and with a second groove 12.
[0044] Each flange 4 is provided, at the wall 7, with a first projecting element 13 and
with a second projecting element 14 both arranged to be received respectively in the
first groove 11 and in the second groove 12.
[0045] The first groove 11, the second groove 12, the first projecting element 13 and the
second projecting element 14 thus act as fixing promoting means arranged to improve
adhesion of sleeve decorating means 2 to the flanges 4.
1. Roller decorating means for decorating items, comprising tubular transferring means
(2) arranged to transfer a decorating product to said items, supporting means (4)
associated with said tubular transferring means (2) and fixing means arranged to fix
said tubular transferring means (2) to said supporting means (4), said fixing means
comprising elastic connecting means (6) arranged to press said tubular transferring
means (2) against said supporting means (4), characterized in that said elastic connecting means (6) comprises lamina means (8) arranged to movably
fix said tubular transferring means (2) to said supporting means (4), said lamina
means (8) defining sleeve means (10) that are elastically deformable, said supporting
means (4) comprises wall means (7) defining chamber means (51) arranged to receive
ends (5) of said tubular transferring means (2), said lamina means (8) being associable
with said supporting means (4) in such a way that said ends (5) are interposed between
said lamina means (8) and said wall means (7).
2. Roller decorating means according to claim 1, wherein said lamina means (8) is elastically
deformable so as to arrange itself in such a way as to be associable in a shapingly
coupled manner with said wall means (7).
3. Roller decorating means according to claim 1, or 2, and further comprising fixing
promoting means (11, 12, 13, 14) arranged to improve the adhesion of said tubular
transferring means (2) to said supporting means (4).
4. Roller decorating means according to claim 3, wherein said fixing promoting means
comprises projecting elements (13, 14) protruding from said wall means (7) and cooperating
with relative grooves (10, 11) obtained in said tubular transferring means (2).
5. Roller decorating means according to claim 3, wherein said fixing promoting means
comprises grooves obtained in said wall means (7) and suitable for receiving respective
projecting elements protruding from said flexible transferring means (2).
6. Roller decorating means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said
tubular transferring means (2) comprises flexible supporting means (17) and printing
means (18) associated with said flexible supporting means (17) in such a way that
the supporting means (17) is embedded in said printing means (18).
7. Roller decorating means according to claim 6, wherein said flexible supporting means
(17) comprises a plurality of through holes (19).
8. Roller decorating means according to claim 6, or 7, wherein said flexible supporting
means (17) is made of a material that is substantially inextensible and preferably
geometrically stable, at least in the absence of external forces.
9. Roller decorating means according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein said flexible
supporting means comprises a plastic laminate (17).
10. Roller decorating means according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein said printing
means (18) comprises an elastomeric material.
11. Roller decorating means according to claim 10, wherein said elastomeric material comprises
silicon rubber.
1. Walzendekoriereinrichtung zum Dekorieren von Gegenständen mit einer röhrenförmigen
Übertragungseinrichtung (2), die zur Übertragung eines Dekorierprodukts auf die Gegenstände
angeordnet ist, Stützeinrichtungen (4), die mit der röhrenförmigen Übertragungseinrichtung
(2) verbunden sind, und Fixiereinrichtungen, die zum Fixieren der röhrenförmigen Übertragungseinrichtung
(2) an den Stützeinrichtungen (4) angeordnet sind, wobei die Fixiereinrichtungen elastische
Verbindungseinrichtungen (6) umfassen, die zum Pressen der röhrenförmigen Übertragungseinrichtung
(2) gegen die Stützeinrichtungen (4) angeordnet sind, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die elastischen Verbindungseinrichtungen (6) Lamelleneinrichtungen (8) umfassen,
die zum beweglichen Fixieren der röhrenförmigen Übertragungseinrichtung (2) an den
Stützenrichtungen (4) angeordnet sind, wobei die Lamelleneinrichtungen (8) Hülseneinrichtungen
(10) definieren, die elastisch verformbar sind, wobei die Stützeinrichtungen (4) Wandeinrichtungen
(7) umfassen, die Kammereinrichtungen (51) definieren, die zum Aufnehmen von Enden
(5) der röhrenförmigen Übertragungseinrichtung (2) angeordnet sind, wobei die Lamelleneinrichtungen
(8) mit den Stützeinrichtungen (4) in einer solchen Weise verbindbar sind, dass die
Enden (5) zwischen die Lamelleneinrichtungen (8) und die Wandeinrichtungen (7) eingefügt
werden.
2. Walzendekoriereinrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Lamelleneinrichtung (8) elastisch
verformbar ist, so dass sie sich in einer solchen Weise anordnet, dass sie in einer
formend gekoppelten Weise mit der Wandeinrichtung (7) verbindbar ist.
3. Walzendekoriereinrichtung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, die ferner Fixierfördereinrichtungen
(11, 12, 13, 14) umfasst, die zum Verbessern der Haftung der röhrenförmigen Übertragungseinrichtung
(2) an den Stützeinrichtungen (4) angeordnet ist.
4. Walzendekoriereinrichtung nach Anspruch 3, wobei die Fixierfördereinrichtungen vorstehende
Elemente (13, 14) umfassen, die von den Wandeinrichtungen (7) vorstehen und mit relativen
Nuten (10, 11) zusammenwirken, die in der röhrenförmigen Übertragungseinrichtung (2)
erhalten werden.
5. Walzendekoriereinrichtung nach Anspruch 3, wobei die Fixierfördereinrichtungen Nuten
umfassen, die in den Wandeinrichtungen (7) erhalten werden und zum Aufnehmen von jeweiligen
vorstehenden Elementen geeignet sind, die von der flexiblen Übertragungseinrichtung
(2) vorstehen.
6. Walzendekoriereinrichtung nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei die röhrenförmige
Übertragungseinrichtung (2) eine flexible Stützeinrichtung (17) und eine Druckeinrichtung
(18) umfasst, die mit der flexiblen Stützeinrichtung (17) in einer solchen Weise verbunden
ist, dass die Stützeinrichtung (17) in die Druckeinrichtung (18) eingebettet ist.
7. Walzendekoriereinrichtung nach Anspruch 6, wobei die flexible Stützeinrichtung (17)
eine Vielzahl von Durchgangslöchern (19) umfasst.
8. Walzendekoriereinrichtung nach Anspruch 6 oder 7, wobei die flexible Stützeinrichtung
(17) aus einem Material besteht, das zumindest bei Abwesenheit von externen Kräften
im Wesentlichen undehnbar ist und vorzugsweise geometrisch stabil ist.
9. Walzendekoriereinrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 10 bis 12, wobei die flexible Stützeinrichtung
ein Kunststofflaminat (17) umfasst.
10. Walzendekoriereinrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 6 bis 9, wobei die Druckeinrichtung
(18) ein elastomeres Material umfasst.
11. Walzendekoriereinrichtung nach Anspruch 10, wobei das elastomere Material Silikonkautschuk
umfasst.
1. Moyens de décoration à rouleau pour décorer des articles, comprenant des moyens de
transfert tubulaires (2) agencés pour transférer un produit de décoration vers lesdits
articles, des moyens de support (4) associés auxdits moyens de transfert tubulaires
(2) et des moyens de fixation agencés pour fixer lesdits moyens de transfert tubulaires
(2) auxdits moyens de support (4), lesdits moyens de fixation comprenant des moyens
de liaison élastiques (6) agencés pour presser lesdits moyens de transfert tubulaires
(2) contre lesdits moyens de support (4), caractérisés en ce que lesdits moyens de liaison élastiques (6) comprennent des moyens à lame (8) agencés
pour fixer de manière mobile lesdits moyens de transfert tubulaires (2) auxdits moyens
de support (4), lesdits moyens à lame (8) définissant des moyens de manchon (10) qui
sont élastiquement déformables, lesdits moyens de support (4) comprennent des moyens
de paroi (7) définissant des moyens de chambre (51) agencés pour recevoir des extrémités
(5) desdits moyens de transfert tubulaires (2), lesdits moyens à lame (8) pouvant
être associés auxdits moyens de support (4) de telle manière que lesdites extrémités
(5) soient interposées entre lesdits moyens à lame (8) et lesdits moyens de paroi
(7).
2. Moyens de décoration à rouleau selon la revendication 1, dans lequel lesdits moyens
à lame (8) sont élastiquement déformables de manière à s'agencer eux-mêmes en sorte
qu'ils puissent être associés par couplage de formes auxdits moyens de paroi (7).
3. Moyens de décoration à rouleau selon la revendication 1 ou 2, et comprenant en outre
des moyens favorisant la fixation (11, 12, 13, 14) agencés pour améliorer l'adhérence
desdits moyens de transfert tubulaires (2) auxdits moyens de support (4).
4. Moyens de décoration à rouleau selon la revendication 3, dans lesquels lesdits moyens
favorisant la fixation comprennent des éléments en saillie (13, 14) faisant saillie
à partir desdits moyens de paroi (7) et coopérant avec des rainures relatives (10,
11) obtenues dans lesdits moyens de transfert tubulaires (2).
5. Moyens de décoration à rouleau selon la revendication 3, dans lesquels lesdits moyens
favorisant la fixation comprennent des rainures obtenues dans lesdits moyens de paroi
(7) et adaptées pour recevoir des éléments en saillie respectifs faisant saillie à
partir desdits moyens de transfert souples (2).
6. Moyens de décoration à rouleau selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
dans lesquels lesdits moyens de transfert tubulaires (2) comprennent des moyens de
support souples (17) et des moyens d'impression (18) associés auxdits moyens de support
souples (17) de manière que les moyens de support (17) soient incorporés dans lesdits
moyens d'impression (18).
7. Moyens de décoration à rouleau selon la revendication 6, dans lesquels lesdits moyens
de support souples (17) comprennent une pluralité de trous traversants (19).
8. Moyens de décoration à rouleau selon la revendication 6 ou 7, dans lesquels lesdits
moyens de support souples (17) sont faits d'un matériau qui est sensiblement inextensible
et de préférence géométriquement stable, au moins en l'absence de forces externes.
9. Moyens de décoration à rouleau selon l'une quelconque des revendications 10 à 12,
dans lesquels lesdits moyens de support souples comprennent un stratifié en matière
plastique (17).
10. Moyens de décoration à rouleau selon l'une quelconque des revendications 6 à 9, dans
lesquels lesdits moyens d'impression (18) comprennent un matériau élastomère.
11. Moyens de décoration à rouleau selon la revendication 10, dans lesquels ledit matériau
élastomère comprend du caoutchouc au silicone.


REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only.
It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has
been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and
the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description