Fully automatic kiln car loading process

摘要

A method of fully automatically loading the multilayer stand structure of a kiln car for firing ceramic parts, esp. flatware in the porcelain industry, involves placing the ware, in set formers of corresponding size and/or shape, onto the kiln car grids by means of e.g. annular disc-like firing aids. The novelty comprises producing each set former of each layer by correspondingly programmed automatic placing machines firstly on a level auxiliary grid and then transferring each set former from the auxiliary grid by means of a manipulator into the individual levels of the stand structure of the kiln car. Also claimed is an appts. for carrying out the above method. The appts. has (a) an auxiliary grid consisting of a horizontal conveyor belt (3) provided with transverse ribs or webs (4) on its surface; and (b) a manipulator (5) which has tines (6) located at gaps between the ribs or webs (4) and which can travel horizontally (P3) and vertically (P4).