METHOD AND DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR FOR APPLYING CLAY TO A SURFACE

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for mechanically treating clay (4), in particular for producing models, the clay (4) being heated by an extruder, extruded and applied to a surface (8), and to a corresponding device for mechanically treating clay (4), in particular for producing models. The invention is characterised in the device comprises an extruder (6) which is designed to heat and extrude clay (4) for applying to a surface (8).

Claims

1. A method for the mechanical processing of clay, in particular for the production of models, wherein the clay is heated, extruded and applied to a surface by an extruder.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the clay is previously reduced in size, chipped or pelletised.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the clay is compacted and/or air is removed therefrom in the extruder.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the clay is applied to a surface via a tube.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the clay is pressed onto a surface by means of pressure rollers.

6. A device for the mechanical processing of clay, in particular for the production of models, wherein the device comprises an extruder that is configured for heating and extruding clay for application to a surface.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the clay is reduced in size, chipped or pelletised.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein the extruder compacts and/or removes air from the clay prior to extrusion.

9. The device according to claim 6, wherein the device is configured to apply the extruded clay onto a surface via a tube.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the device comprises pressure rollers that are configured to press the clay onto a surface during application.

Description

[0014] Further advantages, designs and details of the invention are described in the following in the description of embodiments and with reference to the enclosed figures:

[0015] The FIGURE shows a sectional side view of a device according to the invention.

[0016] The FIGURE shows a device 2 for the mechanical processing of clay 4, in particular for the production of models. The device comprises an extruder 6 that is configured to heat clay to be applied to a surface 8 by means of an extruder heater 10, and to extrude clay onto the surface 8 via a heated tube 12 and to be able to massage the clay into the surface by means of pressure rollers 16.

[0017] Before being heated in the extruder 6, the clay 4 is first of all supplied to the remaining device as a rod, strand or bar 4 by means of conveyor rollers 18 that are arranged opposite one another and are driven in opposite directions, is pressed against a grater 20 and is reduced in size and chipped in the grater 20. The commercially available, supplied clay rods 4 are thereby continuously grated by the grating drum 20 at the front end of the clay rod 4 and are further reduced in size along a cylindrical inner wall 22 comprising a water cooling system 24. The water cooling system 24 is an option of the device according to the invention, by means of which the temperature can be adjusted to below room temperature. Should it transpire during operation that it is better for the temperature to be set to above room temperature for reducing the size of and transporting the clay, the water cooling system 24 can also be operated with warm water as a heating system (or can be replaced, for example, with an electric heater). If the ambient temperature proves to be suitable for operation, it is possible to dispense with the device 24.

[0018] This production of chips, granules, flakes or shavings facilitates the further processing of the clay 4 and in particular also the supply to the extruder 6 by means of a screw conveyor 26 (that is also cooled and is also driven by an electric motor) as well as the heating in the extruder 6 by the (electric) extruder heater 10 in the extruder casing 28.

[0019] The clay 4 is applied to the surface 8 via the heated tube 12 that comprises an application nozzle 32 which is also heated and which, together with the pressure rollers 16, allows the clay to be massaged into the surface 8 (by guiding, pressing and moving the application nozzle 32 over the surface 8). The pressing onto the surface 8 is supported by pressure springs 34 with abutments (not shown).