EP2363239A1

EP2363239A1 - Procedure and machine for grinding with precision the opposite surfaces of elements of material with technological interest

Info

Publication number: EP2363239A1
Application number: EP10002255A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mauro Borghi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-03-04
Filing date: 2010-03-04
Publication date: 2011-09-07

Abstract

The machine comprises an inlet area of the pieces to be grinded, a first conveyor for the pieces, the pieces rotating in a first direction starting with a horizontal laying, a first grinding area to grind a face of each piece which can be reached by a first abrasive means, a second conveyor for the piece for putting again the piece into the horizontal laying, a third conveyor of the pieces which rotate in a third direction, a second grinding area for grinding the second face of each piece opposite to the first one, the second face is available to a second abrasive means thanks to the third conveyor, a fourth conveyor of the pieces which rotate in a fourth direction opposite to the third one beginning with the laying reached through the third conveyor in order to reach a horizontal laying, an exit from the machine of the grinded pieces and brought again into the horizontal laying through the fourth conveyor.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a procedure for accurate grinding of the opposite faces of elements of material of technological interest.
These are metal, plastic or other materials and are used for the construction of mechanical tools and instruments (double-acting pistons, etc.), of worktables and similar.
The invention also relates to the brick blocks for the construction of walls.
In this case, the decrease in thermal conductivity as a ratio, in steady state, between the heat flow and temperature gradient, which causes the passage of heat, is achieved by reducing the distance between two close bricks in the wall. In other words, the decrease in thermal conductivity is obtained by substantially reducing the thickness of the glue, which is in the mortar used for joining the bricks in the walls.
This decrease is due, on one side, to new glues, which also in limited quantities, obtain the fastening of the bricks between them and, on the other side, to levelling and grinding procedures of the heads of the bricks to be joined.
The grinded brick is a brick block, usually a porous mixture, which underwent a subsequent post-baking grinding procedure of the laying faces, with an order of dimensional precision. of ≈ 1 mm. The procedure happens for allowing the fastening with glue instead of mortar. Unlike the traditional blocks that require ≈1 cm of mortar, the grinded blocks require only 1 mm of special glue, saving 90% of mortar compared to the traditional systems. The mortar joint, which is in the traditional lightened bricks, has a thermal conductivity that can be even four times higher than that of the loaded brick. Consequently a thermal bridge is formed, reducing significantly the thermal insulation of the wall.
On the contrary, in the grinded bricks the absence of the mortar minimizes the thermal bridges. In addition, the vertical joint is replaced by the simple plain contact between a block and the other or by a system of grooves that hinder the phenomenon of thermal bridge.
The wall has steady and homogenous features on the entire surface. The blocks of about 30 cm have a thermal transmittance, which defines the insulating capacity of an element of about 0,5-0,6 W/m2K. The estimated total revenue is 20% higher than the thermal insulation of a normal wall with traditional laying of identical thickness.

STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE

Machines for grinding surfaces of these materials are known. These machines have, as a tool, a fine grain extremely hard grinder.
The grinding is used to give any component the state of optimal shape or surface project; this operation follows, in fact, the roughing. Whereas the roughing removes the bulk of the dregs, the grinding allows that all dregs or excess material are removed by providing a finishing high degree to the grinded surface.
There are grinders used to process long, thin and small elements, which are, therefore, unfit to be clamped between mandrel and tailstock.
In this procedure the element is located between two grinders rotating in the same direction, while a big operating grinder rotates quickly and is used to perform the grinding of the surface. The smaller driving grinder rotates slowly and has the aim to rotate the element and to press it against the grinder. There is also a blade that supports the element during the processing.
Such a machine, used for accurate grinding the upper and lower surfaces of blocks, has the disadvantage of causing highly intense vibrations in the same blocks; the vibrations can damage or destroy the blocks. The vibrations are due to the fact that the blocks to be grinded are bound to the rotating grinders in a very rigid way.
For this reason, the blocks are affected by the very high pressure against the grinder, according to different materials to be grinded. Moreover, this machine is expensive and makes its use costly, which, therefore, has to be performed only if a high degree of finish is necessary, as in the seats of bearings, gears profiles etc. This and similar machines are unfit to be used for accurate grinding the upper and lower surfaces of brick blocks.

AIMS, FEATURES AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to remedy to the above-mentioned disadvantages. The invention, as claimed, solves the problem of creating a procedure for accurate grinding the opposite surfaces of elements of material of technological interest.
A further aim of the invention is to create a machine achieving such a procedure.
The procedure consists in grinding the two faces of the element through a series of operations essentially including a first gripping phase, a second tilting phase so that the element is at a tilt between 20 and 70° compared to the axis of symmetry of the element showing two opposite faces to be grinded; a third grinding phase follows on the two opposite faces and, finally, the sending to the following production phases planned for the block.
The machine includes an inlet station for the blocks to be grinded, a first conveyor and rotating device of the blocks in a first rotation direction starting with an horizontal laying, a first grinding section for the blocks to grind a first face of each block, said face being brought to a position achievable by a first abrasive machinery through the first rotating device of the blocks, a second conveyor and rotating device of the blocks in a second direction opposite to the first one starting with a laying reached by the first device, to bring again the block in the horizontal laying, a third conveyor and rotating device of the blocks in a third direction opposite to the second one starting with the horizontal laying to reach a tilted laying in the opposite direction to the first rotation direction, a second grinding section of the blocks to grind the second face of each block opposite to the first one, said second face being brought to a position achievable by a second abrasive machinery through the third rotating device of the blocks, a fourth conveyor and rotating device of the blocks in a fourth direction opposite to the third one starting with the laying reached by means of the third device, to reach an horizontal laying, an outlet station from the machine of the grinded blocks and brought in the horizontal laying by means of the fourth device.
Advantageously computers control this procedure for the blocks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages, features and aims of the invention may be more readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, which concern a preferred embodiment of the machine and block diagrams of the procedure, the drawings also concerning, for example, a drilled preferably not cooked brick:

∞ Fig. 1 shows a brick to be grinded with an open drilled face (b) and a hidden drilled face (a);
∞ Fig. 2 shows a portion of wall built with several already cooked bricks;
∞Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 show the different layings of the brick of fig. 1 during its processing by means of the machine according to the invention;
∞ Fig. 8 is a flowchart of the procedure phases according to the invention;
∞Fig. 9 indicates a first conveyor and rotating device of the bricks;
∞ Fig. 10 represents the of the brick in horizontal laying before being placed in an inlet station of the first device of Fig. 9;
∞ Fig. 11 shows the rotated brick at the exit from the inlet station of the device of Fig. 9, the brick being tilted at an angle of 45° compared to the horizontal and vertical planes;
∞ Fig. 12 illustrates the inlet of the brick into a first grinding machinery;
∞ Fig. 13 schematically represents a working area of the first grinding machinery;
∞ Fig. 14 shows a second conveyor and rotating device of the bricks;
∞ Fig. 15 illustrates the brick oriented to be placed in an exit area of the second device;
∞ Fig. 16 illustrates the brick oriented to exit from the inlet area of the second device;
∞Fig. 17 indicates a third conveyor and rotating device of the bricks;
∞Fig. 18 illustrates the brick oriented to be placed in an exit area of the third device;
∞ Fig. 19 illustrates the brick oriented to exit from the inlet area of the third device;
∞ Fig. 20 represents the inlet area of the brick in a second grinding machinery
∞Fig. 21 shows a working area of the second grinding machinery;
∞ Fig. 22 is a side view of the brick in a working area of the first grinding machinery;
∞ Fig. 23 is a side view of the brick in a working area of the second grinding machinery;
∞ Fig. 24 indicates a fourth conveyor and rotating device of the bricks;
∞ Fig. 25 illustrates the brick oriented to be placed in an exit area of the fifth device;
∞ Fig. 26 illustrates the brick oriented to exit from the inlet area of the fourth device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCEDURE AND OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The procedure consists in the phases schematically shown in the Figures 3 to 8 and aims at grinding the two drilled sides of pieces of preferably dried but not yet cooked bricks. This procedure is also applied to other structures or mechanical elements, as previously specified.
During the progress, indicated by the arrow F (1) of the Fig. 1, the faces a and b of the brick 1 are hidden and are at the side of the faces C B D AND, as it can be seen in the Figures 3 to 7 and following. In a first phase the brick 1 is in the horizontal laying and, in this laying, it arrives at the inlet area of the machine (Fig. 3). In a second phase the brick 1 is rotated counter clockwise to place the face b upwards, so that the machine can grind it (Fig. 4).
In a third phase the brick 1 is rotated clockwise to return to the horizontal laying (fig. 5). In a fourth phase the brick 1 is rotated clockwise to place the face a upward, so that the machine can grind it (fig: 6).
In a fifth phase the brick 1 is rotated counter clockwise to return to the horizontal laying (fig. 7).
Fig. 8 is a flowchart of the procedure summarizing the phases described in figures 3 to 7.
After the pieces 1 to be grinded are conveyed to the inlet area through known means, like belt conveyors, the pieces are placed in a first conveyor and rotating device implementing the first counter clockwise rotation. The pieces 1 are conveyed by means of this device to a first grinding area of the machine where the faces b are grinded. At the outlet of the first grinding area, a second rotating device of the pieces places again each piece in the horizontal laying of Fig. 5. The third rotating device rotates them clockwise, so that the face a is grinded.
A second grinding area implements this last operation, at the end of which the pieces 1 are placed in a fourth rotating device of the pieces 1. This device brings again each piece 1 to the horizontal laying of Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 represents the first conveyor and rotating device of the pieces. This device consists of four wheels 2, 3, 4, and 5 driven by a motor. The wheels 2, 3, are linked through a flexible conveyor 6 (chain, belt etc.) and are placed at the same height. The wheels 4 and 5, also linked through another flexible conveyor 7, are placed at different heights; more precisely the wheel 5 is placed at a height higher than the one of the wheel 4 of a proper measure. Thus the piece 1, entrained by the conveyors 6 and 7 from the inlet position P-P, where the piece 1 is in the horizontal laying, to the outlet position R-R, where the piece 1 is rotated of 45° compared to the laying perpendicular to the progress direction F1. The piece 1, while advancing, rotates for adapting its supporting plane to the conveyors 6 and 7, having different heights because of the position of the wheels 2, 4 and 3, 5.
Preferably the rotation assumes a value of 45° which is symmetric compared to horizontal and vertical layings. When the outlet position R-R and the rotation of 45° have been reached, as shown in figures 10, 11, the pieces come out of the device to enter into a first grinding area of this machine.
Figures 12, 13 show the first grinding machinery of the faces b of the bricks 1. This first grinding machinery comprises two belt conveyors 8, 9 placed between the first and second conveyor and rotating devices of the machine.
The two belt conveyors 8, 9 are perpendicular each other and inclined of 45° as regards the horizontal and vertical planes. The belt conveyors 8, 9 support the pieces 1 and assure weight fixedness during the working of the pieces 1 and during the translation from the first to the second conveyor and rotating device, since the weight of each piece 1 is discharged on both belts with the same intensity. The belt conveyors 8, 9 translate in opposite direction to an abrasive belt 100 (Fig. 13) acting on the face b of the piece 1 to smooth and grind it.
Fig. 14 shows the second conveyor and rotating device of the pieces. This second device consists of four wheels 10, 11, 12, and 13, driven by a motor. The wheels 10, 11, are connected by a flexible conveyor 14 and are placed at the same height. The wheels 12 and 13, also linked through another flexible conveyor 15, are placed at different heights; more precisely the wheel 12 is placed at a height lower than the one of the wheel 13 of a proper measure. Thus, the piece 1, entrained by the conveyors 14 and 15 from the inlet position S-S, rotates of 45° for coming again into the horizontal laying before reaching the outlet area T-T from the device. The piece, then, fits to the height difference of the wheels 10, 11, 12 and 13 and of the relevant conveyors14, 15.
Preferably the rotation in the opposite direction to that of Fig. 9 assumes a value of 45° which is symmetric compared to the vertical and horizontal layings of the Figures 9 and 14.
Figures 15 and 16 explain the rotation of the piece 1.
Fig. 17 represents the third conveyor and rotating device of the pieces. This device consists of four wheels 16, 17, 18, and 19 driven by a motor. The wheels 16 and 17 are linked by a flexible conveyor 20 and are placed at the same height. The wheels 18 and 19, also linked through another flexible conveyor 21, are placed at different heights; more precisely the wheel 18 is found at a height lower than the one of the wheel 17 of a proper measure.
Therefore, the piece 1 is entrained by the conveyors 20 and 21 from the horizontal laying at the inlet U-U to the laying tilted at 45° at the outlet V-V for fitting to the height difference of the wheels 16, 17, 18, 19 and of the relevant flexible conveyors 20, 21.
Figures 18 and 19 explain the rotation of the piece 1.
Figures 20 and 21 show the second grinding machinery comprising two belt conveyors 22, 23 found between the third and fourth conveyor and rotating devices, the fourth device being located at the exit of this machine. The belt conveyors 22, 23 are perpendicular each other and tilted at an angle of 45° as regards the horizontal and vertical planes. The belts 22, 23 support the pieces 1 and assure weight fixedness during their movement from third to fourth conveyor and rotating devices, since the weight of each piece 1 is supported by both belt conveyors.
The belts 22, 23 move in the same direction, and an abrasive belt 24, acting on the drilled face a of the piece 1 to smooth and grind it, moves in the opposite direction.
Fig. 22 is a side view of the first grinding area. The belt conveyors 8, 9 are perpendicular each other and are tilted at an angle of 45° compared to the horizontal and vertical planes. The abrasive belt 100 grinds the face b of the piece 1.
Figures 20 and 21 illustrates the second grinding machinery of the faces a of the pieces 1. The second grinding machinery comprises two belt conveyors 22, 23 placed between the third and fourth conveyor and rotating devices of the machine. The two conveyor belts 22, 23 are perpendicular each other and tilted at 45° compared to the horizontal and vertical planes. The belts 22, 23 support the pieces 1 and assure weight fixedness during translating and grinding of the pieces 1 from the third to the fourth conveyor and rotating devices, since the weight of each piece 1 is supported by both belts with identical intensity. Belts 22 and 23 translate in the opposite direction regarding to the movement of an abrasive belt 24 grinding the face a of the piece 1 to smooth and grind it.
Figures 22 and 23 represent the side view of the grinding machinery of the faces a and b of the pieces 1. The belts 8, 9 move downward in two planes perpendicular to the plane of Fig. 22, while the abrasive belt 100 translates upward in a plane perpendicular to the plane of Fig. 22.
Equally, the belts 22 and 23 move downwards in two planes perpendicular to the plane of Fig. 23, while the abrasive belt 24 translates upward in a plane perpendicular to the plane of Fig. 23.
Figures 22 and 23 attest the equilibrium of the loads of the pieces 1 on the belts 8, 9 and 22, 23 which are arranged in planes orthogonal to each other and rotated of 45° as regards the vertical laying.
Fig. 24 represents the fourth conveyor and rotating device of the pieces. This device consists of four wheels 24, 25, 26, and 27 driven by a motor. The wheels 24 and 25 are connected by a flexible conveyor 28 and are arranged at the same height. The wheels 26, 27, also connected by another flexible conveyor 29, are arranged at different heights, namely the wheel 26 is at a height lower than the height of the wheel 27 of a convenient measure. In this way, the piece 1, dragged the conveyors 28 and 29, passes from the tilted position at the angle of 45 ° at the inlet Y-Y to the horizontal laying at the outlet W-W of Figure 24.
The rotation of the pieces 1, illustrated in Figures 25, 26 is due to the difference in height of the wheels 24, 25, 26, 27 and the relevant conveyors 28 and 29. The rotation, counter clockwise, assumes a value of 45° for putting again the piece 1 in the horizontal position to exit from the machine.
The pieces 1 pass with continuity from the conveyor and rotating devices to the grinding areas up to the exit, transported by the motion of each device.

Claims

Procedure for accurate grinding of the opposite faces of elements of material of technological interest, the procedure providing:
∞ a first phase in which the element is in a horizontal laying to enter into a grinding machine;

∞ a second phase in which the element is rotated to place the first of two faces in the laying that allows grinding of the first face by the grinding machine;

∞ a third phase in which the element is put again in the horizontal laying;

∞ a fourth phase, in which the element is rotated to place the second of two faces in a laying that allows the grinding of the second face by a grinding machine;

∞ a fifth phase in which the element is put again in the horizontal laying to exit from the machine.
Procedure as in claim 1, characterised by the fact that it consists in the grinding the two faces of the element by means of a series of operations, essentially comprising a first seizing phase, a second tilting phase to tilt the element of an angle between 20 to 70° as regards the axis of symmetry of the piece, said piece presenting two opposite faces to be grinded; a third grinding phase follows on the opposite faces and, finally, the sending to the subsequent phases of production planned for the piece.
Procedure as in claim 2, characterised by the fact that the tilting angle is 45°.
Machine implementing the procedure according to previous claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises:
∞ an inlet area for the pieces to be grinded,

∞ a first conveyor and rotating device, the rotation occurring in a first direction, starting with an horizontal laying,

∞ a first grinding area of the pieces for grinding a first face of each piece, the face is disposed in a position which can be reached by a first abrasive means through the first conveyor and rotating device of the pieces,

∞ a second conveyor and rotating device, the rotation occurring in a second direction opposite to the first one, starting with the laying reached by the first device in order to put again the piece into the horizontal laying,

∞ a third conveyor and rotating device of the pieces in a third direction, the rotation occurring in a third direction opposite to the second direction, from the horizontal laying in order to reach a laying tilted in the direction opposite to the laying reached by the first conveyor and rotating device,

∞ a second grinding area of the pieces to grind the second face of each piece opposite to the first face, the second face being brought in a position which can be reached by a second abrasive means through the third conveyor and rotating device of the pieces,

∞ a fourth conveyor and rotating device of the pieces, the rotation occurring in a fourth direction opposite to the third one starting with the laying reached through the third device, in order to reach the horizontal laying,

∞an outlet area from the machine of the grinded pieces and brought in the horizontal laying by the fourth device.
Machine as in claim 4, characterised by the fact that the conveyor and rotating devices of the pieces comprise a first and a second flexible means, said means being respectively arranged between a first and a second pairs of wheels,
∞ the devices having inlets and outlets for the pieces.
Machine as in claim 5, characterised by the fact that the differences in the various heights at the inlet and the outlet of the conveyor and rotating devices determine the rotations of the pieces necessary for the grinding procedure of two opposite faces of elements of material of technological interest.
Machine as in claim 4, characterised by the fact that each of the first and second grinding areas comprise two belt conveyors placed between two conveyor and rotating devices.
Machine as in claim 4, characterised by the fact that the belt conveyors are perpendicular each other and tilted at 45° compared the horizontal and vertical planes to support the pieces and assure weight fixedness during the translation and grinding of said pieces.
Machine as in claim 7, characterised by the fact that the belt conveyors move in the opposite direction compared to the abrasive belts grinding the faces, which are in condition to be grinded.
Machine as in claim 7, characterised by the fact that computers carry out the processing of the pieces.