ES1291061U - Equipment for the manufacture of slabs of ceramic and/or stone material - Google Patents

Abstract

The equipment (1) for the manufacture of slabs of ceramic and/or stone material comprises: one hopper (2) defining a containment chamber (3) of ceramic and/or stone materials (M) and provided with one inlet port (3 a) and with one outlet port (3b) opposite each other; dispensing means (4) of a plurality of ceramic and/or stone materials (M) inside the containment chamber (3) through the inlet port (3a); one extraction surface (7) of the ceramic and/or stone materials (M) contained in the containment chamber (3), located below the outlet port (3b) and movable along a direction of forward movement (D2); wherein the hopper (2) comprises two walls (8,9) partly delimiting the containment chamber (3), positioned in succession along the direction of forward movement (D2), tilted thereto and mutually movable to vary the shape of the containment chamber (3).

Description

DESCRIPTION

EQUIPMENT FOR MANUFACTURING CERAMIC AND/OR STONE SLABS

technical field

The present invention relates to equipment for the manufacture of slabs of ceramic material and/or stone.

Background art

It is well known that in many sectors of industrial activities there is a need to renew manufactured products and to look for new ones to better distinguish them from those of the competition.

This need exists, in particular, in the industry dealing with the production of slabs made of ceramic and/or stone material used for the manufacture of, for example, floors and/or walls.

Today the market increasingly requires special aesthetic effects such as, for example, the reproduction of natural rocks, such as marble or granite, characterized by the presence of "veins", that is, stripes of a different color with respect to the material. base, with an irregular pattern and that cross the entire thickness of it.

The manufacture of slabs made of ceramic and/or stone material, such as slabs made of mineral grains bonded with resins, generally entails a phase of deposition of a base material, which may consist of ceramic materials or a mixture of mineral compounds in granular form (for example, marble, granite), glass, mirror fragments, quartz powder, etc., as well as resins that act as binders, on a supporting surface, such as a belt or a mold, to form a slab which will be compacted, and a subsequent pressing phase, to obtain a compacted slab.

Depending on the type of mixture, additional phases are subsequently carried out, such as, for example, cooking and subsequent cooling, to obtain a product with properties special mechanics and physics.

Therefore, the equipment necessary to carry out these phases requires the presence of means for dispensing the base material on a support surface, to form a slab that will be compacted, and means for pressing to obtain a compacted slab.

As the technician of the sector knows, depending on the type of materials used, the embodiments and the technical characteristics of the devices that make up the corresponding equipment may vary.

One type of known equipment includes the use of a hopper as wide as the slab to be obtained and into which the ceramic materials to be deposited on an extraction surface are loaded, providing a corresponding movement between the latter and the hopper. per se.

In order to obtain special chromatic effects, such as, for example, a "grained" effect, a plurality of materials of different types are deposited inside the hopper, which are layered inside it and then successively deposited on the surface. of extraction.

Due to the friction of the material on the walls of the hopper, the flow of material out of the hopper is irregular and random, so the intensity of the color of the veins obtained is nuanced or imprecise.

In addition, the ceramic material that comes out of the hopper, upon coming into contact with the terminal portion of the walls, is partially spread over the surface of the slab, resulting in an alteration of the desired aesthetic effect.

Last but not least, the slabs thus obtained have "longitudinal" veins with respect to the surface of the slab, that is, they do not go through the entire thickness of the slab. Therefore, this inconvenience prevents obtaining what is called “complete transverse grain”, typical of natural rocks, which is particularly evident when the slabs have to be made with two orthogonal surfaces, as is the case with countertops for kitchens, bathrooms or other similar applications, so it is not possible to obtain a substantially continuous grain along the two orthogonal surfaces.

Description of the invention

The main objective of the present invention is to conceive equipment for the manufacture of ceramic and/or stone slabs that allows a wide variety of aesthetic effects to be obtained in a simple and reliable manner.

Another object of the present invention is to conceive an equipment for the manufacture of slabs of ceramic and/or stone material that allows reducing the friction effect of the walls of the hopper during the deposition of the material on the extraction surface and that allows dispensing the material contained in it, replicating this action over time as much as possible.

An additional object of the present invention is to conceive an equipment for the manufacture of slabs of ceramic and/or stone material that allows obtaining slabs that reproduce the chromatic effect of natural rocks as faithfully as possible.

Another object of the present invention is to conceive an equipment for the manufacture of slabs of ceramic material and/or stone that allows to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art already mentioned in a simple, rational, easy, effective use and low cost solution. .

The objects set forth above are achieved by means of the present equipment for the manufacture of slabs of ceramic and/or stone material having the characteristics of claim 1.

Brief description of the drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more evident from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of an equipment for the manufacture of slabs of ceramic and/or stone material, illustrated by way of an indicative example, but non-restrictive, in the attached tables of drawings, where:

Figure 1 is an axonometric view of the equipment for manufacturing ceramic and/or stone slabs according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional side view of an embodiment of the equipment according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional side view of a further embodiment of the equipment according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a side view of a component of the kit according to the invention;

Figure 5 is a rear view of the equipment according to the invention.

Embodiments of the invention

With particular reference to these figures, reference number 1 globally indicates equipment for the manufacture of slabs of ceramic and/or stone material.

The equipment 1 comprises at least one hopper 2 defining a containment chamber 3 of ceramic and/or stone materials M and having at least one inlet port 3a and at least one outlet port 3b facing each other.

In the context of this treaty, the expression "ceramic and/or stone materials" means materials of a ceramic type, in the form of particles, grains or atomized flakes, and/or of a stone type, such as marble, granite, minerals or other natural stones, in the form of powder and/or granules and/or flakes, and mixed with a binder such as cement or resins.

Equipment 1 also has dispensing means 4 for dispensing a plurality of ceramic and/or stone materials M of different type and/or color into containment chamber 3 through inlet port 3a.

The dispensing means 4 comprise one or more dispensing devices 5 adapted to deposit on a dispensing surface 6 the different types of ceramic and/or stone materials M.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the dispensing surface 6, of the type of a conveyor belt or the like, is able to move along a flow direction D1, in order to transport the ceramic and/or stone materials M to hopper 2 inlet port 3a.

The dispensing devices 5 comprise a corresponding container capable of moving along a direction transverse to the direction of flow D1 in order to deposit the ceramic and/or stone materials M over the full width extension of the dispensing surface 6.

However, additional embodiments cannot be ruled out where an operator manually deposits the ceramic and/or stone materials M on top of the dispensing surface 6, or where the ceramic and/or stone materials M are manually loaded onto the dispensing surface 6. hopper 2.

The equipment 1 comprises at least one surface 7 for extracting the ceramic and/or stone materials M contained in the containment chamber 3, located below the outlet port 3b and capable of moving along a forward direction D2.

The extraction surface 7 is of the conveyor belt type or the like.

In more detail, the dispensing surface 6 and the extraction surface 7 are positioned in two separate planes, substantially parallel to each other and arranged at a distance equal to the extension in height of the hopper 2.

The direction of advance D2 is substantially parallel to the direction of flow D1 of the dispensing surface 6.

The extraction surface 7, flowing along the direction of advance D2, drags the ceramic and/or stone materials M away from the hopper 2, taking them from the outlet port 3b.

In this way, the ceramic and/or stone materials M, stratified inside the containment chamber 3, are successively deposited on the extraction surface 7 to form a slab that will be compacted L, which is then directed towards machining devices to undergo further manufacturing phases.

According to the invention, the hopper 2 comprises at least two walls 8, 9 partially delimiting the containment chamber 3, positioned successively along the forward direction D2 and inclined with respect to it.

As an advantage, the walls 8,9 comprise a lower wall 8 and an upper wall 9, facing each other, where the lower wall 8 is positioned upstream of the upper wall 9 with respect to the direction of advance D2.

The lower wall 8 and the upper wall 9 are substantially parallel to each other.

The containment chamber 3 is also delimited by a pair of side walls 10 facing each other and parallel to each other, and arranged transversely with respect to the walls 8, 9.

The special inclination arrangement of the walls 8,9 causes the ceramic and/or stone materials M, transported by the dispensing surface 6 towards the inlet port 3a, to fall by gravity into the containment chamber 3 and are sit on bottom wall 8.

In doing so, the ceramic and/or stone materials M flow towards the outlet port 3b and come into contact only with the lower wall 8, whereby the upper wall 9 does not limit the flow of ceramic and/or stone materials towards the outside.

In this way, the ceramic and/or stone materials M, as they are extracted from the hopper 2, descend inside the containment chamber 3 towards the outlet port 3b, thus defining a series of layers arranged one above the other. another and inclined with respect to the extraction surface 7.

Subsequently, the ceramic and/or stone materials M are extracted in sequence as a result of the advancement of the extraction surface 7.

Therefore, the slab that will be compacted L and that has been obtained reproduces an effect and a superimposition of layers extremely faithful to those of natural rocks, such as, for example, marble and granite.

According to the invention, the walls 8,9 can also be moved relative to each other to vary the shape of the containment chamber 3.

This particular feature allows the volume of the containment chamber 3 and the extension, in particular, of the outlet port 3b to be varied depending on the amount of material to be loaded into the hopper 2, the type of layers and, therefore, therefore, of the aesthetic effect that is going to be obtained.

By increasing the volume of the containment chamber 3, during the extraction of the ceramic and/or stone materials M, it is possible, for example, to increase their exit speed.

In a first embodiment, shown in Figure 2, at least one of the lower wall 8 or the upper wall 9 is translationally movable relative to the other along the direction of advance D2 in order to vary the distance between them.

In this embodiment, the shape of the containment chamber 3 remains substantially the same, but the volume thereof is modified; the extension of the input port 3a and the output port 3b continue to coincide with each other.

Suitably, the equipment 1 comprises displacement means 11,12 for displacing at least one of the walls 8,9 along the direction of advance D2.

Preferably, the upper wall 9 can be moved by translation with respect to the lower wall 8.

In more detail, the displacement means 11,12 comprise displacement guides 11 associated with the top wall 9 and sliding pins 12 associated with the side walls 10 and capable of sliding along the displacement guides. 11 mentioned above.

In a further embodiment, shown in Figure 3, at least one of the lower wall 8 or the upper wall 9 can be moved by rotation about an axis A transverse to the direction of advance D2 to vary the mutual inclination of the walls. own walls.

In particular, the axis A is substantially parallel to the dispensing surface 6 and perpendicular to the direction of advance D2.

Conveniently, the top wall 9 can be moved by rotation about the axis A.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the axis A passes through an intermediate area of the top wall 9.

However, alternative embodiments where axis A is arranged in a different area than that shown in Figure 3 cannot be ruled out.

Referring again to the present embodiment, as a result of the rotation of the top wall 9 about the axis A, the shape of the containment chamber 3 varies and the inlet port 3a and the outlet port 3b acquire different extensions.

In other words, the hopper 2 takes the form of a funnel in which, depending on the direction of rotation of the top wall 9 about the axis A, the extent of the inlet port 3a is less than the extent of the outlet port 3b and vice versa.

As an advantage, the upper wall 9 has a terminal portion 9a that delimits the outlet port 3b and a protrusion 13 adapted to come into contact with the ceramic and/or stone materials M placed on the extraction surface 7 following the movement of these. along the feed direction D2.

The protrusion 13 is intended to carry out a leveling action on the ceramic and/or stone materials M leaving the containment chamber 3 and the distance between the extraction surface 7 and the protuberance itself determines the thickness of the slab which will be compacted L.

Preferably, the protuberance 13 has a rounded shape.

In particular, the protrusion 13 is shaped to define a substantially linear contact with the ceramic and/or stone materials M arranged on the extraction surface 7.

In this way, the mutual contact between the terminal portion 9a and the ceramic and/or stone materials M is minimized and the aesthetic effect of layering is maintained.

As an advantage, the equipment 1 comprises vibratory means 14 associated with the lower wall 8 and adapted to facilitate the flow of the ceramic and/or stone materials M towards the outlet port 3b.

The vibration of the lower wall 8, on which the ceramic and/or stone materials M are placed, facilitates their fall and their exit.

Preferably, the vibrating means 14 comprise a plurality of vibrating elements 15 that can be operated independently of one another to define a preferential outlet path P for the ceramic and/or stone materials M.

As shown in Figure 5, in fact, setting only some vibrating elements 15 to vibrate forces the ceramic and/or stone materials M to follow the preferential exit path P, thus allowing "selection" of the exit order of the ceramic and/or stone materials M through the outlet port 3b.

Suitably, the equipment 1 has a closing device 16 that can be moved to block at least part of the outlet port 3b.

Therefore, the closure device 16 makes it possible to interrupt or reduce the extraction of the ceramic and/or stone materials M from the hopper 2.

In particular, the closure device 16 comprises a shutter 17 associated with the bottom wall 8 and capable of moving along the direction of advance D2.

In greater detail, the shutter 17 has a substantially sheet-shaped conformation and can be positioned between the hopper 2, at the point where the outlet port 3b is located, and the extraction surface 7.

The shutter 17 slides on guide elements 18 associated with the bottom wall 8 and is operated by a hydraulic cylinder 19.

Conveniently, the closure device 16 comprises adjustment means for adjusting the speed of movement of the shutter 17.

The adjustment means make it possible to establish a speed of displacement of the shutter 17 in order to avoid an associated movement with respect to the ceramic and/or stone materials M which are deposited on the extraction surface 7 and which would ruin the chromatic composition obtained.

In other words, the adjustment means ensure that the shutter 17 does not exert a pushing action on the ceramic and/or stone materials M and therefore does not alter their surface composition.

In addition, the adjustment means allow the uniform partial obstruction of the outlet port 3b, to vary the outlet flow of the ceramic and/or stone materials M through the outlet port 3b, depending on the aesthetic effect that is desired to be given to the slab to be compacted L.

As an advantage, the equipment 1 comprises at least one electronic control unit operatively connected to the extraction surface 7 and to the shutter speed adjustment means 17.

The electronic control unit is capable of detecting the speed of advance of the extraction surface 7, the position of the shutter 17 and the speed of displacement of the latter.

In greater detail, the electronic control unit is programmed to operate the adjustment means in such a way that the speed of displacement of the shutter 17 is substantially equal to the speed of advance of the extraction surface 7.

The operation of the present invention is as follows.

The dispensing means 4 deposit a plurality of ceramic and/or stone materials on the dispensing surface 6.

The latter, advancing along the flow direction D1, transports the ceramic and/or stone materials M towards the inlet port 3a of the hopper 2.

The ceramic and/or stone materials M fall by gravity into the containment chamber 3 settling on the lower wall 8 and positioning themselves in such a way as to define a plurality of inclined layers, superimposed on each other.

The extraction surface 7, at the point where the outlet port 3b is located, sliding along the direction of advance D2, extracts the ceramic and/or stone materials M from the hopper 2, thus forming a slab that will be compacted l.

The protrusion 13 of the terminal portion 9a of the upper wall 9 levels the ceramic and/or stone materials M without altering the aesthetic effect provided by the superposition of layers of ceramic and/or stone materials contained in the hopper 2.

During the formation of the slab to be compacted L, it is possible to modify the volume or the shape of the containment chamber 3 by acting on the upper wall 9.

By moving or turning the upper wall 9, it is possible to vary the superimposition of layers of ceramic and/or stone materials and their exit speed from the hopper 2, in order to give the slab that will be compacted a particular aesthetic effect.

In addition, the vibratory means 14 can be activated to determine the exit path preferential P of the ceramic and/or stone materials M contained within the containment chamber 3.

Vibratory means 14 operate on bottom wall 8 to facilitate the downward flow of ceramic and/or stone materials M.

In greater detail, the vibrating elements 15 are made to vibrate independently of each other in order to determine the preferential output path P. (Figure 5)

In order to carry out a partial extraction, or at the end of the extraction itself, the closing device 16 is operated to partially or totally obstruct the outlet port 3b.

For this purpose, the shutter 17 moves along the direction of advance D2 to position itself between the hopper 2 and the extraction surface 7.

The electronic control unit communicates with the adjustment means to determine the speed of displacement of the shutter 17 suitable for the partial or total closure of the outlet port 3b.

In practice, it has been determined that the described invention achieves the proposed objectives and, in particular, the fact that the equipment for the manufacture of slabs of ceramic and/or stone material according to the present invention allows to obtain a wide variety of aesthetic effects in a simple and reliable way, thanks to the efficient layering and extraction of ceramic materials from the hopper.

The particular shape of the hopper and the mobility of the walls one with respect to the other reduce the effect of friction on the deposition of ceramic and/or stone materials and facilitate their exit, thus allowing the desired aesthetic effect to be obtained.

Lastly, the equipment for the manufacture of slabs of ceramic and/or stone material according to the invention makes it possible to obtain slabs that faithfully reproduce the superimposition of layers of mineral compounds of natural rocks.

Claims (14)

1) Equipment (1) for the manufacture of slabs of ceramic and/or stone material, comprising: - at least one hopper (2) defining a containment chamber (3) made of ceramic and/or stone materials (M) and having at least one inlet port (3a) and at least one outlet port (3b) facing each other; - dispensing means (4) of a plurality of ceramic and/or stone materials (M) of different type and/or color inside said containment chamber (3) through said inlet port (3a); - at least one extraction surface (7) of the ceramic and/or stone materials (M) contained in said containment chamber (3), located below said outlet port (3b) and capable of moving along a forward direction (D2); characterized in that said hopper (2) comprises at least two walls (8,9) partially delimiting said containment chamber (3), successively positioned along said forward direction (D2) and inclined towards it, and by the fact that said walls (8,9) can move relative to each other to vary the shape of said containment chamber (3). 2) Equipment (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said walls (8,9) comprise a lower wall (8) and an upper wall (9), facing each other, where said lower wall (8) it is positioned upstream of said upper wall (9) with respect to said forward direction (D2), with said ceramic and/or stone materials (M) settling on said lower wall (8). 3) Equipment (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one of said lower wall (8) or said upper wall (9) can move by translation with respect to the other along said direction (D2) to vary the distance between them. 4) Equipment (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises displacement means (11,12) for displacing at least one of said walls (8,9) along said direction of advance (D2) . 5) Equipment (1) according to one or more of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that at least one of said lower wall (8) or said upper wall (9) can be moved by rotation around an axis ( A) transverse to said direction of advance (D2) to vary the inclination of the walls themselves with respect to each other. 6) Equipment (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that said upper wall (9) can be moved by rotation around said axis (A). 7) Equipment (1) according to one or more of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that said upper wall (9) has an end portion (9a) delimiting said outlet port (3b) and a protrusion (13 ) adapted to come into contact with said ceramic and/or stone materials (M) placed on said extraction surface (7) following their movement along said forward direction (D2). 8) Equipment (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that said protuberance (13) is shaped to define a substantially linear contact with said ceramic and/or stone materials (M) placed on said extraction surface (7 ). 9) Equipment (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises vibratory means (14) associated with said lower wall (8) and adapted to facilitate the flow of said ceramic and/or stone materials (M) towards said outlet port (3b). 10) Equipment (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that said vibratory means (14) comprise a plurality of vibrating elements (15) that can be operated independently of each other to define a preferential output path (P) of said ceramic and/or stone materials (M). 11) Equipment (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a closure device (16) that can be moved to block at least part of said outlet port (3b). Equipment (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that said closure device (16) comprises a shutter (17) capable of moving along said forward direction (D2). Equipment (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that said closure device (16) comprises adjustment means for adjusting the speed of movement of said shutter (17). 14) Equipment (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises at least one electronic control unit operatively connected to said extraction surface (7) and to said adjustment means, said electronic control unit being programmed to operate said adjustment means in such a way that the speed of displacement of said shutter (17) is substantially equal to the speed of advance of said extraction surface (7).