GB2034898A

GB2034898A - Device for detecting discontinuities in the structure of ceramic floor tiles

Info

Publication number: GB2034898A
Application number: GB7936535A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: COSTANTINI A; PECORARA G
Current assignee: COSTANTINI A; PECORARA G
Priority date: 1978-10-23
Filing date: 1979-10-22
Publication date: 1980-06-11
Also published as: ES238950U; ES238950Y; IT1125565B; DE2942611A1; IT7926713A0; PT70356A

Abstract

A device for detecting discontinuities in ceramic products such as floor tiles and wall tiles comprises one or more pairs of electrodes 3, 4 disposed vertically above and below a conveyor 1, which carries a ceramic product 2 between the pair or pairs of electrodes. A potential difference is generated between the electrodes, so that if there is a discontinuity in the ceramic product, a discharge will occur between the electrodes. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device for detecting discontinuities in the structure of ceramic floor tiles The purpose of the present invention is offering to industrials manufacturers of ceramic products such as floor tiles, wall tiles and the like, a device by means of which discontinuities in their structures are detected.

The device is based on the principle of verifying the uniformity in the structure of the ceramic (insulating) material under examination by exposing same to the action of an electric field of the appropriate value, in such a way that a discharge takes place between the two electrodes that create the mentioned field if the body is not uniform in its structure.

In fact, the ceramic floor tile acts as an insulating body whose dielectric strength is higher than that of the air if it does not have defects (cracks or very large pores).

The presence of cracks, even if they are very small, eases the discharge along same, in such a way that the dielectric strength of the body considerably decreases, becoming even lower than that of the air.

In practice, the floor tile under examination is moved between one or more pairs of electrodes that are exposed to a potential difference sufficient to allow the discharge in the presence of defects in the insulant body symbolized by the floor tile.

The said potential difference can be obtained by means of static systems or by means of condensive voltage multipliers.

In the presence of the floor tile under examination, the discharge will be interpreted as an indicating signal of the defect thereof.

The said information can be used in very different ways (a light signal which provokes the manual intervention of an operator, or electric signals stored in delay lines or another systems for coding information in such a way that it can be used). In any case, the said ways of use are already well known and used in the field of automatic or semi-automatic classification of floor tiles and therefore no claim is made in this respect.

An example of achievement of this device is shown in the drawings attached to the present specification.

Figure 1 shows an elevational scheme of the device. The floor tiles and/or wall tiles - 2 - for pavement or facing, enamelled or unenamelled, are arranged on the conveying line - 1 -. Pairs of electrodes - 3 - and - 4 -, connected to a high voltage generator - 5 -, are arranged between the upper part and the lower part of the said floor tiles and/or wall tiles.

Figure 2 shows a bottom view of the same scheme. Two pairs of electrodes, placed above and below the ceramic piece respectively, examine the longitudinal edges - 6 - and - 7 - of the said ceramic piece. Other pairs of electrodes, not shown in the drawing, can be placed over its central zone - 8 -, if it is deemed convenient. In any case, the matter is that the electrodes be allowed to carry out an exhaustive sweep examination throughout the piece, in such a way that if a crack or defect as shown by - 9 - is found on passing the piece between the electrodes a discharge takes place, the said discharge being registered in the established conventional systems, as stated above.

1. Device for detecting discontinuities in the structure of ceramic floor tiles, essentially characterized in that it consists of one or more pairs of electrodes that are exposed to a potential difference sufficient to allow the discharge in the presence of defects in the insulating body symbolized by the floor tile or ceramic piece which passes between the pair or pairs of electrodes on a conventional conveyor, the discharge of the electrodes in the presence of the floor tile or ceramic piece being interpreted as an indicating signal of the defect thereof and being shown this information in means of conventional type.

2. A device for detecting discontinuities substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Device for detecting discontinuities in the structure of ceramic floor tiles The purpose of the present invention is offering to industrials manufacturers of ceramic products such as floor tiles, wall tiles and the like, a device by means of which discontinuities in their structures are detected. The device is based on the principle of verifying the uniformity in the structure of the ceramic (insulating) material under examination by exposing same to the action of an electric field of the appropriate value, in such a way that a discharge takes place between the two electrodes that create the mentioned field if the body is not uniform in its structure. In fact, the ceramic floor tile acts as an insulating body whose dielectric strength is higher than that of the air if it does not have defects (cracks or very large pores). The presence of cracks, even if they are very small, eases the discharge along same, in such a way that the dielectric strength of the body considerably decreases, becoming even lower than that of the air. In practice, the floor tile under examination is moved between one or more pairs of electrodes that are exposed to a potential difference sufficient to allow the discharge in the presence of defects in the insulant body symbolized by the floor tile. The said potential difference can be obtained by means of static systems or by means of condensive voltage multipliers. In the presence of the floor tile under examination, the discharge will be interpreted as an indicating signal of the defect thereof. The said information can be used in very different ways (a light signal which provokes the manual intervention of an operator, or electric signals stored in delay lines or another systems for coding information in such a way that it can be used). In any case, the said ways of use are already well known and used in the field of automatic or semi-automatic classification of floor tiles and therefore no claim is made in this respect. An example of achievement of this device is shown in the drawings attached to the present specification. Figure 1 shows an elevational scheme of the device. The floor tiles and/or wall tiles - 2 - for pavement or facing, enamelled or unenamelled, are arranged on the conveying line - 1 -. Pairs of electrodes - 3 - and - 4 -, connected to a high voltage generator - 5 -, are arranged between the upper part and the lower part of the said floor tiles and/or wall tiles. Figure 2 shows a bottom view of the same scheme. Two pairs of electrodes, placed above and below the ceramic piece respectively, examine the longitudinal edges - 6 - and - 7 - of the said ceramic piece. Other pairs of electrodes, not shown in the drawing, can be placed over its central zone - 8 -, if it is deemed convenient. In any case, the matter is that the electrodes be allowed to carry out an exhaustive sweep examination throughout the piece, in such a way that if a crack or defect as shown by - 9 - is found on passing the piece between the electrodes a discharge takes place, the said discharge being registered in the established conventional systems, as stated above. CLAIMS