IES84183Y1 - Method of forming profiled stone articles and the articles formed by the method - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT The invention concerns a method of forming profiled stone articles using a waterjct apparatus and CNC technology, to enable the continuous production of the profiled stone aiticles.

Description

Method of forming profiled stone articles and the articles formed by the method This invention relates to a method of forming profiled stone articles and to the articles formed by the method.

The current method used in the formation of profiled stone articles comprises placing a single stone article in a jig and profiling the article using a conventional profiled diamond wheel. This method is relatively slow and is also limited in the type of profiling that can be achieved.

It is an object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of forming profiled stone articles, the method comprising: (a) cutting a stone slab into a plurality of tiles having an external generally rectangular configuration and being substantially uniform in size; (b) placing at least two of the tiles obtained in step (a) in a jig of a waterjet apparatus; and (C) cutting each tile to obtain articles having the desired profile using computer numerical control (CNC) technology, wherein the waterjet cutting of a new tile is initiated automatically following completion of the cutting of each tile. waterjet cutting is mainly used in the automotive industry where small runs of complex articles are required. Typically, a single piece of metal to be cut is fixed on a cutting bed and the cutting head can be adjusted using CNC through an X and Y—axis to obtain the desired shape.

In the present invention, the CNC program is such that when the first tile is cut, the same cutting process will be repeated automatically on each of the tiles in the jig of the waterjet apparatus. Accordingly, instead of the CNC program being set to process one tile only, the same program is continuously repeated on each tile in the jig.

The method of the invention preferably further comprises an additional step of removing each cut tile and profiled articles and replacing them by an untreated tile so that the cutting is continuous.

The stone slab used in the present invention preferably comprises marble, more preferably Connemara or Kilkenny marble, especially Connemara marble.

The number of tiles placed in the jig in step (b) is preferably from 6 to 48, more preferably from 12 to 48, and especially 40.

In a second aspect, the invention provides profiled stone articles formed by the method according to the invention. The profiled stone articles may have a substantially elliptical configuration in plan. Such articles may be used, in particular, as worry stones.

The invention is illustrated in the following Example.

Example Slabs of Connemara marble are cut into rectangular tiles measuring 100 mm X 145 mm. Forty of these tiles are placed in the jig of a water apparatus, the jig having an overall size of 1000 mm X 1400 mm. The water jet is programmed using CNC technology to cut each tile into six profiled articles having a substantially elliptical configuration and intended for use as worry stones. When the first tile has been cut into the desired profiled articles, the second tile is then cut and so on. Following completion of the cutting of each tile, the cut tile and profiled articles are removed from the jig and replaced by an untreated tile so that the cutting procedure is continuous.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described herein which may be modified or varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

1. Claims A method of forming profiled stone articles, the method comprising: cutting a stone slab into a plurality of tiles having an external generally rectangular configuration and being substantially uniform in size; placing at least two of the tiles obtained in step (a) in a jig of a waterjet apparatus; and cutting each tile to obtain articles having the desired profile using computer numerical control (CNC) technology, wherein the waterjet cutting of a new tile is initiated automatically following completion of the cutting of each tile.
2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising removing each cut tile and profiled articles and replacing them by an untreated tile so that the cutting is continuous.
3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the stone slab comprises marble, especially Connemara or Kilkenny marble; and/or wherein from 6 to 48, preferably from 12 to 48 and more preferably 40, tiles are placed in the jig in step(b).
4. A method according to claim 1, substantially as herein described with particular reference to the accompanying Example.
5. 5. Profiled stone articles whenever formed by a method claimed in a preceding claim.