ITUD20120202A1 - MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CEMENT TILES - Google Patents

Description

"MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CEMENTITIOUS TILES"

The present invention relates to a machine for the production of cement tiles by molding heaps of cement paste, also known as a heap press.

In particular, the present invention relates to an alternative linear machine for the production of single-layer cement tiles having an improved molding surface and an improved printing unit.

STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE

It is known to use cement tiles to cover and / or decorate surfaces of a building, such as walls or floors, or for paving cobbles, sidewalks, or other outdoor areas.

It is known that cement tiles can be single-layer, ie made of a single material, or multi-layer, ie obtained by coupling several layers of materials. These materials can define one or more load-bearing layers and a surface decorative layer.

It is known in particular that for the production of single-layer cementitious tiles one proceeds initially with the preparation of a cementitious paste, which can be low viscosity, or semi-liquid, and subsequently with a pressing, or molding, of this cementitious paste to obtain products and / or tiles of a desired shape and size.

During this pressing, most of the excess water present in the cement paste is eliminated by suction, or percolation, from below, or by suction from above, or again by suction from below and from above at the same time.

A subsequent drying phase allows the complete drying of the semi-finished tiles thus obtained.

Further surface finishing steps, such as for example the smoothing of any edges, sanding, or polishing, can be envisaged to obtain the finished tile ready for installation.

It is known to use, for the production of multi-layer or single-layer cementitious tiles, molding machines, or rotary presses, or linear alternatives.

The molding machines can be equipped with automatic or semi-automatic devices for feeding and dosing the cement paste, or they can be fed manually.

Generally, rotary presses comprise a revolving platform, or carousel, subdivided into a plurality of work stations, for carrying out the various processing steps.

Each work station can include one or more work surfaces, which can be connected together and supported by vibrating supports. Normally, the work surfaces of rotary presses each have at least one mold in which the cement paste is constantly circumscribed, during the various processing phases.

In addition, the worktops can be lifted by lifting pistons.

Known rotary presses usually also comprise three operating columns, each configured to perform a specific operation. This allows you to perform multiple operations simultaneously.

However, these rotary presses have the drawback of being considerably bulky, expensive and complex. It is therefore known to use, in particular for the production of single-layer tiles, molding machines, or presses, linear alternatives, having smaller dimensions, lower costs and greater simplicity of manufacture and use than the aforesaid rotary presses. The linear alternative molding machines normally used for the production of single-layer cementitious tiles include a loading station for the semi-liquid paste, a pressing station and an unloading station for the tiles obtained from this pressing.

These operating stations are normally placed side by side linearly in succession, with the pressing station arranged in the center and underneath an alternative movement printing apparatus.

The succession of the steps of loading the cement paste, pressing of the latter, and the subsequent steps of demoulding and unloading the semi-finished tiles define a molding cycle of a single-layer cement tile.

The loading phase involves the positioning of the cement paste necessary to obtain a tile on an upper surface of a molding surface, initially positioned in the loading station.

Alternative linear molding machines are known in which the cement paste is loaded by placing heaps of this material on molding surfaces or other supports. Such molding machines are also known as pile presses.

Alternative linear molding machines are also known which provide for a mold to be arranged on the molding surfaces, and for the cement paste to be loaded by placing it inside the mold itself. The cement paste is therefore circumscribed and uniformly distributed in the mold before molding, for example by vibrating the molding surface. This vibration is not expected in known pile presses.

Subsequently, the molding surface is moved towards the pressing station, where the pressing phase takes place.

The pressing step provides that a printing unit, normally comprising at least one mold and a molding slider, presses the cement paste, to obtain the molding of the tile in the desired shape.

Subsequently, the tile thus obtained, which can be finished or semi-finished, is released from the mold during a phase of demoulding and positioned again on the molding surface.

Subsequently, the tile is extracted from the pressing station by translating the molding plane.

This translation causes a corresponding translation of a further molding plane, generally connected to the previous one, on which the cement paste has already been loaded. In this way, the further molding plane passes from the loading station to the molding station, for a new molding cycle, completely similar to that previously described.

A drawback of known alternative linear molding machines resides in the fact that, although they can take advantage of a reduced overall dimensions, they have a reduced productivity.

It is also a drawback of known molding machines, in particular of alternative heap presses, that of not being able to adequately contain the heaps of cement paste before molding. This can cause material leaks and fouling of the molding machine, with negative consequences on maintenance times and on the production costs of the cement tiles.

A further drawback of known molding machines is that of comprising printing units which require long times to be replaced or maintained.

An object of the present invention is to provide a machine for the production of cement tiles which allows to achieve higher productivity than those obtainable with known molding machines.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a containment device which can be used in particular in alternative heap presses to effectively contain, before molding, the heaps of cement paste from which the cement tiles will be obtained.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a printing unit which allows maintenance operations to be speeded up and made easier, thus also reducing the costs associated with it.

In order to obviate the drawbacks of the known art and to obtain these and further objects and advantages, the Applicant has studied, tested and implemented the present invention.

EXPOSURE OF THE FOUND

The present invention is expressed and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims disclose other characteristics of the present invention or variants of the main solution idea.

In accordance with the aforementioned purpose, a machine for the production of cementitious tiles according to the present invention comprises at least one molding plane on which cementitious paste can be positioned, and a printing unit, configured to perform the molding of said cementitious paste for get the cement tiles.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the aforesaid printing unit comprises a multiple mold for simultaneously molding a plurality of heaps of cementitious paste and simultaneously obtaining a plurality of cementitious tiles.

In this way one obtains the advantage of reaching a productivity, in terms of tiles produced in the unit of time, higher than that obtainable with known molding machines.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the aforesaid printing unit comprises a multiple mold and a plurality of molding sliders each sliding alternately in a corresponding through cavity of the multiple mold. Furthermore, each of the aforesaid molding sliders is configured to exert a molding pressure on a corresponding heap of cement paste that can be positioned on the aforesaid at least one molding plane.

In this way the advantage of obtaining uniform cement tiles is obtained, as they are subjected to the same molding pressure. Furthermore, the fact that the multiple mold and the molding sliders are both included in the printing group allows rapid and precise positioning of the multiple mold and molding speed. This further contributes to increasing the productivity of the molding machine according to the present invention, and increases its reliability, precision and repeatability of the molding operations.

The present invention also relates to a method for the production of cementitious tiles, by means of the aforementioned molding machine, which provides for carrying out a simultaneous multiple molding of cementitious paste to obtain at the same time a plurality of cementitious tiles.

In this way more than one cement tile is advantageously obtained, for example two, three, five, six or more than six, for each molding cycle. The simultaneous obtaining of this plurality of cement tiles allows to increase the productivity of production plants that adopt the above method, with the resulting economic advantages.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the method under discussion provides for: - positioning a molding plane in a loading station;

- loading of cement paste on at least one molding surface;

- the movement, subsequent to the aforesaid loading, of the molding plane from the loading station to a molding station, lower than a printing unit having at least one multiple mold;

- the positioning of the latter above the aforementioned molding plane;

- the molding of the aforesaid cement paste.

In particular, the aforementioned loading of cement paste foresees to deposit two or more heaps of cement paste on the aforementioned molding surface, the aforementioned positioning of the multiple mold provides for the insertion of each of the aforementioned heaps of cement paste inside corresponding pass-through cavities of the multiple mold. Furthermore, the aforesaid molding is carried out by sliding, inside said through cavities, a number of molding sliders equal to the number of through cavities, to obtain a plurality of cement tiles.

ILLUSTRATION OF DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become clear from the following description of some embodiments, provided by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings in which: - fig. 1 is an axonometric view of a molding machine for the production of cement tiles according to the present invention;

- figs. 2-6 show each a front view, a side view and a plan view of the molding machine of fig. 1 during successive phases of a molding cycle;

- fig. 7 is a partially sectioned plan view of a component of the molding machine of fig. 1;

- figs. 8-11 show, in schematic lateral section, the behavior of the component of fig. 7 in successive phases of a molding cycle;

- figs. 12 and 13 are two plan views of a variant of fig. 7;

- fig. 14 is a side sectional view of the component of FIGS. 12 and 13 in use condition.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME FORMS OF IMPLEMENTATION

With reference to fig. 1, a molding machine 10 for the production of single-layer cement tiles 11 comprises a base frame 12, resting on a support surface, for example a floor 13, and a frame 14, fixed to the base frame 12 .

In the embodiment illustrated by way of example in the attached figures, the frame 14 is advantageously positioned in the central area of the base frame 12.

The frame 14 has the function of supporting a printing unit 15, which is configured to move with a straight reciprocating motion along a substantially vertical molding direction S, towards and away from the base frame 12.

In alternative embodiments, the frame 14 and the base frame 12 are replaced by a single monolithic structure, consisting of components welded or fixed together.

The area below the printing unit 15 is also called the stamping station.

As will be clear from the rest of the description, the printing unit 15 is able to carry out both the molding of the cement tiles 11 and their demoulding.

An extractor device 16 collects the cement tiles 11 during demoulding and, moving away from the molding station along an extraction direction E, extracts the cement tiles 11 from the molding station itself.

The extraction direction E is, in the example case, orthogonal to the molding direction S.

A movement device 17 is fixed to the base frame 12, having the function of horizontally translating a support element 18 along a movement direction M orthogonal to the molding direction S. In embodiments, the movement direction M is the extraction direction E are parallel to each other.

In further embodiments, the extraction direction E is transverse to the movement direction M.

Other embodiments provide that the movement direction M, the molding direction S and the extraction direction E are all mutually orthogonal, to define a Cartesian theme of orthogonal axes. In the aforementioned embodiments, the extraction direction E and the movement direction M lie on mutually parallel and substantially horizontal planes. These planes are vertically offset with respect to the other, so that the plane on which the extraction direction E lies, or the extraction plane, is placed above the plane on which the movement direction M lies, or the movement plane. .

In this way, the extraction of the cement tiles 11 does not hinder the movement of the support element 18 and extraction and handling can also take place simultaneously.

The support element 18 can be defined by a single metal plate, or by a first support plate 18 a and a second support plate 18b, arranged side by side and adjacent to each other to define a substantially rectangular footprint of the € ™ support element 18 itself.

A first molding plane 25a is fixed on the first support plate 18a, which is also known to a person skilled in the art as a stool, or movable anvil, while a second molding plane 25b is fixed on the second support plate 18b, or stool, or movable anvil.

The movement device 17 is configured to make the support element 18 perform an alternating back and forth motion along the aforementioned direction of movement M. In this way it is possible to alternatively position the first support plate 18a, and therefore the first molding plane 25a, and the second support plate 18b, and therefore the second molding plane 25b, in the aforementioned molding station.

When the first support plate 18a is positioned laterally with respect to the molding station inside the frame 14, it is found in a first loading station.

When the second support plate 18b is positioned laterally with respect to the molding station inside the frame 14, it is found in a second loading station.

In the first and second loading stations, cementitious paste 1 la is deposited on the first molding plane 25a and on the second molding plane 25b to be subjected to pressing to obtain the cement tiles 11, as will be described below.

The loading of the cementitious paste 1 la is carried out in as many heaps of cementitious paste 11a as there are cementitious tiles 11 to be obtained. The stages of loading, or deposition of the cementitious paste 11a, of molding, of demoulding and of extraction, as a whole, define a molding cycle.

In the example case, the handling device 17 is of the connecting rod type and comprises an engine 19, a connecting rod 20 and a crank 21. The connecting rod 20 is hinged, at one end, to the crank 21, and, at the opposite end, to a pin 22 fixed to one end of the first support plate 18a of the support element 18. The connecting rod 20 is driven by the crank 21 drags and pushes alternately, by means of the pin 22, the support element 18.

The support element 18 is provided, in its lower part, with trolley devices 23, which slide on rails 24, fixed to the base frame 12. The coupling between the trolley devices 23 and the rails 24 constrains the support element 18 to slide linearly along the desired direction of movement M. The rails 24, in fact, are placed parallel to this direction of movement M.

One or more trolley devices 23 can be provided, just as a single rail 24 or a plurality of rails 24 can be provided.

In the specific case described here, the support element 18 is provided, in its lower part, with six carriage devices 23, coupled to two rails 24, parallel to each other and to the rotation plane of the crank 20.

Other types of movement device 17, such as for example a linear actuator or a linear electromagnetic motor, or even a belt or rack device, can be used to make the support element 18 translate in the same way indicated above.

The fixing between the molding surfaces 25a, 25b and the support element may not be direct and there may be shock absorbers 26, for example mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, interposed between each support plate 18a, 18b and the respective support surface. molding 25a, 25b.

The shock absorbers 26 allow the absorption of any impacts due to the impact of the printing unit 15 on the first 25a or on the second 25b molding surface during the molding phase of the cement tiles 11.

Furthermore, the shock absorbers 26 can give flexibility to the system defined by the support plate (18a, 18b) and respective molding plane (25a, 25b).

The shock absorbers 26 can also keep the first molding plane 25a and the second molding plane 25b constantly orthogonal to the molding direction S along which the printing unit 15 moves.

In embodiments, the shock absorbers 26 are connected to one or more vibrating devices, configured to independently vibrate the first molding plane 25a and the second molding plane 25b. The vibration, which is carried out after loading the heaps of cement paste 11a on the molding surfaces 25a, 25b, and before molding, advantageously allows the cement paste 11a to be distributed and uniformed in these heaps. This facilitates subsequent molding operations.

The upper surface of the first molding plane 25a and of the second molding plane 25b is positioned at a height HI from the floor 13 and this height HI is kept substantially constant throughout the molding cycle. The height HI also corresponds to the height of the movement plane on which the movement direction M lies.

In the case of elimination from the bottom of the water contained in the cement paste, on the first 25a and on the second 25b molding surface one or more plates 27 are fixed, the number of which is equal to the number of cement tiles 11 to be obtained for each molding cycle.

In the exemplary case illustrated in the attached figures, the molding machine 10 is configured to produce four cement tiles 11 at each molding cycle. In embodiments, the molding machine 10 can be configured to produce two, three, five, six or more than six cement tiles 11. In general, the molding machine 10 can be configured to simultaneously produce a plurality of cement tiles 11.

The number of cementitious tiles 11 obtainable at each molding cycle is variable and depends on the size of the cementitious tiles 11 to be produced. In the embodiment described here, the four plates 27 are parallelepiped in shape and have a footprint in plan about the same as that of the cement tile 11 to be obtained.

The plates 27 can have a reticular structure, defined by a plurality of through capillary channels 28, which allow, during molding, the discharge of the water initially present in the cement paste 11a.

In other embodiments, in which the molding machine 10 is provided with an apparatus for aspirating the water from above, the plates 27 are not provided or have a solid structure. In this case, the plates 27 can be made with a plastic material, such as rubber, or polyurethane, or with a metallic material, such as steel.

Some embodiments provide that the upper surface of the solid structure plates 27 is smooth.

In embodiments, this surface can have bas-reliefs, or grooves, imprints, or incisions, or high-reliefs, projections, or protrusions, which develop along a design or decorative motif that is to be reproduced on the visible surface of the cement tiles 11.

The frame 14, in the specific case reported here for example, has a substantially parallelepiped overall size, delimited by four columns 29 which support a support structure 30 and keep it spaced from the base frame 12.

The columns 29, in a direction orthogonal to the direction of movement M, are spaced apart in such a way as to allow the passage of the support element 18 between them.

Similarly, in a direction orthogonal to the extraction direction E, the columns 29 are spaced apart to allow the passage of the extraction device 16.

The extractor device 16 is provided with a demoulding surface 31, on which the cement tiles 11 are placed after molding and during demoulding.

The demoulding plane 31 can be supported by a frame 32, having a movable part 32a to which the demoulding plane 31 is fixed, and a fixed part 32b.

The movable part 32a is mounted slidingly on the fixed part 32b along the extraction direction E.

Handling means 33 can be provided for moving the demoulding plane 31 towards and away from the molding station. In embodiments, the handling means 33 can include a pair of guide elements 35, for example a pair of slotted beams arranged parallel and spaced apart (fig. 1), configured to guide part of the frame 32 and therefore to move the demoulding plane 31. The aforesaid movement provides that the demoulding plane 31 is positioned alternately in the molding station and in an external position to the frame 14, and vice versa, at each molding cycle. The extractor device 16 is configured in such a way that the upper surface of the demoulding plane 31, when it is positioned in the molding station, has a distance H2 from the floor 13. The distance H2 also corresponds to the height of the pull-out on which the pull-out direction E.

The distance H2 is greater than the height HI at which the upper surface of the molding surfaces 25a, 25b is positioned.

The distance H2 is greater than the height HI by at least an amount equal to the vertical dimensions of the heaps of cement paste 11a and, where provided, of the plates 27.

In particular, the H2-H1 difference is advantageously such as to allow the simultaneous positioning, and with light or with a defined gap, in the molding station, of both the demoulding plane 31, on which the cement tiles 11 are placed, and the first 25a, or second 25b, molding plane, on which the cement paste 1 la to be pressed is placed, possibly supported by the plates 27.

This simultaneous positioning can also take place simultaneously, and allows a new molding cycle to be started immediately after the removal of the demoulding plane 31 from the molding station.

It is therefore clear that the difference H2-H1 is advantageously such as to allow the aforementioned simultaneous positioning and movement of the demoulding plane 31 and of the first 25a, or of the second 25b, molding plane, without the demoulding plane 31 interfering with no heaps of cementitious paste Ila.

In this way the loading and extraction operations are made faster, with a consequent increase in the productivity of the molding machine 10.

The movable part 32a of the frame 32, as in the present embodiment, can comprise two uprights 34 to which the demoulding plane 31 is cantilevered. These uprights 34 can be advantageously slidable along the extraction direction E, for example by means of guide elements 35.

The guide elements 35 can be two, parallel to each other and defining the aforementioned extraction direction E, or more than two, depending on the conformation of the frame 32.

The movement means 33 can comprise a motor 35a, for example electric, which can perform the automatic movement, along the aforementioned guide elements 35, of the movable part 32a of the frame 32 with respect to its fixed part 32b.

Other types of handling means 33 can be used for handling the movable part 32a of the frame 32, such as for example belt or rack devices, or devices using linear electromagnetic motors.

The printing unit 15 (figs. 2-6) comprises a first pair of linear actuators 37, each of which has a first end 37a fixed to the support structure 30.

A platform 38 is fixed to a second end 37b of each actuator of the first pair of linear actuators 37, opposite to the first end 37a.

In embodiments, the first end 37a is an end part of the piston of the linear actuator and the second end 37b is an end part of the cylinder, while other embodiments provide for a reverse fixing of the first pair of linear actuators 37 .

The relative motion of the second end 37b with respect to the first end 37a determines the movement of the platform 38, towards and away from the base frame 12.

The straightness of the movement of the platform 38 is determined by guide bars 39, each of which can be fixed to a column 29, or to the support structure 30.

In embodiments, it is also provided that each of the guide bars 39 is fixed to a column 29 and to the support structure 30.

The guide bars 39 can slide inside through holes 40 obtained in the platform 38.

In the lower part of the platform 38 there is fixed a plurality of molding sliders 41, also known to a person skilled in the art as pressing buffer groups, in a number equal to the number of cement tiles 11 to be obtained at each molding cycle.

Also fixed to the platform 38 is a second pair of linear actuators 42, having sliding axes parallel to those of the first pair of linear actuators 37 and to the molding direction S.

The second pair of linear actuators 42 has a first end 42a, for example corresponding to an end of the actuator cylinder, fixed to the platform 38, so that the second pair of actuators 42 is movable integrally with the latter .

A support plate 43 is fixed to a second end 42b of the second pair of actuators 42, for example corresponding to the end of the piston of each actuator.

A multiple mold 44 is in turn fixed to the support plate 43, having as many through cavities 45 as there are cement tiles 11 to be produced.

Each through cavity 45 has the size and shape of a cement tile 11.

In fact, the cement tiles 11 can have various shapes, for example they can have a square, rectangular, polygonal, regular or irregular plan, or defined by any closed curved profile.

In alternative embodiments, the printing unit 15 can comprise a single mold, having a single through cavity 45, instead of the aforementioned multiple mold 44.

The multiple mold 44 is positioned in such a way that each molding slider 41 can slide inside a through cavity 45 due to the relative motion between the platform 38 and the support plate 43 determined by the relative movement between the first 37 and the second 42 pair of linear actuators.

In particular, the multiple mold 44 and the molding sliders 41 are configured in such a way that the latter remain constantly inside the respective through cavities 45, even if the second pair of linear actuators 42 is in position stroke and the first pair of linear actuators 37 are in the minimum stroke position.

This advantageously allows to keep the dimensional tolerances between the molding sliders 41 and the relative through cavities 45 reduced, with a consequent benefit on the quality of the cement tiles 11.

A further advantage is due to the fact that, since they always remain inside the through cavities 45, the centering of the molding sliders 41 with respect to the latter is carried out only once. This has the consequence of reducing the preparation times of the molding machine 10 and therefore an increase in productivity.

The operation of the molding machine 10, which in some embodiments, allows, for each molding cycle, to obtain a plurality of cement tiles 11 starting from cement paste a, is as follows.

In figs. from 2 to 6 a succession of the processing phases under discussion is shown schematically.

In fig. 2 shows three sequential views of the molding machine 10 in an initial phase of the molding cycle. During this initial phase, the crank 21 and the connecting rod 20 are aligned in the position of maximum extension of the crank mechanism, so that the first support plate 18a, and consequently the first molding plane 25a, both in the molding station and that the second supporting plate 18b, and consequently the second molding plane 25b, is in the second loading station.

Heaps of cementitious paste 11a are placed on the plates 27 of the second molding plane 25b, so that on each plate 27 there is a heap of cementitious paste 11a, in the quantity necessary to obtain a cementitious tile 11.

In this initial phase, the demoulding plane 31 is external to the frame 14 and both the first 37 and the second 42 pair of linear actuators are in the minimum stroke position. The printing unit 15 is therefore at the maximum distance from the printing station.

In f g. 3 shows a stage of preparation for molding, during which the second pair of linear actuators 42 moves to the maximum stroke position, lowering the multiple mold 44 with respect to the molding sliders 41 along the molding direction S.

This allows the multiple mold 44 to be positioned in such a way as to house the heaps of cement paste inside the through cavities 45.

After the stage of preparation for molding, the handling device 17 moves the support element 18 along the direction of movement M, so as to position the first support plate 18a, and therefore the first molding plane 25a, in the first loading station, and the second support plate 18b, and therefore the second molding plane 25b, in the molding station (Fig. 4).

After this movement, the connecting rod 20 and the crank 21 are aligned in the position of minimum extension of the crank mechanism.

The molding operation is then carried out, which provides that the first pair of linear actuators 37 moves to the maximum stroke position, causing the rest of the printing unit 15 to lower along the molding direction S and towards the second molding plane 25b . At the end of this movement, the multiple mold 44 rests on the plates 27, enclosing the cement paste inside its through cavities 45. At the same time, the second pair of linear actuators 42 moves to an intermediate stroke position.

In the case of the example shown in fig. 4, this intermediate stroke position corresponds to approximately half of the total stroke of the linear actuators.

However, the present invention provides for the possibility of adjusting the ratio between the intermediate stroke position and the total stroke, according to the thickness of the cementitious tiles 11 to be obtained.

The positioning of the second pair of linear actuators 42 in the intermediate stroke position reduces the distance between the multiple mold 44 and the molding sliders 41.

In this way, the combination of the movements of the first pair of linear actuators 37 and of the second pair of linear actuators 42, causes the molding sliders 41 to slide inside the through cavities 45 of the multiple mold 44. 1 molding sliders 41 they then come into contact with the cementitious paste 11a, and subsequently exert a molding pressure on it such as to obtain the cementitious tiles 11 in the desired shape and compactness.

During the aforementioned molding step, the cementitious paste 11a is also loaded onto the plates 27 of the first molding plane 25a, positioned in the first loading station.

At the end of the molding phase, the first pair of linear actuators 37 moves back to the minimum stroke position (fig. 5), causing the remainder of the printing unit 15 to move away from the second printing plane along the molding direction S. molding 25b.

The cementitious tiles 11 remain inside the through cavities 45 of the multiple mold 44, since the pressure of the molding sliders 41 determines not only a reduction in the height of the cementitious paste 11a, but also its adhesion to the walls of the multiple mold 44 facing the through cavities 45. The friction generated during molding is in fact such as to make the tiles I l adhere to these internal walls.

After the backward movement of the printing unit 15, the handling device 17 and the handling means 33 respectively and simultaneously move the support element 18 and the extractor device 16. The aforesaid movements can also be simultaneous and serve to position respectively the first molding plane 25a and the demoulding plane 31 both in the molding station.

At the same time, the second molding plane 25b is positioned in the second loading station.

As previously described, the demoulding plane 31 is in a position above the first molding plane 25a and does not come into contact with the cement paste 1 present on the plates 27 of the latter.

Once the demoulding plane 31 is correctly positioned below the printing unit 15, the second pair of linear actuators 42 returns to the minimum stroke position. This causes a relative movement along the molding direction S of the multiple mold 44 with respect to the molding sliders 41, away from the underlying demoulding plane 31. This relative movement brings the molding sliders 41 into contact with the cement tiles 11 present inside the through cavities 45 of the multiple mold 44. As a consequence of the contact between the molding sliders 41 and the cement tiles 11, the molding the latter, which are pushed out of the multiple mold 44. The cement tiles 11 then rest on the underlying demoulding plane 31.

Subsequently (fig. 6), the extractor device 16 extracts the cement tiles 1 1 from the frame 14, allowing the start of a new molding cycle. In fact, the handling means 33 are operated to move the demoulding plane 31 along the extraction direction E away from the molding station.

The cement tiles 11 can then be removed from the demoulding plane 31, either automatically or manually. They can then be transferred to a drying line, or to a finishing line, or they can be stored for drying or for sale.

After demoulding, the second pair of linear actuators 42 moves to the maximum stroke position, as in the aforementioned preparation for molding step.

As soon as the demoulding surface 31 is outside the frame 14, a further molding step can be carried out, which involves the production of a further four cement tiles 11 starting from the cement paste 11 a present on the plates 27 of the first molding plane 25a.

To carry out this further molding step, the first pair of linear actuators 37 can pass from the minimum stroke position to the maximum stroke position, and then the second pair of linear actuators 42 can pass from the maximum stroke position to the intermediate stroke position . During the further molding phase, which completes the molding cycle, new cement paste 11a is loaded onto the plates 27 of the second molding plane 25b and a new molding cycle can begin.

Subsequently, the demoulding operation is carried out in the manner described above and the molding machine 10 is brought back to the already mentioned conditions of preparation for molding (Fig. 3).

The molding cycle described above can be applied both to molding machines 10 with downward discharge of the excess water contained in the cement paste 11a, and to molding machines 10 equipped with suction from above of this excess water , and to molding machines 10 which integrate both of the aforementioned methods of suction and elimination of water.

In embodiments, the molding machine 10 comprises a device for containing one or more heaps of cement paste 11a comprising a frame 46, fixed in a removable way, directly or indirectly, above the aforementioned molding surface 25a, 25b and a deformable support, indicated for example with the reference number 47, bound perimeter to the frame 46 and having a part inside the frame 46 on which to place at least a heap of cement paste 11a, configured to deform so as to define a containment cavity. The deformable support 47 therefore has a non-deformed and substantially horizontal condition and a deformed, substantially concave condition. This allows the Ila cement paste to be retained without it overflowing and dispersing outside, in particular preventing it from coming out unwanted sideways.

In embodiments which provide for the use of the aforementioned containment device, when the molding surface 25a, 25b is in the loading station, at least a heap of said cement paste is placed on the deformable support 47 which, following this loading, it deforms by bending to assume a concave shape for the containment of said cement paste 11a. In embodiments, after loading, said molding surface 25a, 25b can be moved in the molding station, below said printing unit 15 which, in turn, is lowered onto the printing surface 25a, 25b, to bringing said mold 44 into contact with said frame 46 and to insert said at least one heap of cementitious paste I la inside a through cavity 45. The contact between said mold 44 and said frame 46 determines the repositioning of at least said deformable support 47 towards a substantially horizontal position, no longer deformed.

In the case of removal of the water from below, in embodiments a filtration device 36 (figs. 7-11) can be provided, positioned above the plates 27.

The filtration device 36 can also act as a containment device for the cement paste 11a as expressed above and can in fact have the multiple function of containing and supporting the cement paste 11a when this is placed on the plates 27 during the loading operation, and to filter the water coming out of the cement paste itself during the subsequent molding phase.

The filtration device 36 (fig. 7) advantageously comprises a frame 46, flexible for example, and a filter 47, which, in addition to the filtration function, can act as a deformable support as indicated above. The filter 47 is connected along the perimeter edge to the frame 46 and is free to deform and yield in the central internal part.

Filter 47 can be made up of a single filtering sheet or sheet, or of several overlapping sheets or sheets, and can be made of warp and weft fabric, or non-woven fabric, with natural or synthetic fibers, or other permeable materials suitable for filtration. These fibers, or in general the usable filtration materials, can be configured in such a way as to allow the permeation of water and to retain the granular material which constitutes the cement paste 11a.

The frame 46 can be made with a sheet of metal or plastic material and can be provided with a number of through openings 48 equal to the number of cement tiles 11 to be obtained for each molding cycle. These through openings 48 have a shape and dimensions in plan about the same as those of the plates 27, albeit slightly larger, so that each through opening 48 can contain a plate 27 (Figs. 8-11). The frame 46 is fixed in a removable way to the first 25a and to the second 25b molding plane by for example the coupling between bolts 50, which act as fastening means, and a corresponding plurality of through holes 49 obtained perimeter in the most frame exterior 46.

In embodiments, instead of the bolts 50, pins, pegs, pegs, or other movable removable fastening devices can be used, for example pneumatic or hydraulic pistons, suitable for the purpose of maintaining the filtering device in the desired position above the plates 27.

Coaxially to the stem of the screw 52 of each bolt 50, or of the pin, pin or peg, an elastic element is mounted, for example a spring 51, which acts as a means of abutment with the lower surface of the frame 46. The springs 51, or any other type of similar or comparable elastic means, such as the aforementioned pistons, support the frame 46 and keep it in a slightly raised position with respect to the upper surface of the plates 27.

In the rest position, the filter 47 is positioned above the frame 46, and is substantially horizontal.

The loading of the cement paste (fig. 9) requires the latter to be deposited on the part of the filter 47 above the through openings 48. The filtering device 36 is configured in such a way that the filter 47, due to its perimeter constraint to the filter 47, for example in its part substantially similar to a central one, undergoes a deformation and bending downwards, under the weight of the cementitious paste 11a, thus resulting concave at each through opening 48. The filter 47 therefore has, in the specific case of fig. 7 and fig. 9, four concavities.

This is due to the action of the weight of the cement paste together with the flexibility of the frame 46, the thrust exerted on it by the springs 51 and the deformability of the filter 47 with respect to the frame 46.

Each concavity resulting from the deformation of the filter 47, which therefore acts as a deformable support, has the advantage of containing the cement paste by keeping it and retaining it inside the area delimited below by the corresponding through opening 48.

This area also corresponds to the central area of the plate 27 and to the area on which, during the subsequent molding step, the relative molding slider 41 rests.

In this way, the cement paste, even if semi-liquid, remains on the filter 47 and does not disperse elsewhere.

In the embodiments where it is provided, the vibration of the first molding plane 25a, or of the second molding plane 25b, increases the certainty that the cement paste 11a remains on the filter 47.

This could, in fact, cause fouling of the molding machine 10, with a consequent increase in maintenance times and a reduction in productivity. Furthermore, leaks of cementitious paste 11 a out of the multiple mold 44 could give rise to defects in the cementitious tiles 11 and decrease the yield of the molding machine 10.

When the printing unit 15 is lowered towards the first molding plane 25a, or second molding plane 25b (fig. 10), the multiple mold 44 comes into contact with the frame 46 and pushes it downwards, overcoming the resistance of the springs 51. The thrust of the multiple mold 44 causes a deformation of the frame 46, which results in the tensioning of the filter 47, which is arranged rectilinear and horizontal on the upper surface of the plates 27.

In embodiments, this tensioning can also be carried out by the pneumatic or hydraulic pistons, before the multiple mold 44 comes into contact with the frame 46.

The filtration device 36 is kept in this position by the multiple mold 44 also during the subsequent molding phase (fig. 11), during which the molding sliders 41 descend into the through cavities 45 of the multiple mold 44 and compress the cement paste to obtain the cement tiles 11.

During molding, the water that escapes from the cement paste is filtered by the filter 47 and conveyed downwards by the capillary channels 28 of the plates 27.

In embodiments, in the case of a molding machine 10 equipped with suction of excess water from the top, or both from the bottom and from the top, a filtration device 136 (figs. 12-14), can be connected to each molding slider 141, instead of to the plates 27.

In the exemplary case of a molding machine 10 with water suction from the top and bottom, the molding slider 141 (fig. 14) is defined by two components coupled together, that is by an upper pad holder component 142, and by the aforementioned filtration device 136, arranged below the upper pad holder component 142. The filtration device 136 includes a printing pad 143, mechanically connected to the upper pad holder component 142 and a filter 147 (Figs. 12-14) . In embodiments, the printing pad 143 is releasably connected by magnetic connecting means 152, 153 to the aforementioned filter 147.

In embodiments, the printing pad 143 can have a parallelepiped shape and overall dimensions substantially equal to that of the cementitious tiles 11 to be obtained.

In embodiments, the filter 147 is magnetically attached to the underside of the printing pad 143.

In embodiments, the printing pad 143 has, in its lower face, a network of channels 144 communicating with each other and having the function of conveying the water coming from the underlying cement paste to a collection chamber 145.

The collection chamber 145 can be communicating with an evacuation channel 146 which allows the water to be evacuated upwards, for example through one or more openings made in the molding slider 141 and not shown in the drawings.

Through holes 149 are also formed in the printing pad 143, which are used for the removable fixing of the printing pad 143 to the upper pad holder component 142, for example by means of screws 150.

In the same printing pad 143 there is also obtained a plurality of housing compartments 151, blind, each suitable for containing a permanent magnet 152.

The filter 147 comprises a metal grid 153, for example constituted by a metal mesh or by a perforated metal plate, to which a dense mesh filter membrane 154 is stably connected. The latter constitutes, in use, the lower external surface of the molding slider 141 and, in the molding phase, comes into contact with the cementitious paste 11a.

The metal grid 153 can be made in a single piece having a footprint in plan such as to cover the entire lower face of the printing pad 143, or it can be composed of several modules, which cover, as a whole, the lower surface of the print pad 143.

The metal grid 153 is advantageously made of a metal material having magnetic characteristics, such as for example a low-alloy steel or a ferritic stainless steel. The metal grid 153 cooperates with the magnets 152, which keep it, due to the effect of the magnetic attraction, in contact with the lower face of the printing pad 143.

This magnetic coupling is at the same time firm and easily removable and has the advantage of not requiring further mechanical machining on the upper buffer-holder component 142. Furthermore, this solution allows the rapid replacement of the filter 147, if clogged or worn, consequently decreasing the maintenance and downtime required for this replacement.

Consequently, this allows the productivity of the molding machine 10 to be increased.

It is clear that modifications and / or additions of parts can be made to the molding machine 10 described up to now, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (12)

CLAIMS 1. Machine for the production of cementitious tiles (11), comprising at least one molding surface (25a, 25b) on which cementitious paste () can be positioned and a printing unit (15), configured to perform the molding of said paste cementitious () to obtain the cementitious tiles (11), characterized in that said printing unit (15) comprises a multiple mold (44) to simultaneously mold a plurality of heaps of cementitious paste () and simultaneously obtain a plurality of cementitious tiles (11). 2. Machine as in claim 1, characterized in that said printing unit (15) comprises a plurality of molding sliders (41, 141) sliding in an alternative way and that said multiple mold (44) comprises corresponding through cavities (45) in each of which a relative molding slider (41, 141) is able to slide, each of said molding sliders (41, 141) being configured to exert a molding pressure on a corresponding heap of cement paste () which can be positioned on said at least one molding plane (25a, 25b). 3. Machine as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a base frame (12) resting on a support surface (13) and a frame (14) fixed to said base frame (12) , to support said printing group (15). 4. Machine as in claim 3, characterized in that an upper surface of said at least one molding plane (25a, 25b) is positioned at a constant height (HI) from said support surface (13). 5. Machine as in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, characterized in that it also comprises an extractor device (16), having at least one demoulding plane (31), said extractor device (16) being configured to cyclically assuming a position external to said frame (14) and a position internal to said frame (14), in order to extract each time the cement tiles (11) produced. 6. Machine as in claims 4, or 4 and 5, characterized in that the upper surface of said demoulding plane (31) is placed at a certain distance (H2) from said support surface (13), greater with respect to said height (HI). 7. Machine as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one molding plane (25a, 25b) is configured to simultaneously house a plurality of heaps of cement paste (). 8. Machine as in claim 7, characterized in that said at least one molding plane (25a, 25b) comprises a plurality of plates (27) fixed above said at least one molding plane (25a, 25b) and in a number equal to number of cement tiles (11) to be obtained at the same time. 9. Machine as in claims 6 and 8, characterized in that the difference between said height (HI) and said distance (H2) is at least equal to the sum of the vertical dimensions of said heaps of cement paste (11a) and said plates (27). 10. Method for the production of cementitious tiles (11) by means of a machine (10) as claimed in one or the other of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it provides for carrying out a simultaneous multiple molding of cement paste () for obtaining at the same time a plurality of cement tiles (11). 11. Method as in claim 10, characterized in that it provides: - positioning a molding surface (25a, 25b) in a loading station; - the loading of cement paste (11a) on at least one molding surface (25 a, 25b); - the movement, subsequent to said loading, of said molding plane (25a, 25b) from said loading station to a molding station, below a printing unit (15) having at least one multiple mold (44); - positioning said multiple mold (44) above said molding plane (25a, 25b); - molding of said cement paste (); wherein said loading of cement paste (11a) provides for depositing two or more heaps of cement paste () on said molding surface (25a, 25b), in which said positioning of said multiple mold (44) provides for the insertion of each of said heaps of cement paste () inside corresponding through cavities (45) of said multiple mold (44), and in which said molding is carried out by sliding, inside said through cavities (45), of a number of molding sliders (41, 141) equal to the number of said through cavities (45), to obtain a plurality of cement tiles (11). 12. Method as in claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, after said molding, operations are carried out: - removal of said printing unit (15) from said molding plane (25a, 25b); - positioning a demoulding plane (31) in said molding station, in a position above said molding plane (25a, 25b); - relative sliding of said molding sliders (41, 141) inside said through cavities (45) of said multiple mold (44), to perform the demoulding of said cement tiles (11); - moving said demoulding plane (31) away from said molding station, to remove said cement tiles (11).