WO2015192894A1

WO2015192894A1 - Device for the quick change of presses for ceramic products

Info

Publication number: WO2015192894A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/062738
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nigel Francis GEARING-THOMAS
Original assignee: Jolyan Holding Sa
Priority date: 2014-06-17
Filing date: 2014-06-17
Publication date: 2015-12-23

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for the quick change of presses for ceramic products, associable to at least one press (3) of the gantry type for the production of ceramic products (4),such as tiles and the like,provided with a respective mould (10), the press (3) being traversed by the products (4) under processing according to an input-output direction (A), the quick change device (1) comprising at least one conveyor member (13,13') suitable for moving the mould (10) from and towards the press (3) according to a preset translation direction (B) in order to perform maintenance and/or replacement operations. The translation direction (B) of said conveyor member (13, 13') is orthogonal to the input-output direction (A) of the ceramic products (4) under processing.

Description

DEVICE FOR THE QUICK CHANGE OF PRESSES FOR CERAMIC

PRODUCTS

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for the quick change of presses for ceramic products, such as tiles and the like.

BACKGROUND ART

In the field of production of ceramic products and other similar products such as bricks, etcetera, presses are used, for example presses of the gantry type, provided with a lower support platform and an upper mobile crosspiece, which also have a mould comprising a lower punch or plug, fixed to the platform, an upper punch or plug, fixed to the upper crosspiece, and a matrix wherein the upper and lower plugs fit so as to delimit a forming cavity within which the ceramic powder to be pressed in order to form a ceramic product is.

A typical problem of this type of presses is related to the need of changing the mould, for example for changing the shape of the ceramic products to be formed or for maintenance purposes.

The change of the mould in this type of presses is a rather difficult operation both for problems related to space given by the overall dimension of the mould, the narrow area available in the press and the arrangement of the press with respect to the line for conveying the ceramic products moving away from the press, and to the considerable mass of the mould which may reach the order of thousands of kilograms.

In order to change the press the operators use a forklift, but the operation still remains difficult and requires a lot of time.

In Italian patent applications n° MI2008A002057 and n° RE2010A000076 proposed solutions are proposed for partly automating this operation of changing the mould, without attaining, however, satisfactory results.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The technical task of the present invention is to improve the state of the art.

Within this technical task, providing a device for quick change of presses for ceramic products, capable of allowing replacing quickly and efficiently the mould installed on a press with another, for example for maintenance purposes, for changing formats, or other purposes, constitutes an object of the present invention .

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for the quick change of presses for ceramic products, the device allowing improving the operating and safety conditions of the persons designated to replace the mould of the press.

This task and objects are attained by a device for the quick change of presses for ceramic products according to the attached claim 1.

The dependent claims refer to preferred and advantageous embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages shall be apparent from the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments of the invention, strictly illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the attached drawings, wherein:

figure 1 is a schematic view from above of a plant for the production of ceramic products such as tiles and the like, comprising the device according to the invention, during the normal production of the products ;

figure 2 is a schematic plan view from above of the plant comprising the device according to the invention, in an operating step of changing the mould of the press;

figure 3 is a detailed front schematic view of the plant comprising the device according to the invention, during the normal production of the products ;

figures 4, 5 and 6 are schematic front views of the detail of the same plant, in subsequent steps in the operation of changing the mould of the press; and

figure 7 is another detailed schematic front view of the plant comprising the device according to the invention ;

figure 8 is a schematic plan view of a plant for the production of ceramic products such as tiles and the like comprising the device according to another embodiment of the invention, during the normal production of the products;

figure 9 is a schematic plan view of the plant of figure 8, in an operating step of changing the mould of the press.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the attached figure 1, a device for the quick change of presses for ceramic products according to the present invention is indicated in its entirety with reference numeral 1.

The device can be installed in a line for the production of ceramic products, such as tiles and the like, indicated in its entirety with reference numeral 2 in figure 1, but it could also be installed in lines for the production of products of another type, without any limitation to the objects of the present invention. More in detail, the production line 2 within which the device 1 according to the present invention can be installed is of the type comprising at least one press 3, of the portable type, traversed by the ceramic products 4 operating according to an input-output direction A.

In addition, the production line 2 comprises at least one conveyor 5 of products 4 exiting from the press 2, defining a respective direction of advancement E of the products 4.

The conveyor 5 may for example serve the function of conveying the products 4 towards a subsequent operating station, not represented in the figure, for example a drying station, or others.

The press 3 comprises a basement with platform 6, uprights 7, a fixed crosspiece 8 and a mobile crosspiece 9 along the uprights 7.

The press 3 is provided with a respective mould 10.

The mould 10 is, for example, of the type comprising a lower punch or plug 11, fixed to platform 6, an upper punch or plug 12, fixed to the mobile crosspiece 9, and a matrix in which the upper 11 and lower 12 plugs are inserted, so as to delimit a forming cavity, within which the ceramic powder to be pressed in order to form a ceramic product 4 is inserted.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the quick change device 1 comprises at least one conveyor member 13, 13' .

The at least one conveyor member 13, 13' is suitable for moving the mould 10 from and towards the press 3, according to a pre-set translation direction B, to perform maintenance and/or replacement operations.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the aforementioned translation direction B of the at least one conveyor member 13, 13' is orthogonal to the input-output direction A of the press 3 of the ceramic products under processing.

This characteristic allows attaining major advantages. Actually, the replacement of the mould 10, or the picking up thereof for maintenance reasons or the like, are performed by moving it laterally with respect to the direction for the input/output A, i.e. so as not to occupy and/or hinder the forming area of the products 4 at the front or rear side of the press 3.

Other advantages shall be more apparent in the description that follows. According to a further aspect of the invention, the device 1 comprises a first conveyor member 13 and a second conveyor member 13' .

The first conveyor member 13 and the second conveyor member 13' are positioned, as better clarified hereinafter, opposite each other with respect to the symmetry plane of the press 3.

This allows conveying the mould 10, removed from the press 3, indistinctively in one direction or the other along the translation direction B.

As better described hereinafter, once translated along the first conveyor member 13 or along the second conveyor member 13' for a suitable distance, the mould 10 may be picked up or unloaded by a forklift C having, also, small dimensions, because the mould 10 does not have to be lifted to heights such that the stability of the forklift C could not be guaranteed.

The first conveyor member 13 and the second conveyor member 13' can be substantially identical to each other and have the same dimensions, or alternatively they may be shaped and/or have different dimensions depending on the particular and specific application requirements. The first conveyor member 13 comprises a respective first roller unit 14.

The second conveyor member 13' comprises a respective second roller unit 14'.

The first roller unit 14 and the second roller unit 14' can be substantially identical to each other, or alternatively they can be of different shape and/or dimension, depending on the particular and specific application needs.

The first roller unit 14 defines, at the upper part, a respective first moving surface 15 for moving the mould 10; moreover, the second roller unit 14' defines, at the upper part, a respective second moving surface 15' for moving the mould 10.

The first roller unit 14 and the second roller unit 14' comprise , more in detail, a plurality of first rollers 14a and second rollers 14a' , respectively, which rollers are rotatably supported with parallel axes, made of material suitable for transporting moulds for ceramic products .

In addition, the first rollers 14a of the first roller unit 14 and the second rollers 14a' of the second roller unit 14' are mounted with respective distance between centres suitable for appropriately conveying ceramic products 4 of various shapes and dimensions. The first rollers 14a of the first roller unit 14, as well the second rollers 14a' of the second roller unit 14, may be idle or motorised. In the first case, the mould 10 should be manually moved on the first roller unit 14 or on the second roller unit 14', or through auxiliary external means. In the second case, the first roller unit 14 and the second roller unit 14' comprise respective actuation means of the first rollers 14a and of the second rollers 14a' : such actuation means can comprise, for example, a gearmotor group supported by a framework of the first roller unit 14, and/or the second roller unit 14', and coupled to the rollers 14a and/or 14a', through transmission means for example of the belt type, chain type, or the like.

The first moving surface 15 of the first roller unit 14, and the second moving surface 15' of the second roller unit 14' are arranged at a height lower than the height of the plane for the input/output of the products 4 from and towards the press 3.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the device 1 comprises at least one member for lifting and lowering the mould 10, indicated in its entirety with 16.

The lifting and lowering member 16 is positioned before the press 3, below the advancement plane of products 4 along the input-output direction A.

The lifting and lowering member 16 is selectively mobile between a lower position and an upper position. In particular, the lower position of the lifting and lowering member 16 is illustrated in figures 5, 6, while the upper position of the member is illustrated in figure 4.

More in detail, in the aforementioned upper position, the lifting and lowering member 16 is suitable for receiving the mould 10 after the latter is removed from the press 3, i.e. after the upper plug 12 has been removed from the upper crosspiece 9 and the lower plug 11, associated to the upper one 12, is removed from the platform 6.

It should be observed that the removal of the mould 10 from the press 3, given the high weight thereof, is carried out by using devices and tools known in the field, which do not represent an object of the present invention .

According to another aspect of the present invention, the first conveyor member 13 and the second conveyor member 13' are respectively arranged at the sides of the lifting and lowering member 16, along translation direction B.

The lifting and lowering member 16 comprises, more in detail, an upper surface 17 which forms, together with the lifting and lowering member 16 in the aforementioned lower position, alongside the first moving surface 15 of the first roller unit 14 and/or the second moving surface 15' of the second roller unit 14', a substantially continuous sliding surface for the translation of the mould 10.

The upper surface 17 of the lifting and lowering member 16 can be formed, for example, by a plurality of idle rollers 17a; alternatively, the rollers 17a of the lifting and lowering member 16 can be driven through a respective actuation group.

In an embodiment of the invention, the lifting and lowering member 16 is of the pantograph type, or the like .

In other embodiments of the invention not represented in the figures, the lifting and lowering member 16 could be of another type, for example of the hydraulic jack type, with screw, etc.

According to an aspect of the invention, the lifting and lowering member 16, the first conveyor member 13 and the second conveyor member 13'- or even only one of them - are mobile vertically from a lower inactive position of minimum overall dimension, to an upper position for moving the mould 10.

In particular, in figure 7, the lifting and lowering member 16, the first conveyor member 13 and the second conveyor member 13' are illustrated by a solid line in the aforementioned lower inactive position, while they are illustrated in a dashed line in the aforementioned upper position for moving the mould 10.

Also in figure 3, the lifting and lowering member 16 is illustrated in said lower inactive position.

In the lower inactive position, the lifting and lowering member 16, the first conveyor member 13 and the second conveyor member 13' are arranged at the level of the ground surface or even below it, so as not to create encumbrances or obstacles.

In the position for moving the mould 10, instead, the lifting and lowering member 16, the first conveyor member 13 and the second conveyor member 13' are lifted to the same operating height for moving the mould 10. In particular, as regards the lifting and lowering member 16, the operating height for moving the mould 10 is intermediate between the lower inactive position of figures 3, 7 and the upper position of figure 4.

A production line 2 of ceramic products comprising the automatic change device 1 according to the present invention also is the object of the present invention. In particular, a production line 2 with the characteristics observable from figures 1, 2 forms the object of the present invention. As clarified previously, line 2 comprises at least one press 3, of the portable type, through which the ceramic products 4 operating according to the input- output direction A move.

In addition, the line 2 comprises a conveyor 5 of the products 4 exiting from the press 3, defining a direction of advancement E of the products 4.

According to an aspect of the invention, line 2 is installed so that the input-output direction A of the press 3 is orthogonal with respect to the direction of advancement E of the products 4.

More in detail, production line 2 according to the invention comprises an output conveyor element 18.

The output conveyor element 18 is arranged according to the aforementioned input-output direction A, and it is placed in communication directly with the press 3, i.e. it receives the products 4 previously formed in the press 3.

The production line 2 also comprises a connection element 19, provided for between the output conveyor element 18 and the conveyor 5.

The connection element 19 receives the products 4 coming from the output conveyor element 18, and directs them on the conveyor 5.

According to another aspect of the invention, the output conveyor element 18 is movable from an operating position, wherein it is suitable for conveying the products 4 exiting from the press 3, to an inactive position, wherein it does not hinder the extraction of said mould 10 from said press 3.

More in detail, the output conveyor element 18 is articulated to the connection element 19 along an articulation axis F parallel to the aforementioned direction of advancement E, so as to be selectively rotatable from said operating position to said inactive position .

As observable in figure 3, in the operating position, the output conveyor element 18 is arranged horizontally or substantially horizontally, so as to allow the normal transfer of the products 4 from the press 3 to the conveyor 5.

Instead, as observable in figures 4, 5, 6, in the inactive position the output conveyor element 18 is arranged vertically, or substantially vertically, so as to allow the translation of the mould 10 from and towards the press 3.

A production line 2 thus made allows attaining numerous advantages .

In the first place - as illustrated by using the dashed line in figures 1, 2 - the production line 2 can comprise a supplementary press 20, arranged facing the main press 3 described previously.

The supplementary press 20 can have, for example, different characteristics with respect to those of the main press 3.

The aforementioned supplementary press 20 can be associated to a respective supplementary output conveyor element 21, communicating with the connection element 19.

Thus, it may be decided whether to use the main press 3 or the supplementary press 20, depending on the specific production requirements.

In addition, a production line 2 as designed allows arranging the change device 1 laterally with respect to the output conveyor element 18: thus, the forklift C may pick up the mould 10 in an area lateral to the press 3, so as not to interfere with the operating area thereof .

The operation of the device 1 according to the invention, as well as the entire production line 2, are entirely intuitive in view of the description provided above .

When required to replace the mould 10 of the press 3, for maintenance or replacement reasons, with a mould of another type and/or of another shape, after stopping the production line 2, the output conveyor element 18 is moved from the horizontal operating position illustrated in figure 3 - to the vertical idle position, illustrated in figures 4-6.

Thus, the space available before the press 3 is cleared completely .

Then, the lifting and lowering member 16, normally in the lower position, is moved to the upper position illustrated, in particular, in figure 4.

Thus, the mould 10 of the press 3 - previously unconstrained from the platform 6 and from the mobile crosspiece 9 - can be moved from the platform 6 on the upper surface 17 of the lifting and lowering member 16, in a quick and easy way, by using means and equipment known for this purpose.

Once positioned correctly the mould 10 on the upper surface 17, the lifting and lowering member 16 is lowered up to the lower position, as illustrated in figure 5.

As mentioned, in this position of the lifting and lowering member 16, the upper surface 17 is coplanar to the moving surface 15 of the first conveyor member 13 and the second moving surface 15' of the second conveyor member 13' .

The mould 10 may thus be immediately moved from the upper surface 17 to the first moving surface 15 or to the second moving surface 15' .

As observable, the choice of translating the mould 10 on the first conveyor member 13 or on the second conveyor member 13' mainly depends on which of the two sides of the press 3 is better accessible for the forklift C, or other similar logistic reasons.

In the case wherein the rollers 14a and/or the second rollers 14a' are motorised, the translation of the mould 10 along the first conveyor member 13 and/or along the second conveyor member 13' occurs automatically; otherwise, if the first rollers 14a and/or the second rollers 14a' are idle, the translation of the mould 10 should be carried out manually.

Upon reaching the end of the first conveyor member 13 or the second conveyor member 13' , as illustrated in figure 6, the picking up of the mould 10 to be replaced is thus carried out in an extremely quick, accurate and safe manner, in an area of the line 2 sufficiently far away from the input-output direction of the products 4 from the press 3.

Another important advantage associated to the presence of a first conveyor member 13 and a second conveyor member 13' opposite to each other and positioned at the sides of the lifting and lowering member 16 consists in the fact that it is possible to considerably reduce the operating time intervals required to replace a mould 10.

Actually, while a mould 10 is moved away from the press 3 using, for example, the first conveyor member 13, another mould 10 may be simultaneously translated towards the press 3 - before it is then mounted thereon - using the second conveyor member 13' .

In other embodiments of the invention not illustrated in the figures, the quick change device 1 may comprise only one conveyor member 13, 13', positioned so as to allow the transport of the mould 10 at a preset and preferred side of the press 3.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in figures 8, 9.

In particular, an object of this embodiment of the invention is a production line 2 which differs from the one illustrated in figures 1, 2 for the characteristics of the output conveyor element 18, of the connection element 19 and the supplementary output conveyor element 21.

In this embodiment, the output conveyor element 18, the supplementary output conveyor element 21 and the connection element 19 are movable from respective operating positions, wherein they are suitable for convey the products 4 exiting from the press 3 and/or from the supplementary press 20, to an inactive position, in which they do not hinder the extraction of the mould 10 from the press 3.

More in detail, the output conveyor element 18 and the supplementary output conveyor element 21 are selectively insertable, in a concealable way, in respective seats 30, 31 provided for in the connection element 19.

The insertion of the output conveyor element 18 and the supplementary output conveyor element 21 into the seats 30, 31 may be carried out manually or with opposite automated means .

In addition, the connection element 19 is articulated to the conveyor 5 along an articulation axis G perpendicular to the direction of advancement E.

The connection element 19 is thus selectively rotatable from the operating position illustrated in figure 8, in which it allows the normal passage of the products 4, to the inactive position illustrated in figure 9, in which it is arranged so as to completely clear the space before the press 3, in order to facilitate the operations of removing/replacing of the mould 10.

It has thus been observed that the invention attains the proposed objects.

The present invention has been described according to preferred embodiments; however, equivalent variants may be conceived without departing from the scope of protection provided for by the claims that follow.

Claims

1. Device for the quick change of presses for ceramic products, associable to at least one press (3) of the gantry type for the production of ceramic products (4), such as tiles and the like, provided with a respective mould (10), said press (3) being traversed by said products (4) under processing according to an input- output direction (A), said quick change device (1) comprising at least one conveyor member (13,13') suitable for moving the mould (10) from and towards the press (3) according to a pre-set translation direction (B) in order to perform maintenance and/or replacement operations, characterised in that said translation direction (B) of said conveyor member (13,13') is orthogonal to said input-output direction (A) of the ceramic products (4) under processing.

2. Device according to claim 1, comprising at least one member (16) for lifting and lowering the mould (10), selectively movable between an upper position and a lower position.

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein said conveyor member (13, 13') comprises at least one respective roller unit (14, 14') defining a respective moving surface (15, 15') for moving the mould (10) .

4. Device according to claim 3, wherein said moving surface (15, 15') for moving said roller unit (14, 14') is arranged at a height lower than the height of the plane for the input/output of the products (4) from and towards the press (3) .

5. Device according to claims 3 or 4, wherein said lifting and lowering member (16) comprises an upper surface (17) which, with said lifting and lowering member (16) in said lower position, constitutes, alongside said moving surface (15, 15') for moving said roller unit (14, 14')_/ a substantially continuous sliding surface for the translation of the mould (10) .

6. Device according to any claim 2 to 5, wherein said lifting and lowering member (16) is of the pantograph type or the like.

7. Device according to any claim 3 to 6, wherein said roller unit (14, 14') comprises a plurality of rollers (14a, 14a') idle or associated to respective actuation means .

8. Device according to any claim 2 to 7, wherein said lifting and lowering member (16) and said conveyor member (13, 13') are movable vertically from a lower inactive position of minimum overall dimension to an upper position for moving the mould (10) .

9. Device according to any claim 3 to 8, comprising a first conveyor member (13) and a second conveyor member (13' ) respectively arranged at the sides of said lifting and lowering member (16) along said translation direction (B) , said first and second conveyor member (13, 13') respectively comprising a first roller unit (14) and a second roller unit (14') .

10. Line (2) for producing ceramic products, comprising at least one press (3) of the gantry type, designed to be traversed by ceramic products (4) under processing according to an input-output direction (A) , at least one conveyor (5) of the products exiting from the press defining a direction of advancement (E) of the products (4), and at least one quick change device (1) according to any claim 1 to 9, characterised in that said input- output direction (A) of said press (3) is arranged orthogonal with respect to said direction of advancement (E) of the products (4) .

11. Production line according to claim 10, comprising an output conveyor element (18) placed in communication with said press (3) and arranged according to said input-output direction (A) , and a connection element (19) provided for between said output conveyor element (18) and said conveyor (5) .

12. Production line according to the preceding claim, wherein said output conveyor element (18) is mobile from an operating position, in which it is suitable to convey the products (4) exiting from said press (3), to an inactive position in which it does not hinder the extraction of said mould (10) from said press (3) .

13. Production line according to the preceding claim, wherein said output conveyor element (18) is articulated to said connection element (19) along an articulation axis (F) parallel to said direction of advancement (E) , so as to be selectively rotatable from said operating position to said inactive position.

14. Production line according to claims 11-13, comprising a supplementary press (20) arranged facing said press (3), said supplementary press (20) being associated to a respective supplementary output conveyor element (21) placed in communication with said connection element (19) .

15. Production line according to the preceding claim, wherein said connection element (19), said output conveyor element (18) and said supplementary output conveyor element (21) are mobile from respective operating positions, in which they are suitable to convey the products (4) exiting from said press (3) and/or from said supplementary press (20), a respective inactive positions in which they do not hinder the extraction of said mould (10) from said press (3) .