"HEAD FOR POLISHING CERAMIC PRODUCTS OR NATURAL STONES"

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a head for polishing, for example by smoothing, lapping or the like, of ceramic articles or natural stones.

With particular reference to the field of the ceramic industry for the manufacture of articles such as floor tiles, slabs or tiles, or of natural stones, the processes, such as smoothing or lapping to full field, in order to improve the surface finish are well known.

These processes are generally performed by means of machines including the use of specific processing heads comprising a main body operable in rotation about a respective axis and supporting a plurality of working tools suitable to the processing of the articles.

In particular, the strong friction generated by the action of each tool on the article leads to an overheating of the tool itself so as to render as necessary its cooling.

Water cooling systems, which provide for the entry of liquid refrigerant by means of a supply duct which crosses through the main body until it reaches a point at the tools, are currently in use.

In detail, the body has a central opening for water emission at the working tools.

It is easy to understand how the use of water for the cooling of the working tools results in a not-negligible consumption of energy and resources.

Another drawback is linked to the requirement for the disposal of the cooling water.

WOOl 70458 Al teaches a solution according to the state of the prior art.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a polishing head for the polishing of ceramic articles or natural stones, which allows efficient cooling of working tools, is easy to manufacture and is low-cost.

Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to reduce the energy consumption required for cooling of the tools.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a polishing head for polishing of ceramic articles or natural stones which is able to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art within the framework of a simple, rational solution, which is easy and effective to use and cost-effective.

The above mentioned purposes are achieved by the present polishing head for polishing of ceramic articles or natural stones having the features of claim 1.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a polishing head, for example by smoothing, lapping or the like, natural stones or ceramic articles, illustrated by way of not limitative indication, in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an axonometric view of the head according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the head according to the invention.

With particular reference to such figures, a polishing head for polishing ceramic articles or natural stones is globally indicated with 1.

The head 1 comprises a main body 2 and at least one support element 3 associated to the main body 2 and supporting at least one working tool 4.

The head 1 comprises means for air cooling 5, 6, 7 of the tool 4.

According to the invention, the air cooling means 5, 6, 7 comprises a duct 5 for introducing air that extends externally to the main body 2 and is interposed between the latter and the support element 3.

The support element 3 and the tool 4 are provided, respectively, with a first channel of aeration 8 and a second channel of aeration 9 adapted to convey the air coming from the introduction duct 5 at the work surface 10 of the tool 4 intended to interact with the surface of a ceramic article or natural stone to be polished.

In detail, the support element 3 defines a seat adapted to receive the tool 4.

Advantageously, the first aeration channel 8 is defined through on at least one wall 24 delimiting the seat.

As visible in the figures, the support element 3 has a substantially elongated conformation and the first aeration channel 8 is defined on the side wall 24 of the support element 3.

Moreover, the second aeration channel 9 comprises at least one intake port 12 communicating with the first aeration channel 8 and at least one outlet port 13 formed at the work surface 10.

Preferably, the second aeration channel 9 extends through the tool 4 up to the work surface 10 which, in use, corresponds to the lower portion of the tool itself and is designed to contact the surface to be polished.

With reference to the particular embodiment shown in the figures, the head 1 comprises a plurality of second aeration channels 9 having a common intake port 12 and communicating with the first aeration channel 8.

However, alternative embodiments having a plurality of second aeration channels 9, in turn, having respective intake ports 12 communicating with corresponding first aeration channels 8 are not excluded.

In a preferred embodiment, the work surface 10 comprises a plurality of processing portions 22 adapted to contact the surface to be polished and separated one from each other by a plurality of grooves 23.

Advantageously, the grooves 23 make the processing portions 22 moveable independently with one another and the outlet port 13 is defined at the grooves 23; this allows the channelling of the air exiting the outlet port 13 along the grooves 23, thereby cooling the entire work surface 10 homogeneously.

The processing portions 22 contact the surface to be polished by means of the removal by friction of the surface layers of the work surface.

The main body 2 has at least one outlet hole 14 of the air and the introduction duct 5 communicates, on the one side, with the outlet hole 14 and on the other, with the first aeration channel 8.

The introduction duct 5 is sealingly associated to the outlet hole 14 and to the first aeration channel 8 respectively, in order to avoid the loss of pressure of the air passing in the same introduction duct.

In the present case, the head 1 comprises a plurality of support elements 3 each supporting a respective tool 4.

Each support element 3 is movable in rotation with respect to the main body 2 about a respective axis of rotation, in order to allow the movement of each tool 4 along a predetermined working angle.

Conveniently, each tool 4 is associated below the main body 2 by interposition of the support elements 3.

More particularly, the axis of rotation 25 (horizontal according to the non imiting embodiment illustrated in the figures) of each support tool 3 with respect to the main body 2 is substantially transverse or orthogonal to the axis of rotation (vertical according to the non-limiting embodiment illustrated in the figures) of the respective head 1. If desired, means of angular displacement or oscillation, for example electric or other types of motors, of the tool 4 with respect to the main body 2 are also provided, so that the same can angularly move or oscillate about the respective axis 25 during the processing or use of the head 1.

Furthermore, as visible in the figures, the head 1 comprises a plurality of introduction ducts 5 each of which is interposed between the main body 2 and a corresponding support element 3.

The cooling means 5, 6, 7 comprises a collection chamber 6 for the air and an air supply duct 7 into the collection chamber 6.

Preferably, the collection chamber 6 is arranged at the lower portion of the main body 2.

Advantageously, the collection chamber 6 is delimited laterally by a wall 1 1, for example having a substantially cylindrical or frusto-conical shape and having a plurality of outlet holes 14.

Furthermore, the head 1 comprises a closure element 15 sealingly associated to the lower portion of the main body 2 and facing the mouth of the air outlet 16 defined by the supply duct 7. The wall 1 1 is a part of the closure element 15.

In detail, the collection chamber 6 is interposed between the closure element 15 and the main body 2.

As is visible from the figures, the supply duct 7 passes through the main body 2 and comprises a first portion 17, connectable to means of the air supply, not represented in the figures, adapted to send pressurised air into the supply duct 7, and a second portion 18, coinciding with the outlet mouth 16, arranged in proximity to the bottom of the collection chamber 6.

More particularly, the bottom of the collection chamber 6, established by the closure element 15, is spaced from the outlet mouth 16 in order to allow the outflow of the air to the inside of the collection chamber itself and towards the introduction ducts 5. Conveniently, the axis of rotation 19 corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the supply duct 7.

The means of supply can be, for example, a compressor unit, a turbocharger unit, a turbine or the like.

Prior to the detailed explanation of the operation of the present invention and of its particular structural and constructional aspects, it is useful to point out that the head 1 is associated to a machine for polishing of ceramic products, natural stones or similar, not represented in the figures.

Such types of machinery are well known and comprise a plurality of heads 1 associated to a supporting frame, arranged in mutual succession along an advancing direction and which are driven in rotation by means of moiorization which make it possible to place them in rotation around the respective axis of rotation 19.

Advantageously, each main body 2 includes an attachment element 20 to the support frame. With reference to the particular embodiment shown in the figures, the attachment element 20 is of the type with a flange including holes 21 for bolting to a corresponding flange plate associated to the support frame.

The operation of the present invention is as follows.

During the passage of the articles, each head 1 is brought into rotation around the respective axis of rotation 19 by means of motorization in order to obtain the polishing of the articles through the action of the tools 4.

Simultaneously, pressurised air is supplied to the collection chamber 6 through the supply duct 7.

The air in the collection chamber 6, passing through the outlet holes 14, reaches its respective introduction ducts 5, then reaches each first aeration channel 8 and then the second aeration channel 9.

Finally, the air comes out from the outlet port 13, cooling each tool 4 during the processing of the ceramic articles.

In practice, it has been found that the described invention achieves the intended purposes.

In particular, it is stressed that the particular expedient according to which introduction ducts are provided apt to deliver air at the tools allows one to obtain an efficient, easy to manufacture and cost-effective cooling process, considerably reducing the energy required for the cooling of said tools.