| CLAIMS 1. A method for manufacturing stratified panels made of stone-like material and glass, particularly for providing furniture components or light diffusers, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: - mating, on at least one face of a slate made of stone-like material (1), at least one tempered glass plate (2) whose dimensions are smaller than those of said slate of stone-like material (1); - making said at least one tempered glass plate (2) adhere firmly to said slate of stone-like material (1); - removing the portion (la) of said slate of stone-like material (1) that protrudes with respect to said tempered glass plate (2) by means of a progressive removal of material performed along a direction that has at least one component which is substantially perpendicular to the perimetric edge of said slate of stone-like material (1), until the perimetric edge of said slate of stone-like material (1) is substantially flush with the edge of said at least one tempered glass plate (2). 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one tempered glass plate (2) has a predefined contour. 3. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that said at least one tempered glass plate (2) is mated with said slate of stone-like material by interposing a layer of bonding material (4). 4. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it provides for the interposition of at least one sheetlike safety element (3) between said slate of stone-like material (1) and said at least one tempered glass plate (2). 5. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the step of removing the portion (la) of said slate of stone-like material (1) that protrudes with respect to said tempered glass plate (2) comprises the execution of a lateral milling of said slate of stonelike material (1). 6. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lateral milling is performed by using at least one tangential mill (8), which is turned about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of arrangement of said slate of stone-like material and engages, with its lateral working surface, the perimetric edge of said slate of stone-like material (1), said at least one tangential mill (8) being moved, with respect to said slate of stone-like material (1), along a direction that has at least one component which is substantially perpendicular to the perimetric edge of said slate of stone-like material (1). 7. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said tangential mill (8) is constituted by a conical mill (9), said tempered glass plate (2) having edges which are inclined with respect to its larger faces. 8. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that after the step of removal of the portion (la) of said slate of stone-like material (1) that protrudes with respect of said tempered glass plate (2) there is a step of gauging said slate of stone-like material (1) to bring its thickness substantially between 1.5 mm and 2 mm. 9. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it provides for the mating, on both opposite faces of said slate of stone-like material (1), of at least one tempered glass plate (2) and, after making said slate of stone-like material (1) adhere to each tempered glass plate (2), for the cutting of said slate of stone-like material (1) along a cutting plane that is substantially parallel to the opposite faces of said slate of stone-like material (1). 10. An apparatus for working stratified panels made of stone-like material and glass, characterized in that it comprises a frame (11) which forms a resting surface (12) for at least one semifinished panel (7) which has at least one first layer provided by a slate of stone-like material (1) and at least one second layer provided by a tempered glass plate (2) whose dimensions are smaller than those of said slate of stone-like material (1), at least one abutment and positioning element (13) being provided on said resting surface (12) and being adapted to engage an edge of said tempered glass plate (2), said frame (11) supporting at least one working head (14) which has at least one tangential mill (8) which can be turned by motor means about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to said resting surface (12) and can engage, with its lateral working surface, against the edge of said slate of stone-like material (1) that corresponds to the edge of said tempered glass plate (2) that is engaged by said abutment and positioning element (13), said at least one working head (14) being able to perform a translational motion, with respect to said semifinished panel (7), along a direction that has at least one component which is substantially perpendicular to the edge of said slate of stone-like material (1) that is being worked. |
Technical field
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing stratified panels made of stone-like material and glass, particularly for providing furniture components or light diffusers.
Background Art
Nowadays stratified panels are known which are formed by a slate of stone-like material, typically marble, and by a glass plate, which is mated to the slate of stone-like material by means of a layer of bonding material.
Such panels are used for making architectural or furniture components, such as dividing walls, doors, items of furniture or the like, or to make lampshades or light diffusers to be applied to lamps or other lighting devices, such as skylights or the like.
It is obvious that, due to their particular intended use, such stratified panels must have a relatively low weight and, consequently, the thickness of the glass plate used to make them cannot be very great.
In the production of these stratified panels, after mating the slate of stone-like material with the glass plate, a series of cuts to measure is then executed along planes that are perpendicular to the plane of arrangement of the panel being worked on, so as to provide the perimetric sides of the panel, thus giving it the desired shape and dimensions.
During these processing steps, stratified panels with a glass plate of thickness 2-3 mm, especially if they have sides of large dimensions, often undergo damage or breakage owing to the vibrations transmitted to the slate of stone-like material and to the glass plate by the tools used to carry out the cuts to measure of the panel.
Similar problems also arise when making holes in the stratified panel, again owing to the strong vibrations transmitted to the slate of stone-like material and to the glass plate by the hole-making tools normally used.
Another problem that arises during the manufacture of this type of stratified panel is that of contouring the ends of the stratified panel with an angle of inclination, for example 45°, with respect to the flat faces of greatest extension, in order to make it possible to angularly join multiple stratified panels at their edges, in order to make, for example, architectural or furniture objects or components that are complex in form, such as, for example, shower stalls, tables, wash basins, lampshades or the like.
Indeed, in order to make a 45° cut of the ends of stratified panels of this type, conical glass milling cutters are currently used which, by working simultaneously both on the glass plate and on the slate of stone-like material, tend to cause the chipping of the stone-like material.
In order to prevent the risk of breaking these stratified panels also during use and transport, and at the same time in order to obtain a major reduction in their thickness and, therefore, also in their weight, together with a major increase in their mechanical characteristics, the need is felt to make these stratified panels using tempered glass plates, since such plates have a resistance to breakage that is up to eight times higher than that for normal glass plates in use today.
However, despite these advantages, the use of tempered glass plates is not compatible with current procedures for working on stratified " panels made of stone-like material and glass.
In fact, tempered glass plates, owing to the considerable mechanical resistance characteristics conferred by the tempering process, are not suitable either for cutting to measure or for other types of processing, such as making through holes or finishing at the perimetric edges.
Disclosure of the Invention
The aim of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, by providing a method for manufacturing stratified panels made of stone-like material and glass, particularly for providing architectural or furniture components or light diffusers, which makes it possible to produce this type of stratified panel using tempered glass plates.
Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a method that makes it possible to provide a stratified panel made of stone-like material and glass that is capable of giving high safety guarantees against possible accidental breakage or damage.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method that makes it possible to manufacture stratified panels made of stone-like material and glass which have optimal characteristics not just in terms of mechanical resistance but also in their overall aesthetic finish.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method that makes it possible to provide a stratified panel made of stone-like material and glass which, in addition to offering the highest guarantees of reliability and safety in use, is moreover competitive also from a purely economic standpoint.
This aim and these objects, as well as others which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a method for manufacturing stratified panels made of stone-like material and glass, particularly for providing furniture components or light diffusers, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:
- mating, on at least one face of a slate made of stone-like material, at least one tempered glass plate whose dimensions are smaller than those of said slate of stone-like material;
- making said at least one tempered glass plate adhere firmly to said slate of stone-like material;
- removing the portion of said slate of stone-like material that protrudes with respect to said tempered glass plate by means of a progressive removal of material performed along a direction that has at least one component which is substantially perpendicular to the perimetric edge of said slate of stone-like material, until the perimetric edge of said slate of stone-like material is substantially flush with the edge of said at least one tempered glass plate.
Brief description of the drawings
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the method according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective and partially cutaway view of a semifinished panel, drawn during the execution of the method according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective cutaway view of the semifinished panel of Figure 1 ;
Figure 3 is a perspective schematic view of the step of removing the portion of the slate of stone-like material that protrudes from the tempered glass plate;
Figure 4 is a view of the panel of Figure 3 after the removal of the portion of the slate of stone-like material that protrudes from the tempered glass plate;
Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an apparatus for processing stratified panels made of stone-like material and glass which can be used to provide the method according to the invention;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a stratified panel which is obtainable by means of the method according to the invention, after the removal of the portion of the slate of stone-like material that protrudes from the tempered glass plate;
Figure 7 is a sectional schematic view of a step of gauging the slate of stone-like material;
Figure 8 is a schematic perspective cutaway view of the gauging step of Figure 7;
Figure 9 is a schematic view of the step of removing the portion of the slate of stone-like material that protrudes from the tempered glass plate, in the case where the edge of the panel that is being worked needs to be contoured with a certain angle of inclination to its faces of greatest extension;
Figure 10 is a view of two stratified panels according to the invention, angularly joined along an edge thereof which is inclined to their faces of greatest extension;
Figure 11 is a perspective view of the step of mating two tempered glass plates to a slate of stone-like material according to a possible further embodiment of the method according to the invention;
Figure 12 is a sectional schematic view of the slate of stone-like material according to the embodiment of Figure 11.
Ways of carrying out the Invention
With reference to the figures, a method for manufacturing stratified panels made of stone-like material and glass, particularly for providing furniture components or light diffusers, according to the invention, involves, initially, mating, on at least one face of a slate of stone-like material 1, at least one tempered glass plate 2, which has smaller dimensions than those of the slate of stone-like material 1 , so that the tempered glass plate 2 can be mated to the slate of stone-like material 1 over the entire extent of one of its faces.
Advantageously, the tempered glass plate 2 has a predefined contour, which conveniently is executed on it, together with any provision of holes, beading or other work, before being subjected to the thermal tempering treatment.
In practice, the tempered glass plate 2 is obtained from a normal sheet of glass which first is cut to measure, contoured and finished according to the end requirements of the stratified panel to be made, and then is sent to the tempering process.
It should be noted, in particular, that the ends of the tempered glass plate 2 are polished and cut at right angles or at an angle inclined to its faces of greatest extension, before the tempering treatment, so that the tempered glass plate 2 is already prepared in order to allow the angular joining of the finished stratified panel with other panels along their perimetric edges, as shown, for the purposes of example, in Figure 10.
Moreover, it should further be emphasised that any through holes that are required in the tempered glass plate 2 must be made before tempering as well.
It should be noted that the starting thickness of the slate of stone-like material 1 can be, for example, comprised substantially between 6 mm and 3 mm, while the glass plate 1 can have, conveniently, a thickness of about 2-5 mm or even higher.
Advantageously, between the slate of stone-like material 1 and the tempered glass plate 2 at least one sheet-like safety element 3 is positioned, which, in addition to giving a high mechanical resistance to the assembly, acts to keep fragments of glass or of stone-like material in position, in the event of breakage of the panel.
In particular, the sheet-like safety element 3 can be, for example, constituted by a cloth fabric of glass fiber or by a sheet of plastic material with high mechanical resistance, such as, for example, ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA) or polyvinyl butyral (PVB).
Advantageously, the mating between the slate of stone-like material 1 and the tempered glass plate 2 is carried out by means of interposing a layer of bonding material 4, which can be, for example, constituted by an epoxy resin or by the same sheet of EVA or PVB which is optionally used to make the sheet-like safety element 3.
Once the tempered glass plate 2 has thus been mated to the slate of stone-like material 2, one proceeds to make the tempered glass plate 2 adhere firmly to the slate of stone-like material 1. Before proceeding further, in these processing steps, a retaining element, constituted, for example, by an adhesive tape 5, can conveniently be applied around the slate of stonelike material 2 and the glass plate 3, so as to keep both locked in position during the mutual adhesion operation.
In particular, in order to obtain an optimal adhesion of the tempered glass plate 2 to the slate of stone-like material 1, advantageously, one proceeds by means of a combined action of heating and compression, so as to activate the bonding material 4 and expel any air which may be present between the tempered glass plate 2 and the slate of stone-like material 1.
The action of mutually compressing the tempered glass plate 2 against the slate of stone-like material 1 can, for example, be performed by using rollers for the purpose. Optionally, evacuating the air present between the slate of stone-like material 2 and the tempered glass plate 1 can also be achieved by placing the slate of stone-like material 1 and the tempered glass plate 2, mutually mated, in an autoclave in which a vacuum is created before performing the heating and obtaining, as a consequence, the hardening of the layer of bonding material 4.
At this point, once the step of adhering the tempered glass plate 2 to the slate of stone-like material 1 has been completed, one proceeds to remove, from the semifinished panel 7 thus obtained, the portion la of the slate of stone-like material 1 that protrudes with respect to the tempered glass plate 2, by means of a progressive removal of material.
In particular, this progressive removal of material is carried out along a direction that has at least one component which is substantially perpendicular to the perimetric edge of the slate of stone-like material 1 and proceeds until the perimetric edge of the slate of stone-like material 1 is substantially flush with the edge of the glass plate.
In more detail, the removal of the portion la of the slate of stone-like material 1 comprises, advantageously, the execution of a lateral milling of the slate of stone-like material 1.
More specifically, as shown schematically in Figure 3, this lateral milling is earned out, in general, using at least one tangential mill 8, which is turned about an axis 8a that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of arrangement of the slate of stone-like material 1 and which has, for example, on its lateral working surface, a plurality of diamond teeth, which are not shown for the sake of simplicity.
The tangential mill 8 is brought to engage, with its lateral working surface, against the perimetric edge of the slate of stone-like material 1. During the processing, the tangential mill 8 is, therefore, moved, with respect to the slate of stone-like material 1 , along a direction that has at least one component which is substantially perpendicular to the perimetric edge of the slate of stone-like material 1, so as to progressively remove the portion la of the slate of stone-like material 1.
With reference to Figure 4, in order to execute, on the semifinished panels 7, the lateral milling of the slate of stone-like material 1 in order to remove the portion la therefrom, advantageously an apparatus can be used for processing stratified panels made of stone-like material and glass, generally indicated with the reference numeral 10, which comprises a frame 11 which forms a resting surface 12 on which the semifinished panels 7 are positioned.
On the resting surface 12 there is at least one abutment and positioning element 13, which is constituted, conveniently, by a block of material with a low friction coefficient with respect to tempered glass, such as for example the material known by the commercial name TEFLON.
The abutment and positioning element 13 is, advantageously, movable on the resting surface 12 as a function of the dimensions of the semifinished panel 7 and is designed to engage an edge of the tempered glass plate 2 of the semifinished panel 7.
The frame 11 supports, in addition, at least one working head 14, which has at least one tangential mill 8 which can be actuated by motor means, not shown, with a rotary motion about the axis 8a that is substantially perpendicular to the resting surface 12.
In particular, the tangential mill 8 of the working head 14 can engage, with its lateral working surface, against the edge of the slate of stone-like material 1 which is in a position corresponding to the edge of the tempered glass plate 2 engaged by the abutment and positioning element 13.
The working head 14 is mounted on the frame 11 so as to be able to perform a translational motion, relative to the panel arranged on the resting surface 12, along a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the edge of the slate of stone-like material 1 that is being worked, so as to be able to bring the perimetric edge of the slate of stone-like material 1 flush with the edge of the tempered glass plate 2 which is engaged against the abutment and positioning element 13.
As shown schematically in Figure 9, if it is desired to contour the ends of the panel that is being worked with an angle of inclination, for example 45°, with respect to its faces of greatest extension, then the removal of the portion la of the slate of stone-like material 1 is, advantageously, carried out using a tangential mill 8 constituted by a conical mill 9, specifically for stone-like material, which is arranged, with its axis 9a, substantially perpendicular to the plane of arrangement of the slate of stone- like material 1 and which is turned about its axis 9a and moved in translation along a direction that has at least one component which is perpendicular to the edge being worked of the slate of stone-like material 1 , so as to remove the excess portion la of the slate of stone-like material until the edge of the slate of stone-like material 1 is made flush with the edge of the tempered glass plate 2.
It should be noted that, in this case, the tempered glass plate 2 is already provided with an edge that is inclined to its faces of greatest extension and that, moreover, the abutment and positioning element 13 has, conveniently, a shape that corresponds to the inclined edge of the tempered glass plate 2. In this way, the conical mill 9 works only on the slate of stone-like material 1, without acting, therefore, on the tempered glass plate 2, and, moreover, being of a type specifically for working on stone-like material, does not cause unwanted chipping of the stone-like material itself.
Optionally, once the excess portion la, of the the slate of stone-like material 1 with respect to the tempered glass plate 2, has been eliminated, it is possible to also perform a gauging of the slate of stone-like material 1 in order to bring its thickness to substantially between 1.5 mm and 2 mm and give it, as a consequence, an adequate optical transparence for use in lamps or the like.
Advantageously, this gauging step is performed in multiple passes by means of the use of a frontal mill 15 which is turned about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of arrangement of the slate of stonelike material, as shown schematically in Figures 7 and 8.
Once the gauging of the slate has been concluded, the slate of stonelike material 1 can be, conveniently, subjected to other forms of finishing, such as polishing, buffing, brushing, sandblasting and so on, according to the aesthetic characteristics required.
In particular, the finishing of the ends of the slate of stone-like material 1 can be executed so as to buff them and/or cut them in such a way as to match the ends of the tempered glass plate 2, so as to give the stratified panel thus obtained the function and appearance of a single panel.
Once these further finishing processes have also been completed, a finished stratified panel is obtained that has a first layer, made from the slate of stone-like material 1, and a second layer, which provides robustness to the panel and which is made from the tempered glass plate 2, so as to give the panel considerable mechanical resistance characteristics.
According to a possible further embodiment of the invention, which is schematically shown in Figures 11 and 12 and is the most advantageous in an industrialised system, it is possible to obtain two separate semifinished panels 7 from a single slate of stone-like material 1.
In particular, according to this embodiment, on both opposite faces of a single starting slate of stone-like material 1, at least one tempered glass plate 2 is mated, as in the foregoing description.
In this case, after having made each of the tempered glass plates 2 adhere firmly to the slate of stone-like material 1, using, for example, a layer of bonding material 4, the starting slate of stone-like material 1 is cut along a cutting plane, identified by the dotted lines 17, which is substantially parallel to the opposite faces of the starting slate of stone-like material 1, so as to divide it into two separate slates of stone-like material 1 of lesser thickness. In this way, as a consequence, two semifinished panels 7 are obtained, each of which is subsequently subjected to the step of removing the portion la from the corresponding slate of stone-like material 1 that derives from cutting the single starting slate of stone-like material.
It should be noted that in order to perform the cutting of the starting slate of stone-like material, a horizontal cutting machine, for example, can be used which is provided with diamond cutting disks and is provided with suitable elements for gripping the piece being worked on in order to allow the absorption of the vibrations that are generated during cutting in order to prevent damage to the stone-like material.
For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that the stratified panels obtained by means of the method according to the invention can be effectively used not only for making furniture components or light diffusers, but also architectural components, such as, for example, dividing walls, doors or other similar elements.
From the foregoing description, it is evident that the method according to the invention is capable of fully achieving the set aim and objects and, in particular, it makes it possible to provide stratified panels made of stone-like material and glass using tempered glass plates.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide stratified panels that have characteristics of robustness, lightness and, optionally, transparence that are such as to make them perfectly suitable for making architectural or furniture components, such as doors, dividing walls, items of furniture or the like, or light diffusers, such as shades for lamps.
It should also be emphasised that the invention makes it possible to obtain a panel that is able to offer high safety guarantees against possible accidental breakages.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide a method that makes it possible to provide panels which are extremely thin and perfectly finished.
A further advantage of the invention is to provide a method that enables the industrial-level production of stratified panels made of stonelike material and glass.
All the characteristics of the invention, indicated above as advantageous, advisable or similar, may also be missing or be substituted by equivalent characteristics.
The individual characteristics set out in reference to general teachings or to specific embodiments may all be present in other embodiments or may substitute characteristics in such embodiments.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.
In practice the materials used, provided they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the dimensions and the shapes may be any according to requirements.
Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. VR2010A000034 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.