PRESS"

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention regards a moveable side wall group for a ceramic products press.

More in detail, the present invention regards a moveable side wall group for containing the material to be pressed for an industrial press for ceramic products, e.g. slabs, tiles or the like.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

When forming ceramic products such as tiles or slabs or the like, for example of large in size, the use of industrial press of the hydraulic type having a structure or scaffolding with vertical development, suitable to mutually connect the moveable and fixed parts of the press is known.

According to a commonly used embodiment, a hydraulic press of such type has a portal structure, provided with at least two mutually opposite lateral uprights connected by transversal sections, between which a void space is delimited that defines the mouth for the entry of the material to be formed. The space is accessible from two opposite sides of the press, in particular, an inlet side and outlet side.

The press may comprise means for providing the material to be pressed, for example in the form of a conveyor belt that can be displaced passing through the void space of the structure, and power means suitable to exert the press force on the material to be formed, which is generally in form of powder. A drawback of such type of industrial press regards the difficulty of obtaining - through the pressing step alone - a finished product capable of meeting the desired shape and finishing requirements that are actually obtained by carrying out further mechanical machining operations on the pressed products with the aim of eliminating the defects that occur mainly in proximity of the edge portion of the pressed ceramic products. In particular, it should be observed that during the pressing step the perimeter portion of the pressed product, by means of an upper and/or lower punch, is not homogeneous and even.

In addition, should the hydraulic press comprise elements arranged laterally with respect to the pressing punch, suitable to hold the material to be pressed in a predefined pressing seat, they could partly damage the perimeter edge of the ceramic products when removing the pressed product from the pressing seat.

Similarly to what has been observed above, such defects should be eliminated mechanically, requiring to machine the pressed product further and inevitably leading to an increase of the production costs as well as a greater amount of by-product material - waste - to be disposed.

It should be observed that the process of disposing by-products or waste material is demanding, given that the aforementioned material has to be treated as special waste.

Furthermore, tiles or slabs thus produced do not have a homogeneous tensional/structural state between the central portion and the perimeter portion which, in turn, affects the resistance of the product against the stresses it is subjected to in use.

JP 2000263526 describes a pressing machine, comprising a modular mould, for dry-pressing powder material, in which the modular mould is provided with at least one moveable side wall.

Thus, in the industry there arises the need for overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks with particular reference to the production of ceramic products such as tiles, slabs or the like.

In particular, this need arises in the production of ceramic products such as ceramic tiles or slabs, possibly large in size, due to the larger dimensions of the perimeter edges of such products.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has the technical objective of improving the state of the art.

Within this technical task, an object of the present invention is to provide a moveable side wall group for a ceramic products press suitable to facilitate the production of finished products such as tiles, slabs or the like, provided with at least one perimeter portion that is homogeneous and compliant with the product specifications.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a moveable side wall group for a ceramic products press, such as tiles, slabs or the like, that enables obtaining finished products directly through the pressing step alone, through a solution that is structurally simple and easy to maintain.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a moveable side wall group for a ceramic products press, such as tiles, slabs or the like, that can be easily implemented in an existent production line.

This task and these objects are attained by a moveable side wall group for a ceramic products press, according to the attached claim 1.

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

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a ceramic products press according to claim 10 comprising a moveable side wall group is provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention shall be more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of a moveable side wall group for a ceramic products press, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the attached drawings, wherein:

figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a moveable side wall group for a press according to the present invention associated to power means of a press;

figure 2 is a lateral view along the section plane II of a moveable side wall group according to the present invention;

figure 3 is a front view along the section plane III-III of a moveable side wall group, in a first operative configuration;

figure 4 is a detailed perspective view of some components of the moveable side wall group according to the present invention; and

figures 5-10 are perspective views schematically illustrating some steps for holding the material to be pressed, and the relative pressing, implementable through a moveable side wall group according to the invention.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the attached figures, a moveable side wall group according to the present invention is generally indicated with reference number 1. Preferably, the moveable side wall group 1 is provided to be operatively associated to a press for ceramic products of small or large dimensions such as tiles, slabs or the like obtained by pressing a powder ceramic material.

As known, a ceramic products press, not illustrated in detail in the attached figures, may comprise a frame having a through seat provided with at least two juxtaposed portions, in use, an upper and a lower one, substantially preferably straight.

The frame may further comprise a basement at the lower portion of the through seat, as well as a head that can be fixed, in any suitable manner, at the portion in use above the through seat.

The through seat delimits, alongside the basement and the head, an operating chamber for housing power means, designated to perform the pressing operations.

The press also comprises means for providing the powder material to be pressed to the operating chamber which, preferably, can be configured as a conveyor belt, schematically indicated in the attached figures with reference number 2, which traverses the through seat, that can be actuated through special displacement means. As regards the power means for pressing the powder material, they may comprise at least one upper pressing element or punch, vertically moveable approaching/moving away towards/from the conveyor belt, suitable to selectively exert a pressing action on the powder material to be formed. Usually, the pressing element, regarding which the figures schematically illustrate a partial portion indicated with reference number 3, may have a substantially flat surface suitable to abut against the material to be pressed, with a substantially rectangular-shaped base portion, in which two of the four sides are aligned parallel to the displacement direction of the conveyor belt 2 and the remaining two sides are directed orthogonal to such displacement direction of the conveyor belt 2. Basically, the conveyor belt 2 displaces the powder material to be pressed introducing it into the operating chamber through a first of the sides orthogonal to the aforementioned advancement direction, or inlet side 4, and releasing it from the operating chamber through the second of the aforementioned sides orthogonal to the advancement direction of the belt, or outlet side 5.

The inlet side 4 and the outlet side 5 are mutually juxtaposed and delimit opposite portions of the pressing element 3.

According to a version of the present invention, the moveable side wall group 1 is provided to be operatively associated to at least one side of the pressing element 3.

By way of example, the moveable side wall group 1 may be associated to the inlet side 4 or to the outlet side 5 of the pressing element 3

According to a preferred version of the present invention, a moveable side wall group 1 is associated to the outlet side 5 of the pressing element 3 and a moveable side wall group 1 is associated to the inlet side 4 of the pressing element 3 of a press.

However, other versions, in which a moveable side wall group 1 can be associated to at least one of the lateral sides of the pressing element 3 can be provided for. According to a further version of the present invention, a press may comprise one or more moveable side wall groups 1 each associated to a respective side of the pressing element 3 without any restrictions.

The moveable side wall group 1 for a pressing machine according to the present invention, comprises a frame 6 and at least one side wall 7 operatively associated to the frame 6 and such to project outwards with respect thereto.

The at least one side wall 7 delimits, in use, at least one surface 8 for retaining a material 9 to be pressed.

As mentioned, according to a version of the present invention, the material 9 to be pressed may be arranged on a conveyor belt 2. According to such version, the retaining surface 8 is faced orthogonal to the advancement direction of the belt 2, f outside the frame 6 in a direction opposite to the advancement direction of the conveyor belt 2.

Should the material to be pressed 9 be arranged on a stationary surface, and the pressing element 3 is associated to displacement means suitable to displace it - at the upper part - with respect to the material to be pressed 9, the retaining surface 8 is positioned so as to terminate outside the frame 6 towards a pressing cavity, within which the powder material 9 is pressed. As better described hereinafter, the moveable side wall group 1 according to the present invention enables collecting the powder material 9 mixture to be pressed, i.e. an incoherent powder material, which - prior to pressing thereof - may partly crumble on the conveyor belt 2 or on the surface on which it is arranged.

Basically, the moveable side wall group 1 enables arranging the material 9 to be pressed in a predefined configuration and guaranteeing an optimal filling of the operating cavity, thus facilitating the attainment of a continuous edge portion, in the pressed product, following the subsequent step of pressing the material 9.

The moveable side wall group 1 comprises means 10 for guiding the displacement of the frame 6 along a first direction 11.

In use, the first direction 11 is substantially vertical.

The guide means 10 ensure the correct alignment of the frame 6, and at least one side wall 7 associated thereto, during the displacement of the latter along the first direction 11.

According to a version of the present invention, the guide means 10 may comprise at least one stem and a relative guide, in which at least one from among the stem or the guide can be associated to the frame 6 and the other from among the stem and the guide can be associated to a fixed or mobile portion of a pressing machine.

The guide is configured so as to enable the stem to slide inside or along the same, without any restrictions.

With reference to the version illustrated in the attached figure 3, the guide means 10 comprise a pair of stem-guide assemblies provided in a mutually distal position, each positioned in proximity of a respective extreme portion of the frame 6.

However, there can be other embodiments of the guide means 10, with respect to the description above, falling within the same inventive concept of the present invention.

With the aim of displacing the moveable side wall group 1 along the first direction 11, the latter comprises first actuation means 12.

By way of non-limiting example, the first actuation means 12 can be of the cylinder-piston type or of any other type suitable for the purpose.

Basically, the first actuation means 12 enable displacing the frame 6 approaching or moving away with respect to the surface on which the material to be pressed 9 is arranged, such as the conveyor belt 2 for instance. The actuation of the moveable side wall group 1 along the first direction 11 enables positioning the group 1 , and more in particular the at least one side wall 7, abutting against the surface on which the material to be pressed is arranged. Thus, the at least one side wall 7 serves as a substantially hermetic barrier suitable to hold the powder material 9 during the pressing step.

As mentioned, the moveable side wall group 1 is provided for collecting any material 9 that may have crumbled and return it in an optimal configuration for the subsequent pressing step.

For such purpose, the moveable side wall group 1 comprises second actuation means 13 associated to the at least one side wall 7, suitable to move it along a second direction 14, perpendicular to the first direction 1 1. In use, the second direction 14 is aligned substantially horizontal and parallel to the movement direction of the conveyor belt 2 (if provided for).

The second actuation means 13 determine the displacement of the at least one side wall 7 between two limit positions, an inoperative position, in which the side wall 7 is proximal to the frame 6, and an operative position in which the side wall 7 is actuated moving away from the frame 6.

The second actuation means 13 comprise at least first drive means 15 connected to the at least one side wall 7 through respective motion transmission means 16.

The motion transmission means 16 are configured to enable the at least one side wall 7 to take any intermediate operative position, comprised between the limit positions described above.

In particular, the motion transmission means 16 are configured to guarantee the correct aligning of the at least one side wall 7 during the displacement thereof, for the purposes to be better described hereinafter.

According to a version of the present invention, the motion transmission means 16 comprise at least one first moveable element 17, operatively connected to the first drive means 15 and at least one second moveable element or driven element 18 operatively connected to the at least one side wall 7.

The first moveable element 17 and the second moveable element 18 are operatively connected to each other, to enable the transmission of motion from the first drive means 15 to the at least one side wall 7. The first moveable element 17 may be displaced with respect to the frame 6 along a third direction 19 that is orthogonal to the first direction 11 and to the second direction 14.

In use, the third direction 19 is a direction substantially horizontal and, if provided for, orthogonal to the advancement direction of the conveyor belt 2. More in detail, the motion transmission means 16 are configured so that following the displacement of the first moveable element 17 along the third direction 19, there occurs the relative displacement of the second moveable element 18 moving away/approaching with respect to the first moveable element 17, along the second direction 14.

For such purpose, the first moveable element 17 and the second moveable element 18 each comprises a plurality of respective shaped portions 20 that can be mutually engaged with shape-coupling (see figure 4).

The shaped portions 20 may be configured in a wedge-shaped or saw tooth- shaped fashion or with a shaped profile having at least one slanted surface, so that following the actuation of the first moveable element 17 along the third direction 19 there occurs the displacement of the second moveable element 18 along the second direction 14.

Basically, wedge-shaped or saw tooth-shaped or shaped profile portions of the first moveable element 17 and the second moveable element 18 are in mutual abutment during the various steps of displacing the at least one side wall 7.

The shaped portions of the first moveable element 17 and the second moveable element 18 enable an equal distribution of the thrust exerted by the first drive means 15 along the at least one side wall 7.

This enables guaranteeing the correct aligning of the at least one side wall during the displacement thereof as weel as an homogeneous distribution of the thrust action that can be exerted by the same, against the material to be pressed, along the second direction.

The transmission means 16 thus configured enable avoiding inadvertent jamming of the at least one side wall during the actuation thereof along the second direction 14.

According to a version of the present invention, the first moveable element 17 and the second moveable element 18 are housed in the frame 6.

Regarding this, the frame 6 may have a box-shaped portion for housing the first moveable element 17 and the second moveable element 18 of the transmission means 16.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the frame 6 may be configured to serve as a guide for the first moveable element 17 and for the second moveable element 18 during the actuation thereof and thus ensure a correct alignment of the side wall 7, during the displacement thereof.

The second actuation means 13 comprise second drive means 21 suitable to displace the at least one side wall 7 along the second direction 14.

More in detail, the second drive means 21 are suitable to displace the at least one side wall 7 with direction opposite to that of the first drive means 15. According to a version of the present invention, the second drive means 21 can be operatively connected to the second moveable element 18, through suitable connections schematically indicated with 21 ', to return the latter in proximity of the first moveable element 17 and thus return the at least one side wall 7 into or in proximity of the frame 6.

In particular, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the moveable side wall group comprises at least one rod-like element or stem 21 ' connected at a first end to the second drive means 21 and at the opposite end to the second moveable element 18.

The at least one rod-like element or stem 21 ' diverges through the first moveable element 17 and outside the frame 6 through respective openings. It should be observed that the first moveable element 17 has at least one through slot 17' to enable the passage of the at least one rod-like element or stem 21 ' through the first moveable element 17.

The at least one through slot 17' is aligned along a horizontal direction, parallel to the third direction 19.

Thus, during the displacement thereof along the third direction 19, the first moveable element 17 does not interfere with the at least one rod-like element or stem 21 ' (see figure 4).

In pratice, the at least one rod-like element 21 ' and the first moveable element 17 mutually move along the second direction 14 and along the third direction 19.

It should be observed that the moveable side wall group according to the present invention may comprise a higher number of rod-like elements 21 ' operatively associated to the second moveable element 18 and, thus, a higher number of respective slots 17' and openings through the frame 6, without any restrictions.

The second actuation means 13 displace the at least one side wall 7 approaching/moving away with respect to the material 9 to be pressed, narrowing/widening at least one side of the pressing cavity in which the powder material 9 is placed.

According to a version of the present invention, the first actuation means 12 and/or the second actuation means 13 may be of the electric type.

Thus, according to such version the drive means 15, 21 comprised in the first actuation means 12 and/or in the second actuation means 13 are of the electrically powered type, such as electric motors.

In this case, the displacement of the frame 6 along the first direction 1 1 and the displacement of the at least one side wall 7 along the second direction 14 can be controlled in a highly accurate manner. Furthermore, the electric actuations enable holding the frame 6 and/or the at least one side wall 7 in position during the various pressing steps as long as they are able to counter the stresses to which they are subjected.

According to a further version of the present invention, the first actuation means 12 and/or the second actuation means 13 can be of the hydraulic actuation type and thus comprise hydraulic or oil hydraulic cylinder-piston assemblies or the like.

A ceramic products pressing machine comprising at least one moveable side wall group 1 of the previously described type also forms an object of the present invention.

In particular, it should be observed that the moveable side wall group 1 may be associated to at least one side of a pressing element or punch 2.

By way of non-limiting example, a ceramic products press may comprise a first moveable side wall group 1 associated to the front side of the pressing element or outlet side 5 and/or a moveable side wall group 1 associated to the inlet side 4 of the pressing cavity.

According to a further version of the present invention, a press for ceramic products may comprise four moveable side wall groups 1 , each associated to a respective side of the pressing element 2.

Thus, the moveable side wall group 1 according to the present invention enable holding, according to a predefined configuration, the powder ceramic material 9 to be pressed in position, with the aim of enabling to obtain a finished product P, such as a tile, a slab or the like, with high finishing even at the perimeter edge portions.

The presence of transmission means 16 guarantees the alignment of the at least one side wall 7 during the displacement thereof along the second direction 14, thus facilitating optimal pressing conditions.

Advantageously, the pressed product thus obtained does not require further mechanical machining suitable to eliminate waste material or part of the perimeter portion of the obtained tile or slab, as it instead occurs in conventional pressing machines for pressing powder material.

As mentioned above, the disposal of ceramic by-products is demanding, in particular with reference to disposal costs, in that the by-products must be suitably handled as special waste.

Reducing or substantially eliminating the disposal of such by-products advantageously translates into reducing production costs considerably. The press 1 according to the present invention enables directly obtaining - during the pressing step alone - finished products such as tiles or slabs or the like, even of the large dimensioned type, characterised by high structural homogeneity and high finishing in particular as concerns the perimeter portion, and thus such not to require further machining to remove material and thus without generating by-products or waste material.

It should be observed that the powder ceramic material to be pressed may comprise at least one first powder ceramic material or a plurality of powder ceramic material with different characteristics with respect to each other. Furthermore, the ceramic material 9 to be pressed could be mixed with at least one or more substances as a function of specific production needs, such as binders, decoration material, etcetera, without any limitation to the objects of the present invention.

Below is a brief description of the operation of the moveable side wall group 1 according to the present invention, with reference to the steps of the moveable side wall group 1 only, schematically illustrated in the attached figures 5-10.

In the description that follows, reference shall be made, by way of example, to a press for ceramic products comprising a conveyor belt 2 on which the powder material 9 to be pressed is placed and at least one pressing element 3, arranged above the conveyor belt 2, to which at least one moveable side wall group 1 according to the present invention is associated.

It should be observed that should such a press for ceramic products comprise two mutually juxtaposed moveable side wall groups 1, regarding which a first moveable side wall group 1 is associated to the inlet side 4 of the pressing element 3 and a second moveable side wall group 1 is associated to the outlet side 5 of such pressing element 3, the steps described hereinafter shall be carried out by each of the moveable side wall groups 1 suitably synchronised with respect to each other.

Initially, the powder material 9 to be pressed is deposited on a conveyor belt 2, which advances it along the advancement direction introducing it into the operating chamber of the press through the inlet side 4 (see figure 5).

During this initial step, the moveable side wall group 1 is arranged in an inoperative position i.e. retracted at the upper part so as not to hinder the passage of the material to be pressed 9.

With the material to be pressed 9 arranged in the operating chamber, and thus beneath the overall base dimension of the pressing element 3, the advancement of the conveyor belt 2 is stopped.

The first actuation means 12 that determine the displacement of the frame 6, and thus the at least one side wall 7, downwards along the first direction 11 up to placing the at least one side wall 7 in abutment against the conveyor belt 2 (see figure 6), are actuated subsequently.

With the at least one side wall 7 in such position, a frontally sealing barrier is obtained with respect to the material to be pressed, so as to prevent the same from exiting from the operating chamber.

Thus, the second actuation means 13 and, more specifically, the first drive means 15, are actuated to displace the at least one side wall 7 along the second direction 14, approaching the material 9 to be pressed.

In detail, the first drive means 15 determine the displacement of the first moveable element 17 along the third direction 19 and, thus, the displacement of the second moveable element 18, to which the at least one side wall 7 is connected, along the second direction 14.

During displacement along the second direction 14, the at least one side wall 7 abuts against the material 9 to be pressed, that may have crumbled on the conveyor belt 2, collecting and taking it in a predefined pressing configuration. The actuation of the at least one side wall 7 along the second direction 14 continues until it reaches a pre-established position in proximity of the pressing element 3 (see figure 7).

The actuation of the first drive means 15, determining the displacement of the at least one side wall 7, causes the actuation of the second drive means 21 which are maintained idle during this step.

Thus, with the at least one side wall 7 placed in operative configuration, the pressing element 3 is lowered thus determining the step for pressing the material 9 (see figure 8).

During such step, the first actuation means 12 are partly released to enable the relative displacement between the pressing element 3 and the frame 6, thus preventing the at least one side wall 7 from hindering the descent of the pressing element 3 against the material 9 to be pressed.

In any case, the first actuation means 12 determine a thrust action of the at least one side wall 7 against the surface on which the material 9 to be pressed lies so as to guarantee the hermetic sealing of the at least one side wall 7, described beforehand.

After the pressing step, with the pressing element 3 maintained lowered against the pressed material P, the second drive means 21 are actuated returning the at least one side wall 7 towards the frame 6, with the aim of facilitating the natural step of expansion of the pressed material P at the edge portion thereof previously held by the moveable side wall group 1 (see figure 9). During such step, the first drive means 15 are deactivated or maintained idle so as to enable the return of the at least one side wall 7 towards the frame 6.

During the subsequent ascent step, such displacement prevents the at least one side wall 7 from interfering, sliding or impacting against the edge of the pressed material and thus damaging it, with particular reference to possible impacts against the upper portion of the edge of the pressed element P.

Thus, the at least one side wall 7 is moved along the second direction 14, approaching the frame 6 and, subsequently actuating the first actuation means 12 to displace the at least one side wall 7 along the first direction 11 upwards up to completely vacating the space along the outlet side 5 so as to enable the release of the pressed product P (see figure 10).

Thus, the conveyor belt 2 is actuated thus advancing the pressed product P beyond the outlet side 5 of the pressing element 3 and, simultaneously, loading the new material to be pressed.

This enables guaranteeing the operating continuity and high productivity of the press for ceramic products.

In the light of the above, it is clear that the moveable side wall group 1 according to the present invention enables obtaining finished products, such as tiles, slabs or the like, even large in size, having, in particular, at least one side of the perimeter portion compact and linear.

Thus, the finished ceramic products thus obtained do not require further machining to remove any surplus material at the perimeter portion thereof, thus avoiding generation of by-products or waste material.

Furthermore, the obtained ceramic products have a structural homogeneity that advantageously translates into a uniform resistance against the mechanical stresses they are subjected to in use.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants all falling within the inventive concept.

In addition, all details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements. Basically, the materials used as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may vary according to the needs without departing from the scope of protection of the claims that follow.