Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method used for reinforcing the products obtained from materials such as natural stone, travertine, granite, marble, limestone, etc.

Background Art

In the present day, epoxy and polyester etc. based adhesives are applied to the cracks on products like natural stone, travertine, granite, and they are tried to be reinforced. In reinforcing the product, the techniques of adhering or spraying materials like fiber net, aluminum plate, special mixture plaster cement based material, ceramic, sand, etc. are used.

In cases where epoxy or polyester based adhesives are applied at the back of the natural stone, travertine, granite, marble products; the structure of the cracks on the product and the ambient temperature are important for achieving success. Due to the crack structures on the products and because of the fact that an average temperature can not be established, the same performance can not be attained from each product.

In another technique of reinforcing the products to be used, namely the technique of spraying fiber net, sand, etc., the thickness of the product and the compatibility problems increase. Additionally, because of the incompatibility of an aluminum or cement based material disposed behind the product with the natural stone (product), problems like contortion and bending are experienced.

The Italian patent document no. IT1239325 discloses a marble tile manufacturing method. In the method, a marble with a thickness at least double that of the product that is desired to be obtained is cut, and asbestos cement is adhered to the outer surfaces of the marble to provide support. Then this material is divided into two and polishing procedure is carried out.

The Japanese patent document no. JP57012626 discloses a wall plate production method. In the method, the natural stone is placed within a mould and resin concrete is filled into the container. After the resin dries, the material obtained is divided into two and the stone surfaces of the obtained pieces are processed and polished.

The Spanish patent document no. ES2161643 (Al) discloses a composite tile with natural stone face. Production of the tile is performed in two steps; 1. production of the composite tile; natural stone with a thickness at least double that of the tile that is desired to be obtained is cut, the stone is compressed into two stone supports and adhered with adhesives, the obtained unit is divided into two from the middle of the stone, the stone surfaces of the obtained pieces are leveled and polished. 2. the stone and the supports are joined via adhesive. The adhesive is cured to prevent removal thereof. The adhesive is preferably heated up to 50-60°C and is kept at this temperature preferably for 12 minutes.

Summary of the Invention

The objective of the present invention is related to a method in which the product is reinforced by means of the channels provided on the products obtained from materials such as natural stone, travertine, granite, marble, limestone, etc.

Detailed Description of the Invention

"A Reinforcement Method" realized to fulfill the objective of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying figures wherein, Figure 1 is the flowchart of the inventive method.

Figure 2 is the view of the product on which there is/are provided a channel/channels.

The parts in the figures are numbered individually, where the numbers refer to the following:

1. Product

2. Channel

3. Material

100. Cutting the first product in desired sizes

200. Providing a channel and/or channels (canalizing) on the product

300. Filling the channel and/or channels with the material

400. Curing of the product and removing the excessive material

In the product (1) reinforcement method basically, the desired product (1) is cut in plates (first product) with desired thicknesses (100), a channel and/or channels (2) is/are provided on the surfaces of the cut product (1) (200), the channel and/or channels (2) provided are filled with one or more materials (3) (300) and the product (1) which is filled with the material (3) is cured and/or the excessive materials (3) are removed from the surface of the product (1) (400).

With the product reinforcement method of the invention, robustness of the products (1) is increased during production thereof and the amount of waste products in the other procedures that are applied on the products (1) is reduced and occurrence of ruptures is prevented.

In the product reinforcement method, initially, the first product is cut either identical to the final product (1) or in a size double that of the final product (100). After the first product is cut in desired thickness and it is brought to a precise or pre-process thickness, a channel and/or channels are provided on the surface of the product (1) (200). The channel and/or channels provided on the product (1) can be of desired shapes and sizes, and/or depths and/or lengths. The channels (2) provided are filled with one or more materials (3) (300). After the channels (2) are filled with a material (3), the product (1) is cured and/or the excessive materials (3) on the product (1) are removed (400).

The first product to be used in obtaining the final product can be cut in a size double that of the final product. In the case that the first product is cut in a size double that of the final product, a channel and/or channels (2) are applied on any two opposite surfaces of the first product, the channels (2) are filled with material (3) and the excessive material (3) is removed from the product. The channels (2) of the first product, which is cut in a double size, are cut into two after being filled with the material, and the productivity and performance are improved by means of polyester based and/or epoxy based applications for filling and adhesion purposes.

While the materials (3) applied on the channel and/or channels (2) to be provided on the first product for reinforcement purposes can be in a gel or liquid form, they can also have different viscosities. In addition to this, the material (3) can be transparent, colored or in the color of the present product (1). The material (3) applied on the channels (2) provided on the product (1) can be epoxy or polyester based materials sensitive to temperature and/or curing time and/or UV rays. Materials (3) applied on the channels (2) which can be used for adhesion, reinforcement or filling purposes can be mixed with granules with different sizes made of the material itself or of a different material. The said granule particles can be glass, iron, plastic, wood, etc. materials. The material, which can also be used for adhesion purposes and which enables reinforcement of the product (1) by being filled into the channel and/or channels (2), is applied to the channel or channels (2) by means of automatic dosing and application systems.

The channel or channels (2) formed on the product (1) are produced with different sizes, shapes, depths, lengths or angles in line with the thickness of the final product desired to be produced, the cost of the material (3) to be applied and the desired appearance and aesthetic values to the channel or channels (2). While the channel or channels (2) provided on the product (1) can be provided in a single direction, they can also be formed in different directions relative to each other.

In the inventive reinforcement method, the material (3) is applied onto the product (1) by forming disorganized and/or shapely and/or amorphous depths or pits instead of the channel or channels (2) to be provided on the first product.

The inventive "A Reinforcement Method" is described with examples and illustrated with figures for a better understanding thereof. However the scope of the invention can not be limited to the said examples or figures. It is possible for a person skilled in the art to develop other embodiments within the framework of the basic principles of the invention. The scope of the invention is essentially according to the claims.