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Title:
ROTATING ARRANGEMENT FOR A SUPPLY LINE TO A TOOLHOLDER FOR A MACHINE FOR WORKING BLOCK OR SLAB MATERIALS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2009/036785
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A displacing apparatus (1) for a tool holder assembly (10) of a machine for working block or slab materials, wherein the tool holder assembly (10) is rotatable around a rotation axis (A-A) perpendicular to a work surface of said machine, comprises: a shaft (2) supporting, at a first longitudinal end thereof, the tool holder assembly (10), and at least one supply line (3) connected to the tool holder assembly (10). The at least one supply line (3) comprises a portion (30) exceeding the length of the shaft (2) and a storing space (4) adapted to receive said exceeding portion (30) in a removable manner is associated with the shaft (2). A machine for working block or slab materials incorporating the displacing apparatus (1) and a method for working block or slab materials to be carried out by said machine are also described.

Inventors:
GUAZZONI LUIGI (IT)
Application Number:
PCT/EP2007/008144
Publication Date:
March 26, 2009
Filing Date:
September 19, 2007
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
FLERRYLANE TRADING LLC (US)
GUAZZONI LUIGI (IT)
International Classes:
B23Q1/00; B25J19/00; B28D1/04; H02G11/00
Domestic Patent References:
WO2006043294A12006-04-27
Foreign References:
US5961156A1999-10-05
EP0260219A11988-03-16
JPH02100892A1990-04-12
SE9003632L1992-05-14
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
BOTTERO, Claudio et al. (Checcacci & Associati S.p.A.Via Trebbi, 20 Milano, IT)
Download PDF:
Claims:

CLAIMS

1. Displacing apparatus (1) for a tool holder assembly (10) of a machine (100) for working block or slab materials, said tool holder assembly (10) being rotatable about a rotation axis (A-A) perpendicular to a work surface (102) of said machine (100), comprising: a shaft (2) supporting, at a first longitudinal end thereof, said tool holder assembly (10), and at least one supply line (3) connected to the tool holder assembly (10), characterised in that said at least one supply line (3) comprises a portion (30) exceeding the length of said shaft

(2) and in that a storing space (4) adapted to removably receive said exceeding portion (30) is associated with said shaft (2) .

2. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 1, adapted to allow said tool holder assembly (10) to carry out rotations about said rotation axis (A-A) of at least 360°.

3. Displacing apparatus (1) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said shaft (2) is rotatable about said rotation axis (A-A) and said tool holder assembly (10) is rotatably integral with said shaft (2).

4. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 3, wherein said storing space (4) is provided at a second longitudinal end of said shaft (2) opposite said first longitudinal end.

5. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 4, wherein said shaft (2) is hollow and said at least one supply line

(3) between said storing space (4) and said tool holder assembly (10) is housed inside an internal cavity (20) of said shaft (2) .

6. Displacing apparatus (1) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said storing space (4) is at least partially defined by an annular disc (40) provided with a

fastening point (41) for said at least one supply line (3) , said annular disc (40) being freely rotatable with respect to said storing space (4) and said shaft (2) .

7. Displacing apparatus (1) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said annular disc (40) is substantially perpendicular to said rotation axis (A-A) and said exceeding portion (30) of the at least one supply line (3) is housed in said storing space (4) at least partially leaning on a face of said annular disc (40) .

8. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 6 or 7 when dependent on claim 3, wherein said annular disc (40) and said shaft (2) are rotatable connectible so that in a first part of the rotation of the shaft (2) the annular disc (40) is rotatably integral with the shaft (2), and in a second part of the rotation of the shaft (2), the annular disc (40) is idle with respect to the shaft (2) .

9. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 8, wherein said shaft (2) comprises a window (21) periemtrally formed at a lateral surface thereof to allow the entry of said at least one supply line (3) into said internal cavity (20) .

10. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said first part of the rotation of the shaft (2) has an angular extension (α) between about 240° and about 270°.

11. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 9, wherein said window (20) formed at a lateral surface of said shaft (2) has an angular extension (β) between about 90° and about 140°.

12. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 11, wherein said annular disc (40) comprises at least one abutment ledge (43b, 44) adapted to cooperate in abutment with said shaft (2) to cause the rotational coupling with the shaft.

- 2 A -

13. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 12, wherein said annular disc (40) is provided with an opening

(42) for the passage of said at least one supply line (3) .

14. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 13, wherein said opening (42) comprises guiding flaps (43a,

43b) for said at least one supply line (3) extending at radially opposite edges of the opening (42) .

15. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein said at least one supply line (3) is selected from a power supply line and a fluid supply line.

16. Displacing apparatus (1) according to any one of the previous claims, comprising a plurality of supply lines

(3) .

17. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein said at least one supply line (3) is guided by a cable drag chain (31) at least in said storing space (4) .

18. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 17, wherein a free end of said cable drag chain is fastened to said annular disc (40) .

19. Displacing apparatus (1) according to any one of the previous claims, comprising a first actuator device (17) active on said shaft (2) to cause the rotation thereof.

20. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 19, wherein said first actuator device (17) comprises an electric motor (18).

21. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 20, wherein said electric motor (18) is a brushless motor.

22. Displacing apparatus (1) according to any one of the previous claims from 19 to 21, wherein said first actuator device (17) comprises a zero backlash reduction gear (19).

23. Displacing apparatus (1) according to any one of the

previous claims, comprising a second actuator device (5) adapted to displace said shaft (2) along a first displacement direction (Z) of said tool holder assembly (10) parallel to said rotation axis (A-A).

24. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 23, wherein said second actuator device (5) comprises a leadscrew actuator (50) having a longitudinal axis (B-B) substantially parallel to said rotation axis (A-A) .

25. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 24, comprising a frame with a fixed portion (9a) and a movable cross member (9b) supporting said shaft (2), wherein the nut screw (51) of said leadscrew actuator (50) is fixed to or formed integrally with said fixed portion (9a).

26. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 25, wherein said second actuator device (5) comprises an electric motor (53) for driving the screw rotation (52) of said leadscrew actuator (50).

27. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 26, wherein said electric motor (53) is a brushless motor.

28. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 26 or 27, wherein said second actuator device (5) comprises a zero backlash reduction gear (54) operatively interposed between said electric motor (53) and the screw (52) of said leadscrew actuator (50).

29. Displacing apparatus (1) according to any one of the claims from 25 to 28 comprising an anti-rotation device (6) adapted to contrast the rotation of said cross member (9b) upon driving of said leadscrew actuator (50) .

30. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 29, wherein said anti-rotation device (6) comprises at least a bar (60) having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to said rotation axis (A-A) and at least two engaging elements (61) connected to said cross member (9b) adapted

to slidably cooperate with said at least one bar (60) at opposite sides thereof.

31. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 30, wherein said at least two engaging elements (61) are rolling elements.

32. Displacing apparatus (1) according to any one of the claims from 23 to 31, comprising a balancing device (7) adapted to balance the axial strain applied to said second actuator device (6) .

33. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 32, wherein said balancing device (7) comprises an actuating cylinder (70) having a longitudinal axis (C-C) substantially parallel to said rotation axis (A-A) .

34. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 33 comprising a frame having a fixed portion (9a) and a movable cross member (9b) supporting said shaft (2), wherein said actuating cylinder (70) is active between said fixed portion (9a) and said cross member (9b) of the frame.

35. Displacing apparatus (1) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said tool holder assembly (10) comprises an electrospindle (12) adapted to receive a working tool (11) and having a longitudinal axis (D-D) , and a support body (13) for the electrospindle (12), and wherein the electrospindle (12) is supported by the support body (13) rotatable about a respective rotation axis (E-E) perpendicular to a plane defined by said rotation axis (A- A) and said longitudinal axis (D-D) .

36. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim (35) , wherein said tool holder assembly (10) comprises a third actuator device (14) adapted to rotate said electrospindle (12) about said respective rotation axis (E-E) to vary the inclination angle (γ) of the electrospindle (12) with respect to said shaft (2) .

37. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 36, wherein said inclination angle (γ) ranges between about 0° and about 90°.

38. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 36 or 37, wherein said third actuator device (14) is active along an axis (E-E) substantially intersecting said longitudinal axis (D-D) of the electrospindle (12).

39. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 38, wherein said electrospindle (12) is supported by said support body (13) by means of rotation pins (15) and said third actuator device (14) is at least partially integrated with at least one of said rotation pins (15) .

40. Displacing apparatus (1) according to any one of the claims from 36 to 39, wherein said third actuator device (14) comprises an electric motor (140).

41. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 40, wherein said electric motor is a brushless motor.

42. Displacing apparatus (1) according to claim 40 or 41, wherein said third actuator device (14) comprises a zero backlash reduction gear.

43. Machine (100) for working block or slab materials comprising a displacing apparatus (1) for a tool holder assembly (10) according to any one of the previous claims.

44. Machine (100) according to claim 43, wherein said displacing apparatus (1) is movable along a second displacement direction (X) of said tool holder assembly (10), said second displacement direction (X) being perpendicular to said rotation axis (A-A) .

45. Machine (100) according to claim 44, wherein said displacing apparatus (1) is movable along a third displacement direction (Y) of said tool holder assembly (10), said third displacement direction (Y) being

perpendicular to said rotation axis (A-A) and to said second displacement direction (X) .

46. Machine (100) according to any one of the previous claims from 43 to 45 comprising a table (101) defining a work surface (102) for a block or slab material (200) to be worked, wherein said table (101) is fixed.

47. Method for working block or slab materials comprising the steps of: a) providing a block or slab (200) to be worked on a work surface (102); b) displacing a working tool (11) associated with a tool holder assembly (10) to perform a working operation on said block or slab (200) , wherein said step of displacing the working tool (11) is carried out by means of a displacing apparatus (1) comprising: a shaft (2) supporting, at a first longitudinal end thereof, said tool holder assembly (10), and at least one supply line (3) connected to said tool holder assembly (10) and comprising a portion (30) exceeding the length of said shaft (2) , and wherein said step of displacing the working tool (11) is carried out at least partially by storing or extracting said exceeding portion (30) into/from a respective storing space (4) associated with said shaft (2) during the displacement of the tool holder assembly (10) .

48. Method according to claim 47, wherein said step of displacing the working tool (11) comprises the step of rotating said tool holder assembly (10) about a respective rotation axis (A-A) perpendicular to said work surface (102), and the storing or extraction of said exceeding portion (30) into/from said storing space (4) is carried out upon rotation of the tool holder assembly (10) .

49. Method according to claim 48, wherein said tool holder assembly (10) is rotatably integral with said shaft (2) and

said step of rotating the tool holder assembly (10) is carried out by rotating said shaft (2) .

50. Method according to claim 49, wherein said storing space (2) is at least partially defined by an annular disc (40) comprising a fastening point (41) for said at least one supply line (3), said annular disc (40) being freely rotatable with respect to said storing space (4) and said shaft (2), wherein the storing or extraction of said at least one supply line (3) into/from said storing space (4) is carried out by rotatably connecting said annular disc (40) with said shaft (2) for at least a part of the rotation of said shaft (2) .

51. Method according to any one of the claims from 47 to

50, wherein said displacing apparatus (1) is adapted to allow the tool holder assembly (10) to carry out rotations about said rotation axis (A-A) of at least 360°.

52. Method according to any one of the claims from 47 to

51, wherein said work surface (102) is fixed.

Description:

ROTATING ARRANGEMENT FOR A SUPPLY LINE TO A TOOLHOLDER FOR A MACHINE FOR

WORKING BLOCK OR SLAB MATERIALS

DESCRIPTION

Background of the invention

The present invention relates to a displacing apparatus for a tool holder assembly of a machine for working block or slab materials, particularly, but not exclusively, stone materials, such as, for example, marble and granite.

The invention also relates to a machine for working block or slab materials comprising such displacing apparatus and to a method for working block or slab materials to be carried out by said machine.

It is noted that, within the framework of the present description and the appended claims, the term: displacing apparatus is used to indicate an apparatus adapted to determine any movement of a machine part, either translational or rotational. Moreover, the term: working is used to generally indicate any operation performed on the material, such as, for example, cutting, squaring, or shaping.

Prior art

Machines for working block or slab materials, in particular stone materials, essentially comprise a table defining a work surface on which the block or slab to be worked is placed, a tool holder assembly to which a working tool is associated, a displacing apparatus for the tool holder assembly and a command and control unit provided with a suitable operator interface. A plurality of supply lines, for example for power supply or for supplying a cooling fluid at the working tool, is connected to the tool holder.

The displacing apparatus is mounted on a horizontal gantry resting on wall supports or other vertical support structures .

The gantry can be moved along the respective support structures and the displacing apparatus can be moved along the gantry. In this manner the displacing apparatus and the tool holder assembly can be displaced parallel to the work surface along two displacement directions X and Y, perpendicular to each other. In turn, the displacing apparatus can displace the tool holder assembly along a further displacement direction Z perpendicular to the work surface. In order to carry out working operations along both displacement directions X and Y and along oblique directions, it is further provided that the table can be rotated about an axis perpendicular to the work surface, so that the piece of material to be worked can be presented to the working tool according to different angles.

However, the need of a rotatable table involves a complex construction. In fact, the displacement devices and the angular position control devices of the table usually lie under the work surface and for this reason operate under unfavourable conditions, both because they have to withstand considerable weights, and because they are constantly invested by working dust and by cooling liquids used during working operations. Furthermore, the use of a rotatable table slows the working times because of the considerable rotational inertia caused by the weight of the table and of the material placed on it.

In an attempt to overcome these drawbacks machines have been developed where the rotation of the table has been replaced by the rotation of the tool holder assembly. In particular, machines for working stone materials are known which have a fixed table and a displacing apparatus for the tool holder assembly that allows rotating the latter about an axis perpendicular to the work surface of the table.

Even though this solution allows the aforementioned drawbacks caused by the use of a rotatable table to be overcome, at the present state of art it has not resulted completely satisfactory. In fact, the rotation of the tool holder assembly is limited by the supply lines extended between the gantry supporting the displacing apparatus and the tool holder assembly. Upon rotation of the tool holder assembly the supply lines are inevitably subjected to torsional stress, which must be contained within admissible structural and functional limits, thus limiting the extent of rotation of the tool holder assembly. Practically, in the machines with rotatable tool holder assembly of the prior art, the rotation of the tool holder assembly is limited to angles ranging, at most, between 0° and about 270°. Thus, unlike in machines having rotatable table, this solution results in relative angular positions between working tool and piece of material to be worked that cannot be reached.

In xview of the above, it is evident that the machines for working stone block or slab materials having a rotatable tool holder assembly according to the prior art do overcome certain drawbacks present on similar machines with rotatable table, but they provide less operative flexibility.

Summary of the invention

The Applicant has found that the aforementioned limitations of the machines for working block or slab materials with a rotatable tool holder assembly of the prior art can be overcome by appropriate designing of the displacing apparatus of the tool holder assembly.

The technical problem underlying the present invention is therefore to provide a displacing apparatus for a tool holder assembly of a machine for working block or slab materials that allows to carry out complete, i.e. 360°, rotations of the tool holder assembly about an axis

perpendicular to the work surface, while at the same time preventing inadmissible torsional stress on the supply lines connected to the tool holder assembly.

In a first aspect thereof, the invention relates to a displacing apparatus for a tool holder assembly of a machine for working block or slab materials, said tool holder assembly being rotatable about a rotation axis perpendicular to a work surface of said machine, comprising: - a shaft supporting, at a first longitudinal end thereof, said tool holder assembly, and at least one supply line connected to the tool holder assembly, characterised in that said at least one supply line comprises a portion exceeding the length of said shaft, and in that a storing space adapted to removably receive said exceeding portion is associated with said shaft.

The structure of the displacing apparatus of the present invention advantageously allows to make the rotation of the tool holder assembly independent from the at least one supply line connected thereto, so that it is possible to carry out even a 360° rotation of the tool holder assembly, without causing inadmissible torsional stress on the at least one supply line.

In fact, the exceeding portion of the at least one supply line housed in the storing space performs a "reservoir" function allowing the at least one supply line to follow the rotation of the tool holder assembly by means of a variation of the available length. The total length of said exceeding portion can be chosen so as to allow compensation of a complete rotation of the tool holder assembly or just of a part thereof. In the latter case, the at least one supply line follows the rotation of the tool holder assembly partly by recalling the exceeding portion from the storing space, partly, as in the displacing apparatuses of

the prior art, by means of a torsion about the rotation axis, which, in any case, remains within admissible limits.

Preferred characteristics of the displacing apparatus according to the invention are defined in the dependent claims 2-42, the content of which is herein fully incorporated by reference.

Preferably, the displacing apparatus is adapted to allow the tool holder assembly to carry out rotations about said rotation axis of at least 360°.

In a preferred embodiment of the displacing apparatus of the invention, the shaft supporting the tool holder assembly is rotatable about the rotation axis of the tool holder assembly and the latter is rotatably integral with the shaft.

Preferably, in this case, the storing space is provided at a second longitudinal end of the shaft opposite said first longitudinal end.

This solution advantageously allows the end of the shaft in proximity to the tool holder assembly to be left relatively free from actuators or other structures for the rotation of the tool holder assembly, such as the storing space.

Preferably, the shaft is hollow and the at least one supply line between the storing space and the tool holder assembly is housed inside an internal cavity in the shaft.

This advantageously allows to obtain a particularly compact and tidy structure as well as to considerably limit any possible torsion of the at least one supply line further to the rotation of the tool holder assembly, as the at least one supply line is located substantially on the rotation axis.

Preferably, the storing space is at least partially defined by an annular disc having a fastening point for the at

least one supply line, said annular disc being freely rotatable with respect to the storing space and the shaft.

Advantageously, the provision of said annular disc allows the extraction and storing of the exceeding portion of the at least one supply line from/into the storing space to be de-coupled with respect to the shaft rotation.

Preferably, the annular disc is substantially perpendicular to the aforementioned rotation axis, and the exceeding portion of the at least one supply line is housed in the storing space at least partially leaning on a face of the annular disc.

Advantageously, this makes easier the extraction and storing of the exceeding portion of the at least one supply line from/into the storing space upon rotation of the annular disc.

Preferably, the annular disc and the shaft are rotatably connectable so that in a first part of the rotation of the shaft the annular disc is rotatably integral with the shaft and in a second part of the rotation of the shaft the annular disc is idle with respect to the shaft.

This advantageously allows to carry out complete rotations of the tool holder assembly exploiting partly the "reservoir" function of the exceeding portion of the at least one supply line - when the annular disc that drags the at least one supply line is rotatably integral with the shaft - and partly a torsion of the at least one supply line - when the annular disc is idle with respect to the shaft, and therefore the exceeding portion of the at least one supply line is no longer pulled from the storing space. This solution is particularly advantageous in cases where it is not possible to make the at least one supply line perform a complete rotation together with the shaft, because of the interference with the devices of the displacing assembly located close to the shaft and the

storing space.

Preferably, the shaft comprises a window that perimetrally formed at a side surface thereof to allow the entry of the at least one supply line into the internal cavity in the shaft.

Advantageously, the positioning of this window, whose perimeter size can be suitably dimensioned, makes at least a partial shaft rotation possible when the annular disc is idle - and, thus, the exceeding portion of the at least one supply line is not pulled from the storing space - without any interference occurring between the at least one supply line and the shaft.

In a second aspect thereof, the invention relates to a machine for working block or slab materials comprising a displacing apparatus for a tool holder assembly of the aforementioned type.

The advantages of the displacing apparatus according to the invention transfer to the machine for working block or slab materials incorporating said apparatus, which machine has, in particular, an operative flexibility substantially equivalent to that of a machine for working block or slab materials with a rotatable table with the same potential, while eliminating the abovementioned drawbacks.

Preferred characteristics of the machine for working block or slab materials according to the invention are defined in the dependent claims 44-46, the content of which is herein fully incorporated by reference.

In a third aspect thereof, the invention relates to a method for working block or slab materials comprising the steps of: a) providing a block or slab to be worked on a work surface; b) displacing a working tool associated with a tool

holder assembly to perform a working operation on said block or slab, wherein said step of displacing the working tool is carried out by means of a displacing apparatus comprising: a shaft supporting, at a first longitudinal end thereof, said tool holder assembly, and at least one supply line connected to said tool holder assembly and comprising a portion exceeding the length of said shaft, and wherein said step of displacing the working tool is carried out at least partially by inserting or storing said exceeding portion into/from a respective storing space associated with said shaft during the displacement of the tool holder assembly.

Preferred characteristics of the method for working block or slab materials according to the invention are defined in the dependent claims 48-52, the content of which is herein fully incorporated by reference.

Brief description of the appended figures

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention shall become clearer from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, made hereafter, for indicating and not limiting purposes, with reference to the attached drawings. In said drawings: - Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a machine for working block or slab materials provided with a displacing apparatus for a tool holder assembly according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view with partially removed parts of a displacing apparatus of a tool holder assembly according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a schematic side view partially in section of the displacing apparatus of figure 2;

Figure 4 is a schematic front view partially in section of the displacing apparatus of figure 2;

Figure 5 is a schematic perspective exploded view of a detail of the displacing apparatus of figure 2;

Figures 6a and 6b are respectively schematic top and front views of the detail of figure 5 in a first operating configuration of the displacing apparatus of figure 2;

Figures 7a and 7b are respectively schematic top and front views of the detail of figure 5 in a second operating configuration of the displacing apparatus of figure 2;

Figures 8a and 8b are respectively schematic top and front views of the detail of figure 5 in a third operating configuration of the displacing apparatus of figure 2;

Figures 9a and 9b are respectively schematic top and front views of the detail of figure 5 in a fourth operating configuration of the displacing apparatus of figure 2.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention

In Figure 1, a machine for working block or slab materials, in particular, but not exclusively, stone materials, according to the invention is wholly indicated with reference numeral 100.

The machine 100 essentially comprises a table 101, preferably fixed, defining a work surface 102, a tool holder assembly 10 with which a working tool 11 is associated, a displacing apparatus 1 of the tool holder assembly 10 and a command and control unit 103 having an operator interface 104.

The table 101 is adapted to support a block or slab 200 of the material to be worked.

By way of an example, the working tool 11 is represented herein in the form of a disc cutter for cutting operations, but it could also be any other type of known working tool, such as an end mill, a grinding wheel, etc.

The displacing apparatus 1 is mounted on a gantry 105 that

is supported at each end thereof on walls 106 or other adequate support structures extending in a direction perpendicular to the gantry. The displacing apparatus 1 is preferably movable along the gantry 105 and the latter is preferably movable in a direction parallel to that of the walls 106. The displacing apparatus 1, together with the tool holder assembly 10, can therefore be moved parallel to the work surface 102 in two displacement directions respectively identified as X and Y, perpendicular to each other.

As will be explained in more detail below, the displacing apparatus 1 is in turn preferably adapted to displace the tool holder assembly 10 along a displacement direction Z perpendicular to the work surface 102. Furthermore, the displacing apparatus 1 is preferably adapted to rotatably displace the tool holder assembly 10 about a rotation axis A-A, also perpendicular to the work surface 102, in a displacement direction identified as W.

The structure of the displacing apparatus 1 is shown in figures 2-5. The components of this device are enclosed in a removable cover shell 8 and are supported in a frame having a fixed portion 9a and a cross member 9b movable with respect to the fixed portion 9a in the displacement direction Z. At the fixed portion 9a of the frame is provided, in a way per se known, a slide coupling between the displacing apparatus 1 and the gantry 105.

The displacing apparatus 1 comprises a shaft 2 supporting, at a first longitudinal end thereof, the tool holder assembly 10. At the opposite longitudinal end, the shaft 2 is associated with the cross member 9b.

At least one supply line 3, and preferably a plurality thereof (only schematically and partially shown in figures 2-9) is connected to the tool holder assembly 10. The supply lines 3 preferably comprise at least one power supply line and at least one fluid, e.g. water, supply

line, intended for cooling the working tool during operation.

According to the invention, the supply lines 3 comprise a portion 30 exceeding the length of the shaft 2 and a storing space 4 adapted to removably receive said exceeding portion 30is associated with the shaft 2.

As explained above, thanks to these features the rotation of the tool holder assembly 10 is made substantially independent of the supply lines 3 connected thereto and it is thus possible for the tool holder assembly 10 to carry out even 360° rotations about the rotation axis A-A without causing inadmissible torsional stress on the supply lines 3. In fact, the exceeding portion 30 works as a "reservoir" that allows the supply lines 3 to follow the rotation by varying their available length.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated herein, the shaft 2 is rotatable about the rotation axis A-A and the tool holder assembly 10 is rotatably integral with the shaft 2. Therefore, in this embodiment the coupling between the shaft 2 and the cross member 9b is to be designed in such a manner that these two components are integral with each other during translation along the displacement direction Z, but the shaft 2 is freely rotatable.

Preferably, the storing space 4 is provided at the longitudinal end of the shaft 2 opposite the end supporting the tool holder assembly 10.

In alternative embodiments (not shown) only the tool holder assembly 10 is rotatable about the rotation axis A-A, while the shaft 2 does not rotate and simply acts as a support for tool holder assembly 10.

In these alternative embodiments it can be advantageous to provide the storing space 4 in proximity to the rotatable tool holder assembly 10, i.e. at the same longitudinal end

of the shaft 2 that supports the tool holder assembly 10.

Preferably, the shaft 2 is hollow and the supply lines 3 between the storing space 4 and the tool holder assembly 10 are housed inside an internal cavity 20 of the shaft 2 (figures 3-5) .

In the preferred embodiment illustrated herein, the storing space 4 is at least partially defined by an annular disc 40 provided with a fastening point 41 for the supply lines 3 and which is freely rotatable with respect to the storing space 4 and the shaft 2. The extraction or storing of the supply lines 3 from/into the storing space 4 is driven by the rotation of the annular disc 40.

The annular disc 40 is preferably substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis A-A and the exceeding portion 30 of the supply lines 3 is housed in the storing space 4 at least partially leaning on a face of the annular disc 40 (figures 2 and 6-9) .

Preferably, the annular disc 40 and the shaft 2 are rotatably connectable so that in a first part of the rotation of the shaft 2 the annular disc 40 is rotatably integral with the shaft 2, and in a second part of the rotation of shaft 2 the annular disc 40 is idle with respect to the shaft 2.

As explained, this configuration makes it possible for the supply lines 3 to follow a complete rotation of the tool holder assembly 10 partly exploiting the "reservoir" function provided by the exceeding portion 30 - when the annular disc 40 rotates integrally with the shaft 2 -, partly by means of a torsion, although limited, of the supply lines 3 - when the annular disc 40 is idle with respect to the shaft 2.

The angular extension of the two parts of the rotation defined above, as well as their position with respect to

the fixed components of the displacing apparatus 1, is determined by appropriate design of the coupling between annular disc 40 and shaft 2. Preferably, said first part of the rotation of the shaft 2 has an angular extension α (marked for the sake of clarity only in figures 6a and 9a) between about 240° and about 270°. In general, the angle α is chosen so as to avoid interference upon rotation between the supply lines 3 and the components of the displacing apparatus 1 positioned in proximity to the storing space 4, described further on.

The shaft 2 preferably comprises a window 21 perimetrally formed at a side surface of the shaft 2, to allow the entry of the supply lines 3 into the internal cavity 20.

The window 21 has an angular extension β (marked for the sake of clarity only in figures 6a and 9a) preferably between about 90° and about 140°, more preferably equal to about 120°. In general, the angle β is chosen as a function the extension of the said first and second parts of the rotation of the shaft 2.

Preferably, the annular disc 40 comprises at least one abutment ledge 44 adapted to cooperate in abutment with the shaft 2 to cause the rotational coupling with the shaft. The abutment ledge 44 is preferably associated with a face of the annular disc 40 facing towards the shaft 2 and is positioned so as to cooperate in abutment with a first side edge 22a of the window 21.

The annular disc 40 is preferably provided with an opening 42 for the passage of the supply lines 3 from the storing space 4 to the window 21 of the shaft 2.

The opening 42 preferably has the form of an annular ring sector and is preferably formed at an external edge of the disc 2.

The opening 42 preferably further comprises guiding flaps

43a, 43b extending from radially opposite edges of the opening, adapted to facilitate the sliding of the supply lines 3. Said flaps 43a, 43b are preferably orientated in directions opposite one another, and the flap orientated towards the shaft 2 (identified by numeral 43b in figure 5) is preferably used as a further abutment ledge adapted to cooperate in abutment with the shaft 2 at a second side edge 22b of the window 21.

As can be seen in detail in figures 6a, 7a, 8a, 9a, and partially also in figures 1-4, the supply lines 3 are preferably guided by a cable drag chain 31 at least in the storing space 4 and, more preferably, also upstream thereof. The use of the cable drag chain 31 allows the supply lines 3 to be guided in an optimal way and to be held grouped together upon their extraction or storing from/into the storing space 4. Preferably, when the supply lines 3 are grouped by a cable drag chain as in the embodiment illustrated herein, their linkage with the annular disc 40 is carried out through the cable drag chain, a free end of which is fixed to the fastening point

41.

In order to ensure that the supply lines 3 inside the shaft 2 maintain their position without overlapping one another, within the internal cavity 20 of the shaft 2 is provided at least one bushing 25 having a plurality of through holes 26 each one intended for the passage of a respective supply line 3 (figures 3-5) .

The displacing apparatus 1 preferably comprises an actuator device 17 active on the shaft 2 to cause the rotation thereof about the rotation axis A-A (displacement of the tool holder assembly 10 in the displacement direction W) .

Preferably, the actuator device 17 comprises an electric motor 18, more preferably a brushless motor.

Preferably, the actuator device 17 further comprises a zero

backlash reduction gear 19.

The use of brushless motors and zero backlash reduction gears in the actuator devices of the displacing apparatus 1 advantageously makes it possible to position the tool holder assembly 10 and to maintain the position achieved with high precision, which is an essential requirement for accurate machine working. This requirement is particularly necessary in case of cutting operations, where the working tool 11 (disc cutter) has to be maintained always perfectly aligned with the cutting line.

Figure 5 shows a preferred way of coupling the actuator device 17 and the shaft 2. The actuator device 17 is fixed, preferably removably, to the cross member 9b at the casing of the zero backlash reduction gear 19. The latter extends axially at least partially also in the storing space 4, under the cross member 9b. At the longitudinal end of the shaft 2 intended for the connection to the actuator device 17, there is fixed a horizontal plate 23 provided for removable connection to the zero backlash reduction gear 19, for example by means of conventional threaded fastening elements. The plate 23, that preferably completely closes the internal cavity 20 of the shaft 2, comprises a raised area 24 intended for coupling with the central opening of the annular disc 40. The annular disc 40 is interposed, freely rotatable, between the plate 23 and the zero backlash reduction gear 19. To lower the friction upon rotation, suitable conventional type lubricants can be used at the interfaces of the annular disc 40 with the plate 23 and with the zero backlash reduction gear 19.

As can be seen in detail in figures 2, 4 and 5, the displacing apparatus 1 comprises an actuator device 5 adapted to displace the shaft 2 along the displacement direction Z.

The actuator device 5 preferably comprises a leadscrew actuator 50 having a longitudinal axis B-B substantially

parallel to the rotation axis A-A.

Preferably, the nut screw 51 of the leadscrew actuator 50 is fixed to or integral with the fixed portion 9a of the frame. The screw 52 of the leadscrew actuator 50 is fixed, freely rotatable, to the cross member 9b. Therefore, upon rotation of the screw 52, the cross member 9b, together with and the shaft 2 and the tool holder assembly 10, is displaced along the displacement direction Z with respect to the fixed portion 9a of the frame.

The screw 52 is made to rotate preferably by an electric motor 53, more preferably a brushless electric motor.

A zero backlash reduction gear 54 is preferably operatively interposed between the electric motor 53 and the screw 52.

In order to contrast the rotation of the cross member 9b upon driving of the leadscrew actuator 50, the displacing apparatus 1 preferably comprises an anti-rotation device 6 (figures 2 and 6) .

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, the anti-rotation device 6 comprises at least a bar 60 having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the rotation axis A-A, and at least two engaging elements 61 connected to the cross member 9b, adapted to slidably cooperate with the bar 60 at opposite sides thereof. Preferably, the engaging elements 61 are rolling elements.

The displacing apparatus 1 preferably further comprises a balancing device 7 adapted to balance the axial strain applied to the actuator device 5. Said axial strain is mainly caused by the weight of the cross member 9b and the components connected thereto, in particular the shaft 2 with the tool holder assembly 10.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, the balancing device 7 comprises an actuating cylinder 70 having a longitudinal axis C-C substantially

parallel to the rotation axis A-A. The actuating cylinder 70, either hydraulic or pneumatic, is preferably active between the fixed portion 9a of the frame 9 and the movable cross member 9b.

As can be seen in particular in figures 2-4, the tool holder assembly 10 basically comprises an electrospindle 12, adapted to cause the rotation of the associated working tool 11 and having a longitudinal axis D-D, and a support body 13 for the electrospindle 12, preferably fork-shaped and fixed to the shaft 2. Preferably, the electrospindle 12 is supported by the support body 13 rotatable about a respective rotation axis E-E, perpendicular to a plane defined by the rotation axis A-A of the shaft 2 and the longitudinal axis D-D of the electrospindle 12, by means of rotation pins 15.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated herein the tool holder assembly 10 further comprises an actuator device 14 adapted to displace the electrospindle 12 about the respective rotation axis E-E to vary the inclination angle γ of the electrospindle 12 with respect to the shaft 2. In this way the working tool 11 can be displaced in a further displacement direction, identified in the drawings by R, to easily carry out oblique cutting operations or profile shaping.

The inclination angle γ, measured between the longitudinal axis D-D of the electrospindle 12 and the rotation axis A-A of the shaft 2, preferably ranges between about 0° and about 90°. In figure 3 the full lines show the operative configuration of the tool holder assembly 10 when γ=0° (longitudinal axis D-D of the electrospindle 12 parallel to the rotation axis A-A of the shaft 2) and the dashed lines show the operative configuration when γ=90° (longitudinal axis D-D of the electrospindle 12 perpendicular to the rotation axis A-A of the shaft 2) .

Preferably, the actuator device 14 is active along an axis

substantially intersecting the longitudinal axis D-D of the electrospindle 12, and more preferably coinciding with the rotation axis E-E thereof.

Preferably, in this case, the actuator device 14 is at least partially integrated with at least one of the rotation pins 15.

Preferably, the actuator device 14 comprises an electric motor 140, more preferably a brushless motor. Furthermore, the actuator device 14 preferably comprises a zero backlash reduction gear (not explicitly shown in the figures) .

Depending on the case, the machining tool 11 can be at least partially covered by a protection panel 16.

The tool holder assembly 10 can also be provided with a light source 109, preferably laser, adapted to direct a collimated light beam on the block or slab 200 to be worked. Once the light source 109 is properly positioned with respect to the machining tool 11, such beam advantageously allows the operator to visualise in advance a working path, in particular a cutting line, on the block or slab 200 to be worked.

The movement of the displacing apparatus 1 along the gantry 105 (displacement direction X) and of the gantry 105 on the walls 106 (displacement direction Y) is performed by respective actuator devices 107 and 108, as shown in figures 3 and 4.

A preferred embodiment of the method for working block or slab materials according to the invention that can be carried out by the machine 100 described above shall now be described.

The method essentially comprises the step of providing the block or slab 200 to be worked on the work surface 102, preferably fixed, of the machine 100, and subsequently the step of displacing the working tool 11 associated with the

tool holder assembly 10 to perform a working operation on the block or slab 200. This displacement step is carried out by means of the displacing apparatus 1 of the tool holder assembly 10, described above.

According to the invention, this step is carried out at least partially by storing or extracting the exceeding portion 30 of the supply lines 3 into/from the storing space 4 associated with the shaft 2 of the displacing apparatus 1 upon rotation of the tool holder assembly 10.

Preferably, the step of displacing the working tool 11 comprises the step of rotating the tool holder assembly 10 about the respective rotation axis A-A, and the storing or extraction of the exceeding portion into/from the storing space 4 is carried out upon rotation of the tool holder assembly 10.

Preferably, the tool holder assembly 10 is rotatably integral with the shaft 2 and the step of rotating the tool holder assembly 10 is carried out by rotating the shaft 2.

Preferably, the storing or extraction of the exceeding portion 30 of the supply lines 3 into/from the storing space 4 is carried out by rotatably connecting the annular disc 40 of the storing space 4 to the shaft 2 for at least a part of the rotation of the shaft.

As an example, figures 6a,b-9a,b show some operating configurations of the displacing device 1 corresponding to respective steps of a 360° rotation of the shaft 2, carried out according to the preferred embodiment of the method of the invention described above. For the sake of clarity, in the top views of figures 6a-9a the cross member 9b has not been represented.

Figures 6a, b show a reference initial operating configuration, wherein the shaft 2 has an angular position such that the working tool 11 associated with the tool

holder assembly 10 is aligned with the displacement direction X (figure 2) . The exceeding portion 30 of the supply lines 3 is substantially entirely housed in the storing space 4. The annular disc 40 abuts against the side edge 22a of the window 21, which has an angular extension β.

When, starting from this initial operating configuration, the shaft 2 is rotated by the actuator device 17 counterclockwise, the annular disc 40 is initially idle with respect to the shaft 2 and therefore it does not rotate. Consequently, the exceeding portion 30 of the supply lines 3 in the storing space 4 is not displaced either. Under these conditions the rotation of the shaft 2 affects exclusively the torsion condition of the supply lines 3.

When the shaft 2 has carried out a rotation such that the side edge 22b of the window 21 comes into abutment with an abutment ledge of the annular disc 40 (here the flap 43b of the opening 42) the rotation coupling between the shaft 2 and the annular disc 40 is achieved (figures 7a, b) .

From this point onwards, and up to the end of the 360° rotation, the annular disc 40 rotates together with the shaft 2. The exceeding portion 30 of the supply lines 3, pulled by the annular disc 40, starts to be extracted from the storing space 4. Under these conditions, the effect of the rotation of the shaft 2 on the supply lines 3 is compensated by means of the "reservoir" function of the exceeding portion 30 housed in the storing space 4.

Figures 8a, b show an operating configuration corresponding to an intermediate step of the rotation of the shaft 2, after the rotation coupling with the annular disc 40 has occurred, while figures 9a, b show the operating configuration once the 360° rotation has been completed.

The angular extension α of the rotation part wherein the

shaft 2 and the annular disc 40 are rotatably integral can be chosen according to the structural constraints of the displacing apparatus 1, so as to avoid any interference between the supply lines 3 and components positioned in proximity to the shaft 2 and the storing space 4.

Of course, what has been described with reference to a counterclockwise rotation of the shaft 2 can be repeated in a mirror-like manner for a clockwise rotation.

Obviously, those skilled in the art may introduce variants and modifications in the displacing apparatus, machine for working block or slab materials incorporating such displacing apparatus and method that can be carried out by said machine described above, in order to satisfy specific and contingent requirements, which variants and modifications fall anyhow within the scope of protection as defined by the appended claims.