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Title:
A TRANSFER SYSTEM OF SLAB-SHAPED ARTICLES IN OUTLET FROM A FIRING KILN
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2020/188479
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The transfer system (100) of slab-shaped articles (L) in outlet from a firing kiln comprises: a roller (10) conveyor (1), for conveying the rows of slab-shaped articles (L) in outlet from the firing kiln towards a first conveyor (2) which comprises a first series of belts (20) wound in a loop arranged parallel to one another, which is arranged at a terminal portion (11) of the roller (10) conveyor (1) so that the relative belts (20) are interposed between adjacent rollers (10) of the roller conveyor, and which is predisposed to transfer the rows (F) of slab-shaped articles (L) laterally to the roller (10) conveyor (1). The transfer system (100) further comprises a second conveyor (3), comprising a second series of belts (30) loop-closed and arranged parallel to one another, the first conveyor (2) and the second conveyor (3) being mutually arranged in such a way that the portions of the first series of belts (20) in proximity of the final part of the first conveyor (2) and the portions of the second series of belts (30) in proximity of the initial part of the second conveyor (3) are flanked and parallel to one another, and reciprocally interposed. The second conveyor (3) is predisposed to received, from the first conveyor (2), an article from the row of articles and to separate the article from the row and transfer it downstream.

Inventors:
BARDI MAURIZIO (IT)
Application Number:
PCT/IB2020/052416
Publication Date:
September 24, 2020
Filing Date:
March 17, 2020
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
NUOVA SIMA SPA (IT)
International Classes:
B65G49/06; B65G47/54; F27D3/00; B65G13/10; B65G47/26; B65G47/30
Foreign References:
JPH08258962A1996-10-08
CN105501933A2016-04-20
CA691509A1964-07-28
EP3388374A12018-10-17
CN107720214A2018-02-23
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
DALL'OLIO, Giancarlo et al. (IT)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS

1 ) A transfer system (100) of slab-shaped articles (L) in outlet from a firing kiln, comprising:

a roller (1 0) conveyor (1 ) configured and predisposed to receive rows of slab- shaped articles (L) in outlet from a firing kiln and to convey the rows of slab shaped articles (L) according to a conveying direction (V1 );

a first conveyor (2), comprising a first series of belts (20) loop-closed and arranged parallel to one another, the first conveyor (2) being arranged at a terminal portion (1 1 ) of the roller (1 0) conveyor (1 ) so that the relative belts (20) are interposed between adjacent rollers (1 0) of the roller conveyor, wherein the belts (20) of the first series of belts (20) comprise an upper branch (21 ) and wherein the first conveyor (2) is arranged so that the upper branches (21 ) of the belts (20) are positioned at a lower level with respect to the rollers (10) of the roller (1 0) conveyor (1 ), and wherein the upper branches (21 ) of the belts (20), when the roller (10) conveyor (1 ) positions a row (F) of slab-shaped articles (L) in the relative terminal portion (1 1 ) at the first conveyor (2), are raisable so as to abut and lift, beyond the rollers (10), the row (F) of slab-shaped articles (L), so that the first conveyor (2) can be activated to transfer the row (F) of slab-shaped articles (L) in a transfer direction (V2) perpendicular to the conveying direction (V1 ) and laterally to the roller (1 0) conveyor (1 ),

characterised in that it comprises:

a second conveyor (3), comprising a second series of belts (30) loop-closed and arranged parallel to one another, the first conveyor (2) and the second conveyor (3) being mutually arranged in such a way that the portions of the first series of belts (20) in proximity of the final part of the first conveyor (2) and the portions of the second series of belts (30) in proximity of the initial part of the second conveyor (3) are flanked and parallel to one another, and reciprocally interposed, wherein the belts (30) of the second series of belts (30) comprise an upper branch (31 ) and wherein raising elements (32) are associated to at least one of the upper branches (31 ) of the second series of belts (30), the second conveyor (3) being arranged with respect to the first conveyor (2) so that the upper branches (31 ) of the second series of belts (30) are positioned at a lower level with respect to the upper branches (21 ) of the first series of belts (20) of the first conveyor (2) the raising elements (32) being below the upper branches (21 ) of the first series of belts (20), so that a slab-shaped article (L1 ) of the row (F) of slab-shaped articles (L) present on the first conveyor (2) can be transferred from the first conveyor (2) to the initial part of the second conveyor (3) onto the second series of belts (30), and wherein the upper branches (31 ) of the second series of belts (30) are raisable so as to position the raising elements (32) at a higher level than the upper branches (21 ) of the first series of belts (20) of the first conveyor (2) so as to abut and raise the slab-shaped article (L1 ) beyond the upper branches (21 ) of the first series of belts (20) of the first conveyor (2) so that the second conveyor (3) can be activated to transfer the slab-shaped article (L1 ) downstream, separating the slab shaped article (L1 ) from the other slab-shaped articles (L) still present on the first conveyor (2).

2) The transfer system (100) of claim 1 , wherein the first conveyor (2) has a greater length than the width of the roller (10) conveyor (1 ) so that the portions of the first series of belts (20), interposed with the portions of the second series of belts (30) of the second conveyor (3), project laterally from the roller (10) conveyor (1 ). 3) The transfer system (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper branches (31 ) of the second series of belts (30) of the second conveyor (3) are raisable so that the raising elements (32) are brought to a higher level than the upper branches (21 ) of the first series of belts (20), the upper branches (31 ) of the second series of belts (30) of the second conveyor (3) remaining in a lowered position with respect to the upper branches (21 ) of the first series of belts (20) of the first conveyor (2).

4) The transfer system (100) of any one of the preceding claims, comprising detection means (5), positioned and predisposed so as to detect when a slab- shaped article (L1 ) of the row (F) of slab-shaped articles (L) present on the first conveyor (2) is transferred from the first conveyor (2) to the initial portion of the second conveyor (3), onto the second series of belts (30), so that the upper branches (31 ) of the second series of belts (30) can be raised so that the raising elements (32) can abut and lift the slab-shaped article (L1 ) beyond the upper branches (21 ) of the first series of belts (20) of the first conveyor (2).

5) The transfer system (100) of any one of the preceding claims, comprising a second roller (40) conveyor (4) arranged with a relative part (41 ) at a terminal portion (35) of the second conveyor (3) so that the belts (30) of the second series of belts (30) of the second conveyor (3) are interposed between rollers (40) of the second roller (40) conveyor (4), wherein the second conveyor (3), once the upper branches (31 ) of the second series of belts (30) have been raised so that the raising elements (32) lift the article (L1 ) of the row (F) of slab-shaped articles (L), transferred from the first conveyor (2) to the initial part of the second conveyor (3) onto the second series of belts (30), beyond the upper branches (21 ) of the first series of belts (20), is activatable to transfer the slab-shaped article (L1 ) to the relative terminal part (35) onto the second roller (40) conveyor (4), and then the upper branches (31 ) of the second series of belts (30) of the second conveyor (3) are lowerable with respect to the rollers (40) of the second roller (40) conveyor (4) so as to bring the raising elements (32) below the rollers (40) so that the slab- shaped article (L1 ) rests on the rollers (40), the second roller conveyor (40) then being activatable to transfer the slab-shaped article (L1 ) in a transport direction (V3) and the second series of belts (30) of the second conveyor (3) being activatable to return the raising elements (32) to the initial part of the second conveyor (3) onto which, in the meantime, the first conveyor (2) has transferred a following article of the row of slab-shaped articles.

Description:
A TRANSFER SYSTEM OF SLAB-SHAPED ARTICLES IN OUTLET FROM A FIRING KILN

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the technical sector concerning the production of slab-shaped articles which require firing, such as for example ceramic tiles and/or glass slabs.

In particular, the present invention relates to a transfer system of slab-shaped articles in outlet from a firing kiln.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

At the outlet of the firing kiln, the slab-shaped articles are arranged in a row, one flanked to another.

The slab-shaped articles of each row must be separated from one another in order to be then transferred to a transport line.

In this regard, a transfer system of the slab-shaped articles is provided at the out of the firing kiln which must carry out, for each row of slab-shaped articles, the extraction and the separation of each slab-shaped article from those adjacent thereto.

A known transfer system comprises a conveyor organ, for example constituted by a roller conveyor, located at the kiln outlet.

The roller conveyor receives the rows of slab-shaped articles in outlet from the firing kiln and conveys them downstream, separating the rows from one another. The transfer system further comprises a looped conveyor belt which is positioned at a terminal portion of the roller conveyor, transversally with respect thereto.

In particular, the looped conveyor belt is arranged so that the belts are interposed between the rollers of the roller conveyor, i.e. each belt is interposed between two adjacent rollers of the roller conveyor. The conveyor belt is arranged so that the upper branches of the belts are positioned at a lower level with respect to the rollers of the roller conveyor.

When a row of slab-shaped articles reaches an end of the conveyor belt, the roller conveyor halts and, using appropriate actuator means, the upper branches of the belts are raised so as to intercept and raise, beyond the rollers, the row of slab shaped articles.

In this way, by activating the conveyor belt, the row of slab-shaped articles can be transported laterally with respect to the roller conveyor.

The transfer system further comprises, at an end of the conveyor belt, an extraction belt for receiving the slab-shaped articles transported by the belts of the conveyor.

The extraction belt is actuated at a higher velocity than the belts movement velocity so as to be able to separate the slab-shaped article which is resting thereof with respect to the preceding slab-shaped articles of the row still on the belts.

A transport line, for example constituted by a transport mat, is situated at an end of the extraction belt, and generally arranged transversally to the extraction belt, so as to receive the sheet-shaped article in arrival from the extraction belt and transport it along a transport direction that is perpendicular to the movement direction of the row of slab-shaped articles on the conveyor belt.

In this way, the various slab-shaped articles of each row of slab-shaped articles in outlet from the firing kiln can be separated from one another and positioned on a transport line to be transported towards work or storage stations.

A transfer system of this type however has some drawbacks.

At the end of the extraction belt, located at the transport line, upper abutment rollers are usually present which maintain the sheet-shaped article parallel to the separation strip until all the sheet-shaped article passes beyond the end of the extraction belt, thus preventing a tilting thereof during the transfer step onto the transport line, which would lead to undesired dragging.

In the passage from the extraction belt to the transport line, the slab-shaped article is therefore subjected to a fall, though of slight entity.

In the case of slab-shaped articles of small dimensions, and therefore having a modest weight, this does not lead to any particular problems, and the transfer system, in particular the extraction belt, can reach high velocities and thus guarantee a satisfactory productivity.

In the case, on the other hand, of slab-shaped articles having medium or large dimensions, and therefore being heavier, it might be necessary to reduce the actuation velocity of the extraction belt with the aim of preventing, during the passage to the transport line, the slab-shaped articles from being subject to impacts of an entity such as to damage them.

This has a negative impact on productivity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is therefore to provide a novel transfer system of slab-shaped articles in outlet from a firing kiln that is able to obviate the drawbacks of the prior art described in the foregoing.

In particular, the aim of the present invention is to provide a novel transfer system of slab-shaped articles in outlet from a firing kiln that is able to ensure high productivity independently of the dimensions and weight of the slab-shaped articles.

The above aims are attained with a novel transfer system of slab-shaped articles in outlet from a firing kiln, according to claim 1. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics of a preferred embodiment of the transfer system proposed by the present invention are described in the following, with reference to the appended tables of drawings, in which:

- figure 1 illustrates, in a schematic view from above, the transfer system of the invention;

- figures from 2A to 2D illustrate, again according to schematic views from above, the transfer system of the invention in some operating steps;

- figures from 3A to 3D illustrate, according to frontal views, the transfer system of the invention in respective particular operating steps;

- figures from 4A to 4D illustrate, in larger-scale views, some significant details of the transfer system of the invention of figures 3A-3D.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the appended tables of drawings, reference numeral (100) relates to a transfer system of slab-shaped articles (L) in outlet from a firing kiln, according to the invention, in its entirety.

The transfer system (100) comprises a roller (10) conveyor (1 ) configured and predisposed to receive rows of slab-shaped articles (L) in outlet from a firing kiln (not illustrated in the figures) and to convey the rows of slab-shaped articles (L) according to a conveying direction (V1 ) (see for example figure 1 in which the roller conveyor (1 ) is partially illustrated).

The transfer system (100) further comprises a first conveyor (2), comprising a first series of belts (20) loop-closed and arranged parallel to one another.

The first conveyor (2) is arranged at a terminal portion (1 1 ) of the roller (10) conveyor (1 ) so that the relative belts (20) are interposed between adjacent rollers (10) of the roller conveyor. The belts (20) of the first series of belts (20) comprise an upper branch (21 ) and the first conveyor (2) is arranged so that the upper branches (21 ) of the belts (20) are positioned at a lower level with respect to the rollers (10) of the roller (10) conveyor (1 ).

In this way the roller (10) conveyor (1 ) can convey to and position a row (F) of slab-shaped articles (L) at the second conveyor (2), above the first series of belts (20).

The upper branches (21 ) of the belts (20), when the roller (10) conveyor (1 ) has positioned a row (F) of slab-shaped articles (L) in the relative terminal portion (1 1 ) at the first conveyor (2), are raisable (for example by means of suitable actuator organs, not illustrated as of known type) so as to abut and lift, beyond the rollers (10), the row (F) of slab-shaped articles (L) (see for example the arrow of figure 3A).

In this way, after the row (F) of slab-shaped articles has been raised by the belts (20) above the level of the rollers (10), the first conveyor (2) can be activated to transfer the row (F) of slab-shaped articles (L) in a transfer direction (V2) perpendicular to the conveying direction (V1 ) and laterally to the roller (10) conveyor (1 ) (see for example figure 1 and figures 2A and 3A).

The special characteristics of the transfer system (100) of the invention consist in the fact that it also comprises a second conveyor (3), comprising a second series of belts (30) loop-closed and arranged parallel to one another.

In particular, the first conveyor (2) and the second conveyor (3) are mutually arranged in such a way that the portions of the first series of belts (20) in proximity of the final part of the first conveyor (2) and the portions of the second series of belts (30) in proximity of the initial part of the second conveyor (3) are flanked and parallel to one another, and reciprocally interposed (see in particular figure 1 and figures from 2A to 2D).

The belts (30) of the second series of belts (30) comprise an upper branch (31 ) and the second conveyor (3) comprises raising elements (32) (for example rubber spacers) which are associated to at least one of the upper branches (31 ) of the second series of belts (30).

In detail, the second conveyor (3) is arranged with respect to the first conveyor (2) so that the upper branches (31 ) of the second series of belts (30) are positioned at a lower level with respect to the upper branches (21 ) of the first series of belts (20) of the first conveyor (2), the raising elements (32) remaining below the upper branches (21 ) of the first series of belts (20).

In this way a slab-shaped article (L1 ) of the row (F) of slab-shaped articles (L) present on the first conveyor (2) can be transferred from the first conveyor (2) to the initial part of the second conveyor (3) onto the second series of belts (30) (see for example figures 3A and 4A).

Once a slab-shaped article (L1 ) of the row (F) of slab-shaped articles (L) has been transferred to and positioned, by the first conveyor (2), at the initial part of the second conveyor (3), the upper branches (31 ) of the second series of belts (30) are raisable (for example by means of suitable actuator organs, not illustrated as of known type) so as to position the raising elements (32) at a higher level than the upper branches (21 ) of the first series of belts (20) of the first conveyor (2) (see in particular, for example, figures 3B and 4B).

In this way, the raising elements (32) abut and lift the slab-shaped article (L1 ) beyond the upper branches (21 ) of the first series of belts (20) of the first conveyor (2), so that the second conveyor (3) can be activated to transfer the slab-shaped article (L1 ) downstream, separating the slab-shaped article (L1 ) from the other slab-shaped articles (L) still present on the first conveyor (2) (see in particular figure 2B and figures from 3C to 4C).

Owing to the presence of the second conveyor (3), and the particular arrangement thereof with respect to the first conveyor (2), in particular to the mutual arrangement and mutual interposing of the portions of the first series of belts (20), in the final part of the first conveyor (2), and of the portions of the second series of belts (30), in the initial part of the second conveyor (3), and to the presence of the raising elements (32) on at least an upper branch (31 ) of the second series of belts (30) of the second conveyor (3), the transfer system (100) of the invention is able to separate, and extract, rapidly and effectively, a slab-shaped article from the remaining other articles of the row of slab-shaped articles present on the first conveyor (2).

The fact of raising the slab-shaped article, which is to be separated and extracted from the remaining other articles of the row present on the first conveyor, leads to avoiding the issues present in the transfer systems of the prior art, in which the articles extracted and separated from the adjacent articles of the row were prone to falling, and were therefore subject to possible damage.

The belts (30) of the second series of belts (30) of the second conveyor (3) are cogged belts which are wound in a closed loop on relative activating cogged pulleys.

This enables, including in the case of slab-shaped articles having significant dimensions and weight, carrying out the separation and extraction of the articles from those adjacent of the row of articles present on the first conveyor (2) with high velocities, with no risk of any sliding. Further and other advantageous aspects of the transfer system (100) of the invention are explained in the following.

The transfer system (100) is configured so that the first conveyor (2) has a greater length than the width of the roller (10) conveyor (1 ) so that the portions of the first series of belts (20), interposed with the portions of the second series of belts (30) of the second conveyor (3), project laterally from the roller (10) conveyor (1 ).

In this way, the zone where the separation of the articles takes place is arranged externally or laterally of the roller conveyor (1 ).

This enables terminating the extraction of the last article of the row of articles, completely freeing the roller conveyor (1 ), which will thus be able to convey and position a following row of slab-shaped articles (L) at the first conveyor (2), above the first series of belts (20).

In a further advantageous aspect, the transfer system (100) is configured so that the upper branches (31 ) of the second series of belts (30) of the second conveyor (3) are raisable so that the raising elements (32) are brought to a higher level than the upper branches (21 ) of the first series of belts (20), the upper branches (31 ) of the second series of belts (30) of the second conveyor (3) remaining in a lowered position with respect to the upper branches (21 ) of the first series of belts (20) of the first conveyor (2) (see for example in particular figure 4A).

This advantageously enables activating the first conveyor (2) to transport and position a following slab-shaped article to the initial part of the second conveyor (3), while the second conveyor (3) is transferring the preceding slab-shaped article downstream.

In a further preferred aspect, the transfer system (100) can comprise detection means (5) (for example constituted by a photocell, or another equivalent optical detection organ), which are positioned and predisposed so as to detect when a slab-shaped article (L1 ) of the row (F) of slab-shaped articles (L) present on the first conveyor (2) is transferred from the first conveyor (2) to the initial portion of the second conveyor (3), onto the second series of belts (30).

In this way, as soon as the detection means (5) detect the positioning of a slab shaped article at the initial portion of the second conveyor (3) above the second series of belts (30), the upper branches (31 ) of the second series of belts (30) can be raised so that the raising elements (32) can abut and lift the slab-shaped article (L1 ) beyond the upper branches (21 ) of the first series of belts (20) of the first conveyor (2), and then the second conveyor (3) can be activated to transfer the slab-shaped article downstream, separating and therefore extracting the slab shaped article from the row of slab-shaped articles still present on the first conveyor (2).

A further and other advantageous aspect of the transfer system (100) of the invention is as follows.

It is configured and realised so as also to comprise a second roller (40) conveyor (4) arranged with a relative part (41 ) at a terminal portion (35) of the second conveyor (3) so that the belts (30) of the second series of belts (30) of the second conveyor (3) are interposed between rollers (40) of the second roller (40) conveyor (4) (see for example figure 1 ).

In particular, the second conveyor (3), once the upper branches (31 ) of the second series of belts (30) have been raised so that the raising elements (32) lift the article (L1 ) of the row (F) of slab-shaped articles (L), transferred from the first conveyor (2) to the initial part of the second conveyor (3) above the second series of belts (30), beyond the upper branches (21 ) of the first series of belts (20), is activatable to transfer the slab-shaped article (L1 ) at the relative terminal part (35) onto the second roller (40) conveyor (4).

Then, the upper branches (31 ) of the second series of belts (30) of the second conveyor (3) are lowerable with respect to the rollers (40) of the second roller (40) conveyor (4) so as to bring the raising elements (32) below the rollers (40) so that the slab-shaped article (L1 ) rests on the rollers (40).

In this way, the slab-shaped article, which has been separated and extracted from the row of slab-shaped articles present on the first conveyor (2), is transferred and positioned, rapidly and efficiently, onto the second roller conveyor (40).

The second roller conveyor (40) can then be activatable to transfer the slab shaped article (L1 ) in a transport direction (V3), towards, for example, appropriate work or storing stations.

The second series of belts (30) of the second conveyor (3) are instead activatable to return the raising elements (32) to the initial part of the second conveyor (3) onto which, in the meantime, the first conveyor (2) has transferred a following article of the row of slab-shaped articles.

The belts (30) of the second series of belts (30) of the second conveyor (3) can be for example activated to perform a complete revolution, returning the raising elements (32) to the initial part of the second conveyor (3), or can be activated also in the opposite sense, to return the raising elements (32) to the initial part of the second conveyor (3).

The raising elements (32) can be associated to one or more upper branches (31 ) of the second series of belts (30) of the second conveyor (3).

For example, there might be one only group of raising elements (32), or there might be a plurality of groups of raising elements (32) arranged along the extension of the second series of belts (32), according to the modalities chosen for the activation of the second conveyor (3) (a complete revolution of the belts or a return of the belts to the raising position of the articles in the initial part of the second conveyor).

The following is a description, with reference to the appended figures, of a possible functioning modality of the transfer system (100) of the invention, starting from the situation illustrated in figure 1 , in which the roller (10) conveyor (1 ) has conveyed and positioned a row (F) of slab-shaped articles (L), which had exited the firing kiln, at the terminal part (11 ) thereof above the first conveyor (2).

The upper branches (21 ) of the first series of belts (20) of the first conveyor (2) are then raised to abut and raise the row (F) of slab-shaped articles (L) above the rollers (10) of the roller (10) conveyor (1 ) (see for example the arrow of figure 3A), and thus the first conveyor (2) is activated to transfer, by means of the first series of belts (20), the row (F) of slab-shaped articles (L) along the transfer direction (V2), so as to convey a first slab-shaped article (L1 ) of the row (F) towards the initial part of the second conveyor (3) onto the second series of belts (30) (see figures 2A, 3A, 4A).

When the detection means (5) detect the sheet-shaped article (L1 ) at the initial part of the second conveyor (3), the first conveyor (2) is stopped, while the upper branches (31 ) of the second series of belts (30) of the second conveyor (3) are raised so that the raising elements (32) abut the slab-shaped article (L1 ) and raise it beyond the upper branches (21 ) of the first series of belts (20) of the first conveyor (2) (see figures 3B, 4B).

The upper branches (31 ) of the second series of belts (30) of the second conveyor (3) are raised up to a position so as to remain at a lower level with respect to the upper branches (21 ) of the first series of belts (20) of the first conveyor (2) (see in particular figure 4B).

At this point, the second conveyor (3) is activated so as to transfer the slab shaped article (L1 ) onto the second roller (40) conveyor (4) (see for example figures 2B, 3C and 4C).

The upper branches (31 ) of the second series of belts (30) of the second conveyor

(3) are thus lowerable so as to bring the raising elements (32) below the rollers (40) of the second roller (40) conveyor (4) so that the slab-shaped article (L1 ) rests on the rollers (40).

The second roller (40) conveyor (4) can then be activated to convey the slab shaped article (L1 ) in a transport direction (V3), in order to convey the slab-shaped article, for example, towards special work or storage stations.

In the meantime, the first conveyor (2) can be newly actuated to convey a second slab-shaped article (L2) to the initial part of the second conveyor (3), above the second series of belts (30); the first conveyor (2) is stopped as soon as the detection means (5) detect the sheet-shaped article (L2).

The second conveyor (3), on the other hand, as soon as the first slab-shaped article (L1 ) has been rested on the rollers (40) of the second roller (40) conveyor

(4), is activated to return the raising elements (32) to the initial part of the second conveyor (3), below the second slab-shaped article (L2) (see for example figures

2C, 3D and 4D).

At this point, the above-described operations for raising the second slab-shaped article (L2) from the first series of belts (20) of the first conveyor (2) and transfer it onto the second roller (40) conveyor (4) are repeated.

This sequence of operations will be repeated until all the articles of the row of slab- shaped articles have been first positioned at the initial part of the second conveyor, and then transferred onto the second roller (40) conveyor (4).

For example, in the illustrated case in the figures, in which the row (F) of slab shaped articles (L) was made up of four articles, the above-described operations will be repeated until the third slab-shaped article (L3) and the fourth slab-shaped article (L4) of the row have been transferred away from the first roller (10) conveyor (1 ), separated from one another and then transferred onto the second roller (40) conveyor (4) (see in particular figure 2D).

When the last article (L4) of the row (F) of slab-shaped articles (L) has been taken above the initial part of the second conveyor (3), the upper branches (21 ) of the first series of belts (20) of the first conveyor (2) can be newly lowered to below the position of the rollers (10) of the first roller (10) conveyor (1 ) so that the first roller (10) conveyor (1 ) can convey to and position a second row (F2) of slab-shaped articles at the terminal part (1 1 ) thereof above the first conveyor (2) (see figure 4D).

The transfer system of slab-shaped articles, such as for example ceramic tiles and the like, has been described with reference to the transfer of slab-shaped articles in outlet from a firing kiln.

This application is not exclusive, in the sense that the transfer system can be used equally for the transfer of slab-shaped articles and the like, such as for example tiles, or other like articles for construction, in outlet from a horizontal dryer.

In substance, the application of the transfer system at the outlet of a firing kiln does not constitute a constraining and exclusive limitation, and the transfer system of the invention can also be utilised for other applications in which the transfer of slab-shaped articles or the like is requested, arranged in a row and for the separation and extraction of the single articles which make up the row.