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Title:
MACHINE FOR FORMING CERAMIC ARTICLES
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2019/224759
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The machine (1) for forming ceramic articles, comprises: a bearing structure (2) intended to be positioned on the ground; forming means (3) associated with the bearing structure (2), provided with at least one supporting surface (4) intended to support the material to be formed and with at least one pressing element (5) which is movable close to/away from the supporting surface (4), where the bearing structure (2) has a pair of lateral faces (2a), arranged transversely to the supporting surface (4) and mutually opposite, and has at least one access opening (7) to the supporting surface itself which faces at least one of the lateral faces (2a); and stiffening means (8) associated in a removable manner with the bearing structure (2).

Inventors:
BIANCHINI ALESSANDRO (IT)
SCARAMUZZI FRANCESCO (IT)
Application Number:
PCT/IB2019/054266
Publication Date:
November 28, 2019
Filing Date:
May 23, 2019
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
SITI B & T GROUP SPA (IT)
International Classes:
B30B15/04
Domestic Patent References:
WO2016042422A12016-03-24
WO2012056347A12012-05-03
Foreign References:
US5027638A1991-07-02
US4615208A1986-10-07
CH136109A1929-10-31
FR345819A1904-12-17
EP0256570A11988-02-24
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
ZOLI, Filippo (IT)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS

1) Machine (1) for forming ceramic articles, comprising:

a bearing structure (2) intended to be positioned on the ground;

forming means (3) associated with said bearing structure (2), provided with at least one supporting surface (4) intended to support the material to be formed and with at least one pressing element (5) which is movable close to/away from said supporting surface (4), where said bearing structure (2) has a pair of lateral faces (2a), arranged transversely to said supporting surface (4) and mutually opposite, and has at least one access opening (7) to the supporting surface itself which faces at least one of said lateral faces (2a);

characterized by the fact that it comprises stiffening means (8) associated in a removable manner with said bearing structure (2).

2) Machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said stiffening means (8) comprise at least one stiffening element (9) associated in a removable manner with said bearing structure (2) at at least one of said lateral faces (2a).

3) Machine (1) according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that said stiffening means (8) comprise at least one pair of said stiffening elements (9), each of which is connected to a relative lateral face (2a).

4) Machine (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by the fact that said stiffening means (8) comprise at least a first spacer element (15) interposed between said bearing structure (2) and each stiffening element (9).

5) Machine (1) according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that said stiffening means (8) comprise at least a second spacer element interposed between two of said stiffening elements (9) adjacent to each other.

6) Machine (1) according to one or more of claims from 2 to 5, characterized by the fact that said stiffening elements (9) substantially have a plate-like conformation, each of said stiffening elements (9) having two mutually opposite coupling surfaces (9a).

7) Machine (1) according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that at least one of the lateral face (2a) of said bearing structure (2) and the coupling surface (9a) facing it of a relative stiffening element (9) comprises at least a first seat (16) for housing said first spacer element (15).

8) Machine (1) according to claims 5 and 7, characterized by the fact that at least one of the coupling surfaces (9a) facing each other of two of said stiffening elements (9) adjacent to each other comprises at least a second seat (17) for housing said second spacer element.

9) Machine (1) according to one or more of claims from 3 to 8, characterized by the fact that the stiffening elements (9) of each of said pairs substantially have the same thickness.

10) Machine (1) according to one or more of claims from 3 to 9, characterized by the fact that said stiffening elements (9) comprise at least one through opening (10) which faces said access opening (7).

11) Machine (1) according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that said through opening (10) defines at least one upper edge (lOa) and at least one lower edge (lOb).

12) Machine (1) according to one or more of claims from 2 to 11, characterized by the fact that said stiffening means (8) comprise fixing means (11) of said stiffening elements (9) to said bearing structure (2).

13) Machine (1) according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that said fixing means (11) comprise one or more first threaded elements (12) which connect the stiffening elements (9) together which are associated with said opposite lateral faces (2a), passing through said bearing structure (2), and tightening means (13) of said threaded members (12).

14) Machine (1) according to claim 13, characterized by the fact that said bearing structure (2) and said stiffening elements (9) comprise one or more first through holes (14) for inserting said first threaded elements (12).

15) Machine (1) according to one or more of claims from 12 to 14, characterized by the fact that it comprises second threaded elements (18) which connect said bearing structure (2) to the lower edge (10b) of each of said stiffening elements (9). 16) Machine (1) according to claim 15, characterized by the fact that said lower edge (lOb) comprises one or more second holes (19) for inserting said second threaded elements (18).

17) Method for the assembly of a machine (1) for forming ceramic articles according to one or more of claims from 1 to 16, characterized by the fact that it comprises the following steps of:

supply of said bearing structure (2);

supply of at least one of said stiffening elements (9);

positioning of said bearing structure (2) on the ground;

- application of said stiffening elements (9) at a relative lateral face (2a) of said bearing structure (2);

fixing of said stiffening elements (9) to said bearing structure (2).

18) Method according to claim 17, characterized by the fact that it comprises a step of supplying one or more pairs of said stiffening elements (9), and by the fact that said application comprises the positioning of a stiffening element (9) of each of said pairs at one of said lateral faces (2a) and the positioning of the other stiffening element (9) at the opposite lateral face (2a).

19) Method according to claim 18, characterized by the fact that said application comprises the interposition of at least one said first spacer element (15) between said lateral faces (2a) and the relative stiffening elements (9).

20) Method according to claim 18 or 19, characterized by the fact that said fixing provides for the mutual solidarization of the stiffening elements (9) arranged at the opposite lateral faces (2a) of said bearing structure (2).

Description:
MACHINE FOR FORMING CERAMIC ARTICLES

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a machine for forming ceramic articles.

Background Art

As is well known, machines for forming ceramic articles, in jargon called “presses”, are used for compacting ceramic powders so as to form a ceramic article to be subsequently fired.

Known types of forming machines generally comprise a bearing structure that can be positioned on the ground, which supports relative forming means.

Forming means have a supporting surface of the material to be formed, generally defined by a mold, and a mobile pressing element that moves towards/away from the supporting surface and is adapted to exert a predefined pressure on the material to be formed.

As is known, the presses can be of different“tonnage” depending on the force which the pressing element is able to exert on the material to be pressed.

As can be easily appreciated, as the force exerted by the pressing element increases, so too do the mechanical stresses to which the bearing structure is subjected.

The bearing structure is generally made up of a central core to which steel sheets are integrated, on which openings are defined to allow the movement of the pressing element and access to the supporting surface.

The constraint in the sizing of the bearing structure is to date defined by the constructive limit in the realization of the relative sheets, which cannot exceed a certain thickness.

It is therefore easy to appreciate how this construction limit affects the sizing and the obtainable tonnage of the machine.

Furthermore, the larger presses on the market today require the use of exceptional transport means for their movement, with a consequent increase in logistical costs and require complex installation operations.

Description of the Invention

The main aim of the present invention is to provide a machine for forming ceramic articles which permits varying the rigidity of the relative bearing structure according to needs.

Within this aim, one object of the present invention is to make a machine for forming ceramic articles which is characterized by higher tonnages than those of the machines on the market today.

Another object of the present invention is to make machines for forming ceramic articles characterized by a high tonnage and which at the same time can be easily transported without the use of exceptional transport means.

Another object of the present invention is to simplify commissioning compared to the machines for forming ceramic articles on the market today, with particular reference to those of higher tonnage.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a machine for forming ceramic articles that allows overcoming the mentioned drawbacks of the prior art in the context of a simple, rational, easy, effective to use and low cost solution.

The aforementioned objects are achieved by the present machine for forming ceramic articles having the characteristics of claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more evident from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a machine for forming ceramic articles, illustrated by way of an indicative, but non-limiting example, in the attached tables of drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an axonometric view of a machine for forming ceramic articles according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the machine of Figure 1 ;

Figure 2a is an enlargement of a detail of the view of Figure 2;

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the machine of Figure 1.

Fmbodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 1 globally indicates a machine for forming ceramic articles.

The machine 1 comprises a bearing structure 2 intended, in use, to be positioned on the ground and forming means 3 associated with the bearing structure 2. The forming means 3 are provided with at least one supporting surface 4 intended to support the material to be formed and with at least one pressing element 5 which is movable close to/away from the supporting surface 4.

More particularly, the supporting surface 4 is intended to support a mold adapted to contain the ceramic material to be pressed and the pressing element 5 consists of the mobile part of a fluid- operated cylinder 6 the body of which is associated integral with the bearing structure 2.

The bearing structure 2 has a pair of lateral faces 2a arranged transversely to the supporting surface 4 and mutually opposite. The bearing structure 2 has at least one access opening 7 to the supporting surface 4 which faces at least one of the lateral faces 2a. Preferably, the access opening 7 is of the pass-through type. More in detail, the cylinder 6 is housed inside the access opening 7.

According to the invention, the machine 1 comprises stiffening means 8 associated in a removable manner with the bearing structure 2.

Advantageously, the stiffening means 8 comprise at least one stiffening element 9 associated in a removable manner with at least one of the lateral faces 2a.

The stiffening means 8 preferably comprise at least one pair of stiffening elements 9, each of which is associated in a removable manner with a relative lateral face 2a.

The stiffening means 8 can therefore comprise a plurality of pairs of stiffening elements 9, where each of these pairs comprises a stiffening element 9 associated with a lateral face 2a and the other stiffening element 9 associated with the opposite lateral face 2a. This way the bearing structure 2 keeps its symmetry with respect to a vertical median plane.

The stiffening elements 9 of each of the aforementioned pairs have the same thickness, the thicknesses of the different pairs of stiffening elements 9 can be different to each other.

Appropriately, the stiffening elements 9 have a substantially plate-like conformation, by this definition meaning that the dimensions of length and width are bigger than thickness. In particular, each stiffening element 9 has two substantially flat (i.e. except for machining tolerances) coupling surfaces 9a. Therefore, the stiffening elements 9 directly in contact with the bearing structure 2 have a coupling surface 9a which is turned towards the relative lateral face 2a while the other coupling surface 9a is turned outwards. The coupling surfaces 9a of any other stiffening elements 9 are instead facing the coupling surfaces 9a of the adjacent stiffening elements 9. More in particular, the stiffening means 8 comprise one or more first spacer elements 15 interposed between the bearing structure 2 and the stiffening elements 9 adjacent to it. The first spacer elements 15 are therefore adapted to prevent the lateral faces 2a from directly contacting the coupling surfaces 9a. Preferably, at least one of the bearing structure 2 and the stiffening elements 9 comprises a first seat 16 for housing the first spacer elements 15. In the embodiment shown in the illustrations, both the bearing structure 2 and the stiffening elements 9 adjacent to it comprise relative first seats 16, respectively defined at the lateral faces 2a and at the coupling surfaces 9a facing these, adapted to receive the first spacer elements 15 interposed between them. Appropriately, the stiffening means 8 comprise second spacer elements (not shown in the figures) interposed between two stiffening elements 9 adjacent to each other. In more detail, at least one of the stiffening elements 9 adjacent to each other comprises a second seat 17 for housing the second spacer elements, which is defined at the relative coupling surface 9a.

As can be seen from the figures, the stiffening elements 9 comprise at least one through opening 10 which faces the access opening 7 of the bearing structure. Preferably, the through opening 10 defined on the stiffening elements has substantially the same edge as the access opening 7.

In particular, the through opening 10 defines a lower edge lOb, mechanically connectable to the bearing structure 2, and an upper edge lOa, which rests, in use, on top of the body of the cylinder 6.

Advantageously, the stiffening means 8 also comprise fixing means 11 of the stiffening elements 9 to the bearing structure 2.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the fixing means 11 comprise one or more first threaded elements 12 which connect the stiffening elements 9 together which are associated with the opposite lateral faces 2a, passing through the bearing structure 2, and tightening means 13 of these first threaded elements 12.

In more detail, on the bearing structure 2 and on the stiffening elements 9 are defined a plurality of first through holes 14, which are aligned to each other following the positioning of the stiffening elements themselves, inside which the first threaded elements 12 are inserted. By means of the tightening means 13, the stiffening elements 9, the spacer elements 15 and the bearing structure 2 are brought“in a pack” to substantially form a single body.

The first spacer elements 15 also have a relative hole adapted to be fitted over the first threaded elements 12.

The first threaded elements 12 and the tightening means 13 are, e.g., of the type of pins and ring nuts respectively, suitably sized according to the thickness of the stiffening elements 9 and the stresses which they have to undergo.

Preferably, the fixing means 11 comprise second threaded elements 18 connecting the bearing structure 2 to the lower edge lOb of each stiffening element 9, on which relative second holes 19 are defined.

The assembly of a machine for forming ceramic articles according to the present invention is described below.

First of all, the bearing structure 2 is supplied and positioned resting on the ground, if necessary through the creation of special foundations.

Subsequently, a plurality of stiffening elements 9 are provided, e.g., a pair as in the embodiment shown in the illustrations, and these stiffening elements 9 are applied to the bearing structure 2 at its lateral faces 2a.

More particularly, the first threaded elements 12 are inserted inside the first holes 14 formed on the bearing structure 2, after which the first spacer elements 15 are applied so as to insert them inside the first seats 16 formed on the lateral faces 2a and then the stiffening elements 9 are fitted by inserting the first threaded elements 12 inside the relative first holes 14.

The stiffening elements 9 are first of all secured to the bearing structure 2 by means of the second threaded elements 18 and then the tightening means 13 are fitted, so that the stiffening elements 9, the first spacer elements 15 and the bearing structure 2 are tightened together.

If there are several pairs of stiffening elements 9 to be fitted to the bearing structure 2, between each pair of consecutive stiffening elements 9 are interposed the second spacer elements, after which the procedure described above is followed, i.e. each stiffening element 9 is fixed to the bearing structure 2 by means of the second threaded elements 18 and then the tightening means 13 are fitted so as to define a single body.

In practice, it has been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects and, in particular, the fact is underlined that the machine for forming ceramic articles of the present invention allows varying the rigidity of the bearing structure according to the case requirements.

In particular, thanks to the modularity given by the stiffening elements, it is possible to obtain machines with higher tonnage than those currently on the market.

The modularity of the machine to which the present invention relates also considerably facilitates commissioning operations compared to machines of known type, because it allows limiting the overall dimensions and weights of the individual elements, thus also simplifying transport operations.