The present invention relates to a series of manual, professional, middlelarge machines for cutting very hard tiles, even of the monobalςed kind, with a thick glass-like covering and/or heterogeneous structure, whose functionality, productivity and accuracy of cutting is the goal of an integrated collection of numerous original combinations of components and subcomponents, only partially known, characterized also for their dimensions and proportions.

Basis of tile cutting art, for cutting a tile P, substantially without material removal, is the provision of a scoring groove I, of deepness i, i.e., for weakening the cross section S, at a vertical plane, corresponding to the cutting T to be made and then stressing, by a force F, contemporarily, mutually, the two parts A and B of tile P, siding the scoring groove I, in at least one point 66, respect at least one point 33 of reaction, coincident with the cutting plane T, i.e., the plane of provision of scoring groove I. While the width 1 of the narrower A of the bands A, B, determined by localization of the cutting T is congruous to length LL of the cutting T or of the same scoring groove I, substantially no problem exists, and the cutting T occurs with a breaking at the right vertical plane coincident with the scoring groove I. Whereas, when the cut T to be provided, running parallel to the longitudinal sides of tile P to be cut or the width of at least one A of the parts A and B to be cut, is considerably shorter than length 11 of the cutting, at least intercurring between the point 66 of application stress F and the end of scoring groove I, there is a high probability that tile P can accidentally broken according to an incorrect cross line, i.e., a way shorter than that provided by the scoring groove I. This occurs since the stress, applied in three points: two action points 66, 66 and one reaction point 33, or in a number of points multiple of three, determines flexure stresses in all directions and not only in the direction I congenial to cutting T. Whereas, when a flexure stress applies to a cross section

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E, which is weaker than that of the scoring I, an accidental cross breaking E occurs, instead of the correct cutting T. Of course, such probability is higher in spots wherein the asperities D, e.g. ingrained to tiles of the so said "ENDURO" kind or possibly hidden and however that may be present in any tile, provide spots for an accidental breaking E to start.

From these considerations it comes. down that it is advisable to minimize the occurrence of undue deviations and/or the marginal distance at which the tile cutting may be placed without such deviations.

In the present state of the art, the machines for cutting tiles do not comply these requirements. While the tiles - mainly used as wall coating - where of the kind with soft body and a thin layer of glass like material as covering, every kind of cutting machine emploied suited well the cutting purpose and the wrong cuttings were mainly to be attributed to defects of the tile, more than to defects of the devices comprised in the tile cutting machine. The poor attitude of the tiles to bear the necessary mechanical stress, either during working, or during the tile application, or during cutting, were agreeable reasons for limiting their dimensions. In turn, the tile reduced dimensions did not raise problems with the cutting machines designed to cut them, since these, in no case, were loaded at the maximum. The advent of more resistant, compacted and harder tiles, to be used mainly for tiling floors, has started a selection of the cutting machines, even if at the beginning not too much severe, since the first of them, those tiles made of gres, were of dimensions even smaller i.e. about one half than the previous ones, with a soft body. The selection became more an more severe with the advent, first of the tiles of enamelled gres, finally of monobaked ones. In fact, the increase of strength was accompanied by increase of dimensions and cutting machines were required for limit performances even exceeding those obtainable therefrom. Thus with the advent of tiles of the monobaked kind, with a thicker glass-like covering and/or heterogeneous structure, of the so said "ENDURO" kind or the like, the conventional machines have revealed, in general their limits and in particular their lack of requisite to cut them in a reasonable way. Since the cost of one of

such square tiles with a side comprised between 50 and 90 cm is between 1/10 and 1/20 of the machine cost, which in turn corresponds to the tiler's wage of about ten to fifteen hours of work, it is not advisable to use cutting machines whose discards, due to the bad working, are higher than 2%. Whereas, conventional machines, even used with good results before the "ENDURO"'s advent, were almost unusable thereon and in the best conditions, discards were higher than 50%. Nor a single or simple remedy of general validity could obtain better results. What was advantageous in certain conditions was useless in others, and the discard percentage did not decrease from such unbearable limit. Particularly conditioning was the lack of stiffness in the machine which manifested itself with heterogeneous results even during the execution of the same step, on the same tile, in different spot thereof. E.g., the provision of scoring grooves, already conditioned by inconstancy of manual torque applied, particularly in intervals remote from supports, also for bending reason, resulted in scoring groove segments scarcely engraved; thus such scarcely engraved grooves might result in vitiated cross breakings not correspond-ing with the cut line wanted and provide either a minor deviation from the clear cut or main deviations through a plane completely wrong or diverging. On the other side, the provision of an higher stiffness involves heavy and dear structures which, for a portable and manual machine is a serious limitation, not better that its bad functioning. Another decisive limitation was that the stiff and therefore big machines available, rendered them unsuitable to cut tiles of smaller dimensions, so that the tilers who used them were compelled to own and often to carry at least two cutting machines, in addition to other machines and tools already making part of his equipment. But the main reason, that rendered most machines unsuitable to cut "ENDURO" tiles and/or tiles of large dimensions, was that the power necessary was at the limit or even higher than that obtainable with the most advantageous conventional cutting systems providing the breaking pressure very close to the support, and in addition stressing the tile in its weakest point of casual breaking.

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Among the numerous cutting machines which had been realized for forthy ye¬ ars, comprising the present state of the art, a citation is made of GB-A-2021O36 and of Italian patent application N° 83642A 87 corresponding to European Patent N° 0299501 of the same applicant of the present application.

The invention as claimed is intended to remedy these drawbacks. The inventor, with ingenious perception has conceived a series of manual, professional, middlelarge machines for cutting very hard tiles, even of the monobaked kind, with a thick glass-like covering and/or heterogeneous structure, whose functionality, productivity and accuracy of cutting is the goal of an integrated collection of numerous original combinations of components and subcomponents, only in part known, characterized also for their dimensions and proportions, thus providing the goal of:

1) Maximizing, with the scoring groove, the weakening of the cutting plane cross section;

2) Maximizing the number of stress point triads, localizing them as close as possible to the ends of the most probable or hypothetizable cutting lines. The whole as substantially shown in the graph of figure 6.

Regarding the machine qualifications, said maximizations, in practice, include respectively, the following particulars: 1) Maximization of the scoring groove: a) for the provision of the scoring groove, the tile is viced so that even heavily applying thereon, with the scoring tool, it keeps stationary. Thus all the machines of the series are provided with a device adapted to such purpose, even in order to repeat, more times, the same scoring, thus deepening more and more the scoring groove; b) all the machines of the series are provided, along the scoring track, with rests for holding up the scoring pressure; such rests having, in proximity of the end, slightly reduced top levels; c) the scoring tool carrier is of the thrust kind; it is chiefly advantageous, since the weight of the user arm, when distended, express an higher ergonomic yield

and favours the constant application of the force on the control member. Correspondingly, the machine is qualified to bear, intrinsically the induced loads and extrinsically is provided with an arrangement such that no components of the effective force applied are wasted in undue movements of the machine. Each machine, is in addition provided with antislipping rubber rests, which of course keep it stationary even when the operating and fastening levers are handled; d) the tool carrier settlement, in the machine arrangement, advantageously provides, easily, a substantially constant force in every point of the stroke;

2) Maximization of number and distance of the triads of points of stress a) All the machines of the series are provided with a stress arrangement including two triads, comprised by shoe like pressers of length maximized in order to provide the cutting of the possible average tile, included in a device of action and reaction enough sturdy, even in unfavourable work conditions; b) In all the machines of the series the localization of stress system, having two triads, is such to comprise shoe-like pressers of maximized length, in order to provide the cutting of the possible average tile, as closest as possible to the bridge guide rest, whereby minimize the loads on the action and reaction of the machine, to reduce correspondingly the machine weigh, whereby to cut even in the worst conditions, marginal bands, as narrow as at least 2 cm.; c) In all the machines of the series the straining stroke is minimized, in view to maximize the advantage and moreover minimize side effects, which could result in casual cross breakings; d) In all the machines of the series the diverging effect is minimized, applying the force in one internal point of the tile, which, so stressed, behaves as a beam supported at both ends, i.e., reducing substantially to one forth, the diverging

1 P trend, in accordance with the formula Mf= — - ;

e) the machines of the series are sized and designed so that the universe of tile dimensions is distributed among five machines, wherein each of them has the task to cut tiles with a side equal or shorter than the stroke of the machine, as well as all the tiles with sides shorter than such stroke, with the exception that,

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the smallest tiles in the largest machines cannot be lean-to the gauge which suitably is provided with its axis in stationary position.

In particular the system is of the kind comprising at least a bridge guide, with a device for tile soft scoring and tile heavy cutting effects, which is provided at one end of the bridge-guide, whose other end is substantially hinged or contained by wall like members, adjustable in accordance with the tile thickness, wherein the same bridge guide is provided, in central longitudinal position, with a pair of shoe-like pressers, mounted free to oscillate and provided each with a pair of contact points, in order to comprise a system of four upper points, placed bridge¬ like over a middle bottom blade, placed at the centre of four upper points and comprising at least two points. In accordance with the present invention, for extending the action field and effectiveness of such device, the six points have been increased, substantially segmenting the upper acting pressing member of the shoe-like pressers, as well as the bottom sharp middle blade or wedge, providing the reaction, having however care to graduate the top levels of the various segments to provide a stepped operability, in accordance with working progress. The members designed to heavily stress the tile are sturdily fastened to absolutely stuff parts of the machine structure, being concentrat _d, in order to provide the necessary stiffness and minimizing the structure weights. Determinative for the invention is the combination, between a thrust scoring tool and a fastening device, wherein the former is easily movable with one hand, while, with the other hand, the tile is kept at rest, in soft manner when referred to the possibility of cutting, but firmly when referred to the tile being scored.

In accordance with the invention, each machine is characterized by the combination in which: the scoring tool is of the thrust kind and has a control member movable in the interval of half meter about the position of levers, to control the soft scoring and cutting vicing. The hinging rod of the gauge is mounted stationary on the base, close aside the projection of the plane view of the body of the scoring tool, at the end of the stroke, so that the goniorietric segment rests in the room adapted to receive the body of the same scoring tool. The

movement of the axis of the rod, aside of the bridge guide, is such that, with the angular swinging of 90° of the gauge, the resting edge of same gauge, moves adjacent to the corresponding presser, also to provide a disposal or encumber limitation of the gauge in the machine arrangement. The shoe-like pressers have a length not shorter than one third of the effective stroke of the scoring tool or of the guide, and the hinging centre or .axis, is placed about at the centre of the square whose diagonal corresponds to the stroke of the tool carrier or of the guide respective, the arrangement being such that, for side lengths and/or strokes longer than 43 cm, the pressers are provided each with three pressing points, the central thereof standing at a level slightly higher, the bottom tile resting blade or wedge being segmented, wherein the segments far from the side of cutting have a quote of rest slightly lower and have the purpose to react to the mere scoring force. The sheet-like plate, having a vertical elastic suspension, , s provided, in the middle of its longitudinal sides, with a support arm servicing for a distance more than one half of the length of the gauge; the whole optimized for a machine with stroke of 62 cm, with a weight of Kg 17 and a possibility of cutting of tiles of the so said "ENDURO" kind, of 62 cm of side with possibility of cutting minimum tile bands of 2 cm or of 43 cm of side, placed in diagonal at 45°.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a series of five machines is provided, wherein the structure and dimensions of their main parts are as follows, respectively for cutting tiles having maximum side or diagonal dimension of cm 92, 62, 50, 43, 31,5, wherein the dimensions, from a to f,

The so arranged machines work all in accordance with the system synthesized by the graph of figure 6 including the following parameters: J= Force applied by the user to provide the scoring groove I; Jι= Force applied by the user for the cutting T;

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W= Force applied by the scoring disc tool 08;

Wι= Force applied by cutting pressers 9, 9'; i= Deepness of scoring groove;

D= Deepness of asperities;

U= Efficiency of tile scoring leverages;

Uι= Efficiency of tile fracturing leverages;

Z= Distance of a considered point from the cutting starting point; b= Distance between the extreme ends of pressers 9, 9'; f= Distance of the fulcrum 9" of the pressers 9, 9' from the machine edge;

Y= Diverging breaking trend;

R= Scoring strength of the tile;

Rι= Cutting strength of the tile;

1= Distance of the scoring groove from the edge of tile P;

N= Absolute position of the considered point.

These parameters are subjected to the following relations:

[01] Y = ? - f ; [02] I =^ ; [03] Z = N - f + f) ;

[04] W = J . U ; [05] Wι = Jι . Ui ; [06J Ji = ^ .

One way of carrying out the invention is described in detail below, with reference to drawings which illustrate a specific embodiments, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective exploded view, of a tile cutting machine, in this case of the kind for cutting tiles, having side or diagonal maximum dimension of cm 62.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the machine of figure 1 shown assembled, wherein some parts thereof are broken to show some other parts, otherwise hidden.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the machine of figure 2, but shown substantially from the bottom.

Figure 4 is a plane view of machine of figures 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a schematic demonstrative perspective view of the basis of tile

cutting art, for cutting a tile P, substantially without material removal,

Figure 6 is a graph, having two abscissas and two ordinates, representative of the breaking strengths of the tile, in function of real distances by cm comprised between the point of application of the force and the end of the tile, as well as in function of width by cm of the band A of tile P to be cut and moreover of the demonstrative scoring groove deepness; demonstrative tqo is the deepness of possible asperities estimated experimentally.

Referring to the figures of the drawings, a tile cutting machine comprises: a relatively flat, substantially rectangular extended base 1, having a truss structure, from upper surface 11 of which stand two high uprights 12, 12', substantially at the ends thereof and between them, substantially to connect their foot: a blade or wedge 3, to provide a rest for the tile P; a sheet like plate 4, having a vertical elastic suspension, oscillating in the level interval of the blade or wedge 3; an orthogonal, adjustable and swingable gauge 5,, substantially adjacent said sheet-like plate 4; a bridge guide 6, which rests on said uprights 12, 12', wherein with one 6'. of its ends, is suspended to upright 12, so that its level may be adjusted and at the other end 6", associated to the other upright 12' may be advantageously powerfully driven by an action handle 7 and a complementary reaction handle 7', in opposition of a spring 70; a bridge guide 6 being comprised by two parallel rods 60, 60', in the form of beams, providing a guide for a scoring tool carrier 8, wherein each rod or beam 60, 60' is provided with a coaxial, crosswise hinged shoe-like pressers 9, 9'; the unit providing both a soft scoring and a hard cutting fastening arrangement, with side action on four points 66. provided by said shoe-like pressers 9, 9' and corresponding central reaction, provided by the blade 3 substantially in two points 33.

In accordance with the present invention the scoring tool carrier 8 is of the thrust kind and has a control member 80, handlable in the range of half meter about the position of levers 7, 7' to control the soft and cutting vicing; the hinging rod 50 of the gauge 5 is mounted stationary on the base 1, close aside the projection of the plane view of the body of the scoring tool carrier 8, at the end of

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the stroke, in order that the goniometric segment 51 is placed in the room 8 of the same scoring tool carrier, wherein the movement of the axis of the rod 50, aside of the bridge guide 6, is such that, by an angular swinging of 90° of the gauge 5 (not shown), the resting edge 05 of the same gauge moves adjacent to the corresponding presser 9, also to provide a disposal or encumber limitation of the gauge 5, in the machine arrangement .(not shown). The shoe-like pressers have a length not shorter than one third of the effective stroke of the scoring tool carrier 8 or of the guide 60, 60' and the centre or pivoting axis 90, is placed about at the centre of the square, whose diagonal corresponds to the stroke of the tool carrier 8 or of the guide 60, 60' respective, wherein for side length longer than 43 cm the pressers 9, 9' are provided each with three contact points 66, 66'. 66 the central one 66', of which, has a slightly higher level. The bottom resting blade 3 is segmented at 33, rightly under the pressers 9, 9', whereas the segment 33', far from the side of the levers 7, 7' of breaking, have a level of rest slightly lower and have the purpose to provide the reaction to the mere force of scoring. The sheet¬ like plate 4, has an elastic suspension, on the shock absorbers 40 and is provided, in the middle of its longitudinal side, with an arm 41, 41', hinged thereto, which may be swung, of about 180°, which, extended, provides a rest for the tile P, to cover a distance up to more than half of the length of the gauge 5; when retrieved is received under the plate 4, where matches the step 15 of the base 1. Each arm 41, 41' is sheet-like and is relatively elastic. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the base 1, with the features shown, i.e., with the lightenings 10 and the structure 1 of girder (figure 3), is provided by die- casted aluminium, with parts embodied, the whole arrangement optimized for a machine with stroke of 62 cm, with a weight of Kg 17 and a possibility of cutting of tiles, of the so said "ENDURO" kind, of 62 cm of side, with possibility of cutting minimum tile bands of 2 cm or of 43 cm of side placed in diagonal at 45°.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a series of five machines is provided, wherein the structure and dimensions of the main parts is as follows, respectively for cutting of tiles having maximum side or

diagonal dimension of cm 92, 62, 50, 43, 31,5, wherein the dimensions from a to f are referred to Figure 4: a b_

V 92x92 32

IV 62x62

III 50x50

I I 43x43 15 I 31,5x31,5 10

Regarding the qualifications of the -machine, the necessary maximizations are as follows:

1) Maximization of the scoring groove deepness i: a) for the provision of scoring groove I the tile P is viced by acting with one hand on the levers, e.g. the left hand, on the levers 7, 7', so that even heavily applying thereon or on tool carrier 80, with the scoring disc tool 08, the same remains stationary. All the machines of the series from I to V are provided with a device, adapted to this purpose, even in order to repeat more times the same scoring, thus deepening, more and more, the scoring groove I. However, the control member 80 of the tool carrier 8 of the machine V, to be shifted 92 cm, is made longer, whereby, in starting conditions, it projects well over the levers 7, 7'; b) all the machines of the series are provided, all along the scoring track, with rests 3 for holding up the scoring pressure; such rests 33, under the pressers 9, 9' are sharp and very hard, while those 33' placed near the end have levels slightly reduced and have flat tops; c) the scoring tool carrier 8 is of the thrust kind, chiefly advantageous, of effi¬ ciency U, since the weight of the user's arm, when distended, express an higher ergonomic yield and favours the constant application of the force J on the control member 80. Correspondingly, the machine is qualified to bear, intrinsically the induced loads and extrinsically is provided with an arrangement, such that no components of the effective force applied is wasted in undue moi ements of the machine. Each machine is, in addition, provided with antislipping rubber rests 13, which, of course, keep it stationary, even when the fastening levers 7, 7' are handled; d) the settlement of tool carrier 8, in the machine arrangement,

advantageously results simply in a substantially constant force J, substantially in every point of the stroke I, in order to provide a constant deepness in the scoring groove;

2) Maximization of number and distance of the triads of points 66, 33, 66 of stress: a) All the machines of the series .are provided with a stress arrangement including two triads 66, 33, 66; 66, 33, 66, comprised by shoe like pressers 9, 9' of length b maximized, for cutting an average tile P designed, included in an apparatus of action 6 and reaction 3 enough sturdy, even in unfavourable conditions of work; b) In all the machines of the series the localization of the system of stress, having two triads 66, 33, 66; 66, 33, 66, provided with shoe-like pressers 9, 9' of length b maximized, in order to provide the cutting of the possible average tile, is as closest as possible to the bridge guide rest 12' of the bridge guide 6, in order to minimize the loads on the apparatus of action 6 and reaction 3 of the machine, to reduce correspondingly the weigh of the machine, whereby to cut, even in the worst conditions, marginal tile bands A of at least 2 cm.; c) In all the machines of the series the straining stroke is minimized, in view to maximize the advantage and moreover of minimizing side effects which could result in casual cross breakings; d) In all the machines from I to V of the series the diverging effect is minimized, applying the force in an internal point 66 of the tile P, which thus behave, regarding the diverging effect Y, as a beam supported at both ends, reducing substantially to one forth such effect, in accordance with the known

1 P formula: Mf= — -— ;

e) The machines of the series from I to V are sized and designed so that the universe of tile dimensions is distributed among five machines, wherein each of them has the task to cut tiles having a side or diagonal shorter than the stroke of the machine, as well as all the tiles of shorter than such stroke, with the exception that the smallest tiles, in the largest machines, cannot be lean-to the

gauge 5, which suitably is provided with its rotation axis 50 in stationary position. The amenability of such distribution is evidenced by graph of figure 6. The graph of figure 6 is a graph having two abscissas Z and i and two ordinates Ri and 1, representative of the demonstrative strength Ri, expressed by percentage, beyond which the tile P cuts in function of real distances Z, expressed by cm, comprised between the point 66 of application of the force and the end of the tile P, as well as in function of width 1, it too expressed by cm, of the band Λ of tile P to be cut and moreover of the deepness i demonstrative of scoring groove, expressed by percentage, demonstrative too is the deepness D of the possible asperities, estimated experimentally. Of the deepness i, three experimental ranges are given: two of scoring i', i" and one D of the asperities. Spot i" express the deepness of scoring groove I, provided on an "ENDURO" tile with a conventional machine, having a single triad of stressing points 66, 33, 66, then without fastening and thrust scoring, while the spot i' express the deepness i of scoring groove provided on an "ENDURO" tile, with machines in accordance with the invention, a two triads 66, 33, 66; 66, 33, 66, of points of stress, then with fastening and scoring with thrust tool carrier. Of the slanting lines of reading of the combined graph, four interabscissa and one interordinate lines are shown. The shown slanting interabscisse lines of reading, regard the series machines from I to V, wherein the II and III machines include a single line. Whereas, the interordinate line indicates the limit of 2 cm of distance 1 from the tile marge. The worst condition is, of course, that of machine V, supposing that a tile P of 92 cm of side is to be cut, i.e., a tile engaging the whole capacity of the machine. The cutting is to be provided at a distance of 2 cm from the tile edge; since in the machine V the length 11, comprised between the point 66 of application of the force and the end of the cutting T or of the scoring groove I, is of 60 cm, the graph indicates that the slanting lines of reading, starting respectively from point 2 of the right ordinate and from point 60 of the upper abscissae, join in one point, which is on the border line with the area i' of scoring in the upper part of it; thus the graph indicates that the tile will cut at the groove I of scoring provided that

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the scoring groove is suitably made; from the graph it may also be noted that the cutting strength, in such point, is about equal to 44% of the total. Such result is astonishing, particularly when compared with the result, obtained by the same graph, with reference to a conventional machine, having a stress arrangement with three points 66, 33, 66; thus in case of a whole length of 92 cm and with a scoring field i" scarcely deep, the possibility of success is only beyond 23 cm of di¬ stance 1 of the cutting T from tile edge.

It may be that the machine user obtains a professional set, of one or more machines, covering the tile dimensions of his most frequent application, but he will, each time, carry with him the machine adapted to cut the maximum tile side or diagonal size of the tile comprising the floor to be tiled. Thus for these tiles no problem, since placing the tile side against the edge 05 of the gauge 5 the pressers 9, 9' engage perfectly the tile surface. In case that during the application is necessary to cut smaller tile pieces, it is possible to do so even with a bigger machine, not so quickly but however well as quality, even the smallest tile pieces, placing them both for scoring and cutting at the centre of pressers 9, 9', whereby to take possibly advantage from the central poles 66' of same pressers.