Piece of equipment for cutting ceramic material

Abstract

The piece of equipment (1) for cutting ceramic material, comprises: - a load-bearing frame (2); - a conveyor plane (3) of at least one ceramic manufactured article (M), wherein the conveyor plane (3) is associated with the frame (2) and movable along a direction of forward movement (4); - longitudinal cutting means (5) associated with the frame (2) and adapted to make a cut on the ceramic manufactured article (M) along a longitudinal cutting direction (7); - transverse cutting means (6) associated with the frame (2) and adapted to make a cut on the ceramic manufactured article (M) along a transverse cutting direction (8); wherein the transverse cutting heads (10) are movable with respect to the conveyor plane (3) along at least one direction of work (22), transverse to the direction of forward movement (4), between a first position, wherein they are arranged where a side edge of the conveyor plane (3) is located, and a second position, wherein they are arranged where the opposite side edge of the conveyor plane (3) is located, and wherein the equipment (1) comprises a supporting element (23) connected movable by shifting to the frame (2) along the direction of work (22) and supporting the transverse cutting heads (10), and comprises displacement means (27) of the supporting element (23) operable to simultaneously raise / lower the transverse cutting heads (10) with respect to the conveyor plane (3).

Description

Technical Field.

[0001] The present invention relates to a piece of equipment for cutting ceramic material.Background Art

[0002] In the ceramic field, it is known to cut unfired ceramic manufactured articles, that is, once they have undergone a forming process (pressing) and before they undergo a firing heat treatment (aimed at increasing their mechanical properties), so as to obtain sub-formats starting from a larger manufactured article.

[0003] The equipment of known type generally consists of a load-bearing frame, of a conveyor plane adapted to move the ceramic manufactured articles to be cut along a direction of forward movement, of longitudinal cutting means adapted to cut the manufactured article along a direction parallel to the direction of forward movement, and of transverse cutting means adapted to cut the manufactured article along a direction transverse to the direction of forward movement.

[0004] Both longitudinal and transverse cutting means comprise a plurality of cutting heads, each of which supports a cutting disc operable in rotation around a relevant axis.

[0005] It is therefore easy to appreciate how the combined action of longitudinal cutting means and transverse cutting means allows obtaining, from an individual unfired manufactured article, a plurality of manufactured articles having reduced dimensions compared to the starting manufactured article.

[0006] To date, it is particularly advantageous to carry out the cutting of unfired ceramic manufactured articles with slab-like conformation, where the length thereof can reach dimensions on the order of 3 meters.

[0007] Generally, after carrying out a first cutting operation, the transverse cutting heads by moving from one side of the conveyor plane to the other reverse their direction of displacement and the way of rotation of the relevant discs so as to carry out another cutting operation during the return stroke to the start position.

[0008] This however results in downtime, particularly due to the need to wait for the rotation of the cutting discs to stop at the end of the first stroke before reversing the way of travel and the way of rotation of the discs themselves. This operation generally takes a non-negligible amount of time due to the high rotational speed of the cutting discs.

[0009] Longitudinal cutting of these manufactured articles is generally carried out by keeping the cutting heads of the longitudinal cutting means stationary and by moving the slab-like manufactured article along the direction of forward movement.

[0010] It is easy to appreciate that the greater the thickness and the extension of the manufactured article to be cut, the greater the workload to which the cutting discs are subjected.

[0011] In particular, as the thickness of the manufactured article to be cut increases, in order to obtain an accurate cut, the relevant shifting speed between the cutting disc and the ceramic manufactured article must be decreased.

[0012] It is therefore easy to appreciate that the cutting speed decreases as the thickness increases, consequently reducing the performance of the piece of equipment.Description of the Invention

[0013] The main aim of the present invention is to devise a piece of equipment for cutting ceramic material which allows optimizing production output by minimizing downtime between one cutting operation and the other.

[0014] Within this aim, one object of the present invention is to perform two transverse cutting phases in succession as quickly as possible.

[0015] Another object is to make a piece of equipment which is of flexible use and capable, therefore, of adapting to the specific needs of the case.

[0016] Yet another object is to optimize the cutting speed regardless of the thickness of the manufactured article to be cut.

[0017] Another object of the present invention is to devise a piece of equipment for cutting ceramic material which allows the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art to be overcome within the framework of a simple, rational, easy and effective to use as well as affordable solution.

[0018] The aforementioned objects are achieved by this piece of equipment for cutting ceramic material according to claim 1.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a piece of equipment for cutting ceramic material, illustrated by way of an indicative, yet non-limiting example in the attached tables of drawings in which: Figure 1 is an axonometric view of a piece of equipment according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view from above of the piece of equipment in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a magnifying view of the transverse cutting means of the piece of equipment in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a magnifying view of the displacement means of the piece of equipment in Figure 1. Embodiments of the Invention

[0020] With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 1 globally denotes a piece of equipment for cutting ceramic material.

[0021] The piece of equipment 1 may be intended for cutting unfired or fired ceramic manufactured articles. In other words, the piece of equipment 1 may be placed within a plant for the production of ceramic manufactured articles, such as tiles, slabs and the like, downstream of the compacting means of the unfired ceramic material, such as presses or the like, and upstream of the firing means, such as kilns or other heating machines or, alternatively, downstream of the firing means. The piece of equipment 1 comprises a load-bearing frame 2, a conveyor plane 3 of at least one ceramic manufactured article M, where the conveyor plane 3 is associated with the frame 2 and movable along one direction of forward movement 4, cutting means 5, 6 associated with the frame 2 and adapted to make a cut on the ceramic manufactured article M along a cutting direction 7,8.

[0022] For example, the conveyor plane 3 consists of a motor-driven conveyor. Different embodiments, such as belts or belting, cannot however be ruled out.

[0023] The cutting means 5, 6 comprise longitudinal cutting means 5 associated with the frame 2 and adapted to make a cut on the ceramic manufactured article M along a longitudinal cutting direction 7 which is substantially parallel to the direction of forward movement 4. The longitudinal cutting means 5 comprise one or more longitudinal cutting heads 9 supporting at least one cutting disc 11 in rotation which is adapted to interact with the ceramic manufactured article M and to define the longitudinal cutting direction 7.

[0024] The cutting means 5, 6 also comprise transverse cutting means 6 associated with the frame 2 and adapted to make a cut on the ceramic manufactured article M along a transverse cutting direction 8 which is transverse to the direction of forward movement 4. The transverse cutting means 6 comprise one or more transverse cutting heads 10 supporting at least one cutting disc 11 in rotation which disc is adapted to interact with the ceramic manufactured article M and to define the transverse cutting direction 8.

[0025] Preferably, the transverse cutting means 6 are arranged downstream of the longitudinal cutting means 5 with respect to the direction of forward movement 4.

[0026] Specifically, each cutting head 9,10 comprises a relevant load-bearing element 12 connected to frame 2 and at least one relevant holding element 13, associated with the load-bearing element 12 and supporting the relevant cutting disc 11.

[0027] More particularly, each cutting head 9,10 is provided with relevant motor means 14 which are adapted to drive the relevant cutting discs 11 in rotation around an axis of rotation.

[0028] The transverse cutting heads 10 are movable with respect to the conveyor plane 3 along at least one direction of work 22, transverse to the direction of forward movement 4.

[0029] The transverse cutting heads 10 are locked together with each other by shifting along the direction of work 22.

[0030] The piece of equipment 1 comprises a supporting element 23 which supports the transverse cutting heads 10 and is connected movable by shifting to the frame 2 along the direction of work 22. The transverse cutting heads 10 are locked together with the supporting element 23 by shifting along the direction of work 22.

[0031] In more detail, the frame 2 comprises a pair of guiding elements 24 developing along the direction of work 22 and opposite each other, with which the supporting element 23 is associated movable by shifting.

[0032] Appropriately, when displacing the transverse cutting heads 10 along the direction of work 22, the conveyor plane 3 is stationary.

[0033] According to the invention, the piece of equipment 1 comprises displacement means 27 of the supporting element 23 which are operable to simultaneously raise / lower all transverse cutting heads 10.

[0034] More particularly, the displacement means 27 are adapted to move the supporting element 23 between a lowered position and a raised position where, at the raised position, the supporting element 23 is spaced away from the conveyor plane 3 than at the lowered position.

[0035] In the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the displacement means 27 comprise an articulated quadrilateral. In more detail, the displacement means 27 comprise a base element 27a associated with the frame 2, a movement element 27b locked together with the supporting element 23 and a pair of connecting rods 27c hinged on one side to the base element 27a and on the other side to the movement element 27b. The displacement means 27 then comprise actuator means 28 operable to control the movement of the articulated quadrilateral and, therefore, of the supporting element 23.

[0036] Appropriately, the displacement means 27 comprise two articulated quadrilaterals arranged from opposite sides of the supporting element 23. The base elements 27a are associated with the guiding elements 24 in a sliding manner.

[0037] More specifically, the transverse cutting heads 10 are movable by shifting along the direction of work between a first position, wherein they are arranged at a side edge of the conveyor plane 3, and a second position, wherein they are arranged at the opposite side edge of the conveyor plane 3.

[0038] The displacement of the transverse cutting heads 10 from the first position to the second position thus allows cutting the ceramic manufactured articles M, already previously cut by the longitudinal cutting means 5, into additional sub-formats. The piece of equipment 1 has a bidirectional cutting mode, wherein the cutting discs 11 of the transverse cutting heads 10 are arranged at a first distance from the conveyor plane 3 both during a first stroke from the first position to the second position and during a second stroke from the second position to the first position. The distance of the cutting discs 11 is such that they intercept the ceramic manufactured article M during the displacement of the transverse cutting heads 10 along the direction of work 22. In this case, the cutting discs 11 of the various transverse cutting heads 10 are operated in rotation around the relevant axis along a first way during the first stroke and along a second way, opposite the first way, during the second stroke. In this way, it is therefore possible to make, with each shift of the transverse cutting heads 10 along the direction of work 22, a cut of the ceramic manufactured articles M. In this operational configuration, by operating on the motor means 14, the way of rotation of the cutting discs 11 is reversed during the opposite-way strokes of the transverse cutting heads 10 along the direction of work 22 so that there are no "idle" strokes of the transverse cutting heads themselves. In the bidirectional cutting mode, the supporting element 23 is arranged at a lowered position both during the first stroke and during the second stroke.

[0039] The piece of equipment 1 has a unidirectional cutting mode, wherein the cutting discs 11 of the transverse cutting heads 10 are arranged at a first distance from the conveyor plane 3 during a first stroke from the first position to the second position, so as to intercept the ceramic manufactured article M, and are arranged at a second distance from the conveyor plane 3, which is greater than the first distance, during a second stroke from the second position to the first position, so as not to intercept the ceramic manufactured article M. In this operational configuration, the cutting discs 11 cut the ceramic manufactured articles M by always rotating in the same way. In the unidirectional cutting mode, the supporting element 23 is arranged at a lowered position during the first stroke and, once the second position has been reached, the displacement means 27 are operated so as to bring the supporting element 23 to the raised position. The supporting element 23 then remains at the raised position during the second stroke. Once the second stroke has ended and the first position is therefore reached, the displacement means 27 are operated again to bring the supporting element 23 to the lowered position so as to move the cutting discs 11 of the transverse cutting heads 10 to the first distance from the conveyor plane 3 so as to intercept the new ceramic manufactured article M to be cut.

[0040] Appropriately, the displacement means 27 are operable to switch from the bidirectional cutting mode to the unidirectional cutting mode. In other words, when the transverse cutting heads 10 reach the second position, they are at a first distance from the conveyor plane 3 so as to intercept the ceramic manufactured articles M resting thereon. At this point if the displacement means 27 are not operated, the transverse cutting heads 10 maintain the same distance from the conveyor plane 3 even when the supporting element 23 reverses its way of shifting to displace to the first position, whereas if the displacement means 27 are activated, they control the lifting of the supporting element 23 consequently bringing the transverse cutting heads 10 to a second distance from the conveyor plane 3 greater than the first distance previously described.

[0041] Appropriately, the piece of equipment 1 comprises an electronic control unit 17 operationally connected to the displacement means 27 and configured to control the activation thereof and to bring the supporting element 23 from the lowered position to the raised position and vice versa. Specifically, the electronic control unit 17 is operationally connected to the actuator means 28.

[0042] Preferably, the piece of equipment 1 comprises lifting means 25 of the transverse cutting heads 10 operable to adjust their working altitude, and therefore the height of the relevant cutting discs 11 with respect to the conveyor plane 3. More specifically, each transverse cutting head 10 is provided with relevant lifting means 25 so as to adjust the working altitude of the cutting discs 11 of each transverse cutting head 10 independently of each other.

[0043] The lifting means 25 are, e.g., of the type of motor-driven jacks with relevant encoders.

[0044] The jacks 25 have a relevant body 25a associated with the load-bearing element 12 and the rod 25b associated with the holding element 13 of the relevant cutting disc 11.

[0045] Appropriately, the electronic control unit 17 is operationally connected to the lifting means 25.

[0046] Preferably, the transverse cutting heads 10 are also movable, with respect to the conveyor plane 3, along a positioning direction 26 which is substantially parallel to the direction of forward movement 4. In this way, the mutual distance between the transverse cutting directions 8 of the various transverse cutting heads 10 can be changed.

[0047] In the preferred, but not exclusive embodiment shown in the figures, the longitudinal cutting heads 9 are movable with respect to the conveyor plane 3 along one direction of adjustment 21 transverse to the direction of forward movement 4 and are fixed with respect to the conveyor plane itself along the direction of forward movement 4.

[0048] Preferably, each longitudinal cutting head 9 is movable along the direction of adjustment 21 independently of the other longitudinal cutting heads 9. In this way, the mutual distance of the longitudinal cutting directions 7 can be adjusted and the size of the portions of the cut ceramic manufactured articles can be changed accordingly.

[0049] The operation of the piece of equipment 1 according to the invention is as follows. First of all, one or more ceramic manufactured articles M to be cut are provided, e.g. of the type of a ceramic slab.

[0050] Next, the ceramic manufactured article M is cut along at least one cutting direction 7,8 so as to obtain a plurality of cut ceramic manufactured articles. Generally, the ceramic manufactured article M is initially cut along one longitudinal direction by means of the longitudinal cutting means 5. More specifically, during its forward movement along the direction of forward movement 4, the ceramic manufactured article M intercepts the cutting discs 11 of the longitudinal cutting heads 9.

[0051] Subsequently, the resulting strips of ceramic manufactured article M are then brought, as a result of the further forward movement of the conveyor plane 3, to the transverse cutting means 6.

[0052] Once the conveyor plane 3 has positioned the cut ceramic manufactured article M at the transverse cutting means 6, it stops the movement thereof.

[0053] Once the mutual position of the transverse cutting heads 10 along the positioning direction 26 and the working altitude of the relevant cutting discs 11 have been adjusted, the cut along the transverse cutting direction 8 is carried out. The mutual position of the transverse cutting heads 10 is changed only in case different types of formats are to be obtained.

[0054] More specifically, the transverse cutting heads 10 are moved along the direction of work 22 as a result of the displacement of the supporting element 23, moving them from the first position to the second position.

[0055] During this stroke, the cutting discs 11 intercept the ceramic manufactured article M by making an additional cut transverse to the previous one and thus obtaining a plurality of sub-formats.

[0056] Once the second position has been reached, the piece of equipment 1 can be used according to the bidirectional cutting mode or according to the unidirectional cutting mode.

[0057] In the first case, i.e., in the bidirectional cutting mode, the supporting element 23 is kept at the lowered position and the way of rotation of the cutting discs 11 is reversed before the transverse cutting heads 10 start their displacement to the first position. Before the transverse cutting heads 10 start the second stroke, the conveyor plane 3 is further moved forward bringing a new ceramic manufactured article M where the transverse cutting means 6 are located. During the second stroke, the cutting discs 11 intercept the ceramic manufactured article M so positioned by carrying out a new cutting operation.

[0058] In the second case, that is, in the unidirectional cutting mode, at the end of the first stroke, the displacement means 27 are actuated so as to bring the supporting element 23 to the raised position. The supporting element 23 is then returned to the first position, without waiting for the rotation of the relevant cutting discs 11 to stop. Once the second stroke has been completed, the displacement means 27 return the supporting element 23 to the lowered position so that a new cutting operation can be carried out. In this operational mode, the cutting discs 11 of the transverse cutting heads 10 cut the ceramic manufactured article M always with the same way of rotation.

[0059] It has in practice been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects and the fact is particularly emphasized that the piece of equipment covered by the present invention may be used in different operational modes, thus allowing a wide flexibility of use.

[0060] In particular, the presence of the displacement means allows operation in both bidirectional cutting mode and unidirectional cutting mode. In the latter case, the transverse cutting heads are returned to their initial position without waiting for the relevant cutting discs to stop, thus minimizing downtime.

Claims

1. Piece of equipment (1) for cutting ceramic material, comprising: - a load-bearing frame (2); - a conveyor plane (3) of at least one ceramic manufactured article (M), wherein said conveyor plane (3) is associated with said frame (2) and movable along a direction of forward movement (4); - longitudinal cutting means (5) associated with said frame (2) and adapted to make a cut on said ceramic manufactured article (M) along a longitudinal cutting direction (7) substantially parallel to said direction of forward movement (4), wherein said longitudinal cutting means (5) comprise one or more longitudinal cutting heads (9) rotationally supporting at least one cutting disc (11) which is adapted to interact with said ceramic manufactured article (M) and to define said longitudinal cutting direction (7); - transverse cutting means (6) associated with said frame (2) and adapted to make a cut on said ceramic manufactured article (M) along a transverse cutting direction (8) which is transverse to said direction of forward movement (4), wherein said transverse cutting means (6) comprise one or more transverse cutting heads (10) rotationally supporting at least one cutting disc (11) which is adapted to interact with said ceramic manufactured article (M) and to define said transverse cutting direction (8); said transverse cutting heads (10) being movable with respect to said conveyor plane (3) along at least one direction of work (22), transverse to said direction of forward movement (4), between a first position, wherein they are arranged where a side edge of said conveyor plane (3) is located, and a second position, wherein they are arranged where the opposite side edge of said conveyor plane (3) is located, characterized by the fact that it comprises a supporting element (23) connected movable by shifting to said frame (2) along said direction of work (22) and supporting said transverse cutting heads (10), and by the fact that it comprises displacement means (27) of said supporting element (23) operable to simultaneously raise / lower said transverse cutting heads (10) with respect to said conveyor plane (3).

2. Piece of equipment (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said displacement means (27) are operable to alternately move said supporting element (23) between a lowered position and a raised position.

3. Piece of equipment (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it has a bidirectional cutting mode wherein the cutting discs (11) of said transverse cutting heads (10) are arranged at the same distance from said conveyor plane (3) both during a first stroke from the first position to the second position and during a second stroke from the second position to the first position, and by the fact that the relevant cutting discs (11) are driven in rotation around their relevant axis along a first way during said first stroke and along a second way, opposite said first way, during said second stroke, said supporting element (23) being arranged in a lowered position during both the first stroke and the second stroke.

4. Piece of equipment (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it has a unidirectional cutting mode wherein the cutting discs (11) of said transverse cutting heads (10) are arranged at a first distance from said conveyor plane (3) during a first stroke from the first position to the second position, so as to intercept the ceramic manufactured article (M), and they are arranged at a second distance from said conveyor plane (3), greater than said first distance, during a second stroke from the second position to the first position, so as not to intercept the ceramic manufactured article (M), said supporting element (23) being arranged at a lowered position during the first stroke and said displacement means (27) being operable at the end of said first stroke to bring said supporting element (23) to the raised position.

5. Piece of equipment (1) according to claims 3 and 4, characterized by the fact that said displacement means (27) are operable to switch from the bidirectional cutting mode to the unidirectional cutting mode.

6. Piece of equipment (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said displacement means (27) comprises an articulated quadrilateral.

7. Piece of equipment (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said transverse cutting heads (10) are movable with respect to said conveyor plane (3) along at least one positioning direction (26) substantially parallel to said direction of forward movement (4).

8. Piece of equipment (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises an electronic control unit (17) operationally connected to said displacement means (27) and configured to control the activation thereof so as to bring said supporting element (23) from the lowered position to the raised position and vice versa.

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