Machine for machining articles made of stone, stone-like or ceramic material

Abstract

Machine (1) for machining articles (M) made of stone, stone-like or ceramic material, comprising a worktable (2), a motorized spindle (9) suitable for mounting alternately two machining tools (6, 8), means (10) for moving the motorized spindle (9) and therefore the machining tools (6, 8) above the worktable (2) and sucker pick-up means (28) intended to pick up the articles (M) or cut parts (C) of the articles (M) from the worktable (2) and reposition the articles (M) or cut parts (C) on the same worktable (2). The machining tools (6, 8) consist of at least one cutting tool (6) and a milling / drilling / contouring / shaping tool (8) mounted alternately on the motorized spindle (9). The worktable (2) comprises at least one first portion (30) provided with or intended to support one or more sacrificial elements (32) so as to form a support surface (4) for the articles (M) and at least one second portion (34) comprising a plurality of sucker elements (36) for supporting the articles (M) in a position raised with respect to the second portion (34). The at least one second portion (34) is intended to undergo rotation and be overturned so as to switch between a non¬ operating position, in which the sucker elements (36) are directed downwards, and an operating position, in which the sucker elements (36) are directed upwards in order to support and keep the articles (M) in a position raised with respect to the second portion (34).

Description

[0001] “Machine for machining articles made of stone, stone-like or ceramic material”

[0002] ★ ★★★★

[0003] The present invention relates to the technical field of machining articles made of stone, stone-like or ceramic material and in particular relates to a machine for machining, in particular for cutting and milling and / or drilling and / or contouring and / or shaping articles made of stone, stone-like or ceramic material.

[0004] Machine tools for cutting articles, in particular slabs, made of stone, stone-like or ceramic agglomerate material using disc-type tools or cutting discs, which are generally diamond-coated, are known from the prior art.

[0005] The cutting disc is mounted on a motorized spindle which is mounted in turn on a machining head rotatable at least about a vertical axis; moreover, the cutting disc may be inclined with respect to the vertical plane so as to perform inclined cuts in the slabs.

[0006] The articles or slabs to be cut are arranged on a worktable having a metal structure; in particular, the articles or slabs are arranged on one or more sacrificial elements, such as panels, made of wood, plastic or rubber material and positioned on an upper surface of the worktable.

[0007] The sacrificial elements prevent the cutting disc, during the cutting operations, from coming into contact with the underlying metal worktable, resulting in permanent damage and loss of cutting power.

[0008] Cartesian or anthropomorphic means for moving the head, the spindle and therefore the cutting disc above the worktable and the articles arranged thereon are also provided.

[0009] The Cartesian movement means preferably comprise:

[0010] - a horizontal beam slidably mounted at its ends on respective side support structures; - a carriage slidably mounted on the beam;

[0011] - a sleeve mounted on the carriage and having the motorized spindle and / or the machining head mounted on the bottom end.

[0012] The sleeve is movable along a vertical direction so as to move the cutting disc between a position raised and spaced from the worktable and an operating position close to the worktable.

[0013] Moreover, these machines may comprise sucker pick-up means, mounted for example on the protective cowl of the cutting disc or on the sleeve and intended to pick up and to move the cut parts of the articles or slabs.

[0014] Examples of machine tools of the abovementioned type are described in Italian patent No. IT1424220 and in international patent application No. WO2017 / 141168.

[0015] The cut articles or slabs are usually intended to undergo further subsequent machining operations, such as milling and / or drilling and / or contouring and / or shaping, which are intended to produce cut parts with shaped perimetral edges and / or holes or openings for mounting accessories (sinks, cooking hobs, etc.) with machined internal edges.

[0016] Said milling, drilling, contouring and shaping operations are normally performed by means of further machine tools comprising suitable tools, such as milling cutters, contouring tools, edge shaping tools and drilling bits, which are also mounted on motorized spindles.

[0017] The worktable of the milling / drilling / contouring / shaping machines generally comprise a plurality of sucker elements intended to support the articles or the slabs in a position raised and spaced from the upper surface of the worktable and to keep the articles or the slabs in position by means of application of a vacuum.

[0018] The active plane of the sucker elements therefore defines the support surface for the articles or the slabs during the mi Hi ng / dri Hi ng / contou ri ng / shapi ng operations. In this way, the milling and / or drilling and / or contouring and / or shaping tools, whose action affects the entire thickness of the articles and the slabs, does not come into contact with the upper surface of the worktable during the respective machining operations.

[0019] An example of these latter machining machines is described in international patent application No. W02022 / 009021 , in which the sucker elements can be lowered and may be of the double-sucker type.

[0020] Moreover, the sucker elements may be of the type described in international patent application No. W02009 / 128007, namely double-acting sucker elements intended to be fixed to the surface of the worktable automatically, and in Italian patent No. IT1391207, in which double-acting sucker elements and a magnetic device for picking them up and displacing them are provided.

[0021] Alternatively, the support surface for the articles or the slabs during the milling and / or drilling and / or contouring and / or shaping operations may consist of a raisable conveyor belt, as described in international patent application No. WO2021 / 152449.

[0022] A first drawback of the technical solutions mentioned above consists in the fact that, if the articles or slabs must undergo both cutting operations and milling / drilling / contouring / shaping operations, it is necessary to provide at least two separate machines.

[0023] This drawback therefore results in an increase in the overall production costs as well as an increase in the overall dimensions of the plant which comprises the machines.

[0024] A further drawback consists in the fact that, following the cutting operations, the articles or slabs must be picked up and moved between the machines of the plant manually or by means of suitable pick-up and movement means.

[0025] This further drawback results in an increase in the machining time as well as more complex management of the plant in which the machines are located. In order to overcome at least partially these drawbacks worktables have been developed where they comprise a first fixed portion provided with sacrificial elements for supporting the articles during the cutting operations and a second portion which is also fixed and provided with sucker elements for supporting the articles during the milling and / or drilling and / or contouring and / or shaping operations.

[0026] With this latter technical solution, however, it is still required to broaden the working area, with a consequent increase in the dimensions and the costs of manufacture or the drawback of reducing the working area available for the operations of cutting the articles or slabs to be performed using the cutting discs.

[0027] This drawback is particularly significant since, during the cutting operations, it is required to space apart the various parts which are cut in order to optimize the waste material.

[0028] A further drawback of this latter technical solution consists in the fact that the sucker elements of the second portion tend to be soiled or dirtied by the cooling water and the cutting swarf during the cutting operations carried out on the slabs arranged on the first portion of the worktable.

[0029] Consequently, the sucker elements are not immediately suitable for supporting the articles which must undergo subsequent milling and / or drilling and / or contouring and / or shaping operations after the cut slabs have been moved from the first portion to the second portion of the worktable.

[0030] The main object of the present invention is therefore to provide a machine for machining, in particular for cutting and milling / drilling / contouring / shaping, articles or slabs made of stone, stone-like or ceramic material, which is able to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0031] A particular task of the present invention is to provide a machine of the type indicated above which allows various types of machining operation to be carried out automatically on the articles or the slabs, without having to move the articles or slabs into further machines or machining stations.

[0032] A further task of the present invention is to provide a machine of the type indicated above which allows the time required for machining the articles or the slabs to be reduced.

[0033] Another task of the present invention is to provide a machine of the type indicated above which is able to reduce the overall production costs.

[0034] A further task of the present invention is to provide a machine of the type indicated above which has smaller dimensions and is less complex compared to the known machines for machining articles or slabs.

[0035] Another task of the present invention is to provide a machine of the type described above which avoids soiling of the sucker elements by the cooling water and cutting swarf during the cutting operations performed on the articles or the slabs.

[0036] The object and the main tasks described above are achieved with a machine for machining articles made of stone, stone-like or ceramic material in accordance with

[0037] Claim 1 .

[0038] In order to illustrate more clearly the innovative principles of the present invention and its advantages compared to the prior art, a number of examples of embodiment of the machine according to the present invention will be described below with the aid of the attached figures. In particular, in the figures:

[0039] - Figures 1 -3 are perspective views of the machine according to the present invention with a cutting tool in different operating positions;

[0040] - Figures 4-5 are perspective views of the machine according to the present invention with a worktable in different operating positions;

[0041] - Figures 6-7 are perspective views of the machine according to the present invention with the worktable in the operating position shown in Figure 5 and with the sucker pick-up means in different operating positions for moving a cut piece of slab;

[0042] - Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the machine according to the present invention with a cut piece of slab which has been moved from its original position;

[0043] - Figures 9 and 10 are a perspective view and a corresponding enlarged detail of the machine according to the present invention in which a tool for milling / drilling / contouring / shaping the articles is visible in the operating position.

[0044] The present description, provided only for illustrative purposes and not limiting the scope of the invention, refers mainly to a machine, indicated below by the reference number 1 , for machining articles M made of stone, stone-like or ceramic material.

[0045] In particular, the machine 1 according to the present invention is particularly suitable for cutting and milling and / or drilling and / or contouring and / or shaping slabs made of stone, stone-like or ceramic material.

[0046] For example, the machine 1 is suitable for making kitchen worktops or countertops P (see for example Figure 10), with predetermined dimensions, from large-size slabs.

[0047] In particular, the slabs are intended to undergo cutting operations in order to obtain cut pieces C and drilling operations in order to provide holes H inside which the kitchen accessories will be positioned.

[0048] The cut pieces C are more clearly visible in Figures 3-8 and the holes H are more clearly visible in Figures 9 and 10.

[0049] The internal edges BD of the holes H and / or the external edges BF of the worktops P are intended to undergo further contouring and / or shaping operations, as shown in Figures 9 and 10.

[0050] Furthermore, the machine 1 is preferably a numerical-control machine and comprises a processing unit, not shown in the attached figures, for controlling and performing the movements of the various components.

[0051] The machine 1 preferably comprises: - a worktable 2;

[0052] - a motorized spindle 9 suitable for mounting alternately two machining tools 6, 8;

[0053] - means 10 for moving the motorized spindle 9 and therefore the machining tools 6,

[0054] 8 above the worktable 2.

[0055] Conveniently, the worktable 2 has a metal support structure.

[0056] Moreover, the at least two machining tools 6, 8 are mounted alternately on the motorized spindle 9 and consist of at least one cutting tool 6, in particular a cutting disc, and a milling / drilling / contouring / shaping tool 8.

[0057] In particular, the at least one milling / drilling / contouring / shaping tool 8 is chosen from the group comprising drilling bits, contouring tools, edge shaping tools and milling cutters.

[0058] The cutting disc 6 is preferably diamond-coated and, in addition to being rotatable about a vertical axis, may be inclined with respect to the vertical plane in order to perform inclined cuts on the articles or on the slabs M.

[0059] Furthermore, the at least two machining tools 6, 8 are intended to be mounted alternately on a machining head 12 rotatable about at least one vertical axis Y, as shown in the figures of Figures 1 -8 with reference to the cutting tool 6 and, in Figures

[0060] 9 and 10, with reference to the milling / drilling / contouring / shaping tool 8.

[0061] As shown in the figures, the head 12 is preferably of the bi-rotary type, namely it comprises a first fork portion 15 rotatable about the vertical axis Y and a second portion 13 mounted on the first portion 15 and rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis X (see in particular Figures 3, 6, 7 and 10) for supporting the motorized spindle 9.

[0062] The means 10 shown in the figures for moving the motorized spindle 9 with the respective mounted tool 6, 8 are of the Cartesian type and comprise preferably:

[0063] - a horizontal beam 16 slidably mounted at its ends on respective side support structures 18;

[0064] - a carriage 20 slidably mounted on the beam 16;

[0065] - a sleeve 22 mounted on the carriage 20 and having the motorized spindle 9 and / or the machining head 12 mounted on the bottom end of the sleeve 22.

[0066] The sleeve 22 is movable along a vertical direction so as to move the machining tools 6, 8 between a position raised and spaced from the worktable 2 and an operating position close to the worktable 2.

[0067] Conveniently, the machine 1 may also comprise a first magazine 24 for a plurality of cutting tools 6 of different sizes and a second magazine 26 for a plurality of milling / drilling / contouring / shaping tools 8 of different shapes and sizes, more clearly visible in Figures 1 , 3 to 6, and 8 and 9

[0068] These tools 6, 8 contained in the magazines 24, 26 are intended to be mounted alternately on the motorized spindle 9 of the machine 1 depending on the type of machining operation to be performed, and the movement means 10, in addition to moving the tool 6, 8 during the machining operations, allow the respective tools to be picked up and deposited in the magazines 24, 26.

[0069] In accordance with this latter embodiment, the spindle 9 may also be provided with means, not visible in the attached figures, for automatically engaging with the machining tools 6, 8 picked up from the magazines 24, 26.

[0070] The machine 1 also comprises sucker pick-up means 28 intended to pick-up and move the articles M or the cut parts C of the articles M arranged on the worktable 2 and to reposition the articles M or the cut parts C on the same worktable 2.

[0071] The sucker pick-up means 28 are shown in the operating position in Figures 6 and 7 and are mounted advantageously on the sides of the sleeve 22 or on the machining head 12.

[0072] The worktable 2 comprises at least a first portion 30 provided with or intended to support one or more sacrificial elements 32 and at least one second portion 34 defining a support surface 44 for a plurality of sucker elements 36 for supporting the articles M in a position raised with respect to the second portion 34, in particular with respect to the support surface 44,

[0073] Conveniently, the sacrificial elements 32 consist of panels made of wood or plastic or rubber material and are arranged on the upper surface of the first portion 30 of the worktable 2.

[0074] The upper surface of the sacrificial elements 32 forms a support surface 4 for the articles M during the cutting operations; therefore, the sacrificial elements 32 are able to prevent the cutting tool 6 from directly cutting into the first portion 30 of the metal worktable 2.

[0075] Conveniently, the sucker elements 36 are located on the support surface 44 of the second portion 34 of the worktable 2 and may be removably mounted on this support surface 44 in predetermined positions depending on the shape and size of the articles M to be machined and the type of machining operations to be performed.

[0076] The articles M arranged on the second portion 34 of the worktable 2 and supported by the sucker elements 36 are intended to undergo milling and / or drilling and / or contouring and / or shaping operations by means of the respective tools 8 described above, as shown in Figures 9 and 10.

[0077] The active plane of the sucker elements 36 therefore defines the support surface for the articles M during the milling / drilling / contouring / shaping operations.

[0078] Conveniently, the sucker pick-up means 28 are intended to pick up and move, in combination with the movement means 10, the articles M or the cut parts C between the first portion 30 and the second portion 34 of the worktable 2 once the respective cutting operations have been completed.

[0079] The area of the at least one first portion 30, namely of its upper surface, is usually greater than the area of the at least one second portion 34, namely of the support surface 44.

[0080] Advantageously, the sucker elements 36 of the second portion 34 may consist of elements which can be lowered and have a double sucker, of the type disclosed in international patent application No. W02022 / 009021 .

[0081] Alternatively, the sucker elements 36 may consist of double-acting sucker elements intended to be fixed to the surface 44 of the second portion 34 automatically, as disclosed in international patent application No. W02009 / 128007, or double-acting sucker elements with a magnetic device for picking up and displacing them, as described in Italian patent No. IT1391207.

[0082] Moreover, the sucker elements 36 of the second portion 34 are connected to a vacuum generating plant of the known type and not shown in the attached figures, so as to keep the articles or the slabs M in position during the milling and / or drilling and / or contouring and / or shaping operations.

[0083] In the embodiment of the worktable 2 according to the present invention, as shown in particular in Figure 5, four transverse sucker elements and six longitudinal sucker elements are provided.

[0084] However, the number of sucker elements 36 and their arrangement may also be different from that shown in Figure 5, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0085] In accordance with a particular aspect of the invention, the second portion 34 of the worktable 2 is intended to undergo rotation about a horizontal axis of rotation T and to be overturned so as to switch between a non-operating position, in which the sucker elements 36 are directed downwards, i.e. towards the ground, and an operating position in which the sucker elements 36 are directed upwards, so as to support and keep the articles M in a position raised with respect to the second portion 34, i.e. with respect to the support surface 44, during the milling and / or drilling and / or contouring and / or shaping operations, as described above.

[0086] The non-operating position is shown in Figures 1 -3, the operating position is shown in Figures 5-10 and the rotation of the second portion 34 is shown in Figure 4.

[0087] Conveniently, the at least one second portion 34 comprises a surface 38, visible in Figures 1 -3, opposite the support surface 44 on which the sucker elements 36 are arranged.

[0088] Said opposite surface 38 is intended to ensure continuity with the upper surface of the first portion 30 of the worktable 2 when the second portion 34 is in the nonoperating position, so as to increase the surface area available for carrying out the cutting operations, as shown in Figures 1 -3.

[0089] In this non-operating position, the opposite surface 38 of the second portion 34 may also be used to support respective sacrificial elements.

[0090] Operationally speaking, keeping the second portion 34 in the non-operating position, namely with the sucker elements 36 directed downwards and covered by the surface 38, also prevents soiling of the sucker elements 36 by the cooling water and the cutting swarf during the cutting operations.

[0091] In this way, the sucker elements 36 are immediately suitable, after overturning of the second portion 34, for supporting the articles M which must undergo milling and / or drilling and / or contouring and / or shaping operations.

[0092] The machine 1 may also comprise means intended to perform rotation of the second portion 34, for example motorized means 40 which are more clearly visible in Figures 6-8 and 10, and transmission means 42, such as a shaft, connected to the at least one second portion 34.

[0093] In accordance with a further embodiment, not shown in the figures, the second portion 34 may also be divided up into several sub-portions intended to be rotated and overturned independently of each other by means of respective motorized means and transmission means.

[0094] From the above description it is now clear how the machine for machining articles made of stone, stone-like or ceramic material according to the present invention is able to achieve advantageously the predefined objects.

[0095] In particular, the provision of a worktable with a first portion provided with or intended to support one or more sacrificial elements and a second portion comprising a plurality of sucker elements and intended to undergo rotation enables the cutting operations and the milling / drilling / contouring / shaping operations to be performed quickly and automatically, without having to move the articles into a further machine or station in order to complete the operations.

[0096] Moreover, the particular configuration of the second portion of the worktable described above which can be overturned or arranged upside down is able to optimize the production time and costs, while limiting the overall dimensions and costs.

[0097] Obviously, the above description of embodiments applying the innovative principles of the present invention is provided by way of example of these innovative principles and must therefore not be regarded as limiting the scope of the rights claimed herein.

Claims

Claims1. Machine (1 ) for machining articles (M) made of stone, stone-like or ceramic material comprising:- a worktable (2);- a motorized spindle (9) suitable for mounting alternately at least two machining tools (6, 8);- means (10) for moving the motorized spindle (9) and therefore said machining tools (6, 8) above said worktable (2); wherein said at least two machining tools (6, 8) consist of at least one cutting tool (6) and a milling / drilling / contouring / shaping tool (8) which are mounted alternately on said motorized spindle (9);- sucker pick-up means (28) intended to pick up the articles (M) or cut parts (C) of the articles (M) from said worktable (2) and reposition the articles (M) or cut parts (C) on the same worktable (2); wherein said worktable (2) comprises at least one first portion (30) provided with or intended to support one or more sacrificial elements (32) so as to form a support surface (4) for the articles (M) and at least one second portion (34) comprising a plurality of sucker elements (36) for supporting the articles (M) in a position raised with respect to said second portion (34); characterized in that said at least one second portion (34) is intended to undergo rotation and be overturned so as to switch between a non-operating position, in which the sucker elements (36) are directed downwards, and an operating position, in which the sucker elements (36) are directed upwards in order to support and keep the articles (M) in a position raised with respect to said second portion (34).

2. Machine (1 ) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said atleast one second portion (34) comprises a surface (38), opposite to a support surface (44) on which the sucker elements (36) are located, intended to ensure continuity with an upper surface of said at least one first portion (30) when said second portion (34) is in the non-operating position.

3. Machine (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the machine comprises motorized means (40) and transmission means (42) connected to said at least one second portion (34) and intended to perform rotation thereof about a horizontal axis (T).

4. Machine (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least two machining tools (6, 8) are intended to be mounted on a machining head (12) rotatable about at least one vertical axis (Y).

5. Machine (1 ) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said movement means (10) comprise:- a horizontal beam (16) slidably mounted at its ends on respective lateral support structures (18);- a carriage (20) slidably mounted on said beam (16);- a sleeve (22) mounted on said carriage (22) and having said motorized spindle (9) and / or said machining head (12) mounted on the bottom end of the sleeve (22), said sleeve (22) being movable along a vertical direction so as to move the machining tools (6, 8) between a position raised and spaced from said worktable (2) and an operating position close to said worktable (2).

6. Machine (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one milling / drilling / contouring / shaping tool (8) is chosen from the group comprising drilling bits, contouring tools, edge shaping tools and milling cutters.

7. Machine (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized inthat the machine comprises a first magazine (24) for a plurality of cutting tools (6) of different sizes and a second magazine (26) for a plurality of drilling / contouring / shaping tools (8) of different shapes and sizes, said tools (6, 8) being intended to be mounted alternately on said motorized spindle (9).

8. Machine (1 ) according to Claim 5, characterized in that said sucker pick-up means (28) are mounted on the sides of said sleeve (22).

9. Machine (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sucker elements (36) are removably mounted on said second portion (34) in predetermined positions depending on the shape and size of the articles (M) to be machined and the machining operations to be performed.

10. Machine (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one first portion (30) has a greater area than the area of said at least one second portion (34).

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