Cell for heating and catalyzing resin of stone material

Abstract

A cell (1) for heating and catalyzing resin of stone material comprising at least one containment chamber arranged to hold a slab of stone material (21). In particular, the containment chamber comprises a lower sheet (18), an upper sheet (3), and at least one door (2,7) arranged for the insertion of the slab (21). The cell (1) further comprises at least one heat source arranged to emit heat in said or each containment chamber and at least one ventilation system arranged to allow the circulation and aspiration of air in said or each containment chamber. In particular, said or each containment chamber has a height of less than 80 centimeters.

Description

TITLECell for heating and catalyzing resin of stone materialDESCRIPTIONField of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field o f processing stone material .

[0002] In particular, the invention relates to a cell for heating and catalyzing resin of stone material .Description of the prior art

[0003] As is known, marble slab processing plants provide the use of furnaces to heat and dehumidi fy the slabs with hot air, as well as to allow the catalyzing of the resin .

[0004] Such furnaces are typically tall structures that allow the simultaneous insertion of a plurality of slabs that are stacked vertically without contact . To carry out the loading and unloading of the slabs inside the furnace , an elevator is used which li fts the slab to the dedicated level , at which dedicated bearings are provided that allow the slab to slide inside the furnace .

[0005] Such furnaces usually perform the heating and catalyzing of res in of the slabs by means of a flow of hot air, produced by electric resistances or gas burners , which spreads uni formly in the heating chamber in which the slabsare arranged. Therefore, the slabs are all heated at the same temperature and for the same duration.

[0006] Furthermore, before being inserted into the furnace, each slab is subjected to a vacuum generation process, in order to allow the resin to penetrate more effectively inside it. This process can be carried out by means of a steel chamber arranged along the line of the process or by inserting the slab inside an airtight bag with which the slab is subsequently inserted inside the furnace.

[0007] The traditional process described above, however, has numerous disadvantages.

[0008] Firstly, traditional furnaces, as mentioned, have a single heating chamber for a plurality of slabs. This entails the impossibility of carrying out a heating, dehumidification and resin catalyzing phase specific for the individual slab. This aspect is extremely limiting, since the slabs are often composed of different materials, have different degrees of humidity, or, depending on the quantity of defects present, need a greater or lesser quantity of resin, involving different times and temperatures for the catalyzing.

[0009] Moreover, such furnaces have an extremely high energy consumption since, as mentioned, they perform heating and drying not by means of direct exposure of the slabs to a heat source, but by means of the use of a flow of airpreheated in advance , involving a strong reduction of overall energy ef ficiency . Such energy consumption increases further in the case that the furnace has to be opened for the insertion or extraction of a single slab . In fact , in this case the flow of hot air disperses rapidly, reducing the energy ef ficiency and abruptly lowering the temperature to which the other slabs present in the heating chamber are subj ected .

[0010] A further disadvantage lies in the fact that a traditional furnace , having a very large volume and generally not having a sealed tightness , cannot be used to carry out the depressuri zation process necessary for the absorption of the resin in the slab, requiring, as mentioned above , a dedicated steel chamber or speci fic airtight bags .Summary of the invention

[0011] It is therefore an obj ect of the present invention to provide a cell for heating and catalyzing resin of stone material arranged to contain a single slab .

[0012] It is moreover an obj ect of the present invention to provide such a cell that has a system for the direct heating of the slab contained inside .

[0013] It is also an obj ect of the present invention to provide such a cell that allows the slab contained inside to be subj ected to the vacuum generation process .

[0014] It is a further obj ect of the present invention to provide such a cell that allows the connection with an analogous cell arranged below and / or above it .

[0015] These and other obj ects are achieved by a cell for heating and catalyzing resin of stone material comprising : at least one containment chamber arranged to hold a slab of stone material , said containment chamber comprising a lower sheet , an upper sheet and at least one door arranged for the insertion of said slab ; at least one heat source arranged to emit heat in said or each containment chamber ; at least one ventilation system arranged to allow the circulation and aspiration of air in said or each containment chamber ; the main feature of which is that said or each containment chamber has a height of less than 80 centimeters .

[0016] In particular, said or each containment chamber has a height of less than 40 centimeters .

[0017] More particularly, said or each containment chamber has a height of about 15 centimeters .

[0018] Advantageously, said or each containment chamber has a length of less than 10 meters .

[0019] In particular, said or each containment chamber has a length of about 4 meters .

[0020] Advantageously, said or each heat source comprises a heating panel .

[0021] In particular, said or each heat source is connected to said ventilation system to emit heat inside said or each containment chamber .

[0022] Advantageously, said containment chamber is a sealed chamber .

[0023] In particular, at least one support is also provided arranged to support said slab and to slide in said or each containment chamber to allow the insertion of said slab .

[0024] Advantageously, said or each support comprises a plurality of rolling bearings arranged to allow the sliding of said or each support inside said containment chamber .

[0025] In particular, said or each heating panel comprises a coil , said coil being, alternatively, an electric resistance , a silicone resistance or a channel arranged to contain a heat trans fer fluid .

[0026] Advantageously, at least one thermal insulation panel is provided .

[0027] In particular, said or each ventilation system comprises a fan and an aspiration duct .

[0028] Advantageously, said or each ventilation system comprises a heat exchanger evaporator arranged to allow the condensation of vapor outside of said containment chamber .

[0029] In particular, said or each ventilation system is arranged to depressuri ze said or each containment chamber .

[0030] It is also an obj ect of the present invention to provide a system for heating and catalyzing resin of stone material comprising at least two cells for heating and catalyzing resin of stone material , according to one of claims 1 to 9, said two cells being stacked one on top of the other .Brief description of the drawings

[0031] The invention wi ll be illustrated below with the following description of some embodiments thereof , given by way of example and not limitation, with reference to the attached drawings in which :Fig . 1 shows in perspective view a possible embodiment of the cell for heating and catalyzing resin of stone material according to claim 1 ;Fig . 2 shows the cell in exploded view;Fig . 3 shows in perspective view the slab support and the slab of stone material ;Fig . 4 shows the cell in exploded view highlighting the internal aeration channels ;Fig . 5 shows a detail of a cross-section of the cell ; Fig . 6 shows a longitudinal section of the cell ;Fig . 7 shows a section of the cell parallel to the slab, highlighting the heating coil ;Fig . 8 shows a possible embodiment of the system for heating and catalyzing resin of stone material comprising three stacked cells ;Fig . 9 shows a possible embodiment of the system for heating and catalyzing resin of stone material comprising five columns of stacked cells .Description of some preferred embodiments

[0032] With reference to Figs . 1 to 7 , in a possible embodiment provided by the present invention, the cell 1 for heating and catalyzing resin of stone material comprises a containment chamber having a maximum height of 80 cm, so as to hold in height a single slab of stone material 21 . However, the cell 1 can be configured so as to host several slabs in length . Furthermore , the cell 1 can comprise more than one containment chamber, each of which is thermally and pneumatically isolated from the others .

[0033] In particular, the containment chamber has a height of about 15 centimeters and a length of about 4 meters .

[0034] In particular, the containment chamber comprises two perforated girders 4 and 17 , a lower sheet 18 , an upper sheet 3 and two doors 2 and 7 arranged for the insertion of the slab 21 in the containment chamber . Only the door 2 can also be present and the door 7 can be replaced by a fixed insulated panel .

[0035] The cell 1 further comprises a heating panel 5 arranged to emit heat in the containment chamber by means of a coil 25. For example, the coil 25 can be an electric resistance, a silicone resistance or a channel arranged to contain a heat transfer fluid. The heating panel 5 can be mounted above or below the containment chamber.

[0036] The cell 1 further comprises a ventilation system arranged to allow the circulation of air in the containment chamber and the depressurization of the chamber itself.

[0037] The ventilation system comprises a fan 13, a duct 8, an aspiration duct 9, a heat exchanger evaporator 10 at cold temperature, a droplet separator 12 and a heat exchanger condenser 11 at hot temperature. The duct 8 can be replaced by a suction fan at the girder 4 and by a delivery fan at the girder 17.

[0038] The cell 1 further comprises a support 20 on which the slab 21 can be placed for its insertion inside the containment chamber. In particular, the support 20 can be provided with rolling bearings for the sliding of the support 20 itself inside the cell 1. The rolling of the bearings 26 can take place either on L-profiles 23 or directly on the lower sheet 18. As an alternative to the bearings 26, the support 20 can slide thanks, for example, to rollers, conveyor belt, magnetic table, chain system,belt system or linear motion transmission system provided with pinion and rack .

[0039] With reference to Figs . 8 and 9 , the cells 1 can be stacked vertically forming columns of cells 1 supported by a structure 27 , so as to form a system that allows the heating and catalyzing of resin of several slabs at the same time , each with its speci fic treatment . An elevator 28 can be provided to load and unload the slabs 21 inside the cells 1 . In particular, the water pipes of the individual cells 1 can be connected to each other to increase the ef ficiency of the system .

[0040] Once a slab 21 is inserted inside a cell 1 , a drying cycle is provided with the dehumidi fication of the air by means of the ventilation system . When the hot air passes through the heat exchanger evaporator 10 , that is an element at cold temperature , the water condenses and is collected by a suitable drip tray present in the droplet separator 12 . The latent heat released by the condensation process remains in the refrigerant fluid and is returned to the air through the heat exchanger 11 .

[0041] The system can also be used as a heat pump for the resin catalyzing process . By means of solenoid valves , the heat exchanger 10 is closed, only the heat exchanger 11 is activated, and the auxiliary exchanger 10 ' , which exchanges heat only with the external environment , is activated .Consequently, with little electric energy, the slab inside the cell is heated .

[0042] Once dried, the slab 21 exits the cell 1 , is resinated and returns inside the cell 1 for a vacuum and resin catalyzing cycle .

[0043] When the slab 21 is inside the cell 1 , the doors 2 and 7 are closed . At that point , the valve 14 is closed so as to create a vacuum in the cell 1 by aspirating air from the mani fold 15 . The heating of the cell 1 during the vacuum is ensured by the heating panel 5 .

[0044] Aft er a vacuum cycle that can have a customi zable duration depending on the type of material , the slab 21 rests in the cell 1 the necessary time for the resin to catalyze .

[0045] In a possible mode of use , the cell 1 is configured to allow the creation of a vacuum environment during the drying or catalyzing phase . This configuration involves the removal of the air present inside the containment chamber, thus generating a signi ficant reduction of the mass to be heated . This allows to obtain a greater energy ef ficiency, making it possible to achieve the same result in a shorter time or at lower temperatures , with the same time . The absence of air in the chamber also eliminates convective currents , favoring a uni form distribution of temperature onthe surface of the slab 21 , a particularly relevant aspect in the treatment of large-si ze elements .

[0046] Moreover, the cell 1 allows to adapt the duration and intensity of the vacuum cycle to the speci fic characteristics of the stone material treated . For example , for thicker slabs , it is possible to provide a longer catalyzing cycle and a less intense vacuum, while for softer materials or with reduced thickness a stronger vacuum and a shorter catalyzing cycle can be applied, optimi zing the penetration of the resin and minimi zing the risk of undesired absorption .

[0047] The possibility o f carrying out a combined cycle of vacuum, heating and subsequent dehumidi fication can also be used in the drying phase , in particular for those materials with a high inhibition coef ficient . In this way, the cell 1 allows to carry out targeted and ef ficient treatments , independent from the sequential logic of traditional lines .

[0048] During the catalyzing with heating process by means of the heating panel 5 , the heating process in heat pump mode by means of the ventilation system can also be activated .

[0049] The cell 1 , in addition to being used for the various processes of the slabs of stone material , can also be used to catalyze the resin necessary to bond the honeycomb to slabs of lightened stone material . For thecatalyzing process of composite materials such as honeycomb and thin stone slabs , the mani fold 15 is used to provide pressure higher than atmospheric pressure so that the pressuri zed air exerts a force on the slab 21 that promotes the bonding at catalyzing temperature ensured by the heating panel 5 .

[0050] The above description of embodiments of the invention is able to show the invention from the conceptual point of view so that others , us ing the prior art , will be able to modi fy and / or adapt such speci fic embodiments in various applications without further research and without departing from the inventive concept , and, therefore , it is intended that such adaptations and modi fications shall be considered as equivalents of the speci fic embodiments . The means and materials for carrying out the various functions described may be of various nature without for this reason departing from the scope of the invention . It is understood that the expressions or terminology used have a purely descriptive purpose and, for this reason, not limiting .

Claims

CLAIMS1. A cell (1) for heating and catalyzing resin of stone material comprising: at least one containment chamber arranged to hold a slab of stone material (21) , said containment chamber characterized in that it includes a lower sheet (18) , an upper sheet (3) , and at least one door (2,7) arranged for the insertion of said slab (21) ; at least one heat source arranged to emit heat in said or each containment chamber; at least one ventilation system arranged to allow the circulation and aspiration of air in said or each containment chamber; said cell (1) being characterized in that said or each containment chamber has a height of less than 80 centimeters .

2. The cell (1) for heating and catalyzing resin of stone material, according to claim 1, in which said or each heat source comprises a heating panel (5) .

3. The cell (1) for heating and catalyzing resin of stone material, according to claim 1, in which said or each heat source is connected to said ventilation system to emit heat within said or each containment chamber.

4. The cell (1) for heating and catalyzing resin of stone material, according to claim 1, in which said containment chamber is a sealed chamber.

5. The cell (1) for heating and catalyzing resin of stone material, according to claim 1, in which at least one support (20) is also provided, arranged to support said slab (21) and to slide in said or each containment chamber to allow the insertion of said slab (21) .

6. The cell (1) for heating and catalyzing resin of stone material, according to claim 2, in which said or each heating panel (5) comprises a coil (25) , said coil (25) being, alternatively, an electric resistance, a silicone resistance, or a channel arranged to contain a heat transfer fluid.

7. The cell (1) for heating and catalyzing resin of stone material, according to claim 1, in which said or each ventilation system comprises a fan (13) and an aspiration duct (9) .

8. The cell (1) for heating and catalyzing resin of stone material, according to claim 1, in which said or each ventilation system comprises a heat exchanger evaporator (10) arranged to allow the condensation of vapor outside of said containment chamber.

9. The cell (1) for heating and catalyzing resin of stonematerial, according to claim 1, in which said or each ventilation system is arranged to depressurize said or each containment chamber.

10. A system for heating and catalyzing resin of stone material comprising at least two cells (1) for heating and catalyzing resin of stone material according to one of the claims 1 to 9, said two cells (1) being stacked one on top of the other.

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