System and method for manufacturing multi-coloured ceramic articles

Abstract

System (1) and method for manufacturing multi-coloured ceramic articles (MC), the system (1) comprising: - a forming apparatus (3) for pressure casting a ceramic article (MC), comprising: a mould (4) having at least two heads (5A, 5B) which define a casting cavity (6) in a closed configuration; and a rotation mechanism (28) for rotating the closed mould (4) clockwise and counterclockwise; - a feeding system (7) for feeding at least two ceramic mixes of different colours into the closed mould (4); - a pushing system (8) for pressurising the casting cavity (6); and - a control assembly (CU) for controlling the operation of the forming apparatus (3) - including the rotation mechanism (28) - the feeding system (7) and the pushing system (8) to form a multi-coloured ceramic article (MC).

Description

[0001] SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING CERAMIC ARTICLES

[0002] Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0003] This Patent Appl ication claims priority from Italian Patent Application No . 102024000021001 filed on September 20 , 2024 , the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference .

[0004] Technical Field

[0005] The present invention relates to a system and to a method for manufacturing ceramic articles by means of pressure casting; in particular, for manufacturing multicoloured ceramic articles .

[0006] In particular, the present invention is advantageously but not exclusively applied to pressure casting for manufacturing sanitary fixtures made of ceramic material ( such as washbasins , tanks , bidets , bowls , etc . ) having particular decorations throughout their thickness , for example having veining adapted to reproduce the appearance of wood and / or natural stone throughout the thickness , to which the following description will explicitly refer without thereby losing generality .

[0007] Background of the Invention

[0008] The manufacturing of ceramic articles such as sanitary fixtures ( such as washbasins , tanks , bidets , bowls , etc . ) generally occurs by means of pressure casting of a mix consisting of a water suspension o f ceramic material , known as slip, inside hygroscopic and / or permeable moulds , generally made of porous resin or plaster , so as to permit the dehydration of the slip during the pressure casting, i . e . the escape of the water contained in the slip through the pores of the mould . Typically, the moulds for manufacturing ceramic sanitary fixtures are made up of two or more mould parts , depending on the complexity of the ceramic article to be manufactured, which are configured to couple to one another in a closed configuration so as to define , between them, at least one casting cavity, inside which, in use , the slip is introduced at high pressure so that , following the above- mentioned dehydration, it penetrates the walls of the parts of the mould and escapes from the mould through them, determining the deposit of the sol id part of the sl ip inside the walls of the mould parts and, therefore , the formation of the walls of the ceramic article .

[0009] In recent years , the need has been increasingly felt to manufacture ceramic articles with particular high aesthetic value bearing complex decorations throughout their thickness ; for example , bearing, at least on the visible surfaces , veining with colour contrast to reproduce the appearance of natural materials , for example marble , or in any case having complex decorations with colour contrast .

[0010] Decorated ceramic articles are currently manufactured by means of decoration operations that are performed after the article has been formed by casting, dried and enamelled with white matting enamel and possibly ( depending on the type of decoration) , also fired . Such decorations are performed by means of decalcomania or digital printers or by hand based on the decoration quality that is intended to be obtained .

[0011] It is understood that in this manner the manufacturing process is lengthened with a consequent increase in production costs and time which risk becoming incompatible with the modern production lines of ceramic articles . Furthermore , such decoration methods do not anyway allow creating decorations and veining throughout the thickness of the ceramic article .

[0012] The obj ect of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing method and a manufacturing system for manufacturing ceramic articles by means of pressure casting, which allow overcoming at least in part the disadvantages of the prior art , allowing manufacturing ceramic articles ( in particular, sanitary articles made of ceramic material ) bearing veining and / or multi-coloured decorations throughout the thickness , in a simpler and more cost-ef fective manner .

[0013] Summary

[0014] In accordance with the present invention, a manufacturing method and a manufacturing system for manufacturing ceramic articles by means of pressure casting are proposed, according to what is claimed in the appended independent claims , and preferably, in any one of the claims directly or indirectly dependent on the mentioned independent claims .

[0015] The claims describe preferred embodiments of the present invention forming integral part of the present description .

[0016] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] The invention i s described in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings , which illustrate some non-limiting example embodiments thereof , wherein :

[0018] - Figure 1 is a schematic view of part of a system for manufacturing ceramic articles , in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, which schematically illustrates a forming apparatus of ceramic articles , a filling system for feeding two di f ferent types of slip to the forming apparatus , and a pushing system for pressuri zing the slip ;

[0019] - Figure 2 is a schematic view of part of a system for manufacturing ceramic articles which schematically illustrates the same parts of the manufacturing system of Figure 1 , but in accordance with a di f ferent embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] - Figure 3 is a perspective view of a forming apparatus of the manufacturing system of Figures 1 and 2 ;

[0021] - Figure 4 is a schematic view of a further part of a system for manufacturing ceramic articles , which schematically illustrates a forming apparatus in an open configuration, a decoration machine , and a handling device ;

[0022] - Figures 5 , 6 and 8 are examples of di f ferent ceramic articles manufactured by means of the manufacturing system of the present invention and provided with a multi-coloured decoration and;

[0023] - Figure 7 illustrates a section view of the ceramic article of Figure 6 during a decoration step ; and

[0024] - Figure 7A is an enlarged view of the detail W of Figure 7 .

[0025] Detailed Description

[0026] In the accompanying figures , reference numeral 1 indicates , as a whole , a manufacturing system for manufacturing multi-coloured ceramic articles MC by means of pressure casting; in particular, sanitary fixtures made of ceramic material ( such as washbasins , tanks , bidets , bowls , etc . ) , having a multi-coloured decoration on at least part of a peripheral surface 2 ( see , for example , Figures 6 and 8 ) .

[0027] More in particular, each ceramic article MC manufactured with the manufacturing system 1 of the present invention is multi-coloured, namely has a main body consisting of at least two ceramic mixes with a di f ferent colour and comprises a multi faceted peripheral surface 2 intended, in use , to be visible , which has , on at least one part thereof , a multi-coloured decoration .

[0028] In the present invention, the expression "multicoloured decoration / pattern" refers to a decoration created with two or more di f ferent colours which, advantageously but not limitedly, extends throughout the thickness of the walls of the ceramic article MC .

[0029] It is further speci fied that within the scope of the present description, the term " second" component / element does not imply the presence of a " first" component / element . Such terms , in fact , are used as labels for improving clarity and are not to be understood in a limiting manner .

[0030] Advantageously, the manufacturing system 1 comprises : a forming apparatus 3 for pressure casting ( known per se and not described in detail herein) which comprises at least one mould 4 having, in turn, a first head 5A and at least one second head 5B complementary to each other and movable , relative to each other, between an open configuration, in which the heads 5A, 5B are distant from each other, and a second casting configuration, in which the heads 5A, 5B are in contact and de fine , between them, a casting cavity 6 for the formation of a ceramic article MC ; and a feeding system 7 configured to feed, in a controlled and independent manner, a first mix comprising ( in particular, consisting of ) a water suspension of ceramic material with a first colour, i . e . having a percentage of at least about 0 . 1 % ( in particular up to about 0 . 15% ) of the total by weight of dyes or coloured pigments with a first colour, and at least a second mix comprising (in particular, consisting of) a water suspension of ceramic material with a second colour, i.e. a percentage of at least about 0.1% (in particular up to about 0.15%) of the total by weight of dyes or coloured pigments with a second colour, different from the first colour, at a pressure ranging from about 0.5 bar to about 6 bar inside the casting cavity 6.

[0031] According to some advantageous but non-limiting and non-illustrated embodiments, the mould 4 of the forming apparatus 3 comprises three heads 5A, 5B and 5C . As the shape of the ceramic article MC to be manufactured varies, the number of heads 5A, 5B and 5C can change.

[0032] Advantageously but not limitedly, the forming apparatus 3 comprises an actuator system (not visible in the accompanying figures) , for example comprising a jack, adapted to move at least one of the heads 5A, 5B and 5C of the mould 4 relative to the other ones for shifting from the open configuration (see, for example, Figure 4) to the closed configuration (see, for example, Figure 3) , and vice versa. Alternatively, the actuator system comprises several actuators (in particular in number that is the same as the number of heads 5A, 5B) , each configured to move a respective head 5A, 5B, 5C up to bringing them in contact with one another in the closed configuration (see, for example, Figure 3) and move them away from one another in the open configuration .

[0033] According to some advantageous but non-limiting embodiments, the feeding system 7 is configured to feed a plurality of different ceramic mixes, for example three different ceramic mixes, as is illustrated in Figure 2, at a pressure ranging from about 0.5 bar to about 6 bar, inside the casting cavity 6; more advantageously but non-limitedly, such feeding of the different mixes inside the casting cavity 6 occurs in a direct manner (i.e. without passage in other intermediate components) .

[0034] Preferably, each one of such ceramic mixes comprises (in particular, consists of of) a ceramic material suitable for casting ceramic articles MC such as washbasins, bidets or toilets in particular as a cast piece, for example a Vitreous China sanitary mix or a so-called Fine Fireclay sanitary mix. Advantageously but not limitedly, such mix comprises (in particular, consists of) about 50% a 55% by weight of a plastic and semi-plastic component, which, in turn, comprises (in particular, consists of) clays and kaolins, and about 45-50% of a further non-plastic (or hard) component which, in turn, comprises (in particular, consists of) feldspathic minerals, quartzous minerals and chamotte.

[0035] In detail, according to some advantageous but nonlimiting embodiments, each one of the mixes has a viscosity ranging from 50 to 700 cps . More advantageously but not limitedly, the mixes fed by the feeding system 7 all substantially have the same viscosity. Alternatively, advantageously but not limitedly, the various mixes differ from one another, besides for the colour also for the viscosity .

[0036] Advantageously, the manufacturing system 1 further comprises: a pushing system 8 configured to set, inside the casting cavity 6, a casting pressure of at least about 5 bar (in particular, ranging from about 5 bar; more in particular, about 10 bar, to about 20 bar) so as to pressurize the mixes already fed into the casting cavity 6 and induce the dehydration of the mix on the wall s of the mould 4 so as to form a multi-coloured ceramic article MC ( in particular, two-coloured in the embodiment o f Figures 1 , 5 and 8 ) ; and a control assembly CU, only schematically illustrated in Figures 1 , 2 and 4 , configured to control the operation of the forming apparatus 3 , of the feeding system 7 and of the pushing system 8 so as to ensure that the mixes fed by the feeding system 7 into the casting cavity 6 are mixed together for forming, once the casting pressure has been set and a casting time necessary for dehydration of the ceramic mix has elapsed, the above-mentioned multi-coloured ceramic article MC ( in particular, two-coloured at least in the case where the fed mixes are only two ) provided on the peripheral surface 2 of a multi-coloured pattern, advantageously having veining with colour contrast ( see, for example , the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 , 5 and 8 ) .

[0037] According to some advantageous but non-limiting embodiments , the feeding system 7 comprises : a plurality of tanks 10a, 10b, 10c ( in particular at least two tanks 10a, 10b, as is illustrated in Figure 1 ) for containing the first mix and at least the second mix , respectively, and, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2 , also a third mix ; a plurality of feeding ducts I la, 11b, 11c ( in particular, at least two feeding ducts I la, 11b ) for connecting ( in particular, in a direct manner - i . e . without the interposition of other components ) the respective tank 10a, 10b, 10c to the mould 4 ; a pressuri zation assembly 12 configured to control the pressure with which each mix flows from the respective tank 10a, 10b, 10c to the respective feeding duct I la, 11b, 11c independently of the remaining mixes ; a plurality of electronically controlled valve assemblies 13a, 13b, 13c ( in particular, at least two electronically controlled valve assemblies 13a, 13b ) , one for each feeding duct I la, 11b, 11 c and each one operatable , independently of the other ones , from a closed position, in which it prevents the fluid connection between the respective tank 10a, 10b 10c and the casting cavity 6 , and at least one open position, in which it permits the fluid connection between the respective tank 10a, 10b, 10c and the casting cavity 6 , and vice versa .

[0038] More in particular, in the advantageous but nonexclusive embodiments illustrated in the accompanying figures , the valve assemblies 13a, 13b, 13c are each arranged along a respective feeding duct I la, 11b, 11c and are operatable to permit or prevent the fluid connection between the respective feeding duct I la, 11b, 11c and the casting cavity 6 . It is understood that , according to other embodiments not i llustrated, the valve assemblies 13a, 13b, 13c could be interposed between the respective tank 10a, 10b, 10c and the respective feeding duct I la, 11b, 11c, namely immediately downstream of the tank I la, 11b, 11c operatable to permit or prevent the outflow of the respective mix towards the feeding duct I la, 11b, 11c .

[0039] Advantageously but not limitedly, the control assembly CU is configured to control the pressuri zation assembly 12 and the valve assemblies 13a, 13b, 13c for varying the quantity and the pressure with which each mix is fed to the casting cavity 6 , as a function of the type of multi-coloured ceramic article MC ( in particular, of the type of multicoloured decoration) to be obtained .

[0040] Advantageously but not limitedly, the feeding system 7 is connected directly ( i . e . without the interposition of other components or apparatuses ) to the mould 4 so as to be able to feed directly and in an independent and controlled manner the various mixes into the casting cavity 6 . More advantageously but not limitedly, each feeding duct I la, 11b, 11c of the feeding system 7 is connected directly to the mould 4 ; more in particular, each feeding duct I la, 11b, 11c extends between the respective tank 10a, 10b, 10c and the mould 4 without the interposition of other elements or components excepting the above-mentioned valve assemblies 13a, 13b, 13c or possible other valves that can be provided along the feeding ducts I la, 11b, 11c for allowing the precise control of the feeding of the various mixes to the mould 4 .

[0041] It is understood that , according to other advantageous but non-limiting and non-illustrated embodiments , the forming apparatus 3 could comprise any number of moulds 4 , connected to one another or independent of one another . In this case , the feeding system 7 is configured to feed the various mixes to each mould 4 independently of the other ones and comprises a number of feeding ducts I la, 11b, 11c and a number of valve assemblies 13a, 13b, 13c that is the same as the number of mixes intended to be fed to each mould 4 . Also in this case , the feeding system 7 is configured ( as better set forth above ) to feed directly the various mixes to each mould 4 ( i . e . without intermediate passages of the various mixes in other components or apparatuses ) .

[0042] The feeding system 7 made in this manner allows varying with extreme flexibility the flow rate and / or the feeding pressure of each mix, even only by varying ( in particular, adj usting) the opening degree of each valve assembly 13a, 13b, 13c . Going into detail about the pressuri zation assembly 12 , according to some advantageous but non-limiting embodiments , such as the one illustrated in Figure 2 , the tanks 10a, 10b, 10c are sealed tanks and the pressuri zation as sembly 12 comprises : an inlet 14 of a fluid comprising ( in particular, consisting of ) air at a pressure ranging from about 0 . 5 to about 6 bar ; a connection duct 15 configured to connect the inlet 14 to each one of the tanks 10a, 10b, 10c for pressuri zing such tanks 10a, 10b, 10c and has a number of outlet branches 16a, 16b, 16c that is the same as the number of tanks 10a, 10b, 10c ; a plurality of pressure adj usters 17a, 17b, 17c, that are as many as the number of tanks 10a, 10b, 10c, each one located along a respective outlet branch 16a, 16b, 16c of the connection duct 15 and configured to adj ust the pressure of the fluid so as to independently adj ust the pressure inside each tank 10a, 10b, 10c ; and a plurality of electronically controlled valves 19a, 19b, 19c, as many as the number of tanks 10a, 10b, each one located along a respective outlet branch 16a, 16b, 16c, advantageously but not limitedly upstream of the pressure adj uster 17a, 17b, 17c along the outlet branch 16a, 16b, 16c, and configured to selectively open or close the fluid connection between the connection duct 15 and the respective tank 10a, 10b, 10c .

[0043] In this case , advantageously but not limitedly, the control assembly CU is configured to independently control the operation of each pressure adj uster 17a, 17b, 17c and of each valve 19a, 19b, 19c . In this manner, by suitably adj usting the pressure adj uster 17a, 17b, 17c, it will be possible to vary the pressure with which the various mixes are fed to the casting cavity 6 . Such particular configuration of the pressuri zation assembly 12 allows controlling with extreme precision the pressure with which each mix is fed, for example as a function of the type of multi-coloured decoration to be created, exploiting the industrial air, without having to provide for pushing pumps , and thus reducing the costs of the manufacturing system 1 , the performance being equal .

[0044] Alternatively or additionally, according to other advantageous but non-limiting embodiments , such as for example the one i llustrated in Figure 1 , the pressuri zation assembly 12 comprises a number of pumps 18a, 18b that is the same as the number of tanks 10a, 10b, each arranged along the feeding duct I la, 11b which connects each tank 10a, 10b to the mould 4 and each one operatable in a manner independent of the other ones to vary the flow rate and / or the pressure with which each mix is fed to the mould 4 , as the type of multi-coloured decoration to be obtained varies .

[0045] Advantageously but not limitedly, the control assembly CU is configured to control the feeding system 7 ( in particular, each valve assembly 13a, 13b, 13c) so as to feed into the casting cavity 6 a first quantity of the f irst mix with a first fill ing pressure , a second quantity, less than the first quantity, at least of the second mix (or, when the feeding system 7 feeds several mixes , of each mix ) with a second filling pressure , that is the same as or di f ferent from the first filling pressure , so as to form a ceramic article MC having a background colour and a coloured pattern with the second colour ( or, when more than two mixes are fed, a coloured pattern for each one of the above-mentioned colours ) which goes through the background colour, defining the above-mentioned multi-coloured pattern; in particular, defining veining with colour contrast ( see the ceramic articles MC illustrated in Figures 5 and 8 ) .

[0046] Alternatively, advantageously but not limitedly, the control assembly CU is configured to control the feeding system 7 ( in particular, each valve assembly 13a, 13b, 13c ) so as to feed into the casting cavity 6 substantially similar quantities of each mix, thereby obtaining a two-coloured or multi-coloured ceramic article MC in which the various colours are substantially present in the same quantities .

[0047] In detail , according to some advantageous but nonlimiting embodiments , the control assembly CU is configured to simultaneously control the feeding system 7 so as to feed in one single casting cycle the various mixes to the casting cavity 6 . It is understood that during such single casting cycle , the control assembly CU can command the various valve assemblies 13a, 13b, 13c for operating them in an alternated manner and / or for di f ferent times and / or with di f ferent feeding pressures as the type of multi-coloured ceramic article MC to be manufactured varies .

[0048] According to other advantageous but non-limiting embodiments , the control assembly CU is configured to command, at given time intervals , the operation of the forming apparatus 3 , of the feeding system 7 and of the pushing system 8 so as to form the ceramic article MC in several successive casting sub-steps , obtaining a multilayer multi-coloured ceramic article MC, in which each layer has a di f ferent appearance . In particular, such given time interval is at least of about 30 seconds ; in particular, ranging from 30 seconds to 600 seconds ; more in particular, of about 300 seconds .

[0049] In detail , advantageously but not limitedly, in this case (i.e. when it is intended to create a multi-layer ceramic article MC) the control assembly CU is configured to command the operation of the valve assemblies 13a, 13b, 13c at every given time interval so that, for each casting cycle, at least one valve assembly 13a, 13b, 13c is in an open position and at least one other valve assembly 13a, 13b, 13c is in a closed position so as to alternately feed different mixes to the casting cavity 6 so as to obtain layers SI, S2, S3 of different appearance at every casting cycle.

[0050] With particular reference to Figure 1, when the feeding system 7 is configured to feed only two mixes, the control assembly CU commands the two valve assemblies 13a, 13b so as to operate them towards the open configuration at alternate time intervals, so that at every cycle a certain type of mix is fed. It is understood that as the types of decoration that one wants to obtain vary, it is also possible to simultaneously operate the valve assemblies 13a, 13b in an open position so as to simultaneously feed but with different parameters (for example feeding pressure or feeding time and thus different quantities) of the various mixes so as to form the various layers SI, S2, S3.

[0051] In particular, in the advantageous but non-limiting embodiment illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 7A, the ceramic article MC comprises three different layers SI, S2 and S3. In this case, advantageously but not limitedly, the control assembly CU is configured to command the various valve assemblies 13a, 13b, 13c, so that: in a first casting substep only the valve assembly 13a assumes the open position so as to feed under pressure the first mix and create the first layer SI of the ceramic article MC; once a certain time interval has elapsed (in particular, once the first layer S I has been formed) , in a second casting sub-step, the control assembly CU commands the shi fting of the valve assembly 13a from the open position to the closed position and commands the shi fting of the valve assembly 13b from the closed position to the open position so as to feed only the second mix to the casting cavity 6 and create the second layer S2 of the multi-layer ceramic article MC arranged around the first layer S I ; and, once the second layer S2 has been formed, in a third casting sub-step, the control assembly CU commands the shi fting of the valve assembly 13b from the open position to the closed position and commands the shi fting of the valve assembly 13c from the closed position to the open position, so as to create a third layer S3 of the multi-layer ceramic article MC around ( in particular, in contact with) the second layer S2 .

[0052] Advantageously but not limitedly, the control assembly CU comprises ( in particular, contains ) a memory, more advantageously rewritable , which, in turn, contains a list of possible multi-coloured decorations and actuation instructions for each multi-coloured decoration to be obtained, which contain the operating parameters at least of the feeding system 7 , of the pushing system 8 .

[0053] Advantageously but not limitedly, when the feeding system 7 is operated to form a multi-layer ceramic article MC, setting data, comprising at least the thickness of the di f ferent layers S I , S2 , S3 of the multi-layer ceramic article MC, are also contained within the above-mentioned memory . Such setting data can be used by a decoration machine 9 , when provided, to form three-dimensional decorations on the peripheral surface 2 of the multi-coloured ceramic article MC, as it will be better explained in the following . According to some advantageous but non-limiting embodiments , such as the one illustrated in Figure 3 , the forming apparatus 3 comprises a rotation mechanism 28 ( only partially visible in Figure 3 , known per se and not described in detail herein) operatively connected to the mould 4 and capable of being operated to permit the rotation of the mould 4 , in a closed configuration, around a substantially hori zontal rotation axis R by an angle ranging from about 0 ° to about 180 ° in a clockwise direction and by an angle of about 180 ° at most in a counterclockwise direction . In this manner, by suitably adj usting the rotation of the mould 4 , it is possible to vary the mutual distribution of the mixes fed by the feeding system 7 so as to obtain certain types of multi-coloured ceramic articles MC . It has in fact been experimentally observed that the rotation of the mould 4 can contribute to the mixing of the mixes in the casting cavity 6 , allowing obtaining particularly complex multi-coloured decorations / patterns .

[0054] According to some advantageous but non-limiting embodiments , the pushing system 8 comprises : a container 29 ( in particular, a pressuri zed cylinder 29 ) containing a pressuri zation fluid comprising ( in particular, consisting of ) pressuri zed air, for example industrial air, at a pressure of at least about 5 bar ( in particular, ranging from about 5 bar to about 20 bar ) ; a connection pipe 30 which extends from the cylinder 29 to the mould 4 and is selectively connectable in a fluid manner to the feeding ducts I la, 11b, 11c, advantageously but not limitedly, by means of one or more valves 31 , so as to feed the pressuri zation fluid to the casting cavity 6 together with a defined quantity of at least one mix defining the above- mentioned pressuri zed fluid mixture . The control assembly CU is configured to selectively permit or prevent the connection between the connection pipe 30 and the feeding ducts I la, 11b, 11c as a function of the type of multi-coloured article MC ( in particular, the type of multi-coloured decoration) to be obtained .

[0055] In particular, the control assembly CU is configured to control the connection between the connection pipe 30 and the feeding ducts I la, 11b, 11c so as to compensate for the proportion of liquid component of the mix that is expelled ( in particular drained by means of the walls of the mould 4 ) during the casting and ensure that the casting cavity 6 is always full . Furthermore , the control assembly CU, as a function of the type of multi-coloured decoration to be obtained, controls with which and how many feeding ducts I la, 11b, 11c to fluidly connect the connection pipe 30 .

[0056] According to some advantageous but non-limiting embodiments , such as for example the one illustrated in Figure 4 , the manufacturing system 1 comprises : a decoration machine 9 , which in turn, comprises at least one abrasive tool 90 configured to intercept at least part of a peripheral surface 2 of the ceramic article MC and remove at least one layer of such peripheral surface 2 and the control assembly CU is configured to control the operation of the decoration machine 9 , as a function of the multi-coloured pattern present on the multi-coloured ceramic article MC, so as to create on the peripheral surface 2 the above-mentioned decoration is a pattern which is at least partially raised, advantageously coordinated with the multi-coloured pattern so as to obtain a ceramic article MC having a multi-coloured and three-dimensional decoration . More advantageously but not limitedly, the decoration machine 9 comprises : a support 23 arranged at the decoration station 20 for receiving the ceramic article MC ; a supporting and handling structure 24 which carries the abrasive tool 90 and is operatable to move it in the space ; and a control unit (not visible in the accompanying figures ) configured to operate the supporting and handling structure 24 and the abrasive tool 90 so as to create at least one three- dimensional decoration on the peripheral surface 2 of the ceramic article MC .

[0057] Advantageously but not limitedly, the control assembly CU is connected to the control unit of the decoration machine 9 for controlling the operation of the supporting structure 24 and of the abrasive tool 90 as a function of the decoration to be created . More advantageous ly but not limitedly, the control assembly CU of the manufacturing system 1 comprises ( in particular, coincides with) the control unit of the decoration machine 9 .

[0058] With particular reference to Figure 4 , advantageously but not limitedly, the supporting and handling structure 24 comprises ( in particular, is made up of ) an anthropomorphic robot of the collaborative type ; and the abrasive tool 90 is rotatably coupled to the anthropomorphic robot so as to be able to move in the space ; advantageously but not limitedly, by means of a ball j oint 25 which permits the complete rotation of the abrasive tool 90 . Advantageously but not limitedly, the abrasive tool 90 comprises ( in particular, is ) a carving kni fe , a milling cutter, a grinding wheel .

[0059] According to other advantageous but non-limiting embodiments not illustrated, the decoration machine 9 comprises a multi-tool head configured to carry a plurality of decoration tools and the control unit of the decoration machine 9 is configured to command the operation of one of such decoration tools as a function of the three-dimensional decoration to be created .

[0060] Advantageously but not limitedly, the decoration machine 9 ( in particular, the support 23 ) further comprises at least one plane of gripping elements 26 , for example suction elements such as suction cups ( as is illustrated in Figure 4 ) , configured to keep the ceramic article MC in position while it is decorated by the decoration machine 9 . This allows avoiding the risk of falls or involuntary displacements of the ceramic article MC that could compromise the decoration or cause damage to the ceramic article .

[0061] According to some advantageous but non-limiting embodiments , the decoration machine 9 further comprises at least one detection unit 27 for detecting at least the space orientation of the ceramic article MC, for example relative to the support 23 so as to consequently operate the supporting and handling structure 24 and create the desired three-dimensional decoration .

[0062] Advantageously but not limitedly, in this case ( i . e . when a decoration machine 9 is provided) inside the above- mentioned memory, contained in the control assembly CU, also a list of three-dimensional and multi-coloured decorations is contained, and for each one of such three-dimensional and multi-coloured decorations , operating instructions are comprised, comprising at least one decoration path to be followed on the ceramic article MC for creating the respective three-dimensional decoration / pattern . The control unit of the decoration machine 9 is configured to operate the supporting and handling structure 24 as a function of the three-dimens ional and multi-coloured decoration to be created, of the information contained in such list ( in particular of the decoration path contained in such list ) and of the data detected by the detection unit 27 ; in particular, the control assembly CU trans fers the above- mentioned instructions to the control unit of the decoration machine 9 which, consequently, operates the supporting and handling structure 24 and the abrasive tool 90 .

[0063] In these cases , the control unit of the decoration machine 9 is conf igured to induce a mutual movement between the support 23 and the supporting and handling structure 24 as a function of the data detected by the detection unit 27 , so as to induce the abrasive tool to move along the decoration path creating the desired three-dimensional decoration on the above-mentioned peripheral surface 2 of the ceramic article MC . In other words , according to some embodiments , both the support 23 and the supporting and handling structure 24 are moved, in use ( namely during the creation of the decoration) as a function of is the data detected by the detection unit 27 .

[0064] According to some advantageous but non-limiting embodiments , the detection unit 27 comprises a camera, or a 3D scanner . It is understood that any detection system 27 of the known type fit for detecting the space orientation of the ceramic article MC in the space could be utili zed in the decoration machine 6 .

[0065] According to some advantageous but non-limiting embodiments , the detection unit 27 is integral with the decoration machine 9 , for example is mounted on board the abrasive tool 90 .

[0066] According to other advantageous but non-limiting embodiments , the support 23 is movable relative to the supporting and handling structure 24 . In this case , advantageously but not limitedly, the control unit of the decoration machine 9 is configured to adj ust , in use ( namely during the decoration operations ) , the mutual movement of the support 23 and of the supporting and handling structure 24 , advantageously when provided also as a function of the data detected by the detection unit 27 , so as to create the desired decoration .

[0067] It is understood that the decoration machine 9 could comprise , instead of the support 23 , a gripping tool for keeping the ceramic article MC in the desired position while the above-mentioned abrasive tool 90 moves along the decoration path for creating the desired decoration .

[0068] According to some advantageous but non-limiting embodiments , the abrasive tool 90 can be moved in the space relative to the ceramic article MC to be decorated by means of the handling device 21 , or the ceramic article MC can be moved relative to the abrasive tool 90 , by means of the moving of the support 23 and when provided also of the plane of gripping elements 26 , or both can be moved relative to each other for obtaining the desired three-dimensional and multi-coloured decoration .

[0069] According to some advantageous but non-limiting embodiments , the decoration machine 9 comprises at least one force detection device (not visible in the accompanying figures and known per se , for example comprising at least one force sensor of known type and) configured to detect a contact pressure transmitted, in use, by the abrasive tool 90 to the peripheral surface 2 of the ceramic article MC . In this case ( advantageously but not limitedly) , the control unit of the decoration machine 9 is configured to control the operation of the abrasive tool 90 also based on the data detected by the force detection device so that, in use, the abrasive tool 90, creating the above-mentioned three- dimensional decoration, transmits a given contact pressure, more advantageously but not limitedly constant, to the peripheral surface 2 of the ceramic article MC .

[0070] According to some advantageous but non-limiting embodiments, the force detection device is arranged on the decoration machine 9, for example at the joint connecting the abrasive tool 90 to the supporting and handling structure 24.

[0071] When the manufactured ceramic article MC is multilayer, as described above, the control assembly CU is configured to command the decoration machine 9 (in particular, by exchanging data with the control unit of such decoration machine 9) for controlling the operation of the abrasive tool 90 so that, in use, the abrasive tool 90, by intercepting the outer surface 2, removes a portion of the multi-layer ceramic article MC having a given extension which is a function of the three-dimensional decoration to be obtained and the above-mentioned setting data, i.e. of the thickness of the different layers SI, S2, S3 of the multilayer ceramic article MC, so as to highlight different layers SI, S2, S3. This advantageously permits creating in an automatic manner complex decorations, for example consisting of low raised zones having different colours (see Figures 6, 7, 7A) .

[0072] With particular reference to Figure 8, according to some advantageous but non-limiting embodiments, at least one of the heads 5A, 5B, 5C of the mould 4 comprises at least one portion having a raised structure ; in other words , at least one of the two heads 5A, 5B, 5C is a structured head so as to form a ceramic article MC having a pattern, at least partially raised, on at least part of the outer surface 2 , so that during the casting, once the feeding system 7 has fed the above-mentioned, they can be mixed with one another and distributed in the recesses of the partial ly raised structure of the structured head 5A, 5B, 5C, giving rise to decorations and chromatic ef fects of particular high aesthetic value . In fact , it has been experimentally observed that the inj ection of di f ferent mixes into a casting cavity 6 consisting of structured heads 5A, 5B, 5C allows creating, during the casting, particular structured aesthetic ef fects on the surface 2 of the ceramic article MC ( see , for example , Figure 8 ) .

[0073] According to some advantageous but non-limiting embodiments , in this case , when the above-mentioned decoration machine 9 is provided, the abrasive tool 90 of the decoration machine 9 comprises ( in particular, consists of ) a grinding wheel and the control assembly CU is configured to command the operation of the decoration machine 9 so as to remove at least one layer, of a thickness ranging from about 0 . 5 mm to about 3 mm, along the entire peripheral surface 2 of the ceramic article MC so as to remove at least part of the at least partially rai sed pattern and highlight the particular multi-coloured patterns created by the mixes inj ected into the casting cavity 6 consisting of the above- mentioned structured heads 5A, 5B, 5C .

[0074] With particular reference to Figures 1 and 2 , advantageously but not limitedly, the manufacturing system 1 for manufacturing ceramic articles MC further comprises a discharge system 32 for expelling the liquid component of each mix, during the various casting cycles , comprising a duct 33 which extends from the forming apparatus 3 ( in particular, from the mould 4 ) to a collection tank 34 .

[0075] According to another aspect of the present invention, a manufacturing method is proposed for manufacturing a multicoloured ceramic article MC, of the type described above , by means of a forming apparatus 3 for pressure casting .

[0076] In detail , such forming apparatus 3 comprises a mould 4 having, in turn, two or more heads 5A, 5B and 5C complementary to one another and movable relative to one another, between an open configuration, in which they are distant from one another, and a closed configuration, in which they are in contact and define , between them, a casting cavity 6 and a rotation mechanism 28 ( advantageously of the type described above ) operatively connected to the mould 4 and operatable to rotate such mould 4 around a rotation axis R by an angle ranging from about 0 ° to about 180 ° in a clockwise direction and by an angle of about 180 ° at most in a counterclockwise direction . More advantageously but not necessarily, such forming apparatus 3 is manufactured in accordance with one of the embodiments described above in relation to the manufacturing system 1 .

[0077] Advantageously, the manufacturing method comprises : a filling step, during which a feeding system 7 ( advantageously but not limitedly manufactured in accordance with one of the embodiments described above ) feeds in a controlled and independent manner, a first mix, comprising ( in particular, consisting of ) a water suspension of ceramic material with a first colour, and at least one second mix comprising ( in particular, consisting of ) a water suspension of ceramic material with a second colour, which is di f ferent from the first colour, at a pressure ranging from about 0 . 5 bar to about 6 bar into the casting cavity 6 ; a casting step, which is ( at least partially) subsequent to the filling step and during which a pushing system 8 ( advantageously but not limitedly manufactured in accordance with one of the embodiments described above ) sets , inside the casting cavity 6 , a casting pressure of at least about 5 bar ( in particular, ranging from about 5 bar to about 20 bar ) so as to form a multi-coloured ( in particular, two-coloured) ceramic article MC ; and a control step, which is ( at least partially) simultaneous with the filling and casting steps and during which a control assembly CU controls the operation of the forming apparatus 3 , of the feeding system 7 and of the pushing system 8 so as to ensure that the di f ferent mixes fed into the casting cavity 6 are mixed with one another in order to form, at the end of the above-mentioned casting step, a multi-coloured ( in particular, two-coloured) ceramic article MC provided on the outer surface 2 with a multicoloured pattern ( in particular , two-coloured; more in particular, having veining with colour contrast ) . More advantageously, during such control step, the control assembly CU also commands the rotation mechanism 28 so as to suitably rotate the mould 4 around the rotation axi s R as a function of the type of multi-coloured ceramic article MC ( in particular, of the type of multi-coloured pattern) to be obtained .

[0078] Advantageously but not limitedly, the filling step comprises in turn : a first feeding sub-step, during which the feeding system 7 feeds at least the first mix into the casting cavity 6 with a first feeding pressure for a first feeding interval , and at least one second feeding sub-step, during which the feeding system 7 feeds at least the second mix into the casting cavity 6 with a second feeding pressure for a second feeding interval . When the feeding of more than two mixes is provided, the filling step comprises further filling sub-steps , as many as the number of mixes to be fed, and during each one of such filling sub-steps the feeding system 7 feeds a respective mix into the casting cavity 6 with a respective feeding pressure for a respective feeding interval .

[0079] Advantageously, but not limitedly, during such filling step the feeding system 7 feeds directly ( i . e . without shi fting in other components ) each mix inside the casting cavity 6 , as is better explained above in relation to the manufacturing system 1 .

[0080] Advantageously, during the control step, the control assembly CU controls the feeding system 7 for varying the feeding pressure and / or the feeding intervals in the various feeding sub-steps as a function of the type of multi-coloured ceramic article MC to be obtained . In other words , advantageously but not limitedly, during the filling step, the feeding system 7 adj usts the feeding pressure ( in particular the speed) , the quantity of mix fed, and the feeding time of each ceramic mix as a function of the type of multi-coloured decoration to be formed .

[0081] According to some advantageous but non-limiting embodiments , the casting step comprises : a first casting sub-step, which is ( at least partially) subsequent to the first feeding sub-step and at least partially prior to the second feeding sub-step and during which the pushing system 8 inj ects into the casting cavity 6 a fluid mixture under pressure comprising (in particular, consisting of) a pressurization fluid, typically air coming from a pressurization cylinder 29 and a given quantity of at least one mix (or of a combination of the various mixes) for a first time interval so as to form a first layer SI of the ceramic article MC; and a second casting sub-step, which is (at least partially) subsequent to the second feeding substep and during which the pushing system 8 injects into the casting cavity 6 the above-mentioned fluid mixture (which advantageously but not limitedly can include different types of mix) under pressure for a second time interval so as to form at least one second layer S2 of the ceramic article MC . It is understood that when the ceramic article MC comprises more layers SI, S2, S3, for example three layers as is shown in Figures 6, 7, 7A, the casting step comprises a number of casting sub-steps, substantially similar to the first and to the second casting sub-steps, that is the same as the number of layers SI, S2, S3.

[0082] According to some advantageous but non-limiting embodiments, the various casting steps are spaced apart from one another by a defined amount of time, which is a function of the type of mix fed during the filling step and of the thickness of the layer SI, S2, S3 to be formed (in particular, is such to allow, by dehydration of the mix, the formation of a layer SI, S2, S3) , thereby obtaining a multilayer ceramic article MC . More advantageously but not limitedly, such defined time is equal to the duration of a casting cycle.

[0083] Alternatively, according to other advantageous but nonlimiting embodiments, the various feeding steps are (at least partially) simultaneous with one another and simultaneous with the casting step ; in other words , according to some embodiments , the casting occurs in one single step .

[0084] In both cases ( i . e . both whether the multi-coloured ceramic article MC is formed in one single casting step and whether the multi-coloured ceramic article MC is manufactured in more casting steps ) during the control step, the control assembly CU controls the operation of the pushing system 8 as a function of the type of three-dimensional and multi-coloured decoration to be formed and controls the operation of the decoration machine 9 as a function of the type of multi-coloured ceramic article MC to be formed, in particular of the type of multi-coloured decoration / pattern to be obtained .

[0085] Advantageously but not limitedly, during the casting step ( or when more casting sub-steps are provided during each casting sub-step ) a fluid mixture is inj ected which contains a quantity of mix such to ensure that the casting cavity 6 is always completely filled with mix, thus to compensate for the proportion of liquid component which is expelled from the mould 4 during the casting ( in particular, as the solid component is deposited on the walls of the mould 4 so as to form the ceramic article MC ) .

[0086] According to some advantageous but non-limiting embodiments , such as the one illustrated in Figure 4 , the manufacturing method further comprises a decoration step, during which a decoration machine 9 , advantageously but not limitedly, manufactured in accordance with one of the embodiments described above , and comprising at least one abrasive tool 90 is operated so that the abrasive tool 90 intercepts at least part of a peripheral surface 2 of the multi-coloured ceramic article MC so as to remove at least one layer of said peripheral surface 2 so as to create a three-dimensional decoration . In this case , during the control step, the control assembly CU also controls the decoration machine 9 as a function of the multi-coloured pattern, so as to create on the peripheral surface 2 of the multi-coloured ceramic article MC the above-mentioned three- dimensional decoration, advantageously coordinated with the multi-coloured decoration / pattern .

[0087] More advantageously but not limitedly, also with reference to Figure 4 , in this case the manufacturing method also comprises an unmoulding step, which is ( at least partially) subsequent to the casting step and prior to the decoration step and during which the heads 5A, 5B, 5C are moved from the closed configuration to the open configuration, a handling device 21 extracts the ceramic article MC from the forming apparatus 3 ; a drying step, during which the ceramic article MC already formed is dried ( in a manner known per se ) , and a transport step, which is at least partially subsequent to the unmoulding step and during which a handling device 21 (which can coincide with the one that unmoulds the ceramic article MC or be another handling device 21 , more advantageously similar to the previous one ) moves the dried ceramic article MC to a decoration station 20 , where it will be decorated by the decoration machine 9 ( see , for example , Figure 4 ) .

[0088] More advantageously but not limitedly, during the above-mentioned drying step, the ceramic article MC formed by the forming apparatus 3 is kept for a period of about 12- 14 hours in a storage area so as to obtain aa ceramic article MC before being decorated .

[0089] Furthermore , advantageously but not limitedly, the transport step comprises a first transport sub-step, during which the handling device 21 moves the ceramic article MC from the forming apparatus 3 to the above-mentioned storage area, and a second transport sub-step, which is subsequent to the first transport sub-step by at least about 12 hours , during which the handling device 21 moves the ceramic article MC from the storage area to the decoration station 20 .

[0090] When the manufacturing method provides for such decoration step, advantageously but not limitedly, the decoration step comprises , in turn : a decoration sub-step, during which the abrasive tool 90 intercepts the peripheral surface 2 of the ceramic article MC and removes at least one layer of material ; a moving sub-step, which is ( at least partially) simultaneous with the incision sub-step and during which the control unit of the decoration machine 9 operates the supporting and handling structure 24 ( described above ) and moves the abrasive tool 90 along a decoration path, which extends along at least part of the peripheral surface 2 of the ceramic article MC .

[0091] In detail , according to some advantageous but nonlimiting embodiments , such as the ones shown in Figures 6 , 7 and 7A, the abrasive tool 90 of the decoration machine 9 is a cutting or incision kni fe and, during the moving substep, the abrasive tool 90 is moved along a decoration path that extends on the peripheral surface 2 of the multicoloured ceramic article MC, according to a defined pattern, so as to form the above-mentioned three-dimensional decoration / pattern .

[0092] With particular reference to Figure 8 , according to alternative embodiments , when at least one of the heads 5A, 5B, 4C of the mould 4 comprises at least one portion having a raised structure , advantageously but not limitedly, the decoration step comprises ( in particular, coincides with) a grinding sub-step , the abrasive tool 90 is a grinding wheel that is moved along the entire peripheral surface 2 of the multi-coloured ceramic article MC to smooth it , highlighting the particular paths that the various mixes have accomplished during the casting, as better explained in relation to the manufacturing system 1 of ceramic articles .

[0093] According to some advantageous but non-limiting embodiments , the manufacturing method for manufacturing the ceramic articles MC further comprises a covering step, which is ( at least partially) subsequent to the decoration step, during which an enamelling device ( known per se and not described or illustrated herein ) , applies a layer of transparent enamel on the ceramic article MC already provided with the above-mentioned three-dimensional and multicoloured decoration .

[0094] Advantageously but not limitedly, the manufacturing method for manufacturing ceramic articles MC is carried out with a manufacturing system 1 of the type described above .

[0095] The present invention has many advantages , among which the following are mentioned .

[0096] The manufacturing method and the manufacturing system 1 for manufacturing ceramic articles MC of the present invention permit manufacturing multi-coloured ceramic articles MC, provided throughout their thickness with a multi-coloured pattern .

[0097] Furthermore , thanks to the particular feeding system 7 , capable of feeding several ceramic mixes simultaneously, and to the possibility of adj usting in a precise and extremely flexible manner the feeding conditions of the various mixes , as well as the casting conditions, the manufacturing method and the manufacturing system 1 of the present invention allow obtaining multi-coloured ceramic articles MC of different type, based on the different needs, without having to make any modifications to the mould 4 and without providing for long and expensive manual decoration operations.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A manufacturing system (1) for manufacturing at least one multi-coloured ceramic article (MC) ; the manufacturing system (1) comprises: a forming apparatus (3) for pressure casting, which in turn comprises: at least one mould (4) having a first head (5A) and at least one second head (5B) complementary to each other and movable, relative to each other, between an open configuration, in which the first head (5A) and the second head (5B) are distant from each other, and a closed configuration, in which the first head (5A) and the second head (5B) define, between them, a casting cavity (6) for the formation of a ceramic article (MC) , and a rotation mechanism (28) operatively connected to said mould (4) and capable of being operated to permit the rotation of the mould (4) , in a closed configuration, around a rotation axis (R) by an angle ranging from about 0° to about 180° in a clockwise direction and by an angle of about 180° at most in a counterclockwise direction; a feeding system (7) configured to feed, in a controlled manner, at least one first mix, comprising (in particular, consisting of) a water suspension of ceramic material with a first colour, and a second mix comprising (in particular, consisting of) a water suspension of ceramic material with a second colour, which is different from the first colour, at a pressure ranging from 0.5 bar to 6 bar into said casting cavity ( 6 ) ; a pushing system (8) configured to set, inside said casting cavity (6) , a casting pressure of at least about 5 bar (in particular, ranging from about 5 bar to about 20 bar) so as to form a multi-coloured (in particular, two-coloured) ceramic article (MC) ; and a control assembly (CU) configured to control the operation of said forming apparatus (3) , of said feeding system (7) and of said pushing system (8) so that said first and second mixes are mixed together in said casting cavity (6) in order to form, once said casting pressure has been set, said multi-coloured (in particular, two-coloured) ceramic article (MC) provided, on a peripheral surface (2) , with a multi-coloured pattern (in particular, with veining with colour contrast) ; said control assembly (CU) being configured to command said rotation mechanism (28) as a function of the type of multi-coloured ceramic article (MC) (in particular, of the type of multi-coloured pattern) to be obtained.

2. The manufacturing system (1) according to claim 1, wherein said feeding system (7) comprises: a first tank (10a) for containing said first mix; at least one second tank (10b, 10c) for containing said second mix; a first feeding duct (Ila) for connecting said first tank (10a) to said mould (4) ; at least one second feeding duct (11b, 11c) for connecting said second tank (10b, 10c) to said mould (4) ; a pressurization assembly (12) configured to control the pressure with which each mix flows from the respective tank (10a, 10b, 10c) to the respective feeding duct (Ila, 11b, 11c) independently of the remaining mixes; a plurality of electronically controlled valve assemblies (13a, 13b, 13c) , one for each feeding duct (Ila, 11b, 11c) and each operatable, independently of the others, from a closed position, in which it prevents the fluid connection between the respective tank (10a, 10b, 10c) and said casting cavity (6) , to at least one open position, in which itpermits the fluid connection between the respective tank (10b, 10c) and said casting cavity (6) , and vice versa; said control assembly (CU) being configured to control the pressurization assembly (12) and said valve assemblies (13a, 13b, 13c) to vary the quantity and the pressure with which said first mix and said second mix are fed to said casting cavity (6) as a function of the type of multicoloured ceramic article (MC) (in particular, of the type of multi-coloured pattern) to be obtained.

3. The manufacturing system (1) according to claim 2, wherein said tanks (10a, 10b, 10c) are sealed tanks and said pressurization assembly (12) comprises, in turn: an inlet (14) for a pressurization fluid comprising (in particular, consisting of) air at a pressure ranging from about 0.5 to about 6 bar; a connection duct (15) , which is configured to connect said inlet (14) to each one of said tanks (10a, 10b, 10c) for pressurizing said tanks (10a, 10b, 10c) and has a number of outlet branches (16a, 16b, 16c) that is the same as the number of tanks (10a, 10b, 10c) ; a plurality of pressure adjusters (17a, 17b, 17c) that are as many as the number of tanks (10a, 10b, 10c) , each located along a respective outlet branch (16a, 16b, 16c) of said connection duct (15) and configured to adjust the pressure of said fluid so as to independently adjust the pressure inside each tank (10a, 10b, 10c) ; a plurality of valves (19a, 19b, 19c) that are as many as the number of tanks (10a, 10b, 10c) , each located along a respective outlet branch (16a, 16b, 16c) and configured to selectively open or close the fluid connection between said connection duct (15) and the respective tank (10a, 10b, 10c) ;said control assembly (CU) being configured to independently control the operation of each pressure adjuster (17a, 17b, 17c) and of each valve (19a, 19b, 19c) as a function of the type of multi-coloured ceramic article (MC) (in particular, of the type of multi-coloured pattern) to be obtained.

4. The manufacturing system (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said control assembly (CU) is configured to control the pushing assembly (8) and said valve assemblies (13a, 13b, 13c) so as to feed a first quantity of said first mix with a first filling pressure and a second quantity of said second mix, which is smaller than said first quantity, with a second filling pressure so as to form a multi-coloured ceramic article (MC) having a background with a first colour and a pattern with said second colour, which goes through said background defining said multi-coloured pattern (in particular, defining said veining with colour contrast) .

5. The manufacturing system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said control assembly (CU) is configured to command the feeding system (7) (in particular, to simultaneously operate each valve assembly (13a, 13b, 13c) , causing them to simultaneously shift to the open position) so as to feed, in one single casting cycle, said first and second mixes to said casting cavity (6) .

6. The manufacturing system (1) according to claim 2 or 3 or 4, wherein: said control assembly (CU) is configured to command, at given time intervals, the operation of the forming apparatus (3) , of the feeding system (7) and of the pushing system (8) so as to form said multi-coloured ceramic article (MC) in several successive casting sub-steps, so as to obtain amulti-layer ceramic article (MC) ; said control assembly (CU) is configured to command the operation of said valve assemblies (13a, 13b, 13c) at each given time interval so that, for each one of said casting cycles, at least one valve assembly (13a, 13b, 13c) of said plurality of valve assemblies (13a, 13b, 13c) assumes said open position and at least one other valve assembly (13a, 13b, 13c) of said plurality of valve assemblies (13a, 13b, 13c) assumes said closed position so as to alternately feed at least said first and second bodies to said casting cavity (6) ; in particular, said given time interval being about 30 seconds (in particular, ranging from 30 to 600 seconds; more in particular, equal to about 300 seconds) .

7. The manufacturing system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said pushing system (8) comprises: a container (29) (in particular, a pressurized cylinder (29) ) containing a pressurization fluid comprising (in particular, consisting of) pressurized air at a pressure of at least about 5 bar (in particular, ranging from about 5 bar to about 20 bar) ; a connection pipe (30) , which extends from the container (29) to the mould (4) and can selectively be fluidly connected to said first feeding duct (Ila) and at least to said second feeding duct (11b, 11c) so as to feed said casting cavity (6) with said pressurization fluid together with part of at least one of said first mix and said second mix, thus defining said fluid mixture under pressure ; said control assembly (CU) being configured to selectively permit or prevent the connection between said connection pipe (30) and said first and second feeding ducts(Ila, 11b, 11c) as a function of the type of multi-coloured article (MC) (in particular, of the type of multi-coloured decoration) to be obtained.

8. The manufacturing system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a decoration machine (9) comprising, in turn, at least one abrasive tool (90) , which is operatable / conf igured to intercept at least part of an outer surface of a ceramic article (MC) and to remove at least one layer from said outer surface (2) ; the control assembly (CU) being configured to control the operation of said decoration machine (9) as a function of said multi-coloured pattern, so as to create an at least partially raised pattern on said outer surface (2) .

9. A method for manufacturing at least one multicoloured ceramic article (MC) by means of a forming apparatus(3) for pressure casting, which comprises at least one mould(4) having, in turn, a first head (5A) and at least one second head (5B) complementary to each other and movable, relative to each other, between an open configuration, in which the first head (5A) and the second head (5B) are distant from each other, and a closed configuration, in which the first head (5A) and the second head (5B) are at least partially in contact and define, between them, a casting cavity (6) for the formation of a ceramic article (MC) , and a rotation mechanism (28) operatively connected to said mould (4) and capable of being operated to permit the rotation of the mould (4) , in a closed configuration, around a rotation axis (R) by an angle ranging from about 0° to about 180° in a clockwise direction and by an angle of about 180° at most in a counterclockwise direction; the manufacturing method comprises the following steps:a filling step, during which a feeding system (7) feeds, in a controlled manner, a first mix, comprising (in particular, consisting of) a water suspension of ceramic material with a first colour, and at least one second mix comprising (in particular, consisting of) a water suspension of ceramic material with a second colour, which is different from the first colour, at a pressure ranging from about 0.5 bar to about 6 bar into said casting cavity (6) ; a casting step, which is at least partially subsequent to said filling step and during which a pushing system (8) sets, inside said cavity (6) , a casting pressure of at least about 5 bar (in particular, ranging from about 5 bar to about 20 bar) so as to form a multi-coloured (in particular, two- coloured) ceramic article (MC) ; a control step, which is at least partially simultaneous with said filling and casting steps and during which a control assembly (CU) controls the operation of said forming apparatus (3) , of said feeding system (7) and of said pushing system (8) so that said first and second mixes are mixed together in said casting cavity (6) in order to form, at the end of said casting step, said multi-coloured (in particular, two-coloured) ceramic article (MC) provided, on a peripheral surface (2) , with a multi-coloured (in particular, two- coloured) pattern (more in particular, having veining with colour contrast) ; during said control step, said control assembly (CU) commanding said rotation mechanism (28) as a function of the type of multi-coloured ceramic article (MC) (in particular, of the type of multi-coloured pattern) to be obtained.

10. The manufacturing method according to claim 9, wherein said filling step comprises: a first feeding sub-step, during which said feeding system (7) feeds at least said first mix into the casting cavity (6) with a first feeding pressure for a first feeding time interval, and at least one second feeding sub-step, during which said feeding system (7) feeds at least said second mix into the casting cavity (6) with a second feeding pressure for a second feeding time interval; during said control step, the control assembly (CU) controls said feeding system (7) to vary said first and second feeding pressures and said first and second feeding time intervals as a function of the type of multi-coloured ceramic article (MC) to be obtained (in particular, of the type of multi-coloured pattern to be obtained) .

11. The manufacturing method according to claim 10, wherein said casting step comprises a first casting substep, which is at least partially subsequent to said first feeding sub-step and at least partially prior to said second feeding sub-step, and during which said pushing system (8) injects into said casting cavity (6) a fluid mixture under pressure comprising (in particular, consisting of) a pressurization fluid and a given quantity of at least one of said first mix and said second mix for a first time interval so as to form a first layer (SI) of said ceramic article (MC) ; and a second casting sub-step, which is at least partially subsequent to said second feeding sub-step and during which said pushing system (8) injects into said casting cavity (6) said fluid mixture under pressure for a second time interval so as to form at least one second layer (S2) of said ceramic article (MC) ; said first casting sub-step and said at least one second casting sub-step being spaced apart from each other by adefined amount of time, which is a function at least of the type of mix fed during said filling step and of the thickness of the layer (SI, S2) in order to form at least one multilayer ceramic article (MC) .

12. The manufacturing method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein said first and second feeding sub-steps are at least partially simultaneous with each other and simultaneous with said casting step.

13. The manufacturing method according to any one of the claims from 9 to 12 and comprising: an unmoulding step, which is at least partially subsequent to said casting step and during which said first and second heads (5A, 5B) are moved from said closed configuration to the open configuration and a handling device (21) extracts said ceramic article (MC) from the forming apparatus ( 3 ) ; a drying step, which is at least partially subsequent to the extraction step and during which said ceramic article (MC) is dried; a transport step, during which a handling device (21) moves said dried ceramic article (MC) to a decoration station (20) ; a decoration step, which is at least partially subsequent to said unmoulding step and during which a decoration machine (9) arranged at said decoration station (20) and comprising at least one abrasive tool (90) is operated and said abrasive tool (90) intercepts at least part of an outer surface (2) of said multi-coloured ceramic article (MC) and removes at least one layer from said outer surface (2) to create a three-dimensional decoration; during said control step, said control assembly (CU)also controls said decoration machine (9) as a function of said multi-coloured pattern, so as to create said three- dimensional decoration on said outer surface (2) of said multi-coloured ceramic article (MC) .

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