Movable Side Wall Group for Ceramic Presses

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ceramic products presses face challenges in producing tiles or slabs with homogeneous perimeter edges, leading to defects that require further mechanical machining, increasing production costs and waste generation due to uneven structural tension between the central and perimeter portions.

Innovation Solution

A moveable side wall group for ceramic products presses, which includes a frame with a projecting side wall that aligns and retains the material during pressing, ensuring a continuous edge and optimal filling of the pressing cavity, using actuation means to position and move the side wall hermetically against the material, facilitating even pressing and reducing waste.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of stationary object

If traditional hydraulic press structure is used, then the press can handle large尺寸 ceramic products, but the perimeter edges of pressed products become uneven and defective

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesize of ceramic productsVSAvoidhomogeneity of perimeter edges
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The side wall is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position during the pressing process. The side wall can move from an initial position to a final position to differentially control the pressing force applied to the material, ensuring homogeneous perimeter edges while maintaining the ability to handle large-sized ceramic products.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If lateral elements are added to hold material during pressing, then material retention is improved, but damage to perimeter edges occurs during product removal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial retentionVSAvoidintegrity of perimeter edges
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The side wall is designed to move between different positions: it can be positioned to effectively retain material during pressing, then moved to a retracted position that allows damage-free removal of the pressed product. This dynamic positioning eliminates the need for fixed lateral elements that would cause edge damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The side wall is positioned in advance to optimally contain the material before pressing begins, ensuring proper material retention. After pressing is complete, the side wall is moved to a different position to facilitate product removal without edge damage, preventing the need for corrective machining.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If mechanical machining is performed to eliminate perimeter defects, then product quality is improved, but production costs and waste increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality of perimeter edgesVSAvoidproduction cost and waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The movable side wall performs the function of creating homogeneous perimeter edges during the initial pressing operation itself, before the product is removed. This preliminary action ensures that no subsequent machining is needed to correct perimeter defects, eliminating waste and reducing production costs while maintaining high product quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enables the production of finished ceramic products with homogeneous perimeter edges directly through the pressing step, reducing the need for further machining and waste disposal, resulting in cost savings and improved structural homogeneity.

Implementation Method 1

a wedge element (18) interposed between the first moveable element (17) and the second moveable element (18), configured so that following the displacement of the first moveable element (17) along the third direction (19) there occurs the displacement of the second moveable element (18) along the second direction (14)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWedge mechanism: Wedge

Data Source

PatentEP3429837B1Movable side wall group for a ceramic products press
Publication Date: 2023.05.03 SITI B&T GROUP SPA
  • EP3429837B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3429837B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3429837B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

A moveable side wall group for a press for ceramic products, comprises a frame (6), at least one side wall (7) delimiting at least one surface (8) for holding a material (9) to be pressed, operatively connected to the frame (6), elements (10) for guiding the frame (6) along a first direction (11), first actuation means (12) for the displacement of the frame (6) and the side wall (7) along the first direction (11), and second actuation means (13) associated to the side wall (7) for the displacement of the side wall (7) along a second direction (14) perpendicular to the first direction (11).