WO2008038105A1

WO2008038105A1 - Press

Info

Publication number: WO2008038105A1
Application number: PCT/IB2007/002792
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marco Salieri
Original assignee: Sacmi Cooperativa Meccanici Imola Societa' Cooperativa
Priority date: 2006-09-27
Filing date: 2007-09-26
Publication date: 2008-04-03
Also published as: ITMO20060303A1; EP2081757A1; CN101541523A

Abstract

A press for pressing ceramic material comprises indicating means (5) for providing information on an operating parameter of said press (1) during a pressing cycle, said indicating means (5) being arranged in a position such as to be visible from a zone that is remote with respect to said press (1); a method comprises providing information on an operating parameter of a press (1) for pressing ceramic material during a pressing cycle, said providing comprising generating an indication visible from a zone that is remote with respect to said press (1).

Description

Press

The invention relates to a press for pressing ceramic material .

In the field of the manufacture of ceramic products, in particular ceramic tiles, presses are known that are provided with a bed and with a movable crosspiece. The presses comprise a driving device, provided with a hydraulic cylinder, that drives the movable crosspiece towards and away from the bed. To the movable crosspiece at least an upper punch is fixed that cooperates with a corresponding at least a mould cavity associated with the bed.

The at least a mould cavity is bounded at the bottom by a lower punch that is movable with respect to a frame of the at least a mould cavity for evacuating a ceramic tile that has been formed.

The presses disclosed above further comprise a supplying device for supplying the ceramic material provided with a carriage that is movable between a retracted loading position, in which the carriage receives the ceramic material, and an advanced delivery position, in which the carriage deposits the ceramic material inside the at least a mould cavity.

The.. presses disclosed above comprise a ...display on .which information is displayed relating to. operating;parameters of., the presses.

These displays are positioned near the presses, in such a way that said information can be periodically monitored by an operator. In production facilities for producing ceramic tiles, production lines are provided each of which comprises one of the aforesaid presses, downstream of which a drying device is provided that dries the formed tiles. The aforesaid production lines further comprise, downstream of the drying devices, operating devices, in particular decorating devices that deposit decorating products on the formed and dried tiles .

The same operator is in charge of monitoring a plurality of presses - installed on adjacent production lines - and the respective drying devices .

As a result, the operator cannot monitor the operating status of all the presses that are assigned to him by simultaneously checking a plurality of displays, as such displays are far from one another. In addition, the operator, in order to check properly the operation of the drying devices - which have very significant dimensions - has to move away from the displays .

An operator may not therefore notice a press fault until he approaches the display associated with the press. This entails a delay in the elimination of the aforesaid fault. This delay is unacceptable, as the situation that generated the aforesaid fault, when it is not promptly solved, may lead to the breakage of parts of the press, or of other parts of the production line. In addition, the aforesaid fault, even if it does not cause damage to the apparatuses, may mean that the tiles produced are not appropriately pressed - i.e. that they are faulty - such tiles having to be subsequently rejected, which entails a noticeable reduction...in... efficiency. Further, the displays are very different ^"-from^' "the. 'aforesaid decorating devices. As a result, the operators in charge of the decorating devices are not familiar with the information relating to the operation of the presses . An object of the invention is to improve the presses for pressing ceramic material.

Another object is to enable an operator in charge of controlling a press for pressing ceramic material to be substantially constantly informed of the operating status of the press . A further object of the invention is to enable an operator in charge of controlling a press for pressing ceramic material to detect in as short a time as possible a possible fault in the press and to intervene promptly to remedy such a fault . In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a

5 press for pressing ceramic material, comprising indicating means for providing information on an operating parameter of said press during a pressing cycle, said indicating means being arranged in a position such as to be visible from a zone that is remote with respect to said press.

10 In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method, comprising providing information on an operating parameter of a press for pressing ceramic material during a pressing cycle, said providing comprising generating an indication visible from a zone that is remote with respect

15 to said press.

Owing to these aspects of the invention, an operator in charge of a press for pressing ceramic material can be informed of the operating status of the press even when he is far from the press. In particular, the operator can keep

20 under control the operating status of a press even if he has moved away from the aforesaid press to supervise a further press of the same production facility, or a drying device. In addition, the aforesaid operator can be kept constantly informed,, for the entire .duration of..,an. operating cycle

25 and for all the operating cycles., that follow in a period of time in which the press is operated - of variations of a value of an operating parameter of the press . In this way, operating malfunctions of the press can be immediately detected by the operator, who can intervene promptly.

30. Owing to these aspects of the invention, further, the information regarding the operating . status of the press is clearly made available not only to the operator in charge of the press, but also to operators in charge of operating devices - in particular decorating devices - arranged

35 downstream of the press along a production line. The invention can be better comprised and implemented with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate some embodiments thereof by way of non-limiting example, in which:

5 Figure 1 is a frontal view of ^• a press provided with indicating means;

Figure 2 is a side view of the press in Figure 1. With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a press 1 is shown for pressing ceramic material, comprising a supporting structure

10 2 to which a bed 3 is fixed.

Alternatively, the bed 3 can be obtained directly in a lower portion of the supporting structure 2.

The press 1 further comprises a movable crosspiece 4 that is slidable with respect to the supporting structure 2 towards

15 and away from the bed 3.

The press 1 comprises a driving device provided with a hydraulic cylinder arranged for moving the movable crosspiece 4. With the bed 3 an extraction device is associable on which

20 there is mounted a first half mould that defines at least a mould cavity arranged for receiving the ceramic material .

The at least a mould cavity is peripherally bounded by a frame and bounded below by a lower punch driven by the

. extraction,., device and ..movable . with respect to. the frame to.

^"25 .evacuate aitile obtained by pressing the ceramic, material .

To the movable crosspiece 4 a second half mould is fixable that is provided with an upper punch arranged for being received in the at least a mould cavity for pressing the ceramic material .

30 With the press 1 there is associated a supplying device, which is not shown, comprising a carriage that is movable between a retracted loading configuration, in which the carriage receives the ceramic material, and an advanced delivery configuration, in which the carriage deposits the

35 ceramic material into the at least a mould cavity. The aforesaid ceramic material can be a ceramic material in powder form or a semifinished product obtained by pressing a ceramic material in powder form at low pressure. In particular, the aforesaid semifinished product can be obtained by compacting the ceramic material in powder form by means of compacting rollers and/or compacting belts arranged upstream of the press 1.

Alternatively to what has been disclosed above, upper forming moulds can be provided, in which the ceramic products are formed in the upper part of the mould, i.e. in the part fixed to the movable crosspiece 4.

The press 1 further comprises indicating means 5 arranged for providing information relative to an operating parameter of the press 1 during a pressing cycle. This parameter may be indicative of a pressure value of an operating fluid contained in the aforesaid hydraulic cylinder.

Alternatively, this parameter may be indicative of a position assumed by the movable crosspiece 4 whilst the movable crosspiece 4 moves towards or away from the bed 3.

Still alternatively, this parameter may be indicative of a position assumed by the aforesaid carriage whilst the carriage travels along a path defined between said retracted removal .configuration . and : said \ .....advanced .. loading configuration¹.

Still alternatively, this parameter may be indicative of a position assumed by the aforesaid lower punch whilst the lower punch, driven by the extraction device associated with the bed, travels along a path defined between a lowered configuration, in which the lower punch bounds below the at least a mould cavity, and a raised configuration, in which the lower punch expels a formed tile from the at least a mould cavity. In an embodiment that is not shown, the indicating means is shaped in such a way as to generate a verbal signal, i.e. a word, that informs an operator about the operating status of the press 1.

In a further embodiment that is not shown the indicating means is shaped in such a way as to generate a graphic signal, i.e. a symbol, that informs an operator about the operating status of the press 1.

In the aforesaid embodiments, the indicating means may comprise light diodes. In a still further embodiment, shown in Figure 1, the indicating means comprises light-emitting means arranged for generating a light signal.

The light-emitting means can be LEDs, for example LEDs of the RGB type, which are able to produce any combination of colours . The press 1 comprises a command and control unit that continuously detects the aforesaid parameter. At each instant of an operating cycle of the press 1, the command and control unit generates an analog electric signal, having an intensity that is proportional to a value of the aforesaid parameter, and transmits the analog electric signal to an indicating means 5. In this way, the light signal emitted by the emitting means has, instant by instant, an intensity proportional to the value of the aforesaid parameter. This enables an 'operator to receive constantly an .indication of the operating status of the press 1.

The indicating means 5 is positioned in a top portion 6 of the supporting structure 2, for example in a portion of the supporting structure 2 above the movable crosspiece 4. In this way, the indicating means 5 is easily visible from a zone that is remote with respect to the press 1. An operator in charge of the control of the press 1 is thus able to receive the signal coming from the indicating means 5 even if it is far from the press 1, for example to supervise a further press, installed on a production line next to the one on which the press 1 is installed, or to control a drying device.

The indicating means 5, instead of being positioned in a top portion of the supporting structure 2, can be positioned in 5 other portions of the press 1 chosen in such a way as to make the indicating means 5 visible from a significant distance.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2 , the indicating means 5 comprises an indicating body 7 having a substantially

10 circular section.

The indicating body 7 has a convex shape in such a way as to project beyond a wall 8 of the supporting structure 2. The indicating body 7 is therefore easily visible not only to an operator who is in a zone arranged opposite the press 1, but

15 also to an operator who is in a zone arranged laterally with respect to the press 1.

In an embodiment, the indicating means 5 is shaped in such a way as to emit a green light, with an intensity that is proportionally variable to the pressure of the operating

20 fluid inside the hydraulic cylinder, during each operating cycle of the press 1, and to emit a red light if the press 1 is stationary. In this case, the command and control unit generates, in addition to the analog electric signal that defines the .intensity of the green light,, a digital .electric

■25. signal that ^■■controls the -alternative. ^'lighting of" the- green- light or of the right light.

A possible operating cycle of the press 1 is disclosed here below by way of example. Initially, the movable crosspiece 4 approaches the bed 3 to

30 perform low-pressure pressing of the ceramic material.

As -specified above, the ceramic material may comprise a ceramic material in powder form, or a semifinished product obtained by compacting a ceramic material in powder form upstream of the press 1.

35 Subsequently, the movable crosspiece 4 moves away from the bed 3 to enable the ceramic material to be evacuated that was subjected to a preliminary pressing by air initially present between the particles of the aforesaid ceramic material. In other words, the movable crosspiece 4 moves away from the bed 3 to enable the ceramic material to be deaerated.

Still subsequently, the movable crosspiece 4 moves again towards the bed 3 to perform high-pressure pressing, i.e. compacting of the ceramic material to obtain a ceramic tile. Still subsequently, the movable crosspiece 4 again moves away from the bed 3 to enable a formed tile to be evacuated from at least a mould cavity.

In an embodiment that is not shown, the indicating means 5 emits a light signal having an intensity proportional to the value of the pressure of the operating fluid in the hydraulic cylinder and an indicative colour of one of the aforesaid steps of the operating cycle, i.e. a first colour for the preliminary pressing step, a second colour for the deaeration step, a third colour for the compacting step and a fourth colour for the expanding step of the tile. Alternatively, press 1 operating cycles can be provided comprising a different number of operating steps. In particular, it is possible to provide operating cycles comprising three, or more, pressing steps (at different pressure) , i.e ..operating _ cycles . comprising .more..than:, .a deaerating^". -step,,; These zoperating cycles --are..us-ed". in: cases; in which the ceramic material is difficult to compact, for example due to the presence of much air.

Also in the case of these operating cycles, the indicating means can emit a light signal having an intensity proportional to the value of the pressure of the operating fluid in the hydraulic cylinder - or of another operating parameter - and a colour indicating one of the steps of the operating cycle. The verbal signals, the graphic signals and the light signals, or combinations of such signals, can be selected in such a way as to encode a plurality of information that is easily comprehensible for an operator, once the operator has been instructed in the encoding methods .

The information corresponding to each of the signals emitted by the indicating means 5, whether they be verbal, graphic, luminous or a combination of two or more of the previous ones, can also be communicated to operators in charge of devices arranged downstream of the press, in particular to operators in charge of decorating, for decorating tiles obtained by pressing the ceramic material. In this case, also the operators in charge of decorating devices are at each instant informed of the operating status of the press and can undertake suitable actions on the devices assigned to them both in the event of correct operation of the press 1 and in the event of faults or arrests of the latter.

Claims

1. Press for pressing ceramic material, comprising indicating means (5) for providing information on an operating parameter of said press (1) during a pressing cycle, said indicating means (5) being arranged in a position such as to be visible from a zone that is remote with respect to said press (1) .

2. Press according to claim 1, wherein said indicating means (5) is positioned in a top portion (6) of said press (1) .

3. Press according to claim 1, or 2, wherein said indicating means is positioned above a movable crosspiece (4) of said press (1) .

4. Press according to any preceding' claim, wherein said indicating means (5) comprises an indicating body

(7) projecting from wall means (8) of a supporting structure of said press (1) .

5. Press according to claim 4, wherein said indicating body (7) has a convex shape.

6. Press according to claim 4, or 5, wherein said indicating body (7) has a substantially circular section.

7. Press according to any preceding claim, wherein said indicating, means (5).. is shaped in such., a way, as. -to:. generate .avcolour .signal .

8. Press according to any preceding claim, wherein said indicating means is shaped in such a way as to generate a verbal signal.

9. Press according to any preceding claim, wherein said indicating means is shaped in such a way as to generate a graphic signal.

10. Press according to any preceding claim, wherein said indicating means (5) comprises light-emitting means arranged for emitting a light signal having an intensity that is proportional to a value of said parameter .

11. Press according to claim 10, wherein said light- emitting means is shaped in such a way as to vary substantially continuously said intensity during said pressing cycle.

12. Press according to claim 10, or 11, wherein said indicating means (5) comprises controlling means arranged for detecting said value, generating an analog electric signal corresponding to said value and transmitting said analog electric signal to said light-emitting means.

13. Press according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein said controlling means generates electric signal means for selecting, from amongst a preset group of colours, a colour to bestow on a light emitted by said light-emitting means.

14. Press according to claim 13, wherein said electric signal means comprises a digital electric signal.

15. Press according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein said light-emitting means comprises LED means .

16. Press according to claim 15, wherein said LED means is of the RGB type.

17. Press according to any preceding claim, wherein said parameter is indicative of...operating...pressure.. of operating fluid means, -of ^■■ hydraulic cylinder .means that drives movable crosspiece means (4) of said, press (1) .

18. Press according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein said parameter is indicative of a position of movable crosspiece means (4) of said press (1) with respect to bed means (3) of said press (1) .

19. Press according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein said parameter is indicative of a position of supplying means arranged for supplying said ceramic material to said press (1) and movable between a retracted loading position, in which said supplying means receives said ceramic material, and an advanced loading position, in which said supplying means delivers said ceramic material.

20. Press according to any one of claims 1 to 16, 5 wherein said parameter is indicative of a position of punch means associated with bed means (3) of said press (1) and bounding forming cavity means arranged for receiving said ceramic material .

21. Method, comprising providing information on an 10 operating parameter of a press (1) for pressing ceramic material during a pressing cycle, said providing comprising generating an indication visible from a zone that is remote with respect to said press (1) .

15 22. Method according to claim 21, wherein said generating comprises showing said indication at a top portion (6) of said press (1) .

23. Method according to claim 21, or 22, wherein said generating comprises showing said indication above a

20 movable crosspiece (4) of said press (1) .

24. Method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein said generating comprises showing said indication in such a way that said indication is visible, both from a zone .arranged frontally ...with.

^:25 respect to saxd press (1) and from a zone', arranged laterally with respect to said press (1) ,

25. Method according to any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein said generating comprises producing a colour signal.

30 26. Method according to any one of claims 21 to 25, wherein said generating comprises producing a verbal signal.

27. Method according to any one of claims 21 to 26, wherein said generating comprises producing a

35 graphic signal.

28. Method according to any one of claims 21 to 27, wherein said generating comprises emitting at least a light signal having an intensity that is proportional to a value of said parameter.

29. Method according to claim 28, wherein during said emitting there is provided varying substantially continuously said intensity during said pressing cycle.

30. Method according to claim 28, or 29, wherein before said emitting there is provided detecting said value and producing an analog electric signal corresponding to said value.

31. Method according to any one of claims 28 to 30, wherein before said emitting there is provided further producing electric signal means for choosing from a preset group of colours a colour to be bestowed on said at least a light signal.

32. Method according to claim 31, wherein said electric signal means comprises a digital electric signal.

33. Method according to any one of claims 28 to 32, wherein said emitting at least a light signal comprises emitting a plurality of light signals, each light signal of said plurality of light signals having ..a colour corresponding.:..to.,..a-., step ..of... said. pressing■ cycle .

34. Method according to claim 33, wherein said emitting a plurality of light signals comprises emitting a first light signal having a first colour corresponding to a low-pressure pressing step of said ceramic material .

35. Method according to claim 33, or 34, wherein said emitting a plurality of light signals comprises emitting a second light signal having a second colour corresponding to a deaerating step for deaerating said ceramic material .

36. Method according to any one of claims 33 to 35, wherein said emitting a plurality of light signals comprises emitting a third light signal having a third colour corresponding to a high-pressure pressing phase for pressing said ceramic material.

37. Method according to any one of claims 33 to 36, wherein said emitting a plurality of light signals comprises emitting a fourth light signal having a fourth colour corresponding to an ejecting step for ejecting a ceramic product from mould means of said press (1) , said ceramic product being obtained by pressing said ceramic material.

38. Method according to any one of claims 21 to 37, wherein said parameter is indicative of operating pressure of operating fluid means of hydraulic cylinder means that drives movable crosspiece means (4) of said press (1) .

39. Method according to any one of claims 21 to 37, wherein said parameter is indicative of a position of movable crosspiece means (4) of said press (1) with respect to bed means (3) of said press (1) .

40. Method according to any one of claims 21 to 37, wherein said parameter is indicative of a position of supplying....means : arranged, .for supplying .said ceramic material ...to said press (1) and movable between a retracted loading position, in which said supplying means receives said ceramic material, and an advanced loading position, in • which said supplying means delivers said ceramic material.

41. Method according to any one of claims 21 to 37, wherein said parameter is indicative of a position of punch means associated with bed means (3) of said press (1) and bounding forming cavity means arranged for receiving said ceramic material .