A COVER FOR CLOSING OUTLETS ON PIPES, CONTAINERS, HOPPERS AND THE LIKE

Abstract

 The cover for closing outlets of pipes, containers, hoppers and the like comprises: at least one bottom (8) for closing an outlet, which bottom (8) is mobile on command with respect to the outlet, and which bottom (8) can move from a closed position to an open position, and from an open position to a closed position, passing through a plurality of intermediate positions; at least one flexible belt (9), at least partially wound about the bottom (8), having two opposite ends (9a, 9b) which are constrained to the container (7); at least one part of the belt (9), when the bottom (8) is in the closed position, being arranged between the bottom (8) and the outlet. The invention is particularly useful when used in a device for loading a die (2) of a ceramic press with powder material, comprising: means (5, 6) for supplying the powder material to a loading station (4) arranged at a side of and externally of the die (2); at least one container (7) for the powder material, open at a top and at a bottom thereof, mobile on command and able to assume at least one position which is external of the die (2), in which at least one position the container (7) can receive the powder material from the means for supplying (5, 6) in the loading station (4), and at least one position which is internal of the die (2), in which it is above a forming cell of the die (2). The container (7) is closed below by a bottom (8).

Description

[0001] In particular, though not exclusively, the invention is usefully applied on pipes or conduits, containers, hoppers and the like, which are used for transport or storage of loose materials such as sand, powders and so on.

[0002] The invention is also applicable in combination with a loading device for the powders in a ceramic die and press.

[0003] In the last-mentioned of the above uses, the loading device can be advantageously applied to the distribution of the powders in the cell of the die, after a previous layer of ceramic powders has already been laid; the top layer being decorative as it will become the top surface of the finished tile.

[0004] The invention makes available a loading device with which ceramic products can be produced which have at least one decorated surface with especially attractive aesthetic qualities.

[0005] An advantage of the invention is that various types of granular or powder materials can be efficiently deposited in the cell of a die, the powders being of many and various kinds, such as atomised or micronised, granules, flakes, mixtures of products of various granular sizes, mixes of powders and colours, and so on.

[0006] A further advantage is that a device is made available which is adaptable to any existing kind of ceramic press in existence.

[0007] A further advantage is that the device can be adapted to a change in the type of powder material being distributed and pressed, in quite short working times. A further advantage is that an apparatus is provided which can perform a double loading of a die for ceramic tiles, in which the forming cell is filled with at least two layers of powder material, generally constituted by a first bottom layer which is intended as a support and is therefore constituted by grosser materials, and by at least one top layer, comprising decorative material of a finer and more aesthetic quality.

[0008] These aims and advantages and more besides are all attained by the invention as it is characterised in the appended claims.

[0009] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will better emerge from the detailed description that follows of some preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying figures of the drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a schematic section made according to line I-I of following figure 2, of a first embodiment of the invention;

figure 2 is the same section as represented in figure 1, in a different operative configuration;

figure 3 is a schematic section made according to line II-II of figure 1;

figure 4 is a partially-sectioned schematic side view in vertical elevation, showing a use of a further embodiment of the invention in a device for loading powder material into a die of a ceramic press;

figure 5 is a schematic plan view from above of figure 4;

figure 6 is an enlargement of figure 4, with the device in a different operative configuration;

figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are an enlarged view of a detail of figure 6 in four different operative configurations.

[0010] In a first embodiment, illustrated in figures 1, 2 and 3, the invention is used as a cover to control closure of a discharge hatch in a hopper 15 destined to contain powder or granular material.

[0011] The discharge hatch of the hopper 15 is operatively closed by a commandable horizontally-closed bottom 8, operated by known means which are not illustrated. The bottom 8 can assume a closed position, in which it closes the bottom of a hopper 15 discharge hatch, and an open position, in which the hatch is left open. The bottom 8 is made of a low-friction coefficient material. A flexible belt 9 is at least partially wound about the bottom 8. Each belt 9 has two opposite ends constrained to the container. One of the ends 9a is fixed to the container 7 and the other end is constrained to the hatch of the hopper by an elastic element 10. The winding axis of the belt 9 is horizontal and perpendicular to the direction in which the bottom 8 displaces. When the bottom 8 is the closed position (figure 1) the belt 9 has a part thereof arranged between the bottom 8 and the hopper 15 hatch. With the bottom 8 in the closed position the belt 9 occupies the whole hopper 15 hatch.

[0012] To open the hopper 15 hatch, the bottom 8 is made to retreat (in the direction indicated by arrow F), gradually freeing the hatch, so that the powder material can freely exit, falling by force of gravity. During the retreat of the bottom 8 in direction F 8, the belt 9, which is solidly constrained to the container 7, slides relatively to the bottom 8. The direction of the sliding movement is indicated by arrows G.

[0013] The sliding of the bottom 8, laterally guided by guides 16, happens without causing any relative dragging against the powder material contained in the hopper 15. As the surface of the belt 9 in contact with the material, during the movement of the bottom 8, remains still with respect to the material, there is no movement of the material inside the hopper 15, as would occur with a traditional-type hatch cover.

[0014] Figures from 4 to 10 show a further embodiment in operation, where the device of the invention is applied on an apparatus 1 for loading a die 2 of a ceramic press with powder material.

[0015] In particular, the loading apparatus 1 can advantageously be used for distributing a top layer A of relatively fine decorative powder in the forming cell of a die 2. The top layer A is distributed on top of a bottom layer B constituting the support and comprising relatively large-calibre powder which has been laid down previously. This process can be usefully applied in the creation of vitrified stoneware tiles.

[0016] The apparatus 1 comprises a loading device 3 which is predisposed to distribute, internally of the forming cell of the die 2, a top layer A of the finest and best decorative powder material (for example micronised). The loading device 3 is constituted by the hatch cover of the invention, and comprises, in the illustrated example, means for supplying the powder material to a loading station 4 arranged by the side of and externally of the die 2. The means for supplying comprise a plurality of upper hoppers 5, arranged in line and by the side of the die 2, and a plurality of lower loading hoppers 6 arranged so as to receive the material unloaded from the upper hoppers 5.

[0017] The loading device 3 comprises a plurality of containers 7 for the powder material, each of which is opening both at the top and the bottom. The containers 7 are arranged side-by-side, below the lower hoppers 6. The containers 7 are mobile on command, and can assume at least one position which is external of the die 2, in which each container 7 can receive powder material distributed by the supply means in the loading station 4. The containers 7 can also assume at least one position internally of the die 2, in which each of the containers 7 is positioned above a forming cell which is part of the die 2. Each container 7 comprises a frame, which is relatively low and is basically the same shape as the forming cell.

[0018] Each container is associated to a bottom 8 which is horizontally mobile to the container 7 on command of means for displacement, of known type and not illustrated. The bottom 8 can assume a closed position, in which it inferiorly closes at least one container 7, and an open position, in which the container 7 is left inferiorly open. The mobile bottom 8 of the container 7 is made of a low-friction material (preferably PVC).

[0019] A flexible belt 9 is at least partially wound about the bottom 8 of each container 7. Each belt 9 has two opposite ends which are constrained to the container 7. One end 9a is fixed to the container 7 and another also to the container 7 but through an elastic element 10. The winding axis of the belt 9 is horizontal and perpendicular to the direction of the displacements of the mobile bottom 8 with respect to the container 7. When the bottom 8 is in the closed position (figure 4), the belt 9 has one part which is arranged between the bottom and the inferior opening of the container 7. When the bottom 8 is in the closed position, the belt 9 occupies the whole inferior opening of the container 7.

[0020] The loading device 3 can displace in a vertical direction on command of means for displacement of known type and not illustrated.

[0021] The die loading apparatus 1 further comprises a conveyor plane 11 for the pressed ceramic tiles obtained at the press. The conveyor plane 11, which in the example is a roller-type, is situated below the loading device 3, and is vertically mobile solidly with the vertical displacements of the device 3. The conveyor plane 11, by effect of the above-mentioned vertical displacements, can assume at least one upper position (figure 1) and at least one lower position (figure 3). In the upper position the conveyor plane 11 is coplanar to a plane of the ceramic press, so that it can receive a pressed tile. In the lower position the plane 11 is situated below the plane of the press, so that the loading device 3 can be positioned above the forming cell. When the conveyor plane 11 is in the lower position, the mobile group formed by the container 7, the bottom 8 and the belt 9, can be moved horizontally above the press plane in order to carry out the forming cell filling operation.

[0022] The loading apparatus 1 comprises a second device 12 for loading the die 2 of the ceramic press with powder material, arranged by the side of the die 2 and on an opposite side with respect to the loading station 4 where the first loading device 3 operates. The second loading device 12, of known type, comprises a loading drawer 13 supplied by one or more loading hoppers 14 containing the powder material. The drawer 13 runs horizontally on command on a sliding plane which is coplanar to the press plane.

[0023] The second device 12 operates in synchrony with the first loading device 3 to load the die 2 with two layers of powder material. In the illustrated case the second device 12 fills the forming cell before the first device 3 with the bottom layer B of powder material (for the base of the tile and relatively large-calibre) on which the first device 3 deposits the top layer A of material (more decorative and for the in-view tile surface). During apparatus functioning, after the second loading device 12 has filled, following known methods, the forming cell with the bottom layer B, the mobile group of the first loading device (which group includes the container 7, the bottom 8 and the belt 9), advances from the loading station 4, where the container 7 has been previously filled with the powder material, and is moved to above the forming cell. During the displacement of the group the bottom 8 inferiorly closes the container 7 and a part of the belt 9 is interplaced between the bottom 8 and the powder material contained in the container 7. After the mobile group has been positioned above the forming cell, the bottom 8 is moved back (in the direction indicated by arrow F), gradually freeing the lower opening of the container 7, so that the powder material can fall into the forming cell in the form of a layer A settling on top of the other, previously-deposited base layer B. During the retraction of the bottom 8 in direction F, the belt 9, which is solidly constrained to the container 7, slides with respect to the bottom 8. The direction of the sliding movement is indicated by arrows G.

[0024] After the powder material has been laid down, the group retreats and returns to the loading station 4, so that pressing can take place and a new load prepared.

[0025] Once the press has formed a tile P, the tile P is distanced from the die 2 by the pusher frontally situated on the loading drawer 13 of the second loading device 12. During this distancing phase the pressed tile P, the conveyor plane 11 situated below the first loading device 3 is located in an upper position, in which it is coplanar to the press plane, so that the tile P is taken by the drawer pusher 13 up to above the conveyor plane 11, which then transfers the tile P towards a conveyor line along which other operations are carried out on it. In the meantime the means for supplying the first loading device 3 fill the container 7 with a bottom layer B of powder material.

[0026] The first loading device 3 then carries out a new filling cycle, in which it fills the forming cell with a top layer A.

Claims

1. A cover for closing outlets of pipes, containers, hoppers and the like,
characterised in that it comprises:

at least one bottom (8) for closing an outlet, which bottom (8) is mobile on command with respect to the outlet, and which bottom (8) can move from a closed position to an open position, and from an open position to a closed position, passing through a plurality of intermediate positions;

at least one flexible belt (9), at least partially wound about the bottom (8), having two opposite ends (9a, 9b) which are constrained to the container (7); at least one part of the belt (9), when the bottom (8) is in the closed position, being arranged between the bottom (8) and the outlet.

2. The cover of claim 1, characterised in that at least one end (9b) of the belt (9) is constrained to the outlet by at least one elastic element.

3. The cover of claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the mobile bottom (8) is made of a low-friction material.

4. The cover of any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that when the bottom (8) is in the closed position, the belt (9) occupies all of the outlet.

5. The device for loading a die (2) of a ceramic press with powder material, comprising:

means (5, 6) for supplying the powder material to a loading station (4) arranged at a side of and externally of the die (2);

at least one container (7) for the powder material, open at a top and at a bottom thereof, mobile on command and able to assume at least one position which is external of the die (2), in which at least one position the container (7) can receive the powder material from the means for supplying (5, 6) in the loading station (4), and at least one position which is internal of the die (2), in which it is above a forming cell of the die (2);

characterised in that the device uses the cover of any one of the preceding claims, which cover comprises:

at least one bottom (8) for the container (7), mobile horizontally on command with respect to the container (7), which bottom (8) can assume a closed position, in which it inferiorly closes the container (7), and an open position, in which it leaves the container open at the bottom thereof;

at least one flexible belt (9), at least partially wound about the bottom (8), having two opposite ends (9a, 9b) which are constrained to the container (7); at least one part of the belt (9), when the bottom (8) is in the closed position, being arranged between the bottom (8) and the bottom opening of the container (7).

6. The device of claim 5, characterised in that at least one end (9b) of the belt is constrained to the container (7) by at least one elastic element (10).

7. The device of claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the mobile bottom (8) of the container (7) is made of a low-friction material.

8. The device of anyone of the claims from 5 to 7, characterised in that when the bottom (8) is in the closed position, the belt (9) occupies the entire bottom opening of the container (7).

9. A device for loading a die of a ceramic press with powder material,
characterised in that it comprises:

a loading device (3) made according to any of the preceding claims, being able on command to displace in a vertical direction;

a conveyor plane (11) for pressed ceramic products obtained at a press, situated below the loading device (3), mobile vertically and solidly with vertical displacements of the loading device, and able to assume at least one upper position, in which it is coplanar to a plane of the ceramic press in order to receive a pressed ceramic product (P), and at least one lower position, in which it is situated below the plane of the press.

10. The device of claim 9, characterised in that it comprises a second device (12) for loading the die (2) of the ceramic press with powder material, predisposed by a side of the die (2) and on an opposite side thereof with respect to the loading station (4) of the first loading device (3), and operating in synchrony with the first loading device (3); the second loading device (12) carrying out a loading of the die (2) before or after the first device (3); the first loading device (3) and the second loading device (12) together giving rise to at least two layers (A, B) of powder material in the press (2), one layer above another.

Drawing