Method for making panels covered with thin slices of stony material

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for making laminate panels having at least one substrate layer and at least one covering layer joined together, the covering layer consisting of a thin slab or slice made of a stony material according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such a method is known from DE 19937935.

[0003] As is known, the need to cut thin slabs or slices having a very small thickness from thicker slabs made of a valuable rock material, such as marble, arises from the need to reduce the amount and weight of such material in coverings and particularly from the need of covering support panels made of materials that combine stiffness properties to extra-lightness properties. These panels are typically used for external and/or internal wall covering of architectural structures of any type. When the panel is installed, the valuable material is exposed outside and the achieved aesthetic effect is identical to the one that might be obtained by using thicker stone slabs. All this is achieved at a considerably lower cost, and with a much easier installation, the covered panels being lighter and much easier to handle.

[0004] Nevertheless, the making of stone slices, generally having a thickness of the order of a few millimeters is hampered by heavy problems, associated to the need to fabricate very large sized laminate panels, with an accordingly large, hence intrinsically brittle covering slice. In prior art, these slices are typically cut from thicker slabs, which are in turn obtained by dividing a stone block, by large-diameter disk apparatuses which typically perform cutting along a vertical plane and have the drawback of being highly expensive, cumbersome and noisy as well as inaccurate in cutting operations. These apparatuses require support structures and drive motors whose size corresponds to the large size of the cutting disk. Moreover, even when the blade is supported eccentrically, the cut obtained thereby is limited in height, whereby processing widths are restricted due to the structural limits of prior art apparatuses. Actually, the width of the resulting slices is always considerably smaller than the width of the slab obtained by cutting the block. Hence, slabs are typically further sliced to obtain a useful width as allowed by the cutting width of the disks. As a result, prior art laminate covering panels have insufficient sizes or, when they are of the desired size, they are covered with smaller slices attached in adjacent positions. The resulting exterior appearance is obviously not the same as obtained by using slices having substantially the same size as those of the slab cut from the block and an additional processing step is anyway required. On the other hand, in guided diamond impregnated wire apparatuses, which generally also perform cutting along a vertical cutting plane, the wire guiding and supporting system only allows to cut slabs of the order of a few centimeters' thickness with an acceptable accuracy, but does not allow to perform cuts like those required to obtain extra thin slices. The vertical cutting direction is also not optimal, particularly with reference to the structural brittleness of the resulting slices.

[0005] Therefore, this invention has the object of obviating the above drawbacks allowing to obtain a cutting width substantially corresponding to the width of the pre-cut thicker slab cut from the block, and to obtain, by a single processing step, stone slices of an acceptable size, i.e. corresponding to the slab size. This cut must be made in a quiet, fast, accurate and safe manner, and allows the manufacture of large laminate panels, particularly made of a honeycomb plastic material, which are stiff and light and have a very high market value. Obviously, even smaller panels may be obtained, by simply cutting them from larger panels or by using smaller slabs.

[0006] The invention achieves the above purposes by providing a method according to claim 1. This method involves the use of an apparatus for cutting stones comprising at least one, cutting device which is oriented along a horizontal or substantially horizontal cutting plane, whereby the slab to be sliced is also oriented along a horizontal plane, and wherein means are provided for relative displacement of the cutting device and the slab to be sliced in the forward cutting direction into the slab. The horizontal position of the slab allows to more easily preserve the structural integrity of the slices cut from the slab.

[0007] The method of the invention includes the following steps:

attaching by glue or the like, on at least one face of a rock slab, whose thickness is greater, particularly much greater than the cutting thickness, a substrate panel whose extension is substantially identical to that of said face;

making a cut within the thickness of the rock slab, to separate from said slab a very thin slice, considerably thinner than both the overall rock slab and the substrate panel, to obtain a laminate panel composed of a substrate layer and a thin stony slice joined together;

applying on the stone slab face, wherefrom the previous thin layer was removed a new substrate panel and making a new cut within the thickness of said stone slab to obtain a new laminate panel.

[0008] Further improvements form the subject of the dependent claims.

[0009] When the remaining thickness of the slab or block is substantially reduced to the sum of the cutting thickness and of two covering slices, the method may include the following steps:

attaching by glue or the like, on both faces of the remaining slab, a substrate panel whose extension is substantially identical to that of the face;

making a substantially intermediate cut in the slab to obtain two identical laminate panels.

[0010] The above method advantageously allows to directly cut stony material from a block, this arrangement being nevertheless an extreme solution. The preferred arrangement, especially for workpiece handling reasons, includes precutting of blocks into a certain number of slabs of a predetermined thickness, particularly about 20 mm, covering the latter on both faces with substrate panels, and making an intermediate cut to obtain two identical panels covered with one 5,5 mm thick stone slice. It shall be noted that, even though the preferred application of the apparatus is intended to obtain thin slices, the apparatus may be advantageously used to obtain slabs having any thickness.

[0011] The method of the invention advantageously allows to provide the thin slice, during cutting operations, with a valid support element which prevents it from breaking and allows the direct production of laminate panels.

[0012] Said apparatus is preferably designed for slicing slabs cut from blocks, but the parts of the apparatus may be possibly sized to allow direct block slicing, particularly small block slicing, thereby skipping a processing step.

[0013] Said apparatus may be provided with means for feeding the slab in the cutting direction, whereas the cutting device is stationary with reference to said cutting direction.

[0014] Means may be further provided for relative displacement of the cutting device and the slab to be sliced, for height or level adjustment of the cutting device relative to the slab to be sliced. Means may be provided for vertical translation of the cutting device parallel to itself, i.e. for adjusting its height position relative to the slab to be sliced, whereas the slab is stationary with reference to said vertical direction.

[0015] The means for feeding the slab in the cutting direction may consist of a movable bogie, running on rails, or of a roller track, but preferably consist of a conveyor belt having an essentially horizontal supporting surface. This belt is driven in such a manner as to feed the slab in the cutting progression direction, at a speed adapted to the cutting speed.

[0016] The cutting device may include an endless, i.e. closed-loop diamond belt, which is driven in such a manner as to run in its longitudinal direction around two return pulleys, at least one being a driving pulley. Said belt is guided transversely and pressed in operating contact with the stone at the cutting line by a guiding and pressing horizontal blade. As is better explained below, said belt has a strong and durable construction and is also relatively cost-effective, though performing accurate cutting operations even ad high speeds, and thereby ensuring a high productivity.

[0017] The guiding and pressing blade may extend transverse to the cutting direction to such an extent as to slightly exceed the length of the cutting line, i.e. the width of the slab to be sliced, and to be shorter than the overall extension of the closed diamond belt. The blade is situated in the intermediate position between the pulleys and ends at a certain distance therefrom, whereby at each of the two opposite ends of the blade, the belt runs freely through a small length, anyway beyond the cutting blade.

[0018] The blade may be substantially coplanar to the common horizontal plane of rotation of the return pulleys, which are arranged so that their axes of rotation are vertical. Its shape may be symmetrical with respect to its greater center axis, which is coincident with the line joining the centers of rotation of the pulleys.

[0019] The blade may have two opposite longitudinal edges for slidably guiding the cutting diamond belt, the one turned toward the slab to be sliced and the other turned in the opposite direction. Typically, in prior art apparatuses having a diamond belt cutting blade, the blade has one single guiding and pressing edge turned toward the slab, corresponding to the active portion of the belt, whereas, in the other portion, the belt is guided in an intrinsically less accurate manner, e.g. on rollers or small pulleys.

[0020] According to an advantageous improvement, at least the diamond belt guiding edge turned toward the slab, but preferably both guiding edges may be slightly outwardly arched, with reference to the greater center axis of the blade. This arrangement allows the two branches of the belt whose ends are tangential to the pulley, to follow a certain slightly arched path, which ensures a perfect adherence of the belt against the guiding edges, also thanks to the axial pulling force exerted on the belt by means which will be described in better detail in the description of the drawings. This results in optimized tensioning and compression of the belt against the stone to be cut in the cutting progression direction, i.e. transverse to the tool, while avoiding any difficulties and scraps at the end of the cutting operation. If the two opposite guide edges were rectilinear, as provided in prior art apparatuses, the adherence of the belt to the blade would not be absolutely assured, on the contrary a slightly arched shape, in combination with an adequate axial pulling action assures a constant belt holding force against the guide edges. The arched shape also allows a much more homogeneous distribution of forces, and the lack of sharp edged ends reduces belt wear.

[0021] According to a further improvement, the blade is larger, at its center portion, and in the cutting direction, than the diameter of the return pulleys, whereas at the ends turned toward the pulleys it is substantially as large as the diameter of the pulleys. Thanks to this arrangement, the blade extends for a great portion of the cutting surface inside the slab and ensures an accurate and constant coplanarity of the two guided branches of the belt. This is particularly important to the purpose of cutting accuracy and in relation to the very small thickness of the slice to be obtained.

[0022] The blade may have such a width that the cutting width in the transverse direction with respect to the slab feed direction is of 1.5 to 2 m, and particularly of about 1.7 m.

[0023] The flexible endless diamond impregnated tool used in the inventive apparatus may be made in any manner fit for the purpose and may substantially comprise a flexible support closed-loop body, e.g. made of rubber or plastic. The tool has a flexible core, which may consist of one or more wires, typically twisted metal wires, but may also consist of an appropriate plastic material, embedded in the flexible material of the body. This body may include a succession of spaced metal segments, embedded therein and fixed to the body and/or the core, and having diamond impregnated surfaces which are conformed in such a manner as to project at least slightly out of the body of the belt, at least on its operating front surface, turned toward the slab to be cut. Regarding the rest, the shape, profile, arrangement of the diamond impregnated segments and the way they are fastened to the flexible support body may be selected in any manner, i.e. the best adapted to specific needs. The diamond tool assembly itself, i.e. its flexible body supporting the diamond impregnated segments, may have any cross sectional profile. For instance, the body of the diamond belt may have, on its outer side, a substantially flat surface wherefrom the spaced diamond impregnated segments slightly project in the longitudinal direction of the belt, and are inserted in holes passing through the rigid segments, on the longitudinal wire/s of the core and partly embedded in the body. The diamond impregnated surface of each rigid segment may consist, for instance, of a corresponding sintered diamond impregnated element attached to the body of the rigid segment. The width of the segments may be slightly greater than the width of the body, so as to slightly project on one or both sides of the body, thereby forming a portion of the sharp edge of the respective longitudinal edge/s of the belt.

[0024] The diamond belt may have, on its operating front surface, in coincidence with the intervals between the metal segments, transverse grooves, preferably joined at their ends to side grooves formed in the sides of the belt and extending on at least a portion of the belt height, to facilitate the flow of the cooling fluid and material removed from the stone in the cutting operation.

[0025] The non-operating inner side of the belt, i.e. the side of the flexible support body turned toward the guiding and pressing blade and having no diamond surfaces and the two associated edges of the guiding and pressing blade slidably cooperating with said non-operating inner side of the diamond belt, may have complementary and coincident particularly V or U-shaped cross sectional profiles, which are slidably and at least partly engaged in each other, in such a manner as to assure a certain and accurate diamond belt transverse guiding action.

[0026] Advantageously, the guiding and pressing blade may have a minimized thickness, as allowed by the mechanical and functional requirements of the blade and the diamond belt, and particularly it may have a slightly smaller thickness than the operating cutting thickness of the diamond belt, so as to minimize the sliding friction of the blade in the cutting direction. Particularly, the blade may have a thickness of 6 mm, whereas the belt may have an operating cutting thickness of 8 mm, to determine a cutting width of 9 mm.

[0027] According to an additional improvement, the guiding and pressing blade may include at least one gap and/or at least one piping system, to be formed, for instance by milling, and to be connected to a source, particularly a pump, of pressurized fluid, particularly water. These pipes communicate with a succession of outlet ports appropriately distributed on the bottom of the two V-shaped longitudinal slide edges. During cutting operations, pressurized water is injected between the guiding and pressing blade and the diamond belt, to form an anti-grip water cushion between the blade and the belt and, with a strong lubricating action, to control the temperature whereat cinders are removed from the cutting slot.

[0028] The minimum thickness of the slab to be sliced may be such that, once the cutting thickness or width is deducted therefrom, two thin rock slices are obtained. These slices may have a thickness substantially of the order of a few mm to about two centimeters, and particularly of 4 to 6 mm. In the typical case of an intermediate slicing of a 20 mm thick slab, two 5,5 mm thick slices may be obtained.

[0029] The guiding and pressing blade and the diamond belt return pulleys may be supported in a cantilever fashion at the bottom of a substantially horizontal beam or beam structure. Said beam is in turn supported in a slidable manner on at least one pair of vertical posts, provided each at an opposite end of the beam. Said beam also carries the means for rotatably driving the driving pulley, particularly a motor reducer.

[0030] The blade may be supported at the two opposite ends, particularly by hinge means and have, at least at one of said ends, means for blade tensioning adjustment.

[0031] One of the return pulleys may be fitted on a stationary support to the beam, whereas the support of the other return pulley, particularly the idle pulley, may be mounted so as to slide horizontally on the beam and transverse to the cutting direction by means of appropriate actuators, so as to vary its distance from the support of the opposite return pulley and to adjust the diamond belt tension.

[0032] The upper ends of the vertical posts may be connected by at least one longitudinal member carrying the means for controlling the height displacement of the beam for supporting the blade, belt, pulleys and motor assembly.

[0033] These control means may consist of at least one motor which acts on a drive, e.g. a worm which causes the upward or downward displacement of the beam.

[0034] The substrate layer may be made of any suitable material, either solid or having lightening apertures, particularly of one or more honeycomb materials, with open or closed, or partly open or closed cells. These materials may include, for instance, high density polystyrene, wood, particle boards, metal or rigid plastic grids or any other high stiffness and low elasticity material.

[0035] The characteristics of the invention and the advantages derived therefrom will be more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of an apparatus used in the method according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 1, in an intermediate condition during the slab slicing operation.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational, larger scale view of the lower left corner of the guiding and pressing blade of the apparatus as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, comprising the motor driven pulley and the means for tensioning the guiding and pressing blade.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the detail as shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a front elevational, larger scale view of the lower right corner of the guiding and pressing blade, comprising the idle pulley and the means for displacing the latter to tension the cutting belt.

[0036] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, an apparatus used in the method according to this invention is composed of a footing 1 whereon a bridge frame 2 is fitted. This frame 2 consists of a pair of vertical posts 102 at each side of the apparatus, the lower ends of said vertical posts 102 being connected to the footing 1. At the upper ends of the vertical posts 102, at least one transverse longitudinal member 202 is disposed horizontally. Means for feeding the slab 3 in the cutting direction are provided on the footing 1, said direction being indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. Said means may consist, for instance, of a movable bogie, running on horizontal rails, or of a roller track, but preferably consist of a conveyor belt 4 having a horizontal supporting surface, which is driven in such a manner as to feed the slab 3 in the cut progression direction at a speed adapted to the cutting speed. A horizontal beam structure 5 is slidably vertically guided on end rollers 105 on corresponding vertical guides 302 provided on the inner side of each vertical post 102 of the bridge frame 2. This beam structure 5 which, in the embodiment of the Figures essentially consists of four longitudinal members 205, may be lifted and lowered parallel to itself and to the longitudinal member 202 by means of a motor 6 which is disposed substantially in the substantially intermediate position of the transverse longitudinal member 202, which motor acts on a drive of any suitable type, e.g. a worm, a screw-and-nut, or recirculating-ball drive.

[0037] The beam structure 5 carries a preferably metal blade 7 at its bottom, which blade extends horizontally and is fastened by its side ends to the beam structure 5 by cantilever support means. This blade 7 is as thin as possible in so far as the mechanical and functional requirements of the blade 7 itself and of a closed-loop cutting diamond belt 8 allow, which blade 7 acts as a guiding and pressing member in contact with the slab 3 in a horizontal cutting plane. A hinge connecting element 7 is provided at each of the two opposite side edges of the blade 7, which element is integral with the blade 7 on one side and is fitted in a cantilever manner to an element of the beam structure 5. With particular reference to Fig. 4, one of the two hinge elements 107 is provided with means for adjusting the tension of the blade 7, consisting of a motor-driven actuator 207 which acts on a sliding slab 307, the hinge 107 being fitted on the edge thereof turned toward the blade 7.

[0038] The guiding and pressing blade 7 extends transverse to the cutting direction to such an extent as to slightly exceed the width of the slab 3 to be sliced, and to be shorter than the overall extension of the closed diamond belt 8 and is provided in the intermediate position between two opposed return pulleys 9, 9', at a certain distance therefrom. The blade 7 is substantially coplanar to the common horizontal plane of rotation of the return pulleys 9, 9', and is symmetrical with respect to its greater center axis III which coincides with the line joining the centers of rotation of the pulleys 9, 9'. The blade 7 has two opposite longitudinal edges for slidably guiding the cutting diamond belt 8, the one 407 turned toward the slab 3 to be sliced and the other 507 turned in the opposite direction. Both guiding edges 407, 507 are slightly arched outwards, with reference to the greater center axis of the blade 7 so as to ensure a perfect adherence of the two opposite guided parts of the belt 8 to the edges 407, 507 of the blade 7. With particular reference to Fig. 2, the center portion of the blade 7 is very wide in the cutting direction, anyway larger than the diameter of the return pulleys 9, 9', whereas the ends thereof turned toward the pulleys 9, 9' are substantially as large as the diameter of the pulleys.

[0039] Referring now to Fig. 3, one 9' of the two pulleys is supported in a cantilever fashion by a vertical rotating shaft 109' which is also the rotating shaft of a motor 10 carried by the beam structure 5, to rotatably drive the pulley 9'. On the opposite side (see Fig. 5), the other idle pulley 9 is supported in a cantilever manner by a vertical shaft 109 which is held by two axially separated bushes 209, mounted on a saddle 309 sliding on guides 409, whose displacement is controlled by a linear actuator 509. Thanks to these arrangements, the rotating shaft 109 of the idle pulley 9 may be drawn away from or closer to the rotating shaft 109' of the motor-driven pulley, in the direction transverse to the cutting direction, in such a manner as to control the tension of the diamond belt 8.

[0040] The two opposite edges 407, 507 for guiding the diamond belt 8, as well as the peripheral outer edges of the pulleys 9, 9' have a continuous substantially V-or U- shaped groove which is complementary to the inner, non-operating surface of the diamond belt 8 so as to accurately and safely guide said belt 8 inside the slab 3 to be cut up.

[0041] Cutting operations are performed by running the belt 8 lengthwise thanks to its motor-driven return pulley 9', whereas the beam structure 5 is displaced in such a manner as to carry the blade 7 to the desired height relative to the slab 3, which is out of the cutting area, in this step. Then, the slab 3 is fed in the cutting direction thanks to the conveyor belt 4 at a uniform speed, which is adapted to the cutting speed.

[0042] Obviously, the method according to the invention is not limited to the use of the embodiment described and illustrated herein, but may be greatly varied, especially as regards construction and in the range of mechanical equivalents, without departure from the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for making laminate panels having at least one substrate layer and at least one covering layer joined together, the covering layer consisting of a thin slab or slice made of a stony material wherein the method is implemented by using an apparatus for cutting stones, such as marbles, granites or the like, and particularly for cutting thin slabs or slices from thicker slabs (3), comprising at least one cutting device (7, 8) having at least one endless flexible diamond impregnated tool (8), said cutting device (7, 8) being oriented along a horizontal or substantially horizontal cutting plane, the slab to be cut (3) being itself oriented along a horizontal plane, and there being provided means (4) for relative displacement of the cutting device (7, 8) and the slab (3) to be sliced in the forward cutting direction into the slab (3)
characterized in that it includes the following steps:

➢ attaching by glue or the like, on at least one face of a rock slab (3), whose thickness is greater, particularly much greater than the cutting thickness, a substrate panel whose extension is substantially identical to that of said face;

➢ making a cut within the thickness of the rock slab (3), to separate from said slab (3) a very thin slice, considerably thinner than both the overall rock slab and the substrate panel, to obtain a laminate panel composed of a substrate layer and a thin stony slice joined together;

➢ applying on the stone slab (3) face, wherefrom the previous thin layer was removed a new substrate panel and making a new cut within the thickness of said stone slab (3) to obtain a new laminate panel.

2. A method for making laminate panels as claimed in claim 1 having at least one substrate layer and at least one covering layer joined together, the covering layer consisting of a thin slab or slice made of a stony material, characterized in that it includes the following steps:

➢ attaching by glue or the like, on both faces of a slab (3), whose thickness is greater than the cutting width, a substrate panel whose extension is substantially identical to that of the face;

➢ making a substantially intermediate cut in the slab (3) to obtain two identical laminate panels

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, when the remaining thickness of the slab is substantially reduced to the sum of the cutting thickness and of two covering slices, it includes the additional step as claimed in claim 2.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the apparatus is provided with means (6, 106, 105, 302, 5) for relative displacement of the cutting device (7, 8) and the slab (3) to be sliced for height or level adjustment of the cutting device (7, 8) relative to the slab (3) to be sliced.

5. A method as claimed in claims 1 or 4, characterized in that the apparatus is provided with means (4) for feeding the slab (3) in the cutting direction, whereas the cutting device (7, 8) is stationary with reference to said cutting direction.

6. A method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the apparatus is provided with means (6, 106, 105, 302, 5) for vertical translation of the cutting device (7, 8) parallel to itself, i.e. for adjusting its height position relative to the slab (3) to be sliced, whereas the slab (3) is stationary with reference to said vertical direction.

7. A method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for feeding the slab (3) in the cutting direction may consist, for instance, of a movable boogie, running on horizontal rails, or of a roller track, but preferably consist of a conveyor belt (4) having a substantially horizontal supporting surface, which is driven in such a manner as run in the cut progression direction at a speed adapted to the cutting speed.

8. A method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutting device includes an endless, i.e. closed-loop diamond belt (8), which is driven in such a manner as to run in its longitudinal direction around two return pulleys (9, 9'), at least one (9') being a driving pulley, and is guided transversely and pressed in operating contact with the slab (3) at the cutting line by a guiding and pressing horizontal blade (7).

9. A method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guiding and pressing blade (7) extends transverse to the cutting direction to such an extent as to slightly exceed the length of the cutting line, i.e. the width of the slab (3) to be sliced, and to be shorter than the overall extension of the closed diamond belt (8) and is provided in the intermediate position between two opposed return pulleys (9, 9'), at a certain distance therefrom.

10. A method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blade (7) is substantially coplanar to the common horizontal plane of rotation of the return pulleys (9, 9') disposed with their axes of rotation in the vertical position, and is symmetrical with respect to its greater center axis (III) which coincides with the line joining the centers of rotation of the pulleys (9, 9').

11. A method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blade (7) has two opposite longitudinal edges (407, 507) for slidably guiding the cutting diamond belt (8), the one (407) turned toward the slab to be sliced and the other (507) turned in the opposite direction.

12. A method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the diamond belt (8) guiding edge (407) turned toward the slab (3), but preferably both guiding edges (407, 507) may be slightly outwardly arched, with reference to the greater center axis (III) of the blade (7)

13. A method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the center portion of the blade (7) is larger in the cutting direction than the diameter of the return pulleys (9, 9'), whereas the ends thereof turned toward the pulleys (9, 9') are substantially as large as the diameter of the pulleys (9, 9').

14. A method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blade (7) has such a width that the cutting width in the transverse direction with respect to the slab (3) feed direction is of 1.5 to 2 m.

15. A method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the diamond belt (8) comprises a flexible support closed-loop body, e.g. made of rubber or plastic with a flexible core, consisting of one or more wires, typically twisted metal wires, embedded in the flexible material of the body, which body includes a succession of spaced metal segments, having diamond impregnated surfaces which project at least partly and at least slightly out of the body of the belt, at least on its operating front surface, turned toward the slab (3) to be cut.

16. A method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the diamond belt (8) has, on its operating front surface, in coincidence with the intervals between the metal segments, transverse grooves, joined at their ends to side grooves formed in the sides of the belt (8) and extending on at least a portion of the height of the belt (8).

17. A method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the non-operating inner side of the belt (8), i.e. the side of the flexible support body turned toward the guiding and pressing blade (7) and having no diamond surfaces and the two associated edges (407, 507) of the guiding and pressing blade (7) slidably cooperating with said non-operating inner side of the diamond belt (8), may have complementary and coincident particularly V or U-shaped cross sectional profiles, which are slidably and at least partly engaged in each other, in such a manner as to assure a certain and accurate diamond belt (8) transverse guiding action.

18. A method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guiding and pressing blade (7) has a slightly smaller thickness than the operating cutting thickness of the diamond belt (8).

19. A method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blade (7) has a thickness of 6 mm, whereas the belt (8) has an operating cutting thickness of 8 mm, to determine a cutting width of 9 mm.

20. A method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guiding and pressing blade (7) includes at least one gap and/or at least one piping system, which are connected to a source of pressurized fluid, particularly water, which piping system communicates with a succession of outlet ports appropriately distributed on the bottom of the two V-shaped longitudinal slide edges (407, 507) at such a pressure as to obtain a water cushion effect for lubrication, temperature control and cinder removal purposes.

21. A method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the minimum thickness of the slab (3) to be sliced is such that, once the cutting thickness or width is deducted therefrom, two thin, particularly 20 mm thick, rock slices are obtained.

22. A method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said slices have a thickness substantially of the order of a few millimeters to about two centimeters, and particularly of four to six millimeters.

23. A method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guiding and pressing blade (7) and the diamond belt (8) return pulleys (9, 9') are supported in a cantilever fashion at the bottom of a substantially horizontal beam or beam structure, which beam is in turn supported in such a manner as to slide on at least one pair of vertical posts (102) disposed each at an opposite end of the beam, and which beam (5) also carries the means for rotatably driving the driving pulley, particularly a motor reducer (10).

24. A method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blade (7) is supported at the two opposite ends, particularly by hinge means (107) and has, at least at one of said ends, means (207, 307) for adjusting the tension of the blade (7).

25. A method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that one (9') of the return pulleys is fitted on a stationary support (109') to the beam (5), whereas the support of the other return pulley (9), particularly the idle pulley (9), is mounted so as to slide horizontally on the beam (5) and transverse to the cutting direction by means of appropriate actuators (109, 209, 309, 409, 509), so as to vary its distance from the support (109') of the opposite return pulley (9') and to adjust tension of the diamond belt (8).

26. A method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper ends of the vertical posts (102) are connected by at least one longitudinal member (202) carrying the means (6) for controlling the height displacement of the beam (5) for supporting the blade (7), belt (8), pulleys (9, 9') and motor (10) assembly.

27. A method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said control means consist of a motor (6) which acts on a drive, e.g. a worm which causes the upward or downward displacement of the beam (5).

28. A method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the minimum thickness of the rock slab (3) is such that, once the cutting thickness is deducted therefrom, two thin rock slices are obtained.

29. A method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said slices have a thickness substantially of the order of a few millimeters to about two centimeters, and particularly of four to six millimeters.

30. A method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slab (3) to be slices has a width of 1.5 m to 2 m.

Ansprüche

1. Ein Verfahren zur Herstellung von Verbundplatten aufweisend mindestens eine Trägerschicht und mindestens eine Deckschicht, die miteinander verbunden sind, die Deckschicht bestehend aus einer dünnen Platte oder Scheibe hergestellt aus einem steinartigen Material, wobei das Verfahren unter Nutzung einer Einrichtung zum Schneiden von Steinen wie etwa Marmor, Granit oder dergleichen durchgeführt wird, insbesondere zum Schneiden von dünnen Platten oder Scheiben aus dickeren Platten (3), aufweisend mindestens eine Schneideinrichtung (7, 8) mit mindestens einem endlosen, flexiblen, mit Diamant bestücktem Werkzeug (8), wobei besagte Schneideinrichtung (7, 8) entlang einer horizontalen oder im wesentlichen horizontalen Schnittebene ausgerichtet ist, die zu schneidende Platte (3) ihrerseits entlang einer horizontalen Ebene ausgerichtet ist, und dabei Mittel (4) zur relativen Verstellung der Schneideinrichtung (7, 8) und der zu schneidenden Platte (3) zueinander in der vorwärts gerichteten Schneidrichtung in die Scheibe (3) hinein vorgesehen sind,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Verfahren folgende Schritte beinhaltet:

➢ Befestigen einer Trägerschicht mittels Kleber oder dergleichen auf mindestens einer Oberfläche einer Steinplatte (3), deren Dicke größer, insbesondere viel größer als die Schnittbreite ist, wobei die Erstreckung der Trägerschicht im wesentlichen identisch zu der der besagten Oberfläche ist,

➢ Ausführen eines Schnittes innerhalb der Dicke der Steinplatte (3), um eine sehr dünne Scheibe von der besagten Platte (3) abzutrennen, beträchtlich dünner als sowohl die gesamte Steinplatte und als auch die Trägerschicht, zum Erhalt einer Verbundplatte, die aus einer Trägerschicht und einer dünnen steinartigen Scheibe, die miteinander verbunden sind, zusammengesetzt ist,

➢ Aufbringen einer neuen Trägerschicht auf diejenige Oberfläche der Steinscheibe (3), von der die vorhergehende dünne Schicht entfernt wurde, und Ausführen eines neuen Schnittes innerhalb der Dicke der besagten Steinscheibe (3) zur Erzeugung einer neuen Verbundplatte.

2. Ein Verfahren zur Herstellung von Verbundplatten wie in Anspruch 1 beansprucht, aufweisend mindestens eine Trägerschicht und mindestens eine Deckschicht, die miteinander verbunden sind, die Deckschicht bestehend aus einer dünnen Platte oder Scheibe hergestellt aus einem steinartigen Material,
gekennzeichnet dadurch, dass es die folgenden Schritte aufweist:

➢ Befestigen einer Trägerschicht mittels Kleber oder dergleichen auf beiden Oberflächen einer Platte (3), deren Dicke größer als die Schnittbreite ist, wobei die Erstreckung der Trägerschicht im wesentlichen identisch zu der der besagten Oberfläche ist,

➢ Ausführen eines im wesentlichen dazwischen liegenden Schnittes in der Platte (3) zur Erzeugung von zwei identischen Verbundplatten.

3. Ein Verfahren wie in Anspruch 1 beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es einen zusätzlichen Schritt wie in Anspruch 2 beansprucht enthält, wenn die verbleibende Dicke der Platte im wesentlichen auf die Summe der Schnittbreite und der beiden Deckschichten vermindert ist.

4. Ein Verfahren wie in Anspruch 1 beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Einrichtung mit Mitteln (6, 106, 105, 302, 5) ausgestattet ist zur relativen Verstellung der Schneideinrichtung (7, 8) und der zu schneidenden Platte (3) zueinander zur Einstellung der Höhe oder Lage der Schneideinrichtung (7, 8) relativ zu der zu schneidenden Platte (3).

5. Ein Verfahren wie in den Ansprüchen 1 oder 4 beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Einrichtung mit Mitteln (4) ausgestattet ist zum Vorschieben der Platte (3) in die Schneidrichtung, während die Schneideinrichtung (7, 8) bezogen auf die besagte Schneidrichtung stationär angeordnet ist.

6. Ein Verfahren wie in einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Einrichtung mit Mitteln (6, 106, 105, 302, 5) zur vertikalen Verstellung der Schneideinrichtung (7, 8) parallel zu ihr selbst ausgestattet ist, z.B. zur Einstellung der Höhenposition relativ zu der zu schneidenden Platte (3), während die Platte (3) bezogen auf die besagte vertikale Richtung stationär angeordnet ist.

7. Ein Verfahren wie in einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Mittel zum Vorschieben der Platte (3) in der Schneidrichtung zum Beispiel aus einem beweglichen Gestell bestehen können, das auf horizontalen Schienen läuft, oder aus einer Rollenbahn, aber vorzugsweise aus einem Förderband (4), aufweisend eine im wesentlichen horizontale Oberfläche zur Auflage, die in einer solchen Weise angetrieben wird, dass sie in der Richtung des fortschreitenden Schnittes mit einer Geschwindigkeit läuft, die an die Schnittgeschwindigkeit angepasst ist.

8. Ein Verfahren wie in einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Schneideinrichtung ein kontinuierliches, zum Beispiel endlos-geschlossenes Diamant-Band (8) beinhaltet, das in einer solchen Weise angetrieben wird, dass es in seiner Längsrichtung um zwei Umlenkrollen (9, 9') herum verläuft, von denen mindestens eine Rolle (9') eine angetriebene Rolle ist, und quer dazu geführt und an der Schnittlinie in einen Betriebskontakt mit der Platte (3) durch ein horizontales Führungs- und Andruckblatt (7) gedrückt wird.

9. Ein Verfahren wie in einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Führungs- und Andruckblatt (7) quer zur Schnittrichtung in einem solchen Maße hervorsteht, dass es ein wenig über die Länge der Schnittlinie, z.B. die Breite der zu schneidenden Platte (3) hervorsteht, und kürzer ist als die Gesamterstreckung des geschlossenen Diamantbandes (8) und sich in einer Mittenposition zwischen zwei sich gegenüberliegenden Umlenkrollen (9 9') und um eine bestimmte Distanz davon beabstandet befindet.

10. Ein Verfahren wie in einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Blatt (7) im wesentlichen koplanar mit der gemeinsamen horizontalen Rotationsebene der Umlenkrollen (9, 9') angeordnet ist, die mit ihren Drehachsen in vertikaler Richtung ausgerichtet sind, und symmetrisch in Bezug auf ihre größere Mittelachse (lll), die mit der Linie zusammen fällt, die die Drehachsen der Umlenkrollen (9, 9') miteinander verbindet.

11. Ein Verfahren wie in einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Blatt (7) zwei sich gegenüberliegende Längskanten (407, 507) zur gleitenden Führung des schneidenden Diamantbandes (8) aufweist, von denen die eine (407) der zu schneidenden Platte zugewandt ist und die andere (507) in die entgegengesetzte Richtung ausgerichtet ist.

12. Ein Verfahren wie in einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass mindestens die Kante (407) zur Führung des Diamantbandes (8), die der Platte (3) zugewandt ist, aber vorzugsweise beide Führungskanten (407, 507), ein wenig nach außen gekrümmt sein können, bezogen auf die größere Mittelachse (lll) des Blattes (7).

13. Ein Verfahren wie in einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Mittelabschnitt des Blattes (7) in Schnittrichtung größer als der Durchmesser der Umlenkrollen (9, 9') ausgebildet ist, während deren zu den Umlenkrollen (9, 9') gerichtete Enden im wesentlichen so groß wie der Durchmesser der Umlenkrollen (9, 9') ausgebildet ist.

14. Ein Verfahren wie in einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Blatt (7) eine solche Breite aufweist, dass die Schnittlänge in Querrichtung bezogen auf die Vorschubrichtung der Platte (3) zwischen 1,5 und 2 m beträgt.

15. Ein Verfahren wie in einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Diamantband (8) einen flexiblen endlosen Trägerkörper enthält, zum Beispiel hergestellt aus Gummi oder Kunststoff mit einem flexiblen Kern, bestehend aus einem oder mehreren Drähten, typischerweise verdrillten Metalldrähten, die in das flexible Material des Körpers eingehüllt sind, wobei der Körper eine Anzahl von zueinander beabstandeten Metallsegmenten beinhaltet, die mit Diamant besetzte Oberflächen aufweisen und die zumindest teilweise und zumindest ein wenig über den Körper des Bandes hervorstehen, zumindest an seiner arbeitsseitigen Vorderfläche, die zu der zu schneidenden Platte (3) gerichtet ist.

16. Ein Verfahren wie in einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Diamantband (8) an seiner arbeitsseitigen Vorderfläche passend zu den Zwischenräumen zwischen den metallenen Segmenten quer angeordnete Aussparungen aufweist, die an ihren Enden mit seitlichen Aussparungen verbunden sind, die in den Seitenflächen des Bandes (8) ausgeformt sind und sich zumindest über einen Abschnitt der Höhe des Bandes erstrecken.

17. Ein Verfahren wie in einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die nicht im Eingriff stehende Innenseite des Bandes (8), z.B. die Seite des flexiblen Trägerkörpers, der zum Führungs- und Andruckblatt (7) gerichtet ist und keine mit Diamant besetzt Oberfläche aufweist, und die beiden zugehörigen Kanten (407, 507) des Führungs- und Andruckblattes (7), die gleitend mit der besagten nicht im Eingriff stehenden Innenseite des Bandes (8) zusammen arbeiten, komplemetäre und übereinstimmende, vorzugsweise V- oder U-förmige Querschnittsprofile aufweisen können, die gleitend und zumindest teilweise miteinander in einem solchen Eingriff stehend eine sichere und genaue Längsführung des Diamantbandes (8) sicherstellen.

18. Ein Verfahren wie in einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Führungs- und Andruckblatt (7) eine ein wenig geringere Dicke als die Schneidbreite des Diamantbandes (8) im Betrieb hat.

19. Ein Verfahren wie in einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Blatt (7) eine Dicke von 6 mm aufweist, wohingegen das Band (8) eine Schneidbreite von 8 mm aufweist, um eine Schnittbreite von 9 mm sicher zu stellen.

20. Ein Verfahren wie in einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Führungs- und Andruckblatt (7) zumindest einen Spalt und/oder mindestens ein Rohrsystem, die mit einer Quelle für unter Druck stehende Flüssigkeit, insbesondere Wasser in Verbindung stehen, wobei das Rohrsystem mit einer Anzahl von Auslassöffnungen in Verbindung steht, die passend an dem Boden der beiden V-förmigen längserstreckten Gleitkanten (407, 507) verteilt sind, bei einem derartigen Druck, um einen Effekt eines Wasserpolsters zur Schmierung, zur Temperaturkontrolle und zur Entfernung von Ablagerungen hervorzurufen.

21. Ein Verfahren wie in einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die geringste Dicke der zu schneidenden Platte (3) derart ist, dass, wenn die Schnittbreite oder Dicke davon abgezogen wird, zwei dünne, insbesondere 20 mm dicke steinerne Scheiben zu gewinnen sind.

22. Ein Verfahren wie in einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die besagten Scheiben eine Dicke im wesentlichen in der Größenordnung von wenigen Millimetern bis über zwei Zentimeter, und vorzugsweise von 4 bis 6 Millimetern aufweisen.

23. Ein Verfahren wie in einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Führungs- und Andruckblatt (7) und die Umlenkrollen (9, 9') für das Diamantband (8) unterseitig auslegerartig an einem im wesentlichen horizontalen Balken oder einer Balkenstruktur gehalten sind, welcher Balken seinerseits in einer solchen Weise verschiebbar von mindestens einem Paar von vertikalen Pfosten (102) getragen wird, die an den gegenüberliegenden Enden des Balkens angeordnet sind, wobei der Balken (5) ebenfalls Mittel zum rotierenden Antreiben der angetriebenen Umlenkrolle trägt, vorzugsweise eine Motor-Getriebeeinheit (10).

24. Ein Verfahren wie in einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Blatt (7) an seinen gegenüberliegenden Enden abgestützt wird, vorzugsweise mittels Scharniermitteln (107) und zumindest an einem der besagten Enden Mittel (207, 307) zur Einstellung der Spannung des Blattes (7) aufweist.

25. Ein Verfahren wie in einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine der Umlenkrollen (9') an einem stationären Halter (109') an dem Balken festgelegt ist, während die Halterung der anderen Umlenkrolle (9), vorzugsweise der leerlaufenden Rolle (9), an dem Balken derart horizontal verschiebbar und quer zu der Schnittrichtung mittels eines passenden Aktuators (109, 209, 309, 409, 509) angebracht ist, dass ihr Abstand zu der Halterung (109') der gegenüberliegenden Umlenkrolle (9') verändert und die Spannung die Diamantbandes (8) eingestellt werden kann.

26. Ein Verfahren wie in einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die oberen Enden der vertikalen Pfosten (102) durch mindestens ein längserstrecktes Bauteil (202) verbunden sind, das die Mittel (6) zur Kontrolle des Höhenversatzes des Balkens (5) zur Unterstützung des Blattes (7), des Bandes (8), der Umlenkrollen (9, 9') und der Motoreinheit (10) trägt.

27. Ein Verfahren wie in einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die besagten Kontrollmittel aus einem Motor (6) bestehen, der auf einen Antrieb, zum Beispiel eine Schnecke einwirkt, der eine Verstellung des Balkens (5) aufwärts oder abwärts bewirkt.

28. Ein Verfahren wie in einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die geringste Dicke der steinartigen Platte (3) derart ist, dass, wenn die Schnittbreite oder Dicke davon abgezogen wird, zwei dünne steinerne Scheiben zu gewinnen sind.

29. Ein Verfahren wie in einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die besagten Scheiben eine Dicke im wesentlichen von der Größenordnung von wenigen Millimetern bis über zwei Zentimeter, und vorzugsweise von 4 bis 6 Millimetern aufweisen.

30. Ein Verfahren wie in einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die zu schneidende Scheibe (3) eine Breite von 1,5 bis 2 m aufweist.

Revendications

1. Procédé de fabrication de panneaux stratifiés ayant au moins une couche de substrat et au moins une couche de revêtement réunies l'une à l'autre, la couche de revêtement étant constituée par une mince dalle ou tranche faite d'un matériau pierreux, dans lequel le procédé est mis en oeuvre en utilisant un appareil pour la coupe de pierres telles que les marbres, granites ou analogues et, en particulier, pour la coupe de fines dalles ou tranches dans des dalles (3) plus épaisses, comprenant au moins un dispositif de coupe (7, 8) ayant au moins un outil flexible sans fin (8) imprégné de diamants, ledit dispositif de coupe (7, 8) étant orienté selon un plan de coupe horizontal ou sensiblement horizontal, la dalle (3) à découper étant elle-même orientée selon un plan horizontal, et des moyens (4) étant prévus pour produire un déplacement relatif entre le dispositif de coupe (7, 8) et la dalle (3) à trancher dans la direction de coupe vers l'avant pénétrant dans la dalle (3),
caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend les étapes suivantes :

- attacher par de la colle ou un produit analogue, sur au moins une face d'une dalle de roche (3) dont l'épaisseur est supérieure, en particulier très supérieure, à l'épaisseur de la coupe, un panneau de substrat dont la dimension est sensiblement identique à celle de ladite face ;

- réaliser une coupe dans l'épaisseur de la dalle de roche (3) pour séparer de ladite dalle (3) une très mince tranche, notablement plus mince que l'ensemble de la dalle de roche hors tout et du panneau de substrat, pour obtenir un panneau stratifié composé d'une couche de substrat et d'une mince tranche de pierre réunies l'une à l'autre ;

- appliquer un nouveau panneau de substrat sur la face de la dalle de pierre (3) d'où la mince couche précédente a été enlevée et réaliser une nouvelle coupe dans l'épaisseur de ladite dalle de pierre (3) pour obtenir un nouveau panneau stratifié.

2. Procédé de fabrication de panneaux stratifiés selon la revendication 1, ayant au moins une couche de substrat et au moins une couche de revêtement réunies l'une à l'autre, la couche de revêtement étant constituée par une mince dalle ou tranche faite d'un matériau pierreux, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend les étapes suivantes

- attacher par de la colle ou un produit analogue sur les deux faces d'une dalle (3) dont l'épaisseur est supérieure à l'épaisseur de la coupe, un panneau de substrat dont la dimension est sensiblement identique à celle de ladite face ;

- réaliser une coupe sensiblement intermédiaire dans la dalle (3) pour obtenir deux panneaux stratifiés identiques.

3. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que, lorsque l'épaisseur restante de la dalle est sensiblement réduite à la somme de l'épaisseur de la coupe et de deux tranches de revêtement, il comprend l'étape additionnelle telle que revendiquée à la revendication 2.

4. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'appareil est équipé de moyens (6, 106, 105, 302, 5) servant à produire un déplacement relatif entre le dispositif de coupe (7, 8) et la dalle (3) à trancher pour assurer le réglage de la hauteur ou du niveau du dispositif de coupe (7, 8) par rapport à la dalle (3) à trancher.

5. Procédé selon les revendications 1 ou 4, caractérisé en ce que l'appareil est équipé de moyens (4) pour faire avancer la dalle (3) dans la direction de la coupe, tandis que le dispositif de coupe (7, 8) est stationnaire par rapport à ladite direction de la coupe.

6. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que l'appareil est équipé de moyens (6, 106, 105, 302, 5) servant à produire une translation verticale du dispositif de coupe (7, 8) parallèlement à lui-même, c'est-à-dire à régler sa position en hauteur par rapport à la dalle (3) à trancher, tandis que la dalle (3) est fixe par référence à ladite direction verticale.

7. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que les moyens servant à faire avancer la dalle (3) dans la direction de la coupe peuvent être constitués, par exemple par un bogie mobile, roulant sur des rails horizontaux, ou par une glissière à rouleaux, mais de préférence par une courroie transporteuse (4) ayant une surface de support sensiblement horizontale, qui sont entraînés de manière à se déplacer dans la direction de la progression de la coupe à une vitesse adaptée à la vitesse de coupe.

8. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de coupe comprend une courroie diamantée (8) sans fin, c'est-à-dire en boucle fermée, qui est entraînée de manière à circuler dans sa direction longitudinale autour de deux poulies de renvoi (9, 9'), dont au moins une (9') est une poulie motrice, et est guidée transversalement et pressée pour être en contact de travail avec la dalle (3) sur la ligne de coupe par une lame (7) de guidage et de pression horizontale.

9. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la lame (7) de guidage et de pression s'étend transversalement à la direction de la coupe sur une distance telle qu'elle excède légèrement la longueur de la ligne de coupe, c'est-à-dire la largeur de la dalle (3) à trancher, et qu'elle soit plus courte que la dimension totale de la courroie diamantée fermée (8), et qu'elle est prévue dans la position intermédiaire entre deux poulies de renvoi opposées (9, 9'), à une certaine distance de celles-ci.

10. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la lame (7) est sensiblement coplanaire par rapport au plan de rotation horizontal commun des poulies de renvoi (9, 9') disposées avec leurs axes de rotation dans la position verticale, et est symétrique par rapport à son grand axe central (III) qui coïncide avec la ligne reliant les centres de rotation des poulies (9, 9').

11. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la lame (7) possède deux bords longitudinaux opposés (407, 507) pour guider par glissement la courroie de coupe diamantée (8), l'un (407) tourné vers la dalle à trancher et l'autre (507) tourné dans le sens opposé.

12. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'au moins le bord de guidage (407) de la courroie diamantée (8) tourné vers la dalle (3) mais de préférence les deux bords de guidage (407, 507), peuvent être légèrement arqués vers l'extérieur, par référence au grand axe central (III) de la lame (7).

13. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la portion centrale de la lame (7) est plus grande dans la direction de la coupe que le diamètre des poulies de renvoi (9, 9'), tandis que ses extrémités tournées vers les poulies (9, 9') sont sensiblement aussi grandes que le diamètre des poulies (9, 9').

14. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la lame (7) a une largeur telle que la largeur de coupe dans la direction transversale par rapport à la direction d'avancement de la dalle (3) soit de 1,5 à 2 m.

15. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la courroie diamantée (8) comprend un corps porteur flexible en boucle fermée, fait par exemple de caoutchouc ou de plastique avec une âme flexible composée d'un ou de plusieurs fils, typiquement des fils métalliques torsadés, noyée dans la matière flexible du corps, lequel corps comprend une succession de segments métalliques espacés ayant des surfaces imprégnées de diamants qui font saillie au moins partiellement et au moins légèrement en dehors du corps de la courroie, au moins sur sa surface frontale opérationnelle tournée vers la dalle (3) à découper.

16. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la courroie diamantée (8) présente, sur sa surface frontale opérationnelle, en coïncidence avec les intervalles existant entre les segments métalliques, des rainures transversales réunies à leurs extrémités à des rainures latérales formées ans les côtés de la courroie (8) et qui s'étendent sur au moins une partie de la hauteur de la courroie (8).

17. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le côté intérieur non opérationnel de la courroie (8), c'est-à-dire le côté du corps porteur flexible tourné vers la lame (7) de guidage et de pression et qui ne porte pas de surfaces diamantées, et les deux bords correspondants (407, 507) de la lame (7) de guidage et de pression qui coopèrent par glissement avec ledit côté intérieur non opérationnel de la courroie diamantée (8) peuvent avoir des profils de section transversale complémentaires et coïncidants, en particulier en forme de V ou de U, qui sont en contact glissant et au moins partiellement engagés l'un dans l'autre de manière à assurer une action sûre et précise de guidage transversal de la courroie diamantée (8).

18. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la lame (7) de guidage et de pression a une épaisseur légèrement inférieure à l'épaisseur de coupe opérationnelle de la courroie diamantée (8).

19. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la lame (7) a une épaisseur de 6 mm, tandis que la courroie (8) a une épaisseur de coupe opérationnelle de 8 mm, pour donner une largeur de coupe de 9 mm.

20. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la lame (7) de guidage et de pression comprend au moins un espace vide et/ou au moins un système de canalisations qui sont reliés à une source de fluide, en particulier d'eau, sous pression, lequel système de canalisations communique avec une succession d'orifices de sortie convenablement répartis sur la partie basse des deux bords de glissement longitudinaux (407, 507) en forme de V à une pression telle qu'on obtienne un effet de coussin d'eau servant à des fins de lubrification, de contrôle de la température et d'élimination des déchets.

21. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que l'épaisseur minimum de la dalle (3) à trancher est telle que, lorsque l'épaisseur ou la largeur de coupe en a été déduite, on obtienne deux minces tranches de roche, en particulier de 20 mm d'épaisseur.

22. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que lesdites tranches ont une épaisseur sensiblement de l'ordre de quelques millimètres à environ deux centimètres, et en particulier de quatre à six millimètres.

23. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la lame (7) de guidage et de pression et les poulies de renvoi (9, 9') de la courroie diamantée (8) sont supportées en porte-à-faux à la partie basse d'une poutre ou structure de poutre sensiblement horizontale, laquelle poutre est à son tour supportée de manière à coulisser sur au moins une paire de montants verticaux (102) disposés chacun à une des extrémités opposées de la poutre, et laquelle poutre (5) porte aussi les moyens servant à entraîner la poulie motrice en rotation, en particulier un moteur-réducteur (10).

24. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la lame (7) est supportée aux deux extrémités opposées, en particulier par des moyens à charnières (107), et possède au moins à une desdites extrémités des moyens (207, 307) servant à régler la tension de la lame (7).

25. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'une (9') des poulies de renvoi est montée sur un support fixe (109') par rapport à la poutre (5), tandis que le support de l'autre poulie de renvoi (9), en particulier de la poulie folle (9), est monté de manière à coulisser horizontalement sur la poutre (5) et transversalement à la direction de la coupe sous l'action d'actionneurs appropriés (109, 209, 309, 409, 509) de manière à faire varier sa distance par rapport au support (109') de la poulie de renvoi opposée (9') et à régler la tension de la courroie diamantée (8).

26. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que les extrémités supérieures des montants verticaux (102) sont reliées par au moins un élément longitudinal (202) qui porte les moyens (6) servant à commander le déplacement en hauteur de la poutre (5) destinée à supporter l'ensemble lame (7), courroie (8), poulies (9, 9') et moteur (10).

27. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de commande sont constitués par un moteur (6) qui agit sur une transmission, par exemple une vis sans fin, qui provoque le mouvement de la poutre (5) vers le haut ou vers le bas.

28. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que l'épaisseur minimum de la dalle de roche (3) est telle que, lorsque l'épaisseur de coupe en a été déduite, on obtienne deux fines tranches de roche.

29. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que lesdites tranches ont une épaisseur sensiblement de l'ordre de quelques millimètres à environ deux centimètres, et en particulier de quatre à six millimètres.

30. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la dalle (3) à trancher présente une largeur de 1,5 m à 2 m.

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