The machine (1) for grinding plate-shaped elements, particularly tiles and slabs of ceramic material, natural stones, glass or the like, comprises:
- a base frame (2);
- forward movement means (3) for at least a plate-shaped element (4) having at least a first side (5) to be ground and at least a second side (6) transversal to the first side (5), the forward movement means (3) being fitted on the base frame (2), being suitable for moving the plate-shaped element (4) on a movement surface (8) along a direction of forward movement (A) and comprising two pairs of flexible elements (9a, 9b; 10a, 10b), of which a first pair (9a, 9b) is fitted on a first support structure (12) and a second pair (10a, 10b) is fitted on a second support structure (13), wherein the support structures (12, 13) are associated with the base frame (2) in a reciprocal moving way, approaching and moving away along a transversal direction (B) substantially at right angles to the direction of forward movement (A);
- machining means (20, 21) for the first side (5), which are arranged in proximity of the movement surface (8) and are suitable for intercepting the plate-shaped element (4) in its movement along the direction of forward movement (A), the machining means (20, 21) comprising at least one between a side grinding wheel (20) and a chamfering wheel (21); and
- square positioning means (32, 33, 34, 35) of the plate-shaped element (4) on the movement surface (8), which comprise a first pusher (32) and a second pusher (33) moving alternately along the direction of forward movement (A) and are suitable for pushing the second side (6) to place it in a squared-up position substantially at right angles to the direction of forward movement (A), wherein the first pusher (32) is fitted on the first support structure (12) and the second pusher (33) is fitted on the second support structure (13), the pushers (32, 33) being mobile with the support structures (12, 13) along the transversal direction (B).