TOOL FOR POLISHING CERAMIC ARTICLES AND/OR NATURAL STONES

Abstract

 The tool (1) for polishing ceramic articles and/or natural stones, comprises a body (2, 3) provided with:
- at least one supporting element (4) of the substantially rigid type and associable with a polishing head (5);
- at least one intermediate element (6) of the yielding type and associated with the supporting element (4); and
- at least one machining element (7) comprising abrasive material for polishing ceramic articles and/or natural stones and provided with an operating face (8) intended to face, in use, the surface to be polished;
wherein the intermediate element (6) is positioned between the supporting element (4) and the machining element (7), wherein he toll (1) comprises mechanical removal means (12) for removing the powder from the surface to be polished, the powder being produced by the sliding contact of the machining element (7) on the surface to be polished.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a tool for polishing ceramic articles and/or natural stones.

Background Art

[0002] With particular reference to the sector of ceramic industry for the manufacture of articles such as tiles, slabs or natural stones, it is known to carry out machining operations, such as full-honed polishing or lapping, in order to improve the surface finish thereof.

[0003] These machining operations are generally carried out by means of a machine that involves the use of specific operating heads comprising a main body that can be operated in rotation around a relevant axis and supporting a plurality of tools adapted to the machining of the manufactured articles.

[0004] Known tools are provided with a machining element comprising abrasive material and adapted to enter in contact, in use, with a machining surface to be polished.

[0005] In particular, the strong friction generated by the action of each tool on the manufactured article leads to the formation of powdery machining residues that settle on the surface to be polished.

[0006] In order to remove such residues, the operating heads are provided with suction means configured to remove them from the surface to be polished.

[0007] However, the suction means are often insufficient compared to the amount of machining residues deposited on the surface to be polished.

[0008] In addition, such residues which have not been removed significantly increase the wear process of the machining element, thus decreasing the polishing effectiveness of the latter.

Description of the Invention

[0009] The main aim of the present invention is to devise a tool for polishing ceramic articles and/or natural stones that allows removing the machining residues produced during the polishing of ceramic articles and/or natural stones.

[0010] Within this aim, one object of the present invention is to devise a tool for polishing ceramic articles and/or natural stones that ensures cleaning the surface to be polished, significantly reducing the wear process of the machining element.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to devise a tool for polishing ceramic articles and/or natural stones that allows overcoming the above mentioned drawbacks of the prior art in a simple, rational, easy, effective to use and low cost solution.

[0012] The above mentioned objects are achieved by the present tool for polishing ceramic articles and/or natural stones having the characteristics of claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more evident from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a tool 1 for polishing ceramic articles and/or natural stones, illustrated by way of an indicative, yet non-limiting example, in the attached tables of drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an axonometric view from below of the tool according to the invention in a first embodiment;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the tool in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of the tool in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an exploded view of the tool according to the invention in an alternative embodiment;

Figure 5 is an axonometric view of the tool in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an axonometric view from below of the tool according to the invention in a fourth embodiment;

Figure 7 is an axonometric view of a polishing head provided with the tool shown in Figure 1.

Embodiments of the Invention

[0014] With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 1 globally indicates a tool 1 for polishing ceramic articles and/or natural stones.

[0015] The tool 1 comprises a body 2, 3 provided with a supporting element 4 of the substantially rigid type and associable with a polishing head 5, which is described in detail in the following section.

[0016] The supporting element 4 has a hooking face associable with a housing seat, not shown in the figures.

[0017] The supporting element 4 is made of polymeric material of the plastic type or the like.

[0018] With reference to the particular embodiment solution shown in the figures, the supporting element 4 is associated with the head 5 by interposition of supporting means 4.

[0019] The tool 1 comprises an intermediate element 6 of the yielding type and associated with the supporting element 4.

[0020] The intermediate element 6 is conveniently made of flexible polymeric material of the rubber type or the like.

[0021] It is useful to point out that in the context of the present discussion the term "intermediate element" of the yielding type means a material that can deform elastically as a result of external stress, such as e.g. irregularities in the machining surface.

[0022] In addition, the tool 1 comprises a machining element 7, in turn comprising abrasive material, such as diamond powder, adapted to polish the ceramic articles.

[0023] The machining element 7 is provided with an operating face 8 intended to face, in use, the surface to be polished.

[0024] In this regard, it should be specified that, in use, the operating face 8 corresponds to the lower portion of the tool 1.

[0025] It is worth specifying that, in the ambit of the present treatise, words such as "high", "low", "upper", "lower", "above", "below" and the like, are to be considered with reference to a configuration of normal use wherein the tool 1 is associated with the respective housing seat formed on the head 5.

[0026] In detail, the operating face 8 comprises a plurality of machining portions 9 adapted to contact the surface to be polished and separated from each other by a plurality of grooves 9a.

[0027] Advantageously, the grooves 9a make the machining portions 9 independent of each other.

[0028] The machining portions 9 contact the surface to be polished by frictional removal of the surface layers of the work surface, moving independently of each other.

[0029] In this regard, it should be noted that the intermediate element 6 is positioned between the supporting element 4 and the machining element 7; in particular, the yielding and flexibility of the materials composing the intermediate element 6 ensures the homogeneous adherence to the surface to be polished and the easy mobility of each machining portion 9 with respect to the others.

[0030] Preferably, the tool 1 has a substantially parallelepiped conformation.

[0031] In detail, the tool 1 has a substantially elongated conformation comprising a first extreme portion 10 and a second extreme portion 11 opposite each other.

[0032] According to the invention, the tool 1 comprises mechanical removal means 12 for removing the powder from the surface to be polished, wherein the powder is produced by the sliding contact of the machining element 7 on the surface to be polished.

[0033] Preferably, the mechanical removal means 12 comprise at least one brush element 13 associated with at least one portion of one of either the supporting element 4 or the intermediate element 6.

[0034] According to a first embodiment shown in Figures 1-3, the mechanical removal means 12 are associated with the intermediate element 6.

[0035] The brush element 13 is associated with the intermediate element 6 at the point where at least one of either the first extreme portion 10 or the second extreme portion 11 is located.

[0036] As can be seen from the figures, the machining element 7 extends to cover the intermediate element 6 without covering the entire surface thereof, defining a housing portion 14 of the brush element 13.

[0037] In parallel, the mechanical removal means 12 are associated with the supporting element 4.

[0038] In this case, similarly to the machining element 7, the intermediate element 6 also extends on the supporting element 4 without covering the entire surface thereof; this means that the extension of the intermediate element 6 coincides with the extension of the machining element 7.

[0039] The brush element 13 is associated with the supporting element 4 at the point where at least one of either the first extreme portion 10 or the second extreme portion 11 is located.

[0040] For this purpose, the machining element 7 extends to cover the intermediate element 6 without covering the entire surface thereof, defining a housing portion 14 of the brush element 13.

[0041] In other words, the housing portion 14 corresponds to a portion of the supporting element 4 without the machining element 7 and the machining portions 9.

[0042] Advantageously, the housing portion 14 coincides with one of either the first extreme portion 10 or the second extreme portion 11.

[0043] As can be seen in the figures, the housing portion 14 coincides with the second extreme portion 11.

[0044] The brush element 13 comprises a plurality of bristles 15.

[0045] Preferably, the bristles 15 are made of a polymeric material selected from the list comprising: plastic, rubber or resin.

[0046] Advantageously, the bristles 15 extend longitudinally from the intermediate element 6 and each of them has a first end 16 associated with the intermediate element itself and a second free end 17, opposite the first end 16, which is intended to contact the surface to be polished.

[0047] For this purpose, the second ends 17 are coplanar to the machining portions 9. This makes it possible to contact the surface to be polished evenly together with the machining portions 9.

[0048] However, it is not ruled out from the scope of the present discussion that the mechanical removal means 12 are associated with at least one portion of the supporting element 4.

[0049] According to a preferred embodiment of the tool 1, which is not shown in detail in the figures, the mechanical removal means 12 comprise at least one spatula element associated with a portion of one of either the supporting element 4 or the intermediate element 6.

[0050] Similar to the first embodiment, the spatula element has a first end associated with one of either the supporting element 4 or the intermediate element 6 and a second end 17 substantially coplanar to the machining portions 9 and intended, in use, to contact the surface to be polished.

[0051] According to a third embodiment of the tool 1, which is not shown in detail in the figures, the mechanical removal means 12 comprise a removal element made at least partly of electrostatic fabric associated with at least one portion of one of either the supporting element 4 or the intermediate element 6.

[0052] In this case, the powder electrified by the friction generated by the abrasion of the surface to be polished by the machining portions 9 is attracted by the above-mentioned electrostatic fabric and therefore removed.

[0053] According to a fourth embodiment of the tool 1, shown in Figure 6, the mechanical removal means 12 comprise a plurality of brush elements 13.

[0054] Preferably, the brush elements 13 are positioned between the machining portions.

[0055] In detail, the brush elements 13 are associated with one of either the supporting element 4 or the intermediate element 6.

[0056] In addition, it is specified that the body 2, 3 can be manufactured in one monolithic piece or, alternatively, it can be of the modular type.

[0057] In the latter case, the body 2, 3 comprises a first portion 2 and a second portion 3 associable with each other through the interposition of union means 18, 19, wherein the mechanical removal means 12 are associated with one of either the first portion 2 or the second portion 3 and the operating face 8 is defined on the other of either the first portion 2 or the second portion 3.

[0058] Advantageously, the operating face 8 is defined on the first portion 2 and the mechanical removal means 12 are associated with the second portion 3.

[0059] In other words, according to the first embodiment of the tool 1 according to the invention, the machining portions 9 are associated with the first portion 2 and the brush element 13 is associated with the second portion 3.

[0060] As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, the first portion 2 and the second portion 3 comprise a median plane M substantially orthogonal to the operating face 8.

[0061] In addition, the first portion 2 has a greater extension than the second portion 3 with respect to a direction of extension S belonging to the median plane M and substantially parallel to the operating face 8.

[0062] The second portion 3 may vary in size depending on the surface to be polished.

[0063] In detail, the union means 18, 19 comprise an interlocking body 18 made protruding on one of either the first portion 2 or the second portion 3 and at least one housing seat 19 of the interlocking body 18 made on the other of either the first portion 2 or the second portion 3.

[0064] Preferably, the interlocking body 18 is made on the first portion 2 and the housing seat 19 is made on the second portion 3.

[0065] In detail, the interlocking body 18 has a complementary profile to the profile of the housing seat 19; this allows the insertion substantially to size or with slight interference of the interlocking body 18 inside the housing seat 19 and the locking of the interlocking body itself inside the latter to define the body 2, 3.

[0066] Alternative solutions cannot however be ruled out having a plurality of interlocking bodies 18 that can be inserted inside the respective housing seats 19.

[0067] The interlocking body 18 and the housing seat 19 are each made on a corresponding mating surface 20.

[0068] Preferably, the interlocking body 18 and the housing seat 19 are made on the corresponding mating surfaces 20 of the supporting element 4.

[0069] As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, the housing seat 19 is bounded by inclined and diverging walls with respect to the corresponding mating surface 20.

[0070] At the same time, the respective interlocking body 18 has inclined and converging walls with respect to the corresponding mating surface 20.

[0071] Alternatively, the housing seat 19 is bounded by inclined walls converging towards the operating face 8.

[0072] The interlocking body 18 can be inserted into the housing seat 19 along a direction of insertion 21 substantially transverse to the operating face 8.

[0073] In detail, the interlocking body 18 is made to slide inside the housing seat 19 from top to bottom.

[0074] It is easy to understand how the inclination of the walls of the housing seat 19 combined with the complementarity of the profiles of the interlocking body 18 and of the housing seat itself facilitate the insertion and sliding of the interlocking body 18 along the direction of insertion 21.

[0075] Alternative embodiment solutions cannot however be ruled out wherein the housing seat 19 has inclined and converging walls towards the hooking face; in this case it is easy to guess how the direction of insertion of the interlocking body 18 inside the housing seat 19 is opposite the direction of insertion 21, i.e. it is directed from bottom to top.

[0076] Furthermore, the interlocking body 18 and the housing seat 19 define, respectively, a stop surface 22 and a counter-stop surface 23 adapted to operate in conjunction with each other in order to prevent the reciprocal moving away thereof along the direction of extension S; this means that the interlocking body 18, after being inserted inside the housing seat 19, is firmly locked and in a removable manner inside the latter.

[0077] The stop surface 22 is advantageously defined on the interlocking body 18 and the counter-stop surface 23 is, in turn, defined on the inclined walls of the housing seat 19.

[0078] The locking of the interlocking body 18 inside the housing seat 19 allows for the substantially flush connection of the respective outer surfaces, thus ensuring the homogeneous adhesion of the tool 1 to the surface to be polished.

[0079] Moreover, the present invention relates to the head 5 comprising a main body 24 movable in rotation around a relevant axis C and at least one tool 1, having the same characteristics of the tool 1 to which the present invention relates, associated with the main body 24 and intended in use to contact the surface to be polished.

[0080] According to the invention, one of either the first extreme portion 10 or the second extreme portion 11 is facing the axis C and the mechanical removal means 12 are associated with the other of either the first extreme portion 10 or the second extreme portion 11.

[0081] Preferably, the mechanical removal means 12 are associated with the second extreme portion 11.

[0082] As can be seen in the figures, the main body 24 has a circular shape.

[0083] Preferably, the head 5 comprises a plurality of tools 1, which have the same characteristics as the tool 1 to which the present invention relates, arranged in a radial pattern with respect to the axis C, and wherein the machining portions 9 are arranged proximal to the axis C and the mechanical removal means 12 are distal to the axis C and opposite the machining portions 9.

[0084] It is useful to point out that in the present discussion the adjectives "distal" and "proximal" are considered with reference to the axis C.

[0085] In other words, according to the first embodiment, the brush element 13 is directed externally to the main body 24 and the machining portions 9 are directed internally to the main body itself.

[0086] Before the detailed explanation of the operation of the present invention and of its particular structural and constructive aspects, it is useful to point out that head 5 is associated with a machine for the polishing of ceramic articles, natural stones or the like, not shown in the figures.

[0087] This machine is of a known type and comprises a plurality of heads 5 associated with a supporting frame, arranged in succession with each other along a direction of forward movement and driven in rotation by means of motorized means that allow the setting in rotation thereof around the respective axis C.

[0088] It should be noted that the arrangement of the brush elements 13 associated with each tool 1 and facing externally the main body 24 ensures that the surface to be polished is clean, thus greatly reducing the wear of the machining portions 9.

[0089] The operation of the present is as follows.

[0090] As the ceramic articles pass through, the head 5 is set in rotation around the respective axis so that the ceramic articles are polished by the action of the tools 1.

[0091] Each ceramic article, moved along the direction of forward movement, comes into contact with the mechanical removal means 12 and the machining portions 9; the latter exert an abrasive action on the surface to be polished, while simultaneously the mechanical removal means 12 remove the powder produced by the abrasion of the surface to be polished itself.

[0092] In detail, according to the first embodiment, each ceramic article coming out of a head 5 is subjected to the action of the brush elements 13 and, on entering the next head 5, before coming into contact with the machining portions 9, it is again subjected to the action of the brush elements 13 of the tools 1 associated with the aforementioned head 5. This ensures that the machining portions 9 come into contact with clean, powder-free surfaces to be polished.

[0093] In addition, if the tool 1 is of the modular type, when the wear on the brush element 13 prevents efficient cleaning of the surface to be polished, the second portion 3 is removed and then replaced with a new second portion 3.

[0094] It has in practice been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects.

[0095] In particular, it should be noted that the special solution of providing powder mechanical removal means allows ensuring the homogeneous removal of the powder on the surface to be polished.

Claims

1. Tool (1) for polishing ceramic articles and/or natural stones, comprising a body (2, 3) provided with:

- at least one supporting element (4) of the substantially rigid type and associable with a polishing head (5);

- at least one intermediate element (6) of the yielding type and associated with said supporting element (4); and

- at least one machining element (7) comprising abrasive material for polishing ceramic articles and/or natural stones and provided with an operating face (8) intended to face, in use, the surface to be polished;

wherein said intermediate element (6) is positioned between said supporting element (4) and said machining element (7), characterized by the fact that it comprises mechanical removal means (12) for removing the powder from said surface to be polished, said powder being produced by the sliding contact of said machining element (7) on said surface to be polished.

2. Tool (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said mechanical removal means (12) are associated with at least one portion of one of either said supporting element (4) or said intermediate element (6).

3. Tool (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said mechanical removal means (12) comprise at least one brush element (13) associated with at least one portion of said supporting element (4).

4. Tool (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said mechanical removal means (12) comprise at least one brush element (13) associated with at least one portion of said intermediate element (6).

5. Tool (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it has a substantially elongated conformation comprising a first extreme portion (10) and a second extreme portion (11) opposite each other, said brush element (13) being associated with said body (2, 3) at the point where at least one of either said first extreme portion (10) or said second extreme portion (11) is located.

6. Tool (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said mechanical removal means (12) comprise at least one spatula element associated with at least one portion of one of either said supporting element (4) or said intermediate element (6).

7. Tool (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said mechanical removal means (12) comprise at least one removal element made at least partly of electrostatic fabric associated with at least one portion of one of either said intermediate element (6) or said supporting element (4).

8. Tool (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said mechanical removal means (12) comprise a plurality of said brush elements (13).

9. Tool (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said operating face (8) comprises a plurality of machining portions (9) adapted to contact the surface to be polished and separated from each other by a plurality of grooves (9a), said brush elements (13) being placed between said machining portions (9).

10. Tool (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said body (2, 3) comprises at least a first portion (2) and at least a second portion (3) associable with each other through the interposition of union means (18, 19), said mechanical removal means (12) being associated with one of either said first portion (2) or said second portion (3) and said operating face (8) being defined on the other of either said first portion (2) and said second portion (3).

11. Tool (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said union means (18, 19) comprise at least one interlocking body (18) made protruding on one of either said first portion (2) or said second portion (3) and at least one housing seat (19) of said interlocking body (18) made on the other of either said first portion (2) or said second portion (3).

12. Head (5) for polishing ceramic articles and/or natural stones, comprising:

- a main body (2, 3) movable in rotation around an axis of rotation (C);

- at least one operating tool (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, associated with said main body (2, 3) and intended in use to contact said surface to be polished;

characterized by the fact that one of either said first extreme portion (10) or said second extreme portion (11) is facing said axis (C) and said mechanical removal means (12) are associated with the other of either said first extreme portion (10) or said second extreme portion (11).

13. Head (5) according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that it comprises a plurality of said operating tools (1) arranged in a radial pattern with respect to said axis (C), said machining portions (9) being arranged proximally to said axis (C) and said mechanical removal means (12) being distal to said axis (C) and opposite said machining portions (9).

Drawing