Method and apparatus for producing engineered stone slabs with variable width veins

An apparatus comprising:

• a tool device configured to be used in the manufacturing of engineered stone slabs;
• and
• wherein the tool device is configured to travel in an x-y plane in order to create a physically disrupted region in a mixture of aggregate minerals;
• and
• wherein the tool device has a mechanism which is configured to vary a width of the physically disrupted region of the mixture while traveling in the x-y plane;
• wherein
• the tool device is a stirring device having one or more prongs;
• wherein the one or more prongs are configured to rotate to disrupt the mixture while the tool device travels in the x-y plane in the mixture to thereby create the physically disrupted region in the mixture;
• wherein the one or more prongs include a first prong;
• wherein the tool device is configured to rotate about a first axis of rotation;
• and wherein a distance between the first prong and the first axis of rotation is configured to be adjustable in real time during operation of the tool device to thereby adjust the width of the physically disrupted region.

An apparatus comprising:

• a tool device configured to be used in the manufacturing of engineered stone slabs;
• and
• wherein the tool device is configured to travel in an x-y plane in order to create a physically disrupted region in a mixture of aggregate minerals;
• and
• wherein the tool device has a mechanism which is configured to vary a width of the physically disrupted region of the mixture while traveling in the x-y plane;
• wherein the tool device is a stirring device having one or more prongs;
• and
• wherein the one or more prongs are configured to rotate to disrupt the mixture while the tool device travels in the x-y plane in the mixture to thereby create the physically disrupted region in the mixture;
• wherein
• the one or more prongs include a plurality of prongs;
• and
• wherein a distance of each of the plurality of prongs to a most adjacent other prong of the plurality of prongs is configured to be adjustable in real time during operation of the tool device to thereby adjust the width of the physically disrupted region.

A method comprising the steps of:

• causing a tool device to travel in an x-y plane in order to create a physically disrupted region in a mixture of aggregate minerals;
• using a mechanism of the tool device to vary a width of the physically disrupted region of the mixture while traveling in the x-y plane;
• and
• wherein the tool device configured to be used in the manufacturing of engineered stone slabs;
• wherein the tool device is a carving device with a V-shaped component having a vertex which is configured to cut through the mixture of aggregate minerals and thereby create the physically disrupted region when the carving device travels in the x-y plane;
• and
• wherein the carving device has a compression component, connected to the V-shaped component, but separate from the V-shaped component, wherein the compression component presses down on the mixture while the carving device travels in the x-y plane.

A method comprising the steps of:

• causing a tool device to travel in an x-y plane in order to create a physically disrupted region in a mixture of aggregate minerals;
• using a mechanism of the tool device to vary a width of the physically disrupted region of the mixture while traveling in the x-y plane;
• and
• wherein the tool device configured to be used in the manufacturing of engineered stone slabs;
• wherein
• the tool device is a stirring device having one or more prongs;
• and
• wherein the one or more prongs are configured to rotate to disrupt the mixture while the tool device travels in the x-y plane in the mixture to thereby create the physically disrupted region in the mixture;
• wherein the one or more prongs include a first prong;
• wherein the tool device is configured to rotate about a first axis of rotation;
• and wherein a distance between the first prong and the first axis of rotation is configured to be adjustable in real time during operation of the tool device to thereby adjust the width of the physically disrupted region.

A method comprising the steps of:

• causing a tool device to travel in an x-y plane in order to create a physically disrupted region in a mixture of aggregate minerals;
• using a mechanism of the tool device to vary a width of the physically disrupted region of the mixture while traveling in the x-y plane;
• wherein the tool device configured to be used in the manufacturing of engineered stone slabs;
• wherein the tool device is a stirring device having one or more prongs;
• wherein the one or more prongs are configured to rotate to disrupt the mixture while the tool device travels in the x-y plane in the mixture to thereby create the physically disrupted region in the mixture;
• wherein the one or more prongs include a first prong;
• wherein the tool device is configured to rotate about a first axis of rotation;
• wherein
• the one or more prongs include a plurality of prongs;
• and
• wherein a distance of each of the plurality of prongs to a most adjacent other prong of the plurality of prongs is configured to be adjustable in real time during operation of the tool device to thereby adjust the width of the physically disrupted region.

An apparatus comprising:

• a tool device configured to be used in the manufacturing of engineered stone slabs;
• and
• wherein the tool device is configured to travel in an x-y plane in order to create a physically disrupted region in a mixture of aggregate minerals;
• wherein the tool device has a mechanism which is configured to vary a width of the physically disrupted region of the mixture while traveling in the x-y plane;
• wherein the tool device is a carving device with a V-shaped component having a vertex which is configured to cut through the mixture of aggregate minerals and thereby create the physically disrupted region when the carving device travels in the x-y plane;
• wherein the V-shaped component is comprised of:
• a first member having a first end and a second end;
• and
• a second member having a first end and a second end;
• wherein the first end of the first member is located at the vertex, and the first end of the second member is located at the vertex, such that the first member and the second member come together at their respective first ends;
• further comprising a horizontal component to press down on the mixture of aggregate materials as the carving device travels in the x-y plane through the first mixture;
• and
• wherein at least part of the first member and at least part of the second member are configured to be changed in orientation with respect to the vertex, so that the first end of the first member and the first end of the second member remain stationary while the second end of the first member and the second end of the second member move further apart or closer together, to thereby vary the width of the physically disrupted region of the mixture while the tool device is traveling in the x-y plane.

An apparatus comprising:

• a tool device configured to be used in the manufacturing of engineered stone slabs;
• and
• wherein the tool device is configured to travel in an x-y plane in order to create a physically disrupted region in a mixture of aggregate minerals;
• wherein the tool device has a mechanism which is configured to vary a width of the physically disrupted region of the mixture while traveling in the x-y plane;
• wherein the tool device is a carving device with a V-shaped component having a vertex which is configured to cut through the mixture of aggregate minerals and thereby create the physically disrupted region when the carving device travels in the x-y plane;
• wherein the V-shaped component is comprised of:
• a first member having a first end and a second end;
• a second member having a first end and a second end;
• a third member having a first end and a second end;
• and
• a fourth member having a first end and a second end;
• wherein the first end of the first member is located at the vertex, and the first end of the second member is located at the vertex, such that the first member and the second member come together at their respective first ends;
• wherein the second end of the first member is separated by a distance from the second end of the second member;
• wherein the first end of the third member is located at the second end of the first member;
• wherein the first end of the fourth member is located at the second end of the second member;
• further comprising a horizontal plate;
• wherein the first and second members are fixed in location and orientation with respect to the horizontal plate;
• and
• wherein the third and fourth members are configured to pivot with respect to the horizontal plate, so that their first ends remain stationary while their second ends move further apart or closer together, to thereby vary the width of the physically disrupted region of the mixture while the tool device is traveling in the x-y plane.