Method and apparatus for producing engineered stone slabs

A method for producing engineered stone slabs comprising the steps of:

• depositing a composite material onto a supporting structure,
• disrupting the composite material using a plurality of stirring devices attached to a shifting structure,
• depositing colorant in a predefined region in the composite material using a spray device to form a colored disrupted composite material;
• and using a press roller to press, flatten and stretch the composite material into a slab after the steps of disrupting and depositing colorant;
• and
• wherein the steps of disrupting and depositing colorant occur at the same time;
• wherein the step of disrupting the composite material includes causing a first stirring device and a second stirring device of the plurality of stirring devices to move, wherein spacing between the first stirring device and the second stirring device is adjustable.

A method for producing engineered stone slabs comprising the steps of:

• depositing a composite material onto a conveyor belt,
• disrupting the composite material using at least two stirring devices;
• depositing colorant in a predefined region in the composite material using a spray device to form a colored disrupted composite material;
• and using a press roller to press, flatten and stretch the composite material into a slab after the steps of disrupting and depositing colorant;
• and
• wherein the step of disrupting the composite material includes causing the at least two stirring devices to move along a width of the conveyor belt;
• and
• wherein the step of disrupting the composite material includes movement of the deposit material by the conveyor belt and movement of at least one of the at least two stirring devices, wherein all of these movements are controlled by a computer processor to achieve a desired final aesthetic in the slab.