Compacting machine and plant for manufacturing ceramic articles

A compacting machine for compacting a powder material comprising ceramic powder;

• the compacting machine comprises a compacting device, which is arranged in the area of a work station and is configured to compact the powder material so as to obtain a layer of compacted powder;
• a conveyor assembly to transport the powder material along a first portion of a given path in a movement direction from an input station to the work station and the layer of compacted powder along a second portion of the given path from the work station to an output station;
• and a feeding assembly, which is configured to feed the powder material to the conveyor assembly in the area of the input station;
• the feeding assembly comprises a first feeding device and at least one second feeding device, which are arranged above the conveyor assembly;
• the first feeding device comprises at least one respective first containing chamber, which is configured to contain a powder material of a first type and has at least one relative first output mouth, whose longitudinal extension is transverse to the movement direction;
• the second feeding device comprises at least one respective second containing chamber, which is configured to contain a powder material of a second type and has a relative second output mouth, whose longitudinal extension is transverse to the movement direction;
• the first output mouth has respective first passage zones, which are arranged in succession along the longitudinal extension of the first output mouth;
• the second output mouth has respective second passage zones, which are arranged in succession along the longitudinal extension of the second output mouth;
• the feeding assembly further comprises an operating device, which is configured to allow the powder material to exit through the first and the second passage zones and/or to prevent it from doing so and comprises a plurality of operating units, each arranged in the area of a respective first passage zone and of a respective second passage zone and configured to regulate the passage of the powder material through the respective first and second passage zone;
• wherein each operating unit comprises a respective transfer moving part, which has a transit channel provided with at least one input and at least one output arranged under the input, and a respective actuator to move the transfer moving part to a first position, in which the transit channel is connected to the first containing chamber so that the powder material of the first type moves from the first containing chamber to the transit channel, and at least to a second position, in which the transit channel is connected to the second containing chamber so that the powder material of the second type moves from the second containing chamber to the transit channel;
• the second position is arranged lower than the first position, and
• wherein the feeding assembly comprises a transfer chamber, which is shaped so as to contain the powder material received from the first feeding device and from the second feeding device through said transit channels and to transfer the powder material to the conveyor assembly in the area of the input station;
• the transfer chamber is arranged between the first feeding device and the second feeding device on one side, and the conveyor assembly, on the other side.

A compacting machine for compacting a powder material comprising ceramic powder;

• the compacting machine comprises a compacting device, which is arranged in the area of a work station and is configured to compact the powder material so as to obtain a layer of compacted powder;
• a conveyor assembly to transport the powder material along a first portion of a given path in a movement direction from an input station to the work station and the layer of compacted powder along a second portion of the given path from the work station to an output station;
• and a feeding assembly, which is configured to feed the powder material to the conveyor assembly in the area of the input station;
• the feeding assembly comprises a first feeding device and at least one second feeding device, which are arranged above the conveyor assembly;
• the first feeding device comprises at least one respective first containing chamber, which is configured to contain a powder material of a first type and has at least one relative first output mouth, whose longitudinal extension is transverse to the movement direction;
• the second feeding device comprises at least one respective second containing chamber, which is configured to contain a powder material of a second type and has a relative second output mouth, whose longitudinal extension is transverse to the movement direction;
• the first output mouth has respective first passage zones, which are arranged in succession along the longitudinal extension of the first output mouth;
• the second output mouth has respective second passage zones, which are arranged in succession along the longitudinal extension of the second output mouth;
• the feeding assembly further comprises an operating device, which is configured to allow the powder material to exit through the first and the second passage zones and/or to prevent it from doing so and comprises a plurality of operating units, each arranged in the area of a respective first passage zone and of a respective second passage zone and configured to regulate the passage of the powder material through the respective first and second passage zone;
• wherein each operating unit comprises a respective transfer moving part, which has a transit channel provided with at least one input and at least one output arranged under the input, and a respective actuator to move the transfer moving part to a first position, in which the transit channel is connected to the first containing chamber so that the powder material of the first type moves from the first containing chamber to the transit channel, and at least to a second position, in which the transit channel is connected to the second containing chamber so that the powder material of the second type moves from the second containing chamber to the transit channel;
• the second position is arranged lower than the first position, and
• wherein the transfer moving parts are arranged in succession crosswise to the movement direction so that each transfer moving part is in contact with the adjacent transfer moving part/s.