Unit for supporting ceramic products
AssigneeSacmi Cooperativa Meccanici Imola Societa'cooperat Iva
InventorsStefano Scardovi, Santo Monteforte
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described is a unit for supporting ceramic products (1), in particular ceramic products (1) made by slip casting in porous moulds; the unit (100) comprises a first element (2) for gripping and supporting the product (1); a second element (3) for supporting a first, base portion (Ia) of the product (1) and designed to at least partly support the weight of the product (1); and elements (4), positioned and acting on the second element (3), for elastically reacting along a vertical axis (Z).
Claims16
1) A unit for supporting ceramic products (1) made by slip casting and having at least a first base portion (1a) and a second portion (1b), comprising:
- a first element (2) for gripping and supporting the product (1) at the second portion (1b);
- a second element (3) having a platform (3a) for supporting said first base portion (1a) of the product (1) and designed to support at least partially the weight of the product (1);
- elastic reaction elements (4), positioned and acting on the second element (3), for elastically reacting along a vertical axis (Z),
- wherein said elastic reaction elements (4) are interposed between the platform (3a) and a fixed or treadable surface (P) and comprise pre-loaded springs (4m) which are configured to give under the weight of the product (1) and to raise the product (1) along the vertical axis (Z) in such a way as to keep the product (1) in the correct position, supported by two upper surfaces (5) of the first element (2), whereby adjustment along the vertical axis (Z) is provided to automatically compensate for weight loss and shrinkage of the product (1), thanks to the pre-loaded springs (4m), in such a way that the height of the product (1) is always referenced to the upper surfaces (5), thus preventing product stress due to slipping,
- wherein the second element (3) has a frame (21) equipped with a first plurality of vertical columns (22) equipped with cradles (23) for accommodating stable coupling pins (24) provided on the first element (2).
16) A unit for supporting ceramic products having a single base portion (1a′) and made by slip casting, comprising:
- a first element (2′) for gripping and supporting said single base portion (1a′) of the product (1′);
- said first element (2′) comprising half parts to obtain a supporting surface (5′) of said single base portion (1′);
- a second element (3′, P) for supporting the first element (2′) with the product (1′) on it,
- elements (6′) positioned and operative on the first gripping and supporting element (2′), between a frame (16′) and the supporting surface (5′), for adjusting or compensating the surface (5′) along two or more horizontal axes lying between a first and a second orthogonal horizontal axis (X) and (Y), in such a way that the shrinkage of the product (1) is followed by the surface (5′),
- wherein the first element (2′) is supported by a plurality of pins (11′) connected to the frame (16′).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.