Device and method for compacting ceramic material

A pressing method for pressing a layer of ceramic material, comprising following steps:

• arranging a first layer (L1) of ceramic material on the active portion (3) of a first movable belt (2);
• activating the first movable belt (2) to make the active portion (3) advance along an advancement direction (Y) and position the first layer (L1) between two pressers (21,22) of a compactor (20);
• activating the two pressers (21,22) to move towards one another to compact the first layer (L1) by applying thereon a predetermined compacting load;
• activating the two pressers (21,22) to move away from one another to release the first layer (L1);
• activating the first movable belt (2) again in order to position the first layer (L1) between two pads (11,12) of a press (10), arranged downstream of the compactor (20) along the advancement direction (Y), and to position a second layer (L2) of ceramic material, previously deposited on the active portion (3), between the pressers (21,22) of the compactor (20);
• activating the pads (11,12) to move towards one another in order to press the first layer (L1) by applying a predetermined pressing load greater than the compacting load;
• activating the pressers (21,22) to move towards one another to compact the second layer (L2) by applying the compacting load, in a substantially simultaneous way with the pads (11,12);
• activating the pads (11,12) and the pressers (21,22) to move away from one another in a substantially simultaneous way in order to release the first and second layer (L1,L2) of ceramic material;
• activating the first movable belt (2) again to move the first layer (L1) away from the pads (11,12) and to position the second layer (L2) between the pads (11,12);
• activating the pads (11,12) to move towards one another in order to press the second layer (L2) by applying said pressing load.