Cutting method of a layer of ceramic powder material, manufacturing process and manufacturing plant of ceramic articles
OwnerPaolo GONNI, Alessandro FABBRONIinventors
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Abstract
Cutting method of a layer(S) of ceramic powder material having a modulus of rupture that is smaller than about 10 N/mm2, comprising: a step of moving the layer(S) of ceramic powder material along a given path (P) in a moving direction (A) through a cutting station; and a cutting step, during which at least a first water-jet cutting device cuts said layer(S) of ceramic powder material along a first direction (D1) that is transverse to the moving direction (A), so as to cut said layer(S) of ceramic powder material and obtain a plurality of articles of ceramic powder material (MCP).
Claims22
A cutting method of a layer (S) of ceramic powder material having a modulus of rupture that is smaller than about 10 N/mm2, in particular smaller than about 8 N/mm2;
- the cutting method comprises:
- a moving step, during which said layer (S) of ceramic powder material is moved by a conveyor assembly along a given path (P) in a moving direction (A) through at least one cutting station;
- and
- a cutting step, during which at least one first water-jet cutting device cuts said layer (S) of ceramic powder material along a first direction (D1), which is orthogonal (in particular, transverse) to the moving direction (A), in order to cut said layer (S) of ceramic powder material and obtain a plurality of articles of ceramic powder material (MCP);
- said at least one first water-jet cutting device comprising a respective nozzle configured to dispense a jet (G) of water under pressure which, during said cutting step, intercepts and cuts said layer (S) of ceramic powder material;
- said jet (G) of water under pressure comprising (in particular, being made up of) pure water and from about 0 (excluded) g/l (in particular, from about 0.3 g/l) to about 10 g/l (in particular, to about 5 g/l;
- even more in particular, to about 2 g/l) of solid particles;
- said solid particles of said jet (G) of water under pressure having an equivalent diameter, which is smaller than about 10 μm (in particular, smaller than about 1 μm).
A manufacturing plant to manufacture ceramic articles (T), the manufacturing plant comprises:
- a feeding assembly, which is configured to feed ceramic powder (CP) at an input station;
- a compaction device, which is arranged at a compaction station and is configured to apply a compaction pressure to said ceramic powder (CP) in order to obtain a band of compacted ceramic powder (KP);
- a cutting system, which is arranged at a cutting station and is configured to cut a layer (S) of ceramic powder material so as to obtain a plurality of articles of ceramic powder material (MCP);
- a firing kiln, which is arranged downstream of said cutting system along said moving direction (A) to fire said articles of ceramic powder material (MCP) so as to obtain ceramic articles (T);
- and
- a conveyor assembly to convey said ceramic powder (CP) along a given path (P) in a moving direction (A) from said input station to said compaction station, said band of compacted ceramic powder (KP) at least out of said compaction station, said layer (S) of ceramic powder material at least through said cutting station and said articles of ceramic powder material (MCP) from the cutting station to the firing kiln;
- the manufacturing plant to manufacture ceramic articles (T) is characterized in that said cutting system is configured to cut said layer (S) of ceramic powder material, which has a modulus of rupture that is smaller than about 10 N/mm2, in particular smaller than about 8 N/mm2;
- and in that said cutting system comprises at least one first water-jet cutting device, which is configured to cut said layer (S) of ceramic powder material along a first direction (D1), which is orthogonal (in particular, transverse) to the moving direction (A), and comprises a respective nozzle which is arranged to dispense a jet (G) of water under pressure, comprising (in particular, made up of) pure water and from about 0 (excluded) g/l (in particular, from about 0.3 g/l) to about 10 g/l (in particular, to about 5 g/l;
- even more in particular, to about 2 g/l) of solid particles, towards said layer (S) of ceramic powder material so as to intercept and cut said layer (S) of ceramic powder material;
- said solid particles of said jet (G) of water under pressure have an equivalent diameter, which is smaller than 10 μm (in particular, smaller than about 1 μm).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.