Device for forming ceramic tiles, including those of large dimensions

An apparatus for forming ceramic tiles which comprises:

• an open mould chamber adapted to contain a contents of ceramic material;
• a punch disposed above the open mould chamber, said punch being divided into a first punch portion and a second punch portion, said first and second punch portions having substantially the same surface area;
• a main hydraulic cylinder,
• a first piston slidably disposed within the main hydraulic cylinder, said first piston being fixed to a cross-member which, in turn, is fixed to the first punch portion,
• a second piston slidably disposed within a secondary hydraulic cylinder defined by a cavity in said first punch portion, said secondary hydraulic cylinder containing a second piston slidably disposed therein, said second piston being fixed to said second punch portion, and
• distribution valves separately connected to the main hydraulic cylinder and secondary hydraulic cylinder for delivering pressurized hydraulic fluid to opposite sides of said respective pistons for moving the first and second punch portions, whereby said punch portions can be selectively operated, so as to define coplanar movement of the surface areas of said two punch portions or independent movement of said surface areas of said punch portions to be inward or outward of the coplanar position;
• wherein in said independent movement one punch portion is active relative to the other punch portion.