Equipment for the movement and laying of ceramic articles, particularly large-format tiles

Abstract

The equipment for the movement and laying of ceramic articles, particularly large-format tiles, comprises: a base frame; movement means of said base frame on a support plane; at least an articulated arm associated with said base frame; and gripping means associated with said articulated arm and comprising at least a support element of at least a ceramic article, said articulated arm being movable relative to said base frame to lay the article itself on at least a laying surface.

1 ) An equipment ( 1 ) for the movement and laying of ceramic articles, particularly large-format tiles, wherein it comprises:
 a base frame ( 2 );   movement means ( 3 ) of said base frame ( 2 ) on a support plane (P);   at least an articulated arm ( 4 ) associated with said base frame ( 2 ) and   gripping means ( 5 ) associated with said articulated arm ( 4 ) and comprising at least a support element ( 6 ) of at least a ceramic article (M), said articulated arm ( 4 ) being movable relative to said base frame ( 2 ) to lay the article itself on at least a laying surface.   
     
     
         2 ) The equipment ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said support element ( 6 ) has at least three degrees of freedom. 
     
     
         3 ) The equipment ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , where said support element ( 6 ) is movable in rotation around a first axis (X) relative to said articulated arm ( 4 ). 
     
     
         4 ) The equipment ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein said support element ( 6 ) is movable in translation along a first direction ( 11 ) relative to said articulated arm ( 4 ). 
     
     
         5 ) The equipment ( 1 ) according to claim 4 , wherein said first direction ( 11 ) is transverse to said first axis (X). 
     
     
         6 ) The equipment ( 1 ) according to  claim 4 , where said gripping means ( 5 ) comprise displacement means ( 12 ) for displacing said support element ( 6 ) along said first direction ( 11 ). 
     
     
         7 ) The equipment ( 1 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein displacement means ( 12 ) comprise at least a fixed portion ( 12   a ), connected to said articulated arm ( 4 ), and at least a movable portion ( 12   b ), connected to said support element ( 6 ) and slidably associated with said fixed portion ( 12   a ) along said first direction ( 11 ). 
     
     
         8 ) The equipment ( 1 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein displacement means ( 12 ) comprise at least a double-acting cylinder ( 13 ) interposed between said fixed portion ( 12   a ) and said movable portion ( 12   b ) and extending along said first direction ( 11 ). 
     
     
         9 ) The equipment ( 1 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein said support element ( 6 ) is locked in translation together with said movable portion ( 12   b ) along said first direction ( 11 ) and is movable in rotation relative to it around said first axis (X). 
     
     
         10 ) The equipment ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein it comprises removable locking means ( 16 ) of the angular position of said support element ( 6 ). 
     
     
         11 ) The equipment according to  claim 10 , wherein said displacement means ( 12 ) comprise: an outer cylindrical element ( 26 ) associated with said movable portion ( 12   b ) and an inner cylindrical element ( 27 ) associated with said support element ( 6 ) and rotatably inserted inside said outer cylindrical element ( 26 ), and by the fact that said locking means ( 16 ) comprise at least a through hole ( 16   a ) defined on the lateral surface of said outer cylindrical element ( 26 ), a plurality of through openings ( 16   b ), angularly spaced apart from one another, defined on the lateral surface of said inner cylindrical element ( 27 ), and at least a locking element ( 16   c ) insertable in a removable manner inside of said hole ( 16   a ) and of one of said openings ( 16   b ), as a result of their alignment, to prevent the relative movement of said cylindrical elements ( 26 ,  27 ). 
     
     
         12 ) The equipment ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said gripping means ( 5 ) comprise an attachment body ( 17 ) associated with said articulated arm ( 4 ), by the fact that said support element ( 6 ) is associated in a removable manner with said attachment body ( 17 ) and by the fact that it comprises at least a movable connecting element ( 18 ), positioned between said attachment body ( 17 ) and said support element ( 6 ) for the movement of the latter relative to the attachment body itself. 
     
     
         13 ) The equipment ( 1 ) according to  claim 12 , wherein said displacement means ( 12 ) are locked together with said support element ( 6 ) in its displacement relative to said attachment body ( 17 ). 
     
     
         14 ) The equipment ( 1 ) according to  claim 13 , wherein said connecting element ( 18 ) is interposed between said displacement means ( 12 ) and at least one of said frame ( 2 ) and said articulated arm ( 4 ). 
     
     
         15 ) The equipment ( 1 ) according to  claim 13 , both said fixed portion ( 12   a ) and said support element ( 6 ) comprise at least an anchoring element ( 19 ) to said connecting element ( 18 ). 
     
     
         16 ) The equipment ( 1 ) according to  claim 12 , wherein said connecting element ( 18 ) is of the type of a flexible and winding cable. 
     
     
         17 ) The equipment ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein said gripping means ( 5 ) are movable in rotation relative to said articulated arm ( 4 ) around at least a further axis (Z) transverse to said first axis (X). 
     
     
         18 ) The equipment ( 1 ) according to  claim 12 , wherein said gripping means ( 5 ) are movable in rotation relative to said articulated arm ( 4 ) around at least a further axis (Z) transverse to said first axis (X) and wherein said attachment body ( 17 ) is associated movable in rotation with said articulated arm ( 4 ) around said further axis (Z). 
     
     
         19 ) The equipment ( 1 ) according to  claim 18 , wherein it comprises actuation means ( 22 ) for actuating the rotation of said attachment body ( 17 ) around said further axis (Z). 
     
     
         20 ) The equipment ( 1 ) according to  claim 19 , wherein said actuation means ( 22 ) comprise at least a piston ( 22   a ), supported in translation by said articulated arm ( 4 ) and kinematically connected to a shaft ( 22   b ), locked together with said attachment body ( 17 ), to set it in rotation around said further axis (Z). 
     
     
         21 ) The equipment ( 1 ) according to  claim 20 , wherein the kinematic coupling between said piston ( 22   a ) and said shaft ( 22   b ) is of the piston-rack type. 
     
     
         22 ) The equipment ( 1 ) according to  claim 14 , wherein said attachment body ( 17 ) comprises positioning means ( 20 ) of said displacement means ( 12 ). 
     
     
         23 ) The equipment ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein said articulated arm ( 4 ) is movable in rotation relative to said base frame ( 2 ) around a second axis (Y) of rotation.