Equipment for surface processing of plate-shaped elements

Abstract

Equipment (300) for the surface sanding of plate-shaped bodies (101), in particular of tiles, said equipment (300) comprising support and feeding means (100) for supporting said plate-shaped bodies (101) and feeding said plate-shaped bodies (101) along a given feed direction (D), so that during the movement along said given direction (D) the surface of each said plate-shaped body (101) that shall be sanded can be visible and accessed, said equipment (300) including a sanding module (200) provided with sanding means defining a sanding abrasive surface and with moving means for moving said abrasive surface in contact with the visible surface of said plate-shaped bodies (101) in succession during the movement thereof, wherein said sanding means comprise a closed belt (201) that defines said sanding abrasive surface and is suitable to be driven into rotation by means of said moving means.

1 . Equipment for surface sanding of plate-shaped bodies, said equipment comprising:
 a conveyor belt for supporting said plate-shaped bodies and feeding said plate-shaped bodies along a given feed direction (D), so that during movement along said given feed direction (D) an exposed outer surface of each said plate-shaped body is positioned opposite from the conveyor belt and is accessible for sanding, thus forming an accessible surface on each plate-shaped body;   a sanding module comprising a closed sanding belt having a sanding abrasive surface comprising a plurality of discrete fickert heads that are coupled to and protrude outwardly from a flexible sanding belt base layer, the sanding abrasive surface being located along an outer surface of each fickert head, the plurality of discrete fickert heads being spaced apart from one another;   wherein said sanding abrasive surface contacts the exposed outer surface of said plate-shaped bodies positioned opposite from the conveyor belt during the movement of the plate-shaped bodies along said given feed direction (D) when the conveyor belt is in operation; and   wherein said closed sanding belt has at least one rectilinear portion;   adjusting means for regulating a contact pressure generated by contact of said sanding abrasive surface against said accessible surface of said plate-shaped bodies;   wherein said adjusting means comprises a hydraulic system that includes a plurality of hydraulically operated pressing elements arranged in a longitudinal direction of the sanding belt along said rectilinear portion of said closed sanding belt;   wherein each of said pressing elements is movable, by the adjusting means, transversally with respect to an inner surface of the closed sanding belt which contacts each plate-shaped body to be sanded;   wherein each of said pressing elements exerts an adjustable pressure against a respective portion of the inner surface of said closed sanding belt opposite to said sanding abrasive surface, and   wherein the pressure exerted on the inner surface of said closed sanding belt is likewise exerted on respective portions of each plate-shaped body during sanding and is thus adjustable;   at least one sensor; and   a control device;   wherein the at least one sensor is electronically coupled to the control device and are configured to detect in real time a point-to-point surface conformation of the plate-shaped bodies; and   wherein the sanding module together with the at least one sensor cooperate to adjust pressure exerted on plate-shaped bodies by the pressing elements during sanding of the plate-shaped bodies.   
     
     
         2 . The equipment according to  claim 1 , wherein said closed sanding belt extends along a direction (X) transverse to said feed direction (D) of said conveyor belt. 
     
     
         3 . The equipment according to  claim 1 , wherein said closed sanding belt is oriented in an oblique direction with respect to said feed direction (D) of said conveyor belt. 
     
     
         4 . The equipment according to  claim 1 , wherein said closed sanding belt extends between two opposite pulleys with rotation axes parallel to each other and positioned with respect to said feed direction (D) of said conveyor belt. 
     
     
         5 . The equipment according to  claim 4 , wherein a first pulley of said two opposite pulleys is coupled to a motor for rotation, while the second pulley of said two opposite pulleys is coupled to the closed sanding belt for rotation with the closed sanding belt. 
     
     
         6 . The equipment according to  claim 5 , further comprising a transmission unit interposed between said motor and said first pulley. 
     
     
         7 . The equipment according to  claim 6 , wherein said transmission unit comprises a third pulley rigidly fixed to said first pulley by means of a drive shaft or axle and a drive belt interposed between said power source and said third pulley. 
     
     
         8 . The equipment according to  claim 1 , further comprising adjusting members arranged to modify a tension on said closed sanding belt. 
     
     
         9 . The equipment according to  claim 8 , wherein said adjusting members are shaped as to allow the regulation of a centre-to-centre distance between said first pulley and said second pulley. 
     
     
         10 . Equipment for the surface sanding of plate-shaped bodies comprising:
 a conveyor belt for supporting said plate-shaped bodies and feeding said plate-shaped bodies along a given feed direction (D), wherein each plate-shaped body has an exposed surface positioned opposite from the conveyor belt;   a sanding module having a sanding belt that defines a longitudinal surface, an elastically deformable base coupled to the belt, and a plurality of abrasive bodies carried by the elastically deformable base, wherein the sanding belt is movable so as to bring the plurality of abrasive bodies into movable contact with the exposed surface of each plate-shaped body as the plate-shaped bodies are moved in the feed direction (D) past the sanding module; and   an adjusting unit coupled to the sanding module and configured to regulate a contact pressure of the plurality of abrasive bodies of the sanding module against the plate-shaped bodies, the adjusting unit comprising at least one pressing element arranged above the sanding belt, the at least one pressing element being movable in a traverse direction with respect to the sanding module so as to exert an adjustable pressure against a respective portion of the sanding belt and thereby to adjust a pressure of the plurality of abrasive bodies on the plate-shaped bodies at the respective portion of the sanding belt,   wherein the at least one pressing element comprises a roller that is configured to engage the sanding belt, such that a regulated pressure can be applied to the sanding belt by the roller as the sanding belt is moved longitudinally.   
     
     
         11 . The equipment according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one pressing element comprises a plurality of pressing elements arranged longitudinally above the sanding belt. 
     
     
         12 . The equipment according to  claim 10 , wherein said sanding belt extends along a direction (X) transverse to said feed direction (D) of said conveyor belt and said roller is positioned transverse to said direction (X). 
     
     
         13 . The equipment according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one pressing element has a parallel-piped shape with the roller disposed within an opening formed in the at least one pressing element. 
     
     
         14 . The equipment according to  claim 10 , wherein the sanding belt has an inner surface and an opposite outer surface on which the elastically deformable base is located, the at least one roller including a plurality of round nips that engage a plurality of reliefs formed in the inner surface of the sanding belt. 
     
     
         15 . The equipment according to  claim 14 , wherein each elastically deformable base carries more than one abrasive body of said plurality of abrasive bodies. 
     
     
         16 . Equipment for the surface sanding of plate-shaped bodies comprising:
 a conveyor belt for supporting said plate-shaped bodies and feeding said plate-shaped bodies along a given feed direction (D) of said conveyor belt, wherein each plate-shaped body has an exposed surface positioned opposite from the conveyor belt;   a sanding module having a sanding belt that defines a longitudinal surface, an elastically deformable base coupled to an outer surface of the sanding belt, and a plurality of abrasive bodies carried by the elastically deformable base, wherein the sanding belt is movable so as to bring the plurality of abrasive bodies into movable contact with the exposed surface of each plate-shaped body as the plate-shaped bodies are moved in the feed direction (D) past the sanding module; and   an adjusting unit coupled to the sanding module and configured to regulate a contact pressure of the plurality of abrasive bodies of the sanding module against the plate-shaped bodies, the adjusting unit comprising a plurality of pressing elements arranged longitudinally above the sanding belt, the pressing elements being movable in a traverse direction with respect to the sanding module so as to exert an adjustable pressure against a respective portion of the sanding belt and thereby to adjust a pressure of the plurality of abrasive bodies on the plate-shaped bodies at the respective portion of the sanding belt.   
     
     
         17 . The equipment according to  claim 16 , wherein the sanding belt comprises an inner surface having a contoured surface that is complementary to the pressing elements and the plurality of abrasive bodies comprise distinct heads that protrude outwardly from the plurality of elastically deformable bases and are therefore spaced apart from one another.