WO2015181768A1

WO2015181768A1 - Device and method for the removal and the insertion of a mold of a press for ceramic products

Info

Publication number: WO2015181768A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/054015
Authority: WO
Inventors: Maurizio BARBANTI; Vito Perrone; Raffaele VERONESE
Original assignee: Siti - B&T Group S.P.A.
Priority date: 2014-05-28
Filing date: 2015-05-28
Publication date: 2015-12-03
Also published as: CN106573393A

Abstract

A device (1) for the removal or insertion of a mould (10) of a press for ceramic products comprises at least one movable element (11), able to be positioned at the front area (A) of the press (3), comprising an upper portion (13) on which the mould can be positioned, elements (17) for gripping the mould slidably associated with the upper portion (13) and which can be translationwise moved along a respective direction of translational movement (B), from a first position, in which the gripping elements (17) are positioned substantially above the movable element (11), to a second position of removal or insertion of the mould (10), in which they project with respect to the movable element (11), and vice-versa.

Description

Description of a Patent for an Industrial Invention having the title:

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE REMOVAL AND THE INSERTION OF A MOLD OF A PRESS FOR CERAMIC PRODUCTS Designated inventors: Maurizio Barbanti, Vito Perrone, Raffaele Veronese

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a device for the removal or insertion of the mould of a press for ceramic products.

The present invention also concerns a production line comprising a press and such a device for the removal or replacement of a mould.

Finally, the present invention concerns a method for the removal or replacement of a mould of a press for ceramic products.

STATE OF THE ART

In the field of production of ceramic products, such as tiles and the like, portal presses are used that are equipped with a lower support bench and an upper mobile cross member, which are in turn provided with a mould for forming the products.

A typical mould for these applications comprises a lower punch or buffer, fixed to the bench, an upper punch or buffer, fixed to the upper cross member, and a matrix in which the upper and lower buffers are inserted so as to delimit a forming cavity, inside which the ceramic powder to be pressed to form a ceramic product is located.

As known, during production the format of the ceramic products made is frequently varied, or maintenance interventions on the mould may become necessary.

In order to satisfy such requirements, it is necessary to completely remove the mould from the press to replace it with another one having different characteristics or the remount it after the maintenance intervention, respectively.

The removal of the mould in this type of presses is notoriously a very laborious and demanding operation.

Indeed, the mould is very bulky, and the work area around the press is often restricted; moreover, the positioning of the press with respect to the transportation line of the ceramic products does not make this type of intervention any easier.

It is necessary to also consider the considerable weight of the mould, which can reach the order of some thousand kilograms.

In order to remove the mould from the press, the workers usually make use of a fork lift, but the operation is still difficult and forces the production of the press to be stopped for a time period that can even be very long.

Moreover, the removal or replacement operations of the mould can prove dangerous for workers, given the large bulk and weight of the mould itself.

In order to facilitate the removal or replacement operations of the mould, some types of presses are equipped, in the bench on which the lower buffer is fixed, with oil-hydraulic cylinders that take care of lifting the mould by a height sufficient to slot the forks of a fork lift or other similar means under it.

However, this provision, in itself, does not allow the aforementioned drawbacks to be overcome in a satisfactory manner.

There are also other types of presses equipped, at the opposite sides of the bench, which are parallel to the direction of forward movement of the ceramic products through the press itself, with a respective arm that is movable along suitable guides.

Each arm comprises means for picking up a respective portion of a mould.

By setting both of the arms in motion it is possible to introduce/extract a mould into/from the press.

Such a type is not without drawbacks.

Indeed, in order to be able to have the aforementioned arms and the respective guides, suitable seats must be foreseen in the structure of the press which, therefore, is more complex with respect to conventional presses.

Moreover, the arms, the respective actuation means and the guides considerably increase the bulk in plan of the press and such greater bulk is not always compatible with the space available, particularly in cases in which it is wished to replace a previous press without such a provision. PURPOSES OF THE INVENTION

The technical task of the present invention is to improve the state of the art.

In such a technical task, a purpose of the present invention is to provide a device that makes it possible to remove or replace the mould of a press for ceramic products in a very fast and effective manner.

Another purpose of the present invention is to make a device that makes it possible to remove or replace the mould of a press in safe conditions for the workers.

Yet another purpose of the present invention is to provide a device for the removal or replacement of the mould of a press for ceramic products that is constructively simple and cost-effective.

A further purpose of the present invention is to make a device for the removal or replacement of the mould of a press for ceramic products that can be easily implemented in a pre-existing production line of ceramic products.

This task and these purposes are all accomplished by a device for the removal or insertion of the mould of a press for ceramic products according to the attached claim 1.

The device according to the invention comprises at least one movable element able to be positioned at the front or rear area of the press, and gripping means, of at least one mould for presses for ceramic products, slidably associated with the upper portion of the movable element; the gripping means are able to translationwise move, along a respective first direction of translational movement, from a first retracted position, wherein they are substantially contained in the bulk in plan of the movable element, to a second position of removal or insertion of the mould, wherein they extend substantially canti-levered with respect to the movable element and vice-versa to introduce/extract at least one mould into/from a press for ceramic products.

A further purpose of the present invention is to make a production line for ceramic products, obtained through pressing, in which the removal or replacement of the mould of the press takes place very quickly and efficiently.

Another purpose of the present invention is to make a production line for ceramic products, in which the removal or replacement of the mould of the press is automated and can be carried out in conditions of high safety for the workers.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention a production line for ceramic products, obtained through pressing, according to the attached claim 13, is provided.

Another purpose of the present invention is to offer a method for automatically and safely carrying out the steps of removal or replacement of a mould of a press for ceramic products.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention a method for the removal or replacement of a mould of a press for ceramic products according to the attached claim 19 is provided.

The dependent claims refer to preferred and advantageous embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages will become clear from the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrated purely as an example and not for limiting purposes in the attached drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a front view of a production line of ceramic products comprising a press associated with a device according to the invention;

figure 2 is a side view of the production line of ceramic products according to figure 1, with the device according to the invention arranged in operative configuration;

figure 3 is a side view of the production line for ceramic products according to figure 1, with the device according to the invention arranged in a further operative configuration;

figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the device according to the invention near to a press for ceramic products;

figure 5 is a perspective view of a detail of a version of the device according to the invention arranged near to a press for ceramic products during an operative step;

figure 6 is a perspective view of a detail of the device according to figure 5 during a further operative step;

figure 7 is a perspective view of a detail of the device according to figure 5 in a further operative step with respect to that illustrated in figure 6;

figure 8 is a view of a detail of a press of a production line for ceramic products according to the present invention;

figure 9 is a detailed perspective view of the device according to the invention;

figure 10 is a detailed perspective view of the bench of the press;

figure 1 1 is another detailed perspective view, from another angle, of the device according to the invention;

figure 12 is a further detailed perspective view, from yet another angle, of the device according to the invention;

figure 13 is a detailed top side view of the bench of the press of the production line according to the present invention.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the attached figure 1 , a device for the removal or insertion of the mould of a press for ceramic products according to the present invention is wholly indicated with 1.

The device 1 can be used in a production line of ceramic products such as tiles and the like, but it could also be installed in production lines of other types of products, without any limitation to the purposes of the present invention.

In greater detail, the device 1 according to the invention can be used in a production line of ceramic products, wholly indicated with 2 in the attached figures, comprising at least one press 3.

The production line 2 comprising the aforementioned device 1 also constitutes an object of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the production line 2 is described and represented as comprising the minimum elements necessary to understand the characteristics of the present invention.

In other embodiments of the invention, the production line 2 can comprise, in addition to the press 3 and to the device 1, also other elements not represented in the figures, like for example at least one conveyor of the products in outlet from the press 3, or a device for feeding the raw materials - normally in powder or granular form - for making ceramic products, and/or other devices necessary to complete the line.

The press 3 comprised in the production line 2 is preferably, but not exclusively, of the portal type.

The press 3 comprises, in greater detail, a base block 4 with a bench 5.

Uprights 6 rise up from the bench 5.

On the top of the uprights 6 there is a fixed cross member 7.

Along the uprights 6 a mobile cross member 8 is also able to slide.

The mobile cross member 8 is associated with the fixed cross member 7 through hydraulic actuation means 9, which carry out the alternate motion of the mobile cross member 8 in a downward pressing stroke, and in an upward return stroke.

The shape and size of the press 3 and of its components can obviously be whatever, without limitation to the purposes of the present invention.

The press 3 is provided with a respective mould 10.

The mould 10 is suitable for making ceramic products such as tiles and the like.

The mould 10 is not represented in detail in the figures, being of the type having characteristics that are per se known in the field.

In greater detail, the mould 10 is, for example, of the type comprising a lower punch or buffer, fixed to the bench 5, an upper punch or buffer, fixed to the mobile cross member 8, and a matrix, in which the upper and lower buffers are inserted so as to define a forming cavity: inside the latter the ceramic powder is fed that is to be pressed to form a ceramic product such as a tile or similar.

The aforementioned mould 10 could, for example, be of the type with the so-called mirror upper punch, in which the matrix is supported by hydraulic pistons.

However, the aforementioned mould could also be of another type, without any limitation.

The bench 5 at the top comprises first centring means Ml of the mould 10, as illustrated in particular in figure 10.

The first centring means Ml can for example comprise one or more hydraulically- actuated conical pins, which selectively insert in suitable seats provided in the lower surface of the mould 10 itself.

The first centring means Ml make it possible to secure the mould 10 to the bench 5 once the mould 10 itself has been positioned on the press 3.

The press 3 also comprises means S for lifting the mould 10.

In greater detail, the means S for lifting the mould 10 are suitable for lifting the lower punch - upper punch - matrix assembly, by a given height Q with respect to the bench 5, a height that is sufficient to allow the aforementioned mould assembly to slide with respect to the bench 5 during the steps of removal or replacement from the press 3 as described more clearly hereafter.

The lifting means S are, in particular, visible in figures 10 and 13.

In the embodiment represented in the figures, the lifting means S comprise guides

G with rollers R, or similar, positioned in suitable grooves 5a provided along the bench 5.

The guides G are equipped with hydraulic lifting members for the respective rollers R.

The rollers R of the guides G are thus able to be selectively lifted beyond the horizontal plane of the bench 5 to allow the sliding of the aforementioned assembly, which constitutes the mould 10, with respect to the bench 5 itself.

According to a further version of the present invention, the lifting means S can comprise oil-hydraulic cylinders foreseen at the vertices of a rectangle that corresponds, in plan, to the bulk of the assembly that constitutes the mould 10, or other equivalent means.

The bench 5 of the press 3 is also equipped with means for retaining the mould 10 in the correct mounting position.

Such retaining means can for example be of the magnetic type, or even another type.

It should be specified that in the embodiment of the invention represented in figures 1-1 1, the press 3 comprises further functional groups of the per se known type and that will not be described in detail, since they do not constitute a specific object of the present invention.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the device 1 comprises at least one movable element 1 1.

The movable element 11 is able to be positioned at the front or rear area of the press 3.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the movable element 1 1 is able to be positioned at the front area A of the press 3.

For the purposes of the present invention, by rear area of the press 3 we mean the area in which, in normal operating conditions of the production line 2, the device for feeding the raw materials for making the ceramic products is positioned; in other words, it is the area opposite that from which the products made inside the press 3 exit, which on the other hand is the front area A.

The movable element 1 1 represented in the attached figures has a substantially parallelepiped configuration, and comprises a base portion 12 and an upper portion 13.

The movable element 11, and in greater detail the base portion 12, comprises an outer box-shaped casing 14.

It should be observed that the shape and/or size of the movable element 11, as well as those of its outer casing 14, can in reality be whatever, in relation to the specific application requirements, and without any limitation.

Inside the casing 14 the feeding and control devices of the movable element 1 1 are positioned, protected from the outside.

In particular, it should be observed that the movable element 11 comprises a first side 15, which is the one closest in use to the press 3, and a second side 16, opposite the first side 15, farthest in use from the press 3.

The device 1 comprises gripping means 17 slidably coupled with the upper portion 13 of the movable element 1 1.

The gripping means 17 are suitable for ensuring that a mould 10 or part thereof is held, during the steps of removal or replacement thereof from a press for ceramic products.

In greater detail, the gripping means 17 are able to translationwise move along a respective first direction of translational movement B between a first position, in which they are positioned substantially within the bulk in plan of the movable element 11 , and a second position, in which they extend canti-levered with respect to the movable element 1 1 itself, and vice-versa.

In particular, the translation of the gripping means 17, from the aforementioned first position to the second position, takes place through translational movement means that will be described hereafter.

The first direction of translational movement B, indicated in the figures, preferably coincides with the exit direction of the ceramic products from the press 3, after forming.

The gripping means 17 comprise a carriage 19, positioned on the top of the upper portion 13.

The carriage 19 comprises, at its top, roller guides 20 to allow the sliding of a mould 10 or parts thereof relative to the upper portion 13 of the movable element 11.

Such roller guides 20 define, in particular, a loading plane P along which the mould 10 is made to translationwise move through the device according to the present invention.

In use, therefore, the roller guides 20 allow smooth sliding without scraping or jamming of the mould 10 relative to the carriage and to the upper portion 13 of the movable element 11.

In turn, the carriage 19 is slidably associated with the upper portion 13 of the movable element 11 through first guides 21, which are aligned parallel to the direction of translational movement B.

The first guides 21 are, in particular, two in number and are foreseen along the sides of the movable element 1 1.

In greater detail, the first guides 21 for the sliding of the carriage 19 comprise, for each of the sides of the movable element 11, first fixed sliding elements 21a aligned with each other and fixedly connected to the upper portion 13 of the movable element 11, and a respective first profile 21b, fixedly connected to the carriage 19 and coupled with the first sliding elements 21a.

The first guides 21 can also be of another equivalent type.

The gripping means 17 also comprise a gripping head 18 of the mould 10.

The gripping head 18 is operatively connected to the carriage 19 through second guides 22.

The second guides 22, similarly to the first guides 21, are also parallel to the direction of translational movement B.

The second guides 22 are, in particular two in number, and are foreseen along the sides of the gripping head 18.

In greater detail, the second guides 22 for the sliding of the gripping head 18 with respect to the carriage 19 comprise, for each of the sides of the gripping head 18 itself, second fixed sliding elements 22a aligned with each other and fixedly connected to the sides of the gripping head 18, and a respective second profile 22b, fixedly connected to the carriage 19 and coupled with the second sliding elements 22a.

The second guides 22 can also be of another equivalent type.

The gripping means 17, during predetermined sections of their stroke along the direction of translational movement B, move the carriage 19, by the translation thereof, as described more clearly hereafter.

In detail, as can be seen in figures 4-5, at end portions of the carriage 19 opposite each other along the direction of translational movement B, abutments 23 rise up, provided with respective first mechanical abutments 26.

The abutments 23 act substantially as abutments for respective engagement elements 24 that extend from the gripping means 17.

The engagement elements 24 comprise respective second mechanical abutments 27.

The mechanical abutments 26, 27 have the function of preventing damage caused by a possible axis escape.

In order to ensure the safety of staff close to the press 3, in particular when there is a mould 10 or parts thereof on the movable element 1 1, first means 25 for blocking the sliding of the carriage 19 along the first guides 21 are foreseen.

Such first blocking means 25, in fact, constrain the position of the carriage 19 with respect to the upper portion 13 of the movable element 11 , preventing the carriage 19 itself from being able to move accidentally with respect to the movable element 11 during the movement of the latter.

The first blocking means 25 comprise buffers or friction elements able to be positioned selectively in abutment against the first guides 21, to prevent the movement of the carriage 19 along the first guides 21.

In greater detail, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first blocking means 25 are of the oil-hydraulically actuated type: for example, they each comprise a profiled guide on which blocking elements are selectively pressed, said blocking elements being actuated by pressurised oil, essentially according to the operating principle of a piston.

The unlocking can take place, for example, through a preloaded return spring. There are also second blocking means 22c of the gripping head 18 along the second guides 22, visible in particular in figure 12.

The second blocking means 22c, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, are essentially of the same type as the first blocking means 25.

In other embodiments of the invention, such second blocking means 22c could be of a different type, but with equivalent operation.

The carriage 19 can translationwise move beyond the first side 15, and thus be arranged canti-levered with respect to the upper portion 13 of the movable element 1 1.

The possibility of positioning the carriage 19 canti-levered with respect to the movable element 11 ensures, as will become clearer hereafter, support of the mould 10 during the entire step of removal or replacement of the mould 10 itself, or of parts thereof, from the press 3.

As is clear from the attached figures 1-3, the movable element 11 is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the press 3, preferably at the rear area A, suitably spaced from it.

The carriage 19 provides a stable support for the mould 10 also in the section that separates the movable element 1 1 from the press 3, since the roller guides 20, which are moved towards the press 3 together with the carriage 19 itself, ensure a continuous support surface between the bench 5 of the press 3 and the upper portion 13 of the movable element 1 1, along the loading plane P.

The gripping head 18, in greater detail, has a gripping portion facing towards the first side 15 that, in use, is arranged in abutment against a side of the mould 10. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, represented in the figures, the gripping portion of the head 18 comprises respective constraint elements 18a. The constraint elements 18a can be of the magnetic type, for example comprising permanent magnets, or electromagnets, or similar, see for example figure 11.

As made clearer hereafter, such constraint elements 18a are suitable for firmly coupling the gripping head 18 with the side surface of the mould 10 that in use faces it.

As stated earlier, the gripping means 17 are able to translationwise move with respect to the upper portion 13 through respective translational movement means, wholly indicated with 28.

The translational movement means 28 of the gripping means 17, i.e. of the carriage 19 and of the gripping head 18, are foreseen, in greater detail, in the upper portion 13 of the movable element 1 1.

The aforementioned translational movement means 28 comprise an electric gear motor unit 29.

The electric gear motor unit 29 comprises a respective output shaft 30 of the motion.

The output shaft 30 of the gear motor group 29 is, in the represented embodiment, perpendicular to the first direction of translational movement B.

Moreover, the translational movement means 28 comprise transmission members 31 associated with the output shaft 30 of the gear motor group 29.

The transmission members 31 are suitable for transforming the rotary motion of the output shaft 30 of the gear motor group 29 into rectilinear motion of the gripping means 17, as made clearer hereafter.

The aforementioned transmission members 31 comprise, more specifically, at least one toothed wheel 32 fixedly connected to the output shaft 30 of the gear motor group 29, i.e. fitted onto it.

The at least one toothed wheel 32 can engage with a respective rack associated with the upper portion 13 of the movable element 11.

In an embodiment of the invention illustrated in figure 4, the transmission members 31 comprise a single toothed wheel 32 engaging with a respective rack 33 associated with the upper portion 13 of the movable element 1 1.

According to a further variant of the invention illustrated in figures 5-7, the transmission members 30 comprise two toothed wheels 32 each engaging with a respective rack 33 associated with the upper portion 13 of the movable element 11. More generally, the transmission members 31 can be of any other type, without any limitation for the purposes of the present invention.

The gear motor group 29 is supported in the upper portion 13 of the movable element 11.

This is a particularly advantageous solution, since it maximises the practicality and ease of possible interventions for maintenance or replacement of parts in the translational movement means 28.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the base portion 12 of the movable element 11 is equipped with wheels 34.

The wheels 34 are suitable for allowing the displacement of the movable element 11 and, in particular, towards/away from a press 3 for ceramic products.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the press 3, or more generally the production line 2, can possibly comprise respective guide means for the wheels 34 of the movable element 1 1 , not illustrated in the figures.

Such guide means are foreseen at the front area A or rear of the press 3; in greater detail, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the guide means of the movable element 1 1 are foreseen at the front area A of the press 3.

In particular, the wheels 34 are suitable for allowing the movement of the movable element 11, along the aforementioned guide means, along a second direction of translational movement C.

The second direction of translational movement C can be inclined, with respect to the first direction of translational movement B of the gripping means 17, by a predetermined angle a.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the aforementioned predetermined angle a is 90°, or an angle sufficiently close to 90°.

The wheels 34 for the movement of the movable element 11 can, for example, be four in number, rotatably supported at the vertices of the base portion 12 of the movable element 1 1 itself.

The wheels 34 can be associated with respective actuation means not illustrated in the attached figures.

The actuation means can be installed inside the casing 14 of the movable element 11.

The actuation means can comprise, for example, an electric motor and respective means for transmitting the motion to the wheels 34.

The four wheels 34 can all be drive wheels, or only the two wheels mounted on the same axle can be drive wheels.

The guide means on which the movable element 1 1 moves can comprise, for example, rails on which the wheels 34 are suitable for rolling, or other equivalent means.

The guide means can be permanently installed at the front area A of the press 3, or they can be of the removable type, i.e. able to be installed at the aforementioned area only when it is necessary to remove the mould from the press 3.

The guide means can be connected to an unloading area of the mould removed from the press 3, and/or loading area of a mould to be mounted in the press 3 itself. Such a loading/unloading area is not illustrated in the figures.

In order to ensure the stability of the movable element during the removal or replacement of a mould 10, or parts thereof, from a press, at the base portion 12 stabilizing means 35 can be foreseen.

The stabilizing means 35, which are not illustrated in detail in the attached figures, can for example comprise elements equipped with a lower support base that can come out from the base portion 12 of the movable element 1 1, to be placed in contact with the ground along which the movable element 1 1 itself moves.

Such stabilizing means 35 coming out causes a lifting of the wheels 34 from the ground and the momentary constraint of the movable element 11 to the ground or to the guide means if present.

As illustrated in particular in figure 1 1, in the upper portion 13 of the movable element 11 there are second centring means M2 for the mould 10.

In particular, the centring means M2, similarly to the first centring means Ml present on the bench 5, can comprise one or more hydraulically-actuated conical pins, which selectively insert in suitable seats foreseen in the lower surface of the mould 10 itself once picked up from the press 3.

The first centring means M allow the mould 10 to be secured to the upper portion 13 of the movable element 11 once the mould 10 itself has been picked up from the press 3, preventing accidental movements.

The device 1 according to the invention comprises a system of sensors suitable for ensuring that the operative steps of its operation are performed correctly.

The sensors are positioned in key points of the device 1 ; they are operatively connected to a processing unit suitable for managing and controlling the operation of the device 1 itself.

The processing unit can for example be foreseen on board the movable element 11, or it can be remote and communicating with the movable element 11 through suitable connection means.

For example, on the gripping head 18 there can be proximity sensors that manage the approach of the head 18 itself to the bench 5 of the press and to the mould 10, in the various operative steps: such sensors can in particular allow the deceleration ramp of the gripping head 18 to be managed when approaching the mould 10, so as to avoid impacts that could compromise the correct performance of the subsequent operative steps.

Also an object of the present invention is the production line 2 comprising at least the aforementioned device 1 and a press 3 for ceramic products.

In this sense, the press 3 can, according to an aspect of the invention, comprise an auxiliary support 36 of the carriage 19 at the second operative position, illustrated in figure 7.

In particular, as made clearer hereafter, the auxiliary support 36 allows the correct positioning of the carriage 19 to be maintained during the withdrawal of the mould 10 by the gripping head 18, and consequently also the correct positioning of the loading plane P of the carriage 19 with respect to the plane in which the mould 10 is located once suitably raised with respect to the surface of the bench 5.

Indeed, it should be noted that in the second operative position, illustrated in figure 7, the carriage 19 is canti-levered with respect to the movable element 1 1 with its end portion since, as stated earlier, a minimum safety distance must be maintained between the latter and the press 3 during the withdrawal of the mould 10.

The auxiliary support 36, therefore, ensures that the end portion of the carriage 19 is suitably supported while the mould 10 is transferred from the bench 5 to the loading plane P of the carriage 19 itself.

Thanks to this provision, the correct sliding of the mould 10 is ensured in its transfer from the bench 5 to the loading plane C, without changes in level or risks of accidental flexing of the carriage 19, and/or unbalancing of the entire movable element 11.

According to a preferred embodiment of the production line 2 according to the present invention, illustrated in the detail of figure 8, the auxiliary support 36 can be of the type with eccentric, comprising a linkage of the crankshaft type as described more clearly hereafter. Constructive variants of the auxiliary support 36 with respect to what is described should be considered to fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. The auxiliary support 36 can comprise at least one pair of eccentric mechanisms 37, for example of the crankshaft type, each of which is associated with the front surface of the bench 5.

In practice, the eccentric mechanisms 37 are foreseen at opposite ends of the front surface of the bench 5.

Each of the eccentric mechanisms 37 comprises, in greater detail, a linear actuator 38 - for example hydraulic, pneumatic, or of another type - having a first end articulated to fixed parts of the press 3, for example to the bench 5, so as to act as a crank, and a second end articulated to a shaft 39.

The shaft 39 is in turn associated with a disc 40, which is eccentric with respect to its rotation axis.

In each of the eccentric mechanisms 37, the actuation of the actuator 38 therefore causes the rotation of the shaft 39, and therefore of the eccentric disc 40, by a given angle.

In use, when the carriage 19 is translationwise moved into the second operative position of figure 7, and therefore when its end portion is substantially in abutment against the front surface of the bench 5, the eccentric mechanisms 37 are actuated so that the eccentric discs 40 come into contact, with its own side surface, with the lower surface of the carriage 19, thus recovering possible clearances existing and ensuring a safe support.

Each of the two eccentric mechanisms 37 can be adjusted differently so as to also compensate for possible machining or assembly errors of the components involved.

The operation of the device 1 according to the invention - and more generally also of the production line 2 according to the invention - is as follows.

When it is necessary to remove the mould 10 from the press 3 to carry out maintenance interventions and/or to replace it with another one, for example of different format, the production line 2 is stopped. The press 3 is thus in the end of cycle state, with the mould 10 positioned on it.

If necessary, the device for feeding the raw materials is moved so as to make the rear area of the press 3 accessible.

After these preparatory steps, the device 1 , translating along the guide means, is positioned in the front area A, and is centred with respect to the plane of longitudinal symmetry of the press 3, as illustrated, for example, in figures 1, 4-7. The gripping means 17 and the carriage 19 of the device 1 are in the first operative position illustrated in figures 2, 4, 5, i.e. they are positioned completely above the upper portion 13 of the movable element 1 1, i.e. in a configuration of minimum bulk that allows easy movement of the device 1.

In such a first operative position, the gripping means 17 are arranged close to the second side 16 of the movable element 1 1.

At this moment, if present, the means for lifting the mould foreseen in the press 3 are actuated: the mould 10 is thus lifted by a given height with respect to the upper surface of the bench 5.

In this step, the second blocking means 22c of the gripping head 18 are activated, whereas the first blocking means 25 of the carriage 19 are in inactive configuration.

Then the gear motor group 29 is actuated, so as to take the carriage 19 substantially in abutment on the bench 5.

In this position, the first blocking means 25 are then activated; vice-versa, the second blocking means 22c are deactivated.

At this point the auxiliary support 36 with eccentrics of the press 3 is actuated, to support the carriage 19 in a stable and secure manner.

By further actuating the gear motor group 29, the gripping head 18 advances towards the mould 10, until it goes into abutment against it.

Then the constraint elements 18a of the gripping head 18 are activated, to fasten the mould 10.

In order to free the mould 10 from the bench 5, the first centring means Ml are actuated downwards.

Thereafter, the gear motor group 29 is actuated again in reverse, so as to take the gripping means 17, carrying the mould 10, back from the second operative position to the first operative position.

During the moving step, the mould 10, which is associated with the gripping means 17, is slidably supported by the roller guides 20.

In this way, it is ensured that there is smooth movement, without scraping or jamming of the mould 10 with respect to the carriage 19 and/or to the upper portion 13 of the movable element 1 1.

Once the first position has been reached, the mould 10 is completely supported by the movable element 11.

In this position, the second centring means M2 of the movable element 11 are then actuated, to secure the mould 10 thereto.

At this point it is possible to deactivate the constraint elements 18a of the gripping head 18.

The means for lifting the mould 10 of the press 3 are consequently lowered, just as the auxiliary support 36 is also lowered.

The gripping head 18 is then withdrawn further to the end stop; thereafter, the actuation of the first and second blocking means 25, 22c is inverted.

The carriage 19 is also withdrawn further to the respective end stop position.

The movable element 1 1 can then be actuated to move, along the guide means where foreseen, for example towards a suitable area where it can be discharged to carry out maintenance operations; in the same area another mould 10 can be loaded, for example one of different format to be installed on the press 3.

Alternatively, the other mould 10 to be installed on the press 3 can be previously loaded on another movable element 1 1 , so as to reduce the operative replacement times of the mould 10 itself.

The loading of the mould 10 on the press 3 is carried out by carrying out the aforementioned operations in reverse order with respect to that with which they were described.

More specifically, the gripping head 18 is brought up to the mould 10; in this condition, the first blocking means 25 are activated, whereas the second blocking means 22c are deactivated.

Then the constraint elements 18a of the gripping head 18 are activated, i.e. magnetized.

The second centring means M2 are actuated downwards, to release the mould 10. Thereafter, the actuation of the blocking means 25, 22c is inverted, i.e. the first blocking means 25 are deactivated and the second blocking means 22c are activated.

Following such inversion, the carriage 19 can be made to advance, through actuation of the gear motor group 29, until it abuts against the bench 5.

After having again activated the first blocking means 25 the auxiliary support 36 with eccentric is then actuated, i.e. the eccentrics are raised so as to firmly support the carriage 19 canti-levered.

In this condition, it is possible to start to actuate the gripping means 17 to insert the mould 10 on the bench; after having started the insertion - for example after very few seconds from starting - the lifting means S are actuated upwards, so as to make the rollers R emerge with respect to the plane of the bench 5.

The insertion of the mould 10 on the bench 5 ends when the bench 5 itself is detected by a suitable proximity sensor foreseen on the gripping head 18.

Once insertion has ended, the first centring means Ml of the bench 5 are actuated to block the mould 10 with respect to the latter.

Then the last concluding steps of the operation are carried out, i.e. the deactivation of the constraint elements 18a of the gripping head 18, the lowering of the lifting means S, the withdrawal of the gripping head 18 and of the carriage 19, and the magnetization of the retaining means of the mould 10 on the bench 5.

It has thus been seen how the invention achieves the proposed purposes.

The translation of the gripping means 17 and of the carriage 19 of the device 1 from the first operative position to the second operative position, and vice-versa, allows the mould 10 to be removed from the press 3 in a completely automated manner, i.e. without the workers having to carry out dangerous manual interventions to remove it. The removal of the mould 10 from the press 3, moreover, can be carried out extremely quickly, avoiding having to stop the production of the line for numerous hours.

In the same way, the device 1 makes it possible to install a new mould 10 - for example of different format - on the press 3, in a completely automated, quick and efficient manner.

The device 1 according to the invention is constructively simple and cost-effective, and it can be installed, even a posteriori, on any pre-existing production line.

Moreover, the entire step of removal or replacement of the mould takes place in an automated manner and according to ways described previously that allow the risk to which the workers in the immediate vicinity of the press are exposed to be substantially reduced.

Finally, the alignment device and the device for the removal or replacement of moulds are easy to implement even in production lines of ceramic products without them.

In this case it is thus possible to improve the productivity of a pre-existing production line of ceramic products in a solution having lower costs with respect to those necessary for the entire modification thereof.

The present invention has been described according to preferred embodiments, but equivalent variants can be devised without departing from the scope of protection offered by the following claims.

Claims

1. Device (1) for the removal or the insertion of a mould (10) of a press for ceramic products, comprising at least one movable element (11), which can be positioned at the front or rear area (A) of the press (3), said movable element (11) comprising a base portion (12) and an upper portion (13) on which said mould (10) is positionable, characterized in that said movable element (11) comprises means (17) for gripping said mould (10) slidably connected to said upper portion (13) and which can be translationwise moved along a respective direction of translational movement (B), from a first operating position, in which said gripping means (17) are positioned substantially above said movable element (1 1), to a second operating position of the removal or the insertion of said mould (10), in which they are extended with respect to said movable element (1 1), and vice versa.

2. Device according to claim 1 , wherein said gripping means (17) comprise a carriage (19) slidably connected to said upper portion (13) along first guides (21) parallel to said direction of translational movement (B).

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein said gripping means (17) comprise a gripping head (18) slidable along second guides (22) which are provided in said carriage (19) and which are parallel to said direction of translational movement (B).

4. Device according to the previous claim, wherein said gripping head (18) comprises elements (18a), of the magnetic type, for the constrain of the mould (10).

5. Device according to one of claims 2-4, wherein said first guides (21) comprise first means (25) for selectively blocking the sliding of said carriage (19).

6. Device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said second guides (22) comprise second means (22c) for selectively blocking the sliding of said gripping head (18).

7. Device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said first blocking means (25) and/or said second blocking means (22c) are of the hydraulic drive type and include buffers or friction elements selectively positionable in abutment against said first guides (21) and/or said second guides (22).

8. Device according to one of claims 2-7, wherein said carriage (19) comprises roller guides (20) on the top, which define on their top a loading surface (P) for the sliding and support of said mould on said movable element

(11) .

9. Device according to one of the previous claims, wherein said gripping means (17) are operatively connected with respective translational movement means (28) provided at said upper portion (13) of said movable element (1 1), said translational movement means (28) comprising an electric gear motor unit (29), the output shaft (30) thereof being associated with transmission members (31) adapted to convert the rotary motion of said output shaft (30) into a rectilinear motion of said gripping means (17).

10. Device according to one of the previous claims, wherein said base portion

(12) comprises wheels (34) for the displacement of said movable element (11) at the front or rear area (A) of the press (3) and means (35) for stabilizing said movable element (11) during the removal or replacement of a mould from a press.

1 1. Device according to one of the previous claims, wherein said movable element (11) comprises stabilizing means (35) provided with a base for resting on the ground selectively protruding from said base portion (12) of said movable element (11) during the removal or replacement of a mould (10).

12. Device according to one of the previous claims, wherein said upper portion

(13) of said movable element comprises second selective centering means (M2) adapted to retain the mould (10) taken from the press (3).

13. Production line (2) of ceramic products, comprising at least a press (3) of the portal type provided with at least one mould, a base (4) and a bench (5) arranged above said base (4), and at least one device (1) for the removal or replacement of a mould according to one of claims 1-12.

14. Production line (2) of ceramic products according to claim 13, wherein said press (3) comprises lifting means (S) of said mould (10) to a given height (Q), suitable for allowing the removal or replacement of said mould (10) by said device (1).

15. Production line according to claim 14, wherein said lifting means (S) comprise at least one roller (R) guide (G) inserted in a respective groove (5a) of said bench (5), wherein said rollers (R) are hydraulically liftable independently of one another.

16. Production line according to one of claims 13-15, wherein said press comprises an auxiliary support (36) for said movable element (11) during the loading/unloading of said mould (10).

17. Production line according to the previous claim, wherein said auxiliary support (36) comprises at least one eccentric mechanism (37), associated with fixed parts of said press (3), suitable for supporting said movable element (1 1) during the loading/unloading of said mould (10).

18. Production line according to one of claims 14-17, wherein said bench (5) comprises first selective centering means (Ml) adapted to retain the mould (10) in the correct mounting position on the press (3).

19. Method for the removal of a mould for ceramic products from the bench (5) of a press (3) set up in a production line (2) comprising the steps of:

providing a device (1) for the removal or replacement of a mould according to any one of claims 1 to 12;

positioning said device (1) at the front or rear area A of said press (3);

lifting said mould (10) from said bench (5);

actuating the gripping means (17) of said device by translating them along a respective direction of translational movement (B), from a first operating position, wherein said gripping means (17) are positioned substantially above said device, to a second position, wherein they are extended cantilevered with respect to said device (10);

gripping said mould by gripping means (17) of said device;

actuating said gripping means (17) by a translation movement from said second operating position to said first operating position.