MECHANISM WITH CAMS FOR ENGRAVING AND SPLITTING TILES

This invention relates to a mechanism for scoring and splitting tiles usable on manual tile cutter machines of the type preferred for cutting extra-thick tiles.

This application claims priority to Italian Application No. 102020000007588 filed Apr. 9, 2020, which application is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a mechanism for scoring and splitting tiles usable on manual tile cutter machines of the type preferred for cutting extra-thick tiles.

There are already various types of manual tile cutter machines available for sale, which concentrate on the ability to score and break tiles; these are divided into two categories: those which have the scoring tool or the splitting tool movable relative to the operating handle, and those which have the scoring tool and splitting tool fixed to the operating handle. Versions with movable tools are preferred for cutting extra-thick tiles which require strong scoring, whilst versions with integrated and fixed tools are preferred for cutting large tiles at maximum speed in the minimum time. The versions of the type preferred for cutting extra-thick tiles are currently formed by a main body joined with a pin to an oscillating unit comprising the scoring tool and the splitting foot, the main body in turn is coupled in such a way that it can oscillate to a carriage which runs on a multi-material rail for scoring the surface of the tile; the carriage being guided by three rolling bearings placed in a single plane.

DISADVANTAGES IN THE PRIOR ART

In the existing scoring and splitting mechanisms, of the type with a carriage provided with a single set of bearings placed in a single plane, the guiding rail is composed of an extruded aluminum profile coupled to steel tracks. The fact that the rail is mainly made of aluminum, forces the manufacturer to use a large cross-section in order to guarantee the necessary strength; the size of the cross-section causes significant visibility problems for the operator who, from above the mechanism, struggles to see the line to be scored.

Another disadvantage of this type of rail is the play necessary for assembly which must be left in the coupling between the extruded aluminum profile and the steel tracks; this play affects the precision and straightness of the scoring line.

Another disadvantage is the fact that the natural balance of the main body causes the splitting foot or the scoring wheel to always fall downwards, far below the surface of the tile to be worked; this forces the operator who wants to cut a tile to lift the movable part of the mechanism with one hand, and with the other hand insert the tile on the cutting surface of the machine and below the scoring and splitting units; this action may be feasible when cutting small and light tiles, but is impossible with current tiles which may weigh tens of kilograms. If the operator lets go of the movable body over the tile, in order to handle the tile with two hands during insertion, the foot may get jammed in non-slip projections of the tile and the wheel may ruin the surface and the glaze, by scraping over it.

Another disadvantage is caused by the system with traction springs used until now in order to swap the position of the scoring unit with that of the splitting unit. The traction springs have the defect of not being reliable enough and of easily breaking, in order to keep the body centered two springs are always needed, plus it is not possible to manage the swap speed between scoring tool and splitting tool, moreover being outside the movable body, they prevent the addition of levers for facilitating manual swapping between scoring tool and splitting tool.

Another disadvantage is caused by wear on the scoring unit bearing; if the scoring unit made of tungsten carbide strongly scores materials which are not very abrasive, the sharpening remains effective whilst the bearing undergoes premature wear, causing vibrations and meandering scoring. In order to solve the problem the whole scoring unit composed of wheel and bearing must be substituted, or a press must be used to disassemble the scoring unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of this invention is to remove the above-mentioned disadvantages, the invention as characterized in the claims, in order to achieve the aim: (a) joins together the materials of the rail in a single metal extruded profile, (b) provides the mechanism with an automatic system for locking in the raised position so as to facilitate tile insertion, (c) uses a cam to manage the swap between scoring tool and splitting tool, (d) creates at least one lever to facilitate manual swapping from the splitting position to the scoring position, (e) adopts a solution for fast substitution of the scoring wheel bearing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As can be seen fromFIG. 1the invention relates to a mechanism for scoring and splitting tiles. The invention identifies a device which comprises:a main body1a scoring and splitting body1Ca carriage5a guide6a handle7

The invention which is the subject matter of this patent comprises a guide6extruded in one piece, provided with an upper side6A and a lower side6B having a shape which is not flat.

It also comprises a carriage5with a single set of at least two bearings9-9′-9″, which are placed in a single vertical plane; the rim10-10′ of these bearings has a shape which is not flat, in order to adapt to the shape which is not flat of the upper and lower sides of the guide6. The coupling of the guide6with the bearings9-9′-9″ allows the invention to run along the guide without friction and without play, guaranteeing perfectly straight scoring. The perfect coupling of the bearings with the guide is favored by the presence, on one of them, of at least one housing25-25′ for the pin24, the housing made of yielding material, or in an alternative construction, the pin24is retained by an adjustable rigid unit38.

In the mechanism according to the invention, the main body1rotates concentric on the second pin4, at the point of contact there are thrust bearings8-8′ present which prevent any play between carriage5and main body1.

The fact that the bearings9-9′-9″ are placed in a single vertical plane gives the advantage of being able to use guides6with different cross-section in order to adapt to the resistance required by the length of the tile cutter machine, without modifying the shape of the carriage5.

The invention comprises a temporary and automatic stop device40, composed of at least one interference element11-11′ pushed by an elastic element12against a seat13-13′. This stop device40is positioned in such a way as to operate when the splitting unit2and the scoring unit3are both at a distance from the surface of the tile14; a slight increase in the force applied on the handle7by the operator, if directed downwards allows releasing of the stop device40and the start of a new scoring or splitting operation, if directed upwards allows releasing of the stop device40and the start of a step of overturning the scoring and splitting body1C, from the scoring position to the splitting position.

The invention comprises a scoring and splitting body1C, which pivoting on the third pin4A oscillates to swap the splitting unit2and the scoring unit3with each other. In order to implement a uniform rotation the invention comprises a cam32on which an interference element11A pushed by elastic element12A acts, it also comprises a second cam33which acts on the lower side6B of the guide6. In order to rotate the scoring and splitting body1C from the splitting position to the scoring position, the invention is provided with at least one lever34-34′ to be operated manually.

The mechanism according to the invention is provided with a scoring unit3provided with a rapid-disassembly rolling bearing29. Existing scoring units (JP2002331516A-CN202918256U) often have the inner bearing subject to premature wear, the bearing being rigidly assembled to the scoring wheel without the possibility of disassembly and substitution. In the prior art the anchoring means60comprise entrances62-62′ whose dimensions are smaller than those of the rolling bearing29, so that mounting of the rolling bearing29is only possible in a radial direction relative to the entrances62-62′. The scoring unit according to the invention solves this problem by allowing rapid substitution of the bearing; this result is obtained with the clever solution of having constrained the shaft16to the structure of the scoring unit3, resting on the head19of the shaft16, or resting on the stop nut18.

With this solution it is possible to easily substitute the roller bearing29which supports the scoring wheel15, because to disassemble and extract the bearing use is made of the entrance62′ which is the housing necessary for the nut18, or use is made of the entrance62which is the housing necessary for the head19of the pin16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE FIGURES

InFIG. 1the invention is mounted on a base35and is working a tile14.

Distinctive features of the invention:

(A)FIGS. 2-6reference. Showing the cross-section of the guide6highlighting the upper side6A and the lower side6B having a shape which is not flat, for coupling to the bearings9-9′-9″ present on the carriage5, being transversally constrained and maintaining the possibility of running longitudinally along the guide.

The remaining sides may have different shapes in order to adapt the cross-section of the profile to the required resistance.

(B)FIGS. 3 and 4reference. InFIG. 3the main body1is hidden so as to clearly show the carriage5. InFIG. 4(which is the top view ofFIG. 3) the second pin4is seen, which is used together with the nut26to clamp the sides1A and1B of the main body1on the thrust bearings8-8′, in such a way as to leave only a rotary movement relative to the carriage5possible.

(C)FIGS. 5-6reference. The result of the cross-section A:A ofFIG. 4is shown, to highlight the bearings9-9′-9″ placed in a single plane. InFIG. 6the two rigidly fixed lower bearings9′-9″ are seen, the upper bearing9is provided with a yielding housing25in order to compensate for any small size differences of the guide6; the bearing9connects to the housing25using the pin24. The invention comprises a bumper36to protect the base35from impacts by the carriage5.

InFIG. 24the upper bearing9is provided with an adjustable rigid unit38, used to compensate for small size differences of the guide6; the bearing9connects to the adjustable rigid unit38using the pin24.

(D)FIG. 7reference. The invention is shown in the automatic hooking position of the stop device40described in more detail inFIG. 8. This figure shows the cutting plane B:B which passes through the axis of the pin24and the axis of the stop device40.

(E)FIG. 8reference. This figure shows how the pin24supports the bearing9in a yielding way, resting on the housings25-25′. This figure shows how the push rods11-11′ pushed by the elastic element12rest on the retaining points13-13′.

(F)FIG. 9reference. This figure shows only the main body1highlighting the retaining points13-13′. The parts forming this automatic stop device40may be substituted with components having equivalent operation and be placed on different parts of the mechanism.

(G)FIG. 10<>17reference.FIG. 10is a top view of the mechanism ofFIG. 1. The cross-section C:C is used inFIGS. 11<>17to show operation of the cam32.

InFIG. 11the scoring and splitting body1C is shown in the scoring position, resting on the spring37which is used to dampen the scoring of structured tiles. The main body1is in the stop device40position.

FIG. 12. Pulling the handle7upwards the stop device40is released and the protection17of the splitting unit2rests on the lower structure of the carriage5.

FIG. 13. Pulling the handle7upwards the cam33touches the lower side6B of the guide6.

FIG. 14. Pulling the handle7upwards the interference element11A applies maximum compression to the elastic element12A and reaches the top of the cam32.

FIG. 15. Pulling the handle7upwards reaches the point at which the interference element11A pushed by the elastic element12A begins to descend the cam32spontaneously.

FIG. 16. Releasing the handle7downwards the scoring and splitting body1C automatically goes to the splitting position, driven by the interference element11A which applies force on the cam32.

FIG. 17. Releasing the handle7downwards, the protection17touches the tile14ready for the splitting action.

FIG. 18-19. These show the scoring and splitting body1C complete with protection17-17′ and scoring unit3, defined in more detail below.

(H)FIGS. 20-21-22reference. In a preferred embodiment the rolling bearing29which supports the scoring wheel15is inserted laterally through the hole which houses the stop nut18or through the hole which houses the head19of the shaft16which supports the load of the bearing; this solution allows a wheel15to be supported by an interchangeable rolling bearing29, due to the vertical thrust and simultaneously to be supported transversally by a sacrificable protection17made of anti-friction material.FIG. 20shows the cross-section D:D ofFIG. 14,FIG. 21shows the scoring unit3without the protection17,FIG. 22shows the scoring unit3complete with protection17.FIG. 20shows how it is the flange31of the stop nut18which prevents the nut18from shifting, and how it is the size of the head19which secures the shaft16in place.

The technical and innovative solutions illustrated with reference to a mechanism comprising a scoring and splitting body1C are understood to also be applicable to mechanisms provided with a scoring unit3fixed to the main body1and a splitting unit2movable by oscillating and vice versa, and to mechanisms with a scoring unit3and a splitting unit2both fixed to the main body1.

The invention described above may be modified and adapted in several ways without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all details may be substituted with technically equivalent elements.

In use, obviously modifications and/or improvements are possible without thereby departing from the scope of the following claims.