Abstract: In the manufacture of slabs and panels of ceramic material according to the vacuum vibrocompaction method described in Italian patent 1,311,858, the initial mix is formed using ceramic having the form of sands having a grain size of less than 2.5 mm, preferably less than 1 mm, and ceramic powders, together with a binding additive in the form of an aqueous solution consisting of sodium silicate in a concentration greater than 24° Baumé, fibers of high-melting transparent inorganic material, preferably high-melting glass, also being added to the mix. The slabs obtained have an improved mechanical strength, a reduced porosity and improved aesthetic properties, in addition to being free from cracks and microscopic fissures.

Abstract: In an improved method for the production of slabs of ceramic material the starting mixture is enclosed between two sheets of cardboard or paperboard, subjected to vibrating compression under vacuum. The aboard or paperboard being thick enough to absorb the excess mixture water prior to the transfer to the subsequent drying and firing stages, said sheets of paperboard being removed before said drying stage, so that the rough-formed slab is dried resting solely on a porous fabric or felt, and baking is performed while keeping the dried rough-formed slab in contact with the oven surface solely by means of a temporary protective layer of refractory material (engobe).

Abstract: In a process for obtaining a composite panel of natural stone and glass, after preparing a slab of natural stone (10) and a glass sheet (20), a layer of hardening resin (32) is spread over a surface (10a) of the stone slab (10), the glass sheet (20) is arranged on top of said stone slab (10) inside an environment under vacuum conditions so as to allow the layer (32) of resin which is situated in between to harden completely. The process may be continued by applying a second glass sheet (24) onto the other surface (10b) of the stone slab (10) using the same procedure and by finally cutting the panel thus formed (50) along the mid plane so as to obtain two panels, each of which comprises a stone slab (10) and a glass sheet (20, 24).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing single layer tiles or slabs from a mixture of a granulated stone material having a selected particle size, and from a slurry formed by cement, a quantity of between 0.25 and 0.36 parts by weight of water relative to the weight of cement, and a plasticizer for cementitious slurries, in which the quantity of slurry added is slightly in excess of the quantity corresponding to the void fraction of the granulated material, in forming mould, containing a layer of predetermined thickness of the mixture, to be subjected to a first very short deaeration step under the effect of a very high vacuum and to a subsequent vibration step under a lower vacuum, after which the mould goes on to seeing and hardness steps.

Abstract: The application of a reinforcing layer to the visible face of slabs of stone material. For slabs of marble and granite, especially thin slabs, the reinforcing layer is constituted by non-twisted glass threads, preferably in the form of a mat, and by a transparent resin resistant to the action of atmospheric and chemical agents. A reinforced slab is obtained which has a small thickness and in which the resistance to negative flexing is greatly increased, along a front face concomitantly with the resistance to positive flexing along the rear, or invisible, face of the slab when the rear face is also reinforced.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing of slabs of granulated stone material and/or sands bound with a resin which can be hardened, and preferably hot with the aid of a catalyst. The mixture of granulated material and/or sand and resin is deposited as a layer of uniform thickness and a predetermined outline onto a support protected by a first sheet of material, and the upper surface of the layer and its sides between the lower surface and its upper surface, is also protected with a similar second sheet of material. Then, the protected layer is subjected to vibratory compaction under vacuum and to a hot hardening process in the presence of the catalyst. The two protective sheets are made of resilient material, particularly of natural or synthetic rubber, such as neoprene, and after hardening of the sheets, the sheets are removed, by pulling them from the covered and protected surfaces of the resulting slab.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing slabs of stone material such as marble or granite, reinforced with reinforcing elements in particular made of steel and fixed to a rear surface of the slabs by a bonding resin of the hardening type. The resin is used to impregnate non-twisted strands of glass, preferably in the form of matting, in a percentage weight ratio of glass strands to resin of at least 50:50, with a preference for a quantity by weight of glass strands greater than 50%.

Abstract: Plates of ceramic material are prepared starting from stone material, particularly feldspar, quartz, porphyry, granites, silica, syenites, nephelines, ceramic materials, clays, kaolins, bentonites, in granular and/or powder form, mixed with a small amount of ceramic binder to form a mixture. This mixture is distributed onto a plane delimited from a containing frame and then subjected to the simultaneous action of a vacuum and of a vibratory motion combined with a pressing action. After the moulding step, a drying step and then a firing step are carried out, the latter taking place at the standard temperatures for the manufacturing of ceramic products.The resulting plate has high mechanical properties, is highly resistant to atmospherical and chemical agents, and has a very valuable aesthetic appearance.

Abstract: The method according to the present invention, permits to smooth and polish automatically and semicontinuously slabs of marble, granite and stones of every type while improving substantially the uniformity of smoothing and polishing of the surfaces being worked on and also obtaining substantial increase in the hourly production.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an iron armature for use with slabs or reinforced articles consists of making an agglomerate of siliceous sand, marble, granite or, in general, stone with cement as a binder, covering an iron armature rod (1) with the agglomerate to obtain a rod covered with a layer of the agglomerate, immersing said covered rod in a vessel (2) containing a resin (3) so that a film of resin on the covered rod is obtained, spreading on the surface thereof granules of siliceous sand or other stone material (4) so that adherence is achieved between the iron rod and the agglomerate, and resistance to oxidation and improvement in aesthetic properties is achieved. According to one embodiment of the invention, the resin may be sprinkled.

Abstract: The rotating head comprises a predetermined number of blades being supported by a blade carrier arm (3), the latter being integral with the shaft (1). The blades are arranged on a vertical axis in suitably inclined positions, a fact which permits to carry out the automatic coating of the surface of the material by means of every type of material based on marble, stone and the like by means of every type of putty.

Abstract: The two components of the putty, one containing the accelerator and the other containing the catalyst, are placed in two separate containers under vacuo. After the preparation is complete the containers are brought first to atmospheric pressure and then to high pressure in order to favor the removal of the two materials from the containers onto the slab to be coated. The two components are then mixed on the slab forming the putty suitable for coating slabs of marble, stone and the like.

Abstract: The process, conducted completely under vacuum, provides that a material of any kind (marble, stone or material of other nature) of variable particle size is introduced, together with a binder (organic or inorganic) into a mixer (2) and then, after having achieved the complete homogeneity of the mixture, is discharged in a convenient manner into a mouldbox (1) which is then transferred to the interior of a press (6) where the beam (8), provided with vibrators (10), subjects it to a combined action of pressure and vibration of the mass which the mixture in volume to result in blocks suitable to be cut into slabs or into blocks of lesser dimensions according to need.

Abstract: A sheath for deadening the sound of at least one circular blade for cutting marble, granite and hard stone consists of at least one structure of "Bakelite" or other sound deadening material, the structure forming at least one cavity of discoidal shape. The cavity provides a housing for at least one rotating cutting blade. The cutting blade may be provided with teeth along its periphery, thereof. The sheath may comprise of two hollow structures of great thickness connected by threaded rods forming between themselves, two cavities of discoidal shape, in which the cutting blades rotate.

Abstract: An interchangeable support disc for diamond-bearing plates used in circular milling cutters for the planing of stones, marbles, granite and the like comprises a plurality of such plates mounted on discs which are in turn connected by screws to a circular support member so that the discs may easily be replaced. The parallelepipedal shape of the diamond bearing plates is particularly advantageous for the polishing of marble, granite, and similar materials because it contributes to the stability of the device. The screws are located out of center of the discs and closer to the center of the circular support member.

Abstract: A pack of blades is held together by means of cross-members (15) and it may be extracted in block from one end (8) of the frame through the opening (9) after having removed the wedges (6) and the inserts (5) for the purpose of substituting blades which have become worn out and permitting the insertion of a new pack of blades suitably pre-arranged so as to reduce to a minimum the period of time during which the machine must remain idle.

Abstract: A method for the formation of resin-bonded grit slabs is described, in which a mixture containing inert minerals, and liquid resin in the minimum quantity necessary to bind the inert materials together, in order to avoid any excess of binder and thus to reduce the coefficient of thermal expansion of the finished product to levels compatible with its use, is subjected to combined pressure and vibration, in an airless environment, to obtain porosity-free slabs. The apparatus comprises a conveyor belt for automatically transferring the material, consisting of grit and resin mix in the quantity provided by a dispenser and held between two continuous sheets of cardboard under a vacuum vibratory press in which a slab is formed, and means for transporting the formed material into a drying oven in which the process is completed, with rapid polymerization of the resins, to produce grey slabs.