Abstract: A closing arrangement includes a neck having an end closed by a wall and an associated cap. The end of the neck is provided with a weakening line that surrounds the neck. The cap is provided with an opening promoting device arranged for engaging with a further opening promoting device of the wall to separate at least a part of the wall of the neck along the weakening line.

Abstract: A mold for making ceramic products (1) comprises at least two parts (2, 3) which can be coupled to each other to form, in a closed configuration, a cavity (4) for casting the ceramic product (1) by filling a liquid mixture (5) into it under pressure; internal constraining means (6) are positioned and operative between at least two inside surfaces (2a, 3a) of the mold (S) parts (2, 3), which form portions of the walls of the cavity (4) in order to keep the two parts (2, 3) securely in place after being positioned face to face relative to each other in the closed configuration; the internal constraining means (6) are made directly on the respective inside surfaces (2a, 3a) of the mold (S) parts (2, 3); the means (6) are designed to be interconnected, that is, to interpenetrate in such a way as to create a stable relative position between the mold (S) parts (2, 3).

Abstract: The invention relates to a high pressure casting method for producing articles of sanitaryware and to a machine implementing the method. The method of type “A” comprises the steps of forming the thickness of the sanitaryware article, emptying the excess slip out of the mould and consolidating the article, all these steps being performed at a constant pressure equal in value to the maximum pressure of the step in which the thickness of the article is formed. In the method of type “B”, the steps of emptying out the excess slip and consolidating the sanitaryware article (14) are performed at a pressure equal to 75% of the maximum pressure of thickness formation. The casting machine comprises a discharge device for draining out the excess slip through a calibrated valve that enables the slip to be discharged without decreasing the pressure in the mould.

Abstract: A cap comprises an opening indicating element provided with a flap arrangement suitable for interacting with an abutment arrangement associated with a neck of a container, said flap arrangement comprising at least one first portion and at least one second portion arranged alongside one another along a peripheral edge of said opening indicating element, a dimension of said at least one second portion measured transversely in relation to said peripheral edge being greater than a corresponding dimension of said at least one first portion measured transversely in relation to said peripheral edge; a container comprises a neck from which an abutment arrangement projects and a cap provided with a flap arrangement suitable for interacting with said abutment arrangement, said abutment arrangement comprising a plurality of distinct abutment elements and said flap arrangement comprising at least one portion suitable for being received in a gap defined between two abutment elements of said plurality of abutment elements.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a forming arrangement closable in a direction to form an object, said forming arrangement comprising at least two reciprocal movable elements along respective arched trajectories to disengage from said object, said arched trajectories having respective components parallel to said direction.

Abstract: A process for the functional regeneration of the porosity of the materials used to make molds (2) for molding ceramic objects, when the pores have been damaged by use of the mold (2), comprises the sequential execution of at least two successive steps of an ordered sequence which includes the steps of: eliminating contamination caused by organic substances from the mold (2); eliminating contamination of biological origin from the mold (2); attacking inorganic encrustations and eliminating inorganic substances which have infiltrated the pores of the mold (2), the initial step of the process being preset according to the nature of a predetermined contaminating agent.

Abstract: An apparatus for orienting objects in a preset direction, in particular objects that have a cavity having an opening at one of the ends of the objects, comprises a conveying device for the objects comprising a conveying surface tilted by an angle with respect to a horizontal plane, on the conveying surface there are arranged hooking elements that are suitable for interacting with the cavities, the conveying surface being movable in an advancing direction oriented from a lower end of the conveying device to an upper end of the conveying device.

Abstract: Method of glazing ceramic articles, consisting of preparing a glaze compound in liquid suspension, preferably aqueous; feeding the glaze compound in liquid suspension, preferably aqueous, into the forming cavity of a porous mould, for the time required to create a glaze film of desired thickness on the surface of the cavity by absorption of the liquid phase; feeding the slip into the same cavity for the time required to create the wall of the article by absorption of the liquid phase.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a moulding unit having a punch and a mould cavity movable along a path between an open position in which said punch and said mould cavity are distanced apart from each other to receive a dose of plastics therebetween, and a closed position in which said punch and said mould cavity interact to form an item by pressing said dose, said punch being kept not above said cavity along said path.

Abstract: A method comprises forming a preform of plastic material, expanding said preform to obtain a container, said forming comprising compression-forming said preform in that mould arrangement wherein said expanding occurs; a method comprises expanding a preform in a mould arrangement to obtain a container, before said expanding it being provided to form a dose of plastic material in a paste state in said mould arrangement to obtain said preform; an apparatus comprises a forming mould arrangement, a punch device for expanding a preform in said mould arrangement, an abutting device cooperating with said punch device, said punch device and said abutting device identifying a configuration in which said punch device and said abutting device cooperate to define a forming unit for compression-forming a semifinished product of plastic material to obtain said preform and a further configuration in which said punch device and said abutting device cooperate to define an expansion unit of said preform to obtain a container.

Abstract: A demolding method for extracting a ceramic product (1) from a half-part (2) of a mold comprises at least the following steps: positioning an extractor element (3), which has a contact surface (3s), at a visible surface (1a) of the product (1) partially housed in the mold half-part (2); extracting the product (1) and placing it in abutment against the contact surface (3s); dividing the contact surface (3s) into two separate, matching portions (3a, 3b) by moving a first portion of it (3a), which supports the product (1), away from its other portion (3b); releasing the product (1) onto a work and/or supporting element or table (4) matchingly shaped to be coupled to the first portion (3a) of the extractor element (3); moving the first portion (3a) and the supporting element or work table (4) away from each other. The invention also relates to an apparatus that implements this method.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a moulding unit having a punch and a mould cavity movable along a path between an open position in which said punch and said mould cavity are distanced apart from each other to receive a dose of plastics therebetween, and a closed position in which said punch and said mould cavity interact to form an item by pressing said dose, said punch being kept not above said cavity along said path.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a conveying element arranged for conveying objects, an advancing promoting arrangement for promoting a movement of the objects along the conveying element, the advancing promoting arrangement comprising a bristle arrangement arranged along the conveying element and suitable for interacting with the objects; an apparatus for conveying objects comprises a conveying plane element arranged for supporting the objects and a blowing arrangement arranged for advancing the objects in an advance direction, the conveying plane element being selected from a group comprising a rolling arrangement, a fluid cushion arrangement.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a device for regulating the flow of a liquid used for the manufacture of ceramic products and which may be used in plants (2) with at least one elastically deformable pipe (3), for supplying/draining the liquid to/from a mould for the manufacture of the products; the device (1) comprises: an actuator (5), placed in contact with an outer surface (3a) of the pipe (3), to generate a controlled pressure (P5) on the outer surface (3a) of the portion of the pipe (3) with which it is in contact; fixed contrast elements (6) fitted to and acting on at least the outer surface (3b) of the pipe (3) opposite to the surface (3a) in contact with the actuator (5) and for a length (L6) comparable with the length (L5) in contact with the actuator (5), to enable the portion of the pipe (3), when the actuator (5) is activated, to be deformed in a controlled and uniform manner.

Abstract: A preform for obtaining a container comprises a hollow body having a side wall extending around a longitudinal axis and an end wall arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis, a point of the end wall having a value of specific residual melting enthalpy; there is at least one point of the side wall having a further value of specific residual melting enthalpy that is greater than the value. A container comprises a containing body having a first end zone closed by a base wall and a second end zone suitable for engaging a closing element; there is at least one point of the base wall having a value of specific residual melting enthalpy that is significantly less than the specific residual melting enthalpy of the points of the containing body distinct from the second end zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an object from a dose of plastics comprises a die arrangement provided with a cavity for receiving said dose and with at least two parts that are reciprocally movable for shaping an undercut portion of said object, at least one fluid for applying a clamping force so as to keep said at least two parts in contact; said at least one fluid is such as to increase discontinuously said clamping force from an initial force that is applicable when said dose is substantially contained in said cavity to a final force applicable when said at least two parts shape said undercut portion.

Abstract: A device for mounting a mould in a machine (1) that comprises: a mould (2) composed of two half-moulds (2a, 2b), each of which comprises an active filtering portion (2ar, 2br) made of porous resin and a passive rigid structural portion (5, 6), shaped like a plate and integral with the active portion (2ar, 2br), and which can be joined to each other to form an internal cavity where the article of sanitaryware is formed; a mounting unit or platen (3, 4) for each half-mould (2a, 2b), placed opposite each other and movable towards and away from each other along a clamping line (S); the service plate (5) at least of the first half-mould (2a) is rigidly connected, in use, between the active portion (2ar) and the respective platen (3); the device at least comprises reference and quick connect means (7, 8) located in a region above the center of gravity of the first half-mould (2a), and acting at least between the platen (3) and the service plate (5) in order to fasten the first half-mould (2a) in a predetermined, ha

Abstract: The unit comprises a moulding machine having a plurality of press moulds (N) for moulding the article, which operate in sequence and are driven along a fixed operative path (P), and a feeder means (20) located in a fixed position to the side of said operative path (P) to feed to each mould (N) at least one component part (8) of the article. According to the invention, a plurality of loading means (30) are provided, each rigidly associated with a respective mould (N) and movable with the mould along said operative path (P), said loading means (30) moving relative to the respective mould (N) to transfer one component part (8) at a time from the feeder means (20) to the mould (N).