This document describes systems and processes for forming improved synthetic molded slabs suitable for use in living or working spaces (e.g., along a countertop, table, floor, or the like).

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an artificial stone slab with veins comprises preparing a moldable hardenable fluid mixture of a first material (11); pouring said mixture into a mold (20) an upper face being exposed; engraving the exposed upper face with a predefined precise pattern of grooves (30) coinciding with a pattern of thin veins to be obtained; impregnating at least the inner faces (31) of said grooves (30) with a moldable hardenable fluid mixture of a second material (12), the color of both materials being different; causing the collapse and closure of the grooves, a visible pattern of thin veins of a second material with a natural look being left behind; curing the artificial stone slab by subjecting it to vibration, compression and vacuum until the fluid mixtures of the first material and of the second material are hardened.

Stone slabs, and systems and methods of forming slabs, are described. Some example slabs include a first pattern defined by a first particulate mineral mix and a second pattern defined by a second particulate mineral mix different from the first particulate mineral mix. Locations of the first pattern have a first average thickness perpendicular to the slab width and the slab length, and locations of the second pattern have a second average thickness perpendicular to the slab width and the slab length that is different from the first average thickness.

A machine for dry decoration of ceramic slabs or tiles, comprising: a support element (10), provided with a plurality of cavities (11) with a pre-established shape; a dispensing device (20), configured to deposit a pre-fixed amount of powder material inside one or more pre-established cavities (11); an unloading device (30), configured to move the cavities (11) from a loading position, in which they can receive the powder material from the dispensing device (20), to an unloading position, in which they can unload the powder material.

A process for the production of slabs made of mineral grits bound with resins comprises at least the phases of supplying a basic mixture that includes mineral grits and resins; loading the basic mixture inside at least one forming mold so as to obtain a laying surface facing downwards and an exposed surface facing upwards; compacting the basic mixture inside the forming mold to obtain a compacted slab; and hardening the compacted slab to obtain a slab made of mineral grits, wherein, after the compacting, a decoration phase with ink by digital printing of said exposed surface of said compacted slab is provided.

A process for the production of slabs made of mineral grits bound with resins comprises at least the phases of supplying one basic mixture including mineral grits and resins; dispensing the basic mixture over a molding support so as to obtain a slab to be compacted provided with an exposed surface facing upwards and a laying surface facing downwards; compacting the slab to be compacted to obtain a compacted slab; and hardening the compacted slab to obtain a slab made of mineral grits; at least one decoration with ink by digital printing of at least the basic mixture carried out prior to the compaction, wherein the decoration phase includes at least one phase of pre-decoration by digital printing which is carried out prior to the dispensing and at least one phase of post-decoration by digital printing which is carried out after the dispensing.

A method of manufacturing an artificial stone slab comprising pouring a first layer (10) of a first material; depositing a pattern of veins (30) of a second material on the first layer (10) and/or within a pattern of grooves (40) defined therein; depositing a second layer (20) of a third material covering the first layer (10) and the pattern of veins (30), applying vacuum and vibration to the materials and curing said materials obtaining the artificial stone slab; wherein the third material is less fluid and/or denser than the second material, the vibration producing the raising of the second material through the second layer (20); or the first material is more fluid and/or less dense than the second material, the vibration producing the sinking of the second material through the first layer (10).

This document describes systems and processes for forming improved synthetic molded slabs suitable for use in living or working spaces (e.g., along a countertop, table, floor, or the like).

An apparatus including a first dispensing device configured to supply a first material to a conveyor belt of the main conveyor device in response to control by the computer processor, and a second dispensing device configured to supply a second material on top of the first material, while the first material is on the conveyor belt to form a combination comprised of at least the first and second materials, in response to control by the computer processor. The combination may be compressed by a first compression device in response to control by the computer processor. The compressed combination may be stirred by a first stirring device in response to control by the computer processor to form a first modified combination. The first modified combination may be compressed by a second compression device in response to control by the computer processor to form a compressed first modified combination.

Disclosed therein are an extrusion die for synthetic wood which can provide a natural wood pattern similar with real wood by forming various wood patterns on the surface of synthetic wood manufactured through extrusion molding, manufacturing apparatus and method using the same, and synthetic wood manufactured by the same. The extrusion die includes: a pair of molds respectively having rectangular extrusion holes for allowing extrudates forming an inner layer to pass through the extrusion holes; and surface layer forming parts having flow paths which are oppositely formed on contact faces of the molds in such a way as to keep a predetermined gap and formed in a top and bottom asymmetrical manner for injecting other extrudates supplied, the surface layer forming parts serving to form a surface layer having different wood patterns on the outer circumference of the inner layer. The present invention can realize the natural wood pattern similar with real wood by forming various wood patterns on the surface of the synthetic wood by the extrusion die having an asymmetric flow path therein.