A dispensing device for granular or powdered materials, comprising: a main body; a dispensing channel, arranged at least partially in the main body and provided with a longitudinal axis, an inlet opening and an outlet opening; a suction means, provided to retain, upon command, at least a part of granular or powdered material inside the dispensing channel, so as to form an accumulation that obstructs the dispensing channel and prevents the flow of material; at least one suction opening, placed in communication with the dispensing channel and with the suction means; a filter, interposed between the suction opening and the dispensing channel; a ventilation portion, associated with the main body and connected to the inlet opening, which is provided with an outer surface placed in communication with an environment at a determined pressure.

The invention relates to a panel and a method for producing a panel. The panel is in particular a floor, wall or ceiling panel, and comprises at least one core layer, the core layer comprising an upper core surface and a lower core surface and at least one pair of opposite side edges; wherein the core layer comprises magnesium oxide cement; wherein the core has a density which is substantially homogenous over its entire volume, and wherein at least one decorative top layer is attached to an upper core surface of the core layer.

A method for realising ceramic slabs or tiles, comprising the following steps: laying a soft layer (SL) of granular or powder ceramic material on a support plane (P); pressing the soft layer (SL) in order to obtain a compacted layer (CL); firing the compacted layer (CL); prior to the pressing, applying an identification mark (M) onto the soft layer (SL), the identification mark (M) having an optical contrast with respect to the soft layer (SL), so as to enable an optical detection of the mark (M); subsequently to the pressing, acquiring an image of the mark (M); processing the image of the mark (M) detected so as to control one or more operating steps subsequent to the pressing.

Dispensing device for granular or powdered materials, comprising: a dispensing channel (2a), provided with a longitudinal axis (X), an inlet opening (21) and an outlet opening (22); suction means, arranged to retain, on command, at least a portion of granular or powdered material in contact with an inner surface of the dispensing channel (2a), so as to form an accumulation which obstructs the dispensing channel (2a) and prevents the flow of material.

The procedure for tile (1) decoration comprises the following phases: providing a ceramic article (2) in raw material, provided with a flat surface to be decorated (3); depositing thoroughly a decorative powder (4) on the flat surface to be decorated (3); fixing the decorative powder (4) to the flat surface to be decorated (3) by means of radiation-emitting fixing means (5), according to a predefined drawing (6); removing the decorative powder (4) in excess to obtain a decorated ceramic article (7); firing the decorated ceramic article (7) in a kiln to obtain a tile (1).

A cement-based tile formed from a mixture comprising: a cement in the range of about 0.1 to 88% by wet weight percent; a secondary material in the range of about 0.1 to 50% by wet weight percent, the secondary material comprising limestone, sand, silica sand, gypsum, silica fume, fumed silica, Plaster of Paris, calcium carbonate, fly ash, slag, rock, or a combination thereof; a reinforcement fiber in the range of about 0.5 to 20% by wet weight percent, the reinforcement fiber comprising cellulose fiber, glass fiber, plastic fiber, polypropylene fiber, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber, homopolymer acrylic fiber, alkali-resistant fiber, or a combination thereof; a rheology modifying agent in the range of about 0.5 to 10% by wet weight percent; a water in the range of 10 to 60% of a total wet material weight; and wherein the mixture is extruded or molded to form the cement-based tile.

Disclosed herein are tiles, systems, and methods related to manufacturing bullnose or other non-straight edge tiles. In a method of manufacturing a bullnose tile, the method comprises the steps of providing a tile, wherein said tile is a fired ceramic tile comprising a base and a decoration; cutting or milling the tile to form a bullnose edge; transporting the tile to at least a first printing station; printing at least one print layer of print media on the bullnose edge; transporting the tile to a curing station and curing the print media to provide the bullnose tile.

A Digital decorating machine for ceramic products, including a conveyor, suitable to transport the products to be decorated (P) along a feed direction (A), and a plurality of decoration modules, positioned over the conveyor and adjacent to each other along the feed direction (A). The modules include respective printing heads provided with nozzles for ejecting a fluid to be delivered on the surface of the products to be decorated (P); the conveyor includes a movable member for supporting the products to be decorated (P), suitable for translating them along the feed direction (A). The conveyor includes at least a supporting surface, located along a respective flank of the movable member, including in turn a plurality of predetermined positioning zones for the removable engagement of respective coupling portions of the decoration modules.

The appearance of natural rock faces are formed on planar panels or part portions thereof that disposed horizontally by stamping or texturizing a cementitious mixture of veneer material and then selectively applying colorant matter, which may include combinations of stains and mineral.

A method for manufacturing ceramic articles is described comprising a step of feeding, during which at least two different ceramic powders are fed so as to obtain a strip of ceramic powders having at least a first zone and at least a second zone having a given shape; a step of compacting, during which the strip of ceramic powders is compacted so as to obtain a compacted layer of ceramic powders, which is expanded relative to the strip of ceramic powders; a step of determination, during which expansion of the layer of powders is determined; and a step of printing, during which a decoration having a modified shape based on the given expansion is applied on the surface of the compacted layer of ceramic powders.