Plant (2) for the production of slabs made of composite stone material from a mix (M) containing granules of stone or ceramic or glass material and a binder, comprising at least one temporary support or mould (S), a distributor for the mix (M) designed to distribute a layer of mix (M) on the temporary support or mould (S), a station (4) for performing compaction by means of vacuum vibro-compression of the mix (M) arranged on the temporary support or mould (S) and a station for hardening the mix (M) so as to form the finished slabs. The plant (2) comprises a device (1) positioned downstream of the distributor and upstream of the compaction station (4) and comprising means (16) which act on the top surface of the mix (M) for pre-compaction and levelling of the mix (M) arranged on the temporary support or mould (S). The invention also relates to a method for the production of slabs of composite stone material from a mix (M).

A device (100) for compacting a layer (MT) of powder material; the device (100) comprises a movable surface (12), which is designed to convey the layer (MT) of powder material in a predefined feeding direction (F); a compacting belt (22) positioned over the transport surface (12); a pressing station (40, 45, 50, 55), which is designed to press the compacting belt (22) towards the transport surface (12), so as to press the layer (MT) of powder material; and an expansion countering station (80), which is designed to counter the expansion of the layer (MT) of powder material downstream of the pressing station (40, 45, 50, 55) and comprises a pusher delivering a gas under pressure to create a pushing gas cushion (STR; STR*) on the compacting belt (22).

A plant for manufacturing ceramic articles comprising two feeding devices, each of which is designed to contain a powder material of a respective type and to feed said powder material to a conveyor assembly; the plant further comprises an operating device which is designed to enable the output of the powder material selectively in the area of the feeding devices arranged successively and transversely to the feeding direction, and a control unit which controls the operating device depending on a desired reference distribution and how far the conveyor assembly feeds the powder material.

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.

A material distribution apparatus and preparing an artificial stone plate using the material distribution apparatus includes a belt material distribution device including a material distribution hopper and a conveying belt. The conveying belt is located at a lower portion of the material distribution hopper. An upper surface of the conveying belt is inclined. The material distribution hopper has a first wall and a second wall. The first wall is an inclined wall with an upper end away from the second wall. A discharge outlet is provided below the second wall. An upper portion of the second wall is vertically mounted, and a lower portion of the second wall has a circular arc portion and a discharge portion which forms the discharge outlet with a surface of the conveying belt therebetween.

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.

A method for compacting ceramic powder; a layer of uncompacted ceramic powder is conveyed to a pressure device, which has a structured contact surface and comes into contact with the powder material so as to obtain a layer of compacted powder material having a structured surface; the pressure device comprises a first layer and a superficial layer arranged on the first layer; at least part of the superficial layer wears so as to uncover at least part of the first layer and obtain at least areas of the first outwardly exposed layer the areas of the first outwardly exposed layer are hardened by means of irradiation with UV radiations.

Machine and method for compacting ceramic powder; a layer of non-compacted ceramic powder is conveyed in a feed direction through a compacting device; downstream of the compacting device there is positioned a detection device which detects the density of the layer of compacted ceramic powder; the quantity of ceramic powder fed to the compacting device is varied in time as a function of what is detected by the detection device to thus regulate the density of the layer of compacted ceramic powder.

The invention relates to a method for the mass decoration of ceramic products, comprising the following steps: spreading, superposed on one another, a layer (L) of granular or powder material and a decorative layer (3) on a support surface (2); transferring the layer (L) from the support surface (2) to an accumulation belt (T1), contiguous and aligned to the support surface (2), which is located at a lower height than the support surface (2), wherein the accumulation belt (T1) is mobile in advancement at a speed that is different from the advancement speed of the support surface (2), so that a variation in the thickness and longitudinal extension of the layer (L) is produced; pressing the layer (L) and the decorative layer (3).

A pressing method for pressing ceramic slabs, comprising the following steps: spreading a layer (1) of granular or powdered material onto a pressing plane (2), wherein the layer (1) comprises at least a first zone (11), with a prefixed area and border, made of a granular or powdered primary material, and at least a second zone (12), with a prefixed area and border, made of a granular or powdered secondary material different from the primary material; pressing the layer (1) using a press (P); separating at least a main portion (10) of the first zone (11) from the second zone (12).