The present invention relates to processes and apparatuses for producing fiber cement sheets as well as fiber cement sheets obtainable therewith. The processes according to the present invention at least comprise the steps of: (a) providing a cementitious slurry comprising fibers, (b) continuously discharging the slurry on an endless water-permeable transport belt, and (c) removing excess of water from the slurry through the water-permeable transport belt to form a fiber cement sheet with a predetermined thickness. By using a water-permeable transport belt for removing the excess of water from the fiber cement sheet, both the thickness and the density of the sheet can be accurately tuned, without resulting in a spring-back of the thickness of the sheet at the end of the production process. The present invention further relates to various uses of the fiber cement sheets obtainable by the processes of the invention in the building industry.

Continuous method including: mixing water and cementitous powder to form slurry; mixing the slurry and reinforcement fibers in a single pass horizontal continuous mixer to form fiber-slurry mixture, the mixer including an elongated mixing chamber having a reinforcement fiber inlet port, and upstream of the fiber inlet port is an inlet port to introduce water and cementitous powder together as one stream or at least two inlet ports to introduce water and dry cementitous powder separately as separate streams into the chamber, a rotating horizontal shaft/s within the chamber, part of the chamber for mixing the fibers and slurry and moving the fiber-slurry mixture to a mixture outlet; discharging the fiber-slurry mixture from the mixer outlet; forming and setting the fiber-slurry mixture on a moving surface; cutting the set mixture into fiber reinforced concrete panels and removing the panels from the moving surface.

The invention relates to a conveyor line for the continuous production of drywall boards as well as a slurry distributing device which is used in this conveyor line. The distributing device is used for the uniform and low-speed flow distribution of slurries.

An apparatus for production of a gypsum product is provided which comprises a conveyer comprising a conveyer belt and means for rotating the conveyer belt; means for forming a gypsum product; and at least one laser scanner positioned over the conveyer belt at the location where the scanner scans at least one edge of the gypsum product which is at least partially set; and the laser scanner is in communication with a processor. Methods for forming a gypsum product with the apparatus are provided as well.

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.

An apparatus for production of a gypsum product is provided which comprises a conveyer comprising a conveyer belt and means for rotating the conveyer belt; means for forming a gypsum product; and at least one laser scanner positioned over the conveyer belt at the location where the scanner scans at least one edge of the gypsum product which is at least partially set; and the laser scanner is in communication with a processor. Methods for forming a gypsum product with the apparatus are provided as well.

System for manufacturing ceramic articles, in particular ceramic slabs or tiles, comprising: a compaction device; a conveyor assembly to transport powder material along a given path from an input station to an output station; a digital feeding assembly to feed powder material to the conveyor assembly at the input station so as to generate a layer of powder material, with feeding devices each comprising a plurality of distribution elements along its transverse output mouth, as well as corresponding actuators; a detection unit to detect the height or thickness of the powder material; and a height correction unit, located upstream of the detection unit and of the compaction device, operable to modify the height or thickness of the layer of powder material crosswise to said moving direction, depending on the data detected by said detection unit, so as to make it more uniform.

A smoother includes a conveying device for a molded body; a pair of arms that are respectively disposed to face both widthwise ends of the conveying device, and in which longitudinal ends of the arms are swingable in upward and downward directions with respect to a conveying surface of the conveying device; a smoother plate fixed to a pair of facing ends of the longitudinal ends of the pair of arms; weights that are respectively attached to the pair of arms and are movable along a longitudinal direction of the arms; a weight position changing device configured to change positions of the weights on the arms; and a first control device configured to control the positions of the weights on the arms via the weight position changing device.

A plant for manufacturing ceramic articles comprising two feeding devices, each of which is configured to contain a powder material of a respective type and feed this powder material to a conveyor assembly. The plant further comprises an operating device, which is configured to allow the powder material to exit selectively from zones of the feeding devices arranged in succession crosswise to the movement direction, moving vertically and independently from one another a plurality of transfer moving parts, each provided with a transit channel through which the powder material moves to reach the conveyor assembly.

An apparatus for continuously casting a solid member is disclosed. The apparatus may include a mould forming support configured to form an open channel, a flexible conveyor having a feed end and a peel off end extending across the mould forming support along its length. The conveyor conforms to the configuration of the mould forming support along its length to form an open channel mould which receives a settable material that is displaced along the conveyor belt and forms a solid member. A method of continuously casting a solid member is also disclosed.