ES2832811T3 - Device for trimming tile edges - Google Patents

Abstract

Motorized trimming device for trimming the edges of covering tiles, comprising a hand support frame, on which is mounted a motor assembly (2) that drives a shaft (2a) carrying an abrasive disc (3), comprising said frame a support plate (1) with a lower flat side and an upper side on which are provided retaining means (13) of said motor assembly (2), also comprising a drive shaft (2a) that is rotatably mounted according to an axis of rotation XX and perpendicularly crosses said support plate (1), the lower end of said shaft (2a) projecting from the lower side of said support plate (1) with a coupling head for a abrasive disc (3), characterized in that it comprises a rectilinear guide bar (4), provided with a stop edge on which said tile edge (M ') to be cut is intended to slide, said bar being mounted, about her bottom of said support plate (1), adjustable in position with respect to said axis of rotation XX, said bar (4) presenting a constant section except in a recessed central area (4c) with a flared shape obtained in a near part of said axis of rotation XX, resulting in a lowered thickness (4c) of the bar (4) in the flared area that defines a desired spacing between a working surface of said grinding wheel (3) and a noble surface of a tile on which the plate (1) is suitable to be moved.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Device for trimming tile edges

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a motorized device for beveling the edges of covering tiles, in particular ceramic tiles.

Previous technique

It is well known that, in the art of coating construction surfaces, there is extensive use of coating tiles, typically tiles with a ceramic surface. In laying these tiles, particularly along the connecting edges, there is the problem of trimming, or rather beveling, the edges of the tiles to give continuity to the outer surface despite the non-negligible thickness of the tiles.

Typically, such a chamfering task allows creating an inclined chamfer, typically at 45 °, along the two opposite edges of two adjoining tiles. This bezel is also called a "jolly" cut in the jargon. The bevel is made in the lower part of the tile, that is, reducing the thickness of the base (typically ceramic or stoneware) and leaving the surface finish layer unaltered, defining the typical wedge-shaped section along the edge. of the tile.

The chamfering operation is not only carried out with a flat sloping surface, such as the classic "jolly" cut to make two tiles abut each other at a 90 ° angle, but can also be used to give the edge a profile. semicircular section or a quarter circle or other desirable profile. In general, however, there are specific aspects related to tile covering, in which a noble side (that is, the one that is exposed to view) whose integrity it should maintain and a bonding side (that is, the made to adhere to the slab, or wall), disposable during machining.

Devices are known that allow this trimming operation to be carried out. Such devices generally include a small hand-held frame, on which a spindle drive motor is mounted, and a disc is attached thereto to cut and shape materials appropriately. Typically, the small frame is designed to directly mount a typical commercially available angle grinder, which represents the universal tool for operators in this industry.

The small frame is configured in such a way that the disk will be positioned obliquely with respect to the plane of the tile, according to a desired inclination, which can be exactly 45 ° in the case of the aforementioned "jolly" cut.

When a simple 45 ° bevel is to be made, it is sufficient to use a flat disk, the surface of which is progressively obliquely arranged at 45 °. On the other hand, when cutting with a more elaborate profile must be carried out, it is necessary to position the drive spindle of the abrasive disc vertically and take advantage of the action of the surface of the edge of the abrasive disc or of a grinding wheel, shaped suitably to obtain the desired profile of the tile, which has a matching shape.

Such a system is arranged to be placed on the tile surface, and then to be guided by hand to move along the edge of the tile, while the abrasive disc, which is located between the small frame and the tile, It rotates quickly against the edge of the tiles, removing the desired part of it. This involves machining the tile turned upside down, that is, with its fine finish surface facing down, so that the abrasive disc acts on the hidden, disposable side of the tile.

However, these types of known configurations are not entirely desirable, especially since it is difficult to determine the correct setting of the distance between the abrasive disc and the tile, at the risk of excessively damaging or weakening the outer surface of the tile, in particular in the case of an enameled or polished surface. In addition, since the support frame acts in contact with the hidden surface of the tile, which is the one that is provided with reliefs and shapes to facilitate the grip of the tile adhesive, the sliding of the tool is discontinuous and irregular, with consequences in terms of machining precision.

Similar abrasion devices exist in multiple sectors, as for example in documents US2984270 and US6138726.

Document US2006 / 0217044, on which the preamble of claim 1 is based, illustrates a frame for a polishing machine; in this case, the frame can also slide on the upper surface of the tile because the polishing tool cannot damage its integrity.

Summary of the invention

Therefore, the problem underlying the invention is to provide a motorized device for cutting tiles that overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks, by means of a simpler and lighter structure, as well as more economical, and that allows to obtain an improved machining in terms of printing. aesthetics and precision.

These objectives are achieved by the features mentioned in claim 1. The dependent claims describe preferred features of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

In any case, other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, which is provided by way of non-limiting example and is illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top perspective view of the trimming device according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view from below of the device machining a tile.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the device of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a perspective view from below of the device of the invention, and

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a part of the device of the invention in which an abrasive disc is mounted.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

As shown in the drawings, and in particular in Figures 1 and 3, the device for cutting tiles according to the invention is constituted by a structure comprising a support and guide plate 1 and a control group for an abrasive disc.

The latter comprises a drive shaft 2a which is mounted on the plate 1 by means of a bearing (not shown) and which protrudes with an upper end, to which a particular motor 2 can be coupled, and a lower end, to the that an abrasive disc 3 is rotatably attached.

Preferably, the motor 2 is a standard commercial appliance, such as an angle grinder (as clearly shown in figure 3), which is attached to the drive shaft 2a and is held in position by a bracket or clamp 13 with a suitable form.

The drive shaft 2a is mounted freely in rotation, integral with the plate 1 and with the axis X-X perpendicular to it.

Preferably, for better operating ergonomics, the plate 1 is generally in the shape of an isosceles triangle, with the drive shaft 2a arranged near the vertex.

Gripping elements are also attached to the plate 1 in order to operate the device manually. Said elements have, for example, the form of a pair of maneuvering handles 5, 6, attached to the upper part of the plate 1, that is, the one on which the motor 2 is also arranged, by means of pins (which do not shown) that fit into threaded holes 11 and 12 in plate 1.

Preferably, the motor assembly 2 is fixed with the support 13 so that the center of gravity falls as far as possible between the two handles 5 and 6, in order to achieve an advantageous balance of the device. Finally, the plate 1 can also be associated with a transport conduit 14, forming a clamping device for the flexible tube of a vacuum cleaner for processing debris (not shown).

According to an essential characteristic of the invention, a guide bar 4 is mounted in the lower part of the plate 1, the distance of said bar being adjustable with respect to the axis of rotation XX of the drive shaft 2a. In particular, preferably, the guide bar 4 is constrained at one end by a vertical bolt 4a inserted in a respective seat 7 (see figure 3), which allows its rotation along an axis perpendicular to the plate 1; At its opposite end, the bar 4 has a threaded hole 4b, in which a threaded bolt 8 is fitted, which is long enough to pass through an elongated opening 10 made in the plate 1, coupling at its free end a knob or handwheel 9, by means of which the determines the locking of said threaded bolt 8 in the desired position.

As a consequence of said configuration, the position of the bar 4 can be adjusted by means of the rotation around the bolt 4a, preferably according to a maximum arc delimited by two support lines 1a and 1b provided on the lower side of the plate 1.

Once the desired position of the bar 4 has been defined, for the purpose better described below, this position is locked by tightening the knob 9.

Furthermore, according to an essential characteristic of the invention, the bar 4 has, for most of its length, a structure of continuous section, for example, a quadrilateral section, but with a central zone 4c lowered according to a large flared. As can be seen in the bottom view of Figure 4, but also in the sectional view of Figure 5, said recessed area 4c is defined in correspondence with the rotation area of the abrasive disc, because it is intended to leave space for a peripheral part of the abrasive disc 3. In this way, at least one peripheral area of the disc 3 can be moved to come into contact with the edge M 'of a tile intended to abut against the bar 4.

It should be noted that such a configuration is particularly advantageous for the abrasive disc 3 to be able to work "from below", that is, under the tile against which the plate 1 rests. Therefore, the abrasive disc is configured and mounted on the shaft. drive 2a to remove material between the disc itself and the motor 2.

The abrasive disc is not comparable to a classic fine cutting disc, which should be operated in a significantly different way, but is shaped like a grinding wheel of a certain thickness, so its peripheral edge is appropriately shaped to work on the edge of the tile. A suitable abrasive grinding disc is, for example, a cutting disc of the type available from the applicant under the trade name Mondrillo ™.

The abrasive disc or grinding wheel 3 is arranged on a plane parallel to that of the tile and works with its circumferential part beveled (for example, at 45 ° to carry out a "jolly" type cut).

Apart from a slight play that the grinding wheel 3 must have with respect to the lower surface of the plate 1, the bar 4 also has the function of a spacer to determine the height of the tile that is not affected by the action of wear of the grinding wheel 3. In fact, the bar 4, properly adjusted, defines a stop line of the tile that prevents a mutual approach of the grinding wheel to the edge of the tile in a certain extension and, in addition, the minimum tile thickness, which is not affected by grinding wheel wear, as clearly shown in figure 5. To do this, the recessed thickness 4c of the bar 4 in the flared area defines the desired spacing between the working surface of the grinding wheel 3 and the noble surface of the tile on which the plate 1 moves.

The operation of the device according to the invention involves, first of all, the setting of the correct distance between the bar 4 and the axis of rotation XX of the abrasive disc, so as to define the desired chamfering depth to be carried out on the edge of the tile. Next, the operator grasps the handles 5 and 6 of the device with his hands, as shown in figure 1, and places it with plate 1 on the noble upper surface of a tile M, with the corresponding bar 4 near the edge M 'of the same tile.

In these conditions, the operator, always keeping the support plate 1 with pressure on the surface of the tile M, in the direction from top to bottom, starts the rotation of the abrasive disc and moves the disc towards the tile M, provided that the bar 4 is not butt against edge M '. At this point, the bevel can be completed by sliding the device along the edge M 'of the tile, with the bar 4 always in support. In this way, the disc 3 can trim this edge to give it the desired shape.

Figures 2 and 5 show an abrasive disc 3, the periphery of which presents an abrasive edge 3a that is beveled at 45 ° with respect to the vertical axis X-X of the rotary motor shaft. This profile of the edge 3a of the disk is intended to bevel the edge of the tiles for a "jolly" type cut, as mentioned in the introductory part.

Finally, since each cutting operation with an abrasive disc produces a significant amount of dust, it is preferable that the operator, before starting the motor assembly, installs the hose of a vacuum cleaner in the connection piece 14. In this way , the dust generated by the abrasive disc is sucked in and does not pollute the environment.

As will be understood, the trimming device according to the present invention perfectly achieves the purpose of allowing, with an extremely simple and light structure, easy to handle manually, as well as cost-effective, trimming on the underside of the tile edge , without working on the tile inside out. This condition improves machining precision and prevents damage to the exterior noble surface of the tile.

However, it is understood that the invention should not be considered limited by the particular arrangement illustrated above, which represents only an exemplary implementation thereof, but that different variants are possible, all within the scope of a skilled person. in the art, included within the scope of the invention itself, as defined in the following claims.

Claims (7)

1. Motorized trimming device for trimming the edges of covering tiles, comprising a hand support frame, on which is mounted a motor assembly (2) that drives a shaft (2a) carrying an abrasive disc (3) , said frame comprising a support plate (1) with a lower flat side and an upper side on which retention means (13) of said motor assembly (2) are provided, also comprising a drive shaft (2a) which is rotatably mounted according to an axis of rotation XX and perpendicularly crosses said support plate (1), the lower end of said shaft (2a) projecting from the lower side of said support plate (1) with a coupling head for an abrasive disc (3), characterized in that it comprises a rectilinear guide bar (4), provided with a stop edge on which said tile edge (M ') to be trimmed is intended to slide, said bar being mounted, on the lower side of said support plate (1), adjustable in position with respect to said axis of rotation XX, said bar (4) presenting a constant section except in a recessed central area (4c) with a flared shape obtained in a near part of said axis of rotation XX, resulting in a lowered thickness (4c) of the bar (4) in the flared area that defines a desired spacing between a working surface of said grinding wheel (3) and a noble surface of a tile on which the plate (1) is suitable to be moved. A trimming device according to claim 1, wherein said bar (4) is pivotally mounted about an axis perpendicular to the lower flat side of said support plate (1). Trimming device according to claim 2, in which said bar (4) is constrained in the lower part of the plate (1) with a fixed bolt (4a), associated with one end thereof, and with a bolt threaded (8) protruding from the opposite end (4b) and slidable in an elongated opening (10) in the plate (1). Trimming device according to claim 3, in which said threaded bolt (8) is provided, in the upper part of the plate (1), with a manually operated clamping knob (9). Cutting device according to any of the preceding claims, in which a pair of operating handles (5, 6) projecting perpendicularly from the upper side of said plate (1) are provided. Cutting device according to any of the preceding claims, in which said support plate (1) has a generally isosceles triangle shape, in which said X-X axis of rotation is arranged in proximity to the vertex angle thereof. Cutting device according to any of the preceding claims, in which said retention means (13) are in the form of a seat for housing a standard motor assembly (2), in the form of an angle grinder, arranged in a that its center of gravity is close to the center of gravity of said plate (1).