Method and apparatus for preventing bleeding, stretching or smearing in the manufacturing of quartz slabs

{
  "publication_number": "US9671274B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Method and apparatus for preventing bleeding, stretching or smearing in the manufacturing of quartz slabs",
  "abstract": "An apparatus including a computer processor, a robotic device, and a weight scale device, having a plurality of independent weight scales. The computer processor may be programmed to control the robotic device to cause a material located on the weight scale device to be evenly distributed over the plurality of independent weight scales so that each of the plurality of independent weight scales indicates the same weight within a tolerance. The robotic device may include a rake appendage having a plurality of tines, which may be controlled by the computer processor to move the material to cause the material to be evenly distributed over the plurality of independent weight scales. The robotic device may include a roller device having a roller which may be controlled by the computer processor to run over the material located on the weight scale device to thereby compress the material.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An apparatus comprising a computer processor; a robotic device; and a weight scale device having a plurality of independent weight scales; and wherein the computer processor is programmed to control the robotic device to manipulate a material located on the weight scale device, while the material is on the weight scale device, from a first state in which the material is not distributed evenly over the plurality of independent weight scales within a tolerance to a second state in which the material is evenly distributed over the plurality of independent weight scales within a tolerance.",
    "2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the robotic device includes a roller device having a roller which is configured with respect to the weight scale device so that the roller is adapted to be used in response to control by the computer processor to run over the material located on the weight scale device to thereby compress the material.",
    "3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the computer processor is programmed to control the robotic device to manipulate the material located on the weight scale device, while the material is on the weight scale device, from the first state in which the material is not distributed evenly over the plurality of independent weight scales within a tolerance to the second state in which the material is evenly distributed over the plurality of independent weight scales within a tolerance, by moving at least part of the material from a first location on the weight scale device to second location on the weight scale device, different from the first location, while the at least part of the material is on the weight scale device.",
    "4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the robotic device includes a rake appendage having a plurality of tines and the rake appendage is controlled by the computer processor to move the at least part of the material from the first location on the weight scale device to the second location on the weight scale device, by causing the plurality of tines to engage and move the at least part of the material, while the at least part of the material is on the weight scale device.",
    "5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a mold frame defining an inner region; wherein the computer processor is programmed to control the robotic device to manipulate the material located on the weight scale device, while the material is on the weight scale device, from the first state in which the material is not distributed evenly over the plurality of independent weight scales within a tolerance to the second state in which the material is evenly distributed over the plurality of independent weight scales within a tolerance, by causing the material to be distributed over the entire inner region of the mold frame.",
    "6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the mold frame has one or more inner edges, the plurality of independent weight scales include a plurality of outermost scales each of which has an edge which is coincident with one of the one or more inner edges of the mold frame.",
    "7. A method comprising programming a computer processor to control a robotic device to cause a material located on a weight scale device to be evenly distributed over a plurality of independent weight scales so that each of the plurality of independent weight scales indicates the same weight within a tolerance; wherein the computer processor is programmed to control the robotic device to manipulate the material located on the weight scale device, while the material is on the weight scale device, from a first state in which the material is not distributed evenly over the plurality of independent weight scales within a tolerance to a second state in which the material is evenly distributed over the plurality of independent weight scales within a tolerance.",
    "8. The method of claim 7 wherein the robotic device includes a roller device having a roller; and further comprising using the computer processor to cause the roller device to cause the roller to run over the material located on the weight scale device to thereby compress the material.",
    "9. The method of claim 7 wherein the computer processor is programmed to control the robotic device to manipulate the material located on the weight scale device, while the material is on the weight scale device, from the first state in which the material is not distributed evenly over the plurality of independent weight scales within a tolerance to the second state in which the material is evenly distributed over the plurality of independent weight scales within a tolerance, by moving at least part of the material from a first location on the weight scale device to a second location on the weight scale device, which is different from the first location, while the at least part of the material is on the weight scale device.",
    "10. The method of claim 9 wherein the robotic device includes a rake appendage having a plurality of tines and the rake appendage is controlled by the computer processor to move the at least part of the material from the first location on the weight scale device to the second location on the weight scale device, by causing the plurality of tines to engage and move the at least part of the material, while the at least part of the material is on the weight scale device.",
    "11. The method of claim 7 wherein the computer processor is programmed to control the robotic device to manipulate the material located on the weight scale device, while the material is on the weight scale device, from the first state in which the material is not distributed evenly over the plurality of independent weight scales within a tolerance to the second state in which the material is evenly distributed over the plurality of independent weight scales within a tolerance, by causing the material to be distributed over an entire inner region of a mold frame.",
    "12. The method of claim 11 wherein the mold frame has one or more inner edges, the plurality of independent weight scales include a plurality of outermost scales each of which has an edge which is coincident with one of the one or more inner edges of the mold frame.",
    "13. An apparatus comprising: a computer processor; a robotic device; and a weight scale device having a plurality of independent weight scales; and wherein the computer processor is programmed to control the robotic device to cause a material located on the weight scale device to be evenly distributed over the plurality of independent weight scales so that each of the plurality of independent weight scales indicates the same weight within a tolerance; a hydraulic device; and wherein the hydraulic device is configured to raise and lower a frame in response to control by the computer processor; and wherein the frame surrounds the plurality of independent weight scales so that the material lies on the plurality of independent weight scales and within a region defined by the frame.",
    "14. The apparatus of claim 13 and wherein the hydraulic device is comprised of four members located at four corners of the frame, wherein the four members raise and lower the frame in response to control by the computer processor.",
    "15. A method comprising the steps of: programming a computer processor to control a robotic device to cause a material located on a weight scale device to be evenly distributed over a plurality of independent weight scales so that each of the plurality of independent weight scales indicates the same weight within a tolerance; using the computer processor to control a hydraulic device to raise and lower a frame; wherein the frame surrounds the plurality of independent weight scales so that the material lies on the plurality of independent weight scales and within a region defined by the frame.",
    "16. The method of claim 15 wherein the hydraulic device is comprised of four members located at four corners of the frame, wherein the four members raise and lower the frame in response to control by the computer processor.",
    "17. An apparatus comprising: a computer processor; a robotic device; and a weight scale device having a plurality of independent weight scales; and wherein the computer processor is programmed to control the robotic device to cause a material located on the weight scale device to be evenly distributed over the plurality of independent weight scales so that each of the plurality of independent weight scales indicates the same weight within a tolerance; wherein the robotic device includes a rake appendage having a plurality of tines; wherein the plurality of tines of the rake appendage are configured with respect to the weight scale device, so that the plurality of tines are adapted to be used in response to control by the computer processor to move the material to cause the material to be evenly distributed over the plurality of independent weight scales; and wherein the robotic device includes a roller device having a roller which is configured with respect to the weight scale device so that the roller is adapted to be used in response to control by the computer processor to run over the material located on the weight scale device to thereby compress the material.",
    "18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a conveyor device; and wherein the conveyor device is configured to receive material from the weight scale device.",
    "19. A method comprising the steps of: programming a computer processor to control a robotic device to cause a material located on a weight scale device to be evenly distributed over a plurality of independent weight scales so that each of the plurality of independent weight scales indicates the same weight within a tolerance wherein the robotic device includes a rake appendage having a plurality of tines; and further comprising programming the computer processor to cause the rake appendage and the plurality of tines to move the material to cause the material to be evenly distributed over the plurality of independent weight scales; wherein the robotic device includes a roller device having a roller; and further comprising programming the computer processor to cause the roller device to cause the roller to run over the material located on the weight scale device to thereby compress the material.",
    "20. The method of claim 19 further comprising receiving the material at a conveyor device from the weight scale device."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus concerning the manufacturing of quartz slabs.\n\nIn the manufacturing of quartz slabs, the quartz composite material (composed of quartz, resin, catalysts, etc) is pressed into the shape of a slab using a press machine. Press machines utilize large amounts of mechanical pressure in a vacuum. This is to ensure uniformity and to eliminate any potential air pockets within the material. Due to the different particle sizes of the composite material, uneven distribution of quartz composite material in the mold by weight per unit area will occur. Some areas have a higher density than other areas, even if the material visually appears to be leveled on the surface. This causes the quartz composite material to be squeezed from the areas of high density to areas of low density during the press process. In the production of marbleized quartz slabs that have a large degree of sharp color variation, this can cause the end product to appear smeared.\n\nIn at least one embodiment, effects, colloquially referred to as bleeding, stretching or smearing is reduced or inhibited in the manufacturing of quartz slabs. In at least one embodiment, in order to prevent these effects, electronic and/or digital weight scales are arranged in a two dimensional array or grid on a level surface in a mold cavity or area. The edge of each scale is almost flush with the edge of each neighboring scale. A small gap is present between the scales so each scale will not interference with the adjacent ones.",
  "cpc": [
    "G01G 17/00",
    "B25J 15/0019",
    "B25J 15/0066",
    "B25J 9/1694",
    "C04B 26/02",
    "G05B 19/402",
    "G05B 2219/31269",
    "G05B 2219/37357"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B25J 15/00",
    "B25J 9/16",
    "G01G 17/00",
    "G05B 19/402"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Alex Xie"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2017-02-03",
  "publication_date": "2017-06-06",
  "grant_date": "2017-06-06",
  "priority_date": "2017-02-03",
  "application_number": "US-201715424508-A",
  "family_id": "58778506",
  "cited_by_count": 19,
  "citations": [
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    "US20130341254A1",
    "US20150064315A1",
    "US20160089818A1",
    "US20160290852A1"
  ]
}