Ancora Group: new squaring machine lines

Ancora, one of the leading companies in the design and construction of machinery and equipment for end-of-line processing of ceramic products, has further improved its famously rugged and reliable squaring machine lines to assure superior belt protection and improve ergonomics, accessibility and ease of maintenance. All details have been meticulously analysed from the standpoint of form and function in order to optimise and rationalise all components of the system, from the on-board pneumatics to the safety system.
The centrepiece of the range is the new CN squaring machine with automatic control of all process functions. Ancora has introduced numerical control on all the machine’s axes of movement. In the automated versions, all the motors are brushless and all the movements can be controlled from the control panel via a touch screen.
Thanks to this innovation, it is now possible to set the calibre of the product and adjust the amount of material removed by each tool automatically and perfectly symmetrically without having to manually adjust the spindle positioning screws, which are individually motorised. The system can dialogue with outfeed dimensional control to guarantee continuous checking and recalibration of processed pieces.
Size changeover is also performed automatically and very rapidly without the need for complex manual operations or adjustments.
In the second squaring stage, the side machined in the first stage is aligned with the spindle axes with extremely high precision by a numerically controlled axis that dialogues with the perpendicularity control located downstream on the line so as to correct deviations in real time.
Last but not least, the conveyor belt drive with electrically synchronised double brushless motors simplifies the belt change operation significantly and drastically reduces operation times.

Ancora squaring machines can be:

- presser device type: suitable for all types of porcelain tile and monoporosa and recommended for their lower maintenance costs;
- double belt type: suitable for small-size porcelain tile and monoporosa and for the kiln exit.
Exploiting the best technological developments in the sector, Ancora has also redesigned and improved its manual squaring machines in anticipation of future technological developments in the sector such as dry squaring.

The new manual control machines in the range deliver outstanding levels of performance, ergonomics, safety and reliability.
One of the principal new features is the new and completely redesigned centring device, which is mounted on slides to allow for automatic width adjustment as tile sizes change.
The infeed side product transport belts are now longer to allow for greater tile stability during centring and alignment, especially with large sizes.
The slides are designed to offer greater belt protection. The pusher is faster and more dynamic because its inertia has been reduced by more than half. It is also easier to adjust and is safer as a result of the new regulation system. The tool access doors can be opened individually to change the grinding wheels.
With the introduction of the new range, the traditional models with belt width of 75 mm (for sizes above 200 mm) and 40 mm (for sizes up to 100 mm) are now joined by the new models with belts of 60 mm width to operate with the maximum reliability and without size limitations up to a width of 150 mm.

The entire range is ready for future developments in tool technology for dry squaring of monoporosa and of single and double fired tiles because all machines can be equipped with extraction hoods and are designed to offer the maximum protection to all mechanical components in the presence of dust.