Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes – With severing – removing material from preform mechanically,... – Forming continuous work followed by cutting
Patent
1983-11-29
1987-05-19
Anderson, Philip
Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes
With severing, removing material from preform mechanically,...
Forming continuous work followed by cutting
264157, 264333, 425220, 425296, 425299, 425304, B28B 1302, B28B 504, B28C 514
Patent
active
046666486
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to roof tiles and in particular is concerned with a novel type of tile, and a process and apparatus for manufacturing the same.
Roof tiles are conventionally made of concrete and are produced in many colours and profiles. Such tiles are generally provided with contoured interlocking regions along their side edges whereby when laid on a roof each tile is laterally interlocked with the neighbouring tiles in the same row. Considerable effort has been expended on developing new colours and new profiles, e.g. with pronounced "rolls", to improve the visual appearance of the tiles. Nevertheless it has been found difficult, using e.g. concrete as a material, to simulate the appearance of other materials such as wood or slate. This is desirable if wishing to provide a concrete substitute, e.g. for wooden shingles. The use of contours is not significant in this regard, and indeed will be avoided if wishing to simulate wooden shingles for example. The use of colour techniques has not been found adequate.
Thus, viewed from one aspect the present invention provides a roof tile including contoured interlocking regions along its side edges and having over at least the major part of the upper surface thereof a plurality of relatively shallow closely spaced, longitudinally extending grooves.
The effect of the grooves will be to provide relatively closely spaced ridges and velleys across the upper surface of the tile. It has been found that this produces a visible effect superior to that obtainable with colouring techniques. Thus, the ridges and valleys can, when viewed from a distance, simulate e.g. the grain in wood in a manner which could not be achieved merely by streaks of colour. The addition of streaks of colour enhances the effect, however. A preferred tile therefore has the grooves together with random streaks of colour on its upper surface, such as streaks of dark brown to contrast with a light brown base. The streaks could be obtained for example using the method of U.K. Pat. No. 1,577,321 or by any other suitable method.
A further advantage of having ridges and valleys extending longitudinally down the tile is that they will promote the flow of rainwater down the tiles and inhibit flow across the tiles.
The appearance of the tile may be further enhanced by having upwardly extending grooves in the lower end face of the tile. The upper end face need not be so treated as it will not be visible in use. The appearance may also be enhanced by varying the lateral spacing between the grooves, preferably in a random manner. Thus between 3 and 12 grooves may for example be provided per inch. In combination with random colour streaking, this provides a particularly advantageous visual effect. The grooves are preferably no more than a quarter of an inch deep and this depth may vary e.g. randomly.
The tile will generally be made from concrete although other materials might be used. The tile can be manufactured by means of a modification of the conventional process and thus viewed from another aspect the invention provides a process for manufacturing roof tiles wherein tile forming material is discharged onto a succession of pallets to form a base ribbon, the ribbon is compressed by means of a slipper and is subsequently cut into individual tiles, wherein the tiles are provided over at least the major part of the upper surface thereof with a plurality of relatively shallow, closely spaced, longitudinally extending grooves by means of ridges provided on the slipper contacting the ribbon.
Apparatus in accordance with the invention may comprise means for transporting a succession of pallets in a longitudinal direction, means for discharging tile forming material onto the pallets to form a ribbon, a slipper for compressing the ribbon, and means for cutting the ribbon into individual tiles, wherein the slipper is provided over the major part of the surface thereof which contacts the ribbon with a plurality of relatively small, closely spaced, longitudinally extending ridges.
The means for cutting the ribbon
REFERENCES:
patent: 1076765 (1913-10-01), Hoffman
patent: 1204477 (1916-11-01), Nicholson
patent: 1559499 (1925-10-01), Brandell
patent: 1577935 (1926-03-01), Runkle
patent: 1619489 (1927-03-01), Schwarz et al.
patent: 2734249 (1956-02-01), Willis
patent: 3193903 (1965-07-01), White
Sweets Architectural Catalog File, 1981, Section 7.7/MON, p. 2, Shake "400" series (tile at lower left).
Anderson Philip
Marley Tile AG
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