WO2016120758A1

WO2016120758A1 - Cutting wire for stone materials, and method, apparatus and system for manufacturing thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2016120758A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/050298
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michele Bidese
Original assignee: Michele Bidese
Priority date: 2015-01-27
Filing date: 2016-01-21
Publication date: 2016-08-04

Abstract

A cutting wire for stone material that includes: an annular metal support rope (4); a plurality of tubular metal joint elements (60; 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66) each encompassing a discontinuity (500; 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560) between the strands of the rope (4) so as to ensure the local mechanical joining; a plurality of diamond beads (5) arranged along the metal rope (4); at least one outer protective layer (10) made of thermoplastic polymeric material that at least partially coats the metal rope (4).

Description

CUTTI NG WI RE FOR STON E MATERIALS, AN D METH OD, APPARATUS AN D SYSTEM FOR MANU FACTU RI NG TH EREOF

DESCRI PTION

Field of Appl ication

The present invention is generally applicable to the technical field of cutting wires for stone material, for instance marble, granite or the like, and it particularly relates to a cutting wire and a method for manufacturing thereof.

The present invention further relates to an apparatus and a system for manufacturing such a cutting wire.

Background of the Invention

Wires are known for cutting stone materials that include a flexible support structure, such as a metal rope consisting of a central core and a plurality of peripheral strands, whereto a plurality of diamond beads are coupled.

Generally, the manufacturing of such wires comprises the phases of insertion on the metal rope of the diamond beads and of the subsequent joining of the two free ends of the rope.

To the object, the strands of the two ends are separated by the central core and subsequently spliced with each other for about three meters in length. Such known method is known in the technical field of manufacturing of cutting wire for stone materials with the name of the wire splice.

Such known method extremely weakens the wire, as well as being complicated to perform due to the difficulty of implementation of the splice.

Furthermore, for the same reason, it is long to implement. Indicatively, the implementation of each splice takes 40 minutes.

Moreover, the high length of the splice entails a high waste of material.

This further adversely affects the final cost of the cutting wire.

Moreover, the classical splice limits the tensioning of the wire during the phase of coating. In fact, since the splice is the zone of the loop that suffers a higher elongation, it should not be unduly tensioned before the coating.

To try to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks, mechanical joints have been provided, such as tubular elements of 10 - 20 mm wherein to insert the ends of the metal rope. The mechanical joint is then pressed on the rope thereof.

The pressing weakens the wire, and therefore such a solution is dangerous for wires with small diameter.

Furthermore, since upon the decreasing of the diameter of the wire the diameter and the thickness of the joint decrease, in case of wires with small diameter the joint has a limited joining.

Still, the above mentioned mechanical joint has the drawback of keeping the rope rigid (i.e. not flexible) in the points just outside the joint thereof, which implies to have to keep the diamond beads spaced apart near the joint, consequently providing an anomalous wear of the beads in such points. Summary of the invention

Object of the present invention is to at least partially overcome the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing a cutting wire for stone materials of high functionality and low cost.

Another object is to provide a cutting wire wherein the joining of the two ends is simple to perform.

Another object is to provide a cutting wire having high operational capacity.

Another object is to provide a cutting wire having a relatively high average life.

Such objects, as well as others that will appear more evident hereinafter, are fulfilled by a cutting wire for stone materials and a relative method for manufacturing thereof in accordance with what is herein described and / or claimed and / or shown.

In a further aspect, the invention further provides a pressing apparatus and a production system of the cutting wire in accordance with what is here described and / or claimed and / or shown.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in accordance with the appended claims.

Brief description of the drawings

Further features and advantages will appear more evideint upon reading the detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the invention, shown as way of non- limitative example with the help of the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a machine for cutting blocks B of stone material;

FIG. 2 is a partially sectioned enlarged view of some details of FIG.l, wherein an example of embodiment of the cutting wire 1 is shown, wherein the tubular metal joint elements 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 have been removed for greater clarity;

FIG. 3 is an axonometric view of a first embodiment of a semi-finished product 1';

FIG. 4 is an axonometric view of a second embodiment of a semi-finished product 1';

FIG. 5 is an axonometric view of a phase of manufacturing of the cutting wire 1, with some enlarged details;

FIG. 6 is a side view of another phase of manufacturing of the cutting wire 1, with some enlarged details;

FIG. 7 is a partially sectioned side view of another phase of manufacturing of the cutting wire 1, with some enlarged details;

FIGs. 8, 9 and 10 are views of the pressing apparatus 600;

FIG. 11 is a sectioned side view of a further embodiment of a semi-finished product 1' susceptible to manufacture the cutting wire 1, with in FIG. 11a some enlarged details;

FIG. 12 is a side view of the example of embodiment of the semi-finished product 1', wherein the diamond beads 5 have been removed for greater clarity;

FIG. 13 is an exploded sectioned view of the unitary cutting assembly 80;

FIGs. 14a and 14b are sectioned views of some phases of manufacturing of the unitary cutting assembly 80;

FIG. 15 is a sectioned view of the unitary cutting assembly 80 inserted in the rope 4.

Detailed description of some preferred embodiments

With reference to the above mentioned figures, the cutting wire 1 is assembled on a multi-wire machine 20 for cutting blocks B of stone material, such as marble, granite, cement or similar.

The cutting wire 1 and the multi-wire machine 20 have various parts or elements that are identical or at least substantially similar. Unless otherwise specified, such parts or elements are described individually and / or described with a single number, being understood that the features described and / or shown are common to all the identical other parts or elements or at least substantially similar.

The above multi-wire machine 20 comprises, in a per se known manner, a portal frame 21, a plurality of cutting wires 1 and a plurality of drums or series of pulleys 30 put side by side assembled on the frame 21 to support and move the aforementioned cutting wires 1.

In a per se known manner, the drums or pulleys 30 maintain the wires 1 in tension so as, instant by instant, for each of them it is defined an active branch 2, faced towards the block B to be cut and susceptible to penetrate therein, and a return branch 3, opposite thereto.

Each cutting wire 1, that during normal use is closed as a loop to be wound around the support devices 30, includes a flexible support structure 4 defining a first axis X and a plurality of diamond beads 5 coupled thereto, preferably substantially equidistant to each other.

The support structure 4 may have a flexibility such as to allow, in a per se known manner, the winding loop of the cutting wire 1 around the drums and / or the pulleys 30 of the multi-wire machine 20.

The flexible support structure 4 may include or may consist of a metal rope, for example made of steel.

Suitably, the metal rope 4 may comprise a central core 40 with a plurality of peripheral strands, preferably six. Therefore, arranged consecutively around the central core 40, there is a first strand 41, a second strand 42, a third strand 43, a fourth strand 44, a fifth strand 45 and a sixth strand 46.

In a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the invention, the diamond beads 5 may include a tubular metal support 6, having the inner surface 7' faced towards the metal rope 4, and a diamond cutting element 8 fixed to the outer surface 7" of the tubular metal support 6.

The diamond cutting element 8 may be made of sintered metal alloy and diamond powder.

The diamond beads 5, that may have a diameter D_P of 4 mm to 13 mm, may be coupled in a per se known manner to the metal rope 4, so as to form a sequence.

Preferably, the diameter D_P of each bead 5 may be of 5 mm to 7 mm, so as to minimize the production scraps of the block of stone material B.

Advantageously, the tubular metal support 6 may have a length L_s lower than 10 mm, preferably of 6 mm to 9 mm, and even more preferably of 7 mm to 8 mm. Suitably, the diamond cutting element 8 may have a length L_c lower than 6 mm, preferably of 2 mm to 5 mm, and even more preferably of 3 mm to 4 mm.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the number of diamond beads 5 for each linear meter m of the overall length of the metal rope 4 are of 35 to 45. In other words, at least one linear meter m of the total length of the metal rope 4 may include of 35 to 45 diamond beads 5.

Preferably, the diamond beads 5 may be at least 45 for each linear meter m of metal rope 4, and even more preferably at least 48 for each linear meter m thereof.

In a preferred but not exclusive embodiment, the diamond beads 5 may be 50 for each linear meter m of the overall length of the metal rope 4.

In a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the invention, in a per se known manner, at least one protective layer 10 made of a thermoplastic polymeric material may be provided, for example thermoplastic polyurethane TPU, placed externally both to the metal rope 4 and, possibly, to the diamond beads 5. Advantageously, such a polymeric material may be optically transparent.

Suitably, the 0F diameter of the metal rope 4 is lower than 6 mm, and preferably of 2mm to

6mm.

Operationally, the cutting wire 1 may be manufactured by inserting on the metal rope 4 the diamond beads 5, and then by closing as a loop the metal rope 4 thereof.

On the semi-finished product 1* thus manufactured, in a per se known manner, the thermoplastic polymeric material described above may be coated, so as to provide the protective layer 10. The latter, in addition to protection, also helps to keep the diamond beads 5 spaced apart.

In order to close the metal rope 4 as a loop, it is necessary to reciprocally and stably join the ends 11', 11" thereof.

To the object, the end portions 410', 410"; 420', 420"; 430', 430"; 440', 440"; 450', 450"; 460', 460" of the strands 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 of the metal rope 4 may be separated from the respective end portions 400', 400" of the central core 40.

Subsequently, as shown for example in Fig. 6, the end portions 400', 400" of the central core 40 may be faced to each other, and the end portions 410', 410"; 420', 420"; 430', 430"; 440', 440"; 450', 450"; 460', 460" of the strands 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 may be reciprocally spliced so as respective discontinuities 500, 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560 remain between the end portions 400', 400"; 410', 410"; 420', 420"; 430', 430"; 440', 440"; 450', 450"; 460', 460" thereof.

In particular, the end portions 410', 410"; 420', 420"; 430', 430"; 440', 440"; 450', 450"; 460', 460" of the strands 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 may be spliced with each other so that the end portions of the first strand 410', 410" are reciprocally faced to the end portions of the fourth strand 440', 440", the end portions of the second strand 420', 420" are reciprocally faced to the end portions of the third strand 430', 430" and the end portions of the fifth strand 450', 450" are reciprocally faced to the end portions of the sixth strand 460', 460".

Following the above splice, the discontinuity 500 between the faced end portions 400', 400" of the central core 40 may be interposed between the discontinuities 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560 between the reciprocally spliced end portions 410', 410"; 420', 420"; 430', 430"; 440', 440"; 450', 450"; 460', 460" of the strands 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46.

Preferably, the discontinuities 500; 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560 may be equidistant to each other.

More particularly, as shown for example in Fig. 6, the discontinuities 510, 540 between the end portions of the first strand 410', 410" and of the fourth strand 440', 440" may be placed externally with respect to the discontinuities 520, 530; 550, 560 between the end portions of the second strand 420', 420" and of the third strand 430', 430" and between the end portions of the fifth strand 450', 450" and of the sixth strand 460', 460". In addition, the discontinuities 520, 530 between the end portions of the second strand 420', 420" and of the third strand 430', 430" may be placed externally with respect to the discontinuities 550, 560 between the end portions of the fifth strand 450', 450" and of the sixth strand 460', 460".

The length of the section T may be any.

Preferably, to minimize waste of material, the length of the section T of the metal rope 4 occupied by the discontinuity 500; 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560 may be lower than one meter, and preferably lower than 80 cm.

In a preferred but not exclusive embodiment, the above mentioned length may be of 50 cm to 75 cm, and preferably of 60 cm to 70 cm.

The limited length of the above mentioned twist or splice further minimizes the time for manufacturing the wire, with obvious benefit even from the economic point of view.

In a first embodiment, shown for example in Fig. 7, peripherally to each discontinuity 500; 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560 a respective tubular metal joint element 60; 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 may be placed, so as to cover it.

Preferably, each tubular metal joint element 60; 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 may be pressed in correspondence to the respective discontinuity 500; 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560.

Each tubular metal joint element 60; 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 may have a length of about 6 mm and an outer diameter that, once pressed on the metal rope 4, is lower than the outer diameter of the diamond beads 5.

The outer protective layer 10 may further coat the tubular metal joint elements 60; 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 and 66, besides to the metal rope 4 and possibly to the diamond beads 5.

Suitably, as shown for example in Fig. 3, between each pair of consecutive tubular metal joint elements 60; 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 may be interposed at least one diamond bead 5. Depending on the number of total diamond beads 5 of the wire, the number of diamond beads 5 between two consecutive tubular metal joint elements 60; 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 varies.

In a preferred but not exclusive embodiment, as shown for example in Fig. 4, between each pair of consecutive tubular metal joint elements 60; 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 at least two diamond beads 5 and at least one additional tubular metal joint element 67; 68, 69, 70, 71, 72 may be interposed, the latter being interposed between the former.

In the present text, with the expression "providing" or derivative it is meant the preparation of an element of interest to a phase of process of interest, thus including any preventive treatment susceptible to the optimum implementation of the phase of interest thereof, from the simple withdrawal and possible storage to the pre-heat and / or chemical and / or physical treatments and the like.

Therefore, it is understood that to manufacture the wire 1 it is possible to start from the semifinished product 1* already closed as a loop as described above and along which both the diamond beads 5 and the tubular metal joint elements 60; 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 are placed with possible additional tubular metal joint elements 67; 68, 69, 70, 71, 72 and then to coat thereof to manufacture the polymeric layer 10 without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

The tubular metal joint elements 60; 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 may be made of a material having a hardness lower than the one of the steel of the metal rope 4, for example, copper or mild steel. In this way, the pressing thereof does not affect in any way the metal rope 4.

The pressing phase may be performed in any suitable manner.

In a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the invention, for the pressing a pressing apparatus 600 may be used that may include a support structure 610 defining an axis X and a plurality of clamps 620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680 arranged along the axis X, each of these being susceptible to house a respective tubular metal joint element 60; 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66.

Furthermore, an end clamp 615 may be provided spaced apart from the clamps 620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680 to support the metal rope 4.

Moreover, the pressing apparatus 600 may comprise pressing means susceptible to selectively act upon each of the clamps 620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680 to press the respective tubular metal joint element 60; 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 on the metal rope 4.

To ensure that at the time of the pressing each tubular metal joint element 60; 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 completely covers the respective discontinuity 500; 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560, the clamps 620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680 may have suitable respective predetermined distances d. Suitably, moreover, the end clamps 620, 690 may have a distance substantially equal to the length of the section T of the metal rope 4.

To ensure the selectivity of action of the pressing means, one of the latter and the clamps 620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680 may be movable with respect to the other.

In a preferred but not exclusive embodiment, the clamps 620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680 may be fixed on the support structure 610, and the pressing means may include a slider 690 sliding along the axis X and a guide rail 696 extending parallel thereto.

Moreover, on the slider 690 one or more pressing means may be assembled, for example a single pressing mean 695, that may be movable between a raised rest position and a lowered working position to act consecutively upon each of the fixed clamps 620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680. Suitably, the pressing mean 695 may move vertically along an axis Y between said working and rest positions.

Therefore, first controlling means may be provided acting upon the pressing mean 695 to selectively control the movement of the rest and working positions thereof in response to the order of an operator and second controlling means acting upon the slider 690 to selectively control the movement thereof along the axis X and the blocking in correspondence with the clamps 620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680.

The first and second controlling means may for example be implemented in a the PLC unit 700, controlled by an operator.

Therefore, the latter by acting appropriately upon the PLC unit 700 may control both the selective displacement of the slider 690 between the clamps 620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680 and, once the slider thereof has reached the position, the action of the pressing mean 695 on each one of the latter.

Advantageously, each of the clamps 620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680 may include a base 720, 730, 740, 750, 760, 770, 780 with a seat 720', 730', 740', 750', 760', 770', 780' susceptible to house a respective tubular metal joint element 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 and an upper operating element 820, 830, 840, 850, 860, 870, 880 with an upper surface 820', 830', 840', 850', 860', 870', 880' and a lower surface 820", 830", 840", 850", 860", 870", 880" faced towards the seat 720', 730', 740', 750', 760', 770', 780'.

Each of the upper surface 820', 830', 840', 850', 860', 870', 880' is susceptible to come in contact engage with the pressing mean 695 when the pressing mean thereof reaches the working position, so that the relative lower surface 820", 830", 840", 850", 860", 870", 880" cooperates with the respective seat 720', 730', 740', 750', 760', 770', 780' to press the relative tubular metal joint element 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 on the metal rope 4.

Thanks to the pressing apparatus 600, it is possible to ensure the local mechanical joining in correspondence of each of the discontinuity 500; 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560 of the metal rope 4 from the respective tubular metal joint element 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66.

The semi-finished product 1' exiting from the pressing apparatus 600 may be inserted into a coating apparatus, that may be of per se known type, for the manufacturing of the outer protective layer 10.

In a further embodiment, shown for example in Fig. 11, the tubular metal joint elements 60, 60'; 61, 61', 62, 62'; 63, 63'; 64, 64'; 65, 65'; 66, 66' may be placed two by two near each of the discontinuity 500, 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560, placed on opposite sides thereof.

Advantageously, between each pair of tubular metal joint elements 60, 60'; 61, 61', 62, 62'; 63, 63'; 64, 64'; 65, 65'; 66, 66' a diamond bead 5 may be interposed encompassing the discontinuity 500; 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560 thereof.

On the other hand, between each pair of consecutive discontinuities 500; 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560 an additional pair of diamond beads 5 may be interposed, the latter being in turn interposed between two consecutive tubular metal joint elements 60, 60'; 61, 61', 62, 62'; 63, 63'; 64, 64'; 65, 65'; 66, 66'.

This ensures the maximum uniformity in the cutting of the stone material.

The tubular metal joint elements 60, 60'; 61, 61', 62, 62'; 63, 63'; 64, 64'; 65, 65'; 66, 66' and the diamond beads 5 may be substantially equidistant to each other.

Similarly to what has been said for the first embodiment of the cutting wire 1 shown in Figs. 1- 7, each tubular metal joint element 60, 60'; 61, 61', 62, 62'; 63, 63'; 64, 64'; 65, 65'; 66, 66' may be pressed on the metal rope 4, for example by using the pressing apparatus 600.

Moreover, even in such a case, the tubular metal joint elements 60, 60'; 61, 61', 62, 62'; 63, 63'; 64, 64'; 65, 65'; 66, 66' may be made of a material having a hardness lower than that of the metal rope 4.

In a preferred but not exclusive embodiment, as particularly shown in Figs. 13 to 15, peripherally to each of the tubular metal joint elements 60 a diamond bead 5 may be coaxially placed, so as to manufacture a unitary cutting assembly 80.

It is understood that although in the accompanying figures it is shown a unitary cutting assembly 80 that includes a tubular metal joint element 60, the cutting wire 1 may comprise a plurality of unitary cutting assemblies, each comprising one or more of the tubular metal joint elements 60' and / or 61 and / or 61' and / or 62 and / or 62' and / or 63 and / or 63' and / or 64 and / or 64' and / or 65 and / or 65' and / or 66 and / or 66' without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

In general, between the diamond bead 5 and the tubular metal joint element 60 one or more tubular elements may be interposed, as well as between the tubular metal joint element 60 and the metal rope 4.

However, each unitary cutting assembly 80 may preferably consist of a diamond bead 5 and a respective tubular metal joint element 60 reciprocally coupled therebetween, preferably by interference with the possible interposition of an adhesive, for example a thread-locking adhesive.

To the object, the diamond bead 5 and the tubular metal joint element 60 may be suitably configured.

In a preferred but not exclusive embodiment, the tubular metal joint element 60 may have a first portion 91 having a first outer diameter Del and a first inner diameter Dil and a second portion 92 having a second inner diameter Di2 and a second outer diameter De2 lower than the first outer diameter Dil.

The tubular metal support 6 of the diamond bead 5 may have a third portion 93 having a third outer diameter De3 and a third inner diameter Di3 and a fourth portion 94 having a fourth outer diameter De4 and a fourth inner diameter Di4 greater than said third inner diameter Di3.

Therefore, once the diamond bead 5 and the tubular metal joint element 60 are reciprocally coupled, the unitary cutting assembly 80 may have a central area 82 defined by the second portion 92 and by the fourth portion 94 coupled therebetween and a pair of opposite end areas 81, 83 defined by the first portion 91 and by the third portion 93.

The diamond cutting element 8 may be placed in correspondence to the central area 82 of the unitary cutting assembly 80, the end areas 81, 83 being free.

Advantageously, the second outer diameter De2 and the fourth inner diameter Di4 may be substantially equal to each other.

On the other hand, the first inner diameter Dil, the second inner diameter Di2 and the third inner diameter Di3 may be substantially equal to each other and substantially equal to the diameter 0F of the metal rope 4, while the first outer diameter Del, the third outer diameter De3 and the fourth outer diameter De4 may be substantially equal to each other and substantially equal to the inner diameter 0iC of the diamond cutting element 8.

As particularly shown in Figs. 14a and 14b, in order to manufacture the unitary cutting assembly 80 a not-worked cylindrical tubular metal joint element 60 and the already finished diamond bead 5 may be inserted on the metal rope 4 to obtain the two portions 94 and 93 with the two different diameters Di4 and Di3.

Subsequently, it is possible to press the tubular metal joint element 60 so as to create thereon the two portions 91 and 92 with the two different diameters Del and De2, and subsequently to couple the tubular metal joint element 60 thereof and the diamond bead 5 as said above.

Thanks to the above mentioned features, the cutting wire 1 has the maximum cutting efficacy and the maximum duration, since it is homogeneous along the entire length thereof.

It is understood that both the embodiment of the cutting wire shown in Figs. 3 to 7 and the embodiment of the cutting wire shown in Figs. 11 to 12 may include one or more unitary cutting assemblies 80.

From the above description, it is evident that the invention fulfils the intended objects.

The invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all falling within the inventive scope expressed in the appended claims. All the details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements, and the materials may be different according to requirements, without departing from the scope of invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims

A cutting wire for stone material that includes:

- an annular metal support rope (4) that includes, respectively, that consist of, a central core (40) and a plurality of strands (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46) arranged peripherally thereto (40), the end portions (400', 400"; 410', 410"; 420', 420"; 430', 430"; 440', 440"; 450', 450"; 460', 460") of the central core (40) of and the strands (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46) being respectively faced and spliced with each other, so that respective discontinuity (500; 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560) remain between the end portions (400', 400"; 410', 410"; 420', 420"; 430', 430"; 440', 440"; 450', 450"; 460', 460") thereof;

- a plurality of tubular metal joint elements (60; 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66) each encompassing a respective discontinuity (500; 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560) or near the same discontinuity so as to ensure the local mechanical joining;

- a plurality of diamond beads (5) arranged along said metal rope (4);

- at least one outer protective layer (10) made of thermoplastic polymeric material that at least partially coats said metal rope (4).

2. Cutting wire according to claim 1, wherein said discontinuities (500; 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560) are arranged consecutively along a portion (T) of said metal rope (4) that has a length lower than one meter, preferably lower than 80 cm, and even more preferably of 50 cm to 75 cm.

3. Cutting wire according to claim 1 or 2, wherein between each pair of consecutive tubular metal joint elements (60; 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66) at least one diamond bead is interposed (5).

4. Cutting wire according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said discontinuities (500; 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560) are equidistant to each other.

5. Cutting wire according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said tubular metal joint elements (60; 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66) and said diamond beads (5) are substantially equidistant to each other.

6. Cutting wire according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the end portions (400', 400"; 410', 410"; 420', 420"; 430', 430"; 440', 440"; 450', 450"; 460', 460") of the central core (40) and of the strands (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46) are reciprocally configured so as the discontinuity (500) between the end portions (400', 400") faced towards the central core (40) is interposed between the discontinuities (510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560) between the reciprocally spliced end portions (410', 410"; 420', 420"; 430', 430"; 440', 440"; 450', 450"; 460', 460") of the strands (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46).

7. Cutting wire according to the previous claim, wherein said metal rope (4) has said central core (40) and a first strand (41), a second strand (42), a third strand (43), a fourth strand (44), a fifth strand (45) and a sixth strand (46) arranged consecutively around the central core (40) thereof, the end portions (410', 410"; 420', 420"; 430', 430"; 440', 440"; 450', 450"; 460', 460") of the strands (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46) being spliced with each other so as the end portions of the first strand (410', 410") are reciprocally faced with the end portions of the fourth strand (440', 440"), the end portions of the second strand (420', 420") are reciprocally faced with the end portions of the third strand (430', 430") and the end portions of the fifth strand (450', 450") are reciprocally faced with the end portions of the sixth strand (460', 460").

8. Cutting wire according to the previous claim, wherein the discontinuities (510, 540) between the end portions of the first strand (410', 410") and of the fourth strand (440', 440") are placed externally with respect to the discontinuities (520, 530; 550, 560) between the end portions of the second strand (420', 420") and of the third strand (430', 430") and between the end portions of the fifth strand (450', 450") and of the sixth strand (460', 460"), the discontinuities (520, 530) between the end portions of the second strand (420', 420") and of the third strand (430', 430") being placed externally with respect to the discontinuities (550, 560) between the end portions of the fifth strand (450', 450") and of the sixth strand (460', 460").

9. Cutting wire according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein each tubular metal joint element (60; 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66) is pressed on said metal rope (4).

10. Cutting wire according to the previous claim, wherein said tubular metal joint elements (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66) are made of a material having a hardness lower than that of said metal rope (4).

11. Cutting wire according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein peripherally to one or more of said tubular metal joint elements (60; 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66) a diamond bead (5) is coaxially placed, so as to provide a unitary cutting assembly (80).

12. Cutting wire according to the previous claim, wherein each unitary cutting assembly (80) includes, respectively, consists of, a diamond bead (5) and a respective tubular metal joint element (60; 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66) reciprocally coupled therebetween.

13. Cutting wire according to the previous claim, wherein said diamond bead (5) and said tubular metal joint element (60; 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66) are coupled by interference, preferably with the interposition of an adhesive.

14. Cutting wire according to claim 12 or 13, wherein each diamond bead (5) includes, respectively consists of, a tubular metal support (6) and a diamond cutting element (8) reciprocally fixed to each other, each of said tubular metal joint elements (60; 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66) having a first portion (91) having a first outer diameter (Del) and a first inner diameter (Dil) and a second portion (92) having a second outer diameter (De2) lower than said first outer diameter (Dil) and a second inner diameter (Di2), each of said tubular metal supports (6) of said diamond beads (5) having a third portion (93) having a third outer diameter (De3) and a third inner diameter (Di3) and a fourth portion (94) having a fourth inner diameter (Di4) greater than said third inner diameter (Di3) and a fourth outer diameter (De4), each unitary cutting assembly (81) having a central area (82) defined by said second portion (92) and by said fourth portion (94) reciprocally coupled therebetween and a pair of opposite end areas (81, 83) defined by said first portion (91) and by said third portion (93).

15. Cutting wire according to the previous claim, wherein said diamond cutting element (8) is placed in correspondence to the central area (82) of said unitary cutting assembly (80), the end areas (81, 83) thereof (80) being free.

16. Cutting wire according to claim 14 or 15, wherein said second outer diameter (De2) and fourth inner diameter (Di4) are substantially equal.

17. Cutting wire according to claim 14, 15 or 16, wherein said first inner diameter (Dil), second inner diameter (Di2) and third inner diameter (Di3) are substantially equal and substantially equal to the diameter (0F) of said metal rope (4), said first outer diameter (Del), third outer diameter (De3) and fourth outer diameter (De4) being substantially equal and substantially equal to the inner diameter (0iC) of said diamond cutting element (8).

18. Cutting wire according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said tubular metal joint elements (60; 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66) encompass said discontinuities (500; 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560).

19. Cutting wire according to the previous claim, wherein between each pair of consecutive tubular metal joint elements (60; 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66) at least two diamond beads (5) and at least one additional tubular metal joint element (67; 68, 69, 70, 71, 72) are interposed, the latter (67; 68, 69, 70, 71, 72) being interposed between the former (5).

20. Cutting wire according to one or more of claims 1 to 17, wherein said tubular metal joint elements (60; 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66) are placed near said discontinuities (500; 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560).

21. Cutting wire according to the previous claim, wherein near each of said discontinuities (500; 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560) there is a pair of said tubular metal joint elements (60, 60'; 61, 6 , 62, 62'; 63, 63'; 64, 64'; 65, 65'; 66, 66') placed on opposite sides with respect to the discontinuity (500; 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560) thereof.

22. Cutting wire according to claim 20 or 21, wherein between each pair of tubular metal joint elements (60, 60'; 61, 61', 62, 62'; 63, 63'; 64, 64'; 65, 65'; 66, 66') placed on opposite sides with respect to each discontinuity (500; 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560) a diamond bead (5) is interposed encompassing the discontinuity (500; 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560) thereof.

23. Cutting wire according to the previous claim, wherein between each pair of consecutive discontinuities (500; 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560) a pair of diamond beads (5) is interposed, the latter being further interposed between two consecutive tubular metal joint elements (60, 60'; 61, 61', 62, 62'; 63, 63'; 64, 64'; 65, 65'; 66, 66').

24. A method for manufacturing a cutting wire for stone material according to one or more of the preceding claims, that includes the following phases:

a) providing for a semi-finished product (1*) that includes, respectively consists of, an annular metal support rope (4) with a plurality of diamond beads (5) arranged thereon (4), the metal rope including, respectively consisting of, a central core (40) and a plurality of strands (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46) encompassing said central core (40), the end portions (400', 400"; 410', 410"; 420', 420"; 430', 430"; 440', 440"; 450', 450"; 460', 460") of the central core (40) and of the strands (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46) being respectively faced and spliced with each other so that respective discontinuities (500; 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560) remain between the end portions (400', 400"; 410', 410"; 420', 420"; 430', 430"; 440', 440"; 450', 450"; 460', 460") thereof, peripherally to each of said discontinuities (500; 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560) or near each of them a respective tubular metal joint element (60; 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66) being placed pressed on said metal rope (4) so as to ensure the local mechanical joining;

b) coating said semi-finished product (1*) with at least one outer protective layer (10) made of thermoplastic polymeric material at least partially coating said metal rope (4).

25. A pressing apparatus for manufacturing a cutting wire for stone material according with one or more of claims 1 to 23, comprising:

- a support structure (610) defining an axis (X);

- a plurality of clamps (620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680) arranged consecutively along said axis (X), each of these being susceptible to house a respective tubular metal joint element (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66);

- pressing means susceptible to act upon said clamps (620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680) to press the respective tubular metal joint element (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66) on said metal rope (4);

wherein said clamps (620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680) and said pressing means are reciprocally movable with one another along said axis (X) so that the latter act selectively upon each of the former;

wherein said clamps (620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680) have respective predetermined reciprocal distances (d) so as each tubular metal joint element (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66) remains in correspondence to the respective discontinuity (500; 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560) of the metal rope (4) or near thereof, the end clamps (620, 690) of said plurality having a distance substantially equal to the length of said portion (T) of the metal rope (4), so that the action of said pressing means ensures the local mechanical joining of the respective tubular metal joint element (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66).

26. Pressing apparatus according to the preceding claim, wherein said clamps (620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680) are fixed on said support structure (610), said pressing means including a slider (690) sliding along said axis (X) and at least one pressing element (695) assembled thereon to act consecutively upon each of the fixed clamps.

27. Pressing apparatus according to the preceding claim, wherein said support structure (610) further comprises a guide rail (696) extending parallel to said axis (X) susceptible to guide the sliding of said slider (690), the latter being selectively lockable in correspondence of each of said clamps (620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680).

28. Pressing apparatus according to one or more of claims 25 to 27, wherein each of said clamps (620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680) includes a base (720, 730, 740, 750, 760 , 770, 780) and an upper operating element (820, 830, 840, 850, 860, 870, 880) reciprocally cooperating therebetween, each base (720, 730, 740, 750, 760 , 770, 780) including a seat (720', 730', 740', 750', 760', 770', 780') susceptible to house a respective tubular metal joint element (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66).

29. Pressing apparatus according to the preceding claim, wherein each upper operating element (820, 830, 840, 850, 860, 870, 880) has an upper surface (820', 830', 840', 850', 860', 870', 880') susceptible to interact with the pressing mean (695) of said slider (690) upon the pressing, each upper operating element (820, 830, 840, 850, 860, 870, 880) having a lower surface (820", 830", 840", 850", 860", 870", 880") susceptible to cooperate with the seat (720', 730', 740', 750', 760', 770', 780') of the respective base (720, 730, 740, 750, 760, 770, 780) to press the relative tubular metal joint element (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66) on said metal rope (4).

30. Pressing apparatus according to the preceding claim, wherein the pressing mean (695) of said slider (690) is movable between a rest position distal to a respective clamp (620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680) and a working position proximal thereto to come in contact engage with the upper surface (820', 830', 840', 850', 860', 870', 880') of the upper operating element (820, 830, 840, 850, 860, 870, 880) of the clamp (620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680) thereof so as to promote the pressing of the relative tubular metal joint element (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66) on said metal rope (4).

31. Pressing apparatus according to one or more of claims 25 to 30, wherein said support structure (610) further includes an end clamp (615) spaced apart from said clamps (620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680) susceptible to support the metal rope (4) during the action of said pressing mean (695) of said slider (690).

32. Pressing apparatus according to one or more of claims 25 to 31, further comprising first controlling means acting upon said pressing mean (695) of said slider (690) to selectively control the movement thereof between said rest and working positions in response to the order of an operator.

33. Pressing apparatus according to one or more of claims 25 to 32, further comprising second controlling means acting upon said slider (690) to selectively control the movement thereof along said axis (X) and the locking in correspondence of each of said clamps (620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680).

34. A system for manufacturing a cutting wire for stone material according to one or more of claims 1 to 23, comprising:

- a pressing apparatus according to one or more of claims 25 to 33;

- a coating apparatus to at least partially manufacture on the metal rope (4) at least one outer protective layer (10) made of thermoplastic polymeric material.