Machine and process for surface decorative treatment, by abrasion, of fabrics, woven and non-woven, skins with and without coat, and the like The invention concerns the means for creating decorations on woven and non-woven fabrics, on skins with and without fur or hair, and the like, all here referred to as fabrics for simplicity.

Innumerable methods are already known for decorating fabrics both straight onto the threads during weaving and also onto the finished surface by printing or by other substantially chemical and physical processes.

In the first case the decorative effects are more satisfactory both aestheti- cally and as regards duration.

In the second case the decorative effect may be very good but will almost inevitably deteriorate during wear.

Purpose of the above invention is to produce decorations by mechanical means on finished fabrics both to make such decorations substantially indestructable as well as to obtain original and pleasing results by what may be described as"sculpturing".

Subject of the invention is a machine and a process for surface decoration on woven and non-woven fabrics, on skins with or without fur or hair, and the like, here termed fabrics for simplicity, as stated above.

The machine comprises : -a loading unit having an oblong mobile loading body of a constant cross section, substantially rectangular with an upper loading face for the fabric to be processed, a longitudinal end, here called a head, facing inside the machine, with a V-shaped cross section and rounded base, said loading body freely sliding on guides on a geometrical axis corresponding to the XX crosswise axis of symmetry of the machine, moved by a motor-driven means to vary its position as desired and therefore that of the fabric advancing on said head in relation to the abrasive shaft described below ; -an abrasion unit comprising a shaft, here called an abrasive shaft, made to rotate by a motor-driven means, fitted with circular abra- sive bodies parallel and opposed to said head of the loading body, said abrasive shaft being supported by a slide freely moving on a YY geometrical axis perpendicular to the above XX axis for shifting the abrasive shaft in both directions by the motor-driven means; -a feed-discharge unit comprising a roller, placed at the rear longitu- dinal end of the loading body, diameter and length being substan- tially equal to its thickness and length, and a continuous loading belt, carrying the fabric to be processed, placed round the loading body between its head and said roller that feeds the fabric forward on the loading surface and therefore, after processing by the abrasive shaft, causes it to fall almost vertically by gravity and therefore on a geometrical axis that may be indicated by ZZ.

-means for operating and regulating speed of the loading belt and therefore fabric feed, of the loading body's position in relation to the abrasive shaft respectively corresponding to the fabric in contact with or separated from the abrasive shaft, of contact pressure

between the fabric and the abrasive shaft, of the speed of rotation and of axial translation in both directions of the abrasive shaft or of its stopping stage.

The abrasive bodies applied to the abrasive shaft are removable, replace- able, with adjustable centre distances, variable in number, in diameters, in thickness, in type, and may be all the same or differ entirely or partially.

The fabric adheres to the loading belt translating on the loading surface of the loading body both by pressure, by gravity or by a spring, from an idling roller supported by articulated means, and also by adding to said loading belt an articulated net, said loading body being structured as a sealed chamber and, by means of a fan, creating continuous suction through a set of holes in the walls or the head of the loading body.

The processed fabric is discharged onto a continuous belt under the loading body, here called a discharge belt, supported by two rollers one at the front and the other at the rear, their geometrical axes being substantially parallel to the axis of the rear roller on the loading body, and motor-driven by means that ensure a speed substantially the same as that of the loading belt.

According to the types of execution, the drive and regulation means may be manual or automatic.

In a preferred type of execution the means for drive and regulation consists of an electric-electronic unit comprising a programming and drive panel, specific software for programming all the main movements of the machine, and an electronic card that transforms the signals generated by the software into electric pulses sent to microswitches, relays or solenoid valves according to the means for motor-drive in use.

Advantageously the means for motor-drive that determines the position assumed by the loading body in relation to the abrasive shaft, is a fluido-- mechanically operated cylinder.

Advantageously the means for motor-drive that determines translation of the loading and discharge belts is an electric speed variator whose

continuous chain enables it to opeerate simultaneously on two gear wheels fixed respectively to the roller associated to the loading body and to the rear roller of the discharge belt.

Advantageously the means for motor-drive that determines rotation of the abrasive shaft is an electric speed variator.

Advantageously the means for motor-drive that allows the abrasive shaft to move in both directions is a fluido-mechanically operated cylinder.

The machine here described therefore permits execution of decorative surface processing of woven and non-woven fabrics, skins with or without fur or hair and the like, here all referred to as fabrics, comprising opera- tional stages on the fabric determined by its position of contact with or detachment from the circular abrasive bodies supported by the abrasive shaft, at different speeds of fabric feed, in the movement for stopping the fabric, in different degrees of pressure between the fabric and the abrasive shaft due to action by the head of the loading body, operational stages of the abrasive shaft consisting in different speeds of rotation, in axial translation in one direction or in the other, in different speeds of said axial translation and in combination of the operational stages on the fabric and of the abrasive shaft according to the desired type of decoration.

The invention offers evident advantages.

With a substantially simple machine and process, decorations can be executed quickly and therefore cheaply on practically any kind of fabric, woven and non-woven, on natural and synthetic skins with and without fur or hair, such decorations being not only substantially indestructible but original and aesthetically tasteful.

Characteristics and purposes of the invention will be made still clearer by the following examples of its execution illustrated by diagrammatically drawn figures.

Fig. 1. Machine for producing surface decorations, by abrasion, on a fabric using a shaft fitted with abrasive means, plan view.

Fig. 2. The machine, front view.

Fig. 3. The machine, side view partially cut away.

Fig. 4. Detail of the machine showing the fabric in contact with the abra- sive means, side view, with enlargement of a detail.

Fig. 5. Diagram showing formation of a Greek key-pattern on a fabric, during the process, an initial stage on a first lengthwise section of the pattern, with the fabric moving forward and a rotating abrasive shaft.

Fig. 6. Second stage in forming the pattern in Fig. 5, a first crosswise section of the"key"pattern with the fabric held still and abrasive shaft rotating and translating axially.

Fig. 7. Third stage of the pattern in Fig. 5 with the fabric moving forward and the abrasive shaft while rotating.

Fig. 8. Fourth stage in the process begun in Fig. 5 with the fabric held steady, the abrasive shaft rotating and in axial translation in the direction opposite to that of the first stage.

Fig. 9. Illustration of the fabric seen in Figures 5 to 8 after completion of several Greek key-patterns, during execution of a longitudinal section of the pattern with the fabric moving forward and abrasive shaft rotating.

Fig. 10. Diagram showing formation of wavy-line motifs on a fabric, initial stage with the fabric moving forward, the abrasive shaft rotating and making an axial translation.

Fig. 11. Second stage in the motif in Figure 10, with the fabric moving forward, abrasive shaft rotating and translating axially in the direction opposite to that of the first stage.

Fig. 12. Third stage of the motif in Figure 10 with the fabric moving for- ward, the abrasive shaft rotating and translating axially in the direction opposite to that of the second stage.

Fig. 13. Front and side views of making an angular decoration on a fabric, first stage of longitudinal length of the angular motif of a first set, with the fabric moving forward, the abrasive shaft rotating and translating axially in both directions.

Fig. 14. Second stage of the pattern begun in Figure 13, during process- ing of the crosswise length of the angular motif, with the fabric moving forward, the abrasive shaft rotating and translating axially in both directions.

Fig. 15. Third stage of the pattern begun in Figure 13, with the fabric detached from the abrasive shaft, and moving forward.

Fig. 16. Fourth stage of the pattern begun in Figure 13, with the fabric brought up against the abrasive-shaft, during processing of the crosswise length of a second set of angular motifs, with the fabric moving forward, the abrasive shaft rotating and translating axially in both directions.

Fig. 17. Completion of the decoration shown in Figures 13 to 16 following execution of three sets of angular motifs, with the fabric detached from the abrasive shaft and translating axially.

The machine 10 consists of an electrically welded iron structure 11 comprising uprights 13,14,15 joined by cross pieces 12 and 16.

This structure supports the following main units (Figures 1-3).

Loading unit 30 with its mobile loading body 35 having an upper loading surface 31 for the fabric 100 to be processed, seen when orientated according to the geometrical axis XX.

Unit 70 for feed-discharge of the fabric 100,100' seen when orientated in the operational area on a geometrical axis ZZ.

Abrasion unit 80 for supporting and rotating the abrasive shaft and for translating it in both directions, said shaft seen when orientated on a geometrical axis YY.

The loading body 35 presents an oblong structure of a constant transversal section, substantially rectangular with a forward longitudinal end forming a head 36 of a V-shaped cross section with rounded base.

Said loading body 35 is supported by a pair of slides 40 freely moving on guides 41 situated at the top of the structure 11 of the machine at the position of the uprights 14 and 15.

One slide 40 is joined by the bar 45 to the other slide and, by means of the lever 46 balanced on the substantially central pin 47 fixed on the structure of the machine, to the fluido-mechanically operated cylinder 20.

Unit 70 for feeding in and discharging the fabric 100 to be processed consists of a roller 32 at the longitudinal rear end of the loading body 35, diameter and length of said roller being substantially and respectively equal to the thickness and length of said loading body 35.

Around said body 35 comprising the head 36 and roller 32, is a continuous feed belt 37 with articulated net, tension of which can be adjusted by the tightening device 34.

Underneath the loading body 35 is another belt in the form of a continuous net 75 supported at its two ends by front 51 and rear 52 rollers (Figure 3).

The gear wheel 53 is fixed to the end of the rear roller 52.

Below said continuous belt 75 is a speed variator 60 on a bracket 61.

The shaft of said speed variator 60 carries a gear wheel 62.

Passing through the transmissions 65 of guide pulleys 66,67,68, the continuous chain 63 connects gear wheel 62 with gear wheel 53 fixed to the roller 52 and with gear wheel 71 fixed to the rear roller 32 comprised in the structure of the loading body 35.

Adherence between the fabric 100 and head 36 of the loading body 35 is assured both by the roller 25 placed at the ends of the levers 26, turning round the pin 27 in the support 28 fixed to the sructure of the machine, and also because the loading body 35 is formed of a sealed chamber, with holes (see detail in Figure 4) at the head 36 at whose side is the mouth 39 connected by the tube 23 to the fan 24.

Said fan enables the fabric being processed to adhere closely to the head 36 and remain stretched during processing and forward feed.

The fabric being processed 100 therefore penetrates inside the machine supported by the feed belt 37 translating on the loading surface 31 and, after processing, falls down by gravity into the area underneath where it rests on the continuous net conveyor belt 75 supported at its two ends by

rollers 51 and 52 emerging from the machine (in the figures the outgoing fabric is numbered 100').

The abrasion unit 80 comprises the slide 81 to which supports 82, on ball bearings, are fixed, for free rotation of the abrasive shaft 85 pulled, with an elastic joint 86, by a speed variator 90 placed at one end of said slide 81.

Said slide 81 moves freely on the plate 17 by means of rollers 92 and on the guide 83 by means of grooved castors 84.

Said guide 83 and plate 17 are fixed to the structure 11 of the machine.

Translation movement is generated by the fluido-mechanically operated cylinder 95 that presses on the bracket 91 fixed to the slide 81.

It will therefore be seen that, by operating on the speed variator 90 and on the fluido-mechanically operated cylinder 95, the abrasive shaft 85 can be made to rotate and translate axially, as desired, in both directions.

The circular abrasive bodies, such as abrasive bodies 87, for example, shown in the figures, are mounted on said shaft.

Said abrasive bodies can be varied as required in their nature, diameters, centre distances, quantities, positions in relation to the abrasive shaft 85 to form any number of different combinations.

Placed on the abrasive shaft 85 is a hood 22 connected to the fan 21 for removal of abrasive dust.

The machine comprises an electro-electronic unit 105 with programming and control panel 106, and specific software by means of which all move- ments of the machine can be programmed, namely : -feed or stoppage of movement of the fabric 100, -feed speed of the fabric 100, -distance between the fabric 100 and abrasive shaft 85 with abra- sive bodies 87 by moving the loading body 35 in both directions, -rotation speed of the abrasive shaft 85, -translation in both directions or stoppage of the abrasive shaft 85, -translation speed in both directions of the abrasive shaft 85.

An electronic card 107 turns the signals generated by the software into electric pulses which, by means of remote control switches or relays, operate the electric motors of the speed variator 60,90 and the solenoid valves of the fluido-mechanically operated cylinders 20,95.

The loading body 35 operates in the direction, indicated by the axis XX, transversally to the abrasive shaft 85 that may be considered as operating on a YY axis while the feed belt 37 causes the fabric to move vertically during processing on an axis that may be designated as ZZ.

Figures 5 to 9 show the abrasive shaft 85 when working on the fabric 100 to produce geometrical motifs forming, for example, the Greek key pattern 116.

In the stage seen in Figure 5, the abrasive shaft 85 with abrasive bodies 87, is rotating, the fabric 100 is moving forward so that abrasions 111 are created corresponding to the longitudinal sections of this pattern.

The stage seen in Figure 6 is that of the fabric 100 held steady while the abrasive shaft 85 rotates and translates axially to form the crosswise section 112 of the pattern.

In Figure 7 the fabric 100 has resumed its forward movement so that, with rotation of the abrasive shaft 85, the longitudinal sections 113 of the pattern are formed.

In Figure 8, axial translation in the other direction of the abrasive shaft forms section 114 of the key pattern with the fabric held steady.

Figure 9 illustrates termination of the longitudinal section 115 and therefore completion of the whole pattern 116 with the abrasive shaft rotating and the fabric 100 moving forward.

Figure 10 shows how formation of sections 121 of the wavy lines 123 is begun on the fabric 120.

The fabric moves forward while the abrasive shaft 85 rotates and simultaneously translates axially in one of the two directions.

Figure 11 represents a later stage in which fabric feed continues while the abrasive shaft 85 goes on rotating but has reversed direction of its axial translation to produce a reversal 122 of the wave.

Figure 12 shows renewal of the abrasive shaft's axial movement in the first direction to form the final curve similar to the first in the wavy lines 123.

Figure 13 illustrates formation in the fabric 130 of sets of angular lines 140 as seen in the later figure 17.

The fabric 130 advances while the abrasive shaft 85 rotates and translates axially in both directions for a width similar to that of the first part 131 of a first line of angular section 140.

Figure 14 shows completion of the first set of angular sections 140 with the fabric advancing and the abrasive shaft rotating and translating axially alternatingly in either direction to form part 132 of the angular section 140.

Figure 15 represents a position in which the advancing fabric 130 is detached from the abrasive shaft 85, to permit creation of a space 135 between one row of angular sections and the next one.

Figure 16 shows resumption of contact between the fabric 130 and the abrasive shaft that translates axially alternatingly in both directions while simultaneously rotating to form part 136 of a second row of angular sections 140.

Lastly, Figure 17 illustrates the completed pattern.

After a stage of detachment, abrasion of the fabric 130 recommences and produces the third row of angular sections 140.

The fabric 130 advances while the abrasive shaft 85 rotates and translates axially in both directions for a length corresponding to that of the parts 137 of said angular elements 140.