DESCRIPTION

PRODUCTION PROCESS FOR THE FABRIC COATED WITH FLOCK HAVING DESIGNS AND PRINTED WITH TRANSFER PAPER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the production process for the product developed to be used in the upholstering fabric sector in the furniture sector and in the accessories of the furniture sector (as pillow, cushion, etc.). It is obtained by beating the flock dusts on the woven and knitted jacquard, armure or similar fabrics, which are colored with dye and print, by means of the electrostatic flocking method using the adhesive transferred through the rotation template technique. The obtained self finished product is produced with the desired design and color using the transfer printing technique.

PRIOR ART The paper transfer process is carried out with three methods according to the state of the art.

The first method involves carrying out the paper transfer printing process on the fabrics woven from synthetic fibers. Such products have no connection with the present invention, as said method has not involved the use of any flock. According to the second method, the paper transfer printing is employed on the flocked surfaces coated with smooth flock. Such products also have no relation with the process and the product being the subject of the present invention. At the same time, it has no. connection with the part flocking technique. The reason is that in the process developed with the present invention and the product manufactured according to said process, the flocked surface comprises the flock having designs. There are three dimensions. Flocked surfaces receive the paper transfer dye and the other zones where the fabric is visible take on the color of the fabric. In our product according to the present invention, white or colored fabric is used and different visual features are formed. None of said innovations appears in the product where paper transfer printing is applied on the smooth flocked surface.

The third method involves the products obtained by applying the paper transfer printing on the flocked surfaces, which are obtained by applying the smooth flock

followed by using the rotation template technique while the flock is wet and after the flocking, and providing designs through the use of air. Said process is disclosed in the publication no. TR 2002 00721.

As will be understood from the descriptions above, the rotation template technique with design is used in the product according to present invention and the adhesive is provided with design prior to flocking. The adhesive transferred onto the colored or white fabric is continuously flocked and is dried and is subjected to the paper transfer process. A new and different product is obtained as a result of the process developed according to the present invention. AIMS OF THE INVENTION

Until the present, the fabrics have been produced with in different manners according to the methods known in the furniture sector. These comprise respectively the fabrics produced according to the jacquard weaving technique, the chenille fabrics produced according to the armure weaving technique, the fabrics woven with cotton or synthetic yarns and the satin fabrics. As known, these fabrics are the fabrics for upholstery obtained using the weaving or knitting techniques. The difference of the process developed according to the present invention and of the product manufactured by this process is the realization of the application of the flock with design on the fabrics produced according to the known technique followed by employing the transfer paper printing, which is known as a different textile printing technique.

By the process for the production of the fabric coated with flock having designs and printed with the transfer paper developed according to the present invention, natural or colored flock is coated along with designs onto the fabric, which is obtained with various weaving and knitting methods and is colored by dyeing and printing, and the transfer paper printing is applied on the same.

In developing the process for the production of the fabric coated with flock having designs and printed with the transfer paper according to the present invention, the following objects are taken into consideration:

• To obtain the fabrics with design and flock, which feel soft when touched, • to obtain 3 dimensional appearance on the fabric surface with the application of the flock having designs,

• to provide an appearance with multiple colors owing to the transfer paper printing application on the 3 dimensional image on the fabric surface,

• to apply the bright, semi-dull and dull images on the fabric,

• to enable the process to be shorter and easier as compared to the similar printing techniques,

• to enable the fabrics, which are not possible to dye in multiple colors by the wet print technique, and the fabrics, which have a surface coated with flock having designs, to be dyed,

• to make it possible to see the texture and the color of the fabric used on the floor and hence, to add more color and depth to the finished product.

The product manufactured by the process according to the invention may be used as the upholstering fabric in the furniture sector, and it is also possible to use the same in the sub sectors of the furniture sector.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES THAT ILLUSTRATE THE INVENTION

The figures are prepared and included in the attachment, in order to better explain the process for the production of the fabric coated with flock having designs and printed with the transfer paper developed according to the present invention. Below are the descriptions for the figures:

Figure 1 - Rotation Template Flocking Unit Figure 2 - Transfer Paper Printing Unit Figure 3 - Drum unit DESCRIPTION OF THE ELEMENTS (SECTIONS-PARTS-COMPONENTS) THAT COMPRISE THE INVENTION

The members (elements-parts-components) included in the figures are assigned with separate reference numerals, in order to better explain the process for the production of the fabric coated with flock having designs and printed with the transfer paper developed according to the present invention, and the definition and the description are provided below for each section/component with a given reference number.

1. Fabric woven or knitted by different techniques

2. J-box

3. Rotation template with design 4. Flocking unit

5. Drying oven

6. Flocked fabric

7. Transfer paper with design

8. Cooling cylinder 9. Dock

10. Fabric colored with flock having designs and with transfer paper

11. Bath

12. Pressing cylinders

13. Drum unit 14. Flocked and drum-applied fabric

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The process for the production of the fabric coated with flock having designs and printed with the transfer paper developed according to the present invention comprises the following steps.

• In order to transfer the design to be flocked onto the fabric (1) woven or knitted with different techniques and colored with dye or print, transferring the natural or colored adhesive (glue) onto the same using the rotation template (3) method in harmony with the design, • flocking the fabric (1), onto which the adhesive with design has been transferred, using natural and colored flock with design,

• printing the desired paper transfer design on the fabric, using the transfer print technique.

The fabric (1) woven or knitted with different techniques is passed through the sewing machine J-box (2) (J-box is used to accumulate the fabric) and is taken to rotation template with design (3). Rotation template with design (3) transfers onto the fabric the adhesive with desired design. Here, the adhesive inside the template with design is transferred in wet form and in desired quantity from the template onto the fabric, by means of scraper.

The fabric, onto which the adhesive with design has been transferred by means of the rotation template with design, is continuously taken to the flock unit (4) that applies the flock. In this unit (4), the natural or colored flock fibers cut to certain length (said length is between 0,3 - 5,0 mm and 0,9 - 9 dtex) and denier and loaded into the reservoirs enter the electrostatic field as they are dropped downwards with the help of the sieve and the brushes. Meanwhile, under the influence of the electrical force, these are stuck in the adhesives with design located on the fabric (1) continuously coming from the rotation machine (3), and thus the flocking process is completed. Here the flocks, which are stuck by means of the electrostatic method in the fields where there are present the adhesives with design, then enter the drying oven (5) and are dried. They are then passed through the brushing unit and the flocked fabric (6) is thus obtained, which is ready for the transfer paper printing.

The flocked fabric (6) is conveyed to the transfer paper printing section. In the transfer paper printing, the paper with design (7) to be transferred and the fabric (6) are directed on a blanket towards the cylinder that will perform the transfer printing. The exterior of this cylinder is wrapped with a felt and they rotate together, and the cylinder contains a resistance with electricity and red hot oil that provides heat outside. Resistance provides a heat up to 220 degrees. The transfer paper (7) and the fabric (6) that arrive on the blanket pass from the transfer printing cylinder, the desired design is transferred onto the fabric by means of sublimation at 220 degrees, then the fabric passes from the cooling cylinders (8) and wrapped onto the dock (9). The transfer printing paper separated from the fabric is wrapped at a different location. In this way, the finished product (10) is obtained.

In the drum process, the flocked fabric (10) coming out of the flocking machine is first passed through the bath (11). According to the method being employed, the dyeing process is applied using the dye with or without silicone. Then it is passed through the pressing unit (12) to remove the excess of liquid. Afterwards, it enters the drum machine (13) for surface finishing and soft touch. After the drum machine, the final product (14) subjected to flocking and the drum processes is obtained.