Plant for the treatment of leather, textiles, imitation leather and the like

Abstract

An apparatus (1) for the treatment of leather, fabrics, synthetic leathers and the like, which comprises a device (2) for feeding a ribbon-like element (10) to a treatment assembly (20, 21) configured to perform a treatment at at least one portion of a surface (11) of the ribbon-like element (10), and means for movement of the ribbon-like element (10) toward the treatment assembly (20, 21) along a movement direction (100) substantially parallel to the direction of extension of the ribbon-like element (10), there being at least one cleaning device (30) arranged upstream of the at least one treatment assembly (20, 21) and comprising at least one cleaning roller (31) with an adhesive lateral surface (31a) that is designed, in at least one working condition, to come into contact with the surface (11) of the ribbon-like element (10), and a washing device (40) for the lateral surface (31a) which is configured to wash with a fluid the lateral surface (31a) so as to remove the dirt transferred from the at least one portion of the surface (11) onto the lateral surface (31a).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for the treatment of leather, fabrics, synthetic leathers and the like.

[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning ribbon-like elements in apparatuses for the treatment and / or the finishing of leather, fabrics, synthetic leathers and the like, such as for example lines for spreading, printing, lacquering, embossing and bonding.

[0003] Spreading processes consist of depositing a chemical product uniformly on a ribbon-like element.

[0004] Typically, a spreading apparatus is constituted by an unwinder, from which a ribbon-like element to be treated is unwound, by one or more cleaning devices, by one or more spreading devices, by one or more ovens, by one or more cooling assemblies, by a removal assembly and by a wrapping assembly.

[0005] Print and lacquering apparatuses are normally made up of an unwinder of the product to be treated; a cleaning system arranged upstream of each print head; print heads (rotogravure, flexographic, reverse, etc.) whose function is to deposit the chemical product; respective ovens arranged downstream of each print head; cooling assemblies arranged downstream of each oven; and a wrapping assembly.

[0006] The function of the embossing lines is to impress a pattern and / or a print plate on the ribbon-like material to be treated, and they are generally constituted by an unwinder, a cleaning system, an assembly for preheating the material, a heating system, an embossing unit, a cooling assembly and the wrapping unit.

[0007] The function of the bonding lines is to bond two or more layers of material, and they are generally constituted by two or more unwinders associated with optional cleaning systems, a bonding system, a cooling system and a wrapping unit.

[0008] In all these processes the presence of dust, fluff or lint, insects, residues of previous processes, etc. can compromise the outcome of the process or of the treatment, resulting in discarded products.

[0009] Conventional cleaning systems can be of the contact type, in which the cleaning element is in contact with the ribbon-like element to be cleaned, or of the non-contact type, in which the cleaning element is not in contact with the ribbon-like element.

[0010] Current cleaning systems of the contact type can use brushes, or they can use a roller and an adhesive-treated counter-roller.

[0011] In the first case (shown schematically in Figure 2), a brush 61, which can be longitudinal or transverse to the direction of extension of the ribbon-like element, acts mechanically to directly remove the dirt from the ribbon.

[0012] In the second case (shown schematically in Figure 3), a capture roller 62 is positioned in contact with the ribbon-like element and, by way of an adhesive-treated surface, removes the dirt and retains it.

[0013] In this case, a second, cleaning roller 60, covered with an adhesive-treated sheet 60a, removes the dirt from the capture roller.

[0014] Periodically the operator has to remove the adhesive-treated sheet 60a from the cleaning roller 60 and use the adhesive-treated surface of the next sheet underneath the adhesive-treated sheet 60a. This operation is repeated until the adhesive-treated sheets are depleted.

[0015] This solution, although valid from the point of view of effectiveness, presents some critical issues, especially from the point of view of costs and management.

[0016] In fact, the periodic substitution of the adhesive-treated sheet needs to be performed by the operator and often entails a considerable cost.

[0017] The aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for the treatment of leather, fabrics, synthetic leathers and the like which is capable of improving the known art in one or more of the above-mentioned aspects.

[0018] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to make available an apparatus for the treatment of leather, fabrics, synthetic leathers and the like that makes it possible to manage the cleaning of the ribbon-like element very effectively and economically.

[0019] Not least an object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for the treatment of leather, fabrics, synthetic leathers and the like that is highly reliable, easy to implement and at low cost.

[0020] This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by an apparatus for the treatment of leather, fabrics, synthetic leathers and the like according to claim 1, optionally provided with one or more of the characteristics of the dependent claims.

[0021] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description that follows of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the apparatus for the treatment of leather, fabrics, synthetic leathers and the like according to the invention, which is illustrated for the purposes of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 shows an apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view of a first conventional embodiment of a cleaning device; Figure 3 is a schematic view of a second conventional embodiment of a cleaning device; Figure 4 is a schematic side view of a cleaning device of the apparatus according to the invention in the working condition; Figure 5 is a schematic side view of the cleaning device in the washing condition; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the cleaning device in the washing condition; Figure 7 is an enlarged-scale view of the cleaning device of Figure 6; Figure 8 shows a variation of embodiment of the cleaning device.

[0022] With reference to the figures, the apparatus according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises an apparatus for the treatment of leather, fabrics, synthetic leathers and the like.

[0023] The apparatus 1 comprises a device 2 for feeding a ribbon-like element 10 to a treatment assembly 20, 21 configured to perform a treatment at at least one portion of a surface or face 11 of the ribbon-like element 10.

[0024] The feeding device 2 comprises, for example, an unwinding assembly which comprises at least one roller 2a around which the ribbon-like element 10 to be treated is wound.

[0025] The apparatus 1 comprises means for movement of the ribbon-like element 10 toward the treatment assembly 20, 21 along a movement direction 100 substantially parallel to the direction of extension of said ribbon-like element 10.

[0026] According to the invention, the apparatus 1 comprises at least one cleaning device 30 arranged upstream of the treatment assembly 20, 21.

[0027] The cleaning device 30 comprises at least one cleaning roller 31 which has an adhesive lateral surface 31a which is designed, in at least one working condition, to come into contact with the surface 11 of the ribbon-like element 10.

[0028] The cleaning device 30 further comprises a washing device 40 for the lateral surface 31. The washing device 40 is configured to wash the lateral surface 31 with a fluid so as to remove the dirt transferred from at least one portion of the surface 11 onto the aforementioned lateral surface 31.

[0029] According to a preferred practical embodiment, the treatment assembly 20, 21 is chosen from the group comprising: a spreading assembly; a printing assembly; a lacquering assembly; an embossing assembly; a bonding assembly; or combinations thereof.

[0030] Conveniently, the washing device 40 comprises at least one nozzle 41 for the emission of the washing fluid.

[0031] In particular, the washing fluid is chosen from the group comprising: a gas; a liquid; an aqueous solution; a solvent-based solution.

[0032] Advantageously, the cleaning roller 31 is adapted to pass on command from the working condition (shown in Figure 4), in which its lateral surface 31a is in contact with the surface 11 of the ribbon-like element 10, to a washing condition (shown in Figure 5), in which at least one nozzle 41 sends the washing fluid toward the lateral surface 31a.

[0033] In more detail, the washing device 40 comprises a drying device 51 which can be activated on command to dry the washed lateral surface 31a.

[0034] The cleaning roller 31 has its axis 101 arranged substantially at right angles to the direction of extension of the ribbon-like element 10.

[0035] Preferably, drive means 42 are provided for the movement on command of the cleaning roller 31 about the axis 101, at least in the washing condition.

[0036] The cleaning device 30 further comprises means for movement on command 43 of the cleaning roller 31 from the working condition to the washing condition and vice versa. Conveniently, the means for movement on command 43 can comprise a pneumatic cylinder.

[0037] With reference to the variation of embodiment shown in Figure 8, it is possible for the washing device 40 to further comprise a removal element 60 for removal of the dirt from the lateral surface 31a of the cleaning roller 31 that comes into contact with the lateral surface 31a in the washing condition.

[0038] Advantageously, the removal element 60 is configured as a brush.

[0039] In this regard, it is possible in this case for the washing fluid to be sent directly onto the lateral surface 31a, but also to the removal element 60, for example by positioning a tub in which the removal element 60 can pick up the washing fluid.

[0040] The operation of the cleaning device 30 according to the invention is the following.

[0041] The ribbon-like element 10 is unwound by a roller 2a in the unwinding assembly 2 and is then sent to a treatment assembly 20, 21 which comprises, for example, a spreading assembly, a printing assembly, a lacquering assembly, an embossing assembly, a bonding assembly, i.e. combinations thereof.

[0042] Upstream of the treatment assembly 20, 21, the ribbon-like element 10, and in particular at least one surface 11 thereof, comes into contact with the adhesive lateral surface 31a, which removes the dirt from the surface 11.

[0043] Cyclically, the cleaning roller 30 is brought from the working condition to the washing condition (shown in Figure 5).

[0044] In this washing condition, the nozzle or nozzles 41 squirt a fluid against the lateral surface 31a, so as to remove the dirt thereon.

[0045] In this manner, the cleaning roller 30 can be returned to the working condition (shown in Figure 4) in order to perform the cleaning of the surface 11.

[0046] In practice it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects by providing an apparatus for the treatment of leather and the like that is extremely practical and has low running costs.

[0047] The invention, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

[0048] Thus, for example, it is possible for the apparatus 1 to comprise more than one cleaning device 30 arranged upstream of the treatment assembly 20, 21 so as to enable continuous operation over time of cleaning the ribbon-like element 10.

[0049] In this case, in fact, at least one cleaning device 30 is in the working condition, while at least one other cleaning device is in the washing condition.

[0050] In practice the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use, and the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

[0051] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, such reference signs have been inserted for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. An apparatus (1) for the treatment of leather, fabrics, synthetic leathers and the like, which comprises a device (2) for feeding a ribbon-like element (10) to a treatment assembly (20, 21) configured to perform a treatment at at least one portion of a surface (11) of said ribbon-like element (10), and means for movement of said ribbon-like element (10) toward said treatment assembly (20, 21) along a movement direction (100) substantially parallel to the direction of extension of said ribbon-like element (10), there being at least one cleaning device (30) arranged upstream of said at least one treatment assembly (20, 21) and comprising at least one cleaning roller (31) with an adhesive lateral surface (31a) that is designed, in at least one working condition, to come into contact with said surface (11) of said ribbon-like element (10), characterized in that it comprises a washing device (40) for said lateral surface (31a) which is configured to wash said lateral surface (31a) with a fluid so as to remove the dirt transferred from said at least one portion of said surface (11) onto said lateral surface (31a).

2. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said treatment assembly (20, 21) is chosen from the group comprising: - a spreading assembly; - a printing assembly; - a lacquering assembly; - an embossing assembly; - a bonding assembly; or combinations thereof.

3. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said washing device (40) for said lateral surface (31a) comprises at least one nozzle (41) for the emission of said washing fluid, said washing fluid being chosen from the group comprising: - a gas; - a liquid; - an aqueous solution; - a solvent-based solution.

4. The apparatus (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one cleaning roller (31) is adapted to pass on command from at least said working condition, in which its lateral surface (31a) comes into contact with said surface (11) of said ribbon-like element (10), to a washing condition, in which said at least one nozzle sends said washing fluid toward said lateral surface (31a).

5. The apparatus (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said washing device (40) comprises a drying device (51) which can be activated on command to dry said washed lateral surface (31a).

6. The apparatus (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cleaning roller (31) has its axis (101) arranged substantially at right angles to the direction of extension of said ribbon-like element (10), drive means (42) being provided for the movement on command of said cleaning roller (31) about the axis (101) at least in said washing condition.

7. The apparatus (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for movement (43), on command, of said at least one cleaning roller (30) from said working condition to said washing condition and vice versa.

8. The apparatus (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises one or more cleaning devices (30) arranged upstream of the at least one treatment assembly (20, 21) in order to allow a continuous operational capability over time of the cleaning of the ribbon-like element (10), at least one cleaning device (30) being in the working condition while at least one other cleaning device is in the washing condition.

9. The apparatus (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said washing device (40) comprises at least one element for removal (60) of dirt from the lateral surface (31a) of said cleaning roller (31) that comes into contact with said lateral surface (3 1a) in said washing condition.

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