System for making a pile fabric

Abstract

A system (1) for making a pile fabric (100), comprising a base fabric (2), a plurality of textile fibres (3); feeding means (4) configured to feed said textile fibres (3) along a direction (D) perpendicular to said base fabric (2), and to allow the penetration and anchoring of said textile fibres (3) on said base fabric (2) so that said textile fibres (3) can emerge from it; cutting and adjusting means (5) configured to act on said textile fibres (3) in an emerging stretch thereof so as to allow cutting and adjusting the length of said textile fibres (3).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for making a pile fabric.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a related pile fabric.

[0003] A pile fabric is understood to mean, for example, a fur or any fabric that has a textile base and a plurality of hairs or fibres, for example of natural or synthetic origin, fixed to it and emerging from it in such a way as to simulate an animal fur.

[0004] To date, systems for making such pile fabrics comprise a blower configured to blow natural or synthetic fibres onto a base fabric, so that these fibres go into and bond with that base fabric, emerging from it to generate the aforementioned fur.

[0005] Some known systems, in the case of using heat-shrinkable synthetic fibre, also involve the presence of thermoregulation means at the finishing stage to adjust the length of such heat-shrinkable synthetic fibres.

[0006] A heat-shrinkable fibre is understood to mean a fibre that, when subjected to a heat source, such as a flame or hot air, retracts itself by adjusting its length.

[0007] In this way, a homogeneous product can be obtained in production.

[0008] Known systems involving the use of heat-shrinkable synthetic fibres and related means of thermoregulation provide a good solution, which however is not free from drawbacks.

[0009] In fact, the use of synthetic fibres does not always guarantee optimal performance either to the touch or to the sight of a user.

[0010] Systems are also known to use natural fibres (hence, not heat-shrinkable) to make such pile fabrics. However, even these known systems involve some important drawbacks.

[0011] One drawback of such known systems is that they do not allow the length of the natural fibres to be adjusted during the first stage of fabric production.

[0012] This means that the final product has a pile characterized by fibres of different lengths, as shown in figure 3.

[0013] Therefore, known systems do not make it possible to make available a solution that ensures adequate realization, either in terms of aesthetics or the feel of the final product.

[0014] Another drawback of known systems is that they often do not allow for optimal removal (during production) of hairs that are not adequately anchored to the base fabric, resulting in an unpleasant and inconvenient loss of hairs during a consumer's use of the final product obtained.

[0015] In some cases, shearing machines are also known to be used at a later production stage to carry out finishing operations aimed at adjusting the height of the hair emerging from the base fabric.

[0016] These shearing machines basically allow for the pulverization of the excess hair stretch so that the height of the hair can be adjusted.

[0017] An example of known solutions is given by the document US2020048810 A1.

[0018] Known solutions allow for good adjustment but are not without drawbacks.

[0019] In particular, the use of a shearing machine entails the drawback of preventing the recovery of the discarded raw material, since the excess hair is reduced to powder.

[0020] This prevents a circular economy from being achieved.

[0021] A further drawback of such systems comprising shearing machines is that they do not always allow for quick and targeted operations.

[0022] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system for making a pile fabric and a related pile fabric capable of solving the aforementioned drawbacks of the state of the art. Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for making a pile fabric and a related pile fabric such as to guarantee optimal production quality, in particular by optimizing and adjusting the height of the fibres emerging from the textile base. Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for making a pile fabric and a related pile fabric capable of reducing the dispersion of waste into the environment. Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for making a pile fabric and a related pile fabric capable of guaranteeing a final product optimized in terms of aesthetics and touch.

[0023] According to the invention, these objects and others are achieved by a system for making a pile fabric and a related pile fabric comprising the technical characteristics described in the attached claims.

[0024] The technical characteristics of the invention, according to the above objects, are clearly described in the attached claims and its advantages are evident from the detailed description that follows, with reference to the attached drawings that illustrate nonlimiting exemplary embodiments thereof, wherein: Figure 1 illustrates a schematic side view of a system for making a pile fabric according to the present invention, Figure 2 illustrates a schematic side view of a pile fabric according to the present invention, and Figure 3 illustrates a schematic side view of a pile fabric made with a system known in the state of the art.

[0025] With reference to the attached figure 1, the reference number 1 indicates a system for making a 100% pile fabric, hereinafter also referred to simply as system 1.

[0026] The system 1 object of the present invention comprises a base fabric 2 presenting a specific weave.

[0027] By weave is meant specifically a weave of warp and weft threads (substantially in the form of a net) or a mesh, which defines the base fabric 2 itself.

[0028] The base fabric 2 comprises a visible surface 21 and an internal surface 22.

[0029] The system 1 comprises a plurality of textile fibres 3, i.e. of natural or synthetic origin, to be fed to feeding means 4 (discussed in the following description).

[0030] It is intended that such fibres 3 may also include portions of threads or yarns.

[0031] Advantageously, the textile fibres 3 used in the present invention are of the non-heat-shrinkable type. The absence of the shrinkage characteristic of the textile fibres used in the present invention prevents the risk of obtaining a final product with inadequate quality (for example, there is a high risk that such heat-shrinkable fibres exposed to heat sources may stick to the surrounding fibres, giving the final product an inadequate visual effect).

[0032] The system 1 object of the present invention comprises feeding means 4 facing the internal surface 22 of the base fabric 2.

[0033] The feeding means 4 are configured to feed the textile fibres 3 along a direction D perpendicular to the base fabric, so as to allow the penetration and anchoring of the textile fibres 3 on the weave of the base fabric 2 so that the textile fibres 3 themselves can emerge from the visible surface 21.

[0034] Specifically, by feeding means 4 is meant any technology known to enable the attachment (binding) of textile fibres 3 (natural or synthetic) to the base fabric 2.

[0035] Advantageously, the system 1 comprises means of retaining the base fabric 2 to keep it in a position perpendicular to the aforementioned direction D. Advantageously, the feeding means 4 are movable along a direction Y perpendicular to the direction D.

[0036] This allows the textile fibres 3 to be fed over the entire surface of the base fabric 2.

[0037] According to a further embodiment, the system 1 comprises moving means of the base fabric 2 (not illustrated) to move it on a plane perpendicular to this direction D, so as to allow the feeding of these textile fibres 3 over the entire surface of the base fabric 2 itself.

[0038] The system 1 object of the present invention comprises cutting and adjusting means 5 configured to act on the textile fibres 3 in a stretch thereof emerging from the visible surface 21 of the base fabric 2 so as to allow cutting and adjusting the length (height) of the textile fibres 3 themselves.

[0039] Allowing the length of the fibers 3 textiles to be adjusted during the production process makes it possible to optimize the qualitative success of the final product.

[0040] Advantageously, the cutting means 5 can be moved along the aforementioned direction D so as to adjust the length (height) of the stretch cut from the textile fibres 3.

[0041] Alternatively, the moving means(not illustrated) of the base fabric 2, allow the movement of the same along this direction D so as to adjust the length of the cut of the textile fibres 3.

[0042] Advantageously, the system 1 object of the present invention comprises a first 6 vacuum facing the visible surface 21 of the base fabric 2.

[0043] This first 6 vacuum is able to keep the textile fibres 3 in tension by arranging them in a position substantially parallel to the direction D, when they are anchored on the weave of the base fabric 2.

[0044] This allows to optimize the cutting of these textile fibres 3 ensuring a homogeneous cut (at the same length for each fibre 3) and allowing a clean cut.

[0045] Being able to make a clean cut also allows for the possibility of recovering waste material, ensuring a circular economy and promoting the reuse of discarded raw material (portions of fibres 3).

[0046] Advantageously also, the first 6 vacuum is arranged to suck up textile fibers 3 along the D direction. Basically, the first 6 vacuum is arranged on the same line of action as the feeding means 4, so as to act in the opposite direction to them.

[0047] This allows to further optimize the cutting of the textile fibres 3.

[0048] The combined action of the feeding means 4 and the first 6 vacuum also allows to suck up and pull away from the base fabric 2 all those textile fibres 3 that are not adequately anchored to the weave of the base fabric 2 itself.

[0049] This avoids the possibility that at a later time, such as when a user makes use of the end product, it will go on to unpleasantly release hairs into the surrounding environment or onto the user.

[0050] Advantageously, the first 6 vacuum is movable along the Y direction.

[0051] According to this embodiment, the feeding means 4 and the first 6 vacuum move simultaneously so as to act constantly on the same line of action, i.e. on the same stretch of the base fabric 2.

[0052] As mentioned, according to a further embodiment, the feeding means 4 and the first 6 vacuum are in a fixed position and the base fabric 2 is moved by means of special movement means (not illustrated).

[0053] Cutting and adjusting the height of textiles fibres 3 results in the generation of waste portions 31. Advantageously, the system 1 comprises a second 7 vacuum suitable for sucking up the waste portions 31. This allows the dispersion of waste into the environment to be limited.

[0054] Doing so also further optimizes a circular economy by encouraging the reuse of waste material.

[0055] A further embodiment solution provides for the first 6 and second 7 vacuum to be integrated into the same containment body.

[0056] A further object of the present invention is a pile fabric 100.

[0057] The pile fabric 100 is made using the system 1.

[0058] With reference to figure 2, the pile fabric 100 according to the invention comprises a base fabric 2. This base fabric 2 has a specific weave, a visible surface 21 and an internal surface 22.

[0059] The pile fabric 100 also comprises a plurality of natural fibres 3 fixed on the weave of the base fabric 2.

[0060] Each of these textile fibres 3 is able to emerge from the visible surface 21 for a length equal and homogeneous to that of the remaining textile fibres 3. This gives the final product optimized technical and aesthetic characteristics.

[0061] This characteristic is ensured by the use of the first vacuum 6 at the fabric making stage.

[0062] As explained above, the ability to keep the textile fibres in tension during cutting allows for a clean and precise cut, and a resulting homogeneous pile fabric.

[0063] In fact, a regular and homogeneous length (height) of the emerging textile 3 fibres makes it possible to limit their detachment in use, while at the same time ensuring optimal visual impact.

[0064] Advantageously, the textile fibres 3 are of the non-heat-shrinkable type.

[0065] Advantageously, the base fabric 2 also comprises natural fibre.

[0066] Alternatively, the base fabric 2 comprises synthetic fibre.

[0067] Alternatively, the base fabric 2 comprises a mixture of natural fibre and synthetic fibre.

[0068] The system for making a pile fabric and related pile fabric according to the present invention allows to solve the drawbacks of the state of the art and to solve important advantages.

[0069] A first advantage of the system for making a pile fabric and related pile fabric according to the present invention is that it allows optimizing the adjustment of the fibres emerging from the base fabric, ensuring that an optimal pile is obtained from a technical and aesthetic point of view.

[0070] Another advantage of the system for making a pile fabric and related pile fabric according to the present invention is that it allows to limit the dispersion of fibres into the environment.

[0071] Another advantage of the system for making a pile fabric and related pile fabric according to the present invention is that it allows the recovery of the discarded raw material, promoting a circular economy. Another advantage of the system for making a pile fabric and related pile fabric according to the present invention is that it enables rapid, targeted and efficient manufacturing operations, ensuring optimized timing and low cost (costs also aided by raw material recovery).

Claims

1. A system (1) for making a pile fabric (100), comprising: - a base fabric (2) having a predetermined weave, said base fabric comprising a visible surface (21) and an inner surface (22); - a plurality of textile fibres (3); - means (4) for feeding said fibres (3), facing said inner surface (22) of said base fabric (2), said feeding means (4) being configured for feeding said textile fibres (3) along a direction (D) perpendicular to said base fabric (2) in such a way as to allow a penetration and an anchoring of said textile fibres (3) on said weave of said base fabric (2) in such a way that said fibres (3) can emerge from said visible surface (21); - cutting and adjusting means (5) configured for acting on said textile fibres (3) in a relative stretch emerging from said visible surface (21), in such a way as to allow the cutting and adjusting of the length of said textile fibres (3) emerging from said base fabric (2), said system (1) being characterized in that it comprises a first vacuum (6) facing said visible surface (21) of said base fabric (2) .

2. The system (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said first (6) vacuum is arranged so as to suck up said textile fibres (3) along said direction (D).

3. The system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein cutting and adjusting said textile fibres (3) involves the generation of waste portions (31) and characterized in that it comprises a second (7) vacuum suitable for aspirating said waste portions (31).

4. The system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said feeding means (4) are movable along a direction (Y) perpendicular to said direction (D).

5. The system (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said first (6) vacuum is movable along said direction (Y).

6. The system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cutting means (5) are adjustable along said direction (D) so as to adjust the length of the stretch cut from said textile fibres (3).

7. A pile fabric (100) comprising: - a base fabric (2) having a given weave, a visible surface (21) and an internal surface (22); - a plurality of textile fibres (3) fixed on said given weave of said base fabric (2); each of said textile fibres (3) being able to emerge from said visible surface (21) for a length equal and homogeneous to that of the remaining of said textile fibres (3), said pile fabric (100) being made using system 1.

8. The fabric (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said textile fibres (3) are of a non-heat-shrinkable type.

9. The fabric (100) according to one of claims 7 and 8, characterized in that said base fabric (2) comprises natural or synthetic fibre or a mixture of said natural and synthetic fibre.

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