METHOD FOR ENHANCING AND STAMPING LEATHER

Abstract

A method for manufacturing an improved and stamped laminar support element, in particular leather, by applying several layers over the surface of the leather, including an aqueous base coat and a lacquer layer, and partially removing water and / or solvent from said layers, followed by stamping and optionally further drying.

Description

METHOD FOR ENHANCING AND STAMPING LEATHER DESCRIPTIVE MEMORANDUM The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an improved and stamped sheet support element, generally leather, by applying several layers of synthetic material to the support element and partially removing water from these layers, followed by stamping and optionally further drying. In particular, the invention relates to a method for improving and stamping leathers that are not of the highest quality. The invention also relates to a system for implementing said method, in addition to the product obtained by said method and / or said system. As is well known, leather is widely used in various sectors, such as automotive, furniture, clothing, and footwear. Among the different types of leather, the most expensive part, known as full-grain leather or pure grain leather, is especially prized for its softness and pleasant feel. Leather embossing is often used to create a pattern, which may imitate the characteristics of another animal's skin, such as snake or crocodile, or the characteristics of full-grain leather (in cases where split or corrected-grain leather is used instead), or it may be an artistic pattern that does not imitate a leather characteristic. Embossing is generally done in a printing operation using roller presses or plates. In the current standard process of manufacturing stamped leather, the bark is first treated with a series of finishing coatings, which generally comprise one or more layers of base coat and a top coat, then dried and then stamped, so large intervals of time between finishing the leather and the stamping step are possible. With only perfectly smooth leather good enough for the apparel, accessories, and home furnishings industries, tanners and manufacturers face increasing demand for high-end, premium leather. But there is a limit to the available raw material. Therefore, tanners and manufacturers have been looking for ways to improve standard leather and make it suitable for high-end applications. This is what is technically called leather enhancement—hiding or eliminating grain defects in lower-quality, standard leather; the results can be indistinguishable from unadjusted, premium leather. Technological upgrade solutions have been developed that can turn defective, average leather into excellent leather. Applying enhancement products to the leather substrate can The h7 10 / i7P7 / E / YI process masks almost any type of grain defect. This increases the quality of the leather and the usable surface area. The result is a higher yield of smooth, modern leather with a natural feel and classic elegance. The benefits of leather enhancement include: higher quality leather with a distinctive look and feel; high customer satisfaction; and more efficient use of raw hides with increased cutting yield. Often, finishing is done to conceal damage, such as cuts and holes, in hides, leather, or bark. This typically involves applying a coating to the surface of the hide, leather, or bark, followed by drying, which involves reducing the coating's thickness in the damaged areas, and then polishing to achieve a smooth surface so that the original damage is ideally no longer visible. The finishing step is usually performed before applying topcoats and embossing. During the stamping stage, the leather and its coating layers are subjected to high pressure (250 to 300 bar) and high temperature (100 to 110 °C), which significantly reduces the leather's thickness (by approximately 0.1 to 0.2 mm) and compacts its structure. However, this stamping stage deteriorates the leather's characteristic softness or haptic properties and increases its stiffness. Therefore, according to established techniques, additional steps are necessary to give the leather a more pleasant and softer feel. These steps typically involve treatment in a specialized system, such as stretching, rolling, or equivalent processes. This standard production method has some disadvantages. A primary disadvantage is the fact that enhancement and stamping result in an undesirable stiffness of the leather product, and furthermore, this stiffness is not evenly distributed throughout a piece of leather, since the enhanced parts in the previously visible damaged areas contain more layers of enhancement and are therefore stiffer than the previously intact leather parts. A second disadvantage is that the improvement layer or layers applied to the leather also contribute to increasing the overall thickness, thus affecting the flexibility, softness, and / or haptics of the final leather product. A third disadvantage is that the repaired areas of previously visible damage may remain visible in the final leather product unless a thicker finishing coat is applied, diminishing its natural feel. Furthermore, uneven penetration of layers into the leather product can result in uneven grain breakage, creating an undesirable appearance. A fourth disadvantage is that several process steps are needed to obtain the final leather product, so there may be several interruptions between successive steps. Rl h7 I n / I 7n7 / E / Yl· production. This limits the production speed and increases production costs. EP 3097230 (WO2015 / 110953) describes a method and system for improving substandard leathers. The system employs a release paper, which contains the reverse embossing pattern and is first coated with a lacquer to protect it and facilitate its subsequent removal. The coated release paper is pressed against a partially dried layer of leather, or a layer on another substrate, and after a drying stage, the release paper, including the lacquer layer, is removed to obtain the final product. JPS51559 describes a method for producing decorative plywood with an uneven, three-dimensional pattern, achieved by applying a pattern to a coating that has only been partially dried. However, the pattern on the coating is applied using printing paper. ITUA20161537A1 describes a method in which a pattern is converted into a coating on leather using a cylinder. However, the description is very general and does not specifically describe materials or process conditions. ITUA20161537A1 uses thermo-expandable polymers, which are applied to the leather and then allowed to dry completely. A topcoat is then applied and dried, and a thermoforming cylinder is used to create the embossed pattern, which involves the expansion of the thermo-expandable polymers. The requirement for a thermo-expandable polymer is clearly a significant limitation. Some of the disadvantages mentioned above are resolved, or partially resolved, by the method and system described in EP 3097230, but this method and system also has several other disadvantages. The first disadvantage is that using a release paper introduces a limitation on the depth of embossing because the height of the reverse pattern on a release paper is small. This is a disadvantage because deep embossed leather represents the largest share of the embossed leather market. A second disadvantage is that when using a release paper, the embossing pattern depends on the availability of patterns on such release papers. In general, a greater variety of embossing patterns are available from embossing plates or embossing cylinders, such as rotary embossing rollers.A third disadvantage is that when using release paper, changing the pattern to be printed is cumbersome because it involves changing the rolls of release paper. A fourth disadvantage is that release paper can tear easily, causing production interruptions. A fifth disadvantage is that release paper is expensive, making it desirable to clean and remove the varnish layer from the release paper, which is an additional processing step. A sixth disadvantage is that the lacquer layer must be removed from the release paper, which consumes glue or adhesive tape. Al h7 LO / LZnZ / B / Yli The object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing an improved, stamped, sheet-like backing element, particularly leather, that does not have the disadvantages mentioned above. Specifically, in the present invention, a protective sheet is used, which is removed after stamping and drying are complete, and the pattern on the backing is achieved by applying pressure using a stamping plate, a stamping cylinder, or a stamping press roller. In the present invention, any aqueous polymer dispersion can be used as the backing, which is partially dried before stamping, and therefore the polymer in the backing is not limited to thermoexpandable polymers. In particular, a first object of the present invention is to provide a method for obtaining a product that is softer and more pleasant to the touch compared to analogous products manufactured using known techniques or compared to the method and system described in EP 3097230. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for obtaining deep embossed leather that is not possible using the method and system described in EP 3097230. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method that makes it possible to easily select and exchange stamping patterns, which is not possible using the method and system described in EP 3097230. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method that allows a wide selection of base layer only taking into account the final properties of the final leather product without having to take into account that said base layer must be printable as required in analogous products manufactured by known techniques or by the method and system described in EP 3097230. The present invention provides a method for manufacturing an improved and stamped laminar support element, comprising a support element, in particular leather, provided with at least one improvement layer, comprising the following steps: - apply at least one layer of a water-based coating to the surface of a support element; - treat said at least one layer so that between 20% and 80% of the amount of water and optional solvent initially present evaporates from said at least one layer; - apply at least one coat of lacquer over the dried layer; - treat said at least one layer of lacquer so that between 20% and 80% of the amount of water and / or solvent initially present evaporates from said lacquer layer; - apply at least one layer of foil over the dried lacquer layer; - exert pressure on the combination of the support element provided with Rl h7 I n / I 7n7 / E / Yl· said water-based coating layer, said lacquer layer and said foil layer in such a way as to enhance the coated surface with morphological characteristics wherein the means for applying said pressure comprise a relief pattern, and is preferably a stamping cylinder, a stamping plate or a rotary stamping roller; - remove at least one layer of film; - optionally further drying of the combination of support element provided with said water-based coating layer and said lacquer layer from which the foil layer has been removed; - Optionally apply at least one layer of topcoat and dry further. The support element to be subjected to the finishing treatment according to the present invention is generally an improved support element that, at the end of the treatment, has special characteristics, particularly aesthetic ones. Suitable support elements include textile products such as any natural and / or synthetic and / or blended fabric, including leather and PVC, but may also be cardboard. Preferably, the support element is made of leather (leather, hide derived from leather processing, reconstituted leather, etc.), generally of lower quality. At least one layer of water-based coating is preferably applied by spraying, but can also be applied by roller or padding. Preferably, the water-based coating applied to the surface of the substrate is based on an aqueous polyurethane dispersion, an aqueous polyacrylate dispersion, a hybrid thereof, or a mixture thereof, wherein the presence of a co-solvent is optional and preferably further comprises pigments, a thickener, and additional water to achieve a lower solids content, but preferably without casein or fillers. Aqueous polyurethane dispersions are preferred if good performance in cold Ballyflexes and cold cracking tests is desired, while aqueous polyacrylate dispersions are preferred if lower costs are desired. An overview of the properties and synthesis methods of aqueous polyurethane dispersions can be found in Chapter 14, Waterborne Polyurethanes, in the textbook 'Szycher's Handbook of Polyurethanes', edited by M. Szycher, published in 1999 by CRC Press, ISBN 0-8493-0602-7.A general description of the properties and synthesis methods of polyacrylates can be found in the chapter "Polyacrylates" of the textbook 'Ullmann's Polymers and Plastics: Products and Processes', published in 2016 by Wiley-VCH, ISBN 978-3-527-33823-8. The at least one aqueous coating layer may comprise, for example, PP-39-001 or Neosan 2000 as a pigment and Unires RU-13134, Melio Promul 95.A, Astacin Finish Susi TF as an aqueous polyurethane resin or RA-22-063. Rl h7 I n / I 7n7 / E / Yl· Melio Resin A-948, Corial Binder EV as aqueous polyacrylic resin, all obtainable from Stahl Europe BV. Optionally, the aqueous coating also contains a crosslinker, such as polycarbodiimide crosslinker, isocyanate crosslinker, aziridine crosslinker or polyurea crosslinker, of which an aqueous polycarbodiimide crosslinker, such as XR-13-906, which can be obtained from Stahl Europe BV, would be preferred. In addition, preferably the water-based coating formulation has an average viscosity of between 5 and 120 seconds on the Ford Cup 6 scale according to ASTM D1200, more preferably a viscosity between 10 and 100 seconds on the Ford Cup 6 scale, and most preferably a viscosity between 40 and 80 seconds on the Ford Cup 6 scale. The at least one layer of a water-based coating applied to the surface of the supporting element is preferably applied at a thin thickness of between 1.5 and 4.5 grams of dry matter per square foot, more preferably at a dry matter thickness of between 2.0 and 3.0 grams per square meter. The surface of the support element on which this water-based coating layer is applied is normally the side of the surface that will ultimately become the visible side and therefore the skin side of the leather, not the flesh side. In a subsequent step, the at least one water-based coating layer is treated so that between 20% and 80% of the initially present amount of water and optional solvent evaporates from said layer. This step generally involves drying in an oven at an elevated temperature. More preferably, between 25% and 70% of the initially present amount of water and optional solvent evaporates, and even more preferably between 30% and 60% of the initially present amount of water and optional solvent. The oven temperature and the duration of drying within the oven are selected to achieve the desired level of evaporation. In the context of the present invention, a medium-high temperature, for example, between 30°C and 50°C, is preferred over a high temperature, for example, above 80°C. If drying is carried out in a tunnel oven, the oven temperature and the speed of movement through the oven are selected accordingly.In another modality, partial drying is achieved by irradiation treatment, such as infrared irradiation. The specific degree of drying of this water-based coating layer is important in the context of the present invention. Below 20%, the base layer remains liquid and cannot be easily processed. Above 80%, it becomes more difficult to press a pattern into the layer, and release problems arise. Over the partially dried water-based coating provided on the surface of the support element, at least one layer of lacquer is subsequently applied, which may be a water-based coating or a solvent-based coating and may also be a Rl h7 LO / I 7n7 / E / Yl· A water-based or solvent-based coating, usually applied as an intermediate coating. The purpose of the lacquer layer is to prevent the subsequently applied foil layer from adhering too strongly to the base coat, which would make later removal of the foil layer too difficult. Therefore, the lacquer layer generally has anti-adherent properties. The preferred lacquers for at least one lacquer layer are nitrocellulose-based, which provides good performance and is cost-effective, but can yellow with age.If yellowing is to be avoided, then polyurethanes are preferred, with aqueous aliphatic polyurethane dispersions being the most favored, or CAB lacquers, which are generally made from mixtures of a cellulose resin called cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) and acrylic and which yellow less than nitrocellulose lacquers. At least one lacquer coat may comprise, for example, Aqualen Top IL.A or Aqualen Top SIL, which are based on polyurethane dispersions, as an aqueous lacquer, or Melio EW-365.A as a nitrocellulose lacquer emulsion or Melio EW-629.C as a CAB lacquer emulsion, all available from Stahl Europe BV. Preferably, the thickness of this lacquer layer is small, below 1.0 gram of dry matter per square meter, preferably below 0.5 grams of dry matter per square meter. The lacquer layer is preferably applied by spraying, but it can also be applied using a coating roller. Subsequently, the lacquer layer is treated so that between 20% and 80% of the initially present amount of water and / or solvent evaporates. This generally involves drying in an oven at a high temperature. More preferably, between 25% and 70% of the initially present amount of water and / or solvent evaporates, and most preferably between 30% and 60%. The degree of drying is important for achieving the intended advantageous effects. In the context of the present invention, a medium-high temperature, for example, between 30°C and 50°C, is preferred over a high temperature, for example, above 80°C. The oven temperature and the drying time within the oven are selected to achieve the desired level of partial evaporation. If drying is carried out in a tunnel oven, the oven temperature and the speed of movement through the oven are selected accordingly.In another modality, partial drying is achieved by irradiation treatment, such as infrared irradiation. The foil layer applied over the partially dried water-based base coat and the lacquer layers provided on the surface of the substrate can be any strong, thin foil that does not adhere to the coating layers already applied to the substrate surface. The typical thickness of a suitable foil is between 4 and 500 micrometers. Rl LO / Lznz / E / Yli preferably between 5 and 300 micrometers. The foil functions simply as a protective film and, therefore, any suitable foil can be used, and it can be any commonly used foil. An example of a suitable foil is the plastic film currently used in the industry for ironing finished leather to obtain a high-gloss finish. The foil layer is preferably applied using a rolling cylinder to press the foil onto the partially dried layers provided on the backing element. Preferably, the rolling cylinder is heated to facilitate the adhesion of the foil to the partially dried layers provided on the backing element; therefore, the temperature of the rolling cylinder is preferably between 30°C and 100°C, and more preferably between 50°C and 90°C. The next step in the method of the present invention involves applying pressure to the combination of the support element provided with said layers in such a way as to emboss the surface with morphological characteristics; wherein the means for applying said pressure comprise a stamping pattern. This is preferably done using a stamping cylinder, which is preferably part of a rotary press. The stamping cylinder generally contains, in negative, the pattern to be imprinted on the layers provided in the support element. Stamping cylinders are widely used in the leather industry; major brands generally have their own specific stamping pattern. It is therefore advantageous that in the present invention, commonly available and applied stamping cylinders can be used. In another embodiment of the invention, the stamping is achieved using a stamping plate in a hydraulic press. Preferably, the stamping stage is carried out with heating, which can be achieved by heating the external surface of the stamping cylinder or stamping plate. Preferably, the stamping cylinder or stamping plate is heated to a temperature between 50 °C and 150 °C, more preferably between 60 °C and 140 °C, and most preferably between 80 °C and 120 °C. Preferably, the stamping is done at a medium pressure of between 50 bar and 150 bar, to obtain a soft leather, since a strong pressure results in a harder and more rigid leather. The depth of the embossing can vary depending on the specific item and pattern used. Generally, the embossing depth ranges from 0.05 mm to 2 mm. For example, for a hair-grain pattern, the embossing depth is shallow, while for patterns that emulate crocodile or snake skin, the embossing depth is deep. The stamping stage is followed by the removal of the foil layer from the coated backing element. When a suitable foil is selected, this step is easy. For example, the plastic foil currently used in the industry for ironing finished leather and Al h7 I n / I 7C>7 / E / Yl· obtaining a high gloss leather does not adhere to the leather coating layers. Optional further drying of the backing element combination provided with these layers, after sheet removal, is preferably carried out by oven drying at a high temperature. The oven temperature and drying time are selected to achieve the desired level of dryness, which is generally such that 80% or more of the initially present water and / or solvent has evaporated, allowing the finished sheet backing elements to be easily stored and stacked. The desired level of dryness can be achieved in a few minutes at a high temperature of, for example, between 70°C and 140°C, but it can also be achieved by drying for several hours at room temperature. If drying is carried out in a tunnel oven, the oven temperature and the speed of movement through the oven are selected accordingly.In another modality, optional additional drying is achieved by irradiation treatment, such as infrared irradiation. The optionally applied top coating layer or layers may be any type of top coating known to a person skilled in the art, but preferably is an aqueous coating comprising a polyurethane dispersion, a polyacrylate dispersion, a hybrid thereof or a mixture thereof, wherein the presence of a co-solvent is optional and which may further comprise thickener, mattifying agents, slip agents, touch agents and crosslinking agents, such as polycarbodiimide crosslinking agent, isocyanate crosslinking agent, aziridine crosslinking agent or polyurea crosslinking agent. The optional topcoat is preferably applied at a thin thickness of between 0.5 and 1.5 grams of dry matter per square meter, more preferably at a dry matter thickness of between 0.7 and 1.3 grams per square meter, so that the pattern applied in the provided layers on the backing element remains present after the application and drying of the topcoat. A common method for drying the applied topcoat is in an oven at a high temperature. The oven temperature and the drying time of the coating within the oven are chosen so that the desired level of dryness is achieved. The desired level of dryness is such that 80% or more of the water and / or solvent initially present has evaporated, so that the finished sheet backing elements can be easily stored and stacked.The desired level of drying can be achieved in a few minutes at a high temperature of, for example, 70°C or 80°C, but it can also be achieved by drying for several hours at room temperature. If drying is carried out in a tunnel oven, the oven temperature and the speed of movement through the oven are selected appropriately. Alternatively, drying is achieved through irradiation treatment, such as infrared irradiation. Rl h7 LO / Lznz / E / Yli In another embodiment of the invention, the lacquer layer can also function as the final top coating layer. These and other features, aspects and advantages of the apparatus, systems and methods of the present disclosure will be better understood from the following description, the accompanying claims and the accompanying drawings. The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows embodiments of the invention. In the drawing, the absolute and relative sizes of systems, components, layers, and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. The embodiments may be described with reference to schematics of possibly idealized embodiments and intermediate structures of the invention. Relative terms, as well as those derived from them, are to be understood to refer to the orientation as described below or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the system be constructed or operated in a particular orientation unless otherwise stated. Figure 1 schematically illustrates the steps of the method of the present invention and a system for the implementation of said method. One or more layers of water-based coatings are applied to the (visible) surface of a backing material such as leather [1] by means [2] such as spraying, rolling, or another method. The applied base coat(s) [3] are then partially dried [4] in an oven or by irradiation. A lacquer layer is then applied to the partially dried base coat(s) [5] by spraying, rolling, or another method [6]. The article is then partially dried [7] in an oven or by irradiation. A foil [8] is placed on the surface before stamping using a stamping cylinder or stamping plate [9]. The result is a raised layer on leather, with the foil still on it,

[10] and the foil is subsequently removed

[11] . Optional oven drying or irradiation

[12] results in a stamped layer on leather, dried

[13] .Optionally, a topcoat is applied by spraying, roller coating, or another method

[14] . The optionally applied topcoat(s)

[15] are then optionally oven-dried or irradiated

[16] , resulting in a final leather product with the applied basecoat, lacquer coat, embossing, and optional topcoats dried

[17] . The movement of the leather through the various steps can be achieved using a conveyor belt

[18] or any other means of transport between the various steps of the method. The present invention also relates to a system for carrying out a laminar support element (17), comprising - first application means (2) suitable for applying at least a base coat Rl 10 / Lznz / E / Yli (3) of an aqueous coating to a surface of a support element (1); - means (4) for treating said at least one layer so that between 20 and 80% of the amount of water and optional solvent initially present evaporates from said at least one layer; - second application means (6) suitable for applying at least one layer of lacquer over the coating thus dried (5); - means (7) for treating said at least one layer of lacquer so that between 20 and 80% of the amount of water and / or solvent initially present evaporates from said at least one layer; - third application means suitable for applying at least one layer of sheet (8) over the lacquer coating thus dried; - means (9) for exerting pressure on the combination of the support element provided with said water-based coating layer, said lacquer layer and said foil layer in such a way as to enhance the coated surface with morphological characteristics (10) which preferably means includes a stamping cylinder or a stamping plate or a rotary stamping roller; - means (11) for removing said at least one layer of leaf; - optionally means (12) for further drying the combination (13) of the support element provided with said water-based coating layer and said lacquer layer; - optionally a fourth application means (14) suitable for applying at least one layer of topcoat (15) onto the surface of the coated support element; optionally means (16) for further drying of the top-coated support element. The various methods for treating the base coat and / or lacquer to evaporate a certain amount of water and / or solvent include means for controlling various evaporation or drying parameters to verify and obtain the required degree of evaporation. This degree depends primarily on the residence time in / under these methods (such as, for example, an oven / dryer) and the temperature of these methods (oven / dryer). Therefore, in general, the degree is established by controlling these two parameters. There are several advantages obtained by using the method of the present invention. According to the method of the present invention, one or more base coat layers can be selected without any requirement for the ability to print the dry base coats, since the printing step of the present invention is performed differently. As a result, there is a wider selection of available base coat materials, which is advantageous. RL67 LA / L7A7 / B / YL According to the method of the present invention, at least one base coat is applied in such a way that any damage to the leather, such as cuts and holes, is covered by this layer. This is made possible by using medium-viscosity base coats, which prevent the applied base coat from precisely following the surface of the damaged leather. This means that polishing is not necessary to obtain a smooth surface where the original damage is no longer visible, and no separate enhancement step is required. Such enhancement often results in undesirable hardening of the leather product. This hardening is generally not uniformly distributed across a piece of leather, as the areas where damage was previously visible contain more enhancement layers and are therefore stiffer than the previously undamaged areas.Therefore, it is advantageous that the method of the present invention does not require a separate polishing or finishing step. However, it may be desirable to do some light polishing to level the surface of the leather before applying the layers. According to the method of the present invention, advantageously, the penetration of the layers into the leather is reduced due to the use of medium-viscosity base coats, resulting in greater flexibility, softer feel, and a more pleasant tactile quality in the final leather product. This has the additional advantage that lower-quality leather can also be used while still obtaining a final leather product of sufficient quality in terms of natural feel and softness, where such lower-quality leather is available in larger quantities and at a lower cost. It is a further advantage that, due to the reduced penetration of the base coat material into the leather using medium-viscosity base coats, the amount of base coat applied can be less, resulting in lower costs. Another advantage is that there are no improved areas in the previous damage to the leather and therefore it is not possible for such improved areas to be visible and therefore it is also not possible for there to be an uneven penetration of the layers in the leather product, which would result in an uneven breakage of the leather grain, giving an undesirable appearance. According to the method of the present invention, the number of process steps is small and these can be performed in a short period of time. This increases production speed and reduces production costs. According to the method of the present invention, there is no need to use release paper; instead, an embossing cylinder is used to press the pattern into the leather layers. This is a significant advantage because, unlike with the use of release paper, there is no limitation on the depth of the embossing, allowing for deep embossing. This is highly desirable because a large majority of the global embossed leather market is for deep embossed leather. Embossing cylinders can be obtained with a wide variety of embossing patterns, whereas when using release paper, the embossing pattern depends on the Rl h7 I n / I 7n7 / E / Yl· availability of patterns available on the release papers. Furthermore, changing the embossing cylinders can be done quickly and easily, whereas changing the pattern to be embossed when using release paper is cumbersome because it involves changing the rolls of release paper. Release paper can tear easily, causing production interruptions, while an embossing cylinder does not tear. Because release paper can tear easily, the transport speed of the release paper through such a system is limited, while the production speed is not limited when using an embossing cylinder, which is therefore another advantage.The system's dimensions are also independent of the dimensions of the available detachable paper; the stamping cylinders are available in large widths, allowing the use of whole hides instead of half hides, which increases leather cutting performance and thus reduces costs. The above clearly demonstrates that the proposed method and system allow the stated objectives to be achieved. In particular, it is evident that the proposed solution makes it possible to produce a product of the type described above, improving its stamping possibilities, softness, and tactile qualities, while reducing production costs. For clarity and concise description, the features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments; however, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention may include embodiments that have combinations of all or some of the described features. For example, although embodiments for certain combinations and sequences of processing steps have been shown and / or explained, those skilled in the art may also consider alternative embodiments that benefit from this disclosure to achieve a similar function and result. For example, steps may be omitted, combined, or divided into one or more alternative steps. In some embodiments, steps may be performed in different locations or at different times. The various elements of the methods discussed and demonstrated offer certain advantages. It should be noted, of course, that any of the methods or processes described above can be combined with one or more of the others to provide even greater improvements in the search for and adaptation of designs and benefits. This information is particularly beneficial to the leather industry. Finally, the foregoing discussion is intended merely to illustrate the systems and / or methods presented and should not be construed as limiting the appended claims to any particular modality or group of modalities. Accordingly, the descriptive memorandum and drawings should be considered illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. In interpreting the appended claims, it should be understood that the word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or acts other than those described. Rl h7 10 / i7P7 / B / YI listed in a particular claim; the word "a" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements; any reference sign in the claims does not limit their scope; several means may be represented by the same or different elements or implemented structure or function; any of the described devices or portions thereof may be combined or separated into further portions unless specifically stated otherwise. The mere fact that certain measures are mentioned in mutually different claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be advantageously used. In particular, all working combinations of the claims are deemed to be inherently disclosed. In addition, it should be noted that among the various parts of the system there may also be other devices or machines suitable for performing particular processing steps or for producing special effects. It is obvious that any modification to the system relating to the installation of a different number of means or units, other than the number indicated herein, will in any case be considered protected by the present invention. Although the invention has been described with reference to the accompanying drawing, during the construction stage it may be subject to modifications that all fall within the same inventive concept expressed in the appended claims and are therefore all protected by this patent.

Claims

1. A method for producing an improved and stamped laminar support element comprising a support element provided with several layers, comprising the following steps: - applying at least one base layer of an aqueous coating to a surface of the support element; - treating said at least one layer so that between 20% and 80% of the amount of water and optional solvent initially present evaporates from said at least one layer; applying at least one layer of lacquer onto the coating thus dried; - treating said at least one layer of lacquer so that between 20% and 80% of the amount of water and / or solvent initially present evaporates from said at least one layer; - applying at least one layer of sheet onto the lacquer layer thus dried;- exerting pressure on the combination of the support element provided with said water-based coating layer, said lacquer layer, and said foil layer in such a way as to imprint the coated surface with morphological characteristics, wherein the means for applying said pressure comprise a relief pattern; - removing said at least one foil layer; - optionally, further drying the combination of the support element provided with said water-based coating layer and said lacquer layer after removing the foil; - optionally applying at least one topcoat layer onto the surface of the coated support element and further drying. 2 - The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that the amount of water and optional solvent evaporated from the at least one water-based coating layer is between 25% and 70% of the amount of water and optional solvent initially present, preferably between 30% and 60% of the amount of water and optional solvent initially present.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, further characterized in that the aqueous coating is based on a polyurethane dispersion and / or a polyacrylate dispersion and / or a polyurethane / polyacrylate hybrid resin or a combination thereof.

4. The method in accordance with any of claims 1 to 3, further characterized in that the lacquer is an aqueous coating or a solvent-based coating.

5. The method in accordance with any of claims 1 to 4, further characterized in that the pressure-applying step is achieved using a stamping plate or a stamping cylinder or a stamping rotary press roller.

6. The method in accordance with any of claims 1 to 5, Rl h7 I n / I 7n7 / E / Yl· characterized further in that the step of exerting a pressure is carried out at an average temperature of between 50 °C and 150 °C.

7. The method according to any of claims 1 to 6, further characterized in that the optional top layer is an aqueous layer based on a polyurethane dispersion and / or a polyacrylate dispersion and / or a polyurethane / polyacrylate hybrid resin or a combination thereof, optionally containing thickener, mattifying agents, slip agents, tactile agents and / or crosslinking agents.

8. The method in accordance with any of claims 1 to 7, further characterized in that the at least one layer of a water-based coating, the at least one layer of lacquer and the at least one optional topcoat are applied by spray application or by roller coating.

9. The method in accordance with any of claims 1 to 8, further characterized in that the partial evaporation of water and / or solvent from the various layers arranged on the support element is achieved by heating or irradiation.

10. The method in accordance with any of claims 1 to 9, further characterized in that the water-based coating formulation has an average viscosity of between 5 and 120 seconds on the Ford Cup 6 scale, more preferably a viscosity between 10 and 100 seconds on the Ford Cup 6 scale, and most preferably a viscosity between 40 and 80 seconds on the Ford Cup 6 scale. 11.- The method according to any of claims 1 to 10, further characterized in that the at least one layer of a water-based coating is applied in a small thickness of between 1.5 and 4.5 grams of dry matter per square meter, more preferably in a dry matter thickness of between 2.0 and 3.0 grams per square meter. 12.- The method according to any of claims 1 to 11, further characterized in that the lacquer layer is applied in a small thickness of less than 1.0 grams of dry matter per square meter, more preferably in a dry matter thickness of less than 0.5 grams per square meter.

13. The method in accordance with any of claims 1 to 12, further characterized in that the optional finishing layer is applied in a small thickness of between 0.5 and 1.5 grams of dry matter per square meter.

14. The method in accordance with any of claims 1 to 13, further characterized in that the lacquer layer is based on nitrocellulose or polyurethane or cellulose acetate butyrate.

15. The method in accordance with any of claims 1 to 14, further characterized in that the support element is leather.

16. A laminated support product obtainable by the method defined in any of claims 1 to 15.

17. A system for manufacturing a laminar support element (17) as defined in claim 16, comprising: - first application means (2) suitable for applying at least one base coat (3) of an aqueous coating to a surface of a support element (1); - means (4) for treating said at least one coat so that between 20 and 80% of the amount of water and optional solvent initially present evaporates from said at least one coat, said means (4) including means for controlling various evaporation or drying parameters to verify and obtain said degree of evaporation; - second application means (6) suitable for applying at least one coat of lacquer over the coating thus dried (5);- means (7) for treating said at least one lacquer layer so that between 20 and 80% of the amount of water and / or solvent initially present evaporates from said at least one layer, said means (7) including means for controlling various evaporation or drying parameters to verify and obtain said degree of evaporation; - a third application means suitable for applying at least one foil layer (8) over the lacquer coating thus dried; - means (9) for exerting pressure on the combination of the support element provided with said water-based coating layer, said lacquer layer, and said foil layer so as to stamp the coated surface with morphological characteristics (10), said means including a stamping plate or a stamping cylinder or a rotary stamping press roller; - means (11) for removing said at least one foil layer;- optionally means (12) for further drying the combination (13) of the support element provided with said water-based coating layer and said lacquer layer; - optionally a fourth application means (14) suitable for applying at least one topcoat (15) onto the surface of the coated support element; optionally means (16) for further drying the support element with the topcoat.