Method for processing a horn

Abstract

A method for processing a horn (1), in which the horn (1) is irradiated with a laser. The invention also relates to a horn (1) processed with said method.

Description

[0001] September 5, 2025

[0002] Methods for processing horn

[0003] Description

[0004] The invention relates to a method for processing horn and to the horn processed accordingly.

[0005] Horned animals, such as cattle, goats, and sheep, possess horns, which are formed by a hollow covering over a bony core. This core is surrounded by a well-vascularized layer of skin, which in turn has a highly keratinized epidermis. Horns consist of keratinous substance, in which keratins are deposited in dead cells. For further information, see the Wikipedia articles "Horn" and "Koronic substance".

[0006] Horn is used, for example, to make combs or eyeglass frames, or as handles for hand mirrors, brushes, knives, or the like.

[0007] Horn can be made malleable by soaking it in water and, if necessary, by boiling it. To change its color, horn can be bleached with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). This process destroys the pigments present in the horn. Horn is a natural raw material, but it is becoming increasingly scarce because, for animal welfare reasons, the hunting of horned animals is being increasingly regulated, and, for example, livestock breeds are being selectively bred to be hornless. Furthermore, the majority (approximately 90%) of naturally occurring horn patterns and colors are unusable because they do not meet the aesthetic requirements of a craftsman. The desired grain, shapes, arrangements, or symmetries are not present.

[0008] The invention is based on the objective of processing horn in such a way that it has a desired appearance.

[0009] According to the invention, this problem is solved by the features of claim 1.

[0010] The core idea of ​​the invention is that the natural horn is treated with a laser. With a suitable laser wavelength, power, and, if necessary, focusing, the pigments in the horn can be destroyed to, among other things, produce a desired change in the horn's color, i.e., its optical appearance.

[0011] It goes without saying that the horn can also be processed with different lasers, either sequentially or simultaneously. For example, two or more lasers with different wavelengths and / or intensities can be used. The horn can be manipulated in its position relative to the laser, for example to create lettering, and / or vice versa. For instance, a horn can be clamped in place and the operator can write the desired logo with a handheld laser.

[0012] Depending on the selected wavelength of a laser, its electromagnetic radiation, the light, penetrates the material of the irradiated horn to a greater or lesser depth. This is due to the wavelength-dependent interaction of the electromagnetic radiation with the atoms or molecules of the irradiated horn. Short-wavelength radiation in the ultraviolet range is essentially reflected strongly at the surface, while long-wavelength infrared radiation can penetrate deeper into the material and release its energy there.

[0013] The advantage of the invention lies in the fact that the laser treatment of a horn can, in particular, lighten its colors without the typical yellowing that occurs with chemical treatments, such as those using hydrogen peroxide. Gray tones of the horn can be obtained by selectively destroying the pigments. Furthermore, the patterns present in the horn material can be selectively enhanced. True-to-life reproductions of a grain or pattern in the horn can be achieved. Light pastel colors can also be created on dark or black surfaces. Likewise, graphics such as bitmap graphics, QR codes, or vector graphics can be generated.

[0014] The process is used to create lifelike replicas of vector and bitmap textures, company logos, artificial patterns or images in natural organic and horn-like material within the horn.

[0015] This process allows the appearance of a horn to be altered as desired. Therefore, virtually any horn object can be modified in its appearance. Examples include jewelry, eyeglass frames, accessories, luxury items, interior furnishings, massage and / or natural medicine tools, or any other horn-based items.

[0016] The dependent claims each represent advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[0017] In its initial configuration, the laser has a wavelength between 1 and 460 nm. This ultraviolet wavelength range is particularly suitable for processing the surface of the horn. If the laser intensity is appropriately selected, the ultraviolet radiation can be used to foam or create a foam on the horn's surface through energy input during reflection. This is especially suitable for essentially transparent or light-colored horn. Logos, lettering, or similar designs can be created on the surface. Alternatively, a wavelength of either 523 nm or 1064 nm can be selected. At these wavelengths, the corresponding electromagnetic radiation penetrates deeper into the horn material. This allows a dark or black horn to be lightened or bleached.

[0018] In a second embodiment, the laser has a wavelength between 300 and 1200 nm. This corresponds to a range from far ultraviolet to infrared. Thus, depending on the selected wavelength, pigments of a specific type or color can be selectively destroyed to achieve a desired color change. In particular, the selected wavelength can either be used to selectively influence the surface of the horn or to alter its depth by irradiating it with infrared light.

[0019] Furthermore, it is proposed that the laser have a wavelength between 300 and 1200 nm. This would allow for the creation of color changes in the horn that are particularly visible to humans.

[0020] Advantageously, the laser has a wavelength between 320 and 1064 nm.

[0021] For this purpose, it is particularly advantageous that the laser has a wavelength between 344 and 455 nm, i.e., essentially a blue color. The laser can be operated either continuously or, to avoid excessive energy or heat input, in pulsed mode. In this case, the pulse rate and / or the laser power are adjusted so that only the pigments of the horn are destroyed, but not the rest of its material, in order to create targeted optical changes.

[0022] Furthermore, the laser can be bundled or focused. This allows for color changes not only on the surface of the horn but also within the horn's material. For this purpose, the laser is operated with the appropriate color, power, and, if necessary, pulses, to induce a color change at a desired depth within the horn's material. The focus and / or the arrangement or position of the laser relative to the horn can be adjusted to create, for example, lettering or to destroy pigments at specific locations within the horn at various depths.

[0023] A MOPA laser can simulate the pulse duration characteristics of both fiber lasers with relatively long pulses and solid-state lasers with relatively short pulses. A main oscillator generates a highly coherent laser signal with the desired pulse shape and duration. This signal is then amplified by a power amplifier, which increases the laser signal's power while preserving its original characteristics. Finally, the laser can be used to foam the horn material. For this purpose, the laser is operated with the appropriate color, power, and, if necessary, pulses to foam the horn material at the desired location and depth. This achieves the desired optical effect.

[0024] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment and the accompanying drawing. The single figure shows:

[0025] Fig. 1 shows a worked horn.

[0026] Figure 1, a purely schematic representation, shows a horn 1 in top view. This could be, for example, part of an eyeglass frame, part of a hairbrush handle, or any other object. The horn 1 has been laser-processed to create, for example, a logo 2 within the horn 1 material. The logo 2 could be, for example, a product or brand name, a personalization such as the owner's name, or a raster graphic such as a QR code. The logo 2 could also be an artistic embellishment, an image, or something similar.

[0027] Logo 2 is generated by irradiating horn 1 with a laser. The wavelengths used are either between 1 and 460 nm, or 523 or 1064 nm. Alternatively, the laser has a wavelength between 300 and 1200 nm, particularly between 320 and 1064 nm, and even more advantageously between 344 and 455 nm.

[0028] Depending on the selected wavelength, the laser light penetrates the material of the horn 1 to a greater or lesser depth. The ultraviolet light is primarily reflected at the surface of the horn 1 and, at a sufficient intensity, can selectively foam the surface to, for example, apply a logo 2 to a light or transparent horn 1. The longer-wavelength infrared light penetrates deeper into the material of the horn 1, and pigments can be selectively destroyed deep within the horn 1. This is particularly suitable for a dark or black horn 1 to obtain a desired logo 2.

[0029] The laser acting on the horn 1 can be operated continuously or in pulsed mode and is advantageously bundled or focused in such a way that it creates the logo 2 at the desired depth in the horn.

[0030] With appropriate alignment, intensity, and focus, the laser preferably destroys the pigments in horn 1 beneath its actual surface, leaving the surface unchanged and allowing it to be polished, for example. In principle, the laser can also be set to foam the material of horn 1 to produce a change that is particularly noticeable optically. Reference numeral

[0031] 1. Horn

[0032] 2. Logo

Claims

Patent claims 1. Method for processing horn (1), characterized in that the horn (1) is irradiated with a laser.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the laser has a wavelength between 1 and 460 nm.

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the laser has a wavelength of 523 or 1064 nm.

4. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the laser has a wavelength between 300 and 1200 nm.

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the laser has a wavelength between 320 and 1064 nm.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the laser has a wavelength between 344 and 455 nm.

7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the laser is operated in pulsed mode.

8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the laser is bundled.

9. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a MOPA laser is used.

10. Method according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a material of the horn (1) is foamed up using the laser.

11. Horn (1) , characterized in that the horn (1) is irradiated with a laser according to claims 1 to 10.

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