Method and plant for laser cutting and / or engraving fabrics or hides

Abstract

Method of laser cutting and / or engraving fabrics or hides (10) comprising the following steps: (I) cutting and / or engraving of a fabric or hide (10) with a laser wherein at least one stain caused by the laser is formed on the fabric or hide (10); (II) ozonisation (14) of the cut and / or engraved fabric or hide (10) obtained in step (I), wherein a third step is inserted between step (I) and step (II) which provides for humidification (12) of the cut and / or engraved fabric or hide (10) at least in the area where said at least one stain is located.

Description

[0001] TITLE: METHOD AND PLANT FOR LASER CUTTING AND / OR ENGRAVING FABRICS OR HIDES

[0002] Applicant: GMI S.R.L., Via M. D’Azeglio 28, 31029 Vittorio Veneto (TV), Italy.

[0003] Inventor: Vettoretti, Andrea

[0004] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0005] The invention relates to a method and a plant for laser cutting and / or engraving fabrics, possibly also for fabric embroidery. The plant comprises a laser cutting and / or engraving device and the method a step of laser cutting and / or engraving a fabric. Cutting / engraving work can be supplemented by embroidery work.

[0006] STATE OF THE ART

[0007] The market knows a wide range of laser cutting and / or engraving machines of fabrics or hides. The Applicant herself has described examples - often combining embroidery functions within the machines - in the documents EP 3 167 996 Al, ITTV20080169 Al, EP 1 958 728 Al, EP 1 657 337 Al, and ITPN20040077 Al. Various fabrics, hides and other similar materials are suitable to be embroidered or cut and / or engraved with a laser.

[0008] These machines comprise laser heads capable of cutting and engraving materials into predetermined shapes and sizes at specified points. Optionally, these laser cutting and / or engraving machines can also be equipped with at least one embroidery head.

[0009] During the application of laser beams, usually yellow stains are formed on fabrics or hides due to the heat and burning power of the laser, which are detrimental to the appearance of the fabric. These stains are especially visible on light (white) fabrics and negatively affect the shade of darker colours as well.

[0010] So far, the tanning or textile sector has tried to solve this problem, optimizing the laser cutting / engraving device in order to provide a laser or its control able to prevent or at least reduce the formation of stains. Attempts in this direction to date have not led to satisfactory results.Additional costly treatments were necessary to remove stains that could not always completely remove stains from the fabric or hide.

[0011] DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and to propose a method and a plant for laser cutting and / or engraving fabrics or hides that can avoid the formation of stains or, alternatively, to propose a method or plant for laser cutting and / or engraving fabrics that can eliminate or at least reduce stains on fabrics or hides, preferably already at the time of production of a cut and / or engraved fabric.

[0013] In a first aspect of the invention, the object is achieved through a method of laser cutting and / or engraving fabrics or hides comprising the following steps:

[0014] (I) cutting and / or engraving a fabric or a hide with a laser wherein at least one stain caused by the laser is formed on the fabric or hide.

[0015] (II) ozonisation of the fabric or hide cut and / or engraved in step (I),

[0016] wherein between step (I) and step (II) a third step is inserted which provides for the humidification of the cut and / or engraved fabric or hide at least in the area where the at least one stain is located.

[0017] In one embodiment of the invention, said stain extends along the line of the laser cut / incision, thus along the edge of the cut fabric or hide. The area of the cutting / engraving line, i.e., the cut edge, advantageously comprises a strip along the line / edge that is less than 1 cm, more preferably less than 5 mm, and even more preferably less than 3 mm. Preferably, the humidification is performed by moving a humidification device along the laser cutting / engraving line.

[0018] Advantageously, only the cutting / engraving contours or the cutting / engraving line corresponding to the cutting / engraving edge obtained after the cutting / engraving is humidified. By humidifying only the affected part, it is possible to reduce or completely avoid variations / losses in the cut / engraved piece. Preferably, the mild treatment is aided by processing at low temperatures, for example at room temperature or lower temperatures.Preferably, the humidification takes place by means of water sprays or water solutions. In one embodiment of the invention, the water solution used for humidification comprises an oxidant, such as sodium percarbonate. In this case it is preferable to work during ozonisation at temperatures > 30 °C. The addition of the oxidant is not necessary in order to eliminate stains during ozonisation, it is only useful to reduce the time compared to an ozonisation without the presence of the oxidant in the water. Percarbonate, for example sodium percarbonate, is particularly suitable for this purpose, as it does not alter the colours of the fabric / hide, even when they are coloured. No problems concerning colour changes were found, even on printed materials.

[0019] In the state of the art, cut and / or engraved fabrics are usually treated with ozone for the neutralization of odours, even extremely strong ones, for example the burnt odour deriving from laser treatment. Treatment with O3 obviously has a disinfecting effect as well. During this ozonisation the stains remain unchanged.

[0020] Surprisingly, the inventors noticed that by almost randomly subjecting a wet piece of fabric to ozonisation, the stains or bums caused by the laser disappeared. The problem of yellowing from the laser has been solved in a very simple way, where the sector has always only tried to intervene in a much more complex way by perfecting the lasers to avoid the formation of stains. The introduction of the intermediate humidification step has transformed or integrated the neutralization and disinfection of the fabric or hide with a cleaning step, i.e., the removal of stains / burns. The humidification step is simple, inexpensive and does not significantly prolong or modify the production path of fabrics or hides cut and / or engraved with a laser.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method also provides for a step of embroidering the fabric or hide which may take place before or after the laser cutting and / or engraving step. Ozonisation does not alter the colours of the embroidery.

[0022] Preferably, the area where the at least one stain is located is determined with a sensor, for example a camera.

[0023] In the case of fabrics, it is in particular natural materials that tend to yellow / be burnt by the action of the laser.Humidification does not require large amounts of water. It is sufficient to moisten the fabric or hide slightly, such as when moistening a garment before ironing.

[0024] Preferably, the ozonisation takes place at temperatures around 60 °C, but lower temperatures are also conceivable. Advantageously, the ozone treatment lasts from 5 to 40 min, preferably about 20 min. The duration of the process is easily identified with routine tests, it depends a lot on the type of material treated.

[0025] Laser cutting and / or engraving can take place with any laser cutting and / or engraving machines of fabrics or hides on the market, such as for example the machines described in the aforementioned patent applications. Virtually all machines currently on the market have at least a slight yellowing / burning problem.

[0026] Also to perform ozonisation, various ozonators are known in the field of odour neutralization or disinfection, for example also from the hospital industry. Generally, these are cabins or closable rooms in which the material to be treated is inserted.

[0027] Humidification of the fabric or hide can be done manually by spraying water, preferably sprayed on the piece. The humidified pieces can then be spread by hand on treatment tiers in the ozonator. Advantageously, a multi-tier trolley is provided, similar to those used by bakers or pastry chefs to insert bread, cookies, etc., into a baking oven, with the moistened fabrics and hides spread out on the tiers. The trolley is then inserted into the ozonator for treatment.

[0028] The fabric or hide subjected to the treatment may be a garment, a pillowcase, a tablecloth, or the like, thus a sewn fabric or leather item. The term hide also includes already tanned hides, thus leather. The term fabric also includes carpets or moquette.

[0029] The plant and the related process according to the invention are particularly helpful for treating white cotton or other materials that are especially difficult to clean and where yellowing is more problematic, as it is highly visible.

[0030] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the various steps can be automated by providing a conveyor belt that receives the cut and / or engraved fabric or hide and possibly embroidered by the laser processing machine and possibly embroidery machine and convey it under a humidification device and subsequently into an ozonisation chamber.In a second aspect of the invention, the object is achieved through a laser cutting and / or engraving plant for fabrics or hides comprising:

[0031] (a) a laser cutting and / or engraving machine for fabrics or hides;

[0032] (b) downstream of said laser cutting and / or engraving machine, an ozonator for receiving the cut and / or engraved fabrics or hides; and

[0033] (c) between said laser cutting and / or engraving machine and said ozonator a humidification device, preferably movable, for moistening said fabrics or said hides. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the humidification device is a sprayer. The sprayer could be a bottle-shaped dispenser with a spray head to be used manually, but also an automated sprayer having a water tank that feeds an element equipped with a plurality of nozzles that is operable by a control unit. The control unit can be the same that controls the laser cutting and / or engraving machine and possibly also the ozonator.

[0034] Preferably, the control unit controls a movement of the humidification device along the laser cutting / engraving line.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the laser cutting and / or engraving plant according to the invention is equipped with at least one sensor, for example a camera, for determining the position of the stain caused by the laser. Such a sensor is typically already part of a laser cutting / engraving machine and can be used to implement the invention. The invention now uses the sensor or its data to identify the position of the stains. The position of the stains usually coincides with the cutting / engraving line that the machine has already determined to perform the cutting / engraving.

[0036] Preferably, the control unit is adapted to receive signals from said at least one sensor and to determine the position of said stain and is configured to send a command to the humidification device so as to moisten only the area of the stain, which is for example the edge of the fabric or hide created by the laser during cutting / engraving.

[0037] Advantageously, said laser cutting and / or engraving device, said humidification device and said ozonator are connected by conveying means of said fabrics.Preferably the laser cutting and / or engraving plant is provided with a control unit which preferably controls not only the laser cutting and / or engraving machine, but also the humidification device and preferably a movement thereof, and the ozonator and the conveying means to make the plant a continuous plant. In case of the presence of said at least one sensor, the control unit advantageously also controls the latter. The movement of the humidification device is advantageously controlled based on the position of the stain or the cutting / engraving line.

[0038] A third aspect of the invention relates to a use of the laser cutting and / or engraving plant according to the invention in a continuous manner by transporting the fabric or hide from one treatment station, represented by the laser cutting and / or engraving machine for the cutting and / or engraving treatment, by the humidification device for the humidification treatment and by the ozonator for the ozonisation treatment to the other, and by treating the fabric or hide in the treatment stations.

[0039] With the plant, method, and use according to the invention, it is possible to obtain, downstream of the treatment in the ozonator or of the ozonator, a fabric or hide free from yellowing or burns caused during the laser cutting and / or engraving treatment.

[0040] The features described for one aspect of the invention can be transferred mutatis mutandis to the other aspects of the invention.

[0041] The invention solves the problem of stains on fabrics and hides resulting from laser cuts and / or engravings by carrying out ozone treatment for the elimination of odours and disinfection on moistened fabrics or hides. The industrial application is obvious since it is possible to obtain unstained fabrics or hides despite their cutting or engraving with a laser.

[0042] The above-mentioned objects and advantages will become more apparent in the course of the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, provided by way of non-limiting example.

[0043] Variant embodiments of the invention are the object of the dependent claims. The description of a preferred embodiment example of the method, plant, and use according to the invention is provided by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings. In particular, it should be noted that the dimensions, shape, materials, and number of componentsmay vary without departing from the inventive concept and without exceeding the scope of protection defined by the claims. In particular, individual components may be replaced by equivalent components.

[0044] Brief description of the drawings

[0045] Fig. 1 illustrates, in a block diagram, an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention.

[0046] Fig. 2 illustrates, in a schematic view, an exemplary embodiment of the plant according to the invention.

[0047] Fig. 3 illustrates in some photos fabrics cut with a laser before the method according to the invention is performed.

[0048] Fig. 3B illustrates in some photos the fabrics cut with a laser after carrying out the method according to the invention.

[0049] Description of the exemplary embodiments

[0050] Fig. 1 shows, in a block diagram, an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention. In a first step 10 a fabric is cut and / or engraved with a laser. During this step the fabric becomes yellowed / burnt. In a second step 12 the fabric is moistened. In a third subsequent step 14 the moistened fabric is treated with ozone. The result is a fabric free of yellowing / buming.

[0051] Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of the laser cutting and engraving plant 16 according to the invention. The plant 16 comprises from left to right a laser cutting and / or engraving machine 18, a humidification device 20 adapted to produce jets of atomized water 22 and an ozonator 24. A fabric 26 is transported by a conveyor belt 28 from one treatment station to another. The plant 16 is suitable for carrying out the method depicted in Figure 1. Ozone treatment, in addition to eliminating yellowing / burning, eliminates bacteria, viruses, fungi, mites, spores, smoke and bad odours, maintaining the characteristics, shapes and colours of the materials subjected to it unchanged. The treatment is environmentally friendly, because after its action it releases only oxygen.Fig. 3 A illustrates in some photos the fabrics cut with a laser before the method according to the invention is performed. It should be noted that along the edges of the fabric, always obtained with a laser cut, the colour is altered. Fig. 3B illustrates in some photos the fabrics cut with a laser after carrying out the method according to the invention. It should be noted that the colour alterations with respect to the colour of the fabric itself have been eliminated.

Claims

CLAIMS1) A method of laser cutting and / or engraving fabrics or hides comprising the following steps:(I) the cutting and / or engraving of a fabric or hide (10) with a laser wherein at least one stain caused by the laser is formed on the fabric or hide;(II) ozonisation (14) of the cut and / or engraved fabric or hide obtained in step (I), characterized in that a third step is inserted between step (I) and step (II) which provides for humidification (12) of the cut and / or engraved fabric or hide at least in the area where said at least one stain is located.2) The method of laser cutting and / or engraving according to claim 1, characterized in that the humidification (12) is carried out by water spraying.3) The method of laser cutting and / or engraving according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said stain extends along the line of laser cutting / engraving and the humidification is performed by moving a humidification device along the line of laser cutting / engraving.4) The method of laser cutting and / or engraving according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the area where said at least one stain is located is determined with a sensor, such as a camera.5) A plant (16) for laser cutting and / or engraving fabrics or hides comprising:(a) a laser cutting and / or engraving machine (18) of fabrics or hides;(b) downstream of said laser cutting and / or engraving machine (18), an ozonator (24) for receiving the cut and / or engraved fabrics or hides (26);characterized by further comprising(c) between said laser cutting and / or engraving machine (18) and said ozonator (24) a humidification device (20), preferably movable, for moistening said fabrics or said hides (26).6) The plant (16) for laser cutting and / or engraving according to claim 5, characterized in that said humidification device (20) is a water sprayer7) The plant (16) for laser cutting and / or engraving according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the plant is equipped with at least one sensor to determine the position of a laser-caused stain on the fabrics or hides.8) The plant (16) for laser cutting and / or engraving according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a control unit that is suitable for receiving signals from said at least one sensor and for determining the position of said stain and that is configured to send a command to the humidification device so as to moisten only the area of the stain.9) The plant (16) for laser cutting and / or engraving according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized by further comprising conveying means (28) of said fabrics and / or said hides (26) connecting said laser cutting and / or engraving machine (28) with said humidification device (20) and said humidification device (24) with said ozonator.10) The plant (16) for laser cutting and / or engraving according to any one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that it further comprises a control unit controlling said conveying means (28), said laser cutting and / or engraving machine (18), said humidification device (20) and preferably a movement thereof, and said ozonator (24) and that, in case of presence of said at least one sensor, also controls the latter.11) A use of the plant (16) for laser cutting and / or engraving according to any one of claims 5 to 10 in a continuous manner by transporting the fabric or hide (26) from one treatment station, represented by the laser cutting and / or engraving machine (18) for the cutting and / or engraving treatment (10), by the humidification device (20) for the humidification treatment (12) and by the ozonator (24) for the ozonisation treatment (14) to the other, and treating the fabric or hide (26) at the treatment stations (18, 20, 24).

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