Leather Finishing Infrared Drying Eliminates Halo Defects

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for finishing leathers, particularly the application of enhancing layers to the crust, result in humidity stagnation leading to visual defects like halos and high thermal inertia in processing, making the process inefficient and prone to producing defective products.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing infrared lamps to create a temperature gradient within a chamber, allowing moisture to evaporate from the glue layer directly onto the leather, combined with a modular machine design that minimizes air exchange and uses dehumidification units to enhance drying efficiency, reducing processing time and product defects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If traditional heating methods (heat batteries, ovens) are used to dry the adhesive, then the adhesive can be dried, but humidity becomes trapped below the enhancing layer causing halos and visual defects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual quality of leather surfaceVSAvoidhumidity stagnation and halo formation

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of heating from below (traditional method), the invention heats from above using infrared lamps. This reverses the temperature gradient direction, causing moisture to evaporate upward through the leather rather than being trapped beneath the waterproof enhancing layer, thereby eliminating halo formation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces traditional thermal conduction heating (heat batteries, ovens) with infrared radiation heating. This substitution enables direct heating of the leather surface from above, creating the necessary temperature gradient for upward moisture evaporation without requiring complex heating systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Temperature

If traditional ovens with heat batteries are used for drying, then the adhesive can be dried, but the thermal inertia is very high requiring long waiting times before temperature variation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing temperature controlVSAvoidthermal inertia and processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces massive thermal storage systems (heat batteries, ovens) with lightweight infrared radiation sources. This substitution dramatically reduces thermal inertia, allowing rapid temperature adjustments and continuous processing without long waiting periods between temperature changes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the heating method from thermal conduction (high inertia) to infrared radiation (low inertia). This parameter change enables rapid heating and cooling cycles, allowing flexible temperature adjustments to match varying production requirements without time delays

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If the enhancing layer is applied to improve the quality of the crust, then the market value increases, but the processing becomes more complex requiring multiple layers and steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality and market value of leatherVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the release paper step from the traditional multi-layer process. By applying the enhancing layer directly to the leather without requiring a release paper carrier, the process is simplified while maintaining the quality improvement benefits of the enhancing layer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables rapid and homogeneous drying of the enhancing layer, reducing the risk of halos and significantly lowering thermal inertia, resulting in higher quality products with reduced operational times and costs.

Implementation Method 1

said lamps (28) being infrared lamps and being configured to send infrared light radiation directly on the upper surface of the lower portion of said continuous support strip (12)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared radiation: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 2

heating means configured to heat said leather (4) and evaporate moisture from said layer of glue (8) by creating a temperature gradient within said chamber (16)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature gradient: Temperature Gradient

Implementation Method 3

heating means configured to heat said leather (4) and evaporate moisture from said layer of glue (8)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 4

uses dehumidification units to enhance drying efficiency

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDehumidification:

Data Source

PatentEP3950963B1Method for the finishing of leathers and machine for carrying out the method

Publication Date: 2024.12.04 GE MA TA

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Figure 3a~4
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AI summary

Method for the finishing of leathers, which involves the coupling to the surface of the leather (4), by means of a layer of glue (8) previously deposited on the surface of said leather (4), of an enhancing layer (10) previously applied to a continuous support strip (12), said layer of glue (8) being dried inside a chamber (16), said method being characterized in that the surface of said continuous support strip (12) is not in contact with said enhancing layer (10) is heated by direct irradiation.