[0001] The invention relates to a textile or similar product having a surface decorated
with flocking.
[0002] The products of this kind presently known have a surface which is decorated with
a uniform flocking, i.e. they are obtained by anchoring on the surface to be decorated
a uniform layer of fibers which are oriented about perpendicularly to the said surface.
[0003] A first object of the invention is a textile or similar product having a different
and more valuable flocking decoration of its surface.
[0004] A further object of the invention is a method for the manufacture of said product.
[0005] Still a further object of the invention is an apparatus for carrying out said method.
[0006] According to the invention, the product comprises a surface with a plurality of contiguous
zones of flocked decorations, the decorations of the contiguous zones being different
from one another.
[0007] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the product has a surface
with a uniform flocked decoration, on which a second different flocked decoration
is formed in correspondence of delimited zones disposed according to a desired pattern.
This embodiment is particularly suitable for an easy and fast production, as there
is no need for a precise positioning of the zones of the second flocked decoration
with respect to the uniform flocked decoration.
[0008] In a further embodiment of the invention, the product comprises at least a further
flocked decoration. In this case an intermediate flocked decoration can be provided
over the whole surface and at least a further decoration is superimposed at some locations
of the first uniform decoration.
[0009] The invention also relates to a method for decorating a textile or similar product
with a flocked decoration on the surface thereof, characterized in that the surface
to be decorated is divided in a plurality of contiguous zones disposed according to
a desidered decoration pattern, and that said contiguous zones are decorated with
at least two different flocked decorations.
[0010] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, on the surface of the product a first
uniform flocked decoration is formed, and an adhesive is spread over defined zones
of said uniformly decorated surface for forming a second flocked decoration superimposed
said first uniform flocked decoration.
[0011] For carrying out of the method of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for
the manufacture of a textile or similar product with a surface having a flocked decoration,
characterized in that it comprises means for spreading an adhesive over delimitad
zones of flocked surface of said product, means for carrying out a flocking of said
product in correspondence of said delimited zones, and means for the removal of the
surplus of fibers. In a possible embodiment, said means for spreading the adhesive
comprise a relief cylinder cooperating with a pressing cylinder and with an adhesive
feeding system.
[0012] The drawing shows a practical embodiment and also successive steps of the method
of formation and the relevant apparatus, for a better understanding thereof. In the
drawing:
Fig.1 is a rough representation of a portion of the decorated product according to
the invention;
Figs.2, 3 and 4 show successive steps of the method of formation of the decorated
product according to the invention; and
Fig.5 shows very roughly a diagrammatic representation of an apparatus suitable for
the manufacturing of the product.
[0013] According to what is illustrated in Fig.1, the product has a uniform flocked surface
1 and an additional flocked decoration 3 formed on the uniform decoration 1.
[0014] To achieve this, a first flocking is carried out as indicated by 21 in Fig.2, on
a support made of a textile or however of a flexible product 22, to form the surface
1 of Fig.1. Thereafter, an adhesive 25 is spread over desired zones of flocked surface
21 (Fig.3), to obtain the pattern at such spread zones. Subsequently, a second flocking
is carried out to form the second flocked surface 27, and therefore the decoration
3 of Fig.1, which is placed onto flocked surface 21, i.e. the one indicated by 1 in
Fig.1. The second flocking is accomplished through a uniform spreading of the fibres,
but these get anchored, with an orientation due to electrostatic effect, only on the
surfaces of adhesive 25, while at the uncovered zones of the flocked surface 21 the
fibres do not become anchored and are able to be readily removed and recovered to
bring them in circulation again, the removal being possibly obtained by a suitable
brushing and/or suction system. The spreading of the adhesive 25 may be carried out
by pressing more or less the uniform flocking 21, according also to the length of
the fibres of such flocking 21 and also depending on a more or less accentuated relief
appearance, which is to be obtained for the decoration zones 3 which are obtained
with flocking 27.
[0015] In the diagram of Fig.5, numeral 31 designates a coil-reservoir for feeding the product
22, 21 (Fig.2) obtained by the first flocking; numeral 33 indicates a relief cylinder
for spreading, i.e. printing the adhesive pattern in the zones 25, the adhesive being
fed in the traditional way by a system like that indicated by 35; the operation of
the printing cylinder for the spreading of the adhesive 33 is carried out with the
aid of a pressing cylinder 37. Numeral 39 indicates an apparatus for carrying out
the second flocking, followed by a group 41 for fixing the adhesive 25 and thus the
second flocking 27; numeral 43 indicates a system for the removal of the surplus of
fibres of the second flocking, so as to keep only the ones indicated by 27 anchored
to the adhesive 25; said group may comprise brushing and/or pneumatic suction means;
these means may be associated with each other to operate in combination, for example
by placing the brushing means upstream or downstream to the suction means.
[0016] The product manufactured in this way is suitable for a number of uses, both for clothing,
and interior design and also for the manufacturing of bags, suitcases and other.
1. A textile or similar product (22), comprising a surface with a plurality of contiguous
zones (1, 3) of flocked decorations, the decorations of the contiguous zones being
different from one another.
2. A product according to claim 1, characterized by a surface (21) with a uniform
flocked decoration (1), on which a second different flocked decoration (3) is formed
in correspondence of delimited zones disposed according to a desired pattern.
3. A product according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises at least
a further flocked decoration.
4. A product according to claim 3, characterized in that an intermediate flocked decoration
is provided over the whole surface and at least a further decoration is superimposed
at some locations of the first uniform decoration.
5. A method for decorating a textile or similar product with a flocked decoration
on the surface thereof, characterized in that the surface to be decorated is divided
in a plurality of contiguous zones disposed according to a desired decoration pattern,
and that said contiguous zones are decorated with at least two different flocked decorations.
6. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that on the surface of the product
a first uniform flocked decoration (22) is formed, and that an adhesive is spread
over defined zones (25) of said uniformly decorated surface for forming a second flocked
decoration (27) superimposed to said first uniform flocked decoration (22).
7. An apparatus for the manufacture of a textile or similar product with a surface
having a flocked decoration, characterized in that it comprises means (33, 35, 37)
for spreading an adhesive over delimited zones of flocked surface of said product,
means (39, 41) for carrying out a flocking of said product in correspondence of said
delimited zones, and means (43) for the removal of the fibres surplus.
8. An apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that said means for spreading
the adhesive comprise a relief cylinder (33) cooperating with a pressing cylinder
(37) and with an adhesive feeding system (35).