ES2251969T3 - TREATMENT FOR MODULAR FLOOR COATING EDGES. - Google Patents

Abstract

Textile fiber face modular flooring having edges (70) treated to mimic the appearance of grout between installed modules (42) and methods and apparatus for producing such modules (42).

Description

Treatment for floor covering edges modular.

Field of the invention

This invention relates to coatings of Floors, including carpets and carpet slabs and products flexible sheets and slabs such as floor coverings vinyl, and a machine and a method to perform these floor coverings.

Background of the invention

Modules of stone, brick, concrete, tile and other refractory products have long been used time for floor covering. Many such products are placed with a cement-based material, such as mortar, called "grout" between modules, and such areas filled with grout are quite prominent and contribute substantially to aspect of the finished soil. Some floor coverings flexible such as vinyl floor covering have long imitated the appearance of slab modules with grout between slabs, even in roll products of substantial width They have very few real seams. However, the textile floor coverings that cover as carpet and carpet slab have generally tried to hide the seams between adjacent modules or other cladding components of floors, striving to get "invisible" seams.

The floor covering, which includes the carpet, is produced in modular or slab forms as well as in wide looms or roll products. An effort has been dedicated substantial for sewing between product ends in roll and edge slabs invisible or at least hard to see, of so that a visually continuous area of cladding of ground. Vertical hair spinning products make it easy to hide  the seams due to the tendency of the hair to intermingle in the opposite sides of a seam.

Additionally, carpet seams or carpet slab edges are susceptible to fraying or weeding Such fraying or weaving creates an appearance Unpleasant and reduces the life of the carpet. The problems of frayed or unwoven have increased with the coating that consists of a face based on thin or low textile fiber face weight The floor covering with a face cloth flat knitting makes it particularly difficult to hide seams due to that there is no vertical hair that can intermingle.

Such thin floor covering provides many advantages such as flexibility to deformation caused by heavy loads, reduction of the amount of materials necessary to produce the carpet, greater durability, and Design flexibility available in woven face fabrics. A disadvantage of these carpets is that due to the thin nature from the top layer and the resulting flat appearance is difficult provide a three-dimensional look with some parts of the floor covering surface higher than others.

Prior art

The Patent Abstracts of Japan, Volume 15, No. 302, August 2, 1991 (& JP-A-03112511) explains "a 1 floor fiber material raised from slab type hair is formed so that in the final part a part is arranged pressure with a raised hair lower than the raised hair of a contiguous part ".

The Documentary Database Section WPI Ch Week 198441 XP 002137953 explains "A carpet is cut in the form required Heat and pressure are applied to the edge of the face with carpet hair with sufficient width. This forms a section with hairs lowered along the edge ".

Summary of the invention

According to the present invention, a method to give an edge appearance on the upper side of textile fiber of a floor covering module by the step of treating the edges of a module comprises the steps of making a move Longitudinal length of a treatment head and edges of a floor covering module (42); and treat the edges of the upper textile face of the floor covering module for produce the visual appearance of a border with colored grout and / or raising the temperature with energy and / or impregnating or plasticizing and / or compressing or consolidating.

Also according to the present invention, the apparatus to give an edge appearance on the upper fiber face Textile of a floor covering module comprises a head of operational treatment in use to treat the edges of a module and means for effecting a relative movement between the head of treatment and the module in which said relative means they comprise a conveyor to move one of the modules of floor covering and a treatment head to perform the relative longitudinal movement between the treatment head (30) and the edges of the floor covering module; and the head of treatment comprises a heat source or air cannon or a heat gun or a glue gun or a coating matrix or a relief engraver or a laser; whereby, in use, it it can produce the visual appearance of a grout edge in the upper edges of the module.

In the attached dependent claims, set forth embodiments of the present invention.

This invention relates to the topics associated with seams or contact areas of slabs or cladding modules I do the exact opposite of one of the objects of great effort in the manufacturing and installation techniques of textile facing floor coverings. More than pretending to do invisible seams, the situation of such seams is marked, so that the aspect achieved is that of modular units with clear delimitation between adjoining units, in some similar way to the appearance of traditional ceramic slabs with areas with grout between adjacent slabs.

Such boundary regions between carpet or others Slabs or flexible floor covering modules are created by treatment of a peripheral area around the entire module, of so that it is visually different from the rest of the slab or module. Each module of a floor area is treated similarly to when the edges of all modules are located together creating a uniform edge area at the edges of each module. The zone formed by zones of contiguous modules treated decreases by greatly the perceptibility of "sewing" or delimitation between modules This "grout edge treatment" can be done in different ways, including "manuals" and Automated

Among other alternatives to perform this Modular edge treatment of floor covering are one or a combination of (1) use of a dye such as a dye, ink or pigment, (2) edge treatment with energy to raise the enough temperature to produce at least one change of aspect, and (3) impregnate or, on the contrary, treat the area with a plastic material such as a thermoplastic such as a molten adhesive  hot. Energy treatment and use of an adhesive hot melt can bond the fibers of the fabric face, thus consolidating the fiber. The hot melt adhesive on the contiguous slab or on the edges of contiguous modules can be returned to be heated after the installation of the slabs in order to join the adjacent slabs edge to edge and create a floor covering waterproof as well as a grout-like appearance.

Such edge treatment could also potentially done by transferring the color on a carpet or other floor covering surface, such as using a sublimation transfer printing machine in which a empty, so that the dye is sublimated from the paper to the carpet.

Module edges can be treated with or no additional dyes or other materials such as adhesives independently or simultaneously; progressively or a whole edge at once; before, after or during module cutting of a floor covering fabric; and moving a module up beyond one or more treatment devices or by moving the treatment device or devices up to beyond module.

The relatively high speed production of modules that have the grout-like appearance of this invention can be achieved by transporting a slab to beyond treatment stations such as hot air guns or devices for applying hot melt adhesive or dye. Such two stations can treat opposite edges of a slab square or rectangular while the slab is transported in a first direction. Two more stations can then try both remaining edges while the slab is transported in a orthogonal direction to the first direction or after turning the 90 degree slab.

In short, the possible techniques and devices to perform the "grout edge treatment" of this invention include:

one.

Engraving machines by ultrasound;

2.

Lasers;

3.

Hot air guns;

Four.

Hot air knives;

5.

Roller treatment in hot;

6.

Hot rolled textured;

7.

Hot items other than rollers, such as plates and bars;

8.

ink of polyvinyl chloride;

9.

ink flexographic;

10.

Other treatment processes with ink;

eleven.

Application of chemical products (by example, dyes);

12.

Chemical burning of the thread;

13.

Chemical alteration of the edges; Y

14.

Topical application spray of chemical, roller treatment, fast roll pasting,  transfer coating, film transfer, etc.

Another feature of this invention includes the change color, brightness and texture of the module using guns hot air, coating matrix and embossing.

In yet another feature of this invention, other treatment methods are used such as, for example, pulse heating, radiofrequency or laser sealing, to create a slab that has a grout-like edge.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is a perspective view of treated floor covering modules placed together forming a floor covering.

Figure 2 is a schematic view of an elevation side of a slab treated in accordance with this invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic view of an elevation side of an edge-to-edge joint of a cladding module of soil of this invention.

Figure 4 is a schematic view of an elevation side of a fabric joint with fabric lining modules ground.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of treated floor covering modules and a heat source used with a "manual" embodiment of this invention.

Figure 6 is a schematic view of an elevation side of a handheld device that includes a heat gun used in the "manual" embodiment of giving a treated edge to a floor covering module.

Figures 7A and 7B are seen from the top of a apparatus that includes conveyor belts and air guns for produce a grout-like edge in a coating of ground.

Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the apparatus of figures 7A and 7B showing one of the hot air guns.

Figure 9 is a top view of another embodiment of this invention showing an apparatus for providing  a module that has a grout-like edge slab, which includes a textured surface that can be made in a variety of colors

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a Coating matrix used to apply molten adhesive in hot in the embodiment of this invention depicted in the figure 9.

Detailed Description of the Invention Introduction

This invention provides floor coverings of textile fiber face in modular or slab shapes as well as in wide looms or roll products that have edges treated with a "grout edge" aspect and machinery and methods for Perform floor covering. The alternatives to perform This modular floor covering includes both embodiments "manuals" as automatic.

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of several slabs 42 placed together. Each slab 42 has the "edge treatment with grout" 70. The treated edge is represented in figure 1 by the striped part of the slabs 42. As seen in Figure 1, the slabs 42 are aligned in such a way. that create an appearance similar to that of grout between them.

II. Structure and installation of floor covering with treated edge A. Structure

Figure 2 shows a schematic view (not to scale) of a side elevation of roll products or of modular floor covering, such as slabs 42, treated with According to this invention. Floor covering material such as a slab 42 has an upper layer or face 72 of material textile, such as woven fabric, stiffened fibers, curly fibers, woven fibers, fusion bonded fibers or other structure. The layer 72 face could include a precoat. An example of fabric that can be used as layer 72 is explained in the Application International Nº PCT / US98 / 21487, entitled "Floor covering with woven face ", dated October 13, 1998. A cape 74 back and a flexible layer 76 are under the face material 72. The floor covering material 42 has a zone 78 to both sides of the straight section that is different in appearance and that may be lower than the untreated part of material 42 of floor covering.

The edge treatment of this invention that use some of the methods described here can take place after the product has been cut into modules or, in the case of modules produced from a fabric, can be produced before that the woven carpet be cut into modules or slabs.

If you want the appearance of modules smaller than the whole slab, you can also apply a treatment similar to edge treatment along the slab, making a single module really looks like a larger number of modules. For example, if some marks centered side by side on a square slab or rectangular is placed between each pair of opposite edges, the Slab will appear to be divided into four smaller slabs. Any of the "grout edge" treatments here described could also be used to create patterns on the face of the slabs in order to give the surface of the slab an appearance three-dimensional

An alternative and or an additional form of to achieve the desired "edge with grout" treatment is to use  additional "grout edge" material between adjacent edges of floor covering, such as cement grout. Such fillers may not necessarily be grout conventional but instead can be, for example, hot melt adhesives, glues and a wide variety of polymeric materials including, in particular, polymers same as, or compatible with the polymer (s) that form the floor covering. Such "grouts" can serve no only as aesthetic functions but also as useful. They can join the floor covering with the floor underneath, they can serve as a moisture barrier, as a seal of floor covering edges and to provide resistance improved, among other things.

Figure 3 illustrates such material. "grout" as glue 86, which can be placed in the Carpet in various ways. Figure 3 shows an elevation view lateral, schematic (not to scale) of union of slabs rear With rear. This application is particularly suitable for floor coverings that have relatively expensive face fabric thin. In this case the glue 86 is placed not only in the face of the floor covering, at the perimeter 78 of the slab 42, but also at the edge 88 of each slab 42. Immediately before or after slabs 42 have been placed side by side, to heat the glue 86 using a heat gun or other heat source at perimeter 78 and edge 88 of slabs contiguous, so that the adhesive flows and glue them together with others. Thus, the two slabs 42 are not only joined by the fibers of the face but also side by side and back with rear.

Figure 4 shows a side elevation view, Schematic (not to scale) of union of slabs 42 cloth with cloth. For an application in which hair carpet intervenes, among others situations, it may be more appropriate to apply glue 86 only to the upper fibers of the perimeter 78 of the slab 42. When heats the upper side perimeter of each slab 42, the 86 glue melts and joins hair with hair or fabric with fabric slabs adjoining

B. Installation

When slabs 42 are installed on the site, the edge area of the slabs 42 can be reheated to melt or melt the contact edges together melting hot melt adhesive, which: (1) creates a bond between the slabs, so it provides a waterproof floor covering to moisture and (2) hides the seam between slabs and improves the Grout-like appearance.

Both connections rear and rear cloth with cloth allow the application of the glue gun or hot melt adhesive provide a slab with the grout-like edge appearance that has the properties of union of slab with slab and moisture barrier.

III. Techniques to produce edge appearance with grout

The floor covering of this invention can Be produced using a wide variety of techniques.

A. Hot air

The floor covering of this invention can be produced using hot air that is directed against the peripheral part of the floor covering 42 for melting, consolidate and discolor a part of the face as illustrated in the Figure 5. The methods and apparatus for such treatment are described in detail in the B-F sections that follow.

B. Hot melt adhesive treatment

A glue gun can extrude a "strip" of hot melt adhesive through a small groove located next to the slab part 42 being treated to provide a grout-like appearance on slab 42. Such glue gun is available as an HA2 model, an applicator module slot liner used in conjunction with a STS 50-4H heat fusion supply element of Suretack Systems, a division of Crist Company, 201F Bell Place, Woodstock, GA 30188. The gluing gun includes a extruder to release stored glue and a heat source to heat the glue. The glue gun applies glue to the four edges of a slab 42. The glue can be applied to the periphery of square slabs from a few hundredths from an inch (= 0.254 mm) to an eighth of an inch (3.18 mm) or more, providing a grout-like area of double width of the one that exists when two slabs are placed next to each other. May it is convenient to preheat at least the part of the slabs 42 in the  which is applied hot melt adhesive to make slower adhesive cooling and facilitate greater penetration of the fibers 78 of the face of the slab 42. This facilitates penetration maximum and fiber consolidation. A suitable coating Heat fusion based on EVA (ethyl vinyl acetate) is a product 52-428 supplied by The Reynolds Company, 10 Gales Street, P.O. Box 1925, Greenville, SC 29602. The heat fusion and similar alternatives may include following components: ethylene vinyl acetate polymer, butadiene styrene polymer, polyolefin polymers, polymer of styrene isoprene, petroleum-derived mordant resins, mordant resins derived from rosin, waxes and oils paraffin, terpene-derived mordant resins, waxes and oils microcrystalline waxes and naphthenic oils and resins of polyamides

C. Pulse heating

You can also use heating by impulses to create a grout-like edge in a module floor covering. The pulse heating apparatus includes a bronze bar that is heated by a heater of resistance The surface of the bar adjacent to the module Floor covering can be covered by Teflon® tape. Vertrod Corporation, Brooklyn, New York provides machinery pulse heating suitable for use with this invention. In operation, the bronze bar optimally covered with tape Teflon® makes contact with the module, then the electricity stops voltage heats the edge of the module and the bar is released. He cycle time required to treat a module depends on the pigments, depth and carpet slab module to be is trying.

Pulse heating can also be used in a floor covering fabric with a device Die cutting to cut tissue into slabs or modules. Placing the pulse heating bars adjacent to the blades or cutting knives with die, in one step you can cut a fabric of floor covering material and module Hot treated

D. Radiofrequency sealing

Sealing can also be used by radiofrequency to treat the edges of the module. One is applied thermoplastic tape or film on the edge of the module and the energy of radio frequency passes from a transmitter through the module to a receiver, heating the module and the tape. Sealers Radio frequencies are available at Kabar Manufacturing Corp., Farmingdale, NY and tape material such as polyester Thermx? Manufactured by Eastman Chemical Company, Kingsport, TN they are products suitable for use with this invention.

Tapes of a variety of colors with both pulse heating and sealed by radiofrequency to provide a decorative edge finish of the module. Suitable movies include unsupported movies and movies with support. Unsupported movies (that is, adhesives) can include unsupported films and films with support. Unsupported films (i.e. adhesives) can include a chemical compound such as, for example, polymers olefinic, unsaturated polyester or polyamides (i.e., nylon). Bemis Associates Inc., Shirley, MA provides unsupported movies adequate. The film with support has an adhesive layer and support. The support layer may include another fabric or film (or mylar) which is not thermoplastic. The fabrics that are woven such as polyesters, nails, polypropylene and braided are appropriate for use as a support layer.

E. Electrostatic velvety

The velvety electrostatic can also be used to provide a treated edge. The velvety electrostatic includes a film with support and a top layer adapted to give color. In addition, velvety materials Electrostatic can be fixed to the edge of the module and recorded in relief to provide a decorative and textured look to the module. Fabrex International Limited, Lancaster Road, Hinkley, Leicestershire, United Kingdom, provides a suitable material for velvety electrostatic.

F. Lasers

In another embodiment, a laser is used to provide the appearance of similar grout edge in modules floor covering. Lasers can also be used to "engrave" more complex patterns on the slab, such as appearance of "quarry slab", and to record "grout lines" in a middle part of the slab making a slab resemble many. A thermoplastic coating such as tape or film, can be applied to the module before treatment with To be. Such "grout edge" aspect can be achieved using the techniques (described for other purposes) set forth in the US Patent No. 4,629,858, entitled "Method for Engraving carpets and carpets so recorded ",

IV. Machinery for treating floor coverings A. Machine for "manual" treatment

In a "manual" embodiment of this invention shown in figure 6, an apparatus 139 for mounting a gun heat 29, such as, for example, a hot air welding machine Leister, model number 1G3, available from Heely Brown Company, Inc., Atlanta, GA. A suitable device is explained in the request for Provisional patent entitled "Manual device for the appearance of grout edge to floor coverings of slab faces ", filed on January 20, 2000.

A modular slab of textile fiber face or floor covering 42 is treated with heat gun 29 which it moves along the edge 70 of a stationary slab 42 (see Figure 5). The orientation of a nozzle 140 of the gun heat 29 facilitates air direction to a peripheral part of the floor covering 42. A base plate 142 rests on the rollers 144 that are in contact with the floor covering  42. Arms 146 are mounted in an adjustable way to exit the base plate 142. Each arm 146 ends on a leg 148 which it comes down, which in turn ends in a guide roller 150 that it rests against the edge of floor covering 42 that is being trying. The guide roller 150 working in cooperation with the rollers 144 gives control and stability, so that the operator can efficiently give hot air to the floor covering 42

Heat gun 29 is mounted so adjustable on the base plate 142 using a bevel inclined or carriage 152 fixed to strut 154 by pins Adjustable 156 allowing the height adjustment of the gun heat 29 above the floor covering 42. A handle 158 fixed to the Strut 154 may be useful for the operation of this apparatus. An adjustable heater bracket attaches heat gun 29 to strut 154.

The heat gun air is released to through small holes in the nozzle with proper shape 140 in a peripheral part of the slab 42 such as an area, by example, approximately 1/8 to 1/4 inch wide (3.18 to 6.36 mm) (although in other cases surfaces may be desired larger) and then pressure rollers can optionally be used to compress the heated fiber. The nozzle 140 of the gun heat 29 and the pressure rollers move along the edge of the module. In another embodiment, a heated contact accessory similar, for example, to the nozzle of a welder can be put briefly in contact with a peripheral part 70 of the slab 42 To try that part. Alternatively, edge treatment 70 It could be achieved using infrared radiation or laser light, or by parts that make contact with the slab 42 that will be treated with a heated matrix that has the desired pattern to be "printed" on the slab.

In another embodiment, a peripheral part 70 of the slab 42 is treated with an ultrasonic machine, such as a "engraving", "soldier" or "union" machine. With ultrasound, the slab fiber is usually compressed more well that melted and broken as with heat treatment. The compression of the face thread prevents fraying of the edge, due to that the face thread of the treated area is compressed jointly. The compressed face is also pressed under the untreated thread creating a "grout-like" appearance 70 when placed together with slabs 42 treated similarly. Additionally, ink can be used with the ultrasonic machine to Change the color of the treated area. Ultrasonic machines currently used to create drawings on such textile products as mattress covers and bedspreads can be adapted to this application.

B. "Automatic" Edge Treatment Machine slab using hot air only

Figures 7A and 7B show a view from above a production apparatus or machine 20 to give an appearance with grout edge to square modular floor coverings or rectangular, such as a carpet slab or other modules They have a textile fiber face. As seen in Figure 7A, the machine 20 includes a conveyor line 22, and heat sources 30, 32. A second conveyor line 24 is positioned to be fed by the conveyor line 24 at right angles to the conveyor line 22.

The conveyor line 22 is placed transverse in a substantially horizontal horizontal direction to move modules 42, 44 and 47 beyond heat sources 30, 32 to treat two opposite edges. A second pair of sources of heat 31 and 32 treat the other pair of opposite module edges in the following conveyor line 24. Each conveyor line 22, 24 rests on legs (not shown) that support it at a height convenient for a worker to place modules in it and remove machine modules 20. A control box (not shown) has controls to stop machine 20 and to control each line conveyor 22, 24 and heat sources 30, 31, 32 and 33. In a embodiment, the heat sources 30, 32 are a heat gun such as a Leister TWINNY Y heat gun or the Air Welder hot, model number 1G3. In another embodiment, the sources of Heat 30, 32 are a laser.

Figure 7A shows a top view of floor covering slabs 42, 44 on the first line conveyor 22. The slabs are placed on the first line of transport 22, so that they are contiguous to (or are in contact) with each other. Conveyor lines 22, 24 include separators 46 on each side. The spacers 46 serve to position the slabs 42, 44 so that the edges are treated properly. Bands with springs 48 attached to parallel bars 50 fixed to the lines Conveyors 22 and 24 serve to eliminate pickups, flanges or wrinkles of slabs 42, 44 while moving along the conveyor lines 22 and 24.

As seen in Figure 7A, two adjacent slabs 42, 44 are being treated by hot air guns, 30 and 32, respectively. An edge 49 of slab 44 was treated firstly by heat gun 30. When slab 44 advances to along the conveyor line 22, the opposite edge 51 is treated with air through the other heat gun 32. The adjacent slab 42 is in position to be treated by heat gun 30. First heat is applied to an edge 52 of the slab 42. When the slab passes through under heat gun 32, the opposite edge 53 of the slab 42. The bands with springs 48 apply a slight pressure on the slabs 42, 44 so that they remain in position on the conveyor line 22. Slabs 42, 44 and 47 are transported to along the first conveyor line 22 to a ramp 66 that passes slab 47 to the second conveyor line 24.

The downstream end 26 of the line conveyor 22 is raised so that a slab 47 can fall from conveyor line 22 to conveyor line 24. The ramp 66 receives the slab 47 of the first conveyor line 22 and makes drop the slab 47 on the ramp 68 to place it on the second line Conveyor 24. As slab transfers from a line conveyor 22 to conveyor line 24, the line Conveyor 24 is orthogonal (that is, at 90º) with the first conveyor line 22, so that a second edge 71 of the Slab 47 can be treated. Thus, slab 47 does not spin, but the second pair of edges is presented for treatment by moving the slabs in an orthogonal address compared to its first address of displacement. The conveyor line 22 uses two belts 21 and 23 placed end to end. The conveyor lines 22 and 24 may be: (1) of one or more tapes each, or (2) roller conveyors, or (3) other types of conveyors. The belt 21 transports slabs 42, 44 to beyond the stations of treatment 30 and 32 and on tape 23, which operates at a speed greater than belt 21, so it separates slabs 42, 44 they were butt when they moved on tape 21. This separation between slabs at the point where they change direction, even though they cap (or are contiguous) to each other when at going through the treatment stations gives time for the slab 47, and sits in position on the next tape conveyor 25 and start moving orthogonally to the direction original scroll in the direction of the next source of heat 31 shown in Figure 7B before the next slab 44 fall on belt 25. Belt 25 of the conveyor line 24 can also operate at a higher speed than the belt feeder 27, which goes at a lower speed.

Alternatively, between the lines conveyors 22 and 24 an apparatus could be used to rotate each module 90º, so that both conveyor lines 22 and 24 They could move modules in the same direction.

A slab 61 that has two treated edges 62 and 64 it travels along the conveyor line 24 to have the two remaining edges 63, 67 heat treated. Edge 67 is treated with heat gun 31. When slab 61 continues the journey along the conveyor line 24, the edge 63 will be treated by heat gun 33. The result is a slab 73 unloaded of the tape 27 which has all four edges 69, 75, 77 and 79 heat treated

Figure 8 shows a close view of the power source or heat gun 30, and illustrates a slab 42 that is being treated with heat gun 30. A space 64 in the conveyor line 22 located under a nozzle 65 of the heat gun 30 gives hot air out of the gun heat 30. Heat gun 30 includes a narrow groove that allows to direct the hot air on the slab 42. The slab 42 is moves along the conveyor line 22 with an edge 52 of slab 42 adjacent to separator 46. Heat gun 30 ejects hot air and radiant energy directed to edge 52 of slab 42 to produce a grout-like line in an area of a desired width, usually a width from a few hundredths of an inch (one hundredth of an inch = 0.254 mm) up to approximately half an inch (12.7 mm). The nozzle 65 of the heat gun 30 sends air against an edge 52 of a slab 42, giving rise to an indentation 78 on slab 42, which creates from this it forms an edge aspect "with grout". So, if two slabs 42, 44 that have grout edges of one eighth of an inch (3.18 mm) in width are placed side by side, the total length of the Grout-like line is a quarter inch (6.36 mm).

The position and inclination of the heat gun 30 is adjustable. Each heat gun 30, 31, 32 and 33 is mounted on a pivot plate 53, which in turn is mounted on a support 55 which is adjustable in height and lateral position. The plate pivot 53 is controlled by a threaded rod 54 that can adjust the pivoting position of plate 53 on the support 55 and, therefore, the inclination of the heat gun 31. The support 55 can move vertically on the rods 54, 56 and its vertical position can be adjusted with rod 56. The support 55 moves horizontally on the rods 54, 56 and its horizontal position can be adjusted with rod 57. A cage 62 can be placed around heat gun 31 to prevent accidental contact with hot surfaces.

C. "Automatic" machine with die liners and embossed engravers

Figure 9 is a top view of another embodiment of this invention showing an apparatus 90 similar to apparatus 20 to provide a module that has a slab edge with a grout appearance, which includes a surface textured that can be made in a variety of colors. He apparatus 90 includes heat sources 30, 32, die coaters 92, 94 and embossed emboss 100, 102. Transport lines 108, 110 and 112 run substantially horizontally modules that move beyond the heat sources 30, 32, die liners 92, 94 and embossed engravers 100, 102. Edge 126 of module 116 receives first heat treatment of heat source 30, such as, for example,  A heat gun The die liner 92 is placed adjacent to heat gun 30 and provides an application of cast edge coating 126 of module 115. Figure 10 shows an embodiment of a die liner 92. A appropriate die liner is available at Suretack Systems of Woodstock, Georgia.

With reference to figure 9, a thermoplastic coating to the preheated end 126 of the module 115. Thermoplastic coatings include, but are not limited to, polyolefins, polyurethanes, polyester is and polyamides. By adding a thermoplastic coating to module 115, you can add a variety of brightness levels to module 115 from Bright to dark and also colors. After applying the thermoplastic coating, embossing occurs using embossing 100. Embossing It involves stamping or printing a pattern on module 115. The wheel 101 rolls over module 115 creating a pattern look recorded while module 115 is hot and soft.

For example, embossing can create a texture appearance similar to that of concrete or a module edge It looks like a binding edge. At the end of the line conveyor 110, module 120 does not rotate, but a second pair of edges 130, 132 are presented for treatment by moving the slabs in an orthogonal address compared to its first address of displacement (past a second group of air guns hot 30, 32, die liners 92, 94, and engravers on relief 100, 102 not shown). The result is a module 115 that It has all the edges treated. The combination of air guns hot 30, 32, die covers 92, 94, and engravers on relief 100, 102, allow the finished module to have many variations in color, brightness and texture.

Alternatively, a module 115 can be treated only for hot air guns 30, 32, and liners of die 92, 94, or a module 115 can only be treated by hot air guns 30, 32, and embossed engravers 100, 102. Any combination of hot air guns 30, 32, Die Covers 92, 94, and Embossed Engravers 100, 102 can be used in a module 115.

In another embodiment, the slab remains fixed in the apparatus and energy sources move around the slab, treating the perimeter or other parts of the slab creating the edge with Grout-like appearance.

While certain embodiments of this invention have been described before, these descriptions are given as Grounds for illustration and explanation. The variations, changes, modifications and deviations of the systems and methods explained previously they can be adopted without deviating from the scope of this invention.

Claims (9)

1. A method for giving an edge appearance on the upper face (72) of the textile fiber of a floor covering module (42) by the step of treating the edges (78, 81) of a module, characterized by Steps of:

i)

make the longitudinal movement relative of a treatment head (30) and edges (78, 81) of a floor covering module (42); Y

ii)

treat the edges (70) of the face upper textile floor covering module (42) for produce the visual appearance of a border with colored grout and / or temperature rise with energy and / or impregnation or plasticization and / or compression or consolidation.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 and further characterized in that the step of:

i)

Coloring includes dyeing, inking or pigmentation;

ii)

plasticizing includes the application of a thermoplastic, such as a hot melt adhesive;

iii)

heat by raising the temperature includes the application of heat with a gun heat or pulse heating or energy utilization of radiofrequency;

iv)

compress or consolidate includes no penetrate the rear surface of a module.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 and further characterized by the steps of:

i)

transport the module in a first direction up to at least one treatment head; Y

ii)

transport the module in one direction orthogonal to the first direction; or

iii)

transport the module in it direction after turning the module, until beyond at least Another treatment head.

4. Apparatus for giving an edge appearance on the upper face (72) of the textile fiber of a floor covering module (42) comprising an operative treatment head (30) in use for treating edges (78, 81) of a module and means (22) for effecting a relative movement between the treatment head and the module, characterized in that:

i)

said movement means (22) relative comprise a conveyor (22, 24) to move one of the floor covering modules (42) and a treatment head (30) to effect a relative longitudinal movement between the treatment head (30) and the edges (78, 81) of the module floor covering; Y

ii)

the treatment head comprises a heat source (30) or a heat gun (29) or a glue gun or a liner die (92, 94) or a relief engraver (100, 102) or a To be;

whereby, in use, you can produce the visual appearance of an edge with grout at the edges superiors of module. 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the floor covering module (42, 44, 47) is rectangular and has two pairs of opposite edges (49, 51 and 52, 53), and further characterized in that :

i)

said relative movement means they comprise a first conveyor (22) to advance the module (42, 44) longitudinally up to two treatment heads (30, 32) to treat a first pair (49, 51) of opposite edges of the module and a second conveyor (24) to advance the module longitudinally up to two more treatment heads (31, 33) to treat the second pair of opposite edges (52, 53) of the module; or

ii)

said relative movement means move the treatment head with respect to the module; or

iii)

said relative movement means they comprise a rotating treatment head that moves to treat module edges; or

iv)

They comprise two treatment heads to treat the first pair of opposite edges of the module and a device to rotate the module 90º, so, in use, the treatment heads can treat the second pair of edges of opposite module.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 and further characterized in that a depth and an angle of the treatment head (30) can be adjusted. 7. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6 and further characterized in that each of the first (22) and second (24) conveyors advances the module (42, 44, 47) at different speeds. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7 and further characterized in that the first conveyor (22) advances the module (42, 44, 47) in an orthogonal direction to the second conveyor (24). 9. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 4 to 8 and further characterized in that the treatment heads (30, 32) simultaneously treat each of the first pair (49, 51) of opposite edges of the module and the two heads over treatment (31, 33) simultaneously treat each of the second pair of opposite edges (52, 53) of the module.