IT202100010805A1 - MACHINE FOR DECORATION OF FLEXIBLE LAMINAR SURFACES USED FOR COATING OBJECTS - Google Patents

Description

Description of the patent for industrial invention entitled:

MACHINE FOR DECORATION OF FLEXIBLE LAMINAR SURFACES

USED FOR COATING OBJECTS

The present invention relates to a machine for decorating flexible laminar surfaces used for covering objects, articles or products of various kinds: in this regard, the flexible laminar surfaces processed using the machine of the invention include bovine leather, imitation leather, leather regenerated, leather, synthetic material, fabric and/or similar (with the specific exception of paper).

In other words, the machine object of the invention ? useful for the creation of a certain ornamental motif for embellishment on flexible laminar surfaces intended for the world of furniture, fashion (for example women's shoes) and the automobile but, above all, for fashion accessories and leather goods (such as bags, belts, straps, shoulder bags, suitcases, card holders, wallets and so on).

As is known, in the finishing process of flexible laminar surfaces such as bovine hides from the tanning industry, finishing machines are mainly used to perform a decorative process on them (better known in the jargon of the sector as "roller coaters", " spreading machines" or more simply "spreading machines") in which the leather to be finished, for example conveyed by a conveying and stretching unit, passes on a lower transport and contrast cylinder made of rubber (so-called rubberized cylinder) and arranged functionally and constructively downstream of the aforesaid conveying and distension unit.

At the same time, an upper spreading cylinder, provided with an engraved outer wall (so that the cylinder or roller is commonly defined as ?engraved?) by means of a fancy design and facing and opposed to the underlying rubberised lower cylinder which contrasts its action, by pressing on the upper face of the advancing hide, it transfers and indelibly imprints a liquid product (in film or film form) on this upper face the fancy design of the outer wall of the engraved upper cylinder, removing the excess liquid product through distribution means (such as a transversal blade, generally identified as a doctor blade), thus obtaining the aesthetic effect (the so-called ?fashion effect?, as commonly known in the jargon of the tanning sector) conferred by the fantasy design itself present on the outside of the upper coating cylinder.

The engraved upper cylinder (as well as the rubber-coated lower cylinder) is set in rotation by respective motor means, installed on the bearing frame of the decorating machine synchronously with the direction of advancement of the hide on the relative feed belt, or in reverse, that is? in the opposite direction to the direction of advancement of the skin: there? This means that when successive portions of the external surface of the upper engraved cylinder in rotation progressively encounter the underlying skin in linear advance, these portions of the external surface of the engraved cylinder are moved in accordance with or not with the skin, depending on whether the operating mode is? synchronous or reverse.

In general, at present, the treatments of simple finishing of the leather (especially if soft leather) in the aforementioned modality? reverse, are performed using a rubber conveyor belt on which? the skin and whose wide surface front ensures the adhesion and traction of the skin itself, while the treatments of more? articulated and more complicated finishing of the leather that require printing (or impression) with designs and/or effects of various types takes place in mode? synchronous through, preferably, the aforementioned rubberized lower transport and contrast cylinder, in order to obtain a more contact? precise between the engraved upper cylinder of coating and the leather to be finished.

The present invention is specifically oriented to machines for finishing flexible laminar surfaces (used as coating of objects, articles and/or products intended for the final consumer) which provide for imprinting (or printing) on their upper face, by means of a real , a given effect or aesthetic motif of embellishment or ornament determined by the incision presented by the external wall of the spreading cylinder.

A result, if not perfect, at least optimal of the finishing operation and, in return, of decoration by means of printing a given fantasy design, of the hides, as well as depending on a regular and constant traction of these in the gap created between the upper engraved cylinder and the lower rubberized cylinder, depends mainly on the effectiveness with which the upper engraved cylinder transfers, deposits or spreads the liquid product on the entire upper face of the laminar material to be treated (such as, for example, individual bovine hides advancing one by one along a predetermined direction).

On there? it clearly impacts (and is widely known in the sector) firstly the fact that the hides have an irregular, non-constant thickness, and, subsequently, the fact that the external faces of the hides often show folds deriving from previous processes and/or numerous defects such as scratches, woodworm, signs, micro-cracks and cos? via which the liquid product is not always able to cover and hide.

For what? what more? matters for the subject of the present invention, however, it should be noted that the fantasy design imprinted on the flexible laminar surface of the type listed above depends exclusively on the morphology and depth? of the incision made (by photo-engraving) in the external part of the upper spreading cylinder, as well as? from the liquid product (generally defined as a ?lacquer?, a natural coloring material or an artificial coloring material) which is inevitably unique in its specific composition.

Therefore, the aesthetic effect that currently, in the technical field of interest,? possible to attribute to a flexible laminar surface such as cowhide, imitation leather, leather, synthetic material, fabric and/or similar, ? solely dictated by the type of fantasy design imprinted on the engraved coating cylinder and by the color of the liquid product applied on this laminar surface by the engraved cylinder in rotation: any color variations in the fantasy design printed on the upper face of the flexible laminar surface are, in fact, , solely attributable to a different depth? of some areas with respect to others of the engraved part of the external wall of the coating cylinder and are configured, in any case, as simple variations of tonality? of that single specific color associated with that liquid product applied by pressure from the rotating coating cylinder. It follows that, also to meet the increasingly more? diversified, distinctive, original and personalized needs of the final customers, the range of aesthetic effects which, in the state of the art, offered by flexible laminar surfaces treated by means of a finishing machine for decoration of the known type, however broad, is not? optimal and needs at least to be enlarged not only with respect to the obtainable fantasy designs but also to the variety? of colors that can be associated with each of these fanciful designs without having to prepare from time to time disadvantageously (given the relative onerousness) a different incision on the outer wall of the spreading cylinder.

Following this operating logic, in fact, to respond in a complete and effective way to the aforementioned needs of originality? of the market, the manufacturer of flexible laminar surfaces decorated with fancy designs and intended to form objects, articles or products of various kinds and for various uses in daily life, in particular fashion accessories and leather goods, should have a significant number of cylinders of engraved coating, which constitutes an economically disadvantageous, unsustainable strategy and which is not by chance not pursued, with consequent limitation of the choices that customers can make.

Therefore, starting from the awareness of the aforesaid drawbacks from which the current state of the art considered herein suffers, the present invention proposes to provide a complete and effective remedy for them.

In particular, the main purpose of the present invention ? to provide a machine for decorating flexible laminar surfaces used for coating objects, articles or products of various kinds which allows to broaden the range of aesthetic effects of such flexible laminar surfaces offered on the market with respect to the prior art.

Within the scope of this aim, it is, therefore, the task of the invention to conceive a machine for decorating flexible laminar surfaces which is able to satisfy in a better way the? broad and more varied compared to the current state of the art the needs of customers or, in other words, which is able to satisfy a range of customer needs more? wide than currently allowed, without that there? lead to an excessive multiplication of the specimens of engraved coating cylinders.

Within the cognitive sphere of the aforementioned main object, it is also the task of the present invention to indicate a machine for decorating flexible laminar surfaces which produces on the latter new, innovative and original aesthetic effects, which cannot be obtained with equivalent machines of known type.

? a second purpose of the invention is to provide a machine for decorating flexible laminar surfaces used for coating objects, articles or products which, all things being equal? profile of the fancy design printed on these flexible laminar surfaces, allows to give a number of aesthetic effects higher than that obtainable with the equivalent decoration machines of the prior art.

? a last but not least object of the invention is to create a machine for decorating flexible laminar surfaces used for coating objects, articles or products of various kinds which allows to achieve the previous objects by operating efficiently and effectively.

The said purposes are achieved by means of a machine for decorating flexible laminar surfaces used for coating objects as in the attached claim 1, to which reference is made for the sake of brevity exhibition.

Further detailed technical characteristics of the machine for decorating flexible laminar surfaces of the invention are contained in the corresponding dependent claims.

The above claims, specifically and concretely defined below, are intended as an integral part of the present description.

Advantageously, the decoration machine of the invention is capable of expanding, with respect to similar machines of the known type, the range of aesthetic effects offered by (or associated with) flexible laminar surfaces used for coating objects, articles or products, without requiring excessive adaptations or changes in the components that determine these aesthetic effects, in particular in the imaginative design with which the coating cylinders are engraved.

There? thanks to the fact that the machine of the invention includes, in addition to a traditional first spreading group, also a second spreading group which includes a second spreading cylinder which is:

? coupled to the supporting frame;

? placed operatively downstream of the first spreading cylinder of the first spreading unit from which ? separated by a predetermined distance, measured along the predetermined direction of advancement of the flexible laminar surface to be decorated;

? provided with an external wall engraved with a second fantasy design, freely established during production and generally obtained by photoengraving like the first fantasy design obtained on the external wall of the first coating cylinder;

? operatively connected to second drive means suitable for rotating the second spreading cylinder about a second transversal axis, parallel to the first axis defined by the first spreading cylinder, to deposit by pressure and subsequently (and continuously) to the latter, while this second spreading cylinder itself rotates around the second transversal axis, a second liquid product, different in color from the first liquid product, on the upper face of the various flexible laminar surfaces advancing in succession along the aforementioned predetermined direction on a motorized conveyor belt, below the two coating cylinders, cos? that the second fancy design made in (or colored with) the second liquid product is indelibly imprinted (or printed) on the upper face of the flexible laminar surfaces in a given combination with the first fancy design made in (or colored with) the first liquid product and already? stamped on the upper face of the flexible laminar surfaces.

Equally advantageously, therefore, the decorating machine makes it possible to effectively print on the upper face of the flexible laminar surfaces advancing on a motorized conveyor belt two fancy designs, suitably combined with each other (preferably, one inside the other ) and filled with liquid products of different colours.

Equally advantageous, the so-called ?fashion effect? which is obtained by means of the decoration machine of the invention? somewhat different from the constrained and substantially single-color one (albeit in an iridescent shade, which is in any case also obtainable with the machine of the invention, depending on the possible variety of the level of engraving present in each of the two coating cylinders) determined by the machines of decoration of the prior art comparable to the machine of the invention.

The goals and benefits said, cos? as others that will emerge hereinafter, will become more evident from the following description, relating to a preferred embodiment of the machine for decorating flexible laminar surfaces for coating objects, articles or products, given for indicative and illustrative, but not limiting, purposes , with the help of the attached drawing tables in which: ? figure 1 ? an isometric view of the decorating machine of the invention;

? figure 2 ? the simplified front view of figure 1;

? figure 3 ? the simplified plan view of figure 1;

? figure 4 ? a first simplified side view of figure 1;

? figure 5 ? a second simplified side view of figure 1, from the opposite side of figure 4;

? figure 6 ? the view of figure 2 according to the section plane VI-VI.

The machine for finishing (in the sense of decoration) of flexible laminar surfaces P, such as preferably leathers from the tanning industry, used for the external coating of objects such as, by way of example, shoes, bags, belts, card holders, ? represented in figure 1 where it is globally numbered with 1.

In other words, the machine 1 of the invention ? expressly used to apply on flexible laminar surfaces (with the exception of paper) an embellishment design (and, therefore, providing an aesthetic effect) of any shape, generally irregular and random (a sort of stain or a livery, for example reproducing the skin of a snake), previously engraved (by photoengraving) on spreading cylinders rotating around an axis of rotation orthogonal to an advancement direction of the flexible laminar surfaces to be decorated.

The hides P which can be worked with the decoration machine 1 of the present invention include not only those more small (so-called ?mezzanine? and having width included in the range of values of 1,800? 2,400 mm) but also those that reach a width more? high, up to 3,400 mm.

The machine 1 for the decoration of the flexible laminar surfaces P used for the coating of objects comprises:

- a load-bearing frame 2, suitable for resting on a reference surface S, such as the flooring of a production plant;

- a first spreading unit, numbered as a whole with 3, comprising a first spreading cylinder 4, coupled to the bearing frame 2 and provided with an external wall 4a engraved with a first fancy drawing 5; the first spreading cylinder 4 is also operatively connected to first motor means, indicated as a whole with 6, suitable for rotating the first spreading cylinder 4 around a first transversal axis X1 to deposit by pressure, while said first spreading cylinder coating 4 rotates around the first transversal axis X1 itself, a first liquid product L1 on an upper face Ps of flexible laminar surfaces P advancing along a predetermined direction F, so that the first fancy pattern 5 made in (or colored with the ) the first liquid product L1 is indelibly imprinted (or printed) on the upper face Ps of the flexible laminar surfaces P.

According to the invention, the machine 1 includes a second spreading unit, indicated as a whole by 7, which in turn comprises a second spreading cylinder 8 which is:

? coupled to said bearing frame 2;

? placed operatively downstream of the first spreading cylinder 4 from which ? separated by a predetermined distance D, measured along the aforementioned predetermined direction F;

? provided with an external wall 8a engraved using a second fantasy design 9, established at will during production and generally obtained through a photoengraving process (as, moreover, also occurs for the first fantasy design 5);

? operatively connected to second drive means, indicated as a whole with 10, suitable for rotating the second spreading cylinder 8 around a second transversal axis X2, parallel to the first axis X1, to deposit by pressure and subsequently to the first spreading cylinder 4, while the second spreading cylinder 8 rotates around the second transversal axis X2, a second liquid product L2, different in color from the first liquid product L1, on the upper face Ps of the flexible laminar surfaces P advancing along the predetermined direction F on an underlying conveyor belt 11 to the spreading cylinders 4, 8, in such a way that the second fantasy design 9 made in (or colored with) the second liquid product L2 is indelibly imprinted (or printed) on the same upper face Ps of the flexible laminar surfaces P in a given and qualitatively effective combination with the first fantasy design 5 already? imprinted on the upper face Ps.

It should be noted that the second product, generally coloured, L2 is spread in the incision of the outer wall 8a of the second spreading cylinder 8 and from there progressively transferred by pressure onto the initial part of the upper face Ps of each flexible laminar surface P, thus determining ? the printing of the second fancy drawing 9, as soon as each flexible laminar surface P reaches the second spreading cylinder 8 which starts thus? to rotate and while also the first spreading cylinder 4, rotating around the transversal axis X1, is still spreading the first product L1, which is also generally coloured, in the incision of the external wall 4a of the first spreading cylinder 4, thus ? printing the first fantasy design 5 on the end part of the upper face Ps of the flexible laminar surface P involved which advances along the predetermined direction F.

In particular, the second fantasy drawing 9 ? grafted or contained within the first imaginative drawing 5 compared to which it therefore has a smaller surface extension: the resulting aesthetic effect? a double different coloring (for example, yellow and green) of the fancy designs 5, 9 printed on the upper face Ps of the flexible laminar surface P which, basically, has a further different colour, for example blue or black; There? in clear and sensitive contrast with what is allowed by the known type of machines that create fantasy effects with at most? different shades? of the same color (e.g. black) on a flexible laminar surface which basically has a different color (e.g. brown).

Preferably but not necessarily, the second fantasy design 9 has a profile equal to the profile of the first fantasy design 5, although preferably, smaller dimensions, as just mentioned above, so? to determine a regular aesthetic effect, albeit with different colours, in correspondence with the fancy designs 5, 9 printed on the upper face Ps of each flexible laminar surface P.

It is understood that in other executive variants of the machine for decorating flexible laminar surfaces of the invention, not shown below, the second imaginative drawing could present a different profile from a profile of the first fancy drawing.

With reference to the predetermined distance D introduced above, it coincides with the circumference of the upper engraved spreading cylinders 4, 8, which is preferably the same for both upper engraved spreading cylinders 4, 8.

even more specifically but not limitingly, this predetermined distance D coincides with the center distance between the first spreading cylinder 4 and the second spreading cylinder 8 and has a value in the range 530-555 mm.

Pi? preferably, the value of the predetermined distance D between the transversal axes X1 and X2 ? equal to 543.5 mm, as indicated in figure 3.

As far as the first motor means 6 are concerned, they are distinct from the second motor means 10 and, as can be better seen in figure 4, they comprise a first electric motor 12 cooperating with the first spreading cylinder 4, thus as in turn the second motor means 10 comprise a second electric motor 13 cooperating with the second spreading cylinder 8.

Advantageously, the first motor means 6 are actuated in a synchronized manner with the second motor means 10 thanks to the provision of linear transduction means, not shown in the attached drawings, to first of all make the rotation of the second spreading cylinder 8 compatible, i.e. synchronized, with the rotation of the first spreading cylinder 4, suitably avoiding over-tensioning, curling, rippling and/or wrinkling of the flexible laminar surfaces P as they advance on the conveyor belt 11 along the predetermined direction F, where they are (in a critical and therefore ? to be managed) placed doubly in traction in two distinct and separate points, by the first spreading cylinder 4 and by the second spreading cylinder 8.

Furthermore, the provision of linear transduction means has the ultimate objective of making the progressive deposit of the second liquid product L2 ? and the consequent progressive printing of the second fantasy drawing 9 by the second cylinder 8 ? on the upper face Ps of the flexible laminar surfaces P compatible, according to what is set, with the deposit already? occurred of the first liquid product L1 ? and with the consequent progressive press already? occurrence of the first fancy pattern 5 on the upper face Ps of the flexible laminar surfaces P?.

Preferably but not bindingly, the linear transduction means comprise an encoder arranged at the second upper spreading cylinder 8 and electrically connected to a unit? processing and control unit installed in a control panel 14, visible in all the attached figures, coupled to the supporting frame 2 and accessible to an operator.

In a preferred but non-limiting manner, the first motor means 6 and the second motor means 10 are contained in a first protective box-shaped body 15 coupled laterally to the supporting frame 2 by means of fixing means, not numbered for simplicity, of the type per se ? known, and provided with a revolving door 36 useful for allowing access, in safety conditions, limited to the personnel in charge, as also illustrated by figure 2.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention described here, the first spreading unit 3 also comprises, as shown in detail in Figures 4 and 6, a first contrast cylinder 16, stably fixed to the supporting frame 2 and operatively connected to third motor means , indicated as a whole by 17 and visible in figure 5, suitable for placing it in rotation around a third transversal axis X3, parallel both to the first transversal axis X1 and to the second transversal axis X2, and defined by the first contrast cylinder 16 which is? below facing the first spreading cylinder 4 from which ? spaced in such a way as to define between the first spreading cylinder 4 and the first contrast cylinder 16 an initial passage light 18, visible only in figure 6, suitable for receiving in sliding one by one the flexible laminar surfaces P supported in an extended manner from the conveyor belt 11.

In turn, the second spreading unit 7 preferably comprises a second contrast cylinder 19 stably fixed to the supporting frame 2, identifying a fourth transverse axis X4 parallel to the third transverse axis X3 and operatively connected in an idle (i.e. non-motorised) ), through transmission means, indicated as a whole with 20 and visible in figure 6, to the first contrast cylinder 16 from which ? separated by the pre-established distance (or center distance) D, facing the second spreading cylinder 8 below, from which ? spaced in such a way as to define between the second spreading cylinder 8 and the second contrast cylinder 19 a final passage port 21, also visible only in figure 6, suitable for receiving the supported flexible laminar surfaces P one by one in sliding extended by the conveyor belt 11.

In the light of what has just been highlighted, it emerges that the conveyor belt 11 is interposed between the upper spreading cylinders 4, 8 and the lower contrasting cylinders 16, 19, as seen, arranged below said spreading cylinders 4, 8.

In a preferential but not essential way, the initial passage light 18 and the final passage light 21 have equal heights, according to the thickness of the flexible laminar surface P which passes inside them under the movement action exerted by the conveyor belt 11.

In addition, figure 5 shows that the third motor means 17 preferably comprise a third electric motor 22 cooperating with the first contrast cylinder 16.

Furthermore, the third motor means 17 are contained in a second protective box-shaped body 23, opposite the first protective box-shaped body 15 along the transverse axes X1, X2, laterally coupled to the supporting frame 2 and provided with a revolving door 37 useful for allowing access, in safe conditions, limited to assigned personnel.

Preferably but not exclusively, the machine 1 of the invention also comprises adjustment means, indicated as a whole by 24, useful for adjusting the height of the initial passage light 18 and of the final passage light 21 and also coupled to said supporting frame 2.

In essence, the adjustment means 24 have the function of varying the distance of the lower contrast cylinders 16, 19 from the respective upper spreading cylinders 4, 8 according to the thickness of the flexible laminar surfaces P to be decorated using the imaginative designs 5, 9 and the respective liquid products L1 and L2.

Pi? in detail, the adjustment means 24 include, in a preferred but not limiting way, two pairs of pneumatic actuators 25, 26 operatively connected to respective auxiliary motorization means, indicated as a whole with 27 and 28: the pneumatic actuators 25, 26 of the adjustment 24 are coupled to the supporting frame 2 from opposite sides along the transverse axes X1, X2 and symmetrically arranged with respect to the longitudinal development axis Y, orthogonal to the transverse axes X1, X2, of the supporting frame 2.

Figures 3-5 highlight that also the linear actuators 25, 26 more? of the adjustment means 24 and the respective auxiliary motorization means 27 and 28 are arranged externally to the respective protective box-shaped body 15 and 23 but in any case delimited by a protective casing 29, 30 which allows to avoid uncontrolled (and therefore dangerous) access for physical safety) of people not involved in the work.

For their part, the linear actuators 25, 26 plus? on the other hand, are contained in the first protective box-shaped body 15 and in the second protective box-shaped body 23.

As regards the first liquid product L1 and the second liquid product L2, it can be seen in figures 1-3 that they are contained in a respective shaped cup 31, 32 which? facing the relative external wall 4a, 8a of the first engraved spreading cylinder 4 and of the second engraved spreading cylinder 8 respectively and extends transversely to the predetermined direction F of advancement of the flexible laminar surfaces P on the conveyor belt 11 and for the entire length of such engraved cylinders of coating 4, 8.

In a convenient although not limiting manner for the purposes of the main inventive concept expressed by the present invention, the claimed machine 1 comprises a pair of transversal distribution blades 33, 34, each of which is commonly referred to as a ?blade-squeegee? in the jargon of the tanning sector, coupled to the supporting frame 2 and operatively connected to the respective upper spreading cylinder 4, 8.

The transversal distribution blade 33 has the function of homogeneously distributing the first liquid product L1 in the first imaginative design 5 engraved on the external wall 4a of the first spreading cylinder 4, while the transversal distribution blade (not shown but in any case equal to the transversal blade 33 and indicated in figure 1 in a generic way by means of the numerical reference 34, with the aim of indicating its position in general terms) has the function of distributing the second liquid product L2 in a homogeneous way in the second fancy drawing 9 engraved on the outer wall 8a of the second spreading cylinder 8. The transversal distribution blades 33, 34 therefore remove, by scraping, the quantity? of the first liquid product L1 and of the second liquid product L2 which ? to be considered in excess and which remains outside the fancy designs 5, 9 engraved in the respective upper spreading cylinders 4, 8 and to be impressed (or printed) on the upper face Ps of the flexible laminar surfaces P.

? it being understood that in further embodiments of the invention, not accompanied in the following by reference explanatory figures, the machine for decorating flexible laminar surfaces intended for coating objects, articles or products claimed here can be also comprise a single transversal distribution blade, facing the outer wall of only one of the upper engraved spreading cylinders.

Advantageously, the machine 1 for decorating flexible laminar surfaces P of the invention comprises detachment means, indicated as a whole with 35 and comprising a so-called ?leather-detaching blade? of the traditional type, coupled to the supporting frame 2 and operatively connected to both spreading cylinders 4, 8, suitable for preventing the flexible laminar surfaces P from adhering inadvertently and accidentally to the engraved spreading cylinders 4, 8, which are inevitably soaked in liquid product L1 and L2, while advancing along the set direction F.

Also in this case, other embodiments of the machine for decorating flexible laminar surfaces, not shown in the accompanying figures, may provide detachment means operatively connected only to one of the engraved spreading cylinders.

On the basis of the description just provided, it is therefore understood that the machine for decorating flexible laminar surfaces for coating objects, articles or products of the present invention achieves the aims and realizes the advantages already mentioned.

In the executive phase, modifications could be made to the machine for decorating flexible laminar surfaces for coating objects, articles or products of the invention, consisting, for example, of a second spreading unit which includes further second spreading cylinders capable to apply by pressure, on the upper face of the flexible laminar surfaces, further second fancy designs, different in color from the others applied by the first spreading roller and by the primary of the second spreading rollers.

It should also be noted that the first fantasy design and the second fantasy design engraved, respectively, on the outer wall of the first coating cylinder and on the outer wall of the second sealing cylinder and, in return, printed in a suitable reciprocal combination on the upper face of the flexible laminar surfaces, may assume any shape, composition and surface development and therefore be different from the imaginative designs illustrated, purely as an indicative example, in the attached figures, which does not affect the advantage provided by the present invention.

? finally, it is clear that numerous other variants can be made to the machine for decorating flexible laminar surfaces in question, within the scope circumscribed by the attached claims, as well as as ? it is clear that, in the practical implementation of the invention, the materials, shapes and dimensions of the illustrated details may be any, according to the requirements, and may be replaced with other technically equivalent ones.

Where the constructive features and techniques mentioned in the subsequent claims are followed by reference marks or numbers, have these reference marks been introduced with the sole aim of increasing the intelligibility? of the claims themselves and, consequently, they do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified, by way of example only, by these reference marks.

Claims (22)

1. Machine (1) for the decoration of flexible laminar surfaces (P) used for the coating of objects comprising: - a load-bearing frame (2) adapted to rest on a reference surface (S); - a first spreading unit (3) comprising a first spreading cylinder (4), coupled to said supporting frame (2), provided with an external wall (4a) engraved using a first fancy pattern (5) and operatively connected to first motor means (6) adapted to rotate said first spreading cylinder (4) around a first transversal axis (X1) to deposit by pressure, while said first spreading cylinder (4) rotates around said first transversal axis (X1) , a first liquid product (L1) on an upper face (Ps) of flexible laminar surfaces (P) advancing along a predetermined direction (F), in such a way that said first fancy design (5) made in said first liquid product ( L1) is impressed on said upper face (Ps) of said flexible laminar surfaces (P), characterized in that it includes a second spreading unit (7) which comprises at least a second spreading cylinder (8) coupled to said bearing frame (2), operatively located downstream of said first spreading cylinder (4) from which ? separated by a predetermined distance (D), measured along said predetermined direction (F), provided with an external wall (8a) engraved using a second fantasy design (9) and operatively connected to second motor means (10) able to rotate said second spreading cylinder (8) around a second transversal axis (X2), parallel to said first axis (X1), to deposit by pressure and subsequently to said first spreading cylinder (4), while said second spreading cylinder (8 ) rotates around said second transversal axis (X2), a second liquid product (L2), different in color from said first liquid product (L1), on said upper face (Ps) of said flexible laminar surfaces (P) advancing along said predetermined direction (F) on a conveyor belt (11) below said spreading cylinders (4, 8), so that said second fancy design (9) made in said second liquid product (L2) is imprinted on said face upper (Ps) of said flexible laminar surfaces (P) in given combination with said first imaginative drawing (5) already? impressed on said upper face (Ps). 2. Machine (1) as claimed in claim 1), characterized in that said second imaginative drawing (9) is inserted or contained within said first imaginative design (5) with respect to which it has a smaller surface extension. 3. Machine (1) as claimed in claim 1) or 2), characterized in that said second fantasy design (9) has a profile equal to a profile of said first fantasy design (5). 4. Machine as claimed in claim 1) or 2), characterized in that said second fantasy design has a different profile from a profile of said first fantasy design. 5. Machine (1) as any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said predetermined distance (D) coincides with the circumference of said engraved spreading cylinders (4, 8) which ? same for both said engraved spreading cylinders (4, 8). 6. Machine (1) as any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said predetermined distance (D) coincides with the center distance between said first spreading cylinder (4) and said second spreading cylinder (8) and has a value included in the range 530-555 mm. 7. Machine (1) as claimed in claim 6), characterized in that said value of said predetermined distance (D) ? equal to 543.5 mm. 8. Machine (1) as any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first motor means (6) are distinct from said second motor means (10), said first motor means comprising a first electric motor (12) cooperating with said first spreading cylinder (4) and said second motor means (10) comprising a second electric motor (13) cooperating with said second spreading cylinder (8). 9. Machine (1) as any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first motor means (6) are operated in a synchronized manner with said second motor means (10) by means of linear transduction means to make the rotation of said second cylinder spreading (8) synchronized with the rotation of said first spreading cylinder (4), avoiding over-tensioning and/or wrinkling of said flexible laminar surfaces (P) advancing on said conveyor belt (11) along said predetermined direction (F), and to make the progressive deposit of said second liquid product (L2) compatible according to what is set up with the deposit already? occurrence of said first liquid product (L1) on said upper face (Ps) of said flexible laminar surfaces (P). 10. Machine (1) as claimed in claim 9), characterized in that said linear transduction means comprise an encoder arranged in correspondence with said second spreading cylinder (8) and electrically connected to a unit? processing and control unit installed in a control panel (14) coupled to said supporting frame (2) and accessible to an operator. 11. Machine (1) as any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first motor means (6) and said second motor means (10) are contained in a first protective box-shaped body (15) coupled laterally to said supporting frame (2) and provided with a revolving door (36) for its access, in safety conditions, limited to the assigned personnel. 12. Machine (1) as any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first spreading unit (3) comprises a first contrast cylinder (16), stably fixed to said bearing frame (2) and operatively connected to third means motors (17) able to make it rotate around a third transverse axis (X3), parallel to said first and second transverse axes (X1, X2), defined by said first contrast cylinder (16) which ? below facing said first spreading cylinder (4) from which ? spaced so as to define between said first spreading cylinder (4) and said first contrast cylinder (16) an initial passage port (18) able to receive in sliding one by one said flexible laminar surfaces (P). 13. Machine (1) as any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second spreading unit (7) comprises a second contrast cylinder (19) stably fixed to said bearing frame (2), defining a fourth transversal axis ( X4) parallel to said third transverse axis (X3) and operatively connected in an idle way, by means of transmission means (20), to said first contrast cylinder (16) from which ? separated by said predetermined distance (D), facing below said second spreading cylinder (8) from which ? spaced so as to define between said second spreading cylinder (8) and said second contrast cylinder (19) a final passage port (21) able to receive in sliding one by one said flexible laminar surfaces (P) supported by said tape conveyor (11). 14. Machine (1) as claimed in claim 13), characterized in that said conveyor belt (11) is interposed between said spreading cylinders (4, 8) and said contrast cylinders (16, 19) located below said spreading cylinders (4, 8). 15. Machine as claimed in claim 13) or 14), characterized in that said initial passage light (17) and said final passage light (21) have equal heights. 16. Machine (1) as any one of claims 12) to 15), characterized in that said third motor means (17) comprise a third electric motor (22) cooperating with said first contrast cylinder (16). 17. Machine (1) as any one of claims 12) to 16) when depending on claim 11), characterized in that said third motor means (17) are contained in a second protective box-shaped body (23), opposite to said first box-like body (15) along said transverse axes (X1, X2), laterally coupled to said bearing frame (2) and provided with a revolving door (37) for its access, in safety conditions, limited to the assigned personnel. 18. Machine (1) as any one of claims 12) to 17), characterized in that it comprises means (24) for adjusting the height of said initial passage light (18) and of said final passage light (21 ), coupled to said bearing frame (2), able to vary the distance of said contrast cylinders (16, 19) from said spreading cylinders (4, 8) according to the thickness of said flexible laminar surfaces (P) to be decorated . 19. Machine (1) as claimed in claim 18), characterized in that said adjustment means (24) include a pair of pneumatic actuators (25, 26) operatively connected to auxiliary drive means (27, 28) and coupled to said bearing frame (2) from opposite sides along said transversal axes (X1, X2) and symmetrically arranged with respect to the longitudinal development axis (Y) of said bearing frame (2). 20. Machine (1) as any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first liquid product (L1) and said second liquid product (L2) are contained in a respective shaped cup (31, 32) which? facing said external wall (4a, 8a) of said first engraved spreading cylinder (4) and said second engraved spreading cylinder (8) and extends transversely to said predetermined direction (F) of advancement of said flexible laminar surfaces ( P) on said conveyor belt (11) and for the entire length of said engraved spreading cylinders (4, 8). 21. Machine (1) as any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one transversal distribution blade (33, 34), coupled to said supporting frame (2), operatively connected to at least one of said spreading cylinders ( 4, 8) and able to homogeneously distribute said first liquid product (L1) in said first fancy design (5) engraved on said external wall (4a) of said first spreading cylinder (4) and/or said second product liquid (L2) in said second imaginative drawing (9) engraved on said external wall (8a) of said second spreading cylinder (8) in such a way as to remove by scraping the quantity? of said first liquid product (L1) and/or of said second liquid product (L2) which remains external to said fancy designs (5, 9) engraved on said said spreading cylinders (4, 8). 22. Machine (1) as any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises detachment means (35), coupled to said supporting frame (2) and operatively connected to at least one of said spreading cylinders (4, 8), adapted to prevent said flexible laminar surfaces (P) from adhering inadvertently and accidentally to at least one of said spreading cylinders (4, 8) while advancing along said predetermined direction (F).