Denim designs from laser scribing

• US 6,858,815 B1
• Filed: 12/14/2002
• Issued: 02/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RevoLaze LLC (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TechnoLines LP
• Inventors: Costin, Darryl
• Primary Examiner(s): ELVE, MARIA ALEXANDRA
• Application Number:
  US10/319,163
• Time in Patent Office: 801 Days
• Field of Search: 219/121.69, 219/121.85, 219/121.68, 219/121.6, 811/551
• US Class Current: 219/121.69
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: D06B 11/0096 to get a faded look
• CPC Class Codes: D06C 23/02 by singeing, teasing, shearing, etching or brushing
• CPC Class Codes: D06P 1/228 Indigo
• CPC Class Codes: D06P 5/15 Locally discharging the dyes
• CPC Class Codes: D06P 5/2011 Application of vibrations, pulses or waves for non-thermic purposes
• CPC Class Codes: D06Q 1/00 Decorating textiles
• CPC Class Codes: D06Q 1/02 Producing patterns by locally destroying or modifying the fibres of a web by chemical actions, e.g. making translucent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24149 Honeycomb-like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]

Abstract

A number of new laser patterns are defined by laser scribing the material. This produces new laser patterns which have not previously been known.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

setting specified parameters on a controllable laser, said specified parameters being parameters which control an amount of energy that is applied to a denim workpiece to alter a surface chemistry of the denim in a way to change the look of the denim according to a pattern without undesirably damaging the denim; and

using said controllable laser to modify the look of an entire width of a denim article per single traverse of the laser as the output of the laser passes across the denim article.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the denim article is an item of denim apparel.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the denim article is a roll of denim a material that is unrolled to form a denim ribbon.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the specified parameters include an image density of lines that are formed on the denim.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the specified parameters control geometry of the output of the laser.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein said using comprises using said laser along a conveyer and further comprising washing the denim along said conveyor after said using.

7. A system comprising:

a material holding part, which holds a workpiece to be processed;

a controllable laser, which is controllable according to specified parameters which control power output and position of the laser to alter a surface chemistry of the workpiece where an entire width of the workpiece is altered per single traverse of the laser.

8. A system as in claim 7, wherein the workpiece is a denim apparel article.

9. A system as in claim 7, wherein the workpiece is a roll of denim material.

10. A system as in claim 9, further comprising a conveyor system, and wherein the roll of denim material is unrolled along said conveyor system.

11. A system as in claim 10, further comprising a washing station along the conveyor system.

12. A system as in claim 7, wherein the specified parameters control a line width of marking by the laser material.

13. A method, comprising:

setting specified parameters on a controllable laser, said specified parameters including an energy density per-unit time that marks a denim material without undesirably damaging the denim material, wherein said marking comprises changing a look of the denim material in a way which can be seen by a user, and wherein said specified parameters comprise parameters which causes a pattern to be formed on said denim which pattern repeats across an entire unit area of said denim; and

using the controllable laser to modify the look of the denim according to said specified parameters to form a plurality of unit area patterns on the denim.

14. A method as in claim 13, wherein the denim material is a denim apparel.

15. A method as in claim 13, wherein the denim material is a roll of denim material that is unrolled during said using.

16. A method as in claim 15, further comprising using the controllable laser along a conveyor system.

17. A method as in claim 16, further comprising washing the denim material along the conveyor.