WO2009088381A1

WO2009088381A1 - Production process for the artificial leather with the appearance and physical properties resembling the genuine leather

Info

Publication number: WO2009088381A1
Application number: PCT/TR2008/000059
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rafet Tukek
Original assignee: Flokser Tekstil Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.S.
Priority date: 2008-01-09
Filing date: 2008-05-30
Publication date: 2009-07-16
Also published as: TR200800146A2

Abstract

This invention is the production process for the artificial leather with the appearance and the physical properties resembling the genuine leather, said artificial leather being produced and presented to use for the very first time in the furniture, shoe, bag, clothing and accessory sector in the world, by way of coating the product with micro fibers, which has the appearance of the genuine suede, by polyurethane/polyvinylchloride, and tumbling the same in the relevant sector, and also a product manufactured according to this process. Owing to coating said product, which may also be called the micro leather, with polyurethane/polyvinylchloride, and tumbling the same, the surface texture, the side section and the back surface of the product are obtained together, with the appearance of the genuine leather.

Description

DESCRIPTION

PRODUCTION PROCESS FOR THE ARTIFICIAL LEATHER WITH THE APPEARANCE AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES RESEMBLING THE GENUINE LEATHER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is the production process for the artificial leather with the appearance and the physical properties resembling the genuine leather, said artificial leather being produced and presented to use for the very first time in the furniture, shoe, bag, clothing and accessory sector in the world, by way of coating the product with micro fibers, which has the appearance of the genuine suede, by polyurethane/polyvinylchloride, and tumbling the same in the relevant sector, and also a product manufactured according to this process. Owing to coating said product, which may also be called the micro leather, with polyurethane/polyvinylchloride, and tumbling the same, both the surface skin and the side section and the back surface of the product are obtained together, with the appearance of the genuine leather. PRIOR ART

According to the state of the art, the manufacture of the product with genuine suede appearance obtained by means of different methods and using the micro fiber textures, and the production of the artificial leather obtained by performing the coating with polyurethane/polyvinylchloride and then employing the tumbling process are carried out using separate processes and techniques.

These are described below.

According to the state of the art, there are present the practices for the production of the polyurethane/polyvinylchloride-coated artificial leather. In the production of the artificial leather, the desired thickness and weight of polyurethane and/or polyvinylchloride, solvent and other auxiliary chemicals are applied from the 1. knife onto the carrier paper (having designs) and are dried, in the coating machine. The carrier paper with chemicals leaving the drying step arrives at the 2. knife and in the 2. knife, the polyurethane and/or polyvinylchloride, solvent and other auxiliary chemicals are provided with desired thickness and weight to the carrier paper with chemicals, by way of daubing in a similar manner. Likewise, the carrier paper with chemicals leaving the drying step arrives at the 3. knife and in the 3. knife, the PU (polyurethane) and/or PVC (polyvinylchloride), solvent and other auxiliary chemicals are provided with desired thickness and weight to the carrier paper with chemicals, by way of daubing in a similar manner. Finally, the background is adhered onto the wet adhesive layer on the paper with chemicals, and dried. The product is obtained by separating the background from the carrier paper at the machine's outlet.

In the classical approach of artificial leather, a textured textile (knitted and/or woven) background is used under the coating surface. In the products manufactured according to this type of manufacturing processes, only the surface skin of the product resembles the genuine leather, and because it is very easy to distinguish the textile textured background of the product when one looks at the side section and the back surface, the product has a very limited visual resemblance with the genuine leather.

Another example of the practices in the state of the art for the production of the polyurethane-polyvinylchloride-coated artificial leather is the manufacturing process for the product with micro fibers having the appearance of the genuine suede. In said manufacturing process, which has previously been the subject for the patents by different companies abroad, the micro fibers are subjected to certain phases to obtain a product similar to the genuine suede.

The steps of the production process according to the state of the art may be summarized as follows. a) Bicomponent fiber is used, with one component being soluble in organic solvents, acid-base or aqueous solutions. b) The texture is formed by fitting together said fibers according to the method of "needle punching" or "water jet". c) The formed texture is impregnated with the polyurethane emulsion. d) One of the components is enabled to be dissolved, using the organic solvent, acid-base or aqueous solutions mentioned under item (a). e) The obtained product is subjected to the dyeing process. f) The product that has been subjected to the dyeing process is finally delivered to the emery process in order to obtain the final micro product with the appearance of the genuine suede.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

By means of the manufacturing process developed according to this invention for the artificial leather, which has the appearance and the physical properties resembling the genuine leather, an artificial leather is obtained, whose surface, side section and back surface simultaneously exhibit an exact resemblance with the genuine leather, as opposed to the manufacturing methods previously employed. In developing the process for the production of the artificial leather whose appearance and the physical properties resemble the genuine leather, it has been aimed to develop a production process for an artificial leather,

• which has the appearance, the touch and the physical properties with resemblance to those of the genuine leather and

• which is durable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES ILLUSTRATING THE INVENTION

In order to better describe the process developed according to this invention for the production of the artificial leather whose appearance and the physical properties resemble the genuine leather, the figures are prepared and enclosed with this description. Below are the descriptions for these figures.

Figure 1 - Production scheme for the PU-PVC-coated artificial leather

Figure 2 - Cross-sectional view of the fiber

Figure 3 - Nonwoven production scheme Figure 4 - Coagulation production step

Figure 5 - Normal Polyester Fiber

Figure 6 - Alkalized Polyester Fiber

Figure 7 - Jet-Flow production scheme

Figure 8 - Pad Stream production scheme Figure 9 - Ram (drying production scheme)

Figure 10- Emery machine (emery production)

Figure 11- Drum production scheme

DESIGNATIONS OF THE ELEMENTS THAT COMPRISE THE INVENTION (SECTIONS, PARTS, COMPONENTS)

In order to better describe the process developed according to this invention for the production of the artificial leather whose appearance and the physical properties resemble the genuine leather, the sections included in the figures (elements-parts-components) are assigned with separate reference numbers, and the definition and the designation are provided below for each part/component with an assigned reference number. 1- Paper having designs

2- Accumulator

3- Coating Knife

4- Furnace 5- Coating Knife

6- Furnace

7- Coating Knife

8- Background provision unit

9- Furnace 10- Cooling cylinders

11- Paper having designs 12- Artificial leather

13- Sea Component

14- Island Component 15- Fiber Supply

16- Metal Detector 17- Waste Bin

18- Mixer

19- FBK Comb Supply 20- Comb

21- Spreader

22- Feeder Band 23- 1. Pinning Loom 24- 2. Pinning Loom 25-3. Pinning Loom

26-4. Pinning Loom

27- 5. Pinning Loom

28- Accumulator 29- Winder 30- Cloth Supply

31- Accumulator

32- Preliminary Dipping Unit

33- Calibration Cylinders

34- Dipping / Coating Unit 35- Primary Coagulation Bath

36- Pressing Cylinders 37- Wash Bath 38- Pressing Cylinders 39- Furnace 40- Cooling Cylinders 41- Output Winding Unit

42- Flotte Preparation Tank 43- Heat exchanger

44- Pump

45- Filter 46- Fabric

47- Fabric Input

48- Impregnation

49- Steaming 50- Washing 51- Fabric Output

52- Fabric Input 53- Slider

54- Edge Opening

55- Fabric pin attachment 56- Drying

57- Fabric Winding

58- Fabric to be Emeried

59- Emery Cylinder

60- Emeried Fabric 61- Artificial leather with appearance resembling the genuine leather

62- Bath

63- Pressing Cylinders

64- Drum Unit

65- The tumbled artificial leather with appearance resembling the genuine leather DESCRIPTIONS RELATED TO THE PRIOR ART

In the applications according to the state of the art, the paper having designs (1) is passed through the accumulator (2), and its surface is coated with polyurethane and/or polyvinylchloride, solvent and other auxiliary chemicals, by means of the coating knife (3). Then it is dried in the furnace (4). Then, the surface thereof is coated with polyurethane and/or polyvinylchloride, solvent and other auxiliary chemicals by means of the coating knife (5), and it is dried in the furnace (6). One more time, the surface is coated with the polyurethane and/or polyvinylchloride, solvent and other auxiliary chemicals by means of the coating knife (7), the background is provided in the background provision unit (8), and it is dried in the furnace (9). Finally, it is passed between the cooling cylinders (10), the designs are applied by means of the paper (11) having designs, and thus the artificial leather (12) is obtained.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The process developed according to this invention for the production of the artificial leather whose appearance and the physical properties resemble the genuine leather comprises the following stages: ' A) Nonwoven stage,

B) Coagulation stage,

C) Alkalization stage,

D) Dyeing stage,

E) RAM (Drying) stage, F) Emery stage,

G) Coating stage, H) Tumbling stage,

A- Nonwoven Stage First of all, the preliminary texture is obtained by fitting together the bicomponent "sea- island" fibers (in the form of islets in the sea) (13 and 14) with desired thickness and density, according to the "needle punching" method. Since the texture is obtained only by way of fitting the fibers one within the other, it rather appears as a cotton-/felt-like structure.

Here, "polyamide" is used as the "island" component (14), and "copolyester" is used as the "sea" component (13). Here, the polyester and polyethylene-type of fibers may also be used as the components, other than the polyamide and the copolyester. At this stage, a different textile background (knitted-woven) may be optionally used inside the texture with fibers, in order to increase the mechanical strength of the product obtained.

Nonwoven stage is shown in Figure 3. Nonwoven stage comprises fiber supply (15), metal detector (16), waste bin (17), mixer (18), FBK Comp Supply (19), comb (20), spreader (21), feeder band (22), pinning looms (23, 24, 25, 26 and 27), accumulator (28) and winder (29). The fiber used is the bicomponent sea-island fiber (13 and 14). The fibers are poured into the fiber supply (15) unit called the bale opener by the operators. The purpose is to carry out stepwise combing operations to aid in the final combing in the comb machine. After the processes of combing and weighing are carried out, the fibers are continuously delivered to the mixer (18) section by way of air. The metal detector (16) is present on the path the fiber follows. In case of any metal being detected, the direction of the air way is changed by means of a valve and the fiber containing metal is directed towards the waste bin. The section called the mixer (18) is the fiber silo. The quantitative delivery is performed depending on the machine speed and product weight. The delivered fiber is provided in the comb supply unit (19) to the comb machine (20) in the form of a group of fibers with a certain amount and thickness, having a width of 2,50 meters, called the fiber quilt. The comb machine (20) is a comb machine with double doffers. Here a 2,50 meter-wide gauze is obtained. The obtained gauze has a weight of approximately 30-50 gr/m². This weight may change with the supply amount, depending on the operative capacity of the fiber (depending on the moisture content of the air, comb wire quality, comb cylinder settings, etc.). Depending on the desired weight, the gauzes exiting the comb (20) are overlapped and positioned in a crosswise arrangement. In this way, the direction of the production is changed by 90 degrees. Pinning units (23, 24, 25, 26 and 27) are used to secure the fiber gauzes laid with desired weight. The pinning machines (23, 24, 25, 26 and 27) are adjusted according to the desired pinning frequency and depth, thus a pinning process is obtained in compliance with the manufacturing specifications. Said felted textile surface is continuously produced in the form of rolls in desired quantity, using the accumulator (28) and the winder (29), and is made ready for the subsequent station.

B- Coagulation Stage

Coagulation stage is shown in Figure 4. Coagulation stage comprises cloth supply (30), accumulator (31), preliminary dipping unit (32), calibration cylinders (33), dipping /coating unit (34), primary coagulation bath (35), pressing cylinders (36), wash bath (37), pressing cylinders (38), furnace (39), cooling cylinders (40), output winding unit (41).

In the coagulation stage, the background with micro fibers coming from the cloth supply (30) and the accumulator (31) is impregnated with the mixture comprising the polyurethane, solvent and other auxiliary raw materials by dipping it at certain viscosities into the basin

(dipping process) (32 and 34). After the polyurethane solution is applied on the micro texture by means of the impregnation method, it is dipped into the coagulation bath (35), after which it is pressed by means of the pressing cylinders (36) and is coagulated owing to the phase change provided. Finally, it is subjected to the pressing (36), then washing (37) and then again to the pressing (38) process, and is dried in the furnace (39). In this way, the micro texture is preserved and it is enabled to attain the fullness and weight of the genuine leather. Afterwards, it is collected in the output winding unit (41) of the coagulation stage.

At this stage, the polyurethane used may be selected from the polyester- (BDO ADIPAT, MEGDEG ADIPAT, MEG ADIPAT, DEG ADIPAT), polyether- (PPG, PPG/EG, PTMEG), polycarbonate- or organic isocyanate-based polyurethanes (MDI, TDI, HDI, HΪ2MDI). The production scheme for the coagulation is illustrated in Figure 4.

C- Alkalization Stage

The coagulated product with micro texture is delivered to the HT Jet Flow machine (Figure 7) for discontinuous process, and to the pad stream machine (Figure 8) for the continuous process. The product is subjected to the alkalization process, in order to dissolve the copolyester, which comprises "sea component" (13) within the micro fiber, in an alkaline medium, and thus, to achieve the initial chemical corrosion-decomposition process.

Jet flow machine (Figure 7) comprises the flotte preparation tank (42), heat exchanger (43), pump (44), filter (45) and fabric (46). Pad Stream flow machine (Figure 8) comprises the fabric input (47), impregnation (48), steaming (49), washing (50) and fabric output (51).

Alkalization is a process performed with a certain percentage ratio of sodium hydroxide, in order to obtain absorbency and a soft touch in the fiber, as a result of the peeling and the roughness formed on the polyester fiber surface owing to the capability of the bases (alkalis) to dissolve the polyester fibers.

This process is also known as peeling, causticizing, and weight removal.

Alkalization is carried out after thermofixing and prior to dyeing. In cases where it will be carried out after the dyeing, it is necessary to pay attention to the fastness of the dyestuff to the boiling base solution. The alkalization process is performed according to the long flotte ratio and at the boiling degree. After a treatment for 1/2 — 1 hour, hot-cold rinsing is carried out and neutralization is performed by means of acetic or formic acid.

As a result of alkalization, up to 30% polyester is dissolved, weight loss occurs and the product attains a quite soft and loose touch. At this point, the factors influencing the weight loss in the alkalization are as follows:

• Fiber thinness

• Fiber form • Caustic soda concentration

• Temperature

• Duration

Figure 5 shows the normal polyester fiber, whereas Figure 6 shows the alkalized polyester fiber.

D- Dyeing Stage

The micro fabric, which has been subjected to the alkalization process, is subjected to the dyeing process either in the same environment (HT jet machine) without drying, if the discontinuous process is to be employed, or in another pad stream machine where it is delivered for continuous process. After the dissolution of the polyester component, the fiber is dyed using the polyamide dyes. The dyeing process is performed using the weak acid for the light colors, and the metal complex dyes for the dark colors.

E- RAM (Drying) Stage

Ram drying stage comprises the fabric input (52), slider (53), edge opening (54), fabric pin attachment (55), drying (56) and fabric winding (57).

Although the ram is essentially a drying machine, it is very important in finishing, as it is the machine where the dyed product is provided with the final size and the form.

Rams are the machines, in which the product in a transversely open state is held by its edges with the pins or treads actuated by means of a pair of moving chains, and is dried in this way.

The moist micro fabric that exits the dyeing stage passes through the slider (53) to reach the edge opening unit (54). Here, the surface tension is provided, and the product is enabled to enter the furnace (drying) (56) with the same tension, with the aid of the pins (55) or treads. Thus, the product is dried and wound with its provided final size (57). F- Emery Stage

The product, having passed through the ram, reaches the emery machine for the performance of a mechanical corrosion process on one side thereof. Emery is a process, whereby the surface of the product is raised in a very fine manner, in order to provide the touch and appearance of the suede. Emery machine comprises the fabric to be emeried (58), emery cylinder (59) and the emeried fabric (60). Emery machine (Figure 10) has a single emery cylinder (59), and said emery cylinder (59) is wrapped spirally with the corrosive paper coated with the emery powder or the sandpaper. The fabric (58) is contacted with this rapidly rotating cylinder to corrode and emery the surface thereof. As a result, the emeried fabric (59) is obtained. The effect on the fabric surface may be fine or coarse, depending on whether the emery is thin or thick. The emerying effect (pile height and direction) obtained on the surface of the fabric depends on some factors.

These include

• the diameter of the emery cylinder (59), • the speed of the emery cylinder (59),

• roughness of the emery cylinder (59),

• fabric (58) passage speed,

• number of emery cylinders (59),

• the contact surface between the emery cylinder (59) and the fabric (58). The product to which the emery process has been applied is produced in a state where it has attained an appearance similar to that of the genuine suede, and it is sent to the coating machine.

G- Coating Stage

The product, which has attained the appearance of the genuine suede after being subjected to the mechanical corrosion, arrives at the coating machine.

The overall view of the coating machine is provided in Figure 1.

In the coating machine, the polyurethane and/or pvc, solvent and other auxiliary chemicals are applied with the desired thickness and weight to the carrier paper (with designs), by daubing by means of the 1. knife, and the same is dried. The carrier paper with chemicals leaving the drying step arrives at the 2. knife, in which the desired thickness and weight of the polyurethane and/or pvc, solvent and the other auxiliary chemicals are applied to the carrier paper with chemicals in the same manner by daubing. Similarly, the carried paper with chemicals leaving the drying step arrives at the 3. knife, in which the polyurethane and/or PVC, solvent and the other auxiliary chemicals with desired thickness and weight are applied by daubing to the carrier paper with chemicals, and finally, the product with micro fibers having the appearance of the genuine suede is laminated to the paper with chemicals so that the part not subjected to the emery process will adhere, and at the machine outlet, the product and the carrier paper are separated and wound.

In this way, a product is obtained, which resembles the genuine leather on one side and the genuine suede on the other side. H-Tumbling Stage

Tumbling state is illustrated in Figure 11. The artificial leather (61) with appearance resembling the genuine leather, which enters the tumbling stage, is passed through the bath (62), pressing cylinders (63) and the drum unit (64), thus the tumbled artificial leather (65) with appearance resembling the genuine leather is obtained. The product (61) coming from the coating machine arrives at the tumbling machine, in order to both enable it to attain more natural folds on the surface texture and to provide a more pleasant touch for the same.

In the tumbling machine, the product (61) is subjected to the tumbling process by way of passing the same through the bath with/without silicone. The product leaving the drum is enabled to have the appearance of the genuine leather simultaneously on its surface skin, on its side section and on its back surface; hence the final product (65) is obtained.

Claims

1- The production process for the artificial leather whose appearance and physical properties resemble the genuine leather characterized in that it comprises the process steps of first obtaining the initial texture by fitting the bicomponent "sea - island" (in the form of islets in the sea) (13 and 14) fibers within each other with desired thickness and density by means of the "needle punching" method and also

• nonwoven stage,

• coagulation stage,

• alkalization stage, • dyeing stage,

• RAM (drying) stage,

• emery stage,

• coating stage,

• tumbling stage. 2- The production process for the artificial leather whose appearance and physical properties resemble the genuine leather according to Claim 1 characterized in that "island" component (14) is "polyamide" and "sea" component (13) is "copolyester".

3- The production process for the artificial leather whose appearance and physical properties resemble the genuine leather according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the "island" (14) and "sea" (13) components are the polyester- and polyethylene-type of fibers.

4- The production process for the artificial leather whose appearance and physical properties resemble the genuine leather according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that a different textile background (knitted-woven) is used inside the texture with fibers in order to increase the mechanical strength of the product obtained.

5- The production process for the artificial leather whose appearance and physical properties resemble the genuine leather according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the nonwoven stage comprises fiber supply (15), metal detector (16), waste bin (17), mixer (18), FBK Comb Supply (19), comb (20), spreader (21), feeder band (22), pinning looms (23, 24, 25, 26 and 27), accumulator (28) and winder (29).

6- The production process for the artificial leather whose appearance and physical properties resemble the genuine leather according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the bicomponent sea-island (13 and 14) fiber is poured by the operators manually into the fiber supply unit (15), following the combing and weighing processes, the fibers are continuously delivered to the mixer (18) section by means of air, the metal-containing fiber is directed towards the waste bin by changing the direction of the air way by means of the valve in case a metal is detected by the metal detector (16) on the travel path of the fiber, the fiber delivered from the mixer (18) is supplied to the comb machine (20) with double doffers as a 2,50 meter-wide fiber group having a certain quantity and thickness called the fiber quilt in the comb supply unit (19), the 2,50 meter-wide gauze is obtained in the comb machine (20), the obtained gauzes are overlapped and laid in a transverse manner depending on the desired weight, thus the production direction is changed through 90 degrees, the laid fiber gauzes are subjected to pinning with desired frequency and depth in the pinning units (23, 24, 25, 26 and 27) in order to fix the same, the surface of the felted textile is produced in the form of rolls by using the accumulator (28) and winder (29) in a continuous manner, and is made ready for the subsequent station. 7- The production process for the artificial leather whose appearance and physical properties resemble the genuine leather according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that coagulation stage comprises the cloth supply (30), accumulator (31), preliminary dipping unit (32), calibration cylinders (33), dipping/coating unit (34), primary coagulation bath (35), pressing cylinders (36), wash bath (37), pressing cylinders (38), furnace (39), cooling cylinders (40), output winding unit (41).

8- The production process for the artificial leather whose appearance and physical properties resemble the genuine leather according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that in the coagulation stage; the background with micro fibers coming from the cloth supply (30) and accumulator (31) is impregnated with the mixture of polyurethane, solvent and other additional raw materials by way of dipping the same into the basin where said mixture is present (dipping process) (32 and 34), after the micro texture is impregnated with polyurethane by means of the impregnation method, it is dipped into the coagulation bath (35) and then is pressed by the pressing cylinders (36), it is coagulated by providing the phase change, and finally it is subjected first to pressing (36), then washing (37) and then pressing (38) processes and is dried in the furnace (39), after which it is collected at the coagulation stage output winding unit (41).

9- The production process for the artificial leather whose appearance and physical properties resemble the genuine leather according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the polyurethane to be used is selected from the polyester-, polyether-, polycarbonate- or organic isocyanate-based polyurethanes, according to the product segment. 10- The production process for the artificial leather whose appearance and physical properties resemble the genuine leather according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that in the alkalization stage; the coagulated product with micro texture is delivered to HT jet flow machine for discontinuous process, and to pad stream machine for the continuous process.

11- The production process for the artificial leather whose appearance and physical properties resemble the genuine leather according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the jet flow machine comprises the flotte preparation tank (42), heat exchanger (43), pump (44), filter (45) and fabric (46). 12- The production process for the artificial leather whose appearance and physical properties resemble the genuine leather according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the pad stream flow machine comprises the fabric input (47), impregnation (48), steaming (49), washing (50) and fabric output (51).

13- The production process for the artificial leather whose appearance and physical properties resemble the genuine leather according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the alkalization process is performed after thermofixing and prior to dyeing.

14- The production process for the artificial leather whose appearance and physical properties resemble the genuine leather according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the alkalization process is carried out at long flotte ratio and at boiling degree by a treatment for 1/2-1 hour, then the hot-cold rinsing is carried out and the neutralization is provided by means of acetic or formic acid.

15- The production process for the artificial leather whose appearance and physical properties resemble the genuine leather according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that at the dyeing stage; the micro fabric, which has been subjected to alkalization process, is subjected to dyeing process either in the same environment (HT jet machine) without drying, if a discontinuous process is to be carried out, or in another pad stream machine where it is delivered, if a continuous process is to be carried out.

16- The production process for the artificial leather whose appearance and physical properties resemble the genuine leather according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the fiber is dyed with polyamide dyes in the dyeing stage.

17- The production process for the artificial leather whose appearance and physical properties resemble the genuine leather according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that in the dyeing stage; the weak acid is used for the light colors, whereas the metal complex dyes are used for the dark colors. 18- The production process for the artificial leather whose appearance and physical properties resemble the genuine leather according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that RAM (drying) stage comprises the fabric input (52), slider (53), edge opening (54), fabric pin attachment (55), drying (56) and fabric winding (57). 19- The production process for the artificial leather whose appearance and physical properties resemble the genuine leather according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that at the drying stage; the moist micro fabric coming from dyeing passes through the slider (53) to reach the edge opening unit (54), here the surface tension is provided for the fabric and it is delivered to the furnace (drying) (56) with the same tension with the help of the pins (55) or treads, and thus the product is dried and wound with its final size provided

(57).

20- The production process for the artificial leather whose appearance and physical properties resemble the genuine leather according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that at the emery stage; the product that has passed through the ram arrives at the emery machine for the performance of mechanical corrosion process on one of its sides, here its surface is raised in a very fine manner by means of emery (59) in order to provide the suede touch and appearance to its surface.

21- The production process for the artificial leather whose appearance and physical properties resemble the genuine leather according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the emery machine comprises the fabric to be emeried (58), emery cylinder (59) and emeried fabric (60).

22- The production process for the artificial leather whose appearance and physical properties resemble the genuine leather according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the emery cylinder (59) in the emery machine is wrapped spirally by the corrosive paper coated with emery powder or sandpaper. 3- The production process for the artificial leather whose appearance and physical properties resemble the genuine leather according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that in the coating machine; the polyurethane and/or pvc, solvent and other auxiliary chemicals are applied with the desired thickness and weight from the 1. knife to the carrier paper (with designs) by way of daubing and the paper is dried, the carrier paper with chemicals leaving the drying step arrives at the 2. knife, where the polyurethane and/or pvc, solvent and other auxiliary chemicals are applied with desired thickness and weight to the carrier paper with chemicals by way of daubing in the same manner, and similarly, the carrier paper with chemicals leaving the drying step arrives at the 3. knife, where the polyurethane and/or PVC, solvent and other auxiliary chemicals are applied with desired thickness and weight to the carrier paper with chemicals by way of daubing, and finally, the paper with chemicals is laminated with the product with micro fibers having the genuine suede appearance so that the part thereof not subjected to the emery process will adhere, and the product and the carrier paper are removed and wound at the machine outlet. - The production process for the artificial leather whose appearance and physical properties resemble the genuine leather according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that at the tumbling stage; the product (61) coming from the coating machine is subjected to the tumbling process by passing the same through the bath with/without silicone in the tumbling machine, and thus the tumbled artificial leather (65) is obtained, whose appearance resembles the genuine leather.