A method for processing natural or synthetic leather by using super-critical CO.sub.2. The leather can be dried leather, low grade leathers, thin leather, crust leathers, finished leathers, wet blue leathers, and tanned leather, as well as synthetic leather. In a second aspect the invention relates to leather obtained by said method, and in a third aspect to a stand-alone apparatus for performing said method.

The present invention relates to a spreading machine for roller leather finishing. The machine includes a drawing cylinder and an engraved spreading cylinder. The drawing cylinder acts as a driving roller for a rubber conveyor belt wound between the driving roller and an idle roller. The drawing cylinder has a conveying surface and a rubber layer. In each operating configuration, the conveying surface of the rubber conveyor belt is tangent to the engraved spreading cylinder in a point of tangency (P), and the idle roller has a leather-detachment roller having a diameter within the range of 10 and 80 mm.

The present invention relates to a spreading machine for roller leather finishing. The machine includes a drawing cylinder and an engraved spreading cylinder. The drawing cylinder acts as a driving roller for a rubber conveyor belt wound between the driving roller and an idle roller. The drawing cylinder has a conveying surface and a rubber layer. In each operating configuration, the conveying surface of the rubber conveyor belt is tangent to the engraved spreading cylinder in a point of tangency (P), and the idle roller has a leather-detachment roller having a diameter within the range of 10 and 80 mm.

A method of processing leather, which may be a tanned or synthetic animal leather or a leather of animal origin, includes the steps of providing a leather to be processed and irradiating the leather to be processed with UV rays. A station for processing the leather includes a receiving point for the leather to be processed, a delivery point for the processed leather, a working area for housing the leather to be processed that is interposed between the receiving and delivery points, and a source of UV rays arranged at the working area.

A method of processing leather, which may be a tanned or synthetic animal leather or a leather of animal origin, includes the steps of providing a leather to be processed and irradiating the leather to be processed with UV rays. A station for processing the leather includes a receiving point for the leather to be processed, a delivery point for the processed leather, a working area for housing the leather to be processed that is interposed between the receiving and delivery points, and a source of UV rays arranged at the working area.

Apparatus for recovery of a solid particulate material from an animal skin substrate subjected to a treatment using said particulate material, comprises a support arranged to support the animal skin substrate, at least one air knife arranged to direct its output flow of air to the animal skin substrate when supported on the support, and a transport arrangement configured to move at least one of the air knife and the animal substrate relative to the other. A method of recovering solid particulate material from such an animal skin substrate is also disclosed.

Apparatus for recovery of a solid particulate material from an animal skin substrate subjected to a treatment using said particulate material, comprises a support arranged to support the animal skin substrate, at least one air knife arranged to direct its output flow of air to the animal skin substrate when supported on the support, and a transport arrangement configured to move at least one of the air knife and the animal substrate relative to the other. A method of recovering solid particulate material from such an animal skin substrate is also disclosed.

The invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for the treatment of animal skin substrates which employs a multiplicity of solid particles. There is disclosed an apparatus for treating one or more animal skin substrates with a multiplicity of solid particles and treatment liquor comprising: a rotatably mounted drum comprising an internal volume having a first portion defining a treatment volume for retaining said animal substrates and a second portion defining a collecting volume; one or more inlets for introducing solid particles and treatment liquor into said treatment volume; a partition separating said treatment volume from said collecting volume wherein said partition allows free passage of solid particles from the treatment volume to the collecting volume and prevents the passage of the substrates therethrough; a circulation path for conveying said solid particles from the collecting volume to the treatment volume; and a pumping device arranged to pump solid particles and said treatment liquor along a portion of said circulation path.

The invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for the treatment of animal skin substrates which employs a multiplicity of solid particles. There is disclosed an apparatus for treating one or more animal skin substrates with a multiplicity of solid particles and treatment liquor comprising: a rotatably mounted drum comprising an internal volume having a first portion defining a treatment volume for retaining said animal substrates and a second portion defining a collecting volume; one or more inlets for introducing solid particles and treatment liquor into said treatment volume; a partition separating said treatment volume from said collecting volume wherein said partition allows free passage of solid particles from the treatment volume to the collecting volume and prevents the passage of the substrates therethrough; a circulation path for conveying said solid particles from the collecting volume to the treatment volume; and a pumping device arranged to pump solid particles and said treatment liquor along a portion of said circulation path.

Animal skin substrate treatment apparatus and method An apparatus for treating at least one animal skin substrate with a multiplicity of solid particles comprises a rotatably mounted drum for containing said animal substrate, said solid particulate material and a treatment liquor, said drum comprising an outlet opening and a closure. The closure can be moveable between a first position wherein said outlet opening is closed and the animal substrate, the solid particulate material and the treatment liquor cannot pass through the outlet and are retained within the drum and a second position wherein said outlet opening is open such that solid particulate material and the treatment liquor can exit the drum through the outlet opening. The drum can further comprise an apertured screen arranged at the outlet and configured to permit passage through the outlet opening of the solid particulate material and the treatment liquor when the closure is in the second position and to prevent passage thereof through the outlet opening of the animal skin substrate. The apertured screen is suitably moveable from the outlet opening to permit loading and unloading of the animal skin substrate through the outlet opening when the closure is in the second position. A treatment method using the apparatus is also disclosed.