Semiautomatic apparatus and method for surface treatment of items of clothing using a laser source

A semiautomatic apparatus (1) for surface treatment with a laser source of a plurality of items of clothing (C), wherein the items (C) have front (SF), rear (SB) and side (SL) surfaces, said apparatus (1) comprises:

• support means (5) for supporting items (C) rotating about substantially vertical axes (Y1, Y2);
• movement means (11) for moving said support means (5) about said vertical axes (Y1, Y2);
• and
• laser means (16) for surface treatment of the items (C);
• wherein said laser means (16) comprise at least one first (17) and one second laser generators (18) that simultaneously direct laser beams (B1, B2) respectively to the front surface (SF) of one of the items and the rear surface (SB) of a different item and/or simultaneously to a side surface (SL) of one of the items (C) to be treated and an opposite side surface of a different item;
• wherein a loading/unloading station is provided for both loading the items to be treated and unloading the items after treatment, said loading/unloading station being simultaneously facing both of said first and second laser generators (17, 18);
• said support means (5) comprise multiple arms (6) configured to move from said loading/unloading station (19) of the item (C) to be treated/being treated to two work stations (20, 21) of the items (C) to be treated which are simultaneously facing said generators (17, 18);
• wherein a passage (22) is provided to allow an operator to access to said loading/unloading station (19), said first (17) and said second laser generators (18) being placed on opposite sides of said passage (22) and symmetrically with respect to the passage to avoid any interference of the laser beams (B1, B2) generated by said laser generators (17, 18) with the operator upon access thereof to said loading/unloading station (19).