SPREADING SURFACES & EQUIPMENT

Spreading Equipment
The major components involved in the spreading equipment are: 1. 2. 3. 4. Spreading Surfaces Spreading Machines/Methods Fabric Control Devices Fabric Cutting Devices

Many firms operate productively with manually operated equipment, while other firms find the automated, high-tech equipment to be cost-effective for their operations.

FOR GM - 477 BY: ABDUL SAMMAD GILL

SPREADING SURFACES & EQUIPMENT

Spreading Equipment
1. Spreading Surfaces The main features involved in the selection of spreading surfaces are: The appropriate type of spreading surface is determined by the fabric type, spreading equipment, cutting method, cutting equipment, and firms quality standard. Spreading requires a flat, smooth surface. If the spreading surface doubles as a cutting surface, it also must be level. Spreading and cutting may be done on the same surface, but automated cutting often requires spreading and cutting to be done in adjacent but separate locations. Spreading and cutting surfaces are available in standard widths that correspond to the fabric width. Table width cannot be expanded, although narrow fabric can be spread on a wider table. A spreading surface needs to be about 10 inches wider than the fabric.
FOR GM - 477 BY: ABDUL SAMMAD GILL 2

SPREADING SURFACES & EQUIPMENT

Spreading Equipment
1. Spreading Surfaces (Cont) The main features involved in the selection of spreading surfaces are: Spreading tables may have tracks or rails placed along one or both sides of the tabletop or just a few inches off the floor. This track helps to guide and control the spreader as it moves up and down the length of the table. With some types of equipment, the table tracks are geared to synchronize the movement of the spreading machine with fabric unrolling, in order to regulate the tension. Spreading Tables: Spreading tables may also be very specialized for certain types of fabric and cutting equipment. Different types of tables used are: 1. Pin Tables 2. Vacuum Tables 3. Air Floatation Tables 4. Transfer Tables 5. Multi-Tier Tables
FOR GM - 477 BY: ABDUL SAMMAD GILL 3

SPREADING SURFACES & EQUIPMENT

Spreading Equipment
1. Spreading Surfaces (Cont) Spreading Tables: I. Pin Tables Pin Tables have rows of pins located below the surface that can be extended through slats to hold fabric in precise location for accurate matching of pattern repeats.

FOR GM - 477 BY: ABDUL SAMMAD GILL

SPREADING SURFACES & EQUIPMENT

Spreading Equipment
1. Spreading Surfaces (Cont) Spreading Tables: II. Vacuum Tables Vacuum tables are used to compress the lay-up and prevent shifting or movement during cutting.

FOR GM - 477 BY: ABDUL SAMMAD GILL

SPREADING SURFACES & EQUIPMENT

Spreading Equipment
1. Spreading Surfaces (Cont) Spreading Tables: III. Air Floatation Tables The use of air floatation system is recommended for easy movement of heavy weight spreads with one or two workers. It minimizes the manpower involved in moving spreads on the adjacent cutting table/areas. A layer air between the table surface and the and the bottom layer of paper reduces friction and allows a lay-up to be moved easily without putting stress on the fabric or the operators.

6 FOR GM - 477 BY: ABDUL SAMMAD GILL

SPREADING SURFACES & EQUIPMENT

Spreading Equipment
1. Spreading Surfaces (Cont) Spreading Tables: IV. Transfer Tables Transfer tables are used to provide lays to one automatic cutting head. Mobile automatic cutters are also used.

FOR GM - 477 BY: ABDUL SAMMAD GILL

SPREADING SURFACES & EQUIPMENT

Spreading Equipment
1. Spreading Surfaces (Cont) Spreading Tables: V. Multi-Tier Tables Multi-Tier tables can be used to allow the spreads to be staged prior to cutting in a minimum space.

FOR GM - 477 BY: ABDUL SAMMAD GILL

SPREADING SURFACES & EQUIPMENT

Spreading Equipment:
2. Spreading Methods/Machines A. Manual Spreading The cloth is pulled carefully from the fabric roll by hand and is cut to the appropriate length. Mechanical devices can be provided to facilitate the unrolling and cutting operations but the proper alignment of the fabric edge is the responsibility of the human operator.

FOR GM - 477 BY: ABDUL SAMMAD GILL

SPREADING SURFACES & EQUIPMENT

Spreading Equipment:
2. Spreading Methods/Machines B. Spreading Carriage The cloth is un-wound and spread semiautomatically, using a manually driven carriage. The carriage is moved back and forth over the spreading table. The speed of manual spreading machine is same as the speed of the operator.

Built-in mechanisms take care of aligning the fabric edges and smoothing the plies.
This system is favored when the lays are long and broad and/or the fabric is presented in large batches for relatively large orders. This method is very efficient and is suitable for small business.
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SPREADING SURFACES & EQUIPMENT

Spreading Equipment:
2. Spreading Methods/Machines C. Automatic Spreading The moving carriage has been more or less fully automated to provide a more efficient production for large scale enterprises. Common attachments for such equipment include photocells for correct alignment of the selvedges, fabric loading and threading devices, cutting devices at the end of the lay, a platform on which the operator can sit or stand while the machine is traversing.

FOR GM - 477 BY: ABDUL SAMMAD GILL

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SPREADING SURFACES & EQUIPMENT

Comparison of Manual Spreading & Automatic Spreading:
Manual Spreading Manual spreading is done by the operators. Usually two to four men are involved in the spreading of fabric. More Time consuming Tension of fabric varies Less Efficiency (accept Checks & Stripe Fabrics) Suitable for Short lays and for frequent changes in colors and fabrics Often used in small business

Automatic Spreading With automatic controlled spreader, it controls the amount of fabric that has to be spread. Equal tension of fabric Equal alignment at the edges Less time consuming More efficiency Used on large scale business
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SPREADING SURFACES & EQUIPMENT

Spreading Equipment:
3. Fabric Control Devices I. Tensioning Devices The role of Tensioning devices in spreading machine is to synchronize the speed of the roll and rate of spreading. Its role becomes more visible when the machine is spreading the fabric at a high speed and suddenly you stop the machine. It will help in reducing the momentum of roll. II. Positioning Devices Positioning devices and sensors monitor position and control fabric placement during spreading. Electronic edge sensors monitor selvedges as fabric is spread. A deviation from the proposed alignment triggers a motor that shifts the roll to the correct position. Alignment can be held to 1/8th of an inch tolerance with these devices.
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SPREADING SURFACES & EQUIPMENT

Spreading Equipment:
3. Fabric Control Devices III. Width Indicators Width indicators may sound an alarm to alert the operator whenever fabric becomes narrower than the established width. Width variations are analyzed to determine where in the marker they fall, whether the fabric will still fit the marker, or whether the variation should be treated as a defect and removed.

FOR GM - 477 BY: ABDUL SAMMAD GILL

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SPREADING SURFACES & EQUIPMENT

Spreading Equipment:
3. Fabric Control Devices IV. End Treatment Devices End treatment devices are used with spreaders but are separate and placed at the end of the spread. End treatments have a major impact on fabric waste. There must be enough fabric at the end of a lay to retain it in place, but any fabric beyond the end of the marker is wasted. The specific end treatment equipment needed depends on whether the spreading mode is face-to-face or face-one-way. A face-to-face spread utilizes an end catcher and folding blade (or Steel Rods) that work together. For face-one-way spreads, a knife box is needed along with an end catcher. A knife box contains a cutting unit (usually a small rotary knife) that operates in a track and cuts across the fabric width when engaged. The catcher simply holds the fabric end in place for cutting.

FOR GM - 477 BY: ABDUL SAMMAD GILL

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SPREADING SURFACES & EQUIPMENT

Spreading Equipment:
3. Fabric Control Devices IV. End Treatment Devices It depends on our requirement that either we have to use folding blade or end notcher or we have to use knife box. Folding Blade simply folds the fabric in a proper way. Knife box will be used where we have to cut the fabric instead of folding.

16 FOR GM - 477 BY: ABDUL SAMMAD GILL