Page 209 - Industrial Cutting of Textile Materials

196 Industrial Cutting of Textile Materials

Cooling
zone
Fusing
zone
Loading
zone

Fig. 12.6 Schema of a carousel-type fusing press with two movable frames.

The main disadvantages of the discontinues work process presses that influence
fusing quality are as follows:
Heat and pressure is applied at the same time; however, the heat is needed first to melt the
●
glue. Only after the glue is fully melted, the pressure should be applied.
Usually, discontinues work process fusing presses have only one heat source, either from
●
the bottom or from the top side. However, different temperatures have to be applied and
controlled from both sides to process various interlining and fabric combinations, in order to
achieve the best fusing result in all cases.

12.3.2 The continuous work process fusing press
The operation of this type of press depends upon a continuously moving conveyor
belt, which moves the face fabric and its interlining components in and out of the heat-
ing chamber. The press consists of the following main parts: a work surface to move
the components, a heating chamber that heats the components, pressure rolls to press
the components, and a cooling system to cool down the fused components.
Methodology: Two to six operators are needed for a continuous work process fusing
press, with one to three working at each end. The number of operators depends on the
number and complexity of the fusible components. The face fabric and its interlining
components are placed on a loading conveyor at the beginning of the press (1). The com-
ponents are taken into the heating chamber where the upper (2) and lower (1) conveyor
belts transport them through the upper (3) and lower (4) heating zones. After the com-
ponents and the adhesive resin have been heated, they are pressed together with pressure
rollers (5 and 6). The fused components are then removed from the heating chamber of
the press and cooled down by an exit conveyor (7). Unloading operators then stack the
fused components (see Fig. 12.7).

12.3.2.1 Work surface
The work surface of the press is a heatproof, seamless conveyor belt. The width of the
belt determines the power of the press (from 40 cm for compact presses to 180 cm for
high-power presses). The work surface of a press can be made up of several conveyor
belts (see Fig. 12.7):