Page 86 - Industrial Cutting of Textile Materials

Automated spreading of textile materials 73

Spread
Spreading table

(A) 0
Spread
Spreading table

(B) 0 10 m
Fig. 6.14 Two spreads started from different start points: at the beginning of the spreading
area of the table (A) and 10 m from the 0 coordinate (B).

Spread
Spreading table

(A)
Step kind spread

Spreading table
(B)
Fig. 6.15 Principle of block spreading (A) and step spreading (B).

A spreading machine may perform different spreading programmes: basic
spreading, block spreading, or step spreading. If a block spreading programme is used,
several sequential spreads may be laid during the work process (see Fig. 6.15A). A
step spreading programme allows a varied number of plies to be laid in different zones
of the same spread (see Section 4.4.3) (see Fig. 6.15B). Spreading machines may also
have a programmable storage system and productivity software to record the spread-
ing time of every session.

6.3.7.2 The ply counter

A spreading machine can ensure automatic counting of plies during the spreading pro-
cess. On returning to the start position, the encoder system of the machine recognizes
the end of a ply, subtracts one ply from the total, and thus shows the remaining number
of plies to be spread or already spread fabric plies.

6.3.7.3 The emergency stops
A spreading machine has several emergency stops that are located at various points
and operate in different ways. One emergency stop is placed next to the control
panel as a red large separated button for easy access (see Fig. 6.13). Another emer-
gency system reacts if an object is unintentionally placed on the spreading table. It
stops the machine, for example, if the operator smooths the fabric surface while the