Every once in a while a machine hits the market that makes you take a step backwards as it redraws a number of lines you thought were there forever. Not only do you need to take a metaphorical step backwards when considering the new Kornit Apollo direct-to-garment (DTG) printer, you actually need to take a physical step backwards too due to its physical size. Looking at the machine, it is configured into two specifically different sections, one for the printing of the garment, the other for the drying of the printed product. Connecting the two is the loading section and next to it is the user interface; meaning the operator needs to be front and centre of the machine in order to operate it. In a very basic description, the garment travels to the right of the operator once it is loaded. Once printed, the garment drops below the printing line and reverses direction and travels to the left, along the length of the printing section and under the loading area. A 90-degree change in direction removes the garment from the cassette on which it was printed, prior to taking a second right turn as it passes through the drying section. This clever, ingeniously designed machine means a single operator is required to load, prepare, and remove the garments at the previously listed speed. This means production levels are set to soar whilst the manning level drops in the opposite direction. The Devil is in the Detail The layout description of the Kornit Apollo was deliberately simplistic to set the background for just how you get those 400 garments fully printed and dried without anyone touching them, but now for the detail as to how. Breaking down the process, the garment firstly is scanned with a hands-free device; this will now dedicate the machine to printing this one garment. The details for the finished product are stored on the machine and it then adjusts the size of the pallet dedicated to the garment. This is done via a robot system which adds or exchanges the required number of pallet sections depending on the garment size. The only operator interaction takes place next whilst the operator loads the virgin garment to the pallet dedicated to it. The loading is semi-automatic as the Kornit Apollo ensures the product is accurately positioned and evenly stretched to remove any slack or overtightening. This is only one of a number of elements of the design which ensure consistent product quality. The pallet now starts its unique journey through the machine, the first stop being the pre-treatment where a customised amount of fixation fluid is applied to the garment from the details scanned and stored by the earlier stage. As with most quality garment printing, a white base layer is needed and on the next station this is the same with the Kornit Apollo. Again, as each garment has a unique barcode, the specific amount and spread of white ink is applied, demonstrating yet another element of the quality circle. Garment Production Goes Automatic Mass production of digitally printed garments is now an easy and straightforward process, requiring minimum manpower with maximum production output. Brian Sims finds out more... Colour CMYKRG + W + Q.fix + Intensifier Inks NeoPigment Eco-Rapid Maximum print area 508 x 508mm Resolution 1200dpi Statistics UNDER THE HOOD / KORNIT APOLLO 24 Issue 255 - October / November 2024 www.signlink.co.uk
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