any tips for loading shirts on an auto?

[Prosperi-Tees]

I am running without the foot pedal now with an 8 second delay (I hear laughter). Some times I needed the full 8 seconds and other times I didnt. With shirts sized small it is tough with my 17" platens.

[Inkworks]

Starting with shirts stacked print side-down is the bomb. I still remember the day a tech showed me that trick and immediately realizing a significant jump in loading efficiency.

[Prosperi-Tees]

I timed it today and I was at 250 an hour. Could've went faster but my dryer is not placed ideally so I'm taking a step to the dryer and a step to the stack of shirts.

[Admiral]

taking a step to the dryer is a definite no no

you want the auto placed so that the unloader just pivots a bit but doesn't step to place the shirts on the dryer belt

I have this issue if I use an unloader because we have a 1 open station auto....which sucks



I do the flip technique and can easily do 35doz/hr sometimes up to 39.  Just did over 2400 prints myself today...what a nightmare(and no it wasn't an 8 hour day).

Make sure you aren't adjusting the shirt much, just load very close to center and pull back into position.

[RICK STEFANICK]

we have our press slightly angled where the corner of the pallet in the unload station is 32" from the dryer. this prevents any steps and only requires a half of body turn. It also allows enough room to slide the table up into the normal load area for the layed out shirts. works great for loading and unloading in the same station or if its a long run we just slide the table back to allow room for a loader and a unloader..

[Prosperi-Tees]

My layout is so cramped that if I move the dryer or press closer to each other I would not have any room to get to the roll up door! I guess I could move it back and forth when running it.

[jvieira]

we have our press slightly angled where the corner of the pallet in the unload station is 32" from the dryer. this prevents any steps and only requires a half of body turn. It also allows enough room to slide the table up into the normal load area for the layed out shirts. works great for loading and unloading in the same station or if its a long run we just slide the table back to allow room for a loader and a unloader..

we have just made the exact same set up. our dryer used to be quite far (i needed to take two steps to reach it) and it wasn't the most efficient way to work. just did 250 shirts in just over one hour this way (one unloader, one loader). alone I would probably have made 200. It's a dramatic change for our shop

[downtowntshirts]

can someone tell me what the "print side down" method is? never heard of it.
tom

[Binkspot]

Stick your fingers in the shirt, flip and load.  I can load siginafantly faster flipping.

[alan802]

I started with the non flip technique for a year then converted to the flip ( print side facing down) and it should b faster for most but maybe not all. It is faster and easier for me physically to flip.  Plus you get to see both sides of the shirt even I'd it's only briefly for the side facing up. I've caught quite a few defective shirts before printing them with the flip.  I think you even load straighter using the flip.  My printer on long runs where he's running fast will start loading crooked and it's consistently the same direction and angle and he loads traditionally with print side up. He can load as fast as I can but it's not as straight and consistent with the. Vertical placement. I'd recommend everyone trying the flip for at least 2 weeks and I'd bet money that the majority would continue using it forever.  I'm sure there are people out there that can load faster and better with the traditional load but I think most would be much better off with the flip.

[Screened Gear]

I started with the non flip technique for a year then converted to the flip ( print side facing down) and it should b faster for most but maybe not all. It is faster and easier for me physically to flip.  Plus you get to see both sides of the shirt even I'd it's only briefly for the side facing up. I've caught quite a few defective shirts before printing them with the flip.  I think you even load straighter using the flip.  My printer on long runs where he's running fast will start loading crooked and it's consistently the same direction and angle and he loads traditionally with print side up. He can load as fast as I can but it's not as straight and consistent with the. Vertical placement. I'd recommend everyone trying the flip for at least 2 weeks and I'd bet money that the majority would continue using it forever.  I'm sure there are people out there that can load faster and better with the traditional load but I think most would be much better off with the flip.

I do the flip. It is faster because during the flip action the shirt gets opened up.  This make the shirt slide on the board much easier. One tip when doing the flip: When you get the shirt flipped line it up at the front of the board and pause a second before sliding it on the board. This pause will let the shirt straighten out and finish opening up. This will make you faster and more accurate. I load and unload my press and with the flip load I can do 500 an hour.

[jvieira]

can someone tell me what the "print side down" method is? never heard of it.
tom

I too had to look it up but I finally found it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mRrryhyE_Q

Will give it a go this week.

[Frog]

I'm on a manual, but I have always stacked with the intended print side down and also appreciated the added benefit of one more chance to catch defects which may otherwise sneak by until the other side is being printed (if indeed it is being printed)

[jvieira]

Tried it on a small run today and found it to be easier. On a second attempt my hands were all over the place, my mind wouldn't process the change lol.

I'm going to give it another go tomorrow if I have time to run into production but seems better!