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Monforts Textilmaschinen has taken finishing technology
to new levels with the introduction of the Montex 6000
stenter. Suitable for the treatment of woven and knitted
fabrics, offering the choice between horizontal and vertical
chain return, the machine offers a host of new and improved
features that are designed to improve performance, facilitate
installation, operation and maintenance, and reduce operating
costs.
Control platform
A key feature of the Montex 6000 stenter is the all-new
control platform. Moving away from the traditional overhead
bridge, the ergonomically-designed 'cockpit' provides
easy access to all the main control and operating functions
via a touchscreen monitor located at eye level.
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Montex 6000 Stenter
for the treatment of woven and knitted fabrics
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A simple menu system guides operators through the set-up procedure.
To make it even easier for operators to move from one type of
machine to another, Monforts has introduced a uniform design
for operating systems across its whole product range.
Choice of systems
The standard Qualitex 540 control system allows important operating
parameters, including temperature set points, fan speeds, overfeeds
and tension for fabric transfer devices to be set and monitored
using the touchscreen.
The optional Qualitex 740 is a full-scale, programmable logic
process controller that incorporates the Monformatic system.
Additional functions offered by Qualitex 740 include the storage
of set-up data, batch management, network interfacing and automatic
nozzle pressure control. Both in common have Teleservice facilities
and emergency run programs.
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Wireless
Shop managers and supervisors can monitor what is happening
without even going near the machine. With Monforts iTEC
wireless LAN (local area network) system speed and temperature
settings and error and maintenance status messages can
be viewed on a handheld PC from anywhere in the workshop.
Messages can also be transmitted via SMS to mobile phones
or e-mailed to a desktop PC.
For customers who want to store set point data for the
machine on a centralised ODBS (Open DataBase Connectivity)
database, Monforts offers the Q-soft central process control
system software. Q-soft acts as the interface to the network
and can provide access for several machines at the same
time.
After-pinning belt
The Montex 6000 includes several new features for improving
performance of knitted fabric ranges.
The pinning device at the stenter inlet incorporates a
synchronised after-pinning belt which feeds fabric
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Montex 6000 offers a new control platform
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onto the drive pins more efficiently and securely, without
shifting the fabric's mesh structure, even with large overfeeds
and highly elastic fabrics. The device is pneumatically raised
and lowered.
Selvedge glueing and drying
To ensure there is a uniform glue bath on the selvedges of
knitted fabrics from the start to the finish of a run, the glueing
wheel is automatically lowered into the glue vat and rotated
during machine stops. This prevents glue from drying on the
wheel. When the machine restarts, the wheel is raised back to
the operating position. Glue application is controlled by a
patented dosing system.
Monforts has also developed a glue flue selvedge-drying device
to prevent fabric overdrying. The modular element uses a combination
of infrared radiation and heat from convention nozzles to dry
the glued selvedges. Predrying with infrared radiation reduces
the overall drying time required inside the stenter chamber.
As a result, the stenter can run with faster fabric transportation
speeds.
Integrated weft straightener
Another development for knitted fabric ranges is the integration
of the weft straightener into the stenter inlet. This creates
a more compact installation, with fabric wefting right before
the pinning process. The dual function straightening roller
with driven bowed roller, slewing frame and high precision measuring
heads improves fabric quality and eliminates residual draft.
Integrated cutter/winder unit
At the other end of the machine, an integrated cutter/winder
unit winds fabric onto carton tubes to a maximum diameter of
700mm diameter and cuts to exact lengths while the stenter continues
to operate at speeds of up to 80m/min. The entire process can
be fully automated by linking the unit to the Qualitex 740 control
system. As with the integrated cutter/winder, the design is
more compact.
Lift-o-matic doors
The Montex 6000 is ideal for installations where space is restricted.
Access to the inside of the stenter chambers is via pneumatically-operated
doors that open upwards and downwards at the press of a button.
There are no tools required and there is no need to leave additional
space alongside walkways for open doors.
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Clean lines with heat recovery
Nor is there any need to install unsightly air inlet
and exhaust ducts above the stenter. Instead, the ducts
are incorporated inside the stenter chambers, each with
individual control of the exhaust air volume. It looks
neater, takes up less space overhead and minimises ductwork
installation costs.
Monforts' new heat recovery system can also be integrated
on the roof of the stenter. A space-saving heat exchanger
recovers heat from the exhaust gas and uses it to preheat
up to 60% of the incoming fresh air. This provides energy
savings of 10-35% depending on the production. Typical
payback period is just one year.
To minimise maintenance downtime, an automatic cleaning
system is available which cleans the heat exchanger tubes
at predetermined intervals.
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Pneumatically-operated doors that open
at the press of a button
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Combined nozzles
The Montex 6000 is available with new combined CADstream punctual
and slot nozzle system with a pneumatic changeover facility.
Designed for handling non-elastic, high-pile and terry cloth
fabrics, the slots offer improved air distribution onto the
fabric, which dries quicker and more evenly, without marks.
Automatic nozzle pressure control
Automatic nozzle pressure control is a new feature that corrects
the nozzle pressure when the treatment conditions changes during
operation. The system works by comparing the nominal and actual
speeds of the fans. Ensuring constant conditions over an entire
batch, the system includes an alarm function to warn when the
circulation filters are excessively soiled.
Optiscan autopilot
Another function that can be automatically controlled by the
Qualitex 740 system is the automatic adjustment of the upper
and lower variable frequency fans of the TwinAir nozzle system
to ensure contact-free drying.
Conticlean circulating air filter system
Two other improvements introduced with the Montex 6000 include
the Conticlean circulating air filter and Exxotherm indirect
gas heating system.
Conticlean is a high pressure cleaning system that maintains
a constantly high drying capacity by automatically removing
restrictions to the airflow caused by sieve soiling. That means
economic energy use and less manual maintenance. Exxotherm eliminates
possible yellowing during treatment of polyamide and elastane
based fabrics by preventing combustion gases from coming into
contact with the fabric. Cheaper to install than preliminary
installation of circulating oil heated ranges, Exxotherm offers
higher thermal energy recovery potential.
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