| dc.description.abstract | Pad printing is a popular tampography method
used in garment manufacturing for printing a two-
dimensional picture onto a three-dimensional object.
Currently, the Sri Lankan apparel industry utilizes human
operators to insert, position and remove fabric pieces for the
pad printing process. This study developed an automated
solution for the insertion and removal of bra eye closures to
a pad printer. The implemented system consists of a vacuum
suction gripper coupled with a linear actuator, a fabric
separation mechanism, and a vacuum suction generator. The
system was designed, fabricated, and tested for validation at
an apparel manufacturing facility. Experimental testing in
the production environment demonstrated an accuracy of
88% in separating and positioning fabric samples for
printing. This study used an innovative approach to
automating a labour-intensive process in the apparel
industry, showcasing the potential of integrating mechanical
design and automation in manufacturing systems. | en_US |
