Source: http://www.textiletopics.ttu.edu
INTRODUCTION:
During the last two decades,
components of ring spinning machines have been greatly improved. Changes in
drafting systems, drive systems, and robotics have enabled large gains in
productivity, flexibility, and quality (Stahlecker, 1995; Seuberling, 1995; Hequet, et. al,
1998).
Most of the technical
advances in ring spinning were aimed at improving the performance of the
existing technology. In recent years, however, a bona fide innovation has
occurred. It has been called compact or condensed spinning, because it
minimizes width and height of the spinning triangle associated with ring
spinning (see Figure 1).
Several experts have
described the technical principles of compact spinning that result in a more
organized structure without peripheral fibers and with a better twist
distribution (Artzt, 2000; Meyer, 2000; Olbrich, 2000; Stalder,
2000). As a result of this enhanced
structure, the compact yarn shows higher strength, reduced hairiness, and
improved evenness (see Figure 1).
The first compact spinning
system to be commercialized is by the Rieter Corporation and is called Com4
spinning. This system was designed and is marketed only for use with
extra-long-staple cottons to make only the very fine yarn sizes (i.e., 50 Ne
and finer). However, compact spinning systems are also made by Suessen (the
EliTe) and by Zinser (the Air-Com-Tex 700), both which
are designed to accommodate the full spectrum of staple lengths spun today.
These compact spinning systems offer the possibility of using cottons with shorter
staple lengths to produce high-quality yarns that heretofore required long- or
extra-long-staple cottons.
This paper reports results
obtained from spinning various Texas upland cottons, along with some other
representative U.S. upland cottons, on both conventional and compact spinning
systems. The spinning machines used were the Suessen Fiomax 1000 (for
conventional ring spinning) and the Suessen EliTe 1000 (the Fiomax 1000 fitted
with the compacting system). The focus is twofold: (1) evaluate the
performance of these cottons on modern conventional ring spinning machines, and
(2) evaluate the improvements in performance resulting from compact spinning.
Figure 1: Spinning
Triangle and Yarn Structure; Conventional Ring Spun Yarn versus Compact Yarn.
