Source: Textile Review


A systematic approach to improve the existingtools and processes used by artisans engaged in carpet sectors had beeninitiated in 2000 by lIT Delhi. Since their developments, more than 250 loomsare in use in several places of the country, namely, in Srinagar (J&K),Bhdohi (UP), Valsad (CU}), and other places. Metallic looms were designedconsidering all aspects of carpet weaving.


Traditionally, Indian or oriental carpets areknotted on wooden looms. These looms are not economically and functionallyuseful due to a) Limited life (5-8 years); b) Deforestation; c) Laborioustensioning; and d) Non-uniform tension in the warps over the time. The nonuniformityaffects quality of the carpets. A systematic approach to improve the existingtools and processes used by artisans engaged in carpet sectors had beeninitiated in 2000 by IIT Delhi. Since their developments, more than 250 loomsare in use in several places of the country, namely, in Srinagar (J&K),Bhdohi (UP), Valsad (GUJ), and other places. Metallic looms were designedconsidering all aspects of carpet weaving. The upper and lower beams aresupported on two side columns and locked in the plane normal to the plane ofthe warp threads using ratchet and pawl and a worm gear pair, as shown in Fig.1.

Over the years the above metalIic looms receivedseveral feedbacks in terms of the failure of worm and worm gear, etc. In thisarticle, further improvements are reported with respect to the weaving of a 4feet by 6 feet carpet. As the carpet knotting to weave about six-inches takesseveral days, the structure is subjected to steady loading. To check the designof the loom structure, finite element (FE) analysis of the metallic loom wascarried out to determine the critical stresses and deflection in its componentsso that optimum sizes and shapes of the structural members can be selected. Theresults from the FE model are comparable with those from the analytical resuIts.Theweight optimisation of the metalIic loom was also carried out resulting inrelatively lightweight loom at reduced cost. The columns proposed in the newdesign are hollow square sections. In order to use fabricated structuralsections, the earlier columns made with channels were changed to fabricatedstructure of angles (Fig. 1).

For the gear design, first, the loading conditions of the worm and worm gear were checked, and force analysis was performed. This was followed by their design according to Indian Standards (IS). To facilitate the design iterations a MATLAB computer programme was written which truly helped in checking any new worm gear set. Based on the newly design loom shown in Fig. 1,three different carpets were woven in the three different fabricated metallic looms placed in New Delhi, Ghaziabad (UP) and Bhadohi (UP). Their quality was found satisfactory by the users. A complete user manual detailing the engineering drawings and the assembly steps was prepared to help any manufacture to reproduce the looms. Since it is important to use the loom properly for smooth functioning and longer life, "Dos and Dont's" are also prepared to be displayed on the fabricated looms. There is also a pamphlet of the loom that was used to spread the message of new development amongst different users and exporters in India.


Silent Features


  • Easy to Assemble
  • Long life: Rigid metallic structure for long life.
  • Environment friendly: Fabricated using metals only. No use of wood. Hence, environmental friendly.
  • Aesthetics: Colorful and modern design.
  • Maintenance: Minimum maintenance required.
  • Locking device: Stronger locking devices on both sides of upper beam, and one side of lower beam.


Merits


  • Strong: High strength and rigidity due to seamless tubes for lower and upper beams. More stiffness allowing tension in the string/Tana.
  • Ease of Operation: Easy and fast tensioning with the help of worm and worm gear arrangement.
  • Less effort: Only one person can generate tension in the string/ Tana. Smooth rotation of worm due to roller bearing. Bush bearing at the beam's ends provide smoothness.
  • Human safety: Reliable than wooden looms.
  • Easy and effective shading: Polypropylene shading rollers which give easy shading action.
  • Less Time: Minimizes tensioning, shading, loading and unloading times.


References:

  • Chaudhary, H., and Saha, S.K., "Finite element modeling of carpet weaving loom structure," Proc. of the Nat. Conf. on Industrial Problems on Machines and Mechanisms, liT Kharagpur, Feb. 24-25, pp. 197--203.
  • Chaudhary, H., and Saha, S.K., "Optimal design of carpet loom structure," Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR, India, V. 65, May, pp. 41 0-415.



About the Author:


The Author is a Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology , New Delhi


Originally published in Textile Review : February 2010