Shedding

• video\Industrial Loom.mp4
• video\Plain Power Loom.mp4
• video\Weaving Process Animation 3D by Tarun
K Thakur.mp4
• video\Primary Weaving Motions.flv
Loom timing
In a loom, all the mechanisms must be set at correct timings in
relation to each other.
to state their timings in terms of the angular positions of the crank
shaft which activates both the sley and the reed.
This can be done conveniently by means of a circle, the radius of
which is equal to the length of crank and in which the centre
represents the centre of the crank shaft.
The circle is known as crank circle or timing circle. Figure shows
a timing circle.
The circle is graduated in the direction of rotation of the crank and
is divided into four quarters;
the terms top, front, bottom and back centres are used to
correspond to the 00, 900, 1800 and 2700 positions of the circle.
Also, in these timings the crank positions correspond to the top,
front, bottom and back respectively.
Shedding Motion
• The motion forms “the shed” by dividing the warp
ends into two sheets, thus providing a path for the
weft.
• This is done by raising and/or lowering frames.
• The frames’ movement is dictated by the lifting plan
which depends on the weave design and pattern of
assigning warp ends to frames
Object of Shedding Mechanism
• A shedding mechanism separates the warp threads into
two layers or divisions to form a tunnel known as
“shed”.
• The shed provides room for passage of the shuttle. A
shed may be formed by means of tappets, cams, etc.
Types of shedding mechanism:
• Cam (tappet),
• Dobby, and
• Jacquard.
 The lift of the heald frames can be achieved by using a
cam or dobby mechanism.
 In the jacquard loom, there is no heald frame to be
driven but each heddle is attached to a cord.
shedding is controlled by the motion of the heald
frames (or harnesses) each of which is capable of
oscillating vertically.
These frame-like structures contain a multiplicity of
wires or flat stripes known as heddles or healds and
each of these contains an aperture through which one
end may be threaded. These apertures are called
heddle eyes.
The heald frame is a wooden or metal frame, its
width is slightly greater than that of the warp.
Twisted wire or flat steel healds are free to move
sideways on bars mounted just inside of the
framework of the heald frame.
Types of Tappet Shedding Mechanism
Generally there are two types of shedding:
1. Negative shedding
2. Positive shedding
In plain looms, tappets are used to for m sheds.
video\Negative Tappet shedding Mechanism.mp
4
Negative tappet shedding mechanism
In a tappet shedding mechanism, if the tappet controls
only one movement, either an upward or downward
movement of the heald shafts, then the shedding is
known as “negative tappet shedding”.
The heald shafts are returned by some external devices
like springs, dead weights, rollers, etc.
Principle
• A tappet is given a rotary motion so that it depresses a
follower and a lever, known respectively as the anti-
friction bowl and the treadle arrangement, by means of
which the heald shaft is operated.
Construction
• Figure shows a negative tappet shedding mechanism.
• A pair of tappets A and B are fixed to the bottom shaft C
at 180 degrees to each other.
• Two treadle levers D and E are connected to the loom
back-rail by a bracket F.
• The bracket acts as a fulcrum for the levers.
• The two treadles have teeth to carry the lamb rods G and
H respectively.
• Two heald shafts J and K are connected to the lamb rods.
• A top reversing roller shaft Q carries two rollers of
different diameters.
• The roller of small diameter N is connected to a leather
strap L to which the front heald shaft J is connected.
• The roller P of large diameter is connected to a leather
strap M to which the back heald shaft K is connected.
• The tappets A and B touch the anti-friction bowls or
followers R and S respectively, which are fixed to the
treadle levers.
• The heald shafts have heald eyes T and U through
which the war p threads pass X is the war p sheet and
Y is the cloth.
• The odd ends are passed through one heald shaft while
the even ends are passed through the other heald shaft.
Working
When the bottom shaft is rotated in the clockwise direction
as shown in the figure, the tappets are also rotated.
The tappet will depress the anti-friction bowl and the treadle.
Being fulcrumed at one end, the front portion of the treadle
moves down.
This action is transferred to the lamb rod, the heald shaft and
the leather strap.
So one heald shaft is lowered and the threads connected to
this heald shaft are lowered and form the bottom layer of the
shed.
The leather straps attached to the reversing rollers are
connected in opposite directions, i.e. when leather strap is
pulled down, it is unwound from its roller.
• The shaft therefore rotates in the clockwise direction and the
other leather strap is wound on to its roller.
• The heald shaft is raised and therefore the lamb rod and
treadle lever are also raised.
• The threads connected to the heald shaft are also raised and
form the top layer of the shed.
• For the next shed, the other tappet works with the other set of
bowl, treadle, lamb rod, heald shaft, strap and roller and the
other heald shaft is lowered.
• The first heald shaft is raised by the top reversing rollers, and
the positions of the healds shafts are thus interchanged.
• Thus, for one rotation of the bottom shaft, two sheds are
formed.
In this type of tappet shedding therefore, one tappet
depresses the concerned treadle and the corresponding
heald shaft is lowered.
But the other heald shaft is raised by means of the top
reversing rollers. So this type of shedding mechanism is
known as “negative tappet shedding mechanism”
Tappets and Cams
• These are irregular metallic pieces used to produce an
up-and-down motion in followers and levers.
• The up-and-down motion is obtained by giving rotary
motion to these pieces.
• If the follower and lever are required to get a continuous
up-and-down movement, a cam or wiper is used.
• If the follower and lever are required to produce up-and-
down movement with regular intervals of rest, tappets
are used.
• Figure 1 shows a pair of tappets and a cam.
• There are specific portions in tappets that correspond to
“dwell” periods, i.e. regular intervals of rest for the
major parts involved in the motion.
REVERSING MOTION
• All negative shedding require the addition of parts
known as over/under motion to reverse the direction
of movement in healds.
• The terms over and under refer to the position of
these devise when in use.
• Reversing motion may grouped as single acting
reverse motions and compound reversing motions.
• Negative tappet moves a shaft in one direction a
reversing motion should act immediately a tappet
eases and continue in action to the termination of the
shafts journey where its maximum force should be
excerted until the tappet is again brought into use.
Positive tappet shedding mechanism
• In a tappet shedding mechanism, if the tappet controls
both upward and downward movements of the heald
shafts, then the shedding is known as positive tappet
shedding.
Examples :
1. Jamieson’s tappet
2. Barrel tappet and
3. Ordinary tappet
Principle:
• In this type of shedding, the heald shaft is raised and
lowered by the tappet
• The tappet shaft carries another tappet which has a
groove or track in which a bowl is placed.
• The bowl is connected in turn to a tappet lever with link
rods, links J and a heald shaft
• Each tappet is separately connected to a heald shaft
through link rods and tappet lever.
• There are two fulcrums for tappet lever and links A
Links
• A-tappet shaft; B-tappet, C-track; D-bowl, E-tappet
lever; F-fulcrum for E, G-link rods; H-fulgrum for G, J-
heald shaft links; K-heald shaft
Advantages:
1. It is robust, simple and cheap.
2. It is capable of lifting a heavy weight with less wear and tear
than other shedding mechanisms.
3. It can move heald shafts at great speeds.
4. It puts less strain upon the warp.
5. It consumes less power and gives greater output.
6. It requires less maintenance.
Disadvantages:
1. If the weave is changed, it will be necessary to change the
tappet and the change gear wheel in the counter shaft
arrangement. So work involved in changing the weave is more.
2. The capacity of a tappet to produce a pattern / weave is very
much limited. A maximum of 8 or 10 tappets only can be used.
Types of Shed:
Shed is classified according to the position of the ends:
1. Closed Shed
2. Open Shed.
Closed Shed is classified on two parts.
A) Bottom Closed Shed
B) Centre Closed Shed
Open Shed are classified on two parts.
A)Semi-open Shed
B)Open Shed.
Center Closed Shedding
When shedding or dividing the warp threads to form two
stationary lines and after inserting a pick both the lines meet
at the center. This types of shedding is called ‘Center Closed
Shed’.
Description:
• Shedding is produced by imparting an upward movement to
those threads which are to form the stationary top line.
• A downward movements to the threads which are to form
the stationary bottom line.
• When a shed is produced then a pick is inserted.
• After inserting a pick both the lines meet at the center of the
shed.
In this figure:
A is the warp closed line.
B and C are the upper and lower lines of a divided warp
respectively.
D is arrow; which shows the movement of threads in upward
direction which produced the stationary top line.
E is arrow; which shows the movements of threads in downwards
direction which produces the stationary bottom line.
Advantage:
• Although in this type of shedding every warp threads moved
to produce every shed so the strain is less.
• The time occupied in opening a shed is approximately half
for the distance travelled by a thread is as 1:2
• In this type of shed the speed is high because rising threads
is partially balanced by lowering threads.
• Power consumption, wear and tear of the weaving machine
is less.
• It takes a less time to make change and suitable for high
speed.
Disadvantage:
• Due to unsteady movement of warp threads being in
constant motion this type of shed does not make ‘covered
cloth’ like bottom closed shed.
Uses:
• A center closed shedding is best adopted for the
manufacture of certain types of fabrics.
• The Jamieson tappet, the Oscillating and Certain other
tappets form Center Close Shedding.
• All Center Closed Shed dobbies and Jacquards and most
handlooms form Center Close Shedding.
Bottom Closed Shed
• In bottom closed shedding the mechanism employed
places all the warp threads level on the bottom line.
Description:
• This types of shedding is produced by raising one set of
warp thread whereas another set of thread remain in
bottom line.
• In this mechanism warp threads are level on the bottom
line.
• So in order to form a top shed, it is necessary to move
some threads through a space equal to down, before a
fresh selection is made.
• A shed of this kind is known as a stationary bottom with
a rising and falling top.
In this figure:
• A represents the bottom line of warp;
• B represents the rising and falling line;
• C an arrow showing the space passed through
N.B. Sometimes a shed is formed with a stationary top line. This
type of shed is called top closed shedding.
Advantage:
• The advantage of producing bottom closed shedding is that
alternate tightening and slacking the warp threads produce a
‘Cover Cloth’.
Disadvantage:
• Power consumption and wear and tear of the weaving machine
are heavy.
• It takes a long time to make a change and doesn’t suitable for
high speed.
• Unequal & great strain is put upon the warp threads by moving
it through an excessive space.
Uses:
• Certain tappets are produce bottom closed shed.
• Single-lift dobby and single-lift jacquard also produce bottom
closed shedding.
• Top-Closed shedding is formed in handlooms by the use of
ordinary springs, dead weights or bows.
FULLY-OPEN SHED
• In this type of shed, the warp threads form two
stationary lines, one at the top and the other at the
bottom.
• After inserting a pick, changes are made by carrying
threads from one fixed line to the other, so some
threads are lowered from the top line and some
threads are raised from the bottom line.
• During this change, the raising and lowering of
threads occur simultaneously.
• Therefore the shed is formed in a minimum period of
time.
• As the falling threads help the rising threads to
move, strain upon the warp yarn is low.
• In the figure, A and B are the stationary bottom and
top lines respectively.
• The arrows C and D show the movements of the
falling and rising threads respectively.
• Full lines show that the shed is always in an open
position only. So this shed is known as fully-open
shed.
MERITS
• Rising threads help to move lowering threads.
• Strain upon the warp is low, so it requires a minimum period
of time to form a shed.
• The loom can run at a high speed.
• Power consumption is low.
• Wear and tear of the loom parts is low.
DEMERITS
• This type of shedding is troublesome to weavers because the
two fixed lines make it more difficult to repair broken ends.
Therefore a leveling mechanism is added to all looms using
this type of shedding mechanism. While repairing broken
ends, this leveling mechanism is brought in to operation.
• As the shed is always open, breakages may results especially
when the yarn is weak.
• When many heald shafts are used, the strain on the warp
yarns in the back heald shafts is increased and hence warp
breakages may occur.
USES
This type of shed is used in
• Plain loom for producing twill and satin weaves
• In double-lift dobby and in double-lift jacquards.
SEMI-OPEN SHED
• This is formed under both closed and open principles.
• In this shed, a stationary bottom line is retained.
• The top line is a movable one.
• After inserting a pick, the top line moves towards the bottom line.
• When the threads are moving down, some of the threads which are
to form once again at the top line are arrested midway and are
then carried to the top line.
• The remaining threads move down.
• Similarly the threads which are to be at the top line also move up
and are carried to the top line.
• In the figure, A is the bottom stationary line.
• B is the top line.
• Arrow D, shows the movement of rising threads from the bottom
to the top line.
• Arrow E shows the movement of rising threads from the bottom to
the top line.
• Arrow F shows the movement of the arrested threads at the
midway position C. From the midpoint C these threads are carried
to the top line.
 The full lines indicate the positions of shed lines after
inserting a pick. They are in a semi-open state. So this type of
shed is known as semi-open shed
MERITS
• In a semi-open shed, the strain upon the warp is low.
• It requires minimum time to form a shed.
• The loom can run at a high speed.
• Power consumption is low.
• Wear and tear of the loom parts is low.
DEMERITS
• This shedding is troublesome to weavers because the two
fixed lines make it more difficult to repair broken ends.
Therefore a leveling mechanism is added to all the looms
using this type of shedding motion. While repairing broken
ends, this leveling mechanism is used.
• As the shed is always open, breakages may result,
especially when the yarn is weak.
• When many heald shafts are used, the strain on the
warp yarn at the back heald shafts is increased and
hence warp breakages may occur.
• In a fully-open shed, the strain on the rising and falling
threads is equally distributed. But in a semi-open shed,
since some of the threads are coming from the bottom
line and some threads are arrested midway and again
carried to the top, the strain is not equally distributed.
USES
• Many double-lift dobbies and double-lift jacquards
form semi-open sheds.
Timing of Shedding
• The shedding mechanism is set according to the
picking and beat-up mechanisms.
• Timing of shedding is set with respect to crank
position.
• In general there are three timings. These are :
1. Normal shedding
2. Early shedding
3. Late shedding
Normal shedding
If the heald shafts are at the same level when the crank
comes to the top center, that is, 0 degree or 360 degrees,
then it is known as normal shedding. See Figure
Early shedding
A shed is said to be early when the pick insertion is effected after
the shed is completely open.
If the heald shafts are at the same level when the crank comes to
355 degrees or 5 degrees before the top centre, then it is known as
early shedding.
Advantages of early shedding
• Fabric cover is improved, because during beat-up, the warp yarns
are evenly distributed.
• It assists in clearing the shed while weaving fibrous warp like
woollen and worsted. So entanglements are avoided.
• Heavy weft yarn can be easily inserted. So hard weaves like
corkscrew weaves can be woven.
Disadvantages
• As the warp yarns are open widely during beat up, strain on the
warp yarn is high.
• Early shedding causes chaffing of warp yarn (yarn abrasion) and
end breakages may occur.
Late shedding
If the heald shafts are at the same level when the
crank comes to 5 degrees after top centre, then the
shedding is known as late shedding.
Advantages of late shedding
• Late shedding allows the weft to get beaten up
before the shed has been properly crossed. During
beat-up, opening of the shed is minimal. So strain
on the war p yarn is low.
• Late shedding can be used for weak warp yarn.
• It allows greater time for shuttle passage so it is
suitable for synthetic yarn.
• It is useful if pick of low strength is used.
Disadvantages
• It causes a very weak fell of the cloth because
the weft may roll back.
• It causes less distribution of yarn. So it is not
suitable for fibrous warp.
• As the warp yarns are not distributed evenly
during beat-up, fabric cover is low.