Abstract
In Spinning, Ring Frame is a machine which converts roving into Yarn. Main component of Ring Frame machines are Creel – Drafting zone – Spindle – Ring – Traveller; it has certain numbers of Spindles per machine; and each Spindle is a production centre.
Yarn produced in Ring Frame machine has to be of some structural parameters like Twist per unit length (TPI or TPM) and weight per unit length (Count). These parameters along with yarn Quality (imperfections, Strength, Evenness, Hairiness & Classmate faults) are spun on Ring Frame machine to meet the customer’s fabric requirements.
The Productivity of Ring Frame spindle is measured as Weight of Yarn produced in a Unit time. There’re three major factors which decide the productivity of Ring frame spindle.
- Spindle Speed (RPM)
- Twist per unit length (TPI or TPM)
- Yarn Count.
Rest all other factors depends on these major factors directly or indirectly.
Yarn Count and Twist are the factors which in the Yarn should to be as per the requirement of the fabric construction; so the spinner is not allowed to alter these two factors subject to productivity gain. Spindle speed of Ring Frame is the only factor which allows a spinner to take advantages of higher productivity, with consideration of controlled performance & yarn quality.
Over the period of last 30 years; machine manufacturers have designed Ring Frames components such that there is to some extent marginal improvement in productivity. During this period of 3 decades, there is only 90% improvement in spindle speed, the main factor for productivity. Therefore this growth of modernisation in Ring Spinning can be remarked as Lower growth, compared to Rotor (Open End) spinning; which have improved above 200% during this same time period.
Open End machine is also a Yarn manufacturing machine, it has certain numbers of Rotors per machine and each Rotor is a production centre. In Open-End machine the main factors responsible for productivity are Rotor Speed, Twist per unit length & Yarn count; same like Ring frame factors. But in Open End machine, manufacturers made developments in component and designs such that the improvement went to the noticeable stage and now in Open end machine, term like Meter/Min instead of RPM is used for speed, it indicates that there are wide scopes for improvement in rotor speed in the near future.
In Ring Frame machine, manufacturer’s keen focus on the installation of higher numbers of Spindles per frame may be one of the reasons for this lower rate of growth in the modernisation of Ring Frame. They went on increase in numbers of spindles per frame above 300% during these 30 years and still their special focus on the same cannot be denied. It’s a wake-up alarm for the design development team because the spinner is concerned with the improvement in productivity, and productivity is measured per spindles; not per machine or frame.
Limitations against higher Spindle speed
In Ring Frame, a set of Spindle, Ring & Traveller plays an important role in producing yarn. Spindle speed is directly responsible for productivity; Ring diameter depends on the count of yarn and it decides the bobbin/cop contain as well as the linear speed of Traveller, so it can be understood that bigger size Ring is used for coarser count worked at lower spindle speed and vies-versa.
The smallest component of Ring Frame machine is Traveller. It is a metal loop, locked on the Ring surface, which moves on the Ring surface to impart twist into the yarn. Its linear speed is directly proportional to spindle speed and Ring diameter. Since the Ring and Traveller are metal body so during running it creates friction, thus heat is generated. Traveller can bear a certain amount of linear speed beyond which either it will get damaged due to overheating or will fly away from the Ring due to the higher centrifugal force. So smaller diameter of Ring is preferred to work higher spindle speed, preferably for finer count yarns.
From the above explanation, it can be understood that Traveller, the smallest part of Ring frame machine, is the biggest limitation against higher spindle speed. Moreover, Traveller has its life so at certain frequency of running it has to be replaced. And for different types & count of yarn, it has to be selected precisely; a wrong selection can affect the quality as well as the productivity very badly.
Innovation – beyond limitations
The main objective of Traveller is to impart twist into the yarn and to maintain the yarn tension. If these objectives are fulfilled by any other source then the Traveller can be eliminated from Ring frame machine. The issue with Traveller is that it has a negative drive. If the Traveller gets positive drive there will be no friction and no heat generation; therefore the linear speed would never be the limitation.
A modified Ring if given positive drive (same like the spindles) and the loop or hook is fixed on this Ring; so the Ring along with hook will revolve. It will full fill the purpose of imparting twist into yarn, and also yarn tension would be maintained. Now with this concept, another limitation of Ring size would be overcome and hence the bigger size Ring can be installed. This bigger size ring would allow working all count range.
When this concept is applied, spindle speed would not be a hurdle for modernisation of Ring Frame. The platform for a Spindle speed of 40…..50…..60…..70 (x1000 rpm) and more would be ready. The hurdle would for Yarn Quality with such higher spindle speed. To achieve the Quality of yarn at such higher Spindle speed, few other concepts would be applied, and those concepts are also under consideration.
This concept will open a platform for the technician to perform their talents through a big series of innovations and developments. Advantages would be related to…
- Ring Frame cop shapes & size of, maybe it would be of winding package shapes with a large amount of yarn contains.
- Winding machine with large yarn quantity feed to get highest ever-winding efficiency.
- New drafting system competent to produce better yarn at higher spindle speed.
- Lower empty bobbin inventory in stock, lower doffing and higher efficiency & productivity of Ring Frame machines.
Modification in Blow room: Proposal of pull room concept
By: Ramakant Dubey
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