Narrow Weaving Machines
Due to the high consumption of products in the clothing industry, narrow woven products must be manufactured in a serial manner. With advancing technology, Narrow Weaving Machines have been designed to support more serial production in the Narrow Weaving sector.
Narrow Weaving Machines can weave different bands with various features and measurements by performing regional weaving in the form of products or passages. The operating system of these machines differs from other weaving machines. Perhaps the most important feature of narrow weaving machines is their flexible structure. Therefore, these machines provide high efficiency when mass production is required.
There are certain factors that affect the operating speed of Narrow Weaving Machines. Each variable factor affects the mass production process. The factors affecting machine speed can be listed as follows:
❖ Number of bands,
❖ Width,
❖ Pattern mechanism,
❖ Number of frames,
❖ Raw material used (yarn)
Taking these factors into account, the speed that narrow weaving machines can reach varies between 750 revolutions per minute, 1200 revolutions per minute, and 1400 revolutions per minute. Of course, these variations are determined according to the product to be produced on the machine. In narrow weaving machines, which are specific to weaving looms, the warp is specially designed and developed.
The number of warps placed in a narrow weaving machine corresponds to the number of passages. Each warp placed separately for each passage is used only for production in that passage. Narrow weaving looms are divided into four different types. The feature taken into account when making this distinction is the openness of the mouth sections. Since this openness causes the formation of a surface on the produced material, the machines are classified according to this feature.
Narrow Weaving Machine Types
Narrow weaving machines are classified as follows:
- Eccentric Narrow Weaving Machines (Cam-driven): These are looms that can weave small patterns with minimal pattern removal and yet have the ability to operate at the highest speed.
- Armure Narrow Weaving Machines (Cam-driven): These are weaving machines with a larger pattern weaving capability than cam-driven weaving machines, where pattern programming can be done using perforated cardboard or electronic systems.
- Jacard Cardboard Narrow Weaving Machines: These are machines with a very high pattern weaving capability. They are preferred especially for weaving patterns with many indentations.
- Electronic Jacquard Narrow Weaving Machines
Types of Narrow Weaving Machines
Narrow weaving machines also differ according to the weft insertion system they use. Based on the differences in weft insertion systems, the types of narrow weaving machines are as follows:
- Roller – Shuttle Weft Insertion System: This weft insertion system, commonly used in jacquard narrow weaving machines, is one of the oldest techniques. It refers to the shuttle, a half-elliptical device, known as the bobbin part of the warp yarn system. There is a single shuttle that can perform the weft insertion process in each weaving passage, or there can be multiple shuttles that perform the multi-weft insertion process with colored yarns.
- Needle Loom Weft Insertion System: The needle loom weft insertion system, commonly found in machines used for narrow weaving, can be described as having a mechanism that feeds the weft yarn without gaps, as the yarn is double. In this type of loom, the weft yarn is crescent-shaped, and the weft insertion process is performed on the knitting needle with the movement it receives from the hole at its end. Each weft inserted is visible in different shapes on the edge area opposite the part where it is inserted.
- Needle Weft Insertion System: Narrow weaving machines with a needle weft insertion system have a sickle-shaped hook for each weaving passage. This hook enables the system to perform a turning motion, supporting the needle and weft yarn to grip the edge. The tip of the hook supporting the weft yarn is perforated and has the ability to oscillate, enabling it to throw the weft yarn on one side. The perforated hook pulls the weft yarn by winding it onto tools such as spools or bobbins, just like in shuttle-less weaving machines. Meanwhile, it adjusts the tension of the weft yarn on the machine and the amount of opening at the mouth. These adjustments allow the weft regulators to control the weft yarn.
Each needle loom edge appears differently. This difference can be explained as the weft clinging to other yarns, unlike the warp yarns, while performing the turning movement. The hook passes the weft thread through the mouth and continues its operation by making a return movement along the path it has traveled. During this process, the weft thread is supported on the opposite edge. To perform this operation, narrow weaving machines must have a knitting needle with a hook tongue.
This knitting needle weaving enables the formation of the edge parts of the weft yarn with its horizontal movement in the warp direction. In narrow weaving machines with a needle weft insertion system, the edge formation combination is achieved without the need for two auxiliary yarns or yarns required to form the edge. In this combination, the edge formation occurs by knitting.
There are four different needle-edged weaving patterns used in needle-edged narrow weaving machines. In shuttle-controlled narrow weaving looms, all movement is achieved by placing the weft yarn in the mouth opening. At the same time, it is possible to control the machine that performs narrow weaving during the shuttle movement. This control process is carried out by means of a gear-like lever attached to the shuttle.
What Should Be Considered When Selecting Narrow Weaving Machines?
When selecting narrow weaving machines, the choice is made by considering factors such as the weaving band feature, pattern capacity, and number of machine frames of the desired machine. Since label elements such as letters and numbers do not involve much pattern movement in narrow weaving machines, they are made on weaving machines with armure chain links.
If the patterns of the products to be produced involve a lot of movement, it is necessary to use narrow weaving machines with jacquard cards, especially electronic jacquard. These narrow weaving looms also have important features that distinguish them from other weaving looms. These features can be listed as follows:
- These machines offer a wide range of possibilities for producing multiple products.
- Production is carried out by throwing a needle called a hook onto the product surface.
- Each hook throw is considered as 2 revolutions. However, this is reflected on the weaving surface as one revolution.
- The formation of the edge surface is achieved with the help of a needle. This can be described as a combination of weaving and warp knitting techniques.
In narrow weaving machines, the number and width of bands are expressed in units and millimeters. For example, numbers such as 4/100 or 2/25 found on narrow weaving machine models indicate the band and width of the machine. The first number, 4 and 2, indicates the number of bands, while the numbers 100 and 25 indicate the band width in millimeters. Each product manufactured on narrow weaving machines is transferred to separate semi-areas. Changing the band and width settings on the machine allows for the weaving of a large number of bands.
