Three textile raw materials and their manufacture

by International Acceptance Bank

2. The mechanical structure of woolen or worsted yarns necessitates the application of some glutinous substance to their surfaces before subjecting them to the weaving process. No matter how even the worsted yarn, a microscopic examination would show certain fibres protruding from the surface. Sizing has the effect of smoothing the surface of the yarn, and at the same time distributing more evenly the strain of weaving. The sizing machine is rather like the back-washer used in the manufacturing of worsted yarn. The warp is run through the sizing bath and then compressed between rollers, after which it is dried by steam or fan.

Beaming

3. Beaming is the term applied to winding the warp upon the beam of the loom. (The beam is the roller from which the warp threads are unwound as the weaving progresses.) In order to keep the threads in their proper position an instrument known as a raddle is employed, and the raddling process is one which requires considerable care.

Drawing in the warp threads

Healding

4. The next step, healding, is the same as that described on page [34] and enables the warp threads to be lifted in sections in order that the shuttle may pass under some and over others. From the original weave of lifting alternate threads, a great many complicated designs have been evolved, which necessitate the lifting of the warp threads in many small series. In the elementary weave where there are only two groups, this work is done by heald-wires which raise the odd and depress the even threads, thus forming a V, known as the shed, through which the shuttle may pass. As the design becomes more intricate the healding process becomes more complicated, and the number of heald shafts increases.

Sleying

5. Sleying, or reeding, is the final preparatory process, and has the object of keeping the warp threads the proper distance apart during weaving. The sley is really nothing more than a fine comb with a strip across the ends of the teeth. The warp threads are passed between the wires (reeds) of the sley and are so compelled to keep their proper position.