The operations involved in the preparation of warps for most fabrics are comprised under not less than five chief divisions, namely—
1. Winding yarn from any of its earlier stages on to warpers’ bobbins.
2. Warping.
3. Sizing.
4. Beaming, or winding yarn on to a weaver’s beam.
5. Looming, i.e. either drawing-in or twisting-in.
Each of these operations may be performed by a variety of machines of distinctly different types that have been specially devised to meet specific requirements, and which are, therefore, better adapted than others for their special purpose. Before introducing the reader to the details of the various types of machines in each division, it will be better to briefly enumerate the different systems of preparation usually adopted in the manufacture of the three classes of goods named above.
PREPARATION OF GREY WARPS.
Grey warps are prepared by one or other of two systems, namely, (1) Beam warping, for slasher or tape sizing; and, (2) ball or mill warping, for ball or warp sizing; but by far the greater number are prepared by the first-named system.
1. Beam Warping and Slasher Sizing.