Let off mechanism

Let off motion:

The process of unwinding and delivery the required amount of
warp sheet from the warp beam to the weaving zone at the required
rate and maintain uniform tension on warp yarn and fabric
produced during weaving is let off motion.
Synchronization between take up and let off is a must.
The required amount of warp to be unwound is equal to the sum of
the length of fabric to be woven (take up) and crimp% and
subtraction of extension% of warp.
i.e. let off of warp sheet = take up + crimp% - warp tension%

Function/objects of let off motion:

 To maintain the necessary tension upon the warp
 To unwind and deliver the required amount of warp sheet
from the warp beam with the simultaneous and
continuously (with the progress) weaving
 To influence the no of picks per unit space in a fabric being
subsidiary to take up motion
 The warp should be supplied in lengths that exactly
correspond with those drawn away by the taking up roller.
 To provide the warp and filling space during weaving.

Types of let off motion:

1. Positive let off motion
2. Semi-positive let off motion
3. Negative let off motion

Conditions of good let off motion:

A good let off motion must possess certain features such as-
I) Equal and uniform tension upon the warp all through
II) Provision to regulate decreasing diameter of warp on the
beam during weaving
III) Arrangement for taking the warp back
 IV) It should also be sensitive to any little variation in the
diameter of the weft yarn and tension upon the warp

Requirements of let off motion:

I) Arrangement for making equal and uniform tension upon
the warp
II) It should have arrangement of changing the length on the
warp sheet in weaving zone so that yarn length can be
increased and decreased as required
III) Warp tension can be adjust by changing warp sheet length
IV) The ratio of warp and weft tension should be correct. Other
wise crimp level on fabric is not proper balanced

Negative let off motion:

 In the negative let off motion, the warp is controlled by
means of ropes, chains, levers and weights
 Warp beam rotates to the unwinding direction of warp yarn
 A warp let off motion should so act upto the threads that an
equal strain is maintained
 The let off motions do not deliver exactly the same quantity
of warp for each pick as the cloth is taken on to the cloth
roller, but is sensitive to variable tension upon the warp
during shedding and beating.

Construction: Chain lever and wt-let off motion

A = Beam barrel/Beam ruffle N = Loom frame
B = Warp beam W = Weight
C = Beam flange
D = Chain/Rope/Belt
E = Pivot
F = Back rest
G = Fell of the cloth
H = Front rest
I = Take up roller
J = Cloth roller
K = Cloth
L = Warp yarn
M = Weight lever
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 Fig: Negative let-off motion
In chain, lever and weight negative let off motion, rope, chain card or
leather band is wrapped around the beam ruffle(A) to sustain it and
one end of the chain is fixed at wt. W or loom frame and the other end
is connected to the weight lever
 This weight lever is pivoted at E and this wt lever contains
weight W on its opposite end. This weight W can be moved to
the pivot
 The tension on warp is regulated by the friction between chain
and beam ruffle. The friction is controlled by dead wt on the
wt lever and the distance of dead wt from the pivot

Working principle:
 When warp beam is in fully completed, wt of wt lever is place
at one end. But as dia of beam decreases, the let off gear speed
increases to keep proper tension
 As weaving goes on, the wt of the wt lever should be shifted
gradually towards the pivot of the lever. This chaining is done
15 times to weave down a full warp beam.
  Special attention for maintaining uniform tension upon the
warp
Either amount of weight reduced by position fixed
Or amount of weight fixed or constant but weight moves towards
the pivot
 The amount of weight used to keep proper tension on warp
depends on yarn count and required picks per unit length of
fabric.

Advantages:
 Cheap and simple in construction
 Suitable for light and medium weight of fabrics
 Easy to maintain

Disadvantages:
 Difficulty in taking back the warp beam after picking gout
 Difficulty in regulating equal tension on the warp
 The varying tension on warp thread shows dark and light or
shady places in the cloth
 Possibility of thread breakage due to tension variation. As a
result, bad quality fabric produced.

Semi-positive let off motion:

 The delivery of warp is controlled in such way that an
adjustment can be made to maintain tension or path length by
slippage
 Some jobs are done manually and come mechanically

Construction:
 In the semi positive let off motion, a pushing pawl present in a
Rachel wheel
 Rachel is connected by a shaft in warm C with warm wheel B
and warm wheel rotates in clockwise direction

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A → Warp beam
B → Warm wheel F → Pawl
C → Worm G → Weight lever
D → Shaft H → Fulcrum
E → Rachet wheel K → Floating roller
 Weight lever is fulcrumed at H and floating back rest K is
present downwards and other end of wt. lever is to the
pushing pawl.

Working principle:
 The warp beam is driven through a worm and worm wheel
which are turned by a pawl and rachet
When warp tension more-
 The floating back rest is lowered and this causes downward
movement of weight lever at the back side and upward
movement of connecting rod
 The out end of pawl move upwards and other end comes to
the contact of rachet teeth and makes rotation of rachet wheel
and worm and warm wheel
 As worm and worm wheel are on the same shaft. So the warp
beam rotates highly and causes let off motion and uniform
tension
When warp tension is less-
 The floating back rest moves upward and this causes
downward movement of the out end of the wt lever and the

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 other end of pawl be disengages with rachet teeth and no let
off motion

Positive let off motion/Bart let positive let off motion:

Basic requirement:
 A mean of applying tension to the warp sheet and for keeping
tension constant as the warp weaves down
 A mean of detecting small changes in the length of warp sheet
between the fell and the front rest and back rest
 A method of utilizing these changes to vary the rate at which
the beam is turned

Fig: Tensioning mechanism

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 Fig: Positive let-off motion

A = Warp beam S = Beam wheel

B = Floating back rest Y = Warp beam
C1 & C2 = Fixed collar
C = Collar
E = Feeler
F = Lever
G = Pivot
H = Rod
J = Elbow lever
K = Pivot
L = Driving rod
M = Oscillating collar
N = Sley sword
O = Rachet
P = Pawl
Q = Worm
R = Hand wheel
U = Beam driving pinion
V = Worm wheel
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  A pushing pawl (P) rotates the Rachel (O) and single worm
 Warm wheel (V) rotates in the surface contact of single warm (Q) again. As warm wheel
and beam driving wheel (U) are on same shaft. Beam driving wheel also rotates
 Beam wheel (S) rotates in the surface contact of beam driving wheel and as warp beam
(T) and beam wheel are on same shaft, warp beam also rotates
 Floating back rest (B) is pivoted to rod(X) and spring by collar(C). This rod can rotates
through elbow level (J) and connected to driving rod (L)
 Two fixed collar (C1) & (C2) is connected to rod then oscillating collar (M) and then
connect to sley sword(N) by rod(L2) which are pivoted (G)

Working principle:
 When the tension in warp sheet is increased
 The floating rest will move downwards and the rod carrying the fixed collar (C3) will
move to the right and the rod (L1) will move to displace the driving rod (LB) to the left.
This will bring the fixed collar(C) to the oscillating collar(M)
 As a result, the force on the oscillating collar(M) and the fixed collar(C) is more. So more
rachet wheel teeth will be driven by the pawl.
 Thus the beam will rotate more to release more warp to minimize the increased tension
 Pushing pawl gives to and fro movement
 When tension on warp sheet is reduced-

 The floating rest moves up and consequently the gap between the oscillating collar(M)
and he fixed collar(C) is increased reducing the force of impact between them
 So less number of rachet wheel teeth is moved and hence beam will release less amount
of warp
Maintaining mechanism:
 When beam dia diminishes the beam movement is more
 As the beam weaves down the feeler(E) moves towards the warp beam(A) so lever(F)
turns anticlockwise on its pivot(G). This moves the rod H upwards through a series of
links and turns the lever(F1) anticlockwise
 The lower end of (F1) is slotted over the rod that carries the spring which is compressed
between the fixed collar and slutted lever(F1)
 The effect is to lengthen the spring as the beam weaves down. This results the
movement of rod carrying the fixed collar(C) more to right
 As a result the rachet wheel rotates more
 So as the beam weaves down, the let-off rate increases

Shirley let off mechanism:

Construction:
The warp is supplied from the warp beam and is passed over the floating back rest. The floating
back rest is connected with an angular lever arm and other end if the lever is fulcrumed. The
beam barrel is joined with a breaching spring or frame. On the weight lever, the sliding wt is
placed which can slide right and left as and when required.
Working principle of Shirley let off:
Constant take up rate equal to the constant let off rate
When warp tension increases-
  Constant rate take up increases
 Floating roller deflect to the left side

 Arm deflect to the left side

 Weight lever move to the upwards
 Sliding dead weight deflect to the left side and sliding weight average reduce
 As a result let off motion increases, due to decreases of breaking force and easily rotation
of warp beam

When warp tension decreases-

 Floating rollers deflect to the right side
 Arm deflect to the right side
 Weight lever lowered and sliding dead weight deflect to the tip
 Sliding dead weight leverage increase
 Breaking force increases
 Let off rate reduce e
The more weaving complete, beam dia reduces, for constant let off rate maintenance, RPH
should be increased

Pick spacing:
The centre to centre distance between two adjacent picks called pick spacing.
i.e. The amount of area is covered in the fabric by a pick is called pick spacing
1
Pick spacing = PPI
Unit = cm or inch
If weft yarn is coarser pick spacing is more
and if weft yarn is finer, pick spacing is less

Causes of variation in pick spacing:

 Due to eccentric of take up
  Due to variation in yarn quality
 Due to not falling of pick in proper place of fell of the cloth
 Due to change of take up rate, change of position of feel of cloth
 Due to change of let off rate, change warp tension
 Loom stops prolonged period

Difference between negative & positive let off motion:

Negative let off Positive let off
1. Simple in construction 1. Complex
2. Suitable for light and medium wt of 2. Heavy wt of fabric
fabric
3. Warp beam maintain belt or chain 3. Gearing
4. More strain on warp yarn 4. Comparatively less
5. Used in semi-automatic loom 5. Automatic machine
6. Flanged beam 6. Not flanged beam and hard
7. Warp beam is small 7. Large
8. More manual power required 8. Less manual power required