Let-off motions

By
Gurumurthy.B.R
E-mail: voguru1@gmail.com
 Let-off mechanism
• The function of let-off mechanism is to allow
the warp to move forward by unwinding it
from the weavers beam maintaining a
predetermined warp tension
• Warp tension helps in formation of clear warp
shed for easy passage of the shuttle
• The tension must be uniform for good weaving
to produce fault free fabrics
• For heavy fabrics more tension is required
 Types of let-off motion
• Two types of let-off motion
– Negative let-off motion and
– Positive let-off motion
• Negative let-off motion is the most common
type used on many automatic looms
• Negative let-off motion causes short, medium
and long term warp tension variations
• In negative let-off motion the warp beam is
tensioned by using dead-weights
• The beam starts moving as the warp tension
increases and decreases so as to maintain
constant tension on the warp beam
• There are 3-types of variation that occur
during let-off
• Short term variation
Short-term variation depends on the
–Difference between the static and dynamic friction
–The modulus of elasticity of warp
–The rate of take-up for normal warps
• Medium term tension variation
– Medium term warp tension variation takes place
due to change in the co-efficient of friction
between the faces of the ruffles and the
ropes/chains
– Patches of oil, dirt, rust or rough or excessively
smooth surfaces cause a variation in the co-
efficient of friction
• Long term variation
– Occurs as the warp beam gets exhausted
– There is a gradual increase in warp tension as the
beam gets emptied
– This increase in tension increases warp tension
 Factors determing the correct
warp tension
– Weave
– Counts of warp and weft yarns
– Picks per cm(inch)
– Warp ends per cm(inch)
– Size of the warp shed
– Timing of the shed
– Length of the warp
– Diameter of the warp on the beam
Concept of let off(friction let-off)
Controlled negative let-off motion
 Positive let-off motion
• The basic objective of the positive let-off motion
or controlled let-off motion is to prevent the
long-term variation as the beam diameter
decreases from full to empty beam
• Certain positive let-off motion include
– Roper let-off
– Bartlett
– Ruti-C
– Hunts
Roper let-off motion
• Control unit
• The control unit consists of all the moving
parts like ratchet and pawl, driving rod, pillar
spring, beam feeler beam wheel.
• This automatic let-off motion is designed to
weave light to medium weight fabrics
• For understanding the mechanism is divided
into 6-main sub-units
• Beam feeler unit
• Comprises of beam feeler which rests on the
warp beam
• The beam feeler is connected to pegs which
slides into the grooves of control lever
• Let-off pawl unit
• This unit consists of pawl lever and let-off
pawls
• The function of the pawl lever is to push the
ratchet wheel
• Internal gears
– Internal pinion
– Internal wheel
– Eccentric cam
– Eccentric lever
• Brake
– Comprising the brake drum, the brake band, the
spring loaded tensioning device for increasing or
decreasing the pressure on the drum thus
preventing over running
• Hand-Turning gear
– This is provided to turn the beam by hand at any
required speed either forward or backward to
slacken or tighten the warp
• Working mechanism
Sley moves forward to front centre

Driving rod is pulled forward

This pulls the lever end of the let-off pawl lever,

thus turning the ratchet wheel through the
pawls
 Control lever throw is adjusted

The throw of the control lever is maximum when

the tension on the sensitive back rest is the
highest

The beam feeler moves the let-off pawl lever

and turn the beam at a gradually increasing
speed
• The pressure of the coil spring on the spring
pillar can be increased or decreased to suit
the weight of the fabric
• Similarly the backrest position can be altered
to suit the weight of the fabric
• When weaving heavier fabrics, the whip roller
is placed in the inner slots and vice-versa for
light weight fabrics
Bartlet let-off motion
• This motion is fitted to Northrop looms and is
suitable for weaving medium or light weight
fabrics
• The motion to the drag rod is received from
the sley
• The throw of the drag rod and collar(Y) on the
bottom part of draw rod is given by sley
• The tension of the warp felt by the back-roller
either decreases or increases the effective
throw of the pawl lever
• Beam feeler feels the diminishing diameter of
beam through various lever connections, the
spring (J) is lengthened
• This allows the drag rod to move further due
to expansion of the spring
Ruti-B let-off motion
• Ruti-B let-off motion resembles the bartlet
let-off motion in many aspects
• The motion is driven from a cam on the
bottom shaft but it may be driven from the
sley sword
• Tensioning device
• The tensioning device consists of sensitive
backrest supported on small arms projecting
from the vertical lever ‘L’ which is connected
to the horizontal tension spring at the top
• The movement of the back-rest is transmitted
to the driving rod ‘F’ at the bottom through a
series of links
• An increase in warp tension causes the back-
rest to be depressed and the whole system
moves in such a way that stop ‘E’ is brought
nearer to the stud (or compensating lever)
with consequent increase in the rotation of
the ratchet wheel
• A decrease in warp tension causes the reverse
action which reduces the amount of let-off
• Beam driving arrangement
• Each time the cam raises the bell crank lever,
the stud is moved towards the left so that it
presses the compensator against the stop that
is fixed to the link.
• The resulting motion imparted to this link
turns the ratchet wheel and the beam through
a worm reduction gear
• The amount of let-off or the extent of ratchet
wheel movement is determined by the
position of the stop on the link which is
controlled by the movement of backrest as
mentioned earlier
• The beam feeler arrangement consists of the
feeler fulcrummed and connected to the
wedge through the link.
Hunt let-off motion
• Hunt let-off motion is widely used on
automatic looms. Eg.Draper,crompton and
Knowles and shuttleless weaving machines
• This let-off motion works directly from the
warp tension via the whip roller which
responds instantly to the slightest change in
the tension.
• There are no beam feelers on the warp
Hunt let-off
• Tensioning devices
• The desired tension is obtained by means on
the weight lever ’D’
• The drive to the let-off motion is received
through the bottom shaft or crank shaft or by
means of a chain( A) and worm gears(B)
• Variable control arrangement consists of two
V-belt pulleys and a belt
• One of the conical V-belt pulleys ‘C1’ and ‘D1’
can be moved axially where as opposite ones
‘C2’ and ‘D2’ are always fixed firmly on the
keys
• As the warp tension is increased, the whip
roller is pressed down, and moves the variable
control unit through lever ‘M’ and the warp is
unwound more rapidly
Cimmco let-off motion
Cimmco let-off motion
• This type of let-off is used on cimmco looms,
sakomoto looms
• Tensioning device
• Tensioning device consists of a back roller, as
shown in the figure which is made to press
against the warp sheet by means of a weight
through a series of levers
• The back roller is held by means of back roller
bracket which is almost parallel with the
vertical
• Beam driving arrangement
• The ratchet wheel is driven from the rocking
movement of the sley sword through the
driving arm and beam adjustor, vertical lever
F.
• The ratchet wheel drives the beam wheel
through bevel wheels and worm
• As the beam diameter reduces, beam feeler
moves the stud on the auto adjustor down
through a series of levers
• Working
• Sley moves forward and backward
• Pawl swings forward and
backward( movement controlled by back
roller and beam feeler)
• Back roller moves down, it swings the pawl
backward to give movement to the ratchet on
its subsequent forward motion
Toyoda let-off motion
• Toyoda let-off mechanism consists of interesting
features which are different from those of
bartlett, roper and ruti -B let-off motions
• The warp tension is developed through a
sensitive backrest which is weighted by means
of a dead weight arrangement
• The tension adjustments are made by shifting
the weight on the weighted lever
• The other feature of toyoda let-off motion is
the arrangement provided for locking the
sensitive back-rest at the beat-up position
• Tensioning device
• The sensitive back-rest is supported on two
arms secured to the shaft
• The dead weight is supported on two arms
from the same shaft to give warp tension
• The warp sheet from the beam is taken
around the roller ‘R’ before it passes over the
sensitive back rest
• Beam drive
• The beam is rotated through a ratchet wheel
‘K’ and a worm reduction gear from the sley
sword
• The double slotted lever- slotted bracket is
fixed on the sley itself while the lever P is
fulcrummed on a fixed casting
• As the sley takes the slotted bracket forward,
the lever rocks forward due to a common stud
that passes through the slots
• This motion of the lever rocks the pawl lever
and turns the ratchet wheel
• The regulator arm(sector lever) fixed to the
back-rest shaft rises and falls according to the
changes in the warp tension and link
• The rotation of the beam varies accordingly to
maintain the warp tension at uniform level
• As the beam weaves down, the feeler ‘N’ moves
in and raises the end of the link in the slot of the
pawl lever, thus giving an increased movement
to the ratchet wheel and the beam
• The locking and braking arrangement to hold the
back rest stationary during beat-up, consists of a
sector X on the sector lever E and the brake shoe Y on
the short lever A
• A bowl at the bottom end of the lever Z is acted upon
by an eccentric on the crank shaft.
• This eccentric is set to allow the brake shoe Y to come
in contact with sector on the regulator lever at the
front centre position, so that the back rest is firmly
locked for beat-up
Sulzer ruti let-off motion
Sulzer ruti let-off systems
• The tension on the warp on sulzer ruti let-off
motion is imparted through the whip roller B
as shown in figure by means of springs A
• The whip roller is mounted on a roller bracket
which is perpendicular to the vertical direction
• So variation in the angle back warp sheet has
very little or no effect on the warp tension as
he beam weaves down
• The movement of the whip roller turn the
regulator lever C through the linkages D and E.
• The regulator lever is mounted on the short
arm of clutch lever F.
• The groove on the regulator lever is led
through pivot G on the machine frame
• Since the centre of the groove curvature is not
coincident with the centre of rotation of the
regulator lever, the clutch lever is rotated in
the direction indicated
• As a result of this, rollers H are moved into the
path of the projections of the driving clutch I,
which is moved axially and rotates the driven
clutch J.
• The movement is transmitted to warp beam via worm
K, worm wheel L and spur gears M.
• The driving clutch is driven from the main shaft
through shaft N,
• There is an arrangement to rotate the warp beam by
hand, when the weaving machine is stopped, the shaft
N is disconnected from the main machine shaft by a
claw clutch
• Differential motions are used to drive the beams on
the other side.
Warp let-off with electric drive
Electric let-off system
• Warp let-off motions driven by electric motors
are used on shuttless weaving machines
because tension can be set accurately with no
variation
• Several types of such motions are available
• One such system is shown in figure
• The let-off drive motor A with the reduction
gear and main gear moves the warp beam
continuously forward to such an extent that
the whip roller D is always located at the same
height and the tension of the warp beam
remains constant from start to finish of the
warp beam
• The whip roller is mounted on the springs E one on
each side and the position of the whip roller is
determined by the sensor B and the signal is
transmitted to the electronic control equipment in
the control panel C.
• As soon as the whip roller tends to leave its
predetermined position, the electronic control
equipment takes the necessary action and
accelerates or brakes the warp let-off drive motor
accordingly.
• In such cases, the warp let-off drive motor
starts with the average speed, which is then
corrected within a short period.
• Provisions have been made to tension or
slacken the beam by means of buttons.
• When the machine is stopped, the preset
speed for the warp let-off drive motor is
stored, so that the motor starts up with the
correct speed when the weaving machine is
started again.
• However, the present speed is lost, if the
power supply to the control cabinet is
interrupted.
Lakshmi ruti let-off motion
Terry loom let-off mechanism
Saurer let-off motion
• Saurer let-off is an example of positive let-off
motion that does not uses a floating back-roller
• The back roller is carried in fixed bearings and
may rotate or not as required
• Changes in warp length are sensed and
corrected by oscillation of the beam.
• A simplified diagram of the tensioning
arrangements is shown in Fig.
• The whole of the mechanism is at one side of
the loom
• The worm wheel B is fixed to the beam flange
A and is inside a hollow casting C, which is free
to turn on the beam shaft
• A worm D drives the beam through the worm
wheel B. The position of the casting C is
governed by the link E and the levers F and G.
• The upper end of a coil spring H is attached to
the free end of the lever G in such a way that
its distance from the fulcrum of lever G can be
reduced as the beam weaves down
• The other end of the spring H is attached to
the loom frame.
• The point of attachment of the link E to the
lever F is adjustable.
• This provides a fine adjustment for the level of
warp tension established at the start of
weaving
• Two alternative points of attachment of the
lower end of the spring to the loom frame at J
provide a coarse adjustment.
• This is an example of the use of a spring in
tension.
• The tension in the warp sheet is derived from
the tension in the spring H, which endeavours
to turn the beam anti-clockwise, through
levers G and F, the link E, the casting C, the
worm D, and the worm wheel B, which is fixed
to the beam
• Variations in warp length will therefore result in
slight oscillations of the beam.
• Rotation of the beam independently of the
casting C is obtained by turning the worm D as
shown in Fig.
• The lower end of the worm shaft carries a
multiple-pawl-and-ratchet-wheel assembly
housed in a casting M. A projection on M carries
a ball L, which is in a channel in the casting K
• This casting receives an oscillating movement of
constant amplitude from the sley sword.
• This motion is transmitted to the ,ratchet
assembly M by the ball L, and the worm D is
turned so as to rotate the beam.
• The amount by which the worm turns for each
pick depends on the position of the ball L in the
channel of the casting K. Suppose, for example,
that the warp length decreases.
• This will cause the whole beam assembly to
turn clockwise, the ball L to move to the left,
and the movement it receives from the
casting K to increase.
• This will increase the rate of let -off and tend
to restore the warp length to its original value
• As the beam weaves down, the take-up
motion will endeavour to turn the beam more
rapidly, and the whole assembly will turn
gradually clockwise, steadily move the ball L
further from the pivot of the casting K, and
increase the rate of rotation of the beam to
compensate for its decreasing diameter
• The system is therefore fully automatic with
regard to the maintenance of a constant warp
length.
• If, however, the point of attachment of the
top of the spring H to the lever G were to
remain fixed, the warp tension would increase
steadily as the beam wove down.
• There are two reasons for this. Firstly, the
casting C turns clockwise as the beam weaves
down.
• This raises the lever G and stretches the spring
more.
• Secondly, even if the spring were not stretched
more, the warp tension would increase for the
same reason as in a negative friction-type let-
off.
• To maintain the warp tension constant, it is
convenient to move the point of attachment
of the spring H gradually nearer the fulcrum of
the lever G as the beam weaves down.
• This is achieved by means of a beam feeler
mechanism not shown in the diagrams
Warp tensioning systems
 Tension control mechanism in
positive let-off motions
• Basic requirements of positive let-off motion
– It should maintain a uniform warp tension
throughout the weaving of warp
– It should be capable of turning the warp beam at a
rate which will maintain a reasonably constant
length of warp sheet
• In order to maintain the two conditions of
uniform tension and constant warp sheet
length, it is necessary to employ two distinct
mechanism – a tension controlling mechanism
and a beam driving mechanism
• In positive let-off motions, the most common
way of applying tension i.e., force is by means
of the back-rest which is set to press against
the warp sheet
Tensioning using springs
• In positive let-off motions, the dead weight is
replaced by a spring and this introduces an
additional warp tension variation which is
superimposed on already discussed issues
• In a spring loaded motion the spring length
changes at these points and so the tension of
the warp also changes
 Beam driving mechanism
• To maintain constant length of warp sheet
between the fell of the cloth and the beam,
the rate at which the warp is unwound from
the beam should be the same at which the
warp is being pulled up into the cloth at the
fell.
• The movement to the beam is achieved by
motion received from the sley.
Control of let-off tension using
floating back-rest
• In positive let-off motions, the most common
way of applying tension I,e, force is by means
of the back-rest which is set to press against
the warp sheet
• Back-rest is also termed as whiproll, backroll
or backrail
• Force F exerted by the backrest on the
back-rest on the warp sheet is given by

f is constant force due to weight of the levers

and connecting rods
• With this system warp tension would be
constant if the tension is solely dependent on
the force ‘F’
• In positive let-off motion, there are
possibilities of three sources of variations
which are
– 1. Effect of warp beam diameter
– 2. Effect of freely rotating backrest
– 3. Effect of a fixed backrest
Effect of warp beam diameter
For a freely rotating back-rest
For a fixed back-rest