Ring and Ring Traveller Systems for Compact Yarns Franz Oberholzer, Head Research Rings and Travellers, Brcker AG, Pfffikon-Zrich, Switzerland Introduction The new compact spinning systems EliTe and ComforSpin result in yarns being produced which place new demands on the ring and ring traveller system. Compact yarns are distinguished by a particularly smooth surface with hardly any disturbing elements. Since all the fibres are firmly embedded in the body of the yarn they are subject to much less abrasion at the deflection points so that virtually no processing errors occur. The space required by the yarn in the yarn thread passage is kept to a minimum. However, this extremely low degree of hairiness results in under-lubrication of the open friction system and that, in turn, places special demands on the rings and travellers.Obviously the performance of rings and ring traveller systems is influenced by other factors. This article primarily analyses the lack of lubrication and its repercussions on the rings and travellers. Function of the ring and traveller To complete the picture, here, once again, the relevant features of the ring and traveller: The ring traveller system is a braking system (creates the yarn tension) The ring and ring traveller system is lubricatedby fibre elements, wax and other particles (fibre film). This coating must regenerate itself continuously. If the fibre film is stripped away, metal contact between the ring and traveller resultsThe friction (friction coefficient) depends on a variety of parameters such as fibre type, lubricating content of the fibres, ring and traveller surface, shape and profile of the traveller etc. Requirements of the ring surface The lack of lubrication produced by compact yarns results in the traveller running surface on the ring being subject to considerable friction. If no lubricating film exists, temperatures of over 800o C occur in the contact area of the traveller/ring. With conventional ring surfaces, small particles of traveller material are welded onto the ring in what is referred to as a micro welding process. This leads to premature wear and tear of the ring and results in erratic traveller operation, differences in the yarn tension and a reduction in the yarn quality. For compact yarns, therefore, it is very important that rings with an excellent resistance to wear and tear are used. Ring surface destroyed as a result of micro welding Titan ring surface displays no micro welding Flange shapes Compact yarns are mostly produced in finer yarn counts. The flange 1 profile and the inclined flange profile Orbit are preferred as used successfully for conventional ring yarns. Flange 1Orbit

Brcker rings and travellers for the successful processing of compact yarns Rings Brcker Titan rings satisfy the requirements in terms of resistance to wear and tear and ensure that traveller material is not welded onto the ring. This, therefore, ensures that constant yarn quality can be produced from spindle to spindle and machine to machine. Titan ring The life span of aTitan ring is extremely long so that an optimal yarn quality is guaranteed over a considerable time span. Life span for Titan rings The flange shape Fl 1 A98 is installed in Suessen EliTe machines as the standard fitting and can be used universally for the entire yarn count range both for normal and high performance use. Orbit rings are suitable for the high performance domain and are used exclusively on Rieter K40 and K44 machines. Yarns coarser than Ne 30 and finer than Ne 80 are also spun on Rieter K-machines preferably on flange rings. Travellers In order to make best use of the reduced fibre lubrication, travellers offering a deeper yarn passage must be used. Due to the compactness of the yarns, however, no negative repercussions such as production neps occur. Moreover, for cotton yarns, a broad half-round profile (udr) is preferred whilst for blends and special yarns a normal half-round profile (dr) is desirable. C 1 EL udr and SFB 2.8 RLdr are the travellers used most for spinning compact yarns. Nevertheless, the performance parameters and any specific customer wishes are to be taken into account. Ring / ring traveller combinations for compact yarns The following list (table 1) illustrates the recommended ring travellers for the compact spinning process. The details are based on data from more than 30 spinning mills and represent the majority of the installed spindles for compact yarns. Summary The processing of compact yarns places special demands on rings and travellers. Thanks to intensive co-operation with the machine manufacturers and users since the introduction of compact yarns, Brcker has become the leading

Table 1 player in the production of rings and travellers. Why don't you take advantage of Brcker's broad-based experience, too. Contacts Brcker AG Obermattstrasse 65 CH-8330 Pfffikon-Zrich Switzerland E-mail: sales@bracker.ch Brcker S. A. 132, rue Clemenceau F-68920 Wintzenheim France E-mail: sales@bracker.fr Italy: Brcker S:R:L E-mail: morera.bracker@mail.inet.it Mexico: Brcker de Mexico S.A. de C.V. E-mail: brackerm@avantel.net Agencies: see Web Webwww.bracker.ch Yarncount Ne 10 12 14 16 20 24 30 36 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 10563 45 40 35.5 28 25 22.4 1845 40 35.5 28 25 22.4 18 16 14 12.5140 125 100 90 80 56 45 4035.5 31.5 28 25 22.4 20 16 14125 112 90 80 71 50 40 35.5100 80 63 50 45 40SFB 2.8 RL drC 1 MM udrSFB 2.8 PM udr/drC 1 UL udrC 1 UL udrC 1 EL udrC 1 EL udrSoft Twist, Low speedRieter K40/K44OrbitFl 1Suessen EliTeFl 1