Overcoming Limits in Rieter Ring and Compact Spinning with the Short Balloon Setting

The new Rieter short-balloon setting for ring and compact-spinning machines helps to raise the bar by balancing the various balloon forces during cop build-up, thanks to adapted hardware. The short-balloon setting reduces yarn breaks or increases spindle speeds – depending on the customer's needs. Trials in spinning mills worldwide have proven its efficiency.    The new short-balloon setting on Rieter ring and compact-spinning machines creates yarn balloons with shorter height and smaller diameter. This reduces its circumferential speed and thus tension peaks while balancing various balloon forces during cop build-up. As a result, either yarn breaks can be reduced, spindle speed can be increased, or lower yarn twist can be chosen to increase production. Various trials confirm these advantages.   Reducing Yarn Breaks  Customers in the field proved the lower yarn breaks. For a fine yarn of 100% cotton, Ne 60, twist multiplier 4.2, there were 23% fewer yarn breaks on average during cop build-up and a significantly lower number of yarn breaks at the cop bottom stage. Another trial shows a 10% reduction of yarn breaks on average, achieved for a 100% cotton combed yarn, Ne 30, twist multiplier 3.6.    Expanding Technological Limits  If the customer is satisfied with the yarn break rate, he can increase the spindle speed. The short-balloon setting lowers yarn tension, so the breakage level can remain the same, even at higher speeds. During a trial, a customer raised the machine’s spindle speed from 17,000 to 18,500 rpm, complying with the limit values for the yarn breaks without any traveler fly occurring. The spindle speed increased by 9% for this 100% cotton carded yarn, Ne 20, twist multiplier 4.3.    Exceeding production targets  Another approach to unlock the huge technological potential of the new short-balloon setting is reducing the yarn twist to increase production. This was also tested in practice. Reducing the twist multiplier from 4.0 to 3.9 and increasing the spindle speed from 23,200 to 23,500 rpm, the machine with the short-balloon setting was able to exceed the production target and achieved a production level of 29.5 g/spi/h for a 100% cotton combed yarn, Ne 30. This resulted in a production increase of 8%.    Reducing maintenance cost and effort  Lowering yarn tension by using the short-balloon setting also has a positive impact on traveler lifetime. Maintenance costs and effort can be reduced. During the trials, an 8% longer traveler lifetime was achieved on average. This results in savings for both parts and labour costs, due to less frequent traveler changes.   The short-balloon setting is standard for new Rieter ring and compact-spinning machines and can be ordered as an upgrade for installed machines. 

Fig. 1: Higher performance in ring and compact spinning with the short-balloon setting. PP-ID: 100729

Fig. 2: Increased spindle speed with the short-balloon setting. PP-ID: 100728