Different Types of Shed in Weaving
Rofiquzzaman Raju
Fabric Technologist,
B.J.Group, Mawna, Gazipur
Email: rtextile.finance@gmail.com
What is Shed and Shedding?
Dividation of warp threads into two parts for insertion of weft threads is called shed and the mechanism of shed is called shedding in weaving, it is the first primary motion of weaving.
Types of shed in weaving:
- Bottom close shed
- Centre close shed
- Semi-open shed
- Open shed
a. Bottom close shed:
This type of shedding is produced by giving motion only to threads that are to form the upper line. Under this condition, the warp is level on the bottom line. Hence in order to form a top shed, it is necessary to move some threads through a space equal to twice the depth of a shed, once up and down, before a fresh selection is made. A shed of this kind is known as stationary bottom with a rising and falling top.
A→ Bottom line of warp
B→ Rising and falling line
C→ An arrow showing the space passed through
Advantages:
- Alternate tightening and slackening the warp threads produce a covered cloth
- Produce fire fabric (silk)
- Used in hand loom
Disadvantages:
- More stress or tension on the top warp line and less tension on the bottom warp line.
- More chance of breakage on top warp line
- Unequal warp tension produces poor quality fabric
- Loom speed/ waving speed is slower
- Not possible to produce compact fabric
- More power consumption
- More time required
b. Center close shed:
This type of shed is produced by imparting an upward movement to those threads which are to form the top line and the downward movement to the threads which are to form the bottom line. Then after inserting a pick, both the lines meet at the center between the highest and lowest lines of a divided warp.
A→ Closed warp line
B, C→ Upper and lower lines of a divided warp respectively
D→ Arrow showing the half distance of a shed in an upward direction
E→ Arrow showing the half distance of a shed in a downward direction
Advantages:
- Equal tension on the top and bottom warp line
- Less time required so high production
- Less wear of the m/c
- Less power consumption
- Less tear of the threads
Disadvantages:
- Beat up takes place in the closed shed condition
- There is chance of weft being moved backward
- Compact fabric can not be produced by this shed
c. Semi-open shed:
In this shed, the stationary bottom is retained but threads for the top line either passes to bottom at one movement and again carried to the top mid way and again carried to top. In this shed close and open shed occurred simultaneously. In it the stationary bottom line is retained, but threads for the top line either pass to the bottom at one movement, or are arrested midway and again carried to the top. Such a shed can be formed as expeditiously as an open shed, for the upward movement begins and ends with the downward through movement, and the arrested downward movement is converted into an upward movement immediately the falling threads are in the same plane as the rising ones. They all reach the top together but the strain upon them is not equally distributed.
A→ Stationary bottom line
B→ Top point
C→ The point where downward movement ceases in threads
D, E→ Showing the movement of through healds
F→ Arrow showing the threads which are to lift for the next pick
Advantages:
- Equal tension on the top and bottom warp line
- All the warp yarns are not required to move up and down in every pick
- Beat up takes places in the cross-shed condition
- The loom can run at a faster speed
- Possible to produce compact fabric
- Less complexity or disturbance in the shedding mechanism
- Used in power, dobby & jacquard loom
- For fancy fabric
- Less power consumption
- Less tear of threads
Disadvantages:
- Unusable movement
d. Open shed:
In open shed, the warp threads form two stationary lines, the top line and the bottom line and changes are made by carrying the threads from one fixed line to the other without any interval.
A, B→ Stationary warp line
C, D→ Arrows which show the movement of rising and falling warp to equal the distance between A & B
Advantages:
- Beat up takes place in cross-shed condition
- Equal tension on the top and bottom warp line
- The loom can run at a fastest speed
- Extensively used in tappet shedding mechanism
- Basic fabric (twill, sateen, plain) can be produced.
- Less power consumption
- Less wear of the weaving m/c
Disadvantages:
- High breakage rate
- If higher no of healds are used then the warp in back healds are more strained than the front ones
- Leveling apparatus should be added to open shed to place the headls in one plane.
Founder & Editor of Textile Learner. He is a Textile Consultant, Blogger & Entrepreneur. He is working as a textile consultant in several local and international companies. He is also a contributor of Wikipedia.
