The Development History Of 1515 Wide Width Shuttle Loom To Rapier Machine
By understanding the development history of 1515 wide width shuttle looms to rapier looms, we can become familiar with the similarities in structure between shuttle looms and rapier looms, as well as learn about their respective advantages and disadvantages. Understanding the development history of textile equipment can increase our love for the textile industry and enhance our enthusiasm for innovation and progress in textile machinery.
一、1515 series weaving machine
In China, shuttle cotton looms are divided into two categories based on their reed width: narrow width looms and wide width looms. Usually, looms with a nominal reed width of 125cm or less are called narrow looms, while looms with a nominal reed width of 135cm or more are called wide looms. In narrow width shuttle cotton looms, the 1511 and GA611 series looms are the main ones. The wide width weaving machines are mainly the 1515 and GA615 series weaving machines.
Before 1950, China had basically no domestically manufactured wide width weaving machines. In the late 1950s, the domestically produced 1515 automatic shuttle cotton machine was introduced and gradually used in the weaving industry. In the 1960s, new models such as the 1515 A - (1 × 4) multi shuttle box cotton loom, 1515K automatic shuttle wide width loom, 1515B-230 jacquard towel single bed loom, and 1515KA - (1 × 4) multi shuttle box single bed loom emerged one after another, playing an irreplaceable role in the production of bed sheets, wide towel jacquard products, and wide width fabrics.
With the development of production, the 1515 series weaving machines have been continuously improved in practical applications. In the early 1980s, the 1515 Type A and 1515KA multi shuttle box looms were modified into the A ₁ and KA ₁ types, becoming one of the standardized models of the 1515 series. At this point, the types, models, and specifications of 1515 shuttle cotton looms in China have been basically fixed, forming a series that is widely used.
二、GA615 series weaving machine
The 1515 series shuttle cotton machine is basically one of the early generation wide width shuttle cotton machines in China. Subsequently, due to the development of the national economy, both domestic and international consumer markets have higher requirements for textile products, decorative fabrics, and bedding. Some devices and functions of the 1515 series loom are no longer suitable for this. In the 1980s, the improved GA615 series weaving machines of the 1515 series emerged one after another and gradually replaced the 1515 series weaving machines.
The GA615 series weaving machine is based on the 1515 series weaving machine, and has made significant improvements in the opening device, warp feeding device, multi shuttle box changing device, self stopping device, component material selection, processing requirements, etc., thereby improving the applicability and weaving performance of the weaving machine, providing good conditions for producing wide, fine, multi color, and high-quality fabrics.
Table 1-1 is a comparison table of the main models, specifications, names, and external dimensions of the two series:
Weaving machine type | name | Model specifications | Machine width mm | Machine depth mm | Flat knitting machine height mm | Multi arm machine height mm |
1515 | Automatic shuttle loom | 135 | 2692 | 1596 | 1540 | 2250 |
1515 | Automatic shuttle loom | 150 | 2866 | 1596 | 1540 | 2250 |
1515 | Automatic shuttle loom | 180 | 3171 | 1596 | 1540 | 2250 |
1515 | Automatic shuttle loom | 230 | 3697 | 1575 | 1540 | 2260 |
1515 | Automatic shuttle loom | 280 | 4197 | 1575 | 1540 | —— |
1515 | Towel and sheet weaving machine | 1515B-230 | 4192 | 1844 | 3900 | —— |
GA615 | Multi shuttle box loom | (1*4)-135 | 2902 | 1629 | —— | 2250 |
GA615 | Multi shuttle box loom | (1*4)-150 | 3076 | 1629 | —— | 2250 |
GA615 | Multi shuttle box loom | (1*4)-180 | 3433 | 1629 | —— | 2250 |
GA615 | Multi shuttle box loom | (1*4)-250 | 4148 | 1644 | —— | 2260 |
GA615 | Towel loom | GA615B-180 | 3171 | 1622 | 1541 | —— |
GA615 | Multi shuttle box loom | GA615K-280 | 4232 | 1575 | 1540 | —— |
三、Wide width loom and cotton rapier loom
The wide width shuttle cotton machine relies on the shuttle's back and forth flight to introduce the weft yarn into the shuttle opening. Due to the width, a large throwing force is required, resulting in loud noise, vibration, and limited speed during loom operation, which has a negative impact on product quality. How to improve this situation has become a common concern for everyone.
In the late 1980s, the GA741-180 cotton rapier loom was introduced. Although this new machine is no longer a shuttle loom, its transmission, opening, beating, warp feeding, and warp stopping devices are basically the same as the GA615 loom. Its winding adopts the worm gear form of the 1515 A - (1X4) multi shuttle box loom, and the weft stop has been improved by using a piezoelectric weft stop device. The weft insertion method is based on the characteristics of the rapier loom, using a flexible rapier for weft insertion. The loom is connected in the middle, mechanically mixed, and can weave four colors at a speed of 200-230r/min.
The GA741-180 cotton rapier loom is developed based on the structure of the wide width shuttle cotton loom. It has improved and designed certain devices that are in line with its own characteristics, and clearly has its own personality compared to the wide width shuttle loom. Its appearance will provide useful inspiration for the transformation of wide width weaving machines.