Ring spinning is currently the
most widely used yarn production method. Initially developed in America in the
1830s, its popularity has survived the emergence of much faster spinning
technologies. In addition to the superior yarn quality, ring spinning is extremely
versatile. It is capable of producing yarns with wide ranges of linear density
and twist from a great variety of fibre materials. It is also used for doubling
and twisting multifold and cabled yarns.
Fibre materials must be
properly prepared before they can be used on the ring spinning machine. The
preparation processes are dependent on the fibre material. Figures 3.1 and 3.2
illustrate the typical process routes for cotton and wool. The ultimate objectives
of the many preparation processes are to produce a feed material for the final
spinning process that is clean, even, homogeneous and free from fibre entanglement.
The fibres must also be in the preferred orientation.