The market for
technical textiles is steadily growing since several years. Typical
applications include the production of fabrics for airbags, tire cords,
filtration materials, architectural fabrics, sailcloth, and many others. The
quality requirements for many of these fields – especially for safety-critical
applications – are very high. The challenge for weaving mills is the production
with zero-defects.
During the
Techtextil show, which has been held in Atlanta/Georgia, USA, end of May,
Loepfe experienced very strong demands for their yarn control solution WeftMaster
FALCON-i.
“Today,
technical textiles are included in nearly every aspect of human lives covering
a variety of different needs. Especially producers from the US are keen to
find simple solutions, which contribute to high-quality end products. The
reliable quality control of high-tech materials through the precise sensor
technology of FALCON-i has satisfied many of our customer’s needs,” says Luc Vanoverschelde, Product Manager at
Loepfe.
In quality
sensitive applications even smallest knots, fluff, filamentation, thick places
and capillary breaks have to be eliminated before being interwoven into the
fabric. To monitor such unwanted yarn faults on the running threads, the
WeftMaster FALCON-i is installed before or after a weft feeder. The yarn
control system ensures reliable control of latest high-tech materials such as
carbon fibers, monofilaments, multi-filaments as well as spun yarns in any
material composition. Even conductive yarns can be processed without any
restriction. The sensor works reliably with colored yarns and measures
unaffected by vibrations. Static electricity or electromagnetic fields have
also no influence on the results, as the sensor housing is made from shielding
material.
The sensitivity
level of the FALCON-i can be set either manually or automatically. The thread
to be monitored is guided through the optical measuring field by yarn guides
placed before and after the sensor virtually contact-free. An output signal
triggers the required action, as soon as a defect has been detected. The microprocessor-controlled
sensor provides many options for connection to machine controls. Furthermore,
the weft sensor function can be integrated into FALCON-i. This option allows
elimination of a further yarn guiding contact before the fabric production.
Loepfe’s optical yarn defect sensor FALCON-i
is not only complementing the various available knotless weaving concepts, but
can also be used in many different processes down the textile production
chain, wherever an individual yarn monitoring should ensure quality.