Projectile Loom Technology and Operation
category
Projectile looms insert weft by firing a small metal gripper projectile weighing 40 grams across the shed at velocities of 20 to 25 metres per second, with the projectile carrying the weft yarn gripped at one end and trailing the yarn behind it as it traverses the shed, braked by a receiving mechanism at the opposite selvedge where the yarn is released, the projectile returned under the loom by a transport chain, and the process repeated at rates of 180 to 320 picks per minute across widths from 150 to 540 centimetres.
Role
Provides the highest fabric width capability and best performance for heavy, coarse, and wide-width technical fabrics among shuttleless technologies, with Sulzer projectile weaving representing a mature technology particularly suited to heavy industrial fabrics, wide upholstery fabrics, and drapery where the positive mechanical weft gripping provides reliable insertion of irregular yarns that pneumatic insertion cannot reliably handle, though the technology has a declining market share compared to rapier and air-jet in new installations.
Subtopics
- Projectile Design and Gripper Mechanism The Sulzer projectile is a precision-machined metal body approximately 90 millimetres long and 14 mi…
- Torsion Bar Propulsion System Projectile propulsion uses a torsion bar spring charged by a picking lever during the preceding pick…
- Projectile Guidance and Receiving Systems Projectile flight guidance uses a series of guide teeth integrated into the reed that form a channel…
- Projectile Transport and Return System After receiving at the opposite selvedge, projectiles are returned under the loom on a link chain co…
- Weft Presentation and Cutting in Projectile Looms Weft presentation systems on projectile looms advance the yarn end from the feeder drum to the proje…
- Projectile Loom Applications in Wide-Width Weaving Projectile looms achieve the widest commercial fabric widths of any weaving technology up to 540 cen…
- Multi-Colour Weft in Projectile Weaving Projectile looms accommodate multi-colour weft insertion using 2 to 4 weft colour selector systems t…
- Projectile Loom Maintenance and Wear Management Projectile loom maintenance addresses the high-wear components of guide teeth abraded by repeated pr…
- Projectile versus Rapier Economics for Heavy Fabrics The economic comparison between projectile and rapier weaving for heavy fabric production considers …
- Projectile Loom Electronic Modernisation Electronic modernisation retrofits for Sulzer projectile looms replace mechanical cam-controlled tim…