Water jet looms, which have become widely used in recent years as a type of high-speed weaving machine, do have limitations in their product range, as they cannot produce many types of fabrics. However, they offer high production efficiency for general interior fabrics.
Water jet looms belong to the category of jet looms. They use water as the weft insertion medium, employing a jet of water to generate frictional traction on the weft yarn, thereby drawing it from a stationary cone through the shed. This gives water jet looms advantages in terms of speed, labor savings, and energy efficiency, but they are limited to weaving hydrophobic fabrics. The weft insertion process needs to be adjusted based on factors such as the fabric’s reed width, type of weft yarn, and linear density to achieve smooth weft insertion and normal weaving. Adjustments to weft insertion parameters include regulating the water pump, nozzle, and clamp.
Water jet looms are shuttleless looms that use a jet of water to pull the weft yarn through the shed, resulting in minimal yarn dispersion. The frictional traction force on the weft yarn in water jet weft insertion is greater than that in air jet weft insertion. This makes them suitable for inserting smooth synthetic fibers, glass fibers, and other filament yarns. Simultaneously, water can enhance the conductivity of synthetic fibers, effectively overcoming static electricity during weaving. Additionally, jet weft insertion consumes less energy and produces low noise. Rapier looms can be considered the mainstream weaving machines, known for their high speed, stability, and good versatility, making them suitable for producing various grades of apparel fabrics and other grey fabrics.
The water stream in water jet looms has good coherence, and the frictional traction force of water on the weft yarn is also high. Consequently, both the weft yarn flight speed and the loom speed of water jet looms rank highest among all types of looms. The coherence of the water stream in a water jet loom heavily depends on the quality of the nozzle. The coherence of the nozzle’s jet is related to its model, aperture, and jet position. A smaller nozzle aperture produces a finer, longer water jet, while a larger aperture produces the opposite. Typically, the nozzle aperture adjustment range is 0 to 2. The adjustment method involves screwing the jet needle fully into the nozzle body for a zero aperture; one full turn out equals one aperture, and two full turns out equal two apertures.
What can water jet looms weave?
1.Simulated Silk Fabrics (Chemical Fiber Imitation Silk)
This is the largest product category for water jet looms. Utilizing different processing techniques for polyester filament yarns, they mimic the appearance and hand feel of real silk.
Chiffon: Lightweight, transparent, and soft, used for blouses, dresses, and scarves.
Georgette: Features subtle, uniform crinkles on the surface with a soft texture, used for high-end women’s clothing.
Nylon Taffeta: Smooth, dense, with a crisp hand feel, used for down jackets, jackets (both shell and lining), and umbrella fabric.
Chunya Fabric: A type of polyester fabric with high density, commonly used for jackets, sportswear, and bags.
2.High-Density Fabrics
Leveraging the high tension characteristics of water jet looms to weave fabrics with very high density.
Oxford Fabric: Woven with a basket weave, tough and durable, used for bags, tents, and shoe materials.
Taslon: Features a grid-like style, wear-resistant, and durable, used for jackets and mountaineering wear.
Peach Skin Fabric: The fabric surface is sanded to create a fine, peach-fuzz-like nap, used for jackets and furniture upholstery.
3.Functional Fabrics
Woven using functional fibers (e.g., high-tenacity yarns, microfilament yarns).
Waterproof and Moisture-Permeable Fabrics: Used for outdoor sportswear.
Flame-Retardant Fabrics: Used for protective clothing and stage curtains.
Industrial Fabrics: Such as advertising lightbox fabric, tarpaulin, and filter cloth.
