Contribution of cone-winding operation to the fibre-shedding behaviour of cotton yarn during knitting

The fibre-shedding behaviour of cotton spun yarn during knitting is influenced by the cone-winding operation. This fact was confirmed by conducting an experimental study, using a three-factor-three-level Box Behnken design of experiment that shows the individual as well as interaction effects of the winding parameters of winding tension, winding speed and cradle pressure on the overall generation of fibre fly in knitting process. The linear and quadratic effects of winding tension, winding speed and cradle pressure have found a significant impact on fibre-shedding behaviour of cotton yam. It was also noticed that the linear effect of winding tension was not so high on generation of fibre fly as compared to the effects of winding speed and cradle pressure. The study also shows that average fibre shedding increased in all the cases of two-way interactions of winding parameters from a lower to a medium value and decreased thereafter. Furthermore, it was observed that the generation of fly in the cone-unwinding zone of knitting machines is affected by the length distribution of protruding hairs from the yarn surface rather than the level of hairiness of the yarn.