Ends and Picks That Deliver a Target Weight in Linen
Target linen weight depends on yarn tex, ends, picks, and crimp contraction; calculating raw count without finishing shrinkage overshoots mass targets.
Continuous Air Tumbling
Mechanical Separation
High pressure air pulses injected into the discharge hopper of a fiber cleaning line force foreign debris and short dust particles away from the primary linen stream before the material enters the spinning frame. Continuous air tumbling uses these consistent gusts to suspend the flax fibers in a controlled vortex, which separates heavy stalk fragments from the lighter cellulose material. Mills apply this process during the final stage of carding to ensure the sliver meets specific purity standards recorded on the batch production report.
Each batch passes through this station where sensors detect remaining shive concentrations against the internal mill requirements rather than the buyer acceptance criteria. Air flow rates determine the intensity of the separation. Higher velocities remove more material but risk damaging the fiber structure if the pressure exceeds the density threshold of the flax strand.
Reduced air speeds prevent fiber breakage while allowing some residual organic particles to persist in the output. The physical state of the fiber at this point informs the spinning constants for the subsequent frame operation. Variations in fiber length or moisture content alter the effectiveness of the tumbling chamber.
Operational Flow
Proper adjustments to the jet alignment prevent uneven distribution of the fiber mass across the output conveyor. Technicians measure the efficiency of the dust removal by weighing the discarded particulate matter against the weight of the input sliver. A stable air flow creates a uniform density in the remaining fibers which improves the consistency of the twisted yarn.
Fluctuations in the mill atmosphere or humidity levels interfere with the suspension of the fibers inside the chamber. These environmental changes require recalibration of the pulse duration to maintain the separation ratio. Stable operations reduce the frequency of machine stoppages during the spinning phase.
Output Quality
Quality control inspectors evaluate the cleaned sliver using optical scan technology to count the number of shive particles per meter. This measurement identifies whether the continuous air tumbling achieved the desired level of cleanliness for high grade linen fabric production. Proper calibration ensures that the final cloth remains free of visible impurities.
Consistent airflow across the hopper prevents fiber clumping. Results from this station dictate the downstream weaving settings. The accuracy of the air separation determines the final market grade of the product.