Reed Marks and Starting Marks Read Back to the Loom
Greige reed marks and starting marks map directly to reed wire spacing and loom stoppage dynamics, requiring electronic let-off adjustment to eliminate defects.
Reed Wire Displacement
Wire Distortion
The physical bending or lateral movement of individual metal strips in a loom’s reed alters the spacing between warp yarns. A reed wire displacement occurs when the high impact forces of beat up or yarn knots cause the wires to shift out of alignment. This defect leads to uneven spacing of the warp yarns in the linen fabric, visible as fine streaks along the length of the cloth.
It represents a common mechanical failure in heavy fabric production.
Defect Cause
High tension in the flax warp yarns and the insertion of thick slubs can put immense pressure on the reed during the beat up cycle. Over time, the solder or epoxy holding the wires in the top and bottom bands of the reed can weaken, allowing individual wires to slide or bend. This displacement results in local density variations that cannot be corrected during fabric finishing.
Inspecting the reeds regularly with optical alignment tools is necessary to catch and correct these minor displacements before they produce rejectable fabric.
Maintenance Standard
Reeds that show signs of this displacement are removed from the loom for repair or replacement. The mill must maintain a registry of reed conditions to prevent fabric defects. This tracking protects fabric quality.