Effect of Fibre Hook on Comber Performance and ... - Textile Today

<strong>Effect</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Fibre</strong> <strong>Hook</strong> on Comber Performance and Yarn Quality 

Ranajit Kumar Nag et al. 

Department <strong>of</strong> Textile Technology 

Ahsanullah University <strong>of</strong> Science and Technology, Dhaka 1215 

Abstract: The quality <strong>of</strong> yarn depends upon various factors. The factors are fibre properties, 

technological parameters, atmospheric condition etc. Among many, one important technological parameter 

is the orientation <strong>of</strong> fibre into the yarn. If fibre is better i.e. if the fibres are parallel toward the yarn axis, 

yarn properties become better. When fibre exists into intermediate products as hooked form, under certain 

condition it may deteriorate the comber performance. Again the working length <strong>of</strong> hooked fibre into the 

yarn axis become less and act as short fibre. This phenomenon deteriorates the yarn quality. So that the 

number <strong>of</strong> hook fibre into the yarn determines the yarn quality in large extent. Thus hooks not only 

determine the yarn quality and comber performance but also reduce the price realisation. For these reason 

we always try to reduce the number <strong>of</strong> fibre hook into the yarn. So, the removal <strong>of</strong> hooks or the straitening 

<strong>of</strong> fibre during processing is very important. We know that hooks generate mainly in carding machine and 

major portion <strong>of</strong> it is removed by comber machine. But the success <strong>of</strong> comber machine in this regard 

depends upon the way <strong>of</strong> feeding hooks toward the machine. The way <strong>of</strong> feeding hooks toward the comber 

machine depends upon the selection <strong>of</strong> machineries between carding and comber. This research paper deals 

only the method <strong>of</strong> reducing fibre hooks by selecting machineries between carding and comber. So that the 

yarn quality and process performance will be improved and the pr<strong>of</strong>it margin will be increased for a spinner 

from a given quality <strong>of</strong> cotton. For this experiment combed yarn was produced by using two flow charts (1. 

two machines and 2. three machines between carding and comber). During processing, comber 

performance was observed and after production yarn was tested. From the result it is seen that comber 

performance in addition yarn quality was better for the first procedure. 

1. Introduction 

If fibers become straight toward the axis <strong>of</strong> the yarn, it can exploit the maximum possible contribution <strong>of</strong> its 

properties toward yarn properties. This oriented form <strong>of</strong> fibers show higher cohesive force i.e. higher yarn 

strength, better evenness <strong>of</strong> yarn, good looking appearance <strong>of</strong> yarn and so on. So that we can say, more 

oriented the fibre toward the yarn axis, better will be the yarn quality. The orientation <strong>of</strong> fibres depends on 

various factors, but mainly depends upon the processing parameters. Comber plays very important role for 

straightening the fibres, but its extent mostly depends on the way <strong>of</strong> fibre feeding toward the comber 

machine. 

This paper mainly concern about fibre hook that affect the fibre orientation and to find out the way to 

minimise it. As we know that, the carding machine generates huge amount <strong>of</strong> hooks and the major portion 

<strong>of</strong> this hook is eliminated by comber. The performance <strong>of</strong> the comber depends upon the way <strong>of</strong> feeding 

fibre hook toward comber. The direction <strong>of</strong> fibre hook is changed after passing each machine, so that 

selection <strong>of</strong> machine between carding and comber is very important. 

The experimental tasks <strong>of</strong> this research work were carried out at Youth Spinning Mills Ltd. Mirzapur, 

Tangail. Here two types <strong>of</strong> fibres were taken and those are Sankar (India) and CIS (Uzbekistan). 

Here combed yarn sample were produced by using ring frame. For each type <strong>of</strong> fibre yarn was produced by 

following two different machine sequences. For sample-I two machines (pre-comb drawing and super lap 

former) were used between carding and comber and for sample-II additional one machine (another draw 

frame before super lap former) was used between carding and comber. Tests for different products were 

taken at testing laboratory <strong>of</strong> Youth Spinning Mills Ltd. 

2. <strong>Fibre</strong> hook in card sliver 

<strong>Hook</strong> fibres are the fibres that have hook formed shape in one or both ends. They are mainly found in the 

sliver produced from the carding machine. The phenomena <strong>of</strong> formation <strong>of</strong> fibre hook was first investigated

D<strong>of</strong>fer A 

by Morton and Yen in Manchester, UK. They introduced a small number <strong>of</strong> black tracer fibres and 

investigated the card web for different types <strong>of</strong> fibre hook. They assumed that <strong>of</strong> the fibres in the web: 

more than 50% have trailing hooks, about 15% have leading hook, about 15% have double hook, and less 

than 20% <strong>of</strong> the fibres have no hook. 

trailing hook leading hook double hooks 

Fig: 1. Different types <strong>of</strong> hook 

3. Formation <strong>of</strong> fibre hook: 

Direction <strong>of</strong> feed or delivery 

The hook fibres are mainly generated at the interaction or fibre transfer point <strong>of</strong> the cylinder and the d<strong>of</strong>fer. 

During fibre transfer, the projecting ends are caught by the clothing <strong>of</strong> the d<strong>of</strong>fer and taken up. So most 

fibres remain hanging as trailing hooks on the teeth <strong>of</strong> the d<strong>of</strong>fer (A). Thus the majority <strong>of</strong> the fibres remain 

as trailing hook formed in the carded sliver. As the cylinder have a much higher surface speed than the 

d<strong>of</strong>fer, some <strong>of</strong> the fibres remain caught at one end by the teeth <strong>of</strong> the cylinder. When these fibres 

condensate on d<strong>of</strong>fer due to centrifugal force the result is leading hook fibre which is minority hooks. 

Fig: 2 Technique <strong>of</strong> formation <strong>of</strong> trailing and leading hook 

4. Removing fibre hooks by comber 

Main cylinder T 

From the following figures we can see that comber machine can straightens only the leading hooks. The 

nippers grip the fibres at the tip and circular comb straightens out the hooks at the leading end as it sweeps 

the fibre fringe. But if the fibre hooks are present as trailing hooks as figure 3.b. then either the nippers grip 

the hooked end or may not be gripped at all. Result is fibre will go to delivery sliver as hooked form or the 

fibre is treated as short fibre and will be wasted.

Fig. 3a. Combing the leading Fig. 3.b. Combing the trailing 

hook fibre by comber hook fibre by comber 

5. <strong>Effect</strong> <strong>of</strong> number <strong>of</strong> passages between carding and comber 

After passing each operation <strong>of</strong> processing i.e. one machine the direction <strong>of</strong> the strand is reversed. As stated 

earlier that comber machine can straighten out the leading hooks only, so that to present the majority hooks 

in leading form, there must be even number <strong>of</strong> passages between carding and comber. This is shown in 

figure 3.a. For even number <strong>of</strong> passages two machines are used and for normal case those are pre-comb 

drawing and super lap former. 

Carding 

C 

N 

Card sliver can 

L 

Pre-comb 

drawing 

Drawing sliver 

can 

Lap former 

Fig.4.a. Reversal <strong>of</strong> fibre hooks in even number <strong>of</strong> passages prior to comber 

Comber lap 

Direction <strong>of</strong> feeding 

N- Nippers 

C- Cylinder 

L- Leading hook 

T- Trailing hook 

To comber 

Now imposing another drawing frame between carding and comber gives the majority <strong>of</strong> the hooks would 

be presented to comber as trailing direction comber shows inferior performance. 

C 

C 

N 

T

Carding 

Fig.4.b. Reversal <strong>of</strong> fibre hooks in odd number <strong>of</strong> passages prior to comber 

6. <strong>Fibre</strong> information 

Name <strong>of</strong> the fibre and origin Test result 

Sankar 

India 

CIS 

Uzbekistan 

7. Procedure 

Drawing-I Drawing-II 

Card 

sliver can 

Drawing 

sliver can Drawing 

sliver can 

Staple length – 1 1 8 

Spinning consistency index - 142 

Upper half mean length – 29.9 mm 

Uniformity index – 83.2 % 

Short fibre index – 9.3% 

Micronaire value (range) – 3.6-5.0 

Average micronaire value – 4.23 

Strength – 29 gm/tex 

Moisture content - 7.6% 

Maturity ratio – 0.88 

Elongation at break – 4.3% 

Neps – 114 neps/gm 

Comber lap 

Staple length – 1 1 8 

Spinning consistency index - 142 

Upper half mean length – 29.3 mm 

Uniformity index – 81.7 % 

Short fibre index – 10.2% 

Micronaire value (range) – 3.9-5.0 

Average micronaire value – 4.47 

Strength – 30.8 gm/tex 

Moisture content – 8.5 % 

Maturity ratio – 0.87 

Elongation at break – 5.3% 

Neps – 234 neps/gm 

Lap former To comber 

Direction <strong>of</strong> feeding 

For this research work combed ring yarn was produced, but the process flow chart was different for 

producing two samples. For sample-I, 24 cans <strong>of</strong> sliver were produced by pre-comb drawing machine. 

Then eight laps were made by super lap former from these cans <strong>of</strong> sliver. Then combed sliver were

produced by comber. Then 12 ring cops <strong>of</strong> 30 Ne yarn were produced by using post-comb drawing, 

simplex and ring frame at last. 

For sample-II after producing sliver from pre-comb drawing again the sliver was passed through the same 

machine and then super lap former was used to produce mini lap. The rest <strong>of</strong> the process was same as to 

produce the yarn for sample-I . Different tests were performed for combed sliver, post-comb drawn sliver, 

roving, yarn and noil for each sample. 

8. Test results 

(i)Sankar cotton 

Material Sample - I Sample – I 

Noil extraction 19.9 % 22.57% 

Length properties <strong>of</strong> 2.5 % Span length – 18.99 mm 2.5 % Span length – 19.83 mm 

noil 

50 % Span length – 12.74 mm 50 % Span length – 13.70 mm 

Uniformity ratio – 67.59 


Short fibre index – 36.68 


Combed sliver U % - 2.59 

U % - 2.62 

CVm – 3.23 % 

CVm – 3.27 % 

Neps/gm - 44 

Neps/gm – 36 

Finisher sliver U % - 1.68 

U % - 1.99 

CVm – 2.1 % 

CVm – 2.50 % 

Roving U % - 2.84 

U % - 2.94 

CVm – 3.58 % 

CVm – 3.70 % 

Yarn Nominal count – 30 

Nominal count – 30 

Actual count _ 29.88 


TPI – 19.92 

TPI – 19.92 

U % 9.04 

U % 9.24 

CVm – 11.42 

CVm – 11.67 

Thick places (+50%) – 20.3 


Thin places (-50%) – 0.00 

Thin places (-50%) – 0.20 

Neps (+200%) – 24.3/km 

Neps (+200%) – 25.6.3/km 

H- 5.11 

H- 4.96 

IPI- 44.6 

IPI- 51.8 

CSP 2772 

CSP 2591 

(ii) CIS cotton: 

Material Sample - I Sample – I 

Noil extraction 16.64 % 20.47% 

Length properties <strong>of</strong> 2.5 % Span length – 19.45 mm 2.5 % Span length – 21.40 mm 

noil 

50 % Span length – 13.24 mm 50 % Span length – 15.34 mm 





Combed sliver U % - 2.41 

U % - 2.98 

CVm – 3.03 % 

CVm – 3.75 % 

Neps/gm - 40 

Neps/gm – 30 

Finisher sliver U % - 1.67 

U % - 1.97 

CVm – 2.12 % 

CVm – 2.51 % 

Roving U % - 2.69 

U % - 2.76 

CVm – 3.38 % 

CVm – 3.47 % 

Yarn Nominal count – 30 


Nominal count – 30 

Actual count _ 29.87

9. Discussion 

TPI – 19.92 

U % 9.14 

CVm – 11.53 

Thick places (+50%) – 18.50 

Thin places (-50%) – 0.20 

Neps (+200%) – 15.56/km 

H- 4.66 

IPI- 34.3 

CSP 2876 

TPI – 19.92 

U % 9.53 

CVm – 12.03 


Thin places (-50%) – 0.8 

Neps (+200%) – 27.7/km 

H- 4.90 

IPI- 50.6 

CSP 2591 

From the above results it is observed that there is a noticeable increase in noil extraction percentage for 

sample-II with respect to sample-I. Analysing the noil it is seen that both 2.5% span length and 50% span 

length have increased for sample-II and SFI also increased as well. These phenomenons indicate that in 

sample-II more fibres are getting wasted with longer fibres. Thus it can be said that proper utilization <strong>of</strong> the 

length properties <strong>of</strong> the fibres are not exploited for sample-II and it is probably due to feeding trailing 

hooked form fibres toward comber for using three passages between carding and comber. 

The nep content in the combed sliver for sample-II is lower than that <strong>of</strong> sample-I. The probable reason 

behind this may be higher wastage percentage. So that, there is a possibility <strong>of</strong> removing more neps. If the 

quality parameters i.e. U% and CV% <strong>of</strong> the combed sliver, post comb drawn sliver and roving are 

observed, it is seen that there is clear deterioration trend for the materials <strong>of</strong> sample-II than sample-I. This 

is probably due to retaining <strong>of</strong> hook fibres into delivered sliver. As hooked fibre act as short fibre and result 

is irregularity generation. 

For sample-II, the value <strong>of</strong> U%, CV%, IPI <strong>of</strong> yarn also higher than that <strong>of</strong> sample-I. Not only that the value 

<strong>of</strong> CSP is also low for the same yarn. It means the lower quality yarn is produced for sample-II though the 

waste percentage is higher. So that, it is proved that additional one drawing passage between carding and 

comber deteriorates the yarn quality. It is probably due to feeding trailing hook toward comber. As the 

comber could not remove it and passed it into the yarn as hook form or became wasted. The retaining 

hooked form fibre in the yarn reduces the actual fibre length contribution to yarn and acted as short fibre. 

As a result the yarn structure becomes less uniform and this phenomena may be the reason <strong>of</strong> the 

deterioration <strong>of</strong> yarn quality. But there is no remarkable change in hairiness level. It may be described as 

there is no change <strong>of</strong> number <strong>of</strong> fibres in yarn cross section, due to producing same count <strong>of</strong> yarn from 

same fibre for both the samples. 

10. Conclusion 

Form this experiment it is found that sample-I shows better comber performance as well as the yarn quality 

than that <strong>of</strong> sample-II. So that, it can be concluded from this research work that two intervening processes 

leading to three processes between carding and comber gives less waste and better yarn quality. So that not 

only recommended the even number <strong>of</strong> passages between carding and combing but also the direction <strong>of</strong> 

slivers should not be reversed in any way prior to comber. 

The authors had the intention to perform the study for different counts <strong>of</strong> yarn, but unfortunately it was not 

possible due to some limitation <strong>of</strong> the mill. But the authors were fortunate as they could use two types <strong>of</strong> 

raw cotton having different properties. The authors also feel fortunate as modern and running machineries 

(both processing and testing) were used in this research work. 

11. References: 

1.Manual <strong>of</strong> Textile Technology-Vol-I 

Author-W. Klein 

2. Textile Yarns-Technology, Structure and Applications 

Authors- B.C. Goswami, J.G. Martindale, F.L. Scardino 

3.USTER Statistics 2001

Effect of Fibre Hook on Comber Performance and ... - Textile Today

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