Rieter

Task and function

Index

The traveler

  • imparts twist to the yarn and
  • is responsible for winding the yarn onto the cop.

However, a second device – the spindle – is required for winding. In this process the take-up length always corresponds to the difference between the peripheral speeds of the two units. This must be equal to the delivery length in the long run. The difference is due to the fact that the traveler speed lags behind the  spindle speed, since the traveler does not have its own drive, but is only carried along by the spindle. The yarn tension (yarn tensile force) necessary for a stable balloon is generated by the friction of the traveler on the ring (and partly by the drag of the thread balloon). The traveler is pressed against the ring mainly by the centrifugal force acting on it. This results in the above-mentioned friction between the ring and the traveler. However, this friction caused by the high contact pressure (up to 35 N/mm) also generates considerable heat. This is the root of the ring/traveler problem, since the small mass of the traveler means that it is not possible to dissipate the heat generated in the time available. The result of this is the limitation in traveler speed.