INTERLACE COUNTER RICa

In a production environment it is very important to control and to check the interlace properties. This is best done in a laboratory. The produced yarns should be checked routinely to assure that the expected interlace intensity and interlace properties are firmly adhered to. We have worked in the past with very much success with the German produced RICa interlace counter. This instrument is described below.

RICa Interlace Counter
The RICa interlace counter will determine not only the number of nodes per meter but also the the average yarn thickness, the thickness of not interlaced yarn, the average node thickness, the yarn compaction factor, the node compaction factor, the tack effectiveness and the entanglement stability. Of course other standard values such as average length of the tack, the CV%, can be evaluated. For commercial information please contact Schweizer Consulting or PolySpinTex, Inc.

Use
The Interlace Counter RICa is a continuously operating testing apparatus suitable for tangled yarns of all types. e. g. thermoplastic filament yarns, elastic yarns, glass fiber yarns, flat or textured in a wide denier range (20 - 12000 den). The interlace counter RICa is able to test:

• Periodic and irregular tangled yarns
• Weakly entangled yarns
• Textured carpet yarns
• Co-mingled yarns

Measuring Principle
A defined spring load mechanically monitors the thickness of the tangled yarn. Parallel filaments are pressed flat in the form of a ribbon. Tangled points form compact areas in the yarn as a result of interlacing. They are recorded as thick places.
From all known measuring methods, mechanical scanning enables the most accurate and detailed analysis of entanglement characteristics with good reproducibility.

Operation
The RICa is set and controlled by a standard personal computer. After changing the test parameters, the apparatus is calibrated automatically. The measuring head is automatically cleaned before every test run.

Evaluating the Measuring Signal
The continuous scanning of the yarn allows the destination of all the important tangle characteristics. This is helpful in designing new interlace jets and new yarns as well as for quality control in production.
The measured and evaluated yarn characteristics are:
Number of interlaces per meter
Number of non-tangled places per meter
Mean knot length
Maximum knot length
Mean knot thickness
Mean open length
Maximum open length
Yarn thickness of tangled yarn
Yarn thickness of non-tangled yarn
Yarn compacting factor
Knot compacting factor
Tack effectiveness
Analogue signal of yarn thickness over total test length
Entanglement stability
The entanglement stability is determined with the other characteristics in only one test run. The CV values and frequency distributions for knot length and open length are additionally displayed.

Test Programs

1. Test Run
The test run serves to define the testing conditions. The following parameters can be varied:

• Test length: 5, 10, 20, 50 m
• Test speed: 5, 10, 20, 50m/min
• Measuring range: 100, 200,500, 1000 µm
• Spring load: 2.5, 5, 10, 30 cN

The measuring signal can be displayed on the screen in different scales. The program recommends a threshold value. The determined test conditions can be stored, and be recalled again later. These test parameters are then automatically adjusted.

2. Lab Testing
During lab testing the tangled yarns are subjected to a most comprehensive analysis. Slightest differences are positively identified by statistics.

3. Production Control
This program is meant to carry out measuring series, e.g. for controlling 216 texturing positions. Along with this procedure six important measuring values are evaluated and stored. All data of measuring, series can be summarized and be evaluated by statistical means.