Dobby Shedding Mechanism | Classification of Dobby Shedding

In the textile weaving industry, dobby is a shedding device that is placed on the top of a weaving loom to produce figure patterns by using a huge number of healds than the capacity of a tappet shedding. Dobby is a mechanism that is attached to a weaving loom to control the movements of heald shafts.

In the weaving sector, the scope of dobby shedding is limited between the uses of jacquard wards and tappets. When the number of shafts to be controlled or the picks to a repeat of the design is beyond the range of a tappet shedding but is at the same time too small to be economically produced by jacquard, this dobby shedding mechanism issued. The total number of heald shafts that can be actuated by dobby varies between 6 and 40.

Types of Dobby Shedding in Textile Weaving:

Dobby shedding is classified into below types:

1. According to the figuring capacity:
12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, ……………, 36

• Vertical loom,
• Horizontal loom.

• Single acting or single lift,
• Double acting or double lift.

• Positive,
• Negative.

• Open shed,
• Bottom close shed,
• Semi-open shed.

• Single
• Double.

• Mechanical dobby,
• Electric dobby.

• Ordinary dobby,
• Special dobby.

When the connecting rod moves up and down and T-lever gives outward and inward movement. According to fabric design, when the peg comes in contact with the feeder, then the right portion of the feeler is raised and the left portion is lowered. Hooks are lowered as hooks are supported with a feeler.

When the left end of the feeler is lowered then the upper hook came in contact with the upper knife. In this state, when connecting rod moves down, the upper portion of T-leavers gives outward movement. As a result, the upper portion of the S-lever, balk lever also moves to the right side. Thus a pull creates on the timber lever and link.

As the outside and inside jack lever joined with the timber lever and link, the lever moves up at the same time. Hence, the heald shaft rose.

Similarly, when the left end of the feeler is lowered then the lower hook comes in contact with the lower knife. In this case, when connecting rod moves up and the bottom portion of the T-lever moves to the right side. As a result, the bottom portion of the S-lever moves to the right and the same process occurs i.e. the top portion of the balk lever moves to the right. Here, jack levers are moved at the same time.

Hence, the heald shaft again rose. Thus a heald shaft is alternatively rose by the lower knife and upper knife. The shaft will therefore be lowered with the help of a return spring and will remain down for the next pick.

Major uses of dobby shedding in the textile industry have pointed out in the following:

1. In the cotton industry, a maximum of 24 shafts of dobbies are used. But mostly 16 to 20 shafts are used.
2. In the worsted industry, dobbies with 36 jacks are in use and many of them are positive in action and suitable for heavy shedding.
3. The chance of pattern in the fabric, in dobby loom, can be readily done whereas it is laborious and expensive in the case of the tappet.
4. Dobbies offer better facilities for producing a variety of patterns with more number of healds than that is possible with tappets.
5. Dobbies is extensively used for weaving twill, sateen, and other simple weaves.