26 (#56) ############################################## WOOLLEN AND WORSTED SPINNING The Blending Process.—Before considering the machinery in “ blending," the process itself should be carefully thought over. In what states actually are the materials to be blended, and in what state should they be before the process is started ? What state should the blend be in when the process is finished, and what process or processes should be employed to effect the required transformation ? The materials to be blended will arrive at the mill or even in the blending room in many different forms, but in almost every case each material will require preparation for blending before the actual blending is taken in hand. Thus scoured wool must be opened out, brought into a fairly lock-divided state and if oiling has not been effected on the drying machine while the wool is warm and the fibres in the state to receive an evenly distributed film of oil over their surface-oiled previously to being blended with cotton. Cotton must be thoroughly opened out and brought into a fluffy state ; similarly with mungo, shoddy, and all other materials which it is proposed to blend. The final state, in which the materials should be as evenly and finely mixed as possible, will only be satisfactorily attained by giving thoughtful attention not only to the machines employed, but also to every detail of the process. It is obvious, for example, that a deadened oiled wool mixed with a light flimsy cotton may be sorted out by a thoughtlessly employed air-blast or air control in either Willow or Fearnought ; but it is not so evident that the mere breaking-down of a stack with sticks may “strike-sort " the material into long and short fibres-hence the superior method of breaking-down by " pulling." The actual blending process is effected by building the materials to be blended into a "stack” layer by 26
135 136 Textile Machine