Kakching Mat Weaving Machine
About the Practice
The traditional method for weaving is labour intensive in which a weaver has to work on a squatting position for hours
Detail:
The Kouna Mat Weaving Machine is a small size loom and works like a shuttle loom. However, there is no shuttle in the machine and the leg treadle in shuttle loom is replaced by a hand lever, which lifts the warp threads and here lies the main innovation. It has a wooden frame of about 4 ft high, 4 ft in breadth and 4 ft in length. The lever is either pulled up or pulled down to lift the warp threads and restores in its normal position once the lever moves back to the original place. Each of the two harnesses/shafts has a set of heddles through which the wrap threads (small plastic rob) are threaded. The warp plastic threads are rolled into a wooden beam on the front end of the machine and on the other end; the plastic threads are tied to a collection beam which lies below the weaving area. Using gears and sprockets, the two beams can be rolled simultaneously. The open ended weft ‘Kounas’ are rolled by hand into a designed frill which just takes about 4-5 hours to complete frill rolling of a single mate (6.5ft long). Once the weaving is done, the woven mat is cut into desired length using a cutting knife.
About the Innovator
Address: Thoubal, Manipur
City: Thoubal
State: Manipur
PIN Code 795138
Website: http://nif.org.in/innovation/Kakching_Mat_Weaving_Machine/463
Practice Details
Link: The Kouna Mat Weaving Machine is a small size loom and works like a shuttle loom. However, there is no shuttle in the machine and the leg treadle in shuttle loom is replaced by a hand lever, which lifts the warp threads and here lies the main innovation. It has a wooden frame of about 4 ft high, 4 ft in breadth and 4 ft in length. The lever is either pulled up or pulled down to lift the warp threads and restores in its normal position once the lever moves back to the original place. Each of the two harnesses/shafts has a set of heddles through which the wrap threads (small plastic rob) are threaded. The warp plastic threads are rolled into a wooden beam on the front end of the machine and on the other end; the plastic threads are tied to a collection beam which lies below the weaving area. Using gears and sprockets, the two beams can be rolled simultaneously. The open ended weft ‘Kounas’ are rolled by hand into a designed frill which just takes about 4-5 hours to complete frill rolling of a single mate (6.5ft long). Once the weaving is done, the woven mat is cut into desired length using a cutting knife.
Manufacturing Capacity: b) Design Support
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