JP7718751B1 - woven fabric - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a thin woven fabric that is made of only warp and weft threads, has a high density, and has a soft feel.
[Solution] This is a woven fabric made only of warp and weft yarns without using pile yarns, where the warp yarns are spun yarns of uniform thickness, and the weft yarns are spun yarns of uniform thickness and spun yarns of uneven thickness, the spun yarns of uneven thickness weft yarns are thicker in fineness (count) than the spun yarns of uniform thickness for the warp and weft yarns, and the surface of the woven fabric is uneven. This woven fabric is suitable for towels, pajamas, shirts, sheets, etc.
[Selected Figure] Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a woven fabric that does not use pile yarn.

Traditionally, towel fabrics have been basically made by weaving a pile fabric using warp pile yarns, warp yarns, and weft yarns. Furthermore, to improve water absorption, towel fabrics have a high basis weight (mass per unit area) and are made of thick, high-fineness constituent yarns. Patent Documents 1 and 2 propose using loosely twisted sirospun yarn to make a pile knitted fabric. Patent Document 3 proposes using pile yarn made from multiple twisted yarns to make a towel fabric.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-137941 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-137942 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-188173

However, with this conventional technology, the pile yarns are fixed with warp and weft threads, which results in a stiff, rough texture, a loose weave, and poor water wiping properties, making it unsuitable for thin towels.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional method, the present invention provides a woven fabric that is made only of warp and weft threads, is dense, thin, has a soft texture, and is easy to wipe off water.

One embodiment of the present invention is a woven fabric made only of warp and weft yarns without using pile yarns,
The warp yarn is a spun yarn of uniform thickness,
The weft yarn is a spun yarn having a uniform thickness and a spun yarn having uneven thickness,
The spun yarn having uneven thickness of the weft has a larger fineness than the spun yarn having uniform thickness of the warp and weft,
The woven fabric has a surface formed with irregularities.

This invention does not use pile yarns, but is composed only of warp and weft yarns. The warp yarns are made of uniformly spun yarns, while the weft yarns are made of uniformly spun yarns and variably spun yarns. The variably spun weft yarns are thicker than the uniformly spun warp and weft yarns. The uneven surface of the woven fabric gives it a dense texture, and the fabric's thickness is comparable to that of a pile towel. The lack of pile means there is less shedding and less residual moisture immediately after washing. It also provides a thin woven fabric with a soft feel and good wiping ability.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a spun yarn having uneven thickness according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an apparatus for producing spun yarn having uneven thickness according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a weave diagram of a woven fabric according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a plan view photograph (magnification 2.5 times) of the towel cloth of Example 1 of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional photograph (magnification: 20 times) of the towel cloth of Example 1 of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional photograph (magnification: 20 times) of the towel cloth of Comparative Example 1. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional photograph (magnification: 20 times) of the towel cloth of Comparative Example 2. FIG. 8 is a planar photograph (magnification 2.5 times) of a thick portion of the spun yarn having uneven thickness in Example 1 of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a plan photograph (magnification 2.5 times) of a thin portion of the spun yarn having uneven thickness in Example 1 of the present invention.

This invention is a woven fabric made only of warp and weft threads, without using pile yarns. Using pile yarns requires that they be fixed in place by the warp and weft threads, resulting in problems such as a stiff texture, a rough feel, and a loose weave, making it unsuitable for thin towels. Uniformly thick spun yarns are used for the warp threads, while uniformly thick spun yarns and variably thick spun yarns are used for the weft threads. The variably thick spun yarns are thicker than the uniformly thick spun yarns used for the warp and weft threads, creating an uneven surface for the woven fabric. In the above, a thicker spun yarn is the same as a larger fineness (count).

It is preferable that the uniform-thickness spun yarns and uneven-thickness spun yarns for the warp and weft are each single yarns. This reduces costs.

The twist coefficient K of the uniform warp and weft thickness spun yarns and the uneven thickness spun yarns is preferably 0.5 to 5.0, more preferably 1.0 to 4.5, and even more preferably 1.5 to 4.0, which can improve the fluffing and anti-pilling properties.
The twist factor (K) is calculated using the following formula (1).

Spun yarn with uneven weft thickness is preferably 1.2 to 4.0 times thicker (higher) than uniformly spun yarn, and more preferably 1.5 to 3.5 times thicker. This allows for greater unevenness in the fabric surface and reduces contact resistance with the skin when wiping sweat.

The cover factor of the warp yarn is preferably 1.1 times or more higher than the cover factor of the weft yarn, more preferably 1.2 times or more, and even more preferably 1.3 times or more. The upper limit is 5 times or less. This prevents transparency and provides a good appearance not only for towels but also for innerwear such as shirts and T-shirts.
The cover factor is calculated using the following formula (1).
Cover factor is also known as porosity, and is an indicator of how much gap there is and how transparent it is.

The warp thread density of the woven fabric is preferably 25 to 55 threads per inch, more preferably 30 to 55 threads per inch, and even more preferably 35 to 50 threads per inch. The weft thread density is preferably 20 to 50 threads per inch, more preferably 22 to 45 threads per inch, and even more preferably 25 to 40 threads per inch. Because the warp threads are thin and the weft threads are thick, it is preferable that the warp thread density be less than the weft thread density.

For spun yarn with uneven thickness, it is preferable that the fineness of the thicker parts be 1.05 or more greater than that of the thinner parts. This allows for greater unevenness in the fabric.

The woven fabric of the present invention is composed of cotton fibers. Cotton fibers have excellent water absorption properties and have traditionally been commonly used in woven fabrics. It does not contain water-soluble fibers such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Water-soluble fibers are later dissolved in water and discarded, which not only poses problems of high cost but also environmental pollution.

The warp and weft yarns each preferably contain at least one cotton fiber selected from the group consisting of long fibers and extra-long fibers at 50% by mass or more. Specific examples are the long fibers or extra-long fibers shown in Table 1 below. Long fibers or extra-long fibers have a large amount of crimp and high crimp strength, resulting in a spun yarn with a soft and fluffy texture.

The uniformly sized warp and weft yarns may be ring spun yarns, air spun yarns (bonded spun yarns), open-end spun yarns, or the like.
An example of a spun yarn with uneven thickness is obtained as follows: In the ring spinning process, the speed of the back roller of the drafting device is varied between 10 rpm and 50 rpm, and the speed of the middle roller is set to 1.5 to 2 times the speed of the back roller, and the speed of the front roller is set to 20 times the speed of the back roller. By varying the speed of each roller in this way, uneven portions are formed in the yarn. In terms of draft ratio, the fiber bundle (roving) is drawn in a ratio of 1:2:50 by the back roller, middle roller, and front roller, in that order.

As an example of the basis weight that can exert the effects of the present invention, the mass per unit area (basis weight) is preferably 100 to 370 g/m ² , more preferably 110 to 350 g/m ² , and even more preferably 120 to 300 g/m ² .

The fabric of the present invention may be of any weave, including plain weave, twill weave (diagonal weave), satin weave, and patterned weave. Twill weave (diagonal weave) and satin weave are preferred, and weft diagonal weave and satin weave are even more preferred. Weft diagonal weave and satin weave have the advantage that the weft threads are more visible on the surface of the fabric, bringing out the characteristics of the weft threads.

The woven fabric of the present invention is dense, has a soft texture, and is easy to wipe off water from, making it suitable for bath towels (towels after a bath), bath towels, face towels, hand towels, towel handkerchiefs (handkerchiefs), hand towels, washcloths, hand towels, bath mats, sports towels, beach towels (body towels), etc. Furthermore, because it is dense, soft, and thin, and does not stick to the skin even when wet, it is suitable for innerwear (shirts, pants, etc.), clothing such as T-shirts, jackets, outerwear, pajamas, and socks, bedding such as sheets, futon covers, and pillowcases, tablecloths, dishcloths, and dish towels.

For the woven fabric of the present invention, cotton is the most suitable in terms of texture, water absorption, moisture absorption, and ease of handling as a towel, but it is also acceptable to blend cotton with small amounts of linen, rayon, cupra, acetate, or wool. Blends of rayon, cupra, and acetate provide moisture absorption, while wool provides heat retention.

The woven fabric is desized in a jet dyeing machine, following the same process as cotton, and then scoured under standard cotton scouring conditions (a constant temperature of 95-98°C, a hold time of 50 minutes, a dilute caustic soda solution, and an alcohol ethoxylate-added bath). Following scouring, it is then bleached under standard conditions (98°C, 50 minutes, hydrogen peroxide solution). It is then dehydrated and set in a tenter for finishing (off-white finish). This bleaching process also involves hot water treatment. If it is desired to incorporate synthetic fiber crimped yarns, the crimp of the false-twisted yarn is expressed during the scouring process, and the yarn is then finished as is.

Next, if dyeing is to follow scouring and bleaching, cotton is dyed with a reactive dye (60-80°C, 40 minutes). Polyester fibers are dyed with a disperse dye (130°C, 40 minutes). When dyeing fabrics containing cotton and polyester, in addition to plain dyeing using this two-bath process, disperse and reactive dyes can be used interchangeably to dye different colors or chambray (shades). It is also possible to print on scoured and bleached off-white fabric. In the case of pre-dyed polyester yarn, crimping can be developed simultaneously with scouring, and the yarn can be bleached and dyed, and then woven to produce a pre-dyed woven fabric. In the case of pre-dyed cotton yarn, the yarn can be scoured, bleached, dyed, and then woven to produce a pre-dyed woven fabric. In this way, the present invention allows for the commercialization of products with excellent color and design properties through a variety of dyeing methods.

The following description will be given with reference to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals denote the same parts.
1 is a schematic plan view of a spun yarn 1 having uneven thickness according to one embodiment of the present invention. This spun yarn 1 has thicker and thinner portions 2 and 3 arranged along the length of the yarn, and has a true twist throughout.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for producing spun yarn with uneven thickness according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this spinning device 10, a roving bobbin 11 is suspended from a creel (roving supply device), and the roving 12 supplied from the roving bobbin 11 is sent to a drafting device 15 through a trumpet guide 13 located upstream (on the roving bobbin side) of a back roller 14. The roving 12 is drafted at a predetermined interval between the back roller 14 and an apron 16, and between the apron 16 and a front roller 17 to form a fleece 18. The fleece 18 is then spun out from the front roller 17 to form a single yarn of spun yarn 19. After passing through a snell wire 20, the yarn is twisted by a twisting mechanism driven by the rotation of a spindle 21 and wound onto a bobbin 22.

Figure 3 is a weave diagram of a woven fabric according to one embodiment of the present invention. This weave diagram is an example of a weft diagonal weave. In Figure 3, when viewed from the warp side, black and x marks indicate floating threads, and white marks indicate sinking threads. Also, A indicates a spun yarn with uneven weft thickness, and B indicates a spun yarn with a uniform weft thickness.

The present invention will be explained in more detail below using examples, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.
The finished fabric was evaluated as follows:
<Evaluation of soft texture>
The softness of the texture is expressed as the volume per 1 g of fabric, and is calculated using the bulkiness formula below. The higher the value, the softer and better the texture. The thickness was measured according to JIS L-1096 (2010) 8.5 Bulkiness Test, and the basis weight was measured by precisely weighing the weight of a 1 m square. Measurements were taken at five locations, and the average value was calculated.
Bulk density (cm ³ /g)=thickness (mm)/weight per unit area (g/m ² )×1000
<Evaluation of drainage performance in washing>
A 35cm wide piece of fabric was cut to a length of 80g, the weight was accurately measured to one decimal point, and the piece was immersed in water for 20 minutes. The wet fabric was then removed and centrifuged in the spin tub of a washing machine for 4 minutes, the weight was accurately measured, and the residual moisture content (%) of the fabric was calculated using the following formula. The smaller the value, the better the drainage. Better the drainage tends to be, which leads to a faster subsequent drying speed. Three measurements were taken and the average value was calculated.
Residual moisture content of fabric (%) = (weight of fabric after immersion in water and dehydration (W ₁ )) - (weight of fabric before immersion in water (W ₀ )) / (weight of fabric before immersion in water (W ₀ )) x 100
<Evaluation of shedding of fabrics after washing>
The shedding rate after washing was measured according to JIS L0217 (1995), method 103. The shedding rate (%) was calculated using the following formula, with the smaller the value, the less shedding there was and the better the result. The number of measurements was 5, and the average value was used.
Fluff shedding rate (%) = (weight of fluff that has fallen off after washing (g ₁ )) / (weight of fabric before washing (g ₀ )) x 100
<Water absorption evaluation (modified Larose method)>
The measurement was performed five times according to the modified Larose method of JIS L 1907 (2010), and the average value was calculated. The Larose index (water absorption index) was calculated according to the following formula.
Larose index (water absorption index) = 2545V x 1411W + 79
V: Maximum water absorption rate (ml/s), W: Water absorption amount at maximum water absorption rate (ml)
The higher the value, the faster and more moisture is absorbed from the skin, which is preferable.
<Water absorption rate (dropping method)>
The water absorption rate of the woven fabric was measured based on the Vuillet method, a drop method, as specified in JIS L 1907 (2010). The test consisted of dropping a single drop of water onto the woven fabric from a height of 10 cm, measuring the water absorption time (seconds) until the mirror-like surface of the drop disappeared three times, and calculating the average value. The shorter the time, the faster and better the water absorption.
<Rewetting rate test method>
The water rewet rate is described in Japanese Patent No. 6991633 proposed by the present applicant, and is a test method in which water droplets are dropped onto a test specimen of fabric, the fabric is allowed to absorb the water, the water is absorbed with filter paper, and the property of the fabric not releasing the water, i.e., the water rewet rate, is evaluated, which coincides with the evaluation of the water absorbency felt by people when using fiber fabrics such as towels. The lower the water rewet rate, the greater the water absorbency of the fabric, and the better it can be evaluated.
(1) Test environment and other conditions: The test environment was under standard conditions, with a temperature of 20±4°C and a relative humidity of 65±4% RH.
The filter paper used was stored for at least 24 hours under standard conditions of 20±4°C temperature and 65±4% RH.
The test specimens were stored for at least 24 hours under standard conditions of 20±4°C temperature and 65±4% RH.
The temperature of the water used for dripping was 20±15°C (5 to 35°C).
(2) Procedure: The size of the fabric test specimen 1 was 10 cm long and 10 cm wide. The test specimen 1 was placed on a sample stand (not shown).
The filter paper used was made from α-cellulose conforming to JIS P 3801 Class 1 standard, measuring 110 mm in diameter and 0.22 mm in thickness, and was weighed. The filter paper used was manufactured by Advantec Co., Ltd. and sold under the trade name "Circular Qualitative Filter Paper No. 1."
0.8 ml of water was measured into a pipette and dropped into test specimen 1, and the pipette was left for 5 seconds to allow test specimen 1 to absorb the water.
-A filter paper was placed on top and a load of 1.3 kg (1274 Pa) was placed on top of it.
- Wait 5 seconds and then remove the load.
- The weight of the filter paper after absorbing water was measured.
(3) Calculation of Water Rewetting Rate The water rewetting rate was calculated using the following formula.
W=[(B-A)/A]×100
Where W: Water rewetting rate (%)
A: Weight of filter paper before measurement (g)
B: Weight of filter paper after water absorption (g)
<Measurement of unevenness>
Cross-sectional photographs of the fabric (magnification 20x) were taken using an optical microscope, and measurements were taken at 10 points on each of the thick and thin sections.
<Test method for stickiness when wiping>
The test was carried out on dry and wet samples. The wet samples were prepared to a moisture content of 75%.
Measuring equipment: A multi-function friction tester TL201Tt (manufactured by Trinity Lab) was used to determine the average dynamic friction coefficient when the friction probe moved linearly across the surface of the fabric sample at a constant load and speed. Measurements were taken at 10 locations, and the average value was expressed.
The average coefficient of dynamic friction indicates the degree to which the fabric sticks when rubbed; the smaller the value, the less the fabric sticks to the skin, and the easier it is to remove from the skin, resulting in a pleasant wiping experience.
<Test method for roughness when wiping>
The test was carried out on dry and wet samples. For the wet sample, the moisture content was adjusted to 75%.
Measuring instrument: A multi-function friction tester TL201Tt (manufactured by Trinity Lab) was used to determine the standard deviation when the friction probe moved linearly across the surface of the fabric sample at a constant load and speed. Measurements were taken at 10 locations, and the average value was expressed.
The standard deviation is the degree of roughness of the fabric when rubbed; the smaller the value, the less rough the fabric feels and the better the wiping experience.

Example 1
(1) Raw Cotton The American Pima extra-long staple cotton and long staple Indian cotton shown in Table 1 were blended in a mass ratio of 1:1.
(2) Spun yarns with uniform warp and weft thicknesses The ring spinning apparatus shown in FIG. 2 was used to produce spun yarns, and single yarns with a cotton count of 20 were used.
(3) Spun yarn with non-uniform weft yarn: Using the ring spinning apparatus shown in Figure 2, the speed of the back roller of the drafting device was varied between 10 rpm and 50 rpm, and the speed of the middle roller was set to 1.5 to 2 times the speed of the back roller, and the speed of the front roller was set to 20 times the speed of the back roller. By varying the speed of each roller in this way, unevenness (thick and thin fineness portions) was created in the yarn. The draft ratio was 1:2:50, with the back roller, middle roller, and front roller being used in this order. In this way, a spun yarn with a cotton count of 10 was obtained, and single yarn was used. Figure 8 is a plan photograph (magnification 2.5x) of the thick portion of this spun yarn, and Figure 9 is a plan photograph (magnification 2.5x) of the thin portion.
(4) Fabric warp: Cotton count 20, single yarn (twist coefficient K = 4.0, twist number 18 times/inch)
Spun yarn of uniform thickness for weft: cotton count 20, single yarn (twist coefficient K=3.4, twist number 15 times/inch)
Spun yarn with uneven weft thickness: Cotton count 10, single yarn (twist coefficient K=3.2, twist number 10/inch)
Using the above spun yarns, a weft diagonal weave fabric shown in Figure 3 was produced on a dobby loom. The warp density was 47 threads/inch, and the weft density was 30 threads/inch. The warp cover factor was 766 (47 × √265), and the weft cover factor was 566 (307 × √265).
The resulting woven fabric had a length (warp direction) of 78 cm, a width (weft direction) of 38 cm, a weight of 49 g, and a basis weight of 165.6 g/ ^m2 . A plan view photograph of this woven fabric is shown in Figure 4, and a cross-sectional photograph (magnification 20x) is shown in Figure 5. Measurement of the cross-sectional photograph in Figure 5 revealed that the thickness of the thicker portions was 1.26 to 1.31 mm, and the thickness of the thinner portions was 0.74 to 0.84 mm. As is clear from Figures 4 and 5, firm irregularities were formed.

(Comparative Example 1)
A pile towel (basis weight 183.8 g/ ^m2 ) was produced using open-end spun yarn, 100% cotton warp 20-count single yarn, 100% cotton weft 20-count single yarn, and 100% cotton warp pile 20-count single yarn. The warp density was 28 ends/inch, and the weft density was 28 ends/inch. The warp cover factor was 456 (28 × √265), and the weft cover factor was 456 (28 × √265).
The resulting woven fabric had a length (warp direction) of 80 cm, a width (weft direction) of 34 cm, a weight of 50 g, and a basis weight of 183.8 g/m ^2. A cross-sectional photograph (magnification 20 times) of this woven fabric is shown in Figure 6, and the thickness of the thicker portions was 1.04 to 1.96 mm, and the thickness of the thinner portions was 0.86 to 0.93 mm.

(Comparative Example 2)
A gauze towel was produced using ring-spun yarn, 100% cotton warp yarn (40 count single yarn), and 100% cotton weft yarn (40 count single yarn). The warp cover factor was 554 (48 × √133), and the weft cover factor was 577 (50 × √133).
The resulting woven fabric had a length of 88 cm (warp direction), a width of 34 cm (weft direction), a weight of 34 g, and a basis weight of 113.6 g/ ^m² . A cross-sectional photograph (magnification 20x) of the resulting gauze towel is shown in Figure 7, and the thickness was 0.49 mm. The gauze towel had a uniform thickness.
The results are shown in Table 2.

As is clear from Table 2, the following effects were confirmed for the woven fabric of Example 1.
(1) The cover factor of the warp yarns was 1.35 times higher than that of the weft yarns, so there was no transparency and the appearance was good.
(2) The woven fabric of Example 1 had a higher bulk and a softer feel than the fabric of Comparative Example 2. The fabric of Comparative Example 1 had a higher bulk due to the use of pile yarn.
(3) The average coefficient of dynamic friction of the woven fabric of Example 1 when wet is low, which indicates that the fabric does not stick to the skin when wet and is easy to remove from the skin, and that it is comfortable to wipe with.
(4) The standard deviation between dry and wet conditions for the woven fabric of Example 1 was lower than those for Comparative Examples 1 and 2. This indicates that the fabric felt less rough and was comfortable to wipe.
(5) The woven fabric of Example 1 had good drainage properties and residual moisture content after washing. The better the drainage properties, the faster the subsequent drying speed, which is advantageous.
(6) The wet-back rate of the woven fabric of Example 1 was almost the same as that of Comparative Example 1 (pile fabric), and the water absorbency was good.
(7) The thickness of the woven fabric of Example 1 was comparable to that of the pile towel of Comparative Example 1. Furthermore, the absence of pile resulted in less shedding and less residual moisture immediately after washing.

Example 2
A plain weave fabric was produced in place of the diagonal weave fabric of Example 1. When this fabric was used as a face towel, it was confirmed to be dense, thin, soft to the touch, and a towel fabric with good water wiping properties.

Example 3
When a shirt was sewn using the woven fabric obtained in Example 1 and worn, it was confirmed that the shirt was dense, thin, soft to the touch, had good sweat absorption, and was comfortable to wear.

Example 4
When pajamas were sewn using the woven fabric obtained in Example 1 and worn, it was confirmed that the pajamas were dense, thin, soft to the touch, had good sweat absorption, and were comfortable to wear.

Example 5
The woven fabric obtained in Example 1 was used to sew a bedding sheet, which was then placed over a mattress pad. The sheet was found to be dense, thin, soft to the touch, and had good sweat absorption properties, making it comfortable to sleep on.

The woven fabric of the present invention is dense and soft in texture, making it suitable for bath towels (after-bath towels), bath towels, face towels, hand towels, towel handkerchiefs (handkerchiefs), hand towels, washcloths, hand towels, bath mats, sports towels, beach towels (body towels), etc. Furthermore, because it is dense, soft in texture, thin, and does not stick to the skin even when wet, it is suitable for innerwear (shirts, pants, etc.), clothing such as T-shirts, jackets, outerwear, pajamas, and socks, bedding such as sheets, futon covers, and pillowcases, tablecloths, dish towels, and other items.

1 Spun yarn with uneven thickness 2 Thickness portion 3 Thinness portion 10 Ring spinning device 11 Roving bobbin 12 Roving 13 Trumpet guide 14 Back roller 15 Draft device 16 Apron 17 Front roller 18 Fleece 19 Spun yarn 20 Snell wire 21 Spindle 22 Bobbin

Claims (10)

It is a woven fabric made only with warp and weft threads without using pile yarns,
The warp yarn is a spun yarn of uniform thickness,
The weft yarn is a spun yarn having a uniform thickness and a spun yarn having uneven thickness,
The spun yarn having uneven thickness of the weft has a larger fineness than the spun yarn having uniform thickness of the warp and weft,
The woven fabric is characterized in that the surface of the woven fabric is formed with irregularities. The woven fabric according to claim 1, wherein 50% by mass or more of the warp and weft yarns are each made of at least one cotton fiber selected from the group consisting of long fibers and extra-long fibers. The woven fabric according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the uniform-thickness spun yarn and uneven-thickness spun yarn for the warp and weft are each single yarns. 3. The woven fabric according to claim 1, wherein the warp and weft yarns of uniform thickness and the spun yarns of uneven thickness have a twist coefficient K of 0.5 to 5.0.
The twist factor (K) is calculated using the following formula (1).
The woven fabric according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the spun yarn with uneven weft thickness has an average fineness 1.2 to 4.0 times thicker than the spun yarn with uniform weft thickness. 3. The woven fabric according to claim 1, wherein the cover factor of the warp yarns is 1.1 times or more higher than the cover factor of the weft yarns.
The cover factor is calculated using the following formula (2).
The woven fabric according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the warp thread density of the woven fabric is 25 to 55 threads per inch and the weft thread density is 20 to 50 threads per inch. The woven fabric according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the thickness-uneven spun yarn has a fineness of 1.05 or more in the thicker portions compared to the thinner portions. The woven fabric according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mass per unit area (basis weight) of the woven fabric is 100 to 370 g/m ² . The woven fabric according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the woven fabric is a towel fabric.