A hardware component, typically a metal ring or separator plate, installed on a ring spinning machine between the yarn guide and the traveler. It physically blocks the yarn from flaring out into a wide balloon shape under centrifugal force, keeping the thread path tight and preventing it from whipping into adjacent spindles.
Heard on the job
The yarn is whipping wildly on spindle twelve because the antiballooner snapped off.
Also heard as
- balloon control ring
- separator