Abstract: A process and device for bundling a fiber composite which has been drafted in a drafting device having a pair of output rollers and a pair of delivery rollers gathers together the fiber composite leaving the pair of output rollers in a fiber bundling zone. The fiber composite is conveyed through the fiber bundling zone and supported through the fiber bundling zone on one side by a conveying plane which moves in the direction of conveyance of the fiber composite. A suction air stream is drawn through the fiber bundling zone at substantially a right angle to the conveying direction of the fiber composite. The suction air stream causes the gathering together of the fiber composite in the bundling zone at a width substantially equal to a desired width of the fiber composite.

Abstract: A drawing frame includes an inlet measuring organ sensing a property of a plurality of slivers as they are simultaneously introduced into the drawing frame and emitting a measuring signal representing a magnitude of the property; a regulating drawing unit including a plurality of drawing rolls defining a drawing region along which the slivers are drafted as they run through the drawing frame, a drive for rotating the drawing rolls and a control arrangement for regulating the drive as a function of the measuring signal for varying the draft of the slivers in the drawing region such that mass fluctuations in the slivers are equalized. The control arrangement changes the measuring signal into an actual control signal as a function of operational conditions to compensate for influences derived from the operational conditions and affecting measuring results. The control signal is applied to the drive.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sliver piecing method wherein sliver piecing is performed with yarn incorporated in an overlapped portion of sliver ends and since yarn having a suitable thickness is incorporated in an overlapped portion of sliver ends and in this state the sliver piecing operation is performed, it is possible to surely detect and remove spun yarn obtained from such sliver overlapped portion, using a yarn clearer.

Abstract: A drafting frame includes a drafting unit for drafting a plurality of slivers running in an advancing direction and combining the slivers into a single sliver; and a sliver guide situated upstream of the drafting unit. The sliver guide has converging walls defining a cavity for guiding therein the plurality of slivers which are gathered by the cavity in a side-by-side orientation in a single plane. A sensor element is supported for displacement relative to the sliver guide. The sensor element has a sliver-contacting face movable toward and away from a counterface forming part of the cavity wall and defining therewith a constriction of the sliver guide. A force urges the sliver-contacting face of the sensor element towards the counterface to compress the slivers running through the constriction. A transducer is coupled to the sensor element for emitting a signal representing excursions of the sensor element in response to thickness fluctuations of the slivers running through the constriction.

Abstract: Combing machine. The combing machine includes a process control computer for the preparatory machine of a textile spinning mill, the former being located upstream of a combing machine which reacts to signals from the combing machine, which signals are representative both of the evenness of feed material supplied to a controlled drafting arrangement as well as of the comber waste share, with the computer producing a signal which is indicative of a change in the evenness behavior of the machines located upstream of the combing machine when the evenness of the feed material changes while the comber waste share remains unchanged. A method for operating the combing machine is also set forth.

Abstract: A fleece hopper of a textile draw frame is located between a pair of draw-off rollers and a fiber sliver pipe. Fiber fleece is gathered together in the hopper and deflected into the hopper outlet. The hopper outlet includes a pipe-shaped insert removably fitted therein. The insert can be removed and replaced without disturbing or adjusting the hopper itself.

Abstract: A carding machine includes a web delivering mechanism formed of a pair of cooperating rolls, for discharging a fiber web; and a web guiding element positioned immediately downstream of the roll pair as viewed in the direction of web advance. The web guiding element has an inner surface oriented towards the roll pair and is arranged transversely to the plane of the web for guiding and gathering the web. The web guiding element further has a web passage aperture through which the gathered web passes and leaves the web guiding element. A guiding body is positioned between the roll pair and the web guiding element in a zone of the aperture. The guiding body includes a supporting surface for supporting the gathered web prior to the passage thereof through the aperture.

Abstract: The present invention provides a drafting apparatus and method having a plurality of pairs of rollers which pairs are each driven in the same rotational direction and have silver contact points oriented along a common straight line. Sliver is fed to the primary rollers through a trumpet guide connected to a strain gage to determine the size of incoming silver and adjust the draft ratio accordingly to equalize the output silver weight. A silver presence and position detecting device operative on a reflected signal is provided adjacent the output of silver, which sends a signal through a computer to adjust the speed of the silver take up apparatus.

Abstract: In the case of a process for the piecing of the starting portion of a new sliver to the end portion of a sliver travelling into a spinning arrangement, it is provided that the starting portion and the end portion of the sliver are overlapped, placed on a transport belt and loaded by means of a skid. A movable servicing device is provided for selectively moving the skid to accommodate the piecing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the processing of a plurality of fiber slivers, in particular a drawing frame with drawing-in cylinders for joint feeding of the fiber slivers to the device. A funnel with a passage opening is provided in the device to unite the fiber slivers into a fiber sliver amalgam as the fiber slivers go through the funnel (1). The cross-sectional area of the passage opening of the funnel is adjustable.

Abstract: The combing machine is provided with a plurality of combing devices for delivering a plurality of combed slivers as well as a drafting system for receiving and drafting the combed slivers for delivery to a can press. A measuring device is provided to measure the thickness of the sliver delivered to the drafting system and to deliver a signal to a control unit which, in turn, regulates the drafting of the sliver within the drafting system in accordance with the received signal in order to obtain an evened combed sliver.

Abstract: First and second slivers (6, 5) are pieced together by the following steps: overlapping a trailing portion (6a) of a first sliver and a leading portion (5a) of a second sliver; introducing the overlapped portion (5a, 6a) into a drafting zone provided between a pair of lower and upper back rollers (11, 12) and a pair of lower and upper front rollers (13, 14) arranged along a sliver path from upstream to downstream; maintaining the peripheral speeds of the back and front rollers (11, 12; 13, 14) at the same speed, so that no draft is imparted to the overlapped portion until a leading end of the overlapped portion has reached the nip zone of the front rollers (13, 14); increasing only the peripheral speed of the front rollers (13, 14) to impart a predetermined draft to the overlapped portion until a trailing end thereof has passed through a nip zone of the back rollers (11, 12), whereby a thickness of the overlapped portion becomes substantially equal to the original proper sliver thickness; laterally rubbing th

Abstract: An automatic startup device in a carding machine includes a roll assembly for discharging the fiber web; and a web transporting arrangement situated under the roll assembly for gathering and advancing the web. The web transporting arrangement is formed of two adjoining, driven endless belts which together define a gap through which the web is discharged downwardly. The two endless belts or portions thereof are simultaneously shiftable horizontally to cause the web discharge gap to assume first and second locations spaced horizontaly from one another. There is further provided a trumpet situated under the web gathering belts. The trumpet has separable parts between which the web is introduced from the web discharge gap.

Abstract: A sliver piecing device includes a pair of holding members for piling and holding ends of slivers to be pieced, and a plurality of needles extending through the holding members and being inserted into the slivers to force the fibers into the other sliver and to intertwine the fibers with each other. In a further embodiment of the piecing device, pressurized air may be used, along with the needles, to force the fibers of one sliver into the other and to intertwine the fibers with each other.

Abstract: A sliver measuring device includes a pair of rollers (6, 7) which limit two sides of a rectangular measuring space (3). A third side of the measuring space (3) is closed off by a guide roller (8) or by a guide plate. A measuring element (5) for the thickness or non-uniformity of the sliver is arranged on a fourth side of the measuring space. The rollers (6, 7) serve to compact the sliver in the measuring space. The measuring element (5) is formed by a leaf spring provided with strain gauges. Since the sliver is actively driven at the measuring point, this leads to an increase in the compaction of the sliver and thus to an increase in the measuring accuracy dependent upon the compaction. On the other hand, the inertia of the measuring element is very low.

Abstract: A fiber tuft processing line for processing fiber tufts preparatory to spinning, includes a plurality of fiber processing machines, fiber tuft conveying ducts serially connecting the machines, a blower generating a fiber tuft conveying air stream flowing in the fiber tuft conveying ducts, and an air conditioning system for supplying conditioned air to the machines of the fiber processing line. The air conditioning system includes an air conditioner; conditioned air conveying ducts extending from an output of the air conditioner to the machines; a humidity sensor and temperature sensor for responding to humidity and temperature conditions in the processing line; and a regulator for operatively connecting the humdiity sensor and the temperature sensor with the air conditioner. The humidity sensor is arranged to respond directly to the humidity of the fiber tufts in the processing line.

Abstract: A compact carding apparatus is disclosed which includes a pair of upstanding carding cylinders (B) and (C) carried in a self-standing manner on a base frame (260). Cylinder (C) is carried generally atop cylinder (B) by mounting plates (272, 274) which allow radial movement of cylinder (C) to yield to large lumps passing between the cylinders. A chute feed (10) and coiler (192) are uniquely combined with the compact arrangement in a minimum of space and in a mobile construction so as to permit movement of either the chute or coiler away for access to the apparatus. The compact upstanding arrangement provides for mounting of a number of carding elements mounted about the two cylinders which include stationary plates (40, 42, 44, 46) on cylinder (B); and revolving flat assembly (E) and stationary carding plates (96, 123) on cylinder (C). An extended fiber path (P) is defined about cylinders (B) and (C) along which a transferred fiber mass may be effectively exposed for carding on both of its sides.

Abstract: An automatic startup device includes a roll assembly for discharging the fiber web; a web transporting arrangement situated under the roll assembly for gathering and advancing the web; and a trumpet situated under the web transporting arrangement. The trumpet has separable parts between which the web in introduced. In a first position the two trumpet parts are at a relatively large distance from one another, whereby the web is discharged by the trumpet in a substantially unaltered state and in a second position the two trumpet parts are at a relatively small distance from one another, whereby the web is compressed and discharged by the trumpet as a sliver. There are further provided a web delivery arrangement under the trumpet for receiving and removing the web; and a calender roll pair arranged under the trumpet for receiving and advancing the sliver discharged by the trumpet.

Abstract: The device for increasing the cohesion length of the slivers is embodied by a pair of calendar rollers. Each calendar roller has a plurality of transversely disposed protuberances of rounded shape for interengaging in spaced relation with each other in order to slightly crimp a sliver passing through the gap between the rollers. The protuberances are adapted to one another in gear-like manner.

Abstract: The tail end of a first sliver and the leading end of a second sliver are superposed and clamped together and their fibres are then combined by means of a plurality of needles which are reciprocated through the ends of the two strips transverse thereto.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for cleaning a carded sliver during a movement of the latter in its longitudinal direction is disclosed. The carded sliver is guided over at least one guide surface having perforations which leads to spreading and loosening of the sliver, and an air flow is generated through the perforated guide surface in order to remove loose contaminations and also dirt and dust particles present in the loosened sliver. The air flow emerging from the carded sliver and carrying dust and dirt particles is preferably drawn off.

Abstract: A sliver producing textile machine includes a sliver trumpet having a wall defining a constriction through which the sliver passes. A sensor is arranged at the constriction for determining the thickness and irregularities in the sliver passing through the constriction. The wall includes a stationary wall portion and a movable wall portion which is displaceable relative to the stationary wall portion for varying the size of the cross-sectional area of the constriction.

Abstract: A funnel arrangement adapted for use at the outlet of a card machine or drawing frame for the purpose of bringing together a sliver traveling along a feed path. The funnel arrangement includes a funnel and an air squeeze-out device following the funnel for squeezing air out of the sliver. The funnel arrangement is located upstream of a downstream funnel used for introducing the sliver into a calender roll pair. A housing surrounds the air squeeze-out device and forms an air discharge chamber which extends at least substantially from the upstream funnel to the downstream funnel. The air squeeze-out device includes openings which allow air to pass into the air discharge chamber, the openings being formed by gaps between convolutions of a frusto-conically shaped coil of wire or by gaps between a plurality of spaced-apart converging rods arranged in a frusto-conically shaped pattern.

Abstract: The card for producing a fiber includes a swift and a doffer which takes the carded fibers off the swift and supplies them to a nip formed between at least two rotating rollers. The fiber web emerging from the nip is deposited on the top run of a transverse conveyor which moves axially of the rolls between guide rollers in order to convey the fiber web laterally away from the card. The conveyor has a shoulder on at least one longitudinal side against which the fiber web may abut during travel along the transverse conveyor.

Abstract: A first sliver in an exhaust can (2F) is introduced and held in a recess (38a) of a sliver piecing unit (38) while gripped by a sliver gripper (34). The first sliver is severed by the displacement of the gripper (34) away from the recess (38a) so that a trailing end of the first sliver is formed in the recess (38a). Next, a second sliver in a reserve can (2B) is introduced and held in the recess (38a) in the same way as for the first sliver and a leading end of thereof is formed in the recess (38a) so that the sliver ends overlap each other. The piecing operation is carried out on the overlapped sliver ends in a known manner.

Abstract: Known apparatuses comprise a feed passage (4), a nozzle passage (5) extending therefrom in the feed direction (T), and a flow generator for generating a feed gas flow in the feed passage. The outlet portion of the nozzle passage (5) has provided therein a lateral opening (13) which permits the outflow of the gas stream.To be able to carry out pressure measurements in a measuring funnel with a known apparatus as well, the apparatus comprises a control (40) through which the lateral openings (13) can be closed. After the opening has been closed, pressure which can be measured with the aid of a pressure sensor (42) builds up in the tapered nozzle passage. The pressure measured corresponds to the thickness of the fiber sliver and can be used for controlling an upstream card.The apparatus is employed during the feed of card slivers.

Abstract: Textile slivers tend to loose their cohesion when travelling over long distances from one piece of storage or processing equipment to another such piece of equipment. This problem is overcome by subjecting the sliver to a false twisting process during its travel, desirably by a pneumatic false twister located immediately adjacent to the sliver-receiving equipment.

Abstract: An apparatus for gathering a running fiber web into a sliver, includes a web guide element having edge portions defining an outlet opening through which the web passes; a trumpet arranged downstream of the outlet opening of the web guide element as viewed in a direction of web advance, and an arrangement for guiding air, flowing against the direction of web advance and generated by web compression downstream of the web guide element, away from a zone extending between the outlet opening of the web guide element and the outlet opening of the trumpet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a sliver from a web of fibres leaving the upper part of a horizontally extending delivery roller (2) of a cotton type carding machine. The web is delivered downwardly from the upper part of the delivery roller into proximity with a surface of power driven selvedge support means, in one embodiment conveyors (9 and 10). The surface of the selvedge support means moves at a level below the upper part of the delivery roller in a direction that is generally longitudinal to the delivery roller and into a sliver-forming nip (15). The downwardly travelling web passes through the nip and tension is applied to the web by the action of the nip. The sliver is delivered from the nip (15) and may pass directly to calender rolls (27) immediately downstream of the nip. If parts of the web should break, the selvedge support means will guide these back into the nip to regain normal running.

Abstract: A cylindrical condenser screen is mounted to rotate adjacent a fiber supply, and around a pair of vacuum plenums, one of which has a generally rectangularly shaped slot extending axially of the screen adjacent its inside surface. A low suction in said slot draws fibers from the supply and onto the screen in the form of a nonwoven web. A cover that overlies the screen and the low suction slot has thereon at least one tapered projection, which extends in the direction of the travel of the web and over at least one high suction slot formed in the other plenum. Atmospheric air, which is drawn into the high suction slot along the tapered side edges of the cover projection, causes the fibers in the web to be rolled or shifted inwardly beneath the projection, thereby to form the web into one or more slivers which are drawn from beneath the discharge end of the projection by conventional takeoff rolls.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and an apparatus for producing a draftable staple fibre sliver (12) from a strand (12) of endless filaments, which is united and condensed for further processing. According to the invention the zone of the united and condensed sliver, from which, due to the cutting process, fibre points stick away inclined and pointed towards the front and outside, is inserted into the inside of the sliver.In this manner the detrimental effects, caused by the fibre points sticking out, are eliminated. Particularly the defective points in the end product produced, caused by these fibre points, are eliminated, fly waste generation in the processing room is reduced and, owing to the reduction of the danger of clogging of the fibre sliver guiding funnels, the operational reliability of the subsequent processing machines is improved.

Abstract: An arrangement for carding fibers to produce a fibrous sliver, in which the fibrous sliver is advanced through the nip between two rollers, and withdrawn downwardly from the nip through a compacting funnel in which the sliver becomes formed with a coherent ribbon. The fibrous sliver is withdrawn in a vertical path coinciding with a center line of the nip, or it may be withdrawn in a path which is inclined to the longitudinal end to a center line of the nip. The pair of nip rollers are positioned to receive the fibrous sliver so that the latter passes through the nip therebetween. The spacing between the nip rollers and a guide baffle is arranged to be greater than the spacing between the guide baffle and a pair of withdrawing rollers located downstream of the funnel.

Abstract: A carding machine has a web delivering assembly including cooperating upper and lower rollers and a web guiding device for withdrawing and gathering a fiber web discharged by the web delivering assembly. The web guiding device includes a guide element arranged immediately downstream of the rollers as viewed in the direction of advance of the fiber web. The guide element has at least one operationally stationary guide face extending transversely to the plane in which the fiber web advances. The guide element further has an upper longitudinal edge extending along the upper roller in the immediate vicinity thereof and a lower longitudinal edge extending along the lower roller at a sufficient distance therefrom for allowing waste to drop out downwardly from the fiber web as is passes from the rollers to the guide element.

Abstract: A condensing trumpet for a draw frame has internal passages formed in such a way as to receive two separate sliver types and bring them together in a sheath-core arrangement where one sliver completely surrounds the other.

Abstract: A device for withdrawing and gathering a fiber web discharged by a web delivering assembly of a carding machine includes a guide element arranged immediately downstream of the web delivering assembly and has a web guiding face; a support for positioning the guiding face to be movable towards and away from the web delivering assembly; an arrangement for urging the guiding face towards the web delivering assembly into a closed position with a predetermined force; a switch supported adjacent the guiding face for actuation by the guiding face upon movement of the guiding face away from the web delivering assembly in response to a web pressure opposing and exceeding the predetermined force; and an arrangement connected to the switch and responsive to the actuation thereof.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for producing a yarn comprising; supplying a web of staple fibers to a first region; forming said web into a bundle at a zone intermediate said first region and an after-defined second region; tensioning said fibers at a second region to draft said bundle into a yarn advancing at a predetermined rate; and collecting said yarn at a third region at a rate substantially equal to said predetermined rate of advancement.

Abstract: A device for gathering a running fiber web delivered by a pair of cooperating rolls (forming part of a web delivering assembly arranged downstream of a carding machine) includes at least one operationally substantially stationary guide element having a hollow guiding face. The guide element is supported downstream of and immediately adjacent to the rolls of the web delivering assembly. The hollow guiding face extends transversely to the direction of advance of the web as the latter leaves the rolls and shrouds at least one part of both rolls.

Abstract: A web guiding device for withdrawing and gathering a fiber web discharged by a carding machine includes a guide element which is arranged immediately downstream of the web delivering assembly of the carding machine as viewed in the direction of web advance in the carding machine and which has a hollow guiding face traversing the plane of the web. The web guiding device further includes an arrangement for adjusting the position of the guide element with respect to the web delivering assembly as a function of the rpm of at least one of the rolls thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for aligning individual fibers parallel to the main fluid stream that is conveying them, using fluid-dynamic forces. This method and apparatus are based on the use of converging streamlines in a nearly irrotational flow to provide the necessary moments to rotate the fibers so that they become parallel to the streamlines. Counterflow jets are provided to create the desired streamline behavior in a main fluid stream. The irrotationality of the flow and the nearly parallel streamlines thus prevent further fiber rotation downstream.

Abstract: Apparatus for and method of pneumatically traversing a linear fibrous element during its packaging in a rotated perforated canister as air is withdrawn from the canister through its sidewalls and bottom wall; the air moves downwardly through the package during package formation to prevent freedom of movement to the element in the package and air moves generally horizontally as it is withdrawn uniformly from all sides of the canister through its perforated sidewalls to reduce air turbulence in the canister to promote ordered collection of the fibrous element.

Abstract: Apparatus for and method of packaging a linear fibrous element in a rotated perforated cannister by withdrawing air from the cannister through its bottom wall to move air through the package during package formation to prevent freedom of movement to the element in the package and simultaneously withdrawing air uniformly from all sides of the cannister through its perforated sidewalls to reduce air turbulence in the cannister to promote ordered collection of the fibrous element.

Abstract: A machine for spinning textile fibers comprises a carding drum with a toothed surface which generates a cylinder during rotation, a mechanism for feeding a roving or sliver of the textile fibers to the carding drum for disintegration thereon and a spinning station arranged to receive the disintegrated fibers from the carding drum and for spinning them. The feeding mechanism comprises a pair of nip rollers in surface contact, each nip roller having an elastic surface layer, a smooth-surfaced large diameter feed roller close to the nip rollers and spaced as closely as possible from the cylinder defined by the toothed surface of the carding drum, the smooth roller surface and the cylinder defining a triangular space therebetween, and a small diameter feed roller in the triangular space and in contact with the smooth surface, the smaller diameter roller having an elastic surface layer and preceding the larger diameter roller in the direction of rotation of the carding drum.

Abstract: Two juxtaposed drums are arranged to rotate in the same sense and are closely spaced apart to define between them a throat and two gaps tapering towards the throat on opposite sides thereof. The drums are operable to engage flying fibers entering one of the gaps and to twist the fibers together so as to form a twisted yarn. Draw-off rolls are provided for withdrawing the twisted yarn from the throat in the longitudinal directon thereof. A suction duct extends into the other gap and has an inlet slot which extends along the throat.

Abstract: A suction drum has an air-permeable shell and is rotatable about a first axis. A rotary disc is rotatable about a second axis, which crosses said first axis and is spaced therefrom by a distance which is equal to one to two diameters of said drum. Said rotary disc has a generally flat side face that is almost tangential to said shell and defines a tapering gap therewith. Suction means are disposed in said drum and define on said shell an air-permeable suction zone which adjoins said tapering gap. Means are provided for supplying flying fibers into said gap into contact with said suction zone and said side face. Drive means are provided for rotating said drum and disc in such a manner that fibers in contact with said drum and disc are twisted together to form a thread. Thread-withdrawing means are provided for withdrawing said thread in a direction which is approximately parallel to said first axis while holding said thread against rotation.

Abstract: A method of pneumatically traversing a linear fibrous element during its packaging in a rotated perforated canister as air is withdrawn from the canister through its sidewalls and bottom wall; the air moves downwardly through the package during package formation to prevent freedom of movement to the element in the package and air moves generally horizontally as it is withdrawn uniformly from all sides of the canister through its perforated sidewalls to reduce air turbulence in the canister to promote ordered collection of the fibrous element.

Abstract: A calender roller apparatus is provided for use with sliver coilers and the like wherein a sliver is passed for delivery between surface engaging coiler rollers rotatably carried on a pair of parallel roller assemblies. One of the roller assemblies is fixed to a base platform and the other roller assembly is pivotably carried by the base platform at a point which is above the center line of the pivoted roller assembly providing a downward biasing force to the pivoted roller against the surface of the fixed roller, so that the sliver will be suitably compressed therebetween eliminating the need for a positive lock-down means which is normally found on pivotable calender rollers.

Abstract: Prearranged ribbons of fiber leaving the front drafting roll are superimposed into layers by a composite sliver forming assembly before entering a trumpet. The composite sliver forming assembly consists of tubular guides extending at an angle from the front drafting roller to the trumpet entrance. The tubes are designed with a flat bottom to support the sliver, allowing for overlapping at the tube exit, and to achieve an exact ribbon exit 90.degree. downward into the trumpet entrance where the layered ribbons are combined into a composite sliver.

Abstract: An air stream is caused to impinge on a collecting surface disposed in a sharply defined suction zone. Fibers having a predetermined maximum length are entrained by said air stream to cause said fibers to be delivered to and form a condensed sliver on said collecting surface. Air is sucked in said suction zone at a rate which is approximately as large as the rate of said air stream. Said condensed sliver is drawn from said collecting surface and is subsequently twisted to form a thread. Said thread is drawn off while being held against rotation. The suction zone has in the direction in which said condensed sliver is drawn off a dimension which is approximately as large as the maximum length of said fibers. The suction zone has at right angles to said direction a dimension which is approximately as large as the diameter of said condensed sliver.

Abstract: For working a web of woolen type yarns leaving a finisher card, a condenser head splits the web into parallel bands. The bands are delivered to pairs of rubbing rolls which reciprocate relative to one another to convert the bands to slubbings having false torsion. The slubbings are conveyed to spinning frames.

Abstract: A fiber web for use in the manufacture of slub or jaspe yarn is produced by a modification of a carding engine whereby a final fancy roller is mounted on a controllably movable support for movement towards and away from the surface of the carding drum, thereby varying the thickness of the sliver obtained before the sliver enters the doffing cylinder. The movement of the fancy roller may be controlled by a programme carried on an endless tape.