Abstract: A carding machine comprises a first carding cylinder, a roller and plate for feeding material to be carded on to the first carding cylinder, a second carding cylinder, a roller and takerin for transferring material from the first to the second carding cylinder, and a roller for stripping carded material from the second carding cylinder. The first and second carding cylinders are driven in the same direction of rotation. A single set of flats is driven along a closed path, parts of which pass immediately adjacent to an arc of the circumference of each of the first and second carding cylinders. The flats thus cooperate in carding actions with both carding cylinders in turn.

Abstract: A carding machine comprises a feed plate, a feed roll forming a nip with the feed plate, first drive means for rotating the feed roll, a takerin for taking fibre from the feed plate, a main carding cylinder, carding means cooperable with the main carding cylinder to effect a carding action, a doffer, and delivery means for taking carded fibre from the doffer and delivering it from the machine. In one form of the machine, means are associated with the feed roll for producing an output signal related to deviation in weight of material fed between the feed roll and the feed plate, the sensing means being means for monitoring a variable at the feed roll that is other than displacement relative to the feed plate, and means are responsive to the output signal to control the speed of the feed roll.

Abstract: A carding machine has a toothed takerin (4a) for taking fibre to be carded from a feed arrangement (3a) to a main carding cylinder (5a). The fibre is conveyed on the lower arc of the takerin, and a substantially rigid, flat plate (10) lies below the lower arc of the takerin. The plate extends across the full width of the takerin and terminates in a free edge facing into the direction of roation of the takerin and substantially parallel to the takerin axis. The free edge is spaced from the tips of the teeth on the takerin by a distance of not more than 5 mm, and the plate lies in a plane that makes an angle of from 75.degree. to 120.degree. to that radial plane of the takerin that intersects the free edge of the plate.

Abstract: A carding engine equipped with a series of movable flats (1), each flat being clothed with a plurality of carding elements (2) and having a downwardly facing supporting face (13) at each end of the flat. Each end of each flat is secured to a support member (5) lying below the supporting face, the support member including a support surface (18) engageable with a bend (16) of the carding engine. The flat (1) and support member (5) have been secured together so that the support member is spaced from the supporting face (13) e.g. by a shim (23, 24), such that the distance between the support surface (18) and the plane of the tips of the working carding elements (2) is equal, within a given tolerance, at both ends of all of the flats.

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.