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: A method and apparatus for a textile carding machine or drafting machine drawframe having an out-of-round or otherwise imperfect rotating member is based on detecting and analyzing the relative rotative positions of selected of the machines rotating members in relation to the moment to moment weight of the sliver output and developing therefrom a control signal for varying the speed of rotation of a rotative feeding member so as to vary the sliver weight to compensate for such imperfections.

Abstract: An improved measuring device for measuring the unit weight of sliver as it passes through a trumpet includes a trumpet gauge plate for supporting the trumpet and a vibration compensating element mounted on the plate. A plurality of strain gauges for detecting deflections are mounted on front and rear surfaces of a central portion of the plate adjacent a lower portion and the compensating element. The plate is mounted on support means, illustrated as a pair of spring supports, which allow the trumpet to move in response to an overload to eliminate damage to the plate, particularly its central portion where the strain gauges are mounted and to return to its normal position after the overload is gone.

Abstract: An improved measuring device for measuring the unit weight of sliver as it passes through a trumpet includes a trumpet gauge plate for supporting the trumpet and a pair of weighted elements mounted on each side of the plate. The plate includes upper, lower and central portions wherein the lower portion includes an opening for supporting the trumpet and the central portion has a reduced cross section. A plurality of strain gauges for detecting deflections is mounted on front and rear surfaces of the central portions adjacent the lower portion and the weighted elements. The strain gauges are electrically connected in a modified Wheatstone Bridge configuration. Deflection sensings in strain gauges adjacent the weighted elements cancel out deflection sensings produced by external vibrations to produce an accurate measurement of the sliver weight.