Abstract: A fiber processing machine includes a roll having a circumferential surface provided with a first clothing having clothing points; a counter member having a surface provided with a second clothing cooperating with the first clothing and having clothing points; and a device for setting a clearance between the clothing points of the first and second clothings. The device includes an arrangement for approaching the roll and the counter member to one another until the clothing points of the first and second clothings contact and for moving away the roll and the counter member from one another until the clothing points of the first and second clothings assume a desired clearance. The device further has an arrangement for emitting a signal when the clothing points of the first and second clothings contact one another.

Abstract: An apparatus for lengthening, to a determined extent, a free sliver end portion hanging on an exterior face and from an upper edge of a can containing sliver deposited in coils, includes a device for grasping and firmly holding the free sliver end portion; and an arrangement for moving the grasping device and the can away from one another for pulling an additional length of sliver from the can to lengthen the free sliver end portion.

Abstract: A fiber tuft feeder includes a chute; a first air-pervious surface forming part of the chute wall; and a first exhaust air chamber adjoining the first air-pervious surface externally of the interior. The first exhaust air chamber is in a pneumatic communication with the chute through the first air-pervious surface. A device-charges the chute with an air stream carrying fiber tufts. A first part of the air stream is separated from the fiber tufts by, and passing through, the first air-pervious surface into the first exhaust air chamber whereby a fiber tuft column is formed in the chute in the region of the first air-pervious surface. A second air-pervious surface forms part of the chute wall and is situated upstream of the first air-pervious surface. A second exhaust air chamber adjoins the second air-pervious surface externally of the chute interior and is separate from the first exhaust air chamber.

Abstract: A fiber material feeder includes a spiked lattice which has an upper and a lower end roller each having a longitudinal axis. The spiked lattice has an inclined, endless belt supported on the end rollers and a plurality of spikes carried at the outer belt surface and forming a series of consecutive rows extending along the belt width oriented parallel to the roller axes. The spike rows are oriented at an oblique inclination to the roller axes. Further, a drive is provided for circulating the endless belt about the end rollers for advancing fiber material, entrained by the spikes, upwardly toward the upper end roller. A scale including a weighing bin is provided for catching fiber material leaving the belt at the upper end roller.

Abstract: A carding machine includes a main carding cylinder and a traveling flats assembly including flat bars circulating in a path and cooperating with the main carding cylinder. The carding machine further includes an apparatus for cleaning the flat bars. The apparatus includes a stationary track extending adjacent and transversely to the travel path of the flat bars; a carriage mounted on the track for back-and-forth travel thereon between opposite track ends; a blow nozzle mounted on the carriage and oriented at an oblique angle to the flat bar clothing of a flat bar situated in an effective range of the blow nozzle; and an arrangement for supplying pressurized air to the blow nozzle for causing it to eject an air jet for impinging on the flat bar clothing and for propelling the carriage along the track.

Abstract: A fiber sliver producing apparatus includes an arrangement for making a running fiber web; a transverse web gathering device gathering the fiber web; and a sliver trumpet through which the gathered fiber web passes for being densified and discharged thereby as a running sliver. The sliver trumpet has a cross-sectionally rectangular outlet opening which has a width that is at least 10 times greater than its height. The apparatus further has a calender roll pair formed of two calender rolls through which the sliver passes after being discharged by the sliver trumpet. The calender roll pair defines a bight in which the outlet opening of the sliver trumpet is disposed.

Abstract: A method of operating a sliver draw unit of a spinning preparation machine includes the following steps: applying, by incremental rotary displacement sensors, signals to an electronic control and regulating device; determining from the signals the angular position and/or the rotary direction of at least one of the roll pairs of the draw unit during operation and standstill; and rotating at least one of the roll pairs into a predetermined angular position by controlling the electric motor driving that roll pair.

Abstract: A fiber processing assembly includes a fiber processing machine having an inlet and an outlet; an arrangement for introducing fiber material into the fiber processing machine through the inlet; a fiber opening and cleaning machine having an inlet and an outlet and being disposed underneath the fiber processing machine; and an arrangement for advancing the fiber material from the fiber processing machine to the fiber opening and cleaning machine substantially solely by gravity.

Abstract: A fiber processing machine includes a rotary roll provided with a peripheral clothing; a counter element having a part cooperating with the roll clothing; a sensor stationary relative to the counter element and having a sensing portion facing said roll clothing; and an arrangement for generating a signal representing a distance between the sensing portion and the roll clothing. The distance represents a spacing between the roll clothing and the counter element part.

Abstract: A carding machine includes flat bars traveling in an endless path. First and second end rolls periodically reverse the travel direction of each flat bar. First and second drive shafts carry and rotate the respective first and second end rolls. An apparatus for cleaning the flat bars includes a throughgoing, eccentric aperture provided in a radial wall of the first end roll. At any time at least two mutually adjoining flat bars, situated on the first end roll, are aligned at least partially with the aperture. A suction inlet adjoins the radial wall of the first end roll for being periodically brought into alignment with the aperture as the first end roll rotates. A suction chamber is formed by a space bounded by the adjoining flat bars and a surface of the first drive shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying coiler cans, includes a first conveyor track having an outlet end; a first conveying device for moving the coiler cans on and along the first conveyor track; a second conveyor track having an inlet end and being arranged at generally right angles to the first conveyor track; a second conveying device for moving the coiler cans on and along the second conveyor track; a first drive for operating the first and second conveying devices; a separate transfer device for moving a coiler can from the outlet end of the first conveyor track into the inlet end of the second conveyor track; and a second drive for operating the transfer device.

Abstract: A fiber processing machine includes a generally vertically oriented feed chute having an upper portion and a lower portion; a device for introducing fiber material into the upper chute portion; a clothed fiber opening roll supported for rotation in the lower chute portion; a withdrawing roll adjoining the opening roll and supported for rotation for drawing fiber material in the feed chute and for forwarding the fiber material to the opening roll; an optical sensor system supported above the opening roll laterally of the feed chute for detecting foreign material carried on the clothing of the opening roll along with the fiber material; an air stream generating device for directing an air blast to the clothing of the opening roll; and a control-and-regulating device for operating the air stream generating device upon detecting foreign material by the optical sensor system to remove and carry away the foreign material from the clothing of the opening roll by an air blast.

Abstract: A draw frame for drawing a plurality of simultaneously running inputted slivers and for combining the drawn silvers into a single outputted sliver includes a draw unit having an inlet, an outlet and a roll assembly between the inlet and the outlet for drawing the inputted slivers; a creel for accommodating a sliver-containing coiler cans for advancing simultaneously a plurality of slivers to the draw unit; a sliver guide and a sliver trumpet arranged downstream of the draw unit outlet, as viewed in a direction of sliver run, for combining the plurality of drawn slivers into the output sliver; and a guiding assembly for orienting the running inputted slivers to run linearly and parallel to one another, as viewed in a vertical direction, from the creel at least to the outlet of the draw unit.

Abstract: A regulated draw unit for drawing sliver running therethrough includes a plurality of roll pairs each defining respective nips through which the sliver consecutively passes in a running direction. A pressure bar which is situated between two adjoining roll pairs has a region for contacting the running sliver. The pressure bar is supported in such a manner that the pressure bar region is spaced from an imaginary straight line extending from the nips of the two adjoining roll pairs, whereby the running sliver is deflected. A measuring device is coupled to the pressure bar for emitting signals representing forces applied to the pressure bar by the running, deflected sliver.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the thickness of a plurality of side-by-side running slivers includes a supporting surface guiding the side-by-side running slivers thereon in a single plane; a holding member; and a plurality of sensor elements movably secured to the holding member to be movable in a direction transverse to the plane. Each sliver is contacted by a separate sensor element for causing excursions thereof by thickness fluctuations of the running sliver. Each sensor element is yieldingly pressed against a respective sliver, and each sensor element cooperates with the supporting surface for pressing the running slivers against the supporting surface. An adding device adds the excursions of the sensor elements, and a transducer converts the excursion values into electric pulses.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a fiber lap from a mass of fiber tufts includes a generally vertically extending feed chute having relatively wide first and second walls facing one another and relatively narrow third and fourth walls facing one another. The distance between the third and fourth walls defines the width of the feed chute. Each first and second wall has a mid region and flanking edge regions. The first and/or second wall is provided with air outlet openings in a bottom region. The apparatus further has a device for charging the feed chute with fiber tufts at a top portion thereof, and a device for withdrawing the fiber tufts from the feed chute as a fiber lap at a bottom portion of the feed chute. A plurality of side-by-side arranged elements are positioned in a series on the first wall at a bottom portion thereof along the wall width. The distance between any given element and the second wall defines the depth of the feed chute at the given element.

Abstract: A fiber processing machine includes a rotatably supported clothed opening roll; a withdrawing roll adjoining the opening roll and supported for rotation for forwarding the fiber material to the opening roll; an optical sensor system for detecting foreign material carried on the opening roll along with fiber material; an air stream generating device for directing an air blast to the clothing of the opening roll; a control-and-regulating device to which the optical sensor system and the air stream generating device are connected for operating the air stream generating device upon detecting foreign material by the optical sensor system to remove and carry away the foreign material from the clothing of the opening roll by an air stream; and a collecting chamber for receiving the air stream carrying the foreign material.

Abstract: A fiber processing machine includes a rotary roll provided with a peripheral clothing; a plurality of flat bars having a clothing cooperating with the roll clothing; and a sensor supported adjacent the flat bars and facing the flat bar clothing for determining a distance between said sensor and said flat bar clothing.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding and weighing textile fibers includes a weighing scale container having an open end chargeable with fiber material; an upper feed chute having an upper end chargeable with fiber material and a lower end; a withdrawing roll obturating the lower end; a first drive for slowly rotating the withdrawing roll; a feed tray cooperating with the withdrawing roll and defining a nip into which fiber material is drawn from the upper feed chute and from which the fiber material is discharged; an opening roll arranged immediately at the nip for receiving the fiber material discharged from the nip; a second drive for rapidly rotating the opening roll for tearing fiber material from the nip and for opening and discharging the fiber material; a lower feed chute having an upper end receiving fiber material discharged from the opening roll and a lower end; a movable shutoff gate situated at the lower end of the lower feed chute for opening and closing the lower feed chute; and a third drive for moving the

Abstract: A carding machine includes a main carding cylinder, a travelling flats assembly having a plurality of flat bars provided with a clothing cooperating with the clothing of the main carding cylinder; an endless flat bar driving element trained about end sprockets and circulating the flat bars in an endless path; a flat cleaning device supported at a location above the flat bar driving element and including a rotatably supported flat brush roller. A gearing is provided which has an input shaft connected to a power drive, a first output shaft connected to one of the end sprockets for circulating the flat bar driving element and a second output shaft connected to the flat brush roller for rotating the same. The first and second output shafts have a constant distance from one another.