Abstract: An apparatus for making a web of fibers has an upright and horizontally elongated supply duct having an upper end, an open lower end, and a foraminous side wall. Fibers are fed to the upper end of the supply duct so that they descend in this duct as a ribbon-shaped web. An upright and horizontally elongated forming duct has an upper end receiving the fiber web from the supply duct, a lower end, and a foraminous side wall. Gas is made to flow down in the ducts and through the foraminous side walls thereof to shape the web and advance it to the respective lower ends. Rollers are provided at the lower end of the forming duct for withdrawing the web therefrom. One or more sensors measure the thickness of the web at a plurality of sensing locations spaced transversely along the web downstream of the lower end of the forming duct. Respective individually operable flow-adjusting means can vary the gas flow in one of the ducts at respective zones spaced transversely across the web like the sensing locations.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for reducing the material of rows of fiber bales by means of a milling device reciprocating between two rows of bales. The milling device can be rotated 180.degree. to transfer the milling device between the rows of bales whereby fibers can be removed selectively from two rows of bales.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing fiber bales arranged in a row which includes a plurality of spaced generally vertically disposed supports, a pair of spaced generally parallel rails carried by these supports at positions spaced above a surface upon which the fiber bales are arranged in a row, an elongated vertically disposed carriage having upper and lower end portions, the carriage being suspendingly supported by rollers in its vertically disposed position, one of these rollers being driven to move the carriage along the rails, a slide vertically reciprocated upon the carriage, a generally horizontally disposed bracket carried by the slide, the bracket being in overlying relationship to a fiber bale therebeneath, and grabbing fingers carried by the bracket for grabbing fiber from the fiber bale therebeneath.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an apparatus for conveying material as it is removed from rows of bales for subsequent utilization during a spinning operation, the apparatus including a generally elongated channel having an elongated longitudinally disposed slot, a frame movable along rails on opposite sides of the channel, the frame carrying a carriage pivoted thereto along with a telescopic tube for delivering material removed from bales to the channel, a flexible belt, a first end of the flexible belt being secured to an end of the channel, a second end of the flexible belt being entrained about a drum such that the flexible belt can be placed in overlying relationship to the slot upon movement of the frame along the rails whereby material delivered into the channel is covered by the belt and a drive mechanism for appropriately rotating the drum to wind and unwind the belt during movement of the frame along the rails.