Abstract: The present invention relates to a dust and trash removal system for carding machines or cards including a cylinder and fixedly mounted carding segments cooperating therewith. The system comprises a mote knife having a blade section whose blade is arranged in a direction opposite to the running direction of the cylinder at a small distance from the surface of the cylinder, as well as a hold-down element arranged in the running direction of the cylinder upstream of the mote knife with a base surface that extends substantially in parallel with the surface of the cylinder. To improve the discharging characteristics for dirt particles, short fibers, or the like, the blade, when being viewed in cross-section, has at least one rounded section with a radius greater than 1 mm.