GB1601136A

GB1601136A - Carding machine

Info

Publication number: GB1601136A
Application number: GB1046478A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Truetzschler GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Truetzschler GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1977-03-17
Filing date: 1978-03-16
Publication date: 1981-10-28
Also published as: JPS6137365B2; FR2384041A1; CH628374A5; NL189363B; MX144950A; JPS53139830A; BE865021A; AR213759A1; BR7801622A; NL7802364A; HK17282A; FR2384041B1; NL189363C

Abstract

A device for bringing together a running fibre fleece delivered by a pair of cooperating rollers (5, 6) forms a part of a fleece-forming apparatus which itself follows a card. Guiding elements (8d, 8d') are arranged in the region directly adjacent to the rollers (5, 6). The hollow guiding surface of the guiding elements (8d, 8d') extends transversely to the direction of movement of the fibre fleece issuing from the rollers (5, 6) and partially envelopes the two rollers (5, 6). The guiding element can be in two parts (8d, 8d') and be connected to a device (14, 30, 31) which allows it to pivot about a vertical axis. This arrangement results, without the use of movable parts, such as rolls, bands, etc., in a simple guiding surface which can be produced economically and which allows positive guidance and simultaneous stabilisation of the fibre fleece, with the fibre orientation being maintained at the same time. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) CARDING MACHINE (71) We,TRUTZSCHLER G.m.b.H & o.

K.G., a Kommanditgesellschaft organised according to the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, of D4050 Mönchengladbach 3, Duvenstrasse 82-92, Federal Republic of Germany, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a carding machine including a guide member for condensing a fibre web delivered from a delivery mechanism of a carding machine.

In a fibre web guide device described in U.S.

Patent 3 946 464, the guide member consists of at least two conveyor belts in end to end relationship, the junction of the two conveyor belts defining a delivery path tangential to the ends of both belts. In this device, the guide member has at least one movable guide surface. For this purpose the conveyor belts must run over driven rollers, so that operating breakdowns may occur. In addition, the conveyor belts must be constantly tensioned, and this necessitates additional expenditure on maintenance.

In all, this device is too complex. There is also the problem that the guide surfaces of the conveyor belts are flat, so that air can act unhindered from top to bottom on the fibre web issuing from the delivery mechanism. This disadvantage is particularly pronounced when the fibre web emerges at high speed from the delivery mechanism.

In a fibre web guide device described in U.S.

Patent 3 196 492, the fibre web emerges from the doffer of a carding machine and is supported by means of guide surfaces. This guide device adjoins the doffer on the carding machine and extends as far as the pair of calender rolls. For this purpose there is arranged between the above-mentioned units a flat, asymmetric, triangular web guide plate which has two lateral web guide means in the form of rims which are bent upwards. The longitudinal edges of the rims which are incined somewhat obliquely downwards therefore form an acute angle to the axis of the doffer, so that as a result the whole device forms a' kind of funnel.

Between the two rims, the web guide device is open at the top, so that the web of fibres sliding over the web guide plate is exposed from above to the action of ait. The fibre web can, therefore, break at the top, especially at high speeds. The fibre web emerging at high speed from the machine must be condensed at equally high speed. As the fibre web slides over the web guide plate, blockages or tears may occur in the fibre web, so that the production flow and the fibre rope produced are adversely affected. The taking off and condensing of a fibre web at high speed is not possible with this known device.

U.S. Patent 3 840 942 describes a fibre web guide device in which a pair of guide members which are spaced apart from one - another - are arranged on either side of the fibre web emerging from the squeezing rollers. Positioning devices move the guide members from an outer position, in which there is no condensing engagement with the fibre web, into an inner position in which the fibre web is formed into an approximately T-shaped rope. The two guide members are considerably shorter than the squeezing rollers and must, therefore, be arrenged at a particular distance from the squeezing rollers in order to be able to apprehend all of the fibre web emerging from the squeezing rollers.Since the fibre web is severely subjected to the action of the air with this arrangement, it is not possible to achieve high speeds for the fibre web, since the fibre web tears as a result of the action of the air.

The object of the invention is to provide a carding machine which reduces at least some of the above-mentioned disadvantages.

According to the invention there is provided a carding machine including a fibre web delivery mechanism arranged downstream of the carding cylinder, the delivery mechanism including a pair of co-operating rollers, and at least one guide member having a hollow guide surface for receiving and condensing the fibre web as it is delivered from the co-operating rollers, the guide surface itself being immovably mounted and being substantially positionally static during normal operation of the machine, wherein, during normal operation of the machine, the guide surface is disposed downstream of the rollers and has a pair of bounding edges, each bounding edge being immediately adjacent a respective roller.

The position of the guide member may be adjustable and this adjustment may be carried out continuously during normal operation of the machine. However, since the rate of adjustment will be slow compared with the speed of the fibre web, the guide member will act on the fibre web in the same manner as if it were immovable and the guide member and the location of the guide surface can, therefore, be con sidered to remain substantially static. Also the guide surface is itself immovably mounted on the guide member in contrast to U.S. Patent No. 3 946 464 where the guide surface is defined by revolving conveyor belts.

In embodiments of the invention to be described later, due to the fact that, unlike the device first mentioned, the guide member has a guide surface which during normal operation of the machine is substantially static, a fibre web guide device which can be produced economically and which operates without maintenance and completely without breakdowns is created in a particularly simple manner. No rollers, belts, and the like are provided. The guide surface is of hollow construction to receive the fibre web as it is taken off and is arranged such that little air can reach the condensed fibres from above or below. Smooth taking off and simultaneous condensing of a fibre web at high speed is achieved in a surprisingly simple manner. Due to the rolling in of the edges of the fibre web, probably caused by the air flow within the guide surface, the fibre web is stabilised.There is the additional advantage that the direction of the fibres is maintained to a great extent.

In contrast with the second fibre web guide device mentioned above, in embodiments of the invention to be described, the fibre web leaves the delivery rollers and then immediately runs on to the transverse guide surface, is then deflected at a right-angle, and is conveyed further inside the guide surface. By covering the rollers of the delivery mechanism, the fibre web is protected from the action of the air outside; in conjunction with the close-fitting guide, this ensures that the fibre web does not break at the top. The take-off speed and the delivery speed of the fibre web are equal. The transport speed of the fibre web inside the guide surfaces is probably affected favourably by the air emerging from the delivery mechanism. The rolling in of the edges of the fibre web may also be attributed to the air flow inside the guide surfaces, whereby the fibre web is stabilised.

In contrast with the third web guide device mentioned above, the guide member is immediately adjacent the rollers, the hollow guide surface extends transverse to the direction of movement of the delivered fibre web and at least part of the two rollers is covered by the hollow guide surface. Due to the fact that the guide member is immediately adjacent the rollers delivering the fibre web, the latter is projected from the action of the air outside. After leaving the squeezing rollers, the fibre web is veil-like, fine and very subject to tearing. The fibre web is brought together and folded in immediately it emerges from the squeezing rollers, so that considerably higher operating speeds can be achieved without the risk of tears forming.In the case of a fine fibre web, especially consisting of short fibres, the flow speed can be increased from approximately 60 m/min to approximately 80 m/min, and with a coarse fibre web, especially consisting of medium and long staple fibres, can be increased from approximately 1 50m/min to approximately 210 mimic.

Smooth taking off and simultaneous condensing of the fibre web at high delivery speeds can be achieved in a surprisingly simple manner. It is possible to handle even short fibres, so-called combings, large quantities of which are left behind when cotton is combed out. With the known device, the fibre web emerging from the squeezing rollers is approximately triangular in shape, and when processing short fibres tears occur because the fibres do not hold together sufficiently. In embodiments of the invention the fibres need not have a high degree of cohesion since they are brought together immediately they emerge from the squeezing rollers, are folded in and drawn off as a card rope.

The longitudinal edges of the guide surface terminate immediately adjacent the rollers of the delivery mechanism, this prevents currents of air having an adverse effect on the fibre web.

The device is simple to produce from the manufacturing point of view if the guide surface is arranged parallel to the rollers of the delivery mechanism.

In order to facilitate the joining-on operation, the guide surface is advantageously movable away from the delivery rollers in the direction of delivery of the fibre web. The same advantage may be obtained if the guide surface is pivotable about a vertical or horizontal axis.

In this way, it is also possible during operation to examine the fibre web being taken off and condensed for defects, e.g. thick or thin patches, foreign bodies, or undersirable fibre orientation and thus to check on the functioning of the carding machine or comb.

In order to make the guide surface hollow in the direction of the fibre web being taken off, a concave curved shape, for example a cylindrical or ellipsoid shape can be selected, or a chamfered or prism-shaped construction, with the most suitable shape from the point of view of flow and manufacturing being selected according to the material being handled, the delivery speed, and the rope number.

Division of the fibre web can be achieved if two fibre webs are taken off on either side edge of a one-part guide surface, or if two openings, for example bores, are provided in a one-part guide surface, or if two slots are provided between three adjacent guide surfaces parts in order to take off two fibre webs.

In the case of a one-part guide surface at least one outlet aperture may be provided which may be in the form of a bore or of a recess open at the top or bottom.

The guide surface, especially in the region of the side edges, the bore, or the recess open on one side, preferably has a rounded edge, in order to allow the fibre web to be led off smoothly.

When the guide surfaces of a two-part guide member are rotatable or pivotable about a vertical axis, or when a one-part guide member is movable in the direction of movement of the fibre web, with the guide surface open at first the fibre web is twisted together manually for joining-on, and is fed to the drawing rollers through a funnel. The guide surfaces are then closed up or moved in the direction of the rollers of the delivery mechanism, after which the drawing speed of the rope can be increased to more than 250 m/min for example. In this position the guide surfaces are immediately adjacent in a row parallel to the rollers of the delivery mechanism. During operation, the guide surfaces may be swung back or drawn away with the operating speed being suitably modified, in order that the fibre web can be examined.Depending on the material being handled, however, and also on the delivery speed and rope number, the guide surfaces may be left swung back at an acute angle to the drawing rollers.

The construction of the guide member whereby it is movable in a parallel direction offers the particular advantage that there is plenty of space available for joining on by hand and for checking operation, thus giving greater convenience of operation.

When the guide surface covers the downstream side of the rollers substantially completely, this ensures optimum protection for the fibre web from the damaging action of the air outside.

The guide surface of the guide member may be arranged at an angle to the rollers, whilst the horizontal upper and lower longitudinal edges may be immediately adjacent the rollers.

The side edge of the guide member is advantageously set inwards at a distance from the end face of the two rollers so that the calender (web funnel and drawing rollers) can be arranged at the edge of the carding machine, thus simplifying construction.

According to a subsidiary feature of the invention the guide surface may be movable away from the fibre web delivery rollers, and a switching member may be operatively connected to the guide surface such that said switching member is actuated by movement of the guide surface away from the fibre web delivery rollers as a result of a level of pressure of the fibre web exceeding a predetermined value.

The guide surface of the guide member may be movable, that is arranged so that it can be rotated, pivoted or displaced so that when there is a build-up of the fibre web in the space between the delivery rollers and the guide surface, an increased pressure is exerted on the guide surface, the guide surface is thereby pivoted, for example, and pushed against the switching member, which may be an end probe. The switching member may actuate an optical or acoustic indicating device, so that the guide surface can be opened manually and the blockage can be eliminated. The switching member may advantageously actuate an opening device which is electrically connected to the switching member and which moves the guide surface away from the delivery rollers when the switching member is actuated.The switching member may expediently actuate a switch-off device which stops the delivery of the fibre web from the carding machine. According to one embodiment, when the guide surface deviates from the end position associated with the delivery rollers the switching member is actuated, thereby operating an opening device for the guide surface and simultaneously stopping the delivery of the fibre web. With this embodiment, the switching member is first actuated by the pressure caused by a build-up of the fibre web, so that the delivery of the fibre web is switched off and at the same time the guide surface is opened so that the blockage can be eliminated.

In order to bring about the rotation or pivot- ing of the guide surface, it is expedient from the point of view of construction to provide a pivot joint on the guide member. The advantage of this embodiment is that in addition to the displacement brought about by the pressure of a build-up of fibre web, it is also possible to effect the opening of the guide surface in order to eliminate the blockage. With this embodiment, the supporting of the pivot joint, for example, may be combined with adjustable spring-leading in order to allow regulation of the pressure of the fibre web. The switching member is only actuated when a particular pressure of the fibre web is exceeded. A microswitch may advantageously be used as the switching member, because of the limited reaction travel.

In a further embodiment, the guide surface is spring-biassed, for example it is attached to the retaining arm by a leaf spring. The switching member may also be connected directly to the guide surface by spring means. It is possible for the guide surface, after a blockage has been eliminated, automatically to be pivoted back, for example, in the direction of the delivery rollers.

It is known that the operating speed of the infeed and take-off rollers of a carding machine may be adjusted stepwise. Whilst the drum is already set to the full operating speed, the infeed and takeoff rollers, such as the feed rollers, doffer, worker roller, squeezing rollers and drawing rollers, are first set to a lower joining-on speed. Only when the joining-on operation is completed are the feed and takeoff rollers set to the higher operating speed, and the guide surfaces of the guide member consisting of one or several parts are closed manually.

When there are disturbances in the formation of the fibre web, the operating speed of the infeed and take-off rollers is reduced again to the lower level, and the guide surfaces are opened manually in order to eliminate the blockage.

According to another subdidiary feature of the invention means are provided to position the guide surface with respect to the fibre web delivery rollers as a function of the speed of operation of a part of the carding machine.

The change in the rotation speed of at least one of the infeed or take-off rollers, for example the feed roller, doffer worker roller, squeezing rollers or drawing rollers, may be utilise d for the adjustment of the guide surface of the guide member. Due to the fact that positioning means controlled by the rotation speed of the above-mentioned rollers are associated with the guide surface, it is possible for the guide surfaces to be either opened or closed automatically when the rotation speed changes.

The means provided for positioning the guide surface may consist of a transducer actuated by the operation of a part of the carding machine, a control device connected thereto, and a positioning member associated with the guide surface. The position of the guide surface is advantageously made infinitely adjustable. A dynamo may, for example, be used as the transducer. A relay may be interposed between the transducer and the control device.

According to another subsidiary feature of the invention a web funnel and drawing rollers, by means of which the fibre web is drawn from the guide member, may be arranged downstream of the guide member and the web funnel may during normal operation be immediately adjacent or continuous with the guide surface.

By means of this construction it is possible to reduce to practically nothing the distance between the web funnel and the guide member so that no air can act on the condensed fibre web. The condensed fibre web can thus travel at high speed without the risk of "fluttering".

Since the web funnel is at least immediately adjacent the guide member, the fibre web passes directly from the guide member into the web funnel.

The web funnel may be rigidly connected to the guide surface as a continuation of the latter.

The web funnel may be mounted separately on the outlet aperture of the guide member, but may also be formed as a unit in one piece from the material of the guide surface, e.g. by deepdrawing. The guide surface, the web funnel, and the drawing rollers are preferably movable as a unit with respect to the rollers. It is then possible to move the unit away from the delivery rollers during use in order to be able either to examine the fibre web delivered by the rollers or to eliminate blockages. In addition, this construction serves to facilitate the joining-on operation in which the fibre web emerging from the delivery rollers is first condensed manually and introduced into the web funnel. The web funnel and the drawing rollers are preferably arranged so that they are movable with respect to the guide member.By this means both the guide member and also the web funnel with the drawing rollers can be moved independently on one another. The displacement of the web funnel with the drawing rollers alone, and also of the embodiment combined to form one unit with the guide member, may for example, be effected by shifting, rotating, pivoting or by hingeing upwards or downwards about a horizontal axis.

According to another subsidiary feature of the invention a heater may be provided to heat the guide surface.

A smooth and trouble-free take-off of the fibre web does not take place until the rollers of the carding machine and also the fibre web guide device, have reached a particular operating temperature, e.g. approximately 200C to 30 C. This may be due in part to the fact that initially adhering moisture adversely affects the slipping of the fibre web on the guide surface.

If the guide surface of the fibre web guide device can be heated, the time taken to reach a raised operating temperature is shortened considerably.

An electric heating device is advantageously provided on the side of the guide surfaces furthest from the fibre web. The heating elements of the heating device expediently overlie the guide surface or surfaces at least in part. According to a preferred embodiment, the temperature may be adjusted infinitely or by way of a selector switch in the range between approximately 20 and 80"C. The advantage of the higher temperatures consists in the increase in the delivery speed of the fibres and thus an increase in production. This could stem from the fact that at a raised temperature the slipping of the fibre web along the fibre web guide device is improved considerably. The improvement could also be due to the fact that the fibre web guide device warms the air between the guide surface and squeezing rollers and thus has a favourable effect on the air flow in this space.

By way of example, certain illustrative embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a fibre web guide device on a carding machine shown diagrammatically; Figures 2 to 4 are side views of various guide devices; Figures 5a to 16a are perspective views of various forms of guide devices; Figures 5b to 16 b are plan views of the guide devices shown in Figures 5a to 16a; Figure 5 c is a perspective view of the guide device shown in Figures Sa and Sb showing more detail of the guide device; Figures 1 7a and 17b show a mounting of a guide member; Figure 18 shows an alternative mounting of a guide member; Figure 19 is a perspective view of another fibre web device;; Figure 20 is a plan view of another guide device; Figures 21 and 22 are side views of other guide devices; Figure 22a is a side view of another fibre web guide device on a carding machine shown diagrammatically.

Figure 23 shows details of a control device forming part of the arrangement shown in Figure 22a; Figure 24 is a perspective view of one particular form which the fibre web guide mounting shown in Figure 22a may take; Figures 25 and 26 are perspective views of another particular form which the fibre web guide mounting shown in Figure 22a may take; Figure 27 is a side view of another fibre web guide device; Figure 28 is a side view of another fibre web guide device; Figure 29 is a plan view of another fibre web guide device; Figure 30 is a side view of another fibre web guide device; Figure 31 shows another fibre web guide device, including a heater; and Figure 32 shows the fibre web guide device of Figure 31, including a temperature regulating device.

In the drawings the same reference numerals are used in different embodiments for parts which are the same or substantially the same and which serve the same purpose .

According to Figure 1, near the cylinder 1 of a carding machine 2, a doffer 3, a worker roller 4, a delivery mechanism e.g. squeezing or pinch rollers 5, 6, and a web funnel 7 are arranged. A guide member 8 is arranged immediately after the squeezing rollers 5, 6 and forms part of the delivery mechanism. The guide surface 10 or the guide member 8 is concave in the direction of the fibre web 9 emerging from the squeezing rollers 5, 6 and is of part cylindrical shape. The guide surface 10 is static and constructed in such a way that both squeezing rollers 5, 6 are covered over. The longitudinal edges (not shown in Figure 1) of the guide surface 10 terminate immediately adjacent the squeezing rollers 5, 6 and are parallel to the squeezing rollers.The guide member 8 is normally stationary but can be pivoted by means of a rotation member (not shown in Figure 1), for example a hinge, in the region of a curved side edge about a vertical axis.

In operation, the fibre web 9 leaving the squeezing rollers, 5, 6 meets the guide surface 10 in such a way that the fibre web 9 is rolled in folds. The fibre web 9 is thus condensed and drawn off through the web funnel 7. The condensed fibre web 9, in order to be led off from the guide surface, is guided for example around a rounded side edge of the guide member 8 and condensed in a web funnel 7 to form a rope 11.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 show the squeezing rollers 5, 6, with which there are associated guide members 8a, 8b and 8c of various shapes. Figure 2 shows aguide member 8a which is formed essentially of two flat sections which come together at a point which is spaced from the squeezing rollers 5, 6. This embodiment is made from flat sheets of metal which are joined with a seam and thus easily produced. The guide member 8b in Figure 3 is prism-shaped and has four flat sections which are arranged at an angle to one another in each case. A large amount of space within the guide member can be produced by means of this arrangement of the four flat sections.The guide member 8 c in Figure 4 is elliptical in cross-section. This guide member 8c is attached by way of a holder 27 to a displacing member 28 which allows the guide member 8c to be moved horizontally on a rail 29 towards and away from the squeezing rollers 5, 6. The elliptical shape allows particularly effective guiding of the fibre web. All the guide members 8a, 8b and 8c are open in the direction of the squeezing rollers 5, 6 in order to receive the fibre web 9.

Figures 5a to 16a and 5b to 16b show various embodiments of the fibre web guide device with combinations of different advantageous features being produced by means of these embodiments.

Figure 5a shows a two-part guide member which is formed by the parts 8d and 8d'- In the region of the outer side edges 12, 13 of the parts 8d and 8d' pivot members 14, 15 are provided by means of which the corresponding parts can be pivoted about a perpendicular axis.

The inner side edges 16, 17 of the parts 8d and 8d' have rounded off areas 18, 19 pointing outwards. Between the rounded off areas 18, 19 a continuous vertical slot 20 is provided. The upper horizontal longitudinal edges 21, 21' and the lower horizontal longitudinal edges 22, 22' of the parts 8 d and 8 d' are level with the upper and lower periphery of the squeezing rollers 5, 6. Figure 5b shows how the fibre web 9 is drawn in condensed form through the slot 20 between the guide surfaces 10d and 10d'. The guide surfaces 10d and 10d' are arranged parallel to the squeezing rollers 5, 6. After rotating about the rotation members 14, 15, the parts 8d and 8d' assume the position indicated by broken lines.

Figure Sc shows in more detail how the guide member shown in Figures 5a and 5b is supported. The part 8d is pivotally supported about a vertical axis in the region of the side edge 12 by the pivot member 14 on the upper end of a hinge pin 30. The hinge pin 30 has at its lower end a bearing 31 which is fixedly mounted on the frame of the carding machine.

The two-part embodiments according to Figures 5a, 5b and Sc, due to the continuous slot 20, allow the parts 8d and 8d' to be pivotable towards the outside.

Figures 6a and 6b show a one-part guide member 8e. In the region of the centre of the guide member 8e a slot 23 is provided which is open on one side in an upward direction. The slot 23 is U-shaped and has a rounded off section 26. The slot 23 which is open on one side in an upward direction offers the advantage that the card rope is exposed and this makes it simple to join on.

The embodiment according to Figures 7a and 7b is similar to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 6a and 6b, but the guide member 8f has a slot 23f which is open on one side in a downward direction. In the event of a break, the card rope can drop downwards out of the slot 23f.

Figures 8a and 8b show a one-part guide member 8g, with one side edge 13g of which a pivot member 15 is associated, and the other side edge 17g of which has a rounded off section 19g curved outwards at an angle. The side edge 1 7g is arranged in such a way that the rounded off section is situated at a distance in front of the end face of the two squeezing rollers 5,6. The side edges 1 7g and 13g of the guide member 8g may also be interchanged, i.e.

the side edges 1 7g and 1 3g may be arranged at the opposite ends of the squeezing rollers 5, 6 in each case. According to Figure 8b, the guide surface 8g assumes the position indicated by broken lines after rotating about the pivot member 15. This embodiment allcws asymmetric installation of the web funnel 7 at one side together with the drawing rollers for the takeoff of the card rope, resulting in a simpler construction.

Figure 9a shows a two-part guide member consisting of the two parts 8h and 8h'. The side edges 16h, 17h of the guide surfaces 10h and 10h, are provided with rounded off areas 18h, 19h between which there is a continuous vertical slot 20h.

The radii of curvature of the outer side edges 12h, 1 3h of the parts 8h and 8h, are smaller than the radii of curvature of the inner side edges 16h, 17h. Figures 9a and 9b show that the longitudinal edges 21, 21' of the guide surfaces 10h and 10h, are parallel with the squeezing rollers 5, 6, whilst the portions of the guide surfaces 10h and 10h' intermediate the edges 21h, 21h' form an acute angle with the longitudinal axes of the squeezing rollers 5, 6 and are spaced further from the rollers at the ends of the rollers. In this embodiment, there is an acceleration of the air within the parts 8h and 83h, so that condensing of the fibre web is possible in the direction of the slot 20h.

Figure 1 0a shows a two-part embodiment of the guide member 8i, i' similar to that in Fig- ures 9a and 9b, but in which the radii of curvature of the outer side edges 12i, 13i are greater than the radii of curvature of the inner side edges 16i, 17i. Figure 10b shows that the portions of the guide surfaces 10i and 10i', intermediate their longitudinal edges form an acute angle with the longitudinal axes of the squeezing rollers 5, 6 and are closer to the rollers at the ends of the rollers. This embodiment offers more space for the fibre web which is taken off and is therefore particularly suitable for thicker card ropes.

Figures 1 la and 1 1b show an embodiment of the guide member 8j similar to the embodiment in Figure 10a, 10b, but in one-part form.

In the central area of the guide member 8j a slot 23j is provided which is open on one side in a downward direction.

Figure 1 2a and 12b show an embodiment of the guide member similar to that in Figures 1 la and 1 lb, but in this case the guide member 8k has a slot 23k which is open on one side in an upward direction.

Figures 1 3a and 1 3b show a one-part embodiment of the guide member 8m in which a circular outlet aperture 24 with a rounded off edge 25 is provided in the centre between the side edges 12m, 13m. This embodiment is particularly simple in construction and allows very reliable guiding of the card rope drawn out of the circular outlet aperture 24.

According to Figures 14a and 14b, the guide member consists of three parts 8n, 8n', 8n" which are arranged in a row parallel with the squeezing rollers 5, 6 and have three corresponding guide surfaces 10n, 10n' and 10n".

Between the guide surfaces 10n and 10n' there is a continuous vertical slot 20n and between the guide surfaces 10n' and 10n:' there is a continuous vertical slot 2On'. Figure 14b shows how the fibre web 9 is drawn off in condensed form and divided up twice by the slots 20n and 20n'.

Figures 15a and 15b show a one-part embodiment of the guide member 8p, with which division of the fibre web is achieved in that the divided web is led around the rounded off side edgesl2p,l3p.

Figures 16a and 16b show a one-part embodiment of the guide member 8r similar to the embodiment in Figures 15a and 15b, but in which the radii of curvature of the outer side edges 12r, 13r, are greater than the radius of curvature of the guide surface 10r in the region of the centre between the two side edges 12r, 1 3r.

Figures 14a to 16a and 14b to 16b show embodiments which allow division of the fibre web and thus the take-off of two or more card ropes. This division of the fibre web is particularly advantageous if the working width of the drum of the carding machine is more than 1 metre.

Figure 17a shows the two side frames 30a and 30h of a carding machine. Mounted on the inner side of the side frame 30a there is a bearing member 31 in which one end of a fixing member 32 is movably supported. The other end of the fixing member 3' is attached to the back of a retaining member 33. The retaining member 33 is prism-shaped and has three flat surface which are arranged at an angle with respect to one another in each case. The retaining member 33 is open in the direction'of the squeezing rollers 5, 6. Figure l 7b shows a crosssection corresponding to the illustration in Figure 17a. A guide member 8s is fixed inside the retaining member 33.The fibre web 9 emerges from the squeezing rollers 5, 6, is folded together and passes out through the opening 24 in the guide member 8s as a card rope.

Figure 18 shows a transverse plate 34 between the two side frames (not shown) of the carding machine. Attached to the transverse plate 34 there is a bearing member 35 in which a journal 36 is inserted perpendicularly and engages with its opposite end in a teinilnating member 37. A fixing member 32 has at one end a brushing 38 in the shape of a hollow cylinder with an internal bearing 39 which engages round the journal 36. The other end of the fixing member 32 is attached to the back of the guide member 8t. By means of this arrangement the guide member 8t is pivotally supported, so that a translation/rotation movement of the guide member 8t can be brought about.In order to lock title guide member 8t, a spherical cup-shaped recess 42 is provided in the terminating mernber 37, and a cylindrical recess 41 is provided opposite it in the bushing 38. A compression spring 44 is inserted in the recess 41 and presses a ball 43 into the recess 42 so that it is spring-loaded.

It may happen that parts of the fibre web issuing from the delivery mechanism break, i.e.

the fibre web tears at a particular point. The torn fibre web is completely pulled off by the drawing rollers of the calendering madmie. Due to lack of connection, the next portion of the fibre web can no longer be drawn towards the drawing rollers and builds up in the space between the guide surface and the delivery mechanism .

In the embodiments of the invention shown in Figures 19 to 22, a guide device detects any undesirable build-up of the fibre web in the space between the guide surface and the delivery mechanism, indicates sueh build-up if required, stops the delivery of the fibre web, and allows the build-up of fibre web to be eliminated.

Figure 19 shows the squeezing rollers 5, 6 of a delivery mechanism which are immediately followed and adjoined by a guide member with two guide surfaces 8u' 8u' Each of the guide surfaces 8u, 8u, is laterally connected by way of a retaining arm 71 to a sleeve 52 which is pivotally supported about a perpendicular axis on a fixed bolt 50. On the front face of the rataining arm 71 there is mounted a lug 69 which actuates a switching member in the form of an end probe 68 which actuates a switching member in the form of an end probe 68 rigidly attached to a holder 51. The retaining arm 71 is loaded by 2 spring force in an anticlockwise direction.During operation, when there is an increase in the pressure normally acting on the guide surfaces 8u, 8u' in the space between the latter and the rollers 5, 6, the retaining arm 71 rotates clockwise so that the end probe 68 is actuated by way of the lug 69, thereby actuating an indicating device 49. The guide surfaces 8u, 8u' can then be pulled wide open by hand in order to eliminate the build-up of the fibre web inside the guide surfaces 8u, 8u'.

According to Figure 20, each guide surface 8v, 8v is connected to the retaining arm 71 a by way of leaf spring 52,, which hold the guide surface 8v, 8v' at a distance from the retaining arm 7 la. This embodiment allows the guide surface 8v, 8v' to be pivoted. On the side of the retaining arm 7 la which is associated with the corresponding guide surface an end probe 70a is arranged.The end probe 70a is situated in the space between the leaf springs 52' and the retaining arm 7 la and the corresponding guide surface 8v or 8v'. During operation, when the pressure of the fibre web on the guide surface 8v or 8v' exceeds a predetermined value, the back of the guide surface 8v or 8v' presses on the end probe 70a acts by way of a lead 53 on a motor 56 with a gearwheel 55. The gearwheel 55 meshes with a gearwheel 54 which is attached to the pivotable sleeve 52. By rotation of the sleeve 52, the corresponding guide surface 8v or 8v' is automatically rotated by way of the holder 71a and the leaf springs 52, sufficiently far that the blockage caused by the build-up of the fibre web can be eliminated.

According to Figure 21, a pivot joint 57 which is pivotable about a horizontal axis is mounted on the guide surface 8w. On the side of the guide surface 8w furthest from the squeezing rollers 5, 6 an end probe 70b is provided on a fixed holder 58 and is associated with the back of the guide surface 8w. The end probe 70b is actuated when the guide surface 8w is pivoted clockwise as a result of excessive pressure of the fibre web. The holder 58 is connected by way of a connecting member 59 to a displacement member 60 which after actuation of the end probe 70b by the build-up of the fibre web van be displaced pneumatically in a horizontal direction on a rail 61 in a known manner by way of a pressure cylinder D.

Figure 22 shows an embodiment in which the guide surface 8x is provided on the side furthest from the squeezing rollers 5, 6 with a guide section 62 which is horizontally movable in a fixed guide 63. Inside the guide section 62 there is provided a rod 65 which is loaded by means of a compression spring 64 and acts on an end probe 70c. The end probe 70c is mounted on the fixed guide 63. After actuation of the end probe 70c by a build-up of the fibre web, the guide surface 8x can be hinged downwards about a bearing 66. The end probe 70c is connected by way of a switch-off device 67 to the feed roller (not shown) of the carding machine for example, and switches the feed roller off so that no further fibres are fed to the carding machine and the delivery of the fibre web by the rollers of the delivery mechanism is stopped.

In the embodiments of the invention shown in Figures 22a to 26, various guide devices are described in which members are provided to position the guide surface with respect to the rollers of the fibre web delivery mechanism according to the rotation speed of a feed roller.

According to Figure 22a, a licker-in or take-in roller 73 and a feed roller 72 are arranged in front of the drum 1 of a carding machine.

Downstream of the drum 1 in the operating direction a doffer 3, a worker roller 4, squeezing rollers 5, 6 and a web funnel 7 with drawing rollers 74, 75 are installed. Arranged immediately after the squeezing rollers 5, 6 there is a fibre web takesff device with a guide member 8, which has associated with it a pivot joint 52 and a positioning means 76. The positioning means 76 is connected by way of leads 77, 78 to a control device 79 which is connected by way of a further lead to a transducer 80, for example a dynamo, mounted on the feed roller 72. A desired value selector 81 e.g. a voltagecontrolled relay, is associated with the control device 79. The control device 79 may have settings for low and high speed running.

According to Figure 23, the dynamo used as a transducer 80 on the feed roller 72 is connected to the relay used as the desired selector 81. The desired value selector 81 is connected by way of two electrical leads 82, 82a to the control device, for example a so-called 4/2 way magnetic valve.

The control device 79 is connected by way of compressed air lines 77, 78 to the positioning member 76, with the line 77 supplying compressed air to one side 83b and the line 78 to the other side 83a of a piston 83 situated in the positioning means 76. The control device 79 has an electromagnetic coil 84 which is connected to the leads 82, 82a. Arranged inside the coil 84 is a movable iron core 85 which is supported by way of a compression spring 85a on the coil 84. The other end of the iron core 85 is associated with the outlet of a duct 86 which has its inlet connected to a pressure chamber 87. A piston 88 is movably arranged in the pressure chamber 87. Opposite the inlet of the duct 86 a source of compressed air P, the pipelines 77, 78 and two outlets 89, 90 are connected.When the feed roller 72 is running at a low rotation speed, the transducer 80 delivers a low voltage, so that the desired value selector 81 used as a relay does not respond. The iron core 85 closes the end of the duct 86. From the compressed air source P, air passes by way of a space between the piston 88 and the wall of the pressure chamber 87 into the pipeline 78 and exerts pressure on the side 83a of the piston 83 in the positioning member 76 in such a way that the guide member (not shown in Figure 23) is opened. From the side 83b of the piston 83, air is forced out into the open by way of the pipeline 77 and the outlet 90. When the feed roller 72 is running at a higher speed, the measured value converter 80 emits a higher voltage so that the relay delivers a pulse to the coil 84, whereupon the iron core 85 is drawn into the coil 84.The iron core 85 thereby opens the end of the duct 86. From the compressed air source P, air passes by way of the duct 86 into the space above the piston 88 and pushes the latter downwards. The pipe-line 77 is thereby connected to the air from the compressed air source P which acts on the opposite side 83b of the piston 83 in the positioning member 76 in such a way that the guide member is closed. From the side 83a of the piston 83, air is forced into the open by way of the pipeline 78 and the outlet 89.

Figure 24 shows the squeezing rollers 5, 6 which are followed by a guide member with two guide surfaces 8v, 8v'. In the description which follows, only the supporting and actuation of one guide surface 8v are described; the same arrangement may of course be provided for the guide surface 8v,. As shown in Figure 24, there is provided on the guide surface 8v a retaining arm 48b which is rotatably supported about a vertical axis by way of a sleeve 52 on the upper end of a fixed link stud 50. An angled lever 91 is mounted on the lower end of the sleeve 52. When the rotation speed roller 72 drops below a value prescribed by means of the desired value selector 81, the control device 79 receives a signal such that the pressure in the pipeline 77 increases.The piston (shown in Figure 23) situated in the positioning member 76 is displaced so that the positioning member 76 brings about an outward movement of the cylinder rod 92 which is coupled to the angled lever 91. The angled lever 91 and the retaining arm 48b thereby move clockwise and produce an opening movement of the guide surface 8v, i.e. a movement away from the rollers 5, 6.

When the rotation speed of the feed roller 72 exceeds a prescribed value, on the other hand, e.g. when the carding machine is started up, the guide surface 8v is moved by the increase in pressure in the pipeline 78 originating from the control apparatus 79 into the closed position, i.e. towards the rollers 5, 6.

According to Figure 25 (closed position) and Figure 26 (open position) a retaining arm 48c is attached to the guide surface 8z; the other end of the retaining arm is attached to the cylinder rod 92 of the positioning member 76, e.g. a pneumatic device. A relatively long control lever 93 is attached at one end to the retaining arm 48c at a point between the two ends of the latter, and a further, relatively short control lever 94 is attached to the cylinder rod 92 together with the retaining arm 48c. The other ends of the control lever 93 and of the control lever 94 are linked to stationary pivot joints 95 and 96. When the cylinder rod 92 is drawn into the positioning member 76, the control lever system 48c, 93, 94 causes the corresponding guide surface 8z to swing out of the closed position shown in Figure 25 into the open position shown in Figure 26.The other guide surface 8z, is connected to a similar control'lever system and positioning member.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 27 to 30 fibre web guide devices are described in which the action of air on the moving condensed fibre web leaving the guide member is substantially reduced and higher speeds of operation are attainable.

Figure 27 shows a delivery mechanism (following a carding machine which is not shown) with two rollers 5, 6 which are immediately followed and adjoined by a concave guide member 8a. The opening 24 of the guide member 8a merges directly into the web funnel 7a.

The web funnel 7a is adjacent two drawing rollers 74, 75. The web funnel 7a and the drawing rollers 74, 75 form a so-called calender, which is arranged together with the guide member as a unit which is movable in the direction of travel of the fibre web, i.e. in a horizontal direction.

For this purpose the calender and the guide member 8a are attached by way of two retaining members 92 and 93 to a displacement member 28 which allows horizontal displacement along a rail 29.

Figure 28 shows an embodiment in which the guide member 8a and the web funnel 7a with the drawing rollers 74, 75 are arranged as a unit which is pivotable downwards about a pivot point, e.g. a bearing 94, out of the position shown in Figure 28.

Figure 29 shows a guide surface 8b in which a circular outlet aperture 24 with a rounded-off edge is provided in the centre between the side edges 12 and 13. The web funnel 7 is rigidly fitted directly on to the outer aperture. The guide member 8c is so arranged immediately adjacent the rollers 5, 6 (only the roller 5 is shown) that there is no harmful action of the air on the condensed fibre web. The guide member 8b overlaps both rollers 5, 6 of the delivery mechanism both ina vertical direction (df. Figure 27) and in a horizontal direction.

The horizontal longitudinal edges, e.g. 21, of the guide member 8b terminate immediately adjacent the rollers 5, 6. The guide surfaces 10 of the guide member 8b are slightly tapered in order to facilitate the guiding of the fibre web into the web funnel 7. The side edges 12, 13 of the guide member terminate flush or almost flush with the lateral end faces of the rollers 5, 6 in such a way that the whole of the fibre web emerging from the rollers 5, 6 is apprehended by the guide member 8b. The guide member 8b is connected by way of two retaining members 95 and 96 to the drawing rollers 74 and 75 (only drawing roller 74 is shown).In the region of the outer side edge 12 pivot members 14a are provided, by means of which the guide member 8b, the web funnel 7 mounted on the guide member 8b and the drawing rollers 74 and 75 connected to the guide member 8b are rotated about a vertical axis from the position shown in Figure 29 into a position away from the rollers 5, 6.

Figure 30 shows an embodiment in which a guide member is mounted immediately adjoining the rollers 5, 6. The guide member 8c is followed by the calender, constructed as a unit consisting of the web funnel 7 and the drawing rollers 74,75. The web funnel 7 is connected by way of a support 97, and the drawing rollers 74, 75 by way of a support 93, to the displamement member 23 which allows the calender to be displaced horizontally along the rail 29 with respect to and independently of the guide member 8c.

In practice it generally takes a considerable time for the parts of the carding machine to reach a uniform increased working temperature.

The take-off of the fibre web when the machine is in the cold state may not be smooth and completely free of blockages and it is a disadvantage if it is necessary to wait until higher machine temperatures are reached.

In embodiments of the invention now to be described there is provided a guide device for a fibre web which does not suffer from the above-mentioned disadvantages, i.e. which allows a smooth and trouble-free take-off of the fibre web, particularly shortly after the commencement of operations.

Figure 31 shows two squeezing rollers 5,6 which are followed by a retaining member 33 which is supported (in a manner that is not shown) by way of a fixing member on the side frame of the carding machine. The retaining member 33 has a prism-shaped cross-section.

Fixed inside the retaining member 33 there is an elliptically shaped guide member 80 which is open in the direction of the rollers 5, 6. On the side of the guide surface 10 facing away from the squeezing rollers 5, 6 a heating element 98, e.g. a heating coil, is provided. The heating coil is connected by way of leads 99 to a voltage source 100. The circuit also includes a switch 101 and a regulating device 102, e.g. a variable resistor. The heating element 98 is attached to the back of the guide surface 10 by means of two sleeves 103, made for example, of ceramic insulating material. The sleeves 103 act as insulators and spacers.

According to Figure 32 there is provided approximately in the centre of the guide member 8d behind the heating element 98 a bimetal member 104 with which a contact 105 is associated. The bimetal member 104 and the contact 105 are connected in series with the heating element 98 and the voltage source 100, and together form a temperature regulating device. When a prescribed temperature is exceeded, the two strips of the bimetal member 104 which are made of different metals expand to different degrees so that the bimetal member bends away from the contact 105 and thereby interrupts the circuit.

The temperature regulating device or thermostat consisting of the bimetal member 104 and the contact 105 may also be associated with a control device (not shown) which prpduces the results that, for example, when a nominal temperature is reached the guide member 8d is actuated by a positioning member.

It will be seen that guide devices embodying the invention are able, with a particularly simple construction and in a reliable manner, to condense a web of fibres emerging from delivery rollers at high speed.

While various particular embodiments of the invention have been described many modifications may be made. For example, many of the features described with respect to one particulay embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in other embodiments of the invention.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A carding machine including a fibre web delivery mechanism arranged downstream of the carding cylinder, the delivery mechanism including a pair of co-operating rollers, and at least one guide member having a hollow guide surface for receiving and condensing the fibre web as it is delivered from the co-operating rollers, the guide surface itself being immovably mounted and being substantially positionally static during normal operation of the machine, wherein, during normal operation of the machine, the guide surface is disposed downstream of the rollers and has a pair of bounding edges, each bounding edge being immediately adjacent a respective roller.

2. A carding machine according to Claim 1 in which the rollers are arranged substantially horizontally and the guide surface has horizontal upper and lower longitudinal edges which are arranged immediately adjacent and parallel with the rollers.

3. A carding machine according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the guide surface of the guide member is cylindrical and is arranged with its cylindrical axis parallel with the rollers.

4. A carding machine according to Claim 1 or 2, in which a portion of the guide surface member intermediate the pair of bounding edges is arranged at an angle to the rollers.

S. A carding machine according to any preceding claim in which the guide member is movable in the direction of delivery of the fibre web from the rollers.

6. A carding machine according to any of claims 1 to 4 in which the guide member is pivotable about a vertical axis.

7. A carding machine according to any of Claims 1 to 4 in which the guide member is pivotable about a horizontal axis.

8. A carding machine according to any preceding claim in which the guide surface of the guide member is of curved concave shape.

9. A carding machine according to any preceding claim in which the guide member has at least one outlet aperture through which, in use, the fibre web is drawn.

10. A carding machine according to Claim 9 in which the outlet aperture is closed on all sides.

11. A carding machine according to Claim 9 in which the outlet aperture is open on one side.

12. A carding machine according to any preceding claim in which a side edge of the guide member is, intermediate its junction with said pair of bounding edges, set back from the end faces of the rollers.

13. A carding machine according to any of Claims 1 to 8 in which the guide member consists of at least two parts between which there is a continuous alot.

14. A carding machine according to any pre ceding claim in which the guide member has at least one rounded-off edge past which, in use, the fibre web is drawn.

15. A carding machine including a fibre web delivery mechanism arranged downstream of the carding cylinder, the delivery mechanism being substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by Figure 2 or by Figure 3 or by Figure 4, or by Figures 5a,5b and Sc or by Figures 6a and 6b or by Figures 7a and 7b or by Figures 8a and 8b, or by Figures 9a and 9b or by Figures 10a and 10b, or by Figures 11a and lib, or by Figures 12a and 12b, or by Figures 13a and 13b, or by Figures 14a and 14b, or by Figures 15a and 15b, or by Fig ures 16a and 16b, or by Figures 17a and 17b or by Figure 18 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A carding machine according to Claim 1 in which the guide surface is movable away from the fibre web delivery rollers and a switching member is operatively connected to the guide surface such that said switching member is actuated by movement of the guide surface away from the fibre web delivery rollers as a result of a level of pressure of the fibre web exceeding a predetermined value.

17. A carding machine according to Claim 16 in which an indicating device is provided, is connected to the switching member and reacts to the actuation of the switching member.

18. A carding machine according to Claim 16 or 17 in which an opening device is provided which is electrically connected to the switching member and which moves the guide surface away from the delivery rollers when the switch

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. approximately in the centre of the guide member 8d behind the heating element 98 a bimetal member 104 with which a contact 105 is associated. The bimetal member 104 and the contact 105 are connected in series with the heating element 98 and the voltage source 100, and together form a temperature regulating device. When a prescribed temperature is exceeded, the two strips of the bimetal member 104 which are made of different metals expand to different degrees so that the bimetal member bends away from the contact 105 and thereby interrupts the circuit. The temperature regulating device or thermostat consisting of the bimetal member 104 and the contact 105 may also be associated with a control device (not shown) which prpduces the results that, for example, when a nominal temperature is reached the guide member 8d is actuated by a positioning member. It will be seen that guide devices embodying the invention are able, with a particularly simple construction and in a reliable manner, to condense a web of fibres emerging from delivery rollers at high speed. While various particular embodiments of the invention have been described many modifications may be made. For example, many of the features described with respect to one particulay embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in other embodiments of the invention. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A carding machine including a fibre web delivery mechanism arranged downstream of the carding cylinder, the delivery mechanism including a pair of co-operating rollers, and at least one guide member having a hollow guide surface for receiving and condensing the fibre web as it is delivered from the co-operating rollers, the guide surface itself being immovably mounted and being substantially positionally static during normal operation of the machine, wherein, during normal operation of the machine, the guide surface is disposed downstream of the rollers and has a pair of bounding edges, each bounding edge being immediately adjacent a respective roller.

member is actuated.

19. A carding machine according to any of Claims 16 to 18 in which a switch-off device is provided which is connected to the switching member and which stops the delivery of the fibre web from the delivery rollers when the switching member is actuated.

20. A carding machine according to any of Claims 16 to 19 in which a pivot joint is provided for pivoting of the guide surface.

21. A carding machine according to Claim 20 in which the pivot joint is spring-loaded.

22. A carding machine according to any of Claims 16 to 21 in which a micro-switch is provided as the switching member.

23. A carding machine according to any of Claims 16 to 22 in which thr guide surface is secured to the lever arm by spring means.

24. A carding machine according to any of Claims 16 to 22 in which the guide surface is on the switching member against the bias of spring means.

25. A carding machine including a fibre web delivery mechanism arranged downstream of the carding cylinder, the delivery mechanism being substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by Figure 19 or by Figure 20 or by Figure 22 of the accompanying drawings.

26. A carding machine according to Claim 1 in which means are provided to position the guide surface with respect to the fibre web delivery rollers as a function of the speed of operation of a part of the carding machine.

27. A carding machine according to Claim 26 in which the means provided for positioning the guide surface consist of a transducer actuated by the operation of a part of the carding machine, a control device connected thereto, and a positioning member associated with the guide surface.

28. A carding machine according to Claim 26 or 27 in which the position of the guide surface is infinitely adjustable.

29. A carding machine according to Claim 27 or Claim 28 when dependant upon Claim 26, in which a dynamo is used as the transducer.

30. A carding machine according to Claim 27 or 29, or Claim 28 when dependent upon Claim 27, in which a relay is interposed between the transducer and the control device.

31. A carding machine including a fibre web delivery mechanism arranged downstream of the carding cylinder, the delivery mechanism being substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by Figures 22a 23 and 24 of the accompanying drawings.

32. A carding machine according to Claim 32 modified substantially as herein desceibed with reference to and as illustrated by Figures 25 and 26 of the accompanying drawings.

33. A device according to Claim 1 in which a web funnel and drawing rollers, by means of which the fibre web is drawn from the guide member, are arranged downstream of the guide member and the web funnel during normal operation is immediately adjacent or continuous with the guide surface.

34. A carding machine according to Claim 33 in which the web funnel is rigidly connected to the guide surface as a continuation of the guide surface.

35. A carding machine according to Claim 33 or 34 in which the guide surface, the web funnel and the drawing rollers are movable as a unit with respect to the web delivery rollers.

36. A carding machine according to Claim 33 or 34 in which the web funnel and the drawing rollers are movable as a unit with respect to the guide member.

37. A carding machine including a fibre web delivery mechanism arranged downstream of the carding cylinder the delivery mechanism being substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by Figure 27 or by Figure 28 or by Figure 29 or by Figure 30 of the accompanying drawings.

38 A carding machine according to Claim 1 in which a heater is provided to heat the guide surface.

39. A carding machine according to Claim 38 in which the heater is an electric heating device and is provided on the rear side of the guide surface.

40. A carding machine according to Claim 38 or 39 in which heating elements of the heater at least partly overlie the guide surface.

41. A carding machine according to any of Claims 38 to 40 in which the temperature of the heating elements can be regulated.

42. A carding machine including a fibre web delivery mechanism arranged downstream of the carding cylinder, the delivery mechanism being substantially as herein desciibed with reference to and as illustrated by Figure 31 or by Figure 32 of the accompanying drawings.

43. A carding machine substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by Figure 1 or by Figure 22a of the accompanying drawings.