Compact carding apparatus with sliver thread-up and method

摘要

A compact carding apparatus is disclosed which includes a pair of upstanding carding cylinders (B) and (C) carried in a self-standing manner on a base frame (260). Cylinder (C) is carried generally atop cylinder (B) by mounting plates (272, 274) which allow radial movement of cylinder (C) to yield to large lumps passing between the cylinders. A chute feed (10) and coiler (192) are uniquely combined with the compact arrangement in a minimum of space and in a mobile construction so as to permit movement of either the chute or coiler away for access to the apparatus. The compact upstanding arrangement provides for mounting of a number of carding elements mounted about the two cylinders which include stationary plates (40, 42, 44, 46) on cylinder (B); and revolving flat assembly (E) and stationary carding plates (96, 123) on cylinder (C). An extended fiber path (P) is defined about cylinders (B) and (C) along which a transferred fiber mass may be effectively exposed for carding on both of its sides. Fibers may be subjected to a carding action over approximately 80 percent of the circumference of the carding cylinders. Automatic thread-up of a sliver produced on the carding apparatus is provided by perforated transport belts (150, 152) which collect a web (W) and condense it into sliver (S). Sliver (S) is subjected to excessive drafting by a pair of transfer rolls (168, 170) driven at a high relative speed. During excessive drafting, fibrous parts are pulled and separated from a start-up sliver to form a pointed end. The fibrous parts are removed by suction (184). Excessive drafting is terminated and the pointed sliver end is fed to an air trumpet (174) in which the sliver is condensed and fed to a pair of metering rolls (188, 186) for delivery into a coiler tube (190).