Machines systems and methods for making random fiber webs

A pneumatic fiber feeding system for forming a random fiber web, the system comprising:

• a feeder;
• a lickerin configured to remove a plurality of fibers from a fibrous mat delivered to adjacent the lickerin by the feeder and configured to doff the plurality of fibers from the lickerin;
• a nose bar configured to, with the lickerin, define a passage through which the plurality of fibers are carried to a doffing point;
• a channel communicating an air supply to a first space adjacent the lickerin, the first space including the doffing point where the doff of the plurality of fibers from the lickerin occurs;
• a collector positioned to capture the plurality of fibers once the plurality of fibers are doffed into the air supply, the plurality of fibers forming the random fiber web on the collector;
• a deflector plate positioned adjacent the lickerin and extending into the first space, the deflector plate being configured to deflect the communicated air supply away from the doffing point;
• an airfoil positioned in the channel, the airfoil configured to be selectively moveable toward and away from the deflector plate to selectively allow for passage of at least a portion of the supply air into a second space defined by the lickerin and the deflector plate;
• and
• further comprising one or more passages that communicate with the channel downstream of the doffing point, the one or more passages configured to allow both an amount of the supply air to pass therethrough and allow an amount of an ambient air to pass therethrough and into the channel.