Apparatus on a spinning preparation machine for ascertaining the mass and/or fluctuations in the mass of a fibre material

Apparatus on a spinning preparation machine, for example a flat card, roller card, draw frame, combing machine or the like, for ascertaining the mass and/or fluctuations in the mass of a fibre material, for example, at least one fibre sliver, fibre web or the like, of cotton, synthetic fibres or the like, in which the fibre material is scanned mechanically by a feeler element the excursions of which are converted into electrical signals, there being a contactless distance sensor for detecting the position of the feeler element (proximity sensor), in which the distance sensor, using waves or rays, is a sensor that measures distance, which sensor is connected to an electrical evaluating device.

A spinning preparation machine, comprising an apparatus for detecting the position of a feeler element that, in use, contacts a continuously moving fibre structure, having at least one distance sensor for detecting the position of the feeler element for contactlessly and non-inductively measuring a parameter related to the sliver mass of the continuously moving fibre structure.