Method and apparatus for making a uniform, continuous sliver

An apparatus for regulating the sliver output of a carding machine supplied with a tuft column by a card feeder having a tuft shaft and feeding means for introducing tuft into the tuft shaft;

• comprising in combination:
• (a) a sliver sensor for continuously sensing the throughput quantity of the sliver and generating a continuous main regulating signal as a function of the throughput quantity;
• (b) a regulator connected to said sliver sensor for receiving said main regulating signal from said sliver sensor and generating a reference signal as a function of said main regulating signal;
• (c) a tuft column sensor connected to said tuft shaft for sensing a variable of the tuft column advancing in said tuft shaft;
• said tuft column sensor having
• (1) signal generating means for emitting an auxiliary regulating signal as a function of the sensed variable of the tuft column;
• (2) a desired value setting means being connected to said regulator for receiving said reference signal from said regulator and further being connected to said signal generating means of said tuft column sensor for varying said auxiliary regulating signal as a function of said reference signal;
• and
• (d) tuft column altering means being connected to said signal generating means of said tuft column sensor for receiving said auxiliary regulating signal and further being connected to said card feeder for altering the tuft column as a function of said auxiliary regulating signal;
• said tuft column altering means comprising an additional regulator having an input connected to said signal generating means of said tuft column sensor for receiving said auxiliary regulating signal and an output operatively connected to said card feeder for applying thereto a setting signal as a function of said auxiliary regulating signal to alter said tuft column as a function of said setting signal.

An apparatus for regulating the sliver output of a carding machine supplied with a tuft column by a card feeder having a tuft shaft and feeding means for introducing tuft into the tuft shaft;

• comprising in combination:
• (a) a sliver sensor for continuously sensing the throughput quantity of the sliver and generating a continuous main regulating signal as a function of the throughput quantity;
• (b) a regulator connected to said sliver sensor for receiving said main regulating signal from said sliver sensor and generating a reference signal as a function of said main regulating signal;
• (c) a tuft column sensor connected to said tuft shaft for sensing a variable of the tuft column advancing in said tuft shaft;
• said tuft column sensor having
• (1) signal generating means for emitting an auxiliary regulating signal as a function of the sensed variable of the tuft column;
• said signal generating means including an inductive sensor switch, a diaphragm displaceable in response to the pressure in said tuft shaft for moving with respect to said inductive sensor switch for varying the flux density of said inductive sensor switch;
• (2) a setting motor being connected to said regulator for receiving said reference signal and being further connected to said signal generating means for varying the distance between said diaphragm and said inductive sensor switch for varying the flux density of said inductive sensor switch to alter said auxiliary regulating signal as a function of said reference signal;
• and
• (d) tuft column altering means being connected to said inductive sensor switch for receiving said auxiliary regulating signal and further being connected to said card feeder for altering the tuft column as a function of said auxiliary regulating signal.