Apparatus for controlling the feed roller of a fiber tuft feeder

In a system including a fiber tuft feeder and a carding machine operatively coupled to the fiber tuft feeder or receiving a fiber lap therefrom;

• the tuft feeder having a feed chute and a first feed roller advancing fiber tufts into the feed chute, and the carding machine having a second feed roller arranged for advancing the fiber lap and a doffer situated downstream of said second feed roller;
• said second feed roller and said doffer constituting card rollers;
• an rpm-variable motor drivingly connected to said first feed roller and an output amplifier forming part of said rpm-variable motor;
• and control means for controlling the operation of said first feed roller;
• the improvement in said control means comprising
• (a) an rpm measuring means connected to at least one of said card rollers for generating a first signal representing an operational magnitude of said at least one card roller;
• (b) signal generating means connected to an output of said rpm measuring means and arranged for generating a second signal as a function of said first signal;
• (c) pressure sensing means for sensing pressure in said feed chute and for generating a third signal representing said pressure;
• (d) a regulator connected to an output of said pressure sensing means and arranged for generating a fourth signal as a function of said third signal;
• and
• (e) an integrating device connected to an output of said signal generating means and an output of said regulator for receiving said second and fourth signals and being arranged for emitting a fifth signal as a function of said second and fourth signals;
• said integrating device being connected to said output amplifier for applying said fifth signal thereto.