Means for supplying fiber material to a fiber opening and cleaning apparatus

A fiber processing assembly comprising

• (a) a fiber opening and cleaning machine including
• (1) a housing having a first end and an opposite second end, an air inlet provided in said housing adjacent said first end thereof for guiding an air stream along said opening rolls to entrain fiber material therefrom through a fiber material outlet;
• (2) first and second horizontally side-by-side positioned opening rolls extending horizontally within said housing essentially from said first end to said second end;
• said opening rolls being provided with cleaning elements on outer surfaces thereof;
• (3) a fiber material inlet provided in said housing at a top part thereof, adjacent said first end and in vertical alignment with said first opening roll;
• and
• (4) said fiber material outlet provided in said housing adjacent said second end thereof, whereby the fiber material is simultaneously treated as it passes along the first and second opening rolls from the first end of the housing to the second end thereof;
• (b) a fiber processing machine disposed above said fiber opening and cleaning machine;
• and
• (c) means for advancing fiber material from said fiber processing machine to said first opening roll through said fiber material inlet substantially solely by gravity.
• (d) an air inlet provided in said housing adjacent said first end thereof for guiding an air stream along said opening rolls to entrain fiber material therefrom through a fiber material outlet.