Fiber web guiding device for forming a sliver from a fiber web

A fiber sliver producing apparatus comprising:

• (a) means for making a running fiber web;
• (b) a web gathering device being downward oriented relative to a horizontal plane and having
• (1) a plurality of walls defining an inner space through which said fiber web runs in a downward oriented advancing direction;
• said plurality of walls being stationary during operation of the apparatus;
• (2) a web gathering portion causing the running fiber web to converge;
• said web gathering portion having an inlet opening;
• (3) a web densifying portion being situated downstream of said web gathering portion as viewed in said advancing direction for forming a running sliver from the web;
• said web densifying portion having an outlet opening for discharging the running sliver;
• said outlet opening having a cross-sectionally rectangular outline;
• said outlet opening having a width and a height;
• said width being at least five times greater than said height;
• (c) a calender roll pair formed of two calender rolls through which said sliver passes after being discharged by said outlet opening;
• said calender roll pair defining a bight in which said outlet opening is disposed;
• and
• (d) a stripping roll forming a last component in a series of components constituting said means for making the running web;
• said stripping roll discharging the running web in the downward direction;
• said inlet opening of said web gathering device being positioned below said stripping roll for receiving the running web therefrom.

A fiber sliver producing apparatus comprising:

• (a) means for making a running fiber web;
• (b) a web gathering device having
• (1) a plurality of walls defining an inner space through which said fiber web runs in an advancing direction;
• said plurality of walls being stationary during operation of the apparatus;
• (2) a web gathering portion causing the running fiber web to converge;
• said web gathering portion having an inlet opening;
• (3) a web densifying portion being situated downstream of said web gathering portion as viewed in said advancing direction for forming a running sliver from the web;
• said web densifying portion having an outlet opening for discharging the running sliver;
• said outlet opening having a cross-sectionally rectangular outline;
• said outlet opening having a width and a height;
• said width being at least five times greater than said height;
• (4) adjusting means for setting the area size of said outlet opening, said adjusting means comprising
• (a) first and second adjoining, movable components, said first and second components being rotatably supported;
• (b) first and second surface portions carried by said first and second movable components, respectively, said first and second surface portions each being arcuate and each having a terminal edge, the terminal edge of said first arcuate surface portion and the terminal edge of said second arcuate surface portion together partially defining said outlet opening;
• and
• (c) moving means for displacing said first and second components relative to one another for varying said area size;
• and
• (c) a calender roll pair formed of two calender rolls through which said sliver passes after being discharged by said outlet opening;
• said calender roll pair defining a bight in which said outlet opening is disposed.