Carding machines
A carding machine is a textile processing machine used to disentangle, clean, and intermix fibers to produce a continuous web suitable for subsequent processing into yarn or fabric. It aligns fibers parallel to each other and removes impurities to create a uniform strand known as a card sliver.
- Feed System: This is where raw fibers are fed into the machine. It typically consists of feed rollers or a feed table to ensure a consistent flow of fibers.
- Carding Cylinder: The main component of the carding machine, the carding cylinder, is covered with closely spaced wire teeth or “card clothing.” As it rotates, it combs and aligns the fibers, removing impurities in the process.
- Doffer: Located near the carding cylinder, the doffer removes the aligned fibers from the cylinder’s surface in the form of a thin web or card sliver.
- Stripping Roller: This component helps remove any fibers that cling to the carding cylinder, preventing clogging and maintaining efficiency.
- Worker and Stripping Rollers: These rollers, positioned around the carding cylinder, further assist in cleaning and aligning the fibers by transferring them between various stages of the carding process.
- Lickerin: Positioned before the main carding cylinder, the lickerin pre-processes the fibers, opening them up and removing larger impurities before they reach the carding cylinder.
- Coiler: Once the card sliver is produced, it is wound onto a spool or tube by the coiler for further processing or storage.
- Control Panel: Modern carding machines often feature a control panel where operators can monitor and adjust settings such as speed, tension, and fiber alignment.