Carding engine having suction cleaning means between the licker-in and the carding cylinder

Claim 1

A CARDING ENGINE, COMPRISING A CARDING CYLINDER, A LICKER-IN SPACED FROM SAID CARDING CYLINDER, A SUCTION CYLINDER BETWEEN SAID LICKER-IN AND SAID CARDING CYLINDER AND HAVING ITS PERIPHERY CLOSELY ADJACENT SAID CARDING CYLINDER AND SAID LICKER-IN, SAID SUCTION CYLINDER COMPRISING A CAGE ROLLER HAVING A PLURALITY OF APERTURES IN THE CYLINDRICAL WALL THEREOF, A PLURALITY OF SAW TEETH ON THE OUTER CYLINDRICAL SURFACE THEREOF, A VACUUM BOX FIXEDLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID CAGE ROLLER, SAID VACUUM BOX HAVING AT LEAST ONE OPENING THEREIN, SAID OPENING EXTENDING IN THE PERIPHERAL DIRECTION OF SAID CAGE ROLLER AT LEAST ALONG A PORTION OF SAID SUCTION CYLINDER, AN EXHAUST FAN CONNECTED TO SAID VACUUM BOX AN UPPER CASING OVER AT LEAST THE UPPER PORTIONS OF SAID LICKER-IN AND SAID SUCTION CYLINDER, AND A PLURALITY OF SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL WALLS AT LEAST BELOW SAID LICKER-IN AND ENCLOSING A STILL AIR SPACE IN COMMUNICATION AT LEAST WITH SAID LICKER-IN, ONE OF SAID WALLS HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN INTO SAID STILL AIR SPACE.