Air control system for carding machines

Claim 1

A vacuum system for controlling the disposition of waste generated by processing of a textile web on a carding machine having a lickerin, a main cylinder, and a doffer, said device comprising: a. first suction means arranged adjacent the point where the surfaces of the lickerin and main cylinder diverge to draw off surface air currents generated through rotation of the main cylinder and the lickerin; b. second suction means comprising a housing disposed above said doffer and having an opening arranged adjacent the point where the surfaces of the doffer and main cylinder converge to draw off surface air currents generated through rotation of the main cylinder at the nip of the main cylinder and the doffer; c. said first and second suction means cooperating with one another to reduce the air turbulence in the area beneath the main cylinder; d. a frame supporting said lickerin, main cylinder, and doffer and said frame including means enclosing the area beneath the lickerin, main cylinder, and doffer; e. a source of suction cooperatively connected to said first suction means, said source of suction providing a sufficient amount of suction through said opening to provide a negative pressure zone which is more attractive to the surface air currents than the atmosphere; f. said source of suction also being operatively connected to said second suction means, said source of suction providing sufficient suction to create a negative pressure zone which attracts a significant portion of the air currents created through the clockwise rotation of the main cylinder before these currents are delivered into the area beneath the main cylinder; and g. said first suction means comprising a nozzle including a top wall, a pair of spaced side walls depending from the top wall and extending toward the lickerin roll, each of said side walls having a suction orifice providing communication between the atmosphere and the interior of the nozzle, one of said side walls being positioned adjacent the point where the surfaces of the main cylinder and lickerin diverge, the other of said walls being positioned on the opposite side of the lickerin, and a pair of spaced end walls joined to the top and side walls.