Described is a carding machine designed preferably to operate in a system for producing padding, which has a particular variability in the type of air processing which may be performed by the machine on the fibres, together with a greater simplicity of management of the configuration of the machine compared with prior art systems.

Apparatus for forming a fibre mat, in particular a non-woven mat, comprising a fibre web-forming device, for example a card, a cross-tapper and a device for drafting the fibre web(s) disposed between the web forming device and the cross-lapper in order to draft the fibre web(s), in particular in a time-varying, specifically periodic manner, to thereby adjust a predetermined desired profile of the fibre mat leaving the cross-lapper, the web-forming device comprising at least one output belt (1, 2) for at least one web (5, 6), and preferably two output belts (1, 2) for two webs (5, 6), an upper and lower web respectively; wherein the cross-hipper has an input belt (7) for receiving the web(s) from the output belt(s) of the web forming device, characterised in that the arrangement is such that the path of the web, or of the at least one web, and preferably of the two, upper and lower, webs, between the output belt(s) of the web-forming device, in particular the card, and the input belt of the cross-lapper includes at least one inflection point (11, 12).

Apparatus for forming a fibre mat, in particular a non-woven mat, comprising a fibre web-forming device, for example a card, a cross-tapper and a device for drafting the fibre web(s) disposed between the web forming device and the cross-lapper in order to draft the fibre web(s), in particular in a time-varying, specifically periodic manner, to thereby adjust a predetermined desired profile of the fibre mat leaving the cross-lapper, the web-forming device comprising at least one output belt (1, 2) for at least one web (5, 6), and preferably two output belts (1, 2) for two webs (5, 6), an upper and lower web respectively; wherein the cross-hipper has an input belt (7) for receiving the web(s) from the output belt(s) of the web forming device, characterised in that the arrangement is such that the path of the web, or of the at least one web, and preferably of the two, upper and lower, webs, between the output belt(s) of the web-forming device, in particular the card, and the input belt of the cross-lapper includes at least one inflection point (11, 12).

Apparatus for forming a fibre mat including a fibre web-forming device (card), a cross-lapper and a device for drafting the fibre web(s) disposed between the web forming device and cross-lapper to draft the fibre web(s), in particular in a time-varying, specifically periodic manner, to adjust a predetermined desired profile of the fibre mat leaving the cross-lapper, the web-forming device including at least one output belt for at least one web, and preferably two output belts for two webs, an upper and lower web respectively; wherein the cross-lapper has an input belt receiving the web(s) from the output belt(s) of the web forming device, characterised in that the path of the at least one web, and preferably of the two, upper and lower, webs, between the output belt(s) of the web-forming device, in particular the card, and the input belt of the cross-lapper includes at least one bending point.

Apparatus for forming a fibre mat including a fibre web-forming device (card), a cross-lapper and a device for drafting the fibre web(s) disposed between the web forming device and cross-lapper to draft the fibre web(s), in particular in a time-varying, specifically periodic manner, to adjust a predetermined desired profile of the fibre mat leaving the cross-lapper, the web-forming device including at least one output belt for at least one web, and preferably two output belts for two webs, an upper and lower web respectively; wherein the cross-lapper has an input belt receiving the web(s) from the output belt(s) of the web forming device, characterised in that the path of the at least one web, and preferably of the two, upper and lower, webs, between the output belt(s) of the web-forming device, in particular the card, and the input belt of the cross-lapper includes at least one bending point.

Disclosed are fibers comprising one or more branded fibers which exhibit surface markings in a repeated pattern along the length of the branded fibers. The branded fibers can be incorporated into yarns or fiber bands to represent supply chain information of the yarns, fiber bands, and/or articles made from the yards or fiber bands. In a specific example, branded fibers can be incorporated into an acetate tow band The branded fibers can be recovered from a cigarette filter, the repeated pattern decoded, and supply chain information associated with the acetate tow used to make the cigarette filter, such as manufacturer, customer, ship to location, and even the acetate tow bale, can be obtained.

Disclosed are fibers comprising one or more branded fibers which exhibit surface markings in a repeated pattern along the length of the branded fibers. The branded fibers can be incorporated into yarns or fiber bands to represent supply chain information of the yarns, fiber bands, and/or articles made from the yards or fiber bands. In a specific example, branded fibers can be incorporated into an acetate tow band The branded fibers can be recovered from a cigarette filter, the repeated pattern decoded, and supply chain information associated with the acetate tow used to make the cigarette filter, such as manufacturer, customer, ship to location, and even the acetate tow bale, can be obtained.

Apparatus for forming a fibre mat, in particular a non-woven mat, comprising a fibre web-forming device, for example a card, a cross-lapper and a device for drafting the fibre web(s) disposed between the web forming device and the cross-lapper in order to draft the fibre web(s), in particular in a time-varying, specifically periodic manner, to thereby adjust a predetermined desired profile of the fibre mat leaving the cross-lapper. The web-forming device provides at least one output belt for at least one web, and preferably two output belts for two webs, an upper and lower web respectively; wherein the cross-lapper has an input belt for receiving the web(s) from the output belt(s) and the arrangement is such that the path of the web between the output belt(s) of the web-forming device, in particular the card, and the input belt of the cross-lapper includes at least one bending point.

Apparatus for forming a fibre mat, in particular a non-woven mat, comprising a fibre web-forming device, for example a card, a cross-lapper and a device for drafting the fibre web(s) disposed between the web forming device and the cross-lapper in order to draft the fibre web(s), in particular in a time-varying, specifically periodic manner, to thereby adjust a predetermined desired profile of the fibre mat leaving the cross-lapper. The web-forming device provides at least one output belt for at least one web, and preferably two output belts for two webs, an upper and lower web respectively; wherein the cross-lapper has an input belt for receiving the web(s) from the output belt(s) and the arrangement is such that the path of the web between the output belt(s) of the web-forming device, in particular the card, and the input belt of the cross-lapper includes at least one bending point.

An apparatus is provided for producing nonwovens. The apparatus includes a card drum that is rotatable in a first direction of rotation, a transfer cylinder that is rotatable in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation, at least one doffer, at least one condenser, at least one stripper roll, a first endless conveyor belt, a suction drum and a second endless conveyor belt.