Abstract:
A system and method for cleaning and feeding textile fibers is disclosed wherein supply units (A) include a cleaning machine (B) fed by a batt forming machine (C) which includes a reserve chute (42) and a formation chute (44). The reserve chute and formation chute are partitioned whereby a serial flow of fiber laden air may be utilized to deliver fibers to a number of the supply units connected in series. Each supply unit (C) may feed a parallel line (10, 12, 14) of card machines (16). Each card machine (16) is fed by a vertical chute feed (18) to which a fiber delivery air flow is delivered from supply units (60, 62, 64). In this manner, a first fiber batt of uniform density across its width is fed to the cleaning machines. The fibers are more uniformly fed and separated to provide more uniform opening and cleaning of the fibers. The individual and cleaned fibers are fed to a vertical chute feed wherein a second fiber batt is formed for feeding to the textile cards.