The preliminary treatment of fibres for staple yarn spinning.

The transformation of filaments into staple fibres, whereby a distinction is made between processes where fibres are delivered in bulk and processes where fibres are delivered in parallelised forms (e.g. ribbons, tops, slivers).

Processes and devices where the obtained staple fibres are delivered in randomized orientation or bulk form.

Randomized orientation can for example be found for the cutting of mineral filaments like glass, or guillotine type chopping processes of fibres to shorten them.

Processes and devices where the obtained staple fibres are delivered in parallelised form (e.g. strands or ribbons).

Typically, processes like the stretch breaking or converting of synthetic filament tows are found in this group.

E.g. the so-called converters for tow (i.e. tow to top).

Mechanical and wet treatments that affect the surface of natural fibres e.g. sanding of fibres, degreasing of wool fibres.

Typically, techniques that increase surface roughness or permeability (for higher inter-fibre cohesion, higher absorption, higher binding affinity with polymers and the like).

Fibre sorting mechanisms and methods other than silk-dressing machines and combing, e.g. for preparing the natural fibres for a length diagram measurement step.

The opening of compressed bales of fibres into workable fibre tufts; e.g. sawtooth grinding of cotton bales.

The separation of remaining non-fibre elements (e.g. seeds, vegetal contaminants) from fibres in fibre opening and cleaning apparatuses, and the opening i.e. loosening of the fibres, in order to obtain better fibre individualisation for example before carding. Typically, the group refers to blowroom equipment.

Apparatus and processes for disintegrating fibre containing articles to obtain fibres for reuse, i.e. recycling.

Apparatus and processes for mixing, e.g. blending fibres or mixing fibrous and non-fibrous material.

The technical elements and variants of cards, as well short staple cards (cotton cards) as long staple cards (wool cards).

Long staple (e.g. for wool) cards, where the carding action is performed between the workers and the main cylinder.

A worker designates a rotating cylinder of small diameter that cooperates with the main cylinder (or tambour) of the card, in order to perform the fibre carding.

Short staple (e.g. for cotton) cards, where the carding action is performed between flats and the main cylinder.

Flats designate longitudinal flat elements on a chain which cooperate with the main cylinder (or tambour) of the card, in order to perform the fibre carding.

Morel cylinder devices, where one cylinder has openings adapted to trap wool fibres entangled with burrs, while a cooperating cylinder will beat the burrs out.

A (rare) carding process for individualising silk staple fibres.

The combing out of short fibres (noils) from a carded fibre mass, in order to retain the longer fibres. The fibres are generally fed to and from the combing machine in sliver form.

The so-called Noble combing principle where rotating pinned elements act on a passing fibre mass to remove short fibres from it.

The combing technique (also called Heilmann combing technique), where combed fibre tufts are drawn out in linear manner from the combing area and are superposed.

E.g. heated crimping boxes, to increase fibre cohesion.

Partial or complete processing lines with a combination of fibre preparation machines and process steps; e.g. combed cotton producing line.

Apparatus and processes for feeding fibres to machines.

Fibre packing devices, that wind fibre strands into a compact package (lap) that is easier to transport, e.g.:

The re-packaging of laps or slivers into bobbins, in order to accommodate specific format requirements.

The application of lubricant, e.g. by spraying during fibre preparation.

Lubricant can be sprayed in drafting machines to enable a better fibre gliding or a better penetration of control pins in so-called gill boxes (i.e. fibre control units with pins, placed between drafting rollers in long staple drafting arrangements).

Warning and safety devices, as well as quality monitoring devices applied to spinning preparation machines; e.g. evenness monitors of a card output; sliver breaking detectors etc.

Auxiliary devices used by hand to facilitate intervention of fibres; e.g. superposing sliver ends in a comb to create a sliver junction.

The cleaning and opening of entangled or agglomerated flax or hemp fibres, to obtain a parallelised fibre bundle (e.g. to be used as joint in connecting pipes).