CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims priority from German Patent Application No. 103 18 968.8 dated 26 Apr. 2003, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to an apparatus at a carding machine, wherein at least one stationary carding segment comprising a carrier together with at least one carding elements is associated with a roller, for example a cylinder. 
   In a known apparatus at least two carding elements are arranged behind one another in the direction of rotation of the roller, and the clothings of the carding elements and the roller clothing are located opposite one another. According to EP 0 431 482, a plurality of stationary carding segments, each comprising three fixed carding elements, are associated with the cylinder of the carding machine, each of them being fastened by means of end parts to the associated side frame of the carding machine. The mounting surfaces for the three fixed carding elements on a carrier are so matched to the curvature of the cylinder that, when the carding segment has been optimally set, the width of each carding element extends perpendicular to a respective radius of the cylinder. The carding surfaces of the carding elements are accordingly, in each case, oriented parallel to a corresponding tangent at the clothing of the cylinder. Re-setting can be so performed, for example with the aid of a suitable gauge, that the clothing of one of the carding elements has a desired spacing from the clothing of the cylinder. However, in all probability, the clothings of the other two carding elements will not then have the desired spacing from the cylinder clothing. The desired setting is achieved by means of a pivoting movement of the carding segment about a predetermined axis. During that pivoting movement, all three inter-connected carding elements are displaced until the desired setting has been achieved, at which setting the width of all the carding elements extends perpendicular to a respective radius of the cylinder. The complexity of the construction for pivoting and fixing the carding segment is disadvantageous. It is also disadvantageous that orientation of the carding elements parallel to a respective tangent at the roller results in increased fibre damage and nep formation. Finally, the clothings of the carding elements are subject to considerable wear in operation. 
   It is an aim of the invention to provide an apparatus of the kind described at the beginning which avoids or mitigates the mentioned disadvantages and which especially is simple in terms of construction and installation, enables individual setting of the carding intensity and makes possible a reduction in wear on the clothings of the carding elements. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention provides a carding machine having:
         a roller which has a direction of rotation;   a carding segment opposing said roller and comprising a carrier and first and second carding elements arranged one behind the other in the direction of rotation of the roller;       

   wherein:
         said first carding element has a first carding surface;   said second carding element has a second carding surface; and       

   at least one of said carding surfaces is inclined with respect to a tangent at the opposed roller surface. 
   The measures according to the invention make it possible for the angle between the clothing surface of each carding element and the cylinder clothing—the so-called “offset angle”—to be selected individually. It is especially advantageous that, as a result of specifically or individually orienting the clothing surfaces of the carding elements in relation to one another, the ratio of fibre damage to nep formation is very considerably improved. In addition, the lasting technical improvement is achieved in especially simple manner in terms of construction. As a result of the stationary arrangement of the carding elements there is no need for additional devices for pivoting the carding segments. According to a further advantage, the wear on the clothings of the carding elements is considerably reduced as a result of the individual inclination of the carding surfaces. 
   The carding elements may be non-movable. The carding elements may be movable. 
   The term “stationary” is used herein in relation to one or more carding elements as meaning that the carding element or elements maintain their position as such in the carrier and also with respect to the roller. The term “movable” is used herein in relation to one or more carding elements as meaning that the orientation of the carding element or elements relative to the carrier and/or roller can be changed, for example, by rotation of the element or elements. The carding elements are advantageously rotatable about an axis parallel to the roller. Advantageously, the angles are the same. Advantageously, the angles are not the same. The angle may be acute. The angle may be obtuse. One of said first and second elements may advantageously be inclined at an acute angle and the other at an obtuse angle, said acute and obtuse angles advantageously being complementary. Advantageously, the carding surface of at least one carding element forms an angle with a respective radius of the roller. Advantageously, the roller is the cylinder of the carding machine. Advantageously, the carding elements are arranged to be rotatable about an axis of rotation parallel to the roller axis, the spacing between the clothings of the carding elements and the roller clothing being adjustable. Advantageously, the carding elements are arranged to be individually rotatable in the carrier. Advantageously, the carding elements are arranged to be rotatable in relation to a fastening surface. Advantageously, the axis of rotation is, in each case, arranged in the middle of a carding element. Advantageously, the axis of rotation is, in each case, associated with the end region of a carding element. Advantageously, an adjusting device for the rotation is provided. The adjusting device preferably has at least one adjusting screw or the like. Advantageously, a rotary connection is associated with each carding element. Advantageously, the carrier is attached at both ends to a stationary support by means of a fastening element, for example a fastening bolt. Advantageously, the carding elements are arranged to be detectable. Advantageously, at least one apparatus is arranged in the preliminary carding zone between a licker-in and the rear card-top-deflecting roller of the revolving card top. Advantageously, at least one apparatus is arranged in the after-carding zone between a doffer and the front card-top-deflecting roller of the revolving card top. Advantageously, at least one apparatus is arrange din the underneath carding zone between the doffer and the licker-in. Advantageously, only stationary card top elements are associated with the cylinder of the carding machine, and a plurality of apparatuses are provided at the cylinder. Advantageously, a carding segment has two carding elements. Advantageously, the angle can be changed in operation and out of operation of the carding machine. Advantageously, the angle for two carding elements can be changed simultaneously, the angular position settings of the carding elements being coupled to one another. Advantageously, when the angles are changed, the transmission ratio (angular change) of each carding element is different. Advantageously, a central adjusting device is provided for changing the angles of all the carding elements. Advantageously, the adjusting device comprises a drive motor, for example a step motor. Advantageously, the angles are arranged to be adjusted in stepped manner from carding segment to carding segment, for example to be changed centrally by 0.5°. Advantageously, the spacing between the carding segment and cylinder remains constant. Advantageously, the angular position between the licker-in and the rear card-top-deflecting roller and the angular position between the doffer and the front card-top-deflecting roller are different. Advantageously, the adjusting device, for example the step motor, is connected to an electronic control and regulation device. 
   Advantageously, the carrier is an extruded profile, for example aluminium. Advantageously, a deflecting element or the like, for example a spoiler or similar, is provided at the entry region of the carding segment, seen in the direction of rotation of the cylinder. Advantageously, the deflecting element or the like is arranged upstream of the carding segment. Advantageously, the deflecting element or the like shields the tips of the carding elements. 
   Advantageously, an angle display, for example an angle scale or the like, is provided. Advantageously, the angle is arranged to be changed starting from a tangential position of the carding surface of the carding element (zero point). Advantageously, in a carding segment, the carding nip becomes smaller at the first carding element and larger at the second carding element, seen in the direction of rotation of the cylinder. Advantageously, each carding element is arranged to be rotated in the carrier with two degrees of freedom. Advantageously, the rotation of each carding element takes place about a stationary axis (longitudinal axis) in the carrier. Advantageously, the spacings at the narrowest locations of the carding nips are the same or substantially the same. 
   The invention also provides an apparatus at a carding machine, wherein at least one stationary carding segment comprising a carrier and one carding element is associated with a roller, for example a cylinder, and wherein the clothing of the carding element and the roller clothing are located opposite one another, in which the carding surface of the carding element forms an angle to a tangent at the clothing of the roller, and the carding element is arranged in stationary manner with respect to the roller. Advantageously, a plurality of carding segments are arranged behind one another in the work direction. Advantageously, the carding element is stationary and non-movable. Advantageously, the carding element is stationary and rotatable about its longitudinal axis. 
   The invention also provides an apparatus at a carding machine, wherein at least one stationary carding segment comprising a carrier together with at least two carding elements is associated with a roller, for example a cylinder, which carding elements are arranged behind one another in the direction of rotation of the roller, and wherein the clothings of the carding elements and the roller clothing are located opposite one another, characterised in that the carding surface of at least one carding element forms an angle with a respective tangent at the clothing of the roller, and the carding elements are arranged in stationary manner with respect to the roller. 


   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows, in a diagrammatic side view, a carding machine according to the invention; 
       FIG. 2  shows, in a side view and in section, a fixed carding segment having two non-movable carding elements, the carding surfaces of which are arranged at an angle to the cylinder clothing; 
       FIG. 2   a  shows a carding element having a sawtooth clothing; 
       FIG. 3   a  shows three fixed carding segments according to the invention in the preliminary carding zone of a revolving card top carding machine; 
       FIG. 3   b  is a top view of the fastening at both ends of a carding segment; 
       FIG. 4  shows spacings between the clothings of two carding elements and the cylinder clothing; 
       FIG. 5  shows two carding elements, the carding surfaces of which form an angle with a respective radius of the cylinder; 
       FIG. 6  shows two carding elements, which are rotatable about axes parallel to the cylinder axis; 
       FIG. 7  shows two manually rotatable carding elements together with a display device; 
       FIG. 8  shows two motor-rotatable carding elements, each having a deflection element; 
       FIG. 9  shows three carding segments, each comprising two carding elements exhibiting—seen in the direction of rotation of the cylinder—an offset angle, no offset angle and a counter-offset angle; 
       FIG. 10  shows three carding segments, each comprising one non-movable carding element; 
       FIG. 11  shows three carding segments, each comprising one rotatable carding element; and 
       FIG. 12  is a generalised circuit diagram having an electronic control and regulation device together with two motor-driven actuating members for rotation of the carding elements, two angle-measuring devices and a display device. 
   


   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   With reference to  FIG. 1  a carding machine, for example a DK 903 high-performance carding machine made by Trutzschler GmbH &amp; Co. KG of Mönchengladbach, Germany, has a feed roller  1 , feed table  2 , lickers-in  3   a ,  3   b ,  3   c , cylinder  4 , doffer  5 , stripper roller  6 , nip rollers  7 ,  8 , web-guiding element  9 , web funnel  10 , draw-off rollers  11 ,  12 , revolving card top  13  having card-top-deflecting rollers  13   a ,  13   b  and card top bars  14 , can  15 , can coiler  16  and fixed carding segments  17 ′,  17 ″ according to the invention each having carding elements. Reference numeral  4   a  denotes the direction of rotation of the cylinder  4 , reference numeral  4   b  denotes the clothing of the cylinder  4 , and reference numeral  4   c  denotes the central axis of the cylinder  4 . Reference letter G denotes the work direction. 
   The carding segment  17  according to  FIG. 2  consists of a carrier  18  and two carding elements  19   a ,  19   b , which are arranged behind one another in the direction of rotation (arrow  4   a ) of the cylinder  4 , the clothings  20   a ,  20   b  ( FIG. 2   a ) of the carding elements  19   a  and  19   b , respectively, lying opposite the clothing  4   b  of the cylinder  4 . The carding elements  19   a ,  19   b  are stationary and arranged in movable manner. The carding surfaces of the sawtooth-shaped clothings  20   a ,  20   b  (see  FIG. 2   a ) of the carding elements  19   a ,  19   b  form an acute angle α and β, respectively, with a respective tangent  21   a  and  21   b , respectively, at the clothing  4   b  of the cylinder  4 . It will be appreciated that reference to a respective tangent is to a tangent at a location on the roller corresponding to the nip defined between the respective carding element and the roller. In the embodiment of  FIG. 3   a , fixed carding segments  17   a ,  17   b  and  17   c , at least one and advantageously each of which is as described with reference to  FIG. 2 , are arranged in the preliminary carding zone between the licker-in  3   c  and the rear card-top-deflecting roller  13   a  of the revolving card top  13 . As  FIG. 3   b  shows, the carrier  18  of each carding segment  17  is fastened to two fastening plates  27   a ,  27   b . The fastening plates  27   a ,  27   b  are attached, by means of bolts  28   a ,  28   b , to extension bends  29   a  and  29   b , respectively ( FIG. 3   a  shows only the extension bend  29   a  on one side of the carding machine), which are in turn fastened to the card plates  30   a  and  30   b , respectively, on each side of the carding machine (only  30   a  is shown in  FIG. 3   a ). 
   In the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the clothing  20   a  of the carding element  19   a  forms an acute angle α with the tangent at the cylinder clothing  4   b  (cf.  FIG. 2 ), as a result of which the carding nip becomes narrower in the direction of rotation  4   a  of the cylinder  4 . The angle of inclination α is designated the so-called “offset angle”. The spacing between the clothing  20   a  and the cylinder clothing  4   b  is denoted by reference letter a at the entrance to the carding nip and by reference letter b at the exit from the carding nip, a being greater than b. The clothing  20   b  of the carding element  19   b  forms an acute angle β with the tangent at the cylinder clothing  4   b  (cf.  FIG. 2 ), as a result of which the carding nip opens out in the direction of rotation  4   a  of the cylinder  4 . The angle of inclination β is designated the so-called “counter-offset angle”. The angles α and β may be, for example, about 1°. The spacing between the clothing  20   b  and the cylinder clothing  4   b  is denoted by reference letter c at the entrance to the carding nip and by reference letter d at the exit from the carding nip, c being less than d. The spacings b and c, that is to say at the narrowest positions of the carding nip, are preferably the same or substantially the same, for example 3/1000″. 
   As  FIG. 5  shows, the carding surface  20   a  of the carding element  19   a  forms an acute angle γ with a radius r 1  of the cylinder  4 , and the carding surface  20   b  of the carding element  19   b  forms an acute angle δ with a radius r 2  of the cylinder  4 . 
   In the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , the carding elements  19   a ,  19   b  are arranged to rotate at a rotary connection about a respective axis of rotation  22   a  and  22   b , which is oriented parallel to the roller axis  4   c  (see  FIG. 1 ). The axes of rotation  22   a ,  22   b  are located in a radial direction in relation to the cylinder  4 , in the middle of the respective carding element  19   a  and  19   b . As a result, the angles α, β (see  FIG. 2 ) between the clothings  20   a ,  20   b  of the carding elements  19   a ,  19   b  and the cylinder clothing  4   b  are adjustable individually (that is to say, independently of one another) and by simple means. When there is a change in the angles α, β, the spacings b and c (see  FIG. 4 ) preferably do not change. The carding elements  19   a ,  19   b  are stationary and arranged in movable manner in the carding segment  17   a . “Stationary” means that the carding elements  19   a ,  19   b  maintain their position as such in the carding segment  17   a  and also with respect to the cylinder  4  without change. “Movable” means that the carding elements  19   a ,  19   b  are, for example, rotatable, by means of which the described angles of inclination α, β and spacings can be changed. 
   In the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , one end of a lever  23   a ,  23   b  acts on a respective point of rotation  22   a  and  22   b  of the carding elements  19   a ,  19   b . At the start, the lever  23   b  is in position no. 5 on the display device  24  (zero position). Associated with the lever  23   a  is a further display device (not shown). The starting position corresponds to an angle α=0° and β=0°. Moving the levers  23   a ,  23   b  in the direction of arrows E, F causes the associated carding element  19   a  and  19   b , respectively, to rotate about the respective point of rotation  22   a  and  22   b . The positions of the levers  23   a ,  23   b  can be fixed by means of a latching device (not shown) or the like. 
   In the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , adjustable drive motors  25   a  and  25   b , for example step motors, act on the rotary connections  22   a ,  22   b  and set the angles of inclination α, β of the carding elements  19   a ,  19   b  in the manner shown in  FIG. 7 . At the intake into the carding elements  19   a ,  19   b  there is arranged, upstream of the clothings  20   a ,  20   b  of the carding elements  19   a  and  19   b , respectively, seen in the direction of rotation  4   a  of the cylinder  4 , a respective deflecting element  26   a  and  26   b  (spoiler). The deflecting element  26   a ,  26   b  may be longer than, as long as or shorter than the tips of the clothings  20   a ,  20   b.    
   In the embodiment of  FIG. 9 , three fixed carding segments  17   a ,  17   b  and  17   c  are provided opposite the clothing  4   b  of the cylinder  4  (cf.  FIG. 3   a  in that regard). The fixed carding segments  17   a  to  17   c  each comprise two carding elements  19   a ,  19   b  and  19   c ,  19   d  and  19   e ,  19   f , respectively. Seen in the direction of rotation  4   a  of the cylinder  4 , the carding elements  19   a ,  19   b  arranged at the fibre intake exhibit an offset angle, the carding elements  19   c ,  19   d  arranged in the central region exhibit no offset angle, and the carding elements  19   e ,  19   f  arranged at the fibre exit exhibit a counter-offset angle, by means of which optimum carding action is brought about, together with a considerable reduction in wear on the carding clothings  20 . 
     FIGS. 10 and 11  show two arrangements, wherein one carding element  19 ′,  19 ″ and  19 ′″ is associated with each of the fixed carding segments  17   a ,  17   b  and  17   c , respectively. In accordance with  FIG. 10 , the carding elements  19 ′,  19 ″,  19 ′″ are stationary and arranged in non-movable manner. The carding element  19 ′ forms an offset angle, the carding element  19 ″ forms no offset angle, and the carding element  19 ′″ forms a counter-offset angle. In accordance with  FIG. 11 , the carding elements  19 ′,  19 ″,  19 ′″ are mounted so as to be rotatable about a respective axis of rotation  22 ′,  22 ″ and  22 ′″. All three carding elements  19 ′,  19 ″ and  19 ′″ form an offset angle, the respective carding nips and angles of rotation becoming smaller in the direction of rotation  4   a  of the cylinder  4 . 
   In accordance with  FIG. 12 , the step motors  25   a ,  25   b  ( FIG. 8 ), two angle-measuring devices  32   a ,  32   b  and a display device  33 , for example a display monitor or the like, are connected to an electronic control and regulation device  31 , for example a microcomputer machine control, by means of which the angles of inclination α β of the carding elements  19   a ,  19   b  can be adjusted either manually by means of an input device (not shown) or automatically by means of a memory (not shown). 
   Although the foregoing invention has been described in detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be obvious that changes and modifications may be practised within the scope of the appended claims.
In an apparatus at a carding machine, wherein at least one stationary carding segment comprising a carrier together with at least two carding elements is associated with a roller, for example a cylinder, which carding elements are arranged behind one another in the direction of rotation of the roller, the clothings of the carding elements and the roller clothing are located opposite one another. 
     In order, by means that are simple in terms of construction and installation, to make possible individual setting of the carding intensity and a reduction in wear on the clothings of the carding elements, the carding surface of at least one carding element forms an angle with a respective tangent at the clothing of the roller  4  and the carding elements are arranged in stationary manner with respect to the roller.