Driver for a flat bar of a carding machine, flat bar for a carding machine, and carding machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a driver (24) for a flat bar (20) of a carding machine (100), the driver (24) comprising a main body (26) with a first fastening means (30) for releasable fastening to the flat bar (20), with a second fastening means (32) for releasable fastening to a drive element (25), with at least one receiving element (36) for releasably receiving a sliding element (38) of the flat bar (20), the at least one receiving element (36) extending between a contact surface (28) and an outer surface (44), and with an application surface (40) for the attaching of a cleaning element (42) to the main body (26), the application surface (40) extending along the at least one receiving element (36), wherein: the main body (26) comprises a base part (14), which extends between the contact surface (28) and the outer surface (44), and an extension (46); the extension (46) protrudes from the base part (14), proceeding from the outer surface (44), in a direction pointing away from the contact surface (28); the extension (46) has a further application surface (63) for the attaching of a further cleaning element (62). The invention further relates to a flat bar (20) for a carding machine (100), having at least one such driver (24), and to a carding machine (100) having at least one such flat bar (20).

Description

[0001] Internal file number P249933WO2 22.09.2025

[0002] Title: Driver for a teasel lid rod, lid rod for a teasel and teasel

[0003] Description

[0004] The application relates to a driver for a deck bar of a carding machine, wherein the driver comprises a base body with a first fastening means for detachable attachment to the deck bar, a second fastening means for detachable attachment to a drive element, at least one receiving element for detachably receiving a sliding element of the deck bar, wherein the at least one receiving element extends between a contact surface and an outer surface, and an application surface for attaching a cleaning element to the base body, wherein the application surface extends along the at least one receiving element. The application further relates to a deck bar for a carding machine, wherein the deck bar has a support body and at least one sliding element attached to the support body at each end, with a driver arranged at at least one of the end ends.The application also concerns a teasel with a drum and a traveling cover system with cover rods guided around a partial circumference of the drum.

[0005] When cleaning or carding fibrous materials, such as cotton and / or synthetic fibers, stationary or rotating cleaning or carding elements are typically positioned opposite a rotating drum loaded with a set of cards. To achieve optimal cleaning or carding results, these elements must be positioned as close as possible to the carding set on the rotating drum. This adjustment is made when the drum is cold and stationary. The effective distance between the tips of a carding set and the carding element opposite it is called the carding gap. The carding gap is crucial for carding quality. Its size or width is a machine parameter that influences both the fiber processing technology and the machine's running characteristics, particularly those of a traveling carder, or simply carder. The carding gap is set as narrow as possible without risking collisions between the working elements.To ensure uniform fiber processing, the carding gap must be as consistent as possible across the machine's working width. The carding gap is primarily influenced by the machine settings on the one hand and the condition of the carding unit on the other. To increase card production, the operating speed of the moving elements can be set as high as the fiber processing technology allows. The working gap changes depending on the operating conditions because the carding unit components expand unevenly due to thermal expansion. Consequently, the distances between the drum and the cover, the take-up unit, the fixed covers, and the cutting points with knives decrease. In extreme cases, the set gap between the working surfaces can be completely eliminated by thermal expansion, resulting in collisions between moving components (Internal File Reference P249933WO2, September 22, 2025).Significant damage to the affected high-performance carding machine is then the result. Furthermore, the generation of heat in the working area of ​​the carding machine can lead to differing thermal expansions if there are excessive temperature differences between the components. To reduce or avoid the risk of collisions, the carding gap between opposing carding sets is set relatively wide in practice, meaning a certain safety margin is maintained. However, a large carding gap leads to undesirable nit formation in the carded strip. An optimal, and especially a consistently narrow, gap size is desirable, as this significantly reduces the number of nits in the carded strip.

[0006] DE 102012 006 557 A1 discloses a cover bar for a carding machine, which has a support body with a mounting for a set of components. The support body is assigned two end head sections that slide on a sliding guide and interact with an endless flexible drive element, e.g., a drive belt. A drive element is provided that engages with the support body and the drive element, and the drive element is secured at one end in a recess in the end face of the support body. To ensure that the connection between the cover bar and the drive element is easily detachable, that the drive element is reusable, and that the geometry of the support body is not impaired, the drive element is positively connected to the support body by fasteners that are reversibly detachable.

[0007] EP 3 959 363 B1 discloses a carding machine with a drum and a traveling cover system with cover bars rotating around a partial area of ​​the drum's circumference, wherein at least one cover bar is configured to transmit current operating data or an electrical contact to a carding machine control system, wherein the at least one cover bar is configured to correspond with at least one contact element, wherein the contact element is configured to transmit the electrical contacts or data to the carding machine control system, wherein the at least one contact element is arranged in the area of ​​a flexible arc, wherein the at least one contact element has at least one contact arc configured to compensate for changes in the distance between the cover bar and the drum, so that contact for transmitting data or an electrical contact is always ensured.wherein the at least one contact arc is arranged resiliently or elastically on the contact element.

[0008] Deposits of dust and fiber residue, as well as corrosion on the contact element, can impair electrical conductivity. This can lead to an interruption of the electrical connection necessary for carding gap adjustment between the carding strip tips and the carding machine's control unit. Internal file number P249933WO2 22.09.2025

[0009] One task may be to improve the assurance of electrical contact between the trim strip on the lid rod and the contact element.

[0010] The problem is solved by a driver according to claim 1, a cover rod according to claim 10, and a carding machine according to claim 13. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the respective dependent claims.

[0011] The invention provides that the driver for a lid rod of a carding machine has a base body, a base part extending between the contact surface and the outer surface, and a projection, wherein the projection extends from the base part in a direction away from the contact surface, the base part having the application surface for attaching the cleaning element, and the projection having a further application surface for attaching a further cleaning element.

[0012] The extension, which extends beyond the outer surface, allows the attachment of a cleaning element located outside the base. Due to its position, this element can be guided over the contact element to clean, polish, and / or grind a contact arc, which can be, in particular, an electrically conductive rail. This advantageously prevents the accumulation of contaminants on the contact arc. Furthermore, oxidation layers can also be removed, especially if the cleaning element has an abrasive effect.

[0013] The driver is designed to be positioned at at least one end of the cover bar, or one driver at each of the two ends of the cover bar. In the installed state, the contact surface of the base body faces a support body of the cover bar. The drive element can be a circulating drive belt. The at least one receiving element for the sliding element can extend from the contact surface to the outer surface facing away from the cover bar and extends in a direction also referred to as the X-direction of a Cartesian coordinate system fixed to the driver or the cover bar. Two receiving elements can be provided, each for one sliding element, with the application surface being located between the two receiving elements arranged parallel to each other in the X-direction.If characteristics of the driver are specified with regard to the cover bar, this refers to an installation position of the driver on the cover bar or its support body. The application surface extends in the X-direction between the contact surface and the outer surface, and the extension with the further application surface extends in the X-direction beyond the outer surface. The application surface and the further application surface have a second direction of extension in a Y-direction of the Cartesian coordinate system fixed to the driver or the cover bar, whereby the Y-direction corresponds to a direction of rotation of the driver or the cover bar in the traveling cover movement of the carding machine. Internal file number P249933WO2 22.09.2025.

[0014] The extension can be tapered relative to the base part. For example, the additional application surface extending beyond the outer surface in the X-direction can be tapered in the Y-direction relative to the application surface provided on the base part. In other words, the extension can project from the base part like a balcony and thus be positioned in front of the outer surface. In particular, the base body is a single-piece component. The base body can be a molded plastic part, for example, made of POM, and can be manufactured as an injection-molded part.

[0015] According to a first embodiment, the application surface and the secondary application surface can be designed as a continuous surface. This includes the possibility that the two application surfaces can be arranged apart from each other in a common plane as well as in the Z-direction, i.e., height, with such a height offset preferably being less than 5 millimeters. The cleaning element can be arranged on the application surface and the secondary cleaning element can be arranged on the secondary application surface. The cleaning elements can be attached to the respective application surface by means of an adhesive layer. This allows for easy replacement, for example, during maintenance work. The cleaning elements can be designed as a single, continuous component or as a single cleaning element.According to a second embodiment alternative to the aforementioned first embodiment, the application surface and the further application surface can be two spaced-apart surfaces. The cleaning element can be arranged on the application surface, and the further cleaning element can be arranged on the further application surface. The cleaning elements can be attached to their respective application surfaces by means of an adhesive layer. This allows them to be easily replaced, for example, during maintenance work. The cleaning element and the further cleaning element can be two separate elements that may have different or the same cleaning properties. The cleaning properties can be characterized by features such as material composition, density, porosity, moisture absorption capacity, hardness, flexibility, and the texture or surface structure of the cleaning elements.

[0016] For all embodiments, the cleaning element and / or the additional cleaning element can be made of materials such as plush, felt, a microfiber-based material, or similar. These materials are durable and particularly well-suited for this application.

[0017] Furthermore, the second fastening element may be designed as a recess for receiving the drive element. The recess may extend through the base body, particularly the base part, thus advantageously facilitating demolding of the base body, which, in the case of a possible design as a molded part, for example, an injection-molded part (Internal File No. P249933WO2, 22.09.2025). The recess is therefore also continuous through the application surface. The recess can thus extend in a Z-direction of the Cartesian coordinate system fixed to the drive element or the cover rod. A cover may be provided to bridge the recess.With a continuous recess, the base body, produced for example by injection molding, can be demolded. However, the disadvantage is that the adhesive used in the adhesive layer to attach the cleaning element to the application surface comes into contact with the drive element, for example, its cam inserted in the recess, via the recess and impairs it. The cover can therefore be positioned on the side of the second fastener facing the application surface to bridge the gap. Accordingly, the cover can be placed on the second fastener, particularly the recess, before the adhesive layer is applied. The cover advantageously avoids this disadvantage because it separates the adhesive layer from the drive element.The recess can have a step, wherein the recess has a larger cross-section on one side of the step facing the application surface than on the other side, so that the cover can be arranged on the step. The cover can, for example, be cup-shaped or bowl-shaped.

[0018] In the design with two receiving elements for each of the sliding elements, it can be provided that the application surface is arranged between the two receiving elements.

[0019] Furthermore, the base body may have a connecting section on a side facing away from the extension, wherein an electrical conductor with at least one contact arm projecting beyond the base body and a contact pin pointing towards the receiving element for contacting the sliding element are arranged on the connecting section. The design of the driver with the electrical conductor is not limited to the driver with the extension and the additional cleaning element. In principle, this can also be implemented in a driver that has only the cleaning element but no extension with the additional cleaning element.

[0020] The connecting section can project beyond the mounting surface in order to engage, in the installed position, in a fitting receptacle of the cover bar, into which the fitting strip can be inserted in a manner known per se.

[0021] According to a further embodiment, the first fastening element can be arranged as a cantilever on the base part. The one-piece base body can encompass the first fastening element. For example, the cantilever can be fitted with... (Internal file number P249933WO2 22.09.2025)

[0022] Friction plates may be arranged to increase friction between the cantilever and an opening that receives the cantilever. Additionally or alternatively, the cantilever may have a locking connection at an end remote from the contact surface, wherein the locking connection is, for example, a locking lug designed to engage behind an undercut on the cover bar.

[0023] Another subject matter of the application relates to a cover bar for a carding machine, wherein the cover bar has a support body and at least one sliding element attached to each end. The driver, as described above, is arranged at at least one of the end ends and detachably connected to the support body by means of the first fastening means. The sliding elements are, for example, cylindrical or pin-shaped. For example, the sliding elements are cylindrical pins and can be referred to as sliding pins. The sliding elements are preferably electrically conductive; for example, the sliding elements are made of metal.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the support body may have a receptacle into which the particularly flexible strip can be inserted. The connecting section of the driver may be arranged in the receptacle such that the contact arm engages in the receptacle. In this way, the contact arm can interact with the strip when it is inserted, for example by contacting a back plate of the strip. The support body may have an undercut, wherein the first fastening element comprises a snap-fit ​​connection element that engages positively with the undercut.

[0025] Another subject matter of the application relates to a carding machine with a drum and cover bars guided around a partial circumference of the drum, wherein at least one cover bar is designed according to one of the embodiments described above.

[0026] The carding machine can have a guide rail and at least one contact element with at least one electrically conductive contact arc on at least one of the two end faces of the moving cover system for guiding the sliding elements of the cover bars, wherein the respective sliding elements are electrically conductive. Preferably, the carding machine has at least one guide rail on each side of the moving cover system. Furthermore, several contact elements can be provided for each guide rail. The contact elements can have contact arcs that, for example, comprise an electrically conductive rail. The sliding elements, which slide over the contact arcs in the carding position of the respective cover bar, then establish the electrically conductive connection between the cover strips and a control unit of the carding machine, which can be connected to the contact arcs via an electrical conductor. The extension that can be arranged orThe additional cleaning element, arranged in the carding position of the respective cover rod, sweeps across the respective contact sheet, thus keeping it clean. Internal file number P249933WO2, September 22, 2025.

[0027] The sliding elements can each have a sliding section for sliding over the sliding strip and a contact section at the end for sliding over the contact arc, with the application surface extending along the sliding section and the further application surface extending along the contact section.

[0028] Further features and advantages of the subject matter of the application are described in more detail below, together with a description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the figures.

[0029] They show:

[0030] Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a carding machine according to the invention;

[0031] Figure 2 is a perspective partial view of the teasel;

[0032] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a contact element and an embodiment of a cover rod according to the invention;

[0033] Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the lid rod according to Figure 3;

[0034] Figure 5 shows another perspective view of the lid rod according to Figure 3;

[0035] Figure 6 shows a sectional view of the lid rod according to Figure 3;

[0036] Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a base body and an electrical conductor attached to it of an embodiment of a drive element for the cover rod according to Figure 3;

[0037] Figures 1 to 3 show an embodiment of a carding machine 100 and individual partial views thereof, which are described together below. As shown in Figure 1, in the carding machine 100, fiber flakes are guided via a chute to a feeding roller 1, a feeding table 2, over several pre-tears 3a, 3b, 3c, and to a drum 4. On the drum 4, the fibers of the fiber flakes are parallelized and cleaned by means of stationary carding elements 13 and rotating carding elements, also referred to as carding plates or plate bars 20, arranged on a traveling cover system 17, which can also be called a cover circuit. For the sake of clarity, only a subset of the plate bars 20 arranged in the traveling cover system 17 are shown in Figure 1; these are transported by means of an endless flexible drive element, for example, a drive belt 25.Arrow B indicates the direction of travel of the cover bars 20 in the carding position within the traveling cover system 17, and arrow C indicates the return transport direction of the cover bars 20. Arrow A indicates the direction of rotation of the drum 4. The resulting fiber web is subsequently conveyed via a take-up roller 5, a stripper roller 6, and several squeeze rollers 7, 8 to a web guide element 9, which forms the fiber web into a fiber ribbon with a hopper 10. The fiber ribbon is then transferred via take-up rollers 11, 12 to a can 15 or a downstream processing machine (not shown), for example, an integrated drawing unit. (Internal file reference P249933WO2 22.09.2025)

[0038] The adjustment of the distance between the cover bars 20 and the drum 4, also called the carding gap, is achieved via a known adjustment mechanism, which is briefly discussed in connection with Figure 2. An embodiment of the adjustment mechanism is shown here, which is described in detail, for example, in German patent application DE 102019 110699 A1. The known adjustment mechanism has a slide rail 18, which has an upper, movable, wedge-shaped slide rail 18a and a lower, fixed, wedge-shaped slide rail. The lower slide rail, indicated by reference numeral 18b, can, for example, be integrated into an upwardly open groove of a flexible sheet 27 and is therefore not visible separately in this illustration. For example, the base of the upwardly open groove of the flexible sheet 27 can form or encompass the lower slide rail.To adjust the radius of the slide rail 18 concentrically to the radius of the drum 4 and / or to set the basic distance between the surface of the slide rail 18 and the drum 4, a plurality of adjusting spindles 19 are provided, which can be adjusted manually or by motor, for example with electric motor actuators (not shown). In this embodiment, six adjusting spindles 19 and two adjustment points at the ends are provided, with which the respective slide rail 18 on each side of the carding machine 100 can be adjusted. The adjustment of the upper slide rail 18a on the lower slide rail 18b can be effected with a gear (not shown here) which is driven by an actuator 21, as described, for example, in German patent application DE 102019110654 A1.The actuator 21 can be designed as a motor-gearbox combination, for example as a stepper motor with externally arranged sensors or as a servo motor with integrated sensors. The adjustment or displacement of the upper slide bar 18a on the lower slide bar 18b simultaneously translates the movement due to its wedge shape, as a large distance is covered on the circumference of the lower slide bar 18b, resulting in only a small change in radius. The slide bar 18 is usually mounted directly or indirectly, for example on the flexible bow 27, and can be adjustableally connected to a side plate of the carding machine 100 (not shown here), so that the carding machine 100 can have a flexible bow 27 and at least one slide bar 18 on each side facing the drum 4.

[0039] The radius of the slide bar 18 is thus adjustable or arranged concentrically to the radius of the drum 4, so that the cover bars 20 are guided against the direction of rotation A of the drum 4 during their cover travel in the carding position (see arrow B in Figure 1) and can always maintain the same distance to the drum 4, i.e., the constant carding gap. On the upper surface of the upper slide bar 18a, the cover bars 20 slide with, for example, cylindrical or pin-shaped, sliding elements 38 (Figure 3), which are guided at a distance from each other by the drive belt 25 shown in Figure 1 and moved. The electrically conductive sliding elements 38 interact with one or more contact arcs 23 of a contact element 22, which can be arranged, for example, laterally on the slide bar 18 or on the flexible arc 27, as shown in Figure 2.For example, four of the contact elements 22 can be attached to the sliding rail 8. The contact arcs 23 can be designed as electrically conductive rails. Each contact element 22 is connected to a control unit 16 of the carding machine 100 by means of an electrical line 64.

[0040] Figure 3 shows an exemplary perspective view of one of the contact elements 22 and one of the cover bars 20. Each cover bar 20 has a support body 55, of which only one of two end ends 37 is visible here. A Cartesian coordinate system with X, Y, and Z directions is defined for this figure and Figures 4 to 6 as a coordinate system that moves with the cover bar 20. The support body 55 is an elongated profile in the X direction, in particular made of aluminum. Two of the sliding elements 38 can project from the support body 55 at each end end 37 of the cover bar 20, whereby, in principle, only one of the sliding elements 38 can be arranged at one of the end ends 37. The sliding elements 38 are divided into three functional sections in the X direction.Specifically, each sliding element 38 is firmly inserted with its held end in a longitudinal bore 33 of the support body 55, the connection being reinforced with adhesive if necessary. The two further functional sections of the sliding element 38 are arranged outside the longitudinal bore 33, with a central section, which can also be referred to as a sliding section 34, sliding over the sliding strip 18 in the carding position of the cover bar 20, and an end-side, or free-end, contact section 35 interacting with the contact arc 23. Furthermore, a driver 24 is arranged at each of the two head ends 37 of the cover bar 20, which can be pushed or attached onto the respective sliding elements 38.

[0041] The driver 24 for the cover rod has a base body 26, which can be a single-piece component. The base body 26 can be a molded plastic part, for example, made of POM, and can be injection-molded. The base body 26 has a base section 14, which extends in the X-direction between a contact surface 28 facing the support body 55 and an outer surface 44 facing away from it, and a projection 46. The projection 46 extends from the outer surface 44 in a direction away from the contact surface 28 of the base body 14. The base body 26 terminates in the X-direction with an end face 45 formed on the projection 46. The surfaces 28, 44, 45 of the base body 26 can be aligned parallel to each other. The projection 46 tapers in the Y-direction relative to the base body 14. The base body 26 has two receiving elements 36 for the sliding elements 38.The receiving elements 36 extend in the X-direction between the contact surface 28 and the outer surface 44. The receiving elements 36 can be shell-shaped (Internal file number P249933WO2, 22.09.2025) and open downwards in the Z-direction, or as shown in Figure 3. Alternatively, the receiving elements 36 can also be bores formed in the base body 26, which can be penetrated by the sliding elements 38. The extension 46, which extends beyond the outer surface 44, is arranged between the contact sections 35 of the two sliding elements 38. In particular, the end face 45 of the extension 46 can be flush with the sliding elements 38 or recessed from them in the X-direction. The base part 14 extends at least substantially along the sliding sections 34 of the sliding elements 38 and is arranged between them.The base body 26 further features a recess extending in the Z-direction as a second fastening element 32 for detachable attachment to the drive belt 25. The drive belt 25 can, for example, be an endless belt with projections designed as cams or pin-, tenon-, mushroom-shaped, etc., which are inserted into the recesses 32 of the drivers 24.

[0042] Figure 4 shows a perspective partial view of the cover rod 20, or rather the head end 37 of its support body 55, with the driver 24. The base part 14 has an application surface 40 for attaching a cleaning element 42, and the extension 46 has a further application surface 63 for attaching another cleaning element 62. The application surface 40 and the further application surface 63 are designed as a continuous surface, which means that the two application surfaces 40, 63 can be arranged apart from each other in a common plane as well as in the Z-direction, i.e., height, with such a height offset preferably being less than 5 millimeters. The cleaning element 62 attached to the further application surface 63 faces the contact element 22 when the associated cover rod 20 is in the carding position.The additional cleaning element 62 thus sweeps across the contact arc 23 in the carding position of the associated cover bar 20, thereby cleaning it. The application surface 40 of the base part 14 faces the slide bar 18 in the carding position of the associated cover bar 20. The cleaning element 42 thus sweeps across the slide bar 18 in the carding position of the associated cover bar 20, thereby cleaning it. The cleaning element 42 and the additional cleaning element 62 are, here, designed as a single, integrated component, i.e., a single, one-piece cleaning element. However, it is also possible that there are two separate cleaning elements 42 and 62, which can have the same or different cleaning properties. The respective cleaning elements 42 and 62 can, for example, be made of plush, felt, a microfiber-based material, or the like.The respective cleaning element 42, 62 can be connected to the associated application surface 40, 63 via an adhesive layer and is replaceable, for example, during maintenance work. The effective surface of the cleaning elements 42, 62 of the respective driver 42 preferably lies in a continuous plane (Internal file number P249933WO2, 22.09.2025). Furthermore, a third fastening element 51 for detachable attachment to the cover rod 20 can be arranged on the connecting section 48.

[0043] Figure 6 shows that the support body 55 has a fitting receptacle 56 in which a particularly flexible fitting strip 57 can be inserted. Figure 4 shows the cover rod 20 with the fitting strip 57 inserted. The fitting strip 57 can, for example, be magnetically attached to the support body 55 so that it can be easily removed or inserted. For this purpose, a magnetic plate 59 can be arranged at the base of the fitting receptacle 56, which can interact with a metallic back plate of the fitting strip 57, as shown in Figure 6. Other fastening methods, for example by means of clamps or positive locking, are also possible. To simplify cleaning of the fitting receptacle 56, the drive lugs 24 are detachably arranged at the head ends 27 of the support body 55.

[0044] Figure 5 shows a further perspective partial view of the cover rod 20, or the head end 27 of its support body 55, with the driver 24. The second fastening element 32, which can also be referred to as a recess, extends through the base body 26, or the base part 14, in the Z-direction. A cover 53, which can be inserted before the cleaning element 42 is bonded, is provided to bridge the recess 32 in order to prevent the drive element 25 from being affected or contaminated by the adhesive layer applied to the application surface 40. The recess 32 can have a step 54, wherein the recess 32 has a larger cross-section on a side of the step 54 facing the application surface 40 than on a side of the step 54 facing away from the application surface 40. The cover 53 can be arranged on the step 54.The cover 53 can be cap-shaped, pot-shaped, cup-shaped, or the like, in particular with a circumferential rim that rests on the step 54. For example, the cover 53 is a closure cap.

[0045] Figure 6 shows a sectional view of the cover bar 20, or rather the head end 37 of its support body 55, with the driver 24. The section lies in an XZ plane spanned by the X and Z directions. The base body 26 of the driver 24 is detachably connected to the support body 55 of the cover bar 20 by a first fastening element 30. The first fastening element 30 comprises a cantilever arm 39 arranged on the base body 26. At the end of the cantilever arm 39 furthest from the contact surface 28, a locking connection element 52 in the form of a locking lug is formed, which interacts with an undercut 58 on the support body 55. When the cantilever arm 39 engages in the undercut 58, it undergoes elastic deformation in the Z direction, thereby enabling secure locking of the respective driver 24 on the support body 55. With regard to figure 6 above orIn the Z-direction above the cantilever arm 39, a connecting section 48 of the base body 26 is arranged. The connecting section 48 is stepped (Internal file number P249933WO2, 22.09.2025) and terminates in the Z-direction at a top surface 41 facing away from the cantilever arm 39 with a foundation surface 47 of the fitting strip 57 inserted in the fitting receptacle 56, see Figure 4. For example, U-shaped wire hooks are held in the foundation 47, the tips of which form the fitting tips 29.

[0046] Each driver 24 has an electrical conductor 50 that electrically connects the strip 57, when inserted in the strip holder 56, and the sliding elements 38. For the driver 24 to be configured with the electrical conductor 50, it is not necessary for the driver 24 to have the extension 46. An electrically conductive connection from the strip 57 to the respective contact arc 23 is established via the electrically conductive sliding elements 38 as soon as the respective cover bar 20 is guided along the respective contact element 22 in its carding position and the sliding elements 38 with their contact sections 35 slide accordingly on the respective contact arc 23. The contact elements 22, in turn, are electrically connected to the control unit 16 of the carding machine 100 via their contact arcs 23, which can be designed as electrically conductive rails.Because the drum assembly 31, together with the drum 4 and the trim strip 57 of the cover bar 20, are arranged within the carding machine 100 in an electrically conductive but electrically insulated manner, and an electrical voltage can be applied to both components 31 and 57, an electrical contact is created when the drum assembly 31 touches the trim tips 29 of the trim strip 57 or when they are in very close proximity. This contact is detected and evaluated by the control unit 16 of the carding machine 100 for the purpose of adjusting the carding gap. The control unit 16 evaluates the contacts between the trim tips 29 and the drum assembly 31 with regard to number, duration, and intensity. The control unit 16 can in turn activate individual or all actuators of the adjusting spindles 19, if these are motor-driven, so that the adjusting spindle 19 can pull the flexible arc 27 towards or push it away in order to change the carding gap on the traveling cover system 17 segment by segment or completely.

[0047] Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the base body 26. The base body 26 has the two receiving elements 36 for the sliding elements 38 and the first fastening element 30 with the cantilever arm 39 and the locking connecting element 52 designed as a locking lug. The electrical conductor 50 is attached to the connecting section 48 to establish the electrical connection between the trim strip 57 and the sliding elements 38, which in turn slide on the electrically conductive contact arc 23 (Figure 3).

[0048] The electrical conductor 50 is fully visible in Figure 7. A contact arm 60 of the electrical conductor 50, located on the fitting side, projects beyond the connecting section 48 and beyond the entire base body 26, which, in the installed position shown, for example, in Figure 6, projects into the fitting receptacle 56 to contact the fitting strip 57 on an underside facing away from the fitting tips 29, for example, at its metallic Internal file reference P249933WO2 22.09.2025

[0049] The backplate is to be contacted. Two contact pins 61 of the electrical conductor 50 are arranged in the area of ​​the two receiving elements 36, here in extension of the receiving elements 36, in order to contact the sliding elements 38. A base section 49 of the electrical conductor 50 connects the contact arm 60 and the contact pins 61 to each other. In the embodiment shown here, the assembly-side contact arm 60 extends from the base section 49 in a first direction, and the two contact pins 61 extend from the base section 49 in an opposite direction, whereby the assembly-side contact arm 60 and one of the two contact pins 61 can be arranged in extension to each other. It is also possible that a second assembly-side contact arm 60 is arranged in extension to the other of the two contact pins 61. The contact arm 60 and / or the contact pins 61 can be resiliently designed.The electrical conductor 50, in particular the base section 49, is attached to the connecting section 48 at least via one fixing point 65, here two of the fixing points 65.

[0050] The design and function of the drivers 24 can be the same on both sides of the cover rod 20. It is possible to have a "left" driver 24 and a "right" driver 24, since the sliding elements 38 in the respective cover rod 20 may be arranged at slightly different heights, particularly along the Z-axis, or only one of the sliding elements 38 may be provided at one of the head ends 37. Accordingly, the arrangement and design of the respective receiving element 36 in the driver 24 may also differ slightly.

[0051] Internal file number P249933WO2 22.09.2025

[0052] Reference sign

[0053] 1 feed roller

[0054] 2 Dining table

[0055] 3a, 3b, 3c Tear-off

[0056] 4 drums

[0057] 5 customers

[0058] 6 Scraper roller

[0059] 7 Squeeze roller

[0060] 8 crushing roller

[0061] 9 fleece guiding element

[0062] 10 T funnel

[0063] 11. Take-off roller

[0064] 12. Take-off roller

[0065] 13 fixed carding element

[0066] 14 Basic part

[0067] 15 cans

[0068] 16 Control

[0069] 17 Traveling lid system

[0070] 18 sliding strip

[0071] 18a Upper sliding rail

[0072] 18b Lower sliding rail

[0073] 19 adjusting spindle

[0074] 20 lid rods

[0075] 21 Actuator

[0076] 22 Contact element

[0077] 23 contact sheets

[0078] 24 drivers

[0079] 25 drive belts

[0080] 26 basic shapes

[0081] 27 flexible bows

[0082] 28 Plant area

[0083] 29 set tips

[0084] 30 First fastening device

[0085] 31 drum set

[0086] 32 Recess, second fastening element

[0087] 33 Longitudinal bore

[0088] 34 Sliding section Internal file number P249933WO2 22.09.2025

[0089] 35 Contact section

[0090] 36 Recording element

[0091] 37 Head end

[0092] 38 sliding element

[0093] 39 Cantilever

[0094] 40 application area

[0095] 41 Top

[0096] 42 Cleaning element

[0097] 44 outdoor area

[0098] 45 Front surface

[0099] 46 Extension

[0100] 47 Foundation top

[0101] 48 Connecting section

[0102] 49 Basic section

[0103] 50 Electrical conductor

[0104] 51 Third fastening device

[0105] 52 Snap-in fasteners

[0106] 53 Cover

[0107] Level 54

[0108] 55 supporting structures

[0109] 56 set recording

[0110] 57 stripes

[0111] 58 Undercut

[0112] 59 magnetic plate

[0113] 60 contact arm

[0114] 61 contact legs

[0115] 62 Additional cleaning element

[0116] 63 Additional application area

[0117] 64 Management

[0118] 65 Fixation point

[0119] 100 cardoons

[0120] A, B, C Directional arrows

[0121] X, Y, Z Cartesian coordinates

Claims

Internal file number P249933WO2 22.09.2025 Patent claims 1. Driver (24) for a cover rod (20) of a carding machine (100), wherein the driver (24) has a base body (26) with • a first fastening means (30) for detachable attachment to the lid rod (20), • a second fastening means (32) for detachable attachment to a drive element (25), • at least one receiving element (36) for releasably receiving a sliding element (38) of the cover rod (20), wherein the at least one receiving element (36) extends between a contact surface (28) and an outer surface (44), and • an application surface (40) for attaching a cleaning element (42) to the base body (26), wherein the application surface (40) extends along the at least one receiving element (36), characterized in that the base body (26) comprises a base part (14) extending between the contact surface (28) and the outer surface (44) and a projection (46), wherein the projection (46) extends from the outer surface (44) in a direction away from the contact surface (28) from the base part (14), wherein the base part (14) has the application surface (40) for attaching the cleaning element (42) and the projection (46) has a further application surface (63) for attaching a further cleaning element (62).

2. Driver (24) according to claim 1, characterized in that the extension (46) is tapered compared to the base part (14).

3. Driver (24) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the application surface (40) and the further application surface (63) are designed as a continuous surface.

4. Driver (24) according to claim 3, characterized in that the cleaning element (42) is arranged on the application surface (40) and the further cleaning element (62) is arranged on the further application surface (63), in particular by means of an adhesive layer, in particular wherein the cleaning elements (42, 62) are designed as a continuous component.

5. Driver (24) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the application surface (40) and the further application surface (63) are two surfaces spaced apart from each other. Internal file number P249933WO2 22.09.2025 6. Driver (24) according to claim 5, characterized in that the cleaning element (42) is arranged on the application surface (40) and the further cleaning element (62) is arranged on the further application surface (63), wherein the cleaning element (42) and the further cleaning element (62) are two separate elements which have different or the same cleaning properties.

7. Driver (24) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the second fastening means (32) is designed as a recess for receiving the drive element (25), wherein the second fastening means (32) extends through the base body (26), in particular the base part (14), and in particular wherein a cover (53) for bridging the second fastening means (32) is arranged on a side of the second fastening means (32) facing the application surface (40).

8. Driver (24) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that two of the receiving elements (36) are provided for each of the sliding elements (38), wherein the application surface (40) is arranged between the two receiving elements (36).

9. Driver (24) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the base body (26) has a connecting section (48) on a side facing away from the extension (46), wherein an electrical conductor (50) with at least one contact arm (60) projecting beyond the base body (26) and a contact leg (61) directed towards the receiving element (36) for contacting the sliding element (38) are arranged on the connecting section (48).

10. Cover rod (20) for a carding machine (100), wherein the cover rod (20) has a support body (55) and at least one sliding element (38) attached to the support body (55) at each head end (27), wherein a driver (24) according to one of claims 1 to 9 is arranged at at least one of the head ends (27) and is detachably connected to the support body (55) by means of the first fastening means (30).

11. Cover rod (20) according to claim 10, characterized in that the support body (55) has a fitting receptacle (56) for receiving a fitting strip (57) that is particularly flexible, wherein the contact arm (60) of the driver (24) projects into the fitting receptacle (56) for contacting the fitting strip (57).

12. Cover rod (20) according to one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that the support body (55) has an undercut (58), wherein the first fastening means (30) has a snap-fit ​​connecting means (52) which engages positively with the undercut (58). Internal file number P249933WO2 22.09.2025 13. Carding (100) with a drum (4) and a traveling cover system (17) with cover rods (20) guided around a partial circumference of the drum (4), wherein at least one cover rod (20) is designed according to one of claims 10 to 12.

14. Carding machine (100) according to claim 13, characterized in that the carding machine (100) has a sliding strip (18) and at least one contact element (22) with at least one electrically conductive contact arc (23) for guiding the sliding elements (38) of the cover bars (20) on at least one of the two end faces of the traveling cover system (17), wherein the respective sliding elements (38) are electrically conductive.

15. Carding machine (100) according to one of claims 14, characterized in that the sliding elements (38) each have a sliding section (34) for sliding over the sliding strip (18) and at their end a contact section (35) for sliding over the contact arc (23), wherein the application surface (40) extends along the sliding section (34) and the further application surface (63) extends along the contact section (35). 18

Images