For this reason, the flats do not enable an absolutely continuous carding surface to be formed above the cylinder there are gaps between the clothing strips. Since some space is taken up by the upper edge of each clip, only a strip about 22 mm wide remains for the clothing (hooks or teeth).

A clothing strip (108 b) of the same width is stretched over each bar and secured by clamping, using clips (c) pushed onto the left- and right-hand sides of the assembly.

The bars are given a ribbed form (T-shape) in order to prevent longitudinal bending. Each bar is approximately 32 – 35 mm wide (might change to smaller widths). The bars of the flats are made of cast iron and are somewhat longer than the operating width of the card, since they rest on adjustable (so-called flexible) bends to the left and right of the main cylinder and must slide on these guide surfaces.

High degree of longitudinal orientation of the fibers.

Untangling neps (possibly their elimination) dust removal.

Elimination of some of the short fibers.

Elimination of remaining fiber impurities.

Opening of tufts into individual fibers.

Here, the following effects should be achieved: Together with the cylinder (Fig.), the flats form the main carding zone. Flats move slowly either in the same direction or in the opposite direction of the cylinder, but the wire points are always backward, which is opposite to the direction of the cylinder wire points. Flats in carding machine are the flexible wire–clothed bars rotating at a very slow speed (8–20 cm/min) compared with the highspeed cylinder.

This type of card is called a “revolving flat top” (R.F.T.) card or more commonly a “revolving flat” card. In the nineteenth century, cards were designed with the top flats carried on an endless chain so that they could move continually forward as the card worked. Sarvajanik College of Engineering & Technology, Surat, India Last Updated on Flats in Carding Machine: Types, Construction and Movement

Flat tops