carding machine

carding machine

A worker feeds wool into the carding machine.

Definition

Noun: A carding machine is a mechanical device used in textile manufacturing to separate, clean, and align fibers (such as wool, cotton, or synthetic materials) into a continuous web or sliver, preparing them for spinning into yarn. The process, called "carding," involves combing the fibers with wire teeth or pins to remove impurities and straighten them.

Usage Examples
  • (The device prepares wool fibers for spinning.)
  • (The machine straightens and cleans the cotton fibers.)
  • (The device operates at high capacity in industrial settings.)
Advanced Usage
  • "to feed the carding machine": to supply raw fibers into the device for processing.

    • Workers carefully feed the carding machine with cleaned wool. (They introduce the material into the machine.)
  • "carding machine settings": adjustments made to the machine's rollers, speeds, and gaps to optimize fiber alignment.

    • The technician adjusted the carding machine settings to handle delicate silk fibers. (He modified the machine's parameters for a specific fiber type.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Carding (n): the process performed by the carding machine, involving combing and aligning fibers.

    • Carding is a crucial step in yarn production. (The process of fiber preparation.)
  • Carder (n): a person who operates or tends a carding machine, or a device that performs carding.

    • The carder monitored the machine for jams. (The operator of the carding machine.)
  • Card (v): to process fibers using a carding machine or hand carders.

    • They card the wool before spinning. (They perform the carding process.)
Synonyms
  • Fiber comber: a machine that combs fibers (similar but often used for longer fibers).
  • Textile card: another term for a carding machine, especially in historical contexts.
Related Idioms (None directly related to this technical term)

No common idioms or phrasal verbs exist for "carding machine" due to its specific industrial usage.