In an automatic preparation cycle, the only intervention on the part of the operator is to supply the bale plucker with bales, while the prepared material, delivered by the storage boxes, is fed directly to the hoppers that supply the carding room equipment loaders, thereby creating a direct link with the carding room.
The machines are connected up by a pneumatic transportation system that renders processing productive and safe.
Automation has led to an improvement in blend quality, without depriving the system of any of its flexibility, allowing the repetition of cycles on the different machines, and their exclusion, and thus guaranteeing optimal processing of the most varied and the most homogeneous materials.

Fig. 1 Complete preparation cycle

There have also been considerable improvements in terms of the healthiness of the working environment, with marked reductions in dust concentrations, and in the area of accident prevention.
Figure 1 illustrates a preparation system.

1 Bale plucker        8 Mobile blending apron
2 Condenser        9 Oiling pump
3 Vibrating wall    10 Oiling tank
4 Fibre opening        11 Fan
5 Exchanger        12 Storage chamber
6 Blending chamber    13 Card loader
7 Deposition device    14 Card