of fig2 apply in corresponding manner between the points of the clothing 4 a of the cylinder 4 on the one hand and the points of the clothing 3 a of the licker in 3 3 there is a roller gap a between the points of the clothing 4 a of the cylinder 4 and on the other hand the points 5 a of the doffer there is further a roller gap b when during operation heat is generated in the carding gap by the carding work especially in the case of a high production rate and or the processing of synthetic fibres or cotton synthetic fibre mixtures the cylinder casing 4 e is expanded that is to say the radius r 3 increases and the roller gaps a and b become smaller the heat is conducted by way of the cylinder casing 4 e into the radial supporting elements the cylinder bases 4 c and 4 d the cylinder bases 4 c 4 d likewise expand as a result that is to say the radius r 3 fig2 increases the cylinder 4 is virtually fully enclosed encased on all sides in the radial direction by the elements 14 17 18 19 see fig1 and to both sides of the carding machine by the elements 23 a 23 b 24 a 24 b 25 a 25 b the machinery housing 34 comes in addition as a result of the increase in the diameter of the cylinder 4 caused by.