The carder aligns the fiber and produces a smooth roving.  The fiber is weighed again, and measured amounts are evenly spread out between the blue lines on the intake.

Click on any picture for a closer look.

This is a decision point – after carding, the roving can be packaged in bags or center-pull bumps for handspinners, made into rug yarn, or continue on to be spun into yarn.

Another option is to output the fiber into batts instead of roving.