Device and method for leveling clothing on carding machine flat bars

This application claims the priority of German Patent Application No. 101 40 304.6 filed on Aug. 16, 2001, the disclosure of which is being incorporated herein by reference. A flat bar assembly is provided for use with a carding machine having a carding cylinder, the carding cylinder having clothing. The assembly has a flat bar, flat bar clothing attached to the flat bar, and an equalizing layer between the flat bar and the flat bar clothing. The flat bar clothing is for positioning opposite the carding cylinder clothing, and the equalizing layer fills a space between the flat bar and the flat bar clothing to compensate for distance differences between the flat bar clothing and the flat bar and to locate the flat bar clothing at a predetermined position relative to the flat bar.