The motor rotating shaft is horizontal, the drive pinion spin axis can be horizontal. The trouble is these axes are not aligned, they happen to be parallel to one another. The Cardan Shaft redirects the travel shaft to the drive pinion without changing the direction of rotation.
Trusted in 
industry, cardan shafts have confirmed practical in applications where space is limited-as well while in situations where an element in the device train (e.g. paper roll) may need to be actuated (dynamically positioned) to another position when the machines are not operating. The universal joint allows for limited movement without uncoupling. To make sure enough lubrication circulation, which in turn stops the universal joints from seizing, cardan shafts are usually installed with an angle from four to six 6 degrees at the universal joints. Experience, though, has displayed that the position between the shafts of the driver and driven unit should be kept to the very least, preferably less than 4.36 mrads (0.25 degrees). Ideally, the angles between your driver and driven shafts and the cardan shaft, proven as β1 and β2 in Fig. 1, will be equal. Geometrically, this might mean zero angularity existing between your driver and driven unit: Put simply, the shafts of the driver and motivated machine will be parallel to each other.
Usually it involves a tubular shaft, two sets of Universal Joints and glove system – ferrule stepper, amongst others. It is definitely a element of the transmission program, its function is to redirect the engine turning activity, after moving through the gearbox and the travel to the wheel, going right through the ‘planetary and satellite’ system etc.
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Cardan shaft, also called cardinal shaft, is an element of torque transmission.