Abstract: An apparatus that individualizes fibers within a feed stream without breaking the fibers. A first stage, having first pinch rollers, receives the feed stream and provides it to a second stage. The second stage receives the feed stream from the first stage, and provides a thinned stream to a third stage. Second stage apron belts draw the feed stream under tension from the first stage into the second stage. Second pinch rollers draw the feed stream under tension from the second stage apron belts and provide the thinned stream to the third stage. The third stage receives the thinned stream from the second stage and provides individualized fibers. Third stage apron belts draw the thinned stream under tension from the second stage into the third stage. Third pinch rollers draw the thinned stream under tension from the third stage apron belts and provide the individualized fibers.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, the breaking and stretching machines have pressure heads, each one being essentially constituted by two opposed complexes, upper and lower, each one of which includes at least two transmission chains of the Renold type which are meshed with two chain pinions (double, triple, etc) fitted on two strong parallel shafts that are supported by appropriate bearings attached to the lateral elements of the machine bedplate; those corresponding to the lower complex are fixed, while those corresponding to the upper complex are moveable, so that the latter complex may adopt, with respect to the other complex, two limiting positions; one of separation, which permits the introduction of the layer of fibres, and the other, where the elements approach one another, to be utilized during the work and in which the pressure can be adjusted.