Abstract: The invention provides a creel for feeding slivers (21) of fibers to a processing machine (10), comprising a bank of feed stations (13c) to (13i) and two reserve feed stations (13a) (13b). Upon disruption at any feed station in the bank, a reserve feed station comes into operation and is moved into the bank of feed stations, while the station where the feed was interrupted is moved to a reserve feed station position. Movement of the stations is effected by moving a carriage at a station, which includes feed rollers, sensors etc. to the required positions. The carriages are moved along a first rail in an upstream position and a second rail in a downstream position and are transverable between these rails.

Abstract: Apparatus for advancing slivers of textile or the like fibres through all stages of a combing operation in which a track is provided, in which track an endless element such as a chain is movable, the element providing an anchorage for a plurality of combing units adapted to carry the slivers, and the track including at least one linear section. The linear section of the track carries combing components so that the combing operations on the sliver are carried out substantially while the sliver is transported past the linear section of the track.

Abstract: A method of combing textile and the like fibers is provided in which the free end or fringe of a sliver of fibers is clamped, a section of the sliver adjacent the clamped fringe is combed leaving the fringe itself uncombed. Thereafter the clamp is released and the fringe of the sliver is combed. After fringe-combing, the fibers which have been combed by these two operations are drawn off from the sliver through a comb element to comb the tail ends thereof. Apparatus adapted to carry out the method of combing is provided and includes combing means comprising a clamp for clamping the free end or fringe of a sliver of fibers and a comb element relatively movable with respect to the clamp to effect combing of the sliver adjacent the clamp, means to comb the fringe of the sliver when released from the clamp and means to draw off the thus partly combed fibers through a comb element to comb the tail ends thereof.