Abstract: A sliver piecing unit 80 includes three sets of separable rollers 804 and 844, 806 and 846, and 808 and 848 for nipping a sliver S1 fed from a consumed can to a spinning machine. A throttling nozzle 870 is arranged between the second and third sets of rollers 806 and 846, and 808 and 848. The draft ratio between the first and second sets of rollers 804 and 844, and 806 and 846 can be varied between 1.0 and 2.0. A sliver feed unit 70 includes a separable first and second roller 702a and 702b for feeding a sliver S2 from a full can to the piecing unit 80 so that the slivers S1 and S2 are combined. The draft ratio between the first and second sets of rollers 804 and 844, and 806 and 846 is controlled to obtain combined slivers of a thickness corresponding to that of a single sliver. A nipping belt 884 and nipping roller 886 are provided at the outlet from the third set of the rollers 808 and 804 for obtaining a rubbing movement in the combined slivers.