Abstract: The nipper has a lower jaw which carries a nipper plate and an upper jaw with a nipper plate carried by two arms. At least a part of this nipper, e.g. the lower nipper plate and the upper nipper plate are made from bonded fiber material. In this way, the unit is lighter than a unit which is made completely from metal.

Abstract: The combing machine comprises a nipper unit possessing a bottom nipper and a top nipper which is pivotable relative to the bottom nipper about a pivot axle. An additional nipper is pivotable relative to the bottom nipper about a shaft or journal which extends at a suitable distance from and substantially parallel to the pivot axle of the top nipper. The additional nipper is coupled to the top nipper by means of at least one link. In this manner, pivoting movements of the top nipper cause the additional nipper to be pivoted each time in the opposite direction with respect to the direction of motion of the bottom nipper. When the nipper unit is in an advanced end position, the top nipper is open and the additional nipper is closed. The additional nipper firmly holds the lap, and a tuft combed out of the latter is detached by a detaching roll. No separate pivot drive is required for the additional nipper.