shape as best shown in fig4 it can extend below a sector of cutter wheel 11 the angular extent of which depends on the width of the fabric 17 to be treated it will be seen that in fig3 and 4 and also in the other embodiments the fabric portion being cut at any given moment is composed of two halves located to either side of a radius of the cutter wheel 11 which extends parallel to the direction of travel of such fabric portion the use of a hollow support 20 according to fig3 and 4 has the advantage that it easily avoids impairment of the cropping or shearing effect by the possible presence of knots or bulges indicated by small black dots on the underside of fabric 17 in fig3 in the embodiment of fig5 the fabric is guided into engagement with cutters 12 13 across a hollow space formed by a pair of rollers 22 pivoted in a bracket which can be raised and lowered relative to disc 11 by suitable support post means 21 this figure also shows hood 23 superimposed over the fabric adjacent the cutters 12 13 by means of a suitable suction device not shown low pressure can be maintained in hood 23 for the purpose of not only removing cut fibers but also making sure that nap 19 reaches the cutting edges in upstanding position the device also serves to assure cutting and removal of loose edge threads in the embodiment of fig9 cutter wheel 11 is shown only schematically the.