27 which are embedded in the backing layers 25 26 in cantilever fashion and outer or distal portions 29 the shank portions 27 of the wires 23 are connected to the distal portions 29 by means of bends or knee portions 28 located at the outer surface of the rubber layer 26 the knee portions 28 of the wires 23 are bent to form an angle in excess of 90 u00b0 preferably on the order of about 135 u00b0 the knee angles 30 defined by the junction of the distal portions 29 of the wires 23 and the periphery of the outer backing layer 26 preferably are on the order of 60 u00b0 the acute shank angles 31 defined by the proximal ends of the shank portions 27 of the wires 23 and the peripheral surface of the inner backing layer 25 preferably are on the order of 70 u00b0 by the arrangement thus described the distal portions 29 of the wires 23 extend linearly outward of the main cylinder 21 at an acute angle 30 relative to the outer surface of the rubber layer 26 on the order of 60 u00b0 referring back to fig1 it will be observed that the main cylinder 21 performs its usual function of a transfer medium for conveying the sliver fibers 14 39 from the wire covered feed rolls 19 20 to the distal ends of the fillet wires 36 of the doffer 34 to facilitate the transfer of the fibers 14 39 to the doffer the distal portions 29 of the main.