feed means e g the two feed cylinders 7 and the teasing cylinder 10 or by varying the rotatory speed of the teasing cylinder 10 because the synchronism between the feeding of fibers to the teasing cylinder and the fiber transfer to the comb in zone resulting in the required fiber density is also affected by these factors those parts of the guard means which serve for the prevention of the disengagement of fiber tufts already held on the needles can also be modified it is mentioned only by way of example that to this end a the teasing cylinder could be stopped upon every stop and restart and then started up again or at least it could be braked down b the conditions of flow in back of the comb in zone could be arranged such that the fiber tufts cannot come in contact with the tips of the teasing hooks 14 when the needle cylinder is stopped c the distance between the teasing cylinder and the needles and or the fiber guide plate could be increased while the needle cylinder is stopped d teasing hooks could be used which when the needle cylinder is stopped are retracted into the teasing cylinder 10 and e compressed air or a vacuum could be produced by.