the creel 6 at the input of the draw frame a driven roll assembly is provided which is composed for example of two lower rider rolls 12 a 12 b and three upper rider rolls 13 each supply roll 8 a 8 f is connected to a drive with reference to fig1 a 1 b and 4 in the draw unit 3 the length portion 7 u2032 u2033 of the slivers 7 a 7 f is exposed to the transport roll tension in the region between the cooperating transport rolls 15 16 and the cooperating input rolls 26 iii the apparatus 17 structured according to the invention is disposed in this region such that the length portions 7 u2032 u2033 of the slivers 7 a 7 f as they run in the direction a press down on the apparatus 17 the length portion 7 u2032 of the slivers 7 a 7 f extends between the respective supply rolls 8 a 8 f on the one hand and the rider rolls 12 a 12 b 13 on the other hand while the length portions 7 u2033 of the slivers 7 a 7 f extend between rider rolls 12 a 12 b 13 on the one hand and the cooperating transport rolls 15 16 on the other hand the length portions 7 u2032 7 u2033 and 7 u2032 u2033 are all exposed to controlled tensions the supply rolls 8 a 8 f all have.