Drawing apparatus for textile fibre webs

Drawing apparatus for multi-layer textile fiber webs, said apparatus comprising

• a plurality of roll pairs,
• said roll pairs adapted to be driven so that the peripheral velocity of the rolls of each said pair is greater than the peripheral velocity of the preceding pair in the direction of advance of said web,
• resilient coverings provided around the rolls of each said pair, said coverings being constituted by highly flexible steel wires which extend substantially radially, and,
• a respective smooth roller positioned between each roll pair and the following roll pair, each said smooth roller being of a smaller diameter than the rolls of said roll pairs and drive means operatively connecting each said smooth roller to an adjacent roller for driving each said smooth roller at a peripheral velocity equal to that of the associated said following roll pair, the arrangement of said smooth rollers being such as to impart a sinuous path to said web and to maintain the web in contact with the roll coverings over substantial arcs.