A professional who tends machines that draw out and combine four to six laps ii into one of uniform weight and texture preparatory to combing. Responsibilities include:

• Places rolls of lap on feed rolls of machine.
• Threads ends through stop-motion device and rollers, and around takeup spool, or presses end to end of preceding lap.
• Patrols machines to detect exhausted ends and to observe lights indicating machine stoppage caused by lap break.
• Pieces up broken ends and restarts machine.
• Turns handle to release roll for doffing.
• Removes lap from machine and replaces with empty takeup spool.