A guide plate is positioned immediately downstream of the detaching rollers of the combing head in order to deflect the web upwardly towards a deflection plate which, in turn, deflects the web back towards a trailing section of the guide plate. The guide plate and deflection plate are electrically conductive and electrically connected to the machine frame of the combing machine in order to discharge the electrostatic charges in the web. A trailing edge of the guide plate may also be inclined to deliver the web to the delivery rollers. The distance between the nip clearance of the detaching rollers and the point at which the web contacts the inclined section of the guide plate is too short to permit jamming of a web due to the rigidity of the web.