Abstract: A bobbin changing apparatus is provided which is adapted for use in association with a textile yarn processing machine having a plurality of winding stations, and wherein the apparatus comprises a thread operating carriage and a separate doffing carriage, which are mounted for independent movement on a common trackway. The thread operating carriage acts to sever and withdraw the advancing yarn during the bobbin changing operation, and upon an empty bobbin being mounted at the winding station, to then deliver the yarn to the automatic thread-up mechanism on the winding head of the machine. The doffing carriage includes a mandrel for receiving the full bobbins, and since the doffing carriage is independent of the thread operating carriage, the doffing carriage is free to immediately move from the winding station to deliver the full bobbin to a separate creel, or to perform a quality control analysis of the full bobbin.