Abstract: An apparatus for temporarily retaining a thread segment of a twist yarn having a pre-existing twist in a manner which substantially preserves the pre-existing twist along a predetermined length of the thread segment in preparation for a selected thread or yarn joining operation is provided. The apparatus includes a stationary clamp surface member and a movable clamp surface member. The movable clamp surface member is movable relative to the stationary clamp surface member to form therewith a clamping extent in which the thread segment is clamped between the movable clamp surface member and the stationary clamp surface member. The clamping extent is dimensioned in correspondence with the length of the thread segment and may have, for example, a length corresponding to one-half the length of the predetermined length of the thread segment or about 35 to about 40 mm.

Abstract: A yarn delivery apparatus is provided having two delivery rollers of which one of the delivery rollers is resiliently biased against the other delivery roller and one of the two delivery rollers is floatingly mounted such that it is disposed for a selected one of a swivel and a swinging movement relative to the other delivery roller. The yarn delivery apparatus being characterized in that the floatingly mounted delivery roller is configured as a rotationally symmetrical hollow body whose inner wall is supported on a ball-shaped support body which is secured to an axial shaft in a manner such that the position of the floatingly mounted delivery roller can be changed only within a plane defined by the axes of the two delivery rollers.