Abstract: A spinning machine with a plurality of spinning locations or stations is equipped with automatic or semi-automatic spool-changing mechanisms. The machine also has a servicing device, designed for travel along the machine and for repairing thread breakages at some particular spinning location. The presence of this servicing device or carriage at a spinning location would interfere with the operation of the spool-changing mechanism. A controller delivers signals to an appropriate receiver in the servicing device and causes it to depart to a neutral zone at the end of the machine.