Abstract: A suction-air system of a textile machine, especially a rotor spinning machine, has at least one suction-air conduit, at least one spark sensor for detecting flying sparks within a measuring extent of the suction-air, the sensor including a measuring device with a sensing range at least partially overlapping the measuring extent, at least one electromagnetic wave receiver for generating an output signal when a spark enters the sensing range, and a driver and evaluation circuit for the measuring device. At least one source for generating electromagnetic waves is associated with the receiver and actuates a purposeful initiation of the spark sensor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for piecing a broken end of yarn at an open end spinning station utilizing a piecing cart servicing the spinning station. To repair the yarn break, a defined yarn length is unwound off the winding bobbin and is temporarily stored in a yarn reservoir disposed between a yarn draw-off device and a lap drive of the piecing cart. Subsequently, the winding bobbin is acceleratively driven by the lap drive sufficiently in advance of actuating the yarn draw-off device to achieve a predetermined winding speed as of the time the withdrawal of spun yarn from the spinning unit resumes.