Abstract: A yarn package handling assembly is provided for handling yarn packages transported on individual package support members on a textile winding machine. The yarn package handling assembly includes a yarn end disposing arrangement operable to dispose the yarn ends of yarn packages into preferred preliminary dispositions for handling at the winding stations of the machine. Another yarn end disposing arrangement is provided for more aggressively acting on yarn packages to dispose their yarn ends in a preferred preliminary disposition where the first arrangement was unsuccessful, handling yarn packages in a special manner to dispose their yarn ends in a preferred preliminary disposition and the yarn packages prepared by the more aggressive yarn end disposing arrangement are transported along a second transport path back to the path for feeding packages from the first-mentioned arrangement to the winding stations.