Abstract: An apparatus and method for guiding a broken thread end in a yarn spinning machine into a position in readiness for piecing wherein the broken thread end is retrieved from a bobbin, routed through a yarn spinning mechanism, guided into the nip of a pair of rollers of an operating drafting apparatus without abrasion of or interference with the yarn end during the guiding of the yarn end and wherein the yarn end is deposited in a position in the drafting apparatus such that the yarn end is controllably withdrawn from the drafting apparatus through the spinning mechanism and pieced or joined with a new sliver as the yarn end is withdrawn.

Abstract: Two parallel spun yarns (8, 8a) are wound onto a joint cross-wound bobbin (15) in the machine. If one of the yarns breaks (e.g. 8), the bobbin (15) and the supply of slivers (32, 32a) to the drafting arrangements (11, 11a) are stopped. An end of the unbroken yarn (8a) is taken up by a suction tube (69) and the broken end of the yarn (8) is wound up on the bobbin (15). The ends of the two yarns (8, 8a) are retrieved, reversely routed through the spinning units (12, 12a), the bobbin (15) and the draw-off device (14) are restarted and, the yarns (8, 8a) are deposited in and simultaneously withdrawn from the drafting arrangements (11, 11a) for joining therein with the end of restarted slivers (32, 32a). The sliver stoppers (30, 30a), however, are restarted at different times. In this manner, repair of a breakage in two yarns being jointly wound up on a common bobbin is achieved.

Abstract: An apparatus for severing a yarn and processing the resultant end of the separated yarn comprising a controllably rotatable abrasive element (1) disposed between two yarn-tensioning mechanisms (2,3) which hold the yarn in position and under tension for engagement with an abrasive surface of the abrasive element. The abrasive element (1) is mounted stationary with respect to the yarn-tensioning mechanism (2,3) such that the yarn 4 can be wrapped around the abrasive element (1) at a predetermined angle of wrap (.alpha.).

Abstract: In a textile spinning machine, apparatus for automatically joining a thread and cleaning the machine comprising a tube mechanism, a mechanism for routing a flow of air through the tube mechanism and controlling the rate of air flow through the tube mechanism; a mechanism for sequentially moving the tube mechanism to one or more selected thread joining positions relative to the machine including at least a position such that a thread end may be received and held within the tube mechanism via air suction flow through the tube mechanism; a mechanism for sequentially moving the tube mechanism to one or more selected thread waste positions relative to the machine such that the selected thread waste positions on the machine may be cleaned via controlled air flow through the tube mechanism; and wherein the mechanism for routing and controlling the air flow includes a mechanism for selectively adjusting the rate of air flow through the tube mechanism to a rate selected according to the selected position to which the