Strand winding

In apparatus for uninterrupted package winding of textile strands including transfer from winding onto a first package to winding onto a second package axially aligned therewith, the respective packages being carried upon respective spindles individually movable into contact with rotative drive means with their adjacent ends closely spaced and out of mutual contact, improved mechanism for so transferring such a strand, comprising a strand guide locatable on an extended lateral bisector of either package, a bistable inertial device located between the respective extended lateral bisectors and bridging a parallel extension of the space between and including the respective adjacent spindle ends and being adapted in a stable strand-receiving position to be contacted by and to retain the laterally transferring strand while in that position when the strand guide is transferred from one extended lateral bisector to the other and further adapted to be switched by lateral force of the strand to an alternative stable strand-releasing position and to release the strand upon assuming that position and thereby to delay the lateral transfer of the strand, wherein the bistable inertial device comprises generally Y-shaped flip-flop means pivotably mounted at its base leg for limited tilting to either side and adapted to be tilted to the opposite side by contact of laterally transferring strand moving from the side to which already tilted, into contact with the raised arm of the device, thereby tilting the means to the opposite side, whereupon the engaged arm becomes lower and the strand is released therefrom after momentary delay involved in so tilting it.