Stationary spindle brake for spinning and twisting spindles

A spindle brake for braking a selected one of a pair of spinning spindles, wherein the pair of spindles are supported on support rail means;

• a belt for contacting the spindles and moving therepast to spin both of the spindles of the pair;
• the brake comprising:
• a holder pivotally mounted to the rail means between the spindles of the pair, the holder being pivotable toward either spindle;
• a brake element mounted on the holder and pivotable therewith;
• a brake surface on the brake element, the brake surface being so placed on the brake element and the brake element being so placed and shaped that upon rotation of the holder around its pivot in one direction, the brake surface contacts one of the spindles to rub and brake the one spindle, and upon rotation of the holder around its pivot in the opposite direction, the brake surface contacts the other spindle to rub and brake the other spindle;
• a belt lift-off roller supported to the holder, spaced from the pivot of the holder, being near enough to the brake surface and being so shaped that upon pivoting of the holder in the one direction, the belt lift-off roller contacts and raises the belt off the one spindle, and upon pivoting of the holder in the opposite direction, the roller contacts and raises the belt off the other spindle;
• and
• means for pivoting the holder in the one and the opposite directions.