Apparatus for prepositioning a yarn end on spinning cops for subsequent unwinding in a bobbin winding machine

An apparatus for prepositioning a yarn end on a tubular spinning cop in preparation for subsequent unwinding in a bobbin winding machine, comprising a drive for rotating the cop about its longitudinal axis at a cop preparation station, a suction nozzle stationarily disposed at the cop preparation station for aspirating and holding the yarn end, the nozzle having a yarn receiving slit extending lengthwise of the cop to a terminal end of the slit axially beyond a nose portion of the cop, a cutting device for cutting the yarn end to length, a yarn guide means for delivering a first portion of the yarn end to the nose portion of the cop for placing nose windings of the yarn thereabout, the yarn guide means being movable relative to the cop at the cop preparation station between an inactive position spaced axially from the nose portion of the cop and an active position generally alongside the nose portion of the cop, means for inserting a remaining portion of the yarn end into a tubular interior of the spinning cop, yarn retaining means selectively movable into and out of contact with the nose portion of the cop and having an opening for delivery of the yarn end therethrough to the nose portion of the cop, and means for controlling movement of the yarn guide means into the active position during placement of nose windings about the nose portion of the cop and the inactive position after placement of the nose windings and for controlling activation of the yarn inserting means and movement of the yarn retaining means out of contact with the nose portion of the cop after movement of the yarn guide means into the inactive position.