Twisting apparatus

A line twisting machine comprising:

• a base;
• a first rotatable twisting head operatively supported by said base, said first rotatable twisting head rotating relative to said base in a first direction of rotation, said first rotatable twisting head having at least one respective rotating gripper for lines;
• a first drive operatively connected to drive said first rotatable twisting head in said first direction of rotation;
• a second counter-rotatable twisting head operatively supported by said base, said second twisting head rotating relative to said base in a second direction of rotation that is opposite to that of said first direction of rotation, said second twisting head having at least one respective rotating gripper for lines;
• a second drive operatively connected to drive said second twisting head in said second direction of rotation opposite to that of said first direction of rotation;
• a guide, said guide being located in a region between said first and second twisting heads;
• a line pull-in gripper, said line pull-in gripper being operatively mounted for controlled displacement in a first path along said guide to pull lines in the region between said first and second twisting heads;
• an intermediate line transfer gripper, said intermediate line transfer gripper receiving lines from said line pull-in gripper;
• and,
• a first line transfer gripper situated to transferring lines from said intermediate line transfer gripper to said respective gripper of said first rotatable twisting head.