Method and apparatus for controlling an open-end spinning machine

The object on which the invention is based is to avoid the production losses of open-end spinning machines caused by the travel of a cleaning and piecing device. When the predetermined time span of the uninterrupted spinning process is reached, such a device, which is controlled by a monitoring unit, each time brings about the intentional interruption of this process for the purpose of the preventive cleaning of the spinning unit. This object is achieved, according to the invention, in that a specific number of spinning units to be stopped is preselected in the central control in such a way that the device is competent for the servicing possibilities, and in that, for the preventive cleaning, only so many spinning units are stopped that the number preset on the machine is made up by the total number of spinning units actually stopped.