Device for feeding weft threads to a gripper head of a loom

A method for feeding a first and a second weft thread during production of woven fabric in a loom having a gripper head that draws the first and second weft threads through an open shed along a weft insertion line, the method comprising:

• locating the first and second weft threads next to one another in a plane in a warp direction at an edge of the woven fabric;
• moving the first and second weft threads in a first direction consisting of a linear axis path in the warp direction to position the first weft thread at the weft insertion line while deflecting the second weft thread clear of the weft insertion line;
• feeding the first weft thread along the weft insertion line to the gripper head that draws the first weft thread through the open shed;
• moving the first and second weft threads in a second opposite direction consisting of the linear axis path in the warp direction to position the second weft thread at the weft insertion line while deflecting the first weft thread clear of the weft insertion line;
• and
• feeding the second weft thread along the weft insertion line to the gripper head that draws the second weft thread through the open shed.

A device for feeding a first and a second weft thread in a weft direction to a gripper head of a loom, the device comprising:

• a coupling unit configured to move back and forth in a warp direction when the device is installed laterally on the loom;
• a first and a second feed unit adjacently arranged in the warp direction on the coupling unit, the first and the second feed units configured to feed the first and the second weft threads, respectively, to the gripper head;
• a positioning unit configured to position the coupling unit in the warp direction in a first position of the coupling unit and counter to the warp direction in a second position of the coupling unit;
• wherein the first feed unit feeds the first weft thread to the gripper head when the coupling unit is in the first position and the second feed unit feeds the second weft thread to the gripper head when the coupling unit is in the second position;
• and
• wherein each of the feed units comprises a strip-conveying unit having two revolving strip conveyors positionable in relation to each other, wherein the respective weft threads are conveyable in the weft direction between the strip conveyors.

A device for feeding a first and a second weft thread in a weft direction to a gripper head of a loom, the device comprising:

• a coupling unit configured to move back and forth in a warp direction when the device is installed laterally on the loom;
• a first and a second feed unit adjacently arranged in the warp direction on the coupling unit, the first and the second feed units configured to feed the first and the second weft threads, respectively, to the gripper head;
• a positioning unit configured to position the coupling unit in the warp direction in a first position of the coupling unit and counter to the warp direction in a second position of the coupling unit;
• wherein the first feed unit feeds the first weft thread to the gripper head when the coupling unit is in the first position and the second feed unit feeds the second weft thread to the gripper head when the coupling unit is in the second position;
• wherein the coupling unit is configured on a fixed guide part having first guide structures, the coupling unit comprising guide elements that interact with the first guide structures to move the coupling unit in or counter to the warp direction;
• and
• wherein the first guide structures are configured to prevent one of the first or second feed units from moving in the weft direction as the coupling unit is positioned in and counter to the warp direction, and further comprising second guide structures on the guide part that enable the other of the second or first feed units to move in and counter to the weft direction.