Weft feeder for weaving looms, including an independent optical unit integrated into the electromagnet group controlling the weft thread release

A weft feeder for weaving looms including a winding group (W) to wind a weft thread on a weft feeder drum (D), an optical unit (P) provided with one or more optical sensors (T, R, S, Z) to monitor the weft thread winding on the drum (D) and the weft thread release from said drum, an electromagnet group (E) to control the movement of a stop pin (15) which prevents the weft thread from being released from said drum (D), said electromagnet group (E) being enclosed within a cup-shaped shell (11) from which said stop pin (15) protrudes to interfere with said drum (D), and a weft feeder processing board which controls the logical functions of the weft feeder, wherein said optical unit (P) is enclosed inside a closed and sealed protection box (1), wherein said optical unit (P) includes a printed circuit board (2) with said one or more optical sensors (T, R, S, Z) and said optical unit (P) is electrically connected to said weft feeder processing board by a direct wiring comprising a wiring cable (6) electrically connected to said printed circuit board (2) and to said weft feeder processing board via plug connections and wherein said protection box (1) is housed and removably fixed inside said cup-shaped shell (11).