Loop Gripper With Retaining Element

A loop gripper (10) for a tufting machine, the loop gripper comprising:

• a gripper finger (12) formed on a gripper body (11) and extending in an extension direction (E) from a retained end (13) to a free end (14), which gripper finger has on its underside (16) a cutting region (20) and immediately following the cutting region (20), between the cutting region (20) and the free end (14), a sliding surface (19) for yarn loops (26), wherein the gripper finger (12) has at the free end (14) an end protrusion (18) that protrudes beyond the sliding surface (19),
• a retaining element (35) which has a retaining surface (37) and which is mounted to be pivotable relative to the gripper finger (12) about a pivot axis (S) which extends in a transverse direction (Q) at right angles to the extension direction (E),
• a means for presetting a starting position for the retaining element by generating a force on the retaining element (35) to urge the retaining element (35) into a starting position (A) in which the retaining surface (37) extends away from the sliding surface (19) and faces toward the cutting region (20).