Continuous insertion weaving machine

In a continuous insertion weaving machine of the progressive shed type and including warp beam means for supplying warp threads;

• shed tunnel means, aligned with said warp threads passing therethrough, for continuously passing weft threads carried by inserters between said warp threads, thereby weaving a fabric;
• and woven fabric beam means for collecting fabric woven in said shed tunnel means;
• the improvement wherein:
• said shed tunnel means comprises:
• two separate parallel tunnels within a single frame;
• first and second chain driving means, one each mounted on said frame between adjacent ends of said two tunnels;
• first and second endless chains, both mounted about said first and second chain driving means, said first and second chains each having opposite non-linear runs around portions of peripheries of said first and second chain driving means, means to cause said first and second chains to be coupled to each other and coupled to said chain driving means during said non-linear runs, said first and second chains each having opposite linear runs between said non-linear runs, means to cause said first and second chains to be separated and uncoupled from each other during each of said linear runs, said first and second chains during each of said linear runs extending along opposite sides of a separate one of said two tunnels;
• warp thread control means mounted within each of said tunnels;
• and
• means carried by and movable with each of said chains for continuously moving said warp thread control means transversely of said respective tunnel to thereby control the paths of said warp threads, and for continuously moving said inserters through said tunnels;
• said warp beam means comprises means for supplying separate pluralities of warp threads to each of said tunnels;
• and
• said woven fabric beam means comprises first and second beams, one for collecting fabric woven in each of said tunnels.