Weft yarn grasping apparatus for fluid jet loom

A weft yarn grasping apparatus for a fluid jet weaving loom for alternately grasping and releasing a weft yarn to be inserted in the shed of warp yarns to form a fabric, said apparatus comprising:

• aligned stationary and movable members respectively having surface portions facing each other, said movable member being reciprocally movable with respect to said stationary member in response to the weaving operation of said loom to intermittently define between said surface portions a clearance through which said weft yarn passes, said stationary member having a recess in the corresponding surface portion to define on the same a bank which surrounds said recess, the surface portion of said movable member being brought into contact with the ridge of said bank to press the weft yarn on the same when gripping of said weft yarn is required, said stationary member having at least one unobstructed through cleaning passage which has one end open to said recess and the other end open to the open air so that lint and miscillanea may pass there through at a portion.