Loom for weaving flat fabric

In a loom for weaving flat fabric, the combination of a track defining an endless path for gripper shuttles, said track including a reed having a first side for entry of shuttles into and a second side for exit of shuttles from the shed and said track further including an arcuate section at the first side of said reed;

• a magazine disposed upstream of said arcuate section, as considered in the direction of travel of shuttles along said path;
• a supply of shuttles in said magazine;
• means for delivering successive shuttles from said magazine into said arcuate section;
• means for accelerating successive shuttles at least in the major part of said arcuate section so that the shuttles reach the first side of said reed and enter the shed while moving at a predetermined speed and thereupon return into said magazine;
• and cooperating first and second guide means respectively provided on said reed and on said shuttles to maintain the shuttles in said path during travel through the shed, said second guide means comprising rails provided on said shuttles and arranged to travel along the top shed during travel of the respective shuttles through the shed, said first guide means comprising a second rail provided on said reed and overlying the top shed opposite the rails of successive shuttles during passage of the respective shuttles through the shed, said second rail being movable with reference to said reed toward and away from the top shed.

In a loom for weaving flat fabric, the combination of a track defining an endless path for gripper shuttles, said track including a reed having a first side for entry of shuttles into and a second side for exit of shuttles from the shed, said reed being movable to beat up the picks and said track further including an arcuate section at the first side of said reed;

• a magazine disposed upstream of said arcuate section, as considered in the direction of travel of shuttles along said path;
• a supply of shuttles in said magazine;
• means for delivering successive shuttles from said magazine into said arcuate section;
• means for accelerating successive shuttles at least in the major part of said arcuate section so that the shuttles reach the first side of said reed and enter the shed while moving at a predetermined speed and thereupon return into said magazine;
• cooperating first and second guide means respectively provided on said reed and on said shuttles to maintain the shuttles in said path during travel through the shed, said first guide means comprising a comb having prongs extending between the warp threads;
• and means for moving said prongs out of the spaces between the warp threads in response to movement of said reed to beat up the picks.

In a loom for weaving flat fabric, the combination of a track defining an endless path for gripper shuttles, said track including a reed having a first side for entry of shuttles into and a second side for exit of shuttles from the shed and said track further including an arcuate section at the first side of said reed;

• a magazine disposed upstream of said arcuate section, as considered in the direction of travel of shuttles along said path, and forming part of said track;
• a supply of shuttles in said magazine;
• means for delivering successive shuttles from said magazine into said arcuate section, including means for intercepting the shuttles arriving from the second side of said reed, said intercepting means being adjacent to said magazine, and means for propelling successive shuttles of said supply into the arcuate section of said track;
• means for accelerating successive shuttles at least in the major part of said arcuate section so that the shuttles reach the first side of said reed and enter the shed while moving at a predetermined speed and thereupon return into said magazine;
• and cooperating first and second guide means respectively provided on said reed and on said shuttles to maintain the shuttles in said path during travel through the shed.