Electro magnetic shedding device for a textile machine

A shedding device for textile machines, specifically jacquard machines, comprising oppositely movable lifting blades (41) and pulling elements (42) which are reciprocally movable between a lower shed position and an upper shed position and which are interconnected in pairs by a kinematic connecting member (1), said kinematic connecting member (1) being connected through a pulley block (2) to a heddle (7), a retention device (12) which comprises at least one electromagnet, said retention device (12) being located at the lower shed position and between the pulling elements (42) to control the pulling elements (42) in accordance with a pattern program in such a manner that the pulling element resting in its lower shed position on a detent (51) of the lifting blade (41) can be brought into or out of engagement with the lifting blade (41) in order to move the pulling element (42) into the upper shed position or to leave it in the lower shed position, said retention device (12) having a wedge shaped base (17) with a base edge (17a) thereat directed toward a harness string (6), said electromagnet having two defined magnet pole areas (23, 24) which are formed at inclined surfaces (20, 21) of said wedge shaped base (17) whereby the retention device (12) is arranged in such a manner that the inclined surfaces (20, 21) are located opposite the pulling elements (42), an air gap (A) of maximal 1 mm is present at a path of movement of the pulling elements (42) below the base edge (17a) formed by the inclined surfaces, each pulling element (42) has a strip-like form and a guiding portion (47) for guiding said pulling element (42) below said retention device (12) in an opening (50) of an abutment board (49), and each pulling element (42) has a coupling portion (46) which is operatively connected to the electromagnet (13, 14) in order to couple or uncouple each pulling element (42) relative to its associated lifting blade (41).