Control of fill yarn during basket weave type patterns on air jet looms

An air jet loom for forming a basket weave fabric, comprising:

• (a) a sley shaft;
• (b) a reed mounted on the sley shaft;
• (c) at least one air jet main nozzle for propelling fill yarns in a path across the length of the reed in the shed of the loom, the reed beating the fill yarns against the fell line of the fabric after each fill yarn is propelled;
• (d) at least one holding air nozzle positioned in the shed and having an aperture that directs a jet of air transversely to the path of the fill yarns wherein when the at least one air jet propels a second fill yarn, the aperture discharges air against the fill yarn to hold the second fill yarn in place until the reed beats up and the harnesses cross over to prevent intermingling of the first and second fill yarns;
• and
• (e) an air control system for activating and deactivating the air jet and holding air nozzles at the designated times.

A method for creating a basket weave fabric on an air jet loom, comprising:

• (a) firing a first fill yarn;
• (b) operating the reed to beat up the first fill yarn against the fell line;
• (c) at a designated time during the operation of the reed to beat up the first yarn directing a stream of air perpendicular to the fell line against the first fill yarn to hold the first fill yarn in place;
• (d) firing at least a second fill yarn;
• (e) beating up at least a second fill yarn and releasing the stream of air against the first fill yarn;
• and
• operating the harnesses to lock the at least two fill yarns in place.