Weaving machine and method for weaving pile fabrics and spacer for such a weaving machine

Weaving machine for weaving pile fabrics consisting of weft yarns, backing warp yarns and pile warp yarns comprising:

• one or several spacers (4, 4a, 4b) extending between the pile warp yarns and which are provided either to realize a constant pile height between two pile fabrics formed, or to determine the pile loop height in one or several pile fabrics comprising pile loops;
• one or several holders (5, 5a, 5b) for clamping the spacers (4, 4a, 4b);
• one or several shed forming devices, driving heddles (7) through which backing and/or pile warp yarns extend in order to position these pile warp yarns with respect to the weft yarns;
• a yarn supply;
• a zone for supplying pile warp yarns extending between the yarn supply and the heddles (7) controlled by the shed forming device, and one or several holders (5, 5a, 5b) being installed between the yarn supply and the one or several shed forming devices in order to clamp the spacers (4, 4a, 4b), characterized in that the said holders (5, 5a, 5b) have been installed outside the said supply zone, such that the pile warp yarns may be extending in the supply zone without hindrance.