RECEIVING GRIPPER, FEED GRIPPER AND DEVICE FOR A
GRIPPER WEAVING MACHINE
[0001] The invention relates to a receiving yxipper
for a gripper weaving machine which comprises a
clamping hook provided with a clamping face and a
clamping element provided with a clamping face to clamp
a weft thread between the clamping face of the clamping
hook and the clamping face of the clamping element, and
to methods used therein.
[0002] A receiving gripper of the aforementioned type
is for example known from EP 1220960 or EP 1373618. A
receiving gripper of this type is suitable for the
clamping of a weft thread in the region of the leading
end of the receiving gripper. JP 4-209852 A, EP 633336
and WO 00/29651 have presented a receiving gripper of
this type for the clamping of two weft threads.
[0003] The object of an invention is to improve a
receiving gripper of the aforementioned type so as to
make it more suitable for taking up and for weaving two
weft threads at the same time.
[0004] This object is achieved in that a thread
separator, which allows two weft threads to be
separated from each other while they are clamped, is
arranged in the region of the leading end of the
receiving gripper.
[0005] A receiving gripper according to the invention
offers the advantage of separating from each other two
weft threads which both are clamped, the weft threads
being separated in the region of the clamping hook
which is located in the region of the leading end of
the receiving gripper. In this case, the thread
separator also allows both weft threads to be located
at a distance from each other while they are clamped.

This allows both weft threads to be brought into a
weaving shed substantially parallel to each other and
at a constant distance from each other. This means that
in and from the receiving gripper, the two weft threads
lie at a distance from each other that is sufficient to
prevent the weft threads from lying one over the other.
The receiving gripper also allows both weft threads to
be clamped next to each other between the clamping
faces. This also allows the leading end to be embodied
relatively narrow, while the two weft threads can still
remain sufficiently separate from each other. This
offers the advantage that the feed gripper, which the
receiving gripper penetrates during taking-over of weft
threads, can also be kept relatively slender. This then
leads to the advantage that even during the
simultaneous insertion of two weft threads, merely a
relatively small shed is necessary. The invention
allows two weft threads to be kept separate from each
other during insertion and to be beaten up parallel to
each- other, i.e. without said weft threads being laid
over or round each other. In addition, weft threads
originating from different bobbins can as chosen be
woven in pairs and can be woven in parallel to each
other.
[0006] According to one embodiment of the invention,
the thread separator is arranged substantially in the
center between the hook opening of the clamping hook.
This means that the thread separator is provided
between the hook opening of the clamping hook and that
the clamping hook is, as it were, subdivided into two
parts. This offers the advantage that for both weft
.threads substantially the same amount of space is
provided in order to move in the region of the clamping
hook to the position where said weft thread is clamped.
[0007] According to a preferred embodiment of the
invention, the thread separator is attached in
proximity to the leading end of the receiving gripper,

more particularly in proximity to the upper edge of the
leading end of the receiving gripper. In this case, the
terra ''upper edge'' refers to the edge which is
positioned on top in use. The thread separator can in
this case be directed slightly downward in order to
prevent it from undesirably taking along warp threads
and to allow it to pass along a specific weft thread
which is offered by a feed gripper. This offers the
advantage that the thread separator can be adapted
according to the feed gripper in order to guide each
time a weft thread along the thread separator via the
desired side.
[0008] According to a preferred embodiment, the thread
separator is attached to the receiving gripper for
example hereby welded, soldered, adhesively bonded or
the like. Thus it is possible to select an appropriate
material, for example steel, for the thread separator
without the entire clamping hook having to be made of
this material.
[0009] According to a preferred embodiment, the tip of
the thread separator ends in the longitudinal direction
of the receiving gripper at a greater distance from the
leading end of the receiving gripper than the tip of
the clamping hook. This allows one of the weft threads
on one side of the thread separator to be taken up in
the receiving gripper, while the other weft thread on
the other side of the thread separator can be taken up
in the receiving gripper. As a result, both weft
threads on different sides of the thread separator can
be moved between the two clamping faces to a clamped
position.
[0010] The invention also relates to a method for
delivering of two weft threads to a receiving gripper,
more particularly delivering of two weft threads from a
feed gripper to a receiving gripper, wherein the
receiving gripper and the weft threads are located

during the delivery in a position such that one weft
thread is moved past the thread separator while the
other weft thread is not moved past the thread
separator. This allows one weft thread, which is
offered by the feed gripper, to be located on one side
of the thread separator, while the other weft thread,
which is offered by the feed gripper, is located on the
other side, of the thread separator. As a result, both
weft threads can be moved on different sides of the
thread separator between the clamping faces to a
clamped position.
[0011] The invention also relates to a feed gripper
for a gripper weaving machine which comprises a gripper
housing which comprises guides for weft threads,
wherein the guides guide weft threads to stops and/or
to a thread clamp, and to methods used therein.
[0012] A feed gripper of the aforementioned type is
for example known from WO 99/18274 and is suitable for
the clamping and the guiding of a weft thread.
WO 00/29651 has proposed a feed gripper which is
suitable for the clamping and the guiding of two weft
threads, wherein in the region of the upper face of the
feed gripper, two grooves are formed each in order to
guide one of the weft threads. The weft threads are
guided in a specific opening by the shape of guides in
the region of the thread clamp which are arranged in
the gripper housing.
[0013] The object of the invention is also to improve
a feed gripper of the aforementioned type so as to make
it more suitable for guiding and for weaving two weft
threads at the same time.
[0014] This object is achieved in that there is
arranged, in proximity to a side edge of the feed
gripper that is positioned away from the thread clamp,
a thread separator which allows two weft threads, which

are presented to the feed gripper at' a different
height;, to be separated from each other while they are
guided by the feed gripper to a stop.
[0015] A feed gripper according to the invention
offers the advantage that above all the height of the
presented weft thread, and less the shape or the
position of the feed gripper, is important for
determining on which side of the thread separator a
weft thread will be located. The two weft threads
extend in this case through the feed gripper between
the thread clamp and an associated stop on the side
edge of the feed gripper that is positioned away from
the thread clamp. A weft thread which is presented
above the thread separator will in this case be located
above the thread separator in the feed gripper and be
guided to the one stop, while a weft thread which is
presented below the thread separator will be located
below the thread separator and will be guided to the
other stop. The thread separator also allows hereby
both weft threads to be located at a distance from each
other while they are clamped together by a thread
clamp. This allows both weft threads to be taken up in
the feed gripper substantially separately from each
other and to be positioned at a distance from each
other in the feed gripper while they are brought into a
shed. This means that, from the feed gripper, the two
weft threads lie at a distance from each other that is
sufficient to prevent the weft threads from lying one
over the other. The feed gripper also allows both weft
threads to be clamped together next to each other in
the thread clamp. A feed gripper of this type, which a
receiving gripper can penetrate during taking-over of
weft threads, can be kept relatively slender. This then
leads to the advantage . that even during the
simultaneous insertion of two weft threads, merely a
relatively small shed is necessary. The invention
allows two weft threads to be kept separate from each
other during the insertion, and to be beaten up

parallel to each other, i.e., without said weft threads
being laid over or round each other. In addition, weft
threads chosen from different bobbins can be woven in
pairs and can be woven in parallel to each other.
[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention,
the- thread separator is arranged substantially in the
longitudinal direction of the feed gripper in the
region of the side edge of the feed gripper. Hereby a
guide, which guides a weft thread to a stop, is
provided on each side of the thread separator. Because
of the thread separator, the weft threads can move via
a guide to an associated stop where they are guided
during the insertion of the weft threads into the shed.
Two grooves are formed by guides in proximity to the
side edge of the feed gripper.
[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention,
the two stops are arranged in the longitudinal
direction of the feed gripper at a distance from each
other. This allows the two weft threads to be kept
separate from each other in the region of the feed
gripper.
[0018] According to a preferred embodiment, the thread
separator is welded, soldered, adhesively bonded or
attached in an approximate manner to the feed gripper.
Thus, it is possible to select an appropriate material,
for example steel, for the thread guide without the
entire clamping hook having to be made of this
material.
[0019] The invention also relates to a method for the
taking-up of two weft threads with a feed gripper,
wherein the feed gripper takes up one weft thread above
its thread separator while the feed gripper takes up
the other weft thread below its thread separator. As a
result, both weft threads can be moved on a different

side of the thread separator to a stop, more
particularly can be moved to a stop via a guide.
[0020] The invention also relates to a device for
presenting of weft threads to a gripper for a gripper
weaving machine, more particularly to a feed gripper
for a gripper weaving machine, wherein the device
comprises a plurality of presenting elements which are
movable between a rest position and a presentation
position and comprises a support device which can be
arranged between the presenting elements and a gripper
to support a weft thread while the weft thread is taken
up by the gripper, and to methods used therein.
[0021] A device of the aforementioned type is for
example known from EP 161014 and is suitable for the
presenting of a weft thread to a feed gripper. A device
of the aforementioned type, which is suitable for the
presenting of a weft thread to a receiving gripper, is
for example known from WO 2005/047584.
[0022] The object of this aspect of the invention is
to improve a device of the aforementioned type so as to
make it more suitable for presenting at the same time
two weft threads to a gripper and for weaving two weft
threads at the same time.
[0023] This object is achieved in that the support
device comprises two support elements which are
separated from each other by a thread separator,
wherein the support elements extend in use
substantially in the direction of movement of the
gripper and wherein each support element allows an
associated weft thread to be supported in a position
transverse to the direction of movement of the gripper,
which position is different from the position of the
other weft thread.

[0024] A device according to the invention allows two
weft threads to be kept separate from each other, while
they are presented in different positions to a gripper.
Each support element allows a weft thread to be
presented in a different position transversely with
respect to the direction of movement of the gripper,
meaning inter alia in a different height position with
respect to the side edge of the gripper. The device
according to the invention also allows two wett threads
to be presented in a different position to a gripper,
so that each weft thread can be presented in the region
of a suitable guide of a gripper. The weft threads are
separated by the device in the region of the gripper.
The thread separator also allows in this case weft
threads which are supported on a different support
element to be located at a distance from each other in
the longitudinal direction or direction of movement of
the gripper. This allows both weft threads to be
brought into a shed substantially parallel to each
other and at a constant distance from each other. This
means that, from the support device, both weft threads
lie at a distance from each other that is sufficient, to
prevent the weft threads from being able to move one
over the other. The invention allows two weft threads
to be kept separate from each other during the
insertion and to be beaten up parallel to each other,
i.e. without said weft threads being laid over or
around each other. In addition, weft threads chosen
from different bobbins can be woven in pairs and can be
woven in parallel to each other.
[0025] According to an embodiment of the device, the
support elements are in use located at a different
height with respect to the direction of movement of the
gripper. Preferably, the support element which is
arranged in use in proximity to the shed is located in
a higher position than the support element which is
arranged further away from the shed. This is
advantageous for separating weft threads and tor

keeping them separate from one another during the
insertion into a shed.
[0026] According to an embodiment of the device, the
support elements are located in use at a different
depth with respect to the direction of movement of the
gripper. Preferably, the support element, which is
arranged in proximity to the shed, is located further
away from the beat-up line than the support element
which is arranged remote from the shed. This is
advantageous for separating weft threads and for
keeping them separate from one another during the
insertion into a shed.
[0027] According to a preferred embodiment, the
gripper consists of a feed gripper. The support device
is preferably formed from a curved plate wherein the
support elements and the thread separator are arranged.
[0028] The invention also relates to a method for
presenting of two weft threads to a gripper for a
gripper weaving machine, more particularly to a feed
gripper for a gripper weaving machine, wherein each
support element supports an associated weft thread in a
position transverse to the direction of movement of the
gripper, which is different from the position of the
other weft thread, in order to present the associated
weft thread to the gripper in a different position with
respect to the gripper. As a result, both weft threads
can be presented on a different side of the thread
separator and can be kept separate from each other.
Hereby the two weft threads are presented in a
different position to a gripper, so that each weft
thread is presented in the region of a suitable guide
of a gripper.
[0029] Further features and advantages of the
invention will emerge from the following description of
the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a perspective view of a device according to
the . invention for the presenting of weft threads to a
feed gripper, and of a feed gripper according to the
invention;
figure 2 is a rear view, in the direction of arrow P2,
of the support device in figure 1;
figure 3 is a top view, in the direction of arrow P3,
of the support device in figure 1;
figure 4 is a schematic and simplified rear view, in
the direction of arrow P2, of the feed gripper in
figure 1;
figure 5 is a schematic, simplified and perspective
view of a position while weft threads are taken over
from the feed gripper by the receiving gripper,-
figure .6 is a schematic and simplified front view, in
the direction of arrow P7, of the receiving gripper in
figure 7; and
figure 7 is a top view of a receiving gripper according
to the invention.
figure 8 is a schematic, simplified and cross-sectional
view of a feed gripper similar to the one of figure 5
with weft threads to be delivered to a receiving
gripper.
figure 9 is a top view of a feed gripper and a
receiving gripper according to a variant of figure 5.
figure 10 is a top view of a feed gripper and a support
device of a variant embodiment of figure 1 after the
taking-up of weft threads.
figure 11 is a simplified sectional view along line
XI-XI in figure 10 before the taking-up of weft
threads, where the scale of the receiving gripper is
.exaggerated to clarify the invention.
figure 12 is a. top view of a part of a feed gripper and
a receiving gripper of the variant embodiment of figure
10 during the delivery of weft threads.
figure 13 is a view in the direction of arrow P13 of
the receiving gripper of figure 12 at the moment of the
delivery of weft threads.

figure 14 is a top view of the receiving gripper of the
variant embodiment of figure 10 after the delivery of
weft threads.
[0030] The device 1 for the presenting.of weft threads
to a feed gripper 10 comprises a number of presenting
elements 11 to 16 which are movable between a rest
position and a presentation position. The presenting
elements 11 and 15 are shown in the presentation
position, while the presenting elements 12, 13, 14 and
16 are shown in the rest position. For the sake of
clarity, just two weft threads 2 and 3 are shown, which
in, the exemplary embodiment are presented by associated
presenting elements 11 and 15. Furthermore, the device
1 comprises a support device 4 for weft threads, which
is arranged between the presenting elements and a feed
gripper 10. The support device 4 comprises two support
elements 5 and 6 and a thread separator 7 which
separates the support elements 5 and 6 from each other.
As may be seen, the support elements 5 and 6 extend in
use substantially in the direction of movement B of the
feed gripper 10 . The support element 5 supports the
weft ' thread 2 in a first position transverse to the
direction of movement B of the feed gripper 10, while
the support element 6 supports the weft thread 3 in a
second position transverse to the direction of movement
B. The support device 4 is fixedly attached to a
fixedly arranged support beam 8 to which, weft scissors
9 are also attached. The thread separator 7 prevents
the weft thread 3 from being able to make contact with
the support element 5 or the weft thread 2 from being
able to make contact with the support element 6.
[0031] The support elements 5 and 6 are located, as
shown in figures 1 and 2, in use in the height
direction H at a different height with respect to the
direction of movement B of the feed gripper; more
particularly there is a difference in height Hi between
both. The support element 5, which is located closer to

the shed 17, is in this case arranged higher than the
support element 6 which is more remote from the shed
17. The support elements 5 and 6 are located, as is
made clearer in figure 3, in use in the depth direction
D at a different depth with respect to the direction of
movement B of the feed gripper; more particularly there
is a difference in depth Dl between the portion of the
support element 5 in proximity to the transverse guide
19 and the portion of the support element 6 in
proximity to the thread separator 7. The support
element 5, which is arranged in proximity to the shed
17, is located in the direction of depth D further away
from the beat-up line 20 than the support element 6
which is arranged removed from the shed 17. The support
device 4 consists of a curved plate 18 wherein the
support- elements 5 and 6, the thread separator 7 and
the, transverse guide 19 are arranged. The plate 18 is
curved in the region of the thread separator 7 and of
the transverse guide 19, In the region of the
transverse guide 19 and of the thread separator 7,
wear-resistant elements can be arranged to limit the
wear of the support device 4.
[0032] As is illustrated in figures 1, 4 and 5, the
feed gripper 10 comprises a gripper housing 21 which
comprises a plurality of guides for weft threads. A
number of guides, such as guides 22 and 23, guide weft
threads to a thread clamp 24, while other guides 25 and
26- guide weft threads to a stop 27 or 28 . According to
the invention, the feed gripper 10 also comprises a
thread separator 29 which is provided with two guides
30 and 31 for guiding weft threads to a stop 27 or 28.
The guides 3 0 and 31 are each arranged to a different
side of the thread separator 29. The thread separator
29 is attached in proximity to a side edge 32 of the
feed gripper 10 that is positioned away from the thread
clamp 24 . The thread separator 29 is in this case
positioned in proximity to the side edge 32 of the feed

gripper 10 that is positioned in proximity to the
support device 4 during the taking-up of weft threads.
[0033] According to the invention, two weft threads 2
and 3, which are each supported by an associated
support element 5 or 6 in a specific position
transverse to the direction of motion B of the feed
gripper 10, are first presented to the feed gripper 10.
As the position of both weft threads 2 and 3 differs by
the difference in height HI, the weft threads 2 and 3
will be located in a different position with respect to
the feed gripper 10 while they are presented to the
feed gripper 10 as the feed gripper 10 moves toward the
shed 17. As a result of the shape and the dimensions of
the support device 4 and the feed gripper 10 and as a
result of their mutual arrangement, the highest
positioned weft thread 2 will be guided between the
guides 25 and 30 to the stop 27, while the lowest
positioned weft thread 3 will be guided between the
guides 26 and 31 to the stop 28. This means that,
depending on the position of the weft thread 2 or 3
which is presented to a feed gripper 10, this weft
thread 2 or 3 will be guided to a specific stop 27 or
28 by the thread separator 29. This allows two weft
threads 2 and 3, which are presented at a different
height to the feed gripper 10, to be separated from
each other while they are guided by the feed gripper 10
to an associated stop 27 or 28. In figure 4, the weft
threads 2, 3 are represented schematically as a dot;
more particularly, the intersection of the weft threads
with a plane in the region of the side edge 32 is
represented.
[0034]. As is ' illustrated in figures 4 and 5, the
thread separator 29 is arranged, substantially in the
longitudinal direction of the feed gripper 10, in the
region of the side edge 32 of the feed gripper 10. This
means that the thread separator 2 9 has a component
which extends in the longitudinal direction of the feed

gripper 10. In this case, the guides 25 and 30 form a
groove 3 3 and the guides 2 6 and 31 form a groove 3 4 in
the region of the side edge 32 of the feed gripper 10.
The groove 3 3 ends at a stop 2 7 and the groove 3 4 at a
stop 28, the stops 27 and 28 being arranged, in the
longitudinal direction of the feed gripper 10, at a
distance Al from each other. The provision of the
thread separator 29 in proximity to the side edge 32,
and thus in proximity to the support device 4, offers
the advantage that the weft threads 2, 3 are presented
by the support device 4 precisely with respect to the
feed gripper 10, meaning inter alia that their height
position with respect to the side edge 32 of the feed
gripper 10 is precisely defined.
[0035] In this case, two weft threads 2 and 3 can be
taken up by a feed gripper 10 so that one weft thread 2
comes to lie above the thread separator 2 9 and the
other weft thread 3 comes to lie below the thread
separator 29, so that both weft threads 2 and 3 are
each guided on a different side of the thread separator
29 and to a different stop 27 or 28. The thread
separator 29 can be attached to the feed gripper 10 in
various ways, for example welded, soldered, adhesively
bonded or in still another such manner.
[0036] As the weft threads 2 and 3 are each guided on
a. different side of the thread separator 29 and are
guided respectively along the transverse guide 19 and
the thread separator 7, the weft threads 2, 3 remain,
during the further movement of the feed gripper 10
through the shed 17, separate from each other,
substantially parallel to each other and cannot touch
each other.
[0037] The receiving gripper 40 represented in figures
6 and 7 comprises a clamping hook 3 5 to which an insert
36, which forms a clamping face 37 of the clamping hook
35, is arranged. According to a variant, the clamping

face can also be provided directly, i.e. without an
insert on the clamping hook. The receiving gripper 4 0
also comprises a clamping element 3 8 which is provided
with a clamping face 39. The clamping element 38 can be
moved' back and forth with respect to the gripper
housing 41 by means of a drive lever 42 substantially
in the longitudinal direction of the receiving gripper
40 In this case, a spring 43 presses the clamping
element 3 8 toward the clamping hook 3 5 so that the
clamping faces 37 and 39 are pressed toward each other
in order to allow a weft thread to be clamped between
the clamping face 37 and the clamping face 39.
According to the invention, a thread separator 45,
which allows two weft threads 2 and 3 to be separated
from each other while they are clamped between the
clamping faces 37 and 39, is attached in proximity to
the leading end 44 of the receiving gripper 40. The
thread separator 45 is arranged substantially in the
center between the hook opening 4 6 of the clamping hook
35. The thread separator 45 is attached in proximity to
the leading end 44 of the receiving gripper 40.
[0038] In this case, the thread separator 45 is
attached in proximity to the upper edge 4 7 of the
'leading end 44 of the receiving gripper 40. The thread
separator 4 5 is directed slightly downward; more
particularly, the tip 48 of the thread separator 45
that is positioned away from the leading end 44 is
directed downward. The thread separator 4 5 can be
welded to the receiving gripper 10. According to a
variant, said thread separator can be soldered or
adhesively bonded to the receiving gripper 40.
Obviously, still other manners of fastening are also
possible.
[0039] In order to promote the separating of the weft
threads, the tip 4 8 of the thread separator 4 5 ends, in
the longitudinal direction L of the receiving gripper
40, this is also the direction of movement of the

receiving gripper 40, at a greater distance from the
leading end 44 of the receiving gripper 40 than the tip
49 of the clamping hook 35, more particularly the tip
49 of the insert 36 of the clamping hook 35. In this
case, .the tips 48 and 49 are arranged, in the
longitudinal direction, at a distance LI from each
other. The tip 48 of the thread separator 45 can also
be positioned slightly more toward the side edge 50 of
the receiving gripper 40 than the tip 49 of the
clamping hook 35; more particularly, the tip 48 and the
tip 4 9 end at a distance D2 from each other in a
direction perpendicular to the direction of movement or
longitudinal direction L of the receiving gripper 40.
In. this case, the side edge 50 is positioned, in use,
substantially in the extension of the side edge 32 of
the feed gripper 10 or directed, in the transverse
direction, toward the support element 4.
[0040] The two weft threads 2, 3 are in this case
delivered from the feed gripper 10 to a receiving
gripper 4 0 by moving the feed gripper 10 and the
receiving gripper 4 0 during the delivery'into a mutual
position as represented in figure 5. In this case, as
the feed gripper 10 and the receiving gripper 4 0 move
toward each other, the one weft thread 2 is moved past
the thread separator 45 while the other weft thread 3
is not moved past the thread separator 45. This means
that' the weft thread 2 is moved past both the tip 4 8
and the tip 49, while the weft thread 4 9 is only moved
past the tip 49. In the furthest mutual position of the
feed gripper 10 and the receiving gripper 40, the weft
threads 2, 3 are located roughly as schematically
represented in figure 6. As the feed gripper 10 and the
receiving gripper 4 0 move back apart from each other,
the weft thread 3 arrives between the clamping face 37
and the thread separator 45, while the weft thread 2
arrives between the thread separator 4 5 and the
clamping element 38. In this case, the taken-up weft
threads 2 and 3 are then each located on a different

side of the thread separator 4 5 and are separated by
the thread separator 45. After the taking-up of the
weft threads, the receiving gripper 4 0 moves to the
right away from the feed gripper 10 and away from the
support device 4 and the weft threads 2, 3 extend, as
represented in figure 7, from the receiving gripper 4 0
to the support device 4.
[0041]' In this case, the receiving gripper 40 and the
weft threads 2 and 3 are located, during the delivery,
in a position such that one weft thread 2 is moved past
the thread separator 45, while the other weft thread 3
is not moved past the thread separator 45. According to
another possibility of the aforementioned embodiment,
the distances D2 and LI are selected, as indicated in
figure 7, in such a way that the weft threads 2 and 3
are each guided, irrespective of the mutual position in
the longitudinal direction L of the feed gripper 10 and
the receiving gripper 40 during the delivery, as a
result of the positioning of the weft threads 2, 3 in
the region of the feed gripper 10, on an appropriate
side of the thread separator 45. The bringing of the
feed gripper 10 and the receiving gripper 4 0 into a
mutual position, wherein the weft threads 2 and 3 are
located in the longitudinal direction L as represented
in figure 6, offers the advantage that the two weft
threads 2 and 3 can be delivered in an appropriate
manner even if their separated position is
substantially along the same longitudinal plane in the
feed gripper 10.
[0042] In the feed gripper 10 represented in figure 8
the weft threads 2 and 3 extend between a respective
stop 27 or 28 on the side edge 32 of the feed gripper
10 and the thread clamp 24. The thread clamp 24 can be
made in a known manner and can comprise clamping
elements 52, 53 and guide elements 54 for weft threads.

[0043] As is illustrated in figure 9 the clamping hook
3 5 of the receiving gripper 4 0 is arranged, during the
delivery of weft threads 2 and 3, in proximity to and
facing to the side edge 32 of the feed gripper 10 that
comprises the thread separator 29 and the stops 27 and
28 for weft threads. In this way the side edge 50 of
the receiving, gripper 40 is positioned in transverse
direction further away from the side egde 32 than the
clamping hook 35. The thread separator 45 is arranged
substantially in the center between the hook opening 4 6
of the receiving gripper 40. Hereby the thread
separator 4 5 is directed to and is arranged in
proximity to the side edge 32 during the delivery of
weft threads 2 and 3. This arrangement offers the
advantage that the tip 4 8 of the thread separator 4 5
can enter between the two weft threads 2 and 3 at a
position where the two weft threads 2 and 3 are
arranged at a greater distance from .each other, in
other words at a position further away from the thread
clamp 24.
[0044] The feed gripper 10 represented in figures 10 to
12 Comprises a gripper housing 21 which comprises at a
side edge 32 a thread separator 29 with two guides 30,
31 for weft threads 2, 3 that guide a weft thread 2, 3
to a respective stop 27, 28. The feed gripper 10
further comprises a thread clamp 24 positioned away
from the side edge 32. The gripper housing 21 is
substantially U-shaped and comprises a bottom plate
connecting the side edge 32 with a side edge near the
thread clamp 24 . At the housing 21 a thread guide
element 55 is provided that is movable between an open
and a closed position and together with the thread
clamp 24. The thread guide element 55 is substantially
L-shaped and comprises a top edge 56 and a side edge 5 7
that -are arrangeable to guide warp threads during the
insertion of weft threads. The weft threads can extend
between the thread clamp 24 and the stops 27, 28. The
thread clamp 24 can be made in a known manner, for

example as explained in DE 1710292 or CH 510151. During
taking-up, the weft thread 3 arrives in proximity of
the guide 31 before the weft thread 2 arrives in
proximity of the guide 30. During the taking-up of weft
threads 2 and 3, as shown in figures 10 and 11 the side
edge 32 with the thread separator 29 is positioned in
proximity to a support device 4 that presents two weft
threads 2, 3 in a different position to the feed
gripper 10. The support device 4 is part of a device
for presenting weft threads that also comprises a
plurality of presenting elements for presenting weft
threads in a way similar as shown in figure 1 and is
arranged in use between the presenting elements 11, 15
and the feed gripper 10. The support device 4 comprises
a plate 18 with two support elements 5, 6 that are
separated from each other by a thread separator 7 and
support a respective weft thread 2, 3 in a different
position. As shown the difference in position is in a
direction transverse to the direction of movement of
the feed gripper 10, in particular there is a
difference in height and a difference in depth between
the two positions. In particular the difference in
heigth or level allows to take up one weft thread 2
above the thread separator 2 9 and the other weft thread
3 below the thread separator 29, in order to guide each
of- the two weft threads 2, 3 on a different side of the
thread separator 29 to a stop 27, 28. Once the two weft
threads are near the stops 27, 28 the thread clamp 24
and the thread guide element 55 can close such that the
two weft threads are clamped by the thread clamp 24 and
are substantially enclosed by the thread guide element
55, as shown in dash-dot-lines in figure 11. The
difference in depth is in particular advantageous to
guide weft threads separated during their further
insertion into the weaving shed. In figure 10 also a
weaving reed 51 is shown. In figure 12 the feed gripper
10 is arranged in the proximity to the receiving
gripper 4 0 in order to feed the weft threads 2 and 3 in
a different position to the receiving gripper 40. For

sake of clarity, the thread guide element 55 is not
shown in figure 12.
[0045] The receiving gripper 40 represented in figures
12 to 14 comprises a clamping hook 35 provided with a
clamping face 3 7 and a clamping element 3 8 provided
with a clamping face 39 to clamp weft threads 2 and 3
between the clamping faces 3 7 and 39. The clamping
element 38 can be made in a known manner, for example
as explained in DE 1710292. In the region of the
leading end 44 of the clamping hook 35, the receiving
gripper 4 0 comprises a thread separator 4 5 that is
arranged to separate two weft threads 2, 3 while they
are delivered by the feed gripper 10 and clamped by the
receiving gripper 40. The tip 4 8 of the thread
separator 45 ends, in the longitudinal direction of the
receiving gripper 40, at a greater distance from the
leading end 44 of the receiving gripper 40 than the tip
49 of the clamping hook 35. As represented in figures
12 and 14 the thread separator 45 and the clamping hook
3 5 are arranged in the direction perpendicular to the
moving direction or the longitudinal direction of the
receiving gripper at a distance away from each other,
in other words with a difference in depth with respect
to each other, such that both weft threads are also
separated in the transverse direction from each other
near the receiving gripper 40. The opening and closing
of the thread clamps of the feed gripper 10 and the
receiving gripper 40 can be controlled as explained in
CH "510151 or EP 266286. As shown in figure 12, the weft
thread 2 can first be taken along with the thread
separator 45, then the weft thread 3 can be taken along
with the clamping hook 3 5 and then the clamping faces
37 and 39 can clamp both weft threads 2, 3 while the
thread clamp 24 releases the weft threads 2, 3 and the
receiving gripper 40 is already moving to the opposite
side of the shed. The feed gripper 10 and the receiving
gripper 4 0 can be moved in a known way into the weaving
shed by flexible gripper bands or rigid gripper rods.

[0046] It will be clear that concepts such as
''above1', ''below'', ''height'', ''depth1', ''left'',
''right'' and the like are not meant in absolute terms,
but -rather are meant more to clarify the illustrated
embodiments. It is clear that the entire device can be
brought into a different relative position. The
direction of movement of the feed gripper 10 and of the
receiving gripper 40 also coincides, in the illustrated
embodiments, with the longitudinal direction of the
feed gripper 10 and of the receiving gripper 40.
[0047] As a result of the fact that the two weft
threads 2, 3 are, during the insertion thereof, kept
separate from each other, it is possible to keep the
weft threads 2, 3 mutually in position, allowing these
weft threads, during the joint beating-up of both weft
threads 2, 3, to be beaten up and to be woven in
parallel to each other. What matters in accordance with
the invention is that the weft threads 2, 3 not only
are T kept separate in the region of the device 1 for
presenting and in the region of the feed gripper 10,
but also be kept separate and substantially parallel in
the region of the receiving gripper 40. The keeping
separate in the region of the receiving gripper 40 is
important above all for the beating-up of both weft
threads 2, 3 and more particularly for the weaving-in,
in parallel, of both weft threads 2, 3. The term
' 'weaving-in in parallel' ' refers to the fact that the
two weft threads 2, 3 also remain parallel to each
other and do not twist over each other in the fabric.
[0048]' It will be clear that two other weft threads can
also be brought together in a similar manner into the
shed, wherein for example one weft thread is presented
by one of the presenting elements 11, 12 or 13 and the
other weft thread is presented by one of the presenting
elements 14, 15 or 16. Hereby two weft threads can in
each case be as chosen brought into the shed via a
selected presenting element. As a result, the invention

is not limited to the insertion of one of the two weft
threads from a specific thread supply, such as is for
example the case in EP 633336.
[0049] Although in the illustrated embodiments in each
case two weft threads are inserted, it is of course
also possible to insert, using a device, a feed gripper
and a receiving gripper according to the invention,
merely one single weft thread. Obviously, the joint
insertion of, for example, three or more weft threads
using a device, a feed gripper and a receiving gripper
according to the invention is not ruled out. In this
case, two groups of weft threads can be inserted
separately from each other and can be woven in parallel
to one another.
[0050] It will also be clear that the invention is not
limited to the use of six presenting elements 11 to 16,
but that use may be made of any number of presenting
elements, for example four, eight or twelve presenting
elements. If weaving is carried out using just two weft
threads, the presenting elements can be replaced by a
fixedly arranged thread eye. Likewise, one group of
presenting elements 11, 12 and 13 can be used, while
the other group of presenting elements' 14, 15 and 16
can be replaced by a fixedly arranged thread eye. Other
combinations of presenting elements and thread eyes are
of course also possible.
[0051] The feed gripper 10 and the receiving gripper 40
can be attached in a known manner to the leading end of
a gripper band or gripper rod with which they can be
moved into and out of a shed 17. The gripper housings
21, 41 can be made of metal, for example light metal.
[0052] Although in the illustrated embodiments two weft
threads 2 and 3 are inserted by means of a feed gripper
10 and a receiving gripper 40, it is also possible, in
accordance with a variant, to insert a weft thread over

the entire weaving width using just a feed gripper or
using just a receiving gripper. If the weft threads are
inserted using just a feed gripper, then the feed
gripper takes up a weft thread as represented in figure
1 and brings it to the opposite side of the shed. A
fixedly arranged clamping hook, which is embodied in a
similar manner to the leading end of the receiving
gripper, can in this case be arranged to the opposite
side of the shed. If weft threads are inserted using
just a receiving gripper, then the receiving gripper
takes up a presented weft thread, which has been
presented as in figure 1, and brings it to the opposite
side of the shed. In this case, the receiving gripper
4 0 can be brought into a position with respect to the
weft threads 2, 3 in the region of the support device 4
which is similar to that represented in figure 6 .
Gripper weaving machines which utilize a feed gripper
and a receiving gripper are the most widespread.
[0053] The illustrated exemplary embodiments serve
merely to clarify the invention. Variants are readily
possible, in particular in relation to the shape of the
guides and the positions of the weft threads. Also
possible are combinations of the illustrated
embodiments which come under the extent of protection
of the claims. In the case of such variants and
combinations of the illustrated embodiments, the weft
threads 2 and 3 are also guided in such a way that they
remain separate from each other and allow both weft
threads 2, 3 to be jointly beaten up and to be woven in
parallel to each other. The combination of the
application of a thread separator 7, a thread separator
29 and a thread separator 45 allows the weft threads 2
and 3 to be kept permanently separate from each other
during their joint insertion and to be beaten up
parallel to each other after their insertion, so that a
fabric with parallel weft threads is obtained, wherein
weft threads 2 and 3 are inserted together.

We Claim:
1. A receiving gripper for a gripper weaving machine
which comprises a clamping hook (35) provided with a
clamping face (37) and a clamping element (38) provided
with a clamping face (39) to clamp a weft thread (2, 3)
between the clamping face (37) of the clamping hook
(35) and the clamping face (39) of the clamping element
(38), characterized in that in the region of the
leading end (44) of the receiving gripper (40) a thread
separator (45) is arranged which allows two- weft
threads (2, 3) to be separated from each other while
they are clamped and in that the tip (48) of the thread
separator (45) ends, in the longitudinal direction of
the receiving gripper (40), at a greater distance from
the leading end (44) of the receiving gripper (40) than
the tip (4 9) of the clamping hook (35).
2. Receiving gripper according to claim 1,
characterized in that the thread separator (45) is
arranged substantially in the center between the hook
opening (46) of the clamping hook (35).
3. Receiving gripper according to claim 1 or 2 ,
characterized in that the clamping hook (35) is facing
to a side edge (32) of a feed gripper (10) that
comprises a thread separator (29) and stops (27, 28)
during the .delivery of weft threads (2, 3) .
4. A method for the delivering of two weft threads to
a receiving gripper (40) according to any one of claims
1 to 2, more particularly for delivering of two weft
threads from a feed gripper (10) to a receiving gripper
(40), characterized in that the receiving gripper (40)
and the weft threads (2, 3) are located during the
delivery in a position such that one weft thread (2) is
moved past the thread separator (45) while the other

weft thread (3) is not moved past the thread separator
(45) .
5. A feed gripper for a gripper weaving machine which
comprises a gripper housing (21) having guides for weft
threads, wherein the guides guide weft threads (2, 3)
to a stop (27, 28) and to a thread clamp (24),
characterized in that in a side edge (32) of the feed
gripper (10) that is positioned away from the thread
clamp (24) and that is positioned in the proximity to a
support device (4) for presenting weft threads (2, 3)
to the gripper, during the taking-up of weft threads
(2, 3), a thread separator (29) is arranged which
allows two weft threads (2, 3) , which are presented to
the feed gripper (10) at a different height by the
support device (4) , to be separated from each other
while they are guided to a stop (27, 28).
6. Feed gripper according to claim 5, characterized
in that the thread separator (29) extends substantially
in the longitudinal direction of the feed gripper (10)
in the region of the side edge (32) of the feed gripper
(10) .
7. A method for the taking-up of two weft threads
with a feed gripper according to claim 5 or 6,
characterized in that the feed gripper (10) takes up
one weft thread (2) above the thread separator (29)
while the feed gripper (10) takes up the other weft
thread (3) below the thread separator (29), in order to
guide the two weft threads (2, 3) on a different side
of the thread separator (29) to a stop (27, 28).
8. A device for the presenting of weft threads to a
gripper (10, 40) for a gripper weaving machine, more
particularly to a feed gripper (10) for a gripper
weaving machine, wherein the device (1) comprises a
plurality of presenting elements (11, 12, 13, 14, 15,
16) which are movable between a rest position and a

presentation position and comprises a support device
(4) which in use is arranged between the presenting
elements (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) and a gripper
(10, 40) to support a weft thread (2, 3) while the weft
thread (2, 3) is taken up by the gripper (10, 40),
characterized in that the support device (4) comprises
two support elements (5, 6) which are separated from
each other by a thread separator (7) , wherein the
support elements (5, 6) extend in use substantially in
the direction of movement of the gripper (10, 40) and
wherein each support element (5, 6) allows an
associated weft thread (2, 3) to be supported in a
position transverse to the direction of movement of the
gripper (10, 40) , which position is different from the
position of the other weft thread (2, 3).
9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that
the support elements (5, 6) are located in use at a
different height with respect to the direction of
movement of the gripper (10, 40).
10. Device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in
that the support clement (5) which in use is close to a
shed is located in a higher position than the support
element (6) which is remote from the shed (17).
11. Device according to any one of claims 8 to 10,
characterized in that the support elements (5, 6) are
lopated in use at a different depth with respect to the
direction of movement of the gripper (10, 40).
12. Device according to any one of claims 9 to 11,
characterized in that the support element (5), which is
close to the shed (17) , is located further away from
the beat-up line (20) than the support element (6)
which is remote from the shed (17).
13 . Device according to any one of claims 9 to 12:
characterized in that the support device (5, 6)

comprises a curved plate (18) wherein the support
elements (5, 6) and the thread separator (7) are
arranged.
14. A method for the presenting of two weft threads to
a gripper (10, 40) for a gripper weaving machine with a
device according any one of claims 9 to 13, more
particularly to a feed gripper (10) for a gripper
weaving machine, wherein each support element (5, 6)
supports an associated weft thread (2, 3) in a position
transverse to the direction of movement of the gripper
(10, 40) , which is different from the position of the
other weft thread (2, 3) , in order to present the
associated weft thread (2, 3) to the gripper (10, 40)
in a different position with respect to the gripper
(10, 40).
15. Method according to claim 14, characterized in
that two weft threads (2, 3) are presented in a
different position to a gripper (10, 40) , so that each
weft thread (2, 3) is presented in the region of a
suitable guide of a gripper (10, 40).

Receiving gripper (40), feed gripper (10) and device (1) for a gripper
weaving machine, wherein a thread separator (45), which allows two weft
threads (2, 3) to be separated from each other, is arranged in the region
of the leading end (44) of the receiving gripper (40), wherein there is
arranged, in proximity to a side edge (32) of the feed gripper (10) that is
positioned away from the thread clamp (24), a thread separator (29) which
allows two weft threads (2, 3) to be separated from each other and
wherein the device (1) comprises a support device (4) which comprises
two support elements (5, 6) which are separated from each other by a
thread separator (7). Methods used therein.