Abstract: A picking apparatus includes a sley with a reed assembly fixed thereon, a raceway formed in the upper surface of the sley, a magnetic force-generating device for generating a magnetic force which moves along the raceway, and a shuttle which is attracted by the magnetic force so as to fly along the raceway. The sley has a slot formed therein along the raceway. The shuttle has an engagement hole. The magnetic force-generating device has an extendable and retractable gripping unit which can retract into the engagement hole of the shuttle immediately after the completion of a picking motion. Therefore, the magnetic force-generating device can attract and drive the shuttle during the picking motion. It can be appreciated that the gripping unit can interlock the shuttle and the magnetic force-generating device from the time of the completion of a picking motion until the time of the commencement of the next picking motion.