Abstract: Methods and means for allowing heddles to be drawn-in with warp yarns away from a loom for subsequent loading into the loom. A heddle holder allows rows of drawn-in heddles to be carried to the loom. Removable heddle rod sections allow for the heddle holder to load the rows of drawn-in heddles into intermediate portions of heddle rods of adjacent harness frames. The heddle holder also positions the adjacent harness frames during loading of the drawn-in heddles. Individual warp yarn beam canisters provided with the drawn-in heddles facilitate the heddle holder loading of the drawn-in heddles into the harness frames. A protective covering protects the drawn-in warp yarns as they are transferred from the remote drawing-in site to the loom.

Abstract: A heddle frame which has a pair of rectangular hollow metal cross rails, a pair of heddle bars associated with the cross rails for supporting heddles and a pair of end braces connected to said cross rails and said heddle bars and two or more connections between the cross rails and the heddle bars intermediate the end braces. The connections between the heddle bars and the cross rails comprise a hanger which may be formed of a synthetic polymeric material which is rigid, has a first portion which extends into an opening in the bottom of the hollow cross rail, and a second portion which is attached to the heddle bar. The upper portion of the hanger has a closed rectangular opening extending through it into which is fitted a metal insert of substantially the same thickness as the upper portion of the hanger.