Abstract: An apparatus for weaving leno fabric on a loom including a support pivotally mounted on a loom, and carrying a plurality of ground thread blades arranged side by side in a row and spaced apart to define guide spaces therebetween for ground threads. A leno guide blade divides each guide space into first and second guide slots, each leno guide blade having a leno guide eye through which a leno thread is guided, adjacent ground thread blades projecting beyond the terminal end of the leno guide blade located therebetween to define a ground thread cross-over space.

Abstract: A yarn carrier (30) for presenting a selected yarn (16) to a pair of gripper jaws (26,28). The yarn carrier (30) includes a yarn guide passageway (14) defining a path along which the selected yarn (16) is longitudinally guided. The passageway (14) has a yarn inlet end, a yarn outlet end and adjacent to the yarn outlet end yarn guides (32) to constrain the tail of the yarn (YT) against lateral deflection in a longitudinal direction of the yarn carrier (30). The yarn guides (32) are depressible on contact with open gripper jaws (26,28) to enable the gripper jaws (26,28) to grip the yarn tail (YT).

Abstract: A sewing device comprising an elongate rigid support body having sewing means mounted at one end adapted to create a continuous chain stitch and drive means located at the opposite end operable for driving the sewing means.

Abstract: A reed assembly for leno weaving, the reed assembly including upper and lower reed frame members between which a plurality of dent fingers extend, each pair of neighbouring dent fingers being spaced apart to define a dent space for a crossing-over warp yarn, a yarn guide finger co-operating with each dent space for guiding a crossed-over warp yarn therethrough, each yarn guide finger extending from one of the frame members and having a terminal end spaced from the other frame member so as to divide the co-operating dent space into a pair of cross-over dent spaces extending between said terminal end and said one frame member and being defined between facing sides of the guide finger and the pair of neighbouring dent fingers and cross-over transfer region extending between said terminal end and said other frame member and being located between opposed faces of the pair of neighbouring dent fingers.

Abstract: A pile loop forming assembly for looms for reliably transferring yarn from one side of the lance to the other in order for the yarn to be wrapped around the lance to form a loop. The loops may be cut by a blade as the loops advance and ride over the blade edge. The loops are formed by yarns passing through reed fingers wherein lances move the yarn from one side of the reed finger to the other. The lances are attached to a bar, which moves linearly in alternate directions so as to wag the lances to either side of the reed space. A heald moves the yarn up or down to selectively engage or disengage from the lances. A guide formation on a portion of the reed space helps deflect the yarn from one side of the lance to the other. The reed can pivot between a beat-up position and a weft insert position. As the reed moves to the beat-up position it engages the newly formed pile loop on the lance and pushes it to the fell.

Abstract: A tuft carrier loading apparatus for loading individual tufts into tuft-retention sites spaced along an elongate tuft carrier which is guided for longitudinal movement along a path of travel having a plurality of individually selectively operable tuft forming devices. Each tuft forming device is operable to feed an individual tuft to a tuft-retention site on the carrier. The carrier moves along said path of travel intermittently through a series of successive positions where predefined tuft retention sites are moved temporarily into registry with each tuft forming devices. By controlling selection of the tuft forming devices, tufts are fed to selected sites while the carrier is located at each successive position.

Abstract: A needle loom for producing a decorative selvedge at the knitted edge of a fabric during weaving comprising a weft inserter for inserting loops of weft into a warp shed from one side, a knitting needle for securing the weft loops and movable weft loop engaging means for engaging selected weft loops and causing said selected weft loops to extend beyond the knitted edge of the fabric and forming a decorative edge.The invention also includes a method producing a decorative selvedge on the aforesaid loom.