Abstract: A yarn brake for a textile machine. The yarn brake comprises a stationary clamping plate and a movable clamping plate. The plates are forced together by first and second biasing means to provide full braking pressure on a yarn passing between the plates. De-activating means operate to selectively nullify the effect of the second biasing means to provide partial braking pressure on the yarn, or to nullify the effects of both biasing means so that there is no braking pressure on the yarn. The invention also includes a weft yarn braking system for a multi-weft loom utilizing a yarn brake of the present invention for each weft yarn. Control means, operating in timed relation to the loom, operate the brakes in a programmed sequence. The yarns are fully braked when not being inserted into the loom.

Abstract: Shuttle control apparatus for looms having a shuttlebox rotatable 180.degree. from a first, shuttle receiving, position to a second picking position, means for checking and positioning the shuttle to a predetermined picking position within the shuttle box, and means for picking the shuttle. The control apparatus comprises means for guiding and maintaining the shuttle in the predetermined picking position during rotation of the shuttle box and means for braking the shuttle only when it is in the second position.

Abstract: Improvement in pneumatic shuttle picking mechanism for looms which include a picking cylinder and a pump cylinder; a first piston slidably mounted within the picking cylinder and having attached thereto a piston rod which extends through the outlet end of the picking cylinder for picking engagement with the shuttle; a second piston slidably mounted within the pump cylinder and having attached thereto a piston rod which extends out of the inlet end of the pump cylinder for attachment to drive mechanism for reciprocating the second piston; conduits connecting the outlet side of the pump cylinder to the inlet side of the picking cylinder and the outlet side of the picking cylinder to the inlet side of the pump cylinder in a closed system; and a one-way valve located at one end of the pump cylinder which only allows air to enter the pump cylinder from the atmosphere and only when the pressure within the pump cylinder falls below atmospheric pressure.