Rapier Gripper Heads

In rapier weaving, a flexible or rigid solid element, called rapier, is used to insert the filling yarn across the shed. Rapiers are two hooks which carry the weft picks across the warp sheet. The first giver hook takes the weft pick from the yarn feeder and carries it to the center of the warp width. Meanwhile, the taker hook moves from the other side of the weaving machine to the centre. There, the two hooks meet and the weft pick is transferred to the taker hook. After that, the giver hooks returns vacant to the side it came from, and the taker hook carries the weft to the opposite side. As in the projectile loom, a stationary package of yarn is used to supply the weft yarns in the rapier machine. One end of a rapier, a rod or steel tape, carries the weft yarn. The other end of the rapier is connected to the control system. The rapier moves across the width of the fabric, carrying the weft yarn across through the shed to the opposite side. The rapier is then retracted, leaving the new filling in place.

In some versions of the machine, two rapiers are used, each half the width of the fabric in size. One rapier carries the yarn to the center of the shed, where the opposing rapier picks up the yarn and carries it the remainder of the way across the shed. A disadvantage of both these techniques is the space required for the machine if a rigid rapier is used. The housing for the rapiers must take up as much space as the width of the machine. To overcome this problem, looms with flexible rapiers have been devised. The flexible rapier can be coiled as it is withdrawn and will therefore require less space. However, if the rapier is too stiff, it will not coil; if it is too flexible, it will buckle. The double rapier is used more frequently than the single rapier. Rigid and flexible rapier machines operate at speeds of up to 1,300 meters of weft per minute. These rapier looms are efficient. They operate at speeds ranging from about 200 to 260 ppm at about the noise level of projectile looms. They can produce a wide variety of fabrics ranging from muslin to drapery and upholstery materials.