Tension control apparatus for weft threads

Abstract

An apparatus for reducing the load on a weft thread being inserted into a loom shed reduces the necessary number of weft thread monitors or stop motion devices functioning as thread tension sensors while still ensuring a reliable tension measurement, especially in a gripper loom in which a plurality of different weft thread types are to be respectively inserted into the loom shed using a weft thread selector and insertion arrangement. A single first thread tension sensor (14) is provided to be common to all of the weft thread types (6) that are to be inserted. The sensor (14) is arranged in a first arrangement plane at a location downstream of the weft thread selector and change arrangement (8). A single second thread tension sensor (19) is arranged in a second arrangement plane at a location between the first thread tension sensor (14) and the weft thread selector and change arrangement (8). Thus, only two thread tension sensors are used, in series, for the total of all weft thread types that are to be inserted into the loom shed, and therefore all the tension values are directly comparable with one another.