A weaving loom for weaving a multilayer fabric and comprising weft insertion means (90) and main heddles moved by a Jacquard main shedding mechanism for guiding main warp yarns (12) and defining a main harness width (W11). According to the invention, the weaving loom comprises auxiliary heddles (21) moved by an auxiliary shedding mechanism, for guiding auxiliary warp yarns (22) and defining a clamping area (W21) arranged within the main harness width (W11). At a first pick, the auxiliary heddles are configured for closing the auxiliary shed of auxiliary warp yarns for clamping an inserted weft (100) while the main shed is still open.

A weaving loom for weaving a multilayer fabric and comprising weft insertion means (90) and main heddles moved by a Jacquard main shedding mechanism for guiding main warp yarns (12) and defining a main harness width (W11). According to the invention, the weaving loom comprises auxiliary heddles (21) moved by an auxiliary shedding mechanism, for guiding auxiliary warp yarns (22) and defining a clamping area (W21) arranged within the main harness width (W11). At a first pick, the auxiliary heddles are configured for closing the auxiliary shed of auxiliary warp yarns for clamping an inserted weft (100) while the main shed is still open.

This method is for weaving a fabric with warp yarns and in-woven weft yarns (34) on a weaving loom which comprises, amongst others, a weft selector (28) and a weft insertion mechanism (20), for drawing-in a weft yarn from a pick-up position into the shed, along a weft insertion axis (Y20) and in a forward direction, the weft insertion mechanism including a gripper (40) openable at the pick-up position. This method includes at least the following steps: opening the gripper; positioning a movable carriage (102) of the weft selector so that the gripper (40) is aligned with a selected weft yarn (34); clamping the weft yarn in the selected distribution channel (130), with the clamp (164) of this channel; moving the weft yarn (34) along the selected distribution channel (130) toward the gripper (40), while the gripper is opened, by moving the clamp along the selected distribution channel; catching the selected weft yarn with the gripper at the pick-up position; drawing-in the weft yarn with the weft insertion mechanism, from the pick-up position into the shed, along the weft insertion axis and in the forward direction; and cutting the weft yarn. The weft selector defines several selectable distribution channels (130) parallel to the weft insertion axis (Y20), each selectable distribution channel including a forward guiding member (126), for guiding a weft yarn toward the gripper, and a clamp (164).

This method is for weaving a fabric with warp yarns and in-woven weft yarns (34) on a weaving loom which comprises, amongst others, a weft selector (28) and a weft insertion mechanism (20), for drawing-in a weft yarn from a pick-up position into the shed, along a weft insertion axis (Y20) and in a forward direction, the weft insertion mechanism including a gripper (40) openable at the pick-up position. This method includes at least the following steps: opening the gripper; positioning a movable carriage (102) of the weft selector so that the gripper (40) is aligned with a selected weft yarn (34); clamping the weft yarn in the selected distribution channel (130), with the clamp (164) of this channel; moving the weft yarn (34) along the selected distribution channel (130) toward the gripper (40), while the gripper is opened, by moving the clamp along the selected distribution channel; catching the selected weft yarn with the gripper at the pick-up position; drawing-in the weft yarn with the weft insertion mechanism, from the pick-up position into the shed, along the weft insertion axis and in the forward direction; and cutting the weft yarn. The weft selector defines several selectable distribution channels (130) parallel to the weft insertion axis (Y20), each selectable distribution channel including a forward guiding member (126), for guiding a weft yarn toward the gripper, and a clamp (164).

A weft thread cutting device for shuttleless looms is placed between a fabric edge, a comb and a warp mouth, on one side, and a weft thread selector, on the other side. Weft threads, coming from a plurality of eyelets, join at a vertex located at the fabric edge and at the beating line of the comb. The weft thread cutting device has a rotating disk with a cutting edge, configured to cut the weft threads by a motor which keeps the rotating disk in rotation, and a step control motor, which, through a rotating shaft provided with an eccentric, controls motion of a hinged lever swinging with respect to a longitudinal axis of the step control motor. The hinged lever is shaped, at one end, in the form of two arms, respectively resting on the surfaces of two elastic plates, and is connected, at the other end, to the eccentric.

A weft thread cutting device for shuttleless looms is placed between a fabric edge, a comb and a warp mouth, on one side, and a weft thread selector, on the other side. Weft threads, coming from a plurality of eyelets, join at a vertex located at the fabric edge and at the beating line of the comb. The weft thread cutting device has a rotating disk with a cutting edge, configured to cut the weft threads by a motor which keeps the rotating disk in rotation, and a step control motor, which, through a rotating shaft provided with an eccentric, controls motion of a hinged lever swinging with respect to a longitudinal axis of the step control motor. The hinged lever is shaped, at one end, in the form of two arms, respectively resting on the surfaces of two elastic plates, and is connected, at the other end, to the eccentric.

In order to produce a plurality of fabric strips (22) from a fabric (20) during the manufacturing process thereof, a method is proposed which utilizes the steps of: inserting weft threads (24) into the open warp thread shed, laying of a plurality of cover threads (30, 34) in a zigzag shape by a plurality of feed needles (32, 36), cutting the fabric (20) in the drawing-off direction into a plurality of woven strips (22), and pulling off the warp threads (60) that are located between the cutting-side laying points of the cover threads and the cutting device. This method can be implemented in a particularly advantageous manner if, in addition to the cover thread (30, 34) introduced in zigzag manner, a further cover thread (70) is introduced at each fabric edge (26) by a further feed needle in such manner that it is connected to the zigzag thread whereby the zigzag thread is prevented from fraying.

Apparatus and method for holding and feeding weft threads to the gripper of a weaving machine with drives, with which clamps for the weft threads are moved on motion paths into respectively a feed position, a transfer position and a ready position. The motion path of each clamp comprises a shape that is closed in itself. In that regard, the motion beginning of at least one of the clamps out of its ready position into its feed position takes place in a time segment that extends from the beginning of the beat-up motion of the weaving reed until the beat-up of the previously inserted weft thread against the beat-up line of the weaving machine.

Apparatus and method for holding and feeding weft threads to the gripper of a weaving machine with drives, with which clamps for the weft threads are moved on motion paths into respectively a feed position, a transfer position and a ready position. The motion path of each clamp comprises a shape that is closed in itself. In that regard, the motion beginning of at least one of the clamps out of its ready position into its feed position takes place in a time segment that extends from the beginning of the beat-up motion of the weaving reed until the beat-up of the previously inserted weft thread against the beat-up line of the weaving machine.

A two-dimensional fabric (20) used to produce a three-dimensional composite part has a binding system (21) with binding warp threads (23) and/or binding weft threads (24) and a reinforcing system (22) with reinforcing weft threads (25) and/or reinforcing warp threads (26). At least some of the inserted reinforcing threads (25) are shortened reinforcing weft threads (25a) and/or shortened reinforcing warp threads (26a). Their thread length (L) is less than that of the binding weft threads (24) or the binding warp threads (23). The shortened reinforcing thread's (25a), (26a) free ends are located in a respective thread end position (30) or (31). The respective thread length (L) and the respective thread end positions (30), (31) of a shortened reinforcing thread (25a), (26a) in the two-dimensional fabric (20) are predetermined based on the three-dimensional shape of the composite part to be produced to reduce cutting waste when producing preforms and cutting effort.