Device for controlling the weft in continuous-feed weaving machines

Claim 1

IN A LOOM WHEREIN A SHED IS FORMED IN THE WARP TO RECEIVE EACH WEFT, SAID LOOM HAVING A RECIPROCATING LAY, A REED, WEFT INSERTING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID LAY FOR INSERTING A WEFT THREAD INTO THE SHED, AND POWER MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID LOOM; A WEFT GUIDING AND DETECTING DEVICE COMPRISING A FINGER-LIKE MEMBER, MEANS CARRIED BY SAID LAY AND SUPPORTING SAID MEMBER FOR MOVEMENTS OF SHORT AMPLITUDE THEREON IN A PLANE AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID LAY, SAID MEMBER BEING ADAPTED TO GUIDE SAID WEFT THREAD BETWEEN THE WEFT SUPPLY AND THE SHED, SPRING MEANS RESILIENTLY OPPOSING THE MOVEMENT OF SAID MEMBER IN RESPONSE TO TRACTION EXERTED ON THE WEFT THREAD DRAWN INTO THE SHED, THE FORCE OF SAID SPRING MEANS PERMITTING MOVEMENT OF SAID MEMBER DURING NORMAL TRACTION, AND ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT MEANS INCLUDING A SWITCH ACTUATED BY SAID MEMBER WHEN ACTION OF SAID SPRING MEANS EXCEEDS ACTION OF TENSION OF THE WEFT THREAD ON SAID MEMBER DUE TO ABSENCE OF WEFT THREAD OR INSUFFICIENT TENSION THEREOF, A RELAY ENERGIZED BY SAID SWITCH, AND A LOOM CONTROL ACTUATED BY SAID RELAY TO MAKE SAID POWER MEANS INOPERATIVE UPON ACTUATION OF SAID SWITCH.