Apparatus for threading heddles

An apparatus for passing a thread through a member formed with an opening, comprising; a first member formed with a passageway passing therethrough movable in an axial direction; the first member comprising upper and lower parts which are movable toward and away from each other in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction; a second member formed with a passageway passing therethrough, the second member and the first member being movable toward and away from each in the axial direction; a unit for interposing the member formed with an opening between the first and second members; a unit for transferring the thread to the passageway of the first member; a unit for passing the thread through the passageway of the first member, the opening in the member and the passageway of the second member by vaccum suction; and a unit for taking out the thread passed through the opening of the member from the first member.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for passing a 
thread through a member formed with an opening. More specifically, the 
present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for automatically 
passing a warp thread through a heddle eye in a heddle, a drop or the 
like, by vacuum suction. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with one important aspect of the present invention, there is 
provided a method for passing a thread through a member formed with an 
opening, comprising the steps of: (1) interposing the member formed with 
an opening between a first member formed with a passageway passing 
therethrough and a second member formed with a passageway passing 
therethrough, the first member comprising upper and lower parts which are 
movable toward and away from each other; (2) transferring the thread to 
the passageway of the first member; (3) passing the thread through the 
passageway of the first member, the opening of the member and the 
passageway of the second member by vacuum suction; (4) moving the first 
and second members away from each other in a direction substantially 
parallel to the path of the thread; (5) separating the upper and lower 
parts of the first member in a direction substantially perpendicular to 
the path of the thread; and (6) taking out the thread passed through the 
opening of the member from the separated first member. 
In accordance with another important aspect of the present invention, there 
is provided an apparatus for passing a thread through a member formed with 
an opening, comprising: a first member formed with a passageway passing 
therethrough movable in an axial direction, the first member comprising 
upper and lower parts which are movable toward and away from each other in 
a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction; a second 
member formed with a passageway passing therethrough, the second member 
and the first member being movable toward and away from each other in the 
axial direction; means for interposing the member formed with an opening 
between the first and second members; means for transferring the thread to 
the passageway of the first member; means for passing the thread through 
the passageway of the first member, the opening in the member and the 
passageway of the second member by vacuum suction; and means for taking 
out the thread passed through the opening of the member from the first 
member. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
In accordance with known practice, a warp threading apparatus as shown in 
FIGS. 1(A) and 1(B) has been employed to pass a warp thread WT through a 
heddle eye 2 in a heddle 1. This apparatus comprises an inlet guide 
cylindrical member 3 and an outlet guide cylindrical member 4. The inlet 
guide member 3 is formed with an inlet guide passageway 5 for guiding 
therethrough a hook member 6 with a hooked end 7 by which a warp thread WT 
is pulled. Likewise, the outlet guide member 4 is formed with an outlet 
guide passageway 8 for guiding the hook member 6 therethrough. The hook 
member 6 has a vertical thin flat portion 6a as shown. The inlet guide 
member 3 is arranged to be movable in the axial direction thereof and 
comprises upper and lower parts 3a and 3b (FIG. 2(A)) which are movable 
toward and away from each other in the direction substantially 
perpendicular to the axial direction. Likewise, the outlet guide member 4 
is arranged to be movable in the axial direction thereof and comprises 
upper and lower parts 4a and 4b which are movable toward and away from 
each other in the direction substantially perpendicular to the axial 
direction. The warp thread WT is passed through the inlet and outlet guide 
members 3 and 4 from the left-hand side end of the inlet guide member 3 in 
FIG. 1(A) to the right-hand side end of the outlet guide member 4 in FIG. 
1(A). First and second warp chucks designated by numerals 9 and 10, 
respectively, are adapted to grip the thread WT and are positioned in the 
vicinity of the left-hand side end of the inlet guide member 3. The first 
warp chuck 9 grips loosely the warp thread WT in such a manner that the 
warp thread WT is readily withdrawn therefrom when pulled by the hook 
member 6, while the second warp chuck 10 grips closely the warp thread WT 
in such a manner that the warp thread WT is held in position when pulled 
by the hook member 6. 
In such warp threading apparatus, the inlet and outlet guide members 3 and 
4 are first axially spaced apart from each other, as seen from FIGS. 2(A) 
and 2(B), to allow the heddle 1 to be positioned therebetween. The upper 
and lower parts of each of the inlet and outlet guide members 3 and 4 are 
further vertically spaced apart from each other as seen from FIG. 2(A). 
The heddles 1 are taken out one by one from a heddle magazine (not shown) 
and caused to move as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2(B) between the 
inlet and outlet guide members 3 and 4 by means of a take-up heddle chuck 
(not shown). In this instance, the heddle 1 is positioned such that the 
center axis of the heddle eye 2 thereof is in axial alignment with the 
longitudinal center axis of the inlet guide passageway 5 of the inlet 
guide member 3 and with the longitudinal center axis of the outlet guide 
passageway 8 of the outlet guide member 4. The upper and lower parts 3a 
and 3b of the inlet guide member 3 are then moved toward each other in the 
directions indicated by arrows in FIG. 2(A) to connect together to form a 
single unitary member. At the same time, the upper and lower parts 4a and 
4b of the outlet guide member 4 are moved toward each other in the 
directions indicated by arrows in FIG. 2(A) to connect together to form a 
single unitary member. The single inlet and outlet guide members 3 and 4 
are further moved axially toward each other to interpose the heddle 1 
therebetween as seen from FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B) and further from FIG. 7. On 
the other hand, the warp thread WT to be passed through the heddle eye 2 
is supplied to the first and second warp chucks 9 and 10 by suitable means 
(not shown). As shown in FIG. 4, the hook member 6 is then inserted into 
the outlet guide passageway 8 of the outlet guide member 4. The hook 
member 6 advances through the outlet guide passageway 8 and through the 
heddle eye 2 and further extends beyond the inlet guide passageway 5 of 
the inlet guide member 3 to hook the warp thread WT on the hooked end 7 
thereof. When the warp thread WT is hooked on the hooked end 7 of the hook 
member 6, the hook member 6 is caused to move axially in the opposite 
direction through the inlet guide passageway 5 and through the heddel eye 
2 and further through the outlet guide passageway 8. As noted above, since 
the warp thread WT is gripped loosely by the first warp chuck 9 and 
closely by the second warp chuck 10, the warp thread WT hooked on the 
hooked end 7 is withdrawn from the first warp chuck 9 and passed through 
the inlet guide passageway 5, the heddle eye 2 and the outlet guide 
passageway 8 by the axial rearward movement of the hook member 6. After 
passing through the outlet guide passageway 8, the warp thread WT is 
closely gripped, as shown in FIG. 6(A), by means of a take-up chuck 11 
positioned in the vicinity of the outlet side of the outlet guide member 
4. The inlet guide member 3 is then axially moved away from the heddle 1 
and the upper and lower parts 3a and 3b thereof are separated in the 
directions indicated by arrows in FIG. 6(A). At the same time, the outlet 
guide member 4 is axially moved away from the heddle 1 and the upper and 
lower parts 4a and 4b thereof are separated in the directions indicated by 
arrows in FIG. 6(A). After separations of the inlet and outlet guide 
members 3 and 4, the warp thread WT passed through the heddle eye 2 is 
taken out by lateral movements of the second warp chuck 10, the heddle 1 
and the take-up chuck 11 in the directions indicated by arrows in FIG. 
6(B). 
In the presently used warp threading apparatus however, there have been 
drawbacks which result from the fact that the warp thread is passed 
through the heddle eye by means of the hook member having a vertical thin 
flat portion. The first drawback is that the hook member may fail to pass 
through the heddle eye by the fact that the heddle eye is standardized and 
that the hook member to be inserted into the standardized eye can not be 
reduced in cross sectional dimensions since the vertical thin flat of the 
hook member is limited in mechanical strength. The second drawback is that 
the hook member can not be rapidly passed through the heddle eye due to 
the limitation in mechanical strength, resulting in decrease in speed of 
passing the warp thread through the heddle. It is possible at present that 
the passing the warp thread through the heddle is twice per second. In 
this instance, the maximum acceleration of the hook member reached has 
been between 30 gravities and 40 gravities to reciprocate at a stroke of 
600 mm. The third drawback is that the warp thread is subject to being cut 
since the warp thread is passed through the heddle by the thin hook 
member. Even if the speed of the hook member were increased, the warp 
thread would readily be subject to cut due to the increased speed. The 
fourth drawback is that the process cost of the inlet and outlet guide 
members is expensive since the inlet and outlet guide passageways in the 
inlet and outlet guide members are required to be formed highly precisely. 
The operational mechanism of the guide members is further intricated since 
the inlet and outlet guide passageways of the inlet and outlet guide 
members are required to be positioned highly accurately. 
It is, accordingly, an important object of the present invention to provide 
a method and an apparatus for passing a warp thread through the heddle eye 
by vacuum suction without having recourse to the use of the thin hook 
member. 
It is another important object of the present invention to enhance the 
speed at which the warp thread is passed through the heddle eye. 
It is another important object of the present invention to effectively 
prevent the warp thread from being cut during the operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to FIG. 8, there is 
shown a preferred embodiment of an apparatus for passing a warp thread 
through a heddle eye in a heddle in accordance with the present invention. 
The apparatus comprises a warp beam 22 having a plurality of warp threads 
WT wound thereon, warp thread supply means 20 adapted to take out one by 
one a warp thread WT from the warp beam 22 and tran sfer the warp thread 
WT to a predetermined position A, a heddle magazine 30 (FIG. 9) having a 
plurality of heddles 26 each formed with a heddle eye 28, heddle supply 
means 24 adapted to take out a heddle 26 one by one from the heddle 
magazine 30 and transfer the heddle 26 to a predetermined position B; warp 
suction means 32 adapted to pass the warp thread WT in the predetermined 
position A through the heddle eye 28 in the predetermined position B by 
vacuum suction; and means for taking out the warp thread WT passed through 
the heddle eye 28 from the warp suction means 32. 
Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown the warp thread supply means 20 which 
comprises warp guide tubes 34 and 36 arranged in the upper portion of a 
generally L-shaped frame structure 38, a separation-suction nozzle 40, a 
warp chuck 42 and a warp cutter 44. The generally L-shaped frame structure 
38 is constituted by a front upstanding frame 46 having a front surface 48 
extending in parallel to the transverse longitudinal axis of the warp beam 
22, a base frame 50 extending from the lower portion of the front 
upstanding frame 46 and a rear upstanding frame 52 extending upwardly from 
the rear portion of the base frame 50. Several thousands of warp threads 
WT wound on the warp beam 22 are first tensioned through tension rollers 
54, 56 and 58 by means of a weight member 60. These warp threads WT are 
arranged transversely in a row along the front surface 48 of the front 
upstanding frame 46 as shown in FIG. 10. The warp beam 22 is movable 
transversely with respect to the front surface 48 by suitable drive means 
(not shown) provided in the L-shaped frame structure 38. As shown in FIG. 
11, two pieces of warp strings 62 and 64 extending transversely along the 
front surface 48 of the front upstanding frame 46 are passed through the 
warp threads in such a manner that each of the warp threads WT is held by 
the warp strings 62 and 64. The warp threads WT arranged in a row in the 
transverse direction are thus prevented from being entangled with one 
another. The warp strings 62 and 64 are passed through the warp guide 
tubes 34 and 36, respectively. The warp guide tubes 34 and 36 are movable 
toward and away from each other so that the warp thread WT is released 
from the warp strings 62 and 64 which are moved away from each other by 
the warp guide tubes 34 and 36. The warp thread WT released from the warp 
strings 62 and 64 is separated from the remainder of the warp threads WT 
by means of the separation-suction nozzle 40. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, 
the warp chuck 42 forming part of the warp thread supply means 20 is 
provided at one end of a pivotal arm 66. The pivotal arm 66 is pivotably 
mounted at the other end thereof on a pivot pin 68 which extends 
substantially horizontally laterally from the side face of the front 
upstanding frame 46 of the L-shaped frame structure 38. The pivotal arm 66 
is thus pivotable about the pivot pin 68 between an upward position 
indicated by solid lines in FIG. 8 and a downward position indicated by 
phantom lines in FIG. 8 with respect to the L-shaped frame structure 38. 
As shown in FIGS. 13, 14 and 15, on the one end of the pivotal arm 66 is 
securely supported a bearing 70 in which a chuck shaft 72 is rotatably 
received. On one end of the chuck shaft 72 is mounted a support block 74 
having rotatable pins 76 and 78 rotatably received therein. Generally 
H-shaped chuck members designated by nemerals 80 and 82 of the warp chuck 
42 are securely mounted on the rotatable pins 76 and 78, respectively, and 
adapted to grip the warp thread WT at two positions as shown in FIGS. 10 
and 14. The rotatable pin 76 further has a gear 84 mounted on the axial 
end thereof. Likewise, the rotatable pin 78 has mounted thereon a gear 86 
which is in meshing engagement with the gear 84. Thus, the chuck members 
80 and 82 of the warp chuck 42 are rotatable about the rotatable pins 76 
and 78 between an open position indicated by phantom lines in FIG. 13 and 
a closed position indicated by solid lines in FIG. 13 in response to 
rotation of the gears 84, 86. A tension spring designated by numeral 88 is 
provided between a fixed pin 90 mounted in the chuck member 80 and a fixed 
pin 92 mounted in the support block 74 to hold the chuck members 80 and 82 
of warp chuck 42 in the open and closed positions. The chuck members 80 
and 82 are rotated into the open and closed positions by movement of a 
projection 94 mounted on the chuck member 80. When gripping the warp 
thread WT, the chuck members 80 and 82 are rotated into the closed 
position by engagement of the projection 94 with the flange portion of a 
member 96 (FIG. 12) mounted on the piston rod of an air cylinder 98 which 
in turn is securely mounted through brackets on the upper surface of the 
front upstanding frame 46 of the L-shaped frame structure 38. On the other 
hand, when releasing the warp thread WT, the chuck members 80 and 82 are 
rotated into the open position by engagement of the projection 94 with a 
stop member (not shown) provided in the vicinity of the predetermined 
position A. As shown in FIG. 12, a drive belt designated by numeral 100 is 
in drivingly engagement with a pulley 102 fixedly mounted on the other end 
of the chuck shaft 72 and with a pulley 104 fixedly mounted on the pivot 
pin 68. This arrangement permits the chuck members 80 and 82 to be held in 
position independently of pivotal movement of the pivot arm 66. The 
above-noted warp cutter 44 forming part of the warp thread supply means 20 
is adapted to cut the warp thread WT gripped by the warp chuck 42 at a 
position above the warp chuck 42 and is driven by a suitable drive means 
(not shown) provided in the L-shaped frame structure 38. After being cut 
by the warp cutter 44, the warp thread WT is transferred by the pivotal 
arm 66 to the predetermined position A. 
Referring again to FIGS. 8 and 9, there is shown the heddle supply means 24 
adapted to take out the heddles 26 one by one from the heddle magazine 30 
and transfer the heddle 26 to the predetermined position B. The heddle 
supply means 24 comprises a pair of take-up heddle chucks 106 and 108 
vertically spaced apart to take up the heddles 26 one by one from the 
heddle magazine 30 and transfer the heddle 26 to the predetermined 
position B, and a pair of transfer heddle chucks 110 and 112 vertically 
spaced apart within the take-up heddle chucks 106 and 108 to grip the 
opposite upward and downward ends of the heddle 26 transferred in the 
predetermined position B during passing of the warp thread WT through the 
heddle eye 28 and transfer the heddle 26 having the warp thread WT passed 
through the heddle eye 28 therein to distributing heddle chucks (not 
shown) in the following process after completion of the threading. The 
transfer heddle chucks 110 and 112 are driven to rotate in the direction 
indicated in FIG. 9 through a link mechanism 114 by means of suitable 
drive means (not shown) provided in the L-shaped frame structure 38. The 
heddle magazine 30 is provided with a pair of upper and lower magazine 
horizontal elongate rods 113 into which a plurality of the heddles 26 with 
upper and lower counter bores 26a and 26b (FIG. 16(A)) are inserted. After 
the take-up heddle chucks 106 and 108 take up the heddle 26 from the 
heddle magazine 30, the take-up heddle chucks 106 and 108 are caused to 
turn in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 9 so that the warp 
thread maybe passed through the heddle eye 28. The take-up heddle chucks 
106 and 108 turned in the direction indicated by arrow in FIG. 9 are then 
moved together with the heddle 26 into the predetermined position B. In 
this instance, the turning direction of the heddle 26 may be different 
depending upon the kinds of the heddles 26. The take-up heddle chucks 106 
and 108 are driven by means of suitable drive means (not shown) provided 
on the L-shaped frame structure 38. 
Referring to FIGS. 16(A) and 16(B), there are shown a wrap guide nozzle 
generally indicated by numeral 116 and a warp suction nozzle generally 
indicated by numeral 118 which form part of the warp suction means 32. The 
warp guide nozzle 116 is adapted to guide to the heddle 26 the warp thread 
WT supplied by the warp chuck 42 of the warp thread supply means 20. The 
warp suction nozzle 118 is adapted to pass the warp thread WT through the 
heddle eye 28 by vacuum suction. The heddle 26 is interposed at the 
predetermined position B between the warp guide nozzle 116 and warp 
suction nozzle 118 as shown. The warp guide nozzle 116 is constituted by a 
cylindrical member and formed with a guide passageway 120 and includes 
upper and lower parts 116a and 116b which are movable toward and away from 
each other as shown in FIG. 16(A). The warp guide nozzle 116 is further 
formed at one end thereof with a V-shaped recess 117 to effectively guide 
the warp thread WT to the heddle 26. The guide passageway 120 is also 
tapered toward the one end of the warp guide nozzle 116 to effectively 
guide the warp thread WT to the heddle 26. The warp guide nozzle 116 is 
further formed at the other end with projections 122 into which the heddle 
eye 28 of the heddle 26 is to be inserted and by which the heddle 26 is 
held in the predetermined position B. In this instance, the heddle 26 is 
held so as to be inclined with respect to the guide passageway 120 of the 
warp guide nozzle 116 since the part including the heddle eye 28 is 
inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the remainder part of 
the heddle 26. As shown in FIG. 9, the warp guide nozzle 116 is 
horizontally arranged parallel to the path of the warp threads WT in such 
a manner that the upper and lower parts 116a and 116b thereof is movable 
toward and away from each other with respect to the path of the warp 
thread WT by a slide block 124 slidably mounted a horizontal guide rod 126 
which is secured to the L-shaped frame structure 38. The slide block 124 
is equipped with a cam mechanism (not shown) which is actuated by 
reciprocal movement thereof on the guide rod 126. The cam mechanism is 
adapted to drive the upper and lower parts 116a and 116b of the warp guide 
nozzle 116 to move toward and away from each other with resepct to the 
path of the warp thread WT. The slide block 124 is driven to move on and 
along the horizontal guide rod 126 by means of suitable drive means (not 
shown). On the other hand, the warp suction nozzle 118 forming part of the 
warp suction means 32 is constituted by a cylindrical member and formed 
with a suction passageway 128 which is in axial alignment with the guide 
passageway 120 of the warp guide member 116. The warp suction nozzle 118 
is provided at the leading end thereof with a buffer cylindrical sleeve 
130 with a helical compression spring 132 to absorb impact force when 
brought into abutting engagement with the warp guide nozzle 116. The 
buffer cylindrical sleeve 130 has an O-ring 134 attached in a 
circumferential recess formed in the axial end ace thereof to provide 
hermetical sealing when the warp suction nozzle 118 is brought into 
abutting engagement with the warp guide nozzle 116. As shown in FIG. 8, 
the warp suction nozzle 118 is mounted in axial bore formed in a guide 
block 136 which is slidably mounted on an axial elongate guide shaft 137 
secured to the rear upstanding frame 52 of the L-shaped frame structure 
38. The warp suction nozzle 118 is driven to axially move toward and away 
from the warp guide nozzle 116 by means of suitable drive means (not 
shown). To the warp suction nozzle 118 is communicated suitable vacuum 
creating means (not shown), for example, such as a vacuum pump, a suction 
gun or the like through a flexible pipe (not shown). In FIG. 9, a transfer 
chuck and guide bar designated by numerals 138 and 140, respectively, are 
provided to take out the heddle 26 with the warp thread WT passed through 
the heddle eye 28 from the warp guide nozzle 116. After the warp thread WT 
is passed through the heddle eye 28, the transfer chuck 138 grips the 
leading end portion of the warp thread WT and the guide bar 140 is brought 
into contact with the trailing end portion of the warp thread WT. The 
transfer chuck 138 and guide bar 140 are then caused to move transversely 
in the directions indicated by arrows in FIG. 9 to take out the heddle 26 
from the warp suction means 32. The above-noted warp thread supply means 
20, heddle supply means 24, warp beam 22 and warp suction means 32 are 
synchronous with one another and mechanically connected with one another 
through cams, gears, link members, limit switches and so on to be actuated 
in corporation with one another. 
The method for passing the warp thread through the heddle eye and the 
operation of the apparatus therefor will now be described in detail in 
conjunction with FIGS. 17(A) and 17(B) to 21(A) and 21(B). 
The heddle 26 is first gripped at the upper and lower ends thereof and 
taken out from the heddle magazine 30 by the take-up heddle chucks 106 and 
108 of the heddle supply means 24. The take-up heddle chucks 106 and 108 
with the heddle 26 gripped thereby are caused to turn in the predetermined 
direction so that the warp thread WT may be passed through the heddle eye 
28. The take-up heddle chucks 106 and 108 are then transferred in the 
predetermined position B between the warp guide nozzle 116 with the upper 
and the lower parts 116a and 116b moved away from each other and the warp 
suction nozzle 118 as shown in FIGS. 17(A) and 17(B). The upper and lower 
parts 116a and 116b of the warp guide nozzle 116 are moved toward each 
other to connect together to form a single unitary member as seen from 
FIGS. 17(A) and 18(A). The warp guide nozzle 116 and the warp suction 
nozzle 118 are then axially moved toward each other to interpose the 
heddle 26 therebetween. At this time, the projections 122 of the warp 
guide nozzle 116 project into the heddle eye 28 of the heddle 26, so that 
the heddle 26 is held in position. The heddle 26 is then securely 
supported by the transfer heddle chucks 110 and 112 vertically spaced 
apart within the take-up heddle chucks 106 and 108. On the other hand, in 
the warp thread supply means 20, the warp guide tubes 34 and 36 are moved 
away from each other so that the warp thread WT is released from the warp 
strings 62 and 64 which are moved away from each other. The warp thread WT 
released from the warp strings 62 and 64 is separated from the remainder 
of the warp threads WT by means of the separation-suction nozzle 40. The 
chuck members 80 and 82 of the warp chuck 42 are then rotated into the 
closed position by engagement of the projection 94 on the warp chuck 42 
with the flange portion of the member 96 mounted on the piston rod of the 
air cylinder 98. As a consequence, the warp thread WT separated is gripped 
by the warp chuck 42 and then cut at the position above the warp chuck 42 
by the warp cutter 44. The warp thread WT gripped by the chuck members 80 
and 82 of the warp chuck 42 is transferred to the warp guide nozzle 116 by 
pivotal movement of the pivotable arm 66. The warp thread WT transferred 
to the warp guide nozzle 116 is released from the chuck members 80 and 82 
by engagement of the projection 94 with the stop member provided in the 
vicinity of the warp guide nozzle 116. At the same time, the warp thread 
WT is passed through the guide passageway 120 of the warp guide nozzle 
116, and through the heddle eye 28, and further through the suction 
passageway 128 of the warp suction nozzle 118 by vaccum suction as seen 
from FIGS. 19(A) and 19(B). Thus, the warp thread WT is passed through the 
heddle eye 28. In this instance, when the chuck members 80 and 82 of the 
warp chuck 42 are rotated into the open position, the warp chuck 42 is 
caused to return to the initial position thereof by the pivotal movement 
of the pivotable arm 66. After the warp thread WT is passed through the 
heddle eye 28 and with the warp thread WT pulled by vaccum suction, the 
warp guide nozzle 116 and the warp suction nozzle 118 are axially moved 
away from each other by the drive means therefor as seen from FIGS. 20(A) 
and 20(B). The upper and lower parts 116a and 116b of the warp guide 
nozzle 116 are then moved away from each other as seen from FIG. 21(A). 
With this condition, the transfer chuck 138 grips the leading end portion 
of the warp thread WT and the guide bar 140 is brought into contact with 
the trailing end portion of the warp thread WT. The transfer chuck 138, 
the guide bar 140 and the heddle 26 are then caused to move transversely 
in the directions indicated by arrows in FIG. 21(B) to take out the warp 
thread WT from the warp guide nozzle 116 of the warp suction means 32. 
After completion of the threading, the heddle 26 is transferred from the 
transfer heddle chucks 110 and 112 to the distributing heddle chucks (not 
shown) in the following process. The next warp thread WT is then passed 
automatically through the heddle eye 28 by repetition of the cycle 
described hereinbefore. 
In the embodiment of the present invention described hereinbefore, the 
speed at which the warp thread is passed through the heddle eye is 
remarkably enhanced since the threading is done by vacuum suction without 
having recourse to the presently used hook member. In accordance with our 
experimental results, flow speed of 83 m/sec is obtained under vacuum of 
500 mmHg or 0.667 bar. In this instance, if the ratio of the speed of the 
warp thread to the flow speed is 0.5, the speed of the warp thread of 41.5 
m/sec is obtained. Accordingly, the time of passing through a guide 
passageway of 600 mm is 0.014 sec. Thus, the speed of the threading is 
remarkably enhanced as compared with the speed of 0.12 sec obtained by the 
use of the hook member. It will be readily apparent to those skilled in 
the art that the present invention has general utility as a means for 
passing a warp thread through a heddle eye in a heddle. Thus, various 
modifications and re-arrangements may be made in the embodiment selected 
for disclosing our invention without departing from the spirit and scope 
of the invention.