High speed yarn transfer system incorporating reversing linkage and electro-optical synchronisation

A rapier for a rapier loom comprises: - a low mass self-tightening rotary clamp with its axis of rotation aligned to the direction of maximum acceleration; - a collapsing pivot linkage that converts the force used to close the self-tightening clamp into the force used to open it; -a piezo-electric trigger device system that controls the change of state of the collapsing pivot linkage wherein the device is charged at the start of the insertion cycle and discharged at the centre of the loom to change the state of the system; and an electronic circuit comprising a photo-transistor that is connected with the piezo-electric of the trigger system such that when a suitable level of light is introduced to the device the actuator becomes discharged.