Weft holder device for holding weft threads ends in an air jet loom

This application is based on and claims the priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German Utility Model Application 201 07 885, filed on May 10, 2001, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. A weft holder device holds the free weft thread ends in an air jet loom, using pressurized air and without requiring a suction device. The body of the device has a tapering opening through which the end of the inserted weft thread extends. The opening tapers into a narrower slot in the beat-up and drawing-off direction. An air flow channel communicates downwardly from the slot. Nozzles blow pressurized air downwardly through the slot and into the channel, to pneumatically push the weft thread ends into the channel, so as to hold the weft thread ends from when they are beat-up and bound into the woven cloth and a catch selvage, until the catch selvage is trimmed from the cloth. The weft holder device may be stationarily mounted at a location between a weft detector and a weft tensioner that are connected to the reed so as to move therewith.