Since to obtain a weave it is necessary that, of all the warp threads, one part rises and another
lowers at the passage of each weft, it is evident that in the simplest case to obtain a weave
very basic in a loom two heddles are enough, so that when one rises the other
it is lowered and vice versa (“cloth” armor).
The angle created by the series of the raised threads with that of the lowered threads constitutes the so-called mouth
of warp or shed, which has a height such as to allow the passage of the weft transported at one time
from the shuttle, today from pliers, bullets and, for certain types of fabrics, from jets of air or water, which increase
considerably the production capacity of the frame.
The comb, formed by a large number of steel plates welded to a metal frame, is made up
by a series of teeth through which one or more warp threads are passed. The comb
it has the purpose of keeping the threads parallel and giving the reed height of the fabric between the first and last thread
frame. The reed is fixed on the sley which serves to guide the shuttle or the gripper in the
step and to approach the inserted wefts to the part of fabric already formed.