Air-Jet Loom

An air-jet loom is a shuttleless weaving machine that inserts each weft pick through the shed with jets of compressed air from a main nozzle and relay nozzles along a profiled reed. It is used for high-speed production of standard fabrics.

Weft yarn is drawn from a package onto a measuring and storage device, which releases a precise length for each pick. A main nozzle accelerates the yarn into the shed, and a series of relay nozzles along a profiled reed sustains its flight across the fabric width. Electronic controls time the valves for each nozzle, and sensors detect whether each pick has arrived correctly before the reed beats it up.

Air-jet looms are known for very high weft insertion rates and are widely used for large volumes of standard woven fabrics such as shirting, sheeting, denim and other apparel and home textile fabrics, as well as some technical fabrics.

Compressed air is a major part of the energy cost of air-jet weaving, so nozzle settings, air pressure and leak control are important for efficiency. The process suits yarns that can be carried reliably by air and offers less flexibility for very heavy yarns or frequent weft changes than rapier looms. Loom settings and maintenance follow the manufacturer's documentation, and noise exposure in weaving halls requires attention.

Key points

Compressed air jets carry the weft across the shed
Main and relay nozzles with a profiled reed guide the pick
Known for very high weft insertion rates on standard fabrics
Compressed air is a major energy cost

Where AiVibe comes in

AiAmbA use cases include visual inspection on textile and automotive lines, predictive maintenance and digital twins. Existing lines are retrofitted with edge devices, and AI agents only propose changes for a trained operator to confirm.

Explore AiVibe’s work in Textile & Automotive Manufacturing →

Related terms

Terms that refer to Air-Jet Loom

Jacquard Loom and Dobby SheddingTextile & Automotive Manufacturing