A drive mechanism for a rapier (48, figure 4) and beat-up reed 24 comprises a linkage reciprocally driven by drive shaft 1. The linkage includes first 20 and second (40) reciprocally driven outputs. The first output drives the reed between beat-up and retracted positions. The second output reciprocates the rapier in synchronism with reed. Preferably main drive link 6 reciprocates about first pivot 13 and reed link 9 reciprocates about second pivot 7 to between reed beat-up and retraction. Preferably rapier link 10 is pivoted at third pivot 8 on the main drive link to reciprocate in synchronism with the reed link 9 between rapier insertion and retraction. The first output is preferably a crank arm 20 pivoting on a reed shaft 21 and pivotally connected to the reed link at a fourth pivot 11 to cause reciprocal movement of the crank arm when the reed is reciprocated. Preferably the second output comprises a linearly reciprocal drive member (40) connected to the rapier link 10 by a fifth pivot 12. Drive member (40) is preferably clamped to a timing belt trained about idler (43, 44, 45) and drive (46) pulleys to insert and retract a tape rapier wound about a sprocket (47).
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