Rapier support The manufacturers of rapier machines had to choose whether to use as a support for the rapiers(rigid rods or flexible) belts. The rods have the advantage that the support and the rapier move along the shed without any contact with the warp, which fact is important especially when delicate yarns are to be processed. The rods are rigid supports, each one provided at its bottom with a rack gear which meshes with control toothed wheel. They must be sufficiently strong and rigid to ensure stability and precision to the rapiers also during their difficult working conditions(alternating motion), notwithstanding the lack of any support and guide unit inside the shed. Their advantage in respect to the belts isthat they ensure the absence of any contact and interference with the warp thread during insertion. owing to their rigidity, they need however more floor space, considering also the presence of the containers at both sides of the machine and the stability problems due to ึincreasing working speeds and heights.