Driving apparatus for loom

A driving apparatus for a loom includes a main shaft that transmits a rotational force to devices included in the loom, an alternating-current motor, a speed-reducing mechanism for transmitting rotation of the motor to the main shaft while reducing a rotational speed of the motor at a predetermined ratio, an electromagnetic brake that applies a braking torque to the main shaft when an excitation current is supplied thereto, a drive circuit that supplies alternating-current power to the motor, and a brake circuit that supplies the excitation current to the electromagnetic brake. When the loom stops, the drive circuit outputs an alternating-current voltage at a frequency corresponding to a synchronous speed lower than the actual rotational speed of the motor, so that the motor generates a braking torque in a direction opposite to the rotating direction. In addition, the brake circuit outputs the excitation current to stop the main shaft.