TUFTING MACHINE FOR FORMING NARROW GAUGE PILE CARPETING

• US 3,585,948 A
• Filed: 11/17/1969
• Issued: 06/22/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James T. Cobble
• Original Assignee: James T. Cobble
• Inventors: Cobble, James T.
• Application Number:
  US04/877,074
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• US Class Current: 112/80.31
• CPC Class Codes: D05C 15/26 with provision for producing patterns

Abstract

A tufting machine characterized in its ability to form narrow gauge pile carpeting and particularly narrow gauge cut pile carpeting comprising means for feeding elongate backing material longitudinally along a predetermined path, first and second spaced-apart rows of tufting needles mounted for reciprocation in a direction transverse to the path of the backing material and arranged to carry yarn through the backing material, pile forming means disposed beneath the path of the backing material and operatively associated with each of the needles, and additionally including tracking means disposed between the first and second rows of needles for guiding the backing material from the first row of needles to the second row of needles so that the rows of tufts formed by the first row of needles pass through the spaces between the needles of the second row of needles. Furthermore, the tracking means is mounted for lateral movement relative to the path of the backing material for effecting a corresponding lateral shifting of the backing material so that a zigzag pattern may be formed in the rows of tufts formed by said second row of needles.

Claims

1. In a tufting machine for forming narrow gauge pile carpeting or the like, means for feeding elongate backing material longitudinally along a predetermined path, first and second spaced-apart rows of spaced tufting needles mounted for reciprocation in a direction transverse to the path of the backing material and arranged to carry yarns through the backing material to form rows of tufts therein, pile forming means disposed beneath the path of the backing material and operatively associated with each of said needles for forming pile from the yarns carried by said needles, and tracking means disposed between said first and second rows of needles for guiding the backing material from said first row of needles to said second row of needles so that the rows of tufts formed by said first row of needles pass through the spaces between the needles of said second row of needles.

2. The tufting machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said needles in said row are staggered relative to the needles in said first row and wherein said tracking means guides the backing material in a substantially straight line longitudinally of the backing material between said first and second rows of needles.

3. The tufting machine, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tracking means includes means for moving the backing material transversely of its path of travel between said first and second rows of needles aNd in the plane of the backing material for a predetermined distance to offset the rows of tufts formed by said second row of needles in a predetermined pattern from the rows of tufts formed by said first row of needles.

4. The tufting machine, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tracking means includes means for shifting the backing material laterally to and fro of its path of travel between said first and second rows of needles and in the plane of the backing material in timed relationship with the reciprocation of said second row of needles for forming a zigzag pattern in the rows of tufts formed by said second row of needles.

5. The tufting machine, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tracking means comprises:

at least one rotatable tracking roll disposed on one side of the backing material between said first and second rows of needles and extending transversely thereof in pressing engagement therewith, said tracking roll having circumferentially extending, axially spaced grooves therein with said grooves being spaced correspondingly with the spacing of the needles in said first row for receiving the rows of tufts formed by said first row of needles therein.

6. The tufting machine, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tracking means comprises:

first and second rotatable tracking rolls disposed on either side of the backing material between said first and second rows of needles and extending transversely thereof in pressing engagement therewith, said tracking rolls having circumferentially extending, axially spaced grooves therein with said grooves being spaced correspondingly with the spacing of the needles in said first row for receiving the rows of tufts formed by said first row of needles therein.

7. The tufting machine, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said first and second rotatable tracking rolls are mounted for movement laterally of the path of travel of the backing material and parallel to the plane of the backing material and wherein said tracking means includes means operatively connected to said first and second tracking rolls for shifting said tracking rolls laterally to and fro of the path of travel of the backing material and parallel to the plane of the backing material for effecting a correspondingly lateral shifting of the backing material in timed relationship with the reciprocation of said second row of needles for forming a zigzag pattern in the rows of tufts formed by said second row of needles.

8. The tufting machine, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said tracking means includes backing material support means disposed beneath the path of the backing material between said first and second rows of needles adjacent the needles in said second row for supporting the backing material as said second row of needles penetrate therethrough and having longitudinally extending, laterally spaced grooves therein with said grooves spaced correspondingly with the spacing of the needles in said first row and cooperatively associated with said first and second tracking rolls for receiving the pile side of the rows of tufts formed by said first row of needles from said tracking rolls therein.

9. The tufting machine as set forth in claim 8, wherein said backing material support means is mounted for longitudinal movement parallel with the path of travel of the backing material toward and away from said second row of needles in timed relationship with the reciprocation of the needles in said second row for supporting the backing material upon penetration of said second row of needles through the backing material.

10. The tufting machine, as set forth in claim 8, wherein said tracking means includes stripper means disposed above the path of the backing material between said first and second rows of needles adjacent the needles in said second row, said stripper means cooperating with said backing material support means for maintaining the pile side of the rows of tufts in said grooves of said backing material support means and for strippIng the backing material from said needles upon withdrawal of said second row of needles from the backing material, and means for shifting in synchronism said tracking rolls, backing material support means and stripper means laterally to and fro of the path of travel of the backing material and parallel to the backing material for effecting a correspondingly lateral shifting of the backing material in timed relationship with the reciprocation of said second row of needles for forming a zigzag pattern in the rows of tufts formed by said second row of needles.

11. In a tufting machine for forming narrow gauge pile carpeting or the like, means for feeding elongate backing material longitudinally along a predetermined path, first and second spaced-apart rows of spaced tufting needles mounted for reciprocation in a direction transverse to the path of the backing material and arranged to carry yarns through the backing material to form rows of tufts therein, pile forming means disposed beneath the path of the backing material and operatively associated with each of said needles for forming pile from the yarns carried by said needles, said pile forming means comprising:

a looper operatively associated with each of said needles and operative when the needles penetrate through the backing material for catching the loop of yarn and holding the same as the needles retract, and a knife operatively associated with each of said loopers for severing the loops thereon to form cut pile, and tracking means disposed between said first and second rows of needles for guiding the backing material from said first row of needles to said second row of needles so that the rows of tufts formed by said first row of needles pass in predetermined relation to the needles of said second row of needles.

12. The tufting machine, as set forth in claim 11, wherein said tracking means includes means for shifting the backing material laterally to and fro of its path of travel between said first and second rows of needles and parallel to the plane of the backing material in timed relationship with the reciprocation of said second row of needles for forming a zigzag pattern in the rows of tufts formed by said second row of needles.

13. The tufting machine, as set forth in claim 11, wherein said needles in said second row are staggered relative to the needles in said first row and wherein said tracking means comprises at least one rotatable tracking roll disposed on one side of the backing material between said first and second rows of needles and extending transversely thereof in pressing engagement therewith for rotation thereby, said tracking roll having circumferentially extending, axially spaced grooves therein with said grooves being spaced correspondingly with the spacing of said needles in said first row and in alignment therewith and in staggered relation to said needles in said second row for receiving the rows of tufts formed by said first row of needles therein and for guiding the backing material in a substantially straight line longitudinally of the backing material between said first and second row of needles.

14. The tufting machine, as set forth in claim 13, wherein said at least one tracking roll is mounted for movement laterally of the path of travel of the backing material and parallel to the plane of the backing material and wherein said tracking means includes means for shifting said tracking roll laterally of the path of travel of the backing material and parallel to the plane of the backing material and the backing material a corresponding amount in timed relationship with the reciprocation of said second row of needles for forming a zigzag pattern with the rows of tufts formed by said second row of needles.