MODULAR TUFTING UNIT

• US 3,709,173 A
• Filed: 07/01/1971
• Issued: 01/09/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mervin D. Greene
• Original Assignee: Mervin D. Greene
• Inventors: Greene, Mervin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Boler, James R.
• Application Number:
  US05/158,903
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 112/79R,79A,79.5,80,266,410
• US Class Current: 112/80.43
• CPC Class Codes: D05C 15/18 Thread feeding or tensioning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D05C 15/20 Arrangements or devices, e.g. needles, for inserting loops; Driving mechanisms therefor

Abstract

A modular tufting unit has a needle bar formed of a plurality of sections or modules with each section being capable of being rendered ineffective. The modular tufting unit has its yarn feed rollers divided into sections or modules. Each of the sections of each of the yarn feed rollers is the same length as the section of the needle bar with which it is aligned in the direction of movement of the yarn. When one of the needle bar sections is rendered inactive, the aligned sections of the yarn feed rollers also are rendered inactive.

Claims

1. A modular tufting unit including a plurality of needle carrying sections having needles supported thereby, at least one yarn feed roller cooperating with said needle carrying sections to feed yarn thereto, said yarn feed roller comprising a plurality of yarn feed roller sections equal in number to said needle carrying sections, each of said yarn feed roller sections being aligned with one of said needle carrying sections in the direction of movement of the yarn and having substantially the same length, means to drive said needle carrying sections, means to selectively connect said drive means to each of said needle carrying sections, and means to cause driving of only said yarn feed roller sections having their aligned needle carrying sections connected to said drive means by said connecting means.

2. The modular tufting unit according to claim 1 including two yarn feed rollers, each of said yarn feed rollers having a plurality of yarn feed roller sections equal in number to said needle carrying sections, and each of said yarn feed rollers having one of said yarn feed roller sections aligned with one of said needle carrying sections in the direction of movement of the yarn.

3. The modular tufting unit according to claim 2 in which said causing means includes a pair of parallel driven shafts, means to selectively connect each of said yarn feed roller sections of one of said yarn feed rollers to one of said shafts, and means to selectively connect each of said yarn feed roller sections of the other of said yarn feed rollers to the other of said shafts.

4. The modular tufting unit according to claim 3 including means to connect adjacent of said needle carrying sections to each other when said adjacent needle carrying sections are connected by said connecting means to said drive means.

5. The modular tufting unit according to claim 1 in which said causing means comprises a driven shaft, said driven shaft extending through each of said yarn feed roller sections, and means to selectively connect each of said yarn feed roller sections to said driven shaft.

6. The modular tufting unit according to claim 5 including means to connect adjacent of said needle carrying sections to each other when said adjacent needle carrying sections are connected by said selective connecting means to said drive means.

7. The modular tufting unit according to claim 1 in which said causing means includes drive means for said yarn feed roller sections and means to selectively connect each of said yarn feed roller sections to said drive means for said yarn feed roller sections.

8. The modular tufting unit according to claim 7 including means to connect adjacent of said needle carrying sections to each other when said adjacent needle carrying sections are connected by said selective connecting means to said drive means.

9. The modular tufting unit according to claim 1 including means to connect adjacent of said needle carrying sections to each other when said adjacent needle carrying sections are connected by said selective connecting means to said drive means.