STRAND DELIVERY MEANS

• US 3,752,094 A
• Filed: 07/06/1971
• Issued: 08/14/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joe T. Short
• Original Assignee: Joe T. Short
• Inventors: Short, Joe T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Boler, James R.
• Application Number:
  US05/159,632
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 112/79R,79A,266,410 226/108,109,110,111,115,152,156,157
• US Class Current: 112/80.16
• CPC Class Codes: D05C 15/18 Thread feeding or tensioning arrangements

Abstract

Apparatus for feeding strands of material to a plurality of closely positioned strand take-up means comprising separate strand-engaging advancing means for each takeup means positioned in closely adjacent rows, with guide means extending between adjacent rows for guiding a strand to and from each advancing means to its corresponding takeup means.

Claims

1. In a tufting machine including a needle bar containing a plurality of yarn dispensing needles, means for moving a backing sheet past said needle bar, means for producing relative movement between the needle bar and backinG sheet to cause cyclical penetration of the needles therethrough to insert loops of yarn therein, and means for feeding yarn strands to each of the needles;

the improvement wherein said feeding means comprises separate yarn strand-engaging means for each needle, separate motor means connected to each of said strand-engaging means for independently driving the same to longitudinally advance a strand engaged thereby, means mounting each motor means together with its corresponding strand-engaging means in plural closely adjacent parallel rows positioned close to the needles of said needle bar, and guide means extending between adjacent of said rows and generally parallel thereto for guiding a yarn strand from each of said strand-engaging means to a corresponding one of said needles in said needle bar.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said motor means includes a main body portion and means drivingly connecting said main body portion to the corresponding advancing means to locate said engaging means and said main body portions of said motor means in spaced, generally parallel planes, and said guide means comprising a plurality of banks of strand-guiding tubes positioned generally between said planes.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said engaging means comprises roller means and including a first number of said tubes in at least one of said banks positioned to guide strands from one end of said rows to the roller means in an immediately adjacent row, and a second number of said tubes in said bank positioned to guide strands from the roller means in the other immediately adjacent row to the other end of said rows.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said banks of strand-guiding tubes are stacked generally perpendicular to said spaced planes.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means mounting said motor means and feed rollers comprises a support panel, and means associated with said panel for cooling the motor means during operation of the apparatus.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said support panel has heat conductive properties, said main body portions of said motor means are recessed in said panel, and said cooling means includes means in said panel for conveying a cooling fluid between said rows of motor means.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each of the needles in said needle bar is hollow for the passage of a yarn strand therethrough.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each of the needles in said needle bar is substantially solid throughout its length and has an eyelet in its outer end portion for passage of a yarn strand therethrough.

9. A tufting machine as defined in claim 7 wherein each of said strand-engaging means comprise roller means, and said motor means includes means for rotating said roller means to longitudinally advance a strand engaged thereby.