CYCLIC BEAM TUFTING MACHINE

• US 3,752,095 A
• Filed: 07/29/1971
• Issued: 08/14/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Peter Hawkins, Philip Browne
• Original Assignee: Peter Hawkins, Philip Browne
• Inventors: Brown, Philip, Hawkins, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Boler, James R.
• Application Number:
  US05/167,093
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 112/79R,79A,266,410,221 66/1R
• US Class Current: 112/80.23
• CPC Class Codes: D05C 15/12 in more than one row
• CPC Class Codes: D05C 15/34 by inserting loops of different nature or colour

Abstract

A tufting machine has a number of rows of needles, one row for each yarn colour to be tufted, and individual reciprocating beams for each row for driving the needles into a backing to tuft. Each needle can be individually latched to its associated beam in accordance with a programmer so that a predetermined pattern can be formed from the yarn tufts on the backing. The beams are reciprocated in a cycle so that at any one time the needles of at least one beam are engaged in the backing.

Claims

1. A tufting machine comprising a number of rows of needles, means for moving a backing to be tufted along a path extending transversely to the rows of needles, a number of needle driving members one for each of said rows of needles, which members are reciprocable towards and away from said path of the backing, means for engaging the needles with the driving members, which needle engaging means are adapted to be controlled by a programming means and means for receiprocating the needle driving members in staggered relation towards and away from the path of the backing so that the needles of different rows selected by the programmer perform tufting operations at different times.

2. A tufting machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein all the driving members are staggered in their reciprocal movements with respect to one another.

3. A tufting machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein the driving members are equally staggered with respect to one another.

4. A tufting machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said driving means includes a rotatable shaft for each driving member which shaft has an eccentric which is linked to the driving member so that rotation of the shaft reciprocates the driving member and power drive means drivably connected to all the shafts.

5. A tufting machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the needles are engaged with their associated driving members by a latching mechanism controlled by the programmer.

6. A tufting machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein reciprocating loopers are provided on the opposite side of said path for the rows of needles which loopers move into and out of the paths of travel of the needles to engage yarns in the needles which penetrate the backing so that when the needles are withdrawn loops of yarn are formed on the backing.

7. A tufting machine as claimed in claim 6 wherein yarn cutters are provided for cutting the loops of yarn thus formed.

8. A tufting machine as claimed in claim 6 wherein the yarn cutters are rotatably driven discs, one disc being provided for each looper.

9. A tufting machine as claimed in claim 7 wherein the loopers and yarn cutters are mounted on a platform which is reciprocable parallel to the path of movement of the backing material whereby the loopers are moved into and out of the paths of travel of the needles.

10. A tufting machine as claimed in claim 9 wherein the platform is provided with guide members extending parallel to said paths to engage on either side of the lines of tufts formed on the backing to prevent lateral movement of the backing.

11. A tufting machine as claimed in claim 10 wherein guide members are provided on the side of the path of travel of the backing remote from thE loopers to prevent the backing material from lifting away from the loopers.