METHOD AND MEANS OF THREADING AND IMPLANTING TUFTING YARN

• US 3,824,939 A
• Filed: 03/31/1972
• Issued: 07/23/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Spanel International, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Abram N. Spanel, David R. Jacobs
• Inventors: Spanel, Abram N., Jacobs, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Boler, James R.
• Application Number:
  US05/240,119
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 112/79R,79A,79FF,79.5,80,266,225
• US Class Current: 112/80.07
• CPC Class Codes: D05C 15/24 Loop cutters; Driving mechanisms therefor
• CPC Class Codes: D05C 15/34 by inserting loops of different nature or colour

Abstract

A tufting method and apparatus having a multicolor selection capability whereby the yarn color may be changed during each tufting cycle and in which needle means are supplied with yarn by reciprocable threader tubes in which each tube threads the eye of each needle and retracts leaving a length of yarn deposited therein. For the yarn so deposited, one of its ends is implanted in the backing from the preceding tufting cycle with the other end extending to the yarn source from which it has been transported to the threader tube. From this position the yarn loop extending through the needle may be either cut to produce cut pile or to enable a change in color to be made; or the yarn loop may be tufted to produce a loop pile product.

Claims

1. A tufting machine for forming tufts with respect to a backing comprising:

bit-applying means positioned adjacent said backing when in a threading position;

threader tube means positioned transversely to said bit-applying means;

mechanism for reciprocating said threader tube means to deposit yarn strands into bit-applying position relative to said bitapplying means;

pneumatic means operatively connected to said threader tube means for threading said bit-applying means;

strand-severing means adjacent said threading position;

means operating said strand-severing means to sever said yarn strands after threading of said bit-applying means leaving severed yarn in threaded relation with said bit-applying means; and

means for reciprocating said bit-applying means for applying severed yarn to the backing to form tufts.

2. A tufting machine for forming tufts with respect to a backing comprising:

tufting-needle means positioned adjacent said backing when in a threading position;

threader tube means transversely positioned to said tufting-needle means;

mechanism for reciprocating said threader tube means relative to said needle means to engage said needle means;

pneumatic means associated with said threader tube means for feeding yarn strands through said threader tube means into said tufting-needle means when in said threading position;

strand-severing means adjacent said threading position;

means operating said strand-severing means to sever said yarn strands after the threading thereof of said tufting-needle means leaving severed yarn in threaded relation with said tufting-needle means; and

means for reciprocating said tufting-needle means for applying said severed yarn strands to the backing to form tufts.

3. A tufting machine for forming tufts with respect to a backing comprising:

tufting-needle means including needle eyes, positioned adjacent said backing when in a threading position;

threader tube means positioned transversely to the longitudinal axis of said tufting-needle means;

mechanism for reciprocating said threader tube means back and forth through said needle eyes;

pneumatic means associated with said threader tube for feeding tufting yarn through said threader tube;

strand-severing means adjacent said threading position;

means operating said strand-severing means to sever said tufting yarn after threading, said threader tube means being removable from said needle eyes after the severing of said tufting yarn to leave severed yarn in threaded relation with said needle eyes; and

means for reciprocating said tufting-needle means for applying said severed yarn to the backing to form tufts.

4. A tufting machine for forming tufts through a backing comprising:

reciprocable tufting-needle means including needle eyes, said needle means being movable through the backing toward and from a threading position;

threader tube means positioned transversely to the longitudinal axis of said needle means;

mechanism for reciprocating said threader tube means with respect to said needle means so as to pass through the eyes of said needle means;

pneumatic means associated with said threader tube means for repeatedly feeding tufting yarn strands through said threader tube;

strand-severing means positioned on the far side of said needle means from the direction of the feed of the yarn;

means operating said strand-severing means repeatedly to sever said tufting yarn while said threader tube is extended through said needle means to leave severed yarn in threaded relation with said tufting-needle means; and

means for operating said tufting-needle means for applying said severed yarn to the backing.

5. In a tufting machine for forming tufts through a backing:

recipRocable tufting-needle means including needle eyes, said needle means movable through the backing toward and from a threading position;

a threader tube aligned with said needle eyes;

mechanism for reciprocating said threader tube means with respect to said needles so as to pass through said needle eyes said threader tube having a cutting slot extending inwardly from an end surface;

pneumatic means associated with said threader tube for repeatedly feeding tufting yarn through said threader tube;

strand-severing means adjacent said threading position, and aligned to extend into said threader tube cutting slot passing through the plane of the end of the threader tube when said threader tube is in its threaded position;

means operating said strand-severing means to sever said tufting material to leave severed yarn in threaded relation with said tufting-needle means; and

means for operating said tufting-needle means for applying said severed yarn to the backing to form tufts.

6. In a tufting machine having needle means, pneumatic means to transport strands of yarn, a threader tube for threading said needle means with yarn and severing means for severing yarn into severed yarn lengths, the method of applying tufts to a backing comprising the steps of:

inserting said needle means through a backing;

pneumatically feeding yarn through said threader tube and feeding said threader tube and yarn through an eye in said needle means;

severing said tufting yarn when said threader tube and yarn are extending through said needle eye;

retracting said threader tube from said needle eye leaving a severed length of yarn in threaded relation with said needle means; and

withdrawing said needle means through said backing to deposit the severed length of yarn in said backing to form a tuft.

7. In a tufting machine having needle means for tufting and threading means for threading said needle means, the method of applying tufts to a backing comprising the steps of:

threading said needle means with a strand of yarn;

implanting the end of the strand of yarn in a backing layer;

rethreading said needle means by inserting the bight portion of a loop of yarn through said needle means to extend outwardly therefrom on one side of said needle means with both ends of said loop extending out of said needle means on the side opposite from which said bight portion extends, one end of the loop originating from the implanted tuft of the preceding step and the other end originating from the yarn source; and

implanting said loop in the backing layer.

8. In a tufting machine having needle means for tufting and threading means for threading said needle means, the method of applying tufts to a backing comprising the steps of:

threading said needle means by inserting the bight portion of a loop of yarn through said needle means to extend outwardly therefrom on one side of said needle means with both ends of said loop extending out of said needle means on the opposite side of said needle means from which said bight portion extends, one end of said loop being implanted in the backing layer and the second end of said loop originating from a yarn source; and

implanting said yarn loop in the backing layer by driving said needle means and its eye through the backing layer.

9. In a tufting machine having needles for tufting and threading means for threading said needles, the method of applying tufts to a backing comprising the steps of:

threading the needle eye of each said needle with a loop of yarn, one end of which is implanted in a backing layer while the second end of yarn originates from the yarn source;

cutting said loop of yarn to leave the needle eye threaded with two strands of yarn;

pushing said needle eye through the backing layer to implant the two strands of yarn in the backing layer;

releasing the yarn strands from said needle eye; and

returning said needle eye to its loading position for the next cycLe.

10. In a tufting machine having needles for tufting and threading means for threading said needles, the method of applying tufts to a backing comprising the steps of:

threading the needle eye of each said needle with a loop of yarn, one end of which is implanted in a backing layer while the second end of yarn originates from the yarn source;

cutting said loop of yarn to leave the needle eye threaded with two strands of yarn;

withdrawing from the needle eye the strand of yarn originating from the yarn source;

replacing said withdrawn strand with a strand of another color in the needle eye; and

pushing the needle with its yarn filled eye through the backing layer to implant the two strands of yarn into the backing layer.

11. In a tufting machine having needle means, pneumatic means to transport strands of yarn, and a threader tube for threading said needle means with yarn, the method of applying tufts to a backing comprising the steps of:

pneumatically feeding yarn through said threader tube and feeding said threader tube through an eye of said needle means;

withdrawing said threader tube from said needle eye; and

driving said needle means through the backing to deposit the yarn into said backing.

12. In a tufting machine having needle means, pneumatic means to transport strands of yarn, a threader tube for threading said needle means with yarn and severing means for severing yarn into severed yarn lengths, the method of applying tufts to a backing comprising the steps of:

implanting an end of a yarn strand in the backing;

pneumatically feeding the yarn strand through said threader tube and feeding said threader tube through an eye in said needle means while one end of said yarn strand is already implanted in the backing;

severing said tufting yarn while it is in said needle eye;

withdrawing said threader tube from said needle eye leaving the yarn in said needle eye; and

driving said needle means through the backing to deposit the threaded yarn into the backing.

13. In a tufting machine having needle means, pneumatic means to transport strands of yarn, a threader tube for threading said needle means with yarn and severing means for severing yarn into severed yarn lengths, the method of applying multi-color tufts to a backing comprising the steps of:

implanting an end of a yarn strand in the backing;

pneumatically feeding the yarn strand through said threader tube and feeding said threader tube through an eye in said needle means while one end of said yarn strand is already implanted in the backing and the other end of the strand originates from a yarn source on the side of said needle means where said other end is implanted, thus forming a loop through said needle eye with one segment out of said threader tube and the other segment within;

severing the yarn while in said needle eye;

substituting a new color strand for that segment of yarn originating from the yarn source;

withdrawing said threader tube from said needle eye; and

driving said needle means through the backing to deposit a tuft in said backing.

14. A tufting machine for forming tufts on a backing comprising:

needle means for implanting tufts in a backing;

means for threading the needle means by inserting the bight portion of a loop of yarn through said needle means to extend outwardly therefrom on one side of said needle means with both ends of said loop extending out of said needle means on the opposite side of said needle means from which said bight portion extends, one end of said loop being implanted in the backing layer, and the second end of said loop originating from the yarn source; and

reciprocating means for causing the needle means to penetrate the backing layer to deposit said loops therein and to return to the loading position to receive the next loop of yarn.

15. A tufting machine for forming tufts on a backing comprising:

reciprocable needle means incLuding a needle eye movable through the backing toward and from a threading position;

threader tube means positioned transversely to said needle means;

mechanism for reciprocating said threader tube means to thread said needle means with yarn strands by moving said yarn strand with said tube means into said needle eye;

pneumatic means for use in propelling the yarn strands into said needle eye to assist said threader tube in threading said needle eye; and

means for operating said needle means for applying said yarn to the backing to form tufts.

16. A tufting machine for forming tufts on a backing comprising:

reciprocable bit-applying means movable through the backing toward and from a threading position including means for causing the reciprocation thereof;

pneumatic means for use in supplying yarn to said reciprocable bit-applying means; and

means for threading said bit-applying means, said threading means acting to both physically drive the yarn by exerting pressure thereon into said bit-applying means and to act as guide means for said pneumatic means.

17. A tufting machine for forming tufts with respect to a backing comprising:

bit-applying means positioned adjacent said backing when in a threading position;

threader tube means positioned transversely to said bit-applying means;

mechanism for reciprocating said threader tube means to deposit yarn strands into bit-applying position relative to said bit-applying means;

pneumatic means for use in conjunction with the threader tube means for threading said bit-applying means, said threader tube means comprising a narrow tube-like portion for engaging the bit-applying means and an enlarged portion into which yarn supply tubes extend, said enlarged portion having further dividers contained therein to prevent entanglement of yarns fed therethrough; and

means for reciprocating said bit-applying means for applying severed yarn to the backing to form tufts.

18. The tufting machine of claim 1 in which at least one Venturi assists in feeding yarn to said bit-applying means.