Needle bar pattern shifting device
First Claim
1. A patterning device for a tufting machine having a reciprocating needle bar carrying a plurality of needles disposed laterally across the machine and adapted to penetrate a backing moving longitudinally of the machine to insert a plurality of stitches upon each penetration of the backing, and means for mounting said needle bar for lateral movement relative to said backing, said patterning device comprising:
- a pair of normally inactive oppositely directed lateral force transmitting members mounted on the tufting machine above said needle bar, a pair of lateral force receiving members mounted on said needle bar and individually disposed to cooperate with a respective one of said force transmitting members as the needle bar moves upwardly and approaches the top dead center position, and pattern control means for activating one of said force transmitting members selectively into coupling engagement with the cooperating force receiving member to shift said needle bar laterally.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A patterning device for a tufting machine having a reciprocating needle bar slidably mounted for lateral movement. The patterning device has a pair of solenoid actuated pawls mounted on the tufting machine head above the needle bar, and a pair of ratchet members mounted on the needle bar for cooperating with a respective pawl. The solenoids are individually controlled by a programmable pattern controller driven in synchronization with the tufting machine so as to engage the pawls selectively with the respective ratchet to force the needle bar to shift laterally. One pawl and ratchet acts to shift the needle bar to the right, and the other to the left. A centering tooth intermediate the pawls cooperates with an alignment plate to ensure precise shifting, and a needle bar locking tooth on the needle bar cooperates with a centering dog on the bed of the tufting machine to ensure that the needle bar does not shift while it is within the work piece.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A patterning device for a tufting machine having a reciprocating needle bar carrying a plurality of needles disposed laterally across the machine and adapted to penetrate a backing moving longitudinally of the machine to insert a plurality of stitches upon each penetration of the backing, and means for mounting said needle bar for lateral movement relative to said backing, said patterning device comprising:
- a pair of normally inactive oppositely directed lateral force transmitting members mounted on the tufting machine above said needle bar, a pair of lateral force receiving members mounted on said needle bar and individually disposed to cooperate with a respective one of said force transmitting members as the needle bar moves upwardly and approaches the top dead center position, and pattern control means for activating one of said force transmitting members selectively into coupling engagement with the cooperating force receiving member to shift said needle bar laterally.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
Specification