Double select needle tufting machine

• US 4,064,816 A
• Filed: 06/25/1976
• Issued: 12/27/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Spanel International, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Abram N. Spanel
• Inventors: Jacobs, David R., Spanel, Abram N., Eiland, P. Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, H. Hampton
• Application Number:
  US05/700,413
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 112/79 A, 112/79 R, 112/79.5, 112/79 FF, 112/78, 112/221, 112/219 A, 139/449, 139/446
• US Class Current: 112/80.43
• CPC Class Codes: D05C 15/20 Arrangements or devices, e.g. needles, for inserting loops; Driving mechanisms therefor

Abstract

A double select needle tufting machine or the like utilizing a driving and selecting means comprising band-like members attached to each of said needles with each band-like member being selectively engageable with an oscillatory shaft by which each of the needles is driven when selected. Two-color carpets or bedspreads are produced by threading one series of needles with one color yarn and the other series of needles with a second color of yarn.

Claims

1. A tufting machine or the like including tufting needles for tufting yarn into a backing layer comprising:

an oscillatory member;

flexible band-like members selectively engageable with said oscillatory member and extending to each of said tufting needles; and

restraining means forming tracks for said band-like members to enable said band-like members to effectively impart motion without unwanted flexing to said needles.

2. The tufting machine or the like of claim 1 including tufting stations wherein each tufting station comprises two tufting needles, and further including a selection means for controlling each tufting needle.

3. A tufting machine or the like including tufting needles for tufting yarn into a backing layer comprising:

an oscillatory driving member;

structure adjacent said oscillatory member forming a peripheral track around at least a portion of said oscillatory member;

structure forming an extension track from said oscillatory member;

a band-like member, engageable by said oscillatory member and extendable within said extension track to each of said tufting needles; and

a means of selectively engaging said band-like members responsive to selection signals.

4. The tufting machine or the like of claim 3 wherein said selection means comprises individual solenoids for each of said band-like members.

5. The tufting machine or the like of claim 3 wherein one of said oscillatory or band-like members has a notch and the other has a protrusion, said apparatus further comprising means of driving said protrusion into said notch to cause said band-like member to be engaged by said oscillatory member.

6. The tufting machine or the like of claim 5 wherein a portion of structure adjacent to said oscillatory member has an abutment and wherein said band-like member includes a portion engageable with said abutment to prevent movement of said band-like member unless actuated.

7. The tufting machine or the like of claim 6 wherein said means of driving said protrusion into said notch serves to drive said engaging portion of said band-like member free from said abutment as said band-like member is engaged by said oscillatory member.