Staggered needle bar for tufting machines
First Claim
1. In a tufting machine, needle mounting apparatus for supporting a plurality of needles in two longitudinal rows extending transversely across the machine, the needles in one row being offset longitudinally relative to the needles in the other row to provide a stagger, the amount of offset being adjustable, said apparatus comprising a needle bar housing having a substantially planar reference surface reciprocably carried in said machine, a first elongated needle holding block corresponding to said one row and a second elongated needle holding block corresponding to said other row, said first block having a pair of spaced longitudinally extending substantially planar reference surfaces, said second block having a pair of spaced longitudinally extending surfaces, at least one of said surfaces of said second block being a substantially planar reference surface, means for securing a first plurality of needles intermediate the surfaces of said first block and a second plurality of needles intermediate the surfaces of said second block, fastening means for clamping said blocks to said needle bar housing with the reference surfaces of said first block abutting the respective reference surfaces of said needle bar housing and of said second block and with said first needles offset substantially intermediate said second needles, said fastening means including means for permitting said first block to be positioned relative to said second block and to said needle bar housing for adjusting the stagger of said first needles relative to said second needles so that the first block may be adjusted finely and secured to said needle bar housing and to said second block.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fine gauge cut pile tufting machine has a needle mounting apparatus for supporting the needles in two staggered rows with the needles in one row being adjustable in the direction of the row to vary the stagger and compensate for the differential deflection of the hooks cooperating with each row. The needle mounting apparatus includes a needle bar housing carrying needle holding blocks corresponding to each row of needles. The needle mounting blocks are secured to the needle block housing by a bolt passing through an enlarged aperture in the adjustable needle block and secured to the fixed needle block, and adjustable locking members at each end of the needle bar housing for adjustably fixing the longitudinal position of the adjustable needle block.
21 Citations
14 Claims
- 1. In a tufting machine, needle mounting apparatus for supporting a plurality of needles in two longitudinal rows extending transversely across the machine, the needles in one row being offset longitudinally relative to the needles in the other row to provide a stagger, the amount of offset being adjustable, said apparatus comprising a needle bar housing having a substantially planar reference surface reciprocably carried in said machine, a first elongated needle holding block corresponding to said one row and a second elongated needle holding block corresponding to said other row, said first block having a pair of spaced longitudinally extending substantially planar reference surfaces, said second block having a pair of spaced longitudinally extending surfaces, at least one of said surfaces of said second block being a substantially planar reference surface, means for securing a first plurality of needles intermediate the surfaces of said first block and a second plurality of needles intermediate the surfaces of said second block, fastening means for clamping said blocks to said needle bar housing with the reference surfaces of said first block abutting the respective reference surfaces of said needle bar housing and of said second block and with said first needles offset substantially intermediate said second needles, said fastening means including means for permitting said first block to be positioned relative to said second block and to said needle bar housing for adjusting the stagger of said first needles relative to said second needles so that the first block may be adjusted finely and secured to said needle bar housing and to said second block.
- 8. A needle bar for supporting a plurality of needles in two longitudinal rows extending transversely across a tufting machine, the needles in one row being offset longitudinally relative to the needles in the other row to provide a stagger, the amount of offset being adjustable, said needle bar comprising a needle bar housing having a substantially planar reference surface reciprocably carried in said machine, a first elongated needle holding block corresponding to said one row and a second elongated needle holding block corresponding to said row, said first block having a pair of spaced longitudinally extending substantially planar reference surfacea, said second block having a pair of spaced longitudinally extending surfaces, at least one of said surfaces of said second block being a substantially planar reference surface, means for securing a first plurality of needles intermediate the surfaces of said first block and a second plurality of needles intermediate the surfaces of said second block, fastening means for clamping said blocks to said needle bar housing with the reference surfaces of said first block abutting the respective reference surfaces of said needle bar housing and of said second block and with said first needles offset substantially intermediate said second needles, said fastening means including means for permitting said first block to be positioned relative to said second block and to said needle bar housing for adjusting the stagger of said first needles relative to said second needles so that the first block may be adjusted finely and secured to said needle bar housing and to said second block.
Specification