Selective needle tufting machines
First Claim
1. In a tufting machine having a head for mounting drive means for reciprocating in a linear path, apparatus for mounting at least a pair of needles for selective coupling of one of said needles to said drive means, a bed disposed beneath the head and having loop seizing means for seizing loops of yarn presented by said needles, said apparatus comprising guide means fixedly supported in said machine, a needle support carriage mounted in said guide means for movement in a direction transverse to said path, said needle support carriage having a pair of spaced apart elongated slots extending parallel to said path, an elongated needle holder mounted in each of said slots for reciprocation therein, means for supporting a needle from one end of each of said needle holders extending toward said loop seizing means, biasing means for urging said needle holders away from said loop seizing means, coupling means associated with said drive means and with each of said needle holders for selective coupling and uncoupling of said needle holders with said drive means, displacement means engageable with said carriage for moving said carriage between at least first and second positions, said first position being defined as that where one of said needle holders is disposed for coupling to said drive means, and said second position being defined as that where the other of said needle holders is disposed for coupling to said drive means, and control means for actuating said displacement means in accordance with a preselected pattern to selectively move said carriage to said first and second positions for coupling said needle holders to said drive means to overcome the respective biasing means and reciprocatably drive a selected needle for cooperation with said loop seizing means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tufting machine has a needle mounting construction including a multiplicity of needle support carriages, each carriage being slidably mounted in guides for controlled movement in a direction normal to the path of reciprocation of the tufting machine push rods. Pneumatic cylinders are operatively connected with each carriage to effect movement in accordance with a predetermined pattern. A pair of needle holders are mounted within each carriage, each holder supporting a needle. The holders have slots for coupling onto a detent reciprocating with the push rods. The carriage may be moved so that one or the other or neither needle holder is coupled to the reciprocating push rods. When a needle holder is coupled, the needle attached thereto reciprocates and may cooperate with a hook to form pile. Each needle of a pair may be threaded with different type yarn so that unique patterning affects may be obtained.
38 Citations
16 Claims
- 1. In a tufting machine having a head for mounting drive means for reciprocating in a linear path, apparatus for mounting at least a pair of needles for selective coupling of one of said needles to said drive means, a bed disposed beneath the head and having loop seizing means for seizing loops of yarn presented by said needles, said apparatus comprising guide means fixedly supported in said machine, a needle support carriage mounted in said guide means for movement in a direction transverse to said path, said needle support carriage having a pair of spaced apart elongated slots extending parallel to said path, an elongated needle holder mounted in each of said slots for reciprocation therein, means for supporting a needle from one end of each of said needle holders extending toward said loop seizing means, biasing means for urging said needle holders away from said loop seizing means, coupling means associated with said drive means and with each of said needle holders for selective coupling and uncoupling of said needle holders with said drive means, displacement means engageable with said carriage for moving said carriage between at least first and second positions, said first position being defined as that where one of said needle holders is disposed for coupling to said drive means, and said second position being defined as that where the other of said needle holders is disposed for coupling to said drive means, and control means for actuating said displacement means in accordance with a preselected pattern to selectively move said carriage to said first and second positions for coupling said needle holders to said drive means to overcome the respective biasing means and reciprocatably drive a selected needle for cooperation with said loop seizing means.
- 12. A method of tufting pile from first and second yarns selectively in the same row of stitching comprising, supporting and feeding a base material in one direction, mounting first and second needles on one side of said base material, each needle carrying a respective one of said yarns, supporting on the opposite side of said material a hook for seizing a loop of yarn presented by said needles selectively, mounting a reciprocating drive member on said one side for reciprocation in a path toward and away from said backing, selectively moving said needles in a direction transverse to said path, and selectively coupling one of said needles to said drive means for reciprocation therewith for penetrating said material and cooperating with said hook.
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15. A needle mounting carriage for use in a tufting machine, said carriage comprising first and second elongated plates, a plurality of spacer members for spacing said plates apart, said spacer members being spaced apart one from the other in a direction transverse to the direction in which said plates are spaced apart for forming a pair of spaced apart elongated slots disposed intermediate said plates and said spacer members, each of said slots providing a channel for receiving a needle carrying needle holder therein.
Specification