Yarn feed split roll apparatus for tufting machine
First Claim
1. In a multiple needle tufting machine having means for feeding a base fabric longitudinally from front-to-rear through the machine, and a longitudinal row of predetermined length of a plurality of spaced needles aligned transversely of the machine for reciprocable movement through the base fabric, a yarn feed mechanism comprising:
- (a) a yarn feed support mounted on said machine and having opposite sides,(b) a plurality of spaced parallel yarn feed rolls mounted on one of said sides for rotation about corresponding transverse axes,(c) each of said feed rolls having a driven end journaled on said side of said yarn feed support and having an opposite unsupported free end projecting away from said support,(d) each of said yarn feed rolls having a length substantially less than the predetermined length of said row of transversely aligned needles,(e) yarn guide means for said yarn feed rolls, having means for guiding each yarn from each of said yarn feed rolls to a needle in said longitudinal row,(f) a yarn feed drive shaft operatively connected to each of said yarn feed rolls for driving said yarn feed rolls,(g) high-speed drive means operatively connected to each of said yarn feed drive shafts for selectively driving each of said drive shafts at a predetermined high speed,(h) low-speed drive means operatively connected to each of said yarn feed drive shafts for driving each of said drive shafts at a predetermined low speed, and(i) pattern control means operatively connected to said high-speed drive means and to said low-speed drive means whereby only one of said speed drive means operatively drives any one of said yarn feed rolls at any one time, so that any of said yarn feed rolls is driven at said high speed or said low speed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A yarn feed mechanism for a multiple needle tufting machine in which a plurality of yarn feed stub rolls are mounted on transversely spaced supports on the machine in such a manner that the stub rolls project in opposite directions from opposite sides of each support and have free ends which are spaced apart from the free ends of adjacent feed rolls to facilitate threading and unthreading the feed rolls. Each yarn feed support carries a plurality of first and second vertically spaced feed rolls on opposite sides of the support and each pair of coaxially aligned feed rolls are driven from a corresponding drive shaft adapted to be driven selectively at a high speed or a low speed. The yarn feed stub roll mechanism is particularly useful in the formation of relatively simple patterns, such as graphic or diamond-shaped patterns with multi-colored yarns such as those previously produced by Wilton Looms, to substantially reduce the down-time in threading and rethreading the yarn feed mechanism for different patterns.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. In a multiple needle tufting machine having means for feeding a base fabric longitudinally from front-to-rear through the machine, and a longitudinal row of predetermined length of a plurality of spaced needles aligned transversely of the machine for reciprocable movement through the base fabric, a yarn feed mechanism comprising:
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(a) a yarn feed support mounted on said machine and having opposite sides, (b) a plurality of spaced parallel yarn feed rolls mounted on one of said sides for rotation about corresponding transverse axes, (c) each of said feed rolls having a driven end journaled on said side of said yarn feed support and having an opposite unsupported free end projecting away from said support, (d) each of said yarn feed rolls having a length substantially less than the predetermined length of said row of transversely aligned needles, (e) yarn guide means for said yarn feed rolls, having means for guiding each yarn from each of said yarn feed rolls to a needle in said longitudinal row, (f) a yarn feed drive shaft operatively connected to each of said yarn feed rolls for driving said yarn feed rolls, (g) high-speed drive means operatively connected to each of said yarn feed drive shafts for selectively driving each of said drive shafts at a predetermined high speed, (h) low-speed drive means operatively connected to each of said yarn feed drive shafts for driving each of said drive shafts at a predetermined low speed, and (i) pattern control means operatively connected to said high-speed drive means and to said low-speed drive means whereby only one of said speed drive means operatively drives any one of said yarn feed rolls at any one time, so that any of said yarn feed rolls is driven at said high speed or said low speed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification