Tufting machine having an individual needle control system

• US 5,143,003 A
• Filed: 11/13/1990
• Issued: 09/01/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George D. Dedmon
• Original Assignee: George D. Dedmon
• Inventors: Dedmon, George D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schroeder, Werner H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, PAUL
• Application Number:
  US07/612,830
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 112/221, 112/276, 112/80.23, 112/80.24, 112/80.4, 112/80.41, 112/80.42, 112/80.43, 112/80.44
• US Class Current: 112/80.43
• CPC Class Codes: D05C 15/20 Arrangements or devices, e.g. needles, for inserting loops; Driving mechanisms therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 112/03 Pneumatic

Abstract

An improved tufting machine (10) having an individual needle control system. The tufting machine (10) is designed for inserting yarns (26) into stitching in a base fabric (20). The tufting machine comprises a needle bar (28) mounted on a carrier (14) which is reciprocated in a plane which is substantially transverse to the plane of the base fabric (20) into which the yarn (26) is inserted. Insertion of the yarn is accomplished by needles (32 and 34) carried by the needle bar or bars (28). These needles penetrate the fabric (20) as the carrier (14) imparts reciprocating movement to the needles and their operatively associated needle bars. In a preferred embodiment, a locking device is provided for securing the needle in its sewing position. A control system is provided for adjusting the distal position of the individual needles during reciprocating movement such that the needles selectively penetrate the fabric (20) while the carrier (14) and the needle bar (28) are reciprocally operated.

Claims

1. A tufting machine for inserting yarns into stitching in a base fabric, comprising:

at least one needle bar means;

a reciprocating carrier for said needle bar means;

means for supporting said base fabric in a plane substantially transverse to the reciprocation of said carrier;

needle means carrier by said needle bar means for penetrating said fabric wherein reciprocation of said carrier imparts a reciprocating movement to said needle means which are moved along preselected axes substantially transverse to said plane of said base fabric, said needle means including a plurality of needles selectively positionable on preselected axes within a preselected range of travel defining a stroke of said needle means, said stroke being selectively positionable along said preselected axes;

control means for independently adjusting the axial position of said stroke of each of said plurality of needles for selectively penetrating said fabric while said carrier reciprocates, said control means including pneumatic actuating means operatively associated with each of said plurality of needles for independently adjusting said axial position of each of said plurality of needles with respect to said carrier, said control means independently adjusting said axial position of said stroke of each of said plurality of needles upon actuation of said pneumatic actuating means to a first selected pressure within said control means; and

pneumatically actuated locking means for independently and positively securing each of said plurality of needles in a sewing position when said stroke of said needle means is adjusted to a first stroke position for penetrating said fabric, said pneumatically actuated locking means independently and positively securing each of said plurality of needles upon actuation of said pneumatic actuating means to said first selected pressure within said control means and said pneumatically actuated locking means maintaining said independent and positive securement of each of said plurality of needles at a second selected pressure within said control means, said second selected pressure being less than said first selected pressure.

2. A tufting machine for inserting yarns into stitching in a base fabric, comprising:

at least one needle bar means;

a reciprocating carrier for said needle bar means;

means for supporting said base fabric in a plane substantially transverse to the reciprocation of said carrier;

needle means carried by said needle bar for penetrating said fabric wherein reciprocation of said carrier imparts a reciprocating movement to said needle means which are moved along preselected axes substantially transverse to said plane of said base fabric within a preselected range of travel defining a stroke of said needle means, said stroke being selectively positionable along said preselected axes;

control means for adjusting the axial position of said stroke of said needle means for selectively penetrating said fabric while said carrier reciprocates, said control means including selectively operable actuator means having a first cylinder means and a piston member slidably received within said first cylinder means, said piston member having an arm portion being releasably connected to said needle means, and fluid supply means for selectively injecting a gas into said first cylinder means to position said needle means at a desired location for adjusting said stroke of said needle means, said control means adjusting said axial position of said stroke of said needle means upon injection of a selected volume of said gas into said first cylinder means to create a first selected pressure within said control means; and

pneumatically actuated locking means for securing said needle means in a sewing position when said stroke of said needle means is adjusted to a first stroke position for penetrating said fabric, said locking means including second cylinder means in fluid communication with said first cylinder means and being selectively actuated by said gas injected into said first cylinder means, said pneumatically actuated locking means securing said needle means in said sewing position at a second selected pressure within said control means, said second selected pressure being less than said first selected pressure.

3. The tufting machine of claim 2 wherein said fluid supply means includes computer-controlled solenoid valves.

4. The tufting machine of claim 2 wherein said cylinder means and said locking means are disposed in said needle bar means.

5. The tufting machine of claim 2 wherein said control means includes first biasing means operatively associated with said needle means to further position said needle means at a desired location for adjusting said needle means at a desired location for adjusting said stroke of said needle means, and said locking means includes second biasing means for selectively releasing said locking means to return said needle means to a second stroke position, said second biasing means releasing said locking means when said gas within said control means is released through said first and second cylinder means to attain an internal pressure within said control means lower than said second selected pressure.

6. A tufting machine for inserting yarns into stitching in a base fabric, comprising:

at least one needle bar means;

a reciprocating carrier for said needle bar means;

means for supporting said base fabric in a plane substantially transverse to the reciprocation of said carrier;

needle means carried by said needle bar means for penetrating said fabric wherein reciprocation of said carrier imparts a reciprocating movement to said needle means which are moved along preselected axes substantially transverse to said plane of said base fabric within a preselected range of travel defining a stroke of said needle means, said stroke being selectively positionable along said preselected axes;

control means for adjusting the axial position of said stroke of said needle means for selectively penetrating said fabric while said carrier reciprocates, said control means including selectively operable actuator means having a first cylinder means and a first piston member slidably received within said first cylinder means, said first piston member having an arm portion being releasably connected to said needle means, and fluid supply means for selectively injecting a gas into said first cylinder means to position said needle means at a desired location for adjusting said stroke of said needle means, said control means adjusting said axial position of said stroke of said needle means upon injection of a selected volume of said gas into said first cylinder means to create a first selected pressure within said control means; and

pneumatically actuated locking means for securing said needle means in a sewing position when said stroke of said needle means is adjusted to a first stroke position for penetrating said fabric, said locking means including second cylinder means in fluid communication with said first cylinder means and a locking member defining a second piston member slidably received in said second cylinder means, wherein said gas injected into said first cylinder means is communicated to said second cylinder means when said first piston member reaches a position within said first cylinder means corresponding to the positioning of said needle means in said first stroke position for penetrating said fabric and wherein said gas communicated to said second cylinder means slidably actuates said second piston member so as to move said locking member into locking engagement with said first piston member, said pneumatically actuated locking means securing said needle means in said sewing position at a second selected pressure within said control means, said second selected pressure being less than said first selected pressure.

7. The tufting machine of claim 6 wherein said fluid supply means includes computer-controlled solenoid valves.

8. The tufting machine of claim 6 wherein said first cylinder means and said locking means are disposed in said needle bar means.

9. The tufting machine of claim 6 wherein said control means includes first biasing means operatively associated with said needle means to further position said needle means at a desired location for adjusting said needle means at a desired location for adjusting said stroke of said needle means, and said locating means includes second biasing means for selectively releasing said locking means to return said needle means to a second stroke position, said second biasing means releasing said locking means when said gas within said control means is released through said first and second cylinder means to attain an internal pressure within said control means lower than said second selected pressure.