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Hollow needle tufting apparatus for producing patterned fabric

  • US 5,165,352 A
  • Filed: 12/27/1991
  • Issued: 11/24/1992
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for producing patterned tufted fabric goods comprising a hollow needle having an inlet and an outlet at a pointed tip, means for reciprocably driving said needle for penetrating a backing with said point for implanting yarn therein, a yarn exchanger having an inlet and an outlet communicating with the inlet of said needle, a plurality of yarn supply tubes converging at the inlet of said yarn exchanger for conveying a plurality of different yarns entering the tubes to the yarn exchanger, pneumatic means for producing an air flow through each yarn supply tube and into said yarn exchanger, the pressure of the air through at least one supply tube being greater than the pressure of the air through the other tubes for transporting the yarn therein through said yarn exchanger and said needle when yarn is fed to said one supply tube, means for feeding yarn selectively to said one supply tube to transport yarn through said yarn exchanger and through said needle for implantation into said backing at each penetration thereof, and pneumatic means for communicating pressurized air independently of said supply tubes through said yarn exchanger and into the inlet of said needle to prevent tangling of yarn within said yarn exchanger.

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