Tufting machine and method for producing tufted design in carpeting and product with tufted design
First Claim
1. A tufting machine for operating on a backing fabric, comprising:
- a needle push bar having a plurality of laterally aligned needles separated from each other by spacings of substantially equal distance each arranged for carrying pile yarn when selected;
a plurality of laterally spaced loopers separated from each other by said spacings of substantially equal distance;
needle select means for selecting certain ones of said needles at every needle stroke cycle and for inserting said selected needles into the backing fabric;
feed means for intermittently and longitudinally feeding said backing fabric in a stop and feed manner wherein said backing fabric remains stationary in the longitudinal direction during a stopping period which is at least one needle stroke cycle in duration and may be fed during a succeeding feeding stroke period;
shift means adapted to shift said needles laterally a distance equivalent to a needle gauge in every needle stroke cycle for aligning said selected ones of said needles each with any one of an associated plurality of said loopers by effecting relative lateral shifting movement between said needles and both said loopers and said backing fabric while said backing fabric remains stationary in the longitudinal direction during said stopping period; and
pattern control means for actuating said needle select means to select any one of the needles for insertion into the backing fabric and for tufting with the pile yarn carried by the selected one of the needles by engagement with a corresponding one of the loopers that is disposed in alignment therewith such that said corresponding one of the loopers seizes only one loop of the pile yarn during any one needle stroke cycle for each stopping period of the stop and feed manner of said feed means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tufting machine and method of tufting on a backing fabric, where the machine for carrying out the method includes a needle push bar, loopers, a needle selector for selecting certain ones of the needles at every needle stroke cycle and for inserting the selected needles into the backing fabric, a feeder for intermittently and longitudinally feeding the backing fabric in a stop and feed manner, a shifter and a pattern controller. The backing fabric remains stationary in the longitudinal direction during a stopping period which is at least one needle stroke cycle in duration and may be fed during a succeeding feeding stroke period. The shifter aligns selected ones of the needles each with any one of an associated plurality of the loopers by effecting relative lateral shifting movement between the needle push bar and both the loopers and the backing fabric while the backing fabric remains stationary in the longitudinal direction during the stopping period. The pattern controller actuates the needle selector to select any one of the needles for insertion into the backing fabric and tufts with the pile yarn carried by the selected one of the needles by engagement with a corresponding one of the loopers that is disposed in alignment therewith. In this manner, the corresponding one of the loopers seizes only one loop of the pile yarn during any one needle stroke cycle for each stopping period of the intermittent feeder.
60 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A tufting machine for operating on a backing fabric, comprising:
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a needle push bar having a plurality of laterally aligned needles separated from each other by spacings of substantially equal distance each arranged for carrying pile yarn when selected; a plurality of laterally spaced loopers separated from each other by said spacings of substantially equal distance; needle select means for selecting certain ones of said needles at every needle stroke cycle and for inserting said selected needles into the backing fabric; feed means for intermittently and longitudinally feeding said backing fabric in a stop and feed manner wherein said backing fabric remains stationary in the longitudinal direction during a stopping period which is at least one needle stroke cycle in duration and may be fed during a succeeding feeding stroke period; shift means adapted to shift said needles laterally a distance equivalent to a needle gauge in every needle stroke cycle for aligning said selected ones of said needles each with any one of an associated plurality of said loopers by effecting relative lateral shifting movement between said needles and both said loopers and said backing fabric while said backing fabric remains stationary in the longitudinal direction during said stopping period; and pattern control means for actuating said needle select means to select any one of the needles for insertion into the backing fabric and for tufting with the pile yarn carried by the selected one of the needles by engagement with a corresponding one of the loopers that is disposed in alignment therewith such that said corresponding one of the loopers seizes only one loop of the pile yarn during any one needle stroke cycle for each stopping period of the stop and feed manner of said feed means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of tufting by operating on a backing fabric, comprising the steps of
selecting certain ones of a plurality of needles, the needles each being arranged for carrying pile yarn when selected and being provided on a needle push bar, the step of selecting taking place at every needle stroke cycle by inserting the selected needles into the backing fabric; -
intermittently and longitudinally feeding the backing fabric in a stop and feed motion wherein said backing fabric remains stationary in the longitudinal direction during a stopping period which is at least one needle stroke cycle in duration and may be fed during a succeeding feeding stroke period; aligning the selected ones of said needles each with any one of an associated plurality of said loopers by effecting relative lateral shifting movement between said needle push bar and both said loopers and said backing fabric while said backing fabric remains stationary in the longitudinal direction during said stopping period; and activating the step of selecting to select any one of the needles for insertion into the backing fabric and tufting with the pile yarn carried by the selected one of the needles by engagement with a corresponding one of the loopers that is disposed in alignment therewith such that said corresponding one of the loopers seizes only one loop of the pile yarn during any one needle stroke cycle for each stopping period of the stop and feed motion. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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- 9. A tufting machine comprising a plurality of laterally aligned needles separated from each other by spacings of substantially equal distance, a plurality of laterally spaced loopers separated from each other by said spacings of equal distance, a needle select means for selecting certain ones of said needles at every needle stroke cycle and for sticking said selected needles into the backing fabric, a pattern control means for providing a signal for actuating said needle select means to select and stick a needle into the backing fabric, an intermittent feed means for intermittently and longitudinally feeding said backing fabric in a stop and feed manner wherein said backing fabric remains stationary in the longitudinal direction during several needle stroke cycles and can be fed in a needle stroke cycle, and a shift means for effecting relative lateral shifting movement between said needles and said backing fabric.
- 11. A tufting method for producing designs in carpeting using a tufting machine, comprising the steps of laterally shifting needles a distance equivalent to a needle gauge with shift means, said laterally shifted needles each having an associated loop of pile yarn that may be seized therefrom, providing a signal from pattern control means for directing needle select means to select any one of said needles, inserting said needles in said backing fabric during each needle stroke cycle and yet after the step of laterally shifting needles, and seizing only one loop of pile yarn from any one of said needles laterally shifted and disposed over loopers during each periodic time of a stop and feed motion of intermittent feed means by using the loopers to effect the seizing.
Specification