Apparatus and method for producing patterned tufted goods

• US 5,588,383 A
• Filed: 03/02/1995
• Issued: 12/31/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frontier Bank (Everett, Washington) (US Bancorp)
• Original Assignee: Tapistron International, Inc.
• Inventors: Dolf, Richard A., Havard, John M., Black, Michael J., Davis, David L., Sigelmann, Milton R., Gorman, Sean E.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEWIS, PAUL
• Application Number:
  US08/397,742
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 112/80.01, 112/80.08, 112/80.16, 112/80.55, 112/80.56, 112/80.58, 112/80.59, 112/80.6, 83/698.71, 83/699.11, 83/697, 30/492
• US Class Current: 112/80.16
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/31 Textiles threads or artificial strands of filaments
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 49/16 Stands or frameworks
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 57/16 formed to maintain a plurality of filaments in spaced relation
• CPC Class Codes: D05C 15/14 Arrangements or devices for holding or feeding the base material D05C15/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D05C 15/18 Thread feeding or tensioning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D05C 15/24 Loop cutters; Driving mechanisms therefor
• CPC Class Codes: D05C 15/28 by moving the base material laterally
• CPC Class Codes: D05C 15/34 by inserting loops of different nature or colour

Abstract

An apparatus for tufting yarn in a backing comprising a yarn applicator for penetrating the backing and implanting the yarn therein and an electric motor for supplying a predetermined length of the yarn to the yarn applicator. The electric motor is operable to selectively advance the predetermined length of yarn to the yarn applicator, and alternatively, hold the yarn or retract the yarn from the applicator. Desirably, the electric motor is a stepper motor, and more desirably, the apparatus comprises a plurality of stepper motors for selectively feeding yarns to a row of reciprocable hollow tufting needles for producing a patterned tufted product. According to one aspect, the tufting apparatus composes a modular supply system and a corresponding modular control system. Pattern information and timing signals are sent to modular yarn control units by a remote process control computer system. According to another aspect, an apparatus for tufting yarn in a backing is provided wherein a flexible yarn supply tube extends from the outlet of a stationary manifold to the inlet of a reciprocable needle mount for a hollow tufting needle, so that during reciprocation of the needle, yarn does not move relative to a yarn feed path due to the reciprocation of the needle. This allows for yarn to be fed to the needle during the entire needle reciprocation cycle. A yarn movement monitoring apparatus, a yarn movement managing apparatus, a needle assembly for tufting yarn in a backing, and a knife assembly for mounting to a frame and cutting yarn implanted into a backing by a hollow needle are also encompassed.

Claims

1. Knife assembly for mounting to a frame and cutting yarn implanted into a backing by a hollow needle comprising:

a flat, elongate blade having longitudinal edges and a cutting edge extending between the longitudinal edges for shearing engagement with the needle;

a blade holder block having a passage for receiving the blade and a protrusion within the passage, the protrusion having a flat face; and

a screw extending through the block into the passage for selectively engaging the flat blade and holding the blade flush against the flat face, and alternatively, releasing the blade, the longitudinal edges of the blade extending beyond the flat face when the blade is engaged by the screw so that the blade can flex and conform to the needle when the blade engages the needle.

2. Knife assembly as in claim 1 further comprising a member protruding from the block for engagement with the frame to prevent rotation of the block relative to the frame.

3. Knife assembly as in claim 2 further comprising means for reciprocating the block relative to the frame.