×

Apparatus for manufacturing tufted rugs

  • US 5,743,200 A
  • Filed: 03/28/1996
  • Issued: 04/28/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. An apparatus for manufacturing tufted rugs, said apparatus comprising:

  • an upper gantry oriented along an X-axis and movable along a Y-axis;

    a lower gantry oriented parallel to and below said upper gantry, said lower gantry being movable along said Y-axis; and

    a tufting head carried by said upper gantry and movable along said X-axis, said tufting head including;

    a frame carried by said upper gantry and having at least one pillow block secured thereto, said at least one pillow block defining a through opening oriented along a Z-axis, said through opening defined by each of said at least one pillow block being coaxial one with another;

    a cylinder closely received within said through opening defined by each said at least one pillow block, said cylinder being movable along and pivotally about said Z-axis, said cylinder being reciprocal toward and away from a backing material to be tufted;

    a piston slidably received within said cylinder, said piston being reciprocated within said cylinder independently from reciprocation of said cylinder, said piston being prevented from axial rotation within said cylinder such that as said cylinder is rotated about said Z-axis, said piston is likewise rotated about said Z-axis;

    a needle secured to a distal end of said cylinder, said needle defining a centrally-disposed through opening coaxial with said cylinder, said needle being reciprocated along said Z-axis as said cylinder is reciprocated; and

    a blade secured to a distal end of said piston, a longitudunal axis of said blade being coaxial with said cylinder and with said through opening defined by said needle, said blade being projected from and withdrawn into said needle as said cylinder and said piston are independently reciprocated.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×