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Tufting machine pattern yarn feed mechanism

  • US 5,743,201 A
  • Filed: 04/18/1997
  • Issued: 04/28/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A yarn feed mechanism for use with a tufting machine for producing tufted articles, the tufting machine having a frame, a yarn supply, a needle bar supported on the frame and reciprocated toward and away from a tufting zone underneath the needle bar and through which a backing material is transversely passed, the needle bar having a spaced series of tufting needles aligned thereon and disposed along the length thereof for penetrating the backing material for sewing tuffs of yarn therein, and a yarn feed path along which yarns extend from the yarn supply to the respective needles of the tufting machine, said yarn feed mechanism comprising:

  • (a) a framework for being mounted on the frame of the tufting machine along the yarn feed path;

    (b) a yarn feed roll assembly supported for rotation on said framework, said yarn feed roll assembly being positioned adjacent said yarn feed path and having;

    an elongate yarn feed roll rotatably supported on the yarn feed roll assembly, said yarn feed roll extending along a longitudinal axis and having an exterior yarn driving periphery for engaging yarns thereon;

    means for rotating said yarn feed roll about said axis in timed relationship with the reciprocation of the needle bar;

    an orbital yarn applying member supported on the yarn feed roll assembly and being spaced from said yarn feed roll, said yarn applying member being movable about the yarn feed roll in an orbital path from a yarn receiving position for receiving an intermediate portion of selected yarns thereon, into a yarn applying position in which the yarn applying member selectively applies the selected yarns against at least a portion of the yarn driving periphery of the yarn feed roll so that the rotation of the yarn feed roll drives the yarn toward the needles of the tufting machine.

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