Tufting machine gauging element configuration
First Claim
1. An improved tufting machine looper assembly for use on a tufting machine, the tufting machine forming tufted piles of yarn in a backing material being passed through a tufting zone, the tufting zone being positioned with respect to the looper assembly, said looper assembly comprising:
- an elongate casted modular gauge block; and
a plurality of elongate loopers extending from said casted gauge block, each said looper having a proximal end fixedly embedded in said casted gauge block and a spaced distal end;
said plurality of loopers being formed into a first series of spaced loopers and a second alternating series of spaced loopers, respectively;
one each of the loopers of said first series of loopers being paired with an adjacent one of the loopers of the second series of loopers, respectively, to form spaced pairs of loopers extending at least partially along the length of said casted gauge block;
wherein the loopers within each said pair of loopers are spaced apart from one another a first distance; and
wherein said pairs of loopers are spaced apart from one another a second distance different than said first distance.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A conventional tufting machine is provided with front and rear juxtaposed, laterally shiftable, needle bars positioned on a common needle bar support. A first series of needles having a first take-off hand, in a first gauge, are embedded in a first needle gauge block mounted on the front needle bar. A second series of needles of an opposite take-off hand, in a second gauge, are embedded in a second needle gauge block fastened to the rear needle bar. The needles of the first and second series of needles, respectively, combine together to form a third series of needles of a desired gauge of the machine, the gauge of the machine being narrower than the gauge of either the first or second series of needles, respectively. A looper gauge block is positioned with respect to the needle gauge blocks, the looper gauge block having a first and a second series of spaced and parallel loopers embedded therein, each looper of the second series of loopers being paired with an adjacent one of the loopers of the first series of loopers to form spaced pairs of loopers extending along the length of the looper gauge block. The loopers within each pair of loopers have a take-off hand corresponding to that of the needle the looper will engage, and the take-off hands within each pair of loopers are opposed to one another. The loopers within each pair of loopers are spaced apart a first distance, and each of the pairs of loopers are spaced apart from one another a second distance greater than the first distance.
64 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An improved tufting machine looper assembly for use on a tufting machine, the tufting machine forming tufted piles of yarn in a backing material being passed through a tufting zone, the tufting zone being positioned with respect to the looper assembly, said looper assembly comprising:
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an elongate casted modular gauge block; and a plurality of elongate loopers extending from said casted gauge block, each said looper having a proximal end fixedly embedded in said casted gauge block and a spaced distal end; said plurality of loopers being formed into a first series of spaced loopers and a second alternating series of spaced loopers, respectively; one each of the loopers of said first series of loopers being paired with an adjacent one of the loopers of the second series of loopers, respectively, to form spaced pairs of loopers extending at least partially along the length of said casted gauge block; wherein the loopers within each said pair of loopers are spaced apart from one another a first distance; and wherein said pairs of loopers are spaced apart from one another a second distance different than said first distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An improved tufting machine needle and looper assembly for use on a tufting machine, the tufting machine forming tufted piles of yarn in a backing material being passed through a tufting zone, the tufting zone being positioned with respect to the needle and looper assembly, said needle and looper assembly comprising:
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a first elongate modular gauge block; a first spaced series of elongate needles of a first take-off hand extending from said first gauge block, each said needle having a proximal end fixedly embedded in said first gauge block; a second elongate modular gauge block; a second spaced series of elongate needles of a second take-off hand extending from said second gauge block, each said needle having a proximal end fixedly embedded in said second gauge block; wherein said first series of needles is spaced from and parallel to said second series of needles, and wherein said first series of needles and said second series of needles combine together to form a third series of needles of a predetermined needle gauge positioned along said first and second gauge blocks, respectively; a third elongate modular gauge block positioned with respect to both said first and said second gauge blocks; said first, second and third gauge blocks each comprising a casted modular gauge block; a plurality of elongate loopers extending from said third gauge block, each said looper having a proximal end fixedly embedded in said third gauge block and a spaced distal end; said plurality of loopers being formed into a first series of spaced loopers sized and shaped to engage the needles of said first series of needles and a second alternating series of spaced loopers sized and shaped to engage the needles of said second series of needles, respectively; and one each of the loopers of said first series of loopers being paired with an adjacent one of the loopers of the second series of loopers, respectively, to form spaced pairs of loopers extending at least partially along the length of said third gauge block; wherein a respective looper within each said pair of loopers is provided for a corresponding one of the needles within said third series of needles. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An improved tufting machine needle and looper assembly for use on a tufting machine, the tufting machine having a first laterally shiftable needle bar and a second spaced parallel laterally shiftable needle bar, both needle bars being driven by a common reciprocating needle drive, the tufting machine forming a series of tufted yarn piles in a backing material being passed through a tufting zone below the needle bars, said needle and looper assembly comprising:
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a first casted elongate modular gauge block for being mounted on the first needle bar; a first spaced series of elongate needles of a first take-off hand projecting from said first gauge block; a second casted elongate modular gauge block for being mounted on the second needle bar, said second gauge block being opposed from said first gauge block; a second spaced series of elongate needles of a second take-off hand extending from said second gauge block; wherein the needles of said first series of needles, and the needles of said second series of needles, each has a proximal end fixedly embedded in said first and in said second gauge blocks, respectively wherein said first series of needles is spaced from and parallel to said second series of needles, the needles of said first series of needles and of said second series of needles being combined together to form a third series of needles of a predetermined needle gauge extending along said first and second gauge blocks, respectively; a third casted elongate modular gauge block positioned with respect to both said first and said second gauge blocks; a first series of spaced and elongate loopers projecting from said gauge third gauge block, the loopers of said first series of loopers being sized and shaped to engage the needles of said first series of needles; a second series of spaced and elongate loopers projecting from said gauge third gauge block, said second series of loopers being spaced from and parallel to said first series of loopers, and being sized and shaped to engage the needles of said second series of needles; the respective loopers of said first series of loopers and of said second series of loopers each having a proximal end fixedly embedded in said third gauge block, and a spaced distal end; and one each of the loopers of said first series of loopers being paired with an adjacent one of the loopers of the second series of loopers, respectively, to form spaced pairs of loopers extending at least partially along the length of said third gauge block; wherein a respective looper within each said pair of loopers is provided for a corresponding one of the needles within said third series of needles.
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Specification