Hollow needle tufting apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A method of tufting using a hollow needle having a cavity therein starting at a yarn inlet and ending at a yarn exit comprising:
- supplying a plurality of yarns into the cavity of the needle;
maintaining the plurality of yarns within the cavity of the needle; and
feeding one of the plurality of yarns selectively out of the yarn exit.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for tufting comprises a hollow tufting needle supplied with a plurality of yarns. The plurality of yarns are maintained within the cavity of the needle. One of the yarns is selectively fed out of a yarn opening by releasing the yarn from a yarn feed device and utilizing an air injector proximate to the yarn entrance of the needle to assist in expelling the selected yarn from the needle. When a different yarn is desired to be utilized, the yarn feed device secures the previously selected yarn and another yarn is selectively fed in a similar manner as the first yarn. The needle utilized includes a plurality of holes or vents angled relative to the axis of the needle.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method of tufting using a hollow needle having a cavity therein starting at a yarn inlet and ending at a yarn exit comprising:
-
supplying a plurality of yarns into the cavity of the needle;
maintaining the plurality of yarns within the cavity of the needle; and
feeding one of the plurality of yarns selectively out of the yarn exit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An apparatus for tufting comprising:
-
a reciprocating hollow needle having a cavity therein starting at a yarn inlet and ending at a yarn exit, and said needle having a plurality of vents angled relative to an axis along a length of the needle;
an air injector disposed proximate to the yarn inlet of the needle;
a conduit supplying air to the air injector; and
a plurality of yarns located within the cavity of the needle. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A hollow needle comprising:
-
a yarn inlet, a cavity, and a yarn exit; and
a plurality of vents located along an exterior surface of said needle communicating with an interior surface of the needle in the cavity of the needle, said plurality of vents disposed at least one angle relative to an axis along a length of the needle. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification