Method for running a tufting machine

• US 6,971,326 B1
• Filed: 03/10/2000
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Groz-Beckert KG
• Original Assignee: Groz-Beckert KG
• Inventors: Meade, Warren John, Clarke, Jonathan William
• Primary Examiner(s): NERBUN, PETER P
• Application Number:
  US09/936,464
• Time in Patent Office: 2,097 Days
• Field of Search: 112/475.23, 112/80.18, 112/80.23, 112/80.24, 112/80.31, 112/80.41, 112/80.5, 112/80.55, 112/275
• US Class Current: 112/475.23
• CPC Class Codes: D05C 15/20 Arrangements or devices, e.g. needles, for inserting loops; Driving mechanisms therefor
• CPC Class Codes: D05C 15/22 Loop-catching arrangements, e.g. loopers; Driving mechanisms therefor
• CPC Class Codes: D05C 15/24 Loop cutters; Driving mechanisms therefor

Abstract

The invention concerns a tufting machine having at least one needlebar, loopers, hooks to pick up yarn delivered through the needles of the needlebar, knives to cut yarn loops and driving means, with the needle action and/or the looper action and/or the hook action, and/or the knife action being a non-simple harmonic motion. In said machine the needles, the hooks, the knives and the loopers have separate drive systems. So the motion of the needles, the hooks, the knives and the loopers can be such that first of all the pickup of the yarn or the cutting of the yarn loop can be improved. When the drive system is computer controlled more accurate machine set up can be achieved. Moreover different set ups can be achieved automatically for different products. Patterning effects are also possible.

Claims

1. A method for running a tufting machine having at least one needlebar, loopers and/or hooks to pick up yard delivered through the needles of the needlebar, knives to cut the yarn loops, and driving means, wherein, according to the method, the needle action and/or the book and/or looper action and/or the knife action is/are non-simple harmonic motion(s), wherein the needlebar(s) is/are slowed or halted when the needles are at the yarn pickup point to assist the looper and/or the hooks to pick up yarn from the needles and wherein the loopers and/or the hooks are held in an extended position to hold the loops until later in the tufting cycle.

2. The method for running a tufting machine claimed in claim 1 wherein the needlebar(s) is/are slowed or halted when the needles are above the backing material to extend the time available for advancing the primary backing material.

3. The method for running a tufting machine claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the needlebar(s) is/are slowed or halted when the needles are at top dead center to avoid the needles tagging the back-stitches.

4. The method for running a tufting machine claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the knives are moved forward to cut the loops at a point where the loops have the same length.

5. The method for running a tufting machine claimed in claim 3 wherein the knives are moved forward to cut the loops at a point where the loops have the same length.