Capstan rollers for tufting machine yarn feed

• US 7,685,952 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2006
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tuftco Corporation
• Original Assignee: Tuftco Corporation
• Inventors: Frost, Steve, Cobble, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): Izaguirre; Ismael
• Application Number:
  US11/478,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20070044695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 112/80.7, 112/80.73, 112/302, 112/254, 112/98, 112/100, 112/101, 474/101
• US Class Current: 112/80.73
• CPC Class Codes: D05C 15/18 Thread feeding or tensioning arrangements

Abstract

A capstan roller assembly is provided between the yarn supply and scroll type yarn feed attachments for a tufting machine in order to minimize the underfeeding of yarn to the pattern being tufted due to irregularities in the feeding of the yarn from the yarn supply.

Claims

1. In a tufting machine of the type having a plurality of yarns supplied to needles reciprocated through a backing fabric and a pattern control yarn feed attachment with a plurality of independently driven yarn feed devices,

an improvement comprising a first driven capstan roller located intermediate the yarn supply and the independently driven yarn feed devices

wherein the plurality of yarns is wrapped completely about a circumference of the capstan roller and proceeds through a pattern control yarn feed attachment to the needles.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the independently driven yarn feed devices are yarn feed rolls driven by servo motors.

3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein the capstan roller is rotated by communication with a servo motor that also rotates a yarn feed roll.

4. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the capstan roller is rotated by communication with a main drive motor of the tufting machine.

5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the capstan roller is rotated by an independent capstan motor.

6. The improvement of claim 5 wherein the capstan motor has a motor controller in communication with a tufting machine master controller.

7. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the capstan roller is driven to supply yarns at a rate at least equal to the fastest rate of yarn supplied by the independently driven yarn feed devices.

8. The improvement of claim 1 further comprising a second capstan roller located proximate and parallel to the first capstan roller.

9. The improvement of claim 8 wherein the plurality of yarns is wrapped around at least 180°

of the first capstan roller which is rotationally driven in a first direction and further wrapped around at least 180°

of the second capstan roller which is rotated in the opposite direction.

10. A capstan roller assembly adapted for use intermediate a yarn supply and a pattern control yarn feed attachment of a tufting machine comprising:

first and second capstan rollers being positioned proximate to and parallel with one another for rotational movement;

the first and second capstan rollers having associated, intermeshing spur gears for rotational communication with one another;

a drive belt in communication between a motor and the first capstan roller;

wherein yarns proceed from the yarn supply, between the first and second capstan rollers and thence to the pattern control yarn feed attachment.

11. The capstan roller assembly of claim 10 wherein yard is fed from the yarn supply toward the tufting machine under and about at least 180°

of the circumference of the second capstan roller and thence rearward under and about at least 180°

of the circumference of the first capstan roller and thence forward to the pattern control yarn feed attachment.

12. The capstan roller assembly of claim 10 wherein a bushing is mounted on each end of the first and second capstan rollers, said bushings being received in openings in capstan roller brackets.

13. The capstan roller assembly of claim 10 wherein the motor is the main drive motor of the tufting machine.

14. The capstan roller assembly of claim 10 wherein the motor also is in communication with a yarn feed roll of the pattern control yarn feed attachment.

15. The capstan roller assembly of claim 10 wherein the motor has a motor controller in communication with a tufting machine master controller.

16. The capstan roller assembly of claim 10 wherein the yarn feed attachment is selected from the group of servo scroll yarn feed, single end yarn feed, and double end yarn feed attachments.

17. A capstan roller assembly adapted for use intermediate a yarn supply and a pattern control yarn feed attachment having a plurality of independently driven yarn feed devices supplying yarns to needles of a tufting machine comprising:

a first capstan roller being positioned wherein a bushing is mounted on each end of the roller and each bushing is received in an opening in a capstan roller bracket for rotational movement of the capstan roller; and

a drive belt in communication between a motor and the first capstan roller;

wherein yarns proceed from the yarn supply, about the first capstan roller and thence to the pattern control yarn feed attachment.

18. The capstan roller assembly of claim 17 wherein the plurality of yarns is wrapped completely about a circumference of the capstan roller.

19. The capstan roller assembly of claim 17 wherein the capstan roller is driven to supply yarns at a rate at least equal to the fastest rate of yarn supplied by the independently driven yarn feed devices.

20. In a tufting machine of the type having a plurality of yarns supplied to needles reciprocated through a backing fabric and a pattern control yarn feed attachment with a plurality of independently driven yarn feed devices, an improvement comprising of first driven capstan roller located intermediate yarn supply and the independently driven yarn feed devices and a second capstan roller located proximate and parallel to the first capstan roller,

wherein the plurality of yarns proceeds from the yarn supply and is wrapped around at least 180°

of the first capstan roller which is rotationally driven in a first direction and further wrapped around at least 180°

of the second capstan roller which is rotated in the opposite direction, and thence to the independently driven yarn feed devices of the pattern control yarn feed attachment.

21. The improvement of claim 20 wherein the independently driven yarn feed devices are yarn feed rolls driven by servo motors.

22. The improvement of claim 21 wherein the first capstan roller is rotated by communication with a servo motor that also rotates the yarn feed roll.

23. The improvement of claim 20 wherein the plurality of yarns is wrapped completely about a circumference of the first capstan roller.

24. The improvement of claim 20 wherein the first capstan roller is rotated by communication with a main drive motor of the tufting machine.

25. The improvement of claim 20 wherein the first capstan roller is rotated by an independent capstan motor.

26. The improvement of claim 25 wherein the capstan motor has a motor controller in communication with a tufting machine master controller.

27. The improvement of claim 20 wherein the first capstan roller is driven to supply yarns at a rate at least equal to the fastest rate of yarn supply by the independent driven yarn feed devices.