Portable creels with insertable yarn trays and improved headers and yarn handling methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A creel comprising:
- (a) a plurality of trays, each tray comprising sides and a base, and being adapted to hold a plurality of yarn packages;
(b) a frame comprising;
(i) a front portion and a rear portion opposite the front portion;
(ii) a first open end between the front portion and the rear portion;
(iii) a second open end opposite the first open end and between the front portion and the rear portion; and
(iv) at least one shelf that substantially extends between the first open end and the second open end, the at least one shelf configured to receive the plurality of trays; and
(c) a header on the frame for aligning yarns from the yarn packages for use by a yarn-using machine.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Creels having frames configured to receive one or more trays of yarn packages. The trays of yarn packages are removable from the frame and can be loaded with packages of yarn when not inserted into the frame. Separately loading trays with yarns can simplify and provide other benefits with respect to the process of loading a creel with yarn packages. Also disclosed is an assembly that is positioned with respect to a detachable header and a stationary header on a creel and that comprises an air flow unit that causes yarns to move through to an alignment mechanism that aligns the yarns for attachment to yarns already feeding into a tufting machine.
24 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A creel comprising:
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(a) a plurality of trays, each tray comprising sides and a base, and being adapted to hold a plurality of yarn packages; (b) a frame comprising; (i) a front portion and a rear portion opposite the front portion; (ii) a first open end between the front portion and the rear portion; (iii) a second open end opposite the first open end and between the front portion and the rear portion; and (iv) at least one shelf that substantially extends between the first open end and the second open end, the at least one shelf configured to receive the plurality of trays; and (c) a header on the frame for aligning yarns from the yarn packages for use by a yarn-using machine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for handling yarn to be used in a tufting machine comprising:
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loading multiple yarn packages into each of a plurality of yarn package receiving trays; loading the plurality of trays into a creel frame; introducing into a first tube attached to the frame a first yarn from at least one of the multiple yarn packages loaded into a first yarn packaging receiving tray of the plurality of yarn packaging receiving trays; introducing into a second tube attached to the frame a second yarn from at least one of the multiple yarn packages loaded into a second yarn packaging receiving tray of the plurality of yarn packaging receiving trays; and attaching the yarn from the first tube and the yarn from the second tube to the tufting machine. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A creel comprising:
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(a) a plurality of trays, each tray comprising sides and a base portion and adapted to hold a plurality of yarn packages; (b) a frame comprising; (i) a first open end; (ii) a second open end opposite the first open end; and (iii) at least one shelf positioned between the first open end and the second open end, the at least one shelf configured to receive the plurality of trays so that the plurality of trays are configured to be removable from the frame; and (c) a header on the frame and separate from the plurality of trays, the header configured to simultaneously align yarns from the yarn packages of multiple trays of the plurality of trays for use by the yarn-using machine. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification