Tufting apparatus with dual yarn feed mechanism for producing patterned tufted goods
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for feeding a yarn from a yarn supply to a reciprocating needle comprising:
- a driven roller having a longitudinal axis and a periphery; and
a first dual yarn feeder including a first yarn feeder component and a second yarn feeder component, the first yarn feeder component disposed for selectively moving into peripheral engagement with the driven roller at a longitudinal location along the longitudinal axis of the driven roller and at a peripheral location about the driven roller periphery, and alternatively, moving out of peripheral engagement with the driven roller, such that when the first yarn feeder component is in peripheral engagement with the driven roller, the driven roller drives the first yarn feeder component and causes the first yarn feeder component to feed the yarn, the second yarn feeder component disposed for selectively moving into peripheral engagement with the driven roller at the longitudinal location along the longitudinal axis of the driven roller and at a second peripheral location about the driven roller periphery displaced from the first peripheral location, and alternatively, moving out of peripheral engagement with the driven roller, such that when the second yarn feeder component is in peripheral engagement with the driven roller, the driven roller drives the second yarn feeder component and causes the second yarn feeder component to feed the yarn.
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Abstract
Apparatus for feeding yam from a yam supply to a reciprocating needle of a multicolored patterned tufting apparatus comprising a dual yarn feeder for increased productivity of the tufting apparatus or increasing the number of different yams or both. The dual yam feeder includes two yam feeder components which are selectively and independently movable in and out of engagement with a driven roller.
50 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for feeding a yarn from a yarn supply to a reciprocating needle comprising:
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a driven roller having a longitudinal axis and a periphery; and
a first dual yarn feeder including a first yarn feeder component and a second yarn feeder component, the first yarn feeder component disposed for selectively moving into peripheral engagement with the driven roller at a longitudinal location along the longitudinal axis of the driven roller and at a peripheral location about the driven roller periphery, and alternatively, moving out of peripheral engagement with the driven roller, such that when the first yarn feeder component is in peripheral engagement with the driven roller, the driven roller drives the first yarn feeder component and causes the first yarn feeder component to feed the yarn, the second yarn feeder component disposed for selectively moving into peripheral engagement with the driven roller at the longitudinal location along the longitudinal axis of the driven roller and at a second peripheral location about the driven roller periphery displaced from the first peripheral location, and alternatively, moving out of peripheral engagement with the driven roller, such that when the second yarn feeder component is in peripheral engagement with the driven roller, the driven roller drives the second yarn feeder component and causes the second yarn feeder component to feed the yarn. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
one end of the movable yarn feeder member of the first yarn feeder component is connected to a first actuator for moving the first yarn feeder component into and out of peripheral engagement with the driven roller and an opposite end of the movable yarn feeder member of the first yarn feeder component is pivotally disposed; and
one end of the movable yarn feeder member of the second yarn feeder component is connected to a second actuator for moving the first yarn feeder component into and out of peripheral engagement with the driven roller and an opposite end of the movable yarn feeder member of the second yarn feeder component is pivotally disposed.
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11. An apparatus for producing patterned tufted fabric comprising:
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a tufting frame;
a yarn applicator comprising a reciprocable needle for penetrating a backing at a stationary yarn applying region and implanting a yarn therein;
a backing transport system mounted to the tufting frame for moving the backing past the stationary yarn applying region and moving the backing transversely relative to the stationary yarn applying region so that the yarn applicator implants the yarn in a transverse row upon selective successive penetrations by said needle; and
a first yarn feed mechanism for feeding the yarn from a yarn supply to the reciprocating needle comprising;
a driven roller having a longitudinal axis and a periphery; and
a first dual yarn feeder including a first yarn feeder component and a second yarn feeder component, the first yarn feeder component disposed for selectively moving into peripheral engagement with the driven roller at a longitudinal location along the longitudinal axis of the driven roller and at a peripheral location about the driven roller periphery, and alternatively, moving out of peripheral engagement with the driven roller, such that when the first yarn feeder component is in peripheral engagement with the driven roller, the driven roller drives the first yarn feeder component and causes the first yarn feeder component to feed the yarn in a path from the first yarn feeder component to the reciprocating needle, the second yarn feeder component disposed for selectively moving into peripheral engagement with the driven roller at the longitudinal location along the longitudinal axis of the driven roller and at a second peripheral location about the driven roller periphery displaced from the first peripheral location, and alternatively, moving out of peripheral engagement with the driven roller, such that when the second yarn feeder component is in peripheral engagement with the driven roller, the driven roller drives the second yarn feeder component and causes the second yarn feeder component to feed the yarn in a path from the second yarn feeder component to the reciprocating needle. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
one end of the movable yarn feeder member of the first yarn feeder component is connected to a first actuator for moving the first yarn feeder component into and out of peripheral engagement with the driven roller and an opposite end of the movable yarn feeder member of the first yarn feeder component is pivotally disposed; and
one end of the movable yarn feeder member of the second yarn feeder component is connected to a second actuator for moving the first yarn feeder component into and out of peripheral engagement with the driven roller and an opposite end of the movable yarn feeder member of the second yarn feeder component is pivotally disposed.
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22. Apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the reciprocating needle is a hollow needle.
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23. Yarn feeder comprising:
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a movable member including a bearing portion proximate one end and ahead extending from the bearing portion to a distal end; and
a pair of feed rollers rotatably mounted to the movable member head, wherein the bearing portion has a bore for receiving a shaft and the bearing portion is stepped inwardly and more narrow than the head. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification