GB1012470A - Selective and positioning device for operative members - Google Patents

Abstract

1,012,470. Tufting machines. IMAGE DESIGNS Inc. June 24, 1963, No. 25112/63. Heading D1G. [Also in Division F2] A tufting machine comprises a number of needles carried by the driven part of an electromagnetic clutch, the driving part of which carries a solenoid and is positively coupled in such a manner to a rod that reciprocation of the latter causes rotation of the driving part in alternate directions, the driven part being arranged to be positively rotated in one direction by and with the first part as long as the solenoid is energized, and to stop such rotation at the instant the solenoid is deenergized, thereby putting a selected one of the needles in operative position in order to effect tufting to a pre-determined pattern. The machine shown comprises a main shaft 5 carrying eccentrics 7 actuating connecting rods 9 pivoted by pins 47 to connectors 11. Push rods 13, with heads energizing slots in the latter, are mounted in a carriage 15 which is part of a sub-frame 1 mounted on shaft 5. Carriage 15 may be moved back and forth or a bed 17 by means of a power-driven screw 17 by means of a power-driven screw 19 and clutches 21. Each rod 13 carries an electromagnetic clutch comprising an upper part 69 and a lower part 70. Part 69 carries a solenoid 70, and also a follower pin 81 engaged in a cam slot 89 formed in rod 13, whereby part 69 oscillates on reciprocation of rod 13. Part 70 is formed with a series of angularly-spaced cavities each slidably containing a socket member 85 which holds a needle 33 and is biased upwardly by a spring 87. A peripheral groove 75 in a member 70 is frictionally engaged by a spring 68 and is supported on a fired member 77. On the downward strokes of a rod 13, the solenoid 71 is energised to couple together the parts 69, 70, via teeth formed in the opposed surfaces thereof, until a selected socket 85 lies beneath a finger 91 rigid with rod 13. Solenoid 71 is then de-energized, and part 70 remains stationary to afford engagement of finger 91 with the selected socket for effecting operation of the needle held therein. During the upward stroke of rod 13 solenoid 71 is re-energized for returning part 70 to its initial angular position, said teeth then permitting relative angular movement between the parts 69, 70. As shown, each part 70 contains 5 needles threaded with differently coloured yarns. Selection of the needles is controlled by a rotary drum 45 rigid with shaft 5 and comprising a conducting ring 111 interconnected with five arcuate conducting strips 101, 103, 105, 107, 109 of varying lengths. A brush engaging ring 111 is connected to a source of energy, and brushes engaging said strips are respectively connected to five drums 117, 119, 121, 123, 125 of a rotary pattern device 46 driven via gearing from shaft 5. Brushes engaging the pattern drums are connected to the solenoids 71. Carriage 15 is shifted after each reciprocation of the rods 13 until tufting of a row is completed, when the backing fabric 39 is moved forwardly a row spacing by the pairs of feed rolls 29, 31 and 35, 37. Yarns are fed to the needles by rolls 41, 43, and excessive yarn accumulating are the upper surface of the fabric 39, owing to unequal use of the various colours, is removed by a shearing device 131. Transverse movement may be imparted to the rods 13 by means of cams acting on collars carried thereby.