GB1063180A - Multi-purpose tufting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

1,063,180. Tufting machines, tufted fabrics. CALLAWAY MILLS CO. Dec. 8, 1965 [Dec. 9, 1964], No. 52030/65. Headings D1G and D1K. A tufting machine comprises means for inserting a strand of yarn through a backing material, fluid pressure means for extending the inserted strand away from the backing material, and means for severing the extended strand. As shown, a cylindrical rod 80, slidable in a fixed sleeve 45, is reciprocated via a pitman 74 from an eccentric 72 on a driving shaft 70. The lower end of rod 80 is formed with a chamber 83 in constant communication, via ports 45a and 84 in sleeve 45 and rod 80 respectively, with a passage 53 communicating, via a valve seat 55 controlled by a valve 56, with a compressed air duct 54. Valve 56 is biased towards seat 55 by a spring 63, and its lift is controlled by an eccentric 87 driven via an endless chain 89 from shaft 70, for regulating the air pressure in chamber 83. A block 91 is adjustably secured to the lower end of rod 80. and is also secured to a horizontal bar 95 mounting hollow needles 110. Bar 95 is formed with a chamber 105 which communicates with the interior of the needles 110 and also, via passages 93 and 99 in block 91 and bar 95 respectively with chamber 83. A presser foot 140 is formed with holes 142 for the passage of the needles 110, and is connected to an upwardly-sloping plate 141 mounted for vertical adjustment and also for horizontal adjustment both in and transverse to the direction of work feed. Backing fabric B is fed by inlet rollers 271, 272 and outlet rollers 281, 285, situated higher than rollers 271, 272, over a plate 206 carrying bars 207 spaced to allow passage r the needles 110 therebetween. Rollers 281, 285 rotate faster than the rollers 271, 272 to draw the fabric B firmly against the sloping plate 141. Yarn Y is fed to the needles 110 by conventional control means 300. By suitably varying the height of the needles, by adjusting block 91, and the air pressure in chamber 83, tuft loops may be formed either on the lower side or both sides of fabric B. When loops are formed on both sides, the presser foot 140 and the sloping plate 141 are suitably slotted to allow passage of the upper loops. Plate 206 is comprised in a casing 200 which also comprises a sloping plate 230 parallel with plate 141 for guiding the lower tufts. The end walls 199 of casing 200 slidably support respective brackets 214, the height of which may be adjusted by turning associated screws 220 via gearing 221, 224. A shaft 215, mounted between the brackets 214, journals arms 240 interconnected by a bar 241. Blocks 245, adjustably mounted on bar 240, carry knife blades 250 which bear against the under surface of a plate 210 which is car ried by the brackets 214 and is formed with holes aligned with the needles 210. The arms 240 are connected by links 254 to arms 25 rigid with a shaft 256. The latter may be oscillated via a linkage from an eccentric releasably coupled to shaft 70. The knives may thereby be oscillated to co-operate with plate 210 for severing the lower ends of the tuft loops projecting through the holes in plate 210, said loops being drawn downwards by a partial vacuum maintained within casing 200 via a suction duct 269. The amount severed from the loops is regulated by raising or lowering the brackets 214. Shaft 70 is driven by a motor (403), Fig. 1, via a variable diameter pulley (402) on the motor shaft and a belt (401). Motor (403) is arranged to be shifted along bars (404) parallel to belt (401) via gearing (408 -411), for varying the effective diameter of pulley (402) and the speed of shaft 70. The feed rollers are interconnected for synchronous movement, and roller 271 is driven via a belt (294) Fig. 5, from one of a pair of variable diameter pulleys (286) journalled on one arm of a bell crank lever (287), the other pulley (286) being driven by a belt (292) from shaft 70. The other arm of lever (287) is coupled to a linkage (289 - 291), whereby lever (287) may be turned about its fulcrum for varying the speed of the feed rollers. Figs. 18A to 18K, not shown, illustrate types of tufting produced by the machine. When tufting is to be produced on both sides of the backing material, the latter is impregnated with synthetic plastic such as foamed polyurethane.