GB1316585A - Tufting machines - Google Patents

Abstract

1316585 Tufting machines A N SPANEL 18 June 1970 [25 June 1969] 29687/70 Heading D1G A needle assembly, for a tufting machine, comprises a plurality of split-shank needles, each needle 18 comprising two relatively movable cooperating shanks 18A, 18B which when abutted define an internal eye, one shank (18A) having a thread B engaging shoulder and the one or the other shank having a material piecing point 7. The shanks may be moved apart by engagement of one or two pairs of internal abutments 21U, or (21U), (21L) (Fig. 19 not shown) by fixed or movable cam surfaces 20 or (420) or by engagement by a rotatable cam 448 (Fig. 22). Alternatively the shanks 718A, 718B are mounted on respective mounting members 110A, 110B, which are movable linearly or on members 110C, 110D which are rotatable to open and close the eyes. In the tufing machine of Fig. 1 in operation each needle, with closed eye, passes through the backing L, the eye is opened and simultaneously a length of yarn S is cut off by a pair of rolls 22, 23 and sucked or blown through a tube 19, through the eye or eyes of one or a pair of needles to a movable abutment 26. A single needle produces loop tufts and a pair of needles U-tufts. The eyes are closed and the needles raised pulling the yarn S through the backing to form a tuft. If a single needle is being used the eye is opened when raised to release the yarn. The yarn may be bonded to th backing L and a further backing may be applied. In an alternative tufting machine (Fig. 24 not shown) the tuft yarn is not severed between tufts, clamps (105S) and (105M) being provided to hold each tuft while the next one is being formed.