GB2215744A

GB2215744A - Hand tufting machine

Info

Publication number: GB2215744A
Application number: GB8903424A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jamshid Divangahi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-02-16
Filing date: 1989-02-15
Publication date: 1989-09-27
Also published as: GB8803534D0; GB8903424D0

Abstract

A hand-held tufting machine comprising a piston (2) mounted in a cylinder (4) for reciprocating motion therein, a hollow needle (6) extending from an end (8) of the piston (2) through a corresponding end (12) of the cylinder, the hollow needle (6) communicating with an aperture (22) in a side of the piston (2) spaced from the needle (6), drive means (14, 16, 18) for the piston (2), a yarn support (24, 42), and means for providing slack to the yarn between the yarn support (24, 42) and the hollow needle (6). As shown a yarn guide 28 is oscillated on an arm 30 pivotted at 33 and moved by a pin 32 on crank wheel 16. Alternatively an over-end bobbin may be used such that yarn is drawn off without the need to turn the bobbin. <IMAGE>

Description

A Hand-Held Tufting Machine This invention relates to hand-held tufting machines.

A hand-held tufting machine designed by the present inventor is disclosed in Published British Patent specification 2129453A. A disadvantage of that tufting machine is that the tufts produced by the machine are not of constant length. This problem is believed to be due to the yarn being under tension as it is pushed through the base fabric, e.g. the backing cloth of the carpet, design or the like, and this results in the yarn being withdrawn from the previous loop rather than being withdrawn from the bobbin or spool as the needle penetrates through the backing fabric. The amount of yarn being withdrawn from the previous loop depends partly on the undesirable structure of some backing fabrics and yarns, but mainly on the amount of tension in the yarn which, in the absence of a suitable yarn feed, exists between the bobbin or spool and penetrating needle.

The object of the present invention is to overcome, or at least to reduce substantially, the aforementioned problem.

According to the present invention there is provided a hand-held tufting machine comprising a piston mounted in a cylinder for reciprocating motion therein, a hollow needle extending from an end of the piston through a corresponding end of the cylinder, the hollow needle communicating with an aperture in a side of the piston spaced from the needle, drive means for the piston, a yarn support, and means for providing slack to the yarn between the yarn support and the hollow needle.

Two specific embodiments of the present invention are now described purely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a tufting machine according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line A-A of figure 1; and Figure 3 is a schematic side view of another tufting machine according to the present invention.

With reference to the figure 1 of the drawings, a hand held tufting machine comprises a piston 2 mounted in a cylinder 4 for -reciprocating motion therein. A hollow needle 6 extends from an end 8 of the piston 2, the needle 6 passing through a guide hole 10 in the corresponding end 12 of the cylinder 4, and a contact pin 14 is mounted between the piston 2 and a disc 16. A motor 18 drives the disc 16. The contact pin 14 and hollow needle 6 are attached to opposite ends of the piston 2, and the contact pin 14 is fixed to a point near the circumference of the disc 16. Furthermore, the hollow needle 6 communicates by means of an internal passage 20 in the piston 2 with an aperture 22 on the side of the piston 2. In these respects the tufting machine is as disclosed in published British Patent Specification 2129453.

As shown in figure 1, the tufting machine of the present invention further includes a support 24 for a spool or bobbin 26 of yarn to be positioned horizontally, a yarn feeder 27 comprising a loop 28 mounted on a pivoted, spring-biased lever 30, and a pin 32 extending from the circumference of the disc 16. The lever 30 swings about a pivot 33, the axis of which is substantially parallel to that of the piston 2, and is biased into a substantially vertical position by means of a spring (not shown) attached between the lever 30 and either the support 24 or the body 34 of the machine 1.

The machine of the invention further incorporates a window 36 in the side of the cylinder 4 which may be aligned with the aperture 22 of the piston 2. The window 36 is designed also so that when the piston 2 is fully retracted, the aperture 22 is closed by the cylinder 4 (as shown in figure 1).

In use, a spool 26 of yarn is mounted on the support 24 and the yarn is threaded through the loop 28, through the window 36 and the aperture 22, along the internal passage 20 and out of the end of the hollow needle 6.

When the motor 18 is switched on, the disc 16 rotates and forces the piston 2 in and out of the cylinder 4 by means of the contact pin 14. In this manner the hollow needle 6 passes back and forth through the material in which the tufts are to be formed.

During each cycle of the disc 16, the yarn is free to be pulled by the needle 6 and deposited as tufts in the material, and is also trapped between the piston 2 and the cylinder 4 as the pin 32 actuates the yarn feeder 23.

With reference to Figure 2, when the pin 32 actuates the yarn feeder 23, the lever 30 pivots and the yarn is pulled from the spool 26 by the loop 28. As the disc 16 rotates farther, the pin 32 no longer contacts the lever 30, and the lever 30 is allowed to be biased back to its vertical position by means of the spring (not shown). The arcuate pivotal movement of loop 28 produces slack in the yarn so that when the needle 6 is driven out of the cylinder 4 the yarn is not under tension.

A gearing system (not shown) may be incorporated between the motor 18 and the disc 16 if variable speed is required. Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment the motor 18 is controlled by a foot-actuated switch (not shown).

In a second embodiment of the present invention, as shown schematically in Figure 3 (in which previously described integers of the apparatus have been given the same reference numerals as in Figure 1), a means for providing slack to the yarn comprises a substantially conical bobbin 40 mounted on a yarn support 42. The narrow end 44 of the bobbin 40 is directed substantially towards the window 36 in the side of the cylinder 4. Due to the tapering of the bobbin, the yarn flows from the bobbin 40 freely; accordingly, the yarn does not experience any tension which might hinder the working of the tufting machine, as had been the case in the prior art.

The tapered bobbin 40 is positioned within the tufting machine to optimise the efficiency of release of the yarn. The efficiency of release of the yarn may also be improved by having the yarn wound on the bobbin prior to use in a regular and structured manner, as is well known.

Further, the drive motor 18, gears and affiliated worm screws (not shown) may all be accommodated within the handle of the tufting machine to produce a single unit which is neat and easy to handle.

It will of course be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example and modifications of detail, such as those described in published British Patent specification 2129453, can be made within the scope of the invention. In this regard, with reference to the second embodiment described above, it will be appreciated that the bobbin need not be conical provided that the yarn may be pulled from the bobbin substantially free from tension. If this is the case, and the yarn is sufficiently slack, it is not necessary for the aperture 22 to be closed completely during reciprocation of the piston. Accordingly, even a cylindrical bobbin can be used if its axis is directed towards the window 36. Further, in an alternative embodiment, the bobbin may be supported independently of the tufting machine such that a slack supply of yarn is provided.

Due to the length of slack yarn between the bobbin and the window it is also advantageous to include one or more guide holes through which the yarn may pass.

Additional modifications to the basic arrangement of a hand-held tufting machine according to the present invention include that the contact pin 14 may incorporate a groove perpendicular to its length which is engaged by a stud mounted on the disc 16; during use, the stud slides in the groove and drives the contact pin 14 (and hence the piston 2)reciprocally. Another modification which can be incorporated in the tufting machine is that the end 12 may be removable and replaceable by alternative ends of different length; in this way, the degree of extension of the needle 6, and hence the length of tufts produced, may be varied.

For reasons of safety and ease of packing, the tufting machine may also incorporate an electronic device linked to the drive motor for ensuring that when the machine is switched off, the needle is always retracted within the body of the machine.

Claims

1. A hand-held tufting machine comprising a piston mounted in a cylinder for reciprocating motion therein, a hollow needle extending from an end of the piston through a corresponding end of the cylinder, the hollow needle communicating with an aperture in a side of the piston spaced from the needle, drive means for the piston, a yarn support, and means for providing slack to the yarn between the yarn support and the hollow needle.

2. A machine according to Claim 1 wherein the drive means comprises a contact pin between the piston and a disc, and a motor for driving the disc.

3. A machine according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the means for providing slack comprises a loop on a pivoted, spring-biased lever and an actuating means.

4. A machine according to Claim 3 wherein the lever pivots about an axis substantially parallel to the piston.

5. A machine according to Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein the lever is biased by a spring attached to the support.

6. A machine according to any of claims 3,4 or 5 wherein the actuating means is attached to the disc.

7. A machine according to any of Claims 3 to 6 wherein the actuating means is a pin protruding from the circumference of the disc.

8. A machine according to any preceding claim wherein the means for providing slack is actuated once every revolution of the disc.

9. A machine according to Claim 8 wherein the pin interacts with the lever once every revolution of the disc.

10. A machine according any preceding claim wherein the slack providing means is actuated when the piston is substantially fully retracted.

11. A machine according to any preceding claim wherein the aperture may be aligned with a window in the cylinder.

12. A machine according to Claim 11 wherein when the slack providing means is actuated, the aperture is hidden from the window.

13. A machine according to Claim 12 wherein a bobbin of yarn is mounted horizontally on the support.

14. A machine according to Claim 11, 12 or 13 wherein the yarn passes from the bobbin, through the loop on the lever, through the window, through the aperture along the hollow needle and out of the end of the needle.

15. A machine according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the means for providing slack comprises a bobbin mounted on the yarn support such that the axis of the bobbin is directed substantially towards the aperture in the side of the piston.

16. A machine according to Claim 15 wherein the bobbin is tapered, the narrow end of the bobbin being directed substantially towards the aperture in the side of the piston.

17. A machine according to Claim 15 or Claim 16 wherein the bobbin is substantially conical or frusto-conical.

18. A machine according to any of Claims 2 to 17 wherein the motor and the disc communicate by means of a gear box.

19. A machine according to any of Claims 2 to 18 wherein the motor is actuated by a foot operated switch.

20. A machine according to any preceding claim which includes means for ensuring that the needle is retracted within the cylinder when the drive means is switched off.

21. A machine according to any preceding claim wherein a guide for the yarn is provided between the yarn support and the aperture.

22. A machine according to any preceding claim which can accommodate cylinder ends of various lengths such that tuft length can be accurately selected.

23. A machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.