GB780370A - Tufting machines - Google Patents

Abstract

780,370. Tufting machines. CARD, J. L. Sept. 9, 1955 [May 16, 1955], No. 25894/55. Class 112 A multineedle machine for making a loop pile fabric having a pattern repeated across the width of the fabric comprises a plurality of "repeat" needle groups arranged in end to end relation transversely to the direction of the fabric feed, a plurality of yarn feed means proportionate in number to the number of needles in each group, each feed means receiving a number of strands which is a multiple of the number of groups, and guides associated with each feed means for receiving the yarns and delivering them to the selected needles. The feed is effected by a number of rollers extending forwardly from the machine perpendicular to the plane of the needles. Each roller may be clutched to a high or low speed drive resulting in long or short loops respectively being formed on the fabric. Electromagnetic clutches are employed, their energization being controlled by a pattern control member rotated in synchronism with the machine. The yarns may all be of one colour, the pattern being formed by the contrast between the length of loops. Alternatively, alternate needles of a group may be fed with different coloured yarns and may form long and short loops respectively, the former concealing the latter. A pattern may thus be formed with contrasting colours. The machine shown in Figs. 1 and 3 employs a thousand needles 12 mounted in a bar 11 driven by eccentrics 7 mounted on a drive shaft 5. The needles are divided into ten groups of a hundred needles, each group forming a pattern. There are fifty feed rollers 31 each carrying twenty threads and supplying two adjacent threads to each group of needles. Each roller is faced with emery cloth and the fabric 16 is fed across the needle plate 13 by spiked feed rolls 17. Each thread passes througn a metal or plastic guide tube 52, the upper ends of the guide tubes associated with each roller being secured to panels 53; the lower ends are secured to a panel 56. The rollers 31 are driven by chain and sprocket high and low speed gearing arranged in casings 19 the rollers being clutched to the high or low speed drive by clutches 34, 33, Fig. 7, controlled by relays 69 coupled between a current source and contact fingers 66 co-operating with an earthed rotating drum carrying an insulating sleeve 64 with cut out portions 65 defining the pattern. There is one finger 66 for each feed roller. Specifications 735,019 and 778,471 are referred to.