GB983994A - Method and means for making tufted fabrics - Google Patents

Abstract

983, 994. Tufting machines. SINGERCOBBLE Inc. June 13,1962 [June 15,1961], No. 22649/62. Heading D1G. A machine for making tufted fabrics having three heights of pile distributed in accordance with a pattern comprises a needle, a co-operating looper having two bills arranged one above the other and means associated with each bill for retaining a loop thereon, and means for feeding the yarn to the needle at any one of three predetermined rates, whereby yarn if fed at the high rate is retained on the lower bill to form a long tuft, if fed at the intermediate rate is pulled off the lower bill and retained on the upper bill to form a tuft of intermediate length, and if fed at the low rate is pulled off both lower and upper bills to form a short tuft. Backing fabric 13 is fed by two pairs of feed rolls 14, 15 past a bank of reciprocating needles 21. Yarn 25 is fed to each needle by a respective pair of feed rolls 26 driven by a shaft 27 carrying three magnetic clutches 29, 30, 31, only one of which can be energized at a given time. Clutch 29, when energized, couples shaft 27 to a sprocket 32 driven at high speed. When clutches 30 and 31 are respectively energized, shaft 27 is coupled to sprockets 34 and 36 driven at an intermediate and low speed respectively. Energization of the clutches is controlled by a rotating pattern drum 81. Each pair of rolls 26 has associated therewith a finger 79 and a finger 80 co-operating with the pattern drum. Finger 79, when engaging a raised surface 84 or depressed surface 85, respectively opens and closes a switch 79<SP>1</SP>. Finger 80, when engaging a raised surface 86 or depressed surface 87, respectively opens and closes a switch 80<SP>1</SP>. A relay switch 60 has a pivoted blade 64 permanently connected to a contact 3 and adapted, when a coil 62 is energized, to move from contacts 4, 5 to contacts 1, 2. A relay switch 61 has a pivoted blade 65 permanently connected to a contact 3<SP>1</SP> and adapted, when a coil 63 is energized, to move from contacts 4<SP>1</SP>, 5<SP>1</SP> to contacts 1<SP>1</SP>, 2<SP>1</SP>. Contact 3 is connected to contacts 4<SP>1</SP>, 51, and contact 3<SP>1</SP> is connected to the power supply. Clutch 29 is connected to contacts 4, 5. Clutch 30 is connected to contacts 1, 2. Clutch 31 is connected to contacts 1<SP>1</SP>, 2<SP>1</SP>. Finger 79 is connected, via a transistor 69, to coil 62. Finger 80 is connected, via a transistor 70, to coil 63. When fingers 79, 80 engage the raised surfaces 84, 86, coils 62, 63 are de-energized and clutch 29 is thereby energized to drive the rolls 26 at high speed. When finger 70 engages a depressed surface 85 to close switch 79<SP>1</SP> and finger 80 engages a raised surface 86, coil 62 is energized and clutch 30 is thereby also energized to drive rolls 26 on the intermediate speed. When finger 80 engages a depressed surface 87, irrespective of whether finger 79 engages either a raised or a depressed surface, switch 80<SP>1</SP> is closed to energize coil 63, whereby clutch 31 is energized to drive rolls 26 at low speed. The needle 21 co-operates with a looper 90 which is fixed to an oscillating shaft 93 and has a lower bill 95 and an upper bill 98. A spring blade 103, fixed at one end to the looper stem, has a flared free end 108 engaging the tip 96 of bill 95. A spring blade 113, fixed at one end to the looper stem, has a flared free end 118 engaging the tip 100 of the bill 98. A knife blade 120 is fixed to an oscillating shaft 122. The looper initially seizes a long loop 110 on the lower bill 95. If the yarn is fed at the high rate, loop 110 is retained by the spring blade 103 on bill 95, and slides along the latter till it is cut by the knife 120 to form a long tuft 125. If the yarn is fed at the intermediate rate, loop 110 is pulled past blade 103 and is retained on bill 98 by blade 113, the shortened loop then being cut by knife 120 to form tuft 126 of intermediate length. If the yarn is fed at the low rate, the loop 110 is pulled in succession past the blades 103 and 113 to form a short, uncut tuft 127. Specifications 920,023 and 920,024 are referred to.