IE32075B1 - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for producing patterned tufted material - Google Patents

Abstract

1,180,580. Tufting machines. KEYSTONE Ltd. 4 June, 1968 [8 June, 1967], No. 26575/67. Heading DIG. A tufting machine comprises a number of side-by-side rows of tufting needles arranged transversely to the backing material feed direction, reciprocable means for driving each needle towards the backing, and means energisable by selector mechanism in accordance with the pattern requirement for moving each needle from an inoperative position in disengagement with the driving means to an operative position in engagement with the driving means. In Fig. 4 a vertically-reciprocable frame 17 carries a number of spaced-apart E-shaped structures 22 each having an upper arm 23 formed with slots 26 extending upwards to closed ends 42, a middle arm 24 formed with slots 28, and a lower arm 25 formed with slots 32. The partitions 33 between the latter are formed with slots 34 extending downwardly to closed ends 34a. A needle 35, which may be eyed, hooked or tubular, is disposed in aligned slots 28, 32 and has opposed trunnions 37 disposed in adjacent slots 34. A rod 39, rigid with the armature of a solenoid carried by structure 22, passes through the latter and has a looped end 38 embracing needle 35. Energisation of the solenoid to shift rod 39 rightwards tilts needle 35 about trunnions 37 on ends 34a to disengage the upper end 43 of needle 35 from an aligned slot 26. Structure 22 thereby moves downwards relative to needle 35 until a collar 41 on the latter engages the curved undersurface 30 of arm 24, whereby needle 35 does not penetrate the backing 13 sufficiently to co-operate with a looper 46. Energisation of the solenoid to shift rod 39 leftwards tilts needle 35 to engage end 43 with slot 26, whereby ends 42, 43 co-act to drive needle 35 fully through backing 13 for co-operation with looper 46. The needles in each row carry yarn of the same colour and are connected to a photocell responsive to light of that colour when reflected thereon from a rotary and longitudinally-moving pattern drum. In Fig. 8 the needle has an inclined, upper end 44 adapted to co-act with the similarly inclined closed end 45 of slot 26. The needle is also formed, adjacent end 44, with a notch 47 adapted, in the inoperative position of the needle, to engage a lower flange 48 on a fixed plate 49, whereby the inoperative needle is restrained from movement. In this arrangement structure 22 may, alternatively, be stationary and plate 49 may be reciprocated vertically to drive the needles engaged therewith. In Fig. 10 a vertically-reciprocable beam 51 is disposed adjacent a fixed beam 61 and has a foot portion 62 projecting towards the latter. Foot 62 is formed with vertical slots, the partitions 63 between which are formed in their upper edges with notches 64 pivotally supporting opposed lugs 66 on needles 65 disposed in said slots. The upper end of each needle 66 is formed with opposed projections 67, 68 respectively disposed, in the uppermost position of beam 51, opposite recesses 69, 70 formed in beams 51 and 61 respectively. A spring 78, fixed at 79 to beam 61, engages the lower end of needle 65 to bias the upper end of the latter towards beam 61 and into engagement with a pin 75 carried at one end of a lever 71 which is pivoted intermediately at 72 to beam 61 and is connected at its other end to the armature 76 of a solenoid 77. Energisation of the latter thereby biases projection 67 into recess 69 for coupling the needle to beam 51. On de-energisation of solenoid 77, spring 78 biases projection 68 into recess 70 for uncoupling the needle. [GB1180580A]