US1855175A

US1855175A - Looping and tufting machine

Info

Publication number: US1855175A
Application number: US454469A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clarence A Braudes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1930-05-21
Filing date: 1930-05-21
Publication date: 1932-04-26
Anticipated expiration: 1949-04-26

Description

April 26, 1932. c. A. BRAUDES LooPING AN'D TUFTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet l Original-,FYledlJam 2l, 1926 INVENTOR: Zi/Pf/vcE/Ywz/ofs,

April 26, 1932. c. A. mmnsl LOOPING AND TUFTING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 2l, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 .,z `O t l C /f-d INVENTOR:

BY I

7 i ATTORN April 26, 1932. c. A. BRAUDES LooPING AND TUFTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheetl 5 Original Filed Jan. 2l, 1926 INVENTOR: ,mffvcf/Y/Mafs,

ATTORNEYS.

A April 26","1931 c. A. BRAUDES 1,855,175

LOOPING AND TUFTING MACHINE Original Fi-led Jan. 2l, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 l INVENTOR; l iwf/105i R/

sfafs pril

2,6, 1932. v C, A, BRAUDES 1,855,175

LOOPING AND TUETING MACHINE original Filed Jan. 21. 1926 e sheetsfsheet 5 April 26, 1932- c. A. BRAU-DES 1,855,175

LOOPING AND TUFTING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 2l, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 @ff/ff.

INVENTOR: Z/YAf/vf/ 5w/70055,

. BY .j

ATTORNEYS.'

Patented Apr. 26, 1932 i UNITED STATES CLARENCE A...BBA`UDES, F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK I LOOPING AND TUFITING' MACHINE l Continuation of application Serial No. 82,888, led

1930. Serial on the surface of said fabric.

sired design.

My invention relates more particularly to a new and useful looping and tufting machine of the character stated, adapted for the production of ornamental designs upon the upper surface of textile fabrics, through the medium of successive series of loops or tufts, which may be produced of any desired colored yarn and which may be so collocated upon the surface of a fabric as to produce any de-` With the above ends in view, my invention consists of suitable means for guiding a piece of fabric in a plane, means for feeding or advancing said fabric in an intermittent manner for each stroke of the machine,

and means for the adjusting of the feed of said fabric.

' My invention further consists of a hollow, tubular upright needle, adapted to carry a yarn through the fabric in an upward direc- .tion and in the form of a loop; thereby to form the loops upon the upper surface of -the fabric, without the aid of any auxiliary .relative to said needle.

loop forming means, and means to reciprocate said tubular needle transversely of the fabric, as well as means for adjustingv the length of the stroke of said needle.l

My invention further consists lof novel means forV engaging the loop of yarn after it is carried through the fabric by the tubular needle and before said needle has been withdrawn, and to retain said .loop while said needle is being withdrawn from said fabric during said downward or, return stroke, and means subsequently to cut said loop, thereby to produce an open'tuft of the yarn.

My invention further consists of means-to adjust the relative height of said needle and means correspondingly to adjust the height of said loop retaining and cutting means My invention further consists of. anovel January 21,-1926. This application fued my 21, No. 454,469; Y l

means for actuating said fabric feeding and guiding means, said needle reciprocating l vmeans and sald loop retalmng an cutting means, so as properly to time the same with respect to each other, foreach stroke of the machine.

For the purpose o f illustrating my invention, I have shown `in the accompanying drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred by me, since they will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, although` it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

This application .is a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 82,868, filed Jan. 21, 1926.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side'elevation of a-novel looping and tufting machine enibodyinv my invention.

Figure 2y represents a horizontal section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 represents av front elevation,

partly insection, of my novel looping machlne.

Figure 4 represents aperspective view of a presser foot. l

Figure 5 represents a side elevation ofthe lookp retainer and cutter. .l n

igure 6` represents a front elevation of the same, showin the manner in which the lorp retainer an cutter functions.

igre 7 represents a sectionon line 7-7 of the-,Figure 5, showing the cutting portion -of said retainer and cuttr.-l

Fi re 8 represents a section online 8--8 of 'Figure 5, showing the retaining portion thereof.

Figure 9 represents a front elevation Vof the fabric feedlng mechanism, detached from the rest of the machine.

Figure 10 represents a side elevation similar to that shown in Figure 9, of a modified form of a fabric feeding mechanism.

Figure 11 represents a side elevation of.'

vthe upper portion of a loopingA machine embodying my invention, showing a modified construction in the loop cutting device.

Figure 12 represents a section on line 14-14 of Figure 11.

Referring to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts, 1 designates the table or bed plate of my novel machine, outlined in Figures 2 and 3 in dotted lines, upon which plate are mounted the'various operative elements of my novel machine. 2 .designates an upper arm or housing consisting of the upright portion 3, which passes through the bed plate or table 1 and is suitably secured thereto, and the overhanging horizontal, longitudinal portion 4, which is supported by said upright portion 3.

The upright housing portion 3 is provided at its lower end with a pair of pendant, longitudinally aligned

bearings

5 and 6, in which is journalled the main shaft 7, extending horizontally and longitudinally of the machine, the free end of said shaft being journalled in a bearing 8, which is secured tothe lower surface of the table or bed plate 1,- by means ofsuitable bolts 9. The main shaft 7 carries at'its outer end a suitable pulley 10, which is adapted to receive any suitable belt for lthe transmission of power to said shaft 7, and a suitable hand wheel 11 whereby said shaft may be revolved manually, and which also serves as a flywheel to give a smoother action to the reciprocating parts of the machine. f.

The main shaft 7 also carries a pair of opposed bevel gears 12 and 13 respectively, which are in mesh with a common bevel gear 14, carried by the lower end of an upright transmission shaft 15, which is journalled in the suitable bearings 16 and 17 in said upright portion 3 of the housing 2; one of Said bevelled gears 12 and 13 being iixed to the shaft 7 at all times, by means of a set screw 18, while the other of said bevelled gears is loose and idles on said main shaft 7. By changing theset screw lfrom one of the bevel .gears 12 and 13 to the other, the direction of rotation of the upright shaft 15 is reversed thereby adapting the machine either for the cut end loops or tufts, or for another character of stitch formed by reverse operation.

The main shaft 7 is further provided with a series of

eccentric cam discs

19, 20, 21, 22 and 23, each of a different diameter and eccentricity, and is also provided with an'eccentric head.24, carried by the endv of said shaft, and suitably fixed thereto by the screw or pin 25. The upright transmission shaft 15 isprovided with the bevel gear 26 atits upper end, which is in mesh with the bevel gear 27 carried by the end of an upperfshaft 28, which is journalled within the bearings 29 and 30 in the upper horizontal portion 4 of the housing 2. The sprocket wheel 31 is secured to the other end of said shaft 28.

The two pendant vertical

parallel guideways

32 and 33 are secured to the underside of the table or plate 1, or may be formed integral therewith. Between the two

guideways

32 and 33, shown more particularly in Figures l and 2, is slidably mounted a reciprocable slide block 34, which is provided with a suitable vertical opening 35 extending therethrough, which is adapted to receive the tubular needle 36, and to support the same beneath the table 1. The set screw 37 extends into said opening 35, and is adapted to fix and secure the needle 36 in any desired position; thus permitting the vertical adjustment of the needle to produce loops of the desired length.

The slide block 34 is further provided with a transverse horizontal guide slot 38 in the upper portion thereof, while the eccentric head 24, carried by the end of the main shaft 7, is provided with the inwardly enlarged T channel 39, which is adapted to receive a nut 40, carried by the threaded end of the stud 41, said stud being provided with a squared opening 42, for the reception of a square shank wrench. The stud-41 extends into the guide slot 38 in the slide block 34, as shown .particularly in Figure 3. Thus, by setting and fixing the stud 41 at any desired -point in the T channel 39, with respect to the center of rotation of the head 24, said stud 41 will impart to said 'slide block 34 a vertical reciprocating movement, of a stroke dependent upon the distance of said stud 41 from the center. By means of the adjustable eccentric stud 41, it is thus possible to adjust the length of the stroke of the needle 36.

In order properly to guide the fabric upon the table 1, and to support said fabric against the vertical upward thrust of the needle 36, I provide a small slide plate 44, preferably having a smoothly polished upper surface, set into the table 1 and flush with the surface thereof, on either side of the opening 45 in the corresponding vertically aligned lower Slide bearng 5o. 'The presser' rod 51 is Slid- 'ably mounted in said bearings 48 and 50,

and carries fat its lower end the presser foot 52, which is adjustably and detachably secured thereto,` by means of the screws 53. The horizontal portion l52a of the presser foot 52 is bifurcated, with the outer limb thereof wider than the inner limb; said two limbs being inbperative alignment with the needle 36, and straddling the same, in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 3.

In order to retainthe presser rod 51 against rotation, there is provided a vertical slot 54 in the bearing 47, and a guide pin 55 extending through said guide slot 54 and fixed in the rod 51. The helical compression spring 56, surrounding the rod 51', is interposed between the upper part of the yoke 49 and an adjust- 7able collar 57 xed to said rod 51 by means of theset screw 58, thereby urging said presser foot 52 downwardly at all times, against the upper surface of the fabric, in a yieldable manner. The handle 59, pivoted at 60, is provided with a finger 61, which is adapted to extend into a suitable recess in the rod 51, thereby to` engage said rod and to lift said rod 51 upwardly when the handle 59 is turned outwardly or rearwardly in the direction of the arrow 62, thereby to raise the presser foot 52 out of operative engagement with the fabric. a

In order to feed or advance the fabric beneath the presser foot 52 intermittently, there is provided the bifurcated feeder foot 46, having its upper surface toothed, with the teeth inclined rearwardly; said feeder foot 46 straddling the needle 36, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. In order simultaneously to impart to said feeder foot 46 a horizontal as well as a vertical reciprocating movement, said feeder foot 46 is carried by an arm 63, which is rigidly connected to a cam arm 64. through a common integral web 65. The two arms 63 and 64 are pivoted upon a common pivot 66, carried at its ends by the pair of similar arms or levers 67 and 68, which are carried by a common rocker shaft 69. The rocker shaft 69 is journalled within a pair of suitable bearing blocks 70 and 71, fastened to the underside of the table or plate 1. The rocker shaft 69 is operatively connected to a second rocker shaft 72, through the

rocker arms

73 and 74, and the link '7 5. The rocker shaft 72 is journalled within suitable bearing blocks 76 and 77, which are also secured to the underside bearing blocks 76 and 77, which are also secured to the underside of the table or bed plate 1, and in turn carries a' follower arm 78, having a follower roller 79 rotatablV mounted at its end. The follower 79 is adapted to ride on any one of the several eccentric cams 19 to 23 inclusive. ,l v

By this means, the rotationof the main shaft 7 will impart a rocking or oscillatory I .v niotion to the

shafts

72 and 69 respectively,

thereby causing said arm 63 and hence the feeder `foot 46 to oscillate to and fro in the direction of thekarrows 80 and 81, with each stroke of the machine, and hence with each stroke of the needle 36. yThe length of the horizontal feeding movement or stroke-of the feeder foot is determined by the choice of the cam discs 19 to 2.3 inclusive.

In order to raise the feeder foot 46 upwardl a slight distance, into engagement with t e fabric, during the forward or operative stroke of said foot 46, (in the direction of also fixedly secured to the plate 1. Thus, as

the arms63 and 64 are oscillated to and fro, by the rocker arms 67 and 68, the arms are also raised and lowered simultaneously by the cam 83, thereby imparting to the feeder foot 46 simultaneous horizontal and vertical reciprocating movements. This construction is best shown in Figure 9.

In Figure 10 there is shown a modified form of a feeder foot cam, for raising and lowering the arms 63 and 64, which cam 84 is pivotally mounted upon a support 85, at' a point 86, and has its lower end restin upon a horizontal guide flange 87, also carried by. said support 85. In this modified construction, the follower roller 82, after passing Vover the extreme forward or pivoted end of ange 87. The follower roller 82 then returns along the guide ange 87, raising the cam 84, as it passes beneath the lowermost end thereof. The cam 84 drops into position again by gravity, and permits the roller 82 toride over the same, in the forward direction again. mounted cam, or switch cam, construction, all backward drag upon the fabric is eliminated, since the feeder foot 46 is disengaged from the fabric abruptly at the extreme end of the forward or operative stroke thereof. By properlykadjusting the position of the cams 19 to 23, inclusive, upon the main shaft 7, the stroke of the feeder foot 46 may be so synchronized with the movement of the needle 36 as to impart to said feeder foot 46 a forward movement in the direction of the arrow 8O during the time that the needle is in the lower position and out of engagement with the fabric. Suitable springs, not shown in the drawings, may be interposed between the shaft 72 and a suitable stationary or rigid point on the machine, for maintaining said shaft under a constant torsional strain, thereby to retain the follower.

By means of this pivotally roller 79 against any one of the cams 19 to and is thus carried through the fabric with each stroke of the needle, in the form of a closed loop, having one side of the loop within the needle and having the other side of the loop on the outside of the needle, as shown in Figure 6. The end of the needle 36 is bevelled as at 89, thereby causing said needle to penetrate the fabric more readily and also causing the yarn 88 to be positioned upon the same side of the needle at all times, as also shown in Figure 6.

In order to retain the loop 90 in position, while the needle 36 is being withdrawn, and in order subsequently to cut said loop at the top, after said needle has been withdrawn from the fabric, I provide a novel rotary loop retainer and cutter 91, of a suitably tempered spring steel, whichis secured to the boss 92, by means of a series of screws 93, said retainer and cutter being provided with a spring blade 94, extending outwardly of the hub portion 95 thereof, in a spiral formation, and having a rounded or dull inner re- .tainingA edge 96, shown in enlarged section in Figure 8, over a suitable portion of its length, and having the sharp cutting edge 97, along the inner portion of said blade, as shown ill enlarged section in Figure 7. The combined retainer and cutter is rotatably mounted upon a stud shaft 98, which is adjustably mounted in a suitable slot 99, in a lower pendant bracket 100, carried by the horizontal housing portion 4, whereby the vertical height of said retainer and cutter may be adjusted to accommodate the height of the needle and hence the particular height of the loop 90. The stud shaft 98 also carries a sprocket wheel 101, whereby said rotary retainer and cutter may be revolved, and sprocket chain 102 is passed over said sprocket wheel 101, as well as the sprocket wheel 31 carried by the outer end of the horizontal shaft 28, and a suitable idler take-up sprocket wheel 103, thereby causing said retainer and cutter 91 to revolve in timed relation to the shaft 28 and hence in timed relation to the needle 36. In order to permit the adjustment of the position of the idler take-up sprocket wheel 103, when such adjustment is required by the adjustment of the height of the retainer and cutter 91, and the sprocket wheel 101, the stud 104 is also adjustably mounted in a suitable slot 105, as shown particularly in Figure 1.

By properly adjusting the position of the Y' sprocket wheel 31 upon the shaft 28, the rotary movement of the retainer and cutter 91 may be so timed with respect to the stroke of the needle 36 as to cause the end of the blade 94 to engage the loop 90, in a manner shown in Figure 6, just as the needle reaches its uppermost position, thereby causing said loop to be retained by the rounded edge portion 96 of said blade, while the needle 36 is on its downward or return stroke,- and thereafter '1. causing the sharp edge 97 of said blade to cut saifd loop so as to form the desired open ended tu t.

' In Figures 11 and 12 I have shown a modified construction in the loop cutting means. In this modified construction the rotary loop retainer and cutter and the pendant bracket 100 are eliminated, and instead there is provided a' housing head 112. In this modification there is aneccentric 113 provided on the end of the upper shaft 28 carrying a suitable eccentric in or screw 114.v To the head 112 is adjusta ly secured the slotted arm 115, by means of the two screws 116 passing through a suitable slot 117. The lower end of the stationary arm 115 carries a bearing 118, in which is journalled a suitable pivot pin or shaft 119. To one end of this pivot pin or shaft 119 is rigidly secured, by any suitable means, a cutter arm 120, while to the other end thereof is rigidly secured, also by suitable means, the actuating arm 121. To the cutter arm 120 is adjustably secured a thin and oscillating cutting blade 122, by means of the screws 123, while a stationary blade 124 having the lower cutting edge 125 is rigidly secured to the stationary arm 115, by means of the screws 126. The actuating arm 121 is operatively connected to the eccentric pin 114 by means of an adjustable connecting rod l.

127 and a pin or screw 128. The adjustable connecting rod 127 is composed of an upper and a lower member 129 and 130 respectively, each provided with a suitable slot 131, which are secured to each other by means' of the two screws or other detachable fastening means 132.

Thus, with each stroke of the machine and hence with each revolution of the shaft 28, the cutting arm 120 will be deflected by the eccentric pin 114, thereby causing the blade 122 to oscillate to and fro, past the stationary cutting edge 125, thereby to effect a shearing action between said stationary cutting edge 125 and the movable cutting edge 133 of the cutting blade 122. The movable cutting blade 122 as well as thestationary blade 124 are so positioned with respect to the needle 36, as to cause said movable blade to engage and retain the loop of yarn hanging over one side of the needle and to bring the same between the two cutting edges 125 and 133, thereby severing the loop. The presser foot mechanism in this particular modification of my invention may be carried by the cover plate 134 of the frame head '112, as shown particularly in Figure 12.

In order to adjust the height of the cutting mechanism with respect to the needle 36, and

in order to adapt the same to varying heights of loops, it is merely necessary to raise or lower the stationary arm 115 by means of the screws 116, and to adjust the length of the connecting rod 127 a corresponding amount. by means of the screws 132. With the aid of the adjustment screws 123, the blade 122 may formation of the loops or of the pile are immediately discovered by the operator and ma be corrected before substantial damage is one. There is the further advantage of .l

eliciency in that the operator seeing the performance of the machine is enabled to speed up operation without impairing the quality o the product. Manual access immediately can be had to any of the loops in case of slight irregularity. The machine, moreover', does not exert any pressure upon the loops, as would a machine forming the loops on the side of the fabric which rests on the table. Inasmuch as the loop is not formed through the thickness of the table, my machine renders possible the formation of the shortest possible loop or tuft, the thickness of the retaining pin or shear being the only limitation as to length.

While the drawings of the present application show a single needle machine and the specification concerns itself with the descripe tion of such a machine, itwill be very obvious that a multiplicity or a battery of needles and associated loop retainers and cutters might be utiliz-ed and that the plurality of needles might be independently operated or might be operated in unison from a common actuating means.

Y It will also be understood that the term table as used in this application is to be interpreted in its broadest sense. In so far as the present invention is concerned, it is immaterial whether a solid, table-like support member is utilized or whether equivalent devices are used, such for instance as skeleton frame members or other apparatus which is the full equivalent of a table. The primary consideration is to properly support the fabric while it is being operated upon and any device for effecting such support is considered to be a table within the scope of the appended claims. l

Having thus described my inventionwhat Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the character stated, a horizontal table, a reciprocable needle adapted to carry a loop of yarn upwardly through said table and through a fabric thereon, means to retain said loop in the outermost position, means to cut said loop and means to actuate said needle and said retainer and cutter in timed relation to each other.

2. In a device of the character stated, a horizontal table, a reciprocable needle adapted to carry a loop of yarn upwardly through said table and through a fabric thereon, means in operative alignment with said. needle, to retain said loop of yarn, upon beingl carried through the fabric by said needle, and to cut the same thereafter, and' means to actuate said needle and said loop retainer and cutter in timed relation to each other.

3. In a device of the character stafed, a horizontal fabric supporting table, an`upright, reciprocable needle adapted to carry a loop of yarn through the table and fabric inl an .upward direction, means above the table to retain the loop after it is formed, cutting means coacting therewith, and means, to actuate said needle, said retaining means and said cutting means in timed relation to each other.

4. In a deviceof the character stated, a table, an upright, reciprocable needle adapted to carry a loop of yarn upwardly and through said table and through a fabric thereon from below the table to its upper surface, means in operative alignment with said needle to retain said loop, and subsequently to cut said'loop, and means to actuate said needle and said loop retaining and cutting means in timed relation to each other.

5. In a device of the character stated a substantially horizontal table, a reciprocable needle extending through said table, a loop retainer and cutter positioned above said table in operative alignment with said needle, meansA below said table to actuate said needle and means above said table to actuate said loo retainer. and cutter in timed relation to sai needle.

6. In a device of the character stated, a table having a suitable opening therethrough, an u right reciprocable needle extending theret rough, means below said table to support and guide saidneedle in a desired path, a loop retainer and cutter positioned v above said. table in operative alignment with said needle, means to adjust the stroke of said needle in said support, means to actuate said loop retainer and cutter and said needle in timed relation to each other.

7. In a device of the character stated, a. table, a reciprocable needle adapted to carry a loop of yarn through a fabric supported on' thetable, means above the table ,to retain said loop,fmeans ,contacting with said refifiv lis tainer to-coact therewith for shearing said loop, means to advance the fabric intermittently and transversely of the line of travel of said needle and means to actuate said needle from below the table, said retainer and said cutter in synchronism with each other, so as to cause sa1d loop retainer to engage the loop when formed and subsequently to "cause 'said cutter to cut said loop and to cause said fabric to advance while the needle is withdrawn from the fabric.

8. In a device of the character stated, a fabric supporting table, a reciprocable needle adapted to carry a loop of yarn through the table and fabric, a loop cutting device above the table comprising a pair of shearing members adapted to move relative to each other ,substantially free from tension on the loop,

and means actuating said needle and said loop cutting device in timed relation to each other.

9. In a device of the character stated, a susbtantially horizontal table, an upright reciprocable needle extending through said table, a loop ,cutting device positioned above -"said table in operative alignment with said needle, comprising a pair of shearing ele ments adapted to move relative to each other, -means below said table to actuate said needle, and means above said table to actuate said cutting device in timed relation to said needle.

10. In a looping and tufting machine of the character in which a needle moves through a fabric supporting table and fabric thereon, and carries a loop upwardly through the fabric, a housing, a stationar blade carried by said housing, a movable lade pivot ally carried by said housing in operative alignment with said stationary blade, a shaft journalled within said housing and means inter- 'mediate said shaft and said movable blade to impart to the latter an oscillatory movement to enter and cut the loop.

11. In a looping vand tufting machine of the character in which a needle moves through a fabric supporting table and fabric thereon, and carries a loop upwardly through the fabric, a housing, a supporting farm adjustably mounted thereon, a stationdetachably secured to said arm, a cutter shaft journalled in said arm, a movable blade carried by said shaft in operative alignment with said stationary blade, a shaft j ournalled in said housing and adjustable means intermediate said shaft and said cutter shaft for 7imparting to the movable blade an oscillatory movement to enter and cut the loop.

13. In a looping andA tufting machine of the character in which a needle moves through a fabric supporting table and fabric thereon, and carries a loop upwardly through the fabric, a housing, a stationary blade, a movable blade arm pivotally carried thereby, said movable blade being adjustably secured to said blade arm in operative alignment with said stationary blade, an operating shaft end of said cutter'shaft, an actuating arm secured to the other end thereof, a resilient movable blade adjustably secured to said blade arm, in operative alignment with said stationary blade, an operating shaft, an eccentric pin carried thereby, and an adjustable connecting link intermediate said eccentric pin land said actuating arm to oscillate said cutter shaft and hence said movable blade.

15. In a device of the character stated, a fabric supporting table, a reciprocable needle having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough and adapted to have a yarn passed through said bore, said needle being adapted to carry a loop of ,said yarn upwardly through a fabric on said table, means above the table to retain and to cut the loop and means to actuate said needle and said loop retainer and cutter in timed relation to each other.

16. In a device of the character stated, a substantially horizontal table, a reciprocable needle extending through said table, a loop retainer and cutter positioned above said table in operative alignment with said needle,

means below said table to actuate said needle, and means to actuate said loop retainer and cutter in timed relation to said needle.

17. In a device of the character stated, a substantially horizontal table, an upright reciprocable needle extending through said table, a loop cutting device positioned above said table in operative alignment with said needle, comprising a pair of shearing elements adapted to move relative to each other, means below said table to actuate said needle, and means to actuate said cutting device in timed relation to said needle.

18. In a device of the characterlstated, af

horizontal table, a reciprocable needle adapted to carry a loop of yarn upwardly through said table and through a I fabric thereon, means above said table to cut said loop and means toy actuate said needle and said cutter fabric in a horizontal plane and moving it step by step in said plane, passing a loop of yarn upwardly through the fabric from below the latter after each forward feeding step of the fabric, and engaging and severing said loop prior to the engagement of the next loop. A

20. In a device of the character stated, means for supporting in horizontal position lo a piece of fabric to be worked upon, a reciprocable needle adapted to carry a loop of yarn upwardly through said supporting means and fabric, means to retain said loop in the outermost position, means to cut the loop and means to actuate the needle, the retainer and the cutter in timed relation to each other.

21. A method of forming a tufted fabric which includes the steps of supporting the fabric in a horizontal plane and moving it step by step in said plane, passing a loop of yarn upwardly through the fabric from below the latter after each forward feeding step of the fabric, supporting said loop against gravitational collapse and then cutting the loop while so supported. l

22. In a machine of the class described, means for supporting a fabric in a substantially horizontal plane and for moving the fabric step by step in said plane, a hollow reciprocable needle arranged below the fabric and adapted to carry a loop of yarn upwardly through the support and the fabric, means arranged above the fabric for retaining said loop against 'gravitational collapse, means to cut said loop while s'o retained, and means for operating the needle, the retainer and the cutter in timed relationship.

23. A machine of the class set forth in claim 22 and wherein the timing of the parts is such 40 that one loop is cut prior to the formation of the next loop.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 20th day of May, A. D. 1930.

CLARENCE A. BRAUDES.