US3203379A

US3203379A - Tufting machine with retractable loopers

Info

Publication number: US3203379A
Application number: US129577A
Authority: US
Inventors: George D Dedmon; J C Robinson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-08-07
Filing date: 1961-08-07
Publication date: 1965-08-31
Anticipated expiration: 1982-08-31

Description

1965 G. D. DEDMON ETAL 3,203,379

TUFTING MACHINE WITH RETRACTABLE LOOPERS Filed Aug. '7, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS GEORGE D. DEDMON By J. C. ROBINSON ATTORNEY Aug. 31, 1965 s. D. DEDMON ETAL 3,203,379

TUFTING MACHINE WITH RETRACTABLE LOOPERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. '7, 1961 IN VEN TORS GEORGE D. DEDMON BY J. C. ROBINSON ATTORNEY 8" 1965 G. D. DEDMON ETAL 3,203,79

TUFTING MACHINE WITH RETRACTABLE LO OPERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. '7, 1961 INVENTORS: GEORGE D. DEDMON BY J. C. ROBINSON ATTORNEY nited States Patent 3,203,379 TUFHNG MACHINE WITH RETRAQTAIELE LUUPERS George D. Dedmon, 315 Oak St, Rossville, Ga, and J. C. Robinson, Chatsworth, Ga. Filed Aug. '7, 1961, Ser. No. 129,577 16 (Ilaims. (Cl. 112-79) This invention relates to a tufting machine with retractable loopers, and is more particularly concerned with a tufting machine for producing high and low loops in a pile fabric according to a prescribed pattern.

In the past, tufted carpets formed with high and low loops have been used widely throughout the country and probably constitute approximately one-fourth of the entire tufted carpeting produced today. Many of the machines employed for producing high and low loop pile fabric are of the general type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,875,714, the pattern attachment being known as a roll type attachment. This type of device, however, has a limited pattern since only a few rolls or rollers may be employed to control a relatively large number of yarns. For single needle control, the industry has generally relied upon the slat attachments wherein intermeshing moving slats laterally deviate the yarn so as to feed a prescribed amount of yarn to the needles. Attempts have, however, been made to modify the loopers so that the height of the looper is determined by a jacquard mechanism connected to the tufting machine. To our knowledge these devices have not been commercially successful.

Briefly, the present invention includes a conventional multi-needle tufting machine frame and needle bar arrangement having a unidirectional feed mechanism, the travel of which is in excess of the travel of the needle so as to supply the yarn demanded by each needle, re-

gardless of whether or not a high loop or a low loop is to be formed and regardless of the distance the machine is located from a particular portion of the creel. Also incorporated in the tufting machine of the present invention is a unique looper mechanism or assembly having a pair of looper hooks vertically spaced one over the other, the lower hook being retractable.

In operation, the eye of each reciprocating needle passes a predetermined distance through the base fabric, passing below the path of travel of the lower hook near bottom dead center. Both looper hooks normally pass between the needle "and the yarn upon each cycle of the tufting machine, provided the needle involved is to create a long loop. When a short loop is to be created, the low hook of the looper is withdrawn to or held in an inoperative position whereby the upper looper, only, passes between the yarn and the needle. Under these conditions, the needle on its upstroke carries the yarn until it engages the upper looper and hence a low loop is formed. The actuation of the respective low loopers is accomplished by means of a pattern drum, or other anism, the yarn feed mechanism supplying only sufficient yarn to the needles as prescribed and being relatively unaffected by the distance which the yarn must travel from the creel to the tufting machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide,

ice

in a tufting machine, a new and novel looper mechanism which will select the height of loop to be sewn by the machine, according to a prescribed pattern.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-needle tufting machine which is inexpensive to manufacture, durable in structure and efiicient in operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel method of producing high and low loops according to a prescribed pattern in a base fabric.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a high-low loop tufting machine in which the height of loops is accurately determined by the looper hooks to produce uniform high and low pile.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a looper mechanism which is easily and inexpensively installed on conventional tufting machines.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a tufting machine made in accordance with the present invention, the needles thereof being at top dead center and the looper mechanism thereof being in position to create a long loop.

FIG. 2 is a perspective fragmentary view of the unidirectional yarn feed member of the machine shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the bottom portion of the unidirectional yarn feed member shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a detail showing the reciprocated unidirectional yarn feed member employed in the machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom plan View of the unidirectional feed member shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 1 and showing the needles of the tufting machine in about the bottom dead center position and the looper mechanism in a low loop sewing position.

FIG. 7 is a partially broken, schematic cross sectional view of the pattern drum, looper mechanism and needles of the tufting machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of the uniquelooper assembly made according to the present invention and such as is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary front elevational view, on a reduced scale, of the tufting machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 6.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, it being understood that in its broader aspects the present invention is not limited to the exact details herein depicted, numeral 10 denotes the legs of a multi-needle tufting machine supporting a transverse cross bed 11 which is hollow, having a transverse upper opening 12 between its inwardly turned opposed upper flanges 13, 13' which form a Work table for the base fabric. Mounted at opposite ends of the cross bed 11 are the upstanding stanchions or

end frames

14 and 15 which support a cross head member 16 within which extends the horizontal overhead drive shaft '17 appropriately supported by bearings. The shaft 17 extends outwardly of the ends of the cross head member 16 and is provided at one end with a pulley 18 around which are continuous V-belts 19. The V-belts 19 are, in turn, driven by a pulley (not shown) connected to the shaft of a motor (not shown). The motor is supported on a bracket (not shown) extending from one of the legs 10.

Along the shaft 17 there are provided a plurality of eccentrically mounted, circular cams, such as cam 23 in FIGS. 1 and 6. Each cam 23 is concentric with respect to the other similar cams and receives a connecting rod hearing, such as bearing 24, from which extends the connecting rod such as rod 25. The cross head member 16 is provided with a plurality of spaced downwardly extending journal members 26 which receive for vertical slidable movement, the needle bar supporting rods 27. The upper ends of the supporting rods 27 are pivotally joined to the ends of the connecting rod such as rod 25, while the lower ends of the supporting rod 27 support a transverse needle bar 28 above the work table and upper opening 12.

Upon rotation of the motor, the belts 19 rotate, through pulley 18, the drive shaft 17 and thereby reciprocate, through cams 23, the connecting rods 25. The reciprocation of the connecting rods 25 will reciprocate the supporting rods 27 which reciprocate, in a vertical path, the needle bar 28.

Mounted on one side of the cross bed 11 and being supported from flange 13 by appropriate brackets 29 are the two infeed

rolls

30 and 31. The

outfeed rolls

32, 33 and 34 extend from the opposite side of the cross bed 11 and are supported from flange 13' between brackets 35. The

rolls

30, 31, 32, 33 and 34 are driven in conventional manner, such as by chain 36 which receives power from shaft 17, the

infeed rolls

30 and 31 being driven at slightly less peripheral speed than the

outfeed rolls

32, 33 and 34 so as to maintain the base fabric 40 in tension across the cross bed 11 and over the conventional throat plate 37, the throat plate 37 being located on flange 13 and extending over a portion of the opening 12.

Below the work table and throat plate 37 is the loop pile looper shaft 41 with spaced radially extending struts, such as strut 42, which support the looper receiving blocks, such as block 43.

A plurality of transversely aligned needles 50, usually located approximately 7 2 of an inch or of an inch apart, are carried by the needle bar 38 so as to insert a plurality of loops of yarns 51 through the base fabric 40 It will be understood by those skilled in the art that a suitable pitman (not shown) is adapted to rock the loop pile looper shaft 41 back and forth, the pitman (not shown) being adjustably connected to shaft 41 through a lever (not shown). The pitman (not shown) is connected to the main drive shaft 17 through an eccentric cam (not shown) in the usual way.

The mechanism heretofore described is conventional in most multi-needle tufting machines and hence those skilled in the art will understand the purposes and construction of the various components.

LOOPER ASSEMBLY The looper assembly of the present invention is best seen in FIG. 8 and includes a looper shank or body 60 which is adapted to be received in the looper block 43 and retained in position by a set screw 44. At the upper end of the looper shank 60 is a looper hook 61 which is a flat, rearwardly protruding member tapering toward a rounded point. Protruding forwardly, slightly below the hook 61 is a bearing block 62. A transverse slot 63 is milled across the bearing block 62 and the upper end of the shank or body 60 so as to provide a journal for the body 64 of a slide member denoted generally by numeral 65. Body 64 is uniform and preferably rectangular in cross section and is retained in place for slidable movement in slot 63 by a cover plate 66, the cover plate 66 being retained flat against the block 62 and the upper portion of shank 60 by means of pins 67, or the like.

The forward end of the slide member 65 includes a downwardly extending bar 68 provided with a hole 69 which receives one end of a spring 70, the other end of the spring 70 passing through a hole 71 in a downwardly protruding plate 72 extending from block 62. Thus, the member 65 is at all times urged or biased rearwardly of the machine toward the high loop forming position seen in FIGS. 1, 7 and 8 in which member 65 is operative. The slide member 65, however, may be urged forwardly of body to an inoperative or retracted position, namely a position in which the looper mechanism is in a low loop forming position.

Projecting rearwardly from the body 64 is a looper hook 73, the looper book 73 being similar in shape to the hook 61 and being spaced below, about parellel to and in the same vertical plane with the hook 61. It will now be seen that upon forward slidable movement of the slide member 65, the hook 73 will be withdrawn within the shank 61 and block 62 of the looper mechanism, as seen in FIG. 6.

PATTERN DRUM ASSEMBLY For selectively holding the slide members 65, in accordance with a predetermined pattern, so that upon rearward movement of hooks 61 the held members will slide to an inoperative position, there is provided a pattern drum assembly including a pattern drum 80 mounted on a shaft 81 and carried by pillow blocks 82 extending outwardly from the legs 10. The drum 80 has raised or high portions 84 and valley or low portions 85 defining a prescribed or predetermined pattern over the periphery of the drum. The drum 80 is rotated in synchronization with the rotation of the

rollers

30 and 31 by means of a chain 86 and a pair of

sprockets

87 and 88 mounted on the shaft of roller 30 and on shaft 81, respectively. Thus, it is seen that the drum 80 is rotated in synchronization with the reciprocation of the needles 50. The rear periphery of drum protrudes beneath flange 13 so as to be engaged by the fingers, such as finger 89, of a plurality of aligned rocker arms or levers, such as lever 90, the finger 89 extending at right angles or normal or perpendicular to and from the end of the lever 90. Intermediate the ends of the levers, such as lever 90, all levers are supported on a common shaft 91 which extends parallel to the shaft 89 and is, in turn, supported by the inner ends of the legs 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. Each of the levers, such as lever 90, is separated from its adjacent parallel lever by a spacer washer or ring 92 on shaft 91. Below the shaft 91 of the levers, such as lever 90, are each provided with an opening, such as opening 93, each opening receiving a spring 94 connected to the lower edge of flange 13. Thus, each of the levers, such as lever 90, is urged in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 so that the fingers, such as finger 89, are each urged individually in about a radial direction against the inner periphery of the drum 80. Thus, as the drum 80 presents a low portion or valley to the finger 89, the lever will be rocked in a counterclockwise direction and when the drum 80 presents a raised or high portion 84 to the finger 89, the lever 90 will be rocked in a clockwise direction.

The upper ends of all of the levers, such as lever 90, terminate immediately below the surface of flange 13, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6, and in a plane about parallel to the slidable member 65. At the end portion of each of the levers, such as lever 90, there is provided a horizontally disposed, circular opening such as opening 95 through which projects a spoke, such as spoke 96. It will be seen in FIGS. 1 and 6 that one end of spoke 96 is provided with a wide, relatively flat head 97 for engaging the surface of the upper end of lever 90. The other end of spoke 96 is pivotally mounted to body 64, being provided with a U-shaped loop or bend which projects through an appropriate opening in the front portion of the slidable body 64 of the slidable member 65. The opening 95 is sufficiently large that the spoke 36 is freely slidable axially in the opening 95 and may also pivot slightly therein.

YARN FEED MECHANISM The yarn feed mechanism of the present invention includes a pair of unidirectional feed members which cooperate to feed the yarn to the respective needles as demanded by the pattern which is being sewn by the machine. In more detail, the yarns 51, which are fed to the needles 50, pass from the creel (not shown) through a plurality of evenly spaced holes in a conventional guide bar mounted on cross head 16. From the guide bar 100, all yarns 51 pass directly downwardly through a stationary unidirectional feed member 101 mounted on cross head 16. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the unidirectional feed member 161 includes a feed block 102 which is formed from a rectangular bar of metal, preferably aluminum, the lower surface of which is recessed to provide a downwardly and outwardly tapering surface 103 in the central portion of the block and a downwardly projecting supporting flange 104 in its inner lower portion. Adjacent the outer edge of block 102 there are provided a plurality of vertically disposed, aligned holes 105'. The holes 105 are evenly spaced from each other and correspond to the number of needles t) and therefore the number of yarns 51 associated with the machine. The holes 105 are preferably aligned vertically and spaced below the holes of the guide bar 100.

The unidirectional feed member 101 extends substantially the entire width of the machine, being secured to the cross head member 16 by means of bolts 106 which project through the flange 104. If desired, of course, the undirectional feed member 101 may be made in sections. Opposite the flange 104 along the forward edge of the block 102 there is a downwardly protruding ledge 107 on block 102, the inner surface of the ledge 107 extending along the line of centers of the holes 105 to define a plurality of inwardly opening semi-circular recesses which extend coaxially with the holes 105. The lower end portions of the coaxial recesses are flared outwardly so as to provide an arcuate surface 103, against which the yarns passing through the holes 105 may curve in their path as seen in FIGS. 1 and 6.

For each hole 105 there is provided a spring finger which, for convenience, may be produced in pairs such as seen in FIG. 3. It is not, however, recommended that more than say three or four spring fingers be connected as a unitary member since the action of each spring finger is individual and in some instances the action of one spring finger will interfere or tend to twist another pring finger, When the fingers are produced in pairs, a bifurcated member 109 is formed wherein a pair of spaced, parallel, outwardly extending, complementary spring fingers 110 is separated by an outwardly opening slot 111.

Tl e outer ends of fingers 110 are arcuate or convexed so as to be received in the recesses of ledge 107. The cen tral portion or body of the bifurcated member 109 joins the inner ends of fingers 110 together and has a fiat rear edge and a central hole which receives a screw 112, the screw 112 securing the body of the bifurcated member 109 against the surface 103 of block 102 adjacent the flange 104. Thus, the fingers 110 project from the screw 112 outwardly along surface 103 toward the downward protruding ledge 107. The length of fingers 110, in most instances, is slightly greater than the extent of surface 103 over which they project, so that the arcuate ends of the spring fingers 110 rest within the arcuate extensions of the holes 105 such that the spring fingers 110 at all times are biased thereagainst and spaced slightly away and tapering toward surface 103. The slope of surface 103, against which the body of member 109 rests, is such that the spring fingers 110 engage the extensions of holes 105 at an acute angle. It s now seen that, because of the relatively long distance between the screw 112 which anchors the bifurcated member 109 in place and the outer end of the spring fingers 110, each spring finger 110 will readily resiliently yield downwardly, pivoting about screw 112, to permit the yarn 51 to be fed through the hole in a downward direction when the yarn is pulled downwardly, and will spring back to its normal position when the downward pull is relieved. When, however, an upward pull is exerted on yarns 51, the spring finger tends to clamp the yarn 51 against its recess. Also, it will be noted that there is usually sufiicient space between the fingers 110 and between the surface 103 and fingers 110 to permit the accumulated yarn lint at intervals to be blown from between surface 103 and fingers 110.

For providing a positive feed for yarns 51, there is positioned below the unidirectional feed member 101 a power actuated feed assembly which includes a reciprocatable drum supported by shaft 121, the shaft 121, in turn, being supported at its ends by pillow blocks 12?. mounted on the cross head member 16 as illustrated. Shaft 121 protrudes beyond one of the pillow blocks 122 and is provided at its outer end with a lever 123 which connects to a pitman 124, the pitman 124 being connected to a cam (not shown) on shaft 17. The arrangement is such that, upon rotation of shaft 17, the pitman 124 will rock lever 123 to and fro and hence reciprocate shaft 121 and drum 120.

Mounted axially on the periphery of drum 129 and projecting outwardly from the machine is a second unidirectional feed member 131 which includes a metal block 132 extending substantially the entire length of drum 120. The bottom surface and upper surface of block 132 are milled out to provide at the inner edge, upper and lower diverging

flanges

133 and 134, the upper flange 133 receiving countersunk bolts 135 by which the member 131 is secured to the drum 120. Outwardly of flange 133, the block 132 is provided with a plurality of evenly spaced tangentially arranged holes 137, the lower portions of which merge respectively with the semicircular, outwardly opening recesses 138 in lower flange 134. The recesses 138 are respectively axially aligned with holes 137 and flare outwardly at their lower ends.

Outwardly of the recesses 130, the block is milled to provide a flat, upwardly sloping lower surface 139 so that the block 132 terminates in a relatively thin outer edge and a shoulder 140 between the outer edge and the outer end of the surface 139. Bifurcated members 141, similar in operation and construction, are provided on surface 139. Each bifurcated member 141 includes a base 142 with a pair of spaced parallel spring fingers 143 with rounded free ends projecting therefrom. The members 141 are secured in place by bolts 144 protruding through their bases 142 so that the fingers 143 protrude inwardly along surface 139 to terminate with their rounded ends resting within recesses 133 as seen in FIGS. 4 and S.

Yarns 51 pass from member 101 downwardly through holes 137 .and are pinched between the end of fingers 143 and recesses 138 in a manner substantially identical to that described for the previous yarn feed member 101. Intermediate the ends of each finger 143, there is provided a hole 145 through which a bolt 146 protrudes and is threadedly received in block 132. The head of bolt 146 is larger than hole 145; however, the diameter of the bolt 145 is substantially smaller than the diameter of hole 145 so as not to interfere with the normal movement of the finger 143. The bolt 146 may be adjusted so as to move its head toward or away from the finger 143. With the head of bolt 146 close to or engaging spring finger 143, any appreciable downward movement of the free end of finger 143 will result in the finger 143 pivoting about bolt 145. With the head of bolt 145 spaced from finger 143, the finger 143 will pivot about its other end. Thus, the position of each bolt 146 will determine the force required to pull the yarns 51 through the holes 137 and past the fingers 139.

While we have disclosed and illustrated the

spring fingers

110 and 143 as terminating intermediate the ends of the recesses, such as recesses 138, it will be understood that in some instances, such as when relatively large diameter yarns are passed through the

holes

105 and 137, the free ends of the

spring fingers

110 and 143 terminate in spaced relationship to the surfaces defining the recesses and, in such instances, the spring fingers normally rest upon the

surfaces

103 and 139. Downward urging of the yarns will cause pivoting of the

fingers

110 and 143 about their fixed ends and upward urging of the yarns will be met with substantially no pivoting of the

fingers

110 and 143 since substantially the entire surface of the

respective fingers

110 and 143 will engage the surf-

aces

103 and 139.

In addition to acting as one jaw of a clamping arrangement, the recesses such as recess 133 act as guide means for the yarns so as to space properly the yarns 51.

It will be seen that the respective

yarn feed members

101 and 131 are interchangeable; however, we prefer to use the yarn feed member 131 where suitable since the spring fingers 143 are outboard of the yarns 51 so as to permit access to the fingers 143 for removing lint and adjusting the bolts 146.

Below the yarn feed assembly described above and mounted on the needle bar 28 is a guide bar 150 having holes aligned with each needle, through which yarns 51 from the feed member 131 are fed to the eyes of needles 50.

OPERATION From the foregoing description, the operation of the present invention should be apparent. The yarns 51 are threaded into the machine by being led from the creel (not shown) to the bar 100 and thence respectively through the aligned openings or holes in bar 100 to the unidirectional yarn feed member 101. At the unidirectional feed member 101 the yarns are respectively fed through the openings 105 so as to pass downwardly therethrough and emerge from the bottom of unidirectional feed member 101, passing around the ledge 107 and thence around drum 120 and through holes 137 in unidirectional feed member 131. Thereafter, the yarns 51 pass through the holes of guide bar 150 and through the eyes of the respective needles 50. The base fabric 40 is mounted on the machine by passing it around roll 30 and thence around roll 31 across the throat plate 37 to the

rolls

32, 33 and 34.

After the yarns 51 and base fabric 40 are installed, the motor (not shown) is energized, driving the belts 19 to rotate through pulley 18 the shaft 17. This causes reciprocation of shaft 41 and shaft 121 and the gradual rotation of the drum 80, as the base fabric 40 is fed by the

rollers

30, 31, 32, 33 and 34 across the throat plate 37 and opening 12 of the machine. In each cycle of the machine, the needles 50 simultaneously insert in a transverse row a plurality of loops of yarns 51 through the base fabric 40 to a predetermined distance. Upon continued operation, the needles 50 retract and thereafter successively and repeatedly penetrate the base fabric 40 as the base fabric 40 is moved therebeneath to produce longitudinal and transverse rows of loop pile, the longitudinal rows being created by single yarns with successive loops along the lower surface being connected by back stitches along the upper surface of the base fabric 40.

Shaft 17 and shaft 41 are so timed that each hook 61 and 73 (provided a long loop is to be sewn) will pass on its rearward stroke between its respective needle 50 and the yarn 51 carried by that needle, as the needle passes bottom dead center. Upon continued rotation of shaft 17, the

hooks

61 and 73 project further rearwardly as the needle 50 is retracted from the fabric 40, the

hooks

51 and 73 passing forwardly beyond the line of travel of needle 50 as the needle 50 reaches top dead center.

In each cycle, as the needles t) penetrate the base fabric 40 and approach the bottom dead center position of the needles 50, the shaft 41 rocks in a counterclockwise direction, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6, carrying the

hooks

61 and 73 rearwardly of the machine so as to pass respectively between the yarns 51 and their respective needles 50. Thus, between each needle 50 and its yarn 51 the

hooks

61 and 73 of the particular looper associated with that needle project so that the yarn 51 is normally engaged by either the hook 61 or the hook 73, depending upon whether a high loop or a low loop is to be sewn. Of course, the position of the finger 89 with respect to the pattern drum predetermines whether a high loop or a low loop is to be sewn.

If the finger 89 of lever 90 is on a valley or low portion 85, the mechanism is in position for producing a high or long loop. Upon each cycle, a needle 50 penetrates the base fabric so that the eye of the needle passes below the hook 73 as the hook 73 carried by the looper assembly moves between the yarn 51 and its needle 50. On the upward stroke of the needle, the yarn 51 is temporarily held or restrained by the book 73 until the needle 50 is Withdrawn from the base fabric 40. Thereafter, upon movement of the fabric 40 in a rearward direction and movement of the looper assembly in a forward direction, the loop temporarily held by the hook 73 is released.

On the other hand, referring to FIG. 6, if the finger 89 of lever 90 rides on a high portion or ridge 84 of the pattern drum 80, the lever 90 is rocked in a clockwise direction sufficiently so that upon rearward movement of the looper assembly by counterclockwise rotation of the shaft 41 the head 97 of spoke 96 engages the end of lever 90 and restrains the member 65 from rearward movement with the looper assembly. Thus, with continued rearward movement of the looper assembly by shaft 41, the member 65 is progressively withdrawn from the block 62. Hence, only the looper hook 61 protrudes between the yarn 51 and its needle 50. Upon upward travel of the needle bar 28 carrying the needle 50 with it, the yarn 51 will be temporarily restrained by the looper hook 61 until the needle is withdrawn from the base fabric 40.

It will be seen by those skilled in the art that at all times either the looper hook 61 or the looper hook 73 will catch and hold the yarn, regardless of the position of the finger 89 on drum 80. Therefore, no accurate timing of the drum 80 is required.

It is therefore seen that a prescribed pattern dictated by the particular configuration of the pattern drum 80 is produced by making high and low loops, without necessitating the backdrawing of the yarn from the loop as it is formed or the robbing of the preceding loop.

The shaft 121 and shaft 17 are so timed or synchronized that during the downward stroke of the needle 50, the drum is rocked in a clockwise direction as seen in FIGS. 1 and 6, and during the upward stroke of the needle 50 the drum 120 will be rocked in a counterclockwise direction. The stroke of the drum 120 is such that yarn in excess of the yarn required for the mere downward stroke of the needle 50 is fed to the needle so as to compensate for the back stitch in the fabric as well as for the high loop being formed.

Upon each upstroke or counterclockwise stroke of yarn feed member 131, the spring fingers 143 will slide along the yarns 51, only after all slack has been taken out of the respective yarns 51. On a subsequent down stroke or clockwise stroke, the fingers 143 will clamp and hold the yarns 51, causing the yarns 51 to be pulled through the first unidirectional yarn feed member 101, only when slack has been taken out of the respective yarns 51 held between the first yarn feed member 101 and the second yarn feed member 131.

The first unidirectional yarn feed member 101 is in relatively close proximity to the second unidirectional yarn feed member 1.31, and therefore, even though relatively springy or resilient yarns, or yarns having different resiliency characteristics, are employed, the stretch differen tial between these yarns (lying between the two feed members) is minimized by the short lengths involved. Hence, it is essentially immaterial whether, even with extremely resilient yarns, there be uniform tensions on each yarn between the creel (not shown) and the machine.

It will be understood that the feed of the yarns 51 may be altered, i.e. increased or decreased, by adjusting the linkage between pitman 124 and lever 1123.

While the fingers 143 of unidirectional yarn feed member 131 operate in the same manner for each yarn 51, if any one or a plurality of the yarns '1 become slack between needle 50 and member 131, there is no tension on those particular yarns, and hence upon counterclockwise rotation of drum 120, the feed member 131 will back-draw all yarns 51 until suificient resistance to back-drawing is achieved before it slides along the yarn. Thus, the slack or feed of each yarn 5 1 is equalized in accordance with the demand for that yarn.

Drum 120 is more than a mere lever for reciprocating the feed member 131 in timed sequence. On the upstroke of needles 50, and during counterclockwise rotation of drum 120, the drum 120 may and normally does come in contact with yarns 51 between needles 5t) and member 131 to add in back-drawing the yarns 51 uniformly.

On some strokes of the needle 50 there is a greater demand for yarn than on other strokes; nevertheless, it is important that a uniform flat back stitch be produced between the preceding loop and the loop being formed, regardless of loop height, and without appreciable backdrawing from the preceding loop. To achieve this uniform flat back stitch without appreciable back-drawing, regardless of whether high or low loops are being produced, there is a unique cooperation between the particular yarn feed mechanism and the particular stop or looper mechanism in that upon each up stroke, the yarn is back drawn around drum 126 to a uniformly tight condition by the finger 143 while the loop is being held by one of the hooks of the looper mechanism.

By accurate adjustment of all of the bolts 1'46, uniform back-drawing tensions on the yarns are applied just sufficient for all slack in the loops to be taken out and also all slack in the back stitch, without altering the rela tive depths of the preceding loop with respect to the other loops of the preceding rows. The tension, however, is preferably insufficient to achieve appreciable backdrawing of these preceding loops. Thus, as the effective distance between the base fabric 40 and fingers 143 is increased, the yarns 51 individually slide past fingers M3 to supply only the amount by which the respective yarns are deficient.

The effect, therefore, of the proper operation of this combination of yarn feed mechanism and looper assembly is to produce unusually uniform pile heights in the carpet and thereby provide a luxurious appearance.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations may be made in the embodiment chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A tufting machine comprising a table, a needle above said table, means for reciprocating said needle for penetrating a base fabric moving over said table, a first looper hook below said table adapted to catch yarn carried by the needle to form a loop, a second looper hook spaced beneath and slidably carried by said first looper hook, said second looper hook being adapted to catch yarn carried by said needle to form a loop, and means to selectively render inoperative said second looper hook so as to form selectively high and low loops in said base fabric.

2. A tufting machine comprising a table, a needle above said table, means for reciprocating said needle for penetrating by a predetermined distance a base fabric moving over said table, a first looper hook below said table adapted to catch a single yarn carried by the needle at appreciably less distance from said base fabric than said predetermined distance and to form a low loop, a second looper hook beneath and projecting substantially the same distance and in the same direction as said first looper hook for catching said single yarn carried by said needle at a greater distance from said fabric than said first looper hook to form a high loop and to preclude the catching of such yarn by said first looper hook, means to selectively render inoperative said second looper hook so that it does not catch yarn so as to form selectively high and low loops in said base fabric and feed means for feeding the yarn to said needle.

3. In a tufting machine of the class having a reciprocated needle for inserting yarn repeatedly through a base fabric to a predetermined depth, a looper body adapted to be reciprocated toward and away from said needle in synchronization therewith, a first looper hook carried by said body and adapted to protrude during a portion of each cycle between said needle and said yarn intermediate the extremity of insertion of the yarn through the base fabric, a second looper hook slidably journaled by said body below and in a plane with said first looper hook parallel to the path of travel of said needle, said second looper hook being slidable with respect to said body from a normal position to an inoperative position, said second looper hook extending in its normal position in the same direction from said body as said first looper hook, means for moving said second looper hook from its normal position to its inoperative position, and spring means biasing said second looper hook toward its normal position, said body carrying said second looper hook when said second looper hook is in its normal position in a path for protruding during a portion of each cycle between said needle and said yarn close to the extremity of insertion of the yarn through the base fabric to engage and hold temporarily and thereafter release successive yarn carried by said needle, said first looper hook being carried by said looper in a path to engage and hold temporarily and thereafter release yarn only when said sec ond looper hook is in its inoperative position.

4. In a tufting machine of the class having a reciprocated needle for inserting yarn repeatedly through a base fabric to a predetermined depth, a looper body adapted to be reciprocated toward and away from said needle as it is reciprocated, a first looper hook carried by said body and adapted to protrude during a portion of the cycle between said needle and said yarn intermediate the extremities of insertion of the yarn through the base fabric, a second looper hook slidably journaled by said body below and in a plane with said first looper hook parallel to the path of travel of said needle, said second looper book being slidable with respect to said body from a normal position to an inoperative position, said second looper hook extending in its normal position in the same direction from said body as said first looper hook, means for moving said second looper hook from its normal position to its inoperative position, and spring means biasing said second looper hook toward its normal position, said body carrying said second looper hook when said second looper hook is in its normal position to engage and hold temporarily and thereafter release successive yarn carried by said needle, said first looper hook being carried by said looper in a path to engage, and hold temporarily and thereafter release yarn only when said second looper hook is in its inoperative position.

5. In a tufting machine of the class having a reciprocated needle for inserting yarn repeatedly through a base fabric to a predetermined depth, a first looper hook reciprocated toward and away from said needle as it is reciprocated, said first looper hook being adapted to protrude during a portion of the cycle between said needle and said yarn intermediate the extremities of insertion of the yarn through the base fabric, a moveable second looper hook below and in a plane with said first looper hook parallel to the path of travel of said needle, said second looper hook being moveable with respect to said first looper hook from its normal position below said first looper hook, to an inoperative position, means for moving said second looper hook with respect to said first looper hook, said second looper hook being adapted when operating normally to engage and hold temporarily and thereafter release successive yarn carried by said needle, said first looper hook being adapted to engage and hold temporarily and thereafter release yarn only when said second looper hook is in its inoperative position, means for feeding yarn to said needle including a pair of unidirectional feed members through which said yarn is passed to said needle, and means for reciprocating one of the unidirectional feed members along the path of said yarn in timed relationship to the reciprocation of said first looper hook.

6. A yarn feed assembly for tufting machines of the type having reciprocating needles comprising a pair of unidirectional yarn feed members spaced from each other and through which yarn to said needles passes, and means for moving one of said yarn feed members to feed yarn toward said machine in timed relationship to the reciprocation of the needles.

7. The combination With a reciprocable needle of a yarn feed assembly comprising a first unidirectional yarn feed member through which yarn passes to said needle, a second unidirectional yarn feed member, said yarn being engaged by said second yarn feed member between said first yarn feed member and said needle, and means for actuating said second yarn feed member to thereby draw yarn from said first yarn feed member and feed the same to said needle in timed relation to reciprocation of said needle.

8. As an article of manufacture, a yarn feed member comprising a block provided with a plurality of aligned holes, a ledge extending from said block, the inner surface of said ledge terminating in the plane of said holes, said ledge being provided with concave recesses axially aligned with said holes, and a plurality of flat spring fingers carried by said block and yieldably urged respectively toward said recesses, the ends of said fingers terminating in such close proximity to said surfaces defining said recesses as to clamp yarns passing through said holes between the ends of said fingers and the surface defining said recesses.

9. As an article of manufacture, a yarn feed member comprising a block provided with a plurality of aligned holes, a ledge extending from said block, the inner surface of said ledge terminating in the plane of said holes, said ledge being provided with concave recesses axially aligned with said holes, and a plurality of fiat spring fingers carried by said block and yieldably urged respectively toward said recesses so as to clamp yarns passing through said holes between the ends of said fingers and the surfaces defining said recesses, the ends of said fingers being arcuate conforming to the configurations of said recesses and protruding into said recesses.

10. As an article of manufacture, a yarn feed member comprising a block provided with a plurality of aligned holes, a ledge extending from said block, the inner surface of said ledge terminating in the plane of said holes, said ledge being provided with concave recesses axially aligned with said holes, and a plurality of fingers carried by said block and yieldably urged respectively toward said recesses, the ends of said fingers terminating in such close proximity to said surfaces defining said recesses as to clamp yarns passing through said holes between the ends of said fingers and the surfaces defining said recesses, the ends of said fingers being arcuate for conforming to the configurations of said recesses so as to extend into said recesses, said fingers each being long, narrow, flexible, metal leaf spring members.

11. In a tufting machine of the class having a reciprocated needle carried by a cross head for inserting yarn repeatedly through a base fabric to a predetermined depth, a first looper hook reciprocated toward and away from said needle as it is reciprocated, said first looper hook reciprocated toward and away from said needle as it is reciprocated, said first looper hook being adapted to protrude during a portion of the cycle between said needle and said yarn intermediate the extremities of insertion of the yarn through the base fabric, a moveable second looper hook below and in a plane with said first looper hook parallel to the path of travel of said needle, said second looper hook being moveable with respect to said first looper hook from its normal position to an inoperative position, means for moving said second looper hook with respect to said first looper hook, said second looper hook being adapted when operating normally to engage and hold temporarily and thereafter release successive yarn carried by said needle, said first looper hook being adapted to engage and hold temporarily and thereafter release yarn only when said second looper hook is in its inoperative position, means for feeding yarn to said needle including a pair of unidirectional feed members through which said yarn is passed to said needle, and a drum reciprocated in timed relationship to said needles, each of said unidirectional feed members including a block provided with a plurality of aligned holes, a ledge extending from said block, the inner surface of said ledge terminating in the plane of said holes, said ledge being provided with concave recesses axially aligned with said holes, and a plurality of fingers carried by said block and yieldably urged respectively toward said recesses so as to clamp yarns passing through said holes between the ends of said fingers at the surfaces defining said recesses, the ends of said fingers being arcuate so as to extend into said recesses, said fingers each being long, narrow, flexible, metal leaf spring members, the block of one of said unidirectional feed members being secured axially along said drum.

12. A yarn feed mechanism comprising an elongated block having a plurality of aligned holes through said block, a ledge connected to said block on one side of the mouth of all said holes, said ledges being provided with a plurality of recesses coaxially aligned with said holes, and a plurality of fiat spring fingers anchored to said block on the other side of said holes and protruding into said recesses, said spring fingers being provided with rounded ends conforming generally to the configurations of said recesses received within said recesses, said spring fingers being yieldable away from said recesses to permit the drawing of yarns in one direction through said holes and between the ends of said fingers and said recesses, said fingers being in such close proximity to and biased toward said recesses so as to clamp said yarns between the ends of said fingers and said recesses when said yarns are urged in the opposite direction through said holes.

13. In the method of forming patterns with pile loops in a base fabric comprising simultaneously inserting a plurality of transversely aligned loops through a base fabric to a uniform predetermined depth to form a first row of transversely aligned pile loops, furnishing yarns for the successive formation of additional rows of aligned loops connected by back stitches and spaced from and generally parallel to said first row of loops, and repeating said loop forming operation, the steps of successively inserting first stops in all said loops at predetermined depths, inserting second stops through said loops below said first stops by moving said second stops relative to said first stops according to a prescribed pattern as said loops are being formed, backdrawing said yarns from said loops so as to tighten said loops each against one of the aforesaid stops for producing loops of different depths, and thereafter disengaging all said stops from said loops of different heights.

14. In the method of forming patterns with pile loops in a base fabric comprising simultaneously inserting a plurality of transversely aligned loops through a base fabric to a uniform predetermined depth to form a first row of transversely aligned pile loops, furnishing yarns for the successive formation of additional rows of aligned loops connected by back stitches and spaced from and generally parallel to said first row of loops, and repeating said loop forming operation, the steps of successively inserting first stops in all said loops at predetermined depths, inserting second stops through said loops below said first stops by moving said second stops relative to said first stops according to a prescribed pattern as said loops are being formed, yieldably applying substantially uniform tensions to each of said yarns for backdrawing said yarns from said loops with substantially uniform force only sufficient to tighten said back stitches against said base fabric and to tighten said loops each against one of the aforesaid stops for producing loops of different depths without appreciably altering the relative depths of the loops in the preceding rows, and thereafter disengaging all said stops from said loops of diiferent heights.

15. In the method of feeding yarns to a plurality of needles reciprocated toward and away from a base fabric, said needles feeding yarns to said base fabric as said needles are moved toward the same, the steps of yieldably holding said yarns at spaced distances from said needles, yieldably grasping said yarns between said needles and the place where said yarns are yieldably held, urging the grasped portions of said yarns toward said needles by distances greater than the amplitude of reciprocation of said needles as said needles are moved toward said base fabric, progressively moving the grasped portions of said yarns in a direction away from said needles as said needles are moved away from said base fabric to thereby remove slack from the yarns and thereafter simultaneously change the grasped portions of said yarn for subsequent movement toward said needles.

16. A tufting machine comprising a single eyed reciprocal needle having a single yarn within its eye for inserting the yarn from one side through a base fabric, yarn feed means for feeding yarn to said needle as said needle penetrates said fabric and for yieldably backdrawing said yarn as said needle is retracted and a pair of means removable with respect to each other on the opposite side of said fabric from said needle for selectively arresting the yarn at different distances from the base fabric as said needle is withdrawn from said fabric.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 169,081 /75 Brewer 22615l 1,207,068 12/16 Pagliarul 226- 2,741,913 4/56 Dovas 21169 X 2,759,251 8/56 Huyett 226158 X 2,821,947 2/58 Knauf 226-147 2,842,080 7/ 58 Hoeselbarth 1l279.6 2,953,290 9/60 Kostenko et a1. 226151 2,982,239 5/61 McCutchen 11279.6 2,982,240 5/61 McCutchen 11279.6 2,990,792 7/61 Nowicki et al. 11279 3,006,296 10/61 Penman 112-79 3,075,482 1/63 Card 112-79 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, RUSSELL C. MADER, Examiners.

Claims

1. A TUFTING MACHINE COMPRISING A TABLE, A NEEDLE ABOVE SAID TABLE, MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING SAID NEEDLE FOR PENETRATING A BASE FABRIC MOVING OVER SAID TABLE, A FIRST LOOPER HOOK BELOW SAID TABLE ADAPTED TO CATCH YARN CARRIED BY THE NEEDLE TO FORM A LOOP,A SECOND LOOPER HOOK SPACED BENEATH AND SLIDABLY CARRIED BY SAID FIRST LOOPER HOOK SAID SECOND LOOPER HOOK BEING ADAPTED TO CATCH YARN