Patent ID: 6834601
Filing Date: 2004-12-28
Classification: D05C

Abstract:
A tufting machine for forming tufts of yarns in a backing material passing therethrough, comprising:at least one needle bar having a series of spaced needles positioned therealong; a yarn feed unit comprising: a plurality of yarn feed devices each including a drive motor and a drive roll for feeding a supply of yarns to said needles along said needle bar; a plurality of yarn feed controllers electrically connected to said drive motors of said yarn feed devices for controlling the feeding of the yarns to said needles; a yarn distribution device including at least one tube bank section through which the yarns are passed to said needles; and a control system in communication with said yarn feed controllers of said yarn feed unit for providing control signals based on programmed pattern information to said yarn feed controllers, said control system including a yarn feed unit system controller running at least one network over which said yarn feed controllers receive instructions from and communicate with said system controller.