Patent ID: 7218987
Filing Date: 2007-05-15
Classification: D05C

Abstract:
1. A tufting machine, comprising: 1) a tufting head translatable within said tufting machine in X- and Y-directions by means of a movement system, which tufting head comprises: 2) a computer-operated motion control system; adapted to read a machine-readable tufting design pattern comprising a series of vectors and associated control codes and, in response thereto, to generate signals to drive the tufting head a) to operate the tufting mechanism and reciprocate the needle to insert tufts into backing fabric; (b) to operate the movement system and move the needle across a two-dimensional plane defined by said X- and Y-directions while inserting tufts in accordance with the vectors; (c) to lift and lower the foot in accordance with respective control codes; and d) to selectively operate the yarn cutter in accordance with respective control codes.