Patent ID: 6725789
Filing Date: 2004-04-27
Classification: D05C

Abstract:
A puller roller system for tensioning the yarns between yarn feed rollers and the needles of the tufting machine, comprising:at least one elongated power driven puller roll rotatably mounted having a series of radially projecting teeth; and a series of elongated floating puller rolls rotatably mounted adjacent to said driven puller roll, said floating puller rolls each having a series of radially projecting teeth, wherein said driven puller roll is disposed in an intermeshing, driving relationship with said floating puller rolls with a minimum spacing defined therebetween sufficient to enable said projecting teeth of said driven puller roll to mesh with said projecting teeth of said floating puller rolls to cause said floating puller rolls to rotate and to positively engage the yarns at multiple areas of contact as the yarns move along a yarn engagement path therebetween so as to place tension on the yarns passing therebetween without pinching the yarns and with slippage of the yarns from between the puller rolls minimized.