Patent GB-789382-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the production of tufted fabrics
IPC: D05C15/00
Filed: 1954-12-17
Abstract: 789,382. Tufting by needles. FELTON, W. Nov. 28, 1955 [Dec. 17, 1954; Dec. 17, 1954; Dec. 17, 1954], Nos. 36534/54, 36535/54 and 36536/54. Class 112 A method of producing tufted fabric comprises feeding a length of yarn, to a predetermined position at one side of a piece of fabric, inserting a pair of spaced needles through the side thereof remote from the length of yarn, engaging the length of yarn with said needles, and withdrawing the latter so that each draws one end of the length of yarn through the fabric As shown in Fig. 1, continuous lengths of yarn 4 are pressed by respective wheels 5 into successive, notches 3 formed in the edges of spaced pairs of ribs 2 projecting radially from an intermittently rotated drum 1. The yarn is cut between each pair of ribs successively, when the drum is stationary, by a knife blade 6 moved axially of the drum by an eccentric 11 and radially of the drum by an eccentric 17, to produce lengths 31 of yarn. Fabric 32 is fed intermittently, in synchronism with drum 1, over a supporting plate 21 formed in one edge with notches 22. Vertically movable in each notch are two tubular members 24 which are formed with pointed upper ends 26 and which contain needles 20 having hooked upper ends 25. When the drum and fabric are stationary the members 24 are moved upwardly to pass through the fabric, and the ends 25 of the needles are then projected above the ends 26. Drum 1 is then moved axially to engage the lengths 31 with the ends 25, the needles are withdrawn into the tubular members, and the latter are finally moved downwardly to carry the ends of lengths 31 through the fabric to produce two parallel lines of tufts. When feed is resumed, a member 36 swings in the direction of feed to move the tufts behind a swinging member 37<SP>1</SP> which also moves in the direction of feed to carry the tufts away from the place of needle operation. During tuft 'formation the fabric is also supported between the needles by a member 34 which is moved upwardly, for this purpose, by a cam 35. Members 20, 24 and 37<SP>1</SP> are operated by cams 23, 30 and 38 respectively. In a modification, Fig. 7, member 34 is formed with apertures 105 for the needles and with upstanding ridges 100, 104 which engage the fabric within the notches 22 when member 34 is moved to its uppermost position. In a further modification, Fig. 8, member 36, which is provided with teeth lying in the notches 22. is carried by an arm 119 pivoted at 120. Arm 119 also carries a plate 122 formed with a cam slot 123 engaged by a verticallymovable pin 124. Member 37<SP>1</SP> is carried at one end of a bar 106, the other end of which is pivoted to one end of a lever 107 which is fulcrummed intermediately at 108 and is provided at its other end with a roller engaged in a cam groove 116 formed in a rotary cam 109. Bar 106 is also connected by a link 111 to a lever 113 one end of which is fulcrummed at 114 and the other end of which is provided with a roller engaging a peripheral cam surface 115 of cam 109. Member 37<SP>1</SP> is thereby adapted to swing in and against the direction of work feed as well as to move up and down. It is stated that the ribs 2 may be displaced, instead of the drum 1, for engaging the lengths 31 with the needles. It is also stated that, as an alternative arrangement which may be used with or without displacement of the drum 1 or ribs 2, the ends of the needles may be so shaped that they displace the lengths 31 laterally against the resiliency of the latter, so that the lengths 31 will snap automatically into the hooked ends of the needles.