Patent GB-1501369-A (GB)
Title: Method and means of tufting
IPC: D05C15/34
Filed: 1975-05-20
Abstract: 1501369 Tuftine A N SPANEL 20 May 1975 [29 May 1974] 21510/75 Heading D1G Tufting apparatus comprises means 166 for applying tufts to a backing layer L, a plurality of metering devices each providing predetermined lengths of yarn from one of a plurality of separate yarn sources C and for feeding said metered yarn to one of a plurality of inlet passageways 141 extending to a common outlet, means for pneumatically transporting yarn through the outlet to the tuft applying means, severing means 162 to cut the yarn prior to tufting, a plurality of pullback means, 126 or 286, each for displacing a separate yarn from the common outlet and control means including a plurality of selector members 88 or 260 each actuating a separate pullback means and enabling a separate metering device to be actuated. Each source provides yarn of different colour one of which is selected by actuating the solenoid 80 or 270. In the embodiment of Fig. 1 the yarn metering device comprises a yarn feed wheel 26 having a yarn groove (28, Fig. 2 not shown) and a drive groove engageable by an intermittently moved drive roll 52 through the intermediary of a wheel 44 pivoted in a carrier 50 pivoted to a slidable selector bar 58 and normally biassed by a spring 64 into engagement with roll 52 and out of contact with feed wheel 26 which is held by a brake lever 68 biassed about a mid pivot by spring 78. The yarn pull back means comprises an eyed rod 126 operating between guides 118, 130 and connected to one end of a lever 120 the other end of which engages a slidable interlock bar 104. By the action of the mechanism a selected yarn is passed to the pneumatic transport apparatus 13 to lie in the common outlet 143 (Fig. 4 not shown) and then into a shuttle nose 160 which is advanced towards the twin needles 166 as they rise through the layer L, the yarn entering the eyes of the needles, when the outlet moves back to allow knife 162 to sever the yarn, the pull back then drawing back the yarn from the shuttle nose to await the selection of the next chosen yarn. A selector key 88 pivoted to the axially reciprocable member 94 is positioned as shown when solenoid 80 is selected and energised, to move towards selector bar 58. As bar 58 then moves brake 68 is removed from yarn feed wheel 26 and wheel 44 is positioned to engage wheel 26 and roll 52. As bar 58 reached its extreme position a notch 112 thereon allows a locking member 108 to move thereinto, releasing interlock bar 104 to be moved by its spring 116 to the position shown where no pull back is made by member 126. Yarn thus released moves forward into the passageway of the common outlet (143) and thence to the passage (158) in the nose 160. Key 88 now moves back, layer L is fed, the knife is in its down position (Fig. 5 not shown) and solenoid 80 deenergises, releasing key 88 to be moved by spring 100 (Fig. 6 not shown). Nose 160 moves to the needles and roll 52 turns to rotate wheel 26 to feed yarn througn the eyes. After yarn severing as described key 88 moves to abut and move interlock bar 104 against spring 116 to actuate pull back 126 and, as notch 114 on bar 104 arrives at member 108, releases bar 58 to be drawn back by spring 64 to re-apply brake 68 and disconnect roll 52 from feed wheel 26. In a second embodiment, (Fig. 10) the yarn feed wheel 208 is mounted on balls 214 supported on a disc 216 slotted to receive with plug a bar 218, a spring 220 biassing the yarn feed wheel into engagement with a drive roll 224 unless urged away therefrom and held by a brake lever 234 which swings about pivot 236 as the selector bar 230 is moved axially by the action of a solenoid controlled selector key 260. An interlock bar 248 and locking member 252 is provided as before. The pull back comprises a member 286 about which the yarn A is passed before passing up a tube 288 to the common outlet, the member 286 and the tube being secured to the interlock bar and moving therewith. In this embodiment the moment of the tube 288 is used to control the supply of air to the passage leading to the common outlet.