Patent GB-1169951-A (GB)
Title: Mechanisms and methods for manufacturing carpets, rugs and the like
Inventor: SPANEL ABRAM NATHANIEL
IPC: D05C15/00
Filed: 1966-10-20
Abstract: 1,169,951. Pile fabrics; tufting machines. A. N. SPANEL. 20 Oct., 1966 [23 Oct., 1965], No. 46932/66. Headings DIG and D1K. In making tufted pile fabrics, yarn is cut into lengths to provide yarn bits, successive yarn bits are conveyed pneumatically through a guide tube to a predetermined position adjacent a backing layer, and the yarn bits are successively transferred from said position to the backing layer to form tufts thereon. Yarns S, Fig. 1, from cops 19 are held against grooved, driven capstan rollers 39, the free ends of the yarns lodging in passages 16 formed in a guide structure 17. The passages 16 are aligned with passages 11 in a magazine 10. Each passage 11 is connected by a duct 12 to a chamber 21 connected by a normallyclosed valve 22 to a vacuum duct 90. A needle bar 14, driven from a shaft 25, carries a series of needle pairs 13, the eyes of each pair being aligned with the end of a duct 12 in chamber 21 when the needle bar is fully raised. In operation, a solenoid 57 is energised to lower a reciprocating feeding foot 20 into engagement with a yarn, whereby a measured length of the latter is transferred from a passage 16 to a passage 11. A knife 15, positioned between guide 17 and magazine 10, is then actuated to sever the yarns, valve 22 is opened, and magazine 10 is shifted slightly away from guide 17, whereby the severed lengths of yarn in magazine 10 are drawn along ducts 12 and, after passing through the eyes of the respective needle pairs 13, engage stops 23 in the form of tubes communicating with a vacuum duct 105. The latter then recedes to position an equal length of severed yarn on either side of a needle pair 13. Needler bar 14 then descends, and the needles pass through openings 130 uncovered by shutters 24 to insert the yarn lengths in a base fabric L as a row of tufts, each tuft being in the form of an inverted U. Feed rollers 152, 158 are then stepped by a ratchet and pawl device 150. Adhesive is applied to the rear face of the tufted fabric by a spray header 28 positioned between the rollers 152, 158. The guides 17 and magazines 10 may be duplicated as shown, the respective ducts 12, 12A however leading to a common chamber 21. For the production of multi-coloured patterns, the magazine is stepped laterally to align the passages 10 with selected coloured yarns. The needle bar 14 is rigid with vertical rods (146), Fig. 10, slidable in bearings (147), and is connected by a link (141) to a crank arm (143) on a shaft (140). A further crank arm (143) on shaft (140) is detachably connected by a pin (142) to an arm (148), one end of which is journalled on shaft (140) and the other end of which carries a follower pin (144) co-operating with a cam (145) on shaft 25. In a modification, Fig. 22B, the needles 13 are carried above the needle bar 14 and ascend through backing fabric L to be threaded by severed lengths B of yarn while in their topmost position, the yarn engaging fixed -stops 23A. The needles descend to draw the tuft lengths B through the fabric L. During the next ascent of the needles, the inserted tufts are blown aside by compressed air from nozzles 214. In a further modification, Fig. 23A, a series of tuft lengths B is folded into U shape and pressed against a backing fabric L by means of individual blades 13A, or by a single blade 13B, carried by the reciprocating bar 14. Fabric L, if thermoplastic, may be heated at the tuft-application zone by a plate 224B to effect bonding with the tuft lengths, and be cooled subsequently by a refrigerated plate 226. Alternatively, quick-setting adhesive may be sprayed on fabric L from a header 225 positioned ahead of the tuft-applying zone.