Patent GB-637427-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to machines for making rugs, carpets and the like
IPC: D04G3/00
Filed: 1948-04-13
Abstract: 637,427. Tufting-machines. NEWTON, T. R. April 13, 1948, No. 10256. [Class 112] A machine for making rugs and the like of the kind comprising lengths of wool or other strands knotted on an openwork backing comprises means for presenting strands on one side of the backing, a number of needles on the other side provided with hooks and strand-gripping means, mechanism for passing the needles through the backing, and means for producing relative movement between the backing and the strand-handling devices, so that each needle draws a loop of the strand through the backing and then draws the ends of the strand through the backing at another point and through the loop to form a knot. The machine may be combined with a loom for making the backing, strands being knotted on each weft thread of the backing as it is laid. In the embodiment described, the backing 5 is moved vertically, and may be adjustable laterally, between a horizontal bank of hooked needles 31, with relatively slidable strandgripping sheaths 34, and strand-presenting means shown on the left in Fig. 3. The needles 31 and the stems 36 of the grippers 34 are slidable in a frame 12 fixed to the upper end of bars 13 mounted at their lower end on horizontal pivots so that the frame can be moved to and from the backing 5 in a shallow arcuate path by links 21 connected to a hand-operated lever. The grippers 34 are connected to a bar 37 which slides parallel to itself on the frame 12 and is moved to retract the grippers, against the action of springs 38 (or alternatively of individual springs for the separate grippers), by a linkage connected to a hand lever 40 pivoted on the frame at 41 ; a clip 43 is provided to hold the lever 40 in the retracted position. The strand-presenting means is carried by a bar 24 pivotally mounted on arms 26 pivoted at their lower ends about a horizontal axis and provided with a handle 61 whereby it can be rocked and moved to and from the backing 5. The yarn is wound on a detachable bar 46 provided with plates notched to receive the yam strands and forming a channel 49 facing the needles, and is cut by running a knife along a groove in the back of the bar ; a second bar is laid on top of the bar 46 to hold the strands down. The bar 24 has fixed to it two plates 54, 63, forming a second channel, with teeth along their edges, and beneath the lower plate 63 is a longitudinally slidable plate 64. with similar but undercut teeth, which is movable by a hand-lever 70 to bring its teeth into register with those of the bars 54, 63 or with the notches in the latter ; it may be spring-biassed to the former position. A hand lever 60 pivoted at 57 to a post on the bar 24 carries a bar 55 which is spring-pressed downwards against the upper toothed bar 54. Both the needle assembly and the strand-presenting assembly are capable of slight longitudinal movement. In operation, the frame 12 is swung to project the needles through the backing; and the bar 24 is moved, with the bar 55 lifted, to bring the needles into the channel 49 between the yarn strands. The bar 24 is then moved laterally to engage the strands with the needle hooks, and the grippers 34 are projected to hold the strands and the needles are withdrawn to carry loops of the strands through the backing, the bar 55 being released to hold the ends of the strands. The bar 24 is tilted to bring the teeth of the plates 54, 63 between the strands, and the plate 64 is moved laterally to grip the strand ends. The needles are moved laterally and projected through the backing at a different point with the grippers retracted, the bar 24 being correspondingly moved, and the needles are then made to engage the strand ends and pull them back, out of their holding devices, through the loops already formed to make knots which are then pulled tight. The machine may be arranged so that the cycle of operations can be effected by a single action, with cams or other timing devices. It may be combined with a loom for making the backing, and an application to a hand loom, in which a new weft thread is laid after the formation of each row of knots, is described and illustrated. In a modification, the needle assembly may be carried by a slide or on a parallel link system instead of on the arms 13. A device such as a comb carried on arms from the main frame of the machine may be provided to lift the loops of the strands to facilitate the passage of the ends through them, and this, or some other means, may be used to prevent the loops from being carried forward with the needles on their second stroke. According to the Provisional Specification, the relative movements of the various parts of the mechanism may be such that the knots are applied to the weft threads, or diagonally on the crossings of the threads.