Patent ID: 7946233

Claim:
A tufting machine for forming an artificial/synthetic sports turf, comprising: a first row of needles positioned adjacent an upstream side of a tufting zone of the tufting machine and moveable to a first penetration depth, each needle having a pickup area formed therealong and carrying a synthetic grass yarn for introduction into a backing moving through the tufting zone; a second row of needles spaced transversely across the tufting zone from said first row of needles and moveable to a second penetration depth that is different from said first penetration depth, said second row of needles each having a pickup area and carrying synthetic grass yarns for introduction into a base fabric; a series of loopers moveable between said needles of said first row of needles and arranged at an elevation substantially corresponding to said second penetration depth so as to engage said needles of said second row of needles so as to engage and pickup the yarns therefrom to form the loop pile tufts in the backing; a series of hooks positioned opposite said loopers and at a different elevation from said loopers substantially corresponding to said first penetration depth, said hooks moveable between said needles of said second row of needles into engagement with said needles of said first row of needles to pickup the yarns therefrom; and a series of knives each positioned along a pickup side of one of said hooks and adapted to engage the yarns picked up by the hooks for forming the cut pile tufts in the backing.