Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for tufting patterned fabric

US4557208A · kind A · utility

45Cited by
2References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 24, 1984
Grant dateDec 10, 1985
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 24, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC D)Textiles; Paper
  • CPC primaryD05C15/26
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A tufting machine has apparatus for feeding the backing material at a first speed for forming tufts having a backstitch of a first length and periodically selectively increasing the feeding rate to a second speed to form tufts having a backstitch of an increased length. The longer backstitch may be a plurality of stitches slightly longer than the first length or a single elongated backstitch. The fabric produced may have a series of tufts projecting from the surface of the backing material in areas having one or more yarn densities and separated by gaps where no tufts project above the surface, the gaps resulting from the elongated backstitches on the reverse side of the material. The apparatus for providing backstitches including the gaps has an intermittent drive which provides an output only during a small portion of the input. A drive shaft is drivingly connected to the feed rollers of the tufting machine and is connected to the input of the intermittent drive through a first one-way clutch and through a second one-way clutch to a driveable member on a control shaft driven by the output of the intermittent clutch. A pattern controlled air operated tooth clutch selectively coupl…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.