US 10,995,439 B2Granted

Variable stroke drive system for tufting machine

AssigneeCard-Monroe Corp.

InventorRicky E. Mathews

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A variable stroke drive system for a tufting machine includes a series of drive assemblies mounted along the frame of the tufting machine. Primary drive shafts extend through the drive assemblies and are each driven by a drive motor. A series of first drive members are mounted to the primary drive shafts and are linked to associated second drive members such that the driving of the first drive members by the primary drive shafts in turn drives the second drive members. Cam arms are connected to the second drive members and to rocker arms to which push rods are mounted, the cam arms being vertically reciprocated by the rotational movement of the second drive members so as to drive the reciprocation of the push rods, and thus the needle bar(s) connected thereto along a desired stroke or reciprocating path of travel. Controlling the rate at which the primary drive shafts are driven enables control of the stroke of the needle bar(s).

Claims15

Dependent claims

A tufting machine, comprising:

at least one needle bar having a series of spaced needles therealong for forming tufts of yarns in the backing material;
a needle bar drive system including one or more drive assemblies for driving the at least one needle bar in a reciprocating motion so that the needles are moved into and out of the backing material, the one or more drive assemblies comprising:
a pair of first drive members driven by at least one motor;
a pair of second drive members each linked to an associated one of the first drive members so as to be driven by the first drive members;
cam arms coupled to the second drive members;
a rocker arm extending between the cam arms;
and
at least one push rod having a proximal end attached to the rocker arm and a distal end linked to the at least one needle bar;
wherein as the first drive members of each drive assembly are driven, the cam arms are moved in a reciprocating motion, driving the push rod and thus the needles carried by the at least one needle bar along a selected stroke, and wherein as the first drive members are driven at varying rates, movement of each of the cam arms is varied so as to change the selected stroke of the needles.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/513,763Filed 17 Jul 2019 · continuation
Priority: 28 Feb 2014
Published: US 2019/0338452 A17 Nov 2019
Granted: 4 May 2021
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

D05C 15/20
Arrangements or devices for manipulating threads: arrangements or devices, e.g. needles, for inserting loops; Driving mechanisms therefor
D05B 69/10
Driving-gear; Control devices: electrical or electromagnetic drives
D05B 69/12
Electrical or electromagnetic drives: using rotary electric motors
D05C 15/00
Making pile fabrics or articles having similar surface features by inserting loops

Family

Application61/946,199Us provisional application · filed 28 Feb 2014
Application14/633,851Parent of this continuation · filed 27 Feb 2015
Application15/589,159Parent of this continuation · filed 8 May 2017
US 9,644,297 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 9 May 2017
US 2019/0338452 A1Pre-grant publication · published 7 Nov 2019
US 10,358,755 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2015/0247272 A1Published application
US 2017/0241055 A1Published application
US 10,995,439 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.