# US 12,110,625 B2 · Creel with integrated yarn delivery and control system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,110,625 B2 - Document ID: US12110625B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/314,898 - Filed: 2019-11-08 - Published: 2022-11-10 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-11-09 - Assignees: Tuftco Corporation - Applicants: Tuftco Corporation - Inventors: Shannon Day; Jeff Smith; Rob Padgett; Randy Stanfield; Kevin Whiteside - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12110625B2 ## CPC - D05C 15/16: Arrangements or devices for manipulating threads (D05C15/26 takes precedence) - D05C 15/26: with provision for producing patterns - B65H 49/16: Stands or frameworks - B65H 49/32: Stands or frameworks - D02H 1/00: Creels, i.e. apparatus for supplying a multiplicity of individual threads - G05B 15/02: electric - G06F 3/147: using display panels - B65H 2701/31: Textiles threads or artificial strands of filaments - D05D 2205/085: combined with a display arrangement, e.g. touch sensitive control panel - D05D 2205/18: Screens - D05C: EMBROIDERING; TUFTING (making non-woven fabrics D04H; sewing D05B) - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - D02H: WARPING, BEAMING OR LEASING - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - D05D: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES D05B AND D05C, RELATING TO SEWING, EMBROIDERING AND TUFTING ## Abstract A communication system is provided for a yarn creel with sensors and displays located throughout the array of yarn positions and communicating with a creel controller to facilitate transfer and display of thread-up information and analysis of operational data. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A communication system for a creel for use in supplying yarns to a tufting machine and having an array of locations for mounting yarn packages comprising: a controller communicating with a plurality of sensors located proximate yarn mounting locations; said controller communicating with a plurality of displays located proximate yarn mounting locations; said controller accessing a virtual creel for mapping a yarn threadup for a pattern to yarn mounting locations; and an input for pattern information at least including a yarn threadup wherein the controller is in communication with the tufting machine during the tufting of the pattern. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The communication system of claim 1 wherein the sensors comprise manually operable switches. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The communication system of claim 1 wherein the displays comprise LEDs. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The communication system of claim 1 wherein the displays comprise screens capable of displaying text and graphics. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The creel of claim 4 wherein the display screens display a tufting needle position number. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The creel of claim 4 wherein the display screens display a yarn spool size. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The communication system of claim 1 further comprising an operator interface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The communication system of claim 7 wherein an operator interface is viewable on a mobile device wirelessly connected to the controller. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The communication system of claim 1 wherein the controller communicates wirelessly with the plurality of displays. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The communication system of claim 1 wherein a plurality of modules located proximate yarn mounting locations include at least one of the plurality of sensors and at least one of the plurality of displays. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The creel of claim 1 wherein the virtual creel includes parameters for at least the number of yarn mounting locations per post, the number of posts per row, and the number of rows of posts. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The creel of claim 1 wherein during the tufting of the pattern the tufting machine communicates a yarn condition to the controller. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The creel of claim 1 wherein during the tufting of the pattern a sensor condition communicated to the controller is communicated to operator controls of the tufting machine. ### Claim 14 A method for coordinating display and sensor information from a yarn creel with an operator interface of a tufting machine comprising the steps of: inputting pattern information into the tufting machine; extracting or generating yarn threadup information from the pattern information; mapping the yarn threadup information to a plurality of yarn mounting locations in the creel; communicating yarn threadup or mapping information from the tufting machine to the yarn creel; activating displays located proximate selected yarn mounting locations; mounting yarn packages at the selected yarn mounting locations proximate the activated displays; and actuating sensors proximate the selected yarn mounting locations and communicating sensor information to the tufting machine. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein the sensors are manual switches. ### Claim 16 A creel comprising: an array of locations for mounting yarn packages; a controller communicating with a plurality of screens capable of displaying graphic and textual information, being located proximate yarn mounting locations; and an operator interface for specifying the graphic and textual information shown on the screens wherein the controller is in communication with an associated tufting machine during tufting. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The creel of claim 16 further comprising a controller communicating with a plurality of sensors located proximate yarn mounting locations. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The creel of claim 16 wherein the operator interface is operable from either wired or wireless communication with the controller. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The creel of claim 16 wherein the operator interface provides for the use of parameters to map a virtual creel correlating yarn mounting positions in the creel to needle positions on an associated tufting machine.