# US 2018/0023233 A1 · Loop Gripper With Retaining Element > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0023233 A1 - Document ID: US20180023233A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/548,167 - Filed: 2016-01-20 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-03 - Assignees: Groz-Beckert KG - Applicants: Groz-Beckert KG - Inventors: Herbert Schwane; Bernd Hillenbrand - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180023233A1 ## CPC - D05C 15/22: Loop-catching arrangements, e.g. loopers; Driving mechanisms therefor - D05C 15/24: Loop cutters; Driving mechanisms therefor - D05C: EMBROIDERING; TUFTING (making non-woven fabrics D04H; sewing D05B) ## Abstract A loop gripper (10) for a tufting machine has a gripper body (11) with a gripper finger (12) extending in an extension direction E from a retained end (13) to a free end (14). On the gripper finger (12) underside (16), a cutting region (20) transitions into a sliding surface (19) at a transition point (21). A retaining element (35) near the transition point (21) is mounted to be pivotable about a pivot axis S relative to the gripper finger (12). The pivot axis S extends in a transverse direction Q at right angles to the extension direction E. The retaining element (35) is urged into a starting position A by a force, for example a spring force and/or a weight force. In the starting position A, a retaining surface (37) of the retaining element (35) extends obliquely or at right angles away from the sliding surface (19). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A loop gripper (10) for a tufting machine, the loop gripper comprising: a gripper finger (12) formed on a gripper body (11) and extending in an extension direction (E) from a retained end (13) to a free end (14), which gripper finger has on its underside (16) a cutting region (20) and immediately following the cutting region (20), between the cutting region (20) and the free end (14), a sliding surface (19) for yarn loops (26), wherein the gripper finger (12) has at the free end (14) an end protrusion (18) that protrudes beyond the sliding surface (19), a retaining element (35) which has a retaining surface (37) and which is mounted to be pivotable relative to the gripper finger (12) about a pivot axis (S) which extends in a transverse direction (Q) at right angles to the extension direction (E), a means for presetting a starting position for the retaining element by generating a force on the retaining element (35) to urge the retaining element (35) into a starting position (A) in which the retaining surface (37) extends away from the sliding surface (19) and faces toward the cutting region (20). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The loop gripper according to claim 1, wherein the force of the means for presetting the starting position is a spring force of a spring means (42) and/or a weight force of the retaining element (35) or of a retaining body (32) connected to the retaining element (35). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The loop gripper according to claim 1, wherein the sliding surface (19) of the gripper finger (12) adjoins two lateral planes which are arranged parallel to one another and at a distance (D) from one another in a transverse direction (Q), said lateral planes bounding an intermediate space. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The loop gripper according to claim 3, wherein the retaining element (35) engages in the intermediate space. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The loop gripper according to claim 4, wherein the retaining element (35) is arranged in the intermediate space. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The loop gripper according to claim 3, wherein the retaining element (35) has in the transverse direction (Q) a width (X) which is at most as large as the distance (D) between the two lateral planes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The loop gripper according to claim 3, wherein the retaining element (35) has in the transverse direction (Q) a width (X) which is larger than the distance (D) between the two lateral planes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The loop gripper according to claim 1, wherein the gripper finger (12) has two side surfaces (17) which adjoin the sliding surface (19), wherein the retaining element (35) does not come into contact with either of the two side surfaces (17), and wherein the retaining element (35) does not form with either of the two side surfaces (17) a gap for the passage of a yarn loop (26). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The loop gripper according to claim 1, wherein the cutting region (20) has a cutting edge (25). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The loop gripper according to claim 1, wherein the cutting region (20) is unsymmetrical in relation to a central plane passing through the gripper finger (12) in its extension direction (E). ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The loop gripper according to claim 9, wherein the cutting region (20) has a smaller dimension than the sliding surface (19) in a transverse direction (Q) which is oriented parallel to the pivot axis (S). ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The loop gripper according to claim 1, wherein the retaining element (35) has, on its side opposite the retaining surface (37), a run-in surface (38) which in the starting position (A) of the retaining element (35) encloses an acute first angle (a) with the sliding surface (19). ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The loop gripper according to claim 12, wherein the retaining surface (37), in the starting position (A) of the retaining element (35), encloses with the sliding surface (19) a second angle (β) that is larger than the first angle (α). ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The loop gripper according to claim 1, wherein the retaining element (35) is arranged on a retaining body (32), the retaining body (32) being arranged on the gripper body (11). ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The loop gripper according to claim 14, wherein the retaining element (35) is an integral part of the retaining body (32) or is arranged on the retaining body (32) in a pivotable manner. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) The loop gripper according to claim 2, wherein the retaining element (35) is arranged on a retaining body (32), the retaining body (32) being arranged on the gripper body (11) and the retaining body (32) has the spring means (42). ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The loop gripper according to claim 16, wherein the spring means (42) is an integral part of the retaining body (32). ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The loop gripper according to claim 14, wherein the retaining body (35) is arranged in a recess (47) which is provided in the gripper finger (12) and which is open toward the underside (16).