Method and means of tufting

A method of feeding yarn through a passageway extending between a source of yarn and a use-location for the yarn comprising the steps of:

• applying a flow of air to transport said yarn through said passageway;
• moving a relatively movable structure of said passageway to open and close an access opening;
• and
• operating a yarn severing element through said access opening to sever a length of yarn from said source of yarn.

In a tufting machine having bit-applying needles;

• pneumatic means including passageways for flow of gas therethrough to deliver strands of yarn to said needles, said passageways extending to said needles having a first part shiftable relative to a second part;
• and having yarn-metering devices;
• the method of applying tufts to a backing layer, comprising the steps of:
• metering unsevered bit-lengths of yarn by said yarn-metering devices;
• transporting said metered unsevered yarn through said passageways by said pneumatic means into loading positions relative to said needles;
• providing access to said passageways for operating therethrough yarn-severing means;
• operating said yarn-severing means through said access to sever said yarn into bits;
• tufting by moving said needles to apply said yarn bits to said backing layer;
• and
• closing said access to render effective said pneumatic means.

In a tufting machine for forming tufts on a backing:

• reciprocable bit-applying elements movable through the backing toward and from a yarn engaging position;
• pneumatic yarn-transporting means extending to said bit-applying elements, said pneumatic means including passageways through which yarn is transported to said bit-applying elements, said passageways being separable to create an opening;
• means to open and close said opening;
• strand-severing means operable through said opening;
• means for operating said strand-severing means through said opening repeatedly to cut said yarn strands and
• means for operating said bit-applying elements from said yarn engaging positions through said backing, to form tufts.

In a tufting machine for applying bits of yarn to a backing:

• reciprocable bit-applying means movable with respect to the backing toward and from a loading position;
• pneumatic yarn-transporting means extending transversely of said bit-applying means for repeatedly loading said bit-applying means with tufting yarn upon successive movements of said bit-applying means to said loading position, said pneumatic means including passageways through which yarn strands are transported, said passageways including a reciprocable section;
• means connected to said reciprocable section repeatedly to create an access to said passageways and to close same;
• strand-severing means adjacent said loading position and operable through said access;
• means for operating said strand-severing means through said access for repeatedly severing said yarn strands into bits;
• and
• means for operating said bit-applying means for applying said bits to the backing.

In a tufting machine for forming tufts on a backing:

• reciprocable bit-applying means movable with respect to the backing toward and from a loading position;
• pneumatic yarn-transporting means extending transversely of said bit-applying means for repeatedly loading said bit-applying means with tufting yarn upon successive movements of said bit-applying means to said loading position, said pneumatic means including passageways through which yarn strands are fed, said passageways including a shiftable section;
• means for driving said shiftable section repeatedly to create and eliminate an access extending across at least part of said passageways;
• strand-severing means adjacent said loading position and operable through said access repeatedly to sever said yarn strands into bits;
• means for changing the location of said shiftable section relative to said bit-applying means to provide yarn bits of different lengths;
• and
• means for operating said bit-applying means for applying said bits to the backing.

A tufting machine for applying bits of yarn to a backing, comprising:

• reciprocable bit-applying means movable with respect to the backing toward and from a loading position;
• pneumatic yarn-transporting means extending transversely of said bit-applying means for repeatedly loading said bit-applying means with tufting yarn upon successive movements of said bit-applying means to said loading position, said pneumatic means including passageways through which yarn strands are fed, said passageways extending through a shiftable section;
• means for operating said shiftable section repeatedly to open and close a gap extending across at least part of said passageways, said passageways including one or more flexible portions to facilitate said shifting;
• strand-severing means operable repeatedly through said gap to sever said yarn strands into bits;
• and
• means for operating said bit-applying means for applying said bits to the backing.

A tufting machine for forming tufts on a backing comprising:

• reciprocable bit-applying means movable with respect to the backing toward and from a loading position;
• pneumatic yarn-transporting means extending transversely of said bit-applying means for repeatedly loading said bit-applying means with tufting yarn upon successive movements of said bit-applying means to said loading position, said pneumatic means including passageways through which yarn strands are transported, said passageways extending through a reciprocable section;
• driving means connected to said reciprocable section repeatedly to open and close a gap extending across at least a part of said passageways, said passageways further including telescoping members to permit the reciprocation of said reciprocable section;
• strand-severing means and operable through said gap repeatedly to cut said yarn strands into bits;
• and
• means for operating said bit-applying means from said loading position to a tufting position for applying said bits to the backing.

In a tufting machine for forming tufts on a backing having reciprocable bit-applying means movable with respect to the backing toward and from a loading position the combination of:

• pneumatic yarn-transporting means extending transversely of said bit-applying means said pneumatic means including passageways through which yarn is transported, said passageways being axially separable to open and close a gap extending across each said passageway;
• means for axially moving said passageways repeatedly to open and close said gaps;
• strand-severing means aligned for operation through said gaps repeatedly to sever said yarn strands to form bits for said bit-applying means;
• and
• means for operating said bit-applying means to apply said bit-lengths to the backing

In a tufting machine for forming tufts on a backing having reciprocable bit-applying means movable with respect to the backing toward and from a loading position, the combination of:

• pneumatic yarn-transporting means extending transversely of said bit-applying means for repeatedly loading said bit-applying means with tufting yarn strands upon successive movements of said bit-applying means to said loading position, said pneumatic means including passageways through which yarn is transported, said passageways being axially separable to open and close a gap extending across said passageways;
• means for axially moving said passageways repeatedly to open and close said gaps;
• strand-severing means adjacent said loading position operable through said gaps repeatedly to cut said yarn strands to form bits;
• bit-clamping means to hold said bits in fixed position relative to said bit-applying means prior to their application to said backing;
• and
• means for operating said bit-applying means to apply said bits to the backing.

In a tufting machine for forming tufts on a backing having reciprocable bit-applying means movable with respect to the backing toward and from a loading position the combination of:

• pneumatic yarn-transporting means extending transversely of said bit-applying means said pneumatic means including passageways through which yarn is transported, said passageways being axially separable repeatedly to open and close a gap extending across said passageways;
• means for axially moving said passageways repeatedly to open and close said gaps;
• strand-severing means disposed for operation through said gaps repeatedly to cut yarn bits;
• and
• means for repeatedly operating said bit-applying means once loaded with a bit of yarn to apply said bits to the backing to form tufts.

A tufting machine for forming tufts on a backing, comprising:

• reciprocable bit-applying means movable with respect to the backing from a loading position to a tuft-applying position;
• pneumatic yarn-transporting means for repeatedly loading said bit-applying means with tufting yarn upon successive movements of said bit-applying means to said loading position, said pneumatic means including passageways through which yarn strands are transported, said passageways extending through a shiftable section which is shiftable to open and close access to said passageways;
• means driving said shiftable section repeatedly to open and close said access;
• strand-severing means operable through said access repeatedly to cut said yarn into bits;
• means for repeatedly operating said bit-applying means from said loading position to a bit-applying position for applying said bits to the backing;
• clearing means movable from a tuft-receiving position to a tuft-removing position;
• and
• driving means for driving said clearing means after each operation of said bit-applying means to its tuft-applying position to clear the tufts from the paths of the bit-applying means in their next operation to said tuft-applying position.

A tufting machine for forming tufts on a backing comprising:

• reciprocable bit-applying elements movable from a loading position through the backing to a tuft-applying position;
• pneumatic yarn-transporting means;
• means including said pneumatic means for repeatedly loading said bit-applying elements with yarn strands upon successive movement of said bit-applying elements to said loading position;
• strand-severing means operable in conjunction with said pneumatic yarn-transporting means to cut said yarn strands to form yarn bits;
• driving means for operating said bit-applying elements between their loading and tuft-applying positions so as to apply said bits to the backing to form tufts;
• means for moving the backing after each tuft-applying operation to expose to said bit-applying elements an untufted portion of said backing;
• a tuft-retaining bar positioned to retain said tufts away from the paths of said bit-applying elements during at least a part of their succeeding tuft-applying operation;
• and
• means operable after each tuft-applying operation of said bit-applying elements for guiding the applied tufts to the far side of said tuft-retaining bar away from the paths of said bit-applying elements.

A tufting machine for forming tufts on a backing comprising:

• reciprocable bit-applying elements movable through the backing toward and from a tufting position;
• means including pneumatic yarn-transporting passageways for repeatedly loading said bit-applying elements with yarn strands upon successive movement of said bit-applying elements from said tufting position;
• strand-severing means operable in conjunction with said pneumatic yarn-transporting passageways to sever said yarn strands to form yarn bits;
• means for operating said bit-applying elements for applying said bits by said bit-applying elements to the backing to form tufts;
• a tuft-retaining bar positioned out of the path of said bit-applying elements to retain said tufts applied to the backing away from the paths of succeeding operations of said bit-applying elements;
• and
• reciprocable backing support means which moves tufts from the path of succeeding operations of said bit-applying elements and deposits said tufts to the side of said tuft-retaining bar remote from the path of said bit-applying elements.

A tufting machine for forming tufts on a backing comprising:

• reciprocable bit-applying means movable with respect to the backing toward and from a loading position;
• driving means for said bit-applying means;
• means including pneumatic yarn-transporting passageways for repeatedly loading said bit-applying means with tufting yarn upon successive movements of said bit-applying means to said loading position, said passageways in part comprising an axially reciprocable section;
• driving means connected to said reciprocable section repeatedly to open and close an access to said passageways;
• means for moving said access a selectable distance from said loading position;
• cutting means having a cutting element and an anvil positioned on opposite sides of said access, whereby movement of said cutting element through said access and against said anvil severs a bit from said tufting yarn;
• means positioning said cutting means a selectable distance from said loading position to provide a yarn bit of selectable length;
• and
• means for operating said bit-applying means so as to apply said bits of said selectable length to the backing to form tufts.

In a tufting machine having bit-applying elements, pneumatic means including passageways for flow of gas therethrough to deliver strands of yarn to said bit-applying elements, said passageways extending to said bit-applying elements respectively, said passageways having a first part shiftable relative to a second part, the method of tufting comprising the steps of:

• transporting yarn strands by pneumatic means through passageways to a loading position with respect to bit-applying elements;
• shifting a first part of each of said passageways relative to a second part of that passageway to provide an access to the passageway;
• operating a yarn-severing means through each said access to sever said strand to leave a bit in a loading position relative to a bit-applying element;
• tufting by moving the bits of yarn into tufting relationship with a backing layer with said bit-applying elements;
• and
• clearing tufts from the paths of said bit-applying elements in their next tufting operation.

A tufting machine including bit-applying means for applying tufts to a backing layer and further including yarn feeding apparatus comprising:

• tubular means forming a passageway extending between a source of yarn and a use-location for the yarn;
• means flow-connected to said passageway for producing a flow of air or other gas in the direction of said use-location for transport of yarn along said passageway;
• said tubular means having structure relatively movable to open and to close an access to said passageway;
• and
• yarn severing means operable through said access to sever a length of yarn from said source of yarn.

A tufting machine including bit-applying means for applying tufts to a backing layer and further including yarn feeding apparatus comprising:

• tubular means forming a passageway extending between a source of yarn and said bit-applying means;
• means flow-connected to said passageway for producing a flow of air or other gas in the direction of said bit-applying means for transport of yarn along said passageway;
• said tubular means having structure relatively movable to open and to close an access to said passageway;
• and
• yarn severing means operable through said access to sever a predetermined length of yarn from said source of yarn.

A tufting machine including bit-applying means for applying tufts to a backing layer and further including yarn feeding apparatus comprising:

• tubular means forming a passageway extending between a source of yarn and a use-location for the yarn;
• means flow-connected to said passageway for producing a flow of air or other gas in the direction of said use-location for transport of yarn along said passageway;
• said tubular means having structure relatively movable to open and to close an access to said passageway;
• and
• yarn-severing means operable through said access to sever a length of yarn from said source of yarn before, during or after said yarn reaches said use-location.

A tufting machine including bit-applying means for applying tufts to a backing layer and further including yarn feeding apparatus comprising:

• tubular means forming a passageway extending between a source of yarn and a use-location for the yarn;
• means flow-connected to said passageway for producing a flow of air or other gas in the direction of said use-location for transport of yarn along said passageway;
• said tubular means having structure a part of which is flexible to facilitate relative motion of at least one part of said passageway to open and to close an access to said passageway;
• and
• yarn-severing means operable through said access opening to sever a length of yarn from said source of yarn.

A tufting machine including bit-applying means for applying tufts to a backing layer and further including yarn feeding apparatus comprising:

• tubular means forming a passageway extending between a source of yarn and a use-location for the yarn;
• means flow-connected to said passageway for producing a flow of air or other gas in the direction of said use-location for transport of yarn along said passageway;
• said tubular means having telescopic structure to facilitate relative motion of at least one part of said passageway thereby opening an access to said passageway;
• and
• yarn-severing means operable through said access to sever a length of yarn from said source of yarn.

A tufting machine including bit-applying means for applying tufts to a backing layer and further including yarn feeding apparatus comprising:

• tubular means forming a passageway extending between a source of yarn and a use-location for the yarn;
• means flow-connected to said passageway for producing a flow of air or other gas in the direction of said use-location for transport of yarn along said passageway;
• said tubular means having structure relatively movable in opening and closing an access to said passageway;
• and
• yarn-severing means operable through said access to sever a length of yarn from said source of yarn, the position of said yarn-severing element being adjustable to sever yarn of selectable lengths.

A tufting machine including bit-applying means for applying tufts to a backing layer, the improvement comprising yarn feeding apparatus having:

• tubular means forming a passageway extending between a source of yarn and a use-location for the yarn;
• means flow-connected to said passageway for producing a flow of air or other gas in the direction of said use-location for transport of yarn along said passageway;
• said tubular means having structure relatively movable in opening and closing an access to said passageway;
• yarn severing means operable through said access to sever a length of yarn from said source of yarn;
• and
• means to prevent movement of said severed length of yarn in a direction parallel to said gas flow.

Yarn feeding apparatus comprising:

• tubular means forming a passageway extending between a source of yarn and reciprocating a bit-applying element for forming tufts on a backing layer;
• means flow-connected to said passageway for producing a flow of air or other gas in the direction of said use-location for transport of yarn along said passageway;
• said tubular means having structure relatively movable to open and to close an access opening of said passageway;
• means including a yarn severing element operable through said access opening to sever a length of yarn from said source of yarn for use by said bit-applying element;
• means for operating said bit-applying element to apply yarn lengths to the backing to form tufts;
• and
• clearing means operable to clear at least some of said tufts from the paths of succeeding bit-applying element strokes.

Yarn feeding apparatus comprising:

• tubular means forming a passageway extending between a source of yarn and a bit-applying element for forming tufts on a backing layer,
• means flow-connected to said passageway for producing a flow of air or other gas in the direction of said use-location for transport of yarn along said passageway;
• said tubular means having structure relatively movable to open and to close an access opening of said passageway;
• means including a yarn-severing element operable through said access opening to sever a length of yarn from said source of yarn to supply said bit-applying element;
• means for operating said bit-applying element to apply yarn lengths to the backing to form tufts;
• tuft guiding means to deflect at least some of said tufts from the paths of succeeding bit-applying element strokes;
• and
• tuft-retaining means to retain said deflected tufts from the paths of succeeding bit-applying element strokes.

A tufting machine including bit-applying means for applying tufts to a backing layer further including yarn feeding apparatus comprising:

• a passageway extending between a source of yarn and a use-location for the yarn;
• means flow-connected to said passageway for producing a flow of air or other gas in the direction of said use-location for transport of yarn along said passageway;
• said passageway having a portion which is movable to expose the yarn;
• and
• yarn-severing means operable to sever a length of yarn from said exposed yarn.

In a tufting machine having at least one bit-applying element, pneumatic means including at least one passageway for flow of gas therethrough to deliver a strand of yarn to said bit-applying element, said passageway being shiftable, the method of tufting comprising the steps of:

• applying a flow of gas to said yarn strand to move said strand through said passageway;
• shifting said passageway to provide access to said strand;
• applying a yarn-severing means when said access is provided to cut said strand;
• and
• closing said access by further shifting said passageway to render effective said flow of gas.