High speed dynamically balanced tufting machine
AssigneeCard-Monroe Corp.
InventorsPaul Beatty, Marshall A. Neely
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tufting machine having individual crank assemblies for reciprocating the push rods which carry the needle bar. Successive crank shafts aligned with each other and parallel to two main drive shafts which are rotated in opposite directions. Gears on the main drive shafts respectively transfer power from the two drive shafts so as to rotate each successive crank shaft in a direction opposite from the direction of rotation of the preceding crank shaft. The connecting rods connected to the crank assemblies thus are thrown outwardly in opposite directions as the crank shafts are rotated, so as to balance the machine. Additional counter-balance weights are provided on the main drive shafts.
Claims23
A tufting machine of the type having:
- (a) a frame having a head;
- (b) a plurality of spaced parallel push rods carried by said head for simultaneous reciprocation along their respective axes;
- (c) a needle bar carried by said push rods and adapted to hold a plurality of needles containing yarns for tufting action upon each reciprocation of said needle bar by said push rods;
- (d) a drive shaft for imparting reciprocation to said push rods;
- wherein the improvement comprises:
- (e) first drive means connected between said drive shaft and a first group of said push rods and moveable in first prescribed paths for imparting reciprocation to said first group of push rods;
- (f) second drive means connected between said drive shaft and a second group of said push rods and moveable in second prescribed paths for imparting reciprocal movement to said second group of push rods, the paths of movement of portions of said first drive means and the paths of movement of said second drive means providing counterbalancing effects with respect to each other;
- and
- (g) synchronizing means for synchronizing the movement of said first drive means and said second drive means so as to produce said counterbalancing effects resulting from their separate paths of movement.
A tufting machine comprising:
- (a) a frame having a head;
- (b) first and second drive shafts disposed within said head;
- (c) timing means for simultaneously and synchronously rotating said drive shafts in opposite directions of rotation;
- (d) a plurality of spaced parallel push rods protruding through said head, said push rods each having inner and outer end portions;
- (e) a needle bar carried by said outer end portions of said push rods, said push rods being simultaneously moveable along their respective axes for reciprocating said needle bar towards and away from said head, said needle bar being adapted to carry needles containing yarns for tufting action when said needle bar is reciprocated;
- (f) connecting rods each having opposed first and second end portions, said first end portions of said connecting rods being respectively pivotally connected to the inner end portions of said push rods;
- (g) first actuating means actuated by said first drive shaft and respectively connected to the second end portions of certain of said connecting rods for simultaneously moving said second end portions of said certain of said connecting rods in orbital paths in one direction of rotation;
- and
- (h) second actuating means actuated by said second drive shaft and respectively connected to the second end portions of the other of said connecting rods for moving the second end portions of the other of said connecting rods in orbital paths in a direction of rotation opposite to the direction of rotation of said certain of said connecting rods.
A tufting machine comprising:
- (a) a frame;
- (b) a pair of drive shafts supported by said frame;
- (c) a plurality of push rods slideably supported by said frame;
- (d) a needle bar carried for reciprocation by said push rods;
- (e) connecting rods respectively connected to said push rods;
- (f) a plurality of odd and even crank assemblies carried by said frame and respectively connected to said connecting rods;
- (g) first power transfer means connected to one of said drive shafts for providing power to the odd ones of said cranks assemblies;
- (h) second power transfer means connected to the other of said drive shafts for transferring power from said other of said drive shafts to the even ones of said crank assemblies;
- and
- (i) means for synchronously rotating said drive shafts in opposite directions.
A method of counterbalancing a tufting machine of the type having connecting rods with first and second end portions, the first end portions of which connect to push rods which support and reciprocate a needle bar, and the second end portions of which are manipulated for reciprocating the push rods to reciprocate the needle bar carrying needles for tufting action when the needle bar is reciprocated, the steps comprising:
- (a) rotating the second end portions of certain of said connecting rods in orbital paths in one direction of rotation about an axis;
- (b) rotating the second end portions of the remaining connecting rods in orbital paths about said axis in the other direction of rotation;
- and
- (c) synchronizing the rotation of all said second end portions so that the second end portions of all said connecting rods are at top dead center simultaneously and again at bottom simultaneously.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.