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US 5,396,852 AGranted
Tufting machine modular gauge parts
AssigneeSpencer Wright Industries, Inc.
InventorHarold B. Bardsley
Life of this patent
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AssigneeSpencer Wright Industries, Inc.
InventorHarold B. Bardsley
Estimating the term…
A tufting machine having spaced apart needle modules removably mounted on a needle bar in the tufting machine, the modules having notches at opposite side edges remote from the needles. Each side edge is of a generally half U-shape configuration so that when two modules are mounted side-by-side a substantially U-shape recess is formed at the abutting sides. A clamping plate is secured by a fastener extending through each recess to clamp against the pair of adjacent modules. A cut-out at a central portion of each module at the edge remote from the needles receives a locating member which is adjustably secured to the needle bar, the locating member abutting the edges of the cut-out to precisely locate each module. In another embodiment, a tab formed as part of a gauging bar is temporarily positioned within the recess to locate modules not having the central cut-out. Removal of a module merely requires loosening of the fasteners to permit the module to be slidably retracted, and a replacement module may thereafter be precisely inserted.
A tufting needle module for a tufting machine comprising a body member having a substantially rectangular configuration including front and rear longitudinally extending surfaces terminating at spaced apart side edges, a plurality of similarly disposed elongated needles in the body member having point portions depending from one end thereof, said needles being equally spaced apart longitudinally along the body member, the spacing between adjacent needles defining the pitch of the needles of said module, a notch formed on each longitudinally spaced apart side edge at an end remote from the end from which said needles depend, each notch forming half of a recess when a like module is positioned in abutment with each side edge, each said recess permitting a fastener to enter intermediate a pair of module body members for attachment of said modules to a tufting machine needle bar.
In a tufting machine having a needle bar and a plurality of needle modules mounted on said needle bar in side-by-side disposition, each module comprising a body member having a substantially rectangular configuration including front and rear longitudinally extending surfaces terminating at spaced apart side edges, a plurality of similarly disposed elongated needles formed in the body member having point portions depending from one end thereof, said needles being equally spaced apart longitudinally along the body member, the spacing between adjacent needles defining the pitch of the needles of said module, said modules being disposed with said rear surface abutting said needle bar, a notch formed in each module in each longitudinally spaced apart side edge at an end remote from the end from which said needles depend, each notch forming half of a recess when another module is positioned in abutment with each side edge, a bearing member abutting the front surface of the body member of each adjacent pair of modules at the location of each recess, and fastener means positioned within each recess for securing each bearing member to said needle bar in bearing relationship against said front surface of the body members of said pair of modules.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.