Apparatus and method for loading tufts into a tuft carrier
AssigneeUlster Carpet Mills (Holdings) Limited
InventorsRichard Donald Stewart, John Dalton Griffith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tuft carrier loading apparatus for loading individual tufts into tuft-retention sites spaced along an elongate tuft carrier which is guided for longitudinal movement along a path of travel having a plurality of individually selectively operable tuft forming devices. Each tuft forming device is operable to feed an individual tuft to a tuft-retention site on the carrier. The carrier moves along said path of travel intermittently through a series of successive positions where predefined tuft retention sites are moved temporarily into registry with each tuft forming devices. By controlling selection of the tuft forming devices, tufts are fed to selected sites while the carrier is located at each successive position.
Claims11
Loading apparatus to load individual tufts into an elongate tuft carrier having tuft retention sites spaced along its length, the apparatus including:
- guide means for guiding the tuft carrier along a path of travel,
- a series of individually selectively operable tuft forming means spaced along said path of travel,
- each tuft forming means being operable when selected to feed an individual tuft to a tuft retention site on said carrier,
- drive means drivingly connected to the carrier for moving the carrier along said path of travel, the drive means being operable to intermittently move the carrier through a series of successive positions where predefined tuft retention sites are moved temporarily into registry with each tuft forming means, and
- control means for controlling selective operation of the series of tuft forming means, the control means being operable to actuate selected tuft forming means to feed tufts to those sites in registry with the selected tuft forming means while the carrier is located at each successive position.
Apparatus comprising in combination
- a weaving loom having means for inserting individual tufts into a fabric,
- an elongated tuft carrier with a series of tuft-retention sites,
- guide means for guiding the tuft carrier along a path of travel,
- a series of individually selectively operable tuft forming means spaced along said path of travel, each tuft forming means being operable when selected to feed an individual tuft to a tuft retention site on said carrier,
- drive means drivingly connected to the carrier for moving the carrier along said path of travel, the drive means being operable to intermittently move the carrier through a series of successive positions where predefined tuft retention sites are moved temporarily into registry with each tuft forming means, and then to a position in registry with said tuft-inserting means,
- control means for controlling selective operation of the series of tuft forming means, the control means being operable to actuate selected tuft forming means to feed tufts to those sites in registry with the selected tuft forming means while the carrier is located at each successive position.
A method of loading an elongate tuft carrier with tufts, comprising the steps of
- providing the elongate tuft carrier having a series of tuft retention sites spaced along its length,
- effecting longitudinal movement of the tuft carrier along a path of travel,
- arranging a plurality of individually selectively operable tuft forming means in spaced relationship along said path of travel so as to register with said series of tuft retention sites,
- driving the tuft carrier intermittently through a series of successive positions so that predefined tuft retention sites are moved into temporary registry with each tuft forming means and
- selectively operating at least one of said tuft forming means to feed a tuft into a site presented thereto while the carrier is located at each successive position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.