Mini-beam yarn supply apparatus and method
OwnerDan Cobbleinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A beam rack utilizes a plurality of mini-beams located in substantially planar layer arrangements wherein the yarn ends are fed in substantially the same direction to directors which direct the yarn to a header. The mini-beams are stacked both horizontally and vertically in the beam rack. The beam rack preferably includes a bearing arm for supporting a plurality of mini-beams along bushings of the mini-beams. The mini-beam is loaded with a warper wherein a plurality of yarn ends are preferably loaded on a single mini-beam. The yam ends can vary anywhere from one yarn to sixteen or more yarns per mini-beam depending on the number of mini-beams required to correspond with yarn feeds for a particular pattern. The yarn ends proceed from the mini-beams to the director, a header and on to a tufting machine.
Claims22
A yarn supply device comprising:
- at least two mini-beams, each of said mini-beams having a cylinder with a plurality of independent yarn strands wound thereabout;
- and
- a rack for use with a yarn feed pattern attachment, said rack comprising a base;
- a support section connected to the base, said support section having a plurality of arms extending outward from said support section;
- a pair of said plurality of arms supporting said at least two mini-beams at opposing ends of the mini-beams;
- said cylinders of said mini-beams rotatable relative to said plurality of arms and each of said mini-beams directing their plurality of yarn strands, each of the yarn strands beginning with a yarn end, in the same direction;
- and
- whereby rotation of the mini-beam dispenses the plurality of yarn strands at the same rate.
A yarn supply device for use with a tufting machine comprising:
- a plurality of mini-beams, each of said mini-beams having a cylinder with at least two separate yarn strands wound thereabout;
- and a rack comprising a base;
- an upstanding support section connected to the base, said support section having a plurality of outwardly extending arms, said plurality of arms supporting a rearward and a forward of said plurality of mini-beams;
- wherein said rearward and forward mini-beams are rotatable relative to said plurality of arms and direct their at least two separate yarn strands forward;
- and
- wherein said plurality of mini-beams are arranged in an array having at least two heights.
A yarn supply device for use with a textile machine comprising:
- a front mini-beam having a cylinder with a plurality of separate yarn strands wound thereabout;
- and
- a rack comprising a base;
- a support section connected to the base, said support section having at least a pair of outwardly extending arms, said arms supporting said mini-beam;
- said cylinder of said mini-beam rotatable relative to said arms and directing said plurality of separate yarn strands in a forward linear direction to a director having a curved exterior surface;
- and
- wherein said director contacts said plurality of yarn strands at least one point along said curved exterior surface and said yarn strands continue in a second linear direction, said forward linear direction angled relative to said second linear direction.
A yarn feed device for use with a yarn feed pattern attachment comprising:
- at least two mini-beams, each of said mini-beams having a cylinder with at least two yarn strands wound thereabout;
- a rack comprising a base, a support section connected to the base, a means for locating said first and second mini-beams on the rack so that the first mini-beam is located forward of the second mini-beam having arms cantilevered from the support section, and a means for simultaneously directing the at least two yarn strands from each of the first and second mini-beams forward and out of the beam rack to the yarn feed pattern attachment wherein rotation of the cylinder delivers the at least two yarn strands simultaneously from the cylinder to the yarn feed pattern attachment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.