Modular block assembly for tufting machine
AssigneeTuftco Corporation
InventorsJerry Green, Gary Ingram
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Lateral pins are used to provide a tufting machine modular gauge assembly that allows damaged or broken gauge elements to be replaced individually. The modular gauge assembly consists of a gauge bar with a plurality of modular blocks removably attached to the bar. The modular blocks are six sided with a detent and fastener mechanism for attaching the block to the gauge bar. The gauge elements may be attached to the block by dedicated screw-pins or by a lateral pin that passes through all the gauge elements within a block. The lateral pin may either pierce the gauge elements or abut the gauge elements. Abutting pins may be malleable and segmented and secured in position by conical ended bolts.
Claims25
A modular gauge assembly having a plurality of modular blocks carrying removable gauge elements, said blocks being mountable in a plurality of spaced recesses of a tufting machine gauge bar, wherein:
- (a) the modular blocks comprise:
- (i) a front surface, a pair of side surfaces opposed to each other, a rear surface opposite to the front surface, a top surface and a bottom surface;
- (ii) a detent extending from a surface of the modular block to interfit with a spaced recess in the gauge bar;
- (iii) a plurality of vertical parallel slots transversely spaced between the opposing side surfaces for receiving gauge elements;
- (iv) (iv) a pin opening extending transversely between the opposing side surfaces;
- and
- (v) (v) a bolt passage in communication with the pin opening;
- (b) the gauge elements have proximal ends received in the parallel slots of the modular block;
- (c) a lateral pin extends transversely and substantially through the pin opening of the modular block;
- and
- (d) a securing bolt having a leading end extends through the bolt passage and biases the lateral pin against the proximal end of a gauge element;
- wherein the modular block comprises a second pin opening extending transversely between opposing side surfaces;
- a bracing pin extends transversely and substantially through said second pin opening;
- and the proximal ends of the gauge elements received within the parallel slots of the modular block are interposed between the bracing pin and the lateral pin.
A modular gauge assembly having a plurality of modular blocks carrying removable gauge elements, said blocks being mountable in a plurality of spaced recesses of a tufting machine gauge bar, wherein:
- (a) the modular blocks comprise:
- (i) a front surface, a pair of side surfaces opposed to each other, a rear surface opposite to the front surface, a top surface and a bottom surface;
- (ii) a detent extending from a surface of the modular block to interfit with a spaced recess in the gauge bar;
- (iii) a plurality of vertical parallel slots transversely spaced between the opposing side surfaces for receiving gauge elements;
- (iv) a pin opening extending transversely between the opposing side surfaces;
- and
- (v) a bolt passage in communication with the pin opening;
- (b) the gauge elements have proximal ends received in the parallel slots of the modular block;
- (c) a lateral pin extends transversely and substantially through the pin opening of the modular block;
- and
- (d) a securing bolt having a leading end extends through the bolt passage and biases the lateral pin against the proximal end of a gauge element;
- wherein the proximal ends of the gauge elements have a channel to receive a lateral pin.
A modular gauge assembly having a plurality of modular blocks carrying removable gauge elements, said blocks being mountable in a plurality of spaced recesses of a tufting machine gauge bar, wherein:
- (a) the modular blocks comprise:
- (i) a front surface, a pair of side surfaces opposed to each other, a rear surface opposite to the front surface, a top surface and a bottom surface;
- (ii) a detent extending from a surface of the modular block to interfit with a spaced recess in the gauge bar;
- (iii) a plurality of vertical parallel slots transversely spaced between the opposing side surfaces for receiving gauge elements;
- (iv) a pin opening extending transversely between the opposing side surfaces;
- and
- (v) a bolt passage in communication with the pin opening;
- (b) the gauge elements have proximal ends received in the parallel slot of the modular block;
- (c) a lateral pin extends transversely and substantially through the pin opening of the modular block;
- and
- (d) a securing bolt having a leading end extends through the bolt passage and biases the lateral pin against the proximal end of a gauge element;
- wherein the detent extends approximately from the center of the bottom surface of the block.
A modular gauge assembly having a plurality of modular blocks carrying removable gauge elements, said blocks being mountable in a plurality of spaced recesses of a tufting machine gauge bar, wherein:
- (a) the modular blocks comprise:
- (i) front surface, a pair of side surfaces opposed to each other, a rear surface opposite to the front surface, a top surface and a bottom surface;
- (ii) a detent extending from a surface of the modular block to interfit with a spaced recess in the gauge bar;
- (iii) a plurality of vertical parallel slots transversely spaced between the opposing side surfaces for receiving gauge elements;
- (iv) a pin opening extending transversely between the opposing side surfaces;
- and
- (v) a bolt passage in communication with the pin opening;
- (b) the gauge elements have proximal ends received in the parallel slots of the modular block;
- (c) a lateral pin extends transversely and substantially through the pin opening of the modular block;
- and
- (d) a securing bolt having a leading end extends through the bolt passage and biases the lateral pin against the proximal end of a gauge element;
- wherein the modular block has a second plurality of parallel vertical slots transversely spaced between the opposing side surfaces for receiving proximal ends of gauge elements and a second lateral pin extends through a second pin opening between the opposing side surfaces of the modular block and is adjacent to the proximal ends of gauge elements received within the second plurality of vertical slots.
A modular block assembly for use in a tufting machine comprising:
- (a) a modular block having a front surface, a pair of opposed side surfaces, a rear surface, a top surface and a bottom surface;
- and a plurality of vertical parallel slots separated by vertical walls and transversely spaced between the opposing side surfaces;
- and a pin opening extending transversely between the opposing side surfaces;
- (b) a plurality of gauge elements having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal ends of said gauge elements being received in the vertical parallel slots of the modular block;
- (c) a lateral pin extending transversely through the pin opening of the modular blocks;
- and
- (d) a first securing bolt having a leading end in contact with the lateral pin;
- wherein the modular block comprises a second pin opening extending transversely between the opposing side surfaces;
- a bracing pin extends transversely and substantially through said second pin opening;
- and the proximal ends of gauge elements received within the parallel slots are interposed between the bracing pin and the lateral pin.
A modular gauge assembly having a plurality of modular blocks carrying removable gauge elements, said blocks being mountable in a plurality of spaced recesses of a tufting machine gauge bar, wherein:
- (a) the gauge elements are selected from the group consisting of needles, loopers and hooks;
- (b) the modular blocks comprise:
- (i) a front surface, a pair of side surfaces opposed to each other, a rear surface opposite to the front surface, a top surface and a bottom surface;
- (ii) a detent extending from a surface of the modular block to interfit with a spaced recess in the gauge bar;
- (iii) a plurality of vertical parallel slots transversely spaced between the opposing side surfaces for receiving gauge elements;
- (iv) a pin opening extending transversely between the opposing side surfaces;
- and
- (v) a bolt passage in communication with the pin opening.
- (c) the gauge elements have proximal ends received in the parallel slots of the modular block;
- (d) a lateral pin extends transversely and substantially through the pin opening of the modular block;
- and
- (e) a securing bolt having a leading end extends through the bolt passage and biases the lateral pin against the proximal end of a gauge element.
A modular block assembly for use in a tufting machine comprising:
- (a) a modular block having a front surface, a pair of opposed side surfaces, a rear surface, a top surface and a bottom surface;
- and a plurality of vertical parallel slots separated by vertical walls and transversely spaced between the opposing side surfaces;
- and a pin opening extending transversely between the opposing side surfaces;
- (b) a plurality of gauge elements selected from the group consisting of needles, loopers and hooks, having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal ends of said gauge elements being received in the vertical parallel slots of the modular block;
- (c) a lateral pin extending transversely through the pin opening of the modular blocks;
- and
- (d) a first securing bolt having a leading end in contact with the lateral pin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.