Columbia Insurance Company

Shaw Industries Group, Inc.

Mark Honeycutt

Neil Vaughan

James Jarrett

Keith Goble

The invention relates to a control system for a tufting machine configured for forming tufted carpet. The tufting machine can have a system controller in communication with the tufting machine and with a plurality of yarn feed controllers for controlling operation of yarn feed motors that are configured to supply yarn from a source of yarn to the tufting machine. The system controller is programmable to enable input of a plurality of predetermined yarn feed profiles for selected stitches of a programmed pattern to be tufted such that, although at least two of the predetermined yarn feed profiles can be different, substantially the same feed length of yarn is used from each of the plurality of yarns.

Methods and devices for controlling a tufting machine for forming tufted carpet

A warping system for reducing tension in a plurality of yarn ends wound by the warping system onto a beam. The warping system minimizes the number of contact points as yarn is pulled off of yarn packages in a creel and wound onto the beam. After exiting a tube, yarn passes over a roller and an expansion comb before being wound onto the beam. The yarn extends between the roller and the beam substantially in a yarn plane. The yarn can contact the warping system at only one contact point between the roller and the beam.

Methods and systems for regulating tension in warping

A tufting machine for forming tufted carpet having means for inserting loops of at least two different yarns into a backing material moving through the tufting machine and means for controlling the deviation of the ratio of different yarns projecting from a top surface of the backing material. It is contemplated that the tufting machine can be used to maintain the color of the tufted carpet at a desired color during the operation of the tufting machine.

Methods and devices for controlling the tension of yarn in a tufting machine

A portable creel for organizing yarn packages and directing yarn to a tufting machine. A portable creel provides flexibility for carpet manufactures in that operators can pre-load portable creels with yarn packages for future runs and move them into position when needed. In one aspect, the portable creel comprises an outer frame and a movable inner frame. The inner frame is configured to hold a plurality of yarn packages and the outer frame comprises a plurality of tubes configured to direct the yarn from the yarn packages to a header. The header, in turn, directs the yarn from the portable creel to specific portions of a tufting machine.

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Cartersville, GA, United States of America

Mark Honeycutt