Gretag Systems, Inc.

Tapistron International, Inc.

Richard A Dolf

Sean E Gorman

David L Davis

Milton R Sigelmann

Michael J Black

John M Havard

An apparatus for tufting yarn in a backing comprising a yarn applicator for penetrating the backing and implanting the yarn therein and an electric motor for supplying a predetermined length of the yarn to the yarn applicator. The electric motor is operable to selectively advance the predetermined length of yarn to the yarn applicator, and alternatively, hold the yarn or retract the yarn from the applicator. Desirably, the electric motor is a stepper motor, and more desirably, the apparatus comprises a plurality of stepper motors for selectively feeding yarns to a row of reciprocable hollow tufting needles for producing a patterned tufted product. According to one aspect, the tufting apparatus composes a modular supply system and a corresponding modular control system. Pattern information and timing signals are sent to modular yarn control units by a remote process control computer system. According to another aspect, an apparatus for tufting yarn in a backing is provided wherein a flexible yarn supply tube extends from the outlet of a stationary manifold to the inlet of a reciprocable needle mount for a hollow tufting needle, so that during reciprocation of the needle, yarn does not move relative to a yarn feed path due to the reciprocation of the needle. This allows for yarn to be fed to the needle during the entire needle reciprocation cycle. A yarn movement monitoring apparatus, a yarn movement managing apparatus, a needle assembly for tufting yarn in a backing, and a knife assembly for mounting to a frame and cutting yarn implanted into a backing by a hollow needle are also encompassed.

Apparatus and method for producing patterned tufted goods

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for removing wastepaper (W) from a continuous web(2) of photographic paper upon which photographic images (P.sub.1, P.sub.2 . . . ) have been printed. Between each photograph there exists a cut mark (4) that instructs a photographic print cutter (1) where one photograph ends and an adjacent photograph begins. The method comprises advancing the web to a point where a cut mark is expected and sensing the presence or absence of a cut mark. If a cut mark is sensed, the web is advanced to align the cut mark under a cutting knife (8) and the cutting knife is cycled. If a cut mark is not sensed, the web is reversed a predetermined reverse length before the cutting knife is cycled. By reversing the web the predetermined reverse length, it is assured that any length of wastepaper cut from the web will at least be as long as the reverse length. The reverse length is long enough to prevent jamming of the print cutter.

Method and apparatus for removing wastepaper from a continuous web of

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Richard A Dolf