The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 25, 1981
Filed:
Sep. 11, 1980
Billy E Inman, Signal Mtn., TN (US);
Spencer Wright Industries, Inc., Chattanooga, TN (US);
Abstract
A tufting machine having a needle bar shifter apparatus including a follower member operatively connected to the needle bar and positioned within a guideway tiltable about both a lower pivot and an upper pivot. External force applied by positioner devices is selectively applied to pivot the top of the guideway about the lower pivot while the needle bar and follower member are in a lower position with a follower substantially aligned axially with the lower pivot, and to pivot the guideway about the upper pivot when the needle bar and follower member are in an upper position substantially aligned with the upper pivot point. The guideway is pivotably connected to control rods driven by the positioner devices. The momentum of the reciprocating needle bar provides a substantial amount of the force required for a lateral shift, and only small external force need be applied to the control rods.