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:
Nov. 24, 1992
Filed:
Dec. 27, 1991
Gary L Ingram, Ooltewah, TN (US);
Tapistron International, Inc., Ringgold, GA (US);
Abstract
Tufting apparatus for producing textile goods includes a plurality of hollow needles which are reciprocated vertically to penetrate a backing. A selected yarn is fed pneumatically through a respective passageway into a yarn exchanger and through a respective needle and implanted into the backing, the backing being shifted transversely so that a transverse row of tufts is implanted across the backing. There are a series of passageways, each carrying a different yarn, communicating with each yarn exchanger. The selected yarn is fed by a yarn feed system and carried by high pressure air flowing in the passageway of the selected yarn, the yarn exchanger and the needle, while air flows in the other passageways under a lower pressure. The yarn exchanger has a funnel shape configuration and when a particular yarn is selected to be fed to the needle, another yarn is withdrawn from the needle to the inlet of the funnel. In order to prevent tangling of yarn within the funnel to preclude clogging at the inlet of the nozzle, an air jet is supplied within the funnel directed toward the inlet of the needle, the air jet being a nozzle positioned within the funnel.