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:
Oct. 22, 1996
Filed:
Apr. 11, 1995
William H Satterfield, Dalton, GA (US);
Spencer Wright Industries, Inc., Dalton, GA (US);
Abstract
A tufting machine includes a pattern attachment mounted between a yarn feeding device and the needles, the yarn feeding device feeding yarn to the needles at a constant rate in an amount sufficient to accommodate the yarn requirements of the needle and looper system. The pattern attachment includes a series of slats rotatable about an axis in timed relationship to the reciprocation of the needles. Each slat includes a yarn receiving groove corresponding to each needle, certain of the grooves being shallower than others. A first yarn guide directs yarn from the feeding device to the pattern attachment while a second yarn guide directs yarn from the pattern attachment toward the needles. The slats are mounted on chains fastened to sprockets mounted on a driven shaft. The yarn is tensioned so that the full amount of yarn fed by the feeding device may be received by the needles, and when yarn enters a shallow groove, the yarn is pulled back from the respective needle resulting in a loop that is shorter than when the full amount of yarn is received by the needle.