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:
Jul. 08, 1997
Filed:
May. 24, 1996
Jerry Green, Signal Mountain, TN (US);
Michael E Shipley, Soddy-Daisy, TN (US);
Richard J Prichard, Hixson, TN (US);
Tuftco Corp., Chattanooga, TN (US);
Abstract
A looper apparatus for a multiple needle tufting machine including a looper support member having a transverse hook bar for supporting a plurality of looper hooks for a cooperation with the reciprocable needles in the tufting machine and an elongated guide member reciprocably supported in linear bearings to restrict the motion of the looper hooks in a straight linear direction substantially parallel to the feeding direction to the base fabric, and a drive mechanism pivotally connected to hook support member for reciprocably driving the support member in a linear path. A stub shaft with thrust bearing is mounted at one end of the tufting machine and connected by a curved rocker arm to an end of the hook bar to offset knife pressure placed against the hooks and communicated to the hook bar.