Tufting machine pattern yarn feed mechanism

Abstract

A yarn feed mechanism for use with a tufting machine is disclosed. The tufting machine has a needle bar with an aligned series of spaced tufting needles disposed thereon, each of which is supplied with yarn from a yarn supply for penetrating a backing material to sew tufts of yarn therein. The yarn feed mechanism includes a support framework mounted on the tufting machine adjacent a yarn feed path extending from the yarn supply to the needles of the tufting machine, with at least one yarn feed roll assembly mounted for rotation on the support framework. The yarn feed roll assembly further includes an elongate yarn feed roll having an exterior yarn driving periphery extending along a longitudinal axis parallel to the needle bar of the tufting machine, the yarn feed roll being rotated in timed relationship with the reciprocation of the needle bar. An orbital yarn applying member spaced from the yarn feed roll is supported on the support framework and is movable about the yarn feed roll in an orbital path from a yarn receiving position to a yarn applying position. The yarn applying member is used to apply portions of selected yarns against at least a portion of the yarn driving periphery of the yarn feed roll in the yarn applying position for controlling the rate at which the yarn is fed to the needles of the tufting machine. The yarn applying member of the invention may comprise at least one concentrically orbited control rod spaced from and parallel to the yarn feed roll, or may comprise a pinch roller orbited eccentrically about the yarn feed roll, and constructed to be moved into a yarn applying position engaged with the periphery of the yarn feed roll.