Level cut loop looper and clip assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11041265-B2
Application number	US-201916403659-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 6, 2019
Priority date	Jun 27, 2014
Publication date	Jun 22, 2021
Grant date	Jun 22, 2021

Abstract

A level cut loop looper or hook and clip assembly for a tufting machine includes at least one module carrying a series of level cut loop loopers or hooks. Each level cut loop looper or hook generally can include a looper body along which a clip is slidably moved. Each clip will be moved between retracted and extended positions as the level cut loop loopers or hooks are reciprocated toward and away from engagement with their associated needles of the tufting machine. Actuators can be engaged to secure the clips in their extended positions as needed to selectively form cut and loop pile tufts in a backing material.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A tufting machine, comprising:
a series of needles moved in a reciprocating motion and carrying a plurality of yarns into and out of a backing material; and
a series of level cut loop looper and clip assembly units, each comprising:
a plurality of level cut loop loopers, reciprocated toward and away from the needles as the needles are reciprocated into and out of the backing material, so as to engage and pick-up loops of yarns from said needles for forming tufts in the backing material;
a plurality of clips each movable along an associated one of said level cut loop loopers between a retracted portion and an extended position; and
a plurality of actuators, each actuator having a locking member moveable into engagement with one of said clips,
wherein as said level cut loop loopers are reciprocated toward and away from said needles, at least some of said clips are moved along their associated ones of said level cut loop loopers toward their extended positions, and wherein one or more selected ones of said actuators are engaged and move their locking members into contact with selected ones of said clips to substantially locate said selected clips in their extended positions along said level cut loop loopers associated with each of said selected clips for substantially blocking capture of loops of yarns picked up by said level cut loop loopers associated with said selected clips.

2. The tufting machine of claim 1 , wherein said actuators comprise at least one of a solenoid, piezo-electric actuator, a pneumatic cylinder, or a fluid cylinder.

3. The tufting machine of claim 1 and wherein said clips comprise tapering projections configured to facilitate pick-up and release of the loops of yarns picked-up from the needles by said level cut loop loopers to form loop pile tufts.

4. The tufting machine of claim 1 , wherein said level cut loop loopers each comprise a shank, a throat extending forwardly from said shank, and a forward end configured to pick-up and capture a loop of yard along said throat.

5. The tufting machine of claim 4 , further comprising a series of knives, each moveable into engagement with one of said level cut loop loopers to cut loops of yarns captured along said throats of said level cut loop loopers to form cut pile tufts.

6. The tufting machine of claim 1 , further comprising a pivot member mounted to each of said clips and to a biasing element, wherein each of said clips is biased toward its retraced position, and a stop member positioned to be engaged by said clips as said level cut loop loopers are reciprocated away from said needles to cause movement of said clips toward their extended positions along said level cut loop loopers.

7. The tufting machine of claim 1 , wherein each of said clips comprises a recess located along its body and configured to receive one of said locking members of one of said actuators aligned therewith so as to substantially lock said clip in its extended position.

8. The tufting machine of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of level cut loop loopers are mounted in spaced series within a module of one of said level cut loop lopper and clip assembly units.

9. A tufting machine, comprising:
at least one reciprocating needle bar with a series of spaced needles mounted therealong;
a yarn feed mechanism feeding yarns to each of the needles;
backing rolls feeding a backing material through the tufting machine;
a level cut loop looper and clip assembly mounted below the backing material, the level cut loop looper and clip assembly comprising:
a series of level cut loop loopers reciprocable toward and away from the needles as the needles pass into and out of the backing material for forming a series of tufts of yarn in a backing material,
a series of clips, each movable along an associated one of the level cut loop loopers, and
a series of actuators arranged adjacent the level cut loop loopers and clips, each actuator being selectively operable to engage and substantially lock a selected clip of a selected level cut loop looper in an extended or a retracted position along the selected level cut loop looper for forming a cut or a loop pile tuft of yarn in the backing material.

10. The tufting machine of claim 9 , wherein said actuators comprise at least one of a solenoid, piezo-electric actuator, a pneumatic cylinder, or a fluid cylinder.

11. The tufting machine of claim 9 , wherein each of said clips comprises a recess configured to receive the locking member of an associated one of said actuators therein to substantially lock each of said clips in an extended position.

12. The tufting machine of claim 9 , further comprising a stop member positioned adjacent a distal end of each of the clips located in a position so as to be engaged by and cause movement of the clips along their level cut loop loopers and toward their extended positions, as said level cut loopers are reciprocated away from the needles.

13. The tufting machine of claim 9 , further comprising a pivot member mounted adjacent the distal end of each of the clips, and a biasing element mounted to an opposite end of each pivot member, whereby each of the clips is biased toward a retracted position as the level cut loop loopers and clips are reciprocated toward the needles.

14. The tufting machine of claim 9 , wherein the level cut loop looper and clip assembly further comprises a series of units each having a unit body along which the level cut loop loopers are mounted, with the clips thereof extending through the unit body, and wherein each of the clips is movable through the unit body between retracted and extended positions as the units are reciprocated toward and away from the needles.

Assignees

• Card Monroe Corp

Inventors

• Mathews Ricky E

Classifications

• D05C15/24

  Loop cutters; Driving mechanisms therefor · CPC title

• D05C15/22 Primary

  Loop-catching arrangements, e.g. loopers; Driving mechanisms therefor · CPC title

• D05C15/36

  by selective cutting of loops · CPC title