Needle bar tensioning apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021332517-A1
Application number	US-202117241674-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 27, 2021
Priority date	Apr 27, 2020
Publication date	Oct 28, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A shifter adjustment assembly can be configured to couple to a shifter of a tufting apparatus, the shifter having first, second, third, and fourth shaft segments. The shifter adjustment assembly comprises a first body that is configured to couple to respective first ends of the first and third shaft segments. A second body is configured to couple to respective first ends of the second and fourth shaft segments. The shifter assembly comprises a coupling between the first body and the second body. The coupling is configured to releasably secure an axial position of the first body with respect to the second body along the longitudinal dimension. The first body and second body define respective complementary surfaces that are configured for sliding engagement so that movement between the first body and the second body in the transverse dimension is restricted and movement between the first body and the second body in the longitudinal dimension is permitted.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A shifter adjustment assembly that is configured to couple to a shifter of a tufting apparatus, the shifter having first, second, third, and fourth shaft segments, each of the first, second, third, and fourth shaft segments having respective first and second ends, the first and second shaft segments being aligned and spaced apart in a longitudinal dimension, the third and fourth shaft segments being aligned and spaced apart in the longitudinal dimension, the first ends of the first and second shaft segments facing one another, the first ends of the third and fourth shaft segments thing one another, the third and fourth shaft segments being offset from the first and second shaft segments in a transverse dimension that is perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension, the shifter adjustment assembly comprising:
a first body that is configured to couple to the first ends of the first and third shaft segments; a second body that is configured to couple to the first ends of the second and fourth shaft segments; and a coupling between the first body and the second body, wherein the coupling is configured to releasably secure an axial position of the first body with respect to the second body along the longitudinal dimension, wherein the first body and second body define respective complementary surfaces that are configured for sliding engagement so that:
movement between the first body and the second body in the transverse dimension is restricted; and
movement between the first body and the second body in the longitudinal dimension is permitted.

2 . The shifter adjustment assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an adjustment device configured to move the first body with respect to the second body in the longitudinal dimension.

3 . The shifter adjustment assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first body defines a first through-hole that extends through the first body in the longitudinal dimension, wherein the second body defines a second through-hole that extends through the second body in the longitudinal dimension, wherein the first through-hole defines a right-hand thread, wherein the second through-hole defines a left-hand thread, wherein the adjustment device comprises an elongate rod having a right-hand thread on a first end and a left-hand thread on a second end opposite the first end, wherein the right-hand thread of the first end of the elongate rod is in engagement with the right hand thread of the first through-hole, and the left-hand thread of the second end of the elongate rod is in engagement with the left-hand thread of the second through-hole.

4 . The shifter adjustment assembly of claim 3 , further comprising a hexagonal head coupled to the elongate rod.

5 . The shifter adjustment assembly of claim 3 , wherein the adjustment device further comprises a jam nut that is threadedly movable on the elongate rod and configured to bias against one of the first body or the second body.

6 . The shifter adjustment assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first body comprises a first portion and a second portion that is coupled to the first portion, wherein the first portion of the first body defines the first through-hole that defines the right-hand thread, wherein the second body comprises a first portion and a second portion that is coupled to the first portion, wherein the first portion of the second body defines the second through-hole that defines the left-hand thread.

7 . The shifter adjustment assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first portion of the first body extends upwardly from the second portion of the first body, wherein the first portion of the second body extends upwardly from the second portion of the second body

8 . The shifter adjustment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the coupling between the first body and the second body comprises at least one fastener.

9 . The shifter adjustment assembly of claim 8 , wherein one of the first body and the second body defines at least one slot that is elongate in the longitudinal dimension, wherein each fastener of the at least one fastener extends through a respective slot of the at least one slot.

10 . The shifter adjustment assembly of claim 1 :
wherein the first body defines a first longitudinally extending through-bore for receiving the first shaft segment, and wherein the first body defines a second longitudinally extending through-bore for receiving the third shaft segment.

11 . The shifter adjustment assembly of claim 10 :
wherein the first body defines a first slit that extends between a first side of the first body and the first longitudinally extending through-bore, wherein the first body defines a second slit that extends between a second side of the first body and the second longitudinally extending through-bore, wherein the shifter adjustment assembly comprises at least one threaded fastener that extends across the first slit of the first body, wherein the at least one threaded fastener that extends across the first slit of the first body threadedly couples to the first body so that a tightening of the at least one threaded fastener that extends across the first slit of the first body causes the first longitudinally extending through-bore to tighten against the first shaft segment, and wherein the shifter adjustment assembly comprises at least one threaded fastener that extends across the second slit of the first body, wherein the at least one threaded fastener that extends across the second slit of the first body threadedly couples to the first body so that a tightening of the at least one threaded fastener that extends across the second slit of the first body causes the second longitudinally extending through-bore to tighten against the third shaft segment.

12 . The shifter adjustment assembly of claim 1 :
wherein the second body defines a first longitudinally extending through-bore for receiving the second shaft segment, and wherein the second body defines a second longitudinally extending through-bore for receiving the fourth shaft segment.

13 . The shifter adjustment assembly of claim 12 :
wherein the second body defines a first slit that extends between a first side of the second body and the first longitudinally extending through-bore, wherein the second body defines a second slit that extends between a second side of the second body and the second longitudinally extending through-bore, wherein the shifter adjustment assembly comprises at least one threaded fastener that extends across the first slit of the second body, wherein the at least one threaded fastener that extends across the first slit of the second body threadedly couples to the first body so that a tightening of the at least one threaded fastener that extends across the first slit of the second body causes the first longitudinally extending through-bore to tighten against the second shaft segment, and wherein the shifter adjustment assembly comprises at least one threaded fastener that extends across the second slit of the second body, wherein the at least one threaded fastener that extends across the second slit of the second body threadedly couples to the first body so that a tightening of the at least one threaded fastener that extends across the second slit of the second body causes the second longitudinally extending through-bore to tighten against the fourth shaft segment.

14 . The shifter adjustment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first body defines one of a tongue or a groove, and the second body defines the other of the tongue and the groove, wherein the tongue is receivable into the groove with a clearance in the transverse dimension between th

Assignees

• Columbia Insurance Co

Inventors

• Pittman Paul
• Honeycutt Terry
• Runyon Michael
• Jones Dusty
• Voyles David

Classifications

• D05C15/20 Primary

  Arrangements or devices, e.g. needles, for inserting loops; Driving mechanisms therefor · CPC title

• D05C15/30

  by moving the tufting tools laterally · CPC title

• D05C11/06 Primary

  Needle-driving or control mechanisms · CPC title