Tufting needle assembly

Abstract

A tufting needle assembly for use with a tufting machine is disclosed. The tufting needle assembly comprises a first gauge block or needle bar having a first series of tufting needles disposed thereon. The respective tufting needles are spaced from one another along a first longitudinal axis extending in he lengthwise direction of the gauge block. At least one tufting needle is offset with respect to the first longitudinal axis and the adjacent ones of the tufting needles in the series of tufting needles in the range of form 0.005 to 0.100 inches. A shank of the at least one tufting needle may be offset with respect to the first longitudinal axis and those of the adjacent tufting needles, or alternately the shank may be aligned with those of the adjacent tufting needles and a needle tip of the at least one tufting needle is offset with respect to the first longitudinal axis and the needle tips of the adjacent ones of the tufting needles in series. The tufting needle assembly further comprises a second series or spaced tufting needles disposed either on the first gauge block or a second series of spaced tufting needles disposed either on the first gauge block or a second gauge block, the tufting needles within the second series extending along a second longitudinal axis spaced parallel to the first longitudinal axis in the range of from 0.20 to 0.25 inches. The respective tufting needles and extend linearly along the second longitudinal axis, or alternately at least one tufting needle of the second series may be offset with respect to the second longitudinal axis and the adjacent ones of the tufting needles within the second series.

Description

[0001] Related applications for reference [0002] This application claims priority to Provisional United States Patent Application Serial No. 60 / 288,486 filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on May 3, 2001, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. technical field [0003] This invention relates to tufting machines. In particular the invention relates to a tufting needle assembly characterized in that there is at least one tufting point which is offset relative to a point or an adjacent point in a row of tufting needles which are arranged along a common longitudinal axis , the common longitudinal axis extends along a tufting machine needle bar or a gauge block adapted to be mounted on a needle bar. Background technique [0004] Tufting machines are known to produce the fibrous face of a tufted article, such as a carpet, by tufting individual yarns through a primary backing material or substrate. The tufting machine has ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0008] Therefore, the movement capability of this known type of tufting machine is limited to 1 / 5 inch

However, at a certain sewing speed, the separate rows of tufting needles are in line with each other and produce the same phenomenon as when using a single row of tufting needles, that is, there will be visible burrs in the surface of the tufted item. Pattern and Texture Issues

Another known problem with the use of in-line tufting needle rows is that as the tuft sewing speed decreases, the in-line tuft rows become easier to see and are therefore not visually pleasing

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