GB919446A - A pattern control attachment for tufting machines - Google Patents

Abstract

919,446. Sewing-machines. SINGER-COBBLE Inc. Aug. 25, 1961 [May 29, 1961], No. ,30646/61. Class 112. [Also in Group XL (b)] A tufting machine has means for varying the length and/or kind of the pile produced, the means comprising a photo-cell, a light source adjacent the photo-cell, a pattern member having light-transmitting areas and opaque areas and means for moving the pattern member between the photo-cell and the light source. In one embodiment the tufting- machine is of .the type described in Specification 780,370, wherein yarn is fed to the needles by a pair, 10, of oppositely-rotating feed rolls 12, 13, which may be selectively connected by magnetic clutches 25, 27 to a high-speed drivesprocket 24 or to a low-speed drive-sprocket 26 to produce long or short tufts according to the required pattern. As shown, the pairs of feed rolls 10 are mounted in two horizontal rows, each row and its sprockets 24, 26, being driven from the opposite end of the machine, preferably at different speeds, so .that four different pile lengths may be provided in the pattern. The mechanism controlling the clutches comprises a pattern drum 45 comprising end-plates 46 and an intermediate cylinder 47 of translucent glass or synthetic plastic. Elongated light bulbs 55 are disposed within the cylinder and a unit 58 above the drum contains a plurality of photocells, one cell for each pair of rolls 10. The drum is driven by belts 51, 53 from the fabric feed rolls 6. Each cell is connected electrically through a transistor amplifier to the appropriate clutches 25, 27. It is stated that the control mechanism may be used to control the selection of needles in the machine described in Specification 910,604 or in the machine described in Specification 853,527. Controlling motors.-The two driving motors, one of which is shown at 3, are mounted at opposite ends of the machine and are connected to a common power supply. Their starting circuits include a relay operated by the power supply to the yarn feed clutches and a relay operated by a lamp monitoring photo-cell so that either failure of the clutch supply, which would render both clutches inoperative and stop the yarn feed, or failure of the lamps 55, which would maintain the high-speed clutches 25 engaged continuously, will stop the machine. Lights in the circuits burn to show functioning of the clutch supply and the lamp. A time delay is incorporated in the circuit of the lamps 55 to keep them in operation when the machine is shut down for a limited time for adjustment, but shuts off the lamp if the machine is stopped for an extended period, to prevent the heat from warping the pattern sheet 57. Specification 735,019 also is referred to.