[1]Patcnted Sept. 26, 1944 2@359@050 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,359,050 MULTIPLE NEF.DLE SKIP-,13Trmn MACENE WiUiajn B. Patey, Winona, Miss., assignor of onehalf to Robert D. Sanders, Jacksoji, Miss. APPHeation November (;, 1942, Serial N@. 464,803 RO clwms. (Cl. 1-12--205) My Invention relates to tufting machines and .motor. mhy be of the cohventional type, that is, more particularly to tufting machines of the multiple needle, skip-stitch type for simultaneously formtng rows of spaced tufts on relatively long sections of cloth as it progressively passe@. 5 through the machine and constitutes an improvement over the machinb disclosed in my Patent No. 2,352,153, dated June 20, 1944. It Is an object of the invention to provide a multiple needle skip-stitbh machine ha@ing an 10 improved feed mechanism which will at Intervals move the cloth a distance o f several stitches without disabling or rendering inoperative the needle carriage and without interference with Its operation. 15 A further bbject of the invention resides in pro;viding a ratchet mechanism.for rotating the feed rolls of the machine having a main reciprocating arm for actuating the mechanism to i@urn the rolls and move the cloth a pre-deter- 20 mined distance, and an auxiliary reciprocating arm associated with said main arm and interr.,littently operated, said auxiliary nrm having a longer stroke where@y the rolls @) re turned to move the cloth a greater distance. 25 Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following specification and @)CComp anying drawings and the novel features ,@hereof will be pointed out in the annexed claims. In the drawings Figure I is a rear elevation 30 of my improved tufting machine. P<igure 2 As 19, cross section of my improved feed roller and its shaft. Fqgure 3 is an end elevation of my improved machine showing the cloth and the thread passing therethrough. Figure 4 is a detail of my 35 improved actuating rod for the feed mechanism of my machine. Flgure 5 is a fragmental end elevation of my imprbved machine showing the feed actuating mechanism f(>r producing the skip-stitch effect by moving the cloth a distance @t 0 of several stitches at intervals during the operation of the machine. Mgure 6 is a sectional view of my improved feed mechanism taken along the line 6, 6 of Mgure 5. Mgure 7 is a detail plan view of a feed actuating member of my improled @5 machine. Referring to the drawings in detail 7 designates the frame of my improved machine and may conveniently be the frame of a conventional loom which has been converted. This frame 50 may be of structural steel and may. have base Tnembers 116, 116 which join the ends 7, 7 of the frame. Mounted on each end of the base elements 116, 116 and bridging them is a supporting base II 7 for an electric motor I i S. This 55 a single, double or triple phase induction niotor or anappropriate D. C. motor. Of course, the conventiongl electrical leads or conductors (not shown) pass from a source of electrical energy to the motor. The motor has adjacent one of Its ends a shaft extension and pulley 0 9 4 mounted on such extension and having one or more grooves for cdaction with the -belts or bther appropriate means. Mounted inteimediate the frame and bridging its ends is a central drive shaft 21 joumaled in appropriate bearings 100, 0 00 mounted ,oreferably on the Inner faces of the eiids 7, 7 of the frame. Shaft 2 I extends beYond either end thereof and mounted on one end Is a pulley 9 12 having grooves therein for cooperation with V belts d i 8 bridging the pulley on t-he motor I 9 5 and the pulley I I 2 on the machine. The shaft 21 Is also supported Intermediate Its, ends in a bearing 99 on the end of an arm extending upwardly from side members of the frame. Mounted @ on and ltitermediate oi' drive shaft 20 is a hand wheel 98 for tuming the drive shaft manualiy, and Independent of the motor 0 00, primarily for use when threading up the machine. Positioned on an iritermediate portion of the frame and adjacent the top thereof is a U shape angle iron or cliailnel eleinent 27 which bridges the ends 7, 7 of the frame. A throat plate 33 is attached to the angle iron 27. Positioned beneath the throat plate 33 and mounted on the ,-olates 29 at either end of the machine are rock shafts 29, 30. On shaft 29 is mounted the conventional looper and on shaft 30 is mounted the conventional cutter. Likewlse the cutter shaft may be actuated from the looper shaft by the conventoinal hnk arrangement. Such an arrangeinent is disclosed in my prior patent as identified above, @nd such a combination is conveniently shown in Bradwell 2,241,11.3. Shaft 29 receives its 'movement through a connecting rod 25 extending from the main drive shaft 21 of the machine, and may be joined to the shaft 2-9 through any arm and conventional joint such as a ball and socket joint disclosed in,detail in my prior patent. Positioned over the bed plate SS of the machine is a needle carriage IS made up of a structural frame work of pieces extending longitudinally and transversely which are preferably of angle iron construction. Mounted on tle lower front edge of the caritage are a series of conventional needle s(>ckets for the reception o f needles 19 in spaced relation. 'Mese needles span
[2]2 2,359,050 the entire front of the carriage and are coexten@ sive with the width of cloth to be operated upon, Also appropriate thread. guide openings may be made in the members of the carriage for the passage of thread to the needles. 5 Mounted on the inner faces of the front ends of the carriage frame 16 In sockets earried thereby are balls 17, 17 which balls coact with these sockets In the movement of the carriage. The balls 17, 17 are rigidly mounted on the ends 10 of connecting rods 22 which extend upwardly from the main drive shaft 21 of the machine. On the rear of the carriage 16 and serving to mount it are sockets and balls 18. The balls 18 are rigidly mounted ori the carriage 16 and co- jr) act with and are received in sockets carried by the rear uprights, extensions of the frame. This permits the carriage to rock about balls 18, 18 as an axis so that the needles 19 mounted on the front thereof,are moved In an arcuate path. 20 As lndicat6d above the'connecting rodi 22 extend from the carriage. 16 down to the main drive shaft 21 and it is pointed out @that the lower end of each connecting rod 22 terminates Jn a socket which Is disposed about ea= on the drive shaft 25 and they act to reciprocate the rods 22, 22 and the carriage is rocked or swung about its pivots in the well known manner of an eccentric. Mounted In advance of and positioned above and below the bed plate of the machine are a 30 plurality of spreader rollers 84, 85 and a feed roller 222. The foriner rollers preferably have a plurajity of spiml ribs extending outwaxdly towards each end thereof from the center. These rollers are preferably cylindrical in conflgura- 35 tion and roller 85 receives its power from roller 84, being connected thereto through a belt, preferably in the manner indicated in my previous patent. It Is also pteferred that the belt leading to pulley 85 be reversed or crossed In order 40 to drive that roller in the OPPosite direction to that of roller 84. Roller 84 in turn receives fts power from a pulley on the main drive shaft 21 and is connected theret6 through an api)ropriate belt, which detail is well brought out in my pat- 45 ent. On the other hand roher 222 mounted on extension 15 of the frame by shaft 221 is driven from pufley 220 which in turn derives its power from feed shaft 65 and pulley 2 1 9 mounted thereon and operatively connected to pulley 220 by 60 belt 2 IS. Mounted on the opposite end of drive shaft 21 from that of the driving pubey II 2 is a can for norrnally actuating the feed mechanism to be hereinafter described. Rearwardly of the bed rS plate of the machine and in substantiouy vertical alinement and extending across the machine are upper and lower feeder rollers 62, 63. The lower roller 63 Is tnounted on a shaft carried by frame 7 of the machine but may be adjusted towards Go and away from the upper roller by any appropriate means. The upper roller is mounted at one end in the fraine 7 and at the other end its shaft 65 is carried by aii angle bracket 69 having a lower end secured through stud 70' to the frame 45 and the Upper end extending outwardly from the frame 7. This provides clearance for movement of the arm 225 which actuates cross member 70. These VariOus rollers are all similar to that shown in Mgure 2 wherein a metal base 222 has a metal 70 surface coated with a coating of rubber 223. This gives these rollers better adherence to cloth which they are moving through the machine. Mounted on the shaft 65 adjacent the standard or bearend of the member 70 Is slotted or grooved to receive the Pivot Pin 75 in adjusted relation In order to somewhat vary the length of the stroke. Mounted pivotally by pin 72 on th-- upper end of cross member 70 Is a pawl 71 which is actuated into contact with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 66 In the usual manner by a spring 73 set in the Inner face of the cross arm adJiLeent its upper end. The sprocket wheel 66 is mounted on the shaft 65 adjacent the cross-arin 70'and Is keyed or otherwise secured directly to the shaft. A resilient flnger 79 19 mounted on the frame 7 by a stud or other appropriate support which tensions the resilient finger 79 against the ratchet wheel 66 to retard Its movement, and act as a brace in the usual and well known manner. Mounted adjacent drive shaft 21 atid on ore of the ends 7 of the frame in bearing 203 is supplemental shaft 202 which carries toothed disk 201 whose teeth are adapted to mesh with' the teeth of gear 200 mounted on the main drive shaft 21. Mounted on the toothed disk 201 is a cam element 204 having studs or other smuring means 216 passing therethrough and Into disk 201 for securing the cam to the disk. Positioned Just above and passing across and Just adjacent to the disk 201 is a bracket 205 secured at Its upper end through screws or studs 2 1 5 to the end. 7 of the frame. ProJecting upwardly from the bracket 206 axe guides 206 upon which member 207 Is ad;xpted to re6iprocate. Pivotally mounted Intermediate its ends is a roller 208 on pivot 209 along with arm 2 1 0, which arm 2 1 0 is pivotally joined to the expansible arm 225 at 21 1. The extensible arm 225 Is shown at Flgi 4 as carrying a collar 212 intermediate Its ends. One end of rod 225 extends into tubular member 217 which coarts at its other end with a dam on shaft 21 to reciprocate it and Its mating rod 225 and operate the feeding mechanism through cross arm 70. Pin 224 mounted on rod 217 and pin 213 mounted on collar 212 have bridging. them a tension @pring 214 which tends to urge the collar 2i2 and the end of tubular member 217 into intimate engagement. Mounted rearwardly of the initial feed rollers 62, 63 and carried by extensions of the frame are additional feed rollers 53, 54 mounted in vertically alined adjusted relation. These rollers as in my prior patent are mounted on flanged plates, which flanges are secured adjacent their upper ends to extensions of the fmme. The lower plain surface roller 54 Is mounted on a shaft or otherwise bridges the aforesaid plates. The upper roller 63 has a knurled or roughened outer surface' It is moiinted on a shaft whirh preferably ProJects some distance beyond the roller at one end. The upper shaft passes through slots In the supporting bracket and is Joumaled on either end on blocks. The extending free end cf the upper shaft'has a pulley 77 mounted thereon, which PulleY is joined through belt 78 to a pulley on shaft 65, which latter pulley is positioned adjacent the ratchet wheel 74 or if desired.can coact with PuUey 219 which drives pulleY 220. Mounted on either end 7 of the frame Is a standard 68 carrying a pivoted arm 67 for adliustment to anY desired or appropriate position. Formed in the upper edge of each arm 67 is a groove which serves as a bearing for supporting a roller,or stationary clotli guide 86, bridging the space therebetween. Extending upwardly from the frame 7 at its corriers are four uprights or extensions 8, 6 havMg 69 is a pivoted cross member 70. The lower TO Ing a suPPorting structure 5 made of fabricated
[3]steel or other appropriat I e material for supporting varlous'cones of yarn -2. Additional members extend upwardly from the supporting structure 5 and additional members bridge the upper ends of these extensions and extend on beyond them 5 at the rear of the machtne as shown In FIg. 3. To these cross@ members are secured a I series of pins or looped guides 8 for directing the removal of the thread or, yarn from the cones 2. Mounted uprights 6, 6 Intermediate their ends Is a 10 =thread guide 9 of relatively thin m aterial having a 'g,reat:many openings therein for the passing of yam. Mounted forwardly of the frame 7 on projecting arms 43 is @a roll of fabric or backing. Pass- 16 ing through the roll of backing Is a shaft 44 having portiob.s thereof seated In grooves of the arms 43. Exteiidink upwardly from one side of the franie'adjacent one of the arm@ 43 is a levet o@3 Ovotally m6unted on a bracket 46 on frame 20 7 to MO)te longitudinally of shaft A4. ' This lever is f6r the ptirpose of moving the shaft 44 and Is joined to it intermediate its ends but this feature constitutes no part of this invention and Is covered in olp@licant's previous patent. 2.1 Mounted on the@ frame adjacent the roll of cloth 3 are guides 83, 83 which project Inwardly - from ends 7 6f thb' frame above and below the cloth for limiting the upward and downword movement thereof, and the other usual guldes are 11) also employed. This machine as has already been indicated has series of loopers and cutters mounted on shafts 29, 30, one each t6 each needle. It also has @-1, presser foot positioned over the throat plate :1.'@ S3. It is norriially tensioned against the throat plate by upstanding stluds passing throu.-h the presser foot and having compre@sion springs 38 disposed about them and bearing upon the presser foot. The throat plate is made fn the usuel 411 manner having the enlarged throats as is customary 1 the tuftin art 4, 9 For stopping the machine after the power has been cut off ari @@appropn-ate brake is provided. This brake , consists of I a f oot lever I I 0 pivotally i 5 mounted on a brgcket 103 carried on one side of frame 7 by appropriate studs or other means. Pivot pin I II pivotally mounted on bracket 0 03 carries an arm 904 which in turn pivotally sup,oorts a rod 107@ at orie end. The rod 107 is also r)O supported by a strap, 102 secured to a side of the frame 7 thro@gh studs or other means. The end of ro-' I b7. @xtends through an out turned portion of th6 strap and the free end of the rod 107 , ha,-, 9, campressi6n spririg. 106 and a nut or washer ba @og tliereon, @Aigi@l@ mounted on the rod 107 is a brake sho6 105 @7hicli is adapted t@o engage and work again@i tl@e iniier @iirface of the rim or flangeofthe'driv@pulle:@112.' are showri and the -particulair mounting for the roller 208 is indicited. This r6ller Is preferably set in a slot in mexuber 207 and the extension of shaft2O9pivotallycoact@@@vith@member2lC. The 65 bracket 205 will also be seen to be of U shape permitting the pas@age of'the 'rod comprised of the telescoping@ r'6ds 2 1'7, 225. It also shows how bearing 203 is mounted@@@by@@siuds 224 on frame end portlon 7. @ ;' @@ : ' '@ 70.. In its 6peration the cloth 1 is mounted on the shaft 44 in the form of a roll. Cones of yarn, one to each needle, positioned on support 5 feed the needles 19. The cloth is threaded through the machine passing between guides Q3, 83 under 76 3 spreader roller 84, over spreader roller 85, under relatively larger spreader roller 222, across the throat plate 33 and under the presser foot, onto and over guide 66, between feed rollers 62, 63 and on between feed rollers 53, 54. VVben the switch Is closed the electric motor rotates plilley 114 and this In turn rotates pulley i 12, and causes them to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as indicated in Mg. 3. This reciprocates the rods 22, 22 up and down and causes the needle carrlage to oscillate In an arouate path, intermittently passing the needles 19 carried thereby through the slots in the presser foot and throat plate 33 and successively plere-, ing the fabric thereon as It is fed across the throat plate. Likewise rod 25 is made to reciprocate and to rock shafts 29, 30 thereby actuating the loopers and cutters in timed relation with the looper. Rods 217, 225 are likewise reciprocated causing the cross arm 70 to be oscillated, and in turn causirig the pawl 71 to advance the ratchet wheel 74 as it indexes with the te thereof. This Intermittently moves the shaft 66 and In tum the pulleys 219, 77, and 220 and this moves the feed rollers 222, 62, 63, and 53, 54 in synchronism, and feeds the cloth. However, during this sELme time th6 pinion 200 on shaft 21 is rotating disk 209 and moving the cam 204 @towards the roller wheel 208. In the byele of operations when the cam 204 reache@ wheel 208, such wheel rides up Its surface and moves the member 207 on the guides 206 causing the arm 210 to move the rod 225 a very long stroke with respect to rod 217 and against spring 214. This causes the cross arm 7.0 to take several times the swing it normally takes and in turn causes the pawl 71 to move the ratchet wheel over a much greater are and acting through shaft 65, belts 218, Ta and rollers 222, 62, 63, etc. to move tlib cloth 3 a distance of several normal stitches on the throat plate 33 of the machine. This causes the machine to skip a space of several stitches before the next stitches are put in. and produces s skip stitch effect. After cam 204 has moved oi2, -,spring 214 causes the rod 225 to return to lts,normal position with the collar 212 r6sting aqainst the end of tubular rod 217, and the machine continues to operate with normal feed until the cam is broiight around again and engages the wheel 208. In their cycle and upon reaching the low- ermost postion of their stroke the needles 19 start their upward travel and ascend from th6 cloth. As is usual In these tufting machines the loopers pass between the needles and their respective strands and catch and hold the strands as the rieedles pass back up out of the fabric to form loops. The knives then come uW and sever the loops on the looper. The machine mAy either be adjusted i6 as they are foryned on the looper. This, of course Is not an important feature of applicant's invention, since already old and well known in the art. In this machin6 it Js ordinarily desirable to use a great many needles, prefera6ly at least 57 in . number,, and their spacing is ordinarily from one-half to five-6ighths inch apart, altliough this may be altered to meet the situation at hand. As raised portions of -cloth or tufts pass between the feed rollers, and particularly the Iast set, they move apart and facilitate the passage of suctl enlarged portions. It will be understood that the. timing of the skips In stitche@s may be altered by changing the, Special aitention i;s direc ted to Flgs. 6 and - 7fo,'accumulate loops on the looper in the well known wherein the,bra6 ket 205 @and sliding member 207 manner or It may cause'the loops to be sever@d
