Abstract: An in-line needle bar arrangement for tufting machines (10) for tufting a selected fabric. A pair of needle bars (12A,B) are provided with registered faces (20) configured to engage one another such that the needles (14) carried thereby are positioned to define a single row of needles (14). Each one of the needles (14) is substantially similar to each of the others such that only one configuration of needle (14) is required. A plurality of filaments (16) are provided, one each for one each of the plurality of needles (14). Each filament (16) is engaged by one of at least two feed control rollers (18). Each of the rollers (18) is controlled independently from the other in order to accomplish different feed rates by each. By varying the feed rate of the yarn (16), the pile height is proportionately varied, thus varying the pile height of the respective tufts.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 14, 1994
Date of Patent:
October 22, 1996
Assignee:
Durkan Patterned Carpets, Inc.
Inventors:
Clyde Burgess, Gerald Morrison, M. Steven Berger