Abstract: A sliding needle bar tufting machine is provided with two needle bars each carrying a single row of needles, at least one needle bar being mounted to be adjustable in a warpwise direction relative to the other needle bar to enable the spacing between the two rows of needles to be varied. In an alternative construction a needle bar is arranged at each side of a needle bar carrier and both needle bars are adjustable along a common support member mounted in the carrier.

Abstract: In a sliding needle bar tufting machine in which displacement of a needle bar transversely of a tufted fabric undergoing manufacture to create a pattern in the fabric is effected by the action of rotary cam means on a needle bar carrier member, the invention provides single or single-acting cam follower means on the needle bar carrier member and a pair or appropriately spaced rotary cams of conjugate shape acting on said cam follower means. The use of two cams of conjugate shape makes it unnecessary for the individual cams to be symmetrical about their centers of rotation and thereby enables the production in the fabric of patterns which are asymmetrical in character.