Abstract: The present invention provides a scroll-type yarn feed attachment for tufting machines characterized by independent servo-motor control of sets of yarn feed rolls, an improved tube bank, and a software design system to facilitate use of the attachment.

Abstract: A looper apparatus for a multiple needle tufting machine including a looper support member having a transverse hook bar for supporting a plurality of looper hooks for a cooperation with the reciprocable needles in the tufting machine and an elongated guide member reciprocably supported in linear bearings to restrict the motion of the looper hooks in a straight linear direction substantially parallel to the feeding direction to the base fabric, and a drive mechanism pivotally connected to hook support member for reciprocably driving the support member in a linear path. A stub shaft with thrust bearing is mounted at one end of the tufting machine and connected by a curved rocker arm to an end of the hook bar to offset knife pressure placed against the hooks and communicated to the hook bar.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a demountable rotary cam with upper and lower portions that can be coupled and securely mounted on a rotatable shaft, and can also be demounted and interchanged with other similar eccentrics having different throws. The demountable rotary cam is particularly suited to vary the stroke of the needle bar in a tufting machine and an adjusting means is provided to maintain the proper relationship between the needles and loopers over a range of strokes.

Abstract: A hydraulic actuator for transversely shifting the relative positions of a needle bar and the backing material in a tufting machine. An electronic pattern control mechanism drives the hydraulic actuator in response to the predetermined stitch pattern information in the electronic control circuit, which determines the amount of relative transverse shifting of the needle bar for each stitch location. A feedback mechanism associated with the hydraulic actuator creates a feedback signal which is compared with a pattern stitch command signal in order to produce an output signal for shifting the hydraulic actuator to a subsequent transverse needle bar position relative to the preceding needle bar position.