Abstract: A controlled needle tufting machine for overtufting a secondary yarn into a base material having primary yarn therein includes feed rollers and take-off rollers for feeding the base material. The feed rollers and the take-off rollers each include a picker roll which engages the back-stitch surface of the backing material, i.e., the surface opposite to that from which the pile fabric extends, and not the face or pile extending surface.

Abstract: A tufting machine having two bladed hooks facing oppositely to the direction of backing material feed has a gate member associated with the lower of the blades. The opening and closing of the gate members are determined by a pattern so that each needle may selectively form a high or a low level cut pile tuft. Loops are initially seized by the bill of the lower blade. Each gate member has a latch for selectively closing or opening entry of a loop from the lower bill onto the lower blade. The upper blade has a bill overhanging the lower bill and loops precluded from entry onto the lower blade are shed by the lower bill and seized by the upper bill for entry onto the upper blade. A knife acts with each blade to cut loops thereon to form cut pile at the level of the respective blade.

Abstract: A tufting machine having loop seizing hooks facing opposite to the direction of fabric feed is disclosed having respective gate members pivotably mounted on the rear of the hooks. The gate member has a latch for selectively engaging the rear of the hook bill to lock entry of a loop into the closed end of the hook and onto the blade of the hook. Loops so precluded are shed by the hook bill as the hook rocks away from the loop seizing position and form uncut loop pile. Loops that are allowed to enter onto the blade portion are cut by a knife cooperating with the hook blade to form cut pile. The loop seizing edge of the bill is spaced from the loop engaging edge of the blade relative to the backing fabric. The gate members are disclosed as moved by pneumatic cylinders operable by electrically controlled air valves. The air valves selectively respond to timed signals received from a pattern control.