Abstract: A system and method for forming synthetic/artificial grass or turf products in which a series of tufts of artificial/synthetic grass filaments or yarns are formed in a backing material with various graphic pattern effects being formed therewith. The system generally will include at least one needle bar having at least one row of needles mounted along a tufting zone and reciprocated through the backing to a desired penetration depth, and will present a desired set or group of yarns to a series of pattern pixels or stitch areas. A series of level cut loop loopers or hooks will be aligned with and will engage the needles in order to form tufts of yarns in the backing material. Clips of the level cut loop loopers will be selectively controlled to control the retention of selected ones of the yarns presented at each pattern pixel. The remaining, non-selected yarns generally are not retained at the pattern pixels, and can be formed as lower pile tufts or removed from the backing material.

Abstract: A system and method for tufting sculptured and multiple pile height patterned articles, including controlling placement of yarns fed to the needles of the tufting machine by a yarn feed mechanism to form varying patterns includes a backing support over which the backing is fed, and which lifts/and biases the backing to a raised position. As the backing material is fed through the tufting machine, a series of loopers or hooks engage and pick loops of yarns from the needles. The yarn feed mechanism will be controlled to create a tension in selected loops of yarns, to cause the backing material to be pulled against the bias or spring force applied by the backing support toward the needle plate of the tufting machine to create tufts of different pile heights.

Abstract: A high-moisture-permeability, microporous plastic film randomly having a lot of recesses having different opening diameters and depths, with clefts formed in the recesses, is produced by pressing a first pattern roll randomly having a lot of high-hardness, fine particles having sharp edges on a roll body surface to a flat-surface metal roll, to produce an anvil roll randomly having a lot of recesses on a metal roll surface; arranging a second pattern roll randomly having a lot of high-hardness, fine particles having sharp edges on a roll body surface oppositely to the anvil roll; and passing a plastic film through a gap between the second pattern roll and the anvil roll.

Abstract: Creels having frames configured to receive one or more trays of yarn packages. The trays of yarn packages are removable from the frame and can be loaded with packages of yarn when not inserted into the frame. Separately loading trays with yarns can simplify and provide other benefits with respect to the process of loading a creel with yarn packages. Also disclosed is an assembly that is positioned with respect to a detachable header and a stationary header on a creel and that comprises an air flow unit that causes yarns to move through to an alignment mechanism that aligns the yarns for attachment to yarns already feeding into a tufting machine.

Abstract: Creels having frames configured to receive one or more trays of yarn packages. The trays of yarn packages are removable from the frame and can be loaded with packages of yarn when not inserted into the frame. Separately loading trays with yarns can simplify and provide other benefits with respect to the process of loading a creel with yarn packages. Also disclosed is an assembly that is positioned with respect to a detachable header and a stationary header on a creel and that comprises an air flow unit that causes yarns to move through to an alignment mechanism that aligns the yarns for attachment to yarns already feeding into a tufting machine.

Abstract: The present invention provides for tufted needlefelts with partially or totally obscured loop bights that provide good tuft bind.

Abstract: Method and device for inserting synthetic fibers into a surface, wherein a fiber is unwound from at least one roll. The fibre is transported through a tube to a position under an insertion element by mans of an air flow and subsequently cut off to a desired length. The fiber is then pressed into the surface by means of an inserting element The fibre is cut off by means of an element which is rotatable about an axis, which element is provided with a passage which is co-axial with the tube in a first position of the rotatable element and which includes an angle with the tube in a second position of said rotatable element, in which position the fiber is cut off.