Sewing – Special machines – Embroidering
Patent
1996-12-13
1998-05-19
Lewis, Paul C.
Sewing
Special machines
Embroidering
D05C 1520
Patent
active
057524572
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to tufting machines and, in particular, it relates to tufting machines having improved needle stroke adjustment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
At present, tufting machine needle stroke adjustment is carried out by removing the eccentric and fitting the replacement. The process can be somewhat lengthy and requires resetting of the dead position for the needle stroke. For this reason, the change over is often avoided and results in the necessity for operation at lower speeds and for less economic carpet manufacture. GB-A-2 125 447 discloses a tufting machine as set out in the preamble to claim 1. U.S. Pat. No. 3,857,345 discloses a tufting machine with an adjustable eccentric but the method of adjustment is inconvenient and comprises two adjustment steps.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a tufting machine comprising a drive shaft (50), an eccentric (4) rotatable by the said drive shaft (50), a connecting rod (6) mounted at the proximal end thereof for rotation about the said eccentric and coupled at the distal end thereof to pushing means (26) for pivotal movement in relation thereto, a needle mounting means (28) associated, for reciprocating movement, with the said pushing means which impart the reciprocation to the needle mounting means under the impulse of the connecting rod, characterised in that the connecting rod comprises at least two pieces (22,24), a distal piece (22) for engaging the pushing means and an adjustable proximal piece (24) for engaging the said eccentric, the adjustment being possible by varying the position of the proximal piece (24) with respect to at least a part of the said eccentric.
Preferably, the connecting rod proximal part and the connecting rod distal part are connected by means of a first variable position coupling in a manner that allows for the varying of the position of the proximal part with respect to the said at least part of the said eccentric and, preferably, which retains the position of the said distal part.
However, the said variation of the said connecting rod proximal part position may be effected by other means such as a variable position coupling of the proximal part to a third connecting rod part which also connects the proximal part with the distal part. Preferably, the said variable position coupling comprises an interlocking portion. The interlocking portion, typically comprises a series of parallel grooves or serrations located on each of the serrations, preferably, extend substantially at right angles to the direction of reciprocal movement so that the coupling of the grooves or serrations can withstand the force imparted from such movement.
Preferably, the varying of the position of the proximal part with respect to at least a part of the eccentric is effected by way of a second variable position coupling between an inner portion of the eccentric mounted for rotation about the end of a shaft and an outer portion of the eccentric to which the proximal end of the connecting member is mounted. Preferably, the said second variable position coupling comprises an interlocking portion. The interlocking portion typically comprises a series of parallel grooves or serrations located on each of the engaging faces of the said parts. Each of the grooves or serrations, preferably, extend substantially at right angles to the direction of reciprocating movement, when the needles are in the bottom dead position, so that the coupling of the grooves or serrations can withstand the force imparted from such movement.
Preferably, the eccentric comprises at least two parts, the relative position of the two parts being variable so as to permit variable eccentric motion. Preferably, the first of the said two parts is coupled directly to the connecting rod and the second of the said two parts is coupled directly to a crank member.
Preferably, the variation in the relative position of the two parts is effected by an interlocking portion. The interlocking portion typically comprises a series
REFERENCES:
patent: 3839972 (1974-10-01), Scott et al.
patent: 3857345 (1974-12-01), Higgins
Grant Paul Dreager
Hart Christopher William
G.T. Supplies & Engineering (ACC) Ltd.
Jenkins P.A. Richard E.
Lewis Paul C.
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