US3568614A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Machine pattern for a textile tufting machine
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1968-09-26
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Granted: 1971-03-09
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Expires: 1988-09-26
Abstract
Abstract A textile tufting machine is controlled by a pattern produced by applying a grid to an artist''s pattern equal to the number of tufts in the pattern then making a binary coded machine pattern gridded corresponding to the colors of the artist''s pattern when gridded, sensing and decoding the machine pattern and thereby controlling the tufting machine needles accordingly. The pattern itself has a number of unit areas consisting of a number of rows and columns of binary coded information with the columns equal to the number of needles in the tufting machine and the rows equal to the number of needle strokes in a pattern.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanley Shorrock
- 👤 Norman Ian Buckley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 22:14
CPC Classifications
D; D03; D03C; D03C3/00; D03C3/20; D04; D04B; D04B15/00; D04B15/66; D05; D05C; D05C15/00; D05C15/04; D05C15/08; D05C15/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A machine pattern for a textile tufting machine comprising a base divided laterally into a number of columns equal to the number of needles in the machine to be individually controlled, and longitudinally into a number of rows equal to the number of needle strokes in a pattern on the finished carpet, the result being a number of unit areas of pattern equal to the product of the said rows and columns, and a plurality of binary signalling parts in each unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
A machine pattern for a textile tufting machine comprising a base divided laterally into a number of columns equal to the number of needles in the machine to be individually controlled, and longitudinally into a number of rows equal to the number of needle strokes in a pattern on the finished carpet, the result being a number of unit areas of pattern equal to the product of the said rows and columns, and a plurality of binary signalling parts in each unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A machine pattern as recited in claim 1, wherein said base is transparent and flexible with the parts of each unit area carrying a binary code of markings adapted alternatively to transmit or block radiation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A machine pattern as recited in claim 1, wherein said base is reflective and flexible, the parts of each unit area carrying a binary code of markings adapted alternatively to reflect or absorb radiation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A machine pattern as recited in claim 1, wherein said base is opaque and flexible, the parts of each unit area carrying a binary code punched through said base.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A machine pattern as recited in claim 1, including a synchronizing means carried on at least one side thereof, the said means being periodically recurring signalling areas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
138 words
A method of producing and using a machine pattern as recited in claim 1, including the steps of producing an artist''s pattern, applying a grid to said artist''s pattern, said grid consisting of a number of unit areas equal to the product of the number of tufts in each row of a tufted carpet pattern to be produced, and the number of columns of stitches in said pattern, producing a machine pattern consisting of a like number of unit areas containing binary coded information corresponding to said artist''s pattern, passing said machine pattern past a plurality of sensing devices each of which senses the binary code of a unit area at one time, decoding the outputs of said sensing devices, and applying each decoded results to control the supply of yarn to one needle of a tufting machine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method as recited in claim 6, including the steps of producing a colored artist''s pattern, placing said grid with said pattern in an adapted typewriter mechanism, applying a binary code to the unit areas of said grid by means of said mechanism, and using said coded grid to control the colors of yarns fed to the needles of said tufting machine to produce a tufted carpet with a pattern of tufts colored to correspond with said artist''s pattern.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
84 words
A method as recited in claim 6, including the steps of producing a colored artist''s pattern, placing said grid with said pattern in a primary adapted typewriter mechanism, placing a machine pattern blank in a secondary mechanism synchronously operated with said primary mechanism, actuating said primary mechanism so as to produce a series of binary coded unit areas on said machine pattern blank, and controlling the supply of colored yarns to the needles of said tufting machine by means of said coded machine pattern.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as recited in claim 6, characterized in that said machine pattern is transparent, with a binary code thereon of opaque parts, and including the steps of providing an illuminating means and a plurality of photosensitive devices equal to the number of tufting machine needles to be controlled, and passing said machine pattern between said illuminating meaNs and said photosensitive devices.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
74 words
A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said machine pattern is reflective, with a binary code thereon of radiation absorbent parts, and including the steps of providing an illuminating means and a plurality of photosensitive devices equal to the number of tufting machine needles to be controlled, illuminating one side of said pattern by said illuminating means, and sensing the radiation reflected from the reflecting parts thereof by means of said photosensitive devices.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said machine pattern is an opaque sheet, and including the steps of punching said sheet in said unit areas with a plurality of holes to produce a said binary codes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said sensing devices are photoresistive cells, an integrated circuit and a transistor amplifiers connections from said cells to said amplifiers and integrated circuit, said integrated circuit decoding the combination of signals received from said photoresistive cells to apply a potential to one of a plurality of output leads, the lead energized determining the color of yarn to be fed to the associated tufting machine needle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-08 | 1974-09-07 | 1975-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-08 | 1978-09-07 | 1979-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-08 | 1982-09-07 | 1983-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |