Michael T Whitener

US Patent:

62306383, May 15, 2001

Filed:

Jan 14, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/482952

Inventors:

Charles J. Ownbey - Dalton GA
Michael K. Whitener - Spanish Fort AL
Tommy P. Browning - Mobile AL

Assignee:

Masland Carpets, Inc. - Saraland AL

International Classification:

D05C 1516

US Classification:

112 807

Abstract:

A tufting machine for inserting yarns into stitching in a base fabric, the machine having at least one needle bar, a reciprocating carrier for the needle bar, a support for a base fabric in a plane substantially transverse to the reciprocation direction of said carrier, needles carried by the needle bar(s) for penetrating a base fabric, and a device for delivering a stream or sheet of air adjacent the base fabric plane toward the needles and substantially parallel to that plane, the air stream or sheet moving faster than and in substantially the direction of movement as a base fabric being tufted by the machine, for aligning substantially parallel to the direction of base fabric movement fiber or yarn tails extending from the needles.