	US 7,490,566 B2
	Method and apparatus for forming variable loop pile over level cut loop pile tufts
Wilton Hall, Ringgold, Ga. (US)
Assigned to Card-Monroe Corp., Chattanooga, Tenn. (US)
Filed on May 30, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/755,366.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/892666, filed on Mar. 02, 2007.
Prior Publication US 2008/0210146 A1, Sep. 04, 2008
Int. Cl. D05C 15/26 (2006.01); D05C 15/04 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 112—80.4 [112/80.5; 112/80.56]

10 Claims

1. A method of forming spaced rows of cut pile and loop pile tufts in a base fabric, comprising:

moving a base fabric along a path of travel through a tufting zone;

engaging the base fabric with a first row of spaced needles carrying a plurality of yarns through the base fabric;

engaging the base fabric with a second row of spaced needles, transversely spaced from the first row of needles across the tufting zone and carrying a second plurality of yarns through the base fabric;

moving a plurality of level cut loop pile hooks having a pickup across the tufting zone between the needles of the second row of needles and into engagement with the yarns carried by the needles of the first row of needles;

selectively engaging a series of clips associated with each of the level cut loop pile hooks so as to move the clips between retracted and extended positions for forming cut or loop pile tufts of the yarns carried by the first row of needles;

providing a series of knives of an opposite hand cutting to the pickup of each of the level cut loop pile hooks, each positioned adjacent one of the level cut loop pile hooks and reciprocating the knives into selective engagement with loops of yarns captured along the level cut loop pile hooks to form the cut pile tufts in the base fabric; and

moving a series of loopers across the tufting zone between the needles of the first row of needles and into engagement with the yarns carried by the needles of the second row of needles to form the loop pile tufts in the base fabric.