Upholstery tufting apparatus comprises an insertion needle (5) with an aperture (4) to receive a tuft for insertion into an article to be upholstered. The tuft is presented to the needle aperture (4) along a tuft feed axis (3). The apparatus has a plurality of tuft strings (2a, 2b, 2c), a first string (2a) with tufts of a first length and a second string (2b) with tufts of different second length. The apparatus has one or more tuft feed units, and an actuator operatively connected to said tuft feed unit(s). The first and second tuft strings (2a, 2b) are associated with the tuft feed unit(s). A selected one of the tuft feed unit(s) is actuatable by the actuator to align one of the first and second strings (2a, 2b) with the tuft feed axis (3) according to the length of tuft required to be inserted into an article to be upholstered. A method for tufting an upholstered article employing said apparatus is also described.

Upholstery tufting apparatus comprises an insertion needle (5) with an aperture (4) to receive a tuft for insertion into an article to be upholstered. The tuft is presented to the needle aperture (4) along a tuft feed axis (3). The apparatus has a plurality of tuft strings (2a, 2b, 2c), a first string (2a) with tufts of a first length and a second string (2b) with tufts of different second length. The apparatus has one or more tuft feed units, and an actuator operatively connected to said tuft feed unit(s). The first and second tuft strings (2a, 2b) are associated with the tuft feed unit(s). A selected one of the tuft feed unit(s) is actuatable by the actuator to align one of the first and second strings (2a, 2b) with the tuft feed axis (3) according to the length of tuft required to be inserted into an article to be upholstered. A method for tufting an upholstered article employing said apparatus is also described.

A computer implemented method (100) and system (200) for indexed tufting of a backing material (200) by a robot tufter. The method comprises: receiving (102) or accessing grid geometry of a backing material (200) wherein the grid geometry is based on a periodicity and dimensions of grid locations (204) of the backing material (200) and representative of optimal locations to receive a tufting needle; determining (104) indexed positions of grid locations of the backing material relative to the tufting needle of the robot tufter using a reference point that is fixed relative to the backing material (200); and controlling (106) the robot tufter to penetrate one or more specified indexed grid locations of the backing material with the tufting needle to create a tuft at the one or more specified indexed grid locations.

A shaft assembly has a shaft and a journal bearing that is fixedly coupled to the shaft so that rotation of the shaft causes corresponding rotation of the journal bearing. A bearing race has an inner surface that defines a cylindrical bore and a lubrication groove that extends radially outward from the cylindrical bore. The journal bearing is rotatably disposed within the cylindrical bore of the bearing race.

A shaft assembly has a shaft and a journal bearing that is fixedly coupled to the shaft so that rotation of the shaft causes corresponding rotation of the journal bearing. A bearing race has an inner surface that defines a cylindrical bore and a lubrication groove that extends radially outward from the cylindrical bore. The journal bearing is rotatably disposed within the cylindrical bore of the bearing race.

A multi-needle tufting gun for use in robotic tufting includes a support and a plurality of tufting modules mounted to the support, wherein at least one tufting module is movably mounted to the support such that the at least one tufting module is selectively spaced relative to at least another tufting module mounted to the support. Each tufting module comprises a tufting needle. A spacing actuator mounted to the support selectively moves the at least one tufting module relative to another tufting module, wherein the selective relative movement is in at least one axis across a tufting plane of a sheet of backing material to be tufted. In some examples, the tufting module includes self-contained tufting cartridges. There is also disclosed a tufting frame for conveying a backing material through a tufting area.

This invention relates to a washable multi-component floor mat. The floor mat contains a textile component and a base component. The textile component and the base component are attached to one another by at least one surface attraction means and at least one edge attachment means. The textile component is designed to be soiled, washed, and re-used, thereby providing ideal end-use applications in areas such as building entryways. The present invention eliminates the need to wash the base component of the floor mat which results in environmental, cost and labor conservation.

This invention relates to a washable multi-component floor mat. The floor mat contains a textile component and a base component. The textile component and the base component are attached to one another by at least one surface attraction means and at least one edge attachment means. The textile component is designed to be soiled, washed, and re-used, thereby providing ideal end-use applications in areas such as building entryways. The present invention eliminates the need to wash the base component of the floor mat which results in environmental, cost and labor conservation.

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.

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.