A tufting machine with a needle bar and looper system provides individual loopers which cooperate with needles of the needle bar selectively between an engage and a disengage configuration whereby when in the engage configuration at least some of the loopers hold yarn directed by the needle through the backing as the needle cycles into and out of the backing to form a first loop having a height of a distance of the looper from the backing, but when in the disengage configuration, the looper is spaced from the yarn so that any loop formed is shorter than the first loop.

A tufting machine with a needle bar and looper system provides individual loopers which cooperate with needles of the needle bar selectively between an engage and a disengage configuration whereby when in the engage configuration at least some of the loopers hold yarn directed by the needle through the backing as the needle cycles into and out of the backing to form a first loop having a height of a distance of the looper from the backing, but when in the disengage configuration, the looper is spaced from the yarn so that any loop formed is shorter than the first loop.

A tufting machine comprising a plurality of needle holders (11) associated with a needle bar (5) and slidably supported in a frame for reciprocation in a needle reciprocation direction. A respective needle (10) is attached to each needle holder (11), each needle holder having an engagement portion. The needle bar (5) has means (7, 13) for selectively latching with the engagement portion of each selected needle holder so as to selectively drive latched needle holders in the needle reciprocation direction. A stop bar (21) is positioned to limit the upward movement of the needle holders (11). At least one magnet (20) retains non-latched needle holders in its uppermost position as the needle bar is reciprocated. The magnets (20) are embedded in the stop bar (21). The machine further comprises a cushioning member (27) attached to the magnet (20) and facing the top of each needle holder (11).

A tufting machine comprising a plurality of needle holders (11) associated with a needle bar (5) and slidably supported in a frame for reciprocation in a needle reciprocation direction. A respective needle (10) is attached to each needle holder (11), each needle holder having an engagement portion. The needle bar (5) has means (7, 13) for selectively latching with the engagement portion of each selected needle holder so as to selectively drive latched needle holders in the needle reciprocation direction. A stop bar (21) is positioned to limit the upward movement of the needle holders (11). At least one magnet (20) retains non-latched needle holders in its uppermost position as the needle bar is reciprocated. The magnets (20) are embedded in the stop bar (21). The machine further comprises a cushioning member (27) attached to the magnet (20) and facing the top of each needle holder (11).

A presser foot module (50) for a tufting machine. The module has a module body (13) for attachment to a tufting machine and the plurality of fingers (12) extending from the body in a first direction which, in use, is opposite to the direction in which the backing medium (1) is fed through the tufting machine. The module body (13) has a downwardly depending lip (53) defining a presser surface (53A) extending across an end of the body which is adjacent to the interface with the fingers (12). Each finger (12) has an unsupported end opposite to the module body (13) so as to provide access to an open gap between adjacent fingers in a direction opposite to the first direction.

A presser foot module (50) for a tufting machine. The module has a module body (13) for attachment to a tufting machine and the plurality of fingers (12) extending from the body in a first direction which, in use, is opposite to the direction in which the backing medium (1) is fed through the tufting machine. The module body (13) has a downwardly depending lip (53) defining a presser surface (53A) extending across an end of the body which is adjacent to the interface with the fingers (12). Each finger (12) has an unsupported end opposite to the module body (13) so as to provide access to an open gap between adjacent fingers in a direction opposite to the first direction.

A shiftable backing feed or shiftable needle assembly is utilized with a tufting machine having reciprocating needles and gauge parts for seizing or cutting yarns wherein yarn placement patterns can be utilized to tuft at different gauge densities while maintaining the same pattern sizes and appearance, and gauge parts are adapted for high density stitching.

A shiftable backing feed or shiftable needle assembly is utilized with a tufting machine having reciprocating needles and gauge parts for seizing or cutting yarns wherein yarn placement patterns can be utilized to tuft at different gauge densities while maintaining the same pattern sizes and appearance, and gauge parts are adapted for high density stitching.

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.

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.