A method is provided for the design and manufacture of tufted patterned textiles having selected yarn densities that may vary for different pattern palette colors and in different areas of a pattern.

A method is provided for the design and manufacture of tufted patterned textiles having selected yarn densities that may vary for different pattern palette colors and in different areas of a pattern.

A yarn storage container for storing a yarn, said storage container (101) comprising a, preferably tubular, container (101), having an axial length (L), a, preferably tubular, wall (501) and a first and second axial extremity (113-115), the first axial extremity (113) of said container (101) having an opening (123) for receiving an end of a yarn (200), said second axial extremity (115) of said container (101) being air-permeably closed, said wall (501) is air permeable by means of a plurality of openings (521-523) present along the axial length of said container (101). The invention further relates to a yarn storage system (1000) comprising a plurality of containers (101), to a textile production assembly (2000) and to methods of producing yarn (200) and textiles.

A yarn storage container for storing a yarn, said storage container (101) comprising a, preferably tubular, container (101), having an axial length (L), a, preferably tubular, wall (501) and a first and second axial extremity (113-115), the first axial extremity (113) of said container (101) having an opening (123) for receiving an end of a yarn (200), said second axial extremity (115) of said container (101) being air-permeably closed, said wall (501) is air permeable by means of a plurality of openings (521-523) present along the axial length of said container (101). The invention further relates to a yarn storage system (1000) comprising a plurality of containers (101), to a textile production assembly (2000) and to methods of producing yarn (200) and textiles.

A tufting needle (100) comprises a shaft (101) having a tapered formation (103) configured to penetrate and open a passage (105) in a resilient backing material (107). The needle (100) further comprises a filament lumen (109) that leads to an opening (117) proximal to the tapered formation (103), to guide a filament (111) through the passage (105) to create a tuft (113) at the resilient backing material (107). A cutting edge (115) is located at the opening (117) of the filament lumen (109) to cut the filament (111).

A tufting needle (100) comprises a shaft (101) having a tapered formation (103) configured to penetrate and open a passage (105) in a resilient backing material (107). The needle (100) further comprises a filament lumen (109) that leads to an opening (117) proximal to the tapered formation (103), to guide a filament (111) through the passage (105) to create a tuft (113) at the resilient backing material (107). A cutting edge (115) is located at the opening (117) of the filament lumen (109) to cut the filament (111).

A lightweight needlebar drive is provided that vertically reciprocates a needlebar by driven feet mounted to the lower ends of pushrods, where the feet are laterally positionable by virtue of a plurality of stub shafts passing through and received in bearings on adjacent brackets connected to the needlebar.

A lightweight needlebar drive is provided that vertically reciprocates a needlebar by driven feet mounted to the lower ends of pushrods, where the feet are laterally positionable by virtue of a plurality of stub shafts passing through and received in bearings on adjacent brackets connected to the needlebar.

A roller assembly having a central axis can comprise a roller having an outer surface and defining an inner bore. The apparatus can further comprise a bushing comprising a sleeve having an outer surface and defining an inner bore. The inner bore of the sleeve can have an operative circumference. The sleeve comprises a bladder that is configured to expand radially upon receipt of a fluid to reduce the operative circumference of the inner bore. The bushing can further comprise a flange extending radially outwardly from the sleeve. The flange defines a vessel containing fluid therein. The vessel is in fluid communication with the bladder of the sleeve. The bushing comprises an actuator that is configured to cause the fluid from the vessel of the flange to flow into the bladder of the sleeve. An alignment feature can be configured to rotationally position the roller relative to the bushing.

A tufting machine and method for operating a tufting machine operating a needle selection mechanism based on pattern data by selecting a needle with yarn required for the pattern such that the selected needle is driven by a needle bar through the backing medium, to form a tuft while a needle that is not required for the pattern is not selected by the needle selection mechanism. Yarn is fed via a yarn feed mechanism comprising a plurality of actively driven yarn drives each driving a respective yarn to a respective needle, the yarn drives being at a location between a yarn creel and the needle. The method being characterised by operating the yarn feed mechanism to deliver at least 70% of the yarn required for a tuft as the needle moves from top dead center to bottom dead center.