Michael B Kilgore

US Patent:

7222576, May 29, 2007

Filed:

Feb 3, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/347540

Inventors:

Michael Kilgore - Whitwell TN, US

Assignee:

Tuftco Corporation - Chattanooga TN

International Classification:

D05C 15/22
D05B 57/00

US Classification:

112 805

Abstract:

A gated looper apparatus has an array of individually mounted pressurizable air cylinders with piston rods acting against biased slider bars in communication with looper gates. Baising elements are mounted external of pneumatic cylinders about slider bars with protective ferules to provide greater responsiveness and ease of maintenance.

US Patent:

8082861, Dec 27, 2011

Filed:

Aug 29, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/201863

Inventors:

Brian K. Lovelady - Soddy Daisy TN, US
Michael L. Kilgore - Whitwell TN, US

Assignee:

Tuftco Corporation - Chattanooga TN

International Classification:

D05C 15/20
D05C 15/26

US Classification:

112 8051, 112 8054, 112 8056, 112 807

Abstract:

A tufting machine is provided with two transverse rows of needles, one row being associated with transverse row of loopers and the other second row of needles being associated with a transverse row of gated hooks. Novel and low pile height tufted fabrics can be created with this configuration.

US Patent:

8215248, Jul 10, 2012

Filed:

Apr 29, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/432554

Inventors:

Michael L. Kilgore - Whitwell TN, US

Assignee:

Tuftco Corporation - Chattanooga TN

International Classification:

D05C 15/00

US Classification:

112 8051

Abstract:

A gated looper apparatus has an array of individually mounted pressurizable air cylinders with piston rods acting in communication with looper gates. The air cylinders are designed to be responsive to pneumatic pressure to extend and retract the associated piston rods.

US Patent:

57432015, Apr 28, 1998

Filed:

Apr 18, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/843559

Inventors:

Roy T. Card - Chattanooga TN
Wilton Hall - Oglethorpe GA
Marshall Allen Neely - Soddy Daisy TN
Michael L. Kilgore - Whitwell TN

Assignee:

Card-Monroe Corp. - Chattanooga TN

International Classification:

D05C 1518

US Classification:

112 8073

Abstract:

A yarn feed mechanism for use with a tufting machine is disclosed. The tufting machine has a needle bar with an aligned series of spaced tufting needles disposed thereon, each of which is supplied with yarn from a yarn supply for penetrating a backing material to sew tufts of yarn therein. The yarn feed mechanism includes a support framework mounted on the tufting machine adjacent a yarn feed path extending from the yarn supply to the needles of the tufting machine, with at least one yarn feed roll assembly mounted for rotation on the support framework. The yarn feed roll assembly further includes an elongate yarn feed roll having an exterior yarn driving periphery extending along a longitudinal axis parallel to the needle bar of the tufting machine, the yarn feed roll being rotated in timed relationship with the reciprocation of the needle bar. An orbital yarn applying member spaced from the yarn feed roll is supported on the support framework and is movable about the yarn feed roll in an orbital path from a yarn receiving position to a yarn applying position. The yarn applying member is used to apply portions of selected yarns against at least a portion of the yarn driving periphery of the yarn feed roll in the yarn applying position for controlling the rate at which the yarn is fed to the needles of the tufting machine.

US Patent:

6009818, Jan 4, 2000

Filed:

Apr 28, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/067466

Inventors:

Roy T. Card - Chattanooga TN
Wilton Hall - Ft. Oglethorpe GA
Michael L. Kilgore - Whitwell TN

Assignee:

Card-Monroe Corp. - Chattanooga TN

International Classification:

D05C 1518

US Classification:

112 8073

Abstract:

A pattern yarn feed device for use with a tufting machine in the manufacture of tufted articles includes at least one yarn feed roll assembly positioned on a frame of a tufting machine adjacent a yarn feed path. The yarn feed roll assembly has an elongate rotatable yarn feed roll having an exterior yarn driving periphery for engaging yarns thereon. A drive motor is provided for rotating the yarn feed roll. At least one yarn applying member, preferably a rotatable pinch roller, is provided as a part of the yarn feed roll assembly, and extends parallel to the yarn feed roll, and is orbitally moveable about the yarn feed roll. The at least one yarn applying member is selectively moveable from a first yarn receiving position spaced from the periphery of the yarn feed roll for receiving an intermediate portion of selected ones of the tufting yarns thereon, into a yarn applying position engaged with at least a portion of the yarn driving periphery of the yarn feed roll for applying the selected ones of the yarns thereto. In separate constructions, the pinch roller may be eccentrically orbited about the yarn feed roll from the yarn applying position into the yarn receiving position, or may be concentrically orbited about the yarn feed roll and then selectively moved into the yarn applying position at the completion of its orbital rotation about the yarn feed roll. In its yarn applying position, the pinch roller is normally resiliently urged into engagement with the periphery of the yarn feed roll.

US Patent:

20200318273, Oct 8, 2020

Filed:

Apr 3, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/839515

Inventors:

Jason Detty - Chattanooga TN, US
Randy Stanfield - Chattanooga TN, US
Michael Kilgore - Chattanooga TN, US

International Classification:

D05C 15/10
D05C 15/24
D05C 15/22

Abstract:

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.