APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR LOADING TUFTS INTO A TUFT CARRIER

摘要

PCT No. PCT/GB95/01090 Sec. 371 Date Jul. 22, 1996 Sec. 102(e) Date Jul. 22, 1996 PCT Filed May 12, 1995 PCT Pub. No. WO95/31594 PCT Pub. Date Nov. 23, 1995A tuft carrier loading apparatus for loading individual tufts into tuft-retention sites spaced along an elongate tuft carrier which is guided for longitudinal movement along a path of travel having a plurality of individually selectively operable tuft forming devices. Each tuft forming device is operable to feed an individual tuft to a tuft-retention site on the carrier. The carrier moves along said path of travel intermittently through a series of successive positions where predefined tuft retention sites are moved temporarily into registry with each tuft forming devices. By controlling selection of the tuft forming devices, tufts are fed to selected sites while the carrier is located at each successive position.