Presser foot for hollow needle tufting apparatus.

摘要

Tufting apparatus for producing textile goods includes a plurality of hollow needles (10) which are reciprocated vertically to penetrate a backing (12). Yarn (92) is fed pneumatically through the needles and implanted into the backing, the backing being shifted transversely by an amount corresponding to the space between adjacent needles so as to implant a transverse row across the backing. A knife blade (120) is associated with each needle and positioned on the opposite side of the backing from a presser foot (152). The knife blade engages a point forming flat angled surface (111) of the needle, the angled surface being formed with an upwardly and inwardly extending slot (150) which serves to capture and center yarn exiting the needle and provides a sharp edge which cooperates with the knife blade for cutting the yarn. The presser foot includes a conduit (164) disposed for blowing air under pressure toward the needle penetration opening (162) to blow the limb of yarn severed from the needle down into the backing so that not only is the backing prevented from lifting when the needle is withdrawn, but the air acts to prevent the backstitch from standing up above the backing by reducing excess yarn as a result of the slot in the needle. <IMAGE>