Tufting machine for overtufting

摘要

A needle plate for a controlled needle tufting machine utilized for overtufting secondary yarn into a backing material having a primary pile previously formed therein. The needle plate has needle plate fingers disposed with the upper support surfaces above the needle plate support surface by an amount substantially equal to the pile height of the primary yarn tufts. As the backing material with the primary tufts is fed over the needle plate it is raised relative to the needle plate as it rides over the finger support surfaces. The hooks of the tufting machine may therefore be raised so that the pile height of the loops of secondary yarn being overtufted may be reduced by an amount substantially equal to that of the pile height of the primary tufts. This results in reducing the required amount of tip shearing of the secondary pile to bring it level with that of the primary pile. Preferably the fingers have a height substantially equal to the pile height of the primary tufts to provide sufficient support for the fabric and prevent interference of the hooks with the primary pile.