Two known methods of feeding tufts into a carrier are described in EP0759 101 B 1. In one method yarn is transported down a tube by air. In practice the airflow to achieve this needs to be so strong that it is turbulent on leaving the tube, making yarn exiting buffet and impossible to control to place in the carrier.

The second method shows mechanical means of feeding the yarn. This is workable, but it involves complex mechanisms with a large number of wear parts, and is limited in speed by the requirement to move the feeder back to its start position and select it before feeding.

A general aim of the present invention is to provide a simple, reliable and fast way to feed tufts into the carrier.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a mechanism to feed yam intertmittently, cut it into lengths and place it into a carrier. The mechanism includes an intermittently rotating toothed feed disc driven by a motor, a stream of air to keep it straight as it is pushed down a passage, a cutter, and a carrier which picks up the cut lengths by pressing it into an anvil.

Preferably the motor is electronically controlled to feed a pre-set length of yam only when required. Suitable motors for example could be a stepper motor or a servo motor.

Various aspects of the present invention are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the yarn feeding area.

Fig 2 is another side view of the yarn feeding area, with the cutter and carrier in their closed position.

Fig 3 is a side view of the whole device Fig 4 is a plan view of the feeding area Fig 5 is a plan view of the carrier and anvils.

A yarn 2 is pressed against a thin saw toothed disc 1 by a presser plate 3 (Fig 1).

The plate 3 is biased towards the disc by a spring 4. When the disc is rotated a predetermined angle, it feeds the yarn 2 through a tunnel 5, passed a stationary cutter plate 6 to a rest position 7. To keep the yarn straight, a jet of air flows through a recess 8 and down the tunnel.

A plurality of yams can be fed in this manner by rows of feed units. arranged in line as illustrated in the plan view Fig 4.

The body of the feed area consists of a series of blocks 10 with recesses 8 along one edge, held together by rods 11. They are fastened to a block (Fig 4) by screws 12 which thread into the rods 11. A duct 14 distributes the air to the recesses 8. The unit is held in place by brackets 16 which are fixed to block 13.

The stationary cutter blade 6 has holes in it 17 for passage of the yarn. A moving blade 18 presses against the stationary blade and after a length of yarn is fed, it is moved forward, and by a scissor action, cuts the yarn (Fig 2). The cutter is fastened to the same arm 20 as the carrier mounting 21. The carrier 22 has cut in it slots 23 to hold the yams. (Fig 5). when the carrier moves forward with the cutter blade, the anvil 24 pushes a yarn 2 into the slot.

As previously described in EP0759 101 B 1 the carrier assembly slides on linear slides 21. The assembly consists of a rail 25, mounting plate 26 and carrier 22.

Optionally the presence of a tuft may be detected by an opto swtich 30 (Fig 1) mounted on a circuit board 31. The opto switch beams light against the shiny front edge of the anvil which is detected if no yarn is present.

The carrier and moving cutter assembly is pivoted via arm 20 at shaft 40 (Fig 3).

The discs I may conveniently be driven by belts 50 (Fig 3) which drive pulleys 51 attached to the discs. Bearings 53 mounted in the pulleys are held by plates 52. Motors 55 drive the belts via pulleyts 56. In order to find space for the motors they may be mounted in banks 56,57 and 58.