US 12,421,072 B2
Yarn storage system and method for producing textiles using such yarn storage system
Harlan Francis Morris, Jr., Calhoun, GA (US); Michael Gallman, Calhoun, GA (US); and Robert N. Bowen, Jr., Calhoun, GA (US)
Assigned to Aladdin Manufacturing Corporation, Calhoun, GA (US)
Filed by Aladdin Manufacturing Corporation, Calhoun, GA (US)
Filed on Apr. 28, 2025, as Appl. No. 19/191,487.
Application 19/191,487 is a continuation of application No. 18/999,612, filed on Dec. 23, 2024.
Application 18/999,612 is a continuation of application No. 17/757,114, granted, now 12,214,987, issued on Feb. 4, 2025, previously published as PCT/US2020/065832, filed on Dec. 18, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/960,495, filed on Jan. 13, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/950,537, filed on Dec. 19, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 20154821 (EP), filed on Jan. 31, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2025/0256938 A1, Aug. 14, 2025
Int. Cl. B65H 49/16 (2006.01); B65H 61/00 (2006.01); D02H 1/00 (2006.01); D05C 13/02 (2006.01); D05C 15/18 (2006.01)
CPC B65H 49/16 (2013.01) [B65H 61/00 (2013.01); D02H 1/00 (2013.01); D05C 13/02 (2013.01); D05C 15/18 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for producing textiles with a plurality of designs, comprising:
a plurality of yarn storage systems, wherein:
each yarn storage system comprises a plurality of yarn storage containers of N rows and M columns, such that each of M and N is greater than 1;
a first yarn storage container of each yarn storage system is positioned at row X and column Y of the first yarn storage system, such that X is an integer from 1 to N and Y is an integer from 1 to M; and
a first yarn storage system of the plurality of yarn storage systems, wherein the first yarn storage container of the first yarn storage system is configured to be filled with a first yarn that may be withdrawn;
a second yarn storage system of the plurality of yarn storage systems, wherein the first yarn storage container of the second yarn storage system is configured to be filled with a second yarn that may be withdrawn;
a tufting machine comprising a first needle of a plurality of needles;
a beam comprising at least M*N slots, wherein:
each slot is associated with only one yarn storage container of any of the yarn storage systems, such that a first slot is associated with the first yarn storage container of any of the plurality of yarn storage systems;
each slot is associated with only one needle of the plurality of needles, such that the first slot is associated with the first needle; and
wherein the first slot is configured to connect the first yarn to the second yarn.