Tufting needle

Abstract

The invention relates to a tufting needle of a tufting machine, wherein the tufting machine is provided to insert or tuft severed yarn pieces into a ground, and the tufting needle has a needle carrier and a needle tip. The needle tip is able to be placed on the needle carrier and able to be connected to the latter in a fixed manner, in particular so as to be secured against rotation and extraction, and provided on the needle tip is an alignment element which for aligning the needle tip on the needle carrier interacts with an alignment counter element of the needle carrier.

1 . A tufting needle of a tufting machine, wherein the tufting machine is provided to insert or tuft severed yarn pieces into a ground, and the tufting needle has a needle carrier and a needle tip, characterized in that the needle tip is able to be placed on the needle carrier and able to be connected to the latter in a fixed manner, in particular so as to be secured against rotation and extraction, and provided on the needle tip is an alignment element which for aligning the needle tip on the needle carrier interacts with an alignment counter element of the needle carrier. 
     
     
         2 . The tufting needle as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the alignment element provided on the needle tip and the alignment counter element disposed on the needle carrier interact in such a manner that the needle tip is positioned in a precise rotational position on the needle carrier. 
     
     
         3 . The tufting needle as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the needle carrier has a receiving mandrel which plunges into a receptacle opening of the needle tip, or the needle tip has a receiving mandrel which plunges into a receptacle opening of the needle carrier. 
     
     
         4 . The tufting needle as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the needle tip has a yarn guide, in particular comprising a fork-type or prong-type yarn guide, wherein the yarn guide has in particular a yarn guide plane which is provided for receiving the yarn piece to be inserted. 
     
     
         5 . The tufting needle as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that an adhesively bonded, welded or soldered connection is provided as a connecting device between the needle carrier and the needle tip, and/or the tufting needle is straight. 
     
     
         6 . The tufting needle as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the needle carrier has an alignment face which serves for aligning the tufting needle in a needle holder, and/or the needle carrier has a predetermined breaking region. 
     
     
         7 . The tufting needle as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that the alignment face is oriented so as to be orthogonal to the yarn guide plane. 
     
     
         8 . The tufting needle as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the needle carrier and/or needle tip are/is composed of solid material. 
     
     
         9 . The tufting needle as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that the predetermined breaking region is configured by a material weakening of the material of the needle carrier, and/or the needle carrier is configured as a cylindrical main body, and/or the needle carrier has hardened and non-hardened regions and the hardened region forms a predetermined breaking point. 
     
     
         10 . The tufting needle as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the ratio between the length of the needle carrier and the diameter of the latter is more than a range of 40 to 60. 
     
     
         11 . The tufting needle as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the needle carrier is configured as a metal bar from iron, steel or an iron alloy, and/or the needle carrier at least in portions has a Vickers hardness of less than 1000 HV, in particular of less than 900 HV. 
     
     
         12 . The tufting needle as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the needle tip is composed of iron, steel, iron alloy, ceramic, fiber or glass fiber-reinforced plastics material, in particular polyether ether ketone (PEEK), and/or the needle tip is configured as a metal injection molding (MIM) component, and/or the needle tip has a Vickers hardness of more than a range of 1000 HV to 1400 HV. 
     
     
         13 . A method for replacing the needle tip of the tufting needle as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized by the sequence of the following steps:
 separating the needle carrier and the needle tip, in particular by heating the tufting needle, in particular in the connecting region of the needle carrier and the needle tip, in such a manner that the connecting device fixedly connecting the needle carrier and the needle tip reduces or loses its connecting force;   removing the needle tip from the needle carrier;   equipping at least one of the mutually facing contact faces of the needle carrier and the new needle tip in the connecting region of the needle carrier and the needle tip with a connecting device that fixedly connects the elements;   placing a new needle tip on the needle carrier, wherein the needle tip is precisely rotationally aligned and positioned, and held in position, on the needle carrier until the connecting device has developed a sufficient connecting force.   
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , characterized in that prior to separating the needle tip from the needle carrier the mechanical stress on the tufting needle during the tufting procedure is determined and a replacement of the tufting needle or the needle tip is prompted in the event of an imminent or existing overload. 
     
     
         15 . A method for using a tufting needle which has a needle carrier and a needle tip, wherein the needle tip is able to be placed on the needle carrier and able to be connected to the latter in a releasably fixed manner, in particular so as to be secured against rotation and extraction, in particular as claimed in  claim 1 , for inserting or tufting severed yarn pieces into a ground, in particular using a tufting machine.