Prototype. Chapter text drafted from the research notes and not yet checked at the archives. Images awaiting permission are marked.

Brooks E. Taylor, Marshall A. Neely & Roy T. Card, "Computer controlled tufting machine and a process of controlling the parameters of operation of a tufting machine" (US4867080A)

Patent · not yet checked at the source

Made by: Brooks E. Taylor; Marshall A. Neely; Roy T. Card
Date: filed 15 Dec 1988 (Google record says 2 Dec 1988); granted 19 Sep 1989
Number: US4867080A
Themes: Machine tufting & Dalton, Tools & equipment

View at the source Cited in chapter 12, notes 10, 11

Cite this source

Brooks E. Taylor, Marshall A. Neely & Roy T. Card, “Computer controlled tufting machine and a process of controlling the parameters of operation of a tufting machine” (US4867080A), filed 15 Dec 1988 (Google record says 2 Dec 1988); granted 19 Sep 1989. patents.google.com/patent/US4867080A/en.

Research notes

A computer controls synchronous motors on the backing feed and yarn feed, using encoders on main-shaft speed and bed-rail height. Stitch rate, pile height and face-yarn weight can then be changed from the computer, which replaced the old method of changing sheaves on the gearbox. Continuations with the same title: US4981091 (listed 1 Jan 1991) and US5005498 (published 9 Apr 1991). Later patents cite US4867080 as the start of computer control giving 'greater precision and variety' in patterned tufting. Roy T. Card is of the Card family (see co-card-monroe), but the assignee field was not visible in snippets, so Card-Monroe ownership is likely but not confirmed. Card-Monroe's company timeline lists 'Command Performance 1989'; a link to this patent is plausible but not shown. The two filing dates conflict: 15 Dec is from the patent text, 2 Dec from the Google record. No source calls this the first computer-controlled tufting machine. Verified Oct 2026 by web search only. Research note (Oct 2026): from search results; pages not opened.