Tufting unit and tufting machine

1 . Tufting unit for a tufting machine, wherein the tufting unit has the following:

a yarn infeed installation for simultaneously feeding a number of yarn strands in parallel, wherein said yarn infeed installation unwinds the yarn strands from respective yarn packages during the feeding of the yarn strands;

at least one insertion element;

a yarn transport gripper which is configured for transporting a respective free end of the yarn strands away from the yarn infeed installation such that each insertion element is in each case assigned one yarn strand,

wherein said yarn transport gripper pulls the yarn strands through the yarn infeed installation and unwinds the yarn strands from the respective yarn packages; and

a cutting unit which is configured for cutting the yarn strands such that, for each yarn strand assigned to an insertion element, one yarn portion that is assigned to the respective insertion element remains,

wherein each insertion element is configured for inserting the respective assigned yarn portion into a substrate that is situated below the tufting unit, and

wherein the insertion element, during movement thereof, unwind/unwinds the yarn strands from the respective yarn packages.

2 . Tufting unit according to claim 1 , characterized in that the yarn infeed installation has a plurality of rotating yarn holders.

3 . Tufting unit according to claim 2 , characterized in that the yarn holders are in each case configured so as to interact in pairs such that each yarn strand prior to cutting is held by two yarn holders of one pair.

4 . Tufting unit according to claim 2 , characterized in that the yarn infeed installation before each tufting procedure is configured for at least one of rotating and guiding the yarn holders onward so as to provide new end portions of the yarn strands for gripping by the yarn transport gripper.

5 . Tufting unit according to claim 2 , characterized in that the yarn holders are disposed so as to be rotatable about a common axis.

6 . Tufting unit according to claim 1 , further comprising, at least one yarn holder plate, including a closing cam and an opening cam which are each movable by one drive, so as to be displaced relative to the other yarn holder plate.

7 . Tufting unit according to claim 1 , characterized in that each insertion element has one tufting needle which is configured for gripping the respective yarn portion and inserting the one tufting needle into the substrate.

8 . Tufting unit according to claim 1 , characterized in that the tufting unit, on a lower side thereof, has a tufting plate in which at least one opening for guiding the yarn portion is configured.

9 . Tufting unit according to claim 1 , characterized in that the tufting unit has at least one needle guide for guiding the tufting needle or for guiding a respective tufting needle, wherein each needle guide with the tufting needle, or with the respective tufting needle, is partially movable.

10 . Tufting unit according to claim 1 , characterized in that the yarn transport gripper is mounted so as to be pivotable on a pivot point.

11 . Tufting unit according to claim 10 , characterized in that the yarn transport gripper is configured for releasing each yarn portion, respectively, during inserting.

12 . Tufting unit according to claim 1 , characterized in that the cutting unit is pivotably mounted, wherein the cutting unit prior to a respective cutting procedure, is configured for being pivoted toward the yarn strands, and after the cutting procedure, is configured for being pivoted away from the yarn strands.

13 . A tufting machine for inserting into a substrate that is situated below the tufting unit, wherein each yarn portion from the yarn strand, respectively, is positioned and cut off by the tufting unit according to claim 1 .

14 . Tufting unit according to claim 6 , wherein the one drive comprises a hydraulic drive.

15 . Tufting unit according to claim 9 , wherein each needle guide is partially movable so as to stop short of the substrate or so as to stop short of the tufting plate.

16 . Tufting unit according to claim 1 , wherein the tufting needles, during the movement thereof, unwind the yarn strands from each of the respective yarn packages.

17 . Tufting unit according to claim 1 , characterized in that the yarn transport gripper is configured for releasing each yarn portion, respectively, during inserting.

18 . Tufting unit according to claim 2 , characterized in that the yarn transport gripper is configured for releasing each yarn portion, respectively, during inserting.