Yarn tuft holder

1. A yarn tuft holder for holding cut yarn tufts received from one or more yarn tuft inserting devices prior to removal by grippers of a carpet manufacturing machine comprising:

a resiliently deformable comb portion for receiving and holding the cut yarn tufts; and

a rigid comb portion removably attached to the resiliently deformable comb portion,

wherein the rigid comb portion comprises at least a first tooth, a second tooth, and a space formed between the first tooth and the second tooth, and

wherein the space guides a portion of a gripper inserted into the space, the portion of the gripper inserted into the space being configured to remove the cut yarn tufts held by the resiliently deformable comb portion.

2. A yarn tuft holder according to claim 1 , wherein slots of the resiliently deformable comb portion define yarn tuft retention sites.

3. A yarn tuft holder according to claim 2 , wherein teeth between the slots formed in the resiliently deformable comb portion are shaped so as to define a stem portion and a head portion wider than the stem portion.

4. A yarn tuft holder according to claim 3 , wherein the head portion has a cut out for forming a cavity with an adjacent tooth, the cavity being adapted for receiving and holding a yarn tuft.

5. A yarn tuft holder according to claim 4 , wherein a lip extends from the top of the cavity towards the adjacent tooth.

6. A yarn tuft holder according to claim 4 , wherein a platform extends from the bottom of the cavity towards the adjacent tooth.

7. A yarn tuft holder according to claim 5 , wherein the platform extends to beneath the head portion of the adjacent tooth.

8. A yarn tuft holder according to claim 4 , wherein at least one side of the cavity has a serrated wall.

9. A yarn tuft holder according to claim 3 , wherein the head portion is tapered towards the top.

10. A yarn tuft holder according to claim 2 , wherein slots formed in the rigid comb portion align with the slots formed in the resiliently deformable comb portion.

11. A yarn tuft holder according to claim 1 , wherein a channel extends longitudinally across the resiliently deformable comb portion to define two laterally spaced combs.

12. A yarn tuft holder according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the resiliently deformable comb portions are removably connected to the rigid comb portion.

13. A yarn tuft holder according to claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of the resiliently deformable comb portions has between 5 and 500 teeth, preferably 20, 25 or 30 teeth.

14. A yarn tuft holder according to claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of the resiliently deformable comb portions has one or more locating projections for aligning with recesses formed in the rigid comb portion.

15. A carpet manufacturing machine, comprising one or more yarn tuft holders in accordance with claim 1 .

16. A loom according to claim 15 , wherein each yarn tuft holder is adapted to move relative to one or more yarn tuft inserting devices.

17. A method for making carpet using a carpet manufacturing machine comprising one or more yarn tuft holders, comprising a resiliently deformable comb portion, and a rigid comb portion comprises at least a first tooth, a second tooth, and a space formed between the first tooth and the second tooth, the rigid comb portion removably attached to the resiliently deformable comb portion, the method comprising:

inserting yarn tufts into the resiliently deformable comb portion of one of the yarn tuft holders;

inserting a gripper into the space of the rigid comb portion;

guiding, using the space of the rigid comb portion of said yarn tuft holder, the gripper to the tufts of yarn;

removing said yarn tufts from said yarn tuft holder by said gripper; and securing the removed yarn tufts into a backing.