Abstract: An apparatus winds multiple strand ends on a bobbin, strands of the ends forming a band. A pair of metering wheels accept said plurality of strand ends from tensioned supply spools and equalize their lengths. The metering wheels are rotatable on angularly inclined axes such that the band proceeds on a helical path. A rotation sensor on the metering wheels senses the speed of the band. A threading assist clamp is mounted for helical displacement on a threaded crank arm for placing the strands on the metering wheels as a group, the clamp being removable from the crank arm to accomplish threading downstream of the metering wheels. A traversing mechanism and bobbin drive wind the band on the bobbin, the traversing mechanism having a compensating pulley and a reciprocating pulley driven by distinct thread pitch areas along a common shaft. A processor senses rotation of the metering wheels and controls both a bobbin drive motor and a reversing servo motor for rotating and reversing the common shaft.

Abstract: An improved strand supply carrier and tensioning mechanism which has yarn guides that are associated with a cantilevered tensioning spring of variable length, the spring having a strand guide wheel on the free end and a pawl to engage ratchet means to achieve strand let-off length that is essentially constant throughout the depletion of the strand package.

Abstract: A braiding machine having inner and outer tables mounted for counter-rotation about a vertical axis, a stationary, standing rib cam positioned beneath the outer table, a strand guide arm supported on the outer table and having a guide eye that travels in an arcuate path in which all points in the path are equidistant from the strand braid point and connecting and driving elements operably joining the rib cam and the guide eye arm to effect positive arcuate movement of the guide arm.

Abstract: In a rotary braiding machine, a sleeve having a rounded forward portion is mounted on a stationary guide cylinder located on the center axis of the machine. The sleeve is driven reciprocatingly in the axial direction by a push rod which is coupled throgh a gear reduction mechanism to the ring gear of the machine so that the reciprocation of the sleeve is in timed relation with the rotation of the machine. The yarn or wire strand is supplied from two sets of bobbins which are driven along circular paths in opposing directions. When the reciprocating sleeve is in its retracted or rearward position, crossed strands from the bobbins approach the forward edge of the stationary guide cylinder. As the crossed strands reach the stationary guide cylinder, the reciprocating sleeve moves to its forward position lifting the strands away from the forward edge of the stationary guide cylinder. The rate of reciprocation of the sleeve is preferably in time with the crossings.

Abstract: A bobbin winding machine in which a plurality of individual strands are withdrawn from separate single end supply spools and guided to a location where they are simultaneously wrapped about the outer periphery of a metering wheel. The strands leave the metering wheel in the form of a band of contiguous strands of equal length which are then caused to pass through a positioning device that is effective in maintaining equal length of the individual strands from the band. The positioning device provides a line of pivot which is common to each of the strands during swinging movement of the band by a traversing apparatus spaced from the positioning device which includes elements mounted thereon for guiding and presenting the band to a rotatably driven bobbin for the purpose of building a band package thereon.