Abstract: In an aspect, a braiding machine is provided, and has a set of spool shuttles that each dispense a strand of flexible material under tension. A strand retractor releasably retracts the strands from the spool shuttles. A plurality of shuttle stations at which the spool shuttles can be positioned are arranged in a circuit. At least one shuttle carriage, when driven, repeatedly selects an immediately previously unselected spool shuttle and moves the immediately previously unselected spool shuttle from an associated shuttle station to another shuttle station along the circuit spaced from the associated shuttle station by at least one shuttle station that is intermediate the associated shuttle station and the other shuttle station. At least one spool shuttle is parkable at the at least one shuttle station. A drive arrangement is coupled to the shuttle carriage to drive the shuttle carriage.

Abstract: A braider comprises a plurality of horngears. The horngears can be arranged for forming at least two closed paths for braiding. Each horngear has a driving gear and a hornplate. Each horngear can be selectably operated in a first mode, to rotate with the driving gear, and in a second mode, in which the driving gear rotates, but the hornplate does not. Bobbin carriers are positioned on some of the horngears. A track is configurable in: a first flat braiding mode with the carriers arranged on the horngears, so that there is one or more separate closed path for forming a first flat braid configuration; and a second flat braiding mode for forming a second flat braid configuration different from the first flat braid configuration,. A switch is provided for changing a configuration of the track between the first and second flat braiding modes.

Abstract: A braider has a track for guiding 4N bobbin carriers and 4N horngears, where N is an integer greater than one. The horngears each have four horns for forming at least two paths. The bobbin carriers are positioned on the horngears in a tubular braiding mode with the track and horngears configured to provide two paths intersecting each other, to form a tubular braid section. The bobbin carriers are positioned on the horngears in a flat braiding mode, with the track and horngears configured so that there are N separate closed paths that do not intersect each other, to form a flat braid section. The braider is switched between the tubular and flat braiding modes while N of the horngears are free of contact with the bobbin carriers, to form a continuous braid having at least one tubular braid section and at least one flat braid section.

Abstract: A braiding apparatus for braiding the perforated braids with constant interval of perforations comprises a first braid section to braid one strand with a plurality of yarns, sequential braid section to braid with two strands and secondary sequential braid section to braid a final strand with the previous process of the strands. This braiding apparatus comprises a carrier guide plate (10) having a pair of core yarn holes (12), a plurality of coupling boles (13), two tracks of carrier contours (14), a base plate (40) having a plurality of carriers (20), feed gears (30), feed discs (31), feed gear shafts (32), actuators (42), carrier contour changers (50) including a main block (60), intermediate cross block (70) and inner split block (80) for performing repeated crossing and separating operations. So, the various braids with constant interval of perforations are possibly produced by differ the number of core yarns and carriers.

Abstract: A machine, for the construction of a braid (11), that includes a set of identical multiindented wheels (2), which are mounted on a fixed support (1) and driven in rotation to cause the circulation of spindles (6) carrying spools (7) of braiding threads (8). The multiindented wheels are disposed in parallel and equidistant lines (L—L). In the set of multiindented wheels: the multindented wheels (2) belonging to a line are spaced from one another, so that two consecutive multiindented wheels belonging to one and the same line cannot cooperate directly with one another; and a multiindented wheel (2) belonging to one line is disposed between two multiindented wheels belonging to an adjacent line and cooperates with the two multiindented wheels, In the spaces between the consecutive multiindented wheels of a line, there are provided passages (3) for the longitudinal elongate elements (9) of the braided tubular structure.

Abstract: A fabric forming device including a stationary yarn supply and a rotating yarn supply, each delivering yarn to a common point along a vertical axis where they are interlaced. The stationary yarn supply includes a plurality of yarn carrying cones which are arranged along a common horizontal plane about the vertical axis. The rotating yarn supply includes a plurality of yarn spools mounted with a rotating plate about the vertical axis. A plurality of vertically moveable guide members which are adapted to engage with the yarns of the rotating yarn supply act to selectively alter the horizontal path along which the yarns travel. The guide members act to control the yarns of the rotating yarn supply to be selectively positioned to pass above or below the cones carrying the stationary yarns so that the yarns interlace in a desired manner.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for the central axis stationary shaft and power input shaft of a braiding machine having a set of strand carriers mounted on the rear side of a first table, another set of strand carriers movable around the front side of the first table for rotation by a second table, and a drive mechanism for rotating the tables in opposite directions. The mounting assembly has a frame base, a frame stanchion for mounting the central axis stationary shaft and having a medial lattice opening, a drive torque tube extending from the lattice opening and housing and rotatably mounting the power input shaft, and, an arcuately adjustable means projecting into the lattice opening for support of the rear end of the drive torque tube.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for rotating two tables around the central axis stationary shaft of a braiding machine having a set of strand carriers mounted on the rear side of a first table and another set of strand carriers movable around the front side of the first table for rotation by a second table. The drive mechanism is connected to a power input shaft extending substantially parallel to the stationary shaft and toward the rear side of the first table and includes a series of six sprockets, a postshaft and three chains so that the two tables are rotated in opposite directions in response to rotation of the power input shaft.