Abstract: A braiding apparatus for forming braided tubing comprises a braiding wheel and a plurality of bobbins. The plurality of bobbins are configured to move circumferentially around the braiding wheel. Each bobbin includes a spool, a first pulley assembly, and a second pulley assembly. The spool is configured to hold a tow formed from a braiding material. The first pulley assembly is coupled to the spool at a first distance from the spool. The first pulley assembly is configured to facilitate passing the tow over a pulley of the first pulley assembly. The second pulley assembly is coupled to the spool at a second distance that is less than the first distance. The second pulley assembly is configured to facilitate receiving the tow from the first pulley assembly and passing the tow over a pulley of the second pulley assembly and towards a section of the braiding apparatus at which a plurality of tows come together to form the braided tubing.

Abstract: A medical balloon with a variable diameter that is reinforced with continuous fibers woven to form a fabric with a varying number of layers and fiber densities. Portions of the balloon having a relatively smaller diameter are reinforced with a fabric having a reduced fiber density and an increased number of layers to facilitate the placement of the layers. The fabric also includes a braiding pattern that facilitates the transition from a single layer fabric to a multiple layer fabric. Also described is a manufacturing method for the braiding and layering.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a braiding machine and a method for controlling a braiding machine of this kind. An exemplary embodiment of the braiding machine has a plurality of braided-material carriers, a drive and a control device. The plurality of braided-material carriers are arranged around a common braiding centre of the braiding machine and are each designed to carry a braided material that is to be braided in the common braiding centre. The drive is designed to drive the plurality of braided-material carriers such that they move around the common braiding centre. The control device is designed to control the drive such that a centrifugal force acting on at least one of the braided-material carriers remains nearly constant.

Abstract: A thread feeding device for the torchon lace machine includes a spindle provided to stand at a runner moving along an orbit due to rotation of rotor metals, and a standing member including a thread feeding hole to pull out a carbon thread wound around a bobbin rotatably inserted into the spindle and a bobbin stopper. The carbon thread is set to form a U-shape among rollers each with thread guide which are respectively provided at a base end side and a tip end side of a head member of the standing member and a roller with thread guide which is provided at a slide body provided to be vertically slidable at a lower side than the head member to enable to feed to the knitting part.

Abstract: A spool for use in a wire braiding machine, for example, which has a “bi-tapered” design including a central cylindrical section and a pair of tapered (e.g., frusto-conical or parabolic) flanges having surfaces that slope inwardly toward the cylindrical section. In this manner, the spool provides a progressively widening wire fill area, as measured along a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the bobbin, as the wound wire advances progressively radially outwardly from the cylindrical section. This widening wire fill area aids in preventing the formation, propagation and buildup of wire winding defects, such that the wire is more likely to unspool or pay-out from the spool without losing tension, snagging or breaking.

Abstract: A strand feeding device includes a seat body having a top end face and a mounting bore extending downwardly and inwardly from the top end face. A bobbin-mounting post extends upwardly from the top end face of the seat body. A bobbin is sleeved rotatably around the post, and has a lower end formed with engaging grooves, each of which is confined by a groove-defining wall. A spring-biased rod is movably disposed in the mounting bore, and has a rounded surface that engages the groove-defining wall of a selected engaging groove when the rod extends into the engaging groove.

Abstract: A system for connecting a panel to a support comprises a mesh panel defined by at least one length portion and has a border connected to the length portion of the mesh panel. The border has a first end capable of being connected to a support and a second end adjustably connectable to an opposite support. A tensioning means is associated with the border second end for pulling the border in tension between the supports. The second end of the web is connectable to the tensioning means for tensioning the mesh panel material.

Abstract: A yarn tensioning device which is arranged to impart a high unwinding tension to a feed yarn in a yarn draw-out phase of operation and to impart a low unwinding tension with a large yarn draw-back capacity. The yarn tensioning device is is particularly suitable for use on a textile machine which is arranged to produce a three-dimensional fabric by interweaving a large number of yarns (24) fed from yarn carriers (20) which are driven by a carrier drive mechanism to shift the respective positions along predetermined loci of movements within a common carrier shifting plane. Mounted on each carrier (20) is a high tensioning mechanism which acts with a small yarn draw-back capacity and a high yarn tensioning capacity for a feed yarn (24) being unwound from a bobbin (23), in combination with a low tensioning mechanism (22) which acts on the feed yarn with a large yarn draw-back capacity and a low tensioning capacity.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for braiding fine denier yarns to form a braided suture product which includes a frame, and a main carrier support plate supported on the frame and having a pair of undulating guide channels intersecting each other for guiding a plurality of yarn carriers. A plurality of yarn carriers are supported on the main carrier support plate, and each supports a bobbin for dispensing fine denier yarn. The yarn carriers are directed over intersecting paths corresponding to the shape of the guide channels, with a first set of the carriers being directed in a first direction and a second set of the carriers being directed in the opposite direction. The yarns are received in a common braiding zone above the yarn carriers while the yarn carriers are directed through the intersecting paths of the guide channels to form a braided sheath from the yarns.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for braiding fine denier yarns to form a braided suture product which includes a frame, and a main carrier support plate supported on the frame and having a pair of undulating guide channels intersecting each other for guiding a plurality of yarn carriers. A plurality of yarn carriers are supported on the main carrier support plate, and each supports a bobbin for dispensing fine denier yarn. A guiding system is provided for directing the yarn carriers over intersecting paths corresponding to the shape of said guide channels, with a first set of the carriers being directed in a first direction and a second set of the carriers being directed in the opposite direction. A take-up system is positioned above the yarn carriers to provide reception of the yarns in a common braiding zone while the yarn carriers are directed through the intersecting paths of the guide channels to form a braided sheath from the yarns.

Abstract: The tension head of a strand carrier for a braiding machine comprises coaxial head members, the first of which is fixed and the second of which is axially displaceable toward the first member, and a plurality of tension spring cartridges therebetween biasing the second head member away from the first head member. The carrier further includes a bobbin and strand guide components coaxial with the tension head, and the tension head further includes a clutch arrangement including a clutch plate interposed between the bobbin and the second head member of the tension head, and a plurality of clutch spring units interposed between the first head member of the tension head and the clutch plate to bias the latter toward the bobbin. The tension head, bobbin and strand guide components are releasably mounted on a support shaft of the carrier by a latch arrangement between the shaft and first head member of the tension head.

Abstract: The tension head of a strand carrier for a braiding machine comprises coaxial head members, the first of which is fixed and the second of which is axially displaceable toward the first, and a plurality of tension spring cartridges therebetween biasing the second head member away from the first head member. The carrier further includes a bobbin coaxial with the first and second head members and a clutch arrangement including a clutch plate interposed between the bobbin and the second head member of the tension head. A plurality of clutch spring units are interposed between the first head member of the tension head and the clutch plate to bias the latter toward the bobbin. Each of the clutch spring units includes a compression spring releasably compressed in place by a corresponding retaining member mounted on the first head member.

Abstract: The tension head of a strand carrier for a braiding machine comprises coaxial members, the first of which is fixed and the second of which is axially displaceable toward the first member, and a plurality of tension spring cartridges therebetween biasing the second member away from the first member. The spring cartridges are removable without disassembly of the fixed and movable members and each cartridge includes a spring guide supporting a compression spring in a precompressed condition in which the spring has a length considerably shorter than its uncompressed length. When the cartridge is in place, the spring is adapted to be further compressed from its precompressed length to bias the second member away from the first member.

Abstract: A bobbin control mechanism for a strand carrier for operational mounting before a braid point on a strand fabricating machine. A carrier base member (28) has an axial post (29) for rotatable mounting of a bobbin. The carrier has a series of posts radially around the axial post, a series of guide rollers, a mechanism for tensioning a moving strand on the guide rollers and a reciprocating rod (55) projecting into the base member and reacting to strand tension. The bobbin control mechanism (60) includes a finger cam (61) connected to the reciprocating rod, a free cam (62) movable by the finger cam, a ratchet gear (63) rotatable around the base of the axial post, a first pawl cam (64) preventing clockwise rotation of the ratchet gear, and a second pawl cam (65) preventing counter-clockwise rotation of the ratchet gear. A detachable cover plate (66) around the axial post closes off the interior of the base member.

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: The fiber spool apparatus comprising a main fiber spool mounted within an elongated housing of the fiber carrier. Fiber from the main spool is fed outwardly around a guide and through an aperture extending from the end portion to the middle portion of a take-up spool that is mounted on a cover that is removably mounted on the upper end of the housing. The longitudinal or rotational axis of the take-up spool is generally perpendicular to the lognitudinal or rotational axis of the main spool and the housing. The take-up spool is provided iwth a pre-tension spring assembly for allowing the fiber to be fed through the take-up spool to the braiding apparatus and to maintain a predetermined tension on the fiber during such feeding. The carrier housing may be provided with wheels or the like at the bottom end thereof for allowing the carrier to be easily moved during the braiding process.

Abstract: Filament is unwound under tension from a bobbin; a brake controls the speed of rotation of the bobbin; the brake includes one clutch plate that rotates with the bobbin and another clutch plate that is hydraulically urged against the first clutch plate; a self-container hydraulic fluid filled, hydraulic system communicates with the latter clutch plate and also with a piston; biasing means urge the piston to increase the pressure on the latter clutch plate which brakes the bobbin and increases filament tension; as the filament is drawn away from the bobbin under greater tension, the piston is urged, against the force of biasing means, to reduce the pressure on the latter clutch plate which releases the brake and decreases filament tension.