Abstract: A method and apparatus for fabricating microbraided structures is provided. A microbraiding device includes first and second carrier members that are movable with respect to each other. Each carrier includes a plurality of shelters. Spool-less strands of microfiber are retained in shuttles that are movable between the first and second shelters under magnetic forces. The microbraid structure is fabricated as the shuttles move between the first shelters, and as the first carrier member moves relative to the second carrier member.

Abstract: A braiding machine is provided comprising a support member, a series of drivers carried by the support member arranged in a circle around a braiding point, a mechanism to rotate adjacent of the drivers in opposite directions, a series of strand supply carrier spindles, and a plurality of cars for mounting of an associated spindle to be driven by the drivers for travel in serpentine intersecting paths in opposite directions around the braiding point. Each of the plurality of cars comprises a unitary central post, a mounting base, and a foot. The post extends from a bottom plane surface of the foot through the foot and the mounting base. The foot and the mounting base are spaced from one another and both provide support to the post.

Abstract: The present invention provides a machine and method wherein there is no physical contact between one or more thread or filaments reels and the element that generates the movement of said reel or reels in such a way that the thread or filament provided by said reel or reels can form a braid. The element that generates the movement of the reel or reels have a magnetic constituent, wherein the magnetic constituent remotely pulls into moving the device or devices holding the reel or reels.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a strand carrier for braiding apparatus providing with a strand supplier on a main board which comprises a strand bobbin with strand threaded thereon and a braid controlling mechanism for driving a rotation of the bobbin. Also, by means of a gear pulley disposed on the bobbin and the braid controlling mechanism including a latch portion and an adjusting portion, a certain amount of tensioning happens to the strands for driving the expeditious movement of the adjusting portion and furthering the latch portion to be away from the gear pulley. In this manner, the present invention prevents the latch portion from randomly moving its pawl away from the gear pulley while being subjected to an inappropriate pulling and smoothly draws the strands for interlacing them into a braiding fabric, thus increasing the braiding efficiency and quality.

Abstract: A strand feeding device includes a seat body, a bobbin-mounting post extending uprightly from said seat body, a bobbin sleeved rotatably around the post, a pair of strand-guiding posts extending upwardly from the seat body and a strand-guiding member installed at the distal end of said strand-guiding posts. Said strand-guiding member includes an aperture, formed by a pair of first arc segments having a major axis with respect to which the aperture is symmetrical, and a pair of second arc segments having a minor axis with respect to which the aperture is symmetrical. This configuration of aperture enhances the braiding fluency and produces a coaxial cable with high quality of insulation.

Abstract: A spindle for a braiding machine includes a stem mounted on a base, a disc on the stem, and a reel of thread mounted on the step atop the disc. A thread guide is mounted on two columns adjacent the stem. A capsule mounted on the top of the columns includes a spring that biases the thread guide downward. The capsule includes an opening which is large enough such that the spring can be inserted into and removed from the opening in the capsule. A washer can be included between the base and the disc to reduce wear to the base and the disc. Also, a single piece reel head may be mounted on the top of a reel of thread.

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: Braider carriers for multiple yarn packages include separate supports for separate packages and separate guides for the yarns from each package. Insulating tubular gaskets having low porosity and comprised of an insulating yarn and wire are manufactured using the carriers. A circular braider used in the manufacture of the gaskets is loaded with a group of carriers each carrying a single yarn package of insulating yarn. The multiple package carriers, each of which is selectively positioned between carriers of the first group, supply insulating yarn and wire.

Abstract: The strand guiding device is designed for a circular braiding machine having a braiding point (35) and a first spool (38) for a first strand (37) fed to said braiding point (35). The strand guiding device for strand guiding includes a guide part or guide device (42) for the first strand arranged between the first spool (38) and the braiding point (35), which is movable back and forth to cross the first strand (37) over at least one second strand (32) coming from a respective second spool (31) so that a length of a section of the first strand (37) between the first spool and the braiding point (35) continuously changes, and a device for compensating changes in the length of that section.

Abstract: A braiding machine comprises a frame, a plurality of rotors on the frame and rotatable about rotor axes arranged about a braiding axis, drive gears for rotating adjacent ones of the rotors in opposite directions, and a plurality of strand shuttles which are driven by the rotors along a sinuous path in a given direction about the braiding axis. Adjacent ones of said rotors have transfer points for sequentially transferring a shuttle from a preceding rotor to a succeeding rotor with respect to the direction of the path, and the rotors and shuttle include interengaging retaining and escapement members by which the shuttle is moved with the preceding rotor toward the transfer point and then with the succeeding rotor away from the transfer point.

Abstract: A braiding machine carrier having a frame; a fiber spool mount attached to the frame; a fiber take-up assembly including a spiral spring; gear train on the frame for mechanically connecting the take-up spring assembly to the fiber spool mount for winding the spiral spring as a spool on the mount rotates; and a magnetic clutch, coupled to the take-up spring assembly, for preventing overwinding of the spiral spring.

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: An apparatus is disclosed for braiding fine denier yarns to form a braided suture product which includes a carrier housing, a main carrier support plate for guiding a plurality of yarn carriers through predetermined paths while dispensing fine denier yarns toward a braiding zone. Each yarn carrier has a spindle for mounting a molded bobbin, with a spindle tip having a recess engageable with resilient leg portions of a bobbin hold down member hingedly mounted for rotation relative to the carrier housing. Tension on the yarn controls rotational movement of the bobbin to dispense yarn therefrom, and the tension of the final braided suture product is controlled to form a product of predetermined uniform appearance.

Abstract: A simple braiding machine readily adaptable to a variety of braiding tasks comprises self-propelled bobbin carriers guided by a track consisting of interchangeable units similar to the interchangeable track units of a toy train. Also disclosed is a simple yarn tensioner capable of maintaining constant tension in the braiding yarn and capable of taking up slack yarn.

Abstract: A zinc alloy body for a braiding machine carrier. The zinc alloy body includes an upper modified oval tear drop member, a similarly shaped lower modified oval tear drop member and a vertical bar extending perpendicularly therebetween.

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: A braider carrier for wide ribbon and/or composite strand is disclosed. The braider carrier guide pulley assembly includes a support, a pulley frame operatively, pivotly mounted to the support, a generally cylindrical guide pulley operatively, rotatably mounted to the pulley frame to accommodate movement of the carrier during the braiding operation, openings through the support and pulley frame at the point of pivot and aligned with the guide pulley, a delivery eye operatively connected to the pulley frame, the eye and the openings capable of holding strand to be braided against the cylindrical surface of the pulley preventing the strand to be braided from twisting during the braiding operation which pivots the pulley frame. The braider carrier bobbin assembly utilizes a magnetic clutch and a torsion spring, the spring capable of providing slack control of strand to be braided and the clutch capable of providing tensioned feed of strand as strand is wound off of the bobbin.

Abstract: A strand carrier for a braiding machine enables the braiding machine to operate at greater speeds and with fewer and shorter interruptions for replenishment of strand supply or for other service. The carrier is an enlongated assembly comprising a longitudinal sequence of spring, bobbin, clutch, and tension controlling components, and is radially symmetrical about the longitudinal axis and rotatably mounted at one end thereof to a braiding machine shuttle.

Abstract: A braider carrier for wide ribbon and/or composite strand is disclosed. The braider carrier guide pulley assembly includes a support, a pulley frame operatively, pivotly mounted to the support, a generally cylindrical guide pulley operatively, rotatably mounted to the pulley frame to accomodate movement of the carrier during the braiding operation, openings through the support and pulley frame at the point of pivot and aligned with the guide pulley, a delivery eye operatively connected to the pulley frame, the eye and the openings capable of holding strand to be braided against the cylindrical surface of the pulley preventing the strand to be braided from twisting during the braiding operation which pivots the pulley frame. The braider carrier bobbin assembly utilizes a magnetic clutch and a torsion spring, the spring capable of providing slack control of strand to be braided and the clutch capable of providing tensioned feed of strand as strand is wound off of the bobbin.

Abstract: Fast-moving eyelet guide for use on a braiding machine, such as a Wardwell braiding machine having a lower carrier mounting track with a plurality of carriers movable along the track. Each carrier holds a spool of strands with a guide clamped onto the carrier. The guide includes a pair of spaced parallel guide rods with a very lightweight spool-shaped eyelet mounted for free movement up and down while remaining captured between these parallel rods. The strands are threaded through and carried by the eyelet, and thus the strands are controlled by the eyelet and are kept closely together as a controlled group during their up and down movement along the parallel guide rods which avoids separation of the strands, thereby dramatically limiting the incidence of breakage of the strands.

Abstract: In a braider carrier comprising a main body adapted to move on a base of a braider, a plate rotably mounted on the main body having a ratchet on the bottom, a latch pivoted to the main body and having a pawl adapted to engage and disengage from the ratchet, a vertical operation rod extending from the main body, said rod being spring loaded and operatively connected at the lower end to said latch for pivoting movement about a guide rod for guiding one end of payed out material for braiding, the improvement comprising means for converting said braider carrier from a wire braider carrier to a yarn braider carrier by modification of the top of said plate comprising the addition of projections adapted to engage tubes onto which yarn is wound.