Abstract: A yarn tensioning device capable of delivering yarn under tension from a spool to a braiding, weaving or knitting machine consisting of a base and a center rod mounted perpendicular to the said base serving to locates the spool while allowing it to pivotally rotate. The device further includes a pawl jointed to the base either via a pin joint or via a flexural hinge and operates in conjunction with a ratchet solidly attached to the spool. The device further includes a compliant yarn guiding means which ensure that yarn reels off at an essentially constant tension. The yarn reel-off tension can be adjusted by modifying the operating length of a stiffening spring using a screw and jam-nut pair, and by limiting the maximum deflection of the compliant yarn guiding means.

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 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: An improvement in internal cam rotary braiding machines wherein each lower carrier member thereof includes a plurality of oppositely disposed movably mounted and fixedly mounted pulleys used to convey a strand of material from a supply bobbin upwardly to the upper carrier members thereof, the pulleys being arranged to reduce the unwanted stresses which are normally imposed on the strand as it is conveyed upwardly over a deflector member and thence as it drops off the trailing edge of the deflector. Further structural improvements are made with respect to the spindle assembly used for the supply bobbin to reduce the normal movement, or "play," of the spindle assembly components during operation and, hence, to reduce further undesired stresses on the strand.

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 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 at 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: 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: A spool carrier capable of delivering yarn under tension from a spool to a braiding machine includes a frame having a base, a center rod mounted on the base in a position that it extends upwardly therefrom along a vertical axis, and a support which axially retains the spool in place. The spool carrier further includes a tensioning mechanism for providing tension on the yarn of the spool. The tensioning mechanism releases yarn from the spool upon reaching a predetermined amount of tension on the yarn. The tensioning mechanism includes a power spring mounted on the base and engagable with the spool for providing a resisting tension being applied to the yarn and spool when reeling yarn off the spool, and a yarn releasing mechanism for enabling the rotation of the spool and for releasing yarn off the spool when the tension on the yarn exceeds a predetermined tension of the power spring.

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: 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 desoldering wick which comprises a small number (e.g., three) of strands of a thin wire (i.e., having a diameter less than about 0.002") braided together to form a hollow tube which is subsequently flattened. Such a wick is suitable for use in desoldering operations for which the heretofore available products were too large, and provides a more rapid removal of molten solder than is achieved with the prior art products. Methods and apparatus are also provided which enable the manufacture of desoldering wicks comprising fewer strands of wire and/or wire of a substantially smaller diameter than has heretofore been possible. By modification of conventional apparatus to reduce the substantial drag on the wire strands heretofore encountered during the braiding operation, it is now possible to prepare wicks with thicknesses on the order of about 0.008" from wire having a substantially smaller diameter (i.e., less than 0.002") than was previously feasible.

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 braider having a braider bed. The bed has first and second closed tracks defining an intersecting serpentine path. The tracks define an average path which is non-circular. A plurality of yarn package carriers travel along said tracks. Yarns fed from the packages form a braid at a location substantially central of the bed.

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 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: 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: 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: A spring tension carrier in a braiding machine comprising a main body adapted to move on a base of the braiding machine, and bobbin rotatably mounted on the main body and having a ratchet on the bottom, a stopper lever pivoted to the main body and having a pawl adapted to engage and disengage from the ratchet, a vertical operation frame guide rod extending from the main body, a spring loaded operation frame operatively connected at the lower end to the stopper lever for movement along the guide rod, an intermediate thread guide mounted on the guide rod for guiding one end of the threaded payed out of the bobbin, a hook support rod extending uprightly from the main body in parallel to the operation frame guide rod, a hook assembly mounted on the hook support rod, a spring mounted on the hook support rod to act on the hook assembly and a second thread guide attached to the upper end of the operation frame guide rod.