Abstract: A braiding bobbin includes a shaft and a spool from which a fiber thread can be drawn off through a thread guide mounted to rotate on the shaft. At least one torsion spring joins the shaft and the spool to each other. The spool is rotatable in a draw-off direction against the spring force and in an opposite, backwinding direction by the spring force of the torsion spring. A brake having an adjustable braking torque brakes rotation of the shaft in the draw-off direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hair gripping device to be mounted on a hair accommodating tube to grip a bundle of hair in a proper friction force during hair braiding by a hair braiding machine. The present hair gripping device comprises a tapered head portion having a nozzle for the bundle of hair to pass through; and a body portion, extended from the head portion in one piece, having a plurality of inner partition walls to give the bundle of hair a zigzag, spiral, or helical bends, thereby tensioning the bundle of hair properly during a braiding and/or releasing it smoothly at the end of braiding. Accordingly, a uniform and tidy, style of braided hair is obtained.

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 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 rotary braiding machine interweaves strands to form a braid for a work piece, such as a hydraulic hose or the like. A frame has a central axis about which strands of fiber are braided. Inner bobbin-carrier assemblies and outer bobbin-carrier assemblies are carried circumferentially on the frame. The inner bobbin-carrier assemblies are rotatably supported by the frame radially outwardly of the central axis, are separated by recesses, and each supports a strand supply bobbin. Each of the inner bobbin-carrier assemblies has an inner tensioning and control assembly to pay-out a first strand of one or more fibers from its bobbin and to position the first strand in substantially perpendicular relation to the central axis of the frame. The outer bobbin-carrier assemblies are rotatably supported by the frame radially outwardly of the central axis and of the inner array of strand supply bobbins.

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 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: 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 yarn carrier apparatus particularly suited for use in braiding machinery or the like due to its capability of continuous yarn feeding and retraction of long lengths of yarn. The yarn carrier apparatus comprises a yarn supply spool which is rotatably mounted within the housing, a spring motor also mounted within the housing and operatively connected to the yarn supply spool through a mechanical transmission assembly which is adapted to multiply rotational movement between the first element of the gear assembly operatively connected to the spring motor and the final element of the gear assembly operatively connected to the yarn supply spool. The spring motor is adapted to tension the yarn during both feeding and retraction thereof, and it is further adapted to periodically rotatably slip within the housing and partially unwind so as to allow for continuous withdrawal of a long length of yarn without the spring motor becoming fully wound and preventing further yarn retraction.

Abstract: A yarn carrier apparatus particularly suited for use in braiding machinery or the like due to its capability of continuous yarn feeding and retraction of long lengths of yarn. The yarn carrier apparatus comprises a yarn supply spool which is rotatably mounted within the housing, a spring motor also mounted within the housing and operatively connected to the yarn supply spool through a mechanical transmission assembly which is adapted to multiply rotational movement between the first element of the gear assembly operatively connected to the spring motor and the final element of the gear assembly operatively connected to the yarn supply spool. The spring motor is adapted to tension the yarn during both feeding and retraction thereof, and it is further adapted to periodically rotatably slip within the housing and partially unwind so as to allow for continuous withdrawal of a long length of yarn without the spring motor becoming fully wound and preventing further yarn retraction.

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 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 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.