Patent ID: 6314856
Filing Date: 2001-11-13
Classification: B29D,D04C,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for operating a braider of the type having a capstan, a pick up guide, a pick down guide, a braiding area where strands contact a mandrel, and a plurality of carriers holding at least one strand, to rapidly vary the pick count of a braid of a plurality of stands around a mandrel, comprising the steps of:(a) feeding a mandrel in sequence through the pick down guide; the braiding area, and the pick up guide to the capstan;(b) feeding the strands to the braiding area into contact with the mandrel, and through the pick up guide to the capstan;(c) braiding the strands at a predetermined pick count in the braiding area around the mandrel while simultaneously taking up the braided mandrel onto the capstan;(d) increasing the pick count by slowing the take up of the braided mandrel onto the capstan, increasing the speed of the carriers, and by moving pick up guide into the braiding area; and(e) decreasing the pick count by speeding the take up of the braided mandrel onto the capstan, decreasing the speed of the carriers, and by moving the pick down guide into the braiding area.