Improvements in Braiding Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1890-Accepted, 2nd Aug., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Braiding Machines.
We, ROBERT CHARLES FISHER of No. 4, Pembroke Street in the City of Toronto
in the Province of Ontario, and Dominion of Canada, Merchant and WALTER
HERBERT AVIS of No. 50 Bartlett Avenue in the said City of Toronto Mill. Super-
intendent do hereby declare the nature of said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
BRAIDING MACHINES, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of the improvement is to provide a very simple and convenient
machine for braiding sash and other cords and all objects or uses where a uniformly
braided covering is desirable and convenient.
On reference to the accompanying drawings in which similar letters refer to
similar parts, throughout the specification, and-
Fig. 1 represents a plan of the improved braiding machine.
Fig. 2 a front elevation of the same having the legs removed.
Fig. 3 a cross-section through the centre from front to rear on the line ―.
Fig.
a detail of one of the fliers alone.
Fig. 5 a detail of the switch and the positions of a flier in, taking either of the
curves, and
Fig. 6 a detail of the feed mechanism.
The improved braiding machine is supported on and by means of suitable legs or
support (not illustrated in the drawings). The main frame plate 1 is preferably
square and has rigidly supported at a suitable distance above it the upper frame plate 2
secured by means of the bolts 3 passing through the sleeves 4 and nuts above and
below the plates 2 and 1 respectively secure them in fixed relation to each other.
The main plate 1 has secured at its centre the gear wheel 5 having teeth around its
periphery and a bevel wheel 6 formed in its under side meshing with the driving
bevel 7 supported on the end of the shaft 8 supported in suitable bearings and
extending along the under side of the main plate 1 said shaft has supported near the
outer end the loose and fast pulleys 9 by which suitable belting from shafting or any
usual means drives the machine.
At four equidistant points in line between the centre and corners of said plate
2
are secured four similarly formed but smaller gear wheels 10 similarly secured by
bolts 11 passing through suitable or adapted sleeves 12 to that securing the centre
gear wheel 5 which meshes with and uniformly drives the said wheels 10. The said
centre gear wheel 5 and the said four gear wheels 10 mesh in a constant proportion
of one revolution of the latter wheels 10 to three-quarters of a revolution of the
centre gear wheel 5, or the three parts into which the wheels 10 are divided between
the receivers 13 on them equal three of the four parts into which the said wheel 5 is
divided by its adapted form of receivers 14 this proportion of mesh is hereinafter
particularly described and the purpose shown.
The upper frame plate 2 has circular openings 15 and 15 formed in it over the
teeth of the gear wheels 5 and 10 which divide the said plate 2 into the outer portion
and the five circular discs 16 secured rigidly above the said gear wheels 5 and 10 by
the bolts 3 and 11 through the spacing collars or sleeves 4 and 12.
In the said circular openings 15 are suitably formed fliers 17 of the form shown
which are operated at the under side of the plate 2 by receivers 13 and 14 on the said
wheels 10 and 5, said receivers 13 and 14 receive and deliver the fliers 17 alternately
between the wheel 5 and the four wheels 10 that is the fliers, 17 are received by the
receivers 14 on the centre wheel 5 from one of the wheels 10 and after being carried
one-quarter the circumference of the said wheel 5 are delivered to the next one of the

page_text: four wheels 10 around which it is carried and delivered back to the centre wheel 5
but to the next receiver 14 on the wheel 5 to the one delivering it.
Said fliers are formed substantially as shown in Fig. 4 having the sliding block 18
as the body, curved and adapted to run in grooves 15 and 15 wherein it is main-
tained erect by the flanges 19 formed on the horizontal and parallel faces, the
said flanges 19 fitting closely against the upper and lower sides of the plate 2,
Through the centre of the slide-block 18 of the fliers 17 a shaft 20
the lower end of which is engaged by the receivers 13 and 14 and its longer
portion 21 above slide-block 18 is adapted to hold a suitable bobbin 22 as a supply of
-material.
passes,
The arm 23 projecting at right angles from the shaft 21 to a suitable distance
clear of the bobbin 22 is then turned vertical and parallel with the shaft 21 and has
supported on it about mid-height a suitable tension 24 to hold the thread from the
bobbin 22 which is then carried down around a small roller wheel 26 in the take up 25,
secured at the angle in the said arm 23 and composed of the said roller wheel 26 and
a suitable bearing in which it is held and to which a spiral spring 27 is secured at
one end and to the angle of said arm 23 at the other. The said arm 23 is again
curved at about a right angle (as shown) to continue in the same direction as where
attached to the slide-block 18. In the upper end of the arm 23 is formed a suitable
opening through which the thread from the take-up 25 passes. From a hinge formed
at the upper bend is extended a bar 28 to engage the shaft 21 and hold the bobbin in
place.
Securely bolted to the plate 2 is a kneed tripod-frame 29 extending a suitable
distance above the fliers 17 upon which is supported a feed-wheel 30 upon a suitable
bracket 31 carried by the frame 29. The feed wheel 30 is operated by a worm-
wheel 32 the spiral of which engages adapted teeth on said feed wheel 30. The said
worm-wheel 32 is secured on the vertical shaft 33 which also carries a cone pulley 34
of changeable or different speeds. The vertical shaft 33 is supported and operates
at its lower end in a hub formed on the frame 29 and at its upper end in a similar
bearing on the bracket 31 carrying the said feed wheel 30.
The cone pulley 34 is operated by a suitable belt from a similar cone pulley 35 on
the driving shaft 8, the belt 36 being carried at the angle therein over idle
wheels 37.
Part of the bracket 38 supported by the tripod-frame 29 carries a pair of feed
rollers 39 operated by the belt 40 preferably from a pulley on one of the idle
wheels 37 over which the said belt 36 operating the feed mechanism already described
is carried.
On the feed-wheel 30 is supported a grip mechanism to seize hold of the cord at
the tangent point with the said grip and carry it round a suitable distance preferably
a quarter circle and then release its hold of the cord which passes to the rollers 39.
The grip mechanism is composed of a shallow grooved pulley 41 formed on the side
of the feed wheel 30 and an inner concentric and laterally projecting ring 42 on the
side of said feed wheel 30. Through the outer grooved ring 41 and the inner ring 42
are formed preferably eight radial outwardly enlarging openings 43 into which the
same number of arms or levers 44 fit loosely, the inner ends of which have T-heads 45
formed on them to fit against the ring 42 in the wheel 30. The ring 46 secured by
suitable screws 47 through it and into the ring 42 maintains the arms 44 from falling
out of place. The cam-wheel 48 of the conical form shown in the different Figs. is
secured on a squared portion on the same central axle as the feed wheel 30, and has
spiral spring 49, around said axle pressing against the cam-wheel 48 and holding
flexibly the arins 44 against the side of the feed wheel 30 for a portion of each
revolution of the said feed wheel 30 through a cam 50 or additional thickness, formed
on the wheel 48 extending about a quadrant of said wheel.
રી
At the frog-angle or the intersection of the smaller circular openings 15 with the
central or larger opening 15 is a switch spring 51 secured as shown and bisecting
the angle subtended by the said curves and projecting into the opening and against

page_text: which the slide-blocks, 18, of the fliers, 17, come in contact, and are deflected to change
the curve of flight traversed previous to coming in contact with the switch spring 51
as shown detailed in Fig. 5 by the arrows which indicate the directions.
Having now described the machine in detail when not in action, we will briefly
describe the manner in which it performs the braiding. It will be seen that when
motion is imparted to the driving shaft, 8, in the direction of the arrow, the centre
wheel, 5, and the four smaller gear wheels 10, will turn in directions indicated, and
carry the fliers, 17, along with them. Upon collecting the ends of the threads from
the bobbins, 22, to the centre opening in the frame, 29, and holding them sufficiently
taut when the machine is in motion braiding or weaving will take place and when
a core, 52, is used it will be braided over. Upon following the motions, or the
courses of the fliers, 17, it will be seen that one thread will be laid on the core, 52,
and the next thread will overlap it and then be in turn overlapped by the next
succeeding thread, or strand, while they are being carried round the said core, 52-
on which they are laid spirally and present a uniformly checkered covering, provided
that the tensions, 24, grip equally on the strands, which are carried on the circle
(shown dotted in Fig. 1) except over the centres of the wheels, 10, where a slight
deviation is necessitated, but provided for by means of the take-up, 25, readily
yielding to any extra tension required. The machine illustrated is an eight strand
one. For a twelve strand machine six receivers on the centre wheel and five on each
of the four outer wheels are necessary, while an eighteen strand machine requires
twelve receivers on the centre and five on each of the outer wheels.
Although the machine shown and described is an eight strand one, yet, we do not
confine ourselves to any particular number of stands and may use the other arrange-
ments above mentioned.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is-
Claim 1. In a braiding machine, the lower and upper parallel frame plates suitably
and rigidly spaced apart, and having suitably secured between them a central gear-
wheel driven by adapted means and meshing with other gear wheels equally spaced
around and driven in a certain ratio of speed; said central and outer gear wheels
being provided with receivers adapted to engage together and operate fliers in circular
grooves in said upper plate, in which are provided switching springs, to direct said
fliers which carry a suitable bobbin each, and are provided with a tension, take up
and thread carrying arm, substantially as shown and for the purposes described and
specified.
Claim 2. In a braiding machine, the central gear wheel, 5, driven by suitable means
and secured centrally between the parallel frame plates, 1 and 2, said gear wheel, 5,
meshing with and driving four or more other smaller and similarly secured gear
wheels, 10, operating by means of the receivers 13 and 14, on said wheels 10 and 5,
respectively; the fliers 17, in the circular grooves 15 and 15" which have the switch-
spring 51, in the plate 2, to guide said fliers 17, carrying each a bobbin 22,
tension 24 and take-up 25, substantially as shown and for the purpose described and
specified.
Claim 3. In a braiding machine the four or more gear wheels, 10, equally spaced
around and meshing with a central gear wheel 5, all secured on bearings between the
parallel frame plates 1 and 2 ; said wheels 10 and wheel 5, having adapted receivers 13
and 14 respectively operating in the circular grooves 15 and 15ª, provided with
switch springs 51, in said plate 2, the fliers 17, carrying each a bobbin 22,
tension 24 and take up 25, substantially as shown and for the purpose described and
specified.
Claim 4. In a braiding machine, the circular grooves 15, provided with switching
springs, 51, and formed through the upper frame plate 2, and over the teeth of the
central and outer gear wheels 5 and 10 respectively, secured between the frame
plates 1 and 2, and provided with receivers 14 and 13, respectively-operating in the

page_text: said grooves 15 and 15ª, the fliers 17, carrying each a bobbin 22, and provided with a
tension 24 and take-up 25, substantially as shown and for the purpose described and
:specified.
Claim 5. In. a braiding machine the switch spring 51, suitably secured at the
junction of the circular grooves, 15, formed through the frame plate 2, and over the
peripheries.. of the central and outer gear wheels 5 and 10 respectively, secured
between the frame plates 1 and 2 and provided with receivers 14 and 13 respectively,
operating fliers 17, in said grooves 15 and 15"; said fliers 17, carrying each a bobbin 22
and provided with a tension 24 and take-up .25, substantially as shown and for the
purpose described and specified..
:
Claim 6. In a braiding machine, the fliers 17, provided with means for carrying a
bobbin 22, and having a tension 24, and take-up 25, and operating in circular
grooves 15 and 15, in the upper frame plate 2, by receivers 14 and 13, on the central
and outer gear wheels 5 and 10, respectively, which are secured in mesh between the
frame plate 1 and said upper frame plate 2, substantially as shown and for the purpose
described and specified.
Claim 7. In a braiding machine, the feed mechanism supported by a suitable frame
I above the main frame and composed of a toothed wheel supported at one side by a
standard and having formed on the other a grooved pulley in which radial clamping-
arms are countersunk and secured loosely at their inner T-ed end, by an inner ring
secured to a circular rib in which said arms are countersunk ; said arms are clamped
by a yielding cam-wheel secured on the squared portion of the same axis as the said
toothed wheel and provided with a spring on said central axis; said 'toothed wheel
engaging a worm-wheel secured on a vertical shaft, and operated by a belt passing
round grooved cone pulleys on the same shaft and driven by suitable driving
mechanism provided with similar cone pulleys; said belt also operating rollers
arranged to draw the cord, substantially as shown and for the purpose described and
specified.
-
a
Claim 8. In the feed mechanism of a braiding machine, the toothed wheel having
grooved pulley formed on one side and in which are countersunk radial clamping
..arms secured at their inner T-ed end by a ring secured to a raised rib in which said
:arms are countersunk and clamped by a cam-wheel operated laterally by a spring
.around its central axis said toothed wheel operated by the engaged worm-wheel secured
on a vertical shaft supported by suitable frame and having also a cone pulley operated
by a belt from suitable driving mechanism, provided with a similar cone pulley and
.operating rollers arranged to draw the cord, substantially as shown and for the purpose'
.described and specified.
Dated, this 21st day of April 1890.
2
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.