Improvements in Braiding Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 7th Nov.,
1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Braiding Machines.
I, JOSEPH THOMAS, residing at 53 Prince Street New York City, in the State
of New York, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to machines for the manufacture of braid of all kinds
(flat, round or tubular), and has for its object to simplify both the construction and
operation of machines of that class, which I attain by the improved construction
and combination of parts as hereinafter described and claimed, whereby I:
1st, greatly reduce the friction of the carriers as they pass through the machine
and weave the braid; 2nd, reduce the wear and tear of the machine as a whole;
3rd, provide means for the easy and instant removal of the carriers from the
machine and their replacement; 4th, so adjust the carriers that the threads from
the respective spools or bobbins will be woven.or plaited into braid under an
absolutely even tension; 5th, provide means for the easy and certain adjustment of
said tension; and 6th, so construct the spool-holders that they may be readily
opened for the removal or insertion of spools, without the necessity of removing
them from the machine.
On the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved braiding machine;
Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, on a vertical plane a little
to one side of, and parallel to,. the main driving-shaft ;
Figure 3 is a detail view of two adjacent revolving carrier-heads, with their
appurtenances and carriers in proper operative position;
Figure 4 is a view of a pair of revolving carrier-heads as they appear when
looking towards them from the top;
Figure 5 is a sectional view of the same through the plane indicated by the
broken line marked - in Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a sectional view of the same through the plane indicated by the
broken line marked y-y in Figure 5 ;
Figure 7 is a perspective detail view of one of the hinged switching.devices or
latches appertaining to the revolving, carrier-heads;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the carriers with its spool-holder and
spool; and
Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view through the carrier, spool-holder, and
spool; the dotted lines showing the spool-holder open for the removal or insertion
of a spool.
Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures.
The main frame of the machine consists of a circular ring-formed plate, A, which
is supported upon legs of convenient height, the sides of the ring being inclined or
slanted at an angle of about 45 degrees (more or less). This circular ring or plate
has on its under side depending bearings B, for the main-drive shaft C, and is
reinforced by a solid circular rim or flange D, which encircles its upper edge.
This reinforced ring or circular frame, A D, forms the support and bearing for
the revolving carrier-heads, E, all of which are of precisely the same construction.
By reference to Figures 3 and 5, showing two adjacent carrier-heads, it will be
seen that each carrier-head revolves upon a spindle F, which is securely fastened
upon the inner sloping side of the circular frame or bearing-plate A, so that it
(with the carrier-head journaled upon it) projects inwardly and upwardly at an
angle of about 45 degrees. Upon these inclined stationary spindles F the carrier-
heads E revolve in alternately opposite directions, driven by their intermeshing

page_text: cog-wheels G; a washer, H, being interposed between the under side of each cog-
wheel and the contiguous face of plate A to reduce friction and take up wear.
A revolving motion is imparted to the cog-wheels G (which are either cast in
one piece with, or securely fastened to, the under side of their respective carrier-
heads E) by making one of the revolving carrier-heads of a slightly modified
construction, viz.: the one located at one end of the machine in alignment with the
driving shaft C, and marked E'. As will be observed on reference to Figure 2,
the spindle F¹ of this particular carrier-head, instead of being fastened rigidly in
plate A, projects through a bushing in the inclined side of this plate and is provided
on its projecting outer end with a bevel cog-wheel 1, which meshes with the cog-
wheel J on shaft C. It follows that when shaft C is revolved by means of its
belt-pulley K, the spindle F¹ will also revolve, and, with it, its appropriate carrier-
head E and cog-wheel G'; and as all the cog-wheels G gear into one another (see
Figures 1 and 2) it follows that the entire train or set of intermeshing cog-wheels G,
and with them their appropriate carrier-heads E, will be revolved in alternately
opposite directions.
Each of these revolving carrier-heads E is preferably cast in one piece with its
appropriate cog-wheel G, and consists of a cross-shaped block having a central
bore through which the spindle F is inserted; a collar L, being fastened upon the
projecting upper end of the spindle so as to bear lightly against the upper end of
the cross and prevent motion of the carrier-head in the direction of the length of
the spindle. This collar L may be adjusted upon the spindle F, as occasion
requires, to take up wear, and, after proper adjustment, may be fastened by means
of the binding-screw M.
Each of the four arms forming the cross E is notched longitudinally to form a
semi-circular recess, N, adapted to form a seat for the carrier O. The latter
consists of a cylindrical stem or spindle having a flanged and screw-threaded
head P, for the attachment of the spool-holder (to be hereinafter described), and
being also provided about midway of its length, with a circular disk Q, the under
side of which is cut away to form an annular recess R, for the purpose hereinafter
set forth. The downwardly projecting circular flange formed on disk Q by this
hollow or recess R is beveled on the outside, to facilitate the shifting or switching
of the carrier from one of the revolving carrier-heads to another, as hereinafter
described.
Besides the longitudinal notch or recess N, each of the four arms of the carrier-
head E is cut away transversely so as to form a recess, shown at S, for the spring-
latch T. This latch or switching device is of the shape and construction illustrated
more clearly in the detail views Figures 7 and 74, by reference to which it will be
seen that it consists of a sickle-shaped plate having a thin beveled point, «, of
gradually increasing thickness towards the rearwardly extending hook. The
body of this hook is cut away back of its forward edge so as to form a raised rim
or flange e (shown more clearly in the small detail view, Figure 7), the front edge
of which is also beveled. In other words, the front side of this latch or switch
has a beveled edge, a c, of gradually increasing thickness from the point to the end
of the hook, with its point bent slightly in an upward direction.
Fastened to this latch-plate T, and projecting laterally therefrom at approxi-
mately right angles, is a cylindrical finger d, which forms the hinge or pivot
on which the latch turns. This finger is inserted through a horizontal bore or
bearing in its appropriate arm, back of the recess S within which the latch T is
located (see Figures 5 & 6), and is held in place by a small screw, on removing
which the latch may readily be withdrawn.
There are, of course, four of these so-called latches T for each revolving carrier- .
head, viz. one for each of the four arms thereof, and each one hinged by its
finger d, within its appropriate recess S. This recess has a sub-recess, U, in its
upper side, formed by cutting out the roof of the recess S so as to form a semi-
circular chamber, adapted to receive and fit upon one half part of the carrier-
disk Q, in like manner as the intersecting notch or recess N will receive and fit one

page_text: half of the cylindrical carrier-stem O. When the carrier is inserted sidewise
into these recesses N and U, it will be supported on its under side by the latch T,
the hooked part be of which will project up into the annular recess R, in disk Q
(see Fig. 9). To maintain the latch in this normal or closed position, it has a
yielding support on its under side, consisting of a headed pin V, which works in a
small vertical bore in the body of the carrier and is encircled therein by a small
spiral spring W, which operates to force the pin in an upward direction against the
under side of the pivoted latch T and thus support the free end of the same, and,
at the same time, form a yielding support or bearing for the disk Q of the carrier,
which, as we have seen, bears against the spring-latch T with its under side. It
will further be seen that when the free end of the latch is depressed, so as to
disengage the hook bc from the annular recess R in the carrier, the latter can be
When
easily withdrawn from its appropriate seat in the revolving carrier-head E.
it is desired to replace the carrier in its seat in the carrier-head, this may be done
in a moment of time by simply pushing it sidewise into the recesses N and U,
the beveled or sloping rim of the circular disk Q permitting the latch hook to
slip easily over the same and into the recess R, without any necessity for first
depressing the free end of the latch.
The construction of the spool-holders is illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, from
which it will be seen that the spools is placed upon a stem or spindle f, the lower
screw-threaded end of which is screwed into the upper end P of the flanged
carrier O. Upon this upper end P is also secured a plate h, to the sides of which
the spool-cage is hinged. This cage i has a tubular extension j at its upper end,
through which a rod k, is inserted loosely and longitudinally, said rod being
inserted
encircled by a spiral spring 1, the lower end of which bears against a pin m,
transversely through the lower end of rod k, thus operating to force this rod in.a
downward direction so as to project into a bore or recess, n, drilled in the upper
end of the spool-spindle. The projecting upper end of rod k, has an eye o,
through which the thread t from the spool is passed and on one side of the
tubular cage-extension is fastened the tension device p, comprising two adjustable
disks pressed against each other by means of the adjustable tension-spring 7.
the same side of the cage there is a laterally projecting guard r, having an eye",
forming a thread-guide for the thread t, which, as it comes from the spools, is
first inserted through this eye u, then carried up through the tension-device p, and
finally through the eye o, in rod k, from which point the thread is carried up to the
point of convergence with the other threads to form the braid.
On
To remove an empty spool and replace it by a fresh one, all that is necessary
is to open the spool-cage by pulling on the free end of rod k so as to disengage
its lower end from the spool-spindle, when the cage may be swung to one side, as
indicated in dotted lines in Figure 9, in which position the empty spool may readily
be removed and a fresh one substituted, after which the cage i is swung back into
its closed and locked position. This operation may be performed, if desired,
without removing the carrier from the machine.
Having in the foregoing described the construction of the revolving-carrier heads
with their latches or switches, carriers, and spool-holders, I shall now proceed to
describe the mechanical operation of my machine and its feed-mechanism, which is
as follows:
--
On reference to Figs. 4 and 5 it will be seen that the pointed and sharpened
free ends of the latches T, whereby the carriers are shifted or switched from one
revolving carrier-head to the next one (revolving in the opposite direction), project
beyond the sides of their respective carrier-heads, and as these revolved by their
intermeshing cog-wheels G, rotate in alternately opposite directions, it follows that
the latches T of one carrier-head E will cross those of the adjacent carrier-head
every time a pair of arms of adjacent carrier-heads are aligned with each other,
as shown on the drawings. Owing to the shape and upward inclination of the
projecting end of the latches T, the loaded latch will always pass under the empty
one, for the reason that the hook 6 of the empty latch not being in engagement

page_text: with the disc Q of the spool holder, the said empty latch will be pressed by the
spring into a higher position than that occupied by the loaded latch,. and,
consequently, the two latches will so engage as to send the spool-holder. from.the
loaded latch into its seat in the opposite carrier. The instant, the respective
latches T T of adjacent carrier-heads have crossed and passed: each other and are
mutually released, they will, actuated by their spring-pins or yielding bearings V,
resume their normal, positions, in which positions the hook b'e will interlock with
the flanged and recessed disk QR on the carrier, the hook slipping easily over the
beveled or sloping edge of the disk into the recess.
66
"
In this manner the whole series of carriers, each carrying its appropriate
spool-holder and spool, are shifted or "switched" from one revolving carrier-
head into another as they progress in their sinuous course through the race or
track of the machine; there being practically no track," however, which is one
of the great advantages of my machine, as I entirely avoid the friction, wear
and tear which would result from pushing or pulling the carriers through a
grooved track, as is done in most of these machines, in which the sinuous zigzag
or so-called "figure 8" movement of the carriers is produced by shoving them
through a sinuous or serpentine grooved track in the top-plate of the machine,
which necessarily results in great friction, and great loss of power. In the absence
of such a grooved or slotted zigzag race course or "track," I am enabled to
run my machine at a very high rate of speed with a minimum of power, as there
is very little friction when the carriers are switched from one carrier-head to
another. Owing to the inclination of the carriers, spool-holders and spools towards
the center of the machine, they will not, as they travel through the machine,
materially change their distance from a point z, above this center, at which point
the threads t from the spools are interwoven to form the braid, shown at B'. By
reference to Figures 1 and 2 it will be seen that all the threads converge towards
this point, which is the point where the threads are plaited or interwoven with one
another to form the braid. As this is formed, it passes through a slot w in the
adjustable gauge Wand up between the feed-rollers X and Y, which are journaled
in a bifurcated standard Z, bolted to the frame of the machine, and are provided
with intermeshing pinions and y¹, at their outer ends, so that they will revolve
in opposite directions and thereby draw the finished braid up between them. The
shaft of the lower feed-roller X receives its revolving motion from a friction-
pulley A', which is fastened movably at its outer end and the rim of which bears
at right angles against the smooth face of a disk C', the periphery of which has
teeth or cogs which engage a worm D¹, at the upper end of an upright shaft E².
Upon the lower end of this shaft is fastened a mitre cog-wheel G², which gears
with a corresponding mitre-wheel, H', upon the outer end of the main drive-shaft.C;
so that it will be seen that feed-rollers X and Y receive their motion by means of
said drive-shaft C. The speed of the feed-rollers may be regulated with the
greatest degree of accuracy by adjusting the position of the movable friction-
pulley A upon the shaft of feed-roller X-by pushing this pulley towards the
center of the friction-disk C¹, the speed will be decreased, while by moving it in
the opposite direction, or towards the periphery of this disk, the speed of the two
feed-rollers X and Y will be correspondingly increased.
It will be obvious that some of the details of the machine as herein shown and
described may be changed or modified in various ways without materially changing
the construction and operation of the machine as a whole, and without departing
from the spirit of my invention. Thus, for example, the driving-gear of the feed
mechanism may be changed, and instead of arranging the latches T so as to
interlock with the carrier-disks Q, on the underside, they may be reversed so as
to engage said disks on the upper side.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is:
1st. A braiding machine in which the axis of each revolving carrier-head is

page_text: inclined at a fixed angle towards the center of the machine; substantially as shown
and set forth.
2nd. A braiding machine in which the axis of each revolving carrier-head is
inclined towards a common center in a plane above the bed-plate of the machine ;
substantially as shown and set forth.
3rd. A braiding machine in which the revolving carrier-heads are so disposed
that vertical lines drawn through the axis of each will converge at the point where
the threads from the spools are interwoven or plaited to form the braid; substantially
as shown and set forth.
4th. In a braiding machine, the combination of the ring-shaped frame having
inclined sides or bearings, and the revolving carrier-heads journaled on spindles
secured in and projecting at right angles from the inclined inner side of the frame;
substantially as shown and set forth.
5th. In a braiding machine, the combination of the inclined ring-shaped main
frame, the revolving carrier heads journaled on spindles set in and projecting
inwardly from said frame, and the intermeshing train of cog-wheels whereby the
carrier-heads are simultaneously revolved in alternately opposite directions; sub-
stantially as shown and set forth.
6th. The combination, in a braiding machine, of the ring-shaped frame having
inclined sides; the series of carrier-heads provided with automatic spring-latches
or switches for switching the spool-carriers from one revolving head to another as
they travel through the machine; and the drive mechanism for rotating the carrier-
heads in alternately opposite directions; substantially as shown and set forth.
7th. The combination with the revolving carrier-heads of a braiding machine,
having seats adapted to receive and hold the spool-carriers, of the yielding spring-
actuated latches or switches, adapted to grasp and interlock automatically with the
carriers as these are transferred from one carrier-head to another during their
progress from one end of the machine to the other, and vice-versa; substantially as
shown and set forth.
8th. The combination, in a braiding machine, of the revolving carrier-heads, the
spring-actuated switches, and the carriers having a recessed disk adapted to engage
a hook upon the switch; substantially as shown and set forth.
9th. The combination, in a braiding machine, of the recessed carrier-heads; the
switches hinged in their appropriate recesses in the carrier-heads and projecting
therefrom with their free ends; and the spring-actuated pins bearing against the
free ends of the switches from the under side; substantially as shown and set forth.
10th. In a braiding machine, the combination of the ring-shaped frame; the
revolving carrier-heads; the automatic latches or switches; the spool-carriers ;
and the adjustable feed mechanism; all constructed and combined to operate sub-
stantially in the manner and for the purpose shown and set forth.
11th. In a braiding machine, a spool-holder comprising a stem or spindle adapted
to be screwed into the carrier, in combination with a hinged cage having a latch-
rod at its free end for locking it to the upper end of the spool-spindle; substantially
as shown and set forth.
12th. The combination, in a braiding machine, of the carriers, constructed as
described, and the spool-holder comprising a stem or spindle adapted to be inserted
through the central bore in the spool, in combination with a hinged cage having a
latch-rod at its free end for locking it to the outer end of the spool-spindle, and
provided with a guard and tension-device for regulating the tension on the thread
as it is drawn from the spool in weaving or plaiting the braid; substantially as and
for the purpose shown and set forth.
Dah on
A 1901
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.