GB2595755A

GB2595755A - Apparatus for forming braided elongate members

Info

Publication number: GB2595755A
Application number: GB2103173.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Whitehead Brian
Original assignee: Fuse London Ltd
Current assignee: Fuse London Ltd
Priority date: 2020-03-06
Filing date: 2021-03-08
Publication date: 2021-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 2041-03-08
Also published as: GB202003252D0; GB2595755B; GB202103173D0

Abstract

Apparatus 2 for use in formation of braided elongate member 28, including body 4 allowing apparatus 2 to be held, series of shuttles 20 receiving length of material to be held by shuttles 20, gathering member 26 to which free ends of the lengths of material are attached, the gathering member 26 located a distance from exit ports 22 of shuttles 20, and a braiding assembly 14 including a series of stations 50 on a first side of the body 4 at spaced apart location on a circular path, each station 50 provided for the selective location of a shuttle therewith, a drive wheel assembly and a cam wheel provided to rotate about an axis offset to an axis of rotation of an actuator and as they do so to sequentially select and move respective shuttles 20 to cause lengths of material extending from respective exit ports 22 to be braided together forming braided elongate member 28. The gathering member 26 may hang downwardly from the body 4 such that the weight of the gathering member 26 creates tension on lengths of material extending outwardly from shuttles 50. Also claimed is a method of forming a length of braided material.

Description

Apparatus for forming braided elongate members The current invention relates to apparatus for use in forming lengths of material, such as threads, into a braided or woven elongate member which can then subsequently be used for decorative purposes such as, for example, to form a bracelet.

In the applicant's co-pending application GB1707396.6 there is described one form of apparatus for use in formthg a braided length of material. This form of apparatus includes a series of shuttles, each of the shuttles capable of receiving a length of material, such as thread, therein, and a free end of each of the lengths of material which are to be used in the apparatus at a particular time, are joined together at a distance from the exit ports of the shuttles so that the lengths of the material extend outwardly from the respective shuttles to this common location. The apparatus includes drive means which, when they operate guide means, drive the same to cause the selective movement of the said shuttles along a predetermined path and in a sequential manner to thereby allow the lengths of material to be pulled out from the respective shuttles as the same are selectively moved and he braided to thereby form the elongated braided material.

While this known form of apparatus provides an alternative to the manual for-11MT of braided lengths, the apparatus is relatively complex which can limit the particular locations at which the apparatus can be used and/or the age of a person who can operate the apparatus and this is particularly relevant when it is considered that the apparatus may be provided in a form to be sold as a toy.

The aim of the present invention is therefore to provide a form of apparatus which can be used to form a braided elongate member and to provide the apparatus in a form which allows the same to be capable of being used at a. wide range of locations, and thereby allow the use of the apparatus by a wider age range. Preferably the apparatus can be used without the need for a. power supply to be provided, thereby further extending the possible locations at which the apparatus can be used.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for use in the formation of a braided elongate member, said apparatus including a body to allow the apparatus to be held, a series of shuttles, each provided to receive a length of material to be held therein, a gathering member to which the free ends of each of said lengths of ma-tel.-IA1 are attached and the gathering member is located at a. distance from exit ports of the shuttles, and a braiding assembly wherein the braiding assembly includes a series of stations on a first side of the body at spaced apart locations on a circular path, each station provided for the selective location of a shuttle therewith, a drive wheel assembly and a cam wheel, said cam wheel and drive wheel assembly provided to rotate about an axis offset to an axis of rotation of an actuator and, as they do so, sequentially select and move respective shuttles to cause the lengths of the material extending from the respective exit ports to be braided together to form the braided elongate member.

Typically as the braided elongate member is formed the said gathering member moves farther from the said shuttle exit ports and so acts to extends the length of the braided elongate member.

In one embodiment the gathering member depends downwardly from the body such that the weight of the gathering member and gravity create a tension on the lengths of material which extend outwardly from the shuttles. In on embodiment the gathering member is formed or includes a. portion which is of weight so as to ensure that the same moves away from the body as the length of braid is formed.

In one embodiment the provision of the gathering member to depend downwardly from the body allows longer lengths of braids to be formed without obstruction.

In one embodiment the drive to move the ca.m wheel and drive wheel assembly is provided via the actuator which acts on a. rotor wheel which is axially offset to the drive wheel assembly and, as it rotates, the cam wheel and the drive wheel assembly are rotated in an orbital manner.

In one embodiment the actuator is provided with a user accessible handle to allow the user to grip the same and manually rotate the handle and hence the actuator and rotor wheel. Typically the handle is provided on a second side of the body which opposes the first side of the body. In one embodiment the movement of the handle directly drives the braiding assembly and thus eliminates the need for a geared linkage intermediate the handle and the braiding assembly.

In one embodiment the apparatus can be provided in a form so as to effectively be hand held.

In one embodiment the apparatus includes at least two drive wheels.

In one embodiment clamping means are provided to allow the clamping of the apparatus to a support surface, when in use, such as an edge of a table.

In one embodiment the number and location of the stations on the first side of the body are matched by a series of location pegs located to extend inwardly from the second side of the body.

In one embodiment, there are provided seven stations and five shuttles at the first side of the body.

In one embodiment, the location pegs acts to support components of the braiding assembly and in one embodiment the location pegs are located intermediate the stations as it is found that this can assist in the smoother operation of the apparatus.

In one embodiment, the cam -wheel includes a series of principal location formations, typically slots, equally spaced around its periphery. In one embodiment a series of subsidiary location means are provided intermediate the principal location formations.

Typically the cam wheel engages with the series of location pegs provided on the second side of the body.

In one embodiment there are provided five principal location formations.

In one embodiment, there is provided a cam surface on the cam wheel located adjacent to one of the principal location formations such that, every one in a predetermined number of stations; in one embodiment five stations; the wedge shaped surface is located under one of the stations and the said cam surface, which in one embodiment is wedge shaped, acts to move the shuttle at that particular station.

In one embodiment the said movement is in a direction towards the first side of the body.

Typically the movement of the shuttle is such that it is then available to be engaged by engagement means provided as part of the drive wheel assembly.

In one embodiment, the drive wheel assembly includes a moveable latch wheel which is coaxially mounted with, and intermediate, first and second drive wheels and the engagement means in one embodiment are provided on the Latch wheel to engage with an engagement portion of a shaft of the shuttle. 'typically the said engagement is only possible when the shuttle has been moved by the wedge shaped portion of the cam wheel and so only that shuttle can be engaged at that particular instant of time.

In one embodiment, the latch wheel has a degree of flexibility so as to allow the wedge shaped cana portion to start lifting the shuttle before the engagement means is located fully under the station at which that shuttle is located.

In one embodiment, the drive wheel assembly has a number of principal engagement means and so a shuttle, when selected is moved by the drive wheel to another station which is separated along the circular path by the same number as there are principal engagement means. In one embodiment there are provided four principal engagement means and so the shuttle is moved four stations, before being relocated on the said another station on the circular path.

In one embodiment, the relocation is positively achieved by the provision of a lower ring which is flexible and forces the shuttle back into the resting position at the said another station.

In one embodiment there is provided apparatus which is operable to selectively form a braid referred to as a 'Kongo-Gum? braid, with a.ny of a. range of pattern designs and the selection of the pattern is achieved by the selection of the starting position of the shuttles.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for use in the formation of a braided elongate member, said apparatus including a body to allow the apparatus to be held, a series of shuttles, each provided to receive a length of material to be held therein and a gathering member to which the free ends of each of said lengths of material are attached and the gathering member is located at a distance from exit ports of the shuttles and wherein the gathering member depends downwardly from the said body such that, as the lengths of material are braided, the gathering member moves away from the body and matins the said braided elongate member under tension.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of forming a length of braided material, said method comprising the steps of locating a. length of material with a selected number of shuttles from which the respective lengths of material are dispensed and braided, attaching the free end of each of the lengths of material to a gathering member is located at a distance from exit ports of the shuttles, operating a drive means to operate a braiding assembly and wherein the braiding assembly includes a series of stations on a first side of the body at spaced locations on a circular path, each station provided for the selective location of a shuttle therewith, a drive wheel assembly and a min wheel, said C21111 wheel and drive wheel assembly provided to rotate about an axis offset to an a.xis of rotation of an actuator and, a.s they do so, sequentially select and move respective shuttles to cause the lengths of the material extending from the respective exit ports to be braided together to form the braided elongate member.

Thus, in accordance -with the invention, there is no need for a gearing arrangement to be provided as part of the braiding assembly.

Specific embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings; wherein Figures la and b illustrate one form of apparatus in accordance with the invention showing the first side of the apparatus in use.

ljigure 2 illustrates the second side of the apparatus of l'igure 1; Figure 3 illustrates the braiding assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 illustrates the braiding assembly of Figure 3 with a first rotor removed; Figure 5 illustrates the braiding assembly of Figures 3 and 4 with a first rotor, lower ring and drive wheels assembly removed; and Figure 6 illustrates schematically, an exploded diagram showing the components of the apparatus at Figure 1 An embodiment of thc current invcntion is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring firstly to Figures la. and b there is illustrated one embodiment of the apparatus 2 in an ill-use position adjacent an edge of a support surface 3. The apparatus includes a body 4 which has a first side 6 and a second, opposing, side 8. 't he body includes a gripping portion 10 via which the apparatus may be held by a user with their hand and a casing portion 12 in which a braiding assembly 14 is located. Around the edge of an aperture in the casing there are provided a plurality of stations 50 which will be described subsequently in greater detail and which received therein a. plurality of shuttles 20. The shuttles include lengths of thread therein and the free ends of the respective threads are passed from exit ports 22 in the respective shuttles and then through a common port 24 in a support arm 18 which extends outwardly from the first side 6 of the body 4. 't he free ends are then located and retained by a gathering member 26 which has a weight so as to hang down from the body 4 as shown so as to exert a tension on the threads. As the apparatus is operated, a braided elong,atc member 28 is formed by the braiding of the threads together by the apparatus and the gathering member 26 moves away as is illustrated by the gathering member 26 having moved to a further distance from the body 4 in Figure lb than in Figure la after longer operation of the apparatus and continues to move in the direction indicated by arrow 30 until there is no thread remaining in one or more of the shuttles, or the user decides that the braided elongate member 28 has reached the required length and at which point the remaining threads can be cut at a location between the port 24 and the shuttles 20 and tied and the gatheringmember 26 is disengaged from the elongated braided member 28 and the free ends then tied together if required at the respective ends of the braided elongate member 28 to retain the same intact.

Figure 2 illustrates the body 4 and in particular the second side 8 of the same and it will be seen that at this side there is mounted an actuator 32 with a handle 34 which can be gripped by the user and rotated as indicated by arrow 36 about axis 38.

Within the casing portion 12 of the body there is provided the braiding assembly 14 and this is now described in greater detail with reference to Figures 3-6. Figures 3-5 illustrate views of the casing 12 from the first side 6 of the body and in Figures 3 -5 the first side cover 40 is removed, in Figures 4-5 the upper rotor 42 is removed and in Figure 5 the lower ring 46 and drive wheels assembly 16 are also removed for ease of illustration.

The braiding assembly 14 includes, in the direction of arrow 44 in Figure 5, from the first side 6 of the casing, the first side cover 40 and a lower ring 46, both of which are substantially annular and located around an aperture 48 formed in the casing 12. 't he first side cover and lower ring define a series of stations SO, each for the selective location of a shuttle 20 therewith. Within the aperture 48 there is provided, a drive wheel assembly 16 including first and second drive wheels 52, 54 and a cam wheel 56. Said drive wheels and cam wheel are provided to be rotated about axis 58 which is offset to axis 38, and they are held in position with respect to the aperture via upper rotor 42.

In one embodiment the number and location of the stations 50 on the first side 6 of the body is matched by a series of location pegs 62 located at the second side 8 of the body and which extend towards the front side 6 of the body and, in the arrangement shown, there are provided seven shuttle stations 50 and five shuttles 20 to be selectively located therewith. The location pegs 62 are provided intermediate the shuttle stations 50 as it is found that tins can assist in the smoother operation of the apparatus.

The wall 67 of the inner aperture 63 of the cam wheel 56 is located adjacent to, and freely rotates with respect to, the wall 65 of the lower rotor 60 and engages with the part of the body casing in which the second side 8 is provided and the casing has a series of principal location slot formations 64 equally spaced around its periphery, and a series of subsidiary location means are provided intermediate the principal location slots 64. In this embodiment there are provided five principal location slot formations 64. The lower rotor includes pegs 61 with which the upper rotor 42 locates.

In one embodiment, there is provided a cam which has a wedge shaped surface 68 on the Cain wheel 56 located adjacent to one of the principal location slot formations 64 such that, in this embodiment, when rotated, at every fifth of the stations 50, the wedge shaped surface 68 of the cam wheel will be located under a shuttle 20 which is positioned at that particular station 50 and continued rotational movement of the ca.m wheel causes the wedge shaped ca.m 68 to raise the shuttle 20 towards the first side 6 of the body such that a portion 70 of the shuttle shaft 72 is now at a level so as to be available to be engaged by engagement means provided on the latch wheel 74 located intermediate the first and second drive wheels 52, 54 with the engagement mea.ns provided in the form of a latch which engages with a recessed part of the portion 70 of the shuttle 20.

Thus the latch can only engage with a shuttle 20 which has been raised by the wedge shaped Cain 68 of the cam wheel to bring the portion 70 into line with the latch. 't he movable latch is flexible so as to allow the wedge shaped portion 68 to start lifting the shuttle 20 before the latch of the latch wheel 74 is located fully under the station 50 at which the shuttle 20 which is to be engaged is located.

the drive and latch wheels 52,54,74 assembly 16 has four principal engagement means 76 and so, in this embodiment, the shuttle 20 is moved by the assembly as it rotates to a station which is separated along the circular path by four stations 50, before being located on the said new station on the circular path. The location of the shuttle at the new station is made positive by the lower ring 46 which is flexible and which forces the shuttle 20 back into the station at a lowered position. 't his process is then repeated with successive shuttles which are raised, engaged, and moved from one station to another and as they dos thread continues to be drawn from the shuttles and braided by the relative movement of the shuttles.

One of the shuttles 20 is shown in more detail in Figure 6 and includes a cavity 80 located on the shaft 72 and includes therein a shaft 82 on which a spool of thread (not shown) can be located by the user. A free end of the thread can then be passed through the exit port 22 and then through the port 24 in the arm 18 as previously described and passes to the gathering member 26 also shown in more detail in Figure 6. the gathering member 26 includes a housing 84 which can receive, or be provided to act as, a weight and which has a clamping arm and base assembly 86 which has slots 88 to receive threads therein and which, when the clamping arm and base are engaged, traps the threads therewith.

The embodiment herein described is particularly adapted for use as a hand held version which allows for the handle to directly drive the mechanism and thus eliminate the need for a geared (or other) linkage. However it should be appreciated that in other embodiments which may be larger the apparatus may include at least two drive wheels and the apparatus in any embodiment may be provided with clamping means to allow the sa.me to be secured in position to the edge of, for example, a table.

thus, the operation of the apparatus in accordance with the invention allows the progressive formation of a braided length of material by the sequential selection of the shuttles by the cam surface and movement of the selected shuttles between respective stations by the drive wheels and latch assembly 16 which is driven in this embodiment by the user but which could be done by powered drive means. This movement, and the tension of the threads, causes the progressive formation of the braided elongate member as the thread is pulled out of the shuttles. 't his allows a relatively simple drive means to be used and the use of the weight of the gathering member and the free space below the body allows the making of longer braids easier to achieve.

Claims

Claims I. Apparatus for use in the formation of a braided elongate member, said apparatus including a body to allow the apparatus to be held, a series of shuttles, each provided to receive a length of material to he held therein, a gathering member to which the free ends of each of said lengths of material are attached and the gathering member is located at a distance from exit ports of the shuttles, and a braiding assembly wherein the bitch* assembly includes a series of stations on a first side of the body at spaced apart locations on a circular path, each station provided for the selective location of a shuttle therewith, a drive wheel assembly and a cam wheel, said cam wheel and drive wheel assembly provided to rotate about an axis offset to an axis of rotation of an actuator and, as they do so, sequentially select and move respective shuttles to cause the lengths of the material extending from the respective exit ports to be braided together to form the braided elongate member.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the gathering member hangs downwardly from the body such that the weight of the gathering member and gravity create a tension on the lengths of material which extend outwardly from the shuttles and/or the braided elongate member.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the said gathering member moves further from the said shuttle exit ports as the braided elongate member is formed.
4. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the drive to move the cam wheel and drive wheel assembly is provided via the rotation of the actuator which acts on a rotor wheel which is axially offset to the drive wheel.
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the cam wheel and the drive wheel are rotated in an orbital manner.
6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the actuator is connected to drive means to rotate the same.
7 Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the drive means is a handle to allow the user to grip the same and manually rotate the actuator.
8 Apparatus according to clam. 6 wherein the drive means is a motor provided with a power supply to operate die actuator.
9. Apparatus according to any of the preceding chains wherein the number and location of the stations on the first side of the body are matched by a series of location pegs located to extend into a cavity formed by the first and second sides of the body.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the location pegs act to support components of the braiding assembly and are located intermediate of the stations.
11. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the ca.m wheel engages with the series of location pegs provided on the second side of the body.
12. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the cam wheel includes a series of principal location formations, equally spaced around its periphery, and a series of subsidiary location means intermediate the said principal location formalities
13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein there is provided a cam surface on the cam wheel located adjacent to one of the principal location formations such that at a predetermined number of stations the said cam surface is located wider one of the stations and acts to move the shuttle at that particular station.
14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the said shuttle movement is in a direction towards the first side of the body.
15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the movement of the shuttle allows the shuttle to be engaged by engagement means provided as part of the drive wheel assembly.
16 Apparatus according to chum. 15 wherein the Cain surface starts lifting the shuttle before the engagement means are located fully under the station at which that shuttle is located.
17 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the drive wheel assembly includes a moveable latch wheel which is coaxially mounted with and intermediate first and second drive wheels and engagement means provided on the latch wheel engage with an engagement portion of a shaft of the shuttle which has been moved.
18. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the body includes a gripping portion to allow the body to be hand held during operation of thc actuation means.
19. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the body includes at least one contact surface to allow the body to be located on a support surface for operation with the said first and second axes substantially parallel to the support surface.
20. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the gathering member and braided elongate member hang down from the first side of the body and at a position offset from the side of a support surface.
21 Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the gathering member is located on an opposing side of a common port to a side on which the body is located, said common part located on a. member extending from the first side of the body and said braided member passes through same common part.
22. Apparatus for forming a braided elongate member, said apparatus including a body to allow the apparatus to be held, a series of shuttles, each provided to receive a length of material to be held therein and a gathering member to which the free ends of each of said lengths of material are attached and the gathering member is located at a distance from exit ports of the shuttles and wherein the gathering member depends downwardly from the said body such that, as the lengths of material are braided, the gathering member moves away from the body and matins the said braided elongate member under tension.
23. A method of formthg a length of braided material, said method comprising the steps of locating a length of material with a selected number of shuttles from which the respective lengths of material are dispensed and braided, attaching the free end of each of the lengths of material to a gathering member is located at a distance from exit ports of the shuttles, operating a drive means to operate a braiding assembly and wherein the braiding assembly includes a. series of stations on a first side of the body at spaced locations on a circular path, each station provided for the selective location of a shuttle therewith, a drive wheel assembly and a cam wheel, said cam wheel and drive wheel assembly provided to rotate about an axis offset to an axis of rotation of an actuator and, as they do so, sequentially select and move respective shuttles to cause the lengths of the material extending from the respective exit ports to be braided together to form the braided elongate member.