Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
A spool holder drive mechanism for a rotary braiding machine wherein sets of spool holders are moved along circular paths in opposite directions relative to a ''''work center'''' toward which tensioned strands from spools on the holders are directed, characterized in that, a stationary sun gear and a rotatable support plate are mounted in axial alignment adjacent said ''''work center,'''' said sun gear being between said support plate and the ''''work center,'''' said support plate being driven from a power source and carrying a first set of baseholders for the mounting of an outer set of spool holders, said support plate also carrying sets of rotatably mounted and meshing first and second planet gears, each first planet gear meshing with said sun gear, each second planet gear being axially coupled to a third planet gear, said support plate also having a circular guideway for the support of a second set of baseholders for the mounting of an inner set of spool holders, each of said second set of baseholders carrying a radially inwardly facing arcuate gear segment for meshing with said third set of planet gears.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
A spool holder drive mechanism for a rotary braiding machine wherein sets of spool holders are moved along circular paths in opposite directions relative to a ''''work center'''' toward which tensioned strands from spools on the holders are directed, characterized in that, a stationary sun gear and a rotatable support plate are mounted in axial alignment adjacent said ''''work center,'''' said sun gear being between said support plate and the ''''work center,'''' said support plate being driven from a power source and carrying a first set of baseholders for the mounting of an outer set of spool holders, said support plate also carrying sets of rotatably mounted and meshing first and second planet gears, each first planet gear meshing with said sun gear, each second planet gear being axially coupled to a third planet gear, said support plate also having a circular guideway for the support of a second set of baseholders for the mounting of an inner set of spool holders, each of said second set of baseholders carrying a radially inwardly facing arcuate gear segment for meshing with said third set of planet gears.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A spool holder drive mechanism according to claim 1, further characterized in that, the length of each said baseholder gear segment is greater than the distance between the axes of adjacent third planet gears.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A spool holder drive mechanism according to claim 1, further characterized in that, the distance between the meshing point of a baseholder gear segment with any two third planet gears is less than the length of said gear segment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
A spool holder drive mechanism according to claim 1, further characterized in that, the pitch diameter of said sun gear and said planet gears may be such as to provide a relative movement of said outer spool holders to said inner spool holders in the ratios 1:0.5 to 1: 2.0.