Braiders

Claim 2

A braider, comprising: (A) a braider bed having first and second closed tracks, said first and second closed tracks defining an intersecting serpentine path around said braider bed; (B) a plurality of yarn package carriers for carrying packages of yarn, said yarn package carriers travelling along said first and second closed tracks; and (C) means for driving said yarn package carriers along said intersecting serpentine path to supply the yarns from the packages carried by said yarn package carriers to form a braid at a braiding location which is substantially central of said braider bed; wherein said intersecting serpentine path defined by said first and second tracks defines an average path which is non-circular and closed; and wherein said yarn package carriers include means for maintaining the yarns under substantially constant tension by rewinding the yarns onto said yarn package carriers and allowing the yarns to be drawn off said yarn package carriers as said yarn package carriers are driven along said intersecting serpentine path.

Claim 3

A braider as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tracks define an average path which is oval or elliptical.

Claim 4

A braider as claimed in claim 1, wherein said path is a link shaped path comprising two substantially parallel bed portions each interconnected by substantially semi-circular portions.

Claim 5

A braider, comprising: (A) a braider bed having first and second closed tracks, said first and second closed tracks defining an intersecting serpentine path around said braider bed; (B) a plurality of yarn package carriers for carrying packages of yarn, said yarn package carriers travelling along said first and second closed tracks; and (C) means for driving said yarn package carriers along said intersecting serpentine path to supply the yarns from the packages carried by said yarn package carriers to form a braid at a braiding location which is substantially central of said braider bed; wherein said intersecting serpentine path defined by said first and second tracks defines an average path which is non-circular and closed; wherein said yarn package carriers include means for maintaining the yarns under substantially constant tension; wherein each of said yarn package carriers comprises: (i) a base for guiding said yarn package carrier along said tracks; (ii) means for carrying the yarn package on said base; (iii) yarn supply means for leading yarn from the yarn package to said braiding location; and (iv) constant torque means for applying a predetermined, substantially constant torque to the yarn package to maintain a substantially constant tension in the yarn during braiding; and wherein the yarn package is a bobbin; said braider further comprising: (D) sensing means for sensing the amount of yarn on the bobbin; and (E) control means for controlling said constant torque means as a function of the amount of yarn on the bobbin.

Claim 6

A braider, comprising: (A) a braider bed having first and second closed tracks, said first and second closed tracks defining an intersecting serpentine path around said braider bed; (B) a plurality of yarn package carriers for carrying packages of yarn, said yarn package carriers travelling along said first and second closed tracks; and (C) means for driving said yarn package carriers along said intersecting serpentine path to supply the yarns from the packages carried by said yarn package carriers to form a braid at a braiding location which is substantially central of said braider bed; wherein said intersecting serpentine path defined by said first and second tracks defines an average path which is non-circular and closed; wherein said yarn package carriers include means for maintaining the yarns under substantially constant tension; wherein each of said yarn package carriers comprises: (i) a base for guiding said yarn package carrier along said tracks; (ii) means for carrying the yarn package on said base; (iii) yarn supply means for leading yarn from the yarn package to said braiding location; and (iv) constant torque means for applying a predetermined, substantially constant torque to the yarn package to maintain a substantially constant tension in the yarn during braiding; and wherein the yarn package is a bobbin; said braider further comprising: (D) sensing means for sensing the amount of yarn on the bobbin; and (E) control means for controlling said constant torque means as a function of the amount of yarn on the bobbin.

Claim 7

A braider, comprising: (A) a braider bed having first and second closed tracks, said first and second closed tracks defining an intersecting serpentine path around said braider bed; (B) a plurality of yarn package carriers for carrying packages of yarn, said yarn package carriers travelling along said first and second closed tracks, each of said yarn package carriers comprising constant torque means for applying a predetermined, substantially constant torque to the yarn package to maintain a substantially constant tension in the yarn during braiding, said constant torque means comprising a motor for driving a torque applicator for controlling the rotation of the yarn package; and (C) means for driving said yarn package carriers along said intersecting serpentine path to supply the yarns from the packages carried by said yarn package carriers to form a braid at a braiding location which is substantially central of said braider bed; wherein said intersecting serpentine path defined by said first and second tracks defines an average path which is non-circular and closed; and wherein said yarn package carriers include means for maintaining the yarns under substantially constant tension.

Claim 8

A braider, comprising: (A) a braider bed having first and second closed tracks, said first and second closed tracks defining an intersecting serpentine path around said braider bed; (B) a plurality of yarn package carriers for carrying packages of yarn, said yarn package carriers travelling along said first and second closed tracks, each of said yarn package carriers comprising constant torque means for applying a predetermined, substantially constant torque to the yarn package to maintain a substantially constant tension in the yarn during braiding, said constant torque means comprising a motor for driving a torque applicator for controlling the rotation of the yarn package; and (C) means for driving said yarn package carriers along said intersecting serpentine path to supply the yarns from the packages carried by said yarn package carriers to form a braid at a braiding location which is substantially central of said braider bed; wherein said intersecting serpentine path defined by said first and second tracks defines an average path which is non-circular and closed; and wherein said yarn package carriers include means for maintaining the yarns under substantially constant tension.

Claim 9

A braider as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of said yarn package carriers comprises: (i) a base for guiding said yarn package carrier along said tracks; (ii) means for carrying the yarn package on said base; and (iii) yarn supply means for leading yarn from the yarn package to said braiding location.

Claim 10

A braider as claimed in claim 6, wherein said motor is a battery operated motor.

Claim 11

A braider as claimed in claim 6, wherein the yarn package is a bobbin.