S, W, WARDWELL, DEC'D,

C. V. J. CHRISTENSEN, E. C. SMITH, A, A, ARMINGTON, AND W. W., BARDSLEY, EXECUT0Rs.

Y ARN RETRIEVER FOR BRAIDING OR Si MLAR MACHINES,
APPLICATION FLED OCT, 9, 1919.
1,423,587. Patented July 25, 1922.
2 SEETS-SHEET

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 S, W, WARDWELL, DECD,
C. W. J. CHR fSTENS EN, E. C. SMITH, A, A, ARMINGTON AND W, W. BARDSLEY, EXECUTORS,
YAR N RETRIEWER FOR BRADING OR SMAR MACH NES,
APPLICATION FILED 0CT, 9, 1919,
1423,587. Patented July 25, 1922.
2. SHEETS-SHEET 2.
 PATENT
STMON. W. WARDWELL, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND; c.A.R.L. v. J. CHRISTENSEN,
EDWIN C. SMITH, ARTHUR. A. ARMINGTON, AND WILLARD W. BARDSLEY, EXECU
TORS OF SAID SIMON. W. WARDWELL, DECEASED.
YARN RETRIEVER FOR BRAIDING OR SIVILLAR MACHINES.
Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 25, 1922.
1,423,58.
Application filed October 9, 1919. Serial No. 829,454.
55
To all whom it may concern: - ment to that described in my U. S. Letters
Be it known that I, SIMON. W. WARDWELL, Patent As
No. 1,032,870, dated July 16, 1912.
illustrated in Fig. 1 of the present draw
a citizen of the United States, residing at ings, the machine comprises a fixed base or
Providence, in the county of Providence, Standard B, on which
State of Rhode Island, have invented certain oppositely rotating headsareor supported two 60
new and useful Improvements in Yarn Re D. The turrets C and D are driven fromanda turrets C
trievers for Braiding or Similar Machines, belt-pulley P at the end of a drive-shaft O
of which the following is a specification. which is connected to the turrets by the usual
My invention relates to improvements in gearing arranged within the base B, but not
0 braiding-machines and particularly to herein shown. Spaced around the circum 65
braiders of the rotary type. In this style of ference of the outer turret C are a plurality
machine the bobbins or yarn-supplies are ar. of inclined blackets 2 constituting the car
ranged in two or more sets and revolved in
opposite directions about a common axis; liers for the lower set of bobbins or yarn
supplies Y which are mounted on rotatable
5 the yarns from one set of bobbins being spindles 3. The unwinding of the bobbins 70
caused to follow a sinuous course to pass to deliver their yarns is controlled by suit
then in and out around the supplies of the able tension or let-off devices, not herein
other Set. For this purpose the yarns are shown in detail, but adapted to be operated
manipulated and controlled by yarn-guides by Swinging tension-arms T. The yarns of
20 or controllers, and the object of the present lead from the bobbins Y across wire guides 75
improvement is to provide thread-retriev 4, thence through guide-eyes 5 at the ends of
ing means for catching a yarn when it es the tension-arms T, and are drawn up to
capes from its guide or controller, or should the braiding point, indicated at A, where
the operator fail to properly apply it there. they merge in the braided cord or fabric F.
25 to, said means being adapted for automatic outer turret C carries a circular track 80
cooperation with the yarn-controllers to re orThe guideway H which is divided into seg
place the yarns therein. for carrying out ments 6-6, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The
The manner and means upper carriers S are formed with lenticu
this improvement are fully described in the larly-shaped decks 7 resembling shuttles,
30 following specification, illustrated by the and are provided with depending keels or 85
accompanying drawings, in which like refer
ence characters designate like parts. In the runnel's
adapted
8, see Figs. 1 and 3, which are
to side in the groove 9 of the track
drawings: sections 6 as the carriers S revolve in the
Fig. 1 is an elevation of one form of braid opposite direction from the outer turret C 90
ing-machine of the rotary type, showing the
35
arrangement of the yarn-supplies and the are revolved around the H.trackTheH. carriers
which carries the track
by
S
means
yarn-controlling means therefor, and illus of spaced-apart drivers which are not herein
trating my improved thread-catching and shown as they operate in a well known man
replacing device in connection there with: ner to allow the passage of the yarns be
Fig. 2, an enlarged plan-view or develop tween
40
ment of a portion of the upper supply-car D. Suffice the carriers and their driving-turret 95
riers of the machine, showing their related is connectedittoto the explain that each carrier S
switches which act to deflect the yarns from bars which operate toturret D by two driver
alternately engage and
the lower supplies in and out around the disengage the carrier to permit the passage 00
45 upper supplies; and of the yarn while constantly maintaining
Fig. 3, a plan-view of a section of the ma
phine, showing two upper and one lower the driving-connection. The delivery of the
supply-carriers and illustrating the manner carriersin orfromshuttles
yarns the supplies X of the upper
in which the thread-retriever, operates on the able tension-devices Snotis hereincontrolled by suit
shown since 105
50 yarn from the lower supply when it becomes the arrangement of these details is fully
displaced from its guide or controller. illustrated in my prior patent before re
My present improvement is herein, shown ferred to and does not relate particularly
as applied to a braiding-machine which is
similar in general structure and arrange to the present improvement. It willi also be
 $2. 1,423,587
noted that in Fig. 1 I have only illustrated In some types of machine this selective de
two upper and two lower carriers on either flection of the yarns to one side or the other
side of the machine, but in practice the tur of the leading ends or prows of the upper
rets carry a greater number than this; shuttles is effected by alternately shifting
usually four, six, eight or larger
in each set. -
multiples the yarn-controllers G radially outward or 70
The yarns y from the lower set of Sup and under inward to a slight extent to produce the over
plies Y are guided in their course around braid. For relation of the strands in the
the upper carriers or shuttles S by yarn may be actuated from a the this purpose controllers G
0.
guides or controllers G. These latter are cams, and this type of construction cam suitable
of
or
the 75
carried on the outer turret C, being spaced
at intervals therearound in appropriate rela machine is shown and described in my U. S.
Letters Patent No. 1,197.692, granted Sept.
tion to the tension-arms T which regulate 12,
the unwinding of the yarns from their bob 1916. A more familiar type of machine,
15 bins Y. As illustrated in the several figures however, is that shown in my U. S. Letters
of the drawings, the controllers G may be which Patent theNo.selective
1,032,870,control
first ofreferred to, in 80
the yarns is
constructed from wire rods which project accomplished by means of individual
outwardly from the brackets or carriers 2 switches which coact with the pointed prows
in substantially parallel relation
20 axes of the spindles 3 on which the bobbins
with the of the shuttles S. My present improvement
is adapted for use with either of the above 85
Y rotate. At a point intermediate their ends types of braiding-mechanisms,
the controllers G are bent to form a guid fied forms thereof, and in theorpresent with modi
ing-notch or depression 10 in which the closure I have preferred to illustrate itdis as
yarn y normally lies, as shown most clearly applied to a machine of the arrangement
in Fig. 3. At either side of the guiding shown in the earlier patent herein first re 90
notch10 the wire extends in the inclined ferred to. -
legs 11-11 forming a sort of crotch, while
at the outer end of the controller the wire is deflecting devices or switches R are yarn
Referring to Fig. 2, the shiftable
bent around into a hook 12 which acts as a here
30 guard to prevent the yarn from sliding off shown as consisting of relatively flat levers
from the controller. pivoted at their inner ends on Screws 16 95
carried
It has been noted that the upper carriers outer ends on the inner turret D. At their
or shuttles S are constructed with lenticu arcuate the Switches R are provided with
larly-shaped decks 7, and it will be observed guiding faces 17 adapted to over
35 by reference to Figs. 2 and 3 that their lap the pointed prows 15 of the shuttles S
leading ends are formed with sharp-pointed acoincident with their outer edges, to provide 00
continuation or extension thereof. As
prows 15 which have an important function herein shown each
in determining the course of the yarns series, the switches alternate being
switch in the
arranged around
around their sides. Referring particularly
40 to Fig. 2, the yarn-controllers G are solo the machine in corelation to the shuttles S,
cated in relation to the path of travel of iscarrying provided with an inner, short arm 18 105
a pin 19 engaging a slot 20 in a
the shuttles S that when the yarns y are forked
seated in their crotches 10 they will be di switch-ring 21 arm on a ring-member U. The
U is mounted on rollers. 22,
rected to the inside of the points or proWs
45 15 of the shuttles. The yarns y are nor spaced around the turret D, to adapt it to
mally maintained in the crotches 10 of the chine oscillate about the central axis of the ma 0
controllers G by the tension under which with the in addition to its rotary movement
they are held by the resiliently operated ten 23 turret. Mounted on a fixed pivot
sion-arms T; and through this provision all on the central standard of the machine is
50 of the several yarns y from the lower Sup a lever V carrying a block 24 pivoted at its
plies Y are caused to follow a mean orbital gages outer end on a pin 25. The block 24 en 15
path to bring them against the inner, curved side ofatherectangular switch-ring
slot 27 on the inner
U to adapt the le
edges of the shuttles S, as indicated by the ver V to impart the oscillating
arrow 2 in Fig. 2. The lower yarns y will to the ring. At its inner end themovement
thus have a tendency to follow around the carries a stud or roller 28 engaginglever a cam
W.
inner edges of the shuttles S to pass them to 20
the inside of the upper bobbins X, but if groove 29 in a flat cam-disk W which is
fast on the central standard of the machine.
such action took place invariably there As the turret D rotates about the standard
would be no braiding effect between the two or base
60 sets B of the machine the roller 28 fol
of yarns. It will be obvious therefore
that it is necessary to pass certain of the lows the cam-groove 29 whereby to impart 25
a rocking motion to the lever V: and the
yarns y to the outside of certain of the up lever, in turn, oscillates the switch-ring U
per bobbins X, and this is accomplished by back and
deflecting them to the outer edge of the shut ret. The forth
65 tles S.
around the axis of the tur
switch-ring U is thus caused to
rock certain of the switches R into and out 130
 1,423,587 3.

from coincident relation with the outer strands so that a “fault” will appear in the
edges of the shuttles S. The opposite or braid. It is to prevent this condition and
alternate switches of the series are connect to insure the proper location and retention
ed to be moved from the switch-ring U by of the strands or yarns y in their controllers 70
5 means of links 30. The links 30 are pivoted G that the present invention is provided, and
to the switch-levers R at one end by means to this end the improvement consists essen
of pins 31, while their opposite ends are tially of means for catching a displaced yarn
pivoted on the pins 19 which connect the and returning it to proper position in its
opposite switches to the ring U. As shown controller.
10 in Fig. 2, this connection provides that when As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, my im 75
one set of switches are closed against the proved thread-catcher and retriever in its
prows of the shuttles S to deflect the yarns simplest form consists of an arm or finger
y outwardly around their sides, the alter 35 arranged below the path of the upper
nate set of switches will be opened away carriers or shuttles S, and projecting there
from the points of the shuttles to allow the beneath in position to catch a yarn drawing 80
yarns to pass inwardly therearound. These aci'OSS the Outer edge of a shuttle should it
connections between the switches R and their escape from its respective controller G. The
operating-ring U may be varied to alter the finger 35 may be formed from wire rod with
relative action of the switches, and by alter a rounded end, and as a convenient means
20 ing the shape of the cam-groove the order for supporting it I attach it to one of the
of shifting the yarns y may also be changed uprights 33 which carry the take-up wheel
to vary the pattern of the braid. K. As shown in Fig. 1, the rod 35 is bent at
The two sets of yarns y and a draw across right-angles at one end and formed with a
a central, tubular support Q as they merge at U-shaped loop 36 by which it may be at
25 the braiding point A, and the braided cord tached to the arm 33 while allowing for
or fabric Fleads thence to an overhead take its adjustment, thereon. It will be noted
up wheel Kalround which it is given several from Fig. 1 that the arm 33 is of skeleton
turns. The take-up wheel K is mounted on structure and inserted through one of its
a shaft 32 journaled in bearings at the top openings is a bolt 37 which passes through
30 of a pair of upright arms 33-33, see Figs. holes in two opposite clamping-plates 38-38 95
1 and 3, and is driven through suitable con arranged to bridge the marginal edges of
nections with the main drive-shaft of the ma the opening as shown in Fig. 3. The bolt
chine. These latter connections are not 37 passes through the looped end 36 of the
herein shown or described as they have no finger 35 with a nut 39 and washer 40 at
35 particular relation to the present improve its end. By tightening the nut 39 against 100
ment, but it will be understood that the the washer 40 the latter is clamped against
rotation of the wheel K acts to feed the the loop 36 which, in turn, bears against one
strands or yarns to the braiding point and to of the plates 38, and the two plates are thus
deliver the finished braid from the machine. drawn together to bind them against the web
40 In order, that the yarn-deflecting means of the arm 33. It will be noted from Fig. 105
may act on the lower yarns y to selectively 3 that the arm or finger 35 extends substan
control their course in and out around the tially radially toward the axis of the ma
upper carriers or shuttles S it is essential chine and, as shown in Fig. 1, it is inclined
that the yarns / shall at all times be properly downwardly to bring its inner, rounded end
45 located in their guides or controllers G. below the decks of the shuttles S and just 110
That is to say, the yarns y from the lower above the outer ends of the controllers G.
bobbins Y must lead from the tension-arms This adjustment of the finger 35 in relation
T through the crotches in the controllers G to the operating parts of the braiding-mech
in order that their path around the upper anism is obtained by loosening the nut 39 on
carriers may be properly defined in relation the bolt 37 and tilting or sliding the loop 15
to the points of the shuttles S as before 36 on the bolt.
explained. It has been found, however, in Having now described the essential ele
practice that a careless operator may some ments of the mechanism of the braiding-ma
times fail to place the yarn back in place. chine and the manner of applying my im
in the controller G after piecing up the end, provement thereto, the method of operation 20
or in some instances the yarn may be left of the device will next be explained: Re
slack so that it will fly out of the controller ferring to Fig. 1, in threading up the braid
under the action of centrifugal force when ing-machine the upper yarns an are drawn
the machine is started to operate. If one off from the bobbins or supplies X through
60. of the yarns y is left out of its controller, their tension-devices, not herein shown, and 25
or should it escape therefrom, it will be car thenge led directly up to the braiding-point
ried around the machine on the outside of A. The lower yarns / are led from their
the shuttles S, without being deflected to supplies Y first around the fixed guide-wires
the inside of any of them, and hence it will 4, then down through the guide-eyes 5 on 30
65. not be properly intermeshed with the other the tension-arms T, and finally up across the
 12. 1423,587

crotches of the controllers G to the braiding ticular yarn in question will not be main
point A. Normally, when the yarns y are tained within the range of the deflecting
held taut by their tension-devices they will devices. Stated briefly, when a yarn y is
be drawn down into the central notches 10 of left free without the control of its controller
5 the controllers G as they lead therethrough to G it will have a tendency to follow a course 70
feed into the braid, see Fig. 2. All of the on the outside of all of the shuttles S. as
lower yarns y will thus becaused to travel shown at the right in Fig. 1. In such a cir
in a fixed orbital path which is concentric cumstance the free or uncontrolled yarn will
with the central axis of the machine, and be brought tunder the influence of the thread
0 this course, as before explained, will re catching device 35 to retrieve it and return 75
sult in the yarns meeting the leading ends it to place in the controller in the manner
or prows 15 of the shuttles S on the inside as next explained.
edges thereof unless otherwise deflected from The relation of the thread-catching finger
their course. When one of the yarns y meets 35 to the operating parts of the machine is
a shuttle S, which is traveling in the oppo such that as the controllers G pass it in the 80
site direction, with the respective switch of direction indicated by the arrow a, Fig. 3,
this shuttle open, then this particular strand while the shuttles pass in the opposite di
will be guided to the inside of the shuttle rection as indicated by the arrow b, the fin
through the space provided between the gel 35 and the controller G are substantially
shuttle and its driving-head or turrent D. in juxtaposition at the instant the “high 85.
If, on the other hand, a lower yarn y comes point’ or most pronounced bulge of the
into opposition. With the plow of an upper shuttle deck connes opposite the finger. In
carrier or shuttle S when its switch R is other words, as the shuttle S revolves past
closed as shown at the left in Fig. 2, then the finger 35 the misplaced yarn will be
25 the guiding face 17 of the switch will deflect riding on the oute most point of the outer 90
the yarn onto the outer edge of the shuttle edge of the shuttle and therefore it will be
and it will pass to the outside of the upper in line with the end of the finger 35 as it
bobbin X carried thereby. in this way by draws up from the tension-arm T. The dis
regulating the action of the switches R to placed yarny will thus be caught by the arm
30 open and close them at intervals the lower 35 as shown in Fig. 1, and will be held for 95
yarns y are caused to follow a sinuous coulse an instant thereby as indicated in Fig. 3.
to intermesh them with the upper yarns 2: Meanwhile the respective controller G which
in any predetermined order in accordance normally acts to guide this particular yarn
with the pattern to be produced in the is moving around in the same direction, as
35 braided fabric F.
As the yarns y ride outwardly or inward indicated by the arrow a, and during the 00
brief interval that the yarn is being held on
ly around the lentiform edges of the shuttles the alm 35 the controller will ride past in
S they are allowed to slide along the under it. Now, as the turret C and the lower
branches 11-11 of the controller's G, as in yarn-supply or bobbin Y continue to revolve
40 dicated at the left in Fig. 1. When, how past the thread-catcher or finger 35 the ten 05
ever, the yarn y has passed over the swell or sion on the yarny will finally cause it to slip
bulge on the side of the shuttle deck it will or slide off from the rounded end of the
start to slide back again to return to first finger. At this juncture the controller G.
position in the notch 10 of the controller, will have passed by the caught yarn, as
45 whereby it is once more guided in its mean above explained, and hence the latter will be
path in predetermined relation to the next drawn down under the bent-over end 12 of
shuttle which it meets. In this way the the controller and into its guiding notch 10.
yarns y follow around the machine in an In this way any one or several yarns which
undulatory course, while being directed have not been properly placed in their con
50 against the leading ends of the shuttles in
trollers will be caught and retrieved, where 5
the manner as above described to effect their by to replace them in the controllers which
selective deflection therearound under the direct their course around the machine.
control of the switches R. While I have herein illustrated only one
With the machine properly threaded, yarn-catching device in cooperative relation
that is with the yarns disposed in their with the yarn-controlling means of the ma 20
guides and drawing through the controllers chine, it will be obvious that a plurality of
G, the course of the lower yarns is defined such means may be arranged at intervals
and regulated thereby to effect the prede about the circumference of the machine if
termined braiding action; but when the desired, although for most purposes a single
60 lower yarns y are not properly placed in device is sufficient since an escaped yarn can 25
their controllers then the operation of the only travel one revolution before it will be
braiding-mechanism becomes disrupted. If caught and replaced in its controller. In
the operator is careless while piecing up a ordinary circumstances the bent over ends
broken end and fails to replace the strand of the controllers G prevent the properly
5 or yarny in its controller G, then the par placed yarns from striking against the 130
 1423,587 5.
thread-catching device 35 as the bobbins re traveling in circular orbits in opposite di
rections about a common axis, of controllers
volve past it, and consequently there will be across which the yarns from one set of sup
no undue interference with their travel.
Where a yarny is left loose or slack, how plies draw to direct their course relative to 70
ever, it sometimes flies out from its con the other set of supplies, and means ar
troller, in which event the thread-retrieving ranged adjacent the path of travel of the
device will act as above described to return controllers to catch, a yarn when it becomes
it to place again. displaced therefrom and to hold the mis
I believe it to be broadly new in the art to placed yarn and guide it into its proper, re 75
() provide in a braider or like textile appa lation with the controller.
7. In a braiding or similar machine, the
ratus means for catching and retrieving a combination with two sets of yarn-supplies
misplaced thread or yarn to return it to its traveling in circular orbits in opposite di
guiding-devices during the operation of the
machine. In the present application I have rections about the axis of the machine, of 80
5 shown and described my improved device in controllers for directing the course of the
its simplest form as applied to one type of yarns from one set of supplies as they sinu
ate in and out around the supplies of the
machine, but it is obvious that the structure other set, and means arranged adjacent the
and arrangement of the device might be
varied considerably and that it might be path of travel of the controllers in position 85
20 adapted to other types of apparatus without to catch a yarn when it becomes displaced
departing from the spirit or scope of the in therefrom,
displaced
said means adapted to hold the
yarn and guide it into position in
vention. Therefore, without limiting my
self to the exact embodiment herein de the controller as the latter passes by.
scribed and illustrated, what I claim is: 8. In a braiding or similar machine, the 90
25 1. In combination with a braiding or simi combination with two sets of yarn-supplies
lar machine, a guide for directing the course traveling about the axis of the machine, of
crotch-like yarn-controllers for guiding the
of a yarn as it travels in a predetermined yarns from one set of supplies to cause them
path, and means for retrieving the yarn to follow a predetermined path in relation 95
when it escapes or becomes displaced from
30 its guide, said means acting to replace the to the other set of supplies, and a stationary
yarn in the guide. yarn-retriever arranged adjacent the path
2. In combination with a braiding or simi of the controllers to catch and hold a yarn
lar machine, a guide revolving about the which lies beyond the reach of the con
axis of the machine to direct a strand in its troller, said retriever adapted to deflect the
35 travel therearound, and means adjacent the uncontrolled yarn into place on the con- 100
path of the guide adapted to retrieve the troller. 9. In a braiding or
-
similar machine, the
strand if it becomes displaced from the combination with two sets of yarn-supplies
guide and to return it to position therein. traveling in opposite directions
3. In a braiding or similar machine, the axis of the machine, of switchesabout for
the
con- 105
40 combination with a plurality of yarn-sup
plies traveling in a predetermined orbit trolling the deflection of the yarns from one
about the axis of the machine, of means to set of supplies in and out around the Sup
guide the yarns as they deliver from their yarnsoftothebeother
plies set, means for guiding the
deflected in a predetermined
supplies, and means to retrieve a yarn when path in relation to the switches, and means 110
45 it becomes displaced from its guiding-means
to return it to position therein. to retrieve a yarn which is displaced in re
lation to
4. In a braiding or similar machine, the lace in its guide.its guiding-means to return it to
combination with two sets of yarn-supplies p 10. In a braiding or similar machine, the
traveling in opposite directions about the combination with two sets of yarn-supplies 115
50 axis of the machine of means to guide the
yarns from one set of supplies to direct their traveling in opposite directions about the
course in and out around the supplies of the axis of the machine, of carriers for carrying
other set, and means for retrieving a yarn one set of supplies, yarn-controllers for di
recting the course of the yarns from the
when it becomes displaced from its guide to other set of supplies to guide them into pre- 120
55 replace it therein.
determined
5. In a braiding or similar machine, the of the carriers, relation with the leading ends
combination with a plurality of yarn-sup the switches cooperating with
carriers to cause
plies traveling in circular orbits about the yarns guided by the controllers the deflection of the
axis of the machine, of controllers for di to one side
recting the course of the yarns as they de trieving means for acting on a yarn yarn-re-
or the other of the carriers, and
when it
125
liver from their supplies, and yarn-retriev becomes
ing means for acting on a misplaced yarn to turn it todisplaced from its controller to re
position therein.
deflect it into place in its controller. 11. In a braiding or similar machine, the
6. In a braiding or similar machine, the combination with a plurality of yarn-sup- 130
65 combination with two sets of yarn-supplies
 as 1,428,587
plies traveling in a predetermined course, from their supplies, yarn-retrieving means
of means to guide the yarns as they deliver arranged adjacent the path of travel of the
from their supplies, and a finger projecting yarns to catch a yarn when it becomes dis
into position to catch a yarn displaced be placed from its guide, and means to adjust
is yond the control of its guide, said finger the position of the retrieving-means to adapt 15
adapted to deflect the yarn into the guide. it to return the displaced yarn to position in
12. In a braiding or similar machine, the the guide.
combination with a plurality of yarn-Sup
plies traveling in a predetermined course, of In testimony whereof I affix my signature.
10 means to guide the yarns as they deliver SIMON. W. WARDWELL.