Braiding machine and method of forming an article incorporating a moving object
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsRobert M. Bruce, Eun Kyung Lee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A braiding machine comprising a support structure, a track, an enclosure, a plurality of rotor metals, and a passageway having a first opening and a second opening, and a method of forming an upper using a braiding machine, the method comprising braiding over a forming last that passes from a first side of a braiding point to a second side of the braiding point of the braiding machine. The braiding machine is capable of forming intricate braided structures and may include different sized rings and non-linear passageways through which a forming last passes. Multiple forming lasts may be attached together by connection mechanisms and passed through the braiding machine.
Claims18
A system for forming braided structures over objects, the system comprising:
- a braiding machine, comprising:
- a support structure comprising an enclosure and a track extending around the enclosure;
- a plurality of spools with thread positionable along the track;
- a passageway extending through the enclosure, the passageway having a first opening at a first end of the passageway and a second opening at a second end of the passageway,
- a braiding point located proximate the second opening of the passageway;
- and
- a conveyor spaced from the braiding machine,
- wherein the braiding machine and the conveyor are positioned so that as an object is advanced through the passageway and from a first side of the braiding point to a second side of the braiding point while the plurality of spools with the thread are moved around the track, the thread is deposited about the object to form a braided structure thereon and the object with the braided structure formed thereon is advanced onto the conveyor.
A system for forming braided structures over objects, the system comprising:
- a braiding machine, comprising:
- a support structure comprising an enclosure and a track extending around the enclosure;
- a plurality of spools with thread positionable along the track;
- a passageway extending through the enclosure, the passageway having a first opening at a first end of the passageway and a second opening at a second end of the passageway, wherein the passageway is non-linear,
- a braiding point located proximate the second opening of the passageway;
- and
- a plurality of objects on which braided structures can be formed by the braiding machine, the plurality of objects movably coupled together in sequence with a plurality of respectively interposed flexible connection mechanisms,
- wherein each one of the plurality of respectively interposed flexible connection mechanisms comprises a non-rigid, pliable material.
A system for forming braided structures over objects, the system comprising:
- a braiding machine, comprising:
- a support structure comprising an enclosure and a track extending around the enclosure;
- a plurality of spools each having a tensile element and positionable along the track;
- a passageway extending through the enclosure, the passageway having a first opening at a first end of the passageway and a second opening at a second end of the passageway,
- a braiding point located proximate the second opening of the passageway;
- and
- a conveyor spaced from the braiding machine,
- wherein the braiding machine and the conveyor are positioned so that as an object is advanced through the passageway and from a first side of the braiding point to a second side of the braiding point while the plurality of spools each having the tensile element are moved around the track, the tensile element is deposited about the object to form a braided structure thereon and the object with the braided structure formed thereon is advanced onto the conveyor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.