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.
Claims19
A system for forming braided structures over objects, the system comprising:
- a braiding machine, comprising:
- a passageway having a first opening located at a first end of the passageway and a second opening located at a second end of the passageway, and
- a braiding point located proximate to the first opening of the passageway;
- and
- a conveyor onto which objects advanced through the braiding point are transferred,
- wherein the passageway is sized to receive a plurality of shoe lasts.
A system for forming braided structures over objects, the system comprising:
- a braiding machine, comprising:
- a passageway having a first opening located at a first end of the passageway and a second opening located at a second end of the passageway, wherein the passageway is non-linear, and
- a braiding point located proximate to the first opening of the passageway,
- wherein the passageway is sized to receive a plurality of shoe lasts.
A braiding machine, comprising:
- a passageway having a first opening located at a first end of the passageway and a second opening located at a second end of the passageway, wherein the passageway is non-linear, and
- a braiding point located proximate to the first opening of the passageway, wherein the passageway is sized to receive a plurality of shoe lasts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.