Braiding apparatus capable of generating a four-point interweaving operation

Abstract

A braiding apparatus includes a platform, a base plate, a core unit, a transmission unit, a track assembly, and strand carriers. The track assembly is divided into two braiding track groups each provided with transmission discs. The transmission discs of both braiding track groups are sequentially connected to define two braiding routes directed in different directions. The strand carriers shuttle on both braiding routes respectively and incessantly. Four intersections are defined when the two braiding routes meets. Accordingly, carrier strands fed by the strand carriers are wound around a core strand fed by the core unit while shuttling incessantly and are interwoven with each other while passing through the four intersections during the incessant shuttling motion, thereby wrapping a multi-convolutional braided layer around the core strand to complete a rope. Each convolution of the braided layer has four crossing points, which increases the practicability of the rope.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A braiding apparatus capable of generating a four-point interweaving operation comprising:
 a platform;   a base plate disposed on said platform;   a core unit disposed on said base plate and adapted to supply a core strand;   a transmission unit disposed below said base plate;   a track assembly arranged on said base plate; and   a plurality of strand carriers movably mounted on said track assembly for executing an incessant shuttling motion and provided with carrier strands wound thereon;   wherein said track assembly includes a plurality of transmission discs disposed on said base plate and driven by said transmission unit, each of said transmission discs having a plurality of notches formed thereon and adapted to carry said strand carriers, said transmission discs being connected to each other, and said track assembly thereby being divided into a first braiding track group and a second braiding track group, said first braiding track group and said second braiding track group being arranged around said core unit while taking said core unit as a center, with said first braiding track group encircled by said second braiding track group, wherein said transmission discs of said first braiding track group and said transmission discs of said second braiding track group are sequentially connected to each other to thereby define a first braiding route and a second braiding route, said first braiding route and said second braiding route being directed in different directions whereby said strand carriers shuttle on said first braiding route and said second braiding route respectively and continuously to execute said incessant shuttling motion, said first braiding route and said second braiding route meeting to form four intersections which are spaced at 90 degrees from each other, and said carrier strands thereby crossing each other when said strand carriers pass through said four intersections, said strand carriers being actuated under said incessant shuttling motion to wrap said strand carriers around an outer surface of said core strand and in the meantime allow said strand carriers to be interwoven with each other on said outer surface of said core strand, thereby forming a braided layer with a plurality of convolutions around said core strand, with each of said convolutions of said braided layer having four crossing points.   
     
     
         2 . The braiding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first braiding route and said second braiding route cross each other to assume an X state.