Braider apparatus with improved bobbin holder

摘要

An apparatus is disclosed for braiding fine denier yarns to form a braided suture product which includes a carrier housing 42, a main carrier support plate 18 for guiding a plurality of yarn carriers 22 through predetermined paths while dispensing fine denier yarns toward a braiding zone. Each yarn carrier has a spindle 44 for mounting a molded bobbin, with a spindle tip 118 having a recess 126 engageable with resilient leg portions of a bobbin hold down member 90 hingedly mounted for rotation relative to the carrier housing. Tension on the yarn controls rotational movement of the bobbin to dispense yarn therefrom, and the tension of the final braided suture product is controlled to form a product of predetermined uniform appearance.