Cyclodextrin compositions including one or more radiation polymerizable monomers and a cyclodextrin inclusion complex, the cyclodextrin inclusion complex including a cyclodextrin compound and an olefinic inhibitor of an ethylene generation in produce, are coated onto packaging materials and cured. Treated containers and treated package inserts having the cured cyclodextrin compositions are useful in packaging of respiring plant materials.

Non-aqueous hydraulic cement compositions comprise a non-aqueous mixture of a powder composition and a non-aqueous water-miscible liquid. In one embodiment, powder composition is a Brushite or Monetite-forming calcium phosphate powder composition. In another embodiment, the powder composition comprises porous β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) granules and at least one additional calcium phosphate powder. In another embodiment, the powder composition comprises calcium silicate powder. In a further embodiment, the powder composition comprises calcium aluminate powder. In another embodiment, the powder composition is a cement composition and comprises nanopowders having a grain size of less than 1 micron. Hardened cements are formed from such hydraulic cement compositions, and methods of producing hardened cements, kits, and articles of manufacture employ such hydraulic cement compositions.

A stranding of long winding material using a substantially cylindrical rotary body. The rotary body includes a first passage for guiding a first winding material through the cylindrical rotary body and a second passage for guiding a second winding material through the cylindrical rotary body. The first passage connects a first offset inlet on a first end side of the rotary body to a first offset outlet on a second end side of the rotary body, which opposes the first end side. The second passage connects a second input, arranged on a surface of the rotary body extending between the two end sides, to a second offset output on the second or first end side of the rotary body.

Method, apparatus, and system for preparing a cellular material based on hollow metal beads. According to the description, at least one bead chain in which said hollow metal beads are linked to one another in pairs by means of an articulation is used as elementary structure constituting the cellular material.

A solar cell module manufacturing device is disclosed. The device includes a wire supply portion, a correction portion, and a cutting portion. The supply portion includes a bobbin and wiring material on the bobbin. The correction portion corrects curvature of the wiring material. The correction portion comprises a first pulley that comes in contact with the wiring material which is drawn from the bobbin. The first pulley comprises at a periphery thereof a first groove. The first groove comprises a first basal surface and a pair of first inclined surfaces which are arranged on both sides of the first basal surface. An inclination angle θ1 of the first inclined surface relative to the first basal surface being less than or equal to an inclination angle θ2 of the wiring material which is drawn from the supply portion relative to the first basal surface.

An end treatment portion 1a which treats ends Wa and Wb of an electric wire W and a transfer portion 7 which transfers the electric wire W are provided; a discharge portion 6, which discharges the electric wire W which is subjected to an end treatment by the end treatment portion 1a and transferred by the transfer portion 7, is also provided; the discharge portion 6 includes a discharge beam 11 for securing the electric wire W in a predetermined arrangement pattern; a calculation portion 20, which controls a securing treatment for securing the electric wire W to the discharge beam 11 in the discharge portion 6, is provided; and the predetermined arrangement pattern is set by the calculation portion 20 based on a content of processing the electric wire W at a subsequent process.

The invention relates to a method for shaping a barrel spring made of a unitary ribbon of metallic glass that comprises calculating the theoretical shape to be given to said unitary ribbon of metallic glass so that each segment, once the spring is fitted in the barrel, is subjected to the maximum bending momentum, shaping said ribbon by imparting bends thereto characteristic of said free theoretical shape in order to take into account a potential reduction of the bends once the ribbon is released, relaxing the ribbon in order to set the shape thereof by heating the same, and cooling down said ribbon.

The present invention is a method and apparatus for forming wire loops using wire looping pliers. In one embodiment of the invention, the pair of wire pliers having a cylindrical jaw and a recessed jaw for accepting the cylindrical jaw allows the user of the tool to make symmetrical wire loops on a consistent basis. Additionally, the width of the recessed jaw can be set such that the user can use the recessed jaw to measure the distance from a particular point where the neck of the wire loop should be broken. The recessed surface of the recessed jaw and the cylindrical jaw mate together in such a manner as to provide uniform pressure around a significant portion of the loop so as to prevent marring of the surface of the wire.

A lead pin correction device includes a holding unit holding an electronic device having lead pins; a pressing unit pressing the electronic device held by the holding unit in an extending direction of the lead pins; and a correction fixture including holes having a shape corresponding to a shape of the lead pins after correction. Further, the shape of the lead pins is corrected so as to fit the shape of the holes by inserting the lead pins into the holes by pressing the electronic device with the pressing unit while distal ends of the lead pins are inserted into the holes, the electronic device being held by the holding unit.

A method of manufacturing a stator coil for an electric rotating machine includes the steps of: (1) forming substantially planar electric wires each of which includes in-slot portions to be received in slots of a stator core and turn portions to be located outside the slots to connect adjacent pairs of the in-slot portions; (2) rolling each of the planar electric wires through plastic deformation into a spiral or circular-arc shape; and (3) assembling the rolled electric wires together to form the stator coil. Further, in the rolling step, each of the planar electric wires is rolled by deforming each of the turn portions of the electric wire while restricting movement of at least one of the in-slot portions of the electric wire which is located closer to a rolling start end of the electric wire than the turn portion is.

An apparatus and method for forming a single strand wire with improved flexibility and a stranded cable from a single strand wire. In one embodiment, the flexible single strand wire has a solid, single strand wire body and at least one helical groove formed on an outer circumferential surface of the wire body. The stranded cable includes a plurality of strands. In one embodiment, one of the strands has a planar surface that extends along a longitudinal axis of the cable body.

A tissue fastener production method of clamping two living tissues together by bringing the two living tissues into close contact includes the following steps: fixing one end of a wire material made of a metal to a shaft body, and winding the wire material around an outer periphery of the shaft body while twisting the wire material round an axis of the wire material, thereby forming a coil on which a predetermined force is exerted in the winding direction; heat treating the wire material to impart superelasticity thereto; and deforming the wire material to which the superelasticity is imparted in a range in which the wire material is elastically deformable, and reversing the winding direction of the coil in a direction reverse to the winding direction of the coil wound in the step of forming the coil so as to obtain an initial tension corresponding to the predetermined force.

Disclosed is an apparatus for rolling a substantially planar electric wire by more than one turn into a spiral shape. The apparatus includes an inner pressing member having an outer surface, an intermediate pressing member having radially inner and outer surfaces, and an outer pressing member having an inner surface. The inner and intermediate pressing members together press a first part of the electric wire between the outer surface of the inner pressing member and the inner surface of the intermediate pressing member, thereby plastically deforming the first part to extend along the outer surface of the inner pressing member. The intermediate and outer pressing members together press a second part of the electric wire between the outer surface of the intermediate pressing member and the inner surface of the outer pressing member, thereby plastically deforming the second part to extend along the outer surface of the intermediate pressing member.

A power tool for installing a metal locking tie is disclosed. The power tool includes a body and a power chassis. The body of the tool includes a gear carrier, a tensioning mechanism and a cutting mechanism. The gear carrier is positioned in the tool body and the tensioning mechanism is mounted in the gear carrier. The cutting mechanism engages the gear carrier. As the tie is tensioned, the gear carrier moves linearly in the tool body to cut the tensioned tie.

Apparatus and methods for filament crimping. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a body and a filament crimp element. The filament crimp element comprises a first set of cavities disposed at a spacing which creates a first set of features and a second set of cavities disposed at a spacing which creates a second set of features. The first and second set cavities are substantially opposite one another. The first set of features are adapted to be placed at least partially within the second set of cavities and the second set of features are adapted to be placed at least partially within the first set of cavities. Methods and apparatus for the manufacture of the device are also disclosed. In addition, methods for automated placement and manufacture of assemblies using the crimp elements are also disclosed.

A protective metal netting comprises a plurality of longitudinal metal wires or cables (10) side by side, each interwoven with at least one adjacent longitudinal wire or cable (10) in an interweave portion (24), in which at least one of the metal wires or cables (20) has an almost rectilinear development, or in any case with loops that are less pronounced than the lower-strength neighboring cables. A machine for manufacturing interwoven metal nettings comprises a cylindrical drum (50), on the outer surface of which a plurality of pins (52) protruding radially and arranged in axial rows at equal angular intervals is fixed, with an equal pitch in all the rows. Some pins (54) present on the cylindrical drum (50) are fitted out-of-alignment with respect to the above-mentioned pitch.

Systems and methods for rig assembly and for erecting a mast of a rig and such systems with roller apparatus to facilitate movement of a mast section from a mover. In a first embodiment, the method includes erecting a rig mast section on a substructure, the substructure including a first substructure box spaced-apart from a second substructure box, the first substructure box comprising a first upper box above a first lower box and the second substructure box comprising a second upper box above a second lower box.

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally pertain to hoisting methods for vehicles, such as UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters (“Black Hawks”). An external hoist arm system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is configured to be temporarily mounted to the outside of a vehicle. The hoist arm system is further configured to support a hoist and position the hoist above an external door of the vehicle. A rotatable adjustment member is used to adjust an angular position of the hoist relative to the vehicle.

A method and a device for hoisting an item at sea with a hoisting device comprises moving the item between a plurality of different height levels. In addition, the method comprises alternately supporting the load of the item with a first hoisting rope and a second hoisting rope while moving the item between the plurality of different height levels. Further, the method comprises arranging the first hoisting rope and the second hoisting rope to extend in parallel along at least part of the distance between the item and the hoisting device. Still further, the method comprises releasably connecting the first hoisting rope to the second hoisting rope. Moreover, the method comprises suspending the second hoisting rope from a hanger when the second hoisting rope is supporting the load of the item. The method also comprises connecting the hanger to an arm of the hoisting device.

The present invention provides a crane with an automatic counterweight balancing device and a method of arranging counterweight thereof. The crane includes a main body and a counterweight device mounted to the main body. The counterweight device includes first and second magnetic field generators and first and second permanent magnetic counterweight blocks. The crane uses a combined arrangement of the magnetic field generators, the permanent magnetic counterweight blocks, an electrical control device, and a transducer device to detect, in a real time manner, output torques of servo motors, whereby when the output torques are not equal to rating torques, magnetic field intensities are varied to change downward magnetic forces acting on the permanent magnetic counterweight blocks thereby regulating loading of the servo motors and thus regulating the output torques of the servo motors to effect automatic balancing of counterweight and improve stability of the crane during a conveyance process.

A pipe handling apparatus has a frame, a boom pivotally connected to the frame so as to be movable between a first position and a second position, an arm extending outwardly of the boom when the boom is in the second position, a gripper affixed to the end of the arm opposite the boom, a first line having a first end affixed to the boom, a second line interconnected to an opposite end of the first line and connected to the frame, and an actuator interconnected to the first and second lines. The actuator changes an angular relationship of the first and second lines so as to selectively tension the lines. The second line includes a first cable offset from linear alignment with the first line and a second cable extending in angular relationship with the first cable.

A method for controlling a hoisting or lowering movement of a load, which is suspended from a hoisting mechanism of a crane by means of at least two hoisting cables trained round cable sheaves on the load, by monitoring the position of the load and braking and/or stopping the hoisting mechanism upon detection of an undesirable position, wherein the cable sheaves are each connected to the load for pivoting about a horizontal axis, and the position of the load is monitored by detecting a pivoting movement of at least one of the cable sheaves.

A method and an apparatus for handling and/or servicing components of a wind turbine, such as installing and/or dismantling components into or from a wind turbine nacelle or such as servicing exterior components such as blades, hub, tower and nacelle of the wind turbine are disclosed. The gripping apparatus comprising at least one arm for gripping around the wind turbine tower, the at least one arm capable of forming a gap between gripping elements of the gripping apparatus. The at least one arm extends around the entire outer circumference, seen perpendicular to a horizontal plane, of the wind turbine tower.

A method of swing stopping control of a suspended load of a crane including a hoist and a trolley solves an equation of motion, given as an equation with respect to the deviation angle of a suspended load from the vertical direction when the trolley travels, for the trolley acceleration to thereby obtain the value of the acceleration or deceleration of the trolley, obtains speed patterns corresponding to the values of the acceleration or deceleration, drives the trolley according to the obtained speed patterns, and carries out control so that the deviation angle of the suspended load from the vertical direction becomes zero at the time when the acceleration or deceleration of the trolley is ended. Thus, even if the length of a rope holding the suspended load up is changed, a required speed pattern is produced to permit highly accurate positioning.

A controlling method for a hook deviation to regulate the deviation angle of a telescopic crane hook, involves following steps: A. Detecting the deviation angle and deviation direction of a rope, which is linked to the hook, in the horizontal plane relative to the direction of gravitational force; B. Judging whether the deviation angle is more than the predetermined value, if the deviation angle is more than the predetermined value, then turning to step C, and if the deviation angle is less than the predetermined value, then turning to step A; C. Compensatively controlling the deviation angle of the hook according to the deviation angle and direction. And a controlling system for the hook deviation and a controlling device for the hook deviation are provided. The method or system or device enables the detection of the deviation angle and direction of the hook in a quick and precise manner, and the compensatory control of the deviation angle of the hook is performed according to the detected deviation angle and direction, thus it avoids overdependence on human factor and reduces potential safety risks.

A method for mounting a wind turbine blade to a wind turbine hub by use of a crane boom is provided. An orientation of the blade is kept substantially horizontal when the blade is lifted off the ground and mounted to the rotor hub. Control wires, which connect the blade via the crane boom to a winch arrangement, are used for keeping the blade orientation substantially horizontal in addition to at least one bearing wire for bearing the blade weight.

A fly jib for a crane having a load block includes a variable length beam to which a load can be connected. A rotation mechanism is connected to the variable length beam, and is connectable to the load block so that said rotational mechanism can selectively rotate the variable length beam with respect to the load block. A balance mechanism is connected to the variable length beam, the balance mechanism automatically keeps the variable length beam in a horizontal position.

The invention relates to a device for mounting and/or dismantling a component (10), in particular a rotor blade of a wind turbine (20) comprising a tower head (21). Said device comprises at least one guide element (30) that stretches between the tower head (21) and the ground (40) and has at least one supporting device (60) that is essentially fixed in the air, supporting at least a partial load of the weight of the component (10) during the transport of the latter (10) between the ground (40) and the wind turbine (20). At least one guy (70) leads from the supporting device (60) to the component (10), whereby the length of said guy between the supporting device (60) and the component (10) can be modified.

Various embodiments of the present invention provide adjustable pit liners for use in conjunction with pipelines installed underground. The pit liners provide surface access to devices in fluid communication with the pipeline. The adjustability of the pit liners facilitates installation of the pit liners before the final grade surrounding the pit is known. In various embodiments, a tubular structure having an upper section and a lower section is provided, wherein the upper section and the lower section are slideably connected in a telescoping relationship. A locking mechanism is also provided to releaseably lock the overall height of the tubular structure as desired.

A valve unit includes a valve member that moves relative to a valve seat in response to a magnetic field generated by a coil. An input signal to the coil controls the extent of movement of the valve member relative to the valve seat, to control a gas flow rate therethrough. The gas valve unit also includes a setting adjustment device that provides a setting adjustment input utilized for calibrating or adjusting at least one gas flow rate. A valve controller is configured to receive an activation signal and to responsively send an input signal to the coil to move the valve member and establish at least one desired gas flow rate corresponding to the activation signal, wherein the valve controller is configured to adjust the input signal to the coil based on the setting adjustment input, to thereby enable field adjustment of at least one gas flow rate.

A substrate of a lab-on-a-chip system has two adjacent recesses, one serving as a flow channel and the other one being filled with an elastomer compound. In a first state, the elastomer compound and the substrate delimit the flow channel in a section. In a second state, the elastomer compound takes up the space in the recess in the substrate along a cross-section of the flow channel, thereby completely closing the flow channel. The substrate and the elastomer compound may be produced by injection molding techniques.

The Invention provided is a hydraulic powered down hole reciprocating pump traveling valve component to provided lifting hydraulics on the down stroke using the derived motion and pressure of petroleum liquids and gasses, such as oil, water and natural gas and also utilizing the frictional traveling forces driven by the surface equipment. Designed to utilize the elements within the pumping apparatus to obtain the hydraulic power within and transfer the energy's force to the exposed bottom end of the pressure locked traveling ball valve adjacent within the ball valve containment cage, providing ultimate lifting power to open the ball valve on the initiation of the down stroke. The component consist of a Hollow Hydraulic Power Shaft, Hollow Pressure Motion House, and a Fluid Cavity Power Drag Plunger.

In the method and apparatus of the invention, the process point is taken into account when the condition and performance of a control valve are monitored. In the condition monitoring of the valve, process measurements are used in addition to measurements inside the valve in such a manner that the process measurements identify the operating point at which the valve operates, and the measurements inside the valve are observed at these operating points to detect changes and to determine the condition of the valve. According to an aspect of the invention, the variables representing the operating point of an industrial process are considered when changes in the friction load of the valve and/or the load factor of the actuator are observed.

Disclosed herein is an improved method for reversed flow through a self-adjustable (autonomous) valve or flow control device (2), comprising the step of providing an overpressure on the side of the valve (2) opposite of the side of the inlet (10) exceeding a predetermined biasing force of the resilient member (24) causing lifting of the inner body part (4a) within the outer body part (4b) against said biasing force from a first position of fluid flow between an inner and an outer side of the valve (2) via the flow path (11) and to a second position of reversed fluid flow between said inner and outer side through the second flow path (25). An improved self-adjustable (autonomous) valve or flow control device (2) and use of said improved valve or flow control device are also disclosed.

A stepper-motor gas valve control is disclosed that includes a main diaphragm in a chamber that controllably displaces a valve relative to an opening in response to changes in pressure, to adjust fuel flow through the valve. A servo-regulator diaphragm is provided to regulate flow to the main diaphragm, to thereby control the rate of fuel flow. A stepper motor is configured to move in a stepwise manner to displace the servo-regulator diaphragm, to control fluid flow to the main diaphragm. A controller mounted on the stepper-motor regulated gas valve control receives and converts an input control signal from a heating system to a reference value between 0 and 5 volts, and selects a corresponding motor step value. The control responsively moves the stepper-motor in a step wise manner to displace the servo-regulator diaphragm and thereby regulates the rate of fuel flow through the valve.

A system and method are disclosed for containing an underwater gas or oil leak. The system and method may include a vortex device comprising a vortex chamber, a high pressure inlet tangentially engaging the vortex chamber, a low pressure inlet axially engaging the vortex chamber, and a low pressure outlet axially engaging the vortex chamber opposite the low pressure inlet. The vortex device may be positioned underwater proximate an underwater leak. A vortex may be generated within the vortex device. The vortex device may then collect a leak flow issuing from the underwater leak. The vortex device may collect the leak flow via the low pressure inlet, the high pressure inlet, or both.

Disclosed is a corrugated plastic composite spring for a vehicle suspension and an apparatus and method for manufacturing the same. The apparatus includes a corrugated extrusion part, a braiding part, and a pultrusion part. The corrugated extrusion part forms a preform having a hollow corrugated structure. The braiding part weaves a three-dimensional woven fabric on the preform. The pultrusion part impregnates the three-dimensional woven fabric with thermosetting resin.

A tubular structure and method for making a tubular structure are provided, where the tubular structure includes at least one layer of braided strands. In general, at least one portion of the braided strands exhibits a braid pattern of crests and troughs (e.g., a wave pattern, which may include sinusoidal, square, and/or sawtooth waves) along a length of the tubular structure. The wave pattern can be created by rotating the mandrel onto which the tubular structure is braided during the braiding process, such as by angularly oscillating the mandrel about its longitudinal axis or about its transverse axis. As a result, the tubular structures may have increased radial strength, collapse resistance, torque transmission, column strength, and kink resistance. The tubular structures may be used in medical devices, such as stent-grafts, as well as in other medical and non-medical devices, such as in hoses, tubing, filters, and other devices.

A textile sleeve and method of construction thereof is provided. The textile sleeve has a water-based, impervious coating for protecting elongate members contained within the sleeve. The sleeve has a flexible, tubular wall of tightly braided yarns with a coating applied thereto to render the wall impervious to fluid. The coating is a water-based coating applied as two distinct, first and second layers. The first, underlying layer includes a dielectric enhancing additive and a thickening agent to enhance the impermeability of the wall. The second, outer layer contains a similar formulation as the underlying first layer, however, it is free of the thickening agent.

A method and apparatus for fabricating microbraided structures is provided. A microbraiding device includes first and second carrier members that are movable with respect to each other. Each carrier includes a plurality of shelters. Spool-less strands of microfiber are retained in shuttles that are movable between the first and second shelters under magnetic forces. The microbraid structure is fabricated as the shuttles move between the first shelters, and as the first carrier member moves relative to the second carrier member.

A method is presented for making a composite material from strips comprising longitudinal fibers and a binder or resin, which material comprises a number of layer assemblies one on top of the other. Each layer assembly comprises m sets (with m at least 2) of parallel strips each extending in a different direction, Each layer assembly is manufactured by successive steps of depositing groups of parallel strips according to a well defined pattern (without longitudinally interweaving strips with previously deposited strips). Before completing a layer assembly, with the exception of the last layer assembly, by depositing its last group of parallel strips, the first group of parallel strips of the following layer assembly is already deposited. A composite material manufactured with such a method is presented too.

A braided carbon nanotube thread includes at least three carbon nanotube filaments braided into a thread. The carbon nanotube filaments include a plurality of carbon nanotubes, each of the carbon nanotubes having a length L. The carbon nanotube filaments are braided such that the carbon nanotube thread has at least 8 intersections per the length L of each carbon nanotube. The carbon nanotube thread has a tensile strength greater than the tensile strength of the constituent carbon nanotube filaments.

A medical balloon with a variable diameter that is reinforced with continuous fibers woven to form a fabric with a varying number of layers and fiber densities. Portions of the balloon having a relatively smaller diameter are reinforced with a fabric having a reduced fiber density and an increased number of layers to facilitate the placement of the layers. The fabric also includes a braiding pattern that facilitates the transition from a single layer fabric to a multiple layer fabric. Also described is a manufacturing method for the braiding and layering.

A vascular device is provided that includes a tubular structure and an occluding structure. The tubular structure has inner and outer layers, with the occluding structure located between the inner and outer layers. Each of the inner and outer layers may define a different pick count, and the tubular structure may include a leading edge at a transition between the pick counts. The leading edge may be disposed at the distal end of the vascular device when the device is deployed from a delivery device. Furthermore, the occluding structure may have first and second layers formed by the inversion or eversion of the occluding structure and the subsequent coupling of its free ends to form a continuous structure. Thus, any loose ends may be sealed to minimize unraveling and/or shifting of the occluding structure within the tubular structure. A method of making the vascular device is also provided.

Branched braided stent or graft devices and processes for fabrication of the devices are disclosed in which a trunk portion and two hinge leg portions are fabricated in one piece braided from a single plurality of filaments, whereby the legs contain the full plurality of filaments and the trunk portion contains a subset of the same plurality of filaments. The fabrication process involves braiding the hinged legs on a mandrel while retaining loops of filament between the hinged leg portions for subsequent braiding of the trunk portion of the stent or graft.

A method of braiding a stent includes braiding a number of elongate filaments around a mandrel using tensioned braiding carriers without spooling the filaments to the tensioned braiding carriers to form a braided stent having atraumatic ends.

A composite material comprising a plurality of fiber tape strips woven or braided together. Each of the plurality of fiber tape strips is made of a single layer of unidirectional fibers. The fibers are at least partially embedded in a thermoplastic matrix. A tubular composite part is made from this composite material and of an internal film. A method of manufacturing the composite material comprises weaving or braiding the fiber tape strips, especially in the form of a tube. A method of manufacturing a composite part comprises pressurizing the film inside the tube while heating both the tube and the film up to their forming temperature so as to bond the film to the woven fiber tape strips.

This invention provides new above knee (AK) and below the knee (BK) prosthetic sockets and implements specific manufacturing processes for the production of prosthetic sockets through the automated, computer controlled bi-axial and tri-axial braiding of sockets, over a mold or mandrel made of carved foam, plaster material or wax that is a replica of the patient's truncated limb, and is created by a Computer Aided Design (CAD) file controlling a Numerically Controlled (CNC) machine tool. This method of manufacture using aerospace fibers such as graphite or Kevlar, and high performance resins, is used to create a socket which is stronger and lighter weight than conventionally manufactured sockets. Braiding also allows incorporation of woven cloth, tapes and other reinforcements into the braiding process for added strength at selected areas. The method dramatically decreases the production time and cost of the prosthetic relative to conventional methods.

A system for making braided barbed sutures includes a filament winding assembly, and a guide assembly including at least one barbed insert dispenser opening defining a passageway for orienting a barbed insert. The guide assembly is adapted to dispense at least one barbed insert from the dispenser opening into the filament winding assembly for winding a plurality of filaments around the at least one barbed insert for making a braided barbed suture. The passageway of the dispenser opening is adapted to allow longitudinal movement of the barbed insert relative to the passageway while simultaneously preventing twisting movement of the barbed insert relative to the passageway. As the barbed insert is being dispensed, the barbed insert dispenser opening is selectively rotatable for imparting rotation to the barbed insert as the filaments are wound about the barbed insert. The passageway may be an elongated slit having a greater width than height.

The method produces an upper part of a shoe, in particular a sport shoe, with enhanced wearing comfort. The method entails supplying a shoe last, which corresponds to the inner shape of the upper part of the shoe to a radial braiding machine having an annular creel, which is designed for weaving and/or braiding along three axes; Guiding the at least one shoe last through the center of the creel and simultaneously weaving and/or braiding along three axes using a fiber material around the outer circumference of the shoe last; and Terminating the weaving and/or braiding and removing the woven and/or braided material from the shoe last.