An apparatus for manipulating a material is provided. The apparatus may comprise a magnetic device arranged in a three-dimensional configuration. The apparatus may comprise a surface on which at least one carrier is configured to move. The magnetic device may be configured to provide a magnetic field for driving the carrier on the surface to manipulate a material. The apparatus may comprise a controller configured to control the magnetic device to modulate the magnetic field. The controller may be further configured to detect a position and/or motion of the carrier.

A braided sleeve with complex geometry, including changes to the geometry along the braided sleeve's longitudinal axis are described. In particular, along a first portion of the braided sleeve's longitudinal axis, multiple tows are intertwined with each other. Along a second portion, one of tows is removed from being intertwined with the other tows and is relocated to an interior or an exterior of the braided sleeve. A third portion includes the removed tow being intertwined with the plurality of tows again. In this manner, the braided sleeve may provide coverage of preforms with varying diameters along the longitudinal axis of the preforms.

A braided sleeve with complex geometry, including changes to the geometry along the braided sleeve's longitudinal axis are described. In particular, along a first portion of the braided sleeve's longitudinal axis, multiple tows are intertwined with each other. Along a second portion, one of tows is removed from being intertwined with the other tows and is relocated to an interior or an exterior of the braided sleeve. A third portion includes the removed tow being intertwined with the plurality of tows again. In this manner, the braided sleeve may provide coverage of preforms with varying diameters along the longitudinal axis of the preforms.

A three dimensional braid includes a plurality of first plaits adjacent one another oriented in a first direction and a plurality of second plaits adjacent one another oriented in a transverse second direction intertwined forming a braid with each first plait intersecting each of the plurality of second plaits in succession. Each first plait includes a first group of tows and a second group of tows, each of the tows in the first group of tows corresponding to one of the tows in the second group of tows in pairs of first plait tows. Each second plait includes a plurality of tows. For each first plait, one of the first plait pairs crosses over a subset of second plait tows at each intersection of the first plait and successive second plaits forming a series of braid points along the first plait.

A three dimensional braid includes a plurality of first plaits adjacent one another oriented in a first direction and a plurality of second plaits adjacent one another oriented in a transverse second direction intertwined forming a braid with each first plait intersecting each of the plurality of second plaits in succession. Each first plait includes a first group of tows and a second group of tows, each of the tows in the first group of tows corresponding to one of the tows in the second group of tows in pairs of first plait tows. Each second plait includes a plurality of tows. For each first plait, one of the first plait pairs crosses over a subset of second plait tows at each intersection of the first plait and successive second plaits forming a series of braid points along the first plait.

An apparatus for manipulating a material is provided. The apparatus may comprise a magnetic device arranged in a three-dimensional configuration. The apparatus may comprise a surface on which at least one carrier is configured to move. The magnetic device may be configured to provide a magnetic field for driving the carrier on the surface to manipulate a material. The apparatus may comprise a controller configured to control the magnetic device to modulate the magnetic field. The controller may be further configured to detect a position and/or motion of the carrier.

An apparatus for manipulating a material is provided. The apparatus may comprise a magnetic device arranged in a three-dimensional configuration. The apparatus may comprise a surface on which at least one carrier is configured to move. The magnetic device may be configured to provide a magnetic field for driving the carrier on the surface to manipulate a material. The apparatus may comprise a controller configured to control the magnetic device to modulate the magnetic field. The controller may be further configured to detect a position and/or motion of the carrier.

The invention relates to a bobbin carrier for receiving a bobbin which is set up for unwinding a strand material, wherein the bobbin carrier is provided for use in a braiding, winding or spiraling machine and is set up to rotate relative to the machine during operation of the latter. The bobbin carrier has a tensile-force measuring device for measuring the tensile force of the strand material unwound from the bobbin and has a first data transfer device for transferring data. According to the invention, the first data transfer device is set up to transfer measured tensile force values to a second data transfer device arranged outside the bobbin carrier. As a result, too low or too high tensile forces in the strand material can be detected early at the individual bobbin carriers. The tensile force can be kept largely constant by the transfer of set point tensile force values from the second data transfer device to the first data transfer device and by a suitable control or regulation device at the bobbin carrier.

The invention relates to a bobbin carrier for receiving a bobbin which is set up for unwinding a strand material, wherein the bobbin carrier is provided for use in a braiding, winding or spiraling machine and is set up to rotate relative to the machine during operation of the latter. The bobbin carrier has a tensile-force measuring device for measuring the tensile force of the strand material unwound from the bobbin and has a first data transfer device for transferring data. According to the invention, the first data transfer device is set up to transfer measured tensile force values to a second data transfer device arranged outside the bobbin carrier. As a result, too low or too high tensile forces in the strand material can be detected early at the individual bobbin carriers. The tensile force can be kept largely constant by the transfer of set point tensile force values from the second data transfer device to the first data transfer device and by a suitable control or regulation device at the bobbin carrier.

The invention relates to a braiding bobbin for a braiding device. The braiding bobbin includes a cylindrical braiding spool, from which a previously wound, multilayer ribbon can be unwound, wherein a first layer of the ribbon consists of a pre-impregnated fiber film, and a second layer of the ribbon consists of a protective film. In addition, the braiding bobbin includes a bracket to which the braiding spool is frontally and rotatably fastened. Additionally provided for the braiding bobbin is a cylindrical additional spool for winding the protective film of the unwound ribbon and a deflection element. The deflection element is fastened to the bracket, wherein the deflection element is secured spaced apart in the radial direction R to the braiding spool and designed for deflecting the protective film from the braiding spool to the additional spool.