Circular loom with orbit path

Abstract

A circular loom for weaving a weaving core along a weaving axis with at least one shuttle, which comprises a weft thread spool and is movable along a circular orbit path around the weaving core. The orbit path is formed of first track segments arranged one after the other along its circumference and at least one movably arranged or designed guide device is provided, which guides at least one warp thread provided from a warp thread spool on a warp spool device and on which at least a first track segment of the orbit path and at least a second track segment alternatively assignable to the orbit path are arranged and guided, where in the guided absence of the first and second track segment from the orbit path the guided warp thread, crossing the track plane, passes through the orbit path.

Claims

1. A circular loom for weaving a weaving core along a weaving axis with at least one shuttle, which comprises a warp thread spool and is movable along a circular orbit path around the weaving core, wherein the orbit path is formed of first track segments arranged one after the other along its circumference and at least one movably arranged or designed guide device is provided, which guides at least one warp thread provided from a warp thread spool of a warp spool device and on which at least one first track segment of the orbit path and at least one second track segment that is alternatively assignable to the orbit path are arranged and guided, where in a guided absence of the first and second track segment from the orbit path the guided warp thread, crossing the track plane, passes through the orbit path.

2. The circular loom of claim 1, wherein in each case a first track segment of the orbit path and a second track segment are designed identically to each other.

3. The circular loom of claim 1, wherein the movable guide device comprises at least one movably or pivotably arranged or designed positioning part.

4. The circular loom of claim 1, wherein a thread guide element of the guide device is configured as a thread guide channel, as a thread guide groove or as a thread guide eye.

5. The circular loom of claim 3, wherein the positioning part of the guide device is configured to be linearly movable.

6. The circular loom of claim 3, wherein a warp thread spool of at least one warp spool device is arranged essentially in a straight extension of a path of the warp thread through the thread guide element and/or essentially in a straight extension of a travel or pivot path of the thread guide element.

7. The circular loom of claim 1, wherein the warp thread spool of at least one warp spool device is arranged essentially in a lengthening of a radial extent of the circular orbit path.

8. The circular loom of claim 1, wherein at least one warp spool device is arranged on the guide device and/or on a first track segment and/or a second track segment.

9. The circular loom of claim 1, wherein the circular orbit path comprises at least one guide rail or is formed by at least one guide rail, in or on which at least one shuttle is guided.

10. The circular loom of claim 1, wherein a guiding and/or a drive of the shuttle is magnetic and/or electromagnetic.

11. The circular loom of claim 1, wherein a second circular orbit path is provided, along which in each case at least one shuttle is movable, the second circular orbit path being formed of second track segments arranged one after the other along its circumference, where the guide device guides a second warp thread provided from a second warp thread spool of a second warp spool device and on which at least one third track segment alternatively assignable to the second orbit path is arranged and guided, where in a guided absence of the second and third track segment from the second orbit path the second guided warp thread, crossing the second track plane, passes through the second orbit path.

12. The circular loom of claim 11, wherein in each case a second track segment of the second orbit path and a third track segment are designed identically to each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The circular loom according to the invention is explained in greater detail below with several example embodiments. The associated drawings show in a schematic representation in

(2) FIG. 1 a front view of a circular loom according to the invention for weaving a contoured, two-part weaving core with a variable core cross-section, with a rail-guided circular orbit path for two shuttles and with 12 stationary warp spool devices and 12 guide devices,

(3) FIGS. 2a,b side views of the circular loom according to FIG. 1 (from the right) in two operating phases of weaving the contoured, two-part weaving core with variable core cross-section,

(4) FIG. 3 a front view of a second design of the circular loom according to the invention for weaving a cylindrical weaving core, with a rail-guided circular orbit path for two shuttles and with 12 stationary warp spool devices and 12 guide devices,

(5) FIG. 4 a half-sided side view of the circular loom according to FIG. 3,

(6) FIG. 5 a half-sided side view of the circular loom according to FIG. 3, however with 24 stationary warp spool devices and 12 guide devices,

(7) FIG. 6 a front view of a third design of the circular loom according to the invention for weaving a cylindrical weaving core, with a rail-guided circular orbit path for two shuttles and with 12 warp spool devices on 12 guide devices,

(8) FIGS. 7a,b side views of the circular loom according to FIG. 6 in two operating phases of weaving the cylindrical weaving core,

(9) FIG. 8 half-sided side view of the circular loom according to FIG. 6, however with 24 warp spool devices on 12 guide devices,

(10) FIG. 9 half-sided side view of a fourth design of the circular loom according to the invention for weaving a cylindrical weaving core, with a rail-guided circular orbit path for two shuttles and with 12 warp spool devices between in each case a first and second track segment,

(11) FIGS. 10a,b side views of a fifth design of the circular loom according to the invention, similar to the circular loom according to FIG. 6 with two rail-guided circular orbit paths for in each case two shuttles and with 24 warp spool devices on 12 guide devices in three working phases of weaving a cylindrical weaving core.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(12) The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the present invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show details of the present invention in more detail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of the present invention, the description in combination with the drawings making apparent to those of skill in the art how the several forms of the present invention may be embodied in practice.

(13) In the examples explained below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form part of the examples and in which specific embodiments in which the invention can be put into practice are shown for illustrative purposes.

(14) Identical, equivalent or similarly designed elements are assigned identical reference symbols where appropriate.

(15) It is to be understood that other embodiments can be used and structural or logical changes made without departing from the protective scope of the present invention.

(16) It is to be understood that the characteristics of the various designs described herein can be combined with each other unless specified to the contrary. The following detailed description should therefore not be understood in a restrictive sense.

(17) The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the attached claims.

(18) FIG. 1 shows a circular loom, in which a weaving core 1a is arranged centrically to a weaving axis 2 of the circular loom and is surrounded by a circular orbit path 3 of the circular loom. The orbit path 3 has a ring-shaped, segmented track body 4 comprising 12 track segments 5 designed in a ring segment shape, which are arranged nearly gap-free very closely one after the other. Each track segment has in each case three rail pairs of guide rails 7 running in a ring segment shape, where the rail segment pairs (rail pairs) 7 of the track segments 5 arranged one after the other are arranged concentrically around the central weaving axis 2 of the circular loom and nearly flushly abutting one other, and thus are designed to form in combination a continuous circle.

(19) Two outer rail pairs with in each case two guide rails 7 are in each case arranged on the opposite radially extended side walls of the track segments 5 and an inner rail pair, with in each case two guide rails 7 is in each case arranged on an axially extended inner wall of the track segments 5 facing towards the weaving axis 2 (see also FIG. 2a, b).

(20) The radially outer boundary of the track body 4 is formed by the axially extended outer walls of the track segments 5 facing away from the weaving axis 2, while the radially extended side walls of the track segments 5 axially delimit the track body 4.

(21) The segmented track body 4 together with the segmented guide rails 7 (rail segment pairs) forms the circular orbit path 3, where the outer boundary of the track body 4 in its radial and axial extension defines the outer contour of a track plane 8 of the circular orbit path 3.

(22) The circular loom further has 12 warp spool devices 9 each with 12 warp thread spools 10, which are arranged fixed relative to the housing laterally on a preferably hollow cylindrical machine housing 6 of the circular loom (see also FIG. 2a,b).

(23) Corresponding to the number of available warp spool devices 9 and track segments 5 of the orbit path, on the outer circumference of the track body 4 a total of 12 mobile guide devices 11 are arranged outside the circular orbit path 3 and concentrically around the central weaving axis 2 of the circular loom.

(24) Each of the guide devices 11 has a base body 12 that is fixed to the machine housing 6 and a positioning part 13 that is axially movable relative to the base body 12 and the machine housing 6, which in the example embodiment is designed as a guide carriage 13.

(25) On each of the axially movable guide carriages, among other things one of the 12 track segments 5 of the orbit path 3 is arranged.

(26) The guide carriage 13 contains a thread guide element 14 for guiding and steering a warp thread 15, which in this example embodiment is designed as a thread guide channel 14 (thread channel) directed axially in the direction of the weaving axis 2 and ends with a thread deflector in a thread outlet 16.

(27) The weaving core 1a has a weaving core axis 17 which according to the arrangement in this example embodiment runs congruently with the weaving axis 2 of the circular loom. As can be clearly seen from the side view according to FIG. 2a, b, the separable weaving core 1a is designed with a variable core cross-section and hence with a non-uniform circumference. It is mounted rotatably around its weaving core axis 17 and movably along the weaving axis 2 of the circular loom.

(28) FIGS. 1, 2a and b show that the warp threads 15 from the warp spools 10 provided by the warp spool devices 9 while maintaining a certain thread tension of a not shown thread tensioner of the warp spool device 9 for weaving the weaving core 1a are in each case guided by means of an axially directed thread channel 14 of the axially movable guide carriage 13 of the guide device 11, as a result of which the warp threads 15 run essentially perpendicular to the track plane 8 through the thread channel 14 and are guided with the thread channel 14. The warp threads 15 emerge from a thread outlet 16 of the guide carriage 13, from where they are guided linearly to in each case to a weaving point on the weaving core 1a.

(29) Corresponding to the number of the 12 track segments 5 of the orbit path 3, on the guide carriage 13 are arranged furthermore in each case identically designed second track segments 18, which have a matching guide rail 7 with in each case three rail segment pairs 7, all of which are parallel to the track segments 5 of the orbit path 3 and their rail segment pairs 7 and are equally axially spaced.

(30) The track segments 5 of the orbit path 3 are furthermore referred to as first track segments 5 and the track segments 18 axially adjacent to the first track segments 5 of the orbit path 3 are furthermore referred to as second track segments 18.

(31) In each case a first track segment 5 of the orbit path 3 and an adjacent, second track segment 18 are arranged in pairs on a guide carriage 13 and carried with it.

(32) The thread outlet 16 of the guided warp thread 15 of the respective guide carriage 13 is in each case arranged at a middle distance between the track segment pair 5, 18 comprising the first track segment 5 and the second track segment 18.

(33) Along the segmented guide rails 7 of the orbit path 3, two shuttles 19 are guided, each of which has a shuttle carriage 20 with in each case a weft thread spool 21.

(34) The weft thread 22 of the weft thread spool 21 is guided to weave the non-uniformly contoured weaving core 1a while maintaining a certain thread tension linearly to the current weaving point on the weaving core 1a.

(35) The shuttles 19 run by means of the shuttle carriages 20 along the guide rails 7, which form the guide for the orbiting shuttles 19 and thus determine the circular movement path of the shuttles 19.

(36) The rotary axis of the weft thread spool 21 is arranged in the orbit direction of the shuttle 19 so that the feeding of the weft threads 22 to the weaving core 1a is achieved largely with few deflections or without deflections.

(37) The shuttle carriages 20 each have nine rubberised guide rollers 23, of which in each case three guide rollers 23 are assigned to a rail pair of the guide rails 7. In each case three guide rollers 23 are held and guided on both sides by the two outer rail pairs of the guide rails 7 and three additional rollers 23 are guided on both sides by the inner rail pair of the guide rails 7.

(38) Each shuttle 19 can be driven and controlled separately by means of a motor (direct drive) located on the shuttle carriage 20, where the power supply can be provided e.g. via several sliding contacts or onboard energy stores, and the control commands can be transmitted e.g. via radio control signals (not shown).

(39) The shuttles 19 can therefore roll independently of each other at the same or different speeds along the guide rails 7 of the orbit path 3.

(40) The guide rollers 23 are designed in such a large number and spaced so far apart from each other that the shuttle carriage 20 during its orbit always makes contact with at least two track segments 5 and hence can bridge one or even several separation points of the segmented track body 4 at the same time, ensuring smooth and quiet running of the shuttle carriages 20.

(41) In FIGS. 1, 2a, b both orbiting shuttle carriages 20 of the shuttles 19 are shown schematically in the 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock position along the orbit path 3 respectively.

(42) For the sake of clarity, FIGS. 2a, b in each case show only the two warp spool devices 9 and the associated guide devices 11, each with one track segment pair 5, 18 comprising a first and second track segment, in the 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock position of the circular loom.

(43) The guide carriages 13 arranged around the circumference of the orbit path 3 are in each case mounted linearly slidably relative to each other in the axial direction parallel to the weaving axis 3.

(44) To mount the guide carriage 13, on the base body 12 two longitudinally extended guide grooves arranged parallel to each other are provided, in which the guide carriage 13 is slidably mounted and guided with two corresponding guide bars (not shown).

(45) The guide grooves and guide bars are aligned axially in the direction of the weaving axis 2, with the result that the guide carriages 13 with the thread channel 14 and the carried warp threads 15 in each case can be moved essentially perpendicularly to the track plane 8 of the orbit path 3 and parallel to the weaving axis 2.

(46) The movement of the guide carriage results in the carrying and axially directed relative movement of the track segment pair 5, 18 comprising a first track segment and second track segment with respect to the in each case in the circumference of the orbit path 3 adjacently arranged track segment pair 5, 18 comprising a first and second track segment of the adjacent guide carriage 13.

(47) For guiding the track segment pairs 5, 18 the relevant adjacent track segments 5, 18 have slide surfaces on their end faces facing each other in the circumferential direction, along which they slide during their relative movement with respect to each other (not shown).

(48) The precision of the axial guidance of the track segments 5 and 18 is increased by means of corresponding guide grooves and guide bars (not shown) provided on the end faces facing each other.

(49) The fast alternating movement of the guide carriages 13 is generated and controlled via individual, switchable electric linear drives, acting in two directions (not shown).

(50) Control of the back-and-forth movement of the guide carriage 13 can be realised along a rack or threaded rod (not shown).

(51) In this example embodiment, the warp thread spools 10 of the warp spool devices 9 are in each case arranged in a straight-line extension of the thread channel 14 of the guide carriage 13 on the machine housing 6.

(52) The feeding of the warp threads 15 from the warp thread spools 10 via the thread channel 14 of the guide carriage 13 on to the weaving point on weaving core 1a thus largely takes place in a straight line with few deflections, whereby the thread tension of the warp threads 15 can be maintained at a high level.

(53) For the alternating changeover of the track segments 5, 18 and of the warp thread 15 of a guide device 11, these are in each case guided linearly back and forth in the axial direction by means of the movable guide carriage 13, as a result of which a first track segment 5 of the orbit path is replaced by a second track segment 18 and vice versa, and the warp thread 15 emerging from the thread outlet 16 is brought to both sides of the track plane 8 of the orbit path 3 (see FIGS. 2a, b).

(54) During the swapping of the track segments 5, 18 the warp thread 15 passes through the briefly missing track segments 5 and 18 temporarily forming discontinuity the orbit path 3 and can therefore for the purpose of changing sides be conveyed through the track plane 8, or rather through the temporarily opened orbit path 3 in both directions without touching.

(55) The warp threads 15 running to the weaving point, as they are alternatingly guided back and forth, assume a changing angle (weaving angle) with respect to the extension of the track plane 8. When passing through the orbit path 3, the weaving angle of the warp threads 15 is approximately 0°, and in the change position to ensure the passage of the shuttle 19, the maximum weaving angle of the warp threads 15 is reached (see FIGS. 2a, b).

(56) Since during the necessary change of sides of the warp threads 15, apart from the warp threads 15 themselves there are no components of the guide device 11 or of the orbit path 3 in the area of the orbit path 3 or within the track plane 8, the respective temporarily generated discontinuity in the interrupted orbit path 3 is formed as an empty space (void), through which the respective warp thread 15 can be passed unimpeded. Furthermore, this results in there being no components of the guide device 11 between the track segments 5, 18 with the result that the shuttles 19 alone determine the outer axial boundary for the axial positioning of the warp threads 15 during the passage of the shuttles 19, with the result that the warp threads 15 can form an optimally small maximum weaving angle, which results during the position change of the warp threads 15 in a small angle change of the weaving angle of the warp threads 15 relative to the track plane 8.

(57) This angle limitation of the movement of the warp threads 15 for the change of sides additionally ensures the maintenance of a high thread tension of the warp threads 15.

(58) The straight-line guiding of the guide carriages 13 of the guide device 11 perpendicularly to the track plane 8 also enables very short paths for conveying the warp threads 15 and consequently in conjunction with the above-mentioned rapidly acting linear drives of the guide carriages 13 it enables a particularly effective alternating of the warp threads 15 on both sides of the track plane 8.

(59) FIGS. 2a, b show two operating phases of the weaving process in the circular loom with alternating positioning of the guide carriages 11 with the respective track segments 5, 18 and warp threads 15 while the two shuttles travel around their orbit 19 in each case by 180°.

(60) In the operating phase according to FIG. 2a, the two orbiting shuttles 19 are in the 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock position of the circular loom, while some of the guide carriages 13, including the guide carriage 13 of the guide device 11 arranged in the 12 o'clock position, with the warp thread 15 and the second track segment 18 are located in the image plane to the right of the orbit path 3 and other guide carriages 13, including the guide carriage 13 of the guide device 11 arranged in the 6 o'clock position, with the warp thread 15 and the first track segment 5 are located in the image plane to the left of the orbit path 3, with the result that the space for the passage of the shuttles 19 at the 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock position is cleared by the warp threads 15 which are spread out away from the track plane 8 forming a shed.

(61) If the guide carriage 13 of the guide device 11 is positioned in the image plane to the right of the orbit path 3, then the orbit path 3 is simultaneously circumferentially closed by the first track segment 5, while the adjacent second track segment 18 is located in the stand-by position to the right of the orbit path 3. If the guide carriage 13 of the guide device 11 is positioned in the image plane to the left of the orbit path 3, then the orbit path 3 is alternatively circumferentially closed by the adjacent second track segment 18, while the first track segment 5 is located in the standby position to the left of the orbit path 3.

(62) An arbitrary number of guide carriages 13, for example every second, third or all guide carriages 13 of the guide devices 11 can be located in the image plane to the right or left of the orbit path 3 during an orbit of the shuttle 19.

(63) FIG. 2b shows the operating phase of the circular loom in which the shuttle 19 that was previously in the 6 o'clock position is passing the 12 o'clock position and vice versa, while some guide carriages 13, including the guide carriage 13 of the guide device 11 arranged in the 12 o'clock position, with the warp thread 15 and the first track segment 5 are located in the image plane to the left of the orbit path 3, and other guide carriages 13, including the guide carriage 13 of the guide device 11 arranged in the 6 o'clock position, with the warp thread 15 and the second track segment 18 are located in the image plane to the right of the orbit path 3, while the shuttles 19 pass through the 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock position.

(64) However, here too an arbitrary number of guide carriages 13, for example every second, third or all guide carriages 13 of the 12 guide devices 11 can be located in the image plane to the right or left of the orbit path 3.

(65) Corresponding to the position of the guide carriages 13 of the guide device 11 in the image plane to the right or left of the orbit path 3, the orbit path 3 is immediately circumferentially closed by means of in each case the first track segment 5 or alternatively the second track segment 18 before the shuttles 19 travel through the orbit path 3.

(66) Furthermore, the shuttles 19 may circulate at symmetrical or asymmetrical intervals from each other on the guide rails 7.

(67) The warp threads 15 are spread out alternately in opposite directions in the above-described mode or in another alternating mode of the guide carriages 13, the result of which is to produce an undulation of the warp threads 15 with the weft threads 22 of the shuttles 19 orbiting in a particular mode on the orbit path 3, to generate a hollow-profile-like fabric 25 with the desired weave pattern, as shown in FIGS. 2a, b.

(68) During the weaving process, the non-uniformly profiled weaving core 1a can be axially moved along the weaving axis 2, with the fabric 25 being set down in a fixed/stationary manner on the weaving core 1a. Depending on the desired weaving result, the axial movement of the weaving core 1a can take place for example quasi-stationarily, discontinuously, or continuously.

(69) A forwards and backwards movement of the weaving core 1a to generate several fabric layers 25 is also possible.

(70) During its axial movement, the weaving core 1a can additionally be moved in rotation around its weaving core axis 17 or be tilted relative to the weaving axis 2 in order to generate a changed angular position of the warp threads 15 and the weft threads 22 of e.g. +/−60° to the weaving core axis 17 on the weaving core 1a.

(71) The uniform weaving structure shown in FIGS. 2a, b resulting from a uniform weaving mode can be changed by means of the individual drive and the controlling of both the shuttle carriages 20 and the guide carriages 13 as well as the weaving core 1a, also during the weaving process.

(72) The shuttle carriages 20 can, by means of the guide carriages 13, orbit very precisely and evenly and consequently at a high running speed on precisely positionable track segments 5, 18 with the guide rails 7 that nearly flushly abut one another, and at the same time apply a high thread tension to the carried weft thread 22.

(73) The fast, alternating spreading of the warp threads 15 by means of the guide carriages 13 that are operable over short distances furthermore enables the running speed of the shuttles 19 orbiting on the guide rails 7 to be increased.

(74) Once the weaving core 1a has been woven it can be removed sideways out of the circular loom and another weaving core to be woven can be fitted into the circular loom.

(75) The stated advantages of the circular loom result in high process efficiency and also enable the weaving of the weaving core 1a with a very tightly and firmly woven fabric 25.

(76) For this reason, the circular loom is particularly suitable also for weaving large, non-uniformly contoured weaving cores with contour-conforming technical fabrics, e.g. for manufacturing woven hollow-profile fibre preforms for wheel rims.

(77) FIGS. 3, 4, 5 show a second design of the circular loom according to the invention, in this case for weaving a cylindrical weaving core 1b.

(78) The above description for the first design of the circular loom also applies in respect of the matching features and their advantages to the circular loom described here according to the second design, with the result that in this regard reference is made to the corresponding statements.

(79) To avoid repetition, only the differences compared to the first design of the circular loom according to FIGS. 1, 2a, b are described below.

(80) In this design, the warp spool devices 9 are arranged fixed relative to the housing essentially in a lengthening of the radial extent of the circular orbit path 3 on an outer wall of the machine housing 6 of the circular loom.

(81) The 12 warp spool devices 9 provided according to FIGS. 3 and 4 are arranged essentially centrally in an extension of the track plane 8 of the orbit path 3.

(82) The 24 warp spool devices 9 provided according to FIG. 5 are arranged in pairs next to each other in the axial direction, with the mirror line of a pair of the warp spool devices 9 being arranged essentially centrally in an extension of the track plane 8.

(83) The 12 warp spool devices 9 according to FIGS. 3 and 4 are in each case assigned to a mobile guide device 11 with the result that one warp thread 15 is guided per guide device 11.

(84) The 24 warp spool devices 9 according to FIG. 5 are in each case assigned in pairs to a mobile guide device 11 with the result that two warp threads 15 are guided per guide device 11.

(85) For the sake of clarity, in FIGS. 4 and 5 in each case only the warp spool devices 9 and the associated guide devices 11 arranged in the 12 o'clock position of the circular loom, each with one track segment pair comprising a first and second track segment, are shown and further described.

(86) The base body 12 fixed to the machine housing 6 of the guide device 11 has an axially extended passage 24 for the warp thread to pass through.

(87) The guide carriage 13 of the guide device 11 according to FIGS. 4 and 5 has in each case a thread guide element 14 with a radially directed thread channel 14, followed by the thread outlet 16.

(88) The warp threads 15 provided by the warp spool device 9 according to FIG. 4 run individually through the axially extended passage 24 of the base body 12 and through the radially directed thread channel 14 of a guide carriage 13, whereas the warp threads 15 provided by the warp spool device 9 according to FIG. 5 run in pairs through the axially extended passage 24 of the base body 12 and a radially directed thread channel 15 of each guide carriage 13.

(89) During the alternating sideways movement of the guide carriage 13 to change the positions of the track segments 5, 18 and the warp threads 15, the radially directed thread channel 14 with the warp thread 15 according to FIG. 4 or the thread channel 14 with both warp threads 15 according to FIG. 5 is located alternately in a position to the right and left of the orbit path 3 and track plane 8.

(90) During the sideways motion, momentary intermediate positions of the thread channel 14 occur, e.g. a central position, in which the radially directed thread channel 14 is located essentially in a straight-line extension to the fixed arrangement relative to the housing of the warp thread spool 10 of the warp spool device 9 and therefore temporarily enables a deflection-free path of the warp thread 15 through the thread channel 14.

(91) With this specific guiding of the warp thread 15 (according to FIG. 4)/warp threads 15 (according to FIG. 5), the necessary thread deflections and absolute thread length of the warp threads 15 are reduced and in particular also the different relative thread lengths that result during the sideways movement of the guide carriages 14 are minimised, which further improves the maintenance of the thread tension of the warp threads 15.

(92) With the circular loom design according to FIGS. 3 to 5, by way of example the weaving of a weaving core 1b with a uniform, cylindrical core cross-section is intended.

(93) When weaving the cylindrical weaving core 1b this can for example be stationarily fixed during the weaving process, with the fabric 25 being continuously pulled off the weaving core in an axial direction along the weaving axis 2 of the circular loom or rather along the weaving core axis 17 of the weaving core 1b. Preferably the weaving core 1b in this case is aligned with the weaving axis 2 in a congruent axial position.

(94) In the views according to FIGS. 4 and 5 furthermore by way of example a weaving ring 26 fixed relative to the housing is arranged concentrically spaced around the weaving core 1b, which additionally homogenises the feeding of the warp threads 15 and weft threads 22 to the weaving point, by damping their thread vibrations and compensating for their thread tension fluctuations, which has an advantageous effect in particular on circular looms having an orbit path 3 of larger diameter and which therefore have larger distances from the weft thread spool 21 and the thread outlets 16 of the thread guide elements 14 of the guide devices 11 to the weaving core 1b.

(95) FIGS. 6, 7a, b show a third design of the circular loom according to the invention for weaving a cylindrical weaving core 1b.

(96) The above description for the second design of the circular loom also applies in respect of the matching features and their advantages to the circular loom described here according to the third design, with the result that in this regard reference is made to the corresponding statements.

(97) To avoid repetition, only the differences compared to the second version of the circular loom according to FIGS. 3 to 5 are described.

(98) In this design, the 12 warp spool devices 9 are arranged in each case on one guide carriage 13 of the 12 guide devices 11 and are carried piggyback-style with the guide carriage. The guide carriage 11, for carrying the warp spool device 9 has a radially extended shaft which rises up from the axially extended passage 24 through the base body 12 of the guide device 11. The radially directed, also longitudinally extended thread channel 14 is designed integrated into the longitudinally extended shaft.

(99) The warp spool device 9 is arranged on the guide carriage 13 in such a manner that the warp thread spool 10 is located essentially in a straight-line extension to the radially directed thread channel 14 and hence always enables a deflection-free path of the warp thread 15 through the thread channel 14.

(100) FIGS. 7a, b show two operating phases of the weaving process in the circular loom with alternating positioning of the guide carriages 13 with the warp spool devices 9 while both shuttles 19 travel around their orbit in each case by 180°.

(101) In the operating phase according to FIG. 7a, the two orbiting shuttles 19 are in the 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock position of the circular loom, while at the same time, forming a warp thread shed, among other things the guide carriage 13 of the guide device 11 arranged in the 12 o'clock position with the warp spool device 9, the warp thread 15 and the second track segment 18 (in standby position) are located in the image plane to the right of the orbit path 3 and among other things the guide carriage 13 of the guide device 11 arranged in the 6 o'clock position with the warp spool device 9, the warp thread 15 and the first track segment 5 (in standby position) are located in the image plane to the left of the orbit path 3, while the shuttles 19 pass through the 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock position.

(102) FIG. 7b shows the operating phase of the circular loom in which the shuttle 19 that was previously in the 6 o'clock position is passing the 12 o'clock position and vice versa, while now among other things the guide carriage 13 of the guide device 11 arranged in the 12 o'clock position, with the warp spool device 9, the warp thread 15 and the first track segment 5 (in standby position) are located in the image plane to the left of the orbit path 3, and among other things the guide carriage 13 of the guide device 11 arranged in the 6 o'clock position, with the warp spool device 9, the warp thread 15 and the second track segment 18 are located in the image plane to the right of the orbit path 3, while the shuttles 19 pass through the 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock position.

(103) FIG. 8 shows the circular loom according to FIGS. 6 to 7, but with 24 warp spool devices 9, which here are arranged in pairs on the 12 guide devices 11, in particular on the respective guide carriage 13 with radially extended shaft and are carried with it.

(104) Therefore per guide device 11 two warp spool devices 9.1, 9.2 with two warp threads 15.1, 15.2 are guided through the radially directed thread channel 14.

(105) FIG. 9 shows a fourth design of the circular loom according to the invention for weaving a cylindrical weaving core 1b.

(106) The design of the guide devices 11 is intended in further development of the design and arrangement of the guide devices 11 of FIGS. 1, 2a, b, so that in this regard, the above description for the first design of the circular loom also applies in respect of the matching features and their advantages of the guide devices 11 to the circular loom described here according to the fourth design, with the result that in this regard reference is made to the corresponding statements.

(107) To avoid repetition, only the differences compared to the first design of the circular loom according to FIGS. 1, 2a, b are described below.

(108) In this design, the 12 warp spool devices 9 are in each case arranged in a gap between a track segment pair 5, 18 which pair is arranged in each case on one movable guide carriage 13 of the 12 guide devices 11.

(109) Each warp spool device 9 is fastened on both sides to the facing side walls of the first and second track segment 5, 18 and is therefore indirectly carried with the guide carriage 13 of the guide device 11.

(110) The provided warp thread 15 of the warp spool device 9 can be directly led away from the warp thread spool 10 and fed to the weaving point on the weaving core 1b, while at the same time for the necessary alternating change of sides of the warp thread 15, it is carried by the axial movement of the guide carriage 13.

(111) Thus the guide carriage 13 according to this design advantageously does not require a thread channel or thread outlet for guiding and letting out the warp thread 15.

(112) FIG. 9 shows the operating phase of the circular loom, in which among other things the guide carriage 13 of the guide device 11 arranged in the 12 o'clock position with the warp spool device 9 and its warp thread 15 as well as the first track segment 5 (in standby position) is located in the image plane to the left of the orbit path 3, while the shuttle 19 passes through the 12 o'clock position.

(113) In the fourth design of the circular loom according to FIG. 9, unlike the first design according to FIGS. 1, 2a, b the weaving of a weaving core 1b with a uniform, cylindrical core cross-section in accordance with the second designs according to FIGS. 3 to 5 is intended, which is why reference is made in this regard to the corresponding description.

(114) FIGS. 10a, b show a fifth design of the circular loom according to the invention for weaving a cylindrical weaving core 1b.

(115) The above description for the third design of the circular loom also applies in respect of the matching features and their advantages to the circular loom described here according to the fifth design, with the result that in this regard reference is made to the corresponding statements.

(116) To avoid repetition, only the differences compared to the third design of the circular loom according to FIGS. 6, 7a, b are described.

(117) The circular loom according to this example embodiment has two circular orbit paths 3.1, 3.2 arranged parallel to each other for the rail-guided orbit of in each case two shuttles 19, where the second circular orbit path 3.2 and its track segments 18 are designed identically to the first orbit path 3.1 and its track segments 5.

(118) The track segments 18 of the second orbit path 3.2 are the track segments 18 that are alternatively assignable to the first orbit path and are adjacent to the first track segments 5.

(119) Corresponding to the number of track segments 5 of the first orbit path 3.1 and the number of track segments 18 of the second orbit path 3.2, on the respective guide carriages 13 in each case identically designed third track segments 27 are arranged, which have a matching guide rail 7 with in each case three rail segment pairs 7, all of which are parallel to the track segments 18 of the second orbit path 3.2 and their rail segment pairs 7 are equally axially spaced.

(120) The track segments 18 of the second orbit path 3.2 are furthermore referred to as second track segments 18 and the track segments 27 adjacent to the second track segments 18 of the second orbit path 3.2 are furthermore referred to as third track segments 27.

(121) In each case, a first track segment 5 of the first orbit path 3.1, a second track segment 18 of the second orbit path 3.2 and an adjacent third track segment 27 are arranged together on a guide carriage 13 of the 12 guide devices 11 and are carried and positioned with this guide carriage.

(122) The circular loom furthermore has 24 warp spool devices 9 each with 24 warp thread spools 10, which are arranged in pairs on in each case an axially moving guide carriage 13 of the 12 guide devices 11, where the two warp spool devices 9.1, 9.2 are each held on a radially extended shaft of the guide carriage 13 and are thus carried with the guide carriage 13.

(123) The guide carriage 13 contains, for guiding in each case one warp thread 15 of the two warp threads 15.1, 15.2 provided from the two carried warp spool devices 9.1, 9.2, two radially extended thread channels 14.1, 14.2 which are in each case designed in a shaft and in each case end in a thread outlet 16.1, 16.2, where the first thread channel 14.1 or thread outlet 16.1 is arranged at a middle distance between the first and second track segment 5, 18 and the second thread channel 14.2 or thread outlet 16.2 is arranged at a middle distance between the second and third track segment 18, 27.

(124) In this design also, the warp spool devices 9.1, 9.2 are arranged so that their warp thread spools 10 are located essentially in a straight-line extension to the radially directed thread channels 14.1, 14.2 and hence always enable a deflection-free path of the warp thread 15 through the respective thread channel 14.

(125) FIGS. 10a, b show two operating phases of the weaving process in the circular loom with alternating positioning of the guide carriages 13 with the warp spool devices 9 while both shuttles 19 in the two orbit paths 3.1, 3.2 travel around their orbit in each case by 180°.

(126) In the operating phase according to FIG. 10a both the orbiting shuttles 19 of the two orbit paths 3.1, 3.2 are located in the in 6 o'clock and in the 12 o'clock position of the circular loom, where while forming two warp thread sheds among other things the guide carriage 13 of the guide device 11 arranged in the 12 o'clock position is shifted to the left in the image plane in such a way that the first warp spool device 9.1 with the first warp thread 15.1 and the first track segment 5 is positioned to the left of the first orbit path 3.1, where the first track segment acts in standby position and the first orbit path 3.1 is alternatively closed by the second track segment 18, and furthermore the second warp spool device 9.2 with the second warp thread 15.2 is positioned between the first and second orbit path 3.1, 3.2, where the second orbit path 3.2 is alternatively closed by the adjacent third track segment 27, while the shuttles 19 of both orbit paths 3.1, 3.2 pass through the 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock position.

(127) While forming two additional warp thread sheds, in the operating phase according to FIG. 10a among other things the guide carriage 13 of the guide device 11 arranged in the 6 o'clock position is shifted to the right in the image plane in such a way that the second warp spool device 9.2 with the second warp thread 15.2 and the third track segment 27 is positioned to the right of the second orbit path 3.2, where the third track segment 27 acts in standby position and the second orbit path 3.2 is closed in the regular manner by the second track segment 18, and furthermore the first warp spool device 9.1 with the first warp thread 15.1 is positioned between the first and second orbit path 3.1, 3.2, where the first orbit path 3.1 is closed in the regular manner by the first track segment 5, while the shuttles 19 of both orbit paths 3.1, 3.2 pass through the 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock position.

(128) In the operating phase according to FIG. 10b, the shuttles 19 that were previously located in the 6 o'clock position of the two orbit paths 3.1, 3.2 pass through the 12 o'clock position and vice versa.

(129) Among other things the guide carriages 13 of the guide devices 11 arranged in the 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock position are together shifted in the image plane to the right in such a way that the second warp spool device 9.2 with the second warp thread 15.1 and the third track segment 27 is positioned to the right of the second orbit path 3.2, where the third track segment 27 acts in standby position and the second orbit path 3.2 is closed in the regular manner by the second track segment 18, and furthermore the respective first warp spool device 9.1 with the first warp thread 15.1 is positioned between the first and second orbit path 3.1, 3.2, where the first orbit path 3.1 is closed in the regular manner by the first track segment 5, while the shuttles 19 of both orbit paths 3.1, 3.2 pass through the 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock position.

(130) During the axial shifting of the guide carriage 13 to the left or right in the image plane, in each case the warp thread 15.1 of the first warp spool device 9.1 crosses the first track plane 8.1 of the first orbit path 3.1, whereas the warp thread 15.2 of the second warp spool device 9.2 crosses the second track plane 8.1 of the second orbit path 3.2.

(131) In the design of the circular loom according to the fifth example embodiment, an even greater number of possible weaving modes and weaving structures can be realised while maintaining a high weaving speed and weaving quality.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(132) 1 Weaving core, non-uniform a, cylindrical b 2 Weaving axis of the circular loom 3 Circular orbit path, first .1, second .2 4 Track body first .1, second .2 Track segment, first 6 Machine housing 7 Guide rail 8 Track plane, first .1, second .2 9 Warp spool devices, first .1, second .2 Warp thread spool 11 Guide device 12 Base body of the guide device 13 Positioning part, guide carriages 14 Thread guide element, thread guide channel, thread channel, first .1, second .2 15 Warp thread, first .1, second .2 16 Thread outlet, first .1, second .2 17 Weaving core axis 18 Track segment, second 19 Shuttle 20 Shuttle carriage 21 Weft thread spool 22 Weft thread 23 Guide roller 24 Passage in the base body 25 Fabric 26 Weaving ring 27 Track segment, third