Circular loom with orbit path

Abstract

A circular loom for weaving a weaving core with at least one shuttle, which has a weft thread spool and is movable along a circular orbit path around the weaving core. At least one guide device, designed to guide at least one warp thread provided from a warp thread spool on a warp spool device, is movably arranged or designed outside a track plane enclosed by the outer circumference of the circular orbit path, the guided warp thread, crossing the track plane, passing through a recess in the circular orbit path.

Claims

1. A circular loom for weaving a weaving core with at least one shuttle, which comprises a weft thread spool and is movable along a circular orbit path around the weaving core, wherein at least one guide device configured to guide at least one warp thread provided from a warp thread spool of a warp spool device is provided and movably arranged or designed outside a track plane enclosed by an outer circumference of the circular orbit path, the guided warp thread, crossing the track plane, passing through a recess in the circular orbit path.

2. The circular loom of claim 1, wherein the movable guide device comprises at least one movable or pivotable positioning part.

3. 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.

4. The circular loom of claim 2, 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 2, wherein the positioning part is configured to be linearly movable.

6. The circular loom of claim 4, wherein the positioning part is configured to be linearly movable.

7. The circular loom of claim 2, wherein the 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 a thread guide element and/or essentially in a straight extension of a travel or pivot path of the thread guide element.

8. The circular loom of claim 3, wherein the 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 a thread guide element and/or essentially in a straight extension of a travel or pivot path of the thread guide element.

9. The circular loom of claim 4, wherein the 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 a thread guide element and/or essentially in a straight extension of a travel or pivot path of the thread guide element.

10. The circular loom of claim 5, wherein the 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 a thread guide element and/or essentially in a straight extension of a travel or pivot path of the thread guide element.

11. The circular loom of claim 6, wherein the 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 a thread guide element and/or essentially in a straight extension of a travel or pivot path of the thread guide element.

12. 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.

13. The circular loom of claim 1, wherein at least one warp spool device is arranged on the movable guide device.

14. 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.

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

16. 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 guided warp thread, crossing track planes of a first and/or second orbit path, passing through the recess of the first and/or second circular orbit path.

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. 1a 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 working phases of weaving the cylindrical weaving core,

(9) FIGS. 8a,b,c half-sided side views of a fourth 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 12 warp spool devices on 12 guide devices in three working phases of weaving a cylindrical weaving core,

(10) FIGS. 9a,b,c half-sided side views of a fifth design of the circular loom according to the invention, similar to the circular loom according to FIG. 8 with two rail-guided circular orbit paths for in each case two shuttles and with 24 warp spool devices on 12 guide devices with in each case two guide carriages in three working phases of weaving a cylindrical weaving core

(11) FIGS. 10a,b side views of a sixth design of the circular loom according to the invention for weaving a contoured, two-part weaving core, with a rail-guided circular orbit path for two shuttles and with 12 stationary warp spool devices and 12 alternative guide devices in two working phases.

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 track body 4 comprising 12 track segments 5 arranged one after the other, designed in a ring segment shape, which are arranged fixed relative to the housing on a preferably hollow cylindrical machine housing 6 of the circular loom. The track body 4, explicitly the track segments 5, each have three rail pairs of guide rails 7 running in a ring segment shape, where the rail segment pairs (rail pairs) of the track segments 5 arranged one after the other are arranged and designed concentrically circling around the central weaving axis 2 of the circular loom.

(19) Two outer rail pairs each with two guide rails 7 are each arranged on the opposite side walls of the track segments 5 of the track body 4 and an inner rail pair, in each case with two guide rails 7 is arranged in each case on an axially extended inner wall of the track segments 5 facing towards the weaving axis 2 (see also FIGS. 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 the machine housing 6 of the circular loom.

(23) Corresponding to the number of available warp spool devices 9, on the outer circumference of the track body 4 a total of 12 movable, 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 track body 4 and/or 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) 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 an axially directed thread guide channel 14 (thread channel) and ends with a thread deflector in a thread outlet 16.

(26) Here the thread guide element 14 can also be designed as a thread guide groove that is open on top (not shown).

(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 FIGS. 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 of the 12 warp thread spools 10 for weaving the weaving core 1a while maintaining a certain thread tension of a not shown thread tensioner of the warp spool device 9 are guided in each case via a thread channel 14 and a thread outlet 16 of the mobile guide carriage 13 of the guide device 11 to in each case a weaving point on the weaving core 1a.

(29) In accordance with the number of guided warp threads 15, the orbit path 3, or rather the track body 4 and the guide rails 7 have recesses 18 in the form of narrow gaps 18 going through them that are perpendicularly aligned with the weaving axis 2, which divide the track body 4 with the guide rails 7 into the 12 track segments 5.

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

(31) 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.

(32) 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.

(33) 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.

(34) 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.

(35) 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).

(36) 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.

(37) 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 gaps 18 in the track body 4 at the same time, ensuring smooth and quiet running of the shuttle carriages 20.

(38) 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.

(39) For the sake of clarity, FIGS. 2a, b in each case show only two warp spool devices 9 and the associated guide devices 11, namely the warp spool devices 9 and guide devices 11 arranged in the 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock position of the circular loom.

(40) The warp thread 15 provided from the warp spool device 9 is guided through the thread channel 14 and emerges at a thread outlet 16 of the guide carriage 13, from where the warp thread 15—running through an axially extended passage 24 of the base body 12 without touching—is guided linearly to the weaving point on weaving core 1a.

(41) The thread channel 14 in relation to the circular loom and its orbit path 3 is aligned axially in the direction of the weaving axis 2 with the result that the warp thread 15 runs essentially perpendicular to the track plane 8 through the thread channel 14.

(42) 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 2.

(43) 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).

(44) The guide grooves and guide bars in relation to the circular loom and its orbit path 3 are aligned axially aligned 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.

(45) 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).

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

(47) 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.

(48) 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.

(49) For the alternating changeover of the warp threads 15 on both sides of the track plane 8, the warp threads 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 the warp thread 15 emerging from the thread outlet 16 passes through an axially extended passage 24 in the base body 12 (see FIG. 2a, b) and then passes through the corresponding axially extended narrow gaps 18 between two adjacent track segments 5 and crosses the track plane 8 (see FIG. 1).

(50) Because of these narrow gaps 18, only the warp threads 15 pass through the orbit path 3 in both directions without touching, for the purpose of changing sides.

(51) 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 gap 18 in 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 FIG. 2a, b).

(52) Since during the necessary change of sides of the warp threads 15, apart from the warp threads 15 themselves there are no geometric elements acting in the area of the orbit path 3 or in the track plane 8, the shuttles 19 alone form the outer boundary for the 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.

(53) 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.

(54) 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.

(55) FIG. 2a, b show two operating phases of the weaving process in the circular loom with alternating positioning of the guide carriages 11 with the warp threads 15 while both shuttles 19 travel around their orbit in each case by 180°.

(56) 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 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 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.

(57) However, 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.

(58) 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 devices 11 arranged in the 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock position, with the warp thread 15 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.

(59) 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.

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

(61) 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 FIG. 2a, b.

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

(63) 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.

(64) The uniform weaving structure shown in FIG. 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.

(65) The shuttle carriages 20 can orbit very precisely and evenly by means of the guide rails 7 and at the same time apply a high thread tension to the carried weft thread 22.

(66) The narrow gaps 18 in the orbit path 3 for the passage of the warp threads 15 can be easily rolled over by means of the large number of widely spaced, rubberised guide rollers and largely without influencing the shuttle carriage 20, with the result that the smooth orbit of the shuttles 19 is not impaired.

(67) 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.

(68) 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.

(69) 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.

(70) 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 fiber preforms for wheel rims.

(71) 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.

(72) 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.

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

(74) 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.

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

(76) 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.

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

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

(79) For the sake of clarity, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 in each case show and describe further only the warp spool devices 9 and associated guide devices 11 in the 12 o'clock position of the circular loom.

(80) The guide carriage 13 of the guide device 11 according to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 has in each case a thread guide element 14 with a radially directed thread channel 14, followed by the thread outlet 16. The warp threads 15 provided by the warp spool device 9 according to FIG. 4 run individually in each case through a radially directed thread channel 14 of a guide carriage 13 and the warp threads 15 provided by the warp spool device 9 according to FIG. 5 run pairwise in each case through a radially directed thread channel 15 of a guide carriage 13.

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

(82) 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.

(83) With this specific guiding of the warp thread/warp threads 15 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.

(84) 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.

(85) 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.

(86) In the design according to FIG. 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.

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

(88) 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.

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

(90) 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.

(91) 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.

(92) 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°.

(93) 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 and the warp thread 15 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 and the warp thread 15 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.

(94) 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 carriages 13 of the guide devices 11 arranged in the 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock position with the warp spool device 9 and the warp thread 15 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.

(95) FIGS. 8a, b, c show a fourth design of the circular loom according to the invention for weaving a cylindrical weaving core 1b.

(96) 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 fourth 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 third design of the circular loom according to FIGS. 6, 7a, b are described.

(98) 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 two shuttles 19 in each case.

(99) To the two orbit paths 3.1, 3.2 are assigned a total of 12 guide devices 11, each of which carries one warp spool device 9 that is arranged on the respective guide carriage 13.

(100) The base body 12 of each guide device 11 extends in the axial direction over the two track bodies 4.1, 4.2 of the orbit paths 3.1, 3.2 with the result that the guide carriage 13 and the carried warp thread 15 of each guide device 11 can along the base body 12 cross both track bodies 4.1, 4.2 and hence both track planes 8.1, 8.2 and corresponding to the example operating phase according to FIG. 8a can be positioned in the image plane to the left of the first orbit path 3.1, corresponding to the operating phase according to FIG. 8b centrally between the first and the second orbit path 3.1, 3.2 and corresponding to the operating phase according to FIG. 8c to the right of the second orbit path 3.2.

(101) FIGS. 9a, b, c show a fifth design of the circular loom according to the invention for weaving a cylindrical weaving core 1b.

(102) The description for the fourth 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.

(103) To avoid repetition, only the differences compared to the fourth design of the circular loom according to FIGS. 8a, b, c are described.

(104) In this design, the 12 guide devices 11 in each case have two guide carriages 13.1, 13.2, with in each case a thread guide element 14.1, 14.2 as a radially directed thread channel 14.1, 14.2. On the thus resulting total of 24 guide carriages 13.1, 13.2 in each case a warp spool device 9 is arranged, which the guide carriages 13.1, 13.2 carry with them.

(105) The two guide carriages 13.1, 13.2 of each guide device 11 can be positioned anywhere along the base body 12, which extends over both track bodies 4.1, 4.2 of the orbit paths 3.1, 3.2.

(106) By way of example, during the operating phase according to FIG. 9a, the first guide carriage 13.1 and its carried warp thread 15 are located in the image plane to the left of the first orbit path 3.1 and the second guide carriage 13.2 and its carried warp thread 15 are located centrally between the first and the second orbit path 3.1, 3.2.

(107) In the operating phase according to FIG. 9b the first guide carriage 13.1 and its carried warp thread 15 are located by way of example centrally between the first and the second orbit path 3.1, 3.2 and the second guide carriage 13.2 and its carried warp thread 15 are located to the right of the second orbit path 3.2.

(108) In the operating phase according to FIG. 9c the first guide carriage 13.1 and its carried warp thread 15 are once again located in the position to the left of the first orbit path 3.1, while the second guide carriage 13.2 and its carried warp thread 13.2 have remained in the position to the right of the second orbit path 3.2.

(109) In the designs according to the fourth and fifth example embodiments, an even greater number of possible weaving modes and generatable weaving structures can be realised while maintaining a high weaving speed and weaving quality.

(110) FIGS. 10a, b show a circular loom according to the invention in a sixth design for weaving a contoured, two-part weaving core 1a, analogous to the first design of the circular loom according to FIGS. 1, 2a, b.

(111) The 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 sixth design, with the result that in this regard reference is made to the corresponding statements.

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

(113) Assigned to the 12 warp spool devices 9 arranged fixed relative to the housing, alternatively 12 moving, pivotable guide devices 11 are provided, which are arranged concentrically around the central weaving axis 2 of the circular loom, outside of the circular orbit path 3 or track plane 8 and essentially in a lengthening of the radial extent of the orbit path 3 or track plane 8 on an outer wall of the machine housing 6 of the circular loom.

(114) The pivotable guide devices 11 have in each case a swivel joint 27 arranged fixed relative to the housing as a base body 27 and a positioning part 28 mounted rotatably on the swivel joint 27, which in the example embodiment is designed as a swivel arm 28.

(115) The swivel arm 28 has on its free end a thread guide element 29 for guiding and steering the warp thread 15 in the form of a thread guide eye 29, through which the warp thread 15 is guided.

(116) By means of the alternatingly pivotable swivel arm 28 with the thread guide eye 29, the warp thread 15 can to form the thread shed be moved in an alternating manner to both sides of the segmented orbit path 3, while with little frictional force in the thread guide eye 29 only one thread deflector is necessary.

(117) The longer the swivel arm 28 is designed, the smaller is the resulting radius of the travel path of the thread guide eye 29 and hence of the movement path of the warp thread 15.

(118) The feeding of the warp threads 15 from the warp thread spools 10 via the thread guide eye 29 on to the weaving point on weaving core 1a thus here too takes place largely in a straight line, whereby the thread tension of the warp threads 15 can be maintained at a high level.

(119) The alternating movement of the swivel arm 28 of each guide device 11 can be generated and controlled analogously to the design according to FIGS. 1, 2a, b individually, e.g. via single switchable direct drives acting in two directions (not shown).

(120) In FIGS. 10a, b the two orbiting shuttles 19 are shown schematically in the 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock position respectively along the orbit path 3.

(121) For the sake of clarity, FIGS. 10a, b each show only two warp spool devices 9 and the associated pivotable guide devices 11, namely the warp spool devices 9 and guide devices 11 arranged in the 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock position of the circular loom.

(122) FIGS. 10a, b show two operating phases of the weaving process in the circular loom with alternating positioning of the swivel arms 28 with the thread guide eyes 29 guiding the warp threads 15 while the two shuttles travel around their orbit 19 in each case by 180°.

(123) In the operating phase according to FIG. 10a, the two orbiting shuttles 19 are in the 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock position of the circular loom, while among other things the swivel arm 28 with the warp thread 15 in the thread guide eye 29 of the guide device 11 arranged in the 12 o'clock position is pivoted out in the image plane to the right of the orbit path 3 and among other things the swivel arm 28 with the warp thread 15 of the guide device 11 arranged in the 6 o'clock position is pivoted out 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.

(124) FIG. 10b shows the operating phase of the circular loom in which the shuttle 19 that was previously located in the 6 o'clock position is passing the 12 o'clock position and vice versa, while among other things the swivel arms 28 with the warp threads 15 of the guide devices arranged in the 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock position are pivoted out 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.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(125) 1 Weaving core, non-uniform a, cylindrical b 2 Weaving axis of the circular loom 3 Circular orbit path, first 0.1, second 0.2 4 Track body first 0.1, second 0.2 5 Track segment 6 Machine housing 7 Guide rail 8 Track plane, first 0.1, second 0.2 9 Warp spool device 10 Warp thread spool 11 Guide device 12 Base body of the guide device 13 Positioning part, guide carriage first 0.1, second 0.2 14 Thread guide element, thread guide channel, thread channel, first 0.1, second 0.2 15 Warp thread 16 Thread outlet 17 Weaving core axis 18 Recess in the orbit path, gap 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 Base body of the guide device, swivel joint 28 Positioning part, swivel arm 29 Thread guide element, thread guide eye