Module Element for Driving and Retaining Braiding Bobbin Carriers and a Braiding Device

Abstract

A module element for driving and retaining braiding bobbin carriers on a predetermined bobbin path has at least one base element that can rotate about an axis of rotation, and at least one retaining element that is formed integrally with the base element. The retaining element is configured to releasably hold at least one braiding bobbin carrier offset from the rotary axis.

Claims

1. A module element for driving and retaining braiding bobbin carriers on a predetermined bobbin path, the module element comprising: a base element that is rotatable about an axis of rotation; and a retaining element integrally formed with the base element, wherein the retaining element releasably holds at least one braiding bobbin carrier offset from the axis of rotation.

2. The module element of claim 1, wherein the rotatable base element has a wheel, wherein the retaining element is arranged on an outer circumference of the wheel to hold the at least one braiding bobbin carrier.

3. The module element of claim 1, wherein the retaining element has a retaining device with a magnetic device that magnetically attracts and repels braiding bobbin carriers.

4. The module element of claim 3, wherein the magnetic device is an electromagnet.

5. The module element of claim 1, wherein the retaining element has a retaining device, wherein the retaining device is a suction mechanism, a blowing mechanism, or a mechanical gripper.

6. The module element of claim 1, further comprising: a controller configured to control a rotary speed of the base element and a retaining force that acts upon a braiding bobbin carrier at a predetermined angle of rotation of the base element.

7. The module element of claim 1, further comprising: three additional retaining elements, where the retaining element and the three additional retaining elements are arranged evenly on an outer circumference of the base element.

8. An apparatus comprising: a braiding bobbin carrier; and a module element for driving and retaining the braiding bobbin carrier on a predetermined bobbin path, the module element comprising a base element that is rotatable about an axis of rotation; and a retaining element integrally formed with the base element, wherein the retaining element releasably holds the braiding bobbin carrier offset from the axis of rotation, and wherein the braiding bobbin carrier has at least one magnetic area for interacting with the retaining element of the module element.

9. A braiding device for braiding fibrous semifinished products, the braiding device comprising: a plurality of module elements for driving and retaining braiding bobbin carriers on a predetermined bobbin path, each of the module element comprising a base element that is rotatable about an axis of rotation; and a retaining element integrally formed with the base element, wherein the retaining element releasably holds at least one braiding bobbin carrier offset from the axis of rotation, wherein the plurality of module elements are arranged relative to each other such that at least one first retaining element of a first module element transfers the braiding bobbin carriers in the air to a second retaining element of a second module element along the predetermined bobbin path.

10. The braiding device element of claim 9, wherein the plurality of module elements are configured to braid a flat fibrous semifinished product by being arranged in series or in parallel relative to each other.

11. The braiding device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of module elements are configured to braid three-dimensional fibrous semifinished products by being arranged in several planes relative to each other.

12. The braiding device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of module elements are configured to braid tubular fibrous semifinished products by being arranged in a circle.

13. The braiding device of claim 9, further comprising: a servicing device that forms at least one parking position for at least one braiding bobbin carrier.

14. The braiding device of claim 9, further comprising: a controller configured to control the plurality of module elements such that a multidimensional braid is formed with several braiding layers.

15. The braiding device of claim 14, wherein the controller includes a memory unit storing predetermined bobbin paths that form predetermined fibrous semifinished products.

16. The braiding device of claim 9, wherein the braiding bobbin carriers include at least one magnetic area that interacts with the retaining element of the module element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0037] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained below in greater detail with reference to accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a module element for driving and retaining braiding bobbin carriers;

[0039] FIG. 2 shows the transfer of braiding bobbin carriers between module elements according to FIG. 1; and

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a braiding device with module elements arranged in a circle according to FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a module element 10 for driving and retaining braiding bobbin carriers 12 that have support plates 13. The braiding bobbin carriers 12 abut the module element 10 by means of the support plate 13.

[0042] The module element 10 has a base element 14 and a plurality of retaining elements 16 that are formed integrally with the base element 14 and that can be rotated with the base element 14 about a common rotary axis 18. The base element 14 is driven in the rotary axis 18 by means of a motor 19. Each retaining element 16 has at least one retaining device 20 by means of which a braiding bobbin carrier 12 can be securely retained by the retaining element 16.

[0043] In the present embodiment, the base element 14 is designed as a wheel 22 on the circumference 24 of which the retaining elements 16 are arranged symmetrically in the form of notches 26.

[0044] The retaining devices 20 are arranged within the interior of the wheel 22 and are designed as magnetic devices 30, electromagnets 32 in the present embodiment. By means of the electromagnets 32, braiding bobbin carriers 12 can be securely retained by the retaining device 20, attracted by the retaining device 20, and repelled by the same.

[0045] The module element 10 also has a control element 34 by means of which the elements of the module element 10 can be controlled. In particular, this controls a rotational speed of the base element 14 and retaining elements 16 about a common rotary axis 18 and a direction of rotation 36. Furthermore, the control unit 34 also controls the magnetic devices 30.

[0046] A suction/blowing mechanism 38 can also be provided as a retaining device 20 instead of the magnetic devices 30, or a mechanical gripper 40 can be provided.

[0047] By means of the control element 34, the retaining force, for example, is controlled so that the retaining device 20 exerts on the braiding bobbin carrier 12 to be captured/retained/released. Furthermore, the control element 34 can, for example, also control the rotational speed of the base element 14 and/or the positioning of the braiding bobbin carrier 12.

[0048] FIG. 1 shows a combination 42 consisting of a module element 10 with a braiding bobbin carrier 12 that is securely retained by the module element 10 and is transported along a direction of rotation 36. Only the support plate 13 of the braiding bobbin carrier 12 is shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

[0049] In the present embodiment, the braiding bobbin carrier 12 comprises a magnetic area of 44 such as a ferromagnetic block 46 that interacts with the retaining device 20 of the module element 10 so that the braiding bobbin carrier 12 can be retained by the retaining element 16. In addition to the support plate 13, the braiding bobbin carrier 12 in the present embodiment has a projecting rod 47 that can be brought into engagement with the notch 26.

[0050] The base element 14 is attached to a retaining plate 48 having a plurality of fastening elements 49 in order to arrange module elements 10 in different positions relative to each other and fasten them on each other.

[0051] An exemplary arrangement of a number of combinations 42 is shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows the progressive transportation and transfer of a braiding bobbin carrier 12 from one module element 10a to another module element 10b by means of a plurality of braiding bobbin carriers 12. The position of a braiding bobbin carrier 12 is indicated by a dashed line at a time that is before the situation indicated by continuous lines. Between the two times, the module element 10a has executed a rotation along at the rotational direction 36 such that the retaining element 16a has traveled past the angle of rotation a and has arrived at a predetermined angular position. At this predetermined angular position, a second retaining element 16b of a second module element 10b approaches the magnetic area 44 of the securely retained braiding bobbin carrier 12.

[0052] The retaining device 20a of the first retaining element 16a is deactivated, and the second retaining device 20b of the second retaining element 16b is activated. This causes the braiding bobbin carrier 12 to release from the first module element 10a and pass to the second module element 10b where it is transported further along the rotational direction 36.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows a first possible embodiment of a braiding device 50 having a plurality of module elements 10 according to FIG. 1. Different braiding bobbin carriers 12 in this braiding device 50 are moved by the module elements 10 along predetermined bobbin paths 52 such that threads released at predetermined positions by the braiding bobbin carriers 12 cross and thereby form a braid such as a fibrous semifinished product.

[0054] The braiding device 50 in FIG. 2 has a servicing device 60 that forms a parked position 62 for the braiding bobbin carrier 12. Accordingly, braiding bobbin carriers 12 that cannot or should not be used in the braiding process at a specific time during the braiding process can be intermittently parked in the parked position 62 and supplied to the braiding process at a later time in the braiding process where they can again be used. This advantageously applies both to braiding bobbin carriers 12 that guide the actual braiding threads as well as the braiding bobbin carriers 12 that guide the support threads.

[0055] Moreover, a control device at 84 is provided in the braiding device 50 that controls the module elements 10 in order to form a multidimensional braid during the braiding process. The control unit 84 has a memory unit 68 in which predetermined bobbin paths 52 are saved in order to control the module elements 10 so that the desired braid can be created as the braiding bobbin carriers 12 travel along the predetermined bobbin paths 52.

[0056] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the module elements 10 are arranged relative to each other in a series in a plane 69. Several series can be arranged parallel to each other.

[0057] FIG. 3 shows a braiding device 50 in which the module elements 10 are arranged in a circle 70. Normally, a braiding core (not shown) is located centrally in the circle 70. A braid forms on the braiding core from the movement of the braiding bobbin holder 12 on the circle 70.

[0058] The range of output of standard braiding machines known to date is rather inflexible given the design. Subsequent adaptations can only be realized with difficulty by intervening in the textile parameters such as the weight per unit area, the fiber titer, the skein, the angle of twist, the number of bobbins, etc. With standard braiding machines, changes in the textile parameters during the process are only feasible within a certain range under specific contexts. Furthermore, there is the problem of the wear and soiling of the machine from the mechanical construction.

[0059] The development of a radial braider by the Herzog company was a significant advance, as well as a machine for realizing variable braiding patterns, wherein the machine type functions for wire braiding, for example. However, a large number of bobbins, large circumferences, fast circulating speeds, the processing of plastic fibers and a variable machine size are only realizable with difficulty. The braiding machines 50 currently in use such as radial or axial braiders have the following disadvantages: [0060] the maximum number of bobbins is determined by the number of wheels bearing the bobbins so that the machine cannot be smoothly adapted to the part with the exception of developing or purchasing an entire new machine; [0061] it is necessary to adapt, i.e., always reduce, the number of bobbins and/or the circumference of the part which always results in more scrap and a lower maximum braiding speed since the machine has high bobbin revolution times because the braids are relatively large; [0062] the skein can only be influenced by drastically reducing the number of bobbins; [0063] locally removing individual bobbins to reduce the number of bobbins results in local differences in weight per unit area since the angle between the bobbins is not adapted; [0064] it takes a great deal of effort to equip a braiding machine; [0065] up to now, fully-automated equipping is only theoretically possible; in practice, shunts have had to be provided in the guide paths; [0066] a standing braiding machine manifests a gravity effect on the textile pattern, i.e., differing thread tension at upper positions in comparison to lower positions, wherein the gravity effect is particularly noticeable in large braiding machines with their large diameters; [0067] single or several bobbins cannot be parked; the paths are fixed; [0068] there is great potential for soiling and wear of the bobbin paths and impellers.

[0069] The following requirements therefore exists for an improved braiding device 50: [0070] variable speed of the impellers depending on the circumference and degree of coverage, angle and fiber titer of the parts; [0071] the angles between the bobbins 12 should smoothly equalize so that the number of bobbins can be smoothly adjusted to the circumference of the part; [0072] more than four retaining positions on the support wheels are desirable to make possible various skeins or also guide more than one bobbin 12 in sequence; [0073] no guide paths for the bobbins 12 to increase the degrees of freedom in regard to the skein, the parking of bobbins 12 and automated equipping, and to decrease potential soiling and wear;

[0074] It is advantageous that lying braiding machines 50 can be provided with the described design to reduce the gravity effect of large braiding machines 50 and improve the accessibility of the bobbins 12.

[0075] It is therefore proposed to construct structurally identical individual module elements 10 into an overall machine 50 in an optimal, desired size, wherein an open or closed cross-section, circular, linear or cruciform shape and 2-D and 3-D geometries can be realized. Each module element 10 can be placed on each other in series or in parallel, whereby one or more bobbin paths 52 can be realized. One module element 10 possesses one impeller 22 or a pair of impellers to advance the braiding bobbin carrier 12. The braiding bobbin carriers 12 only adhere to the impellers 22; there are no fixed paths in the braiding device 50. The bobbin transfer is from impeller 22 to impeller 22 in an actively controlled manner. There are significantly more than four fixed points on the impellers 22.

[0076] The advantage is that a variable braiding machine 50 is provided that can be adapted to the requirements of the part to be created, particularly in regard to productivity, machine costs and optimizable textile parameters. The textile cross-sectional geometry, that is, the size, shape, 2-D, 3-D, open or closed, and the textile cross-sectional parameters such as the skein, angle, weight per unit area, etc. are not limited by the braiding device 50. Improvements during the process such as parking or supplying braiding bobbin carriers 12 to prevent changes in the circumference are possible. Furthermore, the braiding device 50 is scarcely susceptible to soiling since there are no guide grooves. There is no influence of gravity on the threads to be braided. Overall, the braiding device 50 is more accessible and can be automatically equipped in an on-the-fly process. The angles between the modules 10 can automatically adjust under spring force, or can be actively adjusted.

[0077] Particularly in comparison to the braiding device in German patent document DE 691 31 656 T2, the module elements 10 described here work without guide paths since the braiding bobbin carriers 12 are fixed magnetically to the impellers 22, which yields the significant advantage that the bobbin paths 52 are entirely freely selectable and are not predetermined by the system design. Local parking, supplying and turning of the bobbins, etc. can hence be realized, and soiling is avoided since transferring is not mechanical.

[0078] A high degree of precision exists in the synchronization of the impellers 22 when holding and transferring the bobbins, especially at the transfer points. A system is provided to hold the braiding bobbin carrier and to drive the bobbin 12. The bobbins 12 are subject to traction toward the braiding center and in a radial direction. Consequently, a holder is provided to compensate for the pull and radial force.

[0079] As a drive system to advance the bobbins 12 by the impeller module 10, for example, the impeller 22 itself can, for example, be driven by e.g. providing a motor 19 on each, or on each x-th, module 10. The bobbins are grasped by electromagnets 32 which can be designed to be active or passive and rotate conjointly, or are arranged locally or fixed. The transfer is preferably active.

[0080] In an active system, the impeller 22 rotates freely and the bobbins are grasped by active electromagnets 32, the respective electromagnet 32 of a neighboring impeller being 22 deactivated or activated during the transfer. Advancement occurs by regularly commutating the fixed electromagnets 32. In a passive system, the impellers 22 are freely rotating and the bobbins are grasped by permanent magnets, wherein the transfer occurs using fixed or local electromagnets 32 by suspending the magnetic field.

[0081] With the inventive braiding machine 50, the size of the braiding machine 50 is freely selectable or adjustable depending on the required part, budget, etc. Open or closed braiding machines 50 are possible depending on the arrangement of the module elements 10. Consequently, the braider can be adapted to flat goods, 2-D or 3-D braids, T cross-sections, cruciform cross-sections and linear cross-sections. The braiding machine 50 is easy to equip by simply inserting or magnetically attracting bobbins 12. In addition, the bobbins 12 can be retracted locally. Since there are more than four fixed points on the impellers 22, the skein is adaptable. Depending on the diameter of the braiding device 50, the angle between the bobbins 12 adjusts automatically. The bobbins 12 can be parked or also positioned on other paths. In addition, accessibility is favorable, and there is no gravity effect from a lying braiding machine 50.

[0082] The braiding machine described in German patent document DE 691 31 656 T2 is always only constructed in a plane. In contrast, the module elements 10 described here can be arranged in a plane, but they can also be arranged circular to form a tunnel braiding machine, or the circular arrangement can also be in several planes 69. In particular, by constructing a tunnel braiding machine, it is possible to produce carbon-fiber reinforced plastic components in an overbraiding technique.

[0083] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

REFERENCE NUMBER LIST

[0084] 10 Module element [0085] 10a First module element [0086] 10b Second module element [0087] 12 Braiding bobbin carrier [0088] 13 Support plate [0089] 14 Base element [0090] 16 Retaining element [0091] 16a First retaining element [0092] 16b Second retaining element [0093] 18 Rotary axis [0094] 19 Motor [0095] 20 Retaining device [0096] 20a First retaining device [0097] 20b Second retaining device [0098] 22 Wheel [0099] 24 Scope [0100] 26 Notch [0101] 30 Magnet device [0102] 32 Electromagnet [0103] 34 Control element [0104] 36 Direction of rotation [0105] 38 Suction and blowing mechanism [0106] 40 Gripper [0107] 42 Combination [0108] 44 Magnetic area [0109] 46 Ferromagnetic block [0110] 47 Projecting rod [0111] 48 Retaining plate [0112] 49 Fixing element [0113] 50 Braiding device [0114] 52 Bobbin path [0115] 60 Servicing device [0116] 62 Park position [0117] 84 Control device [0118] 68 Memory unit [0119] 69 Plae [0120] 70 Circl [0121] a Angle of rotation