Circular carriage track guide for a braiding machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a circular carriage track guide for a braiding machine. The braiding machine has at least two supply spool support sets performing relative movement with respect to each other about its rotational axis during braiding, wherein the spool supports ( 16 ) of one of the spool support sets are guided by the carriage track guide and the carriage track guide comprises a carriage ( 20 ) for each spool support ( 16 ) for attachment thereof. The carriage track guide comprises a set of outer rollers ( 6 ) for the outer radial guidance of the carriages ( 20 ), said outer rollers being attached to a support plate ( 4 ) of the carriage track guide such that an outer surface ( 70 ) of the respective carriage ( 20 ) can roll on a surface ( 38 ) of the outer rollers ( 6 ) which is mounted so as to be able to rotate by means of at least one roller bearing. The carriage track guide is characterized in that the carriage track guide comprises a set of inner rollers ( 8 ) for the inner radial guidance of the carriages ( 20 ), said inner rollers being attached to the support plate ( 4 ) such that an inner surface ( 68 ) of the respective carriage ( 20 ) can roll on a surface of the inner roller ( 8 ), that is mounted so as to be able to rotate by means of at least one roller bearing, and in that the weight of the carriage ( 20 ) and of the spool support ( 16 ) guided by the carriage track guide is absorbed via at least one of the inner and outer roller bearings. The invention provides a carriage track guide in which sliding friction occurs only to a relatively small extent.

1 . Circular carriage track guide for a braiding machine comprising at least two supply spool support sets, wherein the supply spool support sets perform a relative movement with respect to each other about a rotational axis ( 83 ) of the machine during braiding and the spool supports ( 16 ) of one of the spool support sets are guided by the carriage track guide,
 wherein the carriage track guide comprises a carriage ( 20 ;  20 ′) for each spool support ( 16 ) for attachment thereof, and   wherein the carriage track guide comprises a set of outer rollers ( 6 ;  6 ′) for the outer radial guidance of the carriages ( 20 ;  20 ′), said outer rollers being attached to a support plate ( 4 ;  4 ′) of the carriage track guide such that an outer surface ( 70 ;  70 ′) of the respective carriage ( 20 ;  20 ′) can roll on a surface ( 38 ;  38 ′) of the outer rollers ( 6 ;  6 ′) which is mounted so as to be able to rotate by means of at least one roller bearing ( 44 ,  54 ;  92 ,  94 ),   characterized in that the carriage track guide comprises a set of inner rollers ( 8 ;  8 ′) for the inner radial guidance of the carriages ( 20 ;  20 ′), said inner rollers being attached to the support plate ( 4 ;  4 ′) such that an inner surface ( 68 ;  68 ′) of the respective carriage ( 20 ;  20 ′) can roll on a surface ( 38 ;  38 ′) of the inner rollers ( 8 ;  8 ′) which is mounted so as to be able to rotate by means of at least one roller bearing ( 44 ,  54 ;  92 ,  94 ),   and in that the weight of the carriage ( 20 ;  20 ′) and of the spool support ( 16 ) attached thereby is absorbed via at least one of the roller bearings ( 44 ,  54 ;  92 ,  94 ).   
     
     
         2 . Carriage track guide as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the surface ( 38 ) of the rollers of at least one of the roller sets ( 6 ,  8 ) is cylindrical and these rollers ( 6 ,  8 ) comprise at an upper end a wear ring ( 36 ) disposed such that a collar portion ( 72 ) of the respective carriage ( 20 ) lies thereon with its own weight and the weight of the spool support ( 16 ) when the carriage ( 20 ) rolls on the roller ( 6 ,  8 ). 
     
     
         3 . Carriage track guide as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that the wear ring ( 36 ) is attached by means of a clamping screw ( 66 ). 
     
     
         4 . Carriage track guide as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that the wear ring ( 36 ) is produced from ceramic material. 
     
     
         5 . Carriage track guide as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the weight of the carriage ( 20 ′) and of the spool support ( 16 ) is transferred to the inner or outer rollers ( 8 ′,  6 ′) by a positive-locking connection between the inner or outer surface ( 68 ′,  70 ′) of the carriage ( 20 ′) and of the roller surface ( 38 ′). 
     
     
         6 . Carriage track guide as claimed in  claim 5 , characterized in that the surface ( 38 ′) of the rollers of at least one of the roller sets ( 6 ′,  8 ′) is curved in a convex manner the associated carriage surface ( 70 ′,  68 ′) rolling thereon is curved in a concave manner, or in that the roller surface is curved in a concave manner and the carriage surface is curved in a convex manner. 
     
     
         7 . Carriage track guide as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that one or more of the roller bearings comprise(s) at least one radial groove ball bearing ( 54 ;  92 ,  94 ) that substantially absorbs the weight of the carriage ( 20 ;  20 ′) and of the spool support ( 16 ). 
     
     
         8 . Carriage track guide as claimed in  claim 7 , characterized in that the radial groove ball bearing is a double sealed collar ball bearing ( 54 ;  92 ,  94 ). 
     
     
         9 . Carriage track guide as claimed in  claim 7 , characterized in that one or more of the roller bearings ( 54 ) additionally comprise(s) at least one radial needle bearing ( 44 ). 
     
     
         10 . Carriage track guide as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the rolling component ( 40 ;  88 ) that comprises the surface ( 38 ;  38 ′) on which the carriage ( 20 ;  20 ′) can roll is mounted so as to be able to rotate with respect to the support plate ( 4 ) and has a cavity ( 64 ) therewithin. 
     
     
         11 . Braiding machine having at least two supply spool support sets performing relative movement with respect to each other about a rotational axis ( 83 ) of the machine during braiding, wherein the spool supports ( 16 ) of one of the spool support sets are guided by a circular carriage track guide in accordance with  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . Carriage track guide as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the wear ring ( 36 ) is produced from ceramic material. 
     
     
         13 . Carriage track guide as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein one or more of the roller bearings comprise(s) at least one radial groove ball bearing ( 54 ;  92 ,  94 ) that substantially absorbs the weight of the carriage ( 20 ;  20 ′) and of the spool support ( 16 ). 
     
     
         14 . Carriage track guide as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein one or more of the roller bearings ( 54 ) additionally comprise(s) at least one radial needle bearing ( 44 ). 
     
     
         15 . Carriage track guide as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the rolling component ( 40 ;  88 ) that comprises the surface ( 38 ;  38 ′) on which the carriage ( 20 ;  20 ′) can roll is mounted so as to be able to rotate with respect to the support plate ( 4 ) and has a cavity ( 64 ) therewithin. 
     
     
         16 . Braiding machine having at least two supply spool support sets performing relative movement with respect to each other about a rotational axis ( 83 ) of the machine during braiding, wherein the spool supports ( 16 ) of one of the spool support sets are guided by a circular carriage track guide in accordance with  claim 2 . 
     
     
         17 . Carriage track guide as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein one or more of the roller bearings comprise(s) at least one radial groove ball bearing ( 54 ;  92 ,  94 ) that substantially absorbs the weight of the carriage ( 20 ;  20 ′) and of the spool support ( 16 ). 
     
     
         18 . Carriage track guide as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the rolling component ( 40 ;  88 ) that comprises the surface ( 38 ;  38 ′) on which the carriage ( 20 ;  20 ′) can roll is mounted so as to be able to rotate with respect to the support plate ( 4 ) and has a cavity ( 64 ) therewithin. 
     
     
         19 . Braiding machine having at least two supply spool support sets performing relative movement with respect to each other about a rotational axis ( 83 ) of the machine during braiding, wherein the spool supports ( 16 ) of one of the spool support sets are guided by a circular carriage track guide in accordance with  claim 3 . 
     
     
         20 . Carriage track guide as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein one or more of the roller bearings comprise(s) at least one radial groove ball bearing ( 54 ;  92 ,  94 ) that substantially absorbs the weight of the carriage ( 20 ;  20 ′) and of the spool support ( 16 ).