Braiding unit moving type braiding apparatus

Abstract

A braiding unit moving type braiding apparatus is capable of extremely efficiently braiding apparatus is capable of extremely efficiently braiding on a long mandrel having a curved portion. A braiding layer is formed around a mandrel using the braiding unit. The braiding apparatus includes a braiding unit mover which moves the braiding unit along an axis of the mandrel, and the braiding unit mover includes a drive source which is directly or indirectly provided in the braiding unit, and a first guide and/or a second guide which is aligned with the axis of the mandrel as viewed from above and/or the axis of the mandrel as viewed from the side.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a basic structure of the invention in which a movable braiding unit is disposed in one example of a long mandrel having a curved portion;

FIG. 2A is a schematic plan view showing a state in which a braiding unit can move in the X and Y axis directions when the mandrel is deformed as viewed from above, and FIG. 2B is a schematic side view showing a state in which a braiding unit can move also in the Z axis direction when the mandrel is deformed as viewed from side;

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing an example of use of a braid converging ring when a braiding unit is added;

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing an example in which braiding units having different total number of braiding yarn are applied to one mandrel.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing one example of the braiding unit moving type braiding apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing a lateral moving state of the braiding unit with phantom lines;

FIG. 7 is a schematic left side view of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view showing a specific embodiment of braiding unit moving means which moves the braiding unit;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged plan view of an essential portion in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of FIG. 9 as viewed from a direction of arrow A;

FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of FIG. 9 as viewed from a direction of arrow B;

FIG. 12 is a schematic front view showing one example of a basic structure of a conventional mandrel moving type braiding apparatus; and

FIG. 13 is a schematic side sectional view of the braiding apparatus shown in FIG. 12.

Claims

1-7. (canceled)

8. A braiding unit moving type braiding apparatus in which a braiding layer is formed around a mandrel using the braiding unit, comprising: braiding unit moving means for moving the braiding unit along an axis of the mandrel.

9. The braiding unit moving type braiding apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the braiding unit moving means comprises a drive source which is directly or indirectly provided in the braiding unit, first guide means and/or second guide means which is aligned with the axis of the mandrel as viewed from above and/or the axis of the mandrel as viewed from the side.

10. The braiding unit moving type braiding apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a rotation center of the braiding unit when it is rotated and moved is located substantially on an extension of a composition point.

11. The braiding unit moving type braiding apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising mandrel moving means for moving the mandrel in a vertical direction, wherein the braiding unit forms the braiding layer in a state where the braiding unit moves along the axis of the mandrel as viewed from above and the braiding unit moves the mandrel vertically.

12. The braiding unit moving type braiding apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the braiding unit comprises a plurality of braiding units.

13. The braiding unit moving type braiding apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of braiding units is operative to move to an operating position and a standby position in accordance with necessity of production.

14. The braiding unit moving type braiding apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of braiding units have different total number of braiding yarns, and/or bobbin carriers of different fibers.