Braiding Machine Slideway Cleaning Tool Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual cleaning of braiding machine sliding tracks with cotton cloths and spatulas is time-consuming, cumbersome, and poses a risk of injury due to the narrow width of the tracks.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning tool resembling a bobbin is used, with guide elements that engage with the sliding tracks, allowing the tool to be driven by the machine's mechanisms, facilitating efficient cleaning while minimizing the risk of getting stuck.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual cleaning with cotton cloth and spatula is used, then the sliding tracks can be cleaned, but the operation is time-consuming and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning tool is designed to be self-driven by the machine's own motion. The guide element engages with the sliding track and is propelled by the machine's operational movements, eliminating the need for external manual propulsion and enabling autonomous cleaning during machine operation or maintenance cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
A cleaning tool serves as an intermediary between the cleaning objective and the sliding track. This tool incorporates a guide element that interfaces with the track geometry and a cleaning means (such as a cloth or brush) that performs the actual cleaning, mediating the cleaning function in a way that leverages existing machine motion.
2Reliability
If manual cleaning with spatula is used, then the sliding tracks can be cleaned, but the user is at high risk of getting injured
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning tool operates autonomously without requiring direct manual manipulation within the narrow sliding track. The machine's own motion drives the cleaning tool, and the tool's design ensures safe engagement with the track geometry, eliminating the need for users to insert hands or tools into confined spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning tool acts as a safe intermediary that performs the dangerous cleaning function in narrow track spaces. By engaging the guide element with the track and using the machine's motion to drive the tool, the system eliminates direct human exposure to potential injury zones while maintaining effective cleaning capability.
3Productivity
If cotton cloth is moved manually along narrow sliding tracks, then cleaning can be performed, but the process is cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning tool serves as an intermediary device that combines the cleaning function with the machine's existing motion system. The guide element engages with the sliding track geometry to convert machine motion into tool propulsion, while the cleaning means (cloth or brush) performs the cleaning function, creating an integrated cleaning system.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning tool is designed to be driven by the machine's own operational motions, making the cleaning function universal to the machine's existing movement patterns. The same guide element that engages with the sliding track for positioning also serves to propel the cleaning tool, combining positioning and driving functions in a single mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
Method for cleaning a braiding machine, particularly a machine for braiding electrical cables, said braiding machine comprising a plateau (12) for supporting an annular row of spindle drive members (14), characterized in that it comprises a step of equipping the machine with at least one cleaning tool (84), this cleaning tool comprising on the one hand means (90) configured to be driven by the members and, on the other hand, at least one guide element configured to be housed in slideways (32) for the movement of the tool, said guide element being configured to drive or to be equipped with a means (80) of cleaning said slideways, and a step of rotating said members so as to drive said cleaning means in said slideways.