Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Herstellung einer Flechtstruktur

A three-dimensional braid structure comprising a plurality of interlocked layers is created by causing a plurality of package carriers (15) of yarn (16) to move along a plurality of serpentine paths (6) defined by track modules. The track modules extend generally in one direction to define a longitudinally extending path corresponding to a first layer of the braid structure and in another direction to provide at least one crossover path (7, 8, 17) between adjacent serpentine paths (6). Various track modules can be assembled so as to permit a variety of configurations of serpentine paths to be created.