Method for cleaning a machine for braiding electrical cables

A method for cleaning a braiding machine having a platform for supporting an annular row of members for driving bobbins, said members extending around a first common axis and being rotatably movable about a plurality of second axes which are substantially parallel to one another and to said first common axis, said members each comprising a pinion meshed with pinions of adjacent members and a wheel which comprises notches over its circumference configured to receive complementary portions of the bobbins so as to drive said bobbins about said plurality of second axes, said platform comprising, for each member, an annular sliding track which extends around one of the plurality of second axes of the corresponding member and is configured to receive an element for guiding each bobbin so as to guide said bobbin about said one of the plurality of second axes, each sliding track being connected to adjacent sliding tracks by a switch so as to rotate the bobbins about said first common axis by moving the bobbins from one member to the next adjacent member in each instance,

• said method comprising:
• providing a cleaning tool with the machine, said cleaning tool including first portions to be received in at least some of the notches in each wheel so as to drive said cleaning tool about said plurality of second axes, said cleaning tool comprising one or more bearing surfaces of a first guide to be received in said sliding tracks so as to move said cleaning tool about said first common axis, at least one bearing surface of said one or more bearing surfaces of the first guide being configured to drive a piece of cotton or cleaning cloth to clean said sliding tracks or to be provided with said piece of cotton or cleaning cloth;
• and
• rotating said members to drive said cleaning tool about said first common axis and said plurality of second axes.