Stranding station for reverse lay or SZ type stranding machine

A stranding station for stranding machines of the SZ type intended to join or assemble helically a plurality of individual wire strands, said stranding station comprising:

• a plurality of fixed guide means for guiding the wire strands,
• stranding means comprising a stranding element which is able to rotate about an axis,
• accumulation means, disposed between said guide means and said stranding means, for feeding said wire strands, and comprising at least one accumulation element,
• said wire strands passing through each of said guide means, said stranding means and said accumulation means,
• a support shaft having an axis extending between the guide means and the stranding means, said support shaft carrying said accumulation means,
• means for alternately driving said stranding element in rotation in opposite directions,
• means for driving said accumulation element in rotation simultaneously with said stranding element,
• wherein said support shaft is driven in rotation in conjunction with said stranding element,
• wherein said accumulation element is mounted so that it is free to rotate about said support shaft and free to move along the axis of said support shaft,
• wherein the rotation driving means of the accumulation element comprises an intermediate element attached to the support shaft, and disposed downstream of the accumulation element in relation to the forward motion direction of the wire strands,
• wherein the intermediate element comprises a driving surface, and
• wherein the accumulation element may be applied against said driving surface and thus be driven in rotation by friction of said driving surface against the accumulation element.