Patent Description:
As shown in <CIT>, for example, a draw texturing machine in which plural twisting units configured to twist yarns are aligned in a predetermined arrangement direction and provided on plural stages has been known (see <FIG> and <FIG> in <CIT>). Because the twisting units are provided on plural stages, a large number of the twisting units can be provided in the arrangement direction.

A pin-type twisting unit, a friction-type twisting unit, and a belt-type twisting unit have been well known as the twisting units. The pin-type twisting unit includes plural rollers and a cylindrical pin in contact with the circumferential surfaces of the rollers. The rollers are rotated to rotate the pin, with the result that a yarn running inside the pin is twisted. In regard to the friction-type twisting unit, a yarn runs while making contact with the circumferential surfaces of plural discs which are spirally arranged. The discs are rotated so that the yarn is twisted. In regard to the belt-type twisting unit, two endless belts are provided to sandwich a yarn. Each endless belt is rotated so that the yarn is twisted. In all types of the twisting units, rotating members such as a roller, a disc, and an endless belt are rotated so that yarns are twisted. Another example of the prior art can be seen in document <CIT>.

In the above-described draw texturing machine in which the twisting units are provided on plural stages, for example, the yarns may pass close to the twisting units on the upper stage when yarns are threaded to the twisting units on the lower stage. When the rotation of rotating members (such as roller, disc, and endless belt) of the twisting units on the upper stage has already been started at this time, the yarns may be disadvantageously swung because of an influence of the wind, generated by the rotating members, so that the yarn threading becomes difficult or the yarn threading fails. In addition to that, when yarn breakage occurs while the draw texturing machine is in operation, the broken yarns may be unintentionally wound around the rotating members.

The present invention has been done to solve the problem above, and objects of the present invention are, firstly, to facilitate yarn threading and, secondly, to suppress an unintentional winding of yarns around rotating members at the time of yarn breakage in a draw texturing machine in which plural twisting units are provided on plural stages.

A draw texturing machine of the present invention is a draw texturing machine comprising plural twisting units each of which includes a rotating member rotated at the time of twisting a yarn and which are aligned in a predetermined arrangement direction and provided on plural stages, and a partition is provided between a yarn path of the yarn passing one of the plural twisting units on one of the plural stages and the rotating member of another one of the plural twisting units on another stage of the plural stages, and the another one of the plural twisting units is close to the yarn path.

According to the present invention, because the partition is provided between the yarn path and the rotating member of one twisting unit, it is possible to suppress the influence of the wind, generated by the rotation of the rotating member, on the yarn. The yarn swing is therefore suppressed, and hence the yarn threading is easily performed. In addition to that, the presence of the partition suppresses the unintentional winding of the yarn around the rotating member in the yarn breakage.

In the present invention, preferably, the plural twisting units are provided to form two stages which are an upper stage and a lower stage.

Because the twisting units are provided on two stages, a space required for providing the twisting units is reduced in the vertical direction.

In the present invention, preferably, twisting units on the upper stage and other twisting units on the lower stage are alternately arranged in the arrangement direction, the yarn twisted by each of the twisting units on the upper stage passes between two adjacent ones of the other twisting units on the lower stage, the yarn twisted by each of the other twisting units on the lower stage passes between two adjacent ones of the twisting units on the upper stage, and the partition is provided between two adjacent ones of the plural twisting units on each of the upper stage and the lower stage.

When the draw texturing machine is structured so that the yarn passes between two twisting units, a distance between the yarn and each of the two twisting units is decreased, with the result that the yarn swing due to the wind from the rotating member and the unintentional winding of the yarn around the rotating member easily occur. The effect of providing the partition is therefore conspicuous in such a case.

In the present invention, preferably, the partition includes a wall portion surrounding at least a part of the periphery of the yarn.

Because the wall portion surrounds at least a part of the periphery of the yarn as described above, it is possible to further effectively suppress the yarn swing due to the wind from the rotating member and the unintentional winding of the yarn around the rotating member.

In the present invention, preferably, the wall portion is shaped to surround only a part of the periphery of the yarn.

When the wall portion is formed as a cylindrical member surrounding the entire periphery of the yarn, it becomes difficult to thread the yarn to the inside of the cylindrical wall portion, even though it is possible to increase the effect of suppressing the yarn swing due to the wind from the rotating member and the unintentional winding of the yarn around the rotating member. Meanwhile, when the wall portion is shaped to surround only a part of the periphery of the yarn, the yarn is easily threaded to the inner side of the wall portion via the opening provided in a place where the wall portion is not provided in the partition.

In the present invention, preferably, the wall portion extends over a range in which the rotating member is provided in a yarn running direction.

Because the partition is arranged as described above, it is possible to further effectively suppress the yarn swing due to the wind from the rotating member and the unintentional winding of the yarn around the rotating member.

In the present invention, preferably, the partition and a yarn guide are integrally formed.

In order to define the yarn path, the yarn guide may be provided in the vicinity of each twisting unit. Meanwhile, when the yarn guide and the partition are integrally formed, a step of providing the yarn guide is unnecessary.

In the present invention, preferably, the yarn guide is embedded in the partition by insert molding.

Because the yarn guide is embedded in the partition by the insert molding, the partition and the yarn guide are easily and certainly integrated even when the partition and the yarn guide are made of different materials.

In the present invention, preferably, the partition includes an engaging portion which is flexible and engageable with an attached portion to which the partition is attached, and the engaging portion is deformable between an engagement state in which the engaging portion and the attached portion are engaged with each other and a cancellation state in which the engagement between the engaging portion and the attached portion is cancelled.

With this arrangement, the partition is easily attached to and detached from the attached portion only in such a way that the operator causes the engaging portion to be deformed.

In the present invention, preferably, each of the plural twisting units includes plural rollers each of which is the rotating member and a cylindrical pin in contact with the circumferential surfaces of the rollers, and each of the plural twisting units is a pin-type twisting unit configured to twist the yarn running inside the pin in such a way that the rollers are rotated so that to rotate the pin is rotated.

As described later, when each twisting unit is a pin-type twisting unit, the tension of the yarn is almost zero in the yarn threading so that the yarn swing easily occurs. Therefore, providing the partition is especially effective.

The following will describe an embodiment of the present invention with reference to figures.

<FIG> shows the overall structure of a draw texturing machine <NUM> related to the present embodiment. As shown in <FIG>, the draw texturing machine <NUM> includes a yarn supplying unit <NUM> configured to supply yarns Y, a processing part <NUM> configured to false-twist the yarns Y supplied from the yarn supplying unit <NUM>, and a winding unit <NUM> configured to wind the yarns Y false-twisted by the processing part <NUM> so as to form packages P.

The yarn supplying unit <NUM> includes a creel stand <NUM> retaining yarn supply packages Q, and supplies the yarns Y to the processing part <NUM>. In the processing part <NUM>, the following members are provided in this order from the upstream in the yarn running direction along a yarn path: first feed rollers <NUM>; a twist-stopping guide <NUM>; a first heater <NUM>; at least one twisting unit <NUM> (14A and 14B); second feed rollers <NUM>; a combining unit <NUM>; third feed rollers <NUM>; a second heater <NUM>; and fourth feed rollers <NUM>. In the winding unit <NUM>, the yarns Y false-twisted by the processing part <NUM> are wound by winding devices <NUM> so as to form packages P.

In the draw texturing machine <NUM>, the yarns Y run while being aligned in a direction vertical to the sheet of <FIG> (hereinafter, it is referred to as an arrangement direction). Plural sets of the above-described members <NUM> to <NUM> are aligned in the arrangement direction to correspond to the yarns Y. With this arrangement, the yarns Y can be simultaneously false-twisted in the draw texturing machine <NUM>.

The draw texturing machine <NUM> includes a main base <NUM> and a winding base <NUM> which oppose each other and are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction of <FIG>. The main base <NUM> and the winding base <NUM> are provided to extend in the arrangement direction. A supporting frame <NUM> is provided between the upper portion of the main base <NUM> and the upper portion of the winding base <NUM>. The plural sets of the above-described members <NUM> to <NUM> constituting the processing part <NUM> are mainly attached to the main base <NUM> and the supporting frame <NUM>. The yarns Y run mainly around the working space <NUM> surrounded by the main base <NUM>, the winding base <NUM>, and the supporting frame <NUM>. An operator performs operations such as yarn threading in the working space <NUM>.

The following will describe the structure of the yarn processing part <NUM>. The first feed rollers <NUM> send a yarn Y supplied from the yarn supplying unit <NUM> to the first heater <NUM>. The first feed rollers <NUM> are provided below the supporting frame <NUM>. The first feed rollers <NUM> include a drive roller and a driven roller, and the yarn Y is sent while being sandwiched by the drive roller and the driven roller. The second feed rollers <NUM>, the third feed rollers <NUM>, and the fourth feed rollers <NUM> are similarly arranged.

The twist-stopping guide <NUM> prevents twist of the yarn Y formed by each twisting unit <NUM> from being propagated to the upstream in the yarn running direction of the twist-stopping guide <NUM>. The twist-stopping guide <NUM> is provided between the first feed rollers <NUM> and the first heater <NUM> in the yarn running direction. The twist-stopping guide <NUM> is attached to a shifter <NUM> which is movable along a guide rail <NUM> extending roughly in the vertical direction. The shifter <NUM> is movable between a yarn threading position (indicated by dashed lines in <FIG>) in the vicinity of the first feed rollers <NUM> and an operation position (indicated by full lines in <FIG>) immediately above the first heater <NUM>. The operator performs the yarn threading to the twist-stopping guide <NUM> while the shifter <NUM> is at the yarn threading position, and the shifter <NUM> is moved to the operation position after the yarn threading. Therefore, when the draw texturing machine <NUM> is in operation, the twist-stopping guide <NUM> is immediately above the first heater <NUM>.

The first heater <NUM> heats the yarn Y twisted by each twisting unit <NUM>. The first heater <NUM> is provided at an upper end portion of the main base <NUM>, and extends in the vertical direction.

Each twisting unit <NUM> twists the yarn Y. Each twisting unit <NUM> is provided immediately below the first heater <NUM> in the main base <NUM>. Therefore, a yarn path from the twist-stopping guide <NUM> to each twisting unit <NUM> via the first heater <NUM> is along the vertical direction. The twisting units <NUM> include the twisting units <NUM> on an upper stage and the twisting units <NUM> on a lower stage. Hereinafter, the twisting units <NUM> on the upper stage are referred to as twisting units 14A, and the twisting units <NUM> on the lower stage are referred to as twisting units 14B. The details of the twisting units <NUM> will be given later.

The second feed rollers <NUM> send the yarn Y twisted by each twisting unit <NUM> toward the combining unit <NUM>. The second feed rollers <NUM> are provided below the twisting unit <NUM> in the main base <NUM>. The conveyance speed of conveying the yarn Y by the second feed rollers <NUM> is higher than the conveyance speed of conveying the yarn Y by the first feed rollers <NUM>. The yarn Y is therefore drawn between the first feed rollers <NUM> and the second feed rollers <NUM>.

The combining unit <NUM> is an interlacing unit (interlacing device) configured to combine two yarns Y with each other by injecting air thereto. As detailed later, a yarn Y twisted by one twisting unit 14A on the upper stage and a yarn Y twisted by one twisting unit 14B on the lower stage are combined with each other by the combining unit <NUM> into a single yarn Y. The combining unit <NUM> is provided below the second feed rollers <NUM> in the main base <NUM>.

The third feed rollers <NUM> send the combined yarn Y processed by the combining unit <NUM> toward the second heater <NUM>. The third feed rollers <NUM> are provided below the combining unit <NUM> in the main base <NUM>. The conveyance speed of conveying the yarn Y by the third feed rollers <NUM> is lower than the conveyance speed of conveying the yarn Y by the second feed rollers <NUM>. The yarn Y is therefore relaxed between the second feed rollers <NUM> and the third feed rollers <NUM>.

The second heater <NUM> heats the yarn Y sent from the third feed rollers <NUM>. The second heater <NUM> is provided below the third feed rollers <NUM> in the main base <NUM>, and extends in the vertical direction.

The fourth feed rollers <NUM> send the yarn Y thermally treated by the second heater <NUM> to each winding device <NUM>. The fourth feed rollers <NUM> are provided in the vicinity of the lower portion of the winding base <NUM>. The conveyance speed of conveying the yarn Y by the fourth feed rollers <NUM> is lower than the conveyance speed of conveying the yarn Y by the third feed rollers <NUM>. The yarn Y is therefore relaxed between the third feed rollers <NUM> and the fourth feed rollers <NUM>.

In the processing part <NUM> arranged as described above, the yarn Y drawn between the first feed rollers <NUM> and the second feed rollers <NUM> is twisted by each twisting unit <NUM>. The twist-stopping guide <NUM> prevents the twist of the yarn Y formed by the twisting unit <NUM> from being propagated to the upstream in the yarn running direction, and then the first heater <NUM> thermally sets the twist of the yarn Y. Each of the combining unit <NUM> and the second heater <NUM> processes the relaxed yarn Y.

A suction <NUM> is provided below the third feed rollers <NUM> in the main base <NUM> so as to face the working space <NUM>. The suction <NUM> is used to temporarily retain the yarn Y in the yarn threading.

The following will describe the structure of each twisting unit <NUM>. As described above, the twisting units <NUM> include the twisting units 14A on the upper stage and the twisting units 14B on the lower stage. These units are structurally identical with each other. <FIG> is a front view of one twisting unit <NUM>, i.e., shows the twisting unit <NUM> from the working space <NUM>. <FIG> shows the twisting unit <NUM> from above. The twisting unit <NUM> is a pin-type twisting unit configured to twist the yarn Y running inside the cylindrical pin <NUM> by axially rotating the pin <NUM>.

The twisting unit <NUM> includes two rotational shafts <NUM> and <NUM> each of which extends in the vertical direction and which are aligned in the arrangement direction. The rotational shafts <NUM> and <NUM> are rotatably supported by the base <NUM> via unillustrated bearings. To the rotational shaft <NUM>, upper and lower rollers <NUM> and <NUM> are fixed. To the rotational shaft <NUM>, upper and lower rollers <NUM> and <NUM> are fixed. Both of the rollers <NUM> and <NUM> are provided at the same position in the vertical direction, and are slightly spaced apart from each other not to make contact with each other. Both of the rollers <NUM> and <NUM> are provided at the same position in the vertical direction, and are slightly spaced apart from each other not to make contact with each other. The rotational shaft <NUM> is rotationally and axially driven by the motor <NUM>.

The pin <NUM> is a cylindrical member extending in the vertical direction. The yarn Y runs in the pin <NUM>. At an intermediate portion of the pin <NUM>, a large-diameter magnetic portion 41a is formed to oppose later-described magnets <NUM> and <NUM>. At a lower end portion (downstream end portion in the yarn running direction) of the pin <NUM>, a wound portion 41b is internally fixed to extend in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the pin <NUM>. The yarn Y is wound once around the wound portion 41b. As the pin <NUM> is rotationally and axially driven, the yarn Y is twisted.

The magnets <NUM> and <NUM> are fixed to the base <NUM> via a bracket <NUM>. The magnet <NUM> is provided between the roller <NUM> and the roller <NUM>. The magnet <NUM> is provided between the roller <NUM> and the roller <NUM>. As the pin <NUM> is inserted between the roller <NUM> and the roller <NUM> (between the roller <NUM> and the roller <NUM>), the magnetic portion 41a of the pin <NUM> opposes the magnets <NUM> and <NUM>. Because of this, the pin <NUM> is retained by the magnets <NUM> and <NUM> while making contact with the circumferential surfaces of the rollers <NUM> to <NUM>. The pin <NUM> is not fixed to another member, and is retained only by the magnetic forces of the magnets <NUM> and <NUM>.

A ring-shaped guide member <NUM> is provided immediately above the pin <NUM>. The guide member <NUM> is fixed to the base <NUM> via an unillustrated bracket. A pipe-shaped guide member <NUM> is provided immediately below the pin <NUM> to extend in the vertical direction. The guide member <NUM> is fixed to the base <NUM>.

As the rotational shaft <NUM> is rotated in the direction indicated by an arrow in <FIG> by the motor <NUM>, the rollers <NUM> and <NUM> fixed to the rotational shaft <NUM> are rotated in the same direction with each other. Because of this, the pin <NUM> in contact with the circumferential surfaces of the rollers <NUM> and <NUM> is rotationally driven in the direction opposite to the rotation of the rollers <NUM> and <NUM> by the friction force. In addition to that, the rollers <NUM> and <NUM> in contact with the circumferential surface of the pin <NUM> are rotationally driven in the direction opposite to the rotation of the pin <NUM> by the friction force. The pin <NUM> is rotated while being sandwiched by the rollers <NUM> and <NUM> and the rollers <NUM> and <NUM>, so as to twist the yarn Y running inside the pin <NUM>.

The following will describe the arrangement of the twisting units <NUM>. <FIG> shows the twisting units 14A on the upper stage and the twisting units 14B on the lower stage from the working space <NUM>. <FIG> shows the twisting units 14A on the upper stage from above, and <FIG> shows the twisting units 14B on the lower stage from above. <FIG> are identical with each other in coordinates, except the vertical direction. A direction orthogonal to both the vertical direction and the arrangement direction is defined as a depth direction. The working space <NUM> side in the depth direction is defined as the near side, and the side opposite to the near side is defined as the far side.

In the draw texturing machine <NUM> of the present embodiment, for example, yarns Y are combined with each other by the combining unit <NUM> into one yarn Y. These yarns Y to be combined are: a yarn Y to which an S-twist is added by one twisting unit 14A on the upper stage; and a yarn Y to which a Z-twist is added by one twisting unit 14B on the lower stage which is provided below and to the left of the one twisting unit 14A. Because of this, the total number of the twisting units <NUM> is twice as many as the number of the winding devices <NUM>. If the twisting units <NUM> are provided to form a single line in the arrangement direction, the size of the draw texturing machine <NUM> in the arrangement direction is disadvantageously increased. Because the twisting units <NUM> are provided on the upper stage and the lower stage and each twisting unit 14A on the upper stage is arranged to partially overlap each twisting unit 14B on the lower stage in the arrangement direction, the twisting units <NUM> are densely disposed in the arrangement direction. Because of this, the increase in the size of the draw texturing machine <NUM> in the arrangement direction is suppressed.

The twisting units 14A on the upper stage are fixed to a supporting member <NUM> while being aligned at regular intervals (pitches A) in the arrangement direction. Similarly, the twisting units 14B on the lower stage are fixed to a supporting member <NUM> while being aligned at regular intervals (pitches A) in the arrangement direction. The position of each twisting unit 14A on the upper stage is deviated from the position of each twisting unit 14B on the lower stage by a half of one interval (i.e., A/<NUM>), and the twisting units 14A on the upper stage and the twisting units 14B on the lower stage are alternately arranged in the arrangement direction. The twisting units 14A on the upper stage and the twisting units 14B on the lower stage are provided at the same position in the depth direction.

Each twisting unit 14A on the upper stage is provided at the middle between each two adjacent twisting units 14B on the lower stage in the arrangement direction. Each twisting unit 14B on the lower stage is provided at the middle between each two adjacent twisting units 14A on the upper stage in the arrangement direction. Therefore, each yarn Y twisted by each twisting unit 14A on the upper stage passes between each two adjacent twisting units 14B on the lower stage. In addition to that, each yarn Y twisted by each twisting unit 14B on the lower stage passes between each two adjacent twisting units 14A on the upper stage. In other words, each yarn Y passes through a narrow gap (e.g., space the width of which is <NUM> or less) between each two adjacent twisting units <NUM> in the arrangement direction.

The yarn threading is simultaneously performed to two twisting units <NUM> configured to twist two yarns Y which are to be combined with each other by the combining unit <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the yarn threading is simultaneously performed to one twisting unit 14A on the upper stage and to one twisting unit 14B on the lower stage, which is provided below and to the left of the one twisting unit 14A. In this regard, A yarn Y twisted by one twisting unit 14A on the upper stage may be combined with a yarn Y twisted by one twisting unit 14B on the lower stage which is provided below and to the right of the one twisting unit 14A. In this case, the yarn threading is simultaneously performed to the one twisting unit 14A on the upper stage and to the one twisting unit 14B on the lower stage, which is provided below and to the right of the one twisting unit 14A as described above. When the yarn threading to one pair of one twisting unit 14A and one twisting unit 14B is completed, the one twisting unit 14A and the one twisting unit 14B are activated after the yarns Y are sucked and retained by the suction <NUM>. Subsequently, the yarn threading is performed to another pair of another twisting unit 14A and another twisting unit 14B which are provided to the right of the one pair of the one twisting unit 14A and the one twisting unit 14B. Conversely, the yarn threading may be performed in order from the rightmost pair of the twisting units 14A and 14B.

Assume that the yarn threading is performed as described above. In this case, when the yarn threading to one pair of one twisting unit 14A and one twisting unit 14B is performed, another pair of another twisting unit 14A and another twisting unit 14B which are provided, as shown in <FIG>, to the left of the one pair of the one twisting unit 14A and the one twisting unit 14B is already in operation. Therefore, the yarn Y which is being threaded to the one twisting unit 14A on the upper stage (or the one twisting unit 14B on the lower stage) may be disadvantageously swung because of the wind generated by the rotation of the rollers <NUM> to <NUM> of the another twisting unit 14B on the lower stage (or the another twisting unit 14A on the upper stage) which is provided to the left of the one twisting unit 14A (or the one twisting unit 14B) as described above.

Especially, the yarn swing tends to be significant in the pin-type twisting units <NUM> for the reasons as follows. Before the yarn threading to one twisting unit <NUM> is completed and the one twisting unit <NUM> is activated, the sucking force of the suction <NUM> scarcely influences on the upstream of the wound portion 41b of the pin <NUM> in the yarn running direction. For this reason, the tension of the upstream part of the yarn Y is almost zero in the yarn threading, with the result that the yarn Y is easily swung by the influence of the wind. In this regard, the upstream part of the yarn Y is provided upstream of the one twisting unit <NUM> in the yarn running direction. When the yarn threading is performed to one twisting unit 14B on the lower stage, the upstream part of the yarn Y which is provided upstream of the one twisting unit 14B on the lower stage in the yarn running direction passes between two adjacent twisting units 14A on the upper stage. Therefore, the yarn swing is particularly conspicuous in such a case.

The occurrence of the yarn swing may bring about the problem such as the difficulty in the yarn threading, the failure in the yarn threading, and the unintentional winding of the yarn Y around the rotating rollers <NUM> to <NUM> while the yarn Y is being threaded. These problems may occur not only when the yarn threading is performed for the first time in order to prepare the activation the draw texturing machine <NUM> but also when the yarn threading is performed because the yarn Y is broken while the draw texturing machine <NUM> is in operation. In addition to that, when the yarn breakage occurs while the draw texturing machine <NUM> is in operation, the broken yarn Y may be unintentionally wound around the rotating rollers <NUM> to <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, a partition <NUM> is provided to solve the problems described above. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, each partition <NUM> is provided at the middle between two adjacent twisting units <NUM> in the arrangement direction on each of the upper stage and the lower stage.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the partition <NUM>. <FIG> is a cross section of the partition <NUM> taken along the horizontal plane, i.e., a cross section of a later-described yarn guide <NUM> taken along the horizontal plane. <FIG> is a cross section of the partition <NUM> taken along the vertical plane, i.e., a cross section of the partition <NUM> taken along the VIII-VIII line in <FIG>. <FIG> shows the partition <NUM> attached to the supporting member <NUM> on the upper stage. The structure of the partition <NUM> shown in <FIG> is identical with that of each partition <NUM> attached to the supporting member <NUM> on the lower stage.

As shown in <FIG>, each partition <NUM> includes a main body <NUM> made of resin and the yarn guide <NUM> which is made of ceramic and which is embedded in the main body <NUM> by insert molding. The main body <NUM> is arranged so that a wall portion <NUM>, a guide supporting portion <NUM>, an engaging portion <NUM>, and press portions <NUM> are integrally formed by resin molding.

The wall portion <NUM> extends along the yarn running direction (direction substantially corresponds to the vertical direction in the present embodiment). In the yarn running direction, the wall portion <NUM> extends at least over the range in which the rollers <NUM> to <NUM> of each twisting unit <NUM> are provided, i.e., the range from the upper end of the roller <NUM> (<NUM>) to the lower end of the roller <NUM> (<NUM>). The wall portion <NUM> has a U-shaped cross section orthogonal to the yarn running direction. The partition <NUM> is provided so that a part of the periphery of the yarn Y is surrounded by the wall portion <NUM>. In other words, the wall portion <NUM> of the partition <NUM> is provided between a yarn path of the yarn Y passing one twisting unit 14A on the upper stage (or twisting unit 14B on the lower stage) and the rollers <NUM> to <NUM> of one twisting unit 14B on the lower stage (or twisting unit 14A on the upper stage), which is closest to the yarn path.

An opening <NUM> is provided in a place where the wall portion <NUM> is not formed in the partition <NUM>. The opening <NUM> faces the working space <NUM>, and enables the operator to easily perform the yarn threading to the yarn guide <NUM> via the opening <NUM> from the working space <NUM>.

The guide supporting portion <NUM> is a member which is formed at a lower end portion of the wall portion <NUM> and formed on the inner side of the wall portion <NUM>, and into which the yarn guide <NUM> is inserted. The guide supporting portion <NUM> is, when viewed from above, a C-shaped member in which an inlet 64a is formed as shown in <FIG>. The inlet 64a functions as a passage for introducing the yarn Y, which is inserted from the opening <NUM>, to the yarn guide <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the engaging portion <NUM> protrudes downward from the lower end of the wall portion <NUM> so as to be engageable with an attachment hole 25a formed in the supporting member <NUM>. The engaging portion <NUM> has flexibility and a U-shaped cross section orthogonal to the vertical direction. On the outer circumferential surface of the engaging portion <NUM>, two hook portions 65a are formed to oppose each other in the arrangement direction. When power is not applied to each hook portion 65a, the hook portion 65a protrudes outward from the peripheral edge of the attachment hole 25a. As a result, the engaging portion <NUM> and the attachment hole 25a are in an engagement state, i.e., are engaged with each other. Meanwhile, when the hook portion 65a is pressed inward, the engaging portion <NUM> is deformed so as to be in a cancellation state in which the engagement between the engaging portion <NUM> and the attachment hole 25a is cancelled.

In order to attach the partition <NUM> to the attachment hole 25a, the operator presses down the engaging portion <NUM> to the attachment hole 25a. Because of this, an inclined portion 65b of the hook portion 65a is pressed by the peripheral edge of the attachment hole 25a so that the engaging portion <NUM> is deformed and inserted into the attachment hole 25a. As the original shape of the engaging portion <NUM> is recovered, the hook potion 65a protrudes outward from the peripheral edge of the attachment hole 25a so that the engaging portion <NUM> is in the engagement state. In order to remove the partition <NUM> from the attachment hole 25a, the operator presses two hook portions 65a inward. Because of this, the engaging portion <NUM> is in the cancellation state so that the partition <NUM> can be pulled upward from the attachment hole 25a. In this regard, the attachment hole 25a is connected to a cutout portion 25b (see <FIG>) which is formed to extend from the near side of the supporting member <NUM> toward the attachment hole 25a along the depth direction. When the yarn threading is performed to the partition <NUM>, the yarn Y is inserted from the cutout portion 25b by the operator in the working space <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the press portions <NUM> are formed as two members which are provided to oppose each other in the arrangement direction and each of which protrudes outward from the outer circumferential surface of the lower end portion of the wall portion <NUM>. Each press portion <NUM> is shaped to be bent downward. Because of this, when the partition <NUM> is attached to the attachment hole 25a, the partition <NUM> is biased upward by the press portions <NUM>. As a result, each hook portion 65a is pressed onto the lower surface of the supporting member <NUM> so as to reduce the rattle of the partition <NUM>.

The yarn guide <NUM> is, when viewed from above, a C-shaped member in which an inlet 62a is formed as shown in <FIG>. The inlet 62a of the yarn guide <NUM> communicates with the inlet 64a of the guide supporting portion <NUM>. The yarn Y is threaded to the yarn guide <NUM> via the inlets 64a and 62a. The yarn guide <NUM> is provided on the inner side of the wall portion <NUM>, i.e., on the far side as compared to the near-side ends of the wall portion <NUM> in the depth direction. Because of this, the yarn Y is certainly provided inside the wall portion <NUM> by being threaded to the yarn guide <NUM>.

For example, when the yarn threading is performed to one twisting unit 14B, the yarn threading is performed after the yarn Y is threaded to the yarn guide <NUM> of the partition <NUM> provided immediately above the one twisting unit 14B. Because of this, even when the wind is generated by the rotation of the rollers <NUM> to <NUM> of one twisting unit 14A adjacent to a yarn path of the yarn Y, the wall portion <NUM> of the partition <NUM> suppresses the influence of the wind on the yarn Y. Even if the wind enters the inner side of the wall portion <NUM> from the opening <NUM>, the occurrence of the yarn swing causing an adverse effect on the yarn threading is avoided because the yarn Y is threaded to the yarn guide <NUM>. In addition to that, the presence of the wall portion <NUM> suppresses the unintentional winding of the yarn Y around the rollers <NUM> to <NUM> at the time of the yarn breakage.

In the draw texturing machine <NUM> of the present embodiment, plural twisting units <NUM> each of which includes the rollers <NUM> to <NUM> (corresponding to rotating members of the present invention) rotated at the time of twisting the yarn Y are aligned in a predetermined arrangement direction and provided on plural stages. In addition to that, the partition <NUM> is provided between a yarn path of the yarn Y passing one twisting unit <NUM> on one of the plural stages and the rollers <NUM> and <NUM> of another twisting unit <NUM> on another of the plural stages, which is close to the yarn path. This suppresses the influence of the wind, generated by the rotation of the rollers <NUM> to <NUM>, on the yarn Y. The yarn swing is therefore suppressed, and hence the yarn threading is easily performed. In addition to that, the presence of the partition <NUM> suppresses the unintentional winding of the yarn Y around the rollers <NUM> to <NUM> in the yarn breakage.

In the present embodiment, the twisting units <NUM> include the twisting units <NUM> on the upper stage and the twisting units <NUM> on the lower stage. Because the twisting units <NUM> are provided on two stages, a space required for providing the twisting units <NUM> is reduced in the vertical direction.

In the present embodiment, the twisting units 14A on the upper stage and the twisting units 14B on the lower stage are alternately arranged in the arrangement direction, and each yarn Y twisted by each twisting unit 14A on the upper stage passes between two adjacent twisting units 14B on the lower stage while each yarn Y twisted by each twisting unit 14B on the lower stage passes between two adjacent twisting units 14A on the upper stage. The partition <NUM> is provided between each two adjacent twisting units <NUM> on each of the upper stage and the lower stage. When the draw texturing machine <NUM> is structured so that each yarn Y passes between two twisting units <NUM>, a distance between the yarn Y and each of the two twisting units <NUM> is decreased, with the result that the yarn swing due to the wind from the rollers <NUM> to <NUM> and the unintentional winding of the yarn Y around the rollers <NUM> to <NUM> easily occur. The effect of providing the partition <NUM> is therefore conspicuous in such a case.

In the present embodiment, the partition <NUM> includes the wall portion <NUM> surrounding at least a part of the periphery of the yarn Y. Because the wall portion <NUM> surrounds at least a part of the periphery of the yarn Y as described above, it is possible to further effectively suppress the yarn swing due to the wind from the rollers <NUM> to <NUM> and the unintentional winding of the yarn Y around the rollers <NUM> to <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the wall portion <NUM> is shaped to surround only a part of the periphery of the yarn Y. When the wall portion <NUM> is formed as a cylindrical member surrounding the entire periphery of the yarn Y, it becomes difficult to thread the yarn Y to the inside of the cylindrical wall portion <NUM>, even though it is possible to improve the effect of suppressing the yarn swing due to the wind from the rollers <NUM> to <NUM> and the unintentional winding of the yarn Y around the rollers <NUM> to <NUM>. Meanwhile, when the wall portion <NUM> is shaped to surround only a part of the periphery of the yarn Y, the yarn Y is easily threaded to the inner side of the wall portion <NUM> via the opening <NUM> provided in a place where the wall portion <NUM> is not provided in the partition <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the wall portion <NUM> extends over the range in which the rollers <NUM> to <NUM> are provided in the yarn running direction. Because the partition <NUM> is arranged as described above, it is possible to further effectively suppress the yarn swing due to the wind from the rollers <NUM> to <NUM> and the unintentional winding of the yarn Y around the rollers <NUM> to <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the partition <NUM> and the yarn guide <NUM> are integrally formed. In order to define the yarn path, the yarn guide <NUM> may be provided in the vicinity of each twisting unit <NUM>. Meanwhile, when the yarn guide <NUM> and the partition <NUM> are integrally formed, a step of providing the yarn guide <NUM> is unnecessary.

In the present embodiment, the yarn guide <NUM> is embedded in the partition <NUM> by insert molding. Because the yarn guide <NUM> is embedded in the partition <NUM> by the insert molding, the partition <NUM> and the yarn guide <NUM> are easily and certainly integrated even when the partition <NUM> and the yarn guide <NUM> are made of different materials.

In the present embodiment, the partition <NUM> includes the engaging portion <NUM> which is flexible and engageable with the attachment hole 25a (corresponding to an attached portion of the present invention) to which the partition member is attached, and the engaging portion <NUM> can be deformed to be switchable between the engagement state in which the engaging portion <NUM> and the attachment hole 25a are engageable with each other and the cancellation state in which the engagement between the engaging portion <NUM> and the attachment hole 25a is cancelled. With this arrangement, the partition <NUM> is easily attached to and detached from the attachment hole 25a only in such a way that the operator causes the engaging portion <NUM> to be deformed.

In the present embodiment, each twisting unit <NUM> includes the rollers <NUM> to <NUM> and the cylindrical pin <NUM> in contact with the circumferential surfaces of the rollers <NUM> to <NUM>, and is a pin-type twisting unit configured to twist each yarn Y running inside the pin <NUM> in such a way that the rollers <NUM> to <NUM> are rotated to rotate the pin <NUM>. As described above, when the twisting unit <NUM> is a pin-type twisting unit, the tension of the yarn Y is almost zero in the yarn threading so that the yarn swing easily occurs. Therefore, providing the partition <NUM> is especially effective.

The following will describe modifications of the above-described embodiment.

The embodiment above has described a case where the present invention is applied to the draw texturing machine <NUM> including the pin-type twisting unit <NUM>. Alternatively, the present invention may be applied to a draw texturing machine including a friction-type twisting unit or a belt-type twisting unit. In regard to the friction-type twisting unit, a yarn runs while making contact with the circumferential surfaces of plural discs which are spirally arranged. The discs are rotated so that the yarn is twisted. In this case, the discs correspond to rotating members of the present invention. In regard to the belt-type twisting unit, two endless belts are provided to sandwich a yarn. Each endless belt is rotated so that the yarn is twisted. In this case, the two endless belts correspond to rotating members of the present invention.

In the embodiment above, the plural twisting units <NUM> include the twisting units <NUM> on the upper stage and the twisting units <NUM> on the lower stage. Alternatively, the plural twisting units <NUM> may be provided on three or more stages.

In the embodiment above, the twisting units 14A on the upper stage and the twisting units 14B on the lower stage are provided at the same position in the depth direction, and are alternately arranged in the arrangement direction. Alternatively, the twisting units 14A on the upper stage and the twisting units 14B on the lower stage may be provided at different positions from each other in the depth direction. In this case, when a yarn path passing each twisting unit 14A on the upper stage and a yarn path passing each twisting unit 14B on the lower stage are deviated from each other in the depth direction so as to avoid interference between the yarns Y, the twisting units 14A on the upper stage and the twisting units 14B on the lower stage may be provided at the same positions as each other in the arrangement direction.

The specific arrangement of the partition <NUM> may be different from that in the embodiment above. For example, a partition may be a plate member which is substantially vertical to the horizontal plane and which is provided between a yarn Y and one twisting unit <NUM> closest to the yarn Y. Alternatively, the wall portion <NUM> of the partition <NUM> may be cylindrical in shape. Alternatively, each partition <NUM> may be fixed to each of the supporting members <NUM> and <NUM> by a bolt, etc..

In the embodiment above, the partition <NUM> and the yarn guide <NUM> are integrally formed by the insert molding. Alternatively, the partition <NUM> and the yarn guide <NUM> may be integrally provided by a method which is not the insert molding. Alternatively, the yarn guide may be provided to be independent from the partition.

The specific arrangement of the yarn guide <NUM> may be different from that in the embodiment above. In other words, the yarn guide <NUM> may not be a C-shaped member and may be a pipe-shaped member, a snail guide, a dog-tail guide, or a hook guide, etc. The shape of the guide supporting portion <NUM> may also be suitably changeable in accordance with the specific shape of the yarn guide <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A draw texturing machine (<NUM>) comprising plural twisting units (<NUM>) each of which includes a rotating member (<NUM> to <NUM>) rotated at the time of twisting a yarn (Y) and which are aligned in a predetermined arrangement direction and provided on plural stages,
characterized in that a partition (<NUM>) is provided between a yarn path of the yarn (Y) passing one of the plural twisting units (<NUM>) on one of the plural stages and the rotating member (<NUM> to <NUM>) of another one of the plural twisting units (<NUM>) on another stage of the plural stages, the another one of the plural twisting units (<NUM>) being close to the yarn path.