Patent Description:
A known oiling device is configured to apply oil to a yarn. For example, Patent Literature <NUM> (<CIT>) discloses a spun yarn take-up apparatus including an oil supply unit (i.e., oiling device) configured to apply oil to a running yarn spun out from a spinning apparatus. Such an oil supply unit includes an oil supply guide including: a discharge port through which the oil is discharged; and a pair of yarn guiding members which are provided on both sides of the discharge port in a direction orthogonal to a yarn running direction and which are configured to guide the yarn. When the yarn jumps up, the paired yarn guiding members prevent the detachment of the yarn from the oil supply guide.

<CIT> and <CIT> describe further textile machines according to the state of the art.

In the above-described oiling device, the oil supply guide needs to be replaced in accordance with the thickness of the yarn and the type of oil. In order to smoothly replace the oil supply guide, the fixation of the oil supply guide is desired to be easy.

In a typical textile machine in which a yarn runs along a predetermined yarn path, it is important to ensure the reproducibility of a position (location) of an oil supply guide with respect to the yarn path at the time of fixing the oil supply guide. In the above-described oil supply guide, the paired yarn guiding members are provided on both sides of the discharge port in the direction orthogonal to the yarn running direction. With this arrangement, when the oil supply guide is fixed to be inclined from the yarn running direction, the yarn may not be threaded between the paired guiding members. It is therefore important to also ensure the reproducibility of posture of the oil supply guide at the time of fixing the oil supply guide.

An object of the present invention is to provide a textile machine capable of ensuring the reproducibility of a position and posture of an oil supply guide with respect to a yarn path, and of easily fixing the oil supply guide.

According to the first aspect of the invention, a textile machine includes an oiling device configured to apply oil to a yarn running along a predetermined yarn path, and the oiling device includes: a holder attached to a base; an oil supply guide which includes a discharge port and a pair of yarn guiding members provided on both sides of the discharge port in a direction orthogonal to a yarn running direction and which is attachable to and detachable from the holder, the oil being discharged from the discharge port, the yarn running in the yarn running direction, and the paired yarn guiding members being configured to guide the yarn; a fixing member configured to fix the oil supply guide to the holder; and a packing provided between the holder and the oil supply guide. In this regard, one of the oil supply guide and the holder is provided with a cylindrical passage portion in which an oil passage is formed, and the oil flows toward the discharge port in the oil passage. Meanwhile, the other of the oil supply guide and the holder is not provided with the passage portion but is provided with a cylindrical covering portion which is coaxial with the passage portion and which is able to cover an outer circumferential surface of the passage portion. The above-described holder is provided with at least one first contact surface which is able to make contact with the fixing member, and the above-described oil supply guide is provided with at least one second contact surface which is able to make contact with the fixing member. The at least one first contact surface is arranged to fix the position of the fixing member in a circumferential direction of the passage portion by making contact with the fixing member, and the at least one second contact surface is arranged to fix the position of the oil supply guide in the circumferential direction by making contact with the fixing member the position of which is fixed by the at least one first contact surface in the circumferential direction.

With this arrangement, the position of the oil supply guide on a plane orthogonal to an extending direction of the passage portion is fixed by inserting the passage portion into the covering portion so that the outer circumferential surface of the passage portion is covered by the covering portion. Therefore, the reproducibility of a position of the oil supply guide with respect to the yarn path is ensured by covering the outer circumferential surface of the passage portion with the covering portion. Furthermore, the reproducibility of posture of the oil supply guide is ensured by causing the fixing member to make contact with (i) the at least one first contact surface of the holder and (ii) the at least one second contact surface of the oil supply guide so that the position of the oil supply guide is fixed in the circumferential direction. The oil supply guide is easily fixed by covering the outer circumferential surface of the passage portion with the covering portion and causing the fixing member to make contact with each contact surface of the holder and each contact surface of the oil supply guide.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the textile machine is arranged so that one of the oil supply guide and the holder is provided with a concave portion which is concave in an extending direction of the passage portion, and the other of the oil supply guide and the holder is not provided with the concave portion but is provided with a protrusion which is able to be fitted into the concave portion.

With this arrangement, the alignment of the oil supply guide and the holder with respect to the circumferential direction is facilitated by fitting the protrusion into the concave portion.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the textile machine is arranged so that one of the oil supply guide and the holder is provided with the passage portion and passage-portion contact surfaces, and the passage-portion contact surfaces are first contact surfaces or second contact surfaces and provided on both sides of the oil passage so as to oppose each other over the oil passage in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to an extending direction of the passage portion.

This ensures the large passage-portion contact surfaces with simple processing, and improves the accuracy of reproducibility of posture of the oil supply guide.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the textile machine is arranged so that the number of first contact surfaces is at least two, and the first contact surfaces are arranged to sandwich the fixing member from both sides of the fixing member in the circumferential direction.

With this arrangement, the position of the fixing member is fixed in the circumferential direction by being fitted into a space between the first contact surfaces.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the textile machine is arranged so that the number of second contact surfaces is at least two, and the second contact surfaces are arranged to sandwich the fixing member from both sides of the fixing member in the circumferential direction.

With this arrangement, the position of the oil supply guide in the circumferential direction is fixed by fitting the fixing member into a space between the second contact surfaces.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the textile machine is arranged so that one of the passage portion and the covering portion is provided with the at least one first contact surface, the other of the passage portion and the covering portion is not provided with the at least one first contact surface but is provided with the at least one second contact surface, the at least one first contact surface and the at least one second contact surface are able to be provided on a single plane, and the fixing member includes a flat surface arranged to make contact with the at least one first contact surface and the at least one second contact surface which are provided on the single plane.

With this arrangement, the shape of the fixing member is simplified.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, the textile machine is arranged so that one of the oil supply guide and the holder is provided with the covering portion and a connection portion in which a connection passage connected to one end portion of the oil passage is formed, the covering portion is provided with a first orthogonal surface which is orthogonal to an extending direction of the passage portion and which is oriented to the connection portion, the passage portion is provided with a second orthogonal surface which is orthogonal to the extending direction and which is oriented in a direction opposite to the connection portion, the packing is provided between an end face of the passage portion and a connection surface of the connection portion, the one end portion of the oil passage is open to the end face, the connection passage is open to the connection surface, and the packing is able to bias the oil supply guide in a direction in which the first orthogonal surface approaches the second orthogonal surface. When the flat surface of the fixing member makes contact with the at least one first contact surface and the at least one second contact surface, the fixing member is sandwiched in the extending direction by the first orthogonal surface and the second orthogonal surface.

With this arrangement, the oil supply guide is biased by the packing in the direction in which the first orthogonal surface approaches the second orthogonal surface. As the fixing member is sandwiched in the extending direction by the first orthogonal surface of the covering portion and the second orthogonal surface of the passage portion, the oil supply guide and the holder are accurately positioned in the extending direction without accurate processing.

According to the eight aspect of the invention, the textile machine is arranged so that the holder is provided with two third orthogonal surfaces which are provided at both end portions of the at least one first contact surface in an extending direction of the passage portion, which are orthogonal to the extending direction, and which oppose each other in the extending direction, the oil supply guide is provided with two fourth orthogonal surfaces which are provided at both end portions of the at least one second contact surface in the extending direction, which are orthogonal to the extending direction, and which oppose each other in the extending direction, and the distance between the two third orthogonal surfaces, the distance between the two fourth orthogonal surfaces, and the length of the fixing member in the extending direction are identical with one another.

With this arrangement, when the flat surface of the fixing member makes contact with the at least one first contact surface and the at least one second contact surface, the fixing member is sandwiched by (i) the third orthogonal surfaces from both sides of the fixing member in the extending direction and (ii) the fourth orthogonal surfaces from both sides of the fixing member in the extending direction. Because of this, the position of the oil supply guide and that of the holder are decided in the extending direction.

According to the ninth aspect of the invention, the textile machine is arranged so that a groove is formed on an inner surface of the covering portion, and the packing is provided in the groove.

With this arrangement, when the passage portion and the covering portion are moved relative to each other, the packing is unlikely to move.

According to the tenth aspect of the invention, the textile machine is arranged so that at least (i) the at least one first contact surface or (ii) the at least one second contact surface is able to be provided on one side of a center axis of the covering portion in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to an extending direction of the passage portion, at least (i) the at least one first contact surface or (ii) the at least one second contact surface is able to be provided on the other side of the center axis in the orthogonal direction, and the fixing member is made of a material having elastic force and configured to sandwich the passage portion by means of the elastic force from both sides of the passage portion in the orthogonal direction by making contact with, at least, the at least one first contact surface or the at least one second contact surface on each of both sides of the center axis in the orthogonal direction.

With this arrangement, the fixing member is unlikely to move, and thus the position of the oil supply guide and that of the holder are stably fixed.

According to the eleventh aspect of the invention, the textile machine is arranged so that the fixing member is formed of a first part arranged to partially make contact with the at least one first contact surface and the at least one second contact surface and a second part adjacent to the first part, an opening is formed across the first part and the second part in the fixing member, the opening has a part which is formed at the second part and which is larger than the outer shape of the covering portion, and the fixing member is able to take a first position where the covering portion is inserted into a part of the opening at the first part so that the fixing member is in contact with the at least one first contact surface and the at least one second contact surface and a second position where the covering portion is inserted into a part of the opening at the second part so that the fixing member is not in contact with the at least one first contact surface and the at least one second contact surface.

With this arrangement, the fixing member at the first position fixes the oil supply guide and the holder, and the fixing member at the second position removes the fixation from the oil supply guide to the holder. Even when the fixation from the oil supply guide to the holder is unfixed, the covering portion is still inserted into the opening of the fixing member. It is therefore possible to avoid losing the fixing member.

According to the twelfth aspect of the invention, the textile machine is arranged so that the first position is provided below the second position in a vertical direction.

This prevents the fixing member from unintentionally moving from the first position to the second position.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the invention, the textile machine is arranged so that the at least one first contact surface and the at least one second contact surface are flat surfaces.

With this arrangement, the holder and the oil supply guide are easily processed as compared to a case where, e.g., the fixing member is provided with a screw and the at least one first contact surface and the at least one second contact surface define a screw groove.

According to the fourteenth aspect of the invention, the textile machine is arranged so that the oil supply guide is made of ceramics.

For example, when (i) the oil supply guide is made of ceramics and (ii) a male screw provided at the fixing member is engaged with a female screw provided at the oil supply guide so as to fix the position of the oil supply guide, the oil supply guide may be broken. Assume that the position of the oil supply guide is fixed in the circumferential direction by causing the fixing member to make contact with the at least one second contact surface which are flat surfaces. In this case, even when the oil supply guide is made of ceramics, the breakage of the oil supply guide is suppressed.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the invention, the textile machine is arranged so that the packing is annular in shape.

With this arrangement, a gap between the holder and the oil supply guide across the entire circumference of the oil supply guide is sealed by the single packing. Processing of the packing is therefore facilitated.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the invention, the textile machine is arranged so that the oiling device is configured to apply the oil to the yarn running in a false-twist texturing machine.

In the false-twist texturing machine, a wound package is formed by false-twisting and winding the yarn supplied from a yarn supply package. In this false-twist texturing machine, the oil is additionally applied to the yarn to which the oil has been applied. Therefore, a required amount of the oil applied to the yarn is small. The oil supply guide is able to suppress the application amount of the oil applied to the yarn to be relatively small. Therefore, the oiling device including the oil supply guide is preferably used in the false-twist texturing machine. With the above-described arrangement, when the oiling device including the oil supply guide is used in the false-twist texturing machine, the reproducibility of a position and posture of the oil supply guide with respect to a yarn path is easily ensured.

According to the seventeenth aspect of the invention, the textile machine is arranged so that the oiling device further includes two yarn regulating guides which are separated in the yarn running direction, and the holder is provided between the two yarn regulating guides.

It is therefore possible to ensure the reproducibility of a position and posture of the oil supply guide with respect to the yarn path of the yarn guided by the two yarn regulating guides, and to easily fix the oil supply guide.

The following will describe a false-twist texturing machine <NUM> of a preferred first embodiment of the present invention, with reference to <FIG>. A vertical direction to the sheet of <FIG> is defined as a base longitudinal direction, and a left-right direction to the sheet is defined as a base width direction. A direction orthogonal to the base longitudinal direction and the base width direction is defined as an up-down direction (i.e., vertical direction) in which the gravity acts.

The false-twist texturing machine <NUM> is able to perform false twisting of yarns Y (i.e., to false-twist the yarns Y) made of synthetic fibers such as nylon (polyamide fibers) and polyester. The false-twist texturing machine <NUM> includes a yarn supplying unit <NUM> for supplying the yarns Y, a processing unit <NUM> configured to false-twist the yarns Y supplied from the supplying unit <NUM>, and a winding unit <NUM> configured to wind the yarns Y processed by the processing unit <NUM> onto winding bobbins Bw.

The yarn supplying unit <NUM> includes a creel stand <NUM> retaining yarn supply packages Ps. The yarn supplying unit <NUM> is configured to supply the yarns Y to the processing unit <NUM>. The processing unit <NUM> is configured to false-twist the yarns Y supplied from the yarn supply packages Ps. In the processing unit <NUM>, the following members are provided in this order from the upstream side in a yarn running direction: a first feed roller 11a; each twist-stopping guide <NUM>; a heater <NUM>; a cooler <NUM>; each false-twisting device <NUM>; each tension sensor <NUM>; a second feed roller 11b; each interlacing device <NUM>; a third feed roller 11c, and an oiling device <NUM>. The winding unit <NUM> is configured to wind the yarns Y false-twisted by the processing unit <NUM> onto the winding bobbins Bw by means of winding devices <NUM>, so as to form wound packages Pw.

The false-twist texturing machine <NUM> further includes a main base <NUM> extending in the base longitudinal direction and a supporting frame <NUM>. To the main base <NUM>, the winding devices <NUM> are attached. The main base <NUM> is provided to oppose the creel stand <NUM> over a working space A in the base width direction. Each device forming the processing unit <NUM> is attached to the supporting frame <NUM>. Each device forming the processing unit <NUM> is provided above the working space A.

In the false-twist texturing machine <NUM>, processing units (which are also termed spindles) in which yarn paths are formed to pass the devices forming the processing unit <NUM> are lined up in the base longitudinal direction. With this arrangement, the false-twist texturing machine <NUM> is structured so that the yarns Y running while being aligned in the base longitudinal direction can be simultaneously false-twisted.

In the present embodiment, the first feed roller 11a, the second feed roller 11b, and the third feed roller 11c are shared between plural (e.g., two) spindles. The heater <NUM> and the cooler <NUM> are shared between plural (e.g., four) spindles. The twist-stopping guide <NUM>, the false-twisting device <NUM>, the tension sensor <NUM>, the interlacing device <NUM>, and a later-described oil supply guide <NUM> of the oiling device <NUM> are provided for each spindle.

Each yarn Y supplied from the yarn supplying unit <NUM> to the processing unit <NUM> is drawn between the first feed roller 11a and the second feed roller 11b, and twisted by the false-twisting device <NUM>. The twist formed by the false-twisting device <NUM> is propagated to the twist-stopping guide <NUM>, but is not propagated to the upstream side of the twist-stopping guide <NUM> in the yarn running direction.

The yarn Y which is twisted and drawn as described above is heated by the heater <NUM>. After that, the yarn Y is cooled and thermally set by the cooler <NUM>. The yarn Y having passed the false-twisting device <NUM> is unwound before the yarn Y reaches the second feed roller 11b. However, the twist of the yarn Y is thermally set as described above. Each filament is therefore maintained to be wavy in shape. In this regard, the tension sensor <NUM> provided between the false-twisting device <NUM> and the second feed roller 11b is able to detect a defect at the yarn Y such as excessive tension and yarn breakage.

The yarn Y is then relaxed between the second feed roller 11b and the third feed roller 11c, and interlaced by the interlacing device <NUM>. Subsequently, the oiling device <NUM> applies oil to the yarn Y. In the winding unit <NUM>, the yarn Y to which the oil has been applied is wound by each winding device <NUM>. In this regard, the yarn Y in each yarn supply package Ps is an oiled yarn. That is, the oiling device <NUM> additionally applies oil to the oiled yarn Y.

In the false-twist texturing machine <NUM>, each yarn Y runs along a predetermined yarn path from the yarn supplying unit <NUM> to the winding unit <NUM>. For example, <CIT> discloses a spun yarn take-up machine including an oil applying guide (equivalent to an "oil supply guide" of the present invention) which is configured to bundle plural filaments spun out from a spinneret so as to form a single yarn and which is configured to apply oil to the yarn. In such a spun yarn take-up machine, the position (location) of the oil supply guide varies in a yarn running direction depending on to what degree the yarn spun out from the spinneret is cooled. That is, the optimal location of the oil supply guide in the yarn running direction varies depending on the type of the yarn, etc. In such a spun yarn take-up machine, as the position of the oil supply guide varies depending on the type of the yarn, etc., a yarn path also varies.

The following will describe the oiling device <NUM> with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, the oiling device <NUM> includes oil supply guides <NUM>, holders <NUM>, fixing members <NUM>, upstream yarn guides <NUM>, and downstream yarn guides <NUM>. The oil supply guides <NUM> are provided for the respective spindles. The oil supply guides <NUM> are aligned in the base longitudinal direction. The oil is supplied to each oil supply guide <NUM> from an oil tank <NUM> shared between the oil supply guides <NUM>.

The upstream yarn guides <NUM> are separated from the downstream yarn guides <NUM> in the yarn running direction (i.e., up-down direction). The upstream yarn guides <NUM> are provided upstream of the respective oil supply guides <NUM> in the yarn running direction. The downstream yarn guides <NUM> are provided downstream of the respective oil supply guides <NUM> in the yarn running direction. In other words, the oil supply guides <NUM> are provided between the upstream yarn guides <NUM> and the downstream yarn guides <NUM>. In this regard, yarns Y are guided by the upstream yarn guides <NUM> and the downstream yarn guides <NUM> so that the yarn paths of the yarns Y are defined between the upstream yarn guides <NUM> and the downstream yarn guides <NUM>. The upstream yarn guides <NUM> and the downstream yarn guides <NUM> are preferably provided in the vicinity of the oil supply guides <NUM>, so that the yarns Y are sent to the oil supply guides <NUM> while the filaments are bundled. Each upstream yarn guide <NUM> is provided between the third feed roller 11c and an oil supply guide <NUM>. Each downstream yarn guide <NUM> is provided between an oil supply guide <NUM> and the winding unit <NUM>.

While each yarn Y running downward is sent to the oiling device <NUM> by the third feed roller 11c and guided by an upstream yarn guide <NUM> and a downstream yarn guide <NUM>, the yarn Y makes contact with a contact surface <NUM> (see <FIG>) of an oil supply guide <NUM>. As the yarn Y makes contact with the contact surface <NUM> of the oil supply guide <NUM>, the oil discharged from a discharge port 61a (see <FIG>) is applied to the yarn Y.

The following will describe how each oil supply guide <NUM> is fixed, with reference to <FIG>. Each oil supply guide <NUM> is attachable to and detachable from a holder <NUM>. Each oil supply guide <NUM> is fixed to the holder <NUM> by a fixing member <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, each holder <NUM> is attached to the supporting frame <NUM> and provided between an upstream yarn guide <NUM> and a downstream yarn guide <NUM>.

In the present disclosure, the oil supply guide <NUM> is made of ceramics. In the present disclosure, the holder <NUM> is made of metal. The holder <NUM> may be made of ceramics. The fixing member <NUM> is made of sheet metal. Hereinafter, the directions of the oil supply guide <NUM>, the holder <NUM>, and the fixing member <NUM> are explained on the premise that the oil supply guide <NUM> is fixed to the holder <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the oil supply guide <NUM> includes a guide main body <NUM> and a passage portion <NUM>. The guide main body <NUM> and the passage portion <NUM> are integrated with each other. The contact surface <NUM> is provided at the guide main body <NUM>. The passage portion <NUM> is substantially cylindrical in shape. In the passage portion <NUM>, an oil passage <NUM> in which oil flows toward the discharge port 61a is formed. The guide main body <NUM> is provided at an end portion of the passage portion <NUM> on one side (i.e., the left side in <FIG>) in an extending direction of the passage portion <NUM>.

The oil supply guide <NUM> is fixed to the holder <NUM> so that the extending direction of the passage portion <NUM> is identical with the base width direction. Hereinafter, the extending direction of the passage portion <NUM> is simply referred to as the extending direction. A direction orthogonal to the extending direction and the up-down direction (i.e., the base longitudinal direction: an arrangement direction in which the oil supply guides <NUM> are aligned) is simply referred to as the arrangement direction. The arrangement direction is equivalent to an "orthogonal direction" of the present invention. A circumferential direction of the passage portion <NUM> is simply referred to as the circumferential direction.

In the guide main body <NUM>, an end face on one side (i.e., the left side in <FIG>) in the extending direction is the contact surface <NUM>. The oil passage <NUM> is formed across the guide main body <NUM> and the passage portion <NUM>. The oil passage <NUM> extends along the extending direction. One end portion of the oil passage <NUM> on one side (i.e., the left side in <FIG>) in the extending direction is connected to a nozzle <NUM>. The nozzle <NUM> connects one end portion of the oil passage <NUM> on one side in the extending direction to the discharge port 61a formed in the contact surface <NUM>.

The guide main body <NUM> is provided with a pair of yarn guiding members <NUM> on both sides of the discharge port 61a in the arrangement direction orthogonal to the yarn running direction (i.e., up-down direction). The yarn guiding members <NUM> protrude from the contact surface <NUM> toward one side (i.e., protrude leftward from the contact surface <NUM> in <FIG>) in the extending direction. The yarn Y which is sent to the downstream side of the upstream yarn guide <NUM> passes between the paired yarn guiding members <NUM> and is guided downward by the paired yarn guiding members <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the holder <NUM> has a covering portion <NUM> and a connection portion <NUM>. The covering portion <NUM> and the connection portion <NUM> are integrated with each other. The covering portion <NUM> is cylindrical in shape. The covering portion <NUM> is provided to be coaxial with the passage portion <NUM> of the oil supply guide <NUM>, and is able to cover the outer circumferential surface of the passage portion <NUM>. The connection portion <NUM> is provided at an end portion of the covering portion <NUM> on the other side (i.e., the right side in <FIG>) in the extending direction. In the connection portion <NUM>, a connection passage <NUM> is formed and connected to the other end portion of the oil passage <NUM> on the other side (i.e., the right side in <FIG>) in the extending direction. The connection passage <NUM> extends along the extending direction.

The oil supplied from the oil tank <NUM> is sent to the oil passage <NUM> of the oil supply guide <NUM> via the connection passage <NUM> of the holder <NUM>. The oil sent to the oil passage <NUM> is discharged from the nozzle <NUM> connected to one end portion of the oil passage <NUM> on one side in the extending direction.

As shown in <FIG>, two second spaces <NUM> are formed to be independent from the oil passage <NUM> in the passage portion <NUM> of the oil supply guide <NUM>. The second spaces <NUM> are formed at a part of the passage portion <NUM> in the circumferential direction. The two second spaces <NUM> are provided to oppose each other over the oil passage <NUM> in the arrangement direction. Each second space <NUM> is defined by a concave groove <NUM> formed at the passage portion <NUM>. Each concave groove <NUM> is formed by a bottom surface 66a which is a single flat surface and wall surfaces 66b which are two flat surfaces orthogonal to the extending direction. The two wall surfaces 66b are provided at the respective ends of the bottom surface 66a in the extending direction. The wall surfaces 66b are equivalent to a "fourth orthogonal surface" of the present invention. The bottom surface 66a is in parallel to the extending direction. The bottom surface 66a intersects the circumferential direction. The bottom surface 66a is a flat surface extending along the up-down direction. The bottom surfaces 66a of the two second spaces <NUM> are provided on both sides of the oil passage <NUM> over the oil passage <NUM> in the arrangement direction orthogonal to the extending direction. Each second space <NUM> is open to the outer circumferential surface of the passage portion <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, two first spaces <NUM> are formed in the covering portion <NUM> of the holder <NUM>. The first spaces <NUM> are provided at a part of the covering portion <NUM> in the circumferential direction. The two first spaces <NUM> are provided on both sides of a center axis O of the covering portion <NUM> in the arrangement direction. Each first space <NUM> is defined by a through hole <NUM> which penetrates the covering portion <NUM> from the inner to the outer surface of the covering portion <NUM>. The inner surface of the covering portion <NUM> opposes the outer circumferential surface of the passage portion <NUM>. That is, each first space <NUM> has openings on both the inner and outer surfaces of the covering portion <NUM>.

Each through hole <NUM> is formed by wall surfaces 73a which are two flat surfaces in parallel to the extending direction and wall surfaces 73b which are two flat surfaces orthogonal to the extending direction. The two wall surfaces 73b are provided at both end portions of the wall surfaces 73a in the extending direction (see <FIG>). The wall surfaces 73b are equivalent to a "third orthogonal surface" of the present invention. The wall surfaces 73a intersect the circumferential direction. The wall surfaces 73a extend along the up-down direction. In <FIG>, two wall surfaces 73a forming a through hole <NUM> defining right one of the first spaces <NUM> are provided on a single plane S0 orthogonal to the arrangement direction. In <FIG>, two wall surfaces 73a forming a through hole <NUM> defining left one of the first spaces <NUM> are provided on a single plane S1 orthogonal to the arrangement direction. The planes S0 and S1 are provided on both sides of the center axis O in the arrangement direction.

The two first spaces <NUM> and the two second spaces <NUM> can be aligned in the up-down direction while the covering portion <NUM> covers the outer circumferential surface of the passage portion <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, when the second spaces <NUM> and the first spaces <NUM> are aligned in the up-down direction, a single bottom surface 66a of each second space <NUM> and two wall surfaces 73a of each first space <NUM> are provided on the same plane (plane S0, plane S1) orthogonal to the arrangement direction.

As shown in <FIG>, the fixing member <NUM> is provided with two fitting portions <NUM> which are able to be fit into the second spaces <NUM> and the first spaces <NUM>. Each fitting portion <NUM> extends across a second space <NUM> and a first space <NUM> aligned in the up-down direction, and is fitted into the second space <NUM> and the first space <NUM>. In regard to the two fitting portions <NUM>, parts which are fitted into the second spaces <NUM> and the first spaces <NUM> are provided to oppose each other over the passage portion <NUM> in the arrangement direction. The fixing member <NUM> is configured to fix the position of the oil supply guide <NUM> to that of the holder <NUM> by fitting the fitting portions <NUM> into the second spaces <NUM> and the first spaces <NUM> and causing each fitting portion <NUM> to make contact with a bottom surface 66a and wall surfaces 73a. That is, the fixing member <NUM> functions as a bolt.

As shown in <FIG>, the fixing member <NUM> is formed of a first part <NUM> in which the fitting portions <NUM> are formed and a second part <NUM> which is adjacent to the first part <NUM>. The first part <NUM> and the second part <NUM> are aligned in the up-down direction. In the fixing member <NUM>, an opening <NUM> is formed across the first part <NUM> and the second part <NUM>. The opening <NUM> penetrates the fixing member <NUM> made of sheet metal in a thickness direction of the fixing member <NUM>. The opening <NUM> has a closed perimeter. In other words, the opening <NUM> is not open in a direction orthogonal to the thickness direction of the fixing member <NUM>. The opening <NUM> has a part which is formed at the second part <NUM> and which is larger than the outer shape of covering portion <NUM> of the holder <NUM>.

The fixing member <NUM> is able to take a first position (see <FIG>) where the covering portion <NUM> of the holder <NUM> is inserted into a part of the opening <NUM> at the first part <NUM> and a second position (see <FIG>) where the covering portion <NUM> of the holder <NUM> is inserted into a part of the opening <NUM> at the second part <NUM>. The first position is provided below the second position in the up-down direction. The fixing member <NUM> at the second position is not in contact with the wall surfaces 73a of the holder <NUM> and the bottom surfaces 66a of the oil supply guide <NUM>. The fixing member <NUM> at the second position is movable in the extending direction. By moving the fixing member <NUM> at the second position downward to the first position, the fitting portions <NUM> are fitted into the respective second spaces <NUM> and the respective first spaces <NUM> so as to make contact with the wall surfaces 73a of the holder <NUM> and the bottom surfaces 66a of the oil supply guide <NUM>. A fitting direction in which each fitting portion <NUM> is fitted into a second space <NUM> and a first space <NUM> is the up-down direction (the direction of a straight line).

The opening <NUM> has a part which is formed at the first part <NUM> and which extends in the up-down direction. At the first part <NUM>, the opening <NUM> is defined by surfaces including flat surfaces 81a extending along the up-down direction. As shown in <FIG>, when the two fitting portions <NUM> are fitted into the respective second spaces <NUM> and the respective first spaces <NUM>, each flat surface 81a is in contact with (i) the entire bottom surface 66a of each concave groove <NUM> and (ii) two wall surfaces 73a of each through hole <NUM>. In this regard, the entire bottom surface 66a of each concave groove <NUM> and two wall surfaces 73a of each through hole <NUM> are provided on the same plane.

The opening <NUM> has a part which is formed at the first part <NUM> and which extends in the up-down direction. When the two fitting portions <NUM> are not fitted into the second spaces <NUM> and the first spaces <NUM>, the width of a lower end portion of this part is slightly narrower in the arrangement direction than that of an upper end portion of this part in the opening <NUM>. This part of the opening <NUM> at the first part <NUM> is widened in the arrangement direction as the two fitting portions <NUM> are fitted into the respective second spaces <NUM> and the respective first spaces <NUM>. With this arrangement, the fixing member <NUM> is able to sandwich the covering portion <NUM> by means of elastic force from both sides of the covering portion <NUM> in the arrangement direction by fitting the two fitting portions <NUM> into the respective second spaces <NUM> and the respective first spaces <NUM>.

When the two fitting portions <NUM> of the fixing member <NUM> are fitted into the respective second spaces <NUM> and the respective first spaces <NUM>, the position of the fixing member <NUM> in the circumferential direction is fixed by the wall surfaces 73a of the first spaces <NUM> formed at the holder <NUM>. That is, the wall surfaces 73a are equivalent to a first contact surface of the present invention.

To be more specific, as shown in <FIG>, the movement of the fixing member <NUM> in one direction (clockwise direction) of the circumferential direction is regulated by (i) lower one of two wall surfaces 73a of the right first space <NUM> and (ii) upper one of two wall surfaces 73a of the left first space <NUM>. The movement of the fixing member <NUM> in the other direction (counterclockwise direction) of the circumferential direction is regulated by (i) upper one of two wall surfaces 73a of the right first space <NUM> and (ii) lower one of two wall surfaces 73a of the left first space <NUM>. With this arrangement, the position of the fixing member <NUM> is fixed in the circumferential direction.

The bottom surfaces 66a of the two second spaces <NUM> formed at the oil supply guide <NUM> are arranged to fix the position of the oil supply guide <NUM> in the circumferential direction by making contact with the two fitting portions <NUM> of the fixing member <NUM> whose position is fixed in the circumferential direction. That is, the bottom surfaces 66a are equivalent to a second contact surface of the present invention. The bottom surfaces 66a also are equivalent to a passage-portion contact surface of the present invention.

To be more specific, as shown in <FIG>, the movement of the oil supply guide <NUM> in one direction (indicated by an arrow D1: clockwise direction) of the circumferential direction is regulated by (i) a flat surface 81a of the right fitting portion <NUM> in contact with an upper part of a bottom surface 66a of the right second space <NUM> and (ii) a flat surface 81a of the left fitting portion <NUM> in contact with a lower part of a bottom surface 66a of the left second space <NUM>. The upper part of the bottom surface 66a of the right second space <NUM> and the lower part of the bottom surface 66a of the left second space <NUM> are oriented in the above-described one direction of the circumferential direction.

The movement of the oil supply guide <NUM> in the other direction (indicated by an arrow D2: counterclockwise direction) of the circumferential direction is regulated by (i) a flat surface 81a of the right fitting portion <NUM> in contact with a lower part of a bottom surface 66a of the right second space <NUM> and (ii) a flat surface 81a of the left fitting portion <NUM> in contact with an upper part of a bottom surface 66a of the left second space <NUM>. The lower part of the bottom surface 66a of the right second space <NUM> and the upper part of the bottom surface 66a of the left second space <NUM> are oriented in the above-described other direction of the circumferential direction. With this arrangements, the position of the oil supply guide <NUM> is fixed in the circumferential direction.

When the two fitting portions <NUM> of the fixing member <NUM> are fitted into the respective second spaces <NUM> and the respective first spaces <NUM>, the movement of the fixing member <NUM> in the arrangement direction is regulated by the bottom surfaces 66a of the second spaces <NUM> and the wall surfaces 73a of the first spaces <NUM>. In other words, the movement of the fixing member <NUM> toward one side (i.e., the right side in <FIG>) in the arrangement direction is regulated by a bottom surface 66a of the left second space <NUM> and two wall surfaces 73a of the left first space <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The movement of the fixing member <NUM> toward the other side (i.e., the left side in <FIG>) in the arrangement direction is regulated by a bottom surface 66a of the right second space <NUM> and two wall surfaces 73a of the right first space <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

The length of each second space <NUM> of the oil supply guide <NUM> in the extending direction (i.e., the distance between each two wall surfaces 66b) is defined as L1 (see <FIG>), the length of each first space <NUM> of the holder <NUM> in the extending direction (i.e., the distance between each two wall surfaces 73b) is defined as L2 (see <FIG>), and the length of each fitting portion <NUM> in the extending direction (i.e., the thickness of the fixing member <NUM>) is defined as L3 (see <FIG>). In this case, the lengths L1, L2, and L3 are substantially identical with one another. To be more specific, the length L1 of the second space <NUM> and the length L2 of the first space <NUM> are arranged so that the fitting portion <NUM> is completely fitted into the second space <NUM> and the first space <NUM> in regard to the extending direction. The both end faces of the fitting portion <NUM> fitted into the second space <NUM> and the first space <NUM> in the extending direction are in contact with wall surfaces 66b of the second space <NUM> and wall surfaces 73b of the first space <NUM>. In other words, the fitting portion <NUM> is sandwiched by (i) the two wall surfaces 66b of the second space <NUM> and (ii) the two wall surfaces 73b of the first space <NUM> from both sides of the fitting portion <NUM> in the extending direction.

As shown in <FIG>, two protrusions <NUM> are provided at one end portion of the passage portion <NUM> of the oil supply guide <NUM> on one side in the extending direction. One of the two protrusions <NUM> is provided at an upper part of the passage portion <NUM> so as to protrude upward from the outer circumferential surface of the passage portion <NUM>. The other of the two protrusions <NUM> is provided at a lower part of the passage portion <NUM> so as to protrude downward from the outer circumferential surface of the passage portion <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, two cutouts <NUM> are provided at an end portion of the covering portion <NUM> of the holder <NUM> on one side in the extending direction. The two cutouts <NUM> form a concave portion at the edge of the covering portion <NUM>, which is concave in the extending direction. That is, the cutouts <NUM> are equivalent to a concave portion of the present invention. One of the two cutouts <NUM> is provided at an upper part of the covering portion <NUM>. The other of the two cutouts <NUM> is provided at a lower part of the covering portion <NUM>. Into the two cutouts <NUM> provided at the holder <NUM>, the two protrusions <NUM> provided at the oil supply guide <NUM> are respectively fitted.

As shown in <FIG>, an annular packing <NUM> is provided between the oil supply guide <NUM> and the holder <NUM>. The packing <NUM> seals a gap between the oil supply guide <NUM> and the holder <NUM> across the entire circumference of the oil supply guide <NUM>. The packing <NUM> is made of an elastic material such as rubber. In the extending direction, the packing <NUM> is provided between the first space <NUM> and a connection end portion 79a of the connection passage <NUM>. The connection end portion 79a is connected to the other end portion of the oil passage <NUM> on the other side (i.e., the right side in <FIG>) in the extending direction. The inner surface of the covering portion <NUM> of the holder <NUM> is provided with a groove <NUM> formed across the entire circumference of the covering portion <NUM>. The groove <NUM> is provided between the first space <NUM> and a connection surface 78a of the connection portion <NUM>. In this regard, the connection end portion 79a of the connection passage <NUM> is open to the connection passage 78a. The packing <NUM> is provided in the groove <NUM>.

In the above-described false-twist texturing machine <NUM> of the present embodiment, a oiling device <NUM> includes: the holder <NUM> attached to the supporting frame <NUM>; the oil supply guide <NUM> which includes the discharge port 61a and the paired yarn guiding members <NUM> and which is attachable to and detachable from the holder <NUM>; the fixing member <NUM> configured to fix the oil supply guide <NUM> to the holder <NUM>; and the packing <NUM> provided between the oil supply guide <NUM> and the holder <NUM>. In this regard, oil is discharged from the discharge port 61a, and the paired yarn guiding members <NUM> are provided on both sides of the discharge port 61a in a direction orthogonal to the yarn running direction and are configured to guide a yarn Y. The oil supply guide <NUM> includes the cylindrical passage portion <NUM> in which the oil passage <NUM> is formed. The holder <NUM> includes the cylindrical covering portion <NUM> which is coaxial with the passage portion <NUM> and which is able to cover the outer circumferential surface of the passage portion <NUM>. The holder <NUM> is provided with the wall surfaces 73a which can make contact with the fixing member <NUM>, and the oil supply guide <NUM> is provided with the bottom surfaces 66a which can make contact with the fixing member <NUM>. The wall surfaces 73a are arranged to fix the position of the fixing member <NUM> in the circumferential direction of the passage portion <NUM> by making contact with the fixing member <NUM>. The bottom surfaces 66a are arranged to fix the position of the oil supply guide <NUM> in the circumferential direction by making contact with the fixing member <NUM> whose position is fixed by the wall surfaces 73a in the circumferential direction.

With this arrangement, the position of the oil supply guide <NUM> on a plane orthogonal to the extending direction of the passage portion <NUM> (i.e., a plane in parallel to both the up-down direction and the arrangement direction) is fixed by inserting the passage portion <NUM> into the covering portion <NUM> so that the outer circumferential surface of the passage portion <NUM> is covered by the covering portion <NUM>. Therefore, the reproducibility of a position of the oil supply guide <NUM> with respect to a yarn path is ensured by covering the outer circumferential surface of the passage portion <NUM> with the covering portion <NUM>. Furthermore, the reproducibility of posture of the oil supply guide <NUM> is ensured by causing the fixing member <NUM> to make contact with the wall surfaces 73a of the holder <NUM> and the bottom surfaces 66a of the oil supply guide <NUM> so that the position of the oil supply guide <NUM> is fixed in the circumferential direction. The oil supply guide <NUM> is easily fixed by covering the outer circumferential surface of the passage portion <NUM> with the covering portion <NUM> and causing the fixing member <NUM> to make contact with the wall surfaces 73a of the holder <NUM> and the bottom surfaces 66a of the oil supply guide <NUM>.

In the false-twist texturing machine <NUM> of the present embodiment, the holder <NUM> is provided with the cutouts <NUM> which are concave in the extending direction, and the oil supply guide <NUM> is provided with the protrusions <NUM> which can be fit into the cutouts <NUM>. With this arrangement, the alignment of the oil supply guide <NUM> and the holder <NUM> with respect to the circumferential direction is facilitated by fitting the protrusions <NUM> of the oil supply guide <NUM> into the cutouts <NUM> of the holder <NUM>.

In the false-twist texturing machine <NUM> of the present embodiment, the oil supply guide <NUM> is structured so that the bottom surfaces 66a which are contact surfaces with the fixing member <NUM> are provided on both sides of the oil passage <NUM> in the arrangement direction orthogonal to the extending direction. In order to improve the accuracy of reproducibility of posture of the oil supply guide <NUM>, the contact surfaces (i.e., the surfaces equivalent to the second contact surface of the present invention) of the oil supply guide <NUM> with respect to the fixing member <NUM> are preferably large. When (i) processing is performed so that the oil supply guide <NUM> has the contact surfaces with the fixing member <NUM> and (ii) the oil supply guide <NUM> disadvantageously has an acute angle and a thin part because of the processing, the oil supply guide <NUM> may get damaged or oil leakage may occur because of an error in the processing of the oil supply guide <NUM>. Because the oil supply guide <NUM> is made of ceramics in the present embodiment, the oil supply guide <NUM> of the present embodiment is highly likely to get damaged. Therefore, accurate processing is required. The present embodiment makes it possible to ensure the large bottom surfaces 66a which are the contact surfaces with the fixing members <NUM> with simple processing, and to improve the accuracy of reproducibility of posture of the oil supply guide <NUM>.

In the false-twist texturing machine <NUM> of the present embodiment, each bottom surface 66a of the oil supply guide <NUM> and each two wall surfaces 73a of the holder <NUM> can be provided on the same plane, and the fixing member <NUM> includes each flat surface 81a arranged to make contact with a bottom surface 66a of the oil supply guide <NUM> and wall surfaces 73a of the holder <NUM> which are provided on the same plane. This simplifies the shape of the fixing member <NUM>.

In the false-twist texturing machine <NUM> of the present embodiment, each of the length L1 of each second space <NUM> in the extending direction (i.e., the distance between each two wall surfaces 66b) and the length L2 of each first space <NUM> in the extending direction (i.e., the distance between each two wall surfaces 73b) is substantially identical with the length L3 of each fitting portion <NUM> in the extending direction. With this arrangement, the fitting portion <NUM> fitted into the second space <NUM> and the first space <NUM> is sandwiched by (i) the wall surfaces 66b of the oil supply guide <NUM> and (ii) the wall surfaces 73b of the holder <NUM> from both sides of the fitting portion <NUM> in the extending direction. Because of this, the position of the oil supply guide <NUM> and that of the holder <NUM> are decided in the extending direction.

In the false-twist texturing machine <NUM> of the present embodiment, the groove <NUM> in which the packing <NUM> is provided is formed on the inner surface of the covering portion <NUM> of the holder <NUM>. With this arrangement, when the oil supply guide <NUM> is moved with respect to the holder <NUM>, the packing <NUM> is unlikely to move.

In the false-twist texturing machine <NUM> of the present embodiment, wall surfaces 73a formed at the holder <NUM> and a bottom surface 66a formed at the oil supply guide <NUM> are provided on each side of the center axis O of the covering portion <NUM> in the arrangement direction orthogonal to the extending direction. The fixing member <NUM> is made of a material having the elastic force, and configured to sandwich the passage portion <NUM> by means of the elastic force from both sides of the passage portion <NUM> in the arrangement direction by making contact with the wall surfaces 73a and the bottom surface 66a which are provided on each side of the center axis O in the arrangement direction. With this arrangement, the fixing member <NUM> is unlikely to move, and the position of the oil supply guide <NUM> is stably fixed to that of the holder <NUM>.

In the false-twist texturing machine <NUM> of the present embodiment, the fixing member <NUM> is formed of the first part <NUM> in which each fitting portion <NUM> arranged to make contact with the wall surfaces 73a of the holder <NUM> and the bottom surface 66a of the oil supply guide <NUM> is formed and the second part <NUM> which is adjacent to the first part <NUM>. The opening <NUM> is formed across the first part <NUM> and the second part <NUM>. The opening <NUM> has a part which is formed at the second part <NUM> and which is larger than the outer shape of the covering portion <NUM> of the holder <NUM>. The fixing member <NUM> is able to take the first position where the covering portion <NUM> of the holder <NUM> is inserted into a part of the opening <NUM> at the first part <NUM> so that each fitting portion <NUM> is in contact with the wall surfaces 73a and the bottom surface 66a and the second position where the covering portion <NUM> of the holder <NUM> is inserted into a part of the opening <NUM> at the second part <NUM> so that each fitting portion <NUM> is not in contact with the wall surfaces 73a and the bottom surface 66a. With this arrangement, the fixing member <NUM> at the first position fixes the oil supply guide <NUM> to the holder <NUM>, and the fixing member <NUM> at the second position removes the fixation from the oil supply guide <NUM> to the holder <NUM>. Even when the fixation from the oil supply guide <NUM> to the holder <NUM> is removed, the covering portion <NUM> of the holder <NUM> is still inserted into the opening <NUM> of the fixing member <NUM>. It is therefore possible to avoid losing the fixing member <NUM>.

In the false-twist texturing machine <NUM> of the present embodiment, the first position of the fixing member <NUM> is below the second position of the fixing member <NUM> in the up-down direction. With this arrangement, as long as external force which lifts up the fixing member <NUM> is not applied to the fixing member <NUM>, the fixing member <NUM> is provided by means of the gravity at the first position where the oil supply guide <NUM> is fixed to the holder <NUM>. This prevents the fixing member <NUM> from unintentionally moving from the first position to the second position, and thus the fixation from the oil supply guide <NUM> to the holder <NUM> is also prevented from being removed.

In the false-twist texturing machine <NUM> of the present embodiment, the wall surfaces 73a equivalent to the first contact surface of the present invention and the bottom surfaces 66a equivalent to the second contact surface of the present invention are flat surfaces. With this arrangement, the holder <NUM> and the oil supply guide <NUM> are easily processed as compared to a case where, e.g., the fitting portions <NUM> are screws and the first contact surface and the second contact surface define screw grooves.

In the false-twist texturing machine <NUM> of the present embodiment, the oil supply guide <NUM> is made of ceramics. For example, assume that the fitting portions <NUM> are screws and the oil supply guide <NUM> is made of ceramics. In this case, when the fitting portions <NUM> of the fixing member <NUM> are fitted into the second spaces <NUM> of the oil supply guide <NUM> so as to fix the position of the oil supply guide <NUM>, the oil supply guide <NUM> may be broken. In the present embodiment, even when the oil supply guide <NUM> is made of ceramics, the breakage of the oil supply guide <NUM> is suppressed.

In the false-twist texturing machine <NUM> of the present embodiment, the annular packing <NUM> is provided between the oil supply guide <NUM> and the holder <NUM>. With this arrangement, a gap between the oil supply guide <NUM> and the holder <NUM> across the entire circumference of the oil supply guide <NUM> is sealed by the single packing <NUM>. Processing of the packing <NUM> is therefore facilitated.

In the false-twist texturing machine <NUM>, oil is additionally applied to a yarn Y to which oil has been applied. Therefore, a required application amount of oil applied to the yarn Y is small. The oil supply guide <NUM> is able to suppress the application amount of oil applied to the yarn Y to be relatively small. Therefore, the oiling device <NUM> including the oil supply guide <NUM> is preferably used in the false-twist texturing machine <NUM>. In the present embodiment, when the oiling device <NUM> including the oil supply guide <NUM> is used in the false-twist texturing machine <NUM>, the reproducibility of a position and posture of the oil supply guide <NUM> with respect to a yarn path is easily ensured.

The false-twist texturing machine <NUM> of the present embodiment includes each upstream yarn guide <NUM> and each downstream yarn guide <NUM> which are separated from each other in the yarn running direction in which the yarn Y runs. The holder <NUM> is provided between the upstream yarn guide <NUM> and the downstream yarn guide <NUM>. It is therefore possible to ensure the reproducibility of a position and posture of the oil supply guide <NUM> with respect to the yarn path of the yarn Y guided by the upstream yarn guide <NUM> and the downstream yarn guide <NUM>, and to easily fix the oil supply guide <NUM>.

The following will describe how an oil supply guide <NUM> of a second embodiment of the present invention is fixed, with reference to <FIG>. In the present embodiment, (i) first spaces <NUM> formed at a holder <NUM> and (ii) a fixing member <NUM> are mainly different from those in the first embodiment. The components having the same structures as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the first embodiment, two first spaces <NUM> are formed at the holder <NUM>. Each first space <NUM> is defined by a through hole <NUM> formed of two wall surfaces 73a which are provided on a single plane (plane S0, plane S1) orthogonal to the arrangement direction. In the present embodiment, four first spaces <NUM> are formed at the holder <NUM>. Each first space <NUM> is defined by a through hole <NUM> formed of two wall surfaces 73a (i.e., surfaces orthogonal to the circumferential direction) which are provided to oppose each other in the arrangement direction.

While a covering portion <NUM> covers the outer circumferential surface of a passage portion <NUM>, two of the four first spaces <NUM> can be provided above and below one of two second spaces <NUM>. The other two of the four first spaces <NUM> can be provided above and below the other of the two second spaces <NUM>. In regard to each second space <NUM>, a bottom surface 66a of the second space <NUM>, one of two wall surfaces 73a of a first space <NUM> provided above the second space <NUM>, and one of two wall surfaces 73a of a first space <NUM> provided below the second space <NUM> are provided on a single plane S2 orthogonal to the arrangement direction. Furthermore, the other of two wall surfaces 73a of the first space <NUM> provided above the second space <NUM> and the other of two wall surfaces 73a of the first space <NUM> provided below the second space <NUM> are not provided on the plane S2 but provided on a single plane S3 orthogonal to the arrangement direction.

The fixing member <NUM> of the present embodiment includes two fitting portions <NUM> and a connection portion <NUM> which connects the two fitting portions <NUM>. The fitting portions <NUM> are rod-shaped members. The two fitting portions <NUM> are in parallel to each other at longitudinal parts of the two fitting portions <NUM>. In this regard, end portions of the longitudinal parts of the two fitting portions <NUM> are connected by the connection portion <NUM>.

The two fitting portions <NUM> are fitted into the second spaces <NUM> and the first spaces <NUM> so that its above-described end portions connected by the connection portion <NUM> are respectively provided above its opposite end portions. Each fitting portion <NUM> is fitted into and across a second space <NUM> and two first spaces <NUM> provided above and below the second space <NUM>. In this regard, two wall surfaces 73a of each first space <NUM> which are provided to oppose each other in the arrangement direction are arranged to make contact with both end faces of the fitting portion <NUM> fitted into the first space <NUM> in the arrangement direction.

When the two fitting portions <NUM> of the fixing member <NUM> are fitted into the second spaces <NUM> and the first spaces <NUM>, the position of the fixing member <NUM> in the circumferential direction is fixed by the wall surfaces 73a of the first spaces <NUM> formed at the holder <NUM>. At this time, each fitting portion <NUM> has a part which is fitted into a first space <NUM> and which is sandwiched from both sides in the circumferential direction by two wall surfaces 73a of the first space <NUM>. The wall surfaces 73a are equivalent to the first contact surface of the present invention. The bottom surfaces 66a of the second spaces <NUM> formed at the oil supply guide <NUM> are arranged to fix the position of the oil supply guide <NUM> in the circumferential direction by making contact with the two fitting portions <NUM> of the fixing member <NUM> whose position is fixed in the circumferential direction. That is, the bottom surfaces 66a are equivalent to the second contact surface of the present invention.

When the two fitting portions <NUM> of the fixing member <NUM> are fitted into the second spaces <NUM> and the first space <NUM>, each fitting portion <NUM> is sandwiched in the arrangement direction by a bottom surface 66a of a second space <NUM> and wall surfaces 73a of two first spaces <NUM>, i.e., by (i) a bottom surface 66a and two wall surfaces 73a which are provided on the plane S2 and (ii) two wall surfaces 73a which are provided on the plane S3. With this arrangement, the movement of the fixing member <NUM> is regulated in the arrangement direction.

In the present embodiment, the two fitting portions <NUM> provided at the fixing member <NUM> may be independent from each other. For example, two fixing members <NUM> may be provided so that each fixing member <NUM> includes a corresponding fitting portion <NUM>. As described above, each fitting portion <NUM> is sandwiched in the arrangement direction by a bottom surface 66a of a second space <NUM> and wall surfaces 73a of two first spaces <NUM>, i.e., by (i) a bottom surface 66a and two wall surfaces 73a which are provided on the plane S2 and (ii) two wall surfaces 73a which are provided on the plane S3. With this arrangement, even when two fixing members <NUM> are provided, the movement of each fixing member <NUM> in the arrangement direction is regulated. As such, the fixing member <NUM> may be separated into plural parts each of which is regulated from moving in the arrangement direction.

As described above, the present embodiment makes it possible to easily ensure the reproducibility of a position of the oil supply guide <NUM> as in the first embodiment.

In the present embodiment, each through hole <NUM> which defines a single first space <NUM> includes two wall surfaces 73a arranged to sandwich a fitting portion <NUM> from both sides of the fitting portion <NUM> in the circumferential direction. With this arrangement, the position of the fixing member <NUM> is fixed in the circumferential direction by fitting each fitting portion <NUM> into a single first space <NUM>.

The following will describe how an oil supply guide <NUM> of a third embodiment of the present invention is fixed, with reference to <FIG>. In the present embodiment, (i) a second space <NUM> provided at the oil supply guide <NUM>, (ii) a first space <NUM> formed at a holder <NUM>, and (iii) a fixing member <NUM> are mainly different from those in the first embodiment. The components having the same structures as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the first embodiment, two second spaces <NUM> are formed at the oil supply guide <NUM>. Each second space <NUM> is defined by a concave groove <NUM> formed of a single bottom surface 66a and two wall surfaces 66b orthogonal to the extending direction. In the present embodiment, a single second space <NUM> is formed at the oil supply guide <NUM>. The second space <NUM> is defined by a hole <NUM>. The hole <NUM> includes a single bottom surface 66a, two wall surfaces 66b orthogonal to the extending direction, and two wall surfaces 266c which are parallel to the extending direction. The two wall surfaces 266c are provided to oppose each other in the arrangement direction.

In the first embodiment, two first spaces <NUM> are formed at the holder <NUM>. Two wall surfaces 73a of each first space <NUM> are provided on a single plane (plane S0, plane S1) orthogonal to the arrangement direction. In the present embodiment, a single first space <NUM> is formed at the holder <NUM>. Two wall surfaces 73a (orthogonal to the circumferential direction) of the single first space <NUM> are provided to oppose each other in the arrangement direction.

While a covering portion <NUM> covers the outer circumferential surface of a passage portion <NUM>, the first space <NUM> can be provided above the second space <NUM>. In this regard, one (right surface in <FIG>) of the two wall surfaces 266c of the second space <NUM> and one (right surface in <FIG>) of the two wall surfaces 73a of the first space <NUM> are provided on a single plane S4 orthogonal to the arrangement direction. The other (left surface in <FIG>) of the two wall surfaces 266c and the other (left surface in <FIG>) of the two wall surfaces 73a are provided on a single plane S5 orthogonal to the arrangement direction.

A fixing member <NUM> of the present embodiment includes a single fitting portion <NUM>. The fitting portion <NUM> is a rod-shaped member. An end portion of a longitudinal part of the fitting portion <NUM> is provided with an top portion <NUM>. The fitting portion <NUM> is fitted into the second space <NUM> and the first space <NUM> so that the top portion <NUM> (i.e., the above-described end portion of the longitudinal part of the fitting portion <NUM>) is provided above the opposite end portion of the longitudinal part of the fitting portion <NUM>. The fitting portion <NUM> is fitted into and across the second space <NUM> and the first space <NUM>. In this regard, both end faces of the fitting portion <NUM> in the arrangement direction are arranged to make contact with the two wall surfaces 266c of the second space <NUM> which are provided to oppose each other in the arrangement direction and the two wall surfaces 73a of the first space <NUM> which are provided to oppose each other in the arrangement direction. In the longitudinal part of the fitting portion <NUM>, an end portion opposite to the top portion <NUM> is arranged to make contact with the bottom surface 66a of the second space <NUM>.

When the fitting portion <NUM> of the fixing member <NUM> is fitted into the second space <NUM> and the first space <NUM>, the position of the fixing member <NUM> in the circumferential direction is fixed by the wall surfaces 73a of the first space <NUM> formed at the holder <NUM>. At this time, the fitting portion <NUM> is sandwiched from both sides of the fitting portion <NUM> in the circumferential direction by the two wall surfaces 73a of the single first space <NUM>. That is, the wall surfaces 73a are equivalent to the first contact surface of the present invention. Furthermore, the fitting portion <NUM> is sandwiched from both sides of the fitting portion <NUM> in the circumferential direction by the two wall surfaces 266c of the second space <NUM>. The two wall surfaces 266c of the single second space <NUM> formed at the oil supply guide <NUM> are arranged to fix the position of the oil supply guide <NUM> in the circumferential direction by making contact with the fitting portion <NUM> of the fixing member <NUM> whose position is fixed in the circumferential direction. That is, the wall surfaces 266c are equivalent to the second contact surface of the present invention.

When the fitting portion <NUM> of the fixing member <NUM> is fitted into the second space <NUM> and the first space <NUM>, the fitting portion <NUM> is sandwiched in the arrangement direction by the wall surfaces 266c of the second space <NUM> and the wall surfaces 73a of the first space <NUM>, i.e., by (i) a wall surface 266c and a wall surface 73a which are provided on the plane S4 and (ii) a wall surface 266c and a wall surface 73a which are provided on the plane S5. With this arrangement, the movement of the fixing member <NUM> is regulated in the arrangement direction.

In the present embodiment, a through hole <NUM> which defines the single first space <NUM> includes the two wall surfaces 73a arranged to sandwich the fitting portion <NUM> from both sides of the fitting portion <NUM> in the circumferential direction. With this arrangement, the position of the fixing member <NUM> is fixed in the circumferential direction by fitting the single fitting portion <NUM> into the first space <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the wall surfaces 266c which define the single second space <NUM> are arranged to fix the position of the oil supply guide <NUM> in the circumferential direction by making contact with the fitting portion <NUM> of the fixing member <NUM>. With this arrangement, the position of the oil supply guide <NUM> in the circumferential direction is fixed by fitting the fitting portion <NUM> into the single second space <NUM>.

The following will describe how an oil supply guide <NUM> of a fourth embodiment of the present invention is fixed, with reference to <FIG>. In the present embodiment, (i) a second space <NUM> provided at the oil supply guide <NUM>, (ii) first spaces <NUM> provided at a holder <NUM>, and (iii) a fixing member <NUM> are mainly different from those in the first embodiment. The components having the same structures as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the first embodiment, two second spaces <NUM> are formed at the oil supply guide <NUM>. Each second space <NUM> is defined by a concave groove <NUM> formed of a single bottom surface 66a and two wall surfaces 66b orthogonal to the extending direction. In the present embodiment, a single second space <NUM> is formed at the oil supply guide <NUM>. The second space <NUM> is defined by a hole <NUM>. The hole <NUM> includes a single bottom surface 66a, two wall surfaces 66b orthogonal to the extending direction, and two wall surfaces 366c which are parallel to the extending direction. The two wall surfaces 366c are provided to oppose each other in the arrangement direction.

In the first embodiment, two first spaces <NUM> are formed at the holder <NUM>. Each first space <NUM> is defined by a through hole <NUM>. In the present embodiment, each first space <NUM> is defined by a concave groove <NUM>. Each concave groove <NUM> is formed of a single bottom surface 373a and two wall surfaces 73b orthogonal to the extending direction. At a covering portion <NUM> of the holder <NUM>, a through hole <NUM> is formed in addition to the concave grooves <NUM> which define the first spaces <NUM>.

While the covering portion <NUM> covers the outer circumferential surface of a passage portion <NUM>, the through hole <NUM> can be provided above the second space <NUM>. In this regard, the two first spaces <NUM> are provided on both sides of the through hole <NUM> in the arrangement direction.

The fixing member <NUM> of the present embodiment includes three fitting portions <NUM> and a connection portion <NUM> which connects the three fitting portions <NUM>. The fitting portions <NUM> are rod-shaped members. The three fitting portions <NUM> are in parallel to one other at longitudinal parts of the three fitting portions <NUM>. The three fitting portions <NUM> are aligned in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the longitudinal parts of the three fitting portions <NUM>. In this regard, end portions of the longitudinal parts of the three fitting portions <NUM> are connected to one another by the connection portion <NUM>. Among the three fitting portions <NUM> aligned in the orthogonal direction, two outermost fitting portions <NUM> in the orthogonal direction are identical in length with each another. Among the three fitting portions <NUM> aligned in the orthogonal direction, the central fitting portion <NUM> is shorter in length than other two fitting portions <NUM> (i.e., two outermost fitting portions <NUM>).

The three fitting portions <NUM> are fitted into the second space <NUM> and the first spaces <NUM> so that its above-described end portions connected by the connection portion <NUM> are respectively provided above its opposite end portions of the three fitting portions <NUM>. Among the three fitting portions <NUM> aligned in the orthogonal direction, two outermost fitting portions <NUM> in the orthogonal direction are respectively fitted into the two first spaces <NUM>. In this regard, the two outermost fitting portions <NUM> in the orthogonal direction are in contact with the entire bottom surfaces 373a of the first spaces <NUM>. Among the three fitting portions <NUM> aligned in the orthogonal direction, the central fitting portion <NUM> is fitted into the second space <NUM> through the through hole <NUM>.

When the three fitting portions <NUM> of the fixing member <NUM> are fitted into the second space <NUM> and the first spaces <NUM>, the position of the fixing member <NUM> in the circumferential direction is fixed by the bottom surfaces 373a of the two first spaces <NUM> formed at the holder <NUM>. That is, the bottom surfaces 373a are equivalent to the first contact surface of the present invention. Furthermore, one of the three fitting portions <NUM> is sandwiched from both sides of the one of the three fitting portions <NUM> in the circumferential direction by the two wall surfaces 366c of the second space <NUM>. The two wall surfaces 366c of the single second space <NUM> formed at the oil supply guide <NUM> are arranged to fix the position of the oil supply guide <NUM> in the circumferential direction by making contact with the one of the three fitting portions <NUM> of the fixing member <NUM> whose position is fixed in the circumferential direction. That is, the wall surfaces 366c are equivalent to the second contact surface of the present invention. In this regard, wall surfaces of the through hole <NUM> do not make contact with the fitting portions <NUM>.

When the three fitting portions <NUM> of the fixing member <NUM> are fitted into the second space <NUM> and the first spaces <NUM>, the movement of the fixing member <NUM> in the arrangement direction is regulated by the two wall surfaces 366c of the second space <NUM> and the bottom surfaces 373a of the first spaces <NUM>. In other words, the movement of the fixing member <NUM> toward one side (i.e., the right side in <FIG>) in the arrangement direction is regulated by right one of the two wall surfaces 366c of the second space <NUM> and a bottom surface 373a of left one of the two first spaces <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The movement of the fixing member <NUM> toward the other side (i.e., the left side in <FIG>) in the arrangement direction is regulated by left one of the two wall surfaces 366c of the second space <NUM> and a bottom surface 373a of right one of the two first spaces <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

Among the three fitting portions <NUM> provided at the fixing member <NUM> of the present embodiment, a fitting portion <NUM> fitted into the second space <NUM> (i.e., the central fitting portion <NUM> described above) may be independent from two fitting portions <NUM> fitted into the first spaces <NUM> (i.e., two outermost fitting portions <NUM> described above). For example, two fixing members <NUM> may be provided and structured so that the fitting portion <NUM> fitted into the second space <NUM> is provided at one fixing member <NUM> and the two fitting portions <NUM> fitted into the first spaces <NUM> are provided at the other fixing member <NUM>. In this regard, the movement of one fixing member <NUM> in which the fitting portion <NUM> fitted into the second space <NUM> is provided is restricted in the arrangement direction by the two wall surfaces 366c of the second space <NUM>. The movement of the other fixing member <NUM> in which the two fitting portions <NUM> fitted into the first spaces <NUM> are provided is restricted in the arrangement direction by the bottom surfaces 373a of the two first spaces <NUM>. As such, the fixing member <NUM> may be separated into plural parts each of which is regulated from moving in the arrangement direction.

In the present embodiment, the wall surfaces 366c which define the single second space <NUM> are arranged to fix the position of the oil supply guide <NUM> in the circumferential direction by making contact with one of the fitting portions <NUM> of the fixing member <NUM>. With this arrangement, the position of the oil supply guide <NUM> in the circumferential direction is fixed by fitting the one of the fitting portions <NUM> into the single second space <NUM>.

The following will describe how an oil supply guide <NUM> of a fifth embodiment of the present invention is fixed, with reference to <FIG>. In the present embodiment, (i) a second space <NUM> provided at the oil supply guide <NUM> and (ii) first spaces <NUM> provided at a holder <NUM> are mainly different from those in the first embodiment. The components having the same structures as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the first embodiment, two second spaces <NUM> are formed at the oil supply guide <NUM>. Furthermore, two first spaces <NUM> defined by the through holes <NUM> are formed at the holder <NUM>. In the present embodiment, a single second space <NUM> is formed at the oil supply guide <NUM>. Furthermore, a single first space <NUM> defined by a through hole <NUM> and a single first space <NUM> defined by a concave groove <NUM> are formed at the holder <NUM>. The two first spaces <NUM> are provided on both sides of a center axis <NUM> of a covering portion <NUM> in the arrangement direction.

The first space <NUM> defined by the through hole <NUM> and the second space <NUM> can be aligned in the up-down direction while the covering portion <NUM> covers the outer circumferential surface of a passage portion <NUM>. One of two fitting portions <NUM> of a fixing member <NUM> is fitted into and across the second space <NUM> and this first space <NUM> which are aligned in the up-down direction. The other of the two fitting portions <NUM> of the fixing member <NUM> is fitted into the first space <NUM> defined by the concave groove <NUM>. In this regard, the other of the two fitting portions <NUM> is fitted into this first space <NUM> so as to make contact with an entire bottom surface 473a which is parallel to the extending direction of the concave groove <NUM> which defines this first space <NUM>.

When the two fitting portions <NUM> of the fixing member <NUM> are fitted into the second space <NUM> and the first spaces <NUM>, the position of the fixing member <NUM> in the circumferential direction is fixed by (i) two wall surfaces 73a of the first space <NUM> defined by the through hole <NUM> and (ii) a bottom surface 473a of the first space <NUM> defined by the concave groove <NUM>. In this regard, the wall surfaces 73a and the bottom surface 473a are formed at the holder <NUM>. That is, the wall surfaces 73a and the bottom surface 473a are equivalent to the first contact surface of the present invention. A bottom surface 66a of the second space <NUM> formed at the oil supply guide <NUM> is arranged to fix the position of the oil supply guide <NUM> in the circumferential direction by making contact with one of the fitting portions <NUM> of the fixing member <NUM> whose position is fixed in the circumferential direction. That is, the bottom surface 66a is equivalent to the second contact surface of the present invention.

When the two fitting portions <NUM> of the fixing member <NUM> are fitted into the second space <NUM> and the first spaces <NUM>, the movement of the fixing member <NUM> in the arrangement direction is regulated by (i) the single bottom surface 66a of a concave groove <NUM> which defines the second space <NUM>, (ii) the two wall surfaces 73a of the through hole <NUM> which defines one of the first spaces <NUM>, and (iii) the single bottom surface 473a of the concave groove <NUM> which defines the other of the first spaces <NUM>.

The following will describe how an oil supply guide <NUM> of a sixth embodiment of the present invention is fixed, with reference to <FIG>. In the present embodiment, the position of a packing <NUM> is mainly different from that in the first embodiment. The components having the same structures as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the first embodiment, the packing <NUM> is provided in the groove <NUM> formed on the inner surface of the covering portion <NUM> of the holder <NUM>. In the present embodiment, a packing <NUM> is provided between an end face 63a of a passage portion <NUM> of the oil supply guide <NUM> (i.e., an end face in the right part of <FIG>) and a connection surface 78a of a connection portion <NUM> of the holder <NUM>. In this regard, one of both end portions of an oil passage <NUM> in the extending direction is open to the end face 63a, and a connection end portion 79a of a connection passage <NUM> is open to the connection surface 78a. The connection surface 78a is provided with an annular groove <NUM> which is a concave on the other side of the connection surface 78a in the extending direction (i.e., concave to the right side of the connection surface 78a in <FIG>). The packing <NUM> is provided in this groove <NUM>. With this arrangement, when the passage portion <NUM> of the oil supply guide <NUM> is pushed into the covering portion <NUM> of the holder <NUM>, the packing <NUM> biases the oil supply guide <NUM> toward one side in the extending direction by means of repellent force.

The length of each second space <NUM> of the oil supply guide <NUM> in the extending direction is defined as L4, the length of each first space <NUM> of the holder <NUM> in the extending direction is defined as L5, and the length of each fitting portion <NUM> in the extending direction (i.e., the thickness of the fixing member <NUM>) is defined as L6. In this regard, each of the lengths L4 and L5 is longer than the length L6.

When fitting portions <NUM> of the fixing member <NUM> are fitted into and across second spaces <NUM> and first spaces <NUM> so as to make contact with bottom surfaces 66a of the oil supply guide <NUM> and wall surfaces 73a of the holder <NUM>, one of wall surfaces 66b (i.e., surfaces orthogonal to the extending direction) of each second space <NUM> of the oil supply guide <NUM> makes contact with a wall surface of a fitting portion <NUM> on the other side in the extending direction. To be more specific, one (surface oriented in a direction opposite to the connection portion <NUM>: surface equivalent to a second orthogonal surface of the present invention) of two wall surfaces 66b of each second space <NUM> is oriented to one side in the extending direction and makes contact with a fitting portion <NUM>. Furthermore, one of wall surfaces 73b (i.e., surfaces orthogonal to the extending direction) of each first space <NUM> of the holder <NUM> makes contact with a wall surface of a fitting portion <NUM> on one side in the extending direction. To be more specific, one (surface oriented to the connection portion <NUM>: surface equivalent to a first orthogonal direction of the present invention) of two wall surfaces 73b of each first space <NUM> is oriented to the other side in the extending direction and makes contact with a fitting portion <NUM>. In other words, each fitting portion <NUM> is sandwiched from both sides of each fitting portion <NUM> in the extending direction by one of two wall surfaces 66b of a second space <NUM> and one of two wall surfaces 73b of a first space <NUM>, i.e., a wall surface 66b oriented to one side in the extending direction and a wall surface 73b oriented to the other side in the extending direction. The oil supply guide <NUM> is biased by the packing <NUM> so that each wall surface 66b oriented to one side in the extending direction approaches each wall surface 73b oriented to the other side in the extending direction.

In the present embodiment, the oil supply guide <NUM> is biased by the packing <NUM> so that one of two wall surfaces 66b of each second space <NUM> approaches one of two wall surfaces 73b of each first space <NUM>, i.e., so that each wall surface 66b oriented to one side in the extending direction approaches each wall surface 73b oriented to the other side in the extending direction. With this arrangement, by sandwiching each fitting portion <NUM> of the fixing member <NUM> by a wall surface 66b oriented to one side in the extending direction and a wall surface 73b oriented to the other side in the extending direction, the oil supply guide <NUM> and the holder <NUM> are accurately positioned in the extending direction without accurate processing.

The embodiment of the present invention is described hereinabove. However, the specific structure of the present invention shall not be interpreted as to be limited to the above described embodiment. The scope of the present invention is defined not by the above embodiment but by claims set forth below, and shall encompass the equivalents in the meaning of the claims and every modification within the scope of the claims.

In the first embodiment described above, the two second spaces <NUM> and the two first spaces <NUM> are provided. In this regard, a single bottom surface 66a of one second space <NUM> and two wall surfaces 73a of one first space <NUM> are provided on the single plane S0. A single bottom surface 66a of the other second space <NUM> and two wall surfaces 73a of the other first space <NUM> are provided on the single plane S1. The planes S0 and S1 are orthogonal to the arrangement direction. However, the disclosure is not limited to this.

In a first modification of the first embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, a plane S6 on which a single bottom surface 66a of one second space <NUM> (i.e., right second space <NUM> in <FIG>) and two wall surfaces 73a of one first space <NUM> (i.e., right first space <NUM> in <FIG>) are provided is inclined from a plane orthogonal to the arrangement direction. To be more specific, the plane S6 which is parallel to the extending direction is inclined so that upper one of these two wall surfaces 73a is provided on the other side in the arrangement direction as compared to lower one of the two wall surfaces 73a.

A plane S7 on which a single bottom surface 66a of the other second space <NUM> (i.e., left second space <NUM> in <FIG>) and two wall surfaces 73a of the other first space <NUM> (i.e., left first space <NUM> in <FIG>) are provided is also inclined from a plane orthogonal to the arrangement direction. To be more specific, the plane S7 which is parallel to the extending direction is inclined so that upper one of these two wall surfaces 73a is provided on one side in the arrangement direction as compared to lower one of the two wall surfaces 73a.

In the first embodiment described above, each fitting portion <NUM> fitted into a second space <NUM> and a first space <NUM> is arranged to make contact with a single bottom surface 66a of the first space <NUM> and two wall surfaces 73a of the first space <NUM>. However, the disclosure is not limited to this.

In a second modification of the first embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, each fitting portion <NUM> fitted into a second space <NUM> and a first space <NUM> is arranged to make contact with an upper part of a single bottom surface 66a of the second space <NUM> and upper one of two wall surfaces 73a of the first space <NUM>. In this regard, each fitting portion <NUM> does not make contact with a lower part of the bottom surface 66a of the second space <NUM> and lower one of the two wall surfaces 73a of the first space <NUM>.

In the second modification of the first embodiment, the movement of the oil supply guide <NUM> in one direction (clockwise direction) of the circumferential direction is regulated by a fitting portion <NUM> which is fitted into the right second space <NUM> and the right first space <NUM> and which is in contact with an upper part of a bottom surface 66a of the right second space <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The movement of the oil supply guide <NUM> in the other direction (counterclockwise direction) of the circumferential direction is regulated by a fitting portion <NUM> which is fitted into the left second space <NUM> and the left first space <NUM> and which is in contact with an upper part of a bottom surface 66a of the left second space <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

In the second embodiment, each fitting portion <NUM> is fitted into and across a second space <NUM> and two first spaces <NUM> provided above and below the second space <NUM>. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. Each fitting portion <NUM> may be fitted into and across a second space <NUM> and a first space <NUM> provided above the second space <NUM>.

In the third embodiment, the fitting portion <NUM> fitted into and across the second space <NUM> and the first space <NUM> is arranged to make contact with the bottom surface 66a of the second space <NUM>. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. The fitting portion <NUM> may not make contact with the bottom surface 66a.

In the fourth and fifth embodiments, each fitting portion <NUM> is arranged to make contact with the entire bottom surface 373a/473a of a concave groove <NUM>/<NUM> which defines a first space <NUM>. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. Each fitting portion <NUM> may be arranged to make contact with only a part of the bottom surface 373a/473a. In the fifth embodiment, one fitting member <NUM> fitted into and across the second space <NUM> and a first space <NUM> may not make contact with lower one of two wall surfaces 73a of the first space <NUM>.

In the second and third embodiments, wall surfaces which define each first space <NUM> include two wall surfaces 73a arranged to sandwich a fitting portion <NUM> from both sides of the fitting portions <NUM> in the arrangement direction. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. The two wall surfaces 73a may be arranged to sandwich the fitting portion <NUM>, e.g., in the up-down direction as long as the two wall surfaces 73a sandwich the fitting portion <NUM> in a direction intersecting with the extending direction.

In the fifth embodiment described above, as shown in <FIG>, two wall surfaces 73a of the right first space <NUM> and the bottom surface 473a of the left first space <NUM> are equivalent to the first contact surface of the present invention. In a first modification of the fifth embodiment, when the oil supply guide <NUM> is fixed as shown in <FIG>, only the bottom surface 473a of the left first space <NUM> is equivalent to the first contact surface of the present invention. That is, the two wall surfaces 73a of the right first space <NUM> do not make contact with a fitting portion <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

In the embodiments above, the passage portion <NUM> is provided at the oil supply guide <NUM>, and the covering portion <NUM> is provided at the holder <NUM>. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. The passage portion <NUM> may be provided at the holder <NUM> and the covering portion <NUM> may be provided at the oil supply guide <NUM>.

In the embodiments above, each bottom surface 66a functioning as the second contact surface of the present invention is provided at the passage portion <NUM> of the oil supply guide <NUM>, and each wall surface 73a functioning as the first contact surface of the present invention is provided at the covering portion <NUM> of the holder <NUM>. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. Each surface functioning as the first contact surface and each surface functioning as the second contact surface may not be provided at the passage portion <NUM> and the covering portion <NUM>, etc. where the oil supply guide <NUM> and the holder <NUM> overlap each other. For example, each wall surface 73a functioning as the first contact surface may be provided at the connection portion <NUM> of the holder <NUM>. Each bottom surface 66a functioning as the second contact surface may be provided at the guide main body <NUM> of the oil supply guide <NUM>.

In the embodiments above, the alignment of the oil supply guide <NUM> and the holder <NUM> with respect to the circumferential direction is facilitated by fitting the two protrusions <NUM> provided at the oil supply guide <NUM> into the two cutouts <NUM> provided at the holder <NUM>. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. The cutouts <NUM> may be suitably changed as long as the cutouts <NUM> are concave in the extending direction of the holder <NUM>. For example, holes may be provided instead of the cutouts <NUM>. The number of pairs of the cutouts <NUM> and the protrusions <NUM> may not be two. The number of pairs of the cutouts <NUM> and the protrusions <NUM> may be one, or three or more. The cutouts <NUM> and the protrusions <NUM> may not be provided.

In the first embodiment described above, the groove <NUM> in which the packing <NUM> is provided is formed on the inner surface of the covering portion <NUM> of the holder <NUM>. In the sixth embodiment described above, the groove <NUM> in which the packing <NUM> is provided is formed on the connection surface 78a of the connection portion <NUM> of the holder <NUM>. However, the grooves <NUM> and <NUM> may not be provided.

In the first embodiment described above, two wall surfaces 73a of the holder <NUM> and a single bottom surface 66a of the oil supply guide <NUM> are provided on each side of the center axis O in the arrangement direction. The fixing member <NUM> is made of a material having the elastic force, and configured to sandwich the passage portion <NUM> by means of the elastic force from both sides of the passage portion <NUM> in the arrangement direction by making contact with the wall surfaces 73a and the bottom surface 66a which are provided on each side of the center axis O in the arrangement direction. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. The arrangement of wall surfaces 73a and bottom surfaces 66a may be suitably changed as long as at least the wall surfaces 73a or the bottom surfaces 66a are provided on one side of the center axis O in the arrangement direction and at least the wall surfaces 73a or the bottom surfaces 66a are provided on the other side of the center axis O in the arrangement direction. The fixing member <NUM> may not be made of a material having the elastic force.

In the embodiments above, the fixing member <NUM> is able to take the first position where each fitting portion <NUM> is fitted into a second space <NUM> and a first space <NUM> and the second position where each fitting portion <NUM> is not fitted into the second space <NUM> and the first space <NUM>. In this regard, the first position is provided below the second position. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the first position and the second position may be adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction. The fixing member <NUM> may not take the first position and the second position while the opening <NUM> is inserted into the holder <NUM>. The fixing member <NUM> may be removed from the holder <NUM> at the time of removing the fixation of the oil supply guide <NUM>.

In the embodiments above, the fitting direction in which each fitting portion <NUM> is fitted into a second space <NUM> and a first space <NUM> is the up-down direction (the direction of a straight line). However, the disclosure is not limited to this. The fitting direction may be suitably changed as long as the fitting direction intersects with the circumferential direction.

In the embodiments above, each wall surface 73a functioning as the first contact surface of the present invention and each bottom surface 66a functioning as the second contact surface of the present invention are flat surfaces. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. For example, each fitting portion <NUM> may be a screw and surfaces functioning as the first and second contact surfaces of the present invention may define each screw groove.

In the embodiments above, the packing <NUM> is annular in shape. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the packing <NUM> may be separated into plural parts.

In the embodiments above, the oil supply guide <NUM> is made of ceramics. However, a material of the oil supply guide <NUM> is not limited to ceramics. For example, stainless steel and plated metal are available as the material of the oil supply guide <NUM>. A part of the oil supply guide <NUM> may be made of ceramics and the remaining part of the oil supply guide <NUM> may be made of a material different from ceramics.

In the embodiments above, the holder <NUM> is provided between the upstream yarn guide <NUM> and the downstream yarn guide <NUM>. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. Only one of the upstream and downstream yarn guides <NUM> and <NUM> may be provided, or both of the upstream and downstream yarn guides <NUM> and <NUM> may not be provided.

Claim 1:
A textile machine (<NUM>) comprising an oiling device (<NUM>) configured to apply oil to a yarn (Y) running along a predetermined yarn path,
the oiling device (<NUM>) including:
a holder (<NUM>) attached to a base (<NUM>);
an oil supply guide (<NUM>) which includes a discharge port (61a) and a pair of yarn guiding members (<NUM>) provided on both sides of the discharge port (61a) in a direction orthogonal to a yarn running direction and which is attachable to and detachable from the holder (<NUM>), the oil being discharged from the discharge port (61a), the yarn (Y) running in the yarn running direction, and the paired yarn guiding members (<NUM>) being configured to guide the yarn (Y);
a fixing member (<NUM>) configured to fix the oil supply guide (<NUM>) to the holder (<NUM>); and
a packing (<NUM>) provided between the holder (<NUM>) and the oil supply guide (<NUM>),
one of the oil supply guide (<NUM>) and the holder (<NUM>) being provided with a cylindrical passage portion (<NUM>) in which an oil passage (<NUM>) is formed, the oil flowing toward the discharge port (61a) in the oil passage (<NUM>),
the other of the oil supply guide (<NUM>) and the holder (<NUM>) not being provided with the passage portion (<NUM>) but being provided with a cylindrical covering portion (<NUM>) which is coaxial with the passage portion (<NUM>) and which is able to cover an outer circumferential surface of the passage portion (<NUM>),
the holder (<NUM>) being provided with at least one first contact surface (73a, 373a, 473a) which is able to make contact with the fixing member (<NUM>),
the oil supply guide (<NUM>) being provided with at least one second contact surface (66a, 266c, 366c) which is able to make contact with the fixing member (<NUM>),
the at least one first contact surface (73a, 373a, 473a) being arranged to fix the position of the fixing member (<NUM>) in a circumferential direction of the passage portion (<NUM>) by making contact with the fixing member (<NUM>), and
the at least one second contact surface (66a, 266c, 366c) being arranged to fix the position of the oil supply guide (<NUM>) in the circumferential direction by making contact with the fixing member (<NUM>) the position of which is fixed by the at least one first contact surface (73a, 373a, 473a) in the circumferential direction.