Patent Description:
For example, an induction heating roller recited in <CIT> is arranged such that a heater with a coil is provided inside a roller main body made of a magnetic material, and an outer cylindrical part (heating target) of the roller main body is induction-heated as an alternate current is supplied to the coil. To be more specific, a front lid (hereinafter, end face part) is connected to an end portion of the outer cylindrical part on one end side in the axial direction, whereas a magnetic yoke is provided to be adjacent to the other end side of the outer cylindrical part in the axial direction. When an alternate current is supplied to the coil, an alternating magnetic flux is generated to pass through the iron core of the heater, the end face part, the outer cylindrical part, and the magnetic yoke. As a result, an eddy current is generated by electromagnetic induction to flow in the outer cylindrical part in the circumferential direction, and the outer cylindrical part is heated by Joule heat generated by the eddy current.

Further examples of the prior art can be seen in documents <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>].

Because a magnetic flux has a characteristic of traveling the shortest path, the magnetic flux mainly passes through a location inside a corner portion between the outer cylindrical part and the end face part. For this reason, when the end face part is thick to some extent, the magnetic flux scarcely passes through the one end side of the end face part and the outer cylindrical part, with the result that the one end portion of the roller main body is not sufficiently heated. As a result, the temperature distribution in the axial direction of the outer circumferential surface (roller surface) of the roller main body is disadvantageously uneven. If the thickness of the end face part is reduced, the magnetic flux passes through the one end side of the end face part and the outer cylindrical part. Because heat generation at the one end portion of the roller main body is facilitated, the temperature distribution of the roller surface is improved. In this case, however, the rigidity of the end face part is decreased and hence the strength of the roller main body is decreased.

To solve the problem above, an object of an induction heating roller of the present invention is to equalize the temperature distribution in the axial direction of a roller surface while suppressing decrease in strength of a roller main body.

An induction heating roller of the present invention includes: a roller main body including a cylindrical heating target and an end face part connected to an end portion of the heating target on one end side in an axial direction; and a heater including a coil which is provided inside the roller main body, the heating target being induction-heated as an alternate current is supplied to the coil, and in a region between the heating target and the heater in a radial direction in an inner surface of the end face part, a groove portion being formed to extend in a circumferential direction.

In the present invention, a magnetic flux passing through the end face part makes a detour toward the one end side in the axial direction to circumvent the groove portion. It is therefore possible to facilitate heat generation at the one end portion of the roller main body, so as to improve the temperature distribution in the axial direction of the roller surface. Furthermore, because merely the groove portion is formed in a part of the inner surface of the end face part, the rigidity of the end face part is not significantly lowered. In this way, the present invention makes it possible to equalize the temperature distribution in the axial direction of the roller surface while suppressing deterioration in strength of the roller main body.

In the present invention, preferably, the groove portion is an uninterrupted annular groove extending in the circumferential direction.

Because the groove portion is annular, heat generation at the one end portion of the roller main body is facilitated at every part in the circumferential direction. It is therefore possible to effectively equalize the temperature distribution in the axial direction of the roller surface.

In the present invention, preferably, the groove portion is formed to be adjacent to the heating target.

When the groove portion is adjacent to the heating target, the magnetic flux which makes a detour toward the one end side to circumvent the groove portion passes through the one end portion of the heating target. Heat generation at the one end portion of the heating target is therefore facilitated, and the temperature distribution in the axial direction of the roller surface is further effectively equalized.

In the present invention, preferably, the groove portion is formed only in the region between the heating target and the heater in the radial direction, in the inner surface of the end face part.

Because the range of the formation of the groove portion is limited to the region between the heating target and the heater, decrease in rigidity of the end face part is suppressed and hence decrease in strength of the roller main body is suppressed.

In the present invention, preferably, the groove portion is deepest at an outermost part in the radial direction.

Because the depth of the groove portion is arranged in this way, the capacity of the groove portion is small. For this reason, decrease in rigidity of the end face part is suppressed and hence decrease in strength of the roller main body is suppressed. Furthermore, because the groove portion is deepest at the outermost part in the radial direction, the magnetic flux circumventing the deepest part of the groove portion toward the one end side is guided to pass through the one end portion of the heating target. Heat generation at the one end portion of the heating target is therefore facilitated, and the temperature distribution in the axial direction of the roller surface is further effectively equalized.

In the present invention, preferably, a part of the end face part where the groove portion is not formed is thicker than the heating target.

This arrangement makes it possible to increase the rigidity of the end face part, and therefore to increase the strength of the roller main body.

In the present invention, preferably, the minimum thickness of a part of the end face part where the groove portion is formed is less than the thickness of the heating target.

With this arrangement, the path of the magnetic flux passing at the deepest part of the groove portion (i.e., the thinnest part of the end face part) is further shifted to the one end side. Heat generation at the one end portion of the roller main body is therefore further facilitated, and the temperature distribution in the axial direction of the roller surface is further effectively equalized.

In the present invention, preferably, the minimum thickness of the part of the end face part where the groove portion is formed is <NUM> millimeters or more.

This arrangement makes it possible to avoid saturation of the magnetic flux at the thinnest part of the end face part, and to suppress the decrease in efficiency of the induction heating.

In the present invention, preferably, the groove portion is filled with a non-magnetic member. As the non-magnetic member, a part of a heat equalizing member is inserted into the groove portion.

As compared to a case where the groove portion is a void space, it is possible to increase the rigidity of the end face part, and therefore to increase the strength of the roller main body.

In the present invention, the induction heating roller further includes a non-magnetic heat equalizing member which is provided to be in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the heating target and is higher in thermal conductivity in the axial direction than at least the inner circumferential surface of the heating target.

Because of this heat equalizing member, it is possible to further effectively equalize the temperature distribution in the axial direction of the roller surface. Furthermore, the groove portion is advantageously reinforced by the heat equalizing member.

In the present invention, the heat equalizing member is made of a fiber composite material.

When the orientation of fibers in the fiber composite material is suitably arranged, the physical properties such as thermal conductivity and electric resistivity are anisotropic. The fiber composite material arranged in this way is suitable as a material of the heat equalizing member.

In an example which is not part of the present invention, the heat equalizing member is made of a non-magnetic metal material which is higher in thermal conductivity than at least the inner circumferential surface of the heating target.

Processing of metal materials is typically easier than processing of fiber composite materials. For this reason, the heat equalizing member can be easily shaped when the heat equalizing member is made of a metal material.

In the present invention, preferably, the roller main body is cantilevered at an end portion on the other end side in the axial direction.

When the roller main body is cantilevered at an end portion on the other end side, the one end portion of the roller main body is a free end exposed to the outside air, and the temperature of the roller surface tends to significantly decrease. The present invention which makes it possible to facilitate heat generation at the one end portion of the roller main body is therefore particularly effective.

A spun yarn drawing device of the present invention includes any one of the above-described induction heating rollers, yarns being wound on an outer circumferential surface of the roller main body to be aligned in the axial direction.

In the present invention, it is possible to equalize the temperature distribution in the axial direction of the roller surface. The yarns wound on the roller main body are evenly heated, differences in quality between the yarns are suppressed, and consequently the quality of the yarns is improved.

The following will describe an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a spun yarn take-up machine including an induction heating roller of the present embodiment. As shown in <FIG>, the spun yarn take-up machine <NUM> is configured to draw, by a spun yarn drawing device <NUM>, plural (six in this embodiment) yarns Y serially spun out from a spinning apparatus <NUM> and made of a solidified molten fibrous material such as polyester, and then to wind the yarns Y by a yarn winding apparatus <NUM>. Hereinafter, explanations will be given with reference to the directions shown in the figures.

The spinning apparatus <NUM> is configured to generate the yarns Y by continuously spinning out a molten fibrous material such as polyester. To the yarns Y spun out from the spinning apparatus <NUM>, oil is applied at an oil guide <NUM>. The yarns Y are then sent to the spun yarn drawing device <NUM> via a guide roller <NUM>.

The spun yarn drawing device <NUM> is an apparatus for heating and drawing the yarns Y and is provided below the spinning apparatus <NUM>. The spun yarn drawing device <NUM> includes plural (five in this embodiment) godet rollers <NUM> to <NUM> housed in a thermal insulation box <NUM>. The godet rollers <NUM> to <NUM> are induction heating rollers which are rotationally driven by a motor and are induction-heated by power supply to a coil. Yarns Y are wound onto the godet rollers <NUM> to <NUM>. At a lower part of a right side portion of the thermal insulation box <NUM>, an inlet 12a is formed to introduce yarns Y into the thermal insulation box <NUM>. At an upper part of the right side portion of the thermal insulation box <NUM>, an outlet 12b is formed to take yarns Y out from the thermal insulation box <NUM>. The yarns Y are wound onto each of the godet rollers <NUM> to <NUM> at a winding angle of less than <NUM> degrees. The yarns Y are wound onto the godet rollers <NUM> to <NUM> in order, from the lowest godet roller <NUM>.

The lower three godet rollers <NUM> to <NUM> are preheating rollers for preliminarily heating the yarns Y before drawing them. The roller surface temperature of each of these rollers is arranged to be equal to or higher than the glass transition temperature of the yarns Y (e.g., set at about <NUM> to <NUM> degrees centigrade). Meanwhile, the upper two godet rollers <NUM> and <NUM> are conditioning rollers for thermally setting the drawn yarns Y. The roller surface temperature of each of these rollers is arranged to be higher than the roller surface temperatures of the lower three godet rollers <NUM> to <NUM> (e.g., set at about <NUM> to <NUM> degrees centigrade). The yarn feeding speeds of the upper two godet rollers <NUM> and <NUM> are higher than those of the lower three godet rollers <NUM> to <NUM>.

The yarns Y introduced into the thermal insulation box <NUM> through the inlet 12a are, to begin with, preliminarily heated to a drawable temperature while being transferred by the godet rollers <NUM> to <NUM>. The preliminarily-heated yarns Y are drawn on account of a difference in yarn feeding speed between the godet roller <NUM> and the godet roller <NUM>. The yarns Y are then further heated while being transferred by the godet rollers <NUM> and <NUM>, with the result that the drawn state is thermally set. The yarns Y having been drawn in this way go out from the thermal insulation box <NUM> through the outlet 12b.

The yarns Y drawn by the spun yarn drawing device <NUM> are sent to the yarn winding apparatus <NUM> via a guide roller <NUM>. The yarn winding apparatus <NUM> is an apparatus for winding the yarns Y and is provided below the spun yarn drawing device <NUM>. The yarn winding apparatus <NUM> includes members such as a bobbin holder <NUM> and a contact roller <NUM>. The bobbin holder <NUM> is cylindrical in shape and extends in the front-rear direction. The bobbin holder <NUM> is rotationally driven by an unillustrated motor. To the bobbin holder <NUM>, bobbins B are attached along the axial direction to be side by side. By rotating the bobbin holder <NUM>, the yarn winding apparatus <NUM> simultaneously winds the yarns Y onto the bobbins B, so as to produce packages P. The contact roller <NUM> makes contact with the surfaces of the packages P to adjust the shape of each package P by applying a predetermined contact pressure to each package P.

The following will describe an induction heating roller <NUM> which is used as the godet rollers <NUM> to <NUM>, with reference to <FIG> is a cross section of the induction heating roller <NUM> of the present embodiment, which is taken along an axial direction. A roller main body <NUM> of the induction heating roller <NUM> is cantilevered by a motor <NUM> which rotationally drives the roller main body <NUM>. Hereinafter, a direction in which the cylindrical roller main body <NUM> extends (i.e., the left-right direction in <FIG>) will be referred to as an axial direction. In the axial direction, the leading end side of the roller main body <NUM> (i.e., the right side in <FIG>) is equivalent to one end side in the present invention, whereas the base end side opposite to the leading end side (i.e., the left side in <FIG>) is equivalent to the other end side in the present invention. Furthermore, the radial direction of the roller main body <NUM> may be simply referred to as radial direction, and the circumferential direction of the roller main body <NUM> may be simply referred to as circumferential direction.

The induction heating roller <NUM> includes a cylindrical roller main body <NUM> extending in the axial direction and a heater <NUM> which is configured to heat an outer circumferential surface (hereinafter, a roller surface 31a) of the roller main body <NUM>. The induction heating roller <NUM> is configured to heat the roller surface 31a by induction heating by a coil <NUM> provided in the heater <NUM>. With this, yarns Y wound on the roller surface 31a to be aligned in the axial direction are heated.

The roller main body <NUM> is made of carbon steel which is a magnetic body and a conductor. The roller main body <NUM> is arranged such that a cylindrical outer cylindrical part <NUM>, a cylindrical shaft center part <NUM>, and a disc-shaped end face part <NUM> are integrally formed. The outer cylindrical part <NUM> is provided radially outside the coil <NUM>. The shaft center part <NUM> is provided radially inside the coil <NUM>. The end face part <NUM> connects a leading end portion of the heating target <NUM> with a leading end portion of the shaft center part <NUM>. In this regard, when each of the outer cylindrical part <NUM> and the end face part <NUM> is a magnetic body and a conductor, the outer cylindrical part <NUM> and the end face part <NUM> may be made of different materials. Even when the outer cylindrical part <NUM> and the end face part <NUM> are made of the same material, the outer cylindrical part <NUM> and the end face part <NUM> may be different members. The base end side of the roller main body <NUM> is open, and an output shaft <NUM> of the motor <NUM> is inserted through this opening into the roller main body <NUM>.

At the shaft center part <NUM> of the roller main body <NUM>, a shaft inserting hole 34a is formed to extend along the axial direction. To the shaft inserting hole 34a, the output shaft <NUM> of the motor <NUM> inserted from the base end side is fixed by unillustrated fixing means. As a result, the base end portion of the roller main body <NUM> is cantilevered by the output shaft <NUM> of the motor <NUM>, and hence the roller main body <NUM> and the output shaft <NUM> are rotatable together.

In the present embodiment, in order to efficiently heat the roller surface 31a, the outer cylindrical part <NUM> is thin to some degree, i.e., about <NUM> to <NUM> millimeters in thickness. When the end face part <NUM> is more or less as thick as the outer cylindrical part <NUM>, the strength of the roller main body <NUM> may be insufficient. For this reason, the end face part <NUM> is thicker than the outer cylindrical part <NUM>, i.e., about <NUM> to <NUM> millimeters in thickness. This thickness is a mere example, and the outer cylindrical part <NUM> may be as thick as or thicker than the end face part <NUM>.

Inside the roller main body <NUM>, a cylindrical heat equalizing member <NUM> is provided to be in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the outer cylindrical part <NUM>. The heat equalizing member <NUM> is made of C/C composite (carbon fiber reinforced-carbon matrix-composite) including carbon fibers and graphite, for example. <FIG> is a table of physical properties of the roller main body <NUM> and the heat equalizing member <NUM> of the present embodiment. In the C/C composite of which the heat equalizing member <NUM> made, carbon fibers are oriented in the axial direction or oriented randomly. For this reason, as shown in <FIG>, the thermal conductivity in the axial direction of the heat equalizing member <NUM> is higher than the thermal conductivity of the roller main body <NUM> (at least the thermal conductivity of the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylindrical part <NUM>). The heat equalizing member <NUM> is therefore able to equalize the temperature distribution in the axial direction of the roller surface 31a. Furthermore, because the electric resistivity in the circumferential direction of the heat equalizing member <NUM> is higher than the electric resistivity of the outer cylindrical part <NUM>, an eddy current is less likely to flow in the heat equalizing member <NUM>. Furthermore, because the C/C composite is a non-magnetic material, the magnetic flux scarcely passes through the heat equalizing member <NUM>. Induction heating of the heat equalizing member <NUM> is therefore suppressed.

Referring back to <FIG>, the outer diameter of the heat equalizing member <NUM> is substantially identical with the inner diameter of the outer cylindrical part <NUM>, and the outer circumferential surface of the heat equalizing member <NUM> is substantially entirely in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylindrical part <NUM>. The length in the axial direction of the heat equalizing member <NUM> is substantially identical with the length of the outer cylindrical part <NUM> of the roller main body <NUM>. A leading end portion of the heat equalizing member <NUM> is inserted into a later-described groove portion 35a. A base end portion of the heat equalizing member <NUM> is fixed to a base end portion of the outer cylindrical part <NUM> by an annular fixing ring <NUM>. The fixing ring <NUM> is made of, for example, a magnetic material such as carbon steel.

A flange <NUM> is provided on the base end side of the roller main body <NUM>. The flange <NUM> is a magnetic body and is, for example, made of carbon steel in the same manner as the roller main body <NUM>. The flange <NUM> is a disc-shaped member, and a through hole 38a is formed at a central part of the flange <NUM> to allow the output shaft <NUM> of the motor <NUM> to be inserted. The flange <NUM> extends radially outward as compared to the coil <NUM>. An annular groove 38b is formed in an inner surface of a peripheral edge portion of the flange <NUM>. In this annular groove 38b, the above-described fixing ring <NUM> is provided not to make contact with surfaces constituting annular groove 38b.

The heater <NUM> will be described. The heater <NUM> includes a coil <NUM> and a bobbin member <NUM>. The coil <NUM> is provided for induction heating of the roller main body <NUM>. The coil <NUM> is wound onto the cylindrical bobbin member <NUM>. In the radial direction, the coil <NUM> is provided inside the outer cylindrical part <NUM> of the roller main body <NUM> and outside the shaft center part <NUM>.

The bobbin member <NUM> is made of carbon steel in the same manner as the roller main body <NUM>, for example. The bobbin member <NUM> includes a cylindrical iron core portion 42a on which the coil <NUM> is wound and a flange portion 42b which protrudes radially outward from a leading end portion of the iron core portion 42a. A leading end portion of the bobbin member <NUM> is slightly separated from the end face part <NUM>, and a base end portion of the bobbin member <NUM> is attached to the flange <NUM>. Although not illustrated, the bobbin member <NUM> is partially cut out in the circumferential direction and is therefore C-shaped in cross section. For this reason, an eddy current is unlikely to flow in the bobbin member <NUM>, with the result that induction heating of the bobbin member <NUM> is suppressed.

<FIG> includes a partial enlarged cross section of the induction heating roller <NUM> of the present embodiment and a graph showing the temperature distribution of the roller surface. When a highfrequency current is supplied to the coil <NUM>, a variable magnetic field is generated around the coil <NUM>. As a result, an eddy current is generated by electromagnetic induction to flow in the outer cylindrical part <NUM> of the roller main body <NUM> in the circumferential direction, and the outer cylindrical part <NUM> is heated by Joule heat generated by the eddy current. Consequently, the temperature of the roller surface 31a increases. At this stage, as indicated by arrows in <FIG>, a magnetic flux circuit is formed to pass through the iron core portion 42a of the bobbin member <NUM>, the flange portion 42b of the bobbin member <NUM>, the end face part <NUM> of the roller main body <NUM>, the outer cylindrical part <NUM> of the roller main body <NUM>, the fixing ring <NUM>, and the flange <NUM>. The direction of the magnetic flux changes when the direction of the current changes.

<FIG> includes a partial enlarged cross section of a known induction heating roller <NUM> and a graph showing the temperature distribution of a roller surface 31a. It should be noted that the components having the same structures as those of the induction heating roller <NUM> of the embodiment above are given the same reference numerals.

Because a magnetic flux has a characteristic of traveling the shortest path, the magnetic flux mainly passes through a location inside a corner portion between the outer cylindrical part <NUM> and the end face part <NUM>. For this reason, when the end face part <NUM> is thick to some extent, the magnetic flux scarcely passes through the leading end portion (indicated by a broken line in <FIG>) of the outer cylindrical part <NUM>, with the result that the leading end portion of the outer cylindrical part <NUM> is not sufficiently heated. As a result, the temperature of the roller surface 31a is rapidly decreased at the leading end portion, and hence the temperature distribution in the axial direction is uneven. This problem is particularly conspicuous when the roller main body <NUM> is cantilevered by the motor <NUM> and the leading end portion of the roller main body <NUM> is exposed to the outside air.

If the thickness of the end face part <NUM> is reduced, the magnetic flux passes through the leading end portion of the outer cylindrical part <NUM>. Because the leading end portion of the outer cylindrical part <NUM> is heated, the temperature distribution of the roller surface 31a is improved. In this case, however, the rigidity of the end face part <NUM> is decreased and hence the strength of the roller main body <NUM> is decreased.

To solve the problem above, in the present embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, a groove portion 35a is formed between the outer cylindrical part <NUM> and the heater <NUM> in the radial direction in the inner surface of the end face part <NUM> of the roller main body <NUM>, to be more specific, formed in a part of a region between the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylindrical part <NUM> and a radially outer end of the flange portion 42b of the bobbin member <NUM> in the radial direction. This groove portion 35a is formed to be adjacent to the outer cylindrical part <NUM> and annularly extends in the circumferential direction in an uninterrupted manner. In the groove portion 35a, a leading end portion of the heat equalizing member <NUM> is inserted.

Even though the heat equalizing member <NUM> is inserted into the groove portion 35a, a magnetic flux scarcely passes through the heat equalizing member <NUM> because the heat equalizing member <NUM> is a non-magnetic body. The magnetic flux therefore makes a detour toward the leading end side of the end face part <NUM> and outer cylindrical part <NUM> of the roller main body <NUM> in order to circumvent the groove portion 35a (heat equalizing member <NUM>) (see a part indicated by a broken line in <FIG>). As a result, an amount of heat generated at the leading end portion of the outer cylindrical part <NUM> is increased, and hence the temperature distribution of the roller surface 31a is equalized.

The groove portion 35a of the present embodiment is triangular in shape in a cross section orthogonal to the circumferential direction, and is narrowed radially outward in a tapered manner. In other words, the groove portion 35a is deepest at the outermost part in the radial direction. This arrangement facilitates the magnetic flux, which makes a detour toward the leading end side to circumvent the groove portion 35a, to pass through the leading end portion of the outer cylindrical part <NUM>. It is therefore possible to efficiently heat the leading end portion of the outer cylindrical part <NUM>. The minimum thickness of the part of the end face part <NUM> where the groove portion 35a is formed (i.e., the thickness at the deepest part of the groove portion 35a) is, for example, about <NUM> to <NUM> millimeters. This thickness is less than the thickness (about <NUM> to <NUM> millimeters) of the outer cylindrical part <NUM>. The less the minimum thickness is, the more the path of the magnetic flux is shifted to the leading end side. However, when the minimum thickness is excessively short, the magnetic flux is saturated and the heating efficiency is deteriorated. The minimum thickness is therefore preferably <NUM> millimeters or more.

In the induction heating roller <NUM> of the present embodiment, the groove portion 35a extending in the circumferential direction is formed in the region between the outer cylindrical part <NUM> (equivalent to the heating target of the present invention) and the heater <NUM> in the radial direction in the inner surface of the end face part <NUM> of the roller main body <NUM>. With this arrangement, the magnetic flux passing through the end face part <NUM> makes a detour toward the leading end side (one end side) in the axial direction to circumvent the groove portion 35a. It is therefore possible to facilitate heat generation at the leading end portion of the roller main body <NUM>, so as to improve the temperature distribution in the axial direction of the roller surface 31a. Furthermore, because merely the groove portion 35a is formed in a part of the inner surface of the end face part <NUM>, the rigidity of the end face part <NUM> is not significantly lowered. In this way, the induction heating roller <NUM> of the present embodiment makes it possible to equalize the temperature distribution in the axial direction of the roller surface 31a while suppressing deterioration in strength of the roller main body <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the groove portion 35a is an uninterrupted annular groove extending in the circumferential direction. Because the groove portion 35a is annular, heat generation at the leading end portion of the roller main body <NUM> is facilitated at every part in the circumferential direction. It is therefore possible to effectively equalize the temperature distribution in the axial direction of the roller surface 31a.

In the present embodiment, the groove portion 35a is formed to be adjacent to the outer cylindrical part <NUM>. When the groove portion 35a is adjacent to the outer cylindrical part <NUM>, the magnetic flux which makes a detour toward the leading end side to circumvent the groove portion 35a passes through the leading end portion of the outer cylindrical part <NUM>. Heat generation at the leading end portion of the outer cylindrical part <NUM> is therefore facilitated, and the temperature distribution in the axial direction of the roller surface 31a is further effectively equalized.

In the present embodiment, the groove portion 35a is formed only in the region between the outer cylindrical part <NUM> and the heater <NUM> in the radial direction, in the inner surface of the end face part <NUM>. Because the range of the formation of the groove portion 35a is limited to the region between the outer cylindrical part <NUM> and the heater <NUM>, decrease in rigidity of the end face part <NUM> is suppressed and hence decrease in strength of the roller main body <NUM> is suppressed.

In the present embodiment, the groove portion 35a is deepest at the outermost part in the radial direction. Because the depth of the groove portion 35a is arranged in this way, the capacity of the groove portion 35a is small. For this reason, decrease in rigidity of the end face part <NUM> is suppressed and hence decrease in strength of the roller main body <NUM> is suppressed. Furthermore, because the groove portion 35a is deepest at the outermost part in the radial direction, the magnetic flux circumventing the deepest part of the groove portion 35a toward the leading end side is guided to pass through leading end portion of the outer cylindrical part <NUM>. Heat generation at the leading end portion of the outer cylindrical part <NUM> is therefore facilitated, and the temperature distribution in the axial direction of the roller surface 31a is further effectively equalized.

In the present embodiment, a part of the end face part <NUM> where the groove portion 35a is not formed is thicker than the outer cylindrical part <NUM>. This arrangement makes it possible to increase the rigidity of the end face part <NUM>, and therefore to increase the strength of the roller main body <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, a part of the end face part <NUM> where the groove portion 35a is formed is thinner than the outer cylindrical part <NUM>. With this arrangement, the path of the magnetic flux passing at the deepest part of the groove portion 35a (i.e., the thinnest part of the end face part <NUM>) is further shifted to the leading end side. Heat generation at the leading end portion of the roller main body <NUM> is therefore further facilitated, and the temperature distribution in the axial direction of the roller surface 31a is further effectively equalized.

In the present embodiment, the minimum thickness of the part of the end face part <NUM> where the groove portion 35a is formed is <NUM> millimeters or more. This arrangement makes it possible to avoid saturation of the magnetic flux at the thinnest part of the end face part <NUM>, and to suppress the decrease in efficiency of the induction heating.

In the present embodiment, the groove portion 35a is filled with the non-magnetic member <NUM>. As compared to a case where the groove portion 35a is a void space, it is possible to increase the rigidity of the end face part <NUM>, and therefore to increase the strength of the roller main body <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the non-magnetic heat equalizing member <NUM> which has a higher thermal conductivity in the axial direction than the thermal conductivity of at least the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylindrical part <NUM> is provided to be in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylindrical part <NUM>, and as the non-magnetic member, a part of the heat equalizing member <NUM> is inserted into the groove portion 35a. Because of this heat equalizing member <NUM>, it is possible to further effectively equalize the temperature distribution in the axial direction of the roller surface 31a. Furthermore, the groove portion 35a is advantageously reinforced by the heat equalizing member <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the heat equalizing member <NUM> is made of a fiber composite material. When the orientation of fibers in the fiber composite material is suitably arranged, the physical properties such as thermal conductivity and electric resistivity are anisotropic. The fiber composite material arranged in this way is suitable as a material of the heat equalizing member <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the fiber composite material is C/C composite (carbon fiber reinforced-carbon matrix-composite) including carbon fibers and graphite. The C/C composite has high thermal conductivity among fiber composite materials including carbon fibers, and has high heat resistance, too. Accordingly, when the heat equalizing member <NUM> is made of the C/C composite, the temperature distribution of the roller surface 31a is further effectively equalized and the induction heating roller <NUM> has high heat resistance.

In the present embodiment, the roller main body <NUM> is cantilevered at the end portion on the base end side (the other end side) in the axial direction. When the roller main body <NUM> is cantilevered at the base end portion, the leading end portion is a free end exposed to the outside air, and the temperature of the roller surface 31a tends to significantly decrease. The present invention which makes it possible to facilitate heat generation at the leading end portion of the roller main body <NUM> is therefore particularly effective.

In the present embodiment, plural yarns Y are wound onto the outer circumferential surface of the roller main body <NUM> to be aligned in the axial direction. In the present invention, it is possible to equalize the temperature distribution in the axial direction of the roller surface 31a. The yarns Y wound on the roller main body <NUM> are evenly heated, differences in quality between the yarns Y are suppressed, and consequently the quality of the yarns Y is improved.

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

In the embodiment above, the groove portion 35a is triangular in shape in a cross section orthogonal to the circumferential direction. The groove portion 35a may be shaped differently. For example, a groove portion 35b may be rectangular in cross section as shown in <FIG>, or a groove portion 35c may be circular-arc-shaped in cross section as shown in <FIG>. The groove portion 35c may have a shape different from these shapes.

While in the embodiment above the leading end portion of the heat equalizing member <NUM> is inserted into the groove portion 35a, the disclosure is not limited to this arrangement. For example, the heat equalizing member <NUM> may not be inserted into a groove portion 35d as shown in <FIG>, or the heat equalizing member <NUM> is omitted and nothing is inserted in a groove portion 35e as shown in <FIG>. Even in a simple space such as the groove portions 35d and 35e, the relative permeability of air is lower than that of the roller main body <NUM> (carbon steel). On this account, the magnetic flux passing through the end face part <NUM> makes a detour toward the leading end side to circumvent the groove portion 35d or 35e, with the result that heat generation at the leading end portion of the outer cylindrical part <NUM> is facilitated. Alternatively, as shown in <FIG>, a groove portion 35f may be filled with a non-magnetic member <NUM> which is not a heat equalizing member. The expression "filled with" is not limited to a case where the groove portion 35a is entirely filled with a non-magnetic member, and encompasses a case where the groove portion 35a is partially filled with a non-magnetic member to the extent that the rigidity of the end face part <NUM> is improved.

In the embodiment above, the groove portion 35a is formed to be adjacent to the outer cylindrical part <NUM> of the roller main body <NUM> (i.e., formed at a corner portion between the outer cylindrical part <NUM> and the end face part <NUM>). In this regard, the groove portion may not be formed to be adjacent to the outer cylindrical part <NUM>. For example, as long as the groove portion is formed in a region between the outer cylindrical part <NUM> and the heater <NUM> in the radial direction, the groove portion may be separated from the outer cylindrical part <NUM> as indicated by a groove portion <NUM> shown in <FIG>. Also in this case, heat is generated at an the leading end portion of the end face part <NUM> and hence heating of the leading end portion of the outer cylindrical part <NUM> is facilitated by heat conduction from the end face part <NUM>.

In the embodiment above, the groove portion 35a is an uninterrupted annular groove extending in the circumferential direction. In this regard, the groove portion may not be annular in shape. The groove portion may be disconnected in part in the circumferential direction, or may be grooves formed by dividing an annular groove in the circumferential direction.

In the embodiment above, the heat equalizing member <NUM> is made of the C/C composite. Alternatively, the heat equalizing member <NUM> may be made of a CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) including carbon fibers and resin. CFRP is inferior to C/C composite in heat resistance but is cheaper than C/C composite. When the induction heating roller <NUM> is not required to have high heat resistance, cost reduction is achieved by making the heat equalizing member <NUM> of CFRP.

The heat equalizing member <NUM> may be made of not a fiber composite material such as C/C composite and CFRP but a non-magnetic metal material such as aluminum and copper, which has higher thermal conductivity than at least the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylindrical part <NUM> (carbon steel). Processing of metal materials is typically easier than processing of fiber composite materials. For this reason, the heat equalizing member <NUM> can be easily shaped when the heat equalizing member <NUM> is made of a metal material.

In the embodiment above, the roller main body <NUM> is cantilevered. Alternatively, the roller main body <NUM> may be supported on both sides.

In the embodiment above, yarns Y are wound on the outer circumferential surface of the induction heating roller <NUM>. In this regard, the number of yarns Y wound on the outer circumferential surface of the induction heating roller <NUM> may be one.

Claim 1:
An induction heating roller (<NUM>) comprising:
a roller main body (<NUM>) including a cylindrical heating target (<NUM>) and an end face part connected to an end portion of the heating target (<NUM>) on one end side in an axial direction; and a heater (<NUM>) including a coil (<NUM>) which is provided inside the roller main body (<NUM>),
the heating target (<NUM>) being induction-heated as an alternate current is supplied to the coil (<NUM>),
in a region between the heating target (<NUM>) and the heater (<NUM>) in a radial direction in an inner surface of the end face part, a groove portion (35a) being formed to extend in a circumferential direction
wherein the induction heating roller (<NUM>) comprises a non-magnetic heat equalizing member (<NUM>) which is provided to be in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the heating target (<NUM>);
characterized in that the heat equalizing member (<NUM>) is made of a fiber composite material so that the heat equalizing member (<NUM>) is higher in thermal conductivity in the axial direction than at least the inner circumferential surface of the heating target (<NUM>).