Patent Description:
A known yarn production system is configured to wind yarns spun out from a spinning apparatus by means of a winding device. For example, Patent Literature <NUM> (<CIT>) discloses a yarn production system (spun yarn take-up winding apparatus in Reference cited <NUM>) including a spinning apparatus configured to spin out yarns downward and a yarn feed roller which is provided below the spinning apparatus and which is configured to send the yarns.

In such a yarn production system, a yarn processing apparatus including a yarn processing unit such as a migration nozzle may be provided on yarn paths between the spinning apparatus and the yarn feed roller. The migration nozzle is configured to bundle the yarns by means of the injection of compressed air. The migration nozzle is structured in the same manner as an interlacing portion of an interlacing device of, e.g., Patent Literature <NUM> (<CIT>). In the migration nozzle, yarn running spaces extending along a yarn running direction are provided. The yarn running spaces are aligned at predetermined intervals in an arrangement direction of the yarns. The migration nozzle is configured to bundle the yarns placed in the respective yarn running spaces.

Document <CIT> discloses a yarn processing apparatus from which the present apparatus differs in the pair of movable positioning members threading the yarns, movable between two extreme positions.

The yarns spun out from the spinning apparatus are placed in the yarn running spaces while being converged by a convergence unit such as a suction gun configured to converge the yarns. However, intervals of the yarns in the arrangement direction are narrowed toward the convergence unit. With this arrangement, the yarns are placed in the yarn running spaces while the intervals of the yarns in the arrangement direction vary between the upstream and downstream sides in a yarn running direction. Because of this, the following problem occurs.

As described above, the intervals of the yarns are narrowed toward the convergence unit. With this arrangement, the intervals of the yarns in the arrangement direction vary between the upstream and downstream sides in the yarn running direction. Meanwhile, the yarn running spaces extending along the yarn running direction are aligned at predetermined intervals in the arrangement direction. In the arrangement direction, when the intervals of the yarns are adjusted to intervals of upstream ends of the yarn running spaces in the yarn running direction by arranging the position of the convergence unit, these intervals of the yarns are different from intervals of downstream ends of the yarn running spaces in the yarn running direction. In this case where the intervals of the yarns in the arrangement direction vary between the upstream and downstream sides in the yarn running direction, these yarns are not properly placed in the respective yarn running spaces. For this reason, currently, when the intervals of the yarns in the arrangement direction vary between the upstream and downstream sides in the yarn running direction and these yarns are placed in the respective yarn running spaces, an operator needs to place the yarns in the respective yarn running spaces one by one. This takes time.

This problem may occur not only in the yarn processing apparatus including the migration nozzle as the yarn processing unit, but also in a yarn processing apparatus described below. That is, the above-described problem may occur in a yarn processing apparatus (such as an oil nozzle configured to apply oil to yarns and a tension sensor configured to detect the tension of yarns) configured to perform a predetermined process for yarns which run in yarn running spaces aligned at predetermined intervals in an arrangement direction.

An object of the present invention is to easily place yarns the intervals of which vary between the upstream and downstream sides in a yarn running direction, in yarn running spaces provided in a yarn processing unit.

A yarn processing apparatus of the present invention includes: a yarn processing unit in which yarn running spaces are formed and which is configured to perform a predetermined process for yarns running in the yarn running spaces, the yarn running spaces extending along a yarn running direction and being aligned at predetermined intervals in an arrangement direction intersecting with the yarn running direction; and a yarn placing unit configured to place the yarns in the yarn running spaces. The yarn placing unit includes: a first holding unit including first retaining grooves aligned in the arrangement direction; and a second holding unit which is provided downstream of the first holding unit in the yarn running direction and which is configured to hold the yarns while intervals of the yarns held by the first retaining grooves are maintained. The first holding unit is able to take a first yarn threading position where the yarns are threaded to the first holding unit and a first placing completion position which is positioned upstream of the yarn running spaces in the yarn running direction and where placing of the yarns in the yarn running spaces is completed, and the second holding unit is able to take a second yarn threading position where the yarns are threaded to the second holding unit and a second placing completion position which is positioned downstream of the yarn running spaces in the yarn running direction and where the placing of the yarns in the yarn running spaces is completed. In this regard, the first holding unit at the first yarn threading position is adjacent to the second holding unit at the second yarn threading position in the yarn running direction.

When the intervals of the yarns in the arrangement direction vary between the upstream and downstream sides in the yarn running direction, it is difficult to place the yarns in the yarn running spaces which extend along the yarn running direction and which are aligned at the predetermined intervals in the arrangement direction. In the present invention, the first holding unit at the first yarn threading position is adjacent to the second holding unit at the second yarn threading position in the yarn running direction. With this arrangement, the yarns are simultaneously threaded to the first holding unit and the second holding unit while being threaded to the first holding unit at the same intervals as the second holding unit in the arrangement direction. As (i) the first holding unit to which the yarns are threaded takes the first placing completion position and (ii) the second holding unit to which the yarns are threaded takes the second placing completion position, the yarns are placed in the yarn running spaces while the intervals of the yarns are adjusted to those of the yarn running spaces in the arrangement direction. Because of this, the yarns the intervals of which vary between the upstream and downstream sides in the yarn running direction are easily placed in the yarn running spaces aligned at the predetermined intervals in the arrangement direction.

Preferably, the yarn processing apparatus of the present invention further includes: a first regulatory guide which includes first groove portions and which is provided at a position which is positioned upstream of the yarn running spaces in the yarn running direction and where the yarns threaded to the first groove portions are able to be placed in the yarn running spaces, intervals of the first groove portions in the arrangement direction being identical with intervals of the first retaining grooves; and a second regulatory guide which includes second groove portions and which is provided at a position which is positioned downstream of the yarn running spaces in the yarn running direction and where the yarns threaded to the second groove portions are able to be placed the yarn running spaces, intervals of the second groove portions in the arrangement direction being identical with intervals of the first groove portions. In this regard, the first placing completion position is a position where the first holding unit is deviated from yarn paths of the yarns threaded to the first regulatory guide and the second regulatory guide, the second placing completion position is a position where the second holding unit is deviated from yarn paths of the yarns threaded to the first regulatory guide and the second regulatory guide, the first holding unit is configured to hand over the yarns to the first regulatory guide when the first holding unit is moving from the first yarn threading position to the first placing completion position, and the second holding unit is configured to hand over the yarns to the second regulatory guide when the second holding unit is moving from the second yarn threading position to the second placing completion position.

The present invention is arranged so that the yarns are placed in the yarn running spaces by being threaded to (i) the first regulatory guide provided upstream of the yarn running spaces in the yarn running direction and (ii) the second regulatory guide provided downstream of the yarn running spaces in the yarn running direction. With this arrangement, when (i) the intervals of the yarns vary between the upstream and downstream sides in the yarn running direction and (ii) the yarns are threaded to the first regulatory guide and the second regulatory guide, the following problem occurs. That is, when the intervals of the yarns are adjusted to those of one of the first regulatory guide and the second regulatory guide, these intervals of the yarns are different those of the other of the first regulatory guide and the second regulatory guide because the intervals of the yarns vary between the upstream and downstream sides in the yarn running direction. It is therefore difficult to simultaneously thread the yarns the intervals of which vary between the upstream and downstream sides in the yarn running direction to (i) the first regulatory guide provided upstream of the yarn running spaces in the yarn running direction and (ii) the second regulatory guide provided downstream of the yarn running spaces in the yarn running direction. In the present invention, the yarns are easily and simultaneously threaded to the first regulatory guide and the second regulatory guide by simultaneously threading the yarns to the first holding unit at the first yarn threading position and the second holding unit at the second yarn threading position, moving the first holding unit to the first placing completion position, and moving the second holding unit to the second placing completion position. As a result, the yarns the intervals of which vary between the upstream and downstream sides in the yarn running direction are easily placed in the yarn running spaces aligned at the predetermined intervals in the arrangement direction.

In the yarn processing apparatus of the present invention, preferably, the second holding unit includes second retaining grooves, and intervals of the second retaining grooves in the arrangement direction are identical with intervals of the second groove portions.

In the present invention, intervals of the yarns threaded to the second retaining grooves of the second holding unit are identical with those of the second groove portions in the arrangement direction. It is therefore possible to reliably hand over the yarns to the respective second groove portions. Because of this, the yarns can be accurately threaded to the second regulatory guide and placed in the yarn running spaces aligned in the arrangement direction.

In the yarn processing apparatus of the present invention, preferably, the second holding unit is a rotatable roller which is rotatable about a rotation shaft extending along the arrangement direction.

In the present invention, when the yarns are threaded to the second holding unit which is the rotatable roller, the yarns make contact with a circumferential surface of the rotatable roller at first in a direction orthogonal to the circumferential surface of the rotatable roller by means of the friction force between the circumferential surface of the rotatable roller and the yarns. With this arrangement, the intervals of the yarns threaded to the second holding unit are adjusted to those of the yarns threaded to the first groove portions of the first holding unit provided upstream of the second holding unit in the yarn running direction. Even when the intervals of the yarns running on the downstream side of the second holding unit in the yarn running direction are different from the intervals of the yarns threaded to the second holding unit, the intervals of the yarns threaded to the second holding unit are maintained as those are by the friction force between the circumferential surface of the rotatable roller and the yarns. Because of this, the intervals of the yarns threaded to the second holding unit are adjusted to those of the first retaining grooves in the arrangement direction, i.e., to those of the first groove portions and those of the second groove portions in the arrangement direction. It is therefore possible to further reliably hand over the yarns to the respective second groove portions. Because of this, the yarns can be accurately threaded to the second regulatory guide and placed in the yarn running spaces aligned in the arrangement direction.

In the yarn processing apparatus of the present invention, preferably, the yarn placing unit includes a synchronizing mechanism configured to synchronize movement of the first holding unit between the first yarn threading position and the first placing completion position with movement of the second holding unit between the second yarn threading position and the second placing completion position.

When (i) handover of the yarns from one holding unit to one regulatory guide is performed at first and (ii) handover of the yarns from the other holding unit to the other regulatory guide is then performed, the yarns may be lifted up and detached from one regulatory guide, in which the handover of the yarns has been completed, in accordance with the handover of the yarns from the other holding unit to the other regulatory guide. In the present invention, the handover of the yarns from the first holding unit to the first regulatory guide is performable at the same time as the handover of the yarns from the second holding unit to the second regulatory guide. It is therefore possible to further reliably perform yarn threading to two regulatory guides.

In the yarn processing apparatus of the present invention, preferably, the synchronizing mechanism includes: a first swing arm which is rotatable about a first swing shaft extending along the arrangement direction and which swingably supports the first holding unit; and a second swing arm which is rotatable about a second swing shaft extending along the arrangement direction and which swingably supports the second holding unit. In this regard, the first swing arm includes a first gear, the second swing arm includes a second gear, and the synchronizing mechanism is configured to synchronize movement of the first holding unit and movement of the second holding unit by rotating the first swing arm and the second swing arm in a synchronous manner by means of the first gear and the second gear which mesh with each other.

In the present invention, the first holding unit and the second holding unit are swung in a synchronous manner such that the first swing arm and the second swing arm are rotated in a synchronous manner by the first gear and the second gear which mesh with each other. With this arrangement, a complicated structure and complicated control are not required for the synchronized movement of the first holding unit and the second holding unit.

In the yarn processing apparatus of the present invention, preferably, the first yarn threading position is a position where the first holding unit viewed in the arrangement direction is deviated from yarn paths of the yarns, which are threaded to the first regulatory guide and the second regulatory guide, in an opening direction in which the first groove portions are open and the second yarn threading position is a position where the second holding unit viewed in the arrangement direction is deviated from yarn paths of the yarns, which are threaded to the first regulatory guide and the second regulatory guide, in an opening direction in which the second groove portions are open.

In the present invention, when the yarns are threaded to the first holding unit at the first yarn threading position and the second holding unit at the second yarn threading position, the yarns are suppressed from being unintentionally threaded to some first groove portions and some second groove portions to which the yarns are not supposed to be threaded. It is therefore possible to further reliably thread the yarns to some first groove portions to which the yarns are supposed to be threaded, by moving the first holding unit to the first placing completion position while the yarns are held by the first holding unit and not threaded to the first regulatory guide. It is also possible to further reliably thread the yarns to some second groove portions to which the yarns are supposed to be threaded, by moving the second holding unit to the second placing completion position while the yarns are held by the second holding unit and not threaded to the second regulatory guide.

In the yarn processing apparatus of the present invention, preferably, the first regulatory guide viewed in the arrangement direction is provided not to overlap yarn paths of the yarns threaded to the first holding unit at the first yarn threading position.

In the present invention, when the yarns are threaded to the first holding unit at the first yarn threading position, the yarns are further suppressed from being unintentionally threaded to some first groove portions to which the yarns are not supposed to be threaded. It is therefore possible to further reliably thread the yarns to some first groove portions to which the yarns are supposed to be threaded, by moving the first holding unit to the first placing completion position while the yarns are held by the first holding unit and not threaded to the first regulatory guide.

In the yarn processing apparatus of the present invention, preferably, the first holding unit at the first placing completion position is at a position which is provided upstream of the yarn running spaces in the yarn running direction and where the yarns held by the first retaining grooves can be placed in the yarn running spaces, and the second holding unit at the second placing completion position is at a position which is provided downstream of the yarn running spaces in the yarn running direction and where the yarns held by the second holding unit can be placed in the yarn running spaces.

In the present invention, after the yarns the intervals of which vary between the upstream and downstream sides in the yarn running direction are simultaneously threaded to the first holding unit at the first yarn threading position and the second holding unit at the second yarn threading position, the first holding unit is moved to the first placing completion position and the second holding unit is moved to the second placing completion position. Because of this, without the first regulatory guide and the second regulatory guide which are described above, the yarns the intervals of which vary between the upstream and downstream sides in the yarn running direction are placed in the yarn running spaces aligned at the predetermined intervals in the arrangement direction. It is therefore possible to reduce the number of members used for placing the yarns in the yarn running spaces.

In the yarn processing apparatus of the present invention, preferably, the yarn placing unit further includes a regulator which is switchable between a regulatory state in which the yarns threaded to the first holding unit and the second holding unit are prevented from being placed in the yarn running spaces and a release state in which the placing of the yarns is allowed. The regulator is in the regulatory state when the first holding unit is moving from the first yarn threading position to the first placing completion position and the second holding unit is moving from the second yarn threading position to the second placing completion position, and is in the release state when the first holding unit reaches the first placing completion position and the second holding unit reaches the second placing completion position.

The yarns threaded to the first holding unit and the second holding unit may be placed in the yarn running spaces before these holding units respectively reach the first placing completion position and the second placing completion position. In this case, because these holding units do not reach the placing completion positions, the yarns may not be properly placed in the respective yarn running spaces. In the present invention, the yarns are prevented from being placed in the yarn running spaces before the first holding unit and the second holding unit respectively reach the first placing completion position and the second placing completion position. It is therefore possible to properly place the yarns in the respective yarn running spaces.

In the yarn processing apparatus of the present invention, preferably, the second holding unit includes the second retaining grooves, and intervals of the second retaining grooves in the arrangement direction are identical with intervals of the first retaining grooves.

In the present invention, while the intervals of the yarns threaded to the second retaining grooves of the second holding unit are maintained to be identical with those of the first retaining grooves in the arrangement direction, the first holding unit is moved to the first placing completion position and the second holding unit is moved to the second placing completion position. Because of this, the yarns the intervals of which vary between the upstream and downstream sides in the yarn running direction are further reliably placed in the yarn running spaces aligned at the predetermined intervals in the arrangement direction.

In the present invention, when the yarns are threaded to the second holding unit which is the rotatable roller, the yarns make contact with a circumferential surface of the rotatable roller at first in a direction orthogonal to the circumferential surface of the rotatable roller by means of the friction force between the circumferential surface of the rotatable roller and the yarns. With this arrangement, the intervals of the yarns threaded to the second holding unit are adjusted to those of the yarns threaded to the first groove portions of the first holding unit provided upstream of the second holding unit in the yarn running direction. Even when the intervals of the yarns running on the downstream side of the second holding unit in the yarn running direction are different from the intervals of the yarns threaded to the second holding unit, the intervals of the yarns threaded to the second holding unit are maintained as those are by the friction force between the circumferential surface of the rotatable roller and the yarns. In this state, as the first holding unit is moved to the first placing completion position and the second holding unit is moved to the second placing completion position, the yarns the intervals of which vary between the upstream and downstream sides in the yarn running direction are further reliably placed in the yarn running spaces aligned at the predetermined intervals in the arrangement direction.

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

The following will describe a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to figures. <FIG> schematically shows a yarn production system <NUM>. Hereinafter, the up-down direction on the sheet of <FIG> will be referred to as an up-down direction, and the left-right direction on the sheet will be referred to as a left-right direction. Furthermore, a direction perpendicular to the sheet of <FIG> will be referred to as a front-rear direction, and a direction toward the viewer of <FIG> will be referred to as a forward direction. These definitions of the directions will be suitably used hereinbelow.

The yarn production system <NUM> is configured to wind yarns Y spun out from a spinning apparatus <NUM> by means of a winding device <NUM>. The spinning apparatus <NUM> is configured to spin out molten polymer downward as the yarns Y. As shown in <FIG>, the yarn production system <NUM> includes: oil guides <NUM> which respectively have oil nozzles; guides <NUM>; a yarn processing apparatus <NUM>; two godet rollers <NUM> and <NUM>; a spun yarn drawing apparatus <NUM>; and the winding device <NUM>. The spinning apparatus <NUM>, the oil guides <NUM>, and the guides <NUM> are provided on an upper floor (on the second floor), and the oil guides <NUM> and the guides <NUM> are provided below the spinning apparatus <NUM>. The yarn processing apparatus <NUM>, two godet rollers <NUM> and <NUM>, the spun yarn drawing apparatus <NUM>, and the winding device <NUM> are provided on a lower floor (on the first floor).

The oil guides <NUM> are provided below the spinning apparatus <NUM>, and configured to apply oil to the respective yarns Y spun out downward from the spinning apparatus <NUM>. The guides <NUM> are provided below the respective oil guides <NUM> at regular intervals in the left-right direction, and configured to individually guide the oiled yarns Y.

The yarn processing apparatus <NUM> is provided below the guides <NUM> and configured to bundle the yarns Y, which are individually guided by the guides <NUM>, by means of the injection of compressed air. The yarn processing apparatus <NUM> includes a first regulatory guide <NUM> and a second regulatory guide <NUM> (see <FIG>). The yarns Y threaded to the first regulatory guide <NUM> and the second regulatory guide <NUM> run at substantially equal intervals in the left-right direction while being substantially parallel to one another. The yarn processing apparatus <NUM> will be detailed later.

The godet rollers <NUM> and <NUM> are provided downstream of the yarn processing apparatus <NUM> in a yarn running direction as shown in <FIG>, and rotationally driven by unillustrated motors. The yarns Y spun out from the spinning apparatus <NUM> are wound onto the godet roller <NUM> via the oil guides <NUM>, the guides <NUM>, and the yarn processing apparatus <NUM>. Subsequently, the yarns Y are sent to the spun yarn drawing apparatus <NUM> by the godet roller <NUM>. The yarns Y heated and drawn by the spun yarn drawing apparatus <NUM> are wound onto the godet roller <NUM>, and then sent to the winding device <NUM> by the godet roller <NUM>. In this regard, an interlacing device and other godet rollers are actually provided downstream of the godet roller <NUM> and upstream of the winding device <NUM> in the yarn running direction. However, <FIG> does not illustrate these members.

The spun yarn drawing device <NUM> is configured to heat and draw the yarns Y, and provided below the spinning apparatus <NUM>. The spun yarn drawing apparatus <NUM> includes a thermal insulation box <NUM> and five godet rollers <NUM> to <NUM> housed in the thermal insulation box <NUM>. At a lower part of a right side portion of the thermal insulation box <NUM>, a yarn inlet 60a is formed to introduce the yarns Y into the thermal insulation box <NUM>. At an upper part of the right side portion of the thermal insulation box <NUM>, a yarn outlet 60b is formed to take the yarns Y out from the thermal insulation box <NUM>.

The lower three godet rollers <NUM> to <NUM> are preheating rollers for preliminarily heating the yarns Y which are to be drawn. The upper two godet rollers <NUM> and <NUM> are conditioning rollers for thermally setting the drawn yarns Y. The roller surface temperatures of the upper two godet rollers <NUM> and <NUM> are arranged to be higher than those of the lower three godet rollers <NUM> to <NUM>. 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>.

To begin with, the yarns Y introduced into the thermal insulation box <NUM> through the yarn inlet 60a are 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 between the yarn feeding speed of the godet roller <NUM> and that of the godet roller <NUM>. Subsequently, the yarns Y are further heated while being transferred by the godet rollers <NUM> and <NUM>. As a result, 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 yarn outlet 60b.

The winding device <NUM> is configured to wind the yarns Y, and provided below the spun yarn drawing apparatus <NUM>. The winding device <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 to be side by side along an axial direction of the bobbin holder <NUM>. The winding device <NUM> is configured to simultaneously wind the yarns Y onto the bobbins B by rotating the bobbin holder <NUM>, so as to produce packages P. The contact roller <NUM> is configured to apply a predetermined contact pressure to surfaces of the packages P by making contact with the surfaces of the packages P, so as to adjust the shape of each package P.

The following will detail the yarn processing apparatus <NUM> with reference to <FIG>. In <FIG> and <FIG>, some of the yarns Y are omitted for the sake of convenience. In <FIG> and <FIG>, the yarns Y are omitted for the sake of convenience. The yarn processing apparatus <NUM> includes a base <NUM>, a yarn processing unit <NUM>, the first regulatory guide <NUM>, the second regulatory guide <NUM>, and a yarn placing unit <NUM>.

The base <NUM> is substantially rectangular parallelepiped in shape. The yarn processing unit <NUM> is configured to bundle the yarns Y by means of the injection of compressed air. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the yarn processing unit <NUM> is formed in such a way that interlacing pieces <NUM> aligned in the left-right direction are provided on a front surface of the base <NUM> in the front-rear direction. As shown in <FIG>, the yarn processing unit <NUM> is provided below the guides <NUM> and above the godet roller <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the yarn processing unit <NUM> includes yarn running spaces <NUM>, yarn introduction passages <NUM>, and injection passages <NUM>. The yarn running spaces <NUM> extend along the yarn running direction, and are aligned at substantially equal intervals in an arrangement direction (the left-right direction of <FIG>) intersecting with the yarn running direction. Each of the intervals of the yarn running spaces <NUM> indicates a distance between the centers of two adjacent yarn running spaces <NUM> in the left-right direction (see <FIG>). The yarn running spaces <NUM> are provided in the respective interlacing pieces <NUM>. When viewed in the yarn running direction, each yarn running space <NUM> is substantially elliptical in shape and is long in the left-right direction. In the yarn running direction, each yarn running space <NUM> extends over the entire length of a corresponding interlacing piece <NUM> and is open at the both ends.

The yarn introduction passages <NUM> are provided for the respective yarn running spaces <NUM> to introduce the yarns Y to the yarn running spaces <NUM>. In the yarn running direction, each yarn introduction passage <NUM> extends over the entire length of an interlacing piece <NUM> and is open at the both ends. Each yarn introduction passage <NUM> includes a first yarn passage <NUM>, a second yarn passage <NUM>, and a third yarn passage <NUM>.

Each first yarn passage <NUM> is a gap formed between two adjacent interlacing pieces <NUM>, and extends in the front-rear direction at a substantially front half of an interlacing piece <NUM>. A front end of each first yarn passage <NUM> in the front-rear direction is an insertion slot 36a from which a yarn Y is inserted.

Each second yarn passage <NUM> is connected to a rear end of the first yarn passage <NUM> in the front-rear direction, and extends rightward from the junction with the first yarn passage <NUM>. Each third yarn passage <NUM> is connected to a right end of the second yarn passage <NUM>, and extends forward from the junction with the second yarn passage <NUM> in the front-rear direction. A front end of each third yarn passage <NUM> in the front-rear direction is connected to a yarn running space <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, approximately a left half of a front surface of the interlacing piece <NUM> is provided on the left side of a substantial central part of the front surface of the interlacing piece <NUM> in the left-right direction. This left half of the front surface of the interlacing piece <NUM> is an inclined surface 26a inclined relative to the left-right direction so that its left end is provided behind its right end, i.e., behind the substantial central part of the front surface of the interlacing piece <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the substantial central part of the front surface of the interlacing piece <NUM> is provided on the right side of an actual central part of the front surface of the interlacing piece <NUM> in the left-right direction. Meanwhile, approximately a right half of the front surface of the interlacing piece <NUM> is provided on the right side of the substantial central part of the front surface of the interlacing piece <NUM> in the left-right direction. This right half of the front surface of the interlacing piece <NUM> is an inclined surface 26b inclined relative to the left-right direction so that its right end is provided behind its left end, i.e., behind the substantial central part of the front surface of the interlacing piece <NUM>. With these arrangements, the inclined surfaces 26a and 26b are provided on both sides of each first yarn passage <NUM> in the left-right direction. Because of this, each of the yarns Y threaded to the later-described first regulatory guide <NUM> and the later-described second regulatory guide <NUM> so as to run substantially in parallel to one another is guided by the inclined surfaces 26a and 26b and threaded to the first yarn passage <NUM>.

The injection passages <NUM> are provided for the respective yarn running spaces <NUM>. One injection passage <NUM> is formed for each interlacing piece <NUM>, and extends in the front-rear direction. A leading end (front end) of the injection passage <NUM> is an injection port 33a which is open to a rear wall surface of the junction between the second yarn passage <NUM> and the third yarn passage <NUM> in the front-rear direction. With this arrangement, the injection port 33a opposes a yarn running space <NUM> across the third yarn passage <NUM> in the front-rear direction. A rear end portion of the injection passage <NUM> is connected to a fluid supply source <NUM> via a fluid supply path <NUM>. A valve <NUM> is provided on the fluid supply path <NUM>. When the valve <NUM> is opened, fluid such as air supplied from the fluid supply source <NUM> is supplied to the injection passage <NUM> via the fluid supply path <NUM>, and is injected into the yarn running space <NUM> through the injection port 33a of the injection passage <NUM>. As a result, a swirling flow is generated in the yarn running space <NUM>, and filaments forming a yarn Y running in the yarn running space <NUM> are bundled.

As shown in, e.g., <FIG> and <FIG>, the first regulatory guide <NUM> is provided upstream of the yarn processing unit <NUM> in the yarn running direction and on the front surface of the base <NUM> in the front-rear direction. As shown in <FIG>, the first regulatory guide <NUM> has first groove portions 22a aligned at regular intervals in the left-right direction which is the arrangement direction of the yarns Y. Each of the intervals of the first groove portions 22a indicates a distance between the centers of two adjacent first groove portions 22a in the left-right direction. The intervals of the first groove portions 22a are identical with those of the yarn running spaces <NUM>. Each first groove portion 22a is open to the front side in the front-rear direction. A forward direction in the front-rear direction is equivalent to an opening direction of the present invention, in which each first groove portion 22a is open. As shown in <FIG>, when viewed in the left-right direction, the first regulatory guide <NUM> is provided not to overlap yarn paths of the yarns Y threaded to a first holding guide <NUM> (described later) at a first yarn threading position. In other words, the first regulatory guide <NUM> is provided behind the yarn paths of the yarns Y threaded to the first holding guide <NUM> at the first yarn threading position in the front-rear direction.

As shown in, e.g., <FIG> and <FIG>, the second regulatory guide <NUM> is provided downstream of the yarn processing unit <NUM> in the yarn running direction and on the front surface of the base <NUM> in the front-rear direction. As shown in <FIG>, the second regulatory guide <NUM> has second groove portions 23a aligned at regular intervals in the left-right direction in the same manner as the first groove portions 22a. Each of the intervals of the second groove portions 23a indicates a distance between the centers of two adjacent second groove portions 23a in the left-right direction. Each second groove portion 23a is open to the front side in the front-rear direction. A direction toward the front side in the front-rear direction is equivalent to an opening direction of the present invention, in which each second groove portion 23a is open.

The positions of the first groove portions 22a are substantially identical with those of the second groove portions 23a in the left-right direction. When the yarns Y running in the yarn running direction are threaded to the adjacent first groove portions 22a and the adjacent second groove portions 23a, the movement of the yarns Y in the left-right direction is regulated and yarn paths are defined. While the yarns Y are bundled by the yarn processing unit <NUM>, the first regulatory guide <NUM> and the second regulatory guide <NUM> support the yarns Y.

The yarn placing unit <NUM> is configured to place the yarns Y in the yarn running spaces <NUM>. The yarn placing unit <NUM> includes the first holding guide <NUM> (first holding unit of the present invention), a second holding guide <NUM> (second holding unit of the present invention), and a synchronizing mechanism <NUM>.

The first holding guide <NUM> is able to hold the yarns Y threaded to the first regulatory guide <NUM>. The first holding guide <NUM> which is cylindrical in shape and which extends in the left-right direction has first retaining grooves 24a. The intervals of the first retaining grooves 24a in the left-right direction are identical with those of the first groove portions 22a in the left-right direction. Each of the intervals of the first retaining grooves 24a indicates a distance between the centers of two adjacent first retaining grooves 24a in the left-right direction. The movement of the yarns Y threaded to the first retaining grooves 24a is regulated in the left-right direction. The positions of the first groove portions 22a are substantially identical with those of the first retaining grooves 24a in the left-right direction. The first holding guide <NUM> is movable between a first yarn threading position (see <FIG> and <FIG>) at which the yarns Y are threaded to the first holding guide <NUM> and a first placing completion position (see <FIG> and <FIG>) at which the first holding guide <NUM> is deviated from yarn paths of the yarns Y threaded to the first regulatory guide <NUM> and the second regulatory guide <NUM>. In this regard, the yarn paths of the yarns Y threaded to the first regulatory guide <NUM> and the second regulatory guide <NUM> are yarn paths shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first holding guide <NUM> at the first yarn threading position is provided downstream of the first regulatory guide <NUM> in the yarn running direction and in front of the yarn processing unit <NUM> in the front-rear direction. As shown in <FIG>, when viewed in the left-right direction, the first holding guide <NUM> at the first yarn threading position is deviated in the forward direction from the above-described yarn paths of the yarns Y threaded to the first regulatory guide <NUM> and the second regulatory guide <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first holding guide <NUM> at the first placing completion position is provided upstream of the first regulatory guide <NUM> in the yarn running direction and behind the first regulatory guide <NUM> in the front-rear direction. When the first holding guide <NUM> is moving from the first yarn threading position to the first placing completion position, the first holding guide <NUM> hands over the yarns Y to the respective first groove portions 22a.

The second holding guide <NUM> is able to hold the yarns Y threaded to the first regulatory guide <NUM>. The second holding guide <NUM> is provided downstream of the first holding guide <NUM> in the yarn running direction. The second holding guide <NUM> which is cylindrical in shape and which extends in the left-right direction has second retaining grooves 25a. The intervals of the second retaining grooves 25a in the left-right direction are identical with those of the second groove portions 23a in the left-right direction. Each of the intervals of the second groove portions 25a indicates a distance between the centers of two adjacent second groove portions 25a in the left-right direction. The movement of the yarns Y threaded to the second retaining grooves 25a is regulated in the left-right direction. The positions of the second groove portions 23a are substantially identical with those of the second retaining grooves 25a in the left-right direction. The second holding guide <NUM> is movable between a second yarn threading position (see <FIG> and <FIG>) at which the yarns Y are threaded to the second holding guide <NUM> and a second placing completion position (see <FIG> and <FIG>) at which the second holding guide <NUM> is deviated from the above-described yarn paths of the yarns Y threaded to the first regulatory guide <NUM> and the second regulatory guide <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the second holding guide <NUM> at the second yarn threading position is provided upstream of the second regulatory guide <NUM> in the yarn running direction, downstream of the first holding guide <NUM> in the yarn running direction, and in front of the yarn processing unit <NUM> in the front-rear direction. As shown in <FIG>, when viewed in the left-right direction, the second holding guide <NUM> at the second yarn threading position is deviated in the forward direction from the above-described yarn paths of the yarns Y threaded to the first regulatory guide <NUM> and the second regulatory guide <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the second holding guide <NUM> at the second placing completion position is provided downstream of the second regulatory guide <NUM> in the yarn running direction and behind the second regulatory guide <NUM> in the front-rear direction. When the second holding guide <NUM> is moving from the second yarn threading position to the second placing completion position, the second holding guide <NUM> hands over the yarns Y to the respective second groove portions 23a.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first holding guide <NUM> at the first yarn threading position is adjacent to the second holding guide <NUM> at the second yarn threading position in the yarn running direction. In this regard, when the first holding guide <NUM> and the second holding guide <NUM> are adjacent to each other, a distance between the first holding guide <NUM> and the second holding guide <NUM> is <NUM> to <NUM>.

The synchronizing mechanism <NUM> is configured to synchronize the movement of the first holding guide <NUM> between the first yarn threading position and the first placing completion position with the movement of the second holding guide <NUM> between the second yarn threading position and the second placing completion position. As shown in <FIG>, the synchronizing mechanism <NUM> includes a first swing arm <NUM> which is rotatable about a first swing shaft <NUM> extending along the left-right direction and a second swing arm <NUM> which is rotatable about a second swing shaft <NUM> extending along the left-right direction.

As shown in <FIG>, the first swing arm <NUM> cantilevers a left end of the first holding guide <NUM> at its leading end part. The first holding guide <NUM> is swingable between the first yarn threading position and the first placing completion position in such a way that the first swing arm <NUM> rotates about the first swing shaft <NUM>. When the first holding guide <NUM> is at the first yarn threading position, the first swing arm <NUM> extends in the front-rear direction (see <FIG>). When the first holding guide <NUM> is at the first placing completion position, the first swing arm <NUM> extends upward and forward (see <FIG>).

As shown in <FIG>, the second swing arm <NUM> cantilevers a left end of the second holding guide <NUM> at its leading end part. The second holding guide <NUM> is swingable between the second yarn threading position and the second placing completion position in such a way that the second swing arm <NUM> rotates about the second swing shaft <NUM>. When the second holding guide <NUM> is at the second yarn threading position, the second swing arm <NUM> extends in the front-rear direction (see <FIG>). When the second holding guide <NUM> is at the second placing completion position, the second swing arm <NUM> extends downward and forward (see <FIG>).

As shown in <FIG>, the first swing arm <NUM> has a first gear <NUM> with four teeth, and the second swing arm <NUM> has a second gear <NUM> with five teeth. The first gear <NUM> meshes with the second gear <NUM>. The number of teeth forming the first gear <NUM> may not be four. The number of teeth forming the second gear <NUM> may not be five.

The synchronizing mechanism <NUM> is configured to rotate the first swing arm <NUM> and the second swing arm <NUM> in a synchronous manner by means of the first gear <NUM> and the second gear <NUM> which mesh with each other. For example, the synchronizing mechanism <NUM> includes an unillustrated motor configured to rotationally drive one of the first swing shaft <NUM> and the second swing shaft <NUM>. However, the synchronizing mechanism <NUM> may not include the motor. Alternatively, the synchronizing mechanism <NUM> may include, e.g., a lever (not illustrated) attached to one of the first swing arm <NUM> and the second swing arm <NUM>. In this case, as the operator pulls the lever, one of the first swing arm <NUM> and the second swing arm <NUM> starts to rotate. Because the first gear <NUM> meshes with the second gear <NUM>, the other of the first swing arm <NUM> and the second swing arm <NUM> also starts to rotate in sync with one of the first swing arm <NUM> and the second swing arm <NUM>.

The following will describe specific processes of threading the yarns Y to the first regulatory guide <NUM> and second regulatory guide <NUM> of the yarn processing apparatus <NUM>. In the yarn production system <NUM>, yarn threading to the two regulatory guides <NUM> and <NUM> of the yarn processing apparatus <NUM> is performed after yarn threading to the guides <NUM>. The yarn threading to the first regulatory guide <NUM> and second regulatory guide <NUM> of the yarn processing apparatus <NUM> is performed by using, e.g., a suction gun <NUM> (convergence unit of the present invention). The suction gun <NUM> is configured to suck and converge the yarns Y.

Before the yarn threading to the yarn processing apparatus <NUM>, the synchronizing mechanism <NUM> moves (i) the first holding guide <NUM> to the first yarn threading position and (ii) the second holding guide <NUM> to the second yarn threading position in advance (see <FIG>). Subsequently, the operator threads the yarns Y which are sucked and bundled by the suction gun <NUM> to (i) the respective first retaining grooves 24a of the first holding guide <NUM> and (ii) the respective second retaining grooves 25a of the second holding guide <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. At this time, the operator performs the yarn threading while positioning the suction gun <NUM> so that the intervals of the yarns Y sucked by a suction port <NUM> of the suction gun <NUM> are adjusted to (i) those of the respective first retaining grooves 24a of the first holding guide <NUM> at the first yarn threading position and (ii) those of the respective second retaining grooves 25a of the second holding guide <NUM> at the second yarn threading position.

Subsequently, the first holding guide <NUM> at the first yarn threading position and the second holding guide <NUM> at the second yarn threading position are moved to the first placing completion position and the second placing completion position, respectively, in a synchronous manner by the synchronizing mechanism <NUM>. To be more specific, when viewed from the right side in the left-right direction, the first holding guide <NUM> is swung from the first yarn threading position to the first placing completion position as the first swing arm <NUM> rotates counterclockwise (indicated by a solid arrow in <FIG>) about the first swing shaft <NUM>. When viewed from the right side in the left-right direction, the second holding guide <NUM> is swung from the second yarn threading position to the second placing completion position as the second swing arm <NUM> rotates clockwise (indicated by a solid arrow in <FIG>) about the second swing shaft <NUM>.

When the first holding guide <NUM> is moving from the first yarn threading position to the first placing completion position, the yarns Y held by the first holding guide <NUM> are handed over to the respective first groove portions 22a of the first regulatory guide <NUM>. To be more specific, after the yarns Y threaded to the first retaining grooves 24a make contact with bottoms of the first groove portions 22a of the first regulatory guide <NUM>, the first holding guide <NUM> is further moved toward the first placing completion position. Because of this, the yarns Y threaded to the first retaining grooves 24a are handed over to the first groove portions 22a. As a result, the yarn threading to the first regulatory guide <NUM> is completed.

When the second holding guide <NUM> is moving from the second yarn threading position to the second placing completion position, the yarns Y held by the second holding guide <NUM> are handed over to the respective second groove portions 23a of the second regulatory guide <NUM>. To be more specific, after the yarns Y threaded to the second retaining grooves 25a make contact with bottoms of the second groove portions 23a of the second regulatory guide <NUM>, the second holding guide <NUM> is further moved toward the second placing completion position. Because of this, the yarns Y threaded to the second retaining grooves 25a are handed over to the second groove portions 23a. As a result, the yarn threading to the second regulatory guide <NUM> is completed.

The yarns Y threaded to the first regulatory guide <NUM> and the second regulatory guide <NUM> are guided by the inclined surfaces 26a and 26b of the yarn processing unit <NUM> and threaded to the first yarn passages <NUM>.

The yarn processing apparatus <NUM> of the present embodiment includes: the first holding guide <NUM> which is able to take the first yarn threading position and the first placing completion position; and the second holding guide <NUM> which is able to take the second yarn threading position and the second placing completion position. The first holding guide <NUM> at the first yarn threading position is adjacent to the second holding guide <NUM> at the second yarn threading position in the yarn running direction. When (i) the yarns Y are converged at the suction gun <NUM> and (ii) the intervals of the yarns Y in the left-right direction (arrangement direction) vary between the upstream and downstream sides in the yarn running direction, it is difficult to place the yarns Y in the yarn running spaces <NUM> which extend along the yarn running direction and which are aligned at predetermined intervals in the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, the first holding guide <NUM> at the first yarn threading position is adjacent to the second holding guide <NUM> at the second yarn threading position in the yarn running direction. With this arrangement, the yarns Y are simultaneously threaded to the first holding guide <NUM> and the second holding guide <NUM> while being threaded to the first holding guide <NUM> at the same intervals as the second holding guide <NUM> in the left-right direction. As (i) the first holding guide <NUM> to which the yarns Y are threaded takes the first placing completion position and (ii) the second holding guide <NUM> to which the yarns Y are threaded takes the second placing completion position, the yarns Y are placed in the yarn running spaces <NUM> while the intervals of the yarns Y are adjusted to those of the yarn running spaces <NUM> in the left-right direction. Because of this, the yarns Y the intervals of which vary between the upstream and downstream sides in the yarn running direction are easily placed in the yarn running spaces <NUM> aligned at predetermined intervals in the left-right direction.

The yarn processing apparatus <NUM> of the present embodiment further includes: the first regulatory guide <NUM> provided upstream of the yarn running spaces <NUM> in the yarn running direction; and the second regulatory guide <NUM> provided downstream of the yarn running spaces <NUM> in the yarn running direction. The first placing completion position is a position at which the first holding guide <NUM> is deviated from the above-described yarn paths of the yarns Y threaded to the first regulatory guide <NUM> and the second regulatory guide <NUM>, and the second placing completion position is a position where the second holding guide <NUM> is deviated from the above-described yarn paths of the yarns Y threaded to the first regulatory guide <NUM> and the second regulatory guide <NUM>. When the first holding guide <NUM> is moving from the first yarn threading position to the first placing completion position, the first holding guide <NUM> hands over the yarns Y to the first regulatory guide <NUM>. When the second holding guide <NUM> is moving from the second yarn threading position to the second placing completion position, the second holding guide <NUM> hands over the yarns Y to the second regulatory guide <NUM>. When (i) the intervals of the yarns Y vary between the upstream and downstream sides in the yarn running direction and (ii) the yarns Y are threaded to the first regulatory guide <NUM> and the second regulatory guide <NUM>, the following problem occurs. That is, when the intervals of the yarns Y are adjusted to those of one of the first regulatory guide <NUM> and the second regulatory guide <NUM>, these intervals of the yarns Y are different those of the other of the first regulatory guide <NUM> and the second regulatory guide <NUM> because the intervals of the yarns Y vary between the upstream and downstream sides in the yarn running direction. In the present embodiment, the yarns Y are easily and simultaneously threaded to the first regulatory guide <NUM> and the second regulatory guide <NUM> by simultaneously threading the yarns Y to the first holding guide <NUM> at the first yarn threading position and the second holding guide <NUM> at the second yarn threading position, moving the first holding guide <NUM> to the first placing completion position, and moving the second holding guide <NUM> to the second placing completion position. As a result, the yarns Y the intervals of which vary between the upstream and downstream sides in the yarn running direction are easily placed in the yarn running spaces <NUM> aligned at predetermined intervals in the left-right direction.

In the present embodiment, the second holding guide <NUM> has the second retaining grooves 25a. The intervals of the second retaining grooves 25a in the left-right direction are identical with those of the second groove portions 23a in the left-right direction. With this arrangement, the intervals of the yarns Y threaded to the second retaining grooves 25a of the second holding guide <NUM> are identical with those of the second groove portions 23a in the left-right direction. It is therefore possible to further reliably hand over the yarns Y to the respective second groove portions 23a. Because of this, the yarns Y can be accurately threaded to the second regulatory guide <NUM> and placed in the yarn running spaces <NUM> aligned in the left-right direction.

In the present embodiment, the yarn placing unit <NUM> includes the synchronizing mechanism <NUM> configured to synchronize the movement of the first holding guide <NUM> between the first yarn threading position and the first placing completion position with the movement of the second holding guide <NUM> between the second yarn threading position and the second placing completion position. When (i) the handover of the yarns Y from one holding guide to one regulatory guide is performed at first and (ii) the handover of the yarns Y from the other holding guide to the other regulatory guide is then performed, the yarns Y may be lifted up and detached from one regulatory guide, in which the handover of the yarns Y has been completed, in accordance with the handover of the yarns Y from the other holding guide to the other regulatory guide. In the present embodiment, the handover of the yarns Y from the first holding guide <NUM> to the first regulatory guide <NUM> is performable at the same time as the handover of the yarns Y from the second holding guide <NUM> to the second regulatory guide <NUM>. It is therefore possible to further reliably perform the yarn threading to the first regulatory guide <NUM> and the second regulatory guide <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the synchronizing mechanism <NUM> includes: the first swing arm <NUM> which is rotatable about the first swing shaft <NUM> extending along the left-right direction and which swingably supports the first holding guide <NUM>; and the second swing arm <NUM> which is rotatable about the second swing shaft <NUM> extending along the left-right direction and which swingably supports the second holding guide <NUM>. The first swing arm <NUM> has the first gear <NUM>, and the second swing arm <NUM> has the second gear <NUM>. The synchronizing mechanism <NUM> is configured to synchronize the movement of the first holding guide <NUM> and that of the second holding guide <NUM>, by rotating the first swing arm <NUM> and the second swing arm <NUM> in a synchronous manner by means of the first gear <NUM> and the second gear <NUM> which mesh with each other. With this arrangement, the first holding guide <NUM> and the second holding guide <NUM> are swung in a synchronous manner such that the first swing arm <NUM> and the second swing arm <NUM> are rotated in a synchronous manner by the first gear <NUM> and the second gear <NUM> which mesh with each other. Because of this, a complicated structure and complicated control are not required for the synchronized movement of the first holding guide <NUM> and the second holding guide <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the first yarn threading position is a position where the first holding guide <NUM> viewed in the left-right direction is deviated from the above-described yarn paths of the yarns Y, which are threaded to the first regulatory guide <NUM> and the second regulatory guide <NUM>, in the forward direction, i.e., in the opening direction in which the first groove portions 22a are open. The second yarn threading position is a position where the second holding guide <NUM> viewed in the left-right direction is deviated from the above-described yarn paths of the yarns Y, which are threaded to the first regulatory guide <NUM> and the second regulatory guide <NUM>, in the forward direction, i.e., in the opening direction in which the second groove portions 23a are open. With this arrangement, when the yarns Y are threaded to the first holding guide <NUM> at the first yarn threading position and the second holding guide <NUM> at the second yarn threading position, the yarns Y are suppressed from being unintentionally threaded to some first groove portions 22a and some second groove portions 23a to which the yarns Y are not supposed to be threaded. It is therefore possible to further reliably thread the yarns Y to some first groove portions 22a to which the yarns Y are supposed to be threaded, by moving the first holding guide <NUM> to the first placing completion position while the yarns Y are held by the first holding guide <NUM> and not threaded to the first regulatory guide <NUM>. It is also possible to further reliably thread the yarns Y to some second groove portions 23a to which the yarns Y are supposed to be threaded, by moving the second holding guide <NUM> to the second placing completion position while the yarns Y are held by the second holding guide <NUM> and not threaded to the second regulatory guide <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, when viewed in the left-right direction, the first regulatory guide <NUM> is provided not to overlap the yarn paths of the yarns Y threaded to the first holding guide <NUM> at the first yarn threading position. With this arrangement, when the yarns Y are threaded to the first holding guide <NUM> at the first yarn threading position, the yarns Y are further suppressed from being unintentionally threaded to some first groove portions 22a to which the yarns Y are not supposed to be threaded. It is therefore possible to further reliably thread the yarns Y to some first groove portions 22a to which the yarns Y are supposed to be threaded, by moving the first holding guide <NUM> to the first placing completion position while the yarns Y are held by the first holding guide <NUM> and not threaded to the first regulatory guide <NUM>.

The following will describe modifications of the above-described embodiment. The members identical with those in the embodiment above will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and the explanations thereof are not repeated.

In the embodiment above, the second holding guide <NUM> has the second retaining grooves 25a. The intervals of the second retaining grooves 25a in the left-right direction are identical with those of the second groove portions 23a in the left-right direction. However, the second holding guide may not have grooves. As shown in <FIG>, for example, a second holding guide <NUM> of a first modification is a rotatable roller which is rotatable about a rotation shaft extending along the left-right direction. The rotatable roller may be a drive roller which is electrically driven (rotated) by an unillustrated motor or a free roller (driven roller) which has no driving force. In this case, the first holding guide <NUM> included in a yarn processing apparatus <NUM> is structured in the same manner as that in the embodiment above. <FIG> shows the first holding guide <NUM> at the first yarn threading position and the second holding guide <NUM> at the second yarn threading position. With this arrangement, when the yarns Y are threaded to the second holding guide <NUM> which is a rotatable roller, the yarns Y make contact with a circumferential surface of the rotatable roller at first in a direction orthogonal to the circumferential surface of the rotatable roller by means of the friction force between the circumferential surface of the rotatable roller and the yarns Y. With this arrangement, the intervals of the yarns Y threaded to the second holding guide <NUM> are adjusted to those of the yarns Y threaded to the first retaining grooves 24a of the first holding guide <NUM> provided upstream of the second holding guide <NUM> in the yarn running direction. Even when the intervals of the yarns Y running on the downstream side of the second holding guide <NUM> in the yarn running direction are narrowed by the suction gun <NUM> which generates the friction force between the circumferential surface of the rotatable roller and the yarns Y, the intervals of the yarns Y threaded to the second holding guide <NUM> are maintained as those are. Because of this, the intervals of the yarns Y threaded to the second holding guide <NUM> are adjusted to those of the first retaining grooves 24a in the left-right direction, i.e., to those of the first groove portions 22a and those of the second groove portions 23a in the left-right direction. It is therefore possible to further reliably hand over the yarns Y to the respective second groove portions 23a. Because of this, the yarns Y can be further accurately threaded to the yarn processing apparatus <NUM>.

In the yarn processing apparatus <NUM> of the first modification, the posture of the second holding guide <NUM> functioning as the rotatable roller is suitably arranged in consideration of the friction force between the circumferential surface of the rotatable roller and the yarns Y. In the first modification, the yarns Y may not be threaded to the first holding guide <NUM> at the first yarn threading position and the second holding guide <NUM> at the second yarn threading position at the same time. To be more specific, the yarns Y may be threaded to the second holding guide <NUM> at the second yarn threading position immediately after being threaded to the first holding guide <NUM> at the first yarn threading position.

In the yarn processing apparatus <NUM> of the embodiment above, the yarns Y are placed in the yarn running spaces <NUM> by being handed over from the first holding guide <NUM> to the first regulatory guide <NUM> and from the second holding guide <NUM> to the second regulatory guide <NUM>. However, the yarn processing apparatus of the present invention may not include the first regulatory guide <NUM> and the second regulatory guide <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, for example, a yarn processing apparatus <NUM> includes a yarn placing unit <NUM> including a first holding guide <NUM> and a second holding guide <NUM>.

The first holding guide <NUM> has first retaining grooves (not illustrated). The intervals of the first retaining grooves in the left-right direction are identical with those of the yarn running spaces <NUM> in the left-right direction. The first holding guide <NUM> is able to take a first yarn threading position (see <FIG>) and a first placing completion position (see <FIG>). In this regard, the first yarn threading position is a position where the yarns Y are threaded to the first holding guide <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the first holding guide <NUM> at the first yarn threading position is at a position positioned upstream of the yarn running spaces <NUM> in the yarn running direction. As shown in <FIG>, the first holding guide <NUM> at the first placing completion position is at a position which is positioned upstream of the yarn running spaces <NUM> in the yarn running direction and where the yarns Y held by the first retaining grooves can be placed in the yarn running spaces <NUM>. In the second modification, the first yarn threading position and first placing completion position of the first holding guide <NUM> are the same position.

The second holding guide <NUM> has second retaining grooves (not illustrated). The intervals of the second retaining grooves in the left-right direction are identical with those of the yarn running spaces <NUM> in the left-right direction. The second holding guide <NUM> is able to take a second yarn threading position (see <FIG>) and a second placing completion position (see <FIG>). In this regard, the second yarn threading position is a position where the yarns Y are threaded to the second holding guide <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the second holding guide <NUM> at the second yarn threading position is at a position positioned upstream of the yarn running spaces <NUM> in the yarn running direction. As shown in <FIG>, the second holding guide <NUM> at the second placing completion position is at a position which is positioned downstream of the yarn running spaces <NUM> in the yarn running direction and where the yarns Y held by the second retaining grooves can be placed in the yarn running spaces <NUM>. The first holding guide <NUM> at the first yarn threading position is adjacent to the second holding guide <NUM> at the second yarn threading position in the yarn running direction.

For example, the movement of the second holding guide <NUM> between the second yarn threading position and the second placing completion position may be performed by a motor-driven movement mechanism (not illustrated) or may be manually performed by the operator.

The yarn placing unit <NUM> of the second modification further includes a regulator <NUM>, a supporter <NUM>, and a rotation shaft <NUM>. The regulator <NUM> is switchable between a regulatory state and a release state. The regulator <NUM> in the regulatory state is configured to prevent the yarns Y threaded to the first holding guide <NUM> and the second holding guide <NUM> from being placed in the yarn running spaces <NUM> (see <FIG>). Such regulation is canceled when the regulating member <NUM> is in the release state (see <FIG>). The regulator <NUM> is provided downstream of the yarn running spaces <NUM> in the yarn running direction. The rotation shaft <NUM> extends along the left-right direction, and is formed at the base <NUM>. The base end part of the supporter <NUM> is connected to the rotation shaft <NUM> while the leading end part of the supporter <NUM> is connected to the regulator <NUM>. In other words, the regulator <NUM> is connected to the rotation shaft <NUM> through the supporter <NUM>. The regulator <NUM> is switchable between the regulatory state and the release state by rotating about the rotation shaft <NUM>.

The following will describe a process of placing the yarns Y in the yarn running spaces <NUM> of the yarn processing unit <NUM>. The yarn threading to the first holding guide <NUM> and the second holding guide <NUM> is performed by using, e.g., the suction gun <NUM>. To begin with, as shown in <FIG>, the first holding guide <NUM> is moved to the first yarn threading position, and the second holding guide <NUM> is moved to the second yarn threading position. At this time, the regulator <NUM> is in the regulatory state. The operator then threads the yarns Y which are bundled and sucked by the suction gun <NUM> to (i) the respective first retaining grooves of the first holding guide <NUM> and (ii) the second retaining grooves of the second holding guide <NUM>.

Subsequently, as shown in <FIG>, the second holding guide <NUM> is moved to the second placing completion position. While the second holding guide <NUM> is moved from the second yarn threading position to the second placing completion position, the regulator <NUM> is in the regulatory state. When the second holding guide <NUM> reaches the second placing completion position, the regulator <NUM> rotates downward about the rotation shaft <NUM> to be switched to the release state as shown in <FIG>. Because of this, the yarns Y threaded to the first holding guide <NUM> and the second holding guide <NUM> are placed in the yarn running spaces <NUM>.

In the second modification, after the yarns Y the intervals of which vary between the upstream and downstream sides in the yarn running direction are simultaneously threaded to the first holding guide <NUM> at the first yarn threading position and the second holding guide <NUM> at the second yarn threading position, the first holding guide <NUM> is moved to the first placing completion position and the second holding guide <NUM> is moved to the second placing completion position. As a result, without the first regulatory guide <NUM> and the second regulatory guide <NUM> which are described above, the yarns Y the intervals of which vary between the upstream and downstream sides in the yarn running direction are placed in the yarn running spaces <NUM> aligned at predetermined intervals in the arrangement direction. It is therefore possible to reduce the number of members used for placing the yarns Y in the yarn running spaces.

The yarns Y threaded to the first holding guide <NUM> and the second holding guide <NUM> may be placed in the yarn running spaces <NUM> before these holding guides <NUM> and <NUM> respectively reach the first placing completion position and the second placing completion position. In this case, because these holding guides <NUM> and <NUM> do not reach the respective placing completion positions, the yarns Y may not be properly placed in the respective yarn running spaces <NUM>. In the second modification, the yarns Y are prevented from being placed in the yarn running spaces <NUM> before the first holding guide <NUM> and the second holding guide <NUM> reach the respective placing completion positions. It is therefore possible to properly place the yarns Y in the respective yarn running spaces <NUM>.

In the second modification, the first yarn threading position and first placing completion position of the first holding guide <NUM> are the same position. However, the first holding guide <NUM> may be moveable between the first yarn threading position and the first placing completion position. In this case, for example, the first holding guide <NUM> is moveable between a first yarn threading position positioned downstream of the yarn running spaces <NUM> in the yarn running direction and a first placing completion position positioned upstream of the yarn running spaces <NUM> in the yarn running direction. In this case, for example, the second yarn threading position and second placing completion position of the second holding guide <NUM> are the same position positioned downstream of the yarn running spaces <NUM> in the yarn running direction. In the second modification, both of the first holding guide <NUM> and the second holding guide <NUM> may be configured to move.

In the second modification, the second holding guide <NUM> has the second retaining grooves. However, the second holding guide <NUM> may not have the second retaining grooves. For example, the second holding guide <NUM> may be a rotatable roller which is rotatable about a rotation shaft extending along the left-right direction in the same manner as in the above-described first modification.

In the embodiment above, the yarn processing apparatus <NUM> is configured to bundle the yarns Y by means of the injection of compressed air. However, the disclosure is not limited to this yarn processing apparatus. The yarn processing apparatus may be another apparatus in which the regulatory guides (the first regulatory guide and the second regulatory guide) are provided upstream and downstream of the yarn processing unit in order to perform a predetermined process for the yarns Y running at substantially equal intervals and in parallel to one another by means of the yarn processing unit. For example, the yarn processing apparatus may be another apparatus which includes a member such as an oil nozzle configured to apply oil to the yarns Y and a tension sensor configured to detect the tension of the yarns Y as the yarn processing unit.

In the embodiment above, the first holding guide <NUM> is swung by the first swing arm <NUM>, and the second holding guide <NUM> is swung by the second swing arm <NUM>. However, the first holding guide <NUM> and the second holding guide <NUM> may not be guides of a swing type. For example, the first holding guide <NUM> may be movable between the first yarn threading position and the first placing completion position by being moved in the up-down direction and the front-rear direction. Similarly, the second holding guide <NUM> may be movable between the second yarn threading position and the second placing completion position by being moved in the up-down direction and the front-rear direction. To be more specific, the first holding guide <NUM> at the first yarn threading position is moved to the first placing completion position by being moved upward and then rearward. The second holding guide <NUM> at the second yarn threading position is moved to the second placing completion position by being moved downward and then rearward. Alternatively, the first holding guide <NUM> may be movable between the first yarn threading position and the first placing completion position in an oblique direction. Similarly, the second holding guide <NUM> may be movable between the second yarn threading position and the second placing completion position in an oblique direction.

In the embodiment above, the yarn processing apparatus <NUM> includes the synchronizing mechanism <NUM> configured to synchronize the movement of the first holding guide <NUM> with the movement of the second holding guide <NUM>. However, the yarn processing apparatus <NUM> may not include the synchronizing mechanism <NUM>. In this case, the movement of the first holding guide <NUM> between the first yarn threading position and the first placing completion position is performed independently from the movement of the second holding guide <NUM> between the second yarn threading position and the second placing completion position.

In the embodiment above, the yarn threading to the yarn processing apparatus <NUM> is performed by using the suction gun <NUM>. However, a hook guide configured to converge the yarns Y at one position may be used for performing the yarn threading.

In the embodiment above, the first holding guide <NUM> at the first yarn threading position and the second holding guide <NUM> at the second yarn threading position are provided downstream of the first regulatory guide <NUM> and upstream of the second regulatory guide <NUM> in the yarn running direction. However, the first holding guide <NUM> at the first yarn threading position and the second holding guide <NUM> at the second yarn threading position may be provided upstream of the first regulatory guide <NUM> in the yarn running direction or downstream of the second regulatory guide <NUM> in the yarn running direction.

In the embodiment above, when the first holding guide <NUM> reaches the first placing completion position, the movement of the first holding guide <NUM> from the first yarn threading position to the first placing completion position stops. However, the first holding guide <NUM> may be moved further across the first placing completion position after reaching the first placing completion position. For example, the first holding guide <NUM> may be moved across the first placing completion position to a position behind the yarn processing unit <NUM>. The same applies to the second holding guide <NUM>. In the embodiment above, when the second holding guide <NUM> reaches the second placing completion position, the movement of the second holding guide <NUM> from the second yarn threading position to the second placing completion position stops. However, the second holding guide <NUM> may be moved further across the second placing completion position after reaching the second placing completion position. For example, the second holding guide <NUM> may be moved across the second placing completion position to a position behind the yarn processing unit <NUM>.

In the embodiment above, the first retaining grooves 24a may be provided on the entire circumferential surface of the first holding guide <NUM> or on a part of the circumferential surface of the first holding guide <NUM>. In this regard, the first retaining grooves 24a need to be formed so that the yarns Y are not detached from the first retaining grooves 24a while the first holding guide <NUM> is moving from the first yarn threading position to the first placing completion position. Similarly, the second retaining grooves 25a may be provided on the entire circumferential surface of the second holding guide <NUM> or on a part of the circumferential surface of the second holding guide <NUM>. In this regard, the second retaining grooves 25a need to be formed so that the yarns Y are not detached from the second retaining grooves 25a while the second holding guide <NUM> is moving from the second yarn threading position to the second placing completion position.

In the embodiment above, the yarn processing apparatus <NUM> is provided below the guides <NUM> and above the godet roller <NUM> in the yarn production system <NUM>. However, the position of the yarn processing apparatus <NUM> is not limited to this. When (i) yarn threading is performed by using the suction gun <NUM>, etc. so that the intervals of the yarns Y vary between the upstream and downstream sides in the yarn running direction and (ii) the yarns Y are threaded to two regulatory guides (the first regulatory guide and the second regulatory guide) which are separated from each other in the yarn running direction and which have the respective groups of groove portions (the first groove portions and the second groove portions), the present invention is effective. In this regard, the intervals of groove portions in one group are identical with those in the other group in the arrangement direction.

Claim 1:
A yarn processing apparatus (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) comprising: a yarn processing unit (<NUM>) in which yarn running spaces (<NUM>) are formed and which is configured to perform a predetermined process for yarns (Y) running in the yarn running spaces (<NUM>), the yarn running spaces (<NUM>) extending along a yarn running direction and being aligned at predetermined intervals in an arrangement direction intersecting with the yarn running direction; and
a yarn placing unit (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to place the yarns (Y) in the yarn running spaces (<NUM>),
the yarn placing unit (<NUM>, <NUM>) including:
a first holding unit (<NUM>, <NUM>) including first retaining grooves (24a) aligned in the arrangement direction; and
a second holding unit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) which is provided downstream of the first holding unit (<NUM>, <NUM>) in the yarn running direction and which is configured to hold the yarns (Y) while intervals of the yarns (Y) held by the first retaining grooves (24a) are maintained,
the first holding unit (<NUM>, <NUM>) being able to take a first yarn threading position where the yarns (Y) are threaded to the first holding unit (<NUM>, <NUM>) and a first placing completion position which is positioned upstream of the yarn running spaces (<NUM>) in the yarn running direction and where placing of the yarns (Y) in the yarn running spaces (<NUM>) is completed,
the second holding unit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) being able to take a second yarn threading position where the yarns (Y) are threaded to the second holding unit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and a second placing completion position which is positioned downstream of the yarn running spaces (<NUM>) in the yarn running direction and where the placing of the yarns (Y) in the yarn running spaces (<NUM>) is completed, and
the first holding unit (<NUM>, <NUM>) at the first yarn threading position being adjacent to the second holding unit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) at the second yarn threading position in the yarn running direction.