HEATER

Abstract

 Variations in shape between yarn contact members are suppressed both in newly-manufactured heaters and in existing heaters. A first heater 13 includes a yarn contact member 43 having a yarn contact surface 57, a heating unit 41 (attaching portion), and a yarn contact member holding portion 60. The yarn contact member holding portion 60 includes a warping portion 61 (other-side regulating portion) and a shape correction member 64. The shape correction member 64 is formed of a member of which the warping portion 61 is not formed, is provided to at least oppose the warping portion 61 over the yarn contact member 43 in the first direction, and is configured to apply a correction force having a component in a first direction to the yarn contact member 43. The shape correction member 64 has a pressing surface 67 extending at least in the extending direction and is provided to apply the correction force to the yarn contact member 43 by making contact with the yarn contact member 43. A cross sectional curve 67c orthogonal to the second direction of the pressing surface 67 has a predetermined curvature.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a heater configured to heat yarns.

[0002] Patent Literature 1 (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-194631) discloses a heater provided in a false-twist texturing machine (textile machine) configured to false-twist a running yarn. To be more specific, the heater includes a sheathed heater (heat source), a heating body (heating unit) extending in a predetermined extending direction, and a contact plate (yarn contact member) attached to the heating unit and heated by the heat source. The yarn contact member has a yarn contact surface that is curved to ensure contact with a yarn. With this arrangement, the yarn running while being in contact with the yarn contacted surface is heated by heat conduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Although not recited in Patent Literature 1, the yarn contact surface of the yarn contact member may be thermally treated (e.g., nitriding treatment) in order to, for example, suppress abrasion of the yarn contact surface. As a result, the yarn contact member is unintentionally deformed due to the thermal treatment, and the curvature of the yarn contact surface may be significantly different from an intended curvature. Furthermore, the shape of each yarn contact member after the deformation due to the thermal treatment may be significantly different between the yarn contact members. On this account, the quality of the yarn heated by making contact with the yarn contact surface may be different between the yarn contact members. This problem may occur in both newly-manufactured heaters and existing heaters.

[0004] An object of the present invention is to suppress variations in shape between yarn contact members both in newly-manufactured heaters and in existing heaters.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the invention, a heater configured to heat at least one running yarn comprises: at least one yarn contact member each of which includes a yarn contact surface extending at least in a predetermined extending direction and arranged to make contact with one of the at least one yarn; a heating unit which extends in the extending direction and is configured to be able to heat the at least one yarn contact member; an attaching portion which includes the heating unit and to which the at least one yarn contact member is attached; and a yarn contact member holding portion which holds the at least one yarn contact member to be attached to the attaching portion, the yarn contact surface extending at least in the extending direction and being oriented at least to one side in a predetermined first direction orthogonal to the extending direction, the yarn contact member holding portion including: at least one other-side regulating portion restricting movement of the at least one yarn contact member toward the other side in the first direction; and a shape correction member which is formed of a member of which the at least one other-side regulating portion is not formed, which is provided at least to oppose the at least one other-side regulating portion over the at least one yarn contact member in the first direction, and which is configured to apply a correction force having a component in the first direction to the at least one yarn contact member, the shape correction member having a pressing surface extending at least in the extending direction and provided to apply the correction force to the at least one yarn contact member, and a cross sectional curve of the pressing surface, which is orthogonal to a second direction orthogonal to both the extending direction and the first direction, having a predetermined curvature.

[0006] According to this aspect of the present invention, the other-side regulating portion make it possible to roughly set the position of the yarn contact member in the first direction. Then, in the aspect of the present invention, the correction force is applied to the yarn contact member by the shape correction member, with the result that the shape of the yarn contact member is corrected. To be more specific, as the pressing surface applies the pressing force to the yarn contact member, the curvature of the cross sectional curve of a part of the yarn contact member in contact with the pressing surface is arranged to be substantially identical with the curvature of the cross sectional curve of the pressing surface. Furthermore, according to the aspect of the present invention, the shape correction member is formed of a member different from a member of which the other-side regulating portion is formed. It is therefore possible to additionally provide the shape correction member in an existing heater. This arrangement makes it possible to correct the shape of the yarn contact member attached to that heater. It is therefore possible to suppress variations in shape between yarn contact members both in newly-manufactured heaters and in existing heaters.

[0007] According to a second aspect of the invention, the heater of the first aspect is arranged such that the yarn contact member holding portion holds the at least one yarn contact member to be detachable from and attachable to the attaching portion.

[0008] A member making contact with a running yarn typically needs to be cleaned regularly or irregularly. The heater may be provided at a position higher than the height of a cleaning operator. The aspect of the present invention makes it possible to detach the yarn contact member from the attaching portion when the yarn contact member is cleaned. The efficiency in cleaning of the yarn contact member is therefore improved.

[0009] According to a third aspect of the invention, the heater of the second aspect is arranged such that the attaching portion includes a detachment/attachment passage which is provided on one side in the first direction of the at least one other-side regulating portion and allows the at least one yarn contact member to pass through in the first direction when the at least one yarn contact member is attached or detached, a correction member holding unit is provided to hold the shape correction member to be movable relative to the at least one yarn contact member, and the shape correction member is movable between a pressing position where the pressing surface is provided in the detachment/attachment passage and in contact with the at least one yarn contact member and a non-pressing position where the pressing surface is provided outside the detachment/attachment passage and is not in contact with the at least one yarn contact member.

[0010] The attaching portion may be arranged so that, for example, the yarn contact member is detached by pulling out the yarn contact member from the attaching portion in the lengthwise direction whereas the yarn contact member is attached by pushing the yarn contact member into the attaching portion in the lengthwise direction. This arrangement, however, is disadvantageous in that a long space for attachment and detachment must be provided to be adjacent to the heater in the lengthwise direction, and this hugely restricts the layout around the heater. In this regard, according to the aspect of the present invention, the yarn contact member is attached to and detached from the attaching portion by moving the yarn contact member in the first direction. In this case, a long space that is adjacent to the heater in the lengthwise direction is unnecessary. It is therefore possible to suppress the layout around the heater from being restricted.

[0011]  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the heater of the third aspect is arranged such that the correction member holding unit holds the shape correction member to be detachable from and attachable to the attaching portion.

[0012] According to this aspect of the present invention, the shape correction member can be detached from the attaching portion and separated from the attaching portion. On this account, when a detaching/attaching operation of detaching or attaching the yarn contact member from or to the attaching portion is performed, the detaching/attaching operation of detaching or attaching the yarn contact member is less likely to be obstructed as compared to a case where the shape correction member at the non-pressing position is provided to be close to the attaching portion.

[0013] According to a fifth aspect of the invention, the heater of the third or fourth aspect is arranged such that the correction member holding unit includes: a swing supporter which supports the shape correction member to be swingable about a swing shaft that is provided at a one-side end portion on one side in the extending direction of the attaching portion and extends in the second direction; and a switching unit which is provided at an other-side end portion on the other side in the extending direction of the attaching portion and is switchable between a permissive state in which swing of the shape correction member is permitted and a prohibited state in which swing of the shape correction member at the pressing position is prohibited.

[0014] The shape correction member may be screwed to the attaching portion, for example. In this case, however, screws must be fixed to the attaching portion at plural positions in the extending direction. On this account, when the shape correction member is moved from the pressing position to the non-pressing position, the screws must be loosened at plural parts in the extending direction or must be detached from the attaching portion. In this way, the operator is required to perform such a tiresome operation. According to the aspect of the present invention, the shape correction member is movable between the pressing position and the non-pressing position only by swinging the shape correction member. Furthermore, it is possible to allow or prohibit the swing of the shape correction member only by operating the switching unit. The time and labor of the operator are therefore reduced.

[0015] According to a sixth aspect of the invention, the heater of the fifth aspect is arranged such that the switching unit includes: a first engaging member which is attached to one of the attaching portion and the shape correction member; a second engaging member which is attached to the other of the attaching portion and the shape correction member and is switchable between an engaging position in which the second engaging member is engaged with the first engaging member so that the switching unit is in the prohibited state and a cancellation position in which engagement with the first engaging member is canceled so that the switching unit is in the permissive state; and an operation member which is operated so as to move the second engaging member between the engaging position and the cancellation position.

[0016] According to this aspect of the present invention, it is possible to allow or prohibit the swing of the shape correction member only by switching between the engagement and cancellation of the engagement between the first engaging member and the second engaging member by operating the operation member. The time and labor of the operator are therefore further reduced.

[0017] According to a seventh aspect of the invention, the heater of the sixth aspect is arranged such that the second engaging member is rotatably attached to the other of the attaching portion and the shape correction member and is movable between the engaging position and the cancellation position by being rotated.

[0018] This aspect of the present invention makes it possible to downsize the space required for the movement of the second engaging member, as compared to an arrangement in which the second engaging member moves, for example, in a parallel manner. It is therefore possible to avoid the increase in size of the switching unit.

[0019] According to an eighth aspect of the invention, the heater of the seventh aspect is arranged such that the operation member includes a handle portion which is arranged to be rotatable together with the second engaging member.

[0020] According to this aspect of the present invention, the operator can easily move the second engaging member between the engaging position and the cancellation position only by operating the handle portion.

[0021] According to a ninth aspect of the invention, the heater of the eighth aspect is arranged such that a state of the handle portion is changeable between a first state indicating that the second engaging member is at the engaging position and a second state indicating that the second engaging member is at the cancellation position and being different from the first state.

[0022] According to this aspect of the present invention, even when the position of the second engaging member is not viewable, it is possible to know whether the second engaging member is at the engaging position or the cancellation position by checking the state of the handle portion. It is therefore possible to suppress the occurrence of operational errors due to erroneous recognition of the position of the second engaging member.

[0023] According to a tenth aspect of the invention, the heater of the eighth or ninth aspect is arranged such that the engaging position includes a first engaging position that is different from the cancellation position by a predetermined angle in a predetermined rotational direction and a second engaging position that is different from the cancellation position by the predetermined angle in a reverse direction opposite to the predetermined rotational direction, and the cancellation position includes a first cancellation position that is different from the engaging position by the predetermined angle in the predetermined rotational direction and a second cancellation position that is different from the engaging position by the predetermined angle in the reverse direction.

[0024] According to this aspect of the present invention, the operation of the operation member for moving the second engaging member between the engaging position and the cancellation position can be done in the same manner regardless of the dominant hand of the operator.

[0025] According to an eleventh aspect of the invention, the heater of any one of the third to tenth aspects is arranged such that the yarn contact member holding portion includes: a first one-side regulating portion which restricts movement of a portion of the at least one yarn contact member attached to the attaching portion toward the one side in the first direction, the portion being on one side of the shape correction member in the extending direction; and a second one-side regulating portion which restricts movement of another portion of the at least one yarn contact member attached to the attaching portion toward the one side in the first direction, the another portion being on the other side of the shape correction member in the extending direction.

[0026] This aspect of the present invention makes it possible to hold the yarn contact member by the other-side regulating portion, the first one-side regulating portion, and the second one-side regulating portion even when the shape correction member is at the non-pressing position. On this account, unintentional drop off of the yarn contact member from the attaching portion is prevented when the shape correction member is moved from the pressing position to the non-pressing position.

[0027] According to a twelfth aspect of the invention, the heater of the eleventh aspect is arranged such that the first one-side regulating portion and the second one-side regulating portion are capable of restricting movement of the at least one yarn contact member toward the other side in the first direction.

[0028] When the first one-side regulating portion and the second one-side regulating portion are able to regulate only the movement of the yarn contact member toward one side in the first direction, the shapes of parts (hereinafter, both outer parts) of the yarn contact member, which are outside the first one-side regulating portion and the second one-side regulating portion and outside the shape correction member in the extending direction, may not be sufficiently corrected. The aspect of the present invention makes it possible to keep the both outer parts to positionally fall within a predetermined range in the first direction. As a result of this, the shape of the yarn contact surface is further close to the optimal shape.

[0029] According to a thirteenth aspect of the invention, the heater of any one of the third to twelfth aspects is arranged such that the yarn contact member holding portion includes an elastic deformation holding portion which includes the at least one other-side regulating portion and is capable of holding the at least one yarn contact member attached to the attaching portion so that the at least one yarn contact member is elastically deformed in the first direction, no matter whether the shape correction member is at the pressing position or at the non-pressing position.

[0030] According to this aspect of the present invention, even when, for example, the yarn contact member to which no force is applied extends substantially linearly, the yarn contact member can be held in a state of roughly elastically deformed by the elastic deformation holding portion. The shape of the yarn contact member before the correction by the shape correction member is therefore arranged to more or less correspond to the pressing surface in advance. It is therefore possible to correct the shape of the yarn contact member with a small force as compared to a case where the shape of the yarn contact member is significantly corrected only by the shape correction member.

[0031] According to a fourteenth aspect of the invention, the heater of the thirteenth aspect is arranged such that the elastic deformation holding portion includes plural other-side regulating portions, and the other-side regulating portions are disposed in accordance with the predetermined curvature.

[0032] According to this aspect of the present invention, by the other-side regulating portions, elastic deformation is conducted so that the curvature of the yarn contact member is arranged to be close to the predetermined curvature in advance. On this account, the shape of the yarn contact member can be corrected with a smaller force by the shape correction member.

[0033] According to a fifteenth aspect of the invention, the heater of any one of the first to fourteenth aspects is arranged such that the shape correction member is formed of a metal plate member.

[0034] According to this aspect of the present invention, the shape correction member can be formed by using a typical commercially-available metal plate member. The component cost can therefore be reduced.

[0035] According to a sixteenth aspect of the invention, the heater of the fifteenth aspect is arranged such that the pressing surface is formed of an end face of the metal plate member.

[0036] The pressing surface may be formed of a top surface (i.e., a wide surface) of a metal plate member. In this case, however, the pressing surface is unavoidably wide in the second direction. Because in the present invention the pressing surface is formed of the end face of the metal plate member, the thickness direction of the shape correction member corresponds to the above-described second direction. It is therefore possible to arrange the pressing surface to be narrow in the second direction. This arrangement is effective when it is necessary to cause the shape correction member to make contact with a narrow part in the second direction of the yarn contact member.

[0037] According to a seventeenth aspect of the invention, the heater of any one of the first to sixteenth aspect is arranged such that each of the at least one yarn contact member has paired regulating walls which are provided on both sides in the second direction of the yarn contact surface and are longer than the yarn contact surface toward the one side in the first direction, each of the paired regulating walls includes an edge surface which extends at least in the extending direction and is oriented at least to the one side in the first direction, and the pressing surface of the shape correction member makes contact with only one of the edge surfaces of the respective paired regulating walls.

[0038] The pressing surface may be arranged to make contact with both of the paired edge surfaces. In this case, however, the shape correction member is large in the second direction and may obstruct yarn threading, or the structure of the shape correction member may be complicated. Because in the present invention the pressing surface makes contact with only one edge surface, it is possible to downsize the shape correction member in the second direction and to simplify the structure of the shape correction member.

[0039] According to an eighteenth aspect of the invention, the heater of the seventeenth aspect is arranged such that, in the second direction, an end of the pressing surface, which is close to the yarn contact surface among both ends of the pressing surface, is positioned to be identical with an end position that is a position of an end of one of the edge surfaces, which is close to the yarn contact surface among both ends of the one of the edge surfaces, or the end of the pressing surface is positioned to be close to the yarn contact surface as compared to the end position.

[0040] When yarn threading to the yarn contact member is performed, the yarn is caused to pass through the inside of the paired edge surfaces in the second direction and to make contact with the yarn contact surface. In doing so, when an end on the yarn contact surface side of the pressing surface is far from the yarn contact surface as compared to the end position in the second direction, the yarn may be caught by a level difference between the yarn contact member and the shape correction member at the time of the yarn threading. As a result, for example, the yarn threading may not be properly done. The aspect of the present invention makes it possible to suppress the occurrence of such a problem.

[0041] According to a nineteenth aspect of the invention, the heater of any one of the first to eighteenth aspects is arranged such that the at least one yarn contact member includes a first yarn contact member with which a first yarn included in the yarns makes contact and a second yarn contact member which is aligned with the first yarn contact member in the second direction and with which a second yarn included in the yarns makes contact, and the shape correction member includes: a first pressing surface that is the pressing surface by which a first correction force included in the correction force is applied to the first yarn contact member; a second pressing surface that is the pressing surface by which a second correction force included in the correction force is applied to the second yarn contact member; and a connecting portion which is provided between the first pressing surface and the second pressing surface in the second direction.

[0042] According to this aspect of the present invention, the shapes of the yarn contact members aligned in the second direction can be corrected by one shape correction member. The component cost can therefore be reduced as compared to a case where the shape of only one yarn contact member is corrected by one shape correction member.

[0043] According to a twentieth aspect of the invention, the heater of any one of the first to nineteenth aspects is arranged such that bending rigidity of the shape correction member relative to the first direction is larger than bending rigidity of the at least one yarn contact member relative to the first direction.

[0044] According to this aspect of the present invention, deformation of the shape correction member is suppressed when the shape correction member is pressed back by the yarn contact member due to the law of action and reaction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] 

FIG. 1 is a side view of a false-twist texturing machine including a first heater of an embodiment.

FIG. 2(a) to FIG. 2(e) show the structure of the first heater.

FIG. 3(a) to FIG. 3(b) show the structure of the first heater.

FIG. 4(a) and FIG. 4(b) are schematic diagrams of a holding unit viewed in a second direction.

FIG. 5(a) to FIG. 5(f) show problems occurring in the yarn contact member deformed in a manufacturing process.

FIG. 6 shows a shape correction member.

FIG. 7(a) to FIG. 7(d) show hooking portions viewed in an extending direction.

FIG. 8(a) and FIG. 8(b) show the hooking portions viewed in a second direction.

FIG. 9(a) shows a correction member holding unit viewed in the second direction. FIG. 9(b) and FIG. 9(c) show an end portion of the correction member holding unit on one side in the extending direction.

FIG. 10(a) and FIG. 10(b) show a switching unit.

FIG. 11(a) and FIG. 11(b) show a switching unit.

FIG. 12(a) to FIG. 12(c) show a process of detaching the shape correction member from the first heater.

FIG. 13 (a) and FIG. 13 (b) show the structure of a first heater of a modification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0046] The following will describe an embodiment of the present invention. A direction perpendicular to the sheet of FIG. 1 is referred to as a base longitudinal direction. Furthermore, a left-right direction on the sheet of FIG. 1 is referred to as a base width direction. The direction orthogonal to the base longitudinal direction and the base width direction is defined as an up-down direction (vertical direction) in which the gravity acts.

(Overall Structure of False-Twist Texturing Machine)

[0047] The following will describe the overall structure of a false-twist texturing machine 1 including a first heater 13 (a heater of the present invention, which will be detailed later) of the present embodiment with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a side view of the false-twist texturing machine 1.

[0048] The false-twist texturing machine 1 is able to false-twist yarns Y made of synthetic fibers (e.g., polyester). Each yarn Y is, for example, a multi-filament yarn made of plural filaments. Alternatively, each yarn Y may be made of one filament. The false-twist texturing machine 1 includes a yarn supplying unit 2, a processing unit 3, and a winding unit 4. The yarn supplying unit 2 is arranged to be able to supply the yarns Y. The processing unit 3 is configured to pull out the yarns Y from the yarn supplying unit 2 and to false-twist the yarns Y. The winding unit 4 is configured to wind the yarns Y which have been processed by the processing unit 3 onto winding bobbins Bw. Components of the yarn supplying unit 2, the processing unit 3, and the winding unit 4 are provided in the base longitudinal direction (not illustrated). The base longitudinal direction is a direction orthogonal to a running surface (i.e., sheet of FIG. 1) of the yarns Y, on which yarn paths from the yarn supplying unit 2 to the winding unit 4 through the processing unit 3 are provided.

[0049] The yarn supplying unit 2 includes a creel stand 7 retaining yarn supply packages Ps, and supplies the yarns Y to the processing unit 3. The processing unit 3 is configured to pull out the yarns Y from the yarn supplying unit 2 and to process the yarns Y. In the processing unit 3, for example, the following members are provided in this order from the upstream in a yarn running direction: first feed rollers 11; a twist-stopping guide 12; a first heater 13; a cooler 14; a false-twisting device 15; second feed rollers 16; an interlacing device 17; third feed rollers 18; a second heater 19; and fourth feed rollers 20. The winding unit 4 includes plural winding devices 21. Each winding device 21 winds a corresponding yarn Y which has been false-twisted by the processing unit 3 onto a winding bobbin Bw and forms a wound package Pw.

[0050] The false-twist texturing machine 1 includes a main frame 8 and a winding base 9 that are spaced apart from each other in the base width direction. The main frame 8 and the winding base 9 are substantially identical in length in the base longitudinal direction. The main frame 8 and the winding base 9 oppose each other in the base width direction. The false-twist texturing machine 1 includes units which are termed spans each of which includes a pair of the main base 8 and the winding base 9. In one span, each device is placed so that the yarns Y running while being aligned in the base longitudinal direction can be subjected to false-twist texturing at the same time. In the false-twist texturing machine 1, the spans are placed in a left-right symmetrical manner to the sheet, with a center line C of the base width direction of the main frame 8 being set as a symmetry axis (i.e., the main frame 8 is shared between the left span and the right span). The spans are aligned in the base longitudinal direction.

(Processing Unit)

[0051] The structure of the processing unit 3 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The first feed rollers 11 are arranged to unwind a yarn Y from a yarn supply package Ps attached to the yarn supplying unit 2 and feed the yarn Y to the first heater 13. For example, each first feed roller 11 is configured to feed one yarn Y to a corresponding first heater 13. Alternatively, each first feed roller 11 may be able to feed adjacent yarns Y to the downstream side in the yarn running direction. The twist-stopping guide 12 is provided to prevent twist of the yarn Y formed by the false-twisting device 15 from being propagated to the upstream in the yarn running direction of the twist-stopping guide 12.

[0052] The first heater 13 is configured to heat the yarns Y supplied from the first feed rollers 11 to a predetermined processing temperature. For example, each first heater 13 is able to heat two yarns Y. Below the first heater 13, a working space S is formed to allow an operator to perform an operation such as yarn threading. The first heater 13 will be detailed later.

[0053] The cooler 14 is configured to cool the yarn Y heated at the first heater 13. For example, the cooler 14 is configured to cool one yarn Y. Alternatively, the cooler 14 may be able to simultaneously cool plural yarns Y. The false-twisting device 15 is provided downstream of the cooler 14 in the yarn running direction, and configured to twist the yarn Y. The false-twisting device 15 is, for example, a so-called disc-friction false-twisting device. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. Each second feed roller 16 is configured to feed the yarn Y processed by the false-twisting device 15 to a corresponding interlacing device 17. The conveyance speed of conveying the yarn Y by each second feed roller 16 is higher than the conveyance speed of conveying the yarn Y by each first feed roller 11. With this arrangement, the yarn Y is therefore drawn and false-twisted between each first feed roller 11 and each second feed roller 16.

[0054] The interlacing device 17 is configured to interlace the yarn Y. The interlacing device 17 has, for example, a known interlace nozzle configured to interlace the yarn Y by means of an airflow.

[0055] Each third feed roller 18 is configured to feed the yarn Y running downstream of a corresponding interlacing device 17 in the yarn running direction, to the second heater 19. For example, each third feed roller 18 is configured to feed one yarn Y to a corresponding second heater 19. Alternatively, each third feed roller 18 may be able to feed adjacent yarns Y to the downstream side in the yarn running direction. The conveyance speed of conveying the yarn Y by each third feed roller 18 is lower than the conveyance speed of conveying the yarn Y by each second feed roller 16. The yarn Y is therefore relaxed between each second feed roller 16 and each third feed roller 18. The second heater 19 is configured to heat the yarns Y fed from the third feed rollers 18. The second heater 19 extends along the vertical direction, and one second heater 19 is provided in one span. Each fourth feed roller 20 is configured to feed the yarns Y heated by the second heater 19 to the corresponding winding device 21. For example, each fourth feed roller 20 is able to feed one yarn Y to the winding device 21. Alternatively, each fourth feed roller 20 may be able to feed adjacent yarns Y to the downstream side in the yarn running direction. The conveyance speed of conveying the yarn Y by each fourth feed roller 20 is lower than the conveyance speed of conveying the yarn Y by each third feed roller 18. The yarn Y is therefore relaxed between each third feed roller 18 and each fourth feed roller 20.

[0056] In the processing unit 3 arranged as described above, the yarn Y drawn between the first feed rollers 11 and the second feed rollers 16 is twisted by the false-twisting device 15. The twist formed by the false-twisting devices 15 propagates to the twist-stopping guide 12 but does not propagate to the upstream of the twist-stopping guide 12 in the yarn running direction. The yarn Y which is twisted and drawn is heated by a corresponding first heater 13 and thermally set. After that, the yarn Y is cooled by a corresponding cooler 14. The yarn Y is untwisted on the downstream side of a corresponding false-twisting device 15 in the yarn running direction. However, the yarn Y is maintained to be wavy in shape on account of the thermal setting described above (i.e., the crimp contraction of the yarn Y is maintained).

[0057] The false-twisted yarn Y is interlaced by a corresponding interlacing device 17 while being relaxed between a corresponding second feed roller 16 and a corresponding third feed roller 18. After that, the yarn Y is guided toward the downstream side in the yarn running direction. Subsequently, the yarn Y is thermally set by the second heater 19 while being relaxed between the third feed rollers 18 and the fourth feed rollers 20. Finally, the yarn Y which is fed by the fourth feed rollers 20 is wound by the winding device 21.

(Winding Unit)

[0058] The winding unit 4 includes plural winding devices 21. Each winding device 21 is able to wind, for example, one yarn Y onto one winding bobbin Bw. The yarn Y which is fed by the fourth feed rollers 20 described above is wound onto the winding bobbin Bw by the winding device 21, and forms the wound package Pw.

(First Heater)

[0059] A specific structure of the first heater 13 will be described with reference to FIG. 2(a) to FIG. 2(e), FIG. 3 (a), and FIG. 3(b). FIG. 2(a) shows the first heater 13 viewed in the base longitudinal direction. In FIG. 2(a), the first heater 13 extends along the left-right direction on the sheet of the figure. FIG. 2(b) is a cross section of the first heater 13, which is taken along a direction perpendicular to the base longitudinal direction. FIG. 2(b) shows a yarn contact surface 57 (described later) of a yarn contact member 43 (described later). FIG. 2(c) is an enlarged view of an end portion on the left side in the sheet of FIG. 2 (b). In FIG. 2 (d), an end portion in the extending direction of the yarn contact member 43 of the first heater 13 is picked up and enlarged. FIG. 2(e) is a cross section taken along a line II(e)-II(e) in FIG. 2(d). FIG. 3(a) shows the first heater 13 viewed along an arrow III(a) in FIG. 2 (a). FIG. 3(b) is a cross section taken along a line III(b)-III(b) in FIG. 2(a).

[0060] For the sake of convenience, a left-right direction on the sheet of each of FIG. 2(a) and FIG. 2(b) will be referred to as an extending direction in which the first heater 13 extends. The extending direction is orthogonal to the base longitudinal direction. In each of FIGs. 2(a) and 2(b), the left side of the sheet is defined as one side in the extending direction, and the right side of the sheet is defined as the other side in the extending direction. A direction orthogonal to both the base longitudinal direction and the extending direction is defined as a first direction. In each of FIGs. 2(a) and 2(b) and FIGs. 3(a) and 3(b), the lower side of the sheet is defined as one side in the first direction, and the upper side of the sheet is defined as the other side in the first direction. Although not illustrated, these definitions are applicable to FIG. 2(c) to FIG. 2(e). To be more specific, in the first heater 13., one side in the first direction is the side close to the working space S (see FIG. 1). Hereinafter, one side in the first direction may be referred to as the working space S side. Likewise, the other side in the first direction may be referred to as the side opposite to the working space S. Furthermore, hereinafter, the base longitudinal direction may be referred to as a second direction (see FIG. 2(e), FIG. 3(a), and FIG. 3(b)). The second direction is a direction orthogonal to both the extending direction and the first direction. The second direction is equivalent to the width direction of each of later-described two yarn contact members 43.

[0061] The first heater 13 is configured to heat a running yarn Y. In the present embodiment, the first heater 13 is able to heat, for example, two yarns Y (yarn YA and YB; see FIG. 3(a)). The first heater 13 includes two heating units 41 (heating units 41A and 41B; attaching portions of the present invention), a heat source 42, and two yarn contact members 43 (yarn contact members 43A and 43B). The first heater 13 is arranged to heat the yarn contact members 43A and 43B attached to the respective heating units 41A and 41B by means of the heat source 42, and to cause the running yarns YA and YB to make contact with the yarn contact members 43A and 43B. With this arrangement, the yarns YA and YB are heated. The yarn contact member 43A is equivalent to a first yarn contact member of the present invention. The yarn contact member 43B is equivalent to the second yarn contact member of the present invention. The yarn YA is equivalent to a first yarn of the present invention. The yarn YB is equivalent to a second yarn of the present invention.

[0062] The heating unit 41 (the attaching portion of the present invention and one of the attaching portion and the shape correction member of the present invention) is arranged to be heated by the heat source 42. The heating unit 41 is arranged to transfer heat generated by the heat source 42 to the yarn contact member 43 mainly by heat conduction. With this arrangement, the heating unit 41 heats the yarn contact member 43. The heating unit 41 extends substantially linearly along the extending direction. The length in the extending direction of the heating unit 41 is, for example, 1.0 meter or more and 1.5 meter or less. As shown in FIG. 3(a) and FIG. 3(b), the heating units 41A and 41B are disposed to oppose each other over the heat source 42 in a line symmetrical manner, when viewed in the extending direction. Although not illustrated, when viewed in the extending direction, a heat insulation member (not illustrated) is provided to surround the heating unit 41. Each heating unit 41 (heating unit 41A, 41B) includes, for example, a first heating member 54 (first heating member 54A, 54B) and a second heating member 55 (second heating member 55A, 55B). The first heating member 54 and the second heating member 55 may be made of the same type of material (e.g., brass). Alternatively, the first heating member 54 and the second heating member 55 may be made of different types of materials.

[0063] The first heating member 54 is, for example, a member that is roughly rectangular in shape in a cross section orthogonal to the extending direction (see FIG. 3(b)). In the cross section, the first heating member 54 is long in the first direction, for example. The first heating member 54 is arranged to be in contact with the heat source 42. A contact surface of the first heating member 54 where the first heating member 54 is in contact with the heat source 42 has a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the heat source 42. The first heating member 54A and the first heating member 54B are adjacent to each other in the second direction. The first heating member 54A and the first heating member 54B are provided to surround the heat source 42.

[0064] The second heating member 55 is, for example, a member that is roughly L-shaped in a cross section orthogonal to the extending direction (see FIG. 3(b)). In the cross section, the second heating member 55 is long in the first direction, for example. In the cross section, the other side portion of the second heating member 55 in the first direction protrudes in the second direction toward the first heating member 54 of the same heating unit 41. The second heating member 55 is provided to be adjacent in the second direction to the first heating member 54 belonging to the same heating unit 41. In the second heating member 55, the part protruding in the second direction is in contact with the first heating member 54 as described above. Between the first heating member 54 and the second heating member 55 in the second direction, housing spaces 56 (housing spaces 56A and 56B) are formed to be open on one side (working space S side) in the first direction. For example, each housing space 56 is substantially rectangular in shape and is long in the first direction in a cross section orthogonal to the extending direction. The housing space 56 (detachment/attachment passage of the present invention) is a space in which the yarn contact member 43 is housed. The housing space 56 may have an unillustrated lid which is openable and closable and is provided on the working space S side in the first direction of the heating unit 41, for example.

[0065] The shape of each of the first heating member 54 and the second heating member 55 is not limited to the shape described above. In place of the first heating member 54 and the second heating member 55, the heating unit 41 may have a heating member (not illustrated) which is integrally formed. For example, a heating member having a shape of a combination of the first heating member 54 and the second heating member 55 may be formed by cutting and processing a single solid rod member.

[0066] In the extending direction, at around an end of the heating unit 41, a cover member 51 is provided to partially surround the heating unit 41. The cover member 51 is substantially U-shaped when viewed in the extending direction. The cover member 51 is open on one side (working space S side) in the first direction.

[0067] The heat source 42 is configured to heat the yarn contact member 43 through the heating unit 41. The heat source 42 is, for example, a known sheathed heater (electric heater). The sheathed heater includes a heating wire (such as a coil) and a pipe surrounding the heating wire. The sheathed heater is configured to generate Joule heat when an electrical current flows in the heating wire. The heat source 42 extends along the extending direction (see FIG. 2(a)). The heat source 42 is disposed to be surrounded by the heating unit 41.

[0068] Each yarn contact member 43 (each of the yarn contact members 43A and 43B) is a member attached to the heating unit 41. The yarn contact member 43 is arranged to be heated by the heating unit 41 (the first heating member 54 and the second heating member 55). For example, the yarn contact member 43 is formed by cutting and processing a member made of stainless steel (SUS). The yarn contact member 43 extends at least in the extending direction. The yarn contact members 43A and 43B are housed in the housing spaces 56A and 56B, respectively. The yarn contact member 43 is provided to be in contact with the heating unit 41. In an internal portion in the second direction of the yarn contact member 43, a yarn contact surface 57 (see FIG. 2(d) and FIG. 2(e)) is formed to be oriented at least to one side (working space S side) in the first direction and to make contact with the yarn Y. On the both sides (both outer sides) in the second direction of the yarn contact surface 57, paired regulating walls 58 are formed to regulate the movement of the yarn Y in the second direction. In the yarn contact member 43, the yarn contact surface 57 and the regulating walls 58 form a yarn path in which the yarn Y runs. At ends on one side in the first direction of the paired regulating walls 58, paired edge surfaces 58e that are oriented to one side in the first direction are formed (see FIG. 2(d) and FIG. 2(e)).

[0069] In the false-twist texturing machine 1, (i) the positional relationship between the first heater 13 and the twist-stopping guide 12 and (ii) the positional relationship between the first heater 13 and the cooler 14 are appropriately arranged so that the running yarn Y reliably makes contact with the yarn contact surface 57. A predetermined tension is applied to the yarn Y. On this account, a force toward the yarn contact surface 57 side in the first direction acts on the yarn Y. This prevents the yarn Y from leaving the yarn contact surface 57.

[0070] In the first heater 13 arranged as described above, heat generated by the heat source 42 is transferred to the yarn contact member 43 through the heating unit 41 (the first heating member 54 and the second heating member 55). As a result, the yarn contact member 43 is heated and the yarn Y in contact with the yarn contact surface 57 of the yarn contact member 43 is heated (contact-type heating).

[0071] In order to, for example, suppress abrasion of the yarn contact surface 57, the surface of the yarn contact member 43 may be thermally treated (e.g., nitriding treatment). As a result, the yarn contact member 43 is unintentionally deformed due to the thermal treatment, and the curvature of a cross sectional curve 59 (see FIG. 2(b) and FIG. 2(c)) orthogonal to the second direction of the yarn contact surface 57 may become significantly different from an intended curvature. Furthermore, the shape of the yarn contact member 43 after the deformation due to the thermal treatment may be significantly different between the yarn contact members 43. On this account, the quality of the yarn Y heated by making contact with the yarn contact surface 57 may be different between the yarn contact members 43 (as specifically described below). In order to suppress the differences in shape between the yarn contact members 43, the first heater 13 has a yarn contact member holding portion 60 described below.

(Yarn Contact Member Holding Portion)

[0072] To begin with, the yarn contact member holding portion 60 will be outlined with reference to FIG. 3(a) to FIG. 4(b). FIG. 4(a) and FIG. 4(b) are schematic diagrams of the yarn contact member holding portion 60 viewed in the second direction. To be more specific, in the extending direction, a position where a later-described warping portion 61C (see FIG. 3(b), FIG. 4(a), and FIG. 4(b)) is provided is referred to as a reference position. In each of FIGs. 4(a) and 4(d), for example, the left side of the warping portion 61C on the sheet is defined as one side in the extending direction, whereas the right side of the warping portion 61C on the sheet is defined as the other side in the extending direction. It is also noted that the following only describes an arrangement for heating one of the two yarns Y (to be more specific, an arrangement on the right side in the sheet of FIG. 3(a)) in the first heater 13. An arrangement for heating the other of the two yarns Y is identical with the arrangement for heating one of the two yarns Y, and will not be explained.

[0073] The structure of the yarn contact member 43 of the present embodiment will be described below. Before the yarn contact member 43 is attached to the heating unit 41, the yarn contact member 43 does not receive an external force from the heating unit 41, as a matter of course. In this state, the yarn contact member 43 extends substantially linearly (see, e.g., two-dot chain lines in FIG. 4(a)). In this state, the yarn contact surface 57 also extends substantially linearly in the direction in which the yarn contact member 43 extends.

[0074] The yarn contact member holding portion 60 (see FIG. 3(a) to FIG. 4(b)) is arranged to hold the yarn contact member 43 so that the yarn contact member 43 is attached to the heating unit 41. To be more specific, the yarn contact member holding portion 60 is arranged to hold the yarn contact member 43 to be detachable from and attachable to the heating unit 41. Furthermore, the yarn contact member holding portion 60 is arranged to hold the yarn contact member 43 attached to the heating unit 41 to be elastically deformed. As shown in FIG. 3(a) to FIG. 4(b), the yarn contact member holding portion 60 includes, for example, warping portions 61 (other-side regulating portions of the present invention), a hooking portion 62 (first one-side regulating portion of the present invention), a hooking portion 63 (second one-side regulating portion of the present invention), and a shape correction member 64 (the other of the attaching portion and the shape correction member of the present invention). The warping portions 61, the hooking portion 62, and the hooking portion 63 are attached to the heating unit 41. The warping portions 61, the hooking portion 62, and the hooking portion 63 are arranged to elastically deform the yarn contact member 43 in the first direction and to maintain the yarn contact member 43 to be elastically deformed. The warping portions 61, the hooking portion 62, and the hooking portion 63 are equivalent to an elastic deformation holding portion of the present invention. The shape correction member 64 is a member provided to correct the shape of the yarn contact member 43 held by the warping portions 61, the hooking portion 62, and the hooking portion 63.

[0075] The warping portions 61 are arranged to make contact with plural parts in the extending direction of the yarn contact member 43 so as to restrict the movement of the yarn contact member 43 toward the other side (i.e., away from the working space S) in the first direction. The warping portions 61 are provided on the other side (i.e., the side opposite to the working space S) in the first direction of the yarn contact member 43. Each of the warping portions 61 is able to make contact with a part in the extending direction of the yarn contact member 43. For example, a warping portion 61C substantially at the center of the first heater 13 in the extending direction is in contact with a first portion 43f substantially at the center in the extending direction of the yarn contact member 43 (see FIG. 3(b), FIG. 4 (a), and FIG. 4(b)). The warping portions 61 are, for example, provided at intervals in the extending direction. Among the warping portions 61, two warping portions 61 neighboring to each other are slightly different from each other in position in the first direction. The warping portions 61 are provided in accordance with a later-described predetermined curvature. Each of the warping portions 61 is not movable relative to, for example, the heating unit 41. These warping portions 61 restrict the movement of plural portions including the first portion 43f of the yarn contact member 43 (hereinafter, these portions will be referred to as inner portions in the extending direction for the sake of convenience) toward the other side in the first direction. Each of the warping portions 61 applies a force toward one side in the first direction to the inner portions in the extending direction of the yarn contact member 43 (see downward arrows in FIG. 4(a) and FIG. 4(b)). Each warping portion 61 will be further detailed later.

[0076] The hooking portion 62 is arranged to restrict the movement of a second portion 43s (described below; see FIG. 8(a)) that is on one side in the extending direction of the first portion 43f of the yarn contact member 43, toward one side (working space S side) in the first direction. The hooking portion 62 is further arranged to restrict the movement of the second portion 43s toward the other side in the first direction. The second portion 43s is provided at an end portion of the yarn contact member 43 on one side in the extending direction. The hooking portion 62 is arranged to exert a force toward the other side in the first direction to the second portion 43s (see upward arrows in FIG. 4(a) and FIG. 4(b)). The hooking portion 62 will be further detailed later. The hooking portion 63 is arranged to restrict the movement of a third portion 43t (described below; see FIG. 8(b)) that is on the other side in the extending direction of the first portion 43f of the yarn contact member 43, toward one side (working space S side) in the first direction. The hooking portion 63 is further arranged to restrict the movement of the third portion 43t toward the other side in the first direction. The third portion 43t is provided at an end portion of the yarn contact member 43 on the other side in the extending direction. The hooking portion 63 is arranged to exert a force toward the other side in the first direction to the third portion 43t (see upward arrows in FIG. 4(a) and FIG. 4(b)). The hooking portion 63 will be further detailed later.

[0077] Because the warping portions 61, the hooking portion 62, and the hooking portion 63 are disposed as described above, the yarn contact member 43 is attached to the heating unit 41 so as to be elastically deformed when viewed in the second direction, as indicated by solid lines in FIG. 4(a) and FIG. 4(b). To be more specific, both end portions in the extending direction of the yarn contact member 43 are warped toward the other side in the first direction (i.e., away from the working space S). Furthermore, in the yarn contact member 43, portions close to the center of the first heater 13 in the extending direction as compared to the both end portions are warped toward the one side in the first direction (i.e., toward the working space S side). These inner portions are pressed toward the other side in the first direction by an elastic restoring force. However, the movement toward the other side in the first direction of the portions of the yarn contact member 43 (hereinafter, inner portions including the first portion 43f), which are in contact with the warping portions 61, is restricted by the warping portions 61. On this account, to the inner portions, the warping portions 61 apply a force toward the one side in the first direction, due to the law of action and reaction. The second portion 43s and the third portion 43t of the yarn contact member 43 are pressed toward the one side in the first direction due to the elastic restoring force. However, the movement of the second portion 43s and the third portion 43t toward the one side in the first direction is restricted by a stopper portion 85 (described later) of the hooking portion 62 and a stopper portion 95 (described later) of the hooking portion 63. On this account, due to the law of action and reaction, a force toward the other side in the first direction is exerted by the hooking portion 62 and the hooking portion 63. As such, the yarn contact member 43 is attached to the heating unit 41 in the form of being elastically deformed.

[0078] The shape correction member 64 is a member provided to correct the shape of the yarn contact member 43 held by the warping portions 61, the hooking portion 62, and the hooking portion 63. The shape correction member 64 is formed of a component different from the warping portions 61, the hooking portion 62, and the hooking portion 63.

[0079] Before describing the structure of the shape correction member 64, problems occurring in a yarn contact member 43 deformed in the manufacturing process (i.e., a yarn contact member 43 not receiving an external force; hereinafter, an initial yarn contact member 43) will be described with reference to FIG. 5(a) to FIG. 5(f). Each of FIG. 5(a), FIG. 5(c), and FIG. 5(e) shows the shape of the initial yarn contact member 43 that is deformed. In these figures, the left-right direction on the sheet corresponds to the lengthwise direction of the initial yarn contact member 43. It should be noted that the deformation of the initial yarn contact member 43 is exaggerated in the figures. Each of FIG. 5(b), FIG. 5(d), and FIG. 5(f) shows the shape of the yarn contact member 43 held by the warping portions 61, the hooking portion 62, and the hooking portion 63. In these figures, the left-right direction on the sheet corresponds to the above-described extending direction. Although not illustrated, the up-down direction on the sheet corresponds to the above-described first direction in the figures.

[0080] As described above, the surface of the yarn contact member 43 may be thermally treated (e.g., nitriding treatment) during the manufacturing process. On this account, the initial yarn contact member 43 may be unintentionally curved, and yarn contact members 43 may be different from each other in terms of the way of curving. The following will describe three examples regarding the way of curving of the initial yarn contact member 43.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 5(a), for example, the initial yarn contact member 43 may be curved to be substantially circular-arc-shaped. When such a yarn contact member 43 is held by the warping portions 61, the hooking portion 62, and the hooking portion 63, a part of the yarn contact member 43 may not be able to make contact with the warping portion 61 (see a portion surrounded by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 5(b)). In this case, the curvature (i.e., the curvature radius) of the cross sectional curve 59 of the yarn contact surface 57 may be significantly different from the intended curvature. Meanwhile, the initial yarn contact member 43 may be curved at a portion deviated from the central portion in the lengthwise direction as shown in FIG. 5(c), for example. When such a yarn contact member 43 is held by the warping portions 61, the hooking portion 62, and the hooking portion 63, the shape of the yarn contact member 43 may be asymmetric in the extending direction (see a portion surrounded by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 5(d)). Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 5(a), for example, the initial yarn contact member 43 may be wavy in shape. When such a yarn contact member 43 is held by the warping portions 61, the hooking portion 62, and the hooking portion 63, for example, a central portion in the extending direction of the yarn contact member 43 may be unintentionally shaped to be linear (see a portion surrounded by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 5(f)).

[0082] As shown in the examples described above, when the shape of the yarn contact member 43 is different from the intended shape, the curvature of the cross sectional curve 59 orthogonal to the second direction of the yarn contact surface 57 may be different from the designed curvature. As a result, the quality of the processed yarn Y running while being in contact with the yarn contact surface 57 may be different from the intended yarn quality. Furthermore, when yarn contact members 43 are different in shape, the yarn quality may be different between heating units 41 and/or first heaters 13. To suppress the occurrence of such problems, the shape correction member 64 is structured as described below.

[0083] The structure of the shape correction member 64 will be described with reference to FIG. 4(a), FIG. 4(b), and FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the shape correction member 64. For the sake of convenience, an extending direction, a first direction, and a second direction shown in FIG. 6 will be deemed to correspond to the extending direction, the first direction, and the second direction described above. Inside a circle formed by a two-dot chain line shown in a lower right portion on the sheet of FIG. 6, a cross section, which is taken along a direction orthogonal to the extending direction, of the central portion in the extending direction of the shape correction member 64 is shown.

[0084] As shown in FIG. 4(a), FIG. 4(b), and FIG. 6, the shape correction member 64 extends in the extending direction. The shape correction member 64 is formed of a metal plate member made of stainless steel (SUS), for example. The shape correction member 64 is formed by pressing the metal plate member, for example. In a cross section orthogonal to the extending direction (see the inside of the circle of the two-dot chain line in FIG. 6), the shape correction member 64 is substantially U-shaped and is open on the other side in the first direction. Now, the bending rigidity of a member which is bended in the first direction is referred to as bending rigidity relative to the first direction. The bending rigidity of the shape correction member 64 relative to the first direction is larger than the bending rigidity of the yarn contact member 43 relative to the first direction. The shape correction member 64 includes paired press portions 65 (a press portion 65A and a press portion 65B) and a connecting portion 66.

[0085] As shown in FIG. 6, each press portion 65 extends in the first direction in a cross section taken along a direction orthogonal to the extending direction. The paired press portions 65 are aligned in the second direction. Each of the paired press portions 65 is provided with a pressing surface 67. The pressing surface 67 is formed at an end face of the metal plate member. The pressing surface 67 is formed at an end of the press portion 65 on the other side in the first direction. The pressing surface 67 is oriented toward the other side in the first direction. The pressing surface 67 extends at least in the extending direction. The pressing surface 67 is formed to be, for example, substantially as long as the shape correction member 64 in the extending direction. The pressing surface 67 is, for example, formed on a region (see a thick line in FIG. 4 (a)) of the shape correction member 64, which excludes both end portions in the extending direction. One of the paired pressing surfaces 67 (i.e., the pressing surface 67A corresponding to a first pressing surface of the present invention; see FIG. 6) is disposed to make contact with only an edge surface 58e (see FIG. 3(a)) close to the shape correction member 64 in the second direction among paired edge surfaces 58e (see FIG. 2(d) and FIG. 2(e)) formed on the yarn contact member 43A. The other of the paired pressing surfaces 67 (i.e., the pressing surface 67B corresponding to a second pressing surface of the present invention; see FIG. 6) is disposed to make contact with only an edge surface 58e (see FIG. 3(a)) close to the shape correction member 64 in the second direction among paired edge surfaces 58e formed on the yarn contact member 43B. The cross sectional curve 67c (see FIG. 4(a) and FIG. 4(b)) orthogonal to the second direction of the pressing surface 67 has a predetermined curvature (curvature radius) at each position in the extending direction. The predetermined curvature radius is substantially identical with a target curvature radius (i.e., designed curvature radius) of the cross sectional curve 59 of the yarn contact surface 57. The curvature radius, for example, falls within a range of 15 to 20 meters.

[0086]  As shown in FIG. 3(a), in the second direction, an end of the pressing surface 67, which is close to the yarn contact surface 57 among the ends of the pressing surface 67, is preferably positioned to be close to the yarn contact surface 57 as compared to a position (hereinafter, end position) of an end of one of the paired edge surfaces 58e, which is close to the yarn contact surface 57 among the ends of the one of the edge surfaces 58e. Alternatively, in the second direction, an end of the pressing surface 67, which is close to the yarn contact surface 57 among the ends of the pressing surface 67, may be positionally identical with the end portion.

[0087] The connecting portion 66 is a portion connecting the paired press portions 65 with each other. As shown in FIG. 6, the connecting portion 66 extends in the second direction in a cross section orthogonal to the extending direction. In the second direction, the connecting portion 66 is provided between the paired press portions 65. In other words, the connecting portion 66 is provided between the paired pressing surfaces 67 in the second direction.

[0088] The shape correction member 64 structured as described above is provided on one side in the first direction of the yarn contact member 43 (see FIG. 4(b)). In other words, in the first direction, the yarn contact member 43 is provided between the shape correction member 64 and the warping portions 61. The shape correction member 64 is, for example, detachably attached to the heating unit 41 by a later-described correction member holding unit 100 (see FIG. 9(a)). The pressing surface 67 of the shape correction member 64 presses one of the two edge surfaces 58e of the yarn contact member 43 toward the other side in the first direction. In other words, the shape correction member 64 applies, to the yarn contact member 43, a correction force having a component in the first direction. The correction force is applied to the yarn contact member through the pressing surface 67. On this account, when viewed in the second direction, the shape of a part of the edge surface 58e where the edge surface 58e is in contact with the pressing surface 67 is substantially identical with the shape of the pressing surface 67 (see FIG. 4(b)). On this account, even if the yarn contact member 43 held by the warping portions 61, the hooking portion 62, and the hooking portion 63 is warped to have an unintentional shape, the shape correction member 64 is able to correct the shape of the yarn contact member 43. The shape correction member 64 is movable between a pressing position where the pressing surface 67 is provided in the housing space 56 and in contact with the yarn contact member 43 and a non-pressing position where the pressing surface 67 is outside the housing space 56 and is not in contact with the yarn contact member 43. The details will be given later.

(Details of Elastic Deformation Holding Portion)

[0089] The following will describe an example of the details of the warping portions 61, the hooking portion 62, and the hooking portion 63 (i.e., the elastic deformation holding portion) mainly with reference to FIG. 7(a) to FIG. 8(b). In FIG. 7(a) and FIG. 7(b), the hooking portion 62 is viewed from one side in the extending direction. In FIG. 7(c) and FIG. 7(d), the hooking portion 63 is viewed from the other side in the extending direction. The up-down direction on the sheet of each of FIG. 7(a) to FIG. 7(d) is in parallel to the first direction. The left-right direction on the sheet of each of FIG. 7(a) to FIG. 7(d) is in parallel to the second direction. In FIG. 8(a) and FIG. 8(b), the hooking portion 62, 63 is viewed in the second direction (base longitudinal direction).

[0090] As shown in, for example, FIG. 3(b), each warping portion 61 is a bolt-shaped member extending in the second direction. Each warping portion 61 may be, for example, a known dog point bolt. The warping portion 61 has, for example, a head 71, a male screw part 72, and a leading end part 73. In the warping portion 61, for example, the leading end part 73 is able to make contact with the yarn contact member 43. In the present embodiment, as described above, the warping portion 61 is fixed to the second heating member 55. Alternatively, the warping portion 61 may be fixed to the first heating member 54, for example.

[0091] The hooking portion 62 is arranged to restrict the movement of the second portion 43s (hatched portion in FIG. 8(a)) of the yarn contact member 43 toward one side (working space S side) in the first direction. The second portion 43s is provided at or around an end portion of the yarn contact member 43 on one side in the extending direction. The hooking portion 62 is arranged to hold the yarn contact member 43 to be detachable from and attachable to the heating unit 41. As shown in FIG. 7(a), FIG. 7(b), and FIG. 8(a), the hooking portion 62 includes a swing member 81, a swing shaft 82 extending along, for example, the extending direction, and a torsion coil spring 83. As the swing member 81 swings about the swing shaft 82, the restriction or the cancellation of the restriction of the movement of the second portion 43s toward one side in the first direction is performed.

[0092] The swing member 81 (see FIG. 3(a), FIG. 7(a), FIG. 7(b), and FIG. 8(a)) is swingably attached to the heating unit 41 through the swing shaft 82. As shown in FIG. 7(a), FIG. 7(b), and FIG. 8(a), the swing member 81 includes, for example, a base portion 84, a stopper portion 85, a handle portion 86, and a regulating portion 87. The base portion 84 is a plate-shaped portion in which an insertion hole (not illustrated) into which the swing shaft 82 is inserted is formed.

[0093] The stopper portion 85 is a claw-shaped portion connected with the base portion 84. The stopper portion 85 is arranged to be able to restrict the movement of the second portion 43s toward one side in the first direction. The stopper portion 85 has an abutting surface 85a capable of making contact with an end on one side in the first direction of the second portion 43s of the yarn contact member 43. To be more specific, the abutting surface 85a is arranged to be able to make contact with an end on one side in the first direction of one of the paired regulating walls 58. The stopper portion 85 is movable between an overlapping position (see FIG. 7(a)) where the stopper portion 85 overlaps the yarn contact member 43 when viewed in the first direction and a retracted position (see FIG. 7(b)) where the stopper portion 85 does not overlap the yarn contact member 43 when viewed in the first direction.

[0094] The handle portion 86 is a portion extending from the base portion 84 toward on side in the extending direction, for example. The handle portion 86 is operable by a hand of the operator.

[0095] The regulating portion 87 is provided on the other side in the first direction of the second portion 43s of the yarn contact member 43. The regulating portion 87 is arranged to be able to restrict the movement of the second portion 43s toward the other side in the first direction.

[0096] The swing shaft 82 is arranged to support the swing member 81 to be swingable. The torsion coil spring 83 is attached to the swing shaft 82. The torsion coil spring 83 is a spring arranged to bias the swing member 81 from the retracted position toward the overlapping position.

[0097] The hooking portion 63 is arranged to restrict the movement of the third portion 43t (hatched portion in FIG. 8(b)) of the yarn contact member 43 toward one side (working space S side) in the first direction. The third portion 43t is provided at or around an end portion of the yarn contact member 43 on the other side in the extending direction. The hooking portion 63 is arranged to hold the yarn contact member 43 to be detachable from and attachable to the heating unit 41. To put it simply, the hooking portion 63 and the hooking portion 62 are line symmetric when viewed in the second direction. On this account, the hooking portion 63 is only minimally explained. As shown in FIG. 7(c), FIG. 7(d), and FIG. 8(b), the hooking portion 63 includes a swing member 91, a swing shaft 92 extending along, for example, the extending direction, and a torsion coil spring 93.

[0098] The swing member 91 corresponds to the swing member 81. The swing member 91 is swingably attached to the heating unit 41 through the swing shaft 92. The swing member 91 includes, for example, a base portion 94, a stopper portion 95, a handle portion 96, and a regulating portion 97. The stopper portion 95 has an abutting surface 95a capable of making contact with an end on one side in the first direction of the third portion 43t of the yarn contact member 43. The stopper portion 95 is movable between an overlapping position (see FIG. 7(c)) where the stopper portion 95 overlaps the yarn contact member 43 when viewed in the first direction and a retracted position (see FIG. 7(d)) where the stopper portion 95 does not overlap the yarn contact member 43 when viewed in the first direction.

[0099] The handle portion 96 is operable by a hand of the operator.

[0100] The regulating portion 97 is provided on the other side in the first direction of the third portion 43t of the yarn contact member 43. The regulating portion 97 is arranged to be able to restrict the movement of the third portion 43t toward the other side in the first direction.

[0101] The swing shaft 92 is arranged to support the swing member 91 to be swingable. The torsion coil spring 93 is attached to the swing shaft 92. The torsion coil spring 93 is a member arranged to bias the swing member 91 from the retracted position toward the overlapping position.

[0102] In a state in which the yarn contact member 43 is attached to the heating unit 41 and is supported by the warping portions 61, the hooking portion 62, and the hooking portion 63, both the stopper portion 85 of the swing member 81 and the stopper portion 95 of the swing member 91 described above are at the overlapping positions (see FIG. FIG. 7(a) and FIG. 7(c)). Furthermore, the swing member 81 is biased toward the overlapping position (i.e., toward the left side on the sheet of FIG. 7 (a)) by the torsion coil spring 83, whereas the swing member 91 is biased toward the overlapping position (i.e., toward the right side on the sheet of FIG. 7 (a)) by the torsion coil spring 93. This prevents the yarn contact member 43 from dropping off from the heating unit 41.

(Structure, etc. of Correction Member Holding Unit)

[0103] The following will detail the structure of the correction member holding unit 100 and the structure of the shape correction member 64 with reference to FIG. 9(a) to FIG. 11(b). FIG. 9(a) shows the correction member holding unit 100 viewed in the second direction. FIG. 9(b) shows a later-described swing supporter 101 viewed in the extending direction. Although not illustrated, the definition of the directions in FIG. 9(b) is identical with the definition of the directions in FIG. 3(a). The left-right direction on the sheet of FIG. 9(b) corresponds to the second direction. The up-down direction on the sheet of FIG. 9(b) corresponds to the first direction. FIG. 9(c) is a perspective view of a part of the shape correction member 64, which is supported by the swing supporter 101. FIG. 10(a) shows a later-described switching unit 102 viewed in the extending direction. FIG. 10(b) is a perspective view of an operation unit 130 (described later) of the switching unit 102. FIG. 11(a) shows the switching unit 102 viewed in the extending direction. FIG. 11(b) is a perspective view of the operation unit 130.

[0104] The correction member holding unit 100 is arranged to hold the shape correction member 64 to be detachable from and attachable to the heating unit 41. As shown in FIG. 9(a), the correction member holding unit 100 includes the swing supporter 101 and the switching unit 102. The swing supporter 101 is arranged to be able to support an end portion (one-side end portion) on one side in the extending direction of the shape correction member 64. The swing supporter 101 supports the shape correction member 64 to be swingable about a swing shaft 111 extending in the second direction. The switching unit 102 is provided at an end portion (other-side end portion) on the other side in the extending direction of the heating unit 41. The switching unit 102 is arranged to be able to support an end portion (other-side end portion) on the other side in the extending direction of the shape correction member 64. The switching unit 102 is arranged to be able to allow and prohibit the swing of the shape correction member 64.

[0105] The swing supporter 101 is provided at an end portion (one-side end portion) on one side in the extending direction of the heating unit 41. As shown in FIG. 9(b), the swing supporter 101 includes paired brackets 110 (brackets 110A and 110B) and the swing shaft 111. The swing shaft 111 is provided between the paired brackets 110 that are aligned in the second direction.

[0106] The paired brackets 110 are arranged to support the swing shaft 111. Each of the paired brackets 110 is, for example, a member that is substantially U-shaped and is open on one side in the first direction when viewed in the extending direction. Each bracket 110 has, for example, an outer portion 112, a connecting portion 113, and an inner portion 114. The outer portion 112 is, for example, a plate-shaped portion extending in the first direction. The outer portion 112 is fixed to an end portion on one side in the extending direction of the heating unit 41 and an end in the second direction of the heating unit 41 by, for example, bolts 115. The connecting portion 113 is a portion where the outer portion 112 is connected to the inner portion 114. The connecting portion 113 is a plate-shaped portion extending in the second direction. The connecting portion 113 is disposed so as not to interfere with the yarn path and a member provided in the vicinity of the brackets 110, for example. The inner portion 114 is, for example, a plate-shaped portion extending in the first direction. The inner portion 114 is provided inside (i.e., on the swing shaft 111 side of) the outer portion 112 and the connecting portion 113 in the second direction. The paired inner portions 114 of the respective paired brackets 110 support the swing shaft 111 on the both sides, for example. The swing shaft 111 may be supported in a different manner.

[0107] The swing shaft 111 is a shaft swingably supports the shape correction member 64. The swing shaft 111 is supported by the paired brackets 110 on the both sides, for example. The swing shaft 111 may be fixed to the inner portion 114 by, for example, an unillustrated fastener. Alternatively, the swing shaft 111 may be integrated with the paired brackets 110 by, for example, welding. The swing shaft 111 is arranged so that an attaching member 68 (described later; see FIG. 9(b) and FIG. 9(c)) of the shape correction member 64 can be hooked by the swing shaft 111.

[0108] The attaching member 68 of the shape correction member 64 will be described with reference to FIG. 9(c). The attaching member 68 is, for example, fixed to an end portion on one side in the extending direction of the connecting portion 66 of the shape correction member 64. The attaching member 68 is, for example, fixed to an end face on the other side in the first direction of the connecting portion 66. The attaching member 68 is provided with, for example, paired standing portions 69 (standing portions 69A and 69B) The paired standing portions 69 are aligned in the second direction. Each of the paired standing portions 69 is a plate-shaped portion, for example. Each of the paired standing portions 69 extends in the first direction, for example. At a substantially central part in the first direction of each standing portion 69, a hook portion 69h that is hook-shaped when viewed in the second direction is provided. The hook portion 69h is shaped to be engageable with the swing shaft 111. For example, on the other side in the extending direction of the hook portion 69h, an inlet 69e is formed. As the swing shaft 111 is relatively inserted into the hook portion 69h through the inlet 69e, the attaching member 68 is swingably attached to the swing shaft 111. On the other hand, as the swing shaft 111 is relatively detached from the hook portion 69h through the inlet 69e, the attaching member 68 is detached from the swing shaft 111.

[0109] As described above, the switching unit 102 is arranged to be able to allow and prohibit the swing of the shape correction member 64. As shown in FIG. 10(a), the switching unit 102 includes paired brackets 120 (a first engaging member of the present invention; brackets 120A and 120B) and an operation unit 130. While the directions are not shown in FIG. 10(a), the left-right direction on the sheet of FIG. 10(a) corresponds to the second direction. The up-down direction on the sheet of FIG. 10 (a) corresponds to the first direction.

[0110] The paired brackets 120 are attached to an end portion (other-side end portion) on the other side in the extending direction of the heating unit 41. The paired brackets 120 are aligned in the second direction. Each of the paired brackets 120 is substantially U-shaped in the same manner as each of the paired brackets 110. Each bracket 120 has, for example, an outer portion 121, a connecting portion 122, and an inner portion 123. The outer portion 121 is fixed to an end portion on the other side in the extending direction of the heating unit 41 and an end in the second direction of the heating unit 41 by, for example, bolts 125. The connecting portion 122 is a portion where the outer portion 121 is connected to the inner portion 123. The inner portion 123 is provided inside (i.e., on the operation unit 130 side of) the outer portion 121 and the connecting portion 122 in the second direction. The inner portion 123 is, for example, a plate-shaped portion extending in the first direction. At an intermediate part in the first direction of the inner portion 123, for example, an engagement holes 124 (engagement holes 124A and 124B) are formed to penetrate the intermediate part in the second direction and extend in the extending direction. Each engagement hole 124 is arranged so that one of both end portions in the lengthwise direction of a later-described engaging member 131 (second engaging member of the present invention) is inserted into the engagement hole 124.

[0111] The operation unit 130 is attached to the connecting portion 66 of the shape correction member 64, for example. As shown in FIG. 10(b), the operation unit 130 includes an engaging member 131, a spacer 132, an operation lever 133 (operation member of the present invention), and a bolt 134. The operation unit 130 is arranged so that, as an operator operates the operation lever 133, switching is performed between a state in which the engaging member 131 is engaged with the paired brackets 120 and a state in which the engagement of the engaging member 131 with the paired brackets 120 is canceled.

[0112] The engaging member 131 is arranged to be engageable with the paired brackets 120. The engaging member 131 is, for example, a substantially plate-shaped member and rectangular in shape. The engaging member 131 is attached to the connecting portion 66 of the shape correction member 64 to be rotatable, for example. For the sake of convenience, the rotational axis direction of the engaging member 131 will be simply referred to as a rotational axis direction. The rotational axis direction is substantially in parallel to the first direction when the engaging member 131 is engaged with the paired brackets 120. When viewed in the rotational axis direction, the engaging member 131 is rotatable clockwise (i.e., in a predetermined rotational direction of the present invention) and counterclockwise (i.e., in a reverse direction of the present invention). In other words, the engaging member 131 is rotatable in both directions. The engaging member 131 extends to be long in a lengthwise direction (hereinafter, a third direction) orthogonal to the rotational axis direction. The inclination angle of the third direction relative to the second direction varies in accordance with the rotation of the engaging member 131 (see FIG. 10(b) and FIG. 11(b)). The spacer 132 is provided to separate the engaging member 131 from the connecting portion 66 in the rotational axis direction. The spacer 132 is substantially cylindrical in shape and extends along the rotational axis direction. In an inner portion in the radial direction of the spacer 132, a through hole (not illustrated) is formed to penetrate the spacer 132 in the rotational axis direction. The center in the radial direction of the spacer 132 is substantially identical in position with the center of the rotational axis of the engaging member 131, for example.

[0113]  The operation lever 133 is operated by the operator so that the engaging member 131 is rotated to move between an engaging position and a cancellation position which are described later. The operation lever 133 is therefore rotatable together with the engaging member 131. The operation lever 133 has a handle portion 137 and a columnar portion 138 (see FIG. 10(a)). The handle portion 137 is a flat plate portion which is touched by a hand of the operator and is substantially rectangular in shape. The handle portion 137 is provided to oppose the spacer 132 over the connecting portion 66 in the rotational axis direction. The columnar portion 138 is a substantially columnar portion extending from the handle portion 137 toward the engaging member 131 in the rotational axis direction. In the connecting portion 66, a through hole (not illustrated) is formed to allow the columnar portion 138 to be inserted into the same. The columnar portion 138 is inserted into the through hole. The columnar portion 138 is inserted into a through hole (not illustrated) of the spacer 132, too. The columnar portion 138 is arranged to be rotatable relative to the connecting portion 66 and the spacer 132. On the columnar portion 138, a female screw screwed with the bolt 134 is formed. The bolt 134 is provided to fix the engaging member 131 to the operation lever 133. The bolt 134 is screwed with the female screw of the columnar portion 138.

[0114] Both end portions in the third direction of the engaging member 131 are engageable with the paired brackets 120. That is to say, as shown in FIG. 10(a), when the end portions in the third direction of the engaging member 131 are inserted into two engagement holes 124, the engaging member 131 is engaged with the paired brackets 120. In this state, the shape correction member 64 is prohibited to swing. This state of the switching unit 102 is termed a prohibited state. Furthermore, the position of the engaging member 131 in this state (i.e., the angle of the engaging member 131 relative to the paired brackets 120) is termed an engaging position. Furthermore, the position of the shape correction member 64 in this state is termed a pressing position. As shown in FIG. 11(a) and FIG. 11(b), when the both end portions in the third direction of the engaging member 131 are inside the paired brackets 120 in the second direction, the engagement of the engaging member 131 with the paired brackets 120 is canceled. In this state, the swing of the shape correction member 64 is allowed. This state of the switching unit 102 is termed a permissive state. Furthermore, the position of the engaging member 131 in this state is termed a cancellation position. In this way, the state of the switching unit 102 is switchable between the permissive state and the prohibited state.

[0115] Each time the engaging member 131 rotates 90 degrees, the engaging member 131 is switched between a state of positioning at the engaging position and a state of positioning at the cancellation position. 90 degrees correspond to a predetermined angle of the present invention. As described above, the engaging member 131 is rotatable in both directions. For the sake of convenience, the angle of the engaging member 131 at a predetermined engaging position (first engaging position) is defined as 0 degree. When the angle of the engaging member 131 is 180 degrees, the engaging member 131 is at the engaging position (second engaging position), too. The engaging position therefore encompasses the first engaging position and the second engaging position. When the angle of the engaging member 131 is 90 degrees or 270 degrees, the engaging member 131 is at the cancellation position. One of the two cancellation positions is a first cancellation position, whereas the other is a second cancellation position. The cancellation position therefore encompasses the first cancellation position and the second cancellation position.

[0116] The handle portion 137 extends to be long in the extending direction when the engaging member 131 is at the engaging position (first state; see FIG. 10(b)). In this state, the handle portion 137 is disposed so as not to obstruct yarn threading. The handle portion 137 extends to be long in the second direction when the engaging member 131 is at the cancellation position (second state; see FIG. 11(b)). As such, the handle portion 137 indicates that the yarn threading cannot (should not) be done when the engaging member 131 is at the cancellation position. In this way, the state of the handle portion 137 is preferably switchable between the first state indicating that the engaging member 131 is at the engaging position and the second state indicating that the engaging member 131 is at the cancellation position and being different from the first state.

(Attachment and Detachment of Shape Correction Member)

[0117] The following will describe the attachment and detachment of the shape correction member 64 to and from the heating unit 41 with reference to FIG. 12(a) to FIG. 12(c). FIG. 12(a) to FIG. 12(c) show a process of detaching the shape correction member 64 from the first heater 13.

[0118] In a state in which the shape correction member 64 is attached to the heating unit 41, the shape correction member 64 extends more or less along the extending direction (see FIG. 12(a)). The pressing surface 67 of the shape correction member 64 is in contact with the edge surface 58e of the yarn contact member 43 and applies a correction force to the yarn contact member 43 (above-described pressing position). The correction force applied from the pressing surface 67A (see FIG. 6) to the yarn contact member 43A (see FIG. 3(a)) is equivalent to a first correction force of the present invention. The correction force applied from the pressing surface 67B (see FIG. 6) to the yarn contact member 43B (see FIG. 3(a)) is equivalent to a second correction force of the present invention. When the shape correction member 64 is detached from the heating unit 41, the operator operates the operation lever 133 to move the engaging member 131 from the engaging position to the cancellation position. The operator then swings the shape correction member 64 a little bit in the first direction (above-described non-pressing position; see an arrow in FIG. 12(b)). Thereafter, the operator shifts an end portion on one side in the extending direction of the shape correction member 64 toward one side in the extending direction. As a result, the engagement between the hook portion 69h (see FIG. 9(c)) and the swing shaft 111 is canceled. Due to this, it becomes possible to detach the shape correction member 64 from the correction member holding unit 100 (see an arrow in FIG. 12(c)). The shape correction member 64 can be attached to the heating unit 41 by performing the steps of the detachment in the reverse order.

(Yarn Threading)

[0119] In the above-described first heater 13, the housing space 56 can be arranged to be open to the working space S no matter whether the shape correction member 64 is attached to the heating unit 41. It is therefore possible to perform yarn threading to the first heater 13 no matter whether the shape correction member 64 is attached to the heating unit 41.

[0120] As described above, the warping portions 61 make it possible to roughly set the position of the yarn contact member 43 in the first direction. Then the correction force is applied to the yarn contact member 43 by the shape correction member 64, with the result that the shape of the yarn contact member 43 is corrected. To be more specific, as the pressing surface 67 applies the pressing force to the yarn contact member 43, the curvature of the cross sectional curve of a part (edge surface 58e) of the yarn contact member 43 in contact with the pressing surface 67 is arranged to be substantially identical with the curvature of the cross sectional curve 67c of the pressing surface 67. The shape correction member 64 is formed of a member different from a member of which the warping portion 61 is formed. It is therefore possible to additionally provide the shape correction member 64 in an existing heater (not illustrated). This arrangement makes it possible to correct the shape of the yarn contact member 43 attached to that heater. It is therefore possible to suppress variations in shape between yarn contact members 43 both in newly-manufactured heaters and in existing heaters.

[0121] The yarn contact member holding portion 60 is arranged to hold the yarn contact member 43 to be detachable from and attachable to the heating unit 41. It is therefore possible to detach the yarn contact member 43 from the heating unit 41 when the yarn contact member 43 is cleaned. The efficiency in cleaning of the yarn contact member 43 is therefore improved.

[0122] In addition to the above, the yarn contact member 43 is attached to and detached from the heating unit 41 by moving the yarn contact member 43 in the first direction. In this case, a long space that is adjacent to the first heater 13 in the longitudinal direction of the yarn contact member 43 is unnecessary. It is therefore possible to suppress the layout around the first heater 13 from being restricted.

[0123]  When the shape correction member 64 is at the pressing position, the pressing surface 67 reliably prevents the yarn contact member 43 from dropping off from the heating unit 41 through the housing space 56. When the shape correction member 64 is at the non-pressing position, the yarn contact member 43 is detachable from the heating unit 41 through the housing space 56.

[0124] The shape correction member 64 can be detached from the heating unit 41 and separated from the heating unit 41. On this account, when a detaching/attaching operation of detaching or attaching the yarn contact member 43 from or to the heating unit 41 is performed, the detaching/attaching operation of detaching or attaching the yarn contact member 43 is less likely to be obstructed as compared to a case where the shape correction member 64 at the non-pressing position is provided to be close to the heating unit 41.

[0125] The correction member holding unit 100 includes the swing supporter 101 and the switching unit 102. On this account, the shape correction member 64 is movable between the pressing position and the non-pressing position only by swinging the shape correction member 64. Furthermore, it is possible to allow or prohibit the swing of the shape correction member 64 only by operating the switching unit 102. The time and labor of the operator are therefore reduced.

[0126] In addition to the above, it is possible to allow or prohibit the swing of the shape correction member 64 only by switching between the engagement and cancellation of the engagement between the paired brackets 120 and the engaging member 131 by operating the operation lever 133. The time and labor of the operator are therefore further reduced.

[0127] The engaging member 131 is movable between the engaging position and the cancellation position by being rotated. It is therefore possible to downsize the space required for the movement of the engaging member 131, as compared to an arrangement in which the engaging member 131 moves, for example, in a parallel manner. It is therefore possible to avoid the increase in size of the switching unit 102.

[0128] Furthermore, the operator can easily move the engaging member 131 between the engaging position and the cancellation position only by operating the handle portion 137.

[0129] The handle portion 137 is able to change its state between the first state and the second state. On this account, even when the position of the engaging member 131 is not viewable, it is possible to know whether the engaging member 131 is at the engaging position or the cancellation position by checking the state of the handle portion 137. It is therefore possible to suppress the occurrence of operational errors due to erroneous recognition of the position of the engaging member 131.

[0130] The engaging position encompasses the first engaging position and the second engaging position. The cancellation position encompasses the first cancellation position and the second cancellation position. On this account, the operation of the operation lever 133 for moving the engaging member 131 between the engaging position and the cancellation position can be done in the same manner regardless of the dominant hand of the operator.

[0131] The first heater 13 includes the hooking portion 62 and the hooking portion 63. It is therefore possible to hold the yarn contact member 43 by the warping portions 61, the hooking portion 62, and the hooking portion 63 even when the shape correction member 64 is at the non-pressing position. On this account, unintentional drop off of the yarn contact member 43 from the heating unit 41 is prevented when the shape correction member 64 is moved from the pressing position to the non-pressing position.

[0132] The hooking portion 62 and the hooking portion 63 are further arranged to restrict the movement of the yarn contact member 43 toward the other side in the first direction. This makes it possible to keep parts of the yarn contact member 43, which are outside the warping portions 61 and the shape correction member 64 in the extending direction, to positionally fall within a predetermined range in the first direction. As a result of this, the shape of the yarn contact surface 57 is further close to the optimal shape.

[0133] The yarn contact member holding portion 60 is arranged to be able to hold the yarn contact member 43 to be elastically deformed in the first direction. In other words, the yarn contact member holding portion 60 includes the elastic deformation holding portion. On this account, even when, for example, the yarn contact member 43 to which no force is applied extends substantially linearly, the yarn contact member 43 can be held in a state of roughly elastically deformed by the elastic deformation holding portion. The shape of the yarn contact member 43 before the correction by the shape correction member 64 is therefore arranged to more or less correspond to the pressing surface 67 in advance. It is therefore possible to correct the shape of the yarn contact member 43 with a small force as compared to a case where the shape of the yarn contact member 43 is significantly corrected only by the shape correction member 64.

[0134] By the warping portions 61, elastic deformation is conducted so that the curvature of the yarn contact member 43 is arranged to be close to the predetermined curvature in advance. On this account, the shape of the yarn contact member 43 can be corrected with a smaller force by the shape correction member 64.

[0135] The shape correction member 64 can be formed by using a typical commercially-available metal plate member. The component cost can therefore be reduced.

[0136] The pressing surface 67 is formed of an end face of the metal plate member. On this account, the thickness direction of the shape correction member 64 corresponds to the second direction. It is therefore possible to arrange the pressing surface 67 to be narrow in the second direction. This arrangement is effective when it is necessary to cause the shape correction member 64 to make contact with a narrow part in the second direction of the yarn contact member 43.

[0137] The yarn contact member 43 has the paired edge surfaces 58e, and the pressing surface 67 of the shape correction member 64 makes contact with only one of the paired edge surfaces 58e. This arrangement makes it possible to downsize the shape correction member 64 in the second direction and to simplify the structure of the shape correction member 64.

[0138] When an end on the yarn contact surface 57 side of the pressing surface 67 is far from the yarn contact surface 57 as compared to the end position in the second direction, the yarn Y may be caught by a level difference between the yarn contact member 43 and the shape correction member 64 at the time of yarn threading, with the result that the yarn threading may not be properly done. In this regard, in the present embodiment, in the second direction, the end on the yarn contact surface 57 side of the pressing surface 67 is positionally identical with either a position close to the yarn contact surface 57 as compared to the end position or the end position. It is therefore possible to suppress the occurrence of the above-described problem.

[0139] The shapes of the yarn contact members 43 aligned in the second direction can be corrected by one shape correction member 64. The component cost can therefore be reduced as compared to a case where the shape of only one yarn contact member 43 is corrected by one shape correction member 64.

[0140] The bending rigidity of the shape correction member 64 relative to the first direction is larger than the bending rigidity of the yarn contact member 43 relative to the first direction. On this account, deformation of the shape correction member 64 is suppressed when the shape correction member 64 is pressed back by the yarn contact member 43 due to the law of action and reaction.

[0141] 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.

(1) In the embodiment above, the bending rigidity of the shape correction member 64 relative to the first direction is larger than the bending rigidity of the yarn contact member 43 relative to the first direction. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. The bending rigidity of the shape correction member 64 relative to the first direction may be smaller than the bending rigidity of the yarn contact member 43 relative to the first direction.

(2) In the embodiment above, the pressing surface 67 of the shape correction member 64 is formed of an end face of a metal plate member. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. The pressing surface 67 may be formed of a top surface of a metal plate member, for example. In the embodiment above, furthermore, the shape correction member 64 is formed of a metal plate member. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the shape correction member 64 may be formed by cutting and processing a block-shaped member.

(3) In the embodiment above, the pressing surface 67 of the shape correction member 64 makes contact with one edge surface 58e of the edge surfaces 58e of the respective paired regulating walls 58 of the yarn contact member 43. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. The pressing surface 67 may be arranged to be in contact with the both edge surfaces 58e. In this case, when the yarn contact member 43 is attached to the heating unit 41 after the yarn contact member 43 is cleaned, the shape correction member 64 must be held by the correction member holding unit 100 after yarn threading to the yarn contact member 43.

(4) In the embodiment above, an end on the yarn contact surface 57 side in the second direction of the pressing surface 67 is provided at a position that is close to the yarn contact surface 57 as compared to the position of an end on the yarn contact surface 57 side in the second direction of one of the paired edge surfaces 58e. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. The end on the yarn contact surface 57 side in the second direction of the pressing surface 67 may be provided at a position that is far from the yarn contact surface 57 as compared to the position of an end on the yarn contact surface 57 side in the second direction of one of the paired edge surfaces 58e.

(5) In the embodiment above, the warping portions 61, the hooking portion 62, and the hooking portion 63 hold the yarn contact member 43 to be elastically deformed. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. The warping portions 61, the hooking portion 62, and the hooking portion 63 may not be arranged to elastically deform the yarn contact member 43.

(6) In the embodiment above, the hooking portion 62 and the hooking portion 63 are able to restrict not only the movement of the yarn contact member 43 toward one side in the first direction but also the movement of the yarn contact member 43 toward the other side ion the first direction. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. The hooking portion 62 and the hooking portion 63 may be arranged to restrict only the movement of the yarn contact member 43 toward one side in the first direction. In the embodiment above, the yarn contact member holding portion 60 includes the hooking portion 62 and the hooking portion 63. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. The yarn contact member holding portion 60 may hold the yarn contact member 43 only by, for example, the warping portions 61 and the shape correction member 64.

(7) The structure of the switching unit 102 may be different from the structure described above. For example, the switching unit 102 may be able to switch between the state in which the engaging member 131 is engaged with the paired brackets 120 and the state in which the engagement of the engaging member 131 with the paired brackets 120 is canceled, by moving the engaging member 131 in a parallel manner. The engaging member 131 may be movable in a parallel manner along the extending direction, for example. In this case, in place of the engagement hole 124, each bracket 120 may have a slit (not illustrated) that extends to reach an end on the other side in the extending direction of each bracket 120. In other words, the engagement between the engaging member 131 and the paired brackets 120 may be canceled when the engaging member 131 is moved in a parallel manner and detached from the slit.

(8) In the embodiment above, the correction member holding unit 100 may hold the shape correction member 64 to be attachable to and detachable from the heating unit 41. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. The shape correction member 64 may be held by, for example, an unillustrated screw to be attachable to and detachable from the heating unit 41. This arrangement also allows the shape correction member 64 to be movable between the pressing position and the non-pressing position. The correction member holding unit 100 may be arranged to hold the shape correction member 64 not to be detachable from and attachable to the heating unit 41. For example, swing supporter 101 may be arranged to support the shape correction member 64 to be swingable and not to be detachable from and attachable to the heating unit 41. This arrangement also allows the shape correction member 64 to be movable between the pressing position and the non-pressing position.

(9) In the embodiment above, when the yarn contact member 43 is attached to or detached from the heating unit 41, the yarn contact member 43 is able to pass through the housing space 56 in the first direction. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. The yarn contact member 43 may be attached to or detached from the heating unit 41 by, for example, being plugged or unplugged to or from the heating unit 41 in the extending direction.

(10) In the embodiment above, the shape correction member 64 is arranged to be movable between the pressing position and the non-pressing position. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. The shape correction member 64 may not be detachable from the heating unit 41 after being attached to the heating unit 41. In this case, the yarn contact member 43 may be attached to or detached from the heating unit 41 by, for example, being plugged or unplugged to or from the heating unit 41 in the extending direction.

(11) In the embodiment above, the shape correction member 64 is able to correct the shapes of the two yarn contact members 43. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. The shape correction member 64 may be able to correct the shape of only one yarn contact member 43.

(12) In the embodiment above, each of the warping portions 61 is a bolt-shaped member extending in the second direction. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. Each of the warping portions 61 may not be a bolt as long as it has a function of restricting the movement of the yarn contact member 43 toward the other side in the first direction. While plural warping portions 61 are attached to the heating unit 41, the disclosure is not limited to this arrangement. The heating unit 41 may be provided with only one warping portion 61.

(13) In the embodiment above, the swing members 81 and 91 are swingably supported by the swing shafts 82 and 92, respectively. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. For example, a supporting member (not illustrated) may be provided to support a member identical in shape with the swing member 81, 91 to be movable in the second direction in a parallel manner.

(14) In the embodiment above, the yarn contact member 43 is attachable to or detachable from the heating unit 41 by the yarn contact member holding portion 60. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the heating unit 41 may be arranged so that the yarn contact member 43 cannot be detached after the yarn contact member 43 is attached. For example, the yarn contact member 43 may have an unillustrated screw hole. The heating unit 41 may be arranged so that the yarn contact member 43 is screwed to the heating unit 41 and the yarn contact member 43 cannot be easily detached. In this arrangement, an unillustrated bolt used for screwing the yarn contact member 43 may be fixed to the heating unit 41 by welding, for example. Also in this case, a member arranged to hold the yarn contact member 43 in a state of being elastically deformed is equivalent to the elastic deformation holding portion of the present invention.

(15) In the embodiment above, the heating unit 41 has the housing space 56 which is open on one side (working space S side) in the first direction. In this regard, the housing space 56 and the heating unit 41 may be differently shaped. For example, although not illustrated, the housing space 56 may be tilted by 45 degrees or less relative to the first direction, in a cross section orthogonal to the extending direction. Alternatively, although not illustrated, for example, the housing space 56 may be substantially L-shaped in a cross section orthogonal to the extending direction, and is open at one end in the second direction in addition to the one side in the first direction. In this case, for example, the yarn contact member 43 may be attached and detached through an opening (not illustrated) formed at the one end in the second direction.

(16) In the embodiment above, the heating unit 41 is equivalent to the attaching portion of the present invention. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. Specifically, in place of the second heating member 55, an unillustrated heat insulation member and another member (hereinafter, heat insulation member, etc.) may be provided. In this arrangement, the heat insulation member, etc. is not included in the heating unit 41. Also in this case, the yarn contact member 43 is attached to the first heater 13 in such a way that the yarn contact member 43 is accommodated in a space (not illustrated) formed by the first heating member 54 and the heat insulation member, etc. In this arrangement, a combination of the heating unit 41 and the heat insulation member, etc. is equivalent to the attaching portion of the present invention. In other words, the attaching portion encompasses the heating unit 41.

(17) In the embodiment above, the yarn contact member 43 is formed by cutting and processing a member made of stainless steel. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the yarn contact member 43 may be formed by bending a plate-shaped member (i.e., by sheet metal working). The material of the yarn contact member 43 may not be stainless steel.

(18) In the embodiment above, the first heater 13 having the sheathed heater as the heat source 42 is provided in the false-twist texturing machine 1. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. In place of the first heater 13, a known Dowtherm heater configured to heat the yarn contact member 43 by means of a heating medium may be provided in the false-twist texturing machine 1. In this case, the Dowtherm heater is equivalent to the heater of the present invention. A member (not illustrated) forming a passage in which the heating medium is enclosed is equivalent to the heat source of the present invention.

(19) In the embodiment above, the first heater 13 is able to heat two yarns Y. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. The first heater 13 may be able to heat one yarn Y. Alternatively, the first heater 13 may be able to heat three or more yarns Y.

(20) The present invention may be applied not only to the first heater 13 but also to the second heater 19.

(21) The present invention is applicable to a known false-twist texturing machine (not illustrated) which is differently structured from the false-twist texturing machine 1 of the present embodiment. Alternatively, in addition to the false-twist texturing machine, the present invention is applicable to, for example, a yarn processor such as a known air texturing machine (not illustrated) configured to process a running yarn (not illustrated).

(22) In the embodiment above, each warping portion 61 is a known dog point bolt, for example. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. The following will describe a modification with reference to FIGs. 13(a) and 13(b). FIG. 13(a) and FIG. 13(b) show a first heater 13M that is a modification of the first heater 13. FIG. 13(a) is similar to FIG. 3(b) described above and is a cross section taken along a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the first heater 13M. FIG. 13(b) is a cross section taken along a line XIII(b)-XIII(b) in FIG. 13(a). A yarn contact member holding portion 60M of the first heater 13M may have, for example, plural warping portions 61M in place of the warping portions 61. The warping portion 61M may be a plate-shaped or block-shaped metal member, for example. As shown in FIG. 13(a), the warping portion 61M is provided on the other side in the first direction of the housing space 56, for example. With this arrangement, the yarn contact member 43 makes contact with an end on the yarn contact member 43 side of the warping portion 61M in the first direction. Preferably, the warping portion 61M extends in the first direction. Therefore an end of the warping portion 61M on the other side of the yarn contact member 43 in the first direction is preferably in contact with the heating unit 41. To be more specific, as shown in FIG. 13(b), the warping portion 61M preferably extends in the extending direction. For example, the second heating member 55 of the heating unit 41 preferably has a receiving surface 55r that is provided on the other side of the warping portion 61M in the first direction. The receiving surface 55r is oriented to the warping portion 61M in the first direction, for example. At an end on the receiving surface 55r side of the warping portion 61M in the first direction, an end face 61Ma extending along the extending direction is preferably formed. This arrangement makes it possible to receive the elastic restoring force of the yarn contact member 43 through the warping portion 61M, by the receiving surface 55r that is wide in area. On this account, even when the yarn contact member 43 is significantly warped, the deformation (including both elastic deformation and plastic deformation) of the warping portion 61M due to the elastic restoring force is effectively suppressed. In this arrangement, the curvature radius of the above-described cross sectional curve 67c may be shorter than 15 meters, for example. The curvature radius may, for example, fall within a range of 5 to 20 meters.

Claims

1. A heater (13) configured to heat at least one running yarn (Y), comprising:

at least one yarn contact member (43) each of which includes a yarn contact surface (57) extending at least in a predetermined extending direction and arranged to make contact with one of the at least one yarn (Y);

a heating unit (41) which extends in the extending direction and is configured to be able to heat the at least one yarn contact member (43);

an attaching portion (41) which includes the heating unit (41) and to which the at least one yarn contact member (43) is attached; and

a yarn contact member holding portion (60) which holds the at least one yarn contact member (43) to be attached to the attaching portion (41),

the yarn contact surface (57) extending at least in the extending direction and being oriented at least to one side in a predetermined first direction orthogonal to the extending direction,

the yarn contact member holding portion (60) including:

at least one other-side regulating portion (61) restricting movement of the at least one yarn contact member (43) toward the other side in the first direction; and

a shape correction member (64) which is formed of a member of which the at least one other-side regulating portion (61) is not formed, which is provided at least to oppose the at least one other-side regulating portion (61) over the at least one yarn contact member (43) in the first direction, and which is configured to apply a correction force having a component in the first direction to the at least one yarn contact member (43),

the shape correction member (64) having a pressing surface (67) extending at least in the extending direction and provided to apply the correction force to the at least one yarn contact member (43), and

a cross sectional curve (67c) of the pressing surface (67), which is orthogonal to a second direction orthogonal to both the extending direction and the first direction, having a predetermined curvature.

2. The heater (13) according to claim 1, wherein, the yarn contact member holding portion (60) holds the at least one yarn contact member (43) to be detachable from and attachable to the attaching portion (41).

3. The heater (13) according to claim 2, wherein,

the attaching portion (41) includes

a detachment/attachment passage (56) which is provided on one side in the first direction of the at least one other-side regulating portion (61) and allows the at least one yarn contact member (43) to pass through in the first direction when the at least one yarn contact member (43) is attached or detached,

a correction member holding unit (100) is provided to hold the shape correction member (64) to be movable relative to the at least one yarn contact member (43), and

the shape correction member (64) is movable between a pressing position where the pressing surface (67) is provided in the detachment/attachment passage (56) and in contact with the at least one yarn contact member (43) and a non-pressing position where the pressing surface (67) is provided outside the detachment/attachment passage (56) and is not in contact with the at least one yarn contact member (43) .

4. The heater (13) according to claim 3, wherein, the correction member holding unit (100) holds the shape correction member (64) to be detachable from and attachable to the attaching portion (41).

5. The heater (13) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein,
the correction member holding unit (100) includes:

a swing supporter (101) which supports the shape correction member (64) to be swingable about a swing shaft (111) that is provided at a one-side end portion on one side in the extending direction of the attaching portion (41) and extends in the second direction; and

a switching unit (102) which is provided at an other-side end portion on the other side in the extending direction of the attaching portion (41) and is switchable between a permissive state in which swing of the shape correction member (64) is permitted and a prohibited state in which swing of the shape correction member (64) at the pressing position is prohibited.

6. The heater (13) according to claim 5, wherein,
the switching unit (102) includes:

a first engaging member (120) which is attached to one of the attaching portion (41) and the shape correction member (64);

a second engaging member (131) which is attached to the other of the attaching portion (41) and the shape correction member (64) and is switchable between an engaging position in which the second engaging member (131) is engaged with the first engaging member (120) so that the switching unit (102) is in the prohibited state and a cancellation position in which engagement with the first engaging member (120) is canceled so that the switching unit (102) is in the permissive state; and

an operation member (133) which is operated so as to move the second engaging member (131) between the engaging position and the cancellation position.

7. The heater (13) according to claim 6, wherein, the second engaging member (131) is rotatably attached to the other of the attaching portion (41) and the shape correction member (64) and is movable between the engaging position and the cancellation position by being rotated.

8. The heater (13) according to claim 7, wherein, the operation member (133) includes a handle portion (137) which is arranged to be rotatable together with the second engaging member (131).

9. The heater (13) according to claim 8, wherein, a state of the handle portion (137) is changeable between a first state indicating that the second engaging member (131) is at the engaging position and a second state indicating that the second engaging member (131) is at the cancellation position and being different from the first state.

10. The heater (13) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein,

the engaging position includes a first engaging position that is different from the cancellation position by a predetermined angle in a predetermined rotational direction and a second engaging position that is different from the cancellation position by the predetermined angle in a reverse direction opposite to the predetermined rotational direction, and

the cancellation position includes a first cancellation position that is different from the engaging position by the predetermined angle in the predetermined rotational direction and a second cancellation position that is different from the engaging position by the predetermined angle in the reverse direction.

11. The heater (13) according to any one of claims 3 to 10, wherein,
the yarn contact member holding portion (60) includes:

a first one-side regulating portion (62) which restricts movement of a portion of the at least one yarn contact member (43) attached to the attaching portion (41) toward the one side in the first direction, the portion being on one side of the shape correction member (64) in the extending direction; and

a second one-side regulating portion (63) which restricts movement of another portion of the at least one yarn contact member (43) attached to the attaching portion (41) toward the one side in the first direction, the another portion being on the other side of the shape correction member (64) in the extending direction.

12. The heater (13) according to claim 11, wherein, the first one-side regulating portion (62) and the second one-side regulating portion (63) are capable of restricting movement of the at least one yarn contact member (43) toward the other side in the first direction.

13. The heater (13) according to any one of claims 3 to 12, wherein, the yarn contact member holding portion (60) includes an elastic deformation holding portion (61, 62, 63) which includes the at least one other-side regulating portion (61) and is capable of holding the at least one yarn contact member (43) attached to the attaching portion (41) so that the at least one yarn contact member (43) is elastically deformed in the first direction, no matter whether the shape correction member (64) is at the pressing position or at the non-pressing position.

14. The heater (13) according to claim 13, wherein,

the elastic deformation holding portion (61, 62, 63) includes plural other-side regulating portions (61), and

the other-side regulating portions (61) are disposed in accordance with the predetermined curvature.

15. The heater (13) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein, the shape correction member (64) is formed of a metal plate member.

16. The heater (13) according to claim 15, wherein, the pressing surface (67) is formed of an end face of the metal plate member.

17. The heater (13) according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein,

each of the at least one yarn contact member (43) has paired regulating walls (58) which are provided on both sides in the second direction of the yarn contact surface (57) and are longer than the yarn contact surface (57) toward the one side in the first direction,

each of the paired regulating walls (58) includes an edge surface (58e) which extends at least in the extending direction and is oriented at least to the one side in the first direction, and

the pressing surface (67) of the shape correction member (64) makes contact with only one of the edge surfaces (58e) of the respective paired regulating walls (58).

18. The heater (13) according to claim 17, wherein, in the second direction, an end of the pressing surface (67), which is close to the yarn contact surface (57) among both ends of the pressing surface (67), is positioned to be identical with an end position that is a position of an end of one of the edge surfaces (58e), which is close to the yarn contact surface (57) among both ends of the one of the edge surfaces (58e), or the end of the pressing surface (67) is positioned to be close to the yarn contact surface (57) as compared to the end position.

19. The heater (13) according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein,

the at least one yarn contact member (43) includes a first yarn contact member (43A) with which a first yarn (YA) included in the yarns (Y) makes contact and a second yarn contact member (43B) which is aligned with the first yarn contact member (43A) in the second direction and with which a second yarn (YB) included in the yarns (Y) makes contact, and

the shape correction member (64) includes:

a first pressing surface (67A) that is the pressing surface (67) by which a first correction force included in the correction force is applied to the first yarn contact member (43A);

a second pressing surface (67B) that is the pressing surface (67) by which a second correction force included in the correction force is applied to the second yarn contact member (43B); and

a connecting portion (66) which is provided between the first pressing surface (67A) and the second pressing surface (67B) in the second direction.

20. The heater (13) according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein, bending rigidity of the shape correction member (64) relative to the first direction is larger than bending rigidity of the at least one yarn contact member (43) relative to the first direction.

Drawing