SPLICER NOZZLE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a splicer nozzle that injects compressed air onto two yarn ends laid on top of each other so as to face in opposite directions, and splices ends of two yarns.
Description of Related Art
A splicer is conventionally known as a yarn splicing device that splices ends of two yarns. The splicer blows compressed air onto the two yarn ends laid on top of each other to twist the two yarn ends for splicing. Some splicers are called an opposite type, and the others are called a T-type.
The opposite type splicer untwists the two yarn ends and then lays the yarn ends on top of each other so that the yarn ends face in opposite directions. The opposite type splicer then applies a whirling stream of compressed air to the two yarn ends to twist the two yarn ends. See, for example, the Examined Japanese Patent Application publication (Tokko-Hei) No. 2 14267.
In contrast, the T-type splicer lays the two yarn ends on top of each other in the same direction, and then applies compressed air to the yarn ends to untwist and entangle the yarn ends with each other. See, for example, the Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication (Tokkai) No. 2006-52485.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The opposite splicer is suitable for splicing thin, relatively nonelastic yarns such as cotton. However, in splicing relatively elastic yarns such as wool, the opposite type splicer fails to sufficiently twist the yarns. As a result, a sufficient yarn tenacity may not be obtained.
On the other hand, the T-type splicer splices the yarns by firmly entangling the yarns with each other. Thus, even with the relatively elastic yarns such as wool, a sufficient yarn tenacity can be obtained. However, with the T-type splicer, as shown in Figure 4 of the Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication (Tokkai) No. 2006-52485, a yarn Yl and a yarn Y2 are arranged to form the letter "T" in which an overlapping portion of the yarns corresponds to the vertical line of the letter "T". Thus, yarn splicing portions (vertically extending portions of the yarns Yl and Y2 in Figure 4) remain like a whisker. The whisker may affect the appearance of the yarn in some applications of the yarn.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a splicer nozzle that enables even elastic yarns to be firmly spliced without creating a whisker.
To accomplish this object, the present invention provides a splicer nozzle characterized in that a yarn splicing hole is divided, in an axial direction, into substantially two yarn spl icing chambers formed at positions where axes of the yarn

splicing chambers are displaced from each other, and a yarn splicing slit common to the yarn splicing chambers is formed over the entire area of the yarn splicing hole, and in that an injection hole is formed for each of the yarn splicing chambers so that compressed air passing through the yarn splicing slit to the axis of the yarn splicing chamber is injected through a corresponding one of the injection holes, and an inner wall of each of the yarn splicing chambers located opposite an air outlet of the corresponding one of the compressed air injection holes is formed to be planar. Here, the "axis" means the center of a circular arc where the sectional shape of the yarn splicing chamber includes the circular arc, and where the sectional shape of the yarn splicing chamber includes no circular arc, the "axis" means a centre id of the sectional shape.
Furthermore, the present invention provides a splicer nozzle configured as described above, and characterized in that the yarn splicing chambers and the compressed air injection holes communicate with a tip portion of the yarn splicing slit.
Furthermore, the present invention provides a splicer nozzle configured as described above and characterized in that each of the compressed air injection holes is linearly formed such that a center axis of the compressed air injection hole passes through the axis of the corresponding one of the yarn splicing chamber.
Furthermore, the present invention provides a splicer nozzle configured as described above and characterized in that the planar inner wall of each of the yarn splicing chambers is formed substantially orthogonally to the center axis of the

corresponding one of the compressed air injection holes.
In the splicer nozzle according to the present invention, the compressed air
injection holes communicate with the yarn splicing slit, and this enables
compressed air to directly strike yarn ends positioned in the yarn splicing slit.
Furthermore, the inner wall of each of the yarn splicing chambers opposite which
the corresponding one of the compressed air injection holes lies is planar.
Consequently, compressed air collides against and bounces off the inner wall and strikes the yarn ends again. Thus, the splicer nozzle according to the present invention allows compressed air to exert a strong effect on fibers of the untwisted yarn ends to appropriately entangle the fibers with one another. Therefore, spliced portion tenacity can be enhanced.
Other features, elements, processes, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a plan view showing an example of a splicer nozzle according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a sectional view of the splicer nozzle in Figure 1, wherein Figure 2A is a sectional view taken along line X-X, Figure 2B is a sectional view taken along line Y-Y, and Figure 2C is a sectional view taken along a line Z-Z.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the splicer nozzle in Figure 1, wherein Figure 3A is a sectional view taken along line G-G, and Figure 3B is a sectional view taken along line H-H.
Figure 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a splicer nozzle unit to which the splicer nozzle in Figure 1 is applied.
Figure 5 is a sectional view showing the relationship between the splicer nozzle and the splicer nozzle unit.
Figure 6 is a front view and a side sectional view showing the splicer to which the splicer nozzle unit in Figure 3 is applied.
Figure 7 is a plan view showing a flow of compressed air through the splicer nozzle.
Figure 8 is a sketch drawing showing an example of a spliced portion provided by the splicer nozzle in IMgure 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [Configuration of the splicer nozzle]
As shown in Figures 1 to 3. a splicer nozzle 1 according to the present invention is mainly composed of a yarn splicing slit 2 formed in a nozzle block 10, a first yarn splicing chamber 3 and a second yarn splicing chamber 4 formed so as to divide a yarn splicing hole into two portions in an axial direction, a

first compressed air injection hole 5, a second compressed injection hole 6, and a communication chamber 7.
The nozzle block 10 is composed of a metal block such as brass, and has a notch portion 10c shaped like an isosceles triangle in a plan view, in a surface (front surface) located on a side from which yarn ends are introduced, as shown in Figures 1 and 3.
As shown in Figure 1, the yarn splicing slit 2 extends linearly from the tip of the notch portion 10c in the nozzle block 10 to the vicinity of the center of the nozzle block 10 in a front-back direction thereof. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2C, the yarn splicing slit 2 extends to a top surface 10a and a bottom surface 10b of the nozzle block 10.
As shown in Figure 2A, the first yarn splicing chamber 3 extends linearly from the top surface 10a of the nozzle block 10 to the center of the nozzle block 10 in a vertical direction thereof. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3A and 2B, the first yarn splicing chamber 3 communicates with a left portion of an upper tip portion 2a of the yarn splicing slit 2.
Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3A and 2A, the first yarn splicing chamber 3 is enclosed by a plurality of inner walls 3a to 3f and a bottom wall 3g. The inner walls 3a, 3c to 3d are planar, and the inner walls 3b, 3f are curved so as to form a circular arc around a point 3h in a plan view. The first yarn splicing chamber 3 communicates with the yarn splicing slit 2 between the inner wall 3c and the inner wall 3d as described above.

As shown in Figure 3A, the first compressed air injection hole 5 extends from a right side surface lOd of the nozzle block 10 in a horizontal direction and substantially orthogonally to the planar inner wall 3a of the first yarn splicing chamber 3. The first compressed air injection hole 5 communicates with the yarn splicing slit 2, extends further, and communicates with the first yarn splicing chamber 3. In this case, a center axis 5a of the First compressed air injection hole 5 passes through a point 3h and a middle point 3i of the inner wall 3a. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2C, the first compressed air injection hole 5 is formed slightly below the center of the first yarn splicing chamber 3 in the vertical direction.
As shown in Figure 2A, the second yarn splicing chamber 4 extends linearly from a bottom surface 10b of the nozzle block 10 to the center of the nozzle block 10 in the vertical direction. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3B and 2B, the second yarn splicing chamber 4 communicates with a right portion of a lower tip portion 2b of the yarn splicing slit 2.
Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3B and 2A, the second yarn splicing chamber 4 is enclosed by a plurality of inner walIs 4a to 4f and a top wal1 4g. The inner walls 4a, 4c to 4d are planar, and the wall surfaces 4b, 4f are curved so as to form a circular arc around a point 4h in a plan view. The second yarn splicing chamber 4 communicates with the yarn splicing slit 2 between the inner walls 4c and 4d as described above.
As shown in Figure 38, the second compressed air injection hole 6 extends from

a left side surface lOe of the nozzle block 10 in the horizontal direction and substantially orthogonally to the planar inner wall 4a of the second yarn splicing chamber 4. The second compressed air injection hole 6 communicates with the yarn splicing slit 2, extends further, and communicates with the second yarn splicing chamber 4. In this case, a center axis 6a of the second compressed air injection hole 6 passes through a point 4h and a middle point 4i of the inner wall 4a. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2C. the second compressed air injection hole 6 is formed slightly above the center of the second yarn splicing chamber 4 in the vertical direction.
As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a communication chamber 7 is formed inside the nozzle block 10 in the vertical direction and in an outer edge portion thereof except for the notch portion 10c side so as to allow the first compressed air injection hole 5 and the second compressed air injection hole 6. [Configuration of the splicer nozzle unit]
As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the splicer nozzle 1 is fitted into a nozzle holder 12 to constitute a splicer nozzle unit 11. The splicer nozzle unit 11 is attached to a main body bracket 21 of a texti le machine via a plate 22 by a mounting bolt 13. The splicer nozzle unit 11 thus constitute an essential part of a splicer 31 described below, in the textile machine.
The nozzle holder 12 is composed of a metal block shaped like a rectangular parallelepiped. The nozzle holder 12 has a recess portion 12a that receives the splicer nozzle 1, a bolt hole 12b that allows the mounting bolt 13 to pass through.

a compressed air introduction hole 12c connected to a compressed air source (not shown in the drawings), and a communication hole 12d that communicates with the compressed air introduction hole 12c and the recess portion 12a.
The splicer nozzle I is fitted in the recess portion 12a of the nozzle holder 12. In this case, the communication chamber 7 in the splicer nozzle 1 is peripherally surrounded by wall surfaces of the recess portion 12a.
The communication hole 12d in the nozzle holder 12 communicates with the communication chamber 7. On the other hand, an introduction pipe 14 extending from the compressed air source (not shown in the drawings) is connected to the compressed air introduction hole 12c. When compressed air CR is supplied by the compressed air source, the compressed air CR is introduced into the first and second compressed air injection holes 5, 6 in the splicer nozzle 1. through the compressed air introduction hole 12c and via the communication hole 12d and the communication chamber 7. The compressed air CR passes through the tip portion of the yarn splicing slit 2 into the first and second yarn splicing chambers 3, 4. The compressed air CR is then discharged to the exterior through openings of the first yarn splicing chamber 3 and the second yarn splicing chamber 4. [Yarn splicing operation by the splicer]
Now, a yarn splicing operation performed by the splicer 31 where the splicer nozzle unit 11 is applied to the splicer 31 in an automatic wider wi11 be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7.
First, a yarn YP on a package P side is sucked and gripped by a suction mouth

SM. Then, the suction mouth SM turns to guide the yarn YP to the front of the splicer 31, and the yarn YP is then clamped by a clamp device 32. On the other hand, a yarn YB on a spinning bobbin B side is similarly guided to the front of the splicer 31 by a turning relay pipe SP. "fhe yarn YB is then clamped by a clamp device 33.
Then, a yarn handling lever 34 turns to guide the yarn YP in guide grooves 37, 38 of guide plates 35. 36 and in the yarn splicing slit 2 of the splicer nozzle I. At the same time, the turning of the yarn handling lever 34 also guides the yarn YB in guide grooves 39, 40 of the guide plates 35, 36 and in the yarn splicing slit 2 of the splicer nozzle I.
Then, yarn cutting devices 41, 42 cut the yarns YP, YB at positions at a given distance from a clamp position. Then, the yarn ends of the cut yarns YP, YB are sucked into untwisting nozzles 43. 44 and the compressed air CR is blown onto the yarn ends of the cut yarn YP, YB. Thus, the yarn ends of the yarns YP, YB are subjected to an untwisting operation and untwisted into parallel fibers like a tip of a writing brush (see Figure 6B). In this case, the yarn handling lever 34 has already moved backward so as to leave the yarns Yp, YB. Thus, the yarn ends of the yarns YP, YB are sucked deep inside the untwisting nozzles 43, 44.
After the untwisting is completed, the yarn handling lever 34 turns again to approach the yarns YP, YB to draw the yarns YP, YB out of the untwisting nozzles 43, 44. The untwisted yarn ends of the drawn-out yarns YP, YB are laid on top of each other at the tip side of the yarn splicing slit 2 in the splicer nozzle 1 (sec
Figure 60.
Then, the compressed air CR is supplied to the splicer nozzle unit 11 via the introduction pipe 14. As shown in Figure 5A, the compressed air CR is introduced into the first compressed air injection hole 5 via the compressed air introduction hole 12c, the communication hole 12d, and the communication chamber 7. At the same time, as shown in Figure 5B, the compressed air CR is introduced into the second compressed air injection hole 6 via the compressed air introduction hole 12c, the communication hole 12d, and the communication chamber 7.
As shown in Figure 7, through the first and second compressed air injection holes 5, 6, the compressed air CR directly strikes the yarn ends of the yarns Y?, YB positioned at the tip side of the yarn splicing slit 2. Furthermore, the compressed air CR collides against and bounces off the wall surfaces 3a, 4a of the first and second yarn splicing chambers 3, 4 and strikes the yarn ends of the yarns YP. YB again.
The yarn ends of the yarns YP, YB are directly struck by the compressed air CR and also struck by the compressed air CR bouncing off the wal1 surfaces to allow the untwisted fibers to be appropriately entangled with one another. The yarn ends are thus firmly spliced to enhance spliced portion tenacity. [Operation and Effects]
As described above, in the splicer nozzle 1, the compressed air CR directly strikes the yarn ends of the yarns YP, YB positioned at the tip side of the yarn splicing slit 2. Furthermore, the planar inner wall surfaces 3a, 4a of the first

and second yarn splicing chambers 3, 4 constitute planes extending orthogonally to the center axes 5a, 6a of the first and second compressed air injection holes 5, 6. The compressed air CR thus collides against and bounces off the wall surfaces 3a, 4a and strikes the yarn ends again. The splicer nozzle 1 prevents the compressed air CR from flowing as a whirl ing stream. This inhibits the entire spliced portion from being uniformly twisted. The spliced portion is thus in an entangled condition in which the fibers are mixed together in portions YD of the spliced portion directly struck by the compressed air CR (see Figure 8). Portions YR located on the opposite sides of the portions YD are entangled with a base yarn under the operation of the compressed air CR colliding against and bouncing off the inner walls 3a, 4a of the yarn splicing chambers 3, 4. This prevents the opposite ends of the spliced portion and the fibers from projecting out from the spliced portion. Thus, the fibers are appropriately entangled with one another over the entire spliced portion, thus enhancing spliced portion tenacity. That is, unlike in the case of the conventional scheme of splicing yarns by twisting the yarn ends, the splicer nozzle 1 allows relatively elastic yarns such as wool to be firmly spliced.
The embodiment of the present invention has been specifically described. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.
That is, in the above-described embodiment, each of the yarn splicing chambers has the six inner walls. However, the number of the inner walls is not limited. Furthermore, the sectional shape of the yarn splicing chamber is not

mited to the one shown in the above-described embodiment. For example, the yarn
licing chamber may be composed only of planes.
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the angle between the
mpressed air injection holes is 90° . The angle between the yarn splicing slit
d each of the compressed air injection hole is 45° . However, the present
vention is not limited to this aspect.
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the center axis of the
mpressed air injection hole passes through the middle point of the opposite inner
II in a plan view. However, the present invention is not limited to this aspect. While the present invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed invention may be modified in numerous ways and may assume many embodiments other than those specifically set out and described above. Accordingly, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all modifications of the present invention that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A splicer nozzle (1) characterized in that a yarn splicing hole is divided, in an axial direction, into substantially two yarn splicing chambers (3), (4) formed at positions where axes of the yarn splicing chambers (3), (4) are displaced from each other, and a yarn splicing slit (2) common to the yarn splicing chambers (3), (4) is formed over the entire area of the yarn splicing hole, and in that an injection hole (5), (6) is formed for each of the yarn splicing chambers (3), (4) so that compressed air passing through the yarn splicing slit (2) to the axis of the yarn splicing chamber (3), (4) is injected through a corresponding one of the injection holes (5), (6), and an inner wall of each of the yarn splicing chambers (3), (4) located opposite an air outlet of the corresponding one of compressed air injection holes (5), (6) is formed to be planar.
2. A splicer nozzle (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the yarn splicing chambers (3), (4) and the compressed air injection holes (5), (6) communicate with a tip portion of the yarn splicing slit (2).
3. A splicer nozzle (1) according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that each of the compressed air injection holes (5), (6) is linearly formed such that a center axis of the compressed air injection hole (5), (6) passes through the axis of the corresponding one of the yarn splicing chamber (3), (4).
4. A splicer nozzle (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the inner wall of each of the yarn splicing chambers (3). (4) is formed
substantially orthogonally to the center axis of the corresponding one of the compressed air injection holes (5),  (6).