Guard inserts and systems and methods of using same

A guard system for a yarn twisting apparatus, comprising:

• a cover having an interior surface and an opposed exterior surface, the cover defining at least one opening configured to overlie a yarn twisting zone of the yarn twisting apparatus and a plurality of fastener-receiving openings configured to receive respective fasteners;
• a guard insert securely affixed to the interior surface of the cover, the guard insert comprising,
• a body having a top surface, an opposed bottom surface, and a plurality of side edges extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, the plurality of side edges comprising a front side edge, the body defining a slot and a plurality of fastener-receiving openings, the slot extending inwardly from the front side edge, and the plurality of fastener-receiving openings extending through the top and bottom surfaces, wherein each opening of the plurality of fastener-receiving openings is configured to receive a fastener, and
• a guide securely received within the slot of the body, the guide having an outer peripheral wall and an inner peripheral wall, the outer peripheral wall having a shape complementary to the slot, and at least a portion of the inner peripheral wall defining a channel configured for receiving yarn passing through a yarn twisting zone of the yarn twisting apparatus;
• and
• a plurality of fasteners configured to securely affix the guard insert to the interior surface of the cover, each fastener being configured to be operatively received through aligned openings of the plurality of fastener-receiving openings of the guide insert and the cover, wherein the guide and at least a central portion of the body are received within the at least one opening of the cover, thereby permitting yarn passing through the yarn twisting zone to be received through the channel of the guide while substantially enclosing the at least one opening of the cover.

A method of installing a guard insert, comprising:

• operatively positioning a guard insert relative to an interior surface of a cover for a yarn twisting apparatus, the guard insert comprising:
• a body having a top surface, an opposed bottom surface, and a plurality of side edges extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, the plurality of side edges comprising a front side edge, the body defining a slot and a plurality of fastener-receiving openings, the slot extending inwardly from the front side edge, and the plurality of fastener-receiving openings extending through the top and bottom surfaces, wherein each opening of the plurality of fastener-receiving openings is configured to receive a fastener;
• a guide securely received within the slot of the body, the guide having an outer peripheral wall and an inner peripheral wall, the outer peripheral wall having a shape complementary to the slot, and at least a portion of the inner peripheral wall defining a channel configured for receiving yarn passing through a yarn twisting zone of the yarn twisting apparatus, wherein the guard extends substantially across at least one opening of the cover,
• aligning each opening of the plurality of fastener-receiving openings of the body of the guard insert with a respective opening of the cover;
• securing a fastener through each of the aligned openings of the body of the guard insert and the cover.