PURPOSE: To improve a starting property until a stable running condition having a predetermined capacity is reached by providing on a screen plate a switch device for closing an oil flow part provided on the screen plate for defining a screen chamber when an oil temperature is lower than a predetermined value.

CONSTITUTION: When a rotary compressor is stopped to make an oil temperature lower than a predetermined value, oil flow parts 30, 31 are closed by switch devices 32, 33, lubricating oil 27 in a screen chamber 29 is screened from a refrigerant flow space and the refrigerant is not dissolved into the lubricating oil 27 under the screened condition even if it is liable to be dissolved by low temperature. Also in starting, when oil temperature is not still raised, the lubricating oil 27 is yet screened from the refrigerant flow space so that the refrigerant fed back from a refrigerating cycle cannot be dissolved into the lubricating oil. The circulating refrigerant amount in the refrigerating cycle in the starting is thus increased by the refrigerant amount prevented from being dissolved into the lubricating oil 27 so that a time in which the stable running condition having a predetermined capacity is reached is shortened.