Sheet manufacturing apparatus

Abstract

To provide a sheet manufacturing apparatus capable of suppressing waste of raw materials.SOLUTION: A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes: a buffer tank 13 that stores materials containing fibers; a defibrator 30 that defibrates the materials supplied from the buffer tank 13 and discharges the fibers; a mixing section 91 that mixes the fibers with a binder that binds the fibers to each other and discharges the mixture; a first conveyor belt 61a that conveys the mixture; a deposition section 50 that deposits the mixture on the first conveyor belt 61a to form a web W; a second conveyor belt 62a that comes in contact with one side of the web W to convey the web W; treatment rollers 71, 72 that apply pressure to the web W; a cleaning section 201 that removes and collects remaining fibers adhering to the first conveyor belt 61a; and a fiber conveyor pipe 22 that conveys the remaining fibers collected by the cleaning section 201 to the defibrator 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sheet manufacturing apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a mesh belt is arranged to transport a web, and after the web is transported, the mesh belt is brought into contact with a brush roller to remove fibers adhering to the mesh belt. The removed fibers, i.e., waste powder, are discarded. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-85264 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the configuration described in Patent Document 1 has problems in that if there is a large amount of fiber to be collected, that is, waste powder, the maintenance by the user becomes complicated and raw materials are wasted. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The sheet manufacturing apparatus is a sheet manufacturing apparatus that produces a sheet from a material containing fibers, and includes a storage tank that stores the material containing fibers, a defibrator that defibrates the material supplied from the storage tank and discharges the fibers, a mixing section that mixes the fibers with a binder that bonds the fibers to each other and discharges the mixture, a first conveyor belt that conveys the mixture, a deposition section that deposits the mixture on the first conveyor belt to form a web, a second conveyor belt that contacts one side of the web to convey the web, a pressure roller that applies pressure to the web, a cleaning section that removes and collects remaining fibers adhering to the first conveyor belt, and a fiber conveying pipe that conveys the remaining fibers collected by the cleaning section to the defibrator.

[0006] The sheet manufacturing apparatus is a sheet manufacturing apparatus that produces a sheet from a material containing fibers, and includes a storage tank that stores the material containing fibers, a defibrator that defibrates the material supplied from the storage tank and discharges the fibers, a mixing section that mixes the fibers with a binder that bonds the fibers to each other and discharges the mixture, a first conveyor belt that conveys the mixture, a deposition section that deposits the mixture on the first conveyor belt to form a web, a second conveyor belt that contacts one side of the web to convey the web, a pressure roller that applies pressure to the web, a cleaning section that removes and collects remaining fibers adhering to the second conveyor belt, and a fiber conveying pipe that conveys the remaining fibers collected by the cleaning section to the defibrator. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a sheet manufacturing apparatus. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a cleaning unit. [Diagram 3] 3 is an enlarged perspective view of part A of the cleaning unit shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a rotary valve. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] In the following embodiment, a sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 that recycles pieces of paper such as waste paper in a dry manner is exemplified as a sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 that manufactures a sheet from a material containing fiber, and will be described with reference to the drawings. The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 of the present invention is not limited to being of a dry manner, and may be of a wet manner. In this embodiment, the dry manner refers to being carried out in air such as the atmosphere, rather than in a liquid.

[0009] In each of the following figures, XYZ axes are attached as mutually orthogonal coordinate axes, the direction indicated by each arrow is the + direction, and the direction opposite to the + direction is the - direction. The Z axis is an imaginary axis along the vertical direction, with the +Z direction being the upward direction and the -Z direction being the downward direction. The -Z direction is the direction in which gravity acts. Also, in the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1, the side ahead in the conveying direction of the raw material, web, sheet, etc. is sometimes referred to as the downstream side, and the side going upstream in the conveying direction is sometimes referred to as the upstream side. For convenience of illustration, the sizes of each component are made different from the actual size.

[0010] First, the configuration of a sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0011] As shown in Fig. 1, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 of this embodiment includes a first unit group 101, a second unit group 102, and a third unit group 103. The first unit group 101, the second unit group 102, and the third unit group 103 are supported by a frame (not shown). In Fig. 1, the directions in which waste paper C, sheets P3, slit pieces S, unnecessary scraps, etc. move are indicated by outlined arrows.

[0012] The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 manufactures a sheet P3 from recycled paper C, which is a material containing fibers. In the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1, a first unit group 101, a third unit group 103, and a second unit group 102 are arranged from the -Y direction toward the +Y direction in a side view from the -X direction.

[0013] The waste paper C is transported from the first unit group 101 to the second unit group 102 via a pipe 21 that crosses inside the third unit group 103. The waste paper C is then defibrated and turned into fibers in the second unit group 102, and made into a mixture containing a binder as a binding agent. The mixture is transported to the third unit group 103 via a pipe 24. The mixture is made into a web W in the third unit group 103, and is then formed into a belt-shaped sheet P1. The belt-shaped sheet P1 is cut in the first unit group 101 to become a sheet P3.

[0014] The first unit group 101 has a buffer tank 13 as a storage tank, a constant quantity supply unit 15, a junction unit 17 as a supply duct, and a pipe 21. The junction unit 17 is also called a paper piece junction conduit. In the first unit group 101, these components are arranged in the above order from upstream to downstream. The first unit group 101 also has a first cutting unit 81, a second cutting unit 82, a tray 84, and a shredding unit 86. The first cutting unit 81 and the second cutting unit 82 cut the strip-shaped sheet P1 into a sheet P3 of a predetermined shape. The first unit group 101 further has a water supply unit 67. The water supply unit 67 is a water storage tank. The water supply unit 67 supplies water for humidification to each of a first humidifying unit 65 and a second humidifying unit 66, which will be described later, through a water supply pipe (not shown).

[0015] Waste paper C is fed into the buffer tank 13 from the raw material feed port 11. The waste paper C contains fibers such as cellulose, and is, for example, pieces of shredded waste paper. Humidified air is supplied into the buffer tank 13 from the second humidifier 66 provided in the third unit group 103.

[0016] The waste paper C to be defibrated is temporarily stored in the buffer tank 13, and then transported to the fixed-quantity supply unit 15 in accordance with the operation of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 may be equipped with a shredder upstream of the buffer tank 13 that shreds the waste paper C and the like.

[0017] The fixed-quantity supply unit 15 has a weighing device 15a and a supply mechanism (not shown). The weighing device 15a weighs the mass of the waste paper C. The supply mechanism supplies the waste paper C weighed by the weighing device 15a to the downstream junction 17. That is, the fixed-quantity supply unit 15 weighs the waste paper C by a predetermined mass using the weighing device 15a, and supplies it to the downstream junction 17 using the supply mechanism.

[0018] The weighing device 15a may be a digital or analog weighing mechanism. Specifically, the weighing device 15a may be a physical sensor such as a load cell, a spring scale, or a balance. In this embodiment, a load cell is used as the weighing device 15a. The predetermined mass of the waste paper C weighed by the weighing device 15a is, for example, from several grams to several tens of grams.

[0019] The feeding mechanism may be a known technique such as a vibration feeder, etc. The feeding mechanism may be included in the weighing device 15a.

[0020] The weighing and supply of the waste paper C in the fixed-quantity supply unit 15 is a batch process. That is, the supply of the waste paper C from the fixed-quantity supply unit 15 to the junction 17 is performed intermittently. The fixed-quantity supply unit 15 may have a plurality of weighing devices 15a, and the weighing efficiency may be improved by operating the plurality of weighing devices 15a at staggered times.

[0021] At the junction 17, the waste paper C supplied from the quantitative supply unit 15 is joined and mixed with the fine pieces of the slit pieces S supplied from the shredding unit 86. The slit pieces S and the shredding unit 86 will be described later. The waste paper C mixed with the fine pieces flows from the junction 17 into the pipe 21.

[0022] The pipe 21 conveys the waste paper C from the first unit group 101 to the second unit group 102 by an air current generated by a blower (not shown).

[0023] The second unit group 102 has a defibrator 30, which is a dry type defibrator, a separator 40, piping 23, a mixer 91, and piping 24. In the second unit group 102, these components are arranged in the above order from upstream to downstream. The second unit group 102 also has a collection section 95, a compressor 97, a power supply section 99, piping 25 connected to the separator 40, and an air flow piping 451.

[0024] The waste paper C transported through the pipe 21 flows into the defibrator 30. The defibrator 30 dry-defibrates the waste paper C supplied from the fixed amount supply unit 15 into fibers. A known defibration mechanism can be applied to the defibrator 30. The defibrator 30 untangles tangled fibers contained in the pieces of waste paper C to turn them into defibrated material containing fibers, which is transported to the separator 40.

[0025] The separator 40 separates the defibrated fibers. More specifically, the separator 40 removes components contained in the fibers that are unnecessary for the production of the sheet P3. That is, the separator 40 separates relatively long fibers from relatively short fibers. Relatively short fibers may cause a decrease in the strength of the sheet P3, so they are selected and removed by the separator 40. The separator 40 also removes coloring materials and additives contained in the waste paper C. The separator 40 is a disk type.

[0026] Humidified air is supplied to the inside of the separator 40 from the second humidifying section 66 of the third unit group 103.

[0027] The defibrated fibers, from which relatively short fibers and the like have been removed, are transported to the mixer 91 via the pipe 23 by an airflow generated by a blower (not shown) disposed at the tip of the airflow pipe 451. Unnecessary materials such as relatively short fibers and coloring materials are discharged from the pipe 25 to the recovery section 95.

[0028] The mixer 91 mixes the fibers with a binder and the like in the air to produce a mixture. Although not shown, the mixer 91 includes a flow path through which the fibers are transported, a fan, a hopper, a supply pipe, and a valve.

[0029] The hopper communicates with the fiber flow path via a supply pipe. A valve is provided in the supply pipe between the hopper and the flow path. The hopper supplies a binder such as starch into the flow path. The valve adjusts the mass of the binder supplied from the hopper to the flow path. This adjusts the mixture ratio of the fiber and the binder.

[0030] The mixing section 91 may have a similar configuration for supplying a coloring material, an additive, and the like, in addition to the above-mentioned configuration for supplying the binder.

[0031] The fan of the mixer 91 generates an air current that transports the fibers downstream while mixing the fibers with the binder and other materials in the air to form a mixture. The mixture flows from the mixer 91 into the pipe 24.

[0032] The collecting section 95 includes a filter (not shown) that filters out unnecessary materials such as relatively short fibers carried through the pipe 25 by the air current.

[0033] The compressor 97 generates compressed air. The filter may become clogged with fine particles of unwanted matter. The compressed air generated by the compressor 97 can be blown against the filter to blow away the particles adhering to the filter, thereby cleaning the filter.

[0034] The power supply unit 99 has a power supply device (not shown) that supplies power to the control unit 5 and the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. The power supply unit 99 distributes power supplied from an external source to each component of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. The control unit 5 is electrically connected to each component of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 and performs integrated control of the operation of these components.

[0035] The third unit group 103 piles up the mixture containing fibers, compresses it, and forms it into a belt-shaped sheet P1, which is recycled paper. The third unit group 103 has a pile-up section 50, a first conveyor section 61, a second conveyor section 62, a first humidifier section 65, a second humidifier section 66, a drainage section 68, and a forming section 70, which is a sheet forming section.

[0036] In the third unit group 103, from upstream to downstream, the deposition section 50, the first transfer section 61, the second transfer section 62, the first humidifying section 65, and the forming section 70 are arranged in the above order. The second humidifying section 66 is arranged below the first humidifying section 65.

[0037] The deposition unit 50 deposits the mixture containing fibers supplied from the separator 40 by airflow and gravity to form a web W. The deposition unit 50 has a drum member 53, a blade member 55 installed in the drum member 53, a housing 51 that accommodates the drum member 53, and a suction unit 59. The mixture is taken into the drum member 53 from the piping 24.

[0038] A first conveyor 61 is disposed below the accumulation unit 50. The first conveyor 61 has a first conveyor belt 61a and a tension roller 31 around which the first conveyor belt 61a is tensioned. The suction unit 59 faces the drum member 53 in the direction along the Z axis, with the first conveyor belt 61a therebetween.

[0039] The blade member 55 is located inside the drum member 53 and is rotated by a motor (not shown). The drum member 53 is a semi-cylindrical sieve. A mesh functioning as a sieve is provided on the downward-facing side of the drum member 53. The drum member 53 allows particles such as fibers and mixtures that are smaller than the size of the mesh openings of the sieve to pass from the inside to the outside.

[0040] The mixture is discharged to the outside of the drum member 53 while being agitated by the rotating blade member 55 inside the drum member 53. Humidified air is supplied from a second humidifying section 66 to the inside of the drum member 53.

[0041] The suction unit 59 is disposed below the drum member 53. The suction unit 59 sucks air from inside the housing 51 through a plurality of holes in the first conveyor belt 61a. This generates an airflow that deposits the mixture on the first conveyor belt 61a. The plurality of holes in the first conveyor belt 61a allow air to pass through but prevent fibers and binders contained in the mixture from passing through. As a result, the mixture discharged to the outside of the drum member 53 is sucked downward together with the air. The suction unit 59 is a known suction device such as a blower.

[0042] The mixture is dispersed in the air within the housing 51 and is deposited on the upper surface of the first conveyor belt 61a by gravity and the air current generated by the suction section 59 to become a web W.

[0043] The first conveyor belt 61a is an endless belt, and is stretched around a tension roller 31 (see FIG. 2). The first conveyor belt 61a rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1 as the tension roller 31 rotates. As a result, the mixture is continuously deposited on the first conveyor belt 61a, and a web W is formed. The web W contains a relatively large amount of air and is soft and inflated. The first conveyor section 61 conveys the formed web W downstream by the rotation of the first conveyor belt 61a.

[0044] The second conveying section 62 is located downstream of the first conveying section 61 and conveys the web W in place of the first conveying section 61. The second conveying section 62 peels the web W from the upper surface of the first conveying belt 61a and conveys it toward the forming section 70. The second conveying section 62 is disposed above the conveying path of the web W and slightly upstream of the starting point of the return side of the first conveying belt 61a. The +Y direction of the second conveying section 62 and the -Y direction of the first conveying belt 61a partially overlap in the vertical direction.

[0045] The second conveyor section 62 includes a second conveyor belt 62a, a plurality of rollers 32 (see FIG. 2), and a suction mechanism. The second conveyor belt 62a is provided with a plurality of holes for passing air. The second conveyor belt 62a is stretched by the plurality of rollers 32 and rotates by the rotation of the rollers 32.

[0046] In the second conveyor section 62, the upper surface, which is one surface of the web W, is attracted to the lower surface of the second conveyor belt 62a by the negative pressure generated by the suction mechanism. In this state, the second conveyor belt 62a rotates, so that the web W is attracted to the second conveyor belt 62a and conveyed downstream.

[0047] Brush rollers 63, 64 (see FIG. 2) for removing remaining fibers W1 adhering to the conveyor belts 61a, 62a are disposed in the first conveyor section 61 and the second conveyor section 62. A cleaning section 201 including the brush rollers 63, 64 is provided in a region extending from where the first conveyor section 61 and the second conveyor section 62 overlap to below the first conveyor section 61 and the second conveyor section 62.

[0048] A fiber transport pipe 22 that transports the remaining fibers W1 collected in the cleaning section 201 to the defibrator 30 is connected to the cleaning section 201. Specifically, the cleaning section 201 is connected to the defibrator 30 via the fiber transport pipe 22, the junction 17, and the piping 21.

[0049] The junction 17 is connected to the buffer tank 13, the fiber transport pipe 22, and the defibrator 30. That is, the remaining fibers W1 collected in the cleaning section 201 pass through the fiber transport pipe 22, the junction 17, and the piping 21 and flow into the defibrator 30.

[0050] In this way, the remaining fibers W1 collected by the cleaning unit 201 are transported to the defibrator 30 via the fiber transport pipe 22, which reduces the need for the user to remove the remaining fibers W1 adhering to the transport belts 61a, 62a of the first transport unit 61 and the second transport unit 62, i.e., to perform maintenance. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the amount of remaining fibers W1 discarded as waste, which reduces the waste of raw materials.

[0051] The first humidifying section 65 humidifies the web W including fibers deposited in the depositing section 50 of the third unit group 103. In detail, the first humidifying section 65 is, for example, a mist type humidifier, and humidifies the web W transported by the second conveying section 62 by supplying mist M from below. The first humidifying section 65 is disposed below the second conveying section 62 and faces the web W transported by the second conveying section 62 in the direction along the Z axis. A known humidifying device, for example, an ultrasonic type, can be used as the first humidifying section 65.

[0052] Moisturizing the web W with the mist M promotes the function of the starch as a binder, improving the strength of the sheet P3. In addition, since the web W is moisturized from below, drops of the mist are prevented from falling onto the web W. Furthermore, since the web W is moisturized from the side opposite to the contact surface between the second conveyor belt 62a and the web W, sticking of the web W to the second conveyor belt 62a is reduced. The second conveyor section 62 conveys the web W to the forming section 70.

[0053] The forming section 70 has treatment rollers 71 and 72. The treatment rollers 71 and 72 compress the web W containing fibers and form it into a belt-shaped sheet P1. The treatment rollers 71 and 72 form a pair, and each of them has an electric heater built-in and has the function of increasing the temperature of the roller surface.

[0054] The processing rollers 71 and 72 are each a substantially cylindrical member. The rotation axis of the processing roller 71 and the rotation axis of the processing roller 72 are arranged along the X-axis. With respect to the transport path of the web W, the processing roller 71 is arranged substantially above, and the processing roller 72 is arranged substantially below.

[0055] The processing roller 72 is rotated by a stepping motor (not shown). The processing roller 71 is not driven by a motor, but is a driven roller that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the processing roller 72. Therefore, the processing roller 71 rotates in the opposite direction to the processing roller 72 when viewed from the side in the -X direction.

[0056] The web W is sandwiched between the treatment rollers 71 and 72, which serve as pressure rollers, and is sent downstream while being heated and pressurized. That is, the web W passes continuously through the forming section 70 and is press-formed while being heated. By using the treatment rollers 71 and 72 as a pair of forming members, the web W can be efficiently heated and pressurized.

[0057] By passing through the forming section 70, the web W, which is in a soft state containing a relatively large amount of air, has the air contained therein reduced and the fibers are bound together by the binder, so that the web W is formed into a belt-shaped sheet P1. The belt-shaped sheet P1 is transported to the first unit group 101 by a transport roller (not shown).

[0058] The second humidifier 66 is disposed below the first humidifier 65. A known evaporative humidifier can be used for the second humidifier 66. An example of an evaporative humidifier is one that blows air onto a moistened nonwoven fabric or the like to evaporate moisture and generate humidified air.

[0059] The second humidifying section 66 humidifies a predetermined area of ​​the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. The predetermined area is one or more of the buffer tank 13, the separator 40, and the inside of the drum member 53 of the accumulation section 50. Specifically, humidified air is supplied to the above-mentioned area from the second humidifying section 66 through a plurality of pipes (not shown). In each of the above-mentioned configurations, the humidified air suppresses electrostatic charge on the waste paper C, fibers, etc., and suppresses adhesion of these materials to members due to static electricity.

[0060] The drainage unit 68 is a drainage tank. The drainage unit 68 is used in the first humidifying unit 65 and the second humidifying unit 66, etc., and collects and stores old moisture. The drainage unit 68 can be removed from the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 as necessary, and the stored water can be discarded.

[0061] The strip-shaped sheet P1 transported to the first unit group 101 reaches the first cutting section 81. The first cutting section 81 cuts the strip-shaped sheet P1 in a direction intersecting the transport direction, for example, along the X-axis. The strip-shaped sheet P1 is cut into single sheets P2 at the first cutting section 81. The single sheets P2 are transported from the first cutting section 81 to the second cutting section 82.

[0062] The second cutting section 82 cuts the single sheet P2 in the conveying direction, for example, in the direction along the Y axis. More specifically, the second cutting section 82 cuts the vicinity of both sides of the single sheet P2 in the direction along the X axis. As a result, the single sheet P2 becomes a sheet P3 of a predetermined shape, for example, A4 size or A3 size.

[0063] When the second cutting section 82 cuts the single-cut sheets P2 into sheets P3, slit pieces S, which are scraps, are generated. The slit pieces S are transported in the approximately -Y direction to reach the shredding section 86, which is a shredder. The shredding section 86 shreds the slit pieces S into small pieces and supplies them to the junction 17. A mechanism for weighing the small pieces of the slit pieces S and supplying them to the junction 17 may be provided between the shredding section 86 and the junction 17.

[0064] The sheet P3 is conveyed substantially upward and accumulated on the tray 84. In this manner, the sheet P3 is manufactured by the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. The sheet P3 can be used as a substitute for, for example, copy paper.

[0065] Next, the configuration of the cleaning section 201 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning section 201 includes a brush roller 63 arranged in the first conveying section 61, a brush roller 64 arranged in the second conveying section 62, a collection box 202, a rotary valve 56, and a fiber conveying pipe 22.

[0067] The brush rollers 63 and 64 are made of, for example, a brushed material. The brush roller 63 is arranged so as to be in contact with the first conveyor belt 61a of the first conveyor section 61. The brush roller 64 is arranged so as to be in contact with the second conveyor belt 62a of the second conveyor section 62.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 3, brush rollers 63, 64 are in rotating contact with the conveyor belts 61a, 62a to remove the remaining fibers W1 adhering to the conveyor belts 61a, 62a, specifically, to allow the remaining fibers W1 to fall downward.

[0069] 2 and 4, the collection box 202 collects the remaining fibers W1 dropped by the rotating brush rollers 63, 64. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 4, the remaining fibers W1 removed from the first conveyor belt 61a are transported by a collection screw 203 to the front side of the collection box 202, i.e., the rotary valve 56 side. The remaining fibers W1 removed from the second conveyor belt 62a are transported by a collection screw 204 to the front side of the collection box 202, i.e., the rotary valve 56 side.

[0070] The rotary valve 56 is disposed between the cleaning section 201 and the fiber transport pipe 22. The rotary valve 56 includes a rotor having, for example, five blades, and has openings at the top and bottom. The rotor is partitioned between the blades. The rotary valve 56 is structured such that the blades rotate to move the remaining fibers W1 that fall from above and accumulate in the partitioned areas downward, and the remaining fibers W1 are discharged by gravity.

[0071] Because such a rotary valve 56 is arranged, when the remaining fibers W1 are sent from the cleaning section 201 to the fiber transport pipe 22, it is possible to send the remaining fibers W1 while maintaining airtightness, and it is possible to prevent the remaining fibers W1 from flowing back into the cleaning section 201.

[0072] As described above, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 of this embodiment is a sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 that manufactures a sheet P3 from a fiber-containing material, and includes a buffer tank 13 that stores the fiber-containing material, a defibrator 30 that defibrates the material supplied from the buffer tank 13 and discharges the fibers, a mixing section 91 that mixes the fibers with a binder as a binder that bonds the fibers together and discharges the mixture, a first conveyor belt 61a that conveys the mixture, a deposition section 50 that deposits the mixture on the first conveyor belt 61a to form a web W, a second conveyor belt 62a that contacts one side of the web W to convey the web W, treatment rollers 71, 72 that apply pressure to the web W, a cleaning section 201 that removes and collects remaining fibers W1 adhering to the first conveyor belt 61a, and a fiber conveyor pipe 22 that conveys the remaining fibers W1 collected by the cleaning section 201 to the defibrator 30.

[0073] With this configuration, the remaining fibers W1 collected by the cleaning unit 201 are transported to the defibrator 30 via the fiber transport pipe 22, which reduces the need for the user to remove the remaining fibers W1 adhering to the first transport belt 61a, i.e., to perform maintenance. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the amount of remaining fibers W1 discarded as waste, which reduces the waste of raw materials.

[0074] Furthermore, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 of this embodiment preferably has a junction 17 connected to the buffer tank 13, the fiber transport pipe 22, and the defibrator 30. With this configuration, since the junction 17 is provided, the raw material from the buffer tank 13 and the remaining fibers W1 from the fiber transport pipe 22 can be supplied to the defibrator 30.

[0075] In the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, a rotary valve 56 is preferably disposed between the cleaning section 201 and the fiber transport pipe 22. According to this configuration, since the rotary valve 56 is disposed, when the remaining fibers W1 are sent from the cleaning section 201 to the fiber transport pipe 22, the remaining fibers W1 can be sent while maintaining airtightness, and the remaining fibers W1 can be prevented from flowing back into the cleaning section 201.

[0076] Moreover, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is a sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 that manufactures a sheet P3 from a material containing fibers, and includes a buffer tank 13 that stores the material containing fibers, a defibrator 30 that defibrates the material supplied from the buffer tank 13 and discharges the fibers, a mixing section 91 that mixes the fibers with a binder as a binder that bonds the fibers together and discharges the mixture, a first conveyor belt 61a that conveys the mixture, a deposition section 50 that deposits the mixture on the first conveyor belt 61a to form a web W, a second conveyor belt 62a that contacts one side of the web W to convey the web W, treatment rollers 71, 72 that apply pressure to the web W, a cleaning section 201 that removes and collects remaining fibers W1 adhering to the second conveyor belt 62a, and a fiber conveyor pipe 22 that conveys the remaining fibers W1 collected by the cleaning section 201 to the defibrator 30.

[0077] According to this configuration, the remaining fibers W1 collected by the cleaning unit 201 are transported to the defibrator 30 via the fiber transport pipe 22, which reduces the need for the user to remove the remaining fibers W1 adhering to the second transport belt 62a, i.e., to perform maintenance. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the amount of remaining fibers W1 discarded as waste, which reduces the waste of raw materials.

[0078] Furthermore, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 of this embodiment preferably has a junction 17 connected to the buffer tank 13, the fiber transport pipe 22, and the defibrator 30. With this configuration, since the junction 17 is provided, the raw material from the buffer tank 13 and the remaining fibers W1 from the fiber transport pipe 22 can be supplied to the defibrator 30.

[0079] Modifications of the above embodiment will now be described.

[0080] As described above, it is not limited to the brush rollers 63, 64 being arranged in both the first conveying section 61 and the second conveying section 62, and it is also possible that the brush roller 63 is arranged only in the first conveying section 61, or that the brush roller 64 is arranged only in the second conveying section 62. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 1...sheet manufacturing apparatus, 5...control section, 11...raw material inlet, 13...buffer tank as storage tank, 15...quantitative supply section, 15a...measuring device, 17...junction section as supply duct, 21...piping, 22...fiber conveying pipe, 23...piping, 24...piping, 25...piping, 30...fibrillator, 31...tension roller, 32...roller, 40...separator, 50...accumulation section, 51...housing, 53...drum member, 55...blade member, 56...rotary valve, 59...suction section, 61...first conveying section, 61a...first conveying belt, 62...second conveying section, 62a...second conveying belt, 6 3,64...brush roller, 65...first humidifying section, 66...second humidifying section, 67...water supply section, 68...drainage section, 70...forming section, 71,72...treatment roller as pressure roller, 81...first cutting section, 82...second cutting section, 84...tray, 86...shredding section, 91...mixing section, 95...recovery section, 97...compressor, 99...power supply section, 101...first unit group, 102...second unit group, 103...third unit group, 201...cleaning section, 202...recovery box, 203...recovery screw, 204...recovery screw, 451...air flow piping, W1...residual fibers.

Claims

1. A sheet manufacturing apparatus for producing a sheet from a material containing fibers, comprising: A storage tank for storing the material including the fibers; a defibrator that defibrates the material supplied from the storage tank and discharges the fibers; A mixing section that mixes the fibers with a binder that bonds the fibers together and discharges the mixture; A first conveyor belt for conveying the mixture; a depositing section for depositing the mixture on the first transport belt to form a web; a second conveyor belt that contacts one side of the web to convey the web; A pressure roller that applies pressure to the web; a cleaning section that removes and collects residual fibers adhering to the first conveyor belt; a fiber transport pipe that transports the remaining fibers collected by the cleaning unit to the defibrator; A sheet manufacturing apparatus comprising:

2. The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, A sheet manufacturing apparatus comprising a supply duct connected to the storage tank, the fiber transport pipe, and the fiberizer.

3. The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, The sheet manufacturing apparatus, wherein a rotary valve is disposed between the cleaning section and the fiber transport pipe.

4. A sheet manufacturing apparatus for producing a sheet from a material containing fibers, comprising: A storage tank for storing the material including the fibers; a defibrator that defibrates the material supplied from the storage tank and discharges the fibers; A mixing section that mixes the fibers with a binder that bonds the fibers together and discharges the mixture; A first conveyor belt for conveying the mixture; a depositing section for depositing the mixture on the first transport belt to form a web; a second conveyor belt that contacts one side of the web to convey the web; A pressure roller that applies pressure to the web; a cleaning section that removes and collects remaining fibers adhering to the second conveyor belt; a fiber transport pipe that transports the remaining fibers collected by the cleaning unit to the defibrator; A sheet manufacturing apparatus comprising:

5. The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4, A sheet manufacturing apparatus comprising a supply duct connected to the storage tank, the fiber transport pipe, and the fiberizer.

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