Powder supply container

Abstract

To provide a powder supply container which is easily transportable in the condition that powder is filled.SOLUTION: A powder supply container 200 has a first cylindrical part 210 having a central axis CA1, a second cylindrical part 220 arranged inside the first cylindrical part so as to be rotatable about the central axis, a first lid part 230 attached to an end part of the first cylindrical part in a plus F direction and including an opening 233, and a second lid part 240 detachably attached to the end part of the second cylindrical part in a minus F direction. A shutter part 234 capable of opening and closing the opening is attached to the first lid part, the shutter part is rotatable about the central axis relative to the first lid part and the opening portion, and the inside of the second cylindrical part is closed by the first cylindrical part, the first lid part, the shutter part and the second lid part. The rotation of the shutter part is driven by the rotation of the second cylindrical part, and when the second cylindrical part is rotated relative to the first cylindrical part, the shutter part rotates relative to the opening, switching between opening and closing of the opening.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a powder supply container.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a powder supply container for supplying powders such as materials and additives to a manufacturing apparatus has been known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a mixing apparatus that mixes and discharges powders and granules.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the apparatus described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that it is not easy to transport the powder supply container in a state where the powder is filled. Specifically, in a relatively small manufacturing apparatus, after the powder is filled into the powder supply container manually, the powder supply container may be transported and attached to the manufacturing apparatus. That is, there has been a demand for a powder supply container that is easy to transport in a state where the powder is filled.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The powder supply container has a first cylindrical portion having a central axis, a second cylindrical portion that is rotatable about the central axis and is disposed inside the first cylindrical portion in an overlapping manner, a first lid portion that is attached to an end portion of the first cylindrical portion in a first direction and includes an opening, and a second lid portion that is detachably attached to an end portion of the second cylindrical portion in a second direction opposite to the first direction. A shutter portion that can open and close the opening is attached to the first lid portion. The shutter portion is rotatable about the central axis with respect to the first lid portion and the opening. The inside of the second cylindrical portion is closed by the first cylindrical portion, the first lid portion, the shutter portion, and the second lid portion. The rotation of the shutter portion is driven by the rotation of the second cylindrical portion. When the second cylindrical portion is rotated with respect to the first cylindrical portion, the shutter portion rotates with respect to the opening, and the opening is switched between being opened and closed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0007] In the following embodiments, a powder supply container 200 applied to a sheet manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a sheet from a paper piece will be exemplified and described with reference to the drawings. The powder supply container 200 supplies powder such as an additive to the above sheet manufacturing apparatus.

[0008] In each of the following figures, an F-axis is attached as a virtual axis, the direction pointed by the arrow is defined as the +F direction, and the direction opposite to the +F direction is defined as the -F direction. The +F direction corresponds to the first direction of the present invention, and the -F direction corresponds to the second direction of the present invention.

[0009] As shown in FIG. 1, the powder supply container 200 has a substantially cylindrical appearance, and the cross-section perpendicular to the F-axis is substantially circular. In the substantially cylindrical powder supply container 200, the height direction of the cylinder is along the F-axis. Inside the powder supply container 200, powder such as powder and granules is filled. The powder supply container 200 is sealed in a state where the powder is accommodated, and can be transported or stored in the above state.

[0010] The powder supply container 200 includes a first cylindrical portion 210, a second cylindrical portion 220, a first lid portion 230, and a second lid portion 240, and these components are assembled. In the powder supply container 200, the second lid portion 240, the first cylindrical portion 210, and the first lid portion 230 are arranged in this order from the -F direction to the +F direction. The second cylindrical portion 220 is disposed inside the first cylindrical portion 210.

[0011] The first cylindrical portion 210 includes a rotation restricting portion 213. The second cylindrical portion 220 includes a protruding portion 223. The first lid portion 230 includes an opening 233 and a shutter portion 234. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 described later, the state where the opening 233 is closed by the shutter portion 234 is shown.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 2, the first cylindrical portion 210 includes a rotation restricting portion 213 and a male screw portion 215. The first cylindrical portion 210 is substantially cylindrical and has a central axis CA1 along the F axis. A cross section orthogonal to the central axis CA1 of the first cylindrical portion 210 is substantially circular.

[0013] The male screw portion 215 is disposed in the first cylindrical portion 210 near the end portion in the +F direction on the side surface. The male screw portion 215 is screwed with the female screw portion 235 of the first lid portion 230.

[0014] The rotation restricting portion 213 is disposed on the side surface of the first cylindrical portion 210 near the end portion in the -F direction. The rotation restricting portion 213 is provided at a position corresponding to the protrusion portion 223 of the second cylindrical portion 220. The rotation restricting portion 213 is an opening penetrating the side surface of the first cylindrical portion 210. The rotation restricting portion 213 is substantially rectangular when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the F axis, and the longitudinal direction is along the end portion in the -F direction of the first cylindrical portion 210.

[0015] The rotation restricting portion 213 may be a hole surrounded by the side surface as shown in FIG. 2 on the side surface of the first cylindrical portion 210, or may be a notch continuous with the side surface end portion in the -F direction of the first cylindrical portion 210.

[0016] The second cylindrical portion 220 includes a groove portion 222, a protrusion portion 223, and a male screw portion 227. The second cylindrical portion 220 is substantially cylindrical and has a central axis CA2 along the F axis. In the direction along the F axis, the length of the second cylindrical portion 220 is slightly longer than the length of the first cylindrical portion 210. A cross section orthogonal to the central axis CA2 of the second cylindrical portion 220 is substantially circular. In the above cross section, the diameter of the second cylindrical portion 220 is smaller than the diameter of the first cylindrical portion 210. Therefore, it is possible to accommodate the second cylindrical portion 220 inside the first cylindrical portion 210.

[0017] The groove portion 222 is disposed at the end portion in the +F direction on the side surface of the second cylindrical portion 220. The groove portion 222 is provided at a position corresponding to the shutter portion 234 of the first lid portion 230. The groove portion 222 is formed thinner than the region other than the groove portion 222 on the side surface of the second cylindrical portion 220. The groove portion 222 is substantially rectangular when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the F axis, and the longitudinal direction thereof is along the end portion in the +F direction of the second cylindrical portion 220.

[0018] The male screw portion 227 is disposed near the end portion in the -F direction on the side surface of the second cylindrical portion 220. The male screw portion 227 is screwed into the female screw portion 247 of the second lid portion 240.

[0019] The protrusion portion 223 is disposed in the +F direction of the male screw portion 227 on the side surface of the second cylindrical portion 220. The protrusion portion 223 is provided so as to protrude from the side surface, corresponds to the rotation restricting portion 213 of the first cylindrical portion 210, and is fitted into the rotation restricting portion 213.

[0020] The first lid portion 230 is composed of a cylindrical side surface and an upper surface facing the +F direction. The opening 233 is disposed on the upper surface. The opening 233 is a substantially semicircular opening when viewed from the +F direction, and the arc-shaped region is along the outer periphery of the upper surface. In the direction along the F axis, the length of the first lid portion 230 is shorter than the length of the first cylindrical portion 210. Although not particularly limited, in the direction along the F axis, the length of the first lid portion 230 is, for example, approximately one-fourth of the length of the first cylindrical portion 210.

[0021] In the first lid portion 230, the cross section along the plane orthogonal to the F axis is substantially circular. The diameter of the first lid portion 230 in the cross section is slightly larger than the diameter of the cross section of the first cylindrical portion 210 along the central axis CA1.

[0022] In the first lid portion 230, a female screw portion 235 is provided near the end portion in the -F direction inside the side surface. The female screw portion 235 is screwed into the male screw portion 215 of the first cylindrical portion 210.

[0023] The shutter unit 234 is attached inside the upper surface of the first lid unit 230. The shutter unit 234 enables the opening 233 to be opened and closed.

[0024] The second lid unit 240 includes a substantially circular lower surface when viewed from the +F direction and an edge (not shown) that rises in the +F direction from the lower surface. In the direction along the F axis, the length of the edge is shorter than the length between the rotation restricting portion 213 of the first cylindrical portion 210 and the end portion of the first cylindrical portion 210 in the -F direction.

[0025] In the second lid unit 240, the cross section along a plane orthogonal to the F axis is substantially circular. The diameter of the second lid unit 240 in the cross section is slightly larger than the diameter of the cross section of the first cylindrical portion 210 along the central axis CA1.

[0026] Inside the edge, a female screw portion 247 corresponding to the male screw portion 227 of the second cylindrical portion 220 is provided.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first lid unit 230 includes a bearing hole 230a, a shutter unit 234, a mounting hole 234a, a female screw portion 235, and a shaft portion 238. The bearing hole 230a is disposed at the center of the upper surface of the first lid unit 230.

[0028] The shutter unit 234 is disposed inside the first lid unit 230. The shutter unit 234 includes a substantially fan-shaped region when viewed from the -F direction and an edge portion 234b extending in the -F direction from the circumference of the fan. In the direction along the F axis, the length of the edge portion 234b is shorter than the length of the side surface of the first lid unit 230.

[0029] In the substantially fan-shaped region, the angle formed by the two radii of the fan is, for example, about 190°. The two radii are smaller than the radius of the cross section of the side surface of the first lid unit 230. The substantially fan-shaped region of the shutter unit 234 is large enough to close the opening 233.

[0030] The mounting hole 234a is disposed in the vicinity of the region corresponding to the contact points of the two radii. When the shutter portion 234 and the first lid portion 230 are assembled, the mounting hole 234a and the bearing hole 230a overlap. The shaft portion 238 is inserted into the overlapping mounting hole 234a and bearing hole 230a.

[0031] The shaft portion 238 is fixed to the upper surface of the first lid portion 230. The shutter portion 234 is not fixed to the shaft portion 238 but is supported by the shaft portion 238 and rotates about the shaft portion 238. When the powder supply container 200 is assembled, the central axis CA1 passes through the shaft portion 238. That is, the shutter portion 234 can rotate about the central axis CA1.

[0032] The female screw portion 235 is further provided in the -F direction with respect to the end portion in the -F direction of the edge portion 234b of the shutter portion 234 when the first lid portion 230 is assembled.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 5, to assemble the powder supply container 200, the second cylindrical portion 220 is placed overlappingly inside the first cylindrical portion 210. At this time, the groove portion 222 of the second cylindrical portion 220 is exposed in the +F direction with respect to the first cylindrical portion 210, and the male screw portion 227 of the second cylindrical portion 220 is exposed in the -F direction. Although not shown, the protrusion portion 223 of the second cylindrical portion 220 is fitted into the rotation restricting portion 213 of the first cylindrical portion 210. Here, the rotation restricting portion 213 may be provided with a positioning protrusion portion in order to surely position the protrusion portion 223 with respect to the rotation restricting portion 213.

[0034] When the first cylindrical portion 210 and the second cylindrical portion 220 are assembled, the central axis CA1 of the first cylindrical portion 210 and the central axis CA2 of the second cylindrical portion 220 coincide.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 6, when assembling the powder supply container 200, the second lid portion 240 is assembled from the -F direction with respect to the stacked first cylindrical portion 210 and second cylindrical portion 220. Specifically, the second lid portion 240 is fixed to the -F direction end portion of the second cylindrical portion 220. Although illustration is omitted, at this time, the female screw portion 247 of the second lid portion 240 and the male screw portion 227 of the second cylindrical portion 220 are screwed together. Thereby, the second lid portion 240 is detachably attached to the second cylindrical portion 220.

[0036] The groove portion 222 extends over approximately half of the side surface of the second cylindrical portion 220 as viewed from the +F direction. Although illustration is omitted, similarly, the rotation restricting portion 213 extends over approximately half of the side surface of the first cylindrical portion 210. When the first cylindrical portion 210, the second cylindrical portion 220, and the second lid portion 240 are assembled, the groove portion 222 and the rotation restricting portion 213 overlap as viewed from the +F direction.

[0037] In a state where the first cylindrical portion 210, the second cylindrical portion 220, and the second lid portion 240 are assembled, in other words, in a state where the first lid portion 230 is removed from the assembled powder supply container 200, it is possible to fill the powder into the powder supply container 200 from the substantially +F direction.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 7, to assemble the powder supply container 200, the first lid portion 230 is placed over the second cylindrical portion 220 from the +F direction, and the female screw portion 235 and the male screw portion 215 of the first cylindrical portion 210 are screwed together. Thereby, the first lid portion 230 is attached and fixed to the +F direction end portion of the first cylindrical portion 210. Also, the edge portion 234b of the shutter portion 234 is fitted into the groove portion 222.

[0039] When the powder supply container 200 is assembled, the inside of the second cylindrical portion 220 is closed by the first cylindrical portion 210, the first lid portion 230, the shutter portion 234, and the second lid portion 240. Thereby, a space capable of accommodating and closing the powder is secured inside the second cylindrical portion 220.

[0040] In the powder supply container 200, the first cylindrical portion 210 is not fixed to the second cylindrical portion 220 and the second lid portion 240, and is rotatable about the central axis CA1. The first lid portion 230 is also not fixed to the second cylindrical portion 220 and the second lid portion 240, and is rotatable about the central axis CA1 together with the first cylindrical portion 210.

[0041] Since the edge portion 234b of the shutter portion 234 is fitted into the groove portion 222, the movement of the shutter portion 234 is restricted by the groove portion 222 and is fixed to the second cylindrical portion 220. Therefore, the rotation of the shutter portion 234 is not interlocked with the first cylindrical portion 210 and the first lid portion 230, but is driven by the rotation of the second cylindrical portion 220. That is, the shutter portion 234 is rotatable about the central axis CA1 with respect to the first lid portion 230 and the opening portion 233.

[0042] The configuration in which the movement of the shutter portion 234 is restricted is not limited to the groove portion 222 and the edge portion 234b. For example, instead of the groove portion 222, a plurality of convex portions may be provided on the end side surface of the second cylindrical portion 220 in the +F direction. The end of the edge portion 234b may be brought into contact with the plurality of convex portions to drive the rotation of the shutter portion 234 in accordance with the rotation of the second cylindrical portion 220.

[0043] When the second lid portion 240 is rotated about the central axis CA1 with respect to the first cylindrical portion 210, the second cylindrical portion 220 also rotates about the central axis CA1. At this time, the first lid portion 230 and the opening portion 233 do not displace, and the shutter portion 234 also rotates together with the second cylindrical portion 220. That is, the shutter portion 234 rotates with respect to the opening portion 233, and the opening and closing of the opening portion 233 are switched.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 8, the protrusion 223 of the second cylindrical portion 220 is fitted into the rotation restricting portion 213 of the first cylindrical portion 210, and a part thereof is exposed from the rotation restricting portion 213. The protrusion 223 is movable within the range where the rotation restricting portion 213 is formed while being fitted into the rotation restricting portion 213. That is, the rotation of the protrusion 223 is restricted with respect to the first cylindrical portion 210 by the rotation restricting portion 213, and the rotation of the second cylindrical portion 220 is also restricted. Here, FIG. 8 shows a state in which the opening 233 is closed by the shutter portion 234. In the above state, when viewed from the -F direction, the protrusion 223 is in a state of rotating counterclockwise the most with respect to the rotation restricting portion 213.

[0045] In the above state, the protrusion 223 abuts against one end of the rotation restricting portion 213 and cannot rotate counterclockwise any further when viewed from the -F direction. On the other hand, the protrusion 223 is movable in the direction of the arrow in the figure and can rotate clockwise until it abuts against the other end of the rotation restricting portion 213 when viewed from the -F direction. When the protrusion 223 is rotated until it abuts against the other end of the rotation restricting portion 213, the shutter portion 234 rotates with respect to the first lid portion 230, and the opening 233 is opened.

[0046] The rotation angle of the second cylindrical portion 220 with respect to the first cylindrical portion 210 is restricted by the rotation restricting portion 213 and the protrusion 223. As a result, the second cylindrical portion 220 does not rotate more than necessary with respect to the first cylindrical portion 210, and the rotation of the shutter portion 234 with respect to the opening 233 becomes moderate. Therefore, the opening and closing of the opening 233 by the shutter portion 234 can be efficiently performed. Note that the above rotation angle refers to the angle of rotation with respect to the central axis CA1 described above when viewed from the -F direction.

[0047] The above rotation angle is preferably in the range of 0° or more and 180° or less. That is, when viewed from the -F direction, the state where the protrusion 223 hits one end of the rotation restricting portion 213 is defined as the state where the rotation angle is 0°, and the state where the protrusion 223 hits the other end of the rotation restricting portion 213 is defined as the state where the rotation angle is 180°. When the rotation angle is 0°, the opening 233 is closed, and when the rotation angle is 180°, the opening 233 is opened. Thereby, it is possible to achieve both an increase in the opening area of the opening 233 and efficient opening and closing of the opening 233.

[0048] Specifically, when the above rotation angle is 0°, as shown in FIG. 9, the opening 233 is closed by the shutter portion 234. This state is the state where the protrusion 223 hits one end of the rotation restricting portion 213. From the above state, the second lid portion 240 is rotated clockwise with respect to the first cylindrical portion 210 in the direction of the arrow, that is, when viewed from the -F direction.

[0049] Thereby, the protrusion 223 also displaces in the direction of the arrow along the rotation restricting portion 213. At this time, following the rotation of the second lid portion 240, the second cylindrical portion 220 rotates clockwise when viewed from the -F direction. Further, following the rotation of the second cylindrical portion 220, the shutter portion 234 also rotates in the direction indicated by the broken-line arrow. And the state where the protrusion 223 hits the other end of the rotation restricting portion 213 is shown in FIG. 10.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 10, due to the rotation of the second lid portion 240, the shutter portion 234 rotates with respect to the opening 233, and the opening 233 is opened. In this state, powder can be supplied from the powder supply container 200. In addition, in the process of transitioning from the state shown in FIG. 9 to the state shown in FIG. 10, the degree of overlap between the opening 233 and the shutter portion 234 changes, and the opening area of the opening 233 changes according to the degree of overlap. Further, the above-described positioning protrusion of the rotation restricting portion 213 may be installed at positions corresponding to both the states of FIGS. 9 and 10, or may be installed on either one of them.

[0051] Next, a powder supply mechanism 300 for applying the powder supply container 200 to the sheet manufacturing apparatus will be described. The powder supply mechanism 300 shown in FIG. 11 is included in the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 described later. The powder supply mechanism 300 supplies powder from the powder supply container 200 to a flow path (to be described later) provided in the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1.

[0052] The powder supply mechanism 300 includes a mounting portion 311, a supply portion 322, and a valve (not shown). The mounting portion 311 has a circular cross-section orthogonal to the F-axis, and the powder supply container 200 can be inserted into the circle.

[0053] After an operator fills the powder supply container 200 with powder and closes the opening 233, the operator inserts the powder supply container 200 into the mounting portion 311 from the side of the first lid portion 230. In this state, the powder filled in the powder supply container 200 is not supplied to the powder supply mechanism 300.

[0054] Next, the operator holds the first cylindrical portion 210 with one hand and rotates the second lid portion 240 clockwise as viewed from the -F direction with the other hand. The operator rotates the second lid portion 240 until it stops rotating, that is, until the rotation of the protrusion 223 stops when it hits the other end of the rotation restricting portion 213 described above. Thereby, an opening 233 (not shown) is opened, and the powder inside the powder supply container 200 is supplied to the inside of the powder supply mechanism 300.

[0055] The powder supplied from the powder supply container 200 travels through the powder supply mechanism 300 along the path of the dashed arrow, and the flow rate is adjusted by the valve in the middle of the above path. The powder is supplied from the supply portion 322 to the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 at a predetermined flow rate.

[0056] After the powder supply container 200 that has finished supplying powder closes the opening 233 by rotating the second lid portion 240, it is removed from the mounting portion 311. The powder supply container 200 can be reused.

[0057] A sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 to which the powder supply container 200 is applicable will be described with reference to FIG. 12. In FIG. 12, XYZ axes are attached as coordinate axes orthogonal to each other, the direction indicated by each arrow is defined as the + direction, and the direction opposite to the + direction is defined as the - direction. FIG. 12 shows a state in which the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 is installed on a horizontal plane. The Z axis extends along the vertical direction, the +Z direction is also referred to as upward, and the -Z direction is also referred to as downward. The -Z direction is the direction in which gravity acts. For the sake of illustration, the sizes of the respective members are made different from the actual ones.

[0058] The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 manufactures a sheet P3 from paper pieces such as waste paper in a dry process. The sheet manufacturing apparatus to which the powder supply container 200 is applied is not limited to being dry, and may be wet. In this specification, "dry" means that it is carried out in air such as the atmosphere without being carried out in a liquid.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 12, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the present 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).

[0060] In FIG. 12, the directions in which the paper piece C, the sheet P3, the slit piece S, and unnecessary end materials move are indicated by white arrows. In the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1, the front in the conveyance direction of the paper piece C, the web W, the sheet P3, etc. may be referred to as downstream, and the side going against the conveyance direction may be referred to as upstream. In the following description, an aggregate of paper pieces C composed of a plurality of paper pieces C is also simply referred to as the paper piece C.

[0061] The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 manufactures a sheet P3 from the paper piece C. In the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1, when viewed from the side in the -X direction, the first unit group 101, the third unit group 103, and the second unit group 102 are arranged from the -Y direction toward the +Y direction.

[0062] The paper piece C is conveyed from the first unit group 101 to the second unit group 102 through the pipe 21 that crosses within the third unit group 103. Then, the paper piece C is defibrated in the second unit group 102 to become fibers and then made into a mixture containing a binder and the like. The mixture is conveyed to the third unit group 103 through the pipe 24. The mixture is made into the web W in the third unit group 103 and then formed into the belt-like sheet P1. The belt-like sheet P1 is cut in the first unit group 101 to become the sheet P3.

[0063] The first unit group 101 includes a raw material supply device 13, a measurement unit 15, a confluence unit 17, and a pipe 21. In the first unit group 101, these components are arranged in the above order from upstream to downstream. Also, the first unit group 101 also has a first cutting unit 81, a second cutting unit 82, a tray 91, and a shredding unit 95. The first cutting unit 81 and the second cutting unit 82 cut the belt-like sheet P1 into the sheet P3 of a predetermined shape. Furthermore, the first unit group 101 has a water supply unit 67. The water supply unit 67 is a water storage tank. The water supply unit 67 supplies humidifying water to each of the first humidifying unit 65 and the second humidifying unit 66 described later through a water supply pipe (not shown).

[0064] The raw material supply device 13 stores and supplies downstream the paper piece C which is the raw material of the sheet P3. The raw material supply device 13 has a raw material inlet 131, a storage unit 132, and a discharge unit 140.

[0065] The paper piece C is input from the raw material inlet 131 to the storage unit 132. The paper piece C contains fibers such as cellulose and is, for example, shredded waste paper. Humidified air is supplied from the second humidifying unit 66 provided in the third unit group 103 to the inside of the storage unit 132.

[0066] After being temporarily stored in the storage unit 132, the paper piece C is conveyed to the measurement unit 15 through the discharge unit 140. The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 may be provided with a shredder for shredding the paper piece C and the like on the upstream side of the storage unit 132.

[0067] The measuring unit 15 includes a sensor unit 15a and a supply mechanism (not shown). The sensor unit 15a measures the mass of the paper piece C. The supply mechanism supplies the paper piece C measured by the sensor unit 15a to the downstream confluence section 17. That is, the measuring unit 15 measures the paper piece C by the sensor unit 15a for each predetermined mass and supplies it to the downstream confluence section 17 by the supply mechanism.

[0068] Either a digital or an analog weighing mechanism can be applied to the sensor unit 15a. Specifically, examples of the sensor unit 15a include physical sensors such as load cells, spring scales, and balances. In this embodiment, a load cell is applied as the sensor unit 15a. The predetermined mass at which the sensor unit 15a measures the paper piece C is, for example, about several grams to several tens of grams.

[0069] Known techniques such as an openable and closable feeder can be applied to the supply mechanism. The supply mechanism may be a configuration included in the sensor unit 15a.

[0070] The weighing and supply of the paper piece C by the measuring unit 15 are batch processes. That is, the supply of the paper piece C from the measuring unit 15 to the confluence section 17 is carried out intermittently. The measuring unit 15 may have a plurality of combinations of the sensor unit 15a and the supply mechanism, or may operate a plurality of sensor units 15a with a time difference to improve the efficiency of weighing and supply. The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 has two sensor units 15a and supply mechanisms attached to each of them. Thereby, the paper piece C is alternately conveyed from the two sets of sensor units 15a and supply mechanisms to the confluence section 17.

[0071] In the confluence section 17, the shredded pieces of the slit piece S supplied from the shredding section 95 are confluent and mixed with the paper piece C supplied from the measuring unit 15. The slit piece S and the shredding section 95 will be described later. The paper piece C mixed with the shredded pieces flows from the confluence section 17 into the pipe 21.

[0072] The pipe 21 conveys the paper piece C from the first unit group 101 to the second unit group 102 by the suction air flow generated by the downstream defibering section 30.

[0073] The second unit group 102 includes a defibrating section 30 which is a dry defibrator, a separating section 31, a pipe 23, a mixing section 33, and a pipe 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 includes a pipe 25 connected to the separating section 31, a recovery section 35, a compressor 38, and a power supply section 39.

[0074] The paper pieces C conveyed through the pipe 21 flow into the defibrating section 30. The defibrating section 30 dry-defibrates the paper pieces C supplied from the measuring section 15 into fibers. A known defibrating mechanism can be applied to the defibrating section 30.

[0075] Examples of the configuration of the defibrating section 30 include the following. The defibrating section 30 includes a stator and a rotor. The stator has a substantially cylindrical inner surface. The rotor is installed inside the stator and rotates along the inner surface of the stator. The pieces of the paper pieces C are sandwiched between the inner surface of the stator and the rotor and are defibrated by the shearing force generated therebetween. As a result, the entangled fibers contained in the paper pieces C are unraveled. The paper pieces C are turned into fibers and conveyed to the separating section 31.

[0076] The separating section 31 separates the defibrated fibers. Specifically, the separating section 31 removes the components unnecessary for the production of the sheet P3 contained in the fibers. Specifically, the separating section 31 separates the relatively long fibers from the relatively short fibers. Since the relatively short fibers may cause a decrease in the strength of the sheet P3, they are separated by the separating section 31. The separating section 31 also separates and removes the coloring materials, additives, etc. contained in the paper pieces C. Known techniques such as the disk mesh method can be applied to the separating section 31.

[0077] Inside the separating section 31, air humidified by the second humidifying section 66 of the third unit group 103 is supplied.

[0078] The defibrated fibers, excluding relatively short fibers and the like, are conveyed to the mixing section 33 through the pipe 23 by the air flow generated by a blower (not shown) disposed at the tip of the air flow pipe 32. Unnecessary components such as relatively short fibers and colorants are discharged to the recovery section 35 through the pipe 25.

[0079] The mixing section 33 mixes powder additives such as a binder with the fibers in the air to form a mixture. The mixing section 33 includes a powder supply mechanism 300. The powder supply mechanism 300 incorporates a hopper in addition to the above-described supply section 322 and valve. A powder supply container 200 is attached to the powder supply mechanism 300. Although not shown, the mixing section 33 includes, in addition to the powder supply mechanism 300, a flow path through which the fibers are conveyed and a fan.

[0080] The hopper communicates with the fiber flow path through the supply section 322. The valve is provided in the supply section 322 between the hopper and the flow path. The hopper feeds the powder of the binder supplied from the powder supply container 200 into the flow path. In the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1, starch is adopted as the binder for the fibers. The valve adjusts the flow rate, that is, the mass, of the binder supplied from the hopper to the flow path. Thereby, the mixing ratio of the fibers and the binder is adjusted.

[0081] The mixing section 33 may be provided with a similar configuration for supplying colorants, additives, and the like in addition to the powder supply container 200 and the powder supply mechanism 300 that supply the binder. That is, the powder supply container 200 may be applied to additives and colorants other than the binder.

[0082] The fan of the mixing section 33 mixes the binder and the like into the air while conveying the fibers downstream by the generated air flow to form a mixture. The mixture flows into the pipe 24 from the mixing section 33.

[0083] The recovery section 35 includes a filter (not shown). The filter filters out unnecessary components such as relatively short fibers conveyed in the pipe 25 by the air flow.

[0084] Compressor 38 generates compressed air. In the above filter, clogging may occur due to fine particles and the like among the unnecessary components. It is possible to blow the compressed air generated by compressor 38 onto the filter to blow off the attached particles and clean the filter.

[0085] Power supply unit 39 has a power supply device (not shown) that supplies power to control unit 5 and sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. Power supply unit 39 distributes the power supplied from the outside to each component of sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. Control unit 5 is electrically connected to each component of sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 and integrally controls the operation of these components.

[0086] The third unit group 103 deposits and compresses a mixture containing fibers and forms it into a belt-shaped sheet P1 that is recycled paper. The third unit group 103 includes a deposition unit 50, a first conveyance unit 61, a second conveyance unit 62, a first humidifying unit 65, a second humidifying unit 66, a drainage unit 68, and a forming unit 70.

[0087] In the third unit group 103, the deposition unit 50, the first conveyance unit 61, the second conveyance unit 62, the first humidifying unit 65, and the forming unit 70 are arranged in the above order from upstream to downstream. The second humidifying unit 66 is arranged below the first humidifying unit 65.

[0088] Deposition unit 50 deposits a mixture containing separated fibers in the air to generate web W. Deposition unit 50 includes a drum member 53, a blade member 55 installed inside drum member 53, a housing 51 that houses drum member 53, and a suction unit 59. The mixture is taken into the inside of drum member 53 from pipe 24.

[0089] Below deposition unit 50, first conveyance unit 61 is arranged. First conveyance unit 61 has a mesh belt 61a and five tensioning rollers (not shown) that tension mesh belt 61a. Suction unit 59 faces drum member 53 across mesh belt 61a in the direction along the Z axis.

[0090] The blade member 55 is inside the drum member 53 and is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown). The drum member 53 is a semi-cylindrical sieve. A net having the function of a sieve is provided on the side surface of the drum member 53 facing downward. The drum member 53 allows particles such as fibers and mixtures smaller than the mesh size of the sieve to pass from the inside to the outside.

[0091] 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 from the second humidifying unit 66 is supplied into the drum member 53.

[0092] The suction unit 59 is disposed below the drum member 53. The suction unit 59 sucks the air inside the housing 51 through a plurality of holes in the mesh belt 61a. The plurality of holes in the mesh belt 61a allow air to pass through but make it difficult for fibers, binders, etc. contained in the mixture to pass through. Thereby, 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.

[0093] The mixture is dispersed in the air inside the housing 51 and accumulates on the upper surface of the mesh belt 61a by gravity and the suction of the suction unit 59 to form the web W.

[0094] The mesh belt 61a is an endless belt and is stretched by five tension rollers. The mesh belt 61a rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 12 due to the rotation of the tension rollers. Thereby, the mixture continuously accumulates on the mesh belt 61a and the web W is formed. The web W contains relatively a lot of air and is soft and swollen. The first conveying unit 61 conveys the formed web W downstream by the rotation of the mesh belt 61a.

[0095] The second conveyance unit 62 conveys the web W downstream of the first conveyance unit 61, replacing the first conveyance unit 61. The second conveyance unit 62 peels the web W from the upper surface of the mesh belt 61a and conveys it toward the forming unit 70. The second conveyance unit 62 is located above the conveyance path of the web W and is disposed slightly upstream of the return-side starting point of the mesh belt 61a. A part of the +Y direction of the second conveyance unit 62 and the -Y direction of the mesh belt 61a overlap in the vertical direction.

[0096] The second conveyance unit 62 includes a transport belt (not shown), a plurality of rollers, and a suction mechanism. The transport belt is provided with a plurality of holes through which air passes. The transport belt is stretched by a plurality of rollers and rotates by the rotation of the rollers.

[0097] The second conveyance unit 62 adsorbs the upper surface of the web W to the lower surface of the transport belt by the negative pressure generated by the suction mechanism. In this state, as the transport belt rotates, the web W is adsorbed to the transport belt and conveyed downstream.

[0098] The first humidifying unit 65 humidifies the web W including the fibers deposited at the deposition unit 50 of the third unit group 103. Specifically, the first humidifying unit 65 is, for example, a mist-type humidifier, and supplies mist M from below to the web W conveyed by the second conveyance unit 62 for humidification. The first humidifying unit 65 is disposed below the second conveyance unit 62 and faces the web W conveyed by the second conveyance unit 62 in the direction along the Z axis. A known humidifying device such as an ultrasonic type can be applied to the first humidifying unit 65.

[0099] When the web W is humidified with the mist M, the function as a binder for starch is promoted, and the strength of the sheet P3 is improved. Further, since the web W is humidified from below, the droplets derived from the mist are prevented from falling onto the web W. Furthermore, since the web W is humidified from the opposite side of the contact surface between the transport belt and the web W, the adhesion of the web W to the transport belt is reduced. The second conveyance unit 62 conveys the web W to the forming unit 70.

[0100] The forming section 70 has processing rollers 71 and 72. The processing rollers 71 and 72 compress the web W containing fibers to form it into a belt-shaped sheet P1. The processing rollers 71 and 72 are paired and each has a built-in electric heater and is equipped with a function to raise the temperature of the roller surface.

[0101] The processing rollers 71 and 72 are each substantially cylindrical members. The rotation axes of the processing roller 71 and the processing roller 72 are arranged along the X-axis. With respect to the conveyance path of the web W, the processing roller 71 is arranged substantially above, and the processing roller 72 is arranged substantially below. A gap corresponding to the thickness of the sheet P3 to be manufactured is provided between the side surface of the processing roller 71 and the side surface of the processing roller 72.

[0102] The processing rollers 71 and 72 are rotationally driven by a stepping motor (not shown). The web W is sent downstream while being sandwiched between the processing roller 71 and the processing roller 72 and heated and pressurized. That is, the web W continuously passes through the forming section 70 and is press-formed while being heated. By using the processing rollers 71 and 72 as a pair of forming members, the heating and pressurization of the web W can be performed efficiently.

[0103] By passing through the forming section 70, the web W is formed from a state that contains relatively more air and is soft to a belt-shaped sheet P1 in which the contained air is reduced and the fibers are bonded to each other by a binder. The belt-shaped sheet P1 is conveyed to the first unit group 101 by a conveying roller (not shown).

[0104] The second humidifying section 66 is arranged below the first humidifying section 65. A known vaporizing humidifying device can be applied to the second humidifying section 66. Examples of the vaporizing humidifying device include those that generate humidified air by blowing air onto a wet non-woven fabric to vaporize moisture.

[0105] The second humidifying unit 66 humidifies a predetermined area of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. The predetermined area is one or more of the storage unit 132, the separation unit 31, and the inside of the drum member 53 of the deposition unit 50. Specifically, humidified air is supplied from the second humidifying unit 66 to the above area through a plurality of pipes (not shown). In each of the above configurations, the humidified air suppresses the charging of paper pieces C, fibers, etc., and suppresses their adhesion to members due to static electricity.

[0106] The drainage unit 68 is a drainage tank. The drainage unit 68 is used in the first humidifying unit 65, the second humidifying unit 66, etc., and collects and stores the old moisture. The drainage unit 68 can be removed from the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 as necessary to discard the accumulated water.

[0107] The belt-like sheet P1 conveyed to the first unit group 101 reaches the first cutting unit 81. The first cutting unit 81 cuts the belt-like sheet P1 in a direction intersecting the conveying direction, for example, along the X-axis direction. The belt-like sheet P1 is cut into single-sheet-like sheets P2 at the first cutting unit 81. The single-sheet-like sheets P2 are conveyed from the first cutting unit 81 to the second cutting unit 82.

[0108] The second cutting unit 82 cuts the single-sheet-like sheet P2 in the conveying direction, for example, along the Y-axis direction. Specifically, the second cutting unit 82 cuts near the sides on both sides in the direction along the X-axis in the single-sheet-like sheet P2. Thereby, the single-sheet-like sheet P2 becomes a sheet P3 having a predetermined shape such as A4 size or A3 size.

[0109] When the single-sheet-like sheet P2 is cut into the sheet P3 at the second cutting unit 82, a slit piece S, which is an end material, is generated. The slit piece S is conveyed in the substantially -Y direction and reaches the shredding unit 95, which is a shredder. The shredding unit 95 shreds the slit piece S into shredded pieces and supplies them to the confluence unit 17. A mechanism for weighing the shredded pieces of the slit piece S and supplying them to the confluence unit 17 may be installed between the shredding unit 95 and the confluence unit 17.

[0110] The sheet P3 is conveyed approximately upward and stacked on the tray 91. Thus, the sheet P3 is manufactured by the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. The sheet P3 can be applied as a substitute for, for example, copy paper and the like.

[0111] According to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0112] Transport in a state where the powder is filled can be facilitated. Specifically, since the inside of the second cylindrical portion 220 is closed, even if the inside is filled with powder and transported, leakage of the powder is prevented. A powder supply container 200 that facilitates transport in a state where the powder is filled can be provided.

[0113] By removing the first lid portion 230, the inside of the second cylindrical portion 220 can be easily filled with powder. Further, since the inside of the second cylindrical portion 220 can be opened and closed by the opening portion 233 and the shutter portion 234, powder can be easily supplied to the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 or the like through the opening portion 233.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0114] 200... powder supply container, 210... first cylindrical portion, 220... second cylindrical portion, 230... first lid portion, 233... opening portion, 234... shutter portion, 240... second lid portion, CA1... central axis.

Claims

1. a first cylindrical portion having a central axis; a second cylindrical portion rotatable about the central axis and disposed inside the first cylindrical portion in an overlapping manner; a first lid portion attached to an end portion of the first cylindrical portion in a first direction and including an opening; a second lid portion removably attached to an end portion of the second cylindrical portion in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and a shutter portion capable of opening and closing the opening is attached to the first lid portion; the shutter portion is rotatable about the central axis with respect to the first lid portion and the opening; the inside of the second cylindrical portion is closed by the first cylindrical portion, the first lid portion, the shutter portion, and the second lid portion; the rotation of the shutter portion is driven in accordance with the rotation of the second cylindrical portion; a powder supply container, wherein when the second cylindrical portion is rotated with respect to the first cylindrical portion, the shutter portion rotates with respect to the opening, and the opening is switched between being opened and closed.

2. the first cylindrical portion includes a rotation restricting portion; the second cylindrical portion includes a protrusion portion fitted into the rotation restricting portion; the powder supply container according to claim 1, wherein the rotation angle of the second cylindrical portion with respect to the first cylindrical portion is restricted by the rotation restricting portion and the protrusion portion.

3. the powder supply container according to claim 2, wherein the rotation angle is in the range of 0° or more and 180° or less.

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