Sheet manufacturing device

Abstract

To reduce the time required to restart a sheet manufacturing device after it has been stopped due to an abnormality in sheet transportation.SOLUTION: A sheet manufacturing device 1 comprises: a sheet forming unit 70 for forming a sheet; and a transportation unit 80 for transporting sheets along a transportation path. The transportation unit 80 comprises: a plurality of transportation rollers for transporting the sheet; a sheet sensor 850 for detecting abnormalities occurring accompanying sheet transportation within the transportation unit 80; a cover 811 installed above the transportation path and capable of rotating around the axis of the rotation shaft 812; and a drive motor 872 for rotating the cover 811. The cover 811 moves between an open position Pk that allows the top of the transportation path to be open and a closed position Ph that covers the top of the transportation path. When the sheet sensor 850 detects an abnormality occurring during sheet transportation, the drive motor 872 is driven to rotate, thereby moving the cover 811 from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a sheet manufacturing apparatus including a defibrating unit, a web forming unit, a sheet forming unit, a cutter unit, and a control unit. The defibrating unit defibrates a raw material containing fibers in the atmosphere. The web forming unit forms a web by depositing the defibrated material defibrated by the defibrating unit. The sheet forming unit forms a sheet from the web formed by the web forming unit. The cutter unit cuts the sheet formed by the sheet forming unit to a predetermined size. When the operation of the apparatus is stopped, the control unit optimizes the order and timing at which the operation of each unit is stopped. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] WO2018 / 043030 issue Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the sheet manufacturing apparatus of Patent Document 1, the mechanisms of each part responsible for each process, such as defibration, deposition, sheet formation, and sheet cutting, are interlocked. For example, when the operation of the apparatus is stopped due to a transport problem with the defibrated material, web, sheet, etc., materials or work-in-progress with unknown remaining amounts remain in each part, even if the process and timing for stopping the operation of each part are optimized. For this reason, in the sheet manufacturing apparatus of Patent Document 1, there is a risk that it will take time to restart the apparatus after it has been stopped due to an abnormality in the transport of sheets, etc. Furthermore, there is a risk that a service technician will be required to restart the apparatus after it has been stopped. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The sheet manufacturing apparatus comprises a sheet forming unit that forms a sheet by depositing a fiber-containing material and then compressing it, and a conveying unit that conveys the sheet along a conveying path, wherein the conveying unit has a plurality of conveying rollers that convey the sheet, an abnormality detection sensor that detects abnormalities that occur during the conveying of the sheet within the conveying unit, a cover that is installed above the conveying path and is rotatable around the axis of a rotation shaft, and a drive motor that is driven to rotate to rotate the cover, wherein the cover moves between an open position that opens up the area above the conveying path and a closed position that covers the area above the conveying path, and when the abnormality detection sensor detects an abnormality that occurs during the conveying of the sheet, the drive motor is driven to rotate, and the cover moves from the closed position to the open position. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a sheet manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a transport unit. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an upstream transport unit. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an opening mechanism. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing each step of the opening operation. [Figure 6] 5A and 5B are schematic diagrams illustrating the opening operation of the upstream transport unit and the function of the sheet evacuation section. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an opening mechanism. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an opening mechanism. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In the following embodiments, a sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 that recycles fiber-containing materials such as waste paper into sheets in a dry process is exemplified as the sheet manufacturing apparatus of the present invention. The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 will be described below with reference to the drawings. The sheet manufacturing apparatus of the present invention is not limited to a dry process and may be a wet process. In this specification, the term "dry process" refers to a process that is carried out in air such as the atmosphere, rather than in a liquid.

[0008] In each drawing, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted. In the present specification, the terms "same," "identical," and "simultaneous" do not only refer to being completely identical. For example, in the present specification, when the terms "same," "identical," and "simultaneous" are used, they also include cases where the components are identical taking into account measurement errors. In addition, in the present specification, when the terms "same," "identical," and "simultaneous" are used, they also include cases where the components are identical taking into account manufacturing variations.

[0009] In this specification, the terms "same," "identical," and "simultaneous" are intended to include cases where the same is true to the extent that the functionality is not impaired. For example, "the dimensions of both are the same" means that, taking into account measurement errors and manufacturing variations of components, the difference in the dimensions of both is within ±5% of one dimension, and more preferably within ±3%.

[0010] In each figure, X, Y, and Z represent three spatial axes that are orthogonal to one another. In this specification, the directions along these axes are referred to as the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction. When specifying a direction, the positive direction is indicated by "+" and the negative direction by "-", and both positive and negative signs are used to indicate the direction, with the direction indicated by the arrow in each figure being the + direction and the direction opposite the arrow being the - direction.

[0011] The Z-axis direction indicates the direction of gravity, the +Z direction indicates the vertically upward direction, and the -Z direction indicates the vertically downward direction. The plane containing the X-axis and Y-axis is described as the XY plane, the plane containing the X-axis and Z-axis as the XZ plane, and the plane containing the Y-axis and Z-axis as the YZ plane. The XY plane is a horizontal plane. The three spatial axes of X, Y, and Z, which are not limited to positive and negative directions, will be described as the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis.

[0012] The X-axis direction is the horizontal direction along the installation surface, which is a horizontal plane on which the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 is installed. The Y-axis direction is the horizontal direction along the installation surface on which the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 is installed. The Z-axis direction is the normal direction to the installation surface on which the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 is installed, and is the height direction of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1.

[0013] In the following description, the +Z direction may be referred to as "upward" and the -Z direction may be referred to as "downward." In the following description, in the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1, the end of the conveying direction of the raw material, web W, sheets P1, P2, P3, etc. may be referred to as "downstream," and the upstream side of the conveying direction may be referred to as "upstream." For convenience of illustration, the sizes of each component are different from the actual sizes.

[0014] 1. Embodiment 1 1, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 according to 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).

[0015] 1, the directions in which the pieces of paper C, the sheet P3, the slit pieces S, and the unnecessary scraps move are indicated by white arrows. In the following description, a collection of pieces of paper C consisting of multiple pieces of paper C will also be simply referred to as a piece of paper C.

[0016] The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 manufactures a sheet P3 from paper scraps C, which are a material containing fibers such as recycled paper. The paper scraps C are an example of a raw material. 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 to the +Y direction in a side view from the -X direction.

[0017] According to the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the sheet P3 can be manufactured from the paper scraps C, and thus the amount of waste paper scraps C can be reduced by recycling the paper scraps C. Therefore, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 of this embodiment can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as Goal 12 "Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns."

[0018] The pieces of paper C are transported from the first unit group 101 to the second unit group 102 via a pipe 21 that traverses the third unit group 103. The pieces of paper C are then defibrated in the second unit group 102 to become fibers, and then formed into a mixture containing a binder and the like. The mixture is transported via a pipe 24 to the third unit group 103. The mixture is formed into a web W in the third unit group 103, and 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.

[0019] The first unit group 101 includes a raw material supply device 13, a measuring unit 15, a junction unit 17, and a pipe 21. These components are arranged in the above order from upstream to downstream in the first unit group 101. The first unit group 101 also includes a downstream transport unit 82 of the transport unit 80, a tray 191, and a shredding unit 913.

[0020] The downstream conveying unit 82 has a first cutting section 832 and a second cutting section 834. The first cutting section 832 cuts the strip-shaped sheet P1 into single sheets P2. The second cutting section 834 cuts the single sheets P2 into sheets P3 of a predetermined shape. The first cutting section 832 and the second cutting section 834 are examples of cutters.

[0021] First unit group 101 has water supply unit 67. Water supply unit 67 is a water storage tank. Water supply unit 67 supplies water for humidification to each of first humidifying unit 65 and second humidifying unit 66 (described later) via a water supply pipe (not shown).

[0022] The raw material supply device 13 stores paper pieces C, which are raw materials for the sheet P3, and supplies them downstream. The raw material supply device 13 has a raw material inlet 131, a storage section 132, and a discharge section 140.

[0023] The pieces of paper C are fed into the storage section 132 from the raw material feed port 131. The pieces of paper C include fibers such as cellulose, and are, for example, shredded waste paper. Humidified air is supplied into the storage section 132 from the second humidifier 66 provided in the third unit group 103.

[0024] The pieces of paper C are temporarily stored in the storage unit 132, and then transported to the measuring unit 15 via the discharge unit 140. The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 may be provided with a shredder upstream of the storage unit 132 that shreds the pieces of paper C and the like.

[0025] The measuring unit 15 has a sensor unit 15a and a supply mechanism (not shown). The sensor unit 15a measures the mass of the pieces of paper C. The supply mechanism supplies the pieces of paper C weighed by the sensor unit 15a to the downstream junction 17. That is, the measuring unit 15 weighs the pieces of paper C by a predetermined mass using the sensor unit 15a, and supplies them to the downstream junction 17 using the supply mechanism.

[0026] The sensor unit 15a can be either a digital or analog weighing mechanism. Specifically, the sensor unit 15a can be a physical sensor such as a load cell, a spring balance, or a balance. In this embodiment, a load cell is used as the sensor unit 15a. The predetermined mass at which the sensor unit 15a weighs the piece of paper C is, for example, several grams to several tens of grams.

[0027] The supply mechanism may be an openable / closable feeder, etc. The supply mechanism may be included in the sensor unit 15a.

[0028] The measurement unit 15 measures and supplies the pieces of paper C in a batch process. That is, the supply of pieces of paper C from the measurement unit 15 to the junction 17 is carried out intermittently. The measurement unit 15 may have multiple combinations of sensor unit 15a and supply mechanism, and multiple sensor units 15a may be operated at staggered times to improve the efficiency of measurement and supply.

[0029] The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 has two sensor units 15a and a supply mechanism attached to each of them, whereby pieces of paper C are conveyed to the junction 17 alternately from the two sets of sensor units 15a and supply mechanisms.

[0030] At the confluence 17, the pieces of paper C supplied from the measuring unit 15 are combined with the fine fragments of the slit pieces S supplied from the shredding unit 913 and mixed together. The slit pieces S and the shredding unit 913 will be described later. The pieces of paper C mixed with the fine fragments flow from the confluence 17 into the pipe 21.

[0031] The pipe 21 transports the pieces of paper C from the first unit group 101 to the second unit group 102 by the suction airflow generated by the downstream defibrating unit 31.

[0032] The second unit group 102 has a defibrating unit 31, which is a dry type defibrator, a separating unit 32, piping 23, a mixing unit 33, 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 piping 25 connected to the separating unit 32, a collecting unit 35, a compressor 38, and a power supply unit 39.

[0033] The paper pieces C transported through the pipe 21 flow into the defibrating unit 31. The defibrating unit 31 dry-defibrates the paper pieces C supplied from the measuring unit 15 into fibers. A defibrating mechanism that uses a rotating rotor or the like can be applied to the defibrating unit 31.

[0034] The defibrating unit 31 of this embodiment defibrates the paper pieces C into fibers in a dry manner, which reduces the amount of water used and the amount of wastewater discharged compared to wet defibration methods in which defibration is performed in water. Therefore, the defibrating unit 31 of this embodiment can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as Goal 6, "Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all." The defibrating unit 31 of this embodiment can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as Goal 14, "Conserve and sustainably use the oceans and marine resources for sustainable development."

[0035] The defibrating unit 31 of this embodiment eliminates the need to dry the defibrated material, thereby reducing the amount of carbon dioxide generated in the process of defibrating the paper pieces C. Therefore, the defibrating unit 31 of this embodiment can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as Goal 13 "Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts."

[0036] The defibrating unit 31 may have the following configuration, for example. The defibrating unit 31 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 small pieces of paper C are sandwiched between the inner surface of the stator and the rotor and defibrated by the shear force generated between them. This causes the tangled fibers contained in the paper pieces C to be untangled. The paper pieces C are converted into fibers and transported to the separation unit 32.

[0037] The separation unit 32 separates the defibrated fibers. More specifically, the separation unit 32 removes components contained in the fibers that are unnecessary for the production of the sheet P3. Specifically, the separation unit 32 separates relatively long fibers from relatively short fibers. Relatively short fibers are separated in the separation unit 32 because they may reduce the strength of the sheet P3. The separation unit 32 also separates and removes coloring materials, additives, and the like contained in the pieces of paper C. Technologies such as a disk mesh method can be applied to the separation unit 32.

[0038] Humidified air is supplied to the inside of the separation section 32 from the second humidifying section 66 of the third unit group 103.

[0039] The defibrated fibers, from which relatively short fibers and the like are removed, are transported to a mixing section 33 via a pipe 23. Unnecessary materials such as relatively short fibers and coloring materials are discharged to a recovery section 35 via a pipe 25.

[0040] The mixer 33 mixes the defibrated material with a binder and other materials in the air to form a mixture. Although not shown, the mixer 33 is equipped with a flow path for transporting the defibrated material, a fan, a hopper, a supply pipe, and a valve.

[0041] The hopper communicates with the flow path for the defibrated material 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 mixing ratio of the fibers and the binder.

[0042] The mixing section 33 may have a similar configuration for supplying coloring materials, additives, etc. in addition to the above-described configuration for supplying the binder.

[0043] The fan of the mixer 33 generates an airflow that transports the defibrated material containing fibers downstream while mixing it with a binder and other materials in the air to form a mixture. The mixture flows from the mixer 33 into the piping 24.

[0044] The collecting section 35 is provided with a filter (not shown) that filters out unnecessary materials such as relatively short fibers carried through the pipe 25 by the air current.

[0045] The compressor 38 generates compressed air. The filter may become clogged with fine particles from unwanted matter. The compressed air generated by the compressor 38 can be blown onto the filter to blow away any particles adhering to the filter, cleaning the filter.

[0046] The power supply unit 39 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 39 distributes power supplied from an external source to each component of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1.

[0047] Although not shown, the control unit 5 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 5 also includes a storage unit including a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. Various programs for controlling the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 are stored in the storage unit.

[0048] The control unit 5 may include one or more processors that execute various processes according to a program, one or more dedicated hardware circuits such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a combination thereof. The application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) executes at least some of the various processes.

[0049] The processor includes a CPU and memory such as RAM and ROM. The memory stores program code or instructions configured to cause the CPU to perform processes. Memory, i.e., computer-readable media, includes anything that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer.

[0050] The control unit 5 is electrically connected to each component, such as the sheet forming unit 70 and the conveying unit 80, which will be described later, and controls the operation of these components in an integrated manner. In particular, the control unit 5 instructs each component to take action when a conveyance error occurs in the conveyance path for a cut sheet P2 or the like. The details of this action will be described later.

[0051] The third unit group 103 deposits and compresses a mixture of fibrous materials to form a strip-shaped sheet P1. The third unit group 103 includes a depositing section 50, a first conveying section 61, a second conveying section 62, a first humidifying section 65, a second humidifying section 66, a draining section 68, a sheet forming unit 70, an upstream conveying unit 81 of the conveying units 80, and a sheet evacuation section EZ (described later).

[0052] In the third unit group 103, the deposition unit 50, the first conveying unit 61, the second conveying unit 62, the first humidifying unit 65, the sheet forming unit 70, and the upstream conveying unit 81 are arranged in the above order from upstream to downstream. The second humidifying unit 66 is arranged below the first humidifying unit 65.

[0053] The deposition unit 50 deposits the mixture containing the separated fibers in the air to generate the web W. The deposition unit 50 has a drum member 53, blade members 55 installed inside the drum member 53, a housing 51 that houses the drum member 53, and a suction unit 59. The mixture is taken into the drum member 53 from the pipe 24.

[0054] A first conveying unit 61 is disposed below the deposition unit 50. The first conveying unit 61 has a mesh belt 61a and five tension rollers (not shown) that tension the mesh belt 61a. The suction unit 59 faces the drum member 53 in the direction along the Z axis, with the mesh belt 61a sandwiched therebetween.

[0055] The blade member 55 is located inside the drum member 53 and is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown). The drum member 53 is a semi-cylindrical sieve. A mesh that functions 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.

[0056] The mixture is agitated by rotating blade members 55 inside drum member 53 and then discharged to the outside of drum member 53. Humidified air is supplied to the inside of drum member 53 from second humidifying section 66.

[0057] The suction unit 59 is disposed below the drum member 53. The suction unit 59 sucks air from inside the housing 51 through multiple holes in the mesh belt 61a. The multiple holes in the mesh 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 suction device such as a blower.

[0058] The mixture is dispersed in the air within the housing 51 and is deposited on the upper surface of the mesh belt 61a by gravity and the suction of the suction section 59 to form the web W.

[0059] The mesh belt 61a is an endless belt stretched over five tension rollers. The mesh belt 61a rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1 due to the rotation of the tension rollers. As a result, the mixture is continuously deposited on the mesh belt 61a, forming a web W. The web W contains a relatively large amount of air and is soft and inflated. The first conveying section 61 conveys the formed web W downstream by the rotation of the mesh belt 61a.

[0060] The second conveying unit 62 is located downstream of the first conveying unit 61 and conveys the web W in place of the first conveying unit 61. The second conveying unit 62 peels the web W from the upper surface of the mesh belt 61a and conveys it toward the sheet forming unit 70. The second conveying unit 62 is located above the conveying path of the web W and slightly upstream of the starting point of the return side of the mesh belt 61a. The +Y direction of the second conveying unit 62 and the -Y direction of the mesh belt 61a partially overlap in the vertical direction.

[0061] The second conveyor 62 includes a transport belt, multiple rollers, and a suction mechanism (not shown). The transport belt has multiple holes for air passage. The transport belt is stretched over multiple rollers and rotates with the rotation of the rollers.

[0062] The second conveying section 62 adsorbs the upper surface of the web W to the lower surface of the transport belt by using negative pressure generated by the suction mechanism. When the transport belt rotates in this state, the web W is adsorbed to the transport belt and transported downstream.

[0063] The first humidifying section 65 humidifies the web W containing fibers deposited in the deposition section 50 of the third unit group 103. More specifically, 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. For example, an ultrasonic humidifying device can be used for the first humidifying section 65.

[0064] By humidifying the web W with the mist M, the function of the starch as a binder is promoted, and the strength of the sheet P3 is improved. In addition, since the web W is humidified from below, droplets from the mist are prevented from falling onto the web W. Furthermore, since the web W is humidified from the side opposite the contact surface between the transport belt and the web W, sticking of the web W to the transport belt is reduced. The second conveying section 62 conveys the web W to the sheet forming unit 70.

[0065] The sheet forming unit 70 deposits a mixture of fibrous materials to form a web W, and then compresses the web W to form a strip-shaped sheet P1. The sheet forming unit 70 has processing rollers 71 and 72. The processing rollers 71 and 72 form a pair, and each has an electric heater built in to increase the temperature of the roller surface.

[0066] 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.

[0067] The processing rollers 71 and 72 are driven to rotate by a stepping motor (not shown). The web W is sandwiched between the processing rollers 71 and 72 and sent downstream while being heated and pressurized. That is, the web W passes continuously through the sheet forming unit 70 and is press-formed while being heated. By using the processing rollers 71 and 72 as a pair of forming members, the web W can be efficiently heated and pressurized.

[0068] By passing through the sheet forming unit 70, the web W, which is soft and contains 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-like sheet P1. The belt-like sheet P1 is transported to the first unit group 101 by the upstream transport unit 81.

[0069] Second humidifier 66 is disposed below first humidifier 65. An evaporative humidifier can be used for second humidifier 66. An example of an evaporative humidifier is one that blows air onto moistened nonwoven fabric or the like to evaporate the moisture and generate humidified air.

[0070] The second humidifying section 66 humidifies a predetermined area of ​​the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. The predetermined area is one or more of the storage section 132, the separation section 32, 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 multiple pipes (not shown). In each of the above-mentioned configurations, the humidified air suppresses the electrostatic charge on the paper pieces C, fibers, etc., and prevents them from adhering to the members due to static electricity.

[0071] 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 old water. The drainage unit 68 can be removed from the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 as needed, allowing the accumulated water to be discarded.

[0072] The strip-shaped sheet P1 transported to the first unit group 101 reaches the first cutting section 832 via a pair of transport rollers 821 (described later) of the downstream transport unit 82. The first cutting section 832 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 by the first cutting section 832. The single sheets P2 are transported from the first cutting section 832 to the second cutting section 834.

[0073] The second cutting unit 834 cuts the single sheet P2 in the conveyance direction, for example, along the Y axis. More specifically, the second cutting unit 834 cuts the single sheet P2 near both sides in the direction along the X axis. The size of the sheet P3 to be manufactured can be adjusted by the first cutting unit 832 and the second cutting unit 834. This cuts the single sheet P2 into sheets P3 of a predetermined shape, such as A4 size or A3 size.

[0074] When the second cutting section 834 cuts the single 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 the shredding section 913, which is a shredder. The shredding section 913 shreds the slit pieces S into small pieces and supplies them to the junction 17. A mechanism may be installed between the shredding section 913 and the junction 17 to weigh the small pieces of the slit pieces S and supply them to the junction 17.

[0075] The sheet P3 is conveyed substantially upward and accumulated on the tray 191. 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.

[0076] 2, the transport unit 80 includes an upstream transport unit 81, a downstream transport unit 82, and a sheet sensor 850. The transport unit 80 transports a strip-shaped sheet P1, a cut-sheet sheet P2, and a sheet P3 along the transport paths of the sheets P1, P2, and P3. To this end, the transport unit 80 includes transport roller pairs 813, 815, 821, and 823, etc., arranged along the transport direction of the sheets P1, P2, and P3. The transport roller pairs 813, 815, 821, and 823 are rotated by a drive motor (not shown).

[0077] In the conveying unit 80, from the sheet forming unit 70 toward downstream, a conveying roller pair 813, a conveying roller pair 815, a conveying roller pair 821, a first cutting section 832, a conveying roller pair 823, a sheet sensor 850, and a second cutting section 834 are arranged in this order.

[0078] The upstream transport unit 81 includes a first transport roller group 810 including some of the above-mentioned transport rollers, a cover 811, and an opening mechanism 860 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The first transport roller group 810 includes transport roller pairs 813 and 815. The transport roller pair 813 consists of a pair of upper roller 813a and lower roller 813b. The transport roller pair 815 consists of a pair of upper roller 815a and lower roller 815b.

[0079] The belt-shaped sheet P1 is conveyed while being sandwiched between the upper roller 813a and the lower roller 813b, and between the upper roller 815a and the lower roller 815b, improving conveyance efficiency. The conveyance roller pair 815 is an example of a first conveyance roller of the present invention.

[0080] 2 and 3, the cover 811 is installed above the conveyance path of the sheet P1. The cover 811 is provided so as to be movable between an open position Pk that opens the upper side of the conveyance path and a closed position Ph that covers the upper side of the conveyance path by rotating around a rotation shaft 812.

[0081] The opening mechanism 860 is provided so as to be able to move the cover 811 from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk. Details of the cover 811 and the opening mechanism 860 will be described later.

[0082] 2, the downstream transport unit 82 includes a second transport roller group 820 including a plurality of transport rollers that are disposed downstream in the transport direction relative to the first transport roller group 810 among the plurality of transport rollers. The second transport roller group 820 includes a pair of transport rollers 821 and 823. The pair of transport rollers 821 is an example of the second transport roller of the present invention.

[0083] The sheet sensor 850 is an example of an abnormality detection sensor of the present invention, and detects abnormalities in the transport of the single sheet P2 within the transport unit 80. More specifically, the sheet sensor 850 is disposed above the transport path of the single sheet P2 between the transport roller pair 823 and the second cutting section 834, and faces the single sheet P2 transported along the transport path in the vertical direction.

[0084] The sheet sensor 850 is, for example, an optical sensor that measures the reflected light of the light it irradiates and transmits the detection result to the control unit 5. The control unit 5 determines the presence or absence of a single sheet P2 from the reflectance of the reflected light relative to the irradiated light. Note that a reflective member that reflects the light irradiated by the sheet sensor 850 may be installed in the transport path of the single sheet P2 that the sheet sensor 850 faces.

[0085] Although not shown in the figure, the plurality of transport rollers are also disposed downstream of the second cutting section 834 and transport the sheet P3 to the tray 191. The slit piece S is transported to the shredding section 913 by a group of slit piece transport rollers 911.

[0086] Next, a description will be given of the cover 811 and the opening mechanism 860 provided in the upstream transport unit 81. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the opening mechanism 860 includes a locking mechanism 861 and an opening / closing mechanism 871. When the sheet sensor 850 detects a transport abnormality, a so-called jam, of the sheet P2, the opening mechanism 860 is driven and controlled by the control unit 5 to perform an opening operation.

[0087] In the opening operation, the upstream conveying unit 81 transitions from a normal state to an open state. The normal state is a state of the upstream conveying unit 81 in which the cover 811 is in the closed position Ph when the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 is operating to manufacture the sheet P3. The open state is a state of the upstream conveying unit 81 in which the cover 811 is in the open position Pk. The opening operation will be described later.

[0088] 3, 4, and 6 to 8, the state as viewed from the -X direction will be described unless otherwise specified. In Fig. 3, the transport path along the transport direction of the strip-shaped sheet P1 is shown by a dotted line, and the cover 811 at the open position Pk is shown by a dashed line.

[0089] The cover 811 is a three-dimensional member that is approximately trapezoidal when viewed from the -X direction. Upper rollers 813a and 815a are arranged on the side corresponding to the lower base in the -Z direction of the cover 811 when the cover 811 is in the closed position Ph. On the lower base, the upper roller 813a is located at the end in the +Y direction, and the upper roller 815a is located at the end in the -Y direction. The upper roller 815a is installed on the cover 811. The upper roller 813a overlaps with the cover 811 but is independent of the cover 811 (see FIG. 6).

[0090] The rotation shaft 812 is fixed near the end in the +Y direction on the upper base in the +Z direction of the cover 811. The axis of the rotation shaft 812 is along the X axis. The cover 811 and the rotation shaft 812 fixed to the cover 811 are supported by a support member 851 (see FIG. 4) so ​​as to be rotatable around the axis of the rotation shaft 812. The support member 851 is provided on a frame that supports the third unit group 103.

[0091] The locking mechanism 861 switches between a locked state and an unlocked state of the cover 811. The locked state of the cover 811 means that the cover 811 cannot move from the closed position Ph. The unlocked state of the cover 811 means that the cover 811 can move between the closed position Ph and the open position Pk.

[0092] The locking mechanism 861 is made up of an operating shaft 814, a hook 816, a solenoid 817, and a fixing pin 863. The operating shaft 814, the hook 816, and the solenoid 817 are provided on the cover 811. The fixing pin 863 is provided on the support member 851.

[0093] The operating shaft 814 is fixed to the cover 811. The axis of the operating shaft 814 is along the X-axis. The fixing pin 863 is fixed to the support member 851. The hook 816 is provided rotatable around the axis of the operating shaft 814. The hook 816 is supported by the operating shaft 814 so as to be movable between a lock position Pf and an unlock position Pr.

[0094] The lock position Pf is a position where a hook portion provided at one end of the hook 816 engages with the fixing pin 863. The release position Pr is a position where the engagement between the hook portion of the hook 816 and the fixing pin 863 is released. In the normal state where the cover 811 is in the closed position Ph, the hook 816 is in the lock position Pf.

[0095] The hook 816 is biased to the lock position Pf by a biasing member (not shown). The other end of the hook 816, opposite the hook portion, is connected to a plunger of a solenoid 817. When the solenoid 817 is energized, the plunger moves, causing the hook 816 to rotate around the axis of the operating shaft 814.

[0096] When energized, the solenoid 817 is driven, causing the hook 816 to rotate clockwise around the axis of the operating shaft 814. This moves the hook 816 from the lock position Pf to the release position Pr. In other words, the hook 816 rotates to release its engagement with the fixing pin 863. When the hook 816 is in the release position Pr, the cover 811 is in a released state in which it can move from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk.

[0097] When the power supply to the solenoid 817 is stopped, the hook 816 rotates counterclockwise around the axis of the operating shaft 814. As a result, the hook 816 moves from the release position Pr to the lock position Pf. When the cover 811 is in the closed position Ph, the cover 811 enters a locked state by the movement of the hook 816 from the release position Pr to the lock position Pf.

[0098] In this embodiment, the hook portion of the hook 816 has an inclined outer surface. As a result, even when the cover 811 is moved from the open position Pk to the closed position Ph while the hook 816 is in the locked position Pf, the hook portion contacts the fixing pin 863, causing the hook 816 to rotate clockwise. Then, when the hook 816 rotates counterclockwise due to the biasing force of the biasing member, the hook portion engages with the fixing pin 863, and the cover 811 enters the locked state.

[0099] Therefore, in this embodiment, when the cover 811 is in a rotatable state including the open position Pk, the hook 816 may be in the release position Pr or the lock position Pf.

[0100] The opening / closing mechanism 871 moves the cover 811 from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk. As shown in Fig. 4, the opening / closing mechanism 871 has a drive motor 872 and a transmission mechanism 873. The transmission mechanism 873 includes a group of gears 874, a transmission gear 875, and a coupling portion 876.

[0101] The gear group 874, transmission gear 875, and coupling portion 876 that constitute the transmission mechanism 873 transmit the driving force of the drive motor 872 when it is driven to rotate to the rotation shaft 812. For example, assume that the drive motor 872 is driven to rotate counterclockwise (the direction of the black arrow shown in FIG. 4). As a result, the gear group 874 rotates in the direction of the black arrow shown in FIG. 4, and the transmission gear 875 rotates clockwise (the direction of the black arrow shown in FIG. 4).

[0102] As the transmission gear 875 rotates clockwise, the driving force of the drive motor 872 is transmitted to the rotation shaft 812 via the connection part 876. As a result, the rotation shaft 812 rotates clockwise (in the direction of the black arrow shown in FIG. 4), and the cover 811 moves from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk (see FIGS. 6 and 7).

[0103] The transmission gear 875 is provided on the rotation shaft 812 so as to be rotatable around the axis of the rotation shaft 812. The connecting portion 876 is provided between the transmission gear 875 and the rotation shaft 812 so as to be able to transmit the rotation of the transmission gear 875 to the rotation shaft 812. The connecting portion 876 switches between a connected state in which the transmission gear 875 and the rotation shaft 812 rotate together, and a non-connected state in which the transmission gear 875 and the rotation shaft 812 do not rotate together.

[0104] When a counterclockwise torque (in the direction of the white arrow shown in FIG. 4) acts around the axis of the rotating shaft 812, the connecting portion 876 connects the transfer gear 875 and the rotating shaft 812. In this embodiment, a counterclockwise torque acts around the axis of the rotating shaft 812 due to the weight of the cover 811.

[0105] For this reason, the transmission gear 875 and the rotary shaft 812 are in a coupled state even when the cover 811 is rotated from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk by driving the drive motor 872. As a result, the opening / closing mechanism 871 can move the cover 811 from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk as indicated by the black arrow in FIG.

[0106] In this embodiment, a one-way hinge is used for the connecting portion 876. The one-way hinge is a mechanical component that functions as both a one-way clutch and a torque limiter. The one-way hinge has a set load torque in one direction when rotating around the axis of the rotating shaft 812, and is in an idling state with no load in the other direction when rotating.

[0107] In this embodiment, when a counterclockwise torque is acting around the axis of the rotating shaft 812, the one-way hinge couples the rotating shaft 812 to the transmission gear 875. More specifically, when a counterclockwise torque smaller than the set load torque is acting around the axis of the rotating shaft 812, the one-way hinge couples the transmission gear 875 to the rotating shaft 812.

[0108] When a counterclockwise torque equal to or greater than the set load torque acts around the axis of the rotation shaft 812, the one-way hinge rotates freely, thereby disconnecting the transmission gear 875 from the rotation shaft 812. The set load torque in this embodiment is greater than the torque acting around the axis of the rotation shaft 812 due to the weight of the cover 811. The set load torque in this embodiment is smaller than the torque around the axis of the rotation shaft 812 that is required to rotate the drive motor 872.

[0109] For example, when the cover 811 is in the open position Pk or in a position between the open position Pk and the closed position Ph, a counterclockwise torque is applied around the axis of the rotation shaft 812 due to the weight of the cover 811. Therefore, when the cover 811 is in the open position Pk or in a position between the open position Pk and the closed position Ph, the transmission gear 875 and the rotation shaft 812 are in a coupled state.

[0110] The set load torque of the one-way hinge described above is greater than the torque acting around the axis of the rotation shaft 812 due to the weight of the cover 811. Therefore, when the cover 811 is in the open position Pk or in a position between the open position Pk and the closed position Ph, the cover 811 does not rotate and maintains that position.

[0111] In other words, the one-way hinge restricts rotation of the rotation shaft 812 in a direction in which the cover 811 and the rotation shaft 812 move from the open position Pk to the closed position Ph around the axis of the rotation shaft 812. The one-way hinge is an example of a connecting portion 876.

[0112] For example, suppose an operator manually moves the cover 811 from the open position Pk to the closed position Ph as indicated by the white arrow in Fig. 7. When the cover 811 is in the open position Pk, a counterclockwise torque acts around the axis of the rotation shaft 812 due to the weight of the cover 811. Therefore, when the cover 811 is in the open position Pk, the transmission gear 875 and the rotation shaft 812 are in a coupled state.

[0113] The set load torque of the one-way hinge described above is smaller than the torque around the axis of the rotation shaft 812 that is required to rotate the drive motor 872. In this case, when the operator applies force to the cover 811 to apply the set load torque around the axis of the rotation shaft 812, the one-way hinge rotates freely, and the transmission gear 875 and the rotation shaft 812 enter a disconnected state.

[0114] This allows the operator to manually move the cover 811 from the closed position Ph toward the open position Pk without rotating the transmission gear 875, the gear group 874, and the drive motor 872.

[0115] For example, suppose an operator manually moves the cover 811 from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk as indicated by the white arrow in Fig. 8. In this case, no counterclockwise torque acts around the axis of the rotation shaft 812. Therefore, the one-way hinge rotates freely, and the transmission gear 875 and the rotation shaft 812 are disconnected from each other.

[0116] This allows the operator to manually move the cover 811 from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk without rotating the transmission gear 875, the gear group 874, and the drive motor 872. In other words, the one-way hinge allows the rotation of the rotation shaft 812 in a direction in which the cover 811 and the rotation shaft 812 move around the axis of the rotation shaft 812 from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk. The one-way hinge is an example of the connecting portion 876.

[0117] When the upstream transport unit 81 is shifted from the normal state to the open state during the opening operation, first, the locking mechanism 861 is driven to switch the locked state of the cover 811 to the unlocked state. Specifically, the solenoid 817 of the locking mechanism 861 is driven to rotate the hook 816 from the locked position Pf to the unlocked position Pr, and the engagement between the hook portion of the hook 816 and the fixing pin 863 is released.

[0118] Next, the opening / closing mechanism 871 is driven, causing the cover 811 to move from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk. Specifically, the drive motor 872 of the opening / closing mechanism 871 is driven, causing the cover 811 to rotate around the axis of the rotation shaft 812 from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk. When the cover 811 reaches the open position Pk, the drive of the drive motor 872 is stopped. As a result, the upstream transport unit 81 enters an open state in which the cover 811 is located at the open position Pk.

[0119] The upstream transport unit 81 can be manually returned from the open state to the normal state by an operator. Specifically, the operator presses down the end of the cover 811 in the -Y direction when the cover 811 is in the open state. This causes the hook 816 to rotate to the lock position Pf where the hook portion of the hook 816 engages with the fixing pin 863, and the cover 811 returns to the normal state where it is located at the closed position Ph.

[0120] In the open state, the -Y direction of the cover 811 is raised approximately in the +Z direction. As a result, a space connected to the conveyance path is created in the +Z and -Y directions of the area where the upper roller 815a is normally located. This space is the sheet evacuation section EZ. In FIG. 3, the sheet evacuation section EZ is indicated by hatching. The sheet evacuation section EZ accommodates the strip-shaped sheet P1 when dealing with a jam, as described below.

[0121] Next, a flow of processing executed by the control unit 5 when an opening operation of the upstream transport unit 81 is performed in the event of a transport abnormality in the sheet P2 will be described in order with reference to the flowchart shown in Fig. 5. Note that in the following description of the opening operation of the upstream transport unit 81, Figs. 1 to 3 will also be referenced.

[0122] In step S1, the control unit 5 causes the sheet sensor 850 to perform a detection operation for a cut sheet P2. The detection operation for the sheet P2 by the sheet sensor 850 is always performed in a normal operating state in which the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 manufactures the sheet P3. The detection result of the sheet sensor 850 is transmitted to the control unit 5. After completing the processing of step S1, the control unit 5 proceeds to step S2.

[0123] In step S2, the control unit 5 determines whether there is an abnormality in the sheet transport based on the detection result of the sheet sensor 850. Specifically, the control unit 5 compares the detection result with the reflectance when there is no single sheet P2 and the reflectance when there is a single sheet P2, which are stored in the control unit 5's memory. In this way, the control unit 5 estimates whether there is a single sheet P2 on the transport path.

[0124] The control unit 5 determines that a jam has occurred if there is no single sheet P2, and determines that a jam has not occurred if there is a single sheet P2. If a jam has occurred, step S2 becomes YES, and the control unit 5 proceeds to step S3. If a jam has not occurred, step S2 becomes NO, and the control unit 5 continues the detection operation of sheet P2 by sheet sensor 850 in step S1.

[0125] In step S3, the control unit 5 causes each component of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 to start a shutdown operation. At this time, the components do not all stop operating at once, but rather stop operating one by one. Specifically, the supply of the mixture material is stopped in the deposition unit 50 upstream of the sheet forming unit 70. Meanwhile, the sheet forming unit 70 continues to form a strip-shaped sheet P1 using the mixture and web W remaining in the sheet forming unit 70 from the deposition unit 50.

[0126] Furthermore, in the transport unit 80, the operation of the second transport roller group 820 to transport the strip-shaped sheet P1 and the cut-sheet sheet P2 is stopped, while the operation of transporting the sheet P3 is continued. As a result, the material and web W are consumed between the accumulation section 50 and the sheet forming unit 70, so that the amount of work-in-progress residue is reduced and the effort required for restarting the process can be saved. After completing the process of step S3, the control section 5 proceeds to step S4.

[0127] In step S4, the control unit 5 performs an opening operation of the upstream transport unit 81. In the opening operation of the upstream transport unit 81, first, the control unit 5 switches the locked state of the cover 811 to an unlocked state. Specifically, the control unit 5 controls the driving of the solenoid 817 of the locking mechanism 861 to rotate the hook 816 from the locked position Pf to the unlocked position Pr. This switches the locked state of the cover 811 to the unlocked state.

[0128] Next, the control unit 5 moves the cover 811 from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk. Specifically, the control unit 5 controls the drive of the drive motor 872 of the opening / closing mechanism 871 to move the cover 811 from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk. When the cover 811 reaches the open position Pk, the control unit 5 stops the drive of the drive motor 872. This puts the upstream transport unit 81 in an open state where the cover 811 is located at the open position Pk. After completing the process of step S4, the control unit 5 proceeds to step S5.

[0129] In step S5, the control unit 5 stops the operation of the downstream transport unit 82. This stops the operations of the second transport roller group 820, the first cutting unit 832, the second cutting unit 834, etc. The process of step S5 may be executed simultaneously with the process of step S4.

[0130] While the process of step S5 is being performed, the belt-shaped sheet P1 continues to be formed in the sheet forming unit 70. With the upstream conveying unit 81 in an open state, the belt-shaped sheet P1 formed in the sheet forming unit 70 deviates from the conveying path and moves to the sheet evacuation section EZ.

[0131] 6, the sheet forming unit 70 continues forming the strip-shaped sheet P1, and the strip-shaped sheet P1 is transported downstream from the sheet forming unit 70. The transport roller pair 813 of the first transport roller group 810 continues to transport the strip-shaped sheet P1 downstream. In contrast, the second transport roller group 820, which includes the transport roller pair 821, stops transporting the sheet P1 in step S5.

[0132] As a result, the strip-shaped sheet P1 does not proceed beyond the pair of transport rollers 821, but rises up into the sheet evacuation section EZ above the lower roller 815b. As the strip-shaped sheet P1 moves into the sheet evacuation section EZ, the material and web W remaining in the sheet forming unit 70, etc. are consumed.

[0133] Furthermore, since the transport of the strip-shaped sheet P1 or the cut sheet P2 to the location where the jam has occurred is stopped, it is possible to prevent the jam from becoming worse. After completing the process of step S5, the control unit 5 proceeds to step S6.

[0134] 5, in step S6, the control unit 5 stops the forming operation of the sheet forming unit 70. At this time, after a predetermined time has elapsed since the operation of the second transport roller group 820 was stopped in step S5, the control unit 5 stops the forming operation of the belt-shaped sheet P1 in the sheet forming unit 70.

[0135] The predetermined time is the time it takes for the work-in-progress and input materials to be formed into a strip-shaped sheet P1 and consumed upstream of the upstream conveying unit 81, including the sheet forming unit 70. The predetermined time is set appropriately depending on the size and configuration of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1, and is, for example, from several tens of seconds to several minutes. As a result, the jam is dealt with and the operation of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 is stopped.

[0136] As described above, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment can provide the following effects.

[0137] The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a sheet forming unit 70 that deposits and compresses a fiber-containing material to form a sheet. The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 also includes a transport unit 80 that transports a sheet along a transport path. The transport unit 80 has a plurality of transport rollers that transport the sheet. The transport unit 80 has a sheet sensor 850 that detects any abnormalities that occur during sheet transport within the transport unit 80. The transport unit 80 includes a cover 811 that is installed above the transport path and is rotatable around a rotation shaft 812, and a drive motor 872 that is driven to rotate and rotate the cover 811. The cover 811 moves between an open position Pk that exposes the upper part of the transport path and a closed position Ph that covers the upper part of the transport path. When the sheet sensor 850 detects any abnormality that occurs during sheet transport, the drive motor 872 is driven to rotate and moves the cover 811 from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk.

[0138] In this way, when an abnormality occurs in the sheet transport, the cover 811 moves to the open position Pk, allowing the user to quickly remove the sheet sent to the evacuation section EZ, reducing the time and effort required to restart the apparatus. This makes it possible to provide a sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 that can easily be restarted after an abnormality occurs in the sheet transport.

[0139] The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 further includes a fixed pin 863 and a hook 816 provided on the cover 811, the hook 816 being disengaged from the fixed pin 863 by pivoting. The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 further includes a solenoid 817 connected to the hook 816 and being driven to pivot the hook 816. The disengagement of the hook 816 from the fixed pin 863 allows the cover 811 to move from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk. When the sheet sensor 850 detects an abnormality occurring during sheet conveyance, the solenoid 817 is driven to disengage the hook 816 from the fixed pin 863.

[0140] This allows the cover 811 to move to the open position Pk when an abnormality occurs in the sheet transport, making it easier to restart the operation after the abnormality occurs in the sheet transport. This makes it possible to provide the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 that makes it easier to restart the operation after the abnormality occurs in the sheet transport.

[0141] The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 further includes a rotation shaft 812 attached to the cover 811 and rotatably supported so that the cover 811 rotates around the axis, and a connecting portion 876 that restricts the rotation of the rotation shaft 812 around the axis. The connecting portion 876 allows the rotation of the rotation shaft 812 when the cover 811 moves from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk, and restricts the rotation of the rotation shaft 812 when the cover 811 moves from the open position Pk to the closed position Ph.

[0142] This makes it possible to provide a sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 in which the cover 811 can be easily moved from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk and in which the cover 811 at the open position Pk is less likely to inadvertently move to the closed position Ph. This makes it possible to provide a sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 that can be easily restarted after an abnormality occurs in the sheet conveyance.

[0143] The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 further includes a transmission gear 875 that transmits the driving force of the drive motor 872 to the rotary shaft 812 , and the connecting portion 876 is a one-way hinge provided between the transmission gear 875 and the rotary shaft 812 .

[0144] This makes it easy to realize a configuration in which the cover 811 can be easily moved from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk, and the cover 811 at the open position Pk is less likely to inadvertently move to the closed position Ph. This makes it possible to provide a sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 that can easily resume operation after an abnormality occurs in the sheet conveyance.

[0145] The multiple transport rollers include a transport roller pair 815 and a transport roller pair 821 installed downstream of the transport roller pair 815 on the transport path. The transport unit 80 has an upstream transport unit 81 in which the transport roller pair 815 is installed, and a downstream transport unit 82 in which the transport roller pair 821 is installed. A cover 811 and a drive motor 872 are installed in the upstream transport unit 81. Furthermore, the transport roller pair 815 is composed of a pair of upper and lower rollers 815a and 815b, and the upper roller 815a is installed in the cover 811.

[0146] According to this, when an abnormality occurs in the sheet conveyance, the cover 811 can be moved to the open position Pk to stop the sheet conveyance by the conveyance roller pair 815. This reduces the time and effort required for restarting the operation. This makes it possible to provide a sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 that can easily be restarted after an abnormality occurs in the sheet conveyance.

[0147] The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is basically configured as described above, but it is of course possible to modify or omit some of the configuration without departing from the gist of the present disclosure. The first embodiment and other embodiments described below can be combined with each other within the scope of technical compatibility. Other embodiments will be described below.

[0148] In the above embodiment, the locking mechanism 861 does not necessarily have to include the solenoid 817. For example, the locking mechanism 861 may include a gear that rotates to rotate the hook 816 around the axis of the operating shaft 814, a motor, and a transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force of the motor to the gear. In this case, the locking mechanism 861 of this embodiment may also use the drive motor 872 of the opening / closing mechanism 871 as this motor.

[0149] In the above embodiment, the locking mechanism 861 does not have to switch the cover 811 between the locked state and the unlocked state by engaging and disengaging the hook 816 with the fixing pin 863. For example, the locking mechanism 861 may switch the cover 811 between the locked state and the unlocked state by attracting and releasing a yoke provided on the cover 811 to and from a magnet provided on the support member 851.

[0150] In this embodiment, the locking mechanism 861 may move the yoke between a locked position Pf and an unlocked position Pr by driving a solenoid 817 connected to the yoke. The locked position Pf is a position where the yoke is attracted to the magnet, for example, a position where the yoke is positioned vertically above the magnet and faces the magnet. The unlocked position Pr is a position where the yoke is not attracted to the magnet, for example, a position on the +Y side of the locked position Pf and not facing the magnet.

[0151] Alternatively, in this embodiment, the opening / closing mechanism 871 may move the cover 811 from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk, thereby moving the yoke from the locked position Pf to the released position Pr. In this case, the yoke is fixed to the cover 811, and the released position Pr is located above the locked position Pf. In this case, the locking mechanism 861 does not need to include the solenoid 817.

[0152] In the above embodiment, the connecting portion 876 does not have to be a one-way hinge. For example, it is assumed that an operator can press down on the open cover 811 to generate torque about the axis of the rotation shaft 812, which is necessary to rotate the drive motor 872. In this case, the connecting portion 876 may be a one-way clutch. In this embodiment, the one-way clutch may be provided between the transmission gear 875 and the rotation shaft 812 so as to be able to transmit the rotation of the transmission gear 875 to the rotation shaft 812.

[0153] In this embodiment, when a counterclockwise torque is applied around the axis of the rotating shaft 812, the one-way clutch connects the rotating shaft 812 and the transmission gear 875. When a clockwise torque is applied around the axis of the rotating shaft 812, the one-way clutch rotates freely, thereby disconnecting the transmission gear 875 from the rotating shaft 812. In this case, the one-way clutch is an example of the connecting portion 876.

[0154] In the above embodiment, as long as the driving force of drive motor 872 can be transmitted to rotation shaft 812, coupling portion 876 does not have to be provided between transmission gear 875 and rotation shaft 812. In this case, coupling portion 876 may be provided between gears that constitute gear group 874, or between the gears that constitute gear group 874 and the rotation shafts of those gears.

[0155] In the above embodiment, if there is little need for the operator to manually move the cover 811 to the closed position Ph, the opening / closing mechanism 871 may not include the coupling part 876. In this embodiment, the transmission gear 875 may be attached to the rotation shaft 812 so as to be unrotatable around the axis of the rotation shaft 812. [Explanation of symbols]

[0156] 1...sheet manufacturing apparatus, 5...control section, 13...raw material supply device, 15...measuring section, 15a...sensor section, 17...junction section, 21, 23, 24, 25...piping, 31...defibrating section, 32...separating section, 33...mixing section, 35...recovery section, 38...compressor, 39...power supply section, 50...accumulating section, 51...housing, 53...drum member, 55...blade member, 59...suction section, 61...first conveying section, 61a...mesh belt, 62...second conveying section, 65...first compressing section Wetting section, 66...second humidifying section, 67...water supply section, 68...drainage section, 70...sheet forming unit, 71...treatment roller, 72...treatment roller, 80...conveying unit, 81...upstream conveying unit, 82...downstream conveying unit, 101...first unit group, 102...second unit group, 103...third unit group, 131...raw material inlet, 132...storage section, 140...discharge section, 191...tray, 810...first conveying roller group, 811...cover, 812...rotation shaft, 813, 815...pair of conveying rollers, 813a, 815a...upper rollers, 813b, 815b...lower rollers, 814...operating shaft, 816...hook, 817...solenoid, 820...second group of conveying rollers, 821...pair of conveying rollers, 823...pair of conveying rollers, 832...first cutting section, 834...second cutting section, 850...sheet sensor, 851...supporting member, 860...release mechanism, 861...locking mechanism, 863...fixing Fixed pin, 871...opening / closing mechanism, 872...drive motor, 873...transmission mechanism, 874...gear group, 875...transmission gear, 876...connecting section, 911...slit piece transport roller group, 913...shredding section, C...paper pieces, EZ...sheet evacuation section, M...mist, P1, P2, P3...sheet, Pf...lock position, Ph...closed position, Pk...open position, Pr...release position, S...slit pieces, S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6...step, W...web.

Claims

1. a sheet forming unit that deposits and then compresses the fiber-containing material to form a sheet; a conveying unit that conveys the sheet along a conveying path; A sheet manufacturing apparatus comprising: The transport unit includes: a plurality of conveying rollers for conveying the sheet; an abnormality detection sensor that detects an abnormality that occurs in the transport unit during transport of the sheet; a cover that is installed above the conveying path and is rotatable around the axis of a rotation shaft; a drive motor that is rotationally driven to rotate the cover; and the cover moves between an open position that exposes an area above the transport path and a closed position that covers an area above the transport path; When the abnormality detection sensor detects an abnormality occurring during the conveyance of the sheet, the drive motor is driven to rotate, thereby moving the cover from the closed position to the open position. A sheet manufacturing apparatus characterized by:

2. A fixing pin and a hook provided on the cover, the hook being disengaged from the fixing pin by rotating; a solenoid connected to the hook and rotating the hook when driven; Furthermore, The hook is disengaged from the fixing pin, allowing the cover to move from the closed position to the open position; When the abnormality detection sensor detects an abnormality occurring during the conveyance of the sheet, the solenoid is driven to release the engagement between the fixing pin and the hook. The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 .

3. the rotation shaft attached to the cover, the rotation shaft being rotatably supported so that the cover rotates around the axis; a connecting portion that restricts rotation of the rotation shaft around the axis; Furthermore, The connecting portion is allowing the rotation of the rotation shaft when the cover moves from the closed position to the open position; The rotation of the rotation shaft is restricted when the cover moves from the open position to the closed position. The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 .

4. a transmission gear that transmits the driving force of the drive motor to the rotation shaft; The connecting portion is a one-way hinge provided between the transmission gear and the rotation shaft. The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3 .

5. the plurality of transport rollers include a first transport roller and a second transport roller disposed downstream of the first transport roller in the transport path, the transport unit includes an upstream transport unit in which the first transport roller is installed and a downstream transport unit in which the second transport roller is installed, the cover and the drive motor are installed in the upstream transport unit; The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 .

6. the first transport roller is composed of a pair of upper and lower rollers, The upper roller is mounted on the cover. The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5 .

Images