Separation device, sheet production device, method for producing filtered material

Abstract

To provide a separation device that is less prone to clogging and operates stably. [Solution] The separation device comprises a sieve with a mesh that rotates, a wall portion that partitions the space in which the sieve rotates, an annular portion on the outer circumference of the sieve, a cover member that hides the gap between the wall portion and the annular portion, and an upper frame outside the space in which the sieve rotates. The cover member has an outer portion that follows the upper frame, an inner portion that follows the annular portion, and a bent portion between the outer portion and the inner portion. The bent portion allows the inner portion to follow the change in the relative position between the sieve and the upper frame.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a separation device, a sheet production device provided with the separation device, and a method for producing a filtrate.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a separation device that sprays a defibrated material containing fibers onto a mesh disk, which is a disk-shaped sieve provided with a net, and sucks the filtrate that remains without passing through the mesh. The separation device includes a mesh disk, a defibrated material spraying pipe that is disposed on the front surface side of the mesh disk and sprays the defibrated material containing fibers, a suction pipe that is disposed on the back surface side of the mesh disk and sucks the waste powder that has passed through the opening, and a recovery pipe that is disposed on the front surface side of the mesh disk and sucks the filtrate that remains without passing through the opening of the mesh disk as a raw material for processing.

[0003] According to the document, the mesh disk is rotatably supported by a support portion that supports its outer periphery.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, there is room for improvement in the separation device of Patent Document 1. Specifically, there is a problem that the filtrate deposited on the surface of the mesh disk moves to the outer peripheral edge of the mesh disk due to centrifugal force or air flow, clogs the gap between the support portion, and causes a rotation failure of the mesh disk.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A separation device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a sieve with a mesh that rotates, a wall portion that partitions the space in which the sieve rotates, an annular portion on the outer circumference of the sieve, a cover member that conceals the gap between the wall portion and the annular portion, and an upper frame outside the space in which the sieve rotates, wherein the cover member has an outer portion along the upper frame, an inner portion along the annular portion, and a bent portion between the outer portion and the inner portion, and the bent portion causes the inner portion to follow changes in the relative position between the sieve and the upper frame.

[0007] A sheet production apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes the above-mentioned separation apparatus, a defibration section for defibrating raw materials, a deposition section for depositing materials to form a web, and a molding section for compressing the web to form a sheet, wherein the separation apparatus separates the filtrate from the air containing the defibrations and foreign matter defibrated by the defibration section, and supplies the separated filtrate as the material to the deposition section.

[0008] A method for producing filtered material according to one aspect of the present invention is a separation device comprising: a sieve with a mesh that rotates; a wall portion that partitions the space in which the sieve rotates; an annular portion on the outer circumference of the sieve; a cover member that hides the gap between the wall portion and the annular portion; and an upper frame outside the space in which the sieve rotates, wherein the cover member has an outer portion along the upper frame, an inner portion along the annular portion, and a bent portion between the outer portion and the inner portion, wherein a raw material mixed with filtered material and foreign matter is supplied to the surface side of the sieve; the bent portion is used to make the interior follow the change in the relative position between the sieve and the upper frame due to rotation; after rotation, the foreign matter is collected from the surface side or the back side of the sieve; and after rotation, the filtered material is collected from the other of the surface side or the back side of the sieve. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] A perspective view of the separation device according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] Exploded perspective view of the main components of the separation device. [Figure 3] Functional diagram of the separation device. [Figure 4] Plan view of the back surface of the cover component. [Figure 5] Exploded perspective view of the cover component. [Figure 6] Side cross-sectional view of the cover component during assembly. [Figure 7] A partial plan view of the seat. [Figure 8] Enlarged view of section b in Figure 2. [Figure 9] Partial plan view of the cover component. [Figure 10] Diagram illustrating the superimposed state. [Figure 11] Cross-sectional view of the cc section in Figure 9. [Figure 12] A flowchart illustrating the process of producing filtered material using a separation device. [Figure 13] A schematic diagram of the sheet production apparatus according to Embodiment 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Embodiment 1 ***Overview of the Separation Device*** Figure 1 is a perspective view of the separation device according to Embodiment 1. Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the main part of the separation device. Figure 3 is a functional diagram of the separation device. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0011] The separation device 100 of this embodiment shown in Figure 1 is a dry-type separation device that separates materials usable in the downstream process from foreign matter based on size differences from the defibrated raw material supplied from the upstream process. In each drawing, the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are shown as three mutually orthogonal axes. In this embodiment, the extension direction of one side of the separation device 100, which forms a rectangle in plan view, is the X-plus direction, the extension direction of the side intersecting that side is the Y-plus direction, and the thickness direction of the separation device 100 is the Z-plus direction. In a preferred example, the Z-plus direction is vertically upward, and the Z-plus direction is also called upward, and the Z-minus direction is called downward. Note that the Z-plus direction is not limited to vertically upward, and the installation configuration of the separation device 100 can be set as appropriate.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 2, the separation device 100 has a structure in which a sieve 20, a cover member 33, and an upper frame 30 are stacked on a support frame 40. The sieve 20 is a disk-shaped sieve provided with a net 4 and is rotatably provided about a rotation axis 2. The sieve 20 is a sieve in which the net 4 is stretched over the entire surface of a disk frame composed of an annular portion 1 which is an outer ring on the outer periphery and a plurality of spokes 3 connecting between the central portion having the rotation axis 2 and the annular portion 1. The rotation axis 2 is rotatably supported by a bearing 28 of the support frame 40 and a bearing 29 of the upper frame 30. Here, a line segment passing through the bearing 28 and the bearing 29 along the rotation axis 2 is defined as a center line 60. That is, the sieve 20 rotates about the center line 60. Also, the surface on the +Z side of the sieve 20 is also referred to as the front surface, and the surface on the -Z side is also referred to as the back surface.

[0013] First, the function of the separation device 100 will be described using FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a view of the sieve 20 seen from the +Z side. The contours of the first chamber 21 and the third chamber 23 located on the +Z side of the sieve 20 are represented by broken lines, and the contours of the opening 41a and the opening 43 located on the -Z side of the sieve 20 are represented by two-dot chain lines. The first chamber 21 is a planar section that is substantially semi-circular, and the first pipe 〖11〗 is connected above it. Below the first pipe 11, an opening 41a (FIG. 2) is provided through the sieve 20. And below the opening 41a, the second pipe 12 is connected. The third chamber 23 is a planar rectangular section and is provided at a position facing the first chamber 21 through the center line 60. Above the third chamber 23, a third pipe 13 is provided. Below the third pipe 13, an opening 43 (FIG. 2) of the fourth pipe 14 is provided through the sieve 20. Although not shown in FIG. 3, the second chamber 22 is a fan-shaped section centered on the center line 60 in a plane and is provided between the first chamber 21 and the third chamber 23 on the +Z side of the sieve 20. The fourth chamber 24 is a fan-shaped section centered on the center line 60 in a plane and is provided between the third chamber 23 and the first chamber 21 on the +Z side of the sieve 20.

[0014] Rooms 1 to 4 are arranged clockwise around the center line 60 in the order of Room 1, Room 2, Room 3, and Room 4. That is, the surface of the sieve 20 rotates to sequentially pass through Room 1, Room 2, Room 3, Room 4, and Room 1. Note that the rotation direction of the sieve 20 may be counterclockwise, and in this case, Rooms 1 to 4 are arranged counterclockwise. In the separating device 100, air containing a raw material made of disintegrated fibers from the first pipe 11 is blown onto the sieve 20 through Room 1. At this time, a negative pressure is applied to Room 1 via the sieve 20 from the second pipe 12 in parallel. Therefore, among the raw materials blown onto the mesh 4, foreign matters that have passed through the mesh of the mesh 4 are sucked into the second pipe 12 through the opening 41a. The foreign matters sucked into the second pipe 12 are collected or discarded. The disintegrated fibers that have not passed through the mesh of the mesh 4 are deposited as a cottony material on the surface of the sieve 20. The material moves while being deposited in a band shape on the surface of the sieve 20 as the sieve 20 rotates, enters Room 2, and then enters Room 3. That is, the mesh 4a in Fig. 3 is a mesh with disintegrated fibers deposited on its surface.

[0015] In Room 2, the material is humidified by humidified air from the humidifying pipe 15 (Fig. 1). When the material enters Room 3 due to the rotation of the sieve 20, the material is separated from the mesh 4 by the air blown out from the fourth pipe 14 through the opening 43 and is sucked into the third pipe 13 through Room 3. At this time, the air from the fourth pipe 14 is humidified air. The air containing the material sucked into the third pipe 13 is sent to a downstream process. In this way, as shown in Fig. 1, the separating device 100 filters the raw material 5 supplied from the upstream process by the sieve 20 and separates the material 7, which is the filtrate, and the foreign matter 6 according to the difference in size. The material 7 is sent to the downstream process through the third pipe 13. The foreign matter 6 is sent to the downstream process through the second pipe 12 and is collected or discarded.

[0016] ***Configuration of the separating device*** Return to Fig. 1. As shown in Figure 1, the upper part of the upper frame 30 is equipped with a motor 8, a first pipe 11, a humidification pipe 15, a third pipe 13, and the like. Motor 8 is the drive motor for the sieve 20, and rotates the pinion gear 2b of the rotating shaft 2 (Figure 2) of the sieve 20 via a gear train mechanism (not shown). The first pipe 11 is located above the first chamber 21 (Figure 3) and is integrated with the upper frame 30. In reality, the first pipe 11 extends to the upstream equipment, but this is omitted from the illustration. Similarly, the other pipes also extend to related equipment, but these are also omitted from the illustration.

[0017] The humidification pipe 15 is connected to a humidification device (not shown), and supplies humidified air from the humidification device to the second chamber 22 (Figure 3). The humidification device includes, for example, an ultrasonic humidifier and a blower, and supplies humidified air with a higher moisture content per unit volume than the air from the first pipe 11. The humidifying pipe 15 is integrated with the pipe cover 15b, which covers the upper part of the second chamber 22 (Figure 3) and constitutes part of the second chamber. The pipe cover 15b is provided with a connecting passage 15c that extends to the fourth chamber 24 (Figure 3). Humidified air is supplied to the fourth chamber 24 (Figure 3) through the connecting passage 15c.

[0018] The third pipe 13 is positioned opposite the first pipe 11 via the center line 60. As shown in Figure 2, the outlet of the third chamber 23 of the upper frame 30 is rectangular, but the third pipe 13 is a circular pipe with a diameter that surrounds the outlet and is attached to the top of the upper frame 30. Note that Figure 2 omits the illustration of the humidification pipe 15 and the motor 8. As shown in Figure 1, a second pipe 12, a fourth pipe 14, and the like are provided below the support frame 40. The second pipe 12 is located below the first pipe 11 via a sieve 20. The fourth pipe 14 is located below the third pipe 13 via a sieve 20. The fourth pipe 14 is connected to a humidifier (not shown), and sends humidified air supplied from the humidifier to the third chamber 23 (Figure 3) via the sieve 20. In the preferred example, the humidifier is the same as the humidifier to which the humidifying pipe 15 is connected.

[0019] Figure 4 is a plan view of the back surface of the upper frame. As shown in Figure 4, the upper frame 30 has a circular shape that is slightly larger than the sieve 20 (Figure 2) in plan view. The back surface of the upper frame 30 is provided with an annular projection 31 that is slightly smaller than the outer diameter. The projection 31 has a diameter slightly smaller than the outer circumference of the sieve 20 and contacts the cover member 33 (Figure 6) during assembly. Details of the projection 31 will be described later.

[0020] As shown in Figure 4, the inner circular portion of the projection 31 has four chambers, from the first chamber 21 to the fourth chamber 24, centered on the bearing 29. The first chamber 21 is a roughly semicircular compartment in plan view, and the first pipe 11 is connected to its bottom. The third chamber 23 is a rectangular compartment in plan view and is located opposite the first chamber 21 via the center line 60. The second room 22 is a fan-shaped section centered on the central line 60 in plan view, and is located between the first room 21 and the third room 23. The fourth room 24 is a fan-shaped section centered on the central line 60 in plan view, and is located between the third room 23 and the first room 21. Chambers 1 through 4, 21 through 24, are separated by multiple partition walls 9 that radiate from the bearing 29. Chamber 1, 21, is shaped like a mortar with the first pipe 11 at its bottom. A fan-shaped hole 22h is provided at the bottom of the second chamber 22. A fan-shaped hole 24h is provided at the bottom of the fourth chamber 24. Holes 22h and 24h are covered by the pipe cover 15b and connecting passage 15c of the humidification pipe 15.

[0021] Return to Figure 2. As shown in Figure 2, the support frame 40 is provided with a circular storage section 45 for housing the sieve 20, with the bearing 28 at its center. The sieve 20 rotates within the space of the storage section 45. Inside the storage section 45, there is a circular cylindrical section 41 that is slightly smaller than the storage section 45. The part of the cylindrical section 41 that overlaps with the first chamber 21 (Figure 3) is shaped like a mortar, with the second pipe 12 at its bottom. A canopy-shaped top plate 42 is provided in the portion of the cylindrical section 41 that overlaps with the second chamber 22 (Figure 3) and the fourth chamber 24. The top plate 42 is positioned directly below the sieve 20 during assembly. The top plate 42 prevents turbulence from being generated that would lift the accumulated material 7.

[0022] A linear opening 43 is provided in the top plate 42 that overlaps with the third chamber 23 (Figure 3) of the cylindrical portion 41. The opening 43 is formed by a series of semicircular holes arranged in a straight line. A fourth pipe 14 is provided on the underside of the opening 43 in the top plate 42. The humidified air supplied from the fourth pipe 14 is blown out of the opening 43 as a strong curtain-like airflow onto the back surface of the sieve 20. This linear airflow peels off the leading edge of the material 7 (Figure 3) that has accumulated in a strip. The peeled-off material 7 is then sucked into the third pipe 13.

[0023] As shown in Figure 2, an annular cover member 33 is provided between the sieve 20 and the upper frame 30. The cover member 33 is in contact with the annular portion 1 of the sieve 20, and even if the accumulated material 7 moves to the outer circumference due to centrifugal force when the sieve 20 rotates, the cover member 33 prevents the material 7 from moving further outward. In the preferred example, the annular portion 1 is made of stainless steel. However, it is not limited to stainless steel; any rigid material is acceptable, and other metals or resins may also be used.

[0024] ***Composition of the cover component*** Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the cover member. Figure 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the cover member during assembly. Figure 7 is a partial plan view of the sheet. Figure 8 is an enlarged view of section b in Figure 2.

[0025] As shown in Figure 5, the cover member 33 is constructed by overlapping a ring-shaped first sheet 10a and a second sheet 10b. The first sheet 10a and the second sheet 10b are the same sheets as sheet 10 shown in Figure 7, but they are overlapped with a staggered arrangement angle. The peripheral edge of the cover member 33 is held between a support ring 32 and a retaining ring 35. As shown in Figure 6, the support ring 32 is set on the storage section 45 of the support frame 40. The support ring 32 is an annular ring and is positioned above the annular portion 1 of the sieve 20. The material of the support ring 32 is not particularly limited and can be resin, metal, wood, etc. One end of the support ring 32 is fixed to the support frame 40 side, and the other end is positioned on the peripheral edge of the annular portion 1. The retaining ring 35 is an annular ring that is slightly narrower than the support ring 32 and is set on the upper frame 30 side. The projection 31 of the upper frame 30 is a convex part and is located on the inner circumference side of the support ring 32.

[0026] During assembly, when the upper frame 30 is set from above the flat cover member 33 placed on the support ring 32, the projection 31 pushes down and bends the cover member 33, as shown in Figure 6, causing the end of the cover member 33 to come into contact with the annular portion 1. At this time, the flat outer circumference of the cover member 33 along the support ring 32 is designated as the outer part 33a, the inner circumference along the annular portion 1 is designated as the inner part 33c, and the bent portion between the outer part 33a and the inner part 33c is designated as the bent part 33b. The cover member 33 serves to conceal the gap between the annular portion 1 of the sieve 20 and the wall portion 45b of the storage portion 45 of the support frame 40. More specifically, it conceals the gap between the annular portion 1 and the projection 31 of the upper frame 30. As mentioned above, if material 7 gets stuck in the gap between the outer edge of the annular portion 1 and the wall portion 45b of the storage portion 45, it may cause rotational problems for the sieve 20, but this can be prevented by the cover member 33. In other words, the upper frame 30 has a projection 31 that protrudes toward the surface side of the sieve 20, and the bent portion 33b is pushed toward the sieve 20 by the projection 31, causing the interior 33c to conform to the annular portion 1. Furthermore, the cover member 33 hides the gap between the annular portion 1 and the upper frame 30 on the surface side of the sieve 20 into which the raw material is introduced.

[0027] As a result, as shown in Figure 8, even when the annular portion 1 of the sieve 20 rotates, the interior 33c of the cover member 33 is biased against the annular portion 1 by the elasticity of the bent portion 33b, and therefore maintains contact in place. Maintaining contact is also called tracking. As will be described in more detail later, the interior 33c has a configuration in which multiple blades 17 (Figure 9) overlap, making it easier to track. In other words, the separation device 100 comprises a sieve 20 that rotates with a mesh 4, a wall portion 45b of a housing portion 45 of a support frame 40 that partitions the space in which the sieve 20 rotates, a cover member 33 that hides the gap between the annular portion 1 on the outer circumference of the sieve 20 and the wall portion 45b, and an upper frame 30 outside the space in which the sieve 20 rotates. The cover member 33 has an outer portion 33a that follows the upper frame 30, an inner portion 33c that follows the annular portion 1, and a bent portion 33b between the outer portion 33a and the inner portion 33c, and the bent portion 33b causes the inner portion 33c to follow the change in the relative position between the sieve and the upper frame 30.

[0028] ***Overlapping configuration of cover components*** Figure 9 is a partial plan view of the cover member and corresponds to Figure 7. Figure 10 is an explanatory diagram of the superimposed state and corresponds to Figure 9. Figure 10 shows the state in which the centers of the first sheet 10a and the second sheet 10b are offset. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the cc section of Figure 9.

[0029] First, let's explain the structure of sheet 10 using Figure 7. As shown in Figure 7, the sheet 10 before assembly is a flat film with multiple cuts 16 on its inner circumference. In a preferred example, the sheet 10 is made of polyimide film. However, it is not limited to this, and any sheet material with similar physical properties may be used. The cuts 16 extend radially from the center line 60 (Figure 5) to the outer circumference, up to the annular outer edge 19. In a plan view, the cuts 16 are L-shaped, and the ends of the cuts 16 are triangular holes. The cuts 16 are provided at equal angular intervals at a predetermined angle with respect to the center line 60. Multiple wings 17, divided by adjacent cuts 16, are provided on the inner circumference side of the sheet 10. The wings 17 are roughly trapezoidal in shape with the inner circumference side as the upper base. By making the ends of the cuts 16 triangular holes, the flexibility of the wings 17 is increased and the overlapping of the wings 17 is facilitated. Furthermore, a reference hole 18 is provided on the outer edge 19 of the sheet 10. Note that the reference hole 18 is a hole for explaining the overlapping position of the sheets and does not necessarily have to be provided on the actual sheet.

[0030] As shown in Figure 9, the cover member 33 is constructed by overlapping two sheets: a first sheet 10a made of sheet 10 and a second sheet 10b also made of sheet 10. Hatching is applied to the upper second sheet 10b in each figure to make it easier to distinguish between the two sheets. The second sheet 10b is superimposed on the first sheet 10a with an angle θ shift in its positioning angle. Specifically, as shown in Figure 9, the reference hole 18b of the second sheet 10b is positioned at an angle θ shift from the reference hole 18a of the first sheet 10a, with respect to the center line 60. Then, as shown in Figure 9, the second wing 17b of the second sheet 10b and the first wing 17a of the first sheet 10a are overlapped at the position of the cut 16 so that they are alternately exposed. More specifically, as shown in Figure 10, the first wing 17a is passed through the cut 16b of the second sheet 10b and overlapped onto the second wing 17b. This overlapping is performed for all the wing parts.

[0031] As a result, as shown in Figure 11, the second blade 17b and the first blade 17a alternately overlap in the forward direction on the annular portion 1 from the downstream side in the direction of rotation of the annular portion 1. In Figure 11, the direction of rotation of the annular portion 1 is indicated by a white arrow, and the tip of the arrow points downstream in the direction of rotation. When the sieve 20 rotates, the defibrated material also moves in the direction of rotation, but this prevents the defibrated material from getting under the first blade 17a and the second blade 17b. Consequently, this prevents the defibrated material from moving towards the gap between the annular portion 1 and the upper frame 30. In addition, the friction between the annular portion 1 and the interior 33c can be reduced. Furthermore, in the preferred example, the annular portion 1 is made of stainless steel and the cover member 33 is made of polyimide. Since both have a low coefficient of friction, the friction between the annular portion 1 and the interior 33c can be reduced even further. In other words, the cover member 33 comprises a first sheet 10a with an outer surface 33a fixed to the upper frame 30 and a cut 16 extending from the inner surface 33c to the bent portion 33b, and a second sheet 10b having the same shape as the first sheet 10a. The first sheet 10a has multiple first wings 17a formed by the cut 16, and the second sheet 10b has multiple second wings 17b formed by the cut 16. The first sheet 10a and the second sheet 10b are overlapped alternately at the cut 16, with the first wings 17a and second wings 17b overlapping alternately on the annular portion 1 from the downstream side in the rotational direction of the annular portion 1.

[0032] ***Method for producing filtered material*** Figure 12 is a flowchart illustrating the process of producing filtered material using a separation device. Here, we will explain the method for producing material 7 as filtered material using the separation device 100, primarily using Figure 12, and incorporating other drawings as appropriate.

[0033] In step S10, the separation device 100 is activated. Specifically, the separation device 100 and related upstream and downstream devices are activated by a control device (not shown).

[0034] In step S11, the raw material is supplied to the separation device 100. Specifically, as shown in Figure 3, air containing the raw material 5, which consists of defibrated material, is supplied from the first pipe 11 to the first chamber 21. At this time, the sieve 20 rotates at a constant speed, and negative pressure is applied to the first chamber 21 from the second pipe 12 via the sieve 20.

[0035] In step S12, foreign matter is removed. Specifically, as shown in Figure 3, of the raw material 5 sprayed onto the mesh 4 of the sieve 20, the foreign matter 6 that passes through the mesh 4 is sucked up through the second pipe 12.

[0036] In step S13, the cover member 33 follows the rotation of the sieve 20. Specifically, even when the annular portion 1 of the sieve 20 rotates, the interior 33c remains in contact with the annular portion 1, as shown in Figure 6, and the material 7 is retained inside the sieve.

[0037] In step S14, the material 7 is deposited on the sieve 20 as filtered material. Specifically, as shown in Figure 3, the defibrated material that did not pass through the mesh of the screen 4 is deposited on the surface of the sieve 20 as a cotton-like material 7. In the preferred example, the material 7 mainly consists of fibers longer than the mesh, but it may also contain particles larger than the mesh.

[0038] In step S15, the material 7 is sucked in and sent to the downstream process. Specifically, as shown in Figure 3, when the material 7 enters the third chamber 23 due to the rotation of the sieve 20, the material 7 is sucked into the third pipe 13. At the same time, humidified air is blown in from the fourth pipe 14. As a result, the material 7 is sucked into the third pipe 13 in a sufficiently humidified state, so that adhesion to the inside of the pipe due to static electricity is suppressed. In other words, the method for producing material 7 as filtered matter by the separation device 100 involves supplying raw material 5, which is a mixture of filtered matter and foreign matter, to the surface side of the sieve 20, using the bent portion 33b to make the interior 33c follow the change in the relative position between the sieve 20 and the upper frame 30 as it rotates, recovering foreign matter 6 from either the surface or back side of the sieve 20 after rotation, and recovering material 7 as filtered matter from the other of the surface or back side of the sieve 20 after rotation. Although the above-mentioned steps are described as being in a specific order for explanatory purposes, in reality, steps S11 through S15 are performed simultaneously.

[0039] As described above, the separation apparatus 100 and the method for producing filtered material according to this embodiment provide the following advantages. The separation device 100 comprises a sieve 20 that rotates with a mesh 4, a wall portion 45b of a housing portion 45 of a support frame 40 that partitions the space in which the sieve 20 rotates, a cover member 33 that hides the gap between the annular portion 1 on the outer circumference of the sieve 20 and the wall portion 45b, and an upper frame 30 outside the space in which the sieve 20 rotates. The cover member 33 has an outer portion 33a that follows the upper frame 30, an inner portion 33c that follows the annular portion 1, and a bent portion 33b between the outer portion 33a and the inner portion 33c, and the bent portion 33b causes the inner portion 33c to follow the change in the relative position between the sieve and the upper frame 30.

[0040] According to this, even if the material 7 moves to the outer circumference of the sieve 20 due to centrifugal force or the like, the inside 33c of the cover member 33 follows the annular portion 1, preventing the material 7 from moving further outward. Therefore, unlike conventional separation devices in which there was a risk of the filtered material getting stuck in the gap between the outer edge of the mesh disc and the support portion, the cover member 33 can keep the material 7 inside the sieve 20. Therefore, it is possible to provide a separation device 100 that is less prone to clogging of the filter material and operates stably.

[0041] Furthermore, the cover member 33 comprises a first sheet 10a with an outer surface 33a fixed to the upper frame 30 and a cut 16 extending from the inner surface 33c to the bent portion 33b, and a second sheet 10b having the same shape as the first sheet 10a. The first sheet 10a has a plurality of first wings 17a formed by the cut 16, and the second sheet 10b has a plurality of second wings 17b formed by the cut 16. The first sheet 10a and the second sheet 10b are overlapped alternately at the position of the cut 16, with the first wings 17a and the second wings 17b being alternately superimposed. According to this, the internal structure 33c has a configuration in which the second blade 17b and the first blade 17a alternately overlap in the forward direction, thus providing excellent conformity to the annular section 1.

[0042] Furthermore, when the second sheet 10b is placed on top of the first sheet 10a, the second blade 17b and the first blade 17a alternately overlap on the annular portion 1 in the forward direction, starting from the downstream side in the rotational direction of the annular portion 1. This prevents the filtered material from getting stuck between the first blade 17a and the second blade 17b and clogging the gap between the outer edge of the mesh disc and the support portion when the sieve 20 rotates.

[0043] Furthermore, the slit 16 is L-shaped. The end of the slit 16 is a triangular hole. This allows multiple blades 17 to be provided by adjacent slits 16. By making the end of the slit 16 a triangular hole, the flexibility of the blades 17 is increased and the overlapping of the blades 17 is made easier.

[0044] Furthermore, the cover member 33 hides the gap between the annular portion 1 and the upper frame 30 on the surface side where the raw material is introduced into the sieve 20. This prevents material 7 from moving to the outside of cover member 33.

[0045] Furthermore, the upper frame 30 has a projection 31 that protrudes toward the surface side of the sieve 20, and the bent portion 33b is pushed toward the sieve 20 by the projection 31, causing the interior 33c to conform to the annular portion 1. According to this, the interior 33c of the cover member 33 can follow the rotating annular portion 1 well.

[0046] The method for producing material 7 as filtered matter using the separation device 100 involves supplying raw material 5, which is a mixture of filtered matter and foreign matter, to the surface side of the sieve 20, using the bent portion 33b to allow the interior 33c to follow the change in the relative position between the sieve 20 and the upper frame 30 as it rotates, recovering foreign matter 6 from either the surface or back side of the sieve 20 after rotation, and recovering material 7 as filtered matter from the other side of the sieve 20 after rotation.

[0047] This method provides a filter production method that is less prone to clogging and operates stably.

[0048] Embodiment 2 ***Application to sheet production equipment*** Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of the sheet production apparatus according to Embodiment 2. The above-described separation device 100 can be suitably applied to the sheet production device 200.

[0049] The sheet production apparatus 200 is a sheet production apparatus that manufactures sheets from paper scraps C using a dry process. In a preferred example, the paper scraps C are shredded recycled paper containing fibers such as cellulose. The paper scraps C may be anything containing fibers, such as paper, pulp, pulp sheets, cloth containing nonwoven fabric, or woven fabric. Furthermore, it is not limited to recycled paper, but may also be unused paper. In addition, the sheet production apparatus 200 is not limited to a dry process, but may also be a wet process.

[0050] As shown in Figure 13, the sheet production apparatus 200 has a first unit group 111, a second unit group 112, and a third unit group 113. The first unit group 111, the second unit group 112, and the third unit group 113 are supported by a frame (not shown).

[0051] In Figure 13, the directions in which paper pieces C, sheets P3, slit pieces S, and unwanted scraps move are indicated by white arrows. In the sheet production apparatus 200, the end of the transport direction for paper pieces C, web W, and sheets P3 is sometimes called downstream, and the side going upstream in the transport direction is sometimes called upstream. In the following explanation, an assembly of multiple paper pieces C will also be simply referred to as paper piece C.

[0052] The sheet production device 200 manufactures sheets P3 from paper scraps C. In the sheet production device 200, the first unit group 111, the second unit group 112, and the third unit group 113 are arranged from the X-minus direction to the X-plus direction. The separation device 100 described above is housed in the third unit group 113. Paper fragments C are stored in the storage section 73 of the first unit group 111, supplied from the storage section 73 through the discharge section 74 to the confluence section 66, and then transported to the third unit group 113 via the piping 92. In the third unit group 113, paper fragments C are subjected to processes such as defibration to become fibers, and then formed into a mixture containing a binder. The mixture is transported to the second unit group 112 via the piping 94. In the second unit group 112, the mixture is formed into a web W and then molded into a strip-shaped sheet P1. The strip-shaped sheet P1 is cut in the first unit group 111 to become sheet P3.

[0053] The first unit group 111 comprises a storage section 73, a measurement section 65, a junction section 66, and piping 92. In the first unit group 111, these components are arranged in the order described above, from upstream to downstream. The first unit group 111 also includes a first cutting section 81, a second cutting section 82, a tray 91, and a shredding section 95. The first cutting section 81 and the second cutting section 82 cut a strip-shaped sheet P1 into sheets P3 of a predetermined shape. Furthermore, the first unit group 111 has a water supply section 87. The water supply section 87 is a water storage tank. The water supply section 87 supplies humidifying water to the first humidifying section 85 and the second humidifying section 86, which will be described later, via a water supply pipe (not shown).

[0054] The storage unit 73 stores the paper scraps C, which are the raw material for the sheet P3, and supplies them downstream via the discharge unit 74. The paper scraps C contain fibers such as cellulose and are, for example, shredded waste paper. Humidified air is supplied to the inside of the storage unit 73 from the second humidification unit 86 provided in the second unit group 112. The paper fragments C are temporarily stored in the storage section 73 and then transported to the measuring section 65 via the discharge section 74. The sheet production device 200 may also be equipped with a shredder upstream of the storage section 73 for shredding the paper fragments C and the like.

[0055] The measuring unit 65 includes a sensor unit 65a and a supply mechanism (not shown). The sensor unit 65a measures the mass of the paper pieces C. The supply mechanism supplies the paper pieces C, weighed by the sensor unit 65a, to the downstream confluence unit 66. In other words, the measuring unit 65 weighs the paper pieces C in predetermined masses using the sensor unit 65a and supplies them to the downstream confluence unit 66 using the supply mechanism. The sensor unit 65a can be either a digital or analog weighing mechanism. Specifically, examples of the sensor unit 65a include physical sensors such as load cells, and spring scales and balances. In this embodiment, a load cell is used as the sensor unit 65a. The predetermined mass that the sensor unit 65a weighs the paper piece C is, for example, several grams to several tens of grams.

[0056] The weighing and supply of paper pieces C in the measuring unit 65 is a batch process. That is, the supply of paper pieces C from the measuring unit 65 to the merging unit 66 is performed intermittently. The measuring unit 65 may have multiple combinations of sensor units 65a and supply mechanisms, and the efficiency of weighing and supply may be improved by operating multiple sensor units 65a with time differences. In a preferred example, the sheet production apparatus 200 has two sensor units 65a and a supply mechanism attached to each. As a result, paper pieces C are transported alternately to the merging unit 66 from the two sets of sensor units 65a and supply mechanisms.

[0057] At the confluence section 66, the paper pieces C supplied from the measuring section 65 are mixed with the fine fragments of the slit pieces S supplied from the shredding section 95. The slit pieces S and the shredding section 95 will be described later. The paper pieces C mixed with the fine fragments flow from the confluence section 66 into the piping 92. The piping 92 transports the paper pieces C from the first unit group 111 to the third unit group 113 via the second unit group 112, using the suction airflow generated by the downstream defibration section 75.

[0058] The third unit group 113 consists of a defibration unit 75, a separation device 100, a mixing unit 78, a waste powder collection unit 76, and a power supply unit 69, among others.

[0059] The paper pieces C transported through the piping 92 flow into the defibration section 75. The defibration section 75 is a dry defibration machine that dry-defibrates the paper pieces C supplied from the measuring section 65 into fibers. Known defibration mechanisms can be applied to the defibration section 75. The defibration unit 75 may have the following configuration, for example. The defibration unit 75 comprises 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 fine fragments of the paper piece C are sandwiched between the inner surface of the stator and the rotor, and are defibrated by the shear force generated between them. As a result, the paper piece C becomes a raw material 5 (Figure 3) containing entangled defibrated material contained in the paper piece. The paper piece C is then converted into fibers and transported to the separation device 100.

[0060] As shown in Figure 13, air containing the raw material is supplied from the first pipe 11 to the separation device 100. The separation device 100 is the separation device described above, which filters the raw material through the sieve 20 and separates the filtered material from foreign matter based on size differences. Specifically, it separates relatively long fibers from relatively short fibers, with the long fibers being used as the material and the short fibers as foreign matter. The foreign matter also includes colorants and additives contained in the paper pieces C. The fourth pipe 14 and humidification pipe 15 of the separation device 100 are connected to the second humidification unit 86. As a result, humidified air from the humidification pipe 15 is blown onto the material deposited on the surface of the sieve 20. Humidified air is also blown from the fourth pipe 14 to the back side of the sieve 20. The second humidification unit 86 is equipped with an ultrasonic humidifier and a blower, and supplies humidified air with a higher moisture content per unit volume than the air from the first pipe 11. Note that the second humidification unit 86 is not limited to an ultrasonic type; any humidifier with equivalent humidification function is acceptable, for example, a heated type or an evaporative type humidifier may be included. The material, which is the filtrate accumulated on the sieve 20, is transported to the mixing section 78 through the third pipe 13. More specifically, it is sucked and transported to the mixing section 78 via the third pipe 13 by the airflow generated by a blower (not shown) located at the tip of the third pipe 13.

[0061] The air containing foreign matter then flows into the waste powder collection section 76 via the second pipe 12. Note that foreign matter is also referred to as waste powder. The waste dust collection unit 76 is a bag filter and includes a blower 76a that generates exhaust airflow and a compressor 76b that generates compressed air for cleaning the filter. Multiple filters (not shown) are provided inside the waste dust collection unit 76, and foreign matter in the gas is removed by these filters. The exhaust air from which foreign matter has been removed is discharged from an exhaust port (not shown). The foreign matter is collected in a waste dust box 77 located below the waste dust collection unit 76.

[0062] The mixing unit 78 mixes powder additives such as binders with the fibers in air to form a mixture. The mixing unit 78 is equipped with a powder supply mechanism 49. The powder supply mechanism 49 has a built-in hopper. A powder supply container 79 is attached to the powder supply mechanism 49. Although not shown in the figures, in addition to the powder supply mechanism 49, the mixing unit 78 is equipped with a flow path for transporting fibers, a valve, and a fan. The hopper sends the binder powder supplied from the powder supply container 79 into the flow path. In the sheet production apparatus 200, starch is used as the binder for the fibers. A valve (not shown) adjusts the flow rate, i.e., the mass, of the binder supplied from the hopper to the flow path. This adjusts the mixing ratio of the fibers and the binder. The mixing section 78 may also have a similar configuration for supplying colorants, additives, etc., in addition to the powder supply container 79 and powder supply mechanism 49 that supply the binder. The fan in the mixing section 78 uses the generated airflow to transport the fibers downstream while mixing the binder and other materials in the air to form a mixture. The mixture flows from the mixing section 78 into the piping 94.

[0063] The power supply unit 69 has a power supply device (not shown) that supplies power to the control board 46 and the sheet production apparatus 200. The power supply unit 69 distributes the power supplied from the outside to each component of the sheet production apparatus 200. The control board 46 is equipped with the control unit 67, memory unit 68, and other components. In a preferred example, the control unit 67 and memory unit 68 also have the function of comprehensively controlling the entire sheet production apparatus 200. The control board 46 may also be connected to a computer 80. The computer 80 is, for example, a notebook computer and stores the control program for the entire sheet production apparatus 200, including the separation device 100.

[0064] The second unit group 112 deposits and compresses a fiber-containing mixture to form a strip-shaped sheet P1 which is recycled paper. The second unit group 112 includes a deposit section 48, a first transport section 83, a second transport section 84, a first humidification section 85, a second humidification section 86, a drainage section 88, and a molding section 70. In the second unit group 112, the deposition section 48, the first transport section 83, the second transport section 84, the first humidification section 85, and the molding section 70 are arranged in the order described above, from upstream to downstream. The second humidification section 86 is located below the first humidification section 85.

[0065] The deposition unit 48 deposits a mixture containing separated fibers in the air to generate a web W. The deposition unit 48 includes a drum member 53, a vane member 55 installed inside the drum member 53, a housing 51 that accommodates the drum member 53, and a suction unit 59. The mixture is drawn into the drum member 53 from a pipe 94. Below the stacking section 48, a first conveying section 83 is positioned. The first conveying section 83 has a mesh belt 83a and five tensioning rollers (not shown) that tension the mesh belt 83a. The suction section 59 faces the drum member 53 in the direction along the Z-axis, with the mesh belt 83a in between.

[0066] The blade member 55 is located inside the drum member 53 and is rotationally driven 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 smaller than the mesh opening of the sieve to pass from the inside to the outside. The mixture is agitated by the rotating blade member 55 within the drum member 53 and then released to the outside of the drum member 53. Humidified air from the second humidification unit 86 is supplied to the inside of the drum member 53.

[0067] The suction unit 59 is positioned below the drum member 53. The suction unit 59 sucks air from inside the housing 51 through multiple holes in the mesh belt 83a. The multiple holes in the mesh belt 83a allow air to pass through but make it difficult for fibers, binders, etc., contained in the mixture to pass through. As a result, the mixture released to the outside of the drum member 53 is sucked downward along with the air. The suction unit 59 is a known suction device such as a blower. The mixture is dispersed in the air inside the housing 51 and deposited on the upper surface of the mesh belt 83a by gravity and suction from the suction unit 59 to form the web W.

[0068] The mesh belt 83a is an endless belt and is stretched by five tension rollers. The mesh belt 83a rotates counterclockwise in Figure 13 due to the rotation of the tension rollers. As a result, the mixture is continuously deposited on the mesh belt 83a, forming a web W. The web W contains a relatively large amount of air and is soft and puffy. The first conveying unit 83 conveys the formed web W downstream by the rotation of the mesh belt 83a.

[0069] The second conveying unit 84 is located downstream of the first conveying unit 83 and conveys the web W in place of the first conveying unit 83. The second conveying unit 84 peels the web W from the upper surface of the mesh belt 83a and conveys it toward the molding unit 70. The second conveying unit 84 is located above the conveying path of the web W and slightly upstream of the starting point on the return side of the mesh belt 83a. The X-positive side of the second conveying unit 84 and the X-negative side of the mesh belt 83a partially overlap in the vertical direction. The second conveying unit 84 has a transport belt (not shown), a plurality of rollers, and a suction mechanism. The transport belt is provided with a plurality of holes for air to pass through. The transport belt is stretched by a plurality of rollers and rotates as the rollers rotate. The second transport section 84 uses the negative pressure generated by the suction mechanism to attract the upper surface of the web W to the lower surface of the transport belt. As the transport belt rotates in this state, the web W is attracted to the transport belt and transported downstream.

[0070] The first humidification unit 85 is a humidification device similar to the second humidification unit 86, and humidifies the web W containing fibers deposited in the deposition section 48 of the second unit group 112. Specifically, the first humidification unit 85 is located below the second transport section 84, and humidifies the web W being transported by the second transport section 84 by supplying mist M from below. When the web W is humidified with mist M, the function of the starch as a binder is enhanced, improving the strength of the sheet P3. 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 humidification is performed from the opposite side of the contact surface between the transport belt and the web W, the web W is less likely to stick to the transport belt. The second transport unit 84 transports the web W to the molding unit 70.

[0071] The molding section 70 has processing rollers 71 and 72. The processing rollers 71 and 72 compress the fiber-containing web W to form a strip-shaped sheet P1. The processing rollers 71 and 72 are paired and each has a built-in electric heater to raise the temperature of the roller surface. The processing rollers 71 and 72 are each approximately cylindrical in shape. The rotation axes of processing roller 71 and processing roller 72 are arranged along the Y-axis. With respect to the transport path of the web W, processing roller 71 is positioned approximately above and processing roller 72 is positioned approximately below. A gap corresponding to the thickness of the sheet P3 to be manufactured is provided between the side surface of processing roller 71 and the side surface of processing roller 72.

[0072] The processing rollers 71 and 72 are rotationally driven by a stepping motor (not shown). The web W is heated and pressurized while being sandwiched between the processing rollers 71 and 72, and then fed downstream. In other words, the web W passes continuously through the molding section 70, being heated and press-formed. By using the processing rollers 71 and 72 as a pair of molding members, the heating and pressurization of the web W can be performed efficiently.

[0073] As the web W passes through the molding section 70, the amount of air it contains is reduced, and the fibers are bound together by the binder, forming it into a strip-shaped sheet P1. The strip-shaped sheet P1 is conveyed to the first unit group 111 by conveyor rollers (not shown).

[0074] The second humidification unit 86 is located below the first humidification unit 85. The second humidification unit 86 supplies humidified air to the storage unit 73, the separation device 100, and the drum member 53 of the accumulation unit 48, etc. The drainage section 88 is a drainage tank. The drainage section 88 is used in the first humidification section 85 and the second humidification section 86, etc., and collects and stores old moisture. The drainage section 88 can be removed from the sheet production device 200 as needed to dispose of the accumulated water.

[0075] The strip-shaped sheet P1, transported to the first unit group 111, reaches the first cutting section 81. The first cutting section 81 cuts the strip-shaped sheet P1 in a direction intersecting the transport direction, for example, along the Y-axis. The strip-shaped sheet P1 is cut into single-sheet-shaped sheets P2 at the first cutting section 81. The single-sheet-shaped sheets P2 are transported from the first cutting section 81 to the second cutting section 82. The second cutting section 82 cuts the single sheet P2 in a direction along the transport direction. More specifically, the second cutting section 82 cuts the single sheet P2 near both sides in the direction along the X-axis. As a result, the single sheet P2 becomes a sheet P3 of a predetermined shape, such as A4 or A3 size.

[0076] In the second cutting section 82, when the single sheet P2 is cut into sheet P3, slit pieces S, which are scraps, are generated. The slit pieces S are transported downward to the shredding section 95, which is a shredder. The shredding section 95 shreds the slit pieces S into fine fragments, which are then supplied to the merging section 66. A mechanism for weighing the fine fragments of the slit pieces S and supplying them to the merging section 66 may be installed between the shredding section 95 and the merging section 66. Sheet P3 is conveyed almost upwards and accumulated in tray 91. Thus, sheet P3 is manufactured by the sheet production device 200. Sheet P3 can be used as a substitute for, for example, copy paper.

[0077] In other words, the sheet production apparatus 200 includes a separation apparatus 100, a defibration section 75 for defibrating the raw material, a deposition section 48 for depositing the material to form a web W, and a molding section 70 for compressing the web W to form a sheet. The separation apparatus 100 separates filtrate from the air containing the raw material defibrated by the defibration section 75, and supplies the separated filtrate as material to the deposition section 48.

[0078] As described above, the sheet production apparatus 200 of this embodiment provides the following advantages. The sheet production apparatus 200 includes a separation apparatus 100, a defibration section 75 for defibrating the raw material, a deposition section 48 for depositing the material to form a web W, and a molding section 70 for compressing the web W to form a sheet. The separation apparatus 100 separates filtrate from the air containing the raw material defibrated by the defibration section 75 and supplies the separated filtrate as material to the deposition section 48.

[0079] According to this, the sheet production apparatus 200 has a cover member 33 and is equipped with a separation device 100 that is less prone to clogging of filtered material and operates stably. Therefore, we can provide a sheet production apparatus 200 that can produce high-quality sheets with stable operation. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the example was that the target material to be obtained by filtration is a fibrous material that does not pass through the mesh 4. Therefore, the material that did not pass through the mesh 4 was called the filtered material, and the material that did pass through the mesh 4 was called foreign matter. However, if the target material to be obtained by filtration is one that passes through the mesh 4, the material that passes through the mesh 4 may be called the filtered material, and the material that does not pass through the mesh 4 may be called foreign matter. Also, if it is desired to separate and obtain both the material that passes through the mesh 4 and the material that does not pass through the mesh 4, one of them may be called the filtered material and the other the foreign matter. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0080] 1... Ring section, 2... Rotating shaft, 2b... Pinion gear, 3... Spoke, 4... Mesh, 5... Raw material, 6... Foreign matter, 7... Material, 8... Motor, 9... Partition, 10... Sheet, 10a... First sheet, 10b... Second sheet, 11... First piping, 12... Second piping, 13... Third piping, 14... Fourth piping, 15... Humidification piping, 15b... Pipe cover, 15c... Connecting passage, 16... Slit, 16a... Slit, 17... Blade, 17a... First blade, 17b... Second blade, 18... Reference hole, 18a ...Reference hole, 18b...Reference hole, 19...Outer edge, 21...First chamber, 22...Second chamber, 22h...Hole, 23...Third chamber, 24...Fourth chamber, 24h...Hole, 30...Upper frame, 31...Protrusion, 32...Support ring, 33...Cover member, 33a...Exterior, 33b...Bent part, 33c...Interior, 35...Pressing ring, 40...Support frame, 41...Cylindrical part, 41a...Opening, 42...Top plate, 43...Opening, 45...Storage part, 45b...Wall part, 46...Control board, 48...Stacking part, 49...Powder supply mechanism 51...Housing, 53...Drum component, 55...Blade component, 59...Suction unit, 60...Centerline, 65...Measurement unit, 65a...Sensor unit, 66...Confluence unit, 67...Control unit, 68...Storage unit, 69...Power supply unit, 70...Molding unit, 71...Processing roller, 72...Processing roller, 73...Storage unit, 74...Discharge unit, 75...Fibre removal unit, 76...Waste powder collection unit, 76a...Blower, 76b...Compressor, 77...Waste powder box, 78...Mixing unit, 79...Powder supply container, 80...Computer P1...First cutting section, P2...Second cutting section, P3...First conveying section, P4...Mesh belt, P5...Second conveying section, P6...First humidification section, P7...Second humidification section, P8...Water supply section, P8...Drainage section, P6...Tray, P7...Piping, P8...Piping, P8...Shredding section, P9...Separation device, P1...First unit group, P1...Second unit group, P8...Third unit group, P9...Sheet production device, P1...Strip-shaped sheet, P2...Single-sheet-shaped sheet, P8...Sheet.

Claims

1. A sieve equipped with a mesh that rotates, A wall portion that partitions the space in which the sieve rotates, A cover member that conceals the gap between the annular portion on the outer circumference of the sieve and the wall portion, The sieve comprises an upper frame outside the space in which it rotates, The cover member has an outer portion along the upper frame, an inner portion along the annular portion, and a bent portion between the outer portion and the inner portion. The bent portion is designed to allow the interior to follow the change in the relative position between the sieve and the upper frame. Separation device.

2. The cover member comprises a first sheet whose exterior is fixed to the upper frame and which has a cut from the interior to the bent portion, The set includes a second sheet having the same shape as the first sheet, The first sheet has a plurality of first wings formed on it, which are divided by the cuts. The second sheet has a plurality of second wings formed on it, which are divided by the cuts. The first sheet and the second sheet are arranged such that the first feather and the second feather are alternately overlapped at the position of the cut. The separation apparatus according to claim 1.

3. When the second sheet is placed on top of the first sheet, From the downstream side in the rotational direction of the annular portion, the second blade and the first blade alternately overlap the annular portion in the forward direction. The separation apparatus according to claim 2.

4. The aforementioned cut is L-shaped. The separation apparatus according to claim 2.

5. The cover member, on the surface side into which the raw material is introduced into the sieve, hides the gap between the annular portion and the upper frame. The separation apparatus according to claim 1.

6. The upper frame has a protrusion that projects toward the surface side of the sieve, The bent portion is such that the cover member is pushed toward the sieve by the protrusion, causing the inside to follow the annular portion. The separation apparatus according to claim 5.

7. A separation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The defibration section that breaks down the raw material, A depositional section where material is deposited to form a web, The molding unit includes a molding unit that compresses the web to form a sheet, The separation device separates the filtrate from the air containing the filtrate and foreign matter defibrated by the defibration unit, and supplies the separated filtrate as the material to the deposition unit. Sheet production equipment.

8. A sieve equipped with a mesh that rotates, A wall portion that partitions the space in which the sieve rotates, A cover member that conceals the gap between the annular portion on the outer circumference of the sieve and the wall portion, The sieve comprises an upper frame outside the space in which it rotates, The cover member has an outer portion along the upper frame, an inner portion along the annular portion, and a bent portion between the outer portion and the inner portion, in a method for producing filtered material using a separation device, The raw material containing filtered material and foreign matter is supplied to the surface side of the sieve. The internal structure is made to follow the change in the relative position between the sieve and the upper frame due to rotation, using the bent portion. After rotation, the foreign matter is collected from the front or back side of the sieve. After rotation, the filtered material is collected from either the front or back side of the sieve. A method for producing filtered material.

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