Sheet manufacturing equipment

Abstract

To provide a sheet manufacturing apparatus with a simple configuration that reduces leftover powder. [Solution] The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 comprises a supply unit 200 for supplying powder, a mixing unit 33 for mixing fibers and the powder to form a mixture, a deposit unit 50 for depositing the mixture to form a web W, and a molding unit 70 for compressing the web W to form a sheet. The supply unit 200 comprises a cylindrical container for storing the powder, a cylindrical inner wall 221 into which the cylindrical container can be inserted, a holding unit 220 that can contact the cylindrical container, and a drive unit 230. When the cylindrical container is inserted into the holding unit 220, the holding unit 220 and the drive unit 230 hold the cylindrical container, and the roller surface of the drive unit 230 is provided with a plurality of first protrusions 336, and the outer surface of the cylindrical container is provided with a plurality of second protrusions 317, and the plurality of first protrusions 336 and the plurality of second protrusions 317 interlock.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, Patent Document 1 discloses an apparatus provided with a mechanism for supplying powders such as materials and additives. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus provided with a toner bottle for supplying toner.

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the apparatus described in Patent Document 1 has problems that the structure tends to be complicated and it is difficult to reduce the remaining supply of toner. Specifically, the toner bottle tends to have a complicated structure because it incorporates a motor. Also, when the toner bottle is arranged substantially horizontally, it may be difficult to supply all the toner in the toner storage space even when the screw rotates. That is, there has been a demand for a sheet manufacturing apparatus with a simple configuration that reduces the remaining supply of powder.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The sheet manufacturing apparatus comprises a supply unit for supplying powder, a mixing unit for mixing fibers with the supplied powder to form a mixture, a deposition unit for depositing the mixture to form a web, and a molding unit for compressing the web to form a sheet. The supply unit comprises a cylindrical container for storing the powder, a cylindrical inner wall into which the cylindrical container can be inserted, a holding unit having a pressing roller that can contact the cylindrical container on the inner wall, and a drive unit having a drive roller. When the cylindrical container is inserted into the holding unit, the pressing roller and the drive roller hold the cylindrical container, and the rotation of the drive roller causes the cylindrical container to rotate, supplying the powder from the cylindrical container. The surface of the drive roller is provided with a plurality of first protrusions, and the outer surface of the cylindrical container is provided with a plurality of second protrusions, and the plurality of first protrusions and the plurality of second protrusions interlock. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0006] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram showing the configuration of a sheet manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] A cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the supply unit. [Figure 3] A cross-sectional view showing the structure of the holding part, etc. [Figure 4] A side view showing the configuration of the holding part and other components. [Figure 5] A perspective view showing the structure of the holding mechanism and other components. [Figure 6] A perspective view showing the structure of a cylindrical container. [Figure 7] A perspective view showing the external appearance of a cylindrical container with an open opening. [Figure 8] A perspective view showing a cylindrical container inserted into the holding section. [Figure 9] A cross-sectional view showing a cylindrical container inserted into the holding section. [Figure 10] Enlarged cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the sensor unit. [Figure 11] Enlarged cross-sectional view showing the function of the sensor unit. [Figure 12] A perspective view showing the structure of a cylindrical container. [Figure 13]A perspective view showing the structure of the holding mechanism and other components. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] (Embodiment) In the following embodiment, a sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 for manufacturing sheets from paper scraps will be illustrated and described with reference to the drawings. The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a supply unit for supplying a binding agent in powder form.

[0008] In the following diagrams, the F-axis and mutually orthogonal XYZ axes are added as needed, with the direction indicated by each arrow being the + direction and the opposite direction being the - direction. The Z-axis runs vertically, and the -Z direction is vertical. The +Z direction may also be referred to as upward, and the -Z direction as downward. The F-axis intersects the Z-axis (i.e., the vertical direction) and the Y-axis, and is perpendicular to the X-axis. For illustrative purposes, the sizes of the components are shown to differ from their actual dimensions.

[0009] The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 manufactures sheets P3 from paper scraps such as waste paper using a dry process. The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 is not limited to a dry process, but may also be a wet process. In this specification, "dry process" means that the process is carried out in air, such as the atmosphere, rather than in a liquid.

[0010] As shown in Figure 1, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 according to this embodiment has 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).

[0011] In Figure 1, the directions in which the paper pieces C, sheet P3, slit pieces S, and unwanted scraps move are indicated by white arrows. In the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1, the direction ahead in the transport direction of the paper pieces C, web W, and sheet P3 is sometimes referred to as downstream, and the direction upstream in the transport direction is sometimes referred to as upstream.

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

[0013] The paper piece C is conveyed from the first unit group 101 to the second unit group 102 through a pipe 21 that crosses inside the third unit group 103. Then, the paper piece C is defibrated in the second unit group 102 to become fibers, and then is made into a mixture containing a binder and the like. The mixture is conveyed to the third unit group 103 through a pipe 24. The mixture is made into a web W in the third unit group 103 and then is formed into a strip-shaped sheet P1. The strip-shaped sheet P1 is cut in the first unit group 101 to become the sheet P3. In the following description, an aggregate of fibers composed of a plurality of fibers is also simply referred to as fibers.

[0014] The first unit group 101 includes a raw material supply device 13, a measurement unit 15, a confluence unit 17, and a pipe 21. In the first unit group 101, these components are arranged in the above order from upstream to downstream. The first unit group 101 also has a first cutting unit 81, a second cutting unit 82, a tray 91, and a shredding unit 95. The first cutting unit 81 and the second cutting unit 82 cut the strip-shaped sheet P1 into a sheet P3 having a predetermined shape. Further, the first unit group 101 has a water supply unit 67. The water supply unit 67 is a water storage tank. The water supply unit 67 supplies humidifying water to each of a first humidifying unit 65 and a second humidifying unit 66, which will be described later, through a water supply pipe not shown.

[0015] The raw material supply device 13 stores the paper piece C, which is the raw material of the sheet P3, and supplies it downstream. The raw material supply device 13 has a raw material inlet 131, a storage unit 132, and a discharge unit 140.

[0016] The paper piece C is input from the raw material inlet 131 to the storage unit 132. The paper piece C contains fibers such as cellulose and is, for example, shredded waste paper. Humidified air is supplied from a second humidifying unit 66 provided in the third unit group 103 into the storage unit 132.

[0017] The paper piece C is temporarily stored in the storage unit 132 and then conveyed to the measurement unit 15 through the discharge unit 140. The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 may include a shredder for shredding the paper piece C or the like on the upstream side of the storage unit 132.

[0018] The measurement unit 15 has a sensor 15a and a supply mechanism (not shown). The sensor 15a measures the mass of the paper piece C. The supply mechanism supplies the paper piece C weighed by the sensor 15a to the downstream confluence part 17. That is, the measurement unit 15 measures the paper piece C by the sensor 15a for each predetermined mass and supplies it to the downstream confluence part 17 by the supply mechanism.

[0019] Either a digital or an analog weighing mechanism can be applied to the sensor 15a. Specifically, examples of the sensor 15a include physical sensors such as load cells, and spring scales and balances. In this embodiment, a load cell is applied as the sensor 15a. The predetermined mass at which the sensor 15a weighs the paper piece C is, for example, about several grams to several tens of grams.

[0020] Known techniques such as an openable and closable feeder can be applied to the supply mechanism. The supply mechanism may be a configuration included in the sensor 15a.

[0021] The weighing and supply of the paper piece C in the measurement unit 15 are batch processes. That is, the supply of the paper piece C from the measurement unit 15 to the confluence part 17 is carried out intermittently. The measurement unit 15 may have a plurality of combinations of the sensor 15a and the supply mechanism, or may operate a plurality of sensors 15a with a time difference to improve the efficiency of weighing and supply. The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 has two sensors 15a and supply mechanisms attached to each of them. Thereby, the paper piece C is alternately conveyed from the two sets of sensors 15a and supply mechanisms to the confluence part 17.

[0022] At the confluence section 17, the paper pieces C supplied from the measuring section 15 are combined with the fine fragments of the slit pieces S supplied from the shredding section 95 and mixed together. 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 17 into the piping 21.

[0023] The piping 21 transports the paper pieces C from the first unit group 101 to the second unit group 102 by the suction airflow generated by the downstream defibration section 30.

[0024] The second unit group 102 comprises a dry defibration machine consisting of a defibration section 30, a separation section 31, piping 23, a supply section 200, and a mixing section 33 and piping 24. In the second unit group 102, these components are arranged in the order described above, from upstream to downstream. The second unit group 102 also includes piping 25 connected to the separation section 31, a recovery section 35, a compressor 38, and a power supply section 39.

[0025] The paper pieces C transported through the piping 21 flow into the defibration section 30. The defibration section 30 defibrates the paper pieces C supplied from the measuring section 15 in a dry manner to form fibers. Known defibration mechanisms can be applied to the defibration section 30.

[0026] The defibration unit 30 may have the following configuration, for example. The defibration unit 30 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 tangled fibers contained in the paper piece C are untangled. The paper piece C is then transported to the separation unit 31 as fibers.

[0027] The separation unit 31 separates the defibrated fibers. More specifically, the separation unit 31 removes components contained in the fibers that are unnecessary for the manufacture of sheet P3. Specifically, the separation unit 31 separates relatively long fibers from relatively short fibers. Relatively short fibers are separated in the separation unit 31 because they may cause a decrease in the strength of sheet P3. The separation unit 31 also separates and removes colorants and additives contained in the paper scraps C. Known technologies such as a disc mesh system can be applied to the separation unit 31.

[0028] The inside of the separation unit 31 is supplied with humidified air from the second humidification unit 66 of the third unit group 103.

[0029] The defibrated fibers, with relatively short fibers and other unwanted materials removed, are transported to the mixing section 33 via pipe 23 by an airflow generated by a blower (not shown) located at the end of the airflow pipe 32. Unwanted materials such as relatively short fibers and colorants are discharged to the recovery section 35 via pipe 25.

[0030] The recovery unit 35 is equipped with a filter (not shown). The filter removes unwanted materials such as relatively short fibers that have been transported through the piping 25 by airflow.

[0031] The compressor 38 generates compressed air. The filter may become clogged with fine particles and other unwanted substances. It is possible to clean the filter by blowing the compressed air generated by the compressor 38 onto it to blow away the attached particles.

[0032] The power supply unit 39 includes a control unit 5 and a power supply device (not shown) that supplies power to the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. The power supply unit 39 distributes the power supplied from an external source to each component of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. The control unit 5 is electrically connected to each component of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 and comprehensively controls the operation of these components.

[0033] The supply unit 200 supplies the binder in powder form to the mixing unit 33. The mixing unit 33 mixes the fibers and the binder supplied from the supply unit 200 in air to form a mixture. The binder binds the fibers together in the molding unit 70, which will be described later. In this embodiment, starch is used as the binder.

[0034] The powder supplied by the supply unit 200 to the mixing unit 33 is not limited to a binder, but may also be other additives such as colorants. Furthermore, the powder may be a mixture of the binder and other additives. The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 may also be equipped with multiple supply units 200. Details of the supply units 200 will be described later.

[0035] Although not shown in the diagram, the mixing unit 33 includes a flow path and a fan. The flow path of the mixing unit 33 communicates with the upstream piping 23 and the downstream piping 24. In addition, the supply unit 200 is connected to the flow path of the mixing unit 33.

[0036] In the mixing section 33, fibers flow in from the piping 23 into the flow path. The fan in the mixing section 33 generates an airflow within the flow path. The fibers are transported downstream within the flow path by the airflow from the fan. At this time, the binder, which is a powder supplied into the flow path from the supply section 200, is mixed with the fibers. As the fibers are transported within the flow path, they are mixed with the binder by the airflow to form a mixture. The mixture flows from the mixing section 33 into the piping 24.

[0037] The third unit group 103 deposits and compresses a fiber-containing mixture to form a strip-shaped sheet P1 which is recycled paper. The third unit group 103 comprises a deposit section 50, a first transport section 61, a second transport section 62, a first humidification section 65, a second humidification section 66, a drainage section 68, and a molding section 70.

[0038] In the third unit group 103, the deposition section 50, the first transport section 61, the second transport section 62, the first humidification section 65, and the molding section 70 are arranged in the order described above, from upstream to downstream. The second humidification section 66 is located below the first humidification section 65.

[0039] The deposition section 50 deposits the mixture containing the separated fibers in the air to form a web W. The deposition section 50 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 section 59. The mixture is drawn into the drum member 53 from the piping 24.

[0040] Below the stacking section 50, a first conveying section 61 is positioned. The first conveying section 61 has a mesh belt 61a and five tensioning rollers (not shown) that tension the mesh belt 61a. The suction section 59 faces the drum member 53 in the direction along the Z-axis, with the mesh belt 61a in between.

[0041] 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.

[0042] The mixture is agitated by the rotating blade member 55 within the drum member 53 and then discharged to the outside of the drum member 53. Humidified air from the second humidification unit 66 is supplied to the inside of the drum member 53.

[0043] 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 61a. The multiple holes in the mesh belt 61a allow air to pass through but make it difficult for fibers, binders, etc., contained in the mixture to pass through. 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.

[0044] The mixture is dispersed in the air inside the housing 51 and deposited on the upper surface of the mesh belt 61a by gravity and suction from the suction unit 59 to form the web W.

[0045] The mesh belt 61a is an endless belt and is stretched by five tension rollers. The mesh belt 61a rotates counterclockwise in Figure 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 puffy. The first conveying unit 61 conveys the formed web W downstream by the rotation of the mesh belt 61a.

[0046] 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 molding unit 70. The second conveying unit 62 is located above the conveying path of the web W and is positioned slightly upstream of the starting point on 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.

[0047] The second conveying section 62 includes a conveying belt (not shown), a plurality of rollers, and a suction mechanism. The conveying belt is provided with a plurality of holes for air to pass through. The conveying belt is stretched by the plurality of rollers and rotates as the rollers rotate.

[0048] The second transport section 62 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. In this state, as the transport belt rotates, the web W is attracted to the transport belt and transported downstream.

[0049] The first humidification unit 65 humidifies the web W containing fibers deposited in the deposition unit 50 of the third unit group 103. Specifically, the first humidification unit 65 is, for example, a mist-type humidifier that humidifies the web W being transported by the second transport unit 62 by supplying mist M from below. The first humidification unit 65 is positioned below the second transport unit 62 and faces the web W being transported by the second transport unit 62 in a direction along the Z-axis. Known humidification devices, such as ultrasonic humidifiers, can be applied to the first humidification unit 65.

[0050] 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 62 transports the web W to the molding unit 70.

[0051] The molding section 70 has processing rollers 71 and 72. The processing rollers 71 and 72 compress the fiber-containing web W and form it into 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.

[0052] 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 X-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.

[0053] 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.

[0054] 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 101 by a conveyor roller (not shown).

[0055] The second humidification unit 66 is located below the first humidification unit 65. A known evaporative humidifier can be applied to the second humidification unit 66. An example of an evaporative humidifier is one that generates humidified air by blowing air over a damp nonwoven fabric or the like to vaporize the moisture.

[0056] The second humidification unit 66 humidifies a predetermined area of ​​the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. The predetermined area is one or more of the storage unit 132, the separation unit 31, and the drum member 53 of the stacking unit 50. Specifically, humidified air is supplied from the second humidification unit 66 to the above area via a plurality of pipes (not shown). In each of the above configurations, the humidified air suppresses the charging of paper scraps C and fibers, and prevents them from adhering to the materials due to static electricity.

[0057] The drainage section 68 is a drainage tank. The drainage section 68 is used in the first humidification section 65 and the second humidification section 66, etc., and collects and stores old moisture. The drainage section 68 can be removed from the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 as needed to dispose of the accumulated water.

[0058] The strip-shaped sheet P1, transported to the first unit group 101, reaches the first cutting section 81. The first cutting section 81 cuts the strip-shaped sheet P1 in a direction intersecting the transport direction, for example, along the X-axis. The strip-shaped sheet P1 is cut into single-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.

[0059] The second cutting section 82 cuts the single sheet P2 in the transport direction, for example, along the Y-axis. 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.

[0060] 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 in approximately the -Y direction 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 17. A mechanism for weighing the fine fragments of the slit pieces S and supplying them to the merging section 17 may be installed between the shredding section 95 and the merging section 17.

[0061] The sheet P3 is conveyed almost upwards and accumulated in the tray 91. Thus, 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.

[0062] As shown in Figure 2, the supply unit 200 comprises a housing 201, a cylindrical container 210, a holding unit 220, a drive unit 230, and a supply pipe 240. The supply unit 200 takes in the binder, which is a powder stored inside the cylindrical container 210, into the housing 201 and supplies it to the mixing unit 33 via the supply pipe 240. The cylindrical container 210 is detachable from the main body of the supply unit 200, more specifically from the holding unit 220.

[0063] Figure 2 shows the cylindrical container 210 mounted on the holding unit 220. Also in Figure 2, the movement path of the binder supplied from the cylindrical container 210 to the mixing unit 33 is indicated by a dashed arrow. In the supply unit 200, the cylindrical container 210, the holding unit 220, the housing 201, and the supply pipe 240 are arranged along the movement path of the binder.

[0064] The holding portion 220 is provided protruding from the housing 201 in the +F direction. The holding portion 220 has an inner wall 221, a first pressing roller 228a, and a second pressing roller 228b, and holds the cylindrical container 210. The inner wall 221 is cylindrical and inclined along the F axis. The shape of the inner wall 221 corresponds to the cylindrical container 210. The cylindrical container 210 can be inserted into the inner wall 221.

[0065] The cylindrical container 210 stores a binder (not shown) and can be transported with the binder stored inside. The cylindrical container 210 is substantially cylindrical and has a central axis CA, which is a virtual axis along the F axis. In the cylindrical container 210, the cross section perpendicular to the central axis CA is substantially circular.

[0066] When the cylindrical container 210 is inserted into the inner wall 221 of the holding part 220, the central axis CA intersects the vertical direction, i.e., the Z-axis. At this time, the binder can be supplied from the cylindrical container 210 to the inside of the housing 201 via the holding part 220. When the cylindrical container 210 is inserted into the holding part 220, the central axis CA tilts so that its height increases in the +Y direction. Therefore, gravity acts on the supply of the binder from the cylindrical container 210 to the inside of the housing 201. Gravity facilitates the supply of the binder. Details of the holding part 220 and the cylindrical container 210 will be described later.

[0067] The drive unit 230 includes a drive motor 231, a shaft member 233, and a drive roller 235. The drive motor 231 is located at the -Y end of the housing 201. The drive motor 231 rotates the shaft member 233 and the drive roller 235 via a plurality of gears (not shown), and further rotates the cylindrical container 210 via the drive roller 235.

[0068] The shaft member 233 is a roughly rod-shaped member. The shaft member 233 is positioned along the Y-axis inside the housing 201. Although not shown in the illustration, a flap member is attached to the shaft member 233. The flap member rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the shaft member 233, stirring and moving the binder supplied to the inside of the housing 201. As a result, the binder moves downward inside the housing 201 and is transported to the supply pipe 240 by a transport mechanism (not shown).

[0069] The rotation of the drive motor 231 is transmitted from the shaft member 233 to the drive roller 235 via multiple gears (not shown). The drive roller 235 is a substantially cylindrical member, with the axis of the cylinder's center aligned with the F-axis. In the drive roller 235, the portion corresponding to the side surface of the cylinder is exposed to the inner wall 221.

[0070] When the cylindrical container 210 is inserted into the inner wall 221, the portion of the drive roller 235 corresponding to the above-mentioned side surface comes into contact with the cylindrical container 210. At this time, the drive roller 235, together with the first retaining roller 228a and the second retaining roller 228b, holds the cylindrical container 210. In this state, when the drive motor 231 is operated, the drive roller 235 rotates itself, causing the cylindrical container 210 inserted into the holding section 220 to rotate around the central axis CA. The cylindrical container 210, while rotating in the holding section 220, supplies the binder material into the interior of the housing 201. The drive roller 235 is made of an elastic material such as rubber.

[0071] When the cylindrical container 210 is inserted into the holding portion 220, the angle at which the central axis CA intersects the vertical direction is preferably between 15 degrees and 75 degrees. Since the angle is 15 degrees or more, the amount of binder remaining unsupplied is further reduced. Since the angle is 75 degrees or less, the binder is supplied gradually. Therefore, localized increases in the binder density inside the housing 201 are suppressed, and a relatively low density state is maintained. In this embodiment, the angle is set to approximately 70 degrees.

[0072] The binder supplied from the cylindrical container 210 is transported from top to bottom inside the housing 201. Then, the binder is transported in the -Y direction by a transport mechanism (not shown) at the bottom inside the housing 201 to the supply pipe 240.

[0073] The supply pipe 240 is a substantially cylindrical member, with its length aligned with the Y-axis. The inside of the supply pipe 240 communicates with the lower interior of the housing 201. Although not shown in the diagram, the -Y end of the supply pipe 240 is connected to the mixing section 33. The binding material is transported through the supply pipe 240 in the -Y direction by the transport mechanism described above. The binding material is then supplied downward to the mixing section 33 near the -Y end of the supply pipe 240.

[0074] As shown in Figure 3, in addition to the above configuration, the holding part 220 has a bottom part 222, an opening 223, a support part 225, a roller holding member 226, a biasing mechanism 227, and a sensor part 229. Figure 3 shows the state in which the cylindrical container 210 has been removed from the holding part 220.

[0075] The bottom portion 222 and the opening 223 are provided on the -F direction end side of the inner wall 221. The bottom portion 222 and the opening 223 are each approximately semicircular when viewed from the +F direction. The combined shape of the bottom portion 222 and the opening 223 is circular. The opening 223 is located below the bottom portion 222. The bottom portion 222 closes off a portion of the -F direction end of the inner wall 221. For example, a mesh or a perforated member is attached to the opening 223. The binding material passes through the opening 223 via the above member and moves from the cylindrical container 210 into the interior of the housing 201.

[0076] The support portion 225 is the outer shell of the holding portion 220. The support portion 225 is positioned outward and approximately above the inner wall 221. The upper end, which is one end of the biasing mechanism 227, is fixed to the support portion 225. The support portion 225 supports the roller holding member 226 via the biasing mechanism 227. The support portion 225 is formed from a relatively strong material, such as metal or engineering plastic.

[0077] The roller holding member 226 is positioned approximately at the 12 o'clock position on the inner wall 221 when viewed from the +F direction. The roller holding member 226 holds the first press roller 228a and the second press roller 228b. The lower end, which is the other end of the biasing mechanism 227, is fixed to the roller holding member 226. The roller holding member 226 is supported by the support portion 225 via the biasing mechanism 227.

[0078] The biasing mechanism 227 biases the first press roller 228a and the second press roller 228b so that they protrude substantially downward from the inner wall 221. The biasing mechanism 227 is positioned between the support portion 225 and the roller holding member 226. The biasing mechanism 227 biases the roller holding member 226 substantially downward relative to the support portion 225, in other words, toward the inside of the inner wall 221.

[0079] The biasing mechanism 227 causes the first press roller 228a and the second press roller 228b, which are held by the roller holding member 226, to protrude slightly inward from the inner wall 221. Furthermore, the biasing mechanism 227 ensures that the cylindrical container 210 is securely held in the holding section 220. In addition, it becomes easier to attach and detach the cylindrical container 210 from the holding section 220.

[0080] The biasing mechanism 227 is not particularly limited as long as it can bias the roller holding member 226 in the direction described above. Known biasing members can be applied to the biasing mechanism 227. In this embodiment, a coil spring is used as the biasing mechanism 227. Although not shown in the figures, the support portion 225 is equipped with a stopper member that restricts the amount the roller holding member 226 protrudes into the inner wall 221.

[0081] The sensor unit 229 is fixed to the support unit 225 and positioned between the support unit 225 and the roller holding member 226. As will be described in detail later, the sensor unit 229 detects insertion into the inner wall 221 of the cylindrical container 210.

[0082] The drive roller 235 is rotationally driven by the drive motor 231 of the drive unit 230 via a shaft member 233, a plurality of gears (not shown), and a shaft member 234, etc.

[0083] As described above, a portion of the side surface of the drive roller 235 along the F-axis protrudes onto the inner wall 221. When the cylindrical container 210 is inserted into the inner wall 221 of the holding portion 220, the aforementioned side surface comes into contact with the side surface of the cylindrical container 210. When the cylindrical container 210 is inserted into the inner wall 221 and the drive roller 235 rotates, the rotation of the drive roller 235 is transmitted to the cylindrical container 210. As a result, the cylindrical container 210 rotates along the central axis CA.

[0084] The drive roller 235 includes a tapered portion 235a. The tapered portion 235a is provided at the end of the drive roller 235 in the +F direction. The tapered portion 235a has a shape in which the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the F axis of the drive roller 235 gradually decreases with respect to the +F direction. Therefore, when the cylindrical container 210 is inserted into the inner wall 221, the cylindrical container 210 can easily ride up onto the drive roller 235. This allows for a smooth insertion operation when inserting the cylindrical container 210 into the inner wall 221.

[0085] As shown in Figure 4, the first press roller 228a and the second press roller 228b are substantially cylindrical in shape, with the axis of the center of each cylinder aligned with the F axis. The first press roller 228a and the second press roller 228b are provided above the inner wall 221. The first press roller 228a is positioned in the -X direction relative to the second press roller 228b.

[0086] The first press roller 228a and the second press roller 228b are so-called driven rollers and are rotatable around their respective central axes. The first press roller 228a and the second press roller 228b can come into contact with the cylindrical container 210 at the inner wall 221.

[0087] When the cylindrical container 210 is inserted into the inner wall 221, the drive roller 235, the first retaining roller 228a, and the second retaining roller 228b come into contact with the cylindrical container 210, holding it in a position separated from the inner wall 221. Then, when the drive roller 235 rotates, the cylindrical container 210 rotates, driven by the rotation of the drive roller 235, while remaining separated from the inner wall 221. At this time, the first retaining roller 228a and the second retaining roller 228b rotate in accordance with the rotation of the cylindrical container 210.

[0088] As shown in Figure 5, the inner wall 221 has a shape that is formed by cutting out a part of a cylinder. As described above, a part of the drive roller 235 protrudes slightly into the inner wall 221.

[0089] A perforated metal member 223a is placed in the opening 223. Each void in the perforated metal member 223a allows the binding material to pass through. The perforated metal member 223a is not particularly limited as long as the binding material can pass through it, and may be replaced with, for example, a mesh member.

[0090] As shown in Figure 6, the cylindrical container 210 has a substantially cylindrical appearance. The cross-section perpendicular to the central axis CA of the cylindrical container 210 is substantially circular. As described above, the central axis CA is aligned with the F axis. The cylindrical container 210 has a storage chamber 216 inside. The storage chamber 216 is filled and contains the binding agent. The cylindrical container 210 can be sealed with the binding agent inside, and can be transported or stored in a sealed state.

[0091] The cylindrical container 210 has a first lid portion 211, a first cylindrical portion 212, a second lid portion 213, a second cylindrical portion 214, and a shutter member 215, and these components are assembled together. In the cylindrical container 210, the first lid portion 211, the first cylindrical portion 212, the second cylindrical portion 214, and the second lid portion 213 are arranged in that order from the -F direction to the +F direction. The second cylindrical portion 214 is located inside the first cylindrical portion 212, with a portion of it exposed to the outside. The shutter member 215 is located inside the end face of the first lid portion 211 in the -F direction.

[0092] The first lid portion 211 includes an opening 211a. The opening 211a is located on the end face of the first lid portion 211 in the -F direction. When viewed from the -F direction, the opening 211a is approximately semicircular and communicates with the containment chamber 216 and the outside of the cylindrical container 210. Figure 6 shows the opening 211a closed by the shutter member 215.

[0093] The shutter member 215 is a substantially semicircular member when viewed from the -F direction and has a shape sufficient to close the opening 211a. The shutter member 215 is attached to the end face of the first lid portion 211 in the -F direction and is rotatable on the central axis CA.

[0094] Although not shown in the diagram, the second cylindrical portion 214 has an internal thread, and the second lid portion 213 has an external thread that screws into the internal thread. The second cylindrical portion 214 and the second lid portion 213 are assembled inside the cylindrical container 210 by screwing them together. By holding the second cylindrical portion 214 and rotating the second lid portion 213 counterclockwise when viewed from the +F direction, the second lid portion 213 can be removed from the cylindrical container 210. After removing the second lid portion 213, the fastening material can be filled into the storage chamber 216.

[0095] The first cylindrical portion 212 and the second cylindrical portion 214 are fitted together so that they can rotate relative to the central axis CA. The first cylindrical portion 212 and the first lid portion 211 are fitted together and fixed in place.

[0096] The shutter member 215 is positioned inside the first lid portion 211 so as to be in contact with the second cylindrical portion 214. When the second cylindrical portion 214 rotates together with the second lid portion 213, the shutter member 215 also rotates in conjunction. As a result, when the first cylindrical portion 212 is held and fixed and the second lid portion 213 is rotated around the central axis CA, the shutter member 215 rotates relative to the first lid portion 211. This switches between opening and closing the opening 211a. Figure 7 shows the state in which the shutter member 215 has rotated, opening the opening 211a and exposing the storage chamber 216.

[0097] As shown in Figure 8, the cylindrical container 210 is inserted into the inner wall 221 of the holding portion 220 from the end face side of the first lid portion 211. At this time, the opening 211a is closed with the shutter member 215 to prevent leakage of the binding material from the cylindrical container 210.

[0098] When the cylindrical container 210 is attached to the holding part 220, a portion of the upper part of the first cylindrical part 212 and the second lid part 213 are exposed, while the rest of the cylindrical container 210 is retracted into the holding part 220. In this state, the exposed area above the first cylindrical part 212 is held in place with one hand, and the second lid part 213 is rotated on the central axis CA with the other hand. As a result, although not shown in the figures, the shutter member 215 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the second lid part 213 and the second cylindrical part 214. Then, the opening 211a is opened, and the fastening material for the containment chamber 216 can be supplied.

[0099] The binding agent is supplied from the cylindrical container 210 by opening the opening 211a and then rotating the cylindrical container 210 on its central axis CA using the drive roller 235. The rotation of the drive roller 235 may be started by instruction from the operator of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1, or it may be started automatically according to the detection result of the sensor unit 229, which will be described later.

[0100] As shown in Figure 9, when the cylindrical container 210 is mounted on the holding part 220, the first lid part 211 is held by the drive roller 235, the first retaining roller 228a, and the second retaining roller 228b. At this time, the first lid part 211 is separated from the inner wall 221, so that the rotation of the cylindrical container 210 is not hindered.

[0101] When the cylindrical container 210 is attached to the holding part 220, the central axis CA is tilted with respect to the direction along the horizontal Y-axis. Specifically, the cylindrical container 210 is positioned so that the opening 211a side is lower and the second lid part 213 side is higher. As a result, the binding material (not shown) inside the containment chamber 216 tends to accumulate towards the opening 211a side, reducing the amount of binding material remaining inside the containment chamber 216.

[0102] Furthermore, since the cylindrical container 210 is driven by the drive roller 235 and rotates, uneven distribution of the binder within the containment chamber 216 is suppressed, and the binder is agitated. As a result, the binder becomes relatively less dense, and the amount of binder remaining in the containment chamber 216 is further reduced.

[0103] As shown in Figure 10, when the cylindrical container 210 is removed from the holding part 220, the biasing mechanism 227 causes the roller holding member 226 to protrude slightly in the direction of the white arrow, that is, inward from the inner wall 221. The roller holding member 226 is provided with a slope (not shown) in the +F direction. This slope facilitates the insertion of the cylindrical container 210 into the inner wall 221.

[0104] The sensor unit 229 detects the attachment and detachment of the cylindrical container 210 in the holding unit 220. The sensor unit 229 is a photosensor and has a light-emitting unit 229a and a light-receiving unit 229b. The light-emitting unit 229a and the light-receiving unit 229b are arranged opposite each other in a direction along the F-axis. An optical path is formed between the light-emitting unit 229a and the light-receiving unit 229b.

[0105] The roller holding member 226 has a projection 226a. The projection 226a is positioned corresponding to the optical path between the light-emitting part 229a and the light-receiving part 229b. When the cylindrical container 210 is not in the holding part 220, the projection 226a does not obstruct the optical path.

[0106] As shown in Figure 11, when the cylindrical container 210 is mounted on the holding portion 220, the roller holding member 226 and the first lid portion 211 come into contact. At this time, the roller holding member 226 is pushed by the first lid portion 211 and displaced in the direction of the white arrow against the biasing force of the biasing mechanism 227 and pushed back.

[0107] Due to the displacement of the roller holding member 226, the projection 226a penetrates relatively deeply between the light-emitting part 229a and the light-receiving part 229b, blocking the optical path. The sensor part 229 detects the attachment of the cylindrical container 210 to the roller holding member 226 by the blocking of the optical path.

[0108] The sensor unit 229 makes it possible to detect the presence or absence of the cylindrical container 210 in the holding unit 220. However, the sensor unit 229 is not limited to the above configuration and mechanism, as long as it can detect the insertion of the cylindrical container 210 into the inner wall 221.

[0109] According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0110] A simple configuration can reduce the amount of leftover binder in powder form. Specifically, the cylindrical container 210 is rotationally driven by the drive roller 235. Therefore, compared to a configuration in which the powder container has a built-in motor, the cylindrical container 210 and the supply unit 200 can be made into a simpler configuration. In addition, since the cylindrical container 210 rotates in an inclined position relative to the vertical, gravity promotes the supply of the binder, making it less likely for the binder to remain in the cylindrical container 210. Thus, a sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 can be provided that reduces the amount of leftover binder in a simple configuration.

[0111] Since the cylindrical container 210 is supported at three points by the drive roller 235, the first pressing roller 228a, and the second pressing roller 228b, the cylindrical container 210 is firmly held in the holding part 220. In addition, the wobble of the central axis CA is suppressed, allowing the cylindrical container 210 to rotate. As the cylindrical container 210 rotates, the binder is supplied gradually, resulting in a locally higher density in the binder aggregate and suppressing the scattering of the binder.

[0112] (Examples) An example of a specific configuration of the supply unit 200 in the above embodiment will be described.

[0113] In this embodiment, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a cylindrical container 310 instead of the cylindrical container 210. The cylindrical container 310 has a first lid portion 311 instead of the first lid portion 211, and an opening 311a instead of the opening 211a. In this embodiment, two drive rollers 335 are arranged on the inner wall 221 instead of the drive roller 235. The other configurations are the same as in the above embodiment, so a detailed explanation is omitted.

[0114] As shown in Figure 12, the cylindrical container 310 in this embodiment is provided with a plurality of second protrusions 317 on its outer surface. Specifically, the plurality of second protrusions 317 are arranged in a gear-like manner along the circumferential direction on the outer surface of the first lid portion 311 of the cylindrical container 310. Each second protrusion 317 has an elongated shape in the direction along the F axis and extends in the +F direction from approximately the center of the first lid portion 311 in the direction along the F axis.

[0115] The second cylindrical portion 214 is positioned inside the first cylindrical portion 212 and the first lid portion 311, and is rotatable relative to the first cylindrical portion 212 and the first lid portion 311. The second cylindrical portion 214 corresponds to the inner cylinder, and the first cylindrical portion 212 corresponds to the outer cylinder.

[0116] In this embodiment, the opening 311a provided in the first lid portion 311 is substantially fan-shaped when viewed from the -F direction and communicates with the containment chamber 216 and the outside of the cylindrical container 310. The opening 311a corresponds to the first opening provided in the outer cylinder.

[0117] The shutter member 215 has a shape sufficient to close the opening 311a. That is, the portion of the end face of the second cylindrical portion 214 in the -F direction that is not closed by the shutter member 215 functions as an opening of the second cylindrical portion 214. The opening of the second cylindrical portion 214 corresponds to the second opening of the inner cylinder.

[0118] The shutter member 215 is positioned inside the first lid portion 311 so as to be in contact with the second cylindrical portion 214. When the second cylindrical portion 214 rotates together with the second lid portion 213, the shutter member 215 also rotates in conjunction. As a result, when the first lid portion 311 is held and fixed and the second lid portion 213 is rotated around the central axis CA, the shutter member 215 rotates relative to the first lid portion 311. This switches between opening and closing the opening 311a. In other words, the opening 311a is opened and closed by the rotation of the second cylindrical portion 214 relative to the first lid portion 311.

[0119] As shown in Figure 13, the drive roller 235 of this embodiment has a plurality of first protrusions 336 arranged in a gear-like manner along the circumferential direction on the surface that contacts the cylindrical container 310.

[0120] When the cylindrical container 310 is inserted into the inner wall 221, the multiple first protrusions 336 positioned on the surface of the drive roller 335 and the multiple second protrusions 317 positioned on the outer surface of the cylindrical container 310 engage with each other. At this time, the drive roller 335, together with the first retaining roller 228a and the second retaining roller 228b, holds the cylindrical container 310.

[0121] When the drive motor 231 is stopped, the drive roller 335 cannot rotate. Therefore, if the user rotates the second lid portion 213 of the cylindrical container 310 while the drive motor 231 is stopped, only the second cylindrical portion 214 will rotate, and the first lid portion 311 will not rotate. In other words, when opening and closing the opening 311a of the cylindrical container 310, the user only needs to grasp and rotate the second lid portion 213, so the second cylindrical portion 214 can be rotated with one hand, improving the convenience of opening and closing the cylindrical container 310.

[0122] When the drive motor 231 is activated, the drive roller 335 rotates. At this time, the cylindrical container 310 rotates on its central axis CA because the multiple first protrusions 336 of the cylindrical container 310 inserted into the holding part 220 and the multiple second protrusions 317 of the drive roller 335 are engaged. The cylindrical container 310 rotates in the holding part 220 and supplies the binding material into the housing 201. [Explanation of symbols]

[0123] 1...Sheet manufacturing apparatus, 33...Mixing section, 50...Stacking section, 70...Molding section, 200...Supply section, 210...Cylindrical container, 220...Holding section, 221...Inner wall, 227...Biasing mechanism, 228a...First pressing roller, 228b...Second pressing roller, 229...Sensor section, 230...Drive section, 235...Drive roller, 310...Cylindrical container, 211, 311...First lid section, 317...Second protrusion, 335...Drive roller, 336...First protrusion, CA...Central axis, P1...Strip-shaped sheet, W...Web.

Claims

1. A supply unit that supplies powder, A mixing unit that mixes the fibers with the supplied powder to form a mixture, A deposit section where the aforementioned mixture is deposited to form a web, The system includes a molding unit that compresses the web and forms it into a sheet, The aforementioned supply unit is A cylindrical container for storing the aforementioned powder, A cylindrical inner wall into which the cylindrical container can be inserted, and a holding portion having a pressing roller on the inner wall that can come into contact with the cylindrical container, A drive unit having a drive roller, When the cylindrical container is inserted into the holding portion, the pressing roller and the drive roller hold the cylindrical container. As the drive roller rotates, the cylindrical container rotates, and the powder is supplied from the cylindrical container. Multiple first protrusions are provided on the surface of the drive roller. Multiple second protrusions are provided on the outer surface of the cylindrical container. A sheet manufacturing apparatus characterized in that the plurality of first protrusions and the plurality of second protrusions interlock.

2. A sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, The sheet manufacturing apparatus is characterized in that the holding part has a plurality of the pressing rollers.

3. A sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, The sheet manufacturing apparatus is characterized in that the cylindrical container has an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder.

4. A sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3, A sheet manufacturing apparatus characterized in that the outer cylinder is provided with a first opening, the inner cylinder is provided with a second opening, and the first opening is opened and closed by the rotation of the inner cylinder relative to the outer cylinder.

5. A sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3, A sheet manufacturing apparatus characterized in that the plurality of second protrusions are provided on the outer surface of the outer cylinder.

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