Apparatus for manufacturing fiber material and method for producing fiber material

Abstract

To provide a fiber manufacturing apparatus and a method for producing fiber that can reduce unevenness in the amount of fiber dispersion in the dispersion section and improve the quality of the resulting fiber. [Solution] A fiber manufacturing apparatus characterized by comprising: a supply unit for supplying fibers; a mesh-like unit having a plurality of holes through which the fibers supplied from the supply unit pass; a deposition member where the fibers that have passed through the holes accumulate; a molding unit that combines the accumulated fibers to produce a fiber body; and a switching unit that switches the spacing of the holes according to information regarding the type of fiber supplied by the supply unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fibrous body manufacturing apparatus and a method for producing a fibrous body.

Background Art

[0002] As described in Patent Document 1, a fibrous structure manufacturing apparatus is known that includes a fibrous web molding machine that deposits fibers to form a web, and a heating and pressing mechanism that heats and presses the deposited web.

[0003] The fibrous web molding machine includes a forming drum having a small-hole screen. The defibrated material that has passed through the small holes of the small-hole screen is dispersed in the air and deposited on a deposition member positioned below.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the fibrous structure manufacturing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, when a defibrated material of relatively long fibers is supplied to the forming drum, the fibers may straddle and get caught on two small holes of the small-hole screen.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A fibrous body manufacturing apparatus according to an application example of the present invention includes a supply unit that supplies fibers, a mesh portion having a plurality of holes through which the fibers supplied from the supply unit pass, a deposition member on which the fibers that have passed through the holes are deposited, a molding unit that bonds the deposited fibers to each other to form a fibrous body, The system includes a switching unit that switches the spacing of the holes according to information regarding the type of fiber supplied by the supply unit.

[0007] A method for producing a fibrous material according to an application example of the present invention includes an acquisition step of acquiring information on the type of fiber, A switching step in which, in accordance with the information obtained in the acquisition step, the spacing of the holes in the mesh-like portion having a plurality of holes through which the fibers pass is switched, A supply process for supplying the aforementioned fibers, A dispersion step in which the supplied fibers are dispersed into the air by passing them through the holes of the switched spacing, A deposition step of depositing the dispersed fibers, The present invention is characterized by having a production process for bonding the deposited fibers together to produce a fibrous body. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic side view showing a fiber manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a block diagram of the fiber manufacturing apparatus shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the distributed section shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the dispersion and deposition areas shown in Figure 1. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a plan view (unfolded view) of the mesh structure shown in Figure 1. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a plan view (unfolded view) of the mesh structure shown in Figure 1. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a plan view (unfolded view) of another example of the mesh structure shown in Figure 1. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating the method for manufacturing a fiber according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a perspective view of the dispersion section of a fiber manufacturing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged perspective view of a dispersing unit provided in the fiber body manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 9. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the dispersing unit provided in the fiber body manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 9. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing another example of the dispersing unit provided in the fiber body manufacturing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a dispersing unit and a switching unit provided in the fiber body manufacturing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of a dispersing unit and a switching unit provided in the fiber body manufacturing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a fiber body manufacturing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. [Mode for Carrying Out the Invention]

[0009] Hereinafter, the fiber body manufacturing apparatus and the method for producing a fiber body of the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0010] <First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a fiber body manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the fiber body manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the dispersing unit shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the dispersing unit and the depositing unit shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a plan view (developed view) of the mesh body shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a plan view (developed view) of the mesh body shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a plan view (developed view) of another example of the mesh body shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the method for manufacturing a fiber body according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] For convenience of explanation, in the following description, as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 to FIG. 7 (the same applies to FIG. 9 to FIG. 13), three mutually orthogonal axes are defined as the x-axis, y-axis and z-axis. The x-y plane including the x-axis and the y-axis is a horizontal plane, and the z-axis is vertical. The direction pointed by the arrow of each axis is referred to as "+", and the opposite direction is referred to as "-". The upper side of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 is referred to as "upper" or "above", and the lower side is referred to as "lower" or "below". In each drawing, the direction in which the fiber-containing material flows, that is, the forward direction that progresses over time, is referred to as the "downstream side", and the opposite side is also referred to as the "upstream side".

[0012] The fiber body manufacturing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 is an apparatus that generates a sheet S, which is an example of a fiber body, from a raw material M1 that is waste paper such as used copy paper. The fiber body manufactured by the fiber body manufacturing apparatus 100 is not limited to the sheet S, and may be a plate-shaped member or a block-shaped member. Furthermore, products such as bags, slippers, and masks processed from the sheet S or the like are also included in the fiber body.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the fiber body manufacturing apparatus 100 includes a raw material supply unit 11, a coarse crushing unit 12, a defibration unit 13, a sorting unit 14, a first web generation unit 15, a fine division unit 16, a mixing unit 17, a dispersion unit 18, a deposition unit 19, a molding unit 20, a cutting unit 21, a stock unit 22, a recovery unit 27, and a control device 28.

[0014] Each unit included in the fiber body manufacturing apparatus 100 is electrically connected to the control device 28 shown in FIG. 2. The operations of these units are controlled by the control device 28.

[0015] The control device 28 includes a control unit 281, a storage unit 282, and a communication unit 283. The control unit 281 is configured by, for example, at least one processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and can perform various determinations, various instructions, and the like. The storage unit 282 stores, for example, various programs such as a program for manufacturing the sheet S, various calibration curves, tables, and the like.

[0016] The communication unit 283 has the function of communicating with the fiber manufacturing apparatus 100. The communication unit 283 also functions as an acquisition unit that performs an acquisition process to acquire information about the type of fiber from the input device 284, which will be described later.

[0017] This control device 28 may be built into the fiber manufacturing apparatus 100, or it may be provided in an external device such as an external computer.

[0018] The following describes the structure of each part. The raw material supply unit 11 is the part that performs the raw material supply process (supply process) of supplying raw material M1 to the crushing unit 12. This raw material M1 is, for example, a sheet-like material made of a fiber-containing material including cellulose fibers. The raw material M1 may also be a fiber-containing material containing any fiber, such as chemical fibers. The shape of the raw material M1 is not limited to a sheet shape, but may be cotton-like, in lump form, etc.

[0019] The crushing section 12 is the part that performs a crushing process (supply process) in which the raw material M1 supplied from the raw material supply section 11 is crushed in air such as the atmosphere. The crushing section 12 has a pair of crushing blades 121 and a chute 122.

[0020] The pair of coarse crushing blades 121 rotate in opposite directions to crush the raw material M1 between them, i.e., cut it into coarse pieces M2. The shape and size of the coarse pieces M2 are preferably suitable for the defibration process in the defibration section 13. Examples of the shape of the coarse pieces M2 include small pieces with a square planar shape, rectangular pieces, and especially small pieces in the shape of strips. The size of the coarse pieces M2 is preferably small pieces with an average side length of 100 mm or less, and more preferably small pieces with a length of 3 mm to 70 mm. The shape of the small pieces may be other than square or rectangular. The thickness is preferably 0.07 mm to 0.10 mm.

[0021] The chute 122 is positioned below the pair of coarse crushing blades 121 and is, for example, conical or funnel-shaped. This allows the chute 122 to receive the coarse pieces M2 that have been crushed and fallen by the coarse crushing blades 121.

[0022] Furthermore, a humidifying unit 231 is positioned above the chute 122, adjacent to a pair of coarse crushing blades 121. The humidifying unit 231 humidifies the coarse crushing pieces M2 inside the chute 122. This humidifying unit 231 is an evaporative humidifier that has a filter (not shown) containing moisture, and supplies humidified air to the coarse crushing pieces M2 by passing air through the filter. By supplying humidified air to the coarse crushing pieces M2, it is possible to suppress the coarse crushing pieces M2 from adhering to the chute 122, etc., due to electrostatic force.

[0023] The chute 122 is connected to the defibration section 13. The coarse fragments M2 collected by the chute 122 are supplied to the defibration section 13. The defibration section 13 is the part that performs the defibration process (supply process) in which the coarse fragments M2 are defibrated in the air, that is, dry. Through the defibration process in this defibration section 13, defibrated material M3 can be produced from the coarse fragments M2. Here, "defibration" means separating the coarse fragments M2, which are made up of multiple fibers bonded together, into individual fibers. This separated material then becomes the defibrated material M3. The shape of the defibrated material M3 is linear or strip-shaped. The defibrated material M3 may also exist in a state where they are intertwined and form clumps, that is, in a state where they form so-called "clumps".

[0024] Furthermore, the defibration unit 13 can generate an airflow toward the sorting unit 14 by the rotation of a rotor (not shown). This allows the coarse fragments M2 to be introduced from the pipe 241 to the upstream side of the defibration unit 13, and after the defibration process, the defibrated material M3 can be sent to the sorting unit 14 via the pipe 242.

[0025] A pipe 242 is connected to the downstream side of the defibration section 13. A blower 261, for example, consisting of a turbo-type fan, is installed in the middle of the pipe 242. The blower 261 is an airflow generator that generates an airflow directed toward the sorting section 14. This facilitates the introduction of coarse fragments M2 into the defibration section 13 and the delivery of defibrated material M3 to the sorting section 14. Due to its structure, the defibration section 13 allows for the smooth passage of the raw material, coarse fragments M2, and the defibration process. However, the operation of the blower 261 installed downstream of the defibration section 13 further facilitates the passage of the coarse fragments M2 within the defibration section 13 and the defibration process. The blower 261 may also be installed upstream of the defibration section 13.

[0026] The sorting section 14 is the part that performs a sorting process (supply process) to select fibers to be used in subsequent processes from the defibrated material M3. In the sorting section 14, the defibrated material M3 is sorted into first sorted material M4-1 and second sorted material M4-2, which has a longer fiber length than the first sorted material M4-1. The first sorted material M4-1 is of a size suitable for subsequent sheets S and the manufacture of sheets S. On the other hand, the second sorted material M4-2 includes, for example, materials that have not been sufficiently defibrated or materials in which the defibrated fibers have excessively aggregated.

[0027] The sorting unit 14 includes a drum section 141 and a housing section 142 that houses the drum section 141.

[0028] The drum section 141 is a sieve composed of a cylindrical mesh body that rotates around its central axis. The defibrated material M3 flows into this drum section 141. As the drum section 141 rotates, the defibrated material M3 smaller than the mesh opening is sorted as the first sorted material M4-1, and the defibrated material M3 larger than the mesh opening is sorted as the second sorted material M4-2.

[0029] The first sorted item, M4-1, falls from the drum section 141. Meanwhile, the second sorted material M4-2 is sent to a pipe 243 connected to the drum section 141. The pipe 243 has its downstream end, opposite to the drum section 141, connected to the middle of the pipe 241. After passing through this pipe 243, the second sorted material M4-2 merges with the coarse fragments M2 within the pipe 241 and flows into the defibration section 13 together with the coarse fragments M2. As a result, the second sorted material M4-2 is returned to the defibration section 13 and subjected to defibration processing together with the coarse fragments M2.

[0030] Furthermore, the first sorted material M4-1 that falls from the drum section 141 disperses into the air as it falls toward the first web generation section 15 located below the drum section 141. The first web generation section 15 is the part that performs the first web generation process (supply process) to generate the first web M5 from the first sorted material M4-1. The first web generation section 15 has a mesh belt 151, three tension rollers 152, and a suction section 153.

[0031] The mesh belt 151 is an endless belt on which the first sorted material M4-1 accumulates. This mesh belt 151 is wrapped around three tension rollers 152. The rotational drive of the tension rollers 152 then transports the first sorted material M4-1 on the mesh belt 151 downstream.

[0032] The first sorted material M4-1 is larger than the mesh opening of the mesh belt 151. As a result, the passage of the first sorted material M4-1 through the mesh belt 151 is restricted, and it can accumulate on the mesh belt 151. Furthermore, as the first sorted material M4-1 accumulates on the mesh belt 151 and is transported downstream along with the mesh belt 151, it is generated as a layered first web M5.

[0033] Furthermore, the first sorted material M4-1 may contain, for example, dust and dirt. Dust and dirt can be generated, for example, by crushing or defibration. Such dust and dirt will be collected in the recovery unit 27, which will be described later.

[0034] The suction unit 153 is a suction mechanism that draws air from below the mesh belt 151. This allows dust and dirt that have passed through the mesh belt 151 to be drawn in along with the air.

[0035] Furthermore, the suction unit 153 is connected to the collection unit 27 via the pipe 244. Dust and dirt sucked up by the suction unit 153 are collected in the collection unit 27.

[0036] A pipe 245 is further connected to the recovery unit 27. A blower 262 is installed in the middle of the pipe 245. The operation of this blower 262 generates suction force in the suction unit 153. This promotes the formation of the first web M5 on the mesh belt 151. This first web M5 is made up of dust and dirt that has been removed. The dust and dirt are also passed through the pipe 244 by the operation of the blower 262 and reach the recovery unit 27.

[0037] The housing section 142 is connected to the humidifying section 232. The humidifying section 232 consists of an evaporative humidifier. As a result, humidified air is supplied into the housing section 142. This humidified air can humidify the first sorted material M4-1, and thus it is possible to suppress the first sorted material M4-1 from adhering to the inner wall of the housing section 142 due to electrostatic force.

[0038] A humidification unit 235 is located downstream of the sorting unit 14. This allows moisture to be supplied to the first web M5, thereby adjusting the moisture content of the first web M5. This adjustment suppresses the adhesion of the first web M5 to the mesh belt 151 due to electrostatic force. As a result, the first web M5 is easily detached from the mesh belt 151 at the position where the mesh belt 151 is folded back by the tension roller 152.

[0039] A subdivision section 16 is located downstream of the humidification section 235. The subdivision section 16 is the part that performs a subdivision process (supply process) to divide the first web M5 that has been separated from the mesh belt 151. The subdivision section 16 has a rotatably supported propeller 161 and a housing section 162 that houses the propeller 161. The first web M5 can be divided by the rotating propeller 161. The divided first web M5 becomes a subdivision body M6. The subdivision body M6 then descends within the housing section 162.

[0040] The housing section 162 is connected to the humidifying section 233. The humidifying section 233 consists of an evaporative humidifier. As a result, humidified air is supplied into the housing section 162. This humidified air also helps to suppress the adhesion of the fragments M6 to the propeller 161 and the inner wall of the housing section 162 due to electrostatic force.

[0041] A mixing section 17 is located downstream of the subdivision section 16. The mixing section 17 is the part that performs the mixing process (supply process) of mixing the subdivided material M6 with the additive. This mixing section 17 has an additive supply section 171, a pipe 172, and a blower 173. The pipe 172 connects the housing section 162 of the subdivision section 16 and the housing 3 of the dispersion section 18, and is a flow path through which the mixture M7 of the subdivided material M6 and the additive passes.

[0042] An additive supply unit 171 is connected to the middle of the pipe 172. The additive supply unit 171 has a housing section containing the additive and a screw feeder 174 provided inside the housing section. By rotating the screw feeder 174, the additive inside the housing section is pushed out and supplied into the pipe 172. The additive supplied into the pipe 172 is mixed with the fractionated product M6 to form a mixture M7.

[0043] Here, examples of additives supplied from the additive supply unit 171 include binders that bind fibers together, colorants for coloring fibers, flocculation inhibitors to suppress fiber aggregation, flame retardants to make fibers less flammable, and paper strength enhancers to increase the paper strength of the sheet S. One or more of these can be used in combination. Below, as an example, the case in which the additive is a binder P1 will be described. By including a binder P1 that binds fibers together, the strength of the sheet S can be increased.

[0044] Examples of binders P1 include thermoplastic resins such as various polyolefins, acrylic resins, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, and polyamide, various thermoplastic elastomers, and natural product-derived components such as starch, dextrin, glycogen, amylose, hyaluronic acid, kudzu, konjac, potato starch, etherified starch, esterified starch, natural gum glue, fiber-inducing glue, seaweed, and animal protein. One or more of these can be selected and used in combination.

[0045] A blower 173 is installed in the middle of the pipe 172, downstream of the additive supply section 171. The action of the rotating parts of the blower 173, such as blades, promotes the mixing of the subdivided material M6 and the binder P1. The blower 173 can also generate an airflow directed toward the dispersion section 18. This airflow can agitate the subdivided material M6 and the binder P1 within the pipe 172. As a result, the mixture M7 is transported to the dispersion section 18 in a state where the subdivided material M6 and the binder P1 are uniformly dispersed. In addition, the subdivided material M6 in the mixture M7 is broken down as it passes through the pipe 172, becoming finer fibrous.

[0046] Although not shown in the diagram, the blower 173 is electrically connected to the control device 28, and its operation is controlled. Furthermore, by adjusting the airflow rate of the blower 173, the amount of air supplied to the dispersion unit 18 can be adjusted.

[0047] The dispersion section 18 shown in Figure 1 is the part that performs the dispersion process of dispersing the mixture M7 into the air. The configuration of the dispersion section 18 will be described in detail later. The mixture M7 dispersed by the dispersion section 18 moves towards the deposition section 19 located below.

[0048] The deposition section 19 is the part that performs the deposition process to deposit the mixture M7 dispersed by the dispersion section 18 to produce a second web M8, which is a deposit. The deposition section 19 includes a mesh belt 191, which is an example of a deposition member, a tension roller 192, and a suction section 193.

[0049] The mesh belt 191 is an endless belt on which the mixture M7 is deposited. This mesh belt 191 is wrapped around four tension rollers 192. The rotational drive of the tension rollers 192 then conveys the mixture M7 or second web M8 on the mesh belt 191 to the downstream side.

[0050] At least one of the tension rollers 192 is connected to a motor 194, which serves as a rotational drive source. As shown in Figure 2, the motor 194 is electrically connected to a control device 28, and the control device 28 can adjust the operation of the motor 194, particularly its rotational speed, by controlling the power supply conditions to the motor 194. A reduction gear and an encoder (not shown) may also be connected to the motor 194.

[0051] Furthermore, most of the mixture M7 on the mesh belt 191 is larger than the mesh opening of the mesh belt 191. This restricts the mixture M7 from passing through the mesh belt 191, and thus it can accumulate on the mesh belt 191. In addition, as the mixture M7 accumulates on the mesh belt 191, it is transported downstream along with the mesh belt 191, forming a layered second web M8.

[0052] The suction unit 193 is a suction mechanism that draws air from below the mesh belt 191. That is, the operation of the suction unit 193 creates an airflow in the -z-axis direction near the top of the mesh belt 191. This allows the mixture M7 to be drawn onto the mesh belt 191, thereby promoting the accumulation of the mixture M7 on the mesh belt 191.

[0053] A pipe 246 is connected to the suction unit 193. A blower 263 is installed in the middle of this pipe 246. The operation of this blower 263 generates suction force in the suction unit 193.

[0054] A humidification unit 236 is located downstream of the dispersion unit 18. The humidification unit 236 is composed of, for example, an ultrasonic humidifier. This allows moisture to be supplied to the second web M8, thereby adjusting the moisture content of the second web M8 to an appropriate level. This adjustment suppresses the adhesion of the second web M8 to the mesh belt 191 due to electrostatic force. As a result, the second web M8 is easily detached from the mesh belt 191 at the position where the mesh belt 191 is folded back by the tension roller 192.

[0055] Furthermore, the total amount of moisture added in each humidification section is preferably, for example, 0.5 parts by mass or more and 20 parts by mass or less per 100 parts by mass of the material before humidification.

[0056] A molding section 20 is located downstream (to the right) of the dispersion section 18. The molding section 20 is the part that performs the molding process to bond the fibers of the second web M8 together to produce a sheet S. This molding section 20 has a pressurizing section 201, a heating section 202, and a cutting section 21.

[0057] The pressurizing section 201 has a pair of calender rollers 203, and can pressurize the second web M8 between the calender rollers 203 without heating it. This increases the density of the second web M8. When heating is used, it is preferable to heat it to an extent that does not melt the binder P1. The second web M8 is then conveyed toward the heating section 202. One of the pair of calender rollers 203 is a driven roller driven by a motor (not shown), and the other is a driven roller.

[0058] The heating section 202 has a pair of heating rollers 204 downstream of the pressurizing section 201, and can heat and pressurize the second web M8 between the heating rollers 204. Due to this heating and pressurizing, the binder P1 melts within the second web M8, and the fibers bond together via this molten binder P1. This generates a sheet S. This sheet S is then conveyed toward the cutting section 21. One of the pair of heating rollers 204 is a driven roller driven by a motor (not shown), and the other is a driven roller.

[0059] A cutting section 21 is located downstream of the heating section 202. The cutting section 21 is the part that performs the cutting process for cutting the sheet S. This cutting section 21 has a first cutter 211 and a second cutter 212. The first cutter 211 cuts the sheet S in a direction intersecting, particularly perpendicular to, the conveying direction of the sheet S. The second cutter 212 is located downstream of the first cutter 211 and cuts the sheet S in a direction parallel to the conveying direction of the sheet S. This cutting removes unnecessary portions from both ends of the sheet S in the width direction, thereby adjusting the width of the sheet S.

[0060] By cutting with the first cutter 211 and the second cutter 212 in this manner, a sheet S of the desired shape and size is obtained. A stock section 22 is installed downstream (on the right side) of the cutting section 21. The sheet S obtained through the cutting section 21 is transported further downstream and sent to the stock section 22, where it is stored. The stock section 22 is a section where the sheets S are temporarily stored in a stacked state in the thickness direction. The number of sheets stored in the stock section 22 is not particularly limited, but for example, it can be between 5 and 100 sheets.

[0061] Furthermore, if the raw material is in a state where the fibers can be dispersed in the dispersion section 18, the fiber manufacturing apparatus 100 may not be equipped with the coarse crushing section 12, the defibration section 13, the sorting section 14, the first web generation section 15, and the subdivision section 16, and the raw material can be supplied directly to the mixing section 17. Also, if the fibers themselves melt and bond together, there is no need to add the binder P1, and the mixing section 17 may be omitted. In other words, the configuration of the supply section depends on the raw material and is not limited to the above configuration.

[0062] The molding unit 20 can be designed according to the desired product to be produced. The molding unit 20 having a pressurizing unit 201, a heating unit 202, and a cutting unit 21 is just one example of a configuration suitable for producing a sheet S, and is not limited to this.

[0063] Next, the configuration of the distributed unit 18 will be described. The dispersion section 18 shown in Figures 3 and 4 comprises a housing 3, a stirring member 4, and a mesh section 5. As shown in Figure 4, the housing 3 has a top plate 31 and side walls 32.

[0064] The top plate 31 has an intake port 311, which is made up of through holes for taking in the mixture M7. A pipe 172 of the mixing section 17 is connected to the intake port 311. The pipe 172 functions as a supply section 10 for supplying fibers. Alternatively, the supply section 10 may be considered to include the pipe 172 and the area upstream of the pipe 172 (the raw material supply section 11, i.e., the coarse crushing section 12, the defibration section 13, the sorting section 14, the first web generation section 15, the fine division section 16, and the mixing section 17).

[0065] Furthermore, the top plate 31 has an air intake 311 which is composed of a through hole for taking in the mixture M7. This allows outside air to be taken into the housing 3, and the airflow inside the housing 3 can be stabilized. Furthermore, the first mesh-like body 51, which will be described later, is fixed to the underside of the top plate 31.

[0066] The side wall 32 is a plate-like portion that extends perpendicularly from the edge of the -z-axis side surface of the top plate 31 toward the -z axis. The side wall 32 has a wall portion 321 located toward the +x axis, a wall portion 322 located toward the -x axis, a wall portion 323 located toward the +y axis, and a wall portion 324 located toward the -y axis.

[0067] The wall portion 321 and the wall portion 322 each have through holes 325 through which the second mesh-like body 52, described later, passes. The through holes 325 extend along the y-axis direction.

[0068] The mesh portion 5 has holes 50 through which the fibers supplied from the supply portion 10, i.e., the mixture M7, pass. In this embodiment, the mesh portion 5 has a first mesh body 51 and a second mesh body 52. ​​The first mesh body 51 has holes 501 through which the mixture M7 passes. The second mesh body 52 has holes 502 through which the mixture M7 passes. The portion where the holes 501 of the first mesh body 51 and the holes 502 of the second mesh body 52 overlap is the hole 50.

[0069] The first mesh body 51 is composed of a plate-like body having a curved portion that curves toward the -z axis. The two ends of the first mesh body 51 are fixed to the -z axis side surface of the top plate 31, respectively. The first mesh body 51 is also installed so that the intake 311 is located between the two ends of the first mesh body 51 (the two ends located toward the +z axis). This allows the mixture M7 supplied from the intake 311 to be loosened in the space SA between the first mesh body 51 and the top plate 31.

[0070] The first mesh structure 51 is composed of relatively rigid plate-like bodies. That is, the first mesh structure 51 has enough rigidity to maintain its shape without deforming even when subjected to its own weight or forces due to the movement of the second mesh structure 52, which will be described later. As a result, the mesh structure 5 can stably disperse the mixture M7 in the air.

[0071] The end of the first mesh body 51 located on the +y axis side may be fixed to the wall portion 323. Alternatively, the end of the first mesh body 51 located on the -y axis side may be fixed to the wall portion 324.

[0072] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the arrangement pattern of the holes 501 in the first mesh body 51 is staggered. However, it is not limited to this and can be selected as appropriate. For example, it may be a grid pattern, a spiral pattern, or a combination of at least two of these.

[0073] The opening surface of the hole 501 is circular. However, it is not limited to this, and may be other shapes such as ellipse, triangle, quadrilateral, or other polygons or ellipses. Also, not all holes 501 have to have the same shape.

[0074] The opening diameter of the hole 501 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.1 mm to 100 mm, and more preferably 0.2 mm to 90 mm. This makes it possible to more effectively prevent unintended accumulation of the mixture M7 in the space SA, as will be described later.

[0075] The distance between the closest pores 501 is not particularly limited, but can be appropriately selected depending on the fiber length used. Generally, it is preferable to be between 0.1 mm and 100 mm, and more preferably between 0.2 mm and 90 mm. This makes it possible to more effectively prevent unintended accumulation of the mixture M7 in the space SA, as will be described later.

[0076] The second mesh structure 52 is positioned overlapping the first mesh structure 51 on the -z axis side. That is, the first mesh structure 51 and the second mesh structure 52 are arranged in a stacked configuration. The second mesh structure 52 is made of a flexible sheet. This allows it to bend to conform to the curved shape of the first mesh structure 51. Furthermore, as will be described later, it can move in its curved state.

[0077] The second mesh body 52 has an end on the +x axis side that passes through the through hole 325 in the wall portion 321 and is located on the outside, and is fixed to the roller 81. The second mesh body 52 also has an end on the -x axis side that passes through the through hole 325 in the wall portion 322 and is located on the outside, and is fixed to the roller 82.

[0078] Furthermore, the end of the second mesh-like body 52 located on the +y axis side is not fixed to the wall portion 323 and is installed spaced apart, and the end located on the -y axis side is not fixed to the wall portion 324 and is installed spaced apart.

[0079] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the arrangement pattern of the holes 502 in the second mesh structure 52 is staggered, just like the holes 501. However, it is not limited to this and can be selected as appropriate. For example, it may be a grid pattern, a spiral pattern, or a combination of at least two of these.

[0080] Like hole 501, hole 502 has a circular opening. However, it is not limited to this, and may have other shapes such as ellipse, triangle, quadrilateral, or other polygons or ellipses. Also, not all holes 502 have to have the same shape.

[0081] In this embodiment, the opening diameter of hole 502 is the same as that of hole 501. The arrangement pattern, opening shape, and opening diameter of hole 502 may differ from those of hole 501.

[0082] The first mesh body 51 and the second mesh body 52 are not limited to the above configuration, and may be composed of, for example, a mesh member in which wires are woven.

[0083] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, a stirring member 4 is provided in the space SA. The stirring member 4 rotates within the space SA, stirring and loosening the mixture M7 supplied to the space SA, while also promoting dispersion from the holes 50 of the mesh portion 5. The stirring member 4 only needs to be able to stir, and here it has four blades 41 arranged at equal angular intervals around the rotation axis O, but is not limited to this. The blades 41 are made of long plate material extending in the y-axis direction. The blades 41 also have openings that extend along the rotation axis O.

[0084] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the stirring member 4 is connected to the motor 194. As shown in Figure 2, the motor 194 is electrically connected to the control device 28, and its operation is controlled by the control device 28. A reduction gear and encoder (not shown) may also be connected to the motor 194.

[0085] As shown in Figure 4, the rotation of the stirring member 4 causes each blade 41 to stir and loosen the mixture M7 in the space SA, pressing an appropriate amount onto the mesh section 5. This prevents the mixture M7 from being supplied excessively and clogging the mesh section 5, while ensuring that the mixture M7 is released evenly and effectively from the entire surface of the mesh section 5.

[0086] Furthermore, the stirring member 4 rotates with each blade 41 spaced apart from the top plate 31 and the mesh section 5. This allows the stirring member 4 to rotate smoothly and prevents excessive pressure from being applied to the mixture M7 between the blades 41 and the mesh section 5, resulting in better dispersion.

[0087] In this embodiment, the case where four blades 41 are provided has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, there may be one to three, or four or more.

[0088] Next, the switching unit 7 will be described. If the fibers in the mixture M7 are relatively long, it is conceivable that one end of the fiber may get caught on the edge of one hole 50, and the other end may get caught on the edge of another hole 50. In this case, the mixture M7 may unintentionally remain in the space SA, which may cause uneven dispersion of the mixture M7 in the dispersion section 18. As a result, the quality of the second web M8, and consequently the quality of the sheet S, may deteriorate. In contrast, the present invention can solve the above problem through the action of the switching section 7.

[0089] Specifically, the switching unit 7 performs a switching process to switch the spacing D (shortest separation distance) of the holes 50 according to information regarding the type of fiber supplied by the supply unit 10 (the type of fiber contained in the mixture M7), as shown in Figures 5 and 6. That is, when the fiber length of the fiber supplied by the supply unit 10 is relatively long, the switching unit 7 widens the spacing D of the holes 50 to prevent or suppress the ends of the fibers from getting caught on the edges of the holes 50. This prevents the aforementioned unintended stagnation and reduces unevenness in the amount of mixture M7 dispersed in the dispersion unit 18. The details are explained below.

[0090] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the switching unit 7 is composed of a drive unit 8, a control unit 281, and a communication unit 283.

[0091] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the drive unit 8 includes a roller 81 to which the +x-axis end of the second mesh body 52 is fixed, a roller 82 to which the -x-axis end of the second mesh body 52 is fixed, a motor 83 which is a drive source for rotating the roller 81, and a motor 84 which is a drive source for rotating the roller 82.

[0092] Roller 81 is installed on the +x axis side of wall 321. Roller 82 is installed on the -x axis side of wall 322. Rollers 81 and 82 are installed so that their axes of rotation extend in the y-axis direction. Rollers 81 and 82 can each rotate in either forward or reverse direction. That is, rollers 81 and 82 can each rotate in either clockwise or counterclockwise direction in Figure 4.

[0093] Motor 83 is connected to roller 81 and outputs a driving force to rotate roller 81. Motor 84 is connected to roller 82 and outputs a driving force to rotate roller 82. Motors 83 and 84 are each electrically connected to a control device 28, and the control device 28 controls the power supply conditions to motors 83 and 84, thereby controlling the direction of rotation, rotation speed, etc.

[0094] The communication unit 283 has the function of acquiring information about the type of fiber entered by the user using the input device 284. The input device 284 is not particularly limited, but examples include a personal computer, smartphone, tablet terminal, etc. The fiber manufacturing apparatus 100 may also be equipped with a touch panel or the like and serve as the input device.

[0095] The communication unit 283 acquires information regarding the type of fiber, and the control unit 281 stores the information regarding the type of fiber in the storage unit 282.

[0096] Information regarding the type of fiber refers to information indicating what kind of fiber is supplied from the supply unit 10 to the dispersion unit 18. Specifically, the information regarding the type of fiber is either the fiber length itself or information that allows for the estimation of the fiber length. Information that allows for the estimation of the fiber length may be, for example, information on the constituent materials of the fiber, information on the morphology of the fiber, information on the supply unit 10, or a combination of these pieces of information, but is not limited to these.

[0097] (Information on fiber length) The fiber length information is, for example, the actual numerical value of the length measured by the user.

[0098] To illustrate with an example, the user takes out the fibers supplied from the supply unit 10 to the distribution unit 18, measures the fiber length of those fibers, and inputs the result.

[0099] (Information on the constituent materials of the fiber) Information about the constituent materials of a fiber includes, for example, information about the raw materials themselves, such as what raw material M1 is derived from (a product). Examples include cellulose, cotton, wool, silk, hemp, collagen fibers, rayon, polynosic, cupro, lyocell, nylon, polyester, acrylic, vinylon, and polyurethane.

[0100] The fiber composition material reveals the trend in fiber length when supplied to the dispersion unit 18. For this reason, a preferred spacing D for each fiber composition material is stored in the storage unit 282 as a table or calibration curve. Then, by referring to the input fiber composition material information and the table or calibration curve, the appropriate spacing D for the holes 50 can be determined.

[0101] (Information about the morphology of fibers) The information regarding the fiber morphology is not particularly limited and includes, for example, woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, Japanese paper, Western paper, etc. If the raw material M1 is a scrap of cloth, the cloth model number may also be used. The fiber morphology of the raw material M1 reveals the trend of fiber length when supplied to the dispersion unit 18. For this reason, preferred intervals D for each fiber morphology are stored in the storage unit 282 as a table or calibration curve. Then, by referring to the input fiber morphology information and the table or calibration curve, the appropriate interval D for the holes 50 can be determined.

[0102] The switching unit 7 switches the spacing D of the holes 50 to be wider when the fibers are derived from woven or knitted fabrics compared to when the fibers are derived from nonwoven fabrics. This allows the spacing D of the holes 50 to be adjusted according to the form of the fibers of the raw material M1. As a result, the ends of the fibers are less likely to get caught on the edges of the holes 50, and unintended stagnation of the mixture M7 in the space SA can be prevented more effectively.

[0103] (Information from supply unit 10) The information provided by the supply unit 10 is not particularly limited and may include, for example, the set coarse crushing conditions for the coarse crushing unit 12 (rotational speed of the coarse crushing blade 121, size of the resulting coarse crushed pieces M2, etc.) and the set defibration conditions (rotational speed of the rotor, flow velocity in the piping, passage speed in the defibration unit 13, shape of the defibration blade, gap between the rotating inner blade and outer blade, etc.). The information provided by the supply unit 10 may also include other information related to the processing performed by the supply unit 10.

[0104] To illustrate with an example, when a user specifies coarse crushing or defibration conditions, the tendency of the fiber length when supplied to the dispersion unit 18 can be estimated from those conditions, and an appropriate spacing D of the holes 50 that does not cause the above-mentioned problems can be determined. One method for doing this is to obtain a table or calibration curve showing the above relationship, store it in the memory unit 282, and refer to it.

[0105] Information regarding the type of fiber includes, but is not limited to, information on fiber length, information on the constituent materials of the fiber, and information on the morphology of the fiber.

[0106] If the information regarding the type of fiber includes two or more pieces of information, it is preferable to store a table or calibration curve that takes these into account in combination in the storage unit 282.

[0107] When the communication unit 283 obtains information regarding the type of fiber, the control unit 281 determines the spacing D of the holes 50 based on the information regarding the type of fiber, that is, by referring to the information regarding the type of fiber and the determination rules such as the table or calibration curve. Then, it controls the operation of motors 83 and 84 to achieve that spacing D.

[0108] In the state shown in Figure 5, the first mesh body 51 and the second mesh body 52 are in a state where the entire surfaces of the holes 501 of the first mesh body 51 and the holes 502 of the second mesh body 52 overlap. In this state, the opening surface of hole 501 or hole 502 becomes hole 50. The spacing D of the holes 50 is D1. In this embodiment, this state is considered the normal state. Note that there is no gap between the first mesh body 51 and the second mesh body 52 large enough for fibers to enter.

[0109] If the fibers are relatively long, motors 83 and 84 are activated from the normal state to shift the second mesh 52 relative to the first mesh 51. As a result, the holes 501 of the first mesh 51 and the holes 502 of the second mesh 52 partially overlap, creating a long-fiber state. If the fibers were already in a long-fiber state from the beginning, no shifting is performed. The overlapping portion of holes 501 and 502 (the area shown by hatching in Figure 6) becomes a substantially effective hole 50. In this state, the spacing D of the holes 50 becomes D2, which is greater than D1. This makes it less likely for the ends of relatively long fibers to get caught on the edges of the holes 50. Therefore, unintended accumulation of the mixture M7 in the space SA can be prevented more effectively.

[0110] Conversely, if the fibers are relatively short, motors 83 and 84 are activated to shift the second mesh 52 relative to the first mesh 51 from the long fiber state to the normal state. If it is already in the normal state from the beginning, no shifting is performed. In this state, the spacing D of the holes 50 becomes D1, which is smaller than D2. This increases the number of holes 50 and the amount of fiber passing through the holes 50. This leads to an increase in the production efficiency of the fiber body.

[0111] Furthermore, the control unit 281 determines the amount of movement of the second mesh body 52, that is, the extent to which motors 83 and 84 are operated, according to information regarding the type of fiber. This allows the spacing D of the holes 50 to be adjusted as desired according to the type of fiber, making it less likely for the ends of the fibers to get caught on the edges of the holes 50. Thus, unintended stagnation of the mixture M7 in the space SA can be prevented more effectively. In addition, a decrease in production efficiency due to ensuring a larger-than-necessary spacing D of the holes 50 can be suppressed.

[0112] Furthermore, the control unit 281 may be configured to adjust the spacing D of the holes 50 in two or more steps according to information about the type of fiber, or it may be configured to adjust it continuously. When the spacing D of the holes 50 is adjusted in steps, control can be simplified. On the other hand, when the spacing D of the holes 50 is adjusted continuously, the adjustment of the spacing D can be performed more appropriately.

[0113] Furthermore, it is preferable that the edges of the holes 501 of the first mesh-like body 51 are chamfered, that is, given a rounded edge. This makes it possible to more effectively prevent fibers from getting caught on the edges of the holes 501.

[0114] For similar reasons, it is preferable that the edges of the holes 502 in the second mesh body 52 are chamfered, that is, given a rounded edge.

[0115] Furthermore, it is preferable that the edges of the holes 501 in the first mesh body 51 and the edges of the holes 502 in the second mesh body 52 are chamfered, i.e., given a rounded edge. This makes it possible to more effectively prevent fibers from getting caught on the edges of the holes 50, regardless of the degree of overlap between the holes 501 and 502. The edges of the holes 501 in the first mesh body 51 and the holes 502 in the second mesh body 52 may be made by punching, etching, or by other methods.

[0116] Furthermore, the control unit 281 also functions as a speed adjustment unit that adjusts the movement speed of the mesh belt 191 according to the spacing D of the holes 50. The control unit 281 adjusts the power supply conditions to the motor 194 according to information regarding the type of fiber. This will be explained in detail below.

[0117] For example, when the spacing D is D1 (see Figure 5), the moving speed V of the mesh belt 191 is set to V1, and when the spacing D is D2 (see Figure 6), the moving speed V of the mesh belt 191 is set to V2, which is slower than V1. When the spacing D is D2, the opening area of ​​the holes 50 is smaller than when the spacing D is D1, so the amount of fiber dispersion is reduced. For this reason, slowing down the moving speed V of the mesh belt 191 makes it possible to maintain a more uniform thickness of the second web M8.

[0118] Furthermore, a table or calibration curve showing the relationship between the interval D and the moving speed V is created in advance and stored in the storage unit 282 so that the thickness of the second web M8 is the same. Then, by referring to the interval D determined as described above and the table or calibration curve, the moving speed V can be set to an appropriate value.

[0119] Furthermore, the control unit 281 may be configured to adjust the rotational speed of the stirring member 4 according to the spacing D of the holes 50. In this case, the control unit 281 functions as a rotational speed adjustment unit that adjusts the rotational speed of the stirring member 4. Specifically, the control unit 281 may be configured to adjust the power supply conditions to the motor 194 according to information regarding the type of fiber. For example, the rotational speed of the stirring member 4 is increased when the spacing D is large, and decreased when the spacing D is small. This makes it possible to maintain a more effective and uniform dispersion of the mixture M7 regardless of the size of the spacing D.

[0120] As described above, the fiber manufacturing apparatus 100 includes a supply unit 10 for supplying a fiber-containing mixture M7, a mesh unit 5 having a plurality of holes 50 through which the fibers supplied from the supply unit 10 pass, a mesh belt 191 which is an example of a deposition member on which the fibers that have passed through the holes 50 accumulate, a molding unit 20 for bonding the accumulated fibers together to produce a sheet S which is an example of a fiber body, and a switching unit 7 for switching the spacing D of the holes 50 according to information about the type of fiber supplied by the supply unit 10. This makes it possible to adjust the spacing D of the holes 50 according to the type of fiber. As a result, the ends of the fibers are less likely to get caught on the edges of the holes 50, and unintended accumulation of the mixture M7 in the dispersion unit 18 can be more effectively prevented. As a result, unevenness in the amount of fiber dispersion in the dispersion unit 18 can be reduced, and the quality of the sheet S can be improved.

[0121] Furthermore, the mesh portion 5 includes a first mesh body 51 and a second mesh body 52 which is at least partially laminated with the first mesh body 51. The overlapping portions of the holes in the first mesh body 51 and the second mesh body 52 form the holes in the mesh portion through which the fibers pass. The switching unit 7 switches the spacing D of the holes 50 in the mesh portion 5 by relatively moving the first mesh body 51 and the second mesh body 52 according to information about the type of fiber. This allows the spacing D of the holes 50 to be adjusted by a simple method of relatively moving the first mesh body 51 and the second mesh body 52. ​​In addition, since the amount of movement of the first mesh body 51 or the second mesh body 52 when adjusting the spacing D of the holes 50 is relatively small, the spacing D of the holes 50 can be adjusted quickly.

[0122] The switching unit 7 may not have a drive unit 8 and a control unit 281. In this case, it is preferable that the user adjusts the spacing D of the holes 50 by operating an operating unit (not shown) that moves the first mesh body 51 and the second mesh body 52 relative to each other.

[0123] Furthermore, the shape of the holes 501 in the first mesh 51 and the shape of the holes 502 in the second mesh 52 are not limited to the illustrated configuration. For example, as shown in Figure 7, the holes 502 in the second mesh 52 may be rectangular. Also, for rectangular holes 502 in the second mesh 52, it is possible to alternately close all of one row of holes 501 in the first mesh 51 and leave all of another row open, row by row.

[0124] Information regarding the type of fiber includes at least one of the following: information on the fiber length, information on the constituent material of the fiber, and information on the morphology of the fiber. By adjusting the spacing D of the holes 50 according to such information regarding the type of fiber, a more appropriate adjustment can be made.

[0125] Furthermore, the information regarding the type of fiber includes information regarding the fiber's morphology, and the switching unit 7 switches the spacing D of the holes 50 to be wider when the fiber is derived from a woven or knitted fabric compared to when the fiber is derived from a nonwoven fabric. This allows the spacing D of the holes 50 to be adjusted according to the fiber morphology of the raw material M1. As a result, the ends of the fibers are less likely to get caught on the edges of the holes 50, and unintended stagnation of the mixture M7 in the space SA can be prevented more effectively.

[0126] Furthermore, the fiber manufacturing apparatus 100 has a communication unit 283 which acts as an acquisition unit to acquire information about the type of fiber entered by the user. This allows the user to input desired information and to adjust the spacing D of the holes 50 more accurately.

[0127] Furthermore, as mentioned above, the mesh belt 191, which is the depositing member, deposits fibers while moving at a speed V corresponding to the spacing D of the holes 50. This makes it possible to maintain a more uniform thickness of the second web M8, which is the deposit, regardless of the size of the spacing D of the holes 50.

[0128] Furthermore, in the fiber manufacturing apparatus 100, it is not necessary to adjust the movement speed V of the mesh belt 191 according to the spacing D of the holes 50. In other words, the movement speed V of the mesh belt 191 may be kept constant regardless of the size of the spacing D of the holes 50.

[0129] Next, an example of a method for producing the fibrous material of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 8. The method for producing a fibrous material according to the present invention comprises an acquisition step (step S101), a switching step (step S102), a supply step (step S103), a dispersion step (step S104), a deposition step (step S105), and a molding step (step S106).

[0130] First, in step S101, information regarding the type of fiber entered by the user using the input device 284 is acquired. As mentioned above, this step is performed by the communication unit 283, which acts as the acquisition unit.

[0131] Next, in step S102, the spacing D of the holes 50 in the mesh portion 5 is switched according to the information on the type of fiber obtained in step S101. This step is performed by the switching unit 7 as described above. In this step, the moving speed V of the mesh belt 191 is also determined.

[0132] Next, in step S103, the mixture M7 is supplied to the dispersion unit 18. This step is performed by the supply unit 10, as described above.

[0133] Next, in step S104, the mesh portion 5 is used to disperse the mixture M7 into the air through the holes 50, whose spacing D has been adjusted. In this step, the ends of the fibers are less likely to get caught on the edges of the holes 50, and unevenness in the dispersion of the mixture M7 can be effectively reduced.

[0134] Next, in step S105, the mixture M7 that has passed through the pores 50 is deposited to generate a second web M8 as a sediment. This step is performed by the deposit section 19, as described above.

[0135] Next, in step S106, the fibers of the second web M8 are joined together to produce a sheet S as a fibrous body. This step is performed by the molding unit 20, as described above.

[0136] By going through steps S101 to S106, a high-quality sheet S can be obtained regardless of the type of fiber.

[0137] Furthermore, by adjusting the spacing D of the holes 50 in advance before operating the fiber manufacturing apparatus 100, the unevenness in the dispersion of the mixture M7 produced from the first supplied raw material M1 can be effectively reduced. Therefore, the quality of the sheet S can be improved more effectively. Naturally, the quality of subsequent sheets S can also be improved in the same way.

[0138] Thus, the method for producing a fibrous material according to the present invention comprises an acquisition step of acquiring information on the type of fiber, a switching step of switching the spacing D of the holes 50 in a mesh-like section 5 having a plurality of holes 50 through which the fibers pass, according to the information acquired in the acquisition step, a supply step of supplying the fibers, a dispersion step of dispersing the supplied fibers into the air by passing them through the holes 50 of the switched spacing D, a deposition step of depositing the dispersed fibers to generate a second web M8 which is a deposit, and a production step of bonding the deposited fibers together to produce a sheet S which is an example of a fibrous material. This makes it possible to adjust the spacing D of the holes 50 according to the type of fiber. Therefore, the ends of the fibers are less likely to get caught on the edges of the holes 50, and unintended retention of the mixture M7 in the dispersion section 18 can be more effectively prevented. As a result, unevenness in the amount of fiber dispersion in the dispersion section 18 can be effectively reduced, and the quality of the sheet S can be improved.

[0139] <Second Embodiment> Figure 9 is a perspective view of the dispersion section of a fiber manufacturing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 10 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the dispersion section of the fiber manufacturing apparatus shown in Figure 9. Figure 11 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the dispersion section of the fiber manufacturing apparatus shown in Figure 9. Figure 12 is a perspective view showing another example of the dispersion section of a fiber manufacturing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0140] The following describes a second embodiment of the fiber manufacturing apparatus and method for producing fiber according to the present invention, with reference to Figures 9 to 12. The description will focus on the differences from the first embodiment described above, and similar matters will be omitted.

[0141] Note that in Figures 9 to 12, the holes 501A (hole 50) of the first mesh 51A, the holes 502A (hole 50) of the second mesh 52A, and the holes 503A (hole 50) of the third mesh 53A are not shown.

[0142] As shown in Figure 9, the mesh section 5A has a first mesh body 51A, a second mesh body 52A, and a third mesh body 53A, which are connected in this order. That is, the first mesh body 51A, the second mesh body 52A, and the third mesh body 53A are each configured as separate regions of a flexible sheet, and they are connected in this order. Therefore, the mesh section 5A is composed of a single flexible sheet. Although the mesh is described using three examples, it is not limited to these. There may be two mesh bodies, or four or more, which can be switched between.

[0143] Furthermore, the holes 501A (holes 50) of the first mesh body 51A, the holes 502A (holes 50) of the second mesh body 52A, and the holes 503A (holes 50) of the third mesh body 53A each have different spacing D. Although not shown in the figures, the spacing D increases in this order for holes 501A, 502A, and 503A. Also, the holes 501A of the first mesh body 51A, the holes 502A of the second mesh body 52A, and the holes 503A of the third mesh body 53A have different opening diameters but the same arrangement pattern. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and the holes 501A of the first mesh body 51A, the holes 502A of the second mesh body 52A, and the holes 503A of the third mesh body 53A may have the same opening diameter but different arrangement patterns.

[0144] The switching unit 7 is composed of a drive unit 8, a control unit 281, and a communication unit 283, similar to the first embodiment. The drive unit 8 has a roller 81 to which a part of the mesh portion 5A is fixed, a roller 82 to which a part of the mesh portion 5A is fixed, a motor 83 which is a drive source for rotating the roller 81, and a motor 84 which is a drive source for rotating the roller 82. These are as described above.

[0145] Furthermore, multiple engagement holes 53 are provided on the +y-axis and -y-axis edges of the mesh portion 5A. Each engagement hole 53 is arranged at equal intervals along the edge of the mesh portion 5A. Each engagement hole 53 is a through hole and is provided in all of the first mesh body 51A, the second mesh body 52A, and the third mesh body 53A.

[0146] Furthermore, the outer circumferences of rollers 81 and 82 are provided with a plurality of protrusions 85 at positions corresponding to the +y-axis and -y-axis edges of the mesh portion 5A. Each protrusion 85 is sized and shaped to be inserted into the engagement hole 53.

[0147] When the projection 85 is inserted into the engagement hole 53, the rollers 81 and 82 and the mesh portion 5A are fixed together. When the rollers 81 and 82 rotate in this state, the mesh portion 5 moves due to the movement of the projection 85. As this movement continues, the projection 85 is inserted into the next engagement hole 53. By repeating this operation, the rollers 81 and 82 can move the mesh portion 5A stably.

[0148] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 11, a guide groove 326 is provided in the wall portion 323. The guide groove 326 is the portion between a pair of ribs 327. The pair of ribs 327 project from the wall portion 323 toward the -y axis, that is, toward the inside of the space SA. The pair of ribs 327 are curved in an arc shape so as to project toward the -z axis, that is, toward downward. In addition, the pair of ribs 327 are spaced apart so as to be the same distance at any position in the longitudinal direction.

[0149] The guide groove 326 has the function of guiding the mesh portion 5A to the position through which the mixture M7 passes, with the +y-axis edge of the mesh portion 5A being inserted into the groove. In the inserted state, the pair of ribs 327 restrict unintended movement of the +y-axis edge of the mesh portion 5A, allowing the mesh portion 5A to move while maintaining its arc shape. As a result, the mesh portion 5A can move smoothly to the position through which the mixture M7 passes. Such guide grooves 326 may also be provided in the wall portion 324.

[0150] When motors 83 and 84 are activated, rollers 81 and 82 rotate, shifting the position of the mesh portion 5A so that it is possible to select which of the first mesh 51A, second mesh 52A, and third mesh 53A is positioned below the stirring member 4, i.e., where the mixture M7 passes. This selection is made according to information regarding the type of fiber, as in the first embodiment. The holes in the mesh positioned by the above selection become the holes 50.

[0151] Thus, the mesh portion 5A has a first mesh body 51A having holes 501A and a second mesh body 52A having holes 502A arranged at different intervals than the first mesh body 51A, in different regions. The switching unit 7 moves the first mesh body 51A so that it is positioned where the fiber passes, depending on whether the information regarding the type of fiber indicates a first type, and moves the second mesh body 51B so that it is positioned where the fiber passes, depending on whether the information regarding the type of fiber indicates a second type. In other words, when relatively long fibers are supplied, the first mesh body 51A with larger hole spacing is moved to the position where the fiber passes, and when relatively short fibers are supplied, the second mesh body 52A with smaller hole spacing is moved to the position where the fiber passes. This allows the spacing D of the holes 50 to be adjusted according to the type of fiber. Therefore, the ends of the fibers are less likely to get caught on the edges of the holes 50, and unintended retention of the mixture M7 in the dispersion section 18 can be more effectively prevented. As a result, unevenness in the amount of fiber dispersion in the dispersion section 18 can be reduced, and the quality of the sheet S can be improved.

[0152] As shown in Figure 12, the portions of the mesh portion 5A located outside the housing 3 (the first mesh portion 51A and the third mesh portion 53A) may be wound around the roller 81 and the roller 82, respectively.

[0153] <Third Embodiment> Figure 13 is a perspective view of the dispersion section and switching section of a fiber manufacturing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0154] The following describes a third embodiment of the fiber manufacturing apparatus and method for producing fiber according to the present invention, with reference to Figure 13. The explanation will focus on the differences from the first embodiment described above, and similar matters will be omitted.

[0155] As shown in Figure 13, the switching unit 7 is composed of a drive unit 9, a control unit 281 (not shown), and a communication unit 283 (not shown). The drive unit 9 includes a support unit 91, a support unit 92, a solenoid 93, and a biasing unit 94.

[0156] The support portion 91 is provided on the -x axis side of the housing 3 and includes a support base 911 fixed to the outside of the wall portion 322, and a pair of rail portions 912 provided on the +y axis side and -y axis side of the support base 911. Each rail portion 912 supports a frame member 54 provided on the -x axis side of the second mesh body 52 so as to be movable along the x axis direction.

[0157] The support portion 92 is provided on the +x axis side of the housing 3 and includes a support base 921 fixed to the outside of the wall portion 321, and a pair of rail portions 922 provided on the +y axis side and -y axis side of the support base 921. Each rail portion 922 supports a frame member 55 provided on the +x axis side of the second mesh body 52 so as to be movable along the x axis direction.

[0158] The solenoid 93 is a drive source for moving the second mesh body 52 and is installed on the support base 911. The solenoid 93 is electrically connected to the control device 28. The control unit 281 controls the energization conditions to the solenoid 93, which allows the solenoid 93 to move the second mesh body 52. ​​Specifically, the shaft 931 of the solenoid 93, which is in contact with the frame member 54 of the second mesh body 52, protrudes toward the +x axis, and the amount of this protrusion is adjusted by energization. This adjustment allows the position of the second mesh body 52 within the housing 3 to be adjusted, and the spacing D of the holes 50 can be adjusted, similar to the first embodiment.

[0159] The biasing unit 94 is installed on the support base 921. In the illustrated configuration, the biasing unit 94 consists of a base 941 and a coil spring 942 installed between the base 941 and the frame member 55 of the second mesh body 52. ​​As the second mesh body 52 moves due to the solenoid 93, the position of the frame member 55 of the second mesh body 52 in the x-axis direction is also displaced on the support unit 92. In particular, when the shaft 931 of the solenoid 93 is retracted to the -x-axis side, the biasing force of the biasing unit 94 can move the second mesh body 52 to the -x-axis side. Therefore, the second mesh body 52 can be moved in accordance with the shaft 931 regardless of the position of the shaft 931 of the solenoid 93.

[0160] The above configuration is not limited to the above configuration; the coil spring 942 may be a leaf spring or other type of spring. Furthermore, a drive source similar to the solenoid 93 may be installed instead of the biasing unit 94.

[0161] <Fourth Embodiment> Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of the dispersion section and switching section of a fiber manufacturing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0162] The following describes a fourth embodiment of the fiber manufacturing apparatus and method for producing fiber according to the present invention, with reference to Figure 14. The description will focus on the differences from the first embodiment described above, and similar matters will be omitted.

[0163] As shown in Figure 14, the distribution unit 18 has a first distribution unit 18A and a second distribution unit 18B. While the explanation uses two examples, the distribution unit is not limited to these. There may be three or more distribution units that can be switched between.

[0164] The first distribution section 18A has a housing 3A, and the second distribution section 18B has a housing 3B. The housings 3A and 3B are arranged in this order from the +x axis side along the x-axis direction. Except for the fact that the through hole 325 is omitted and the installation position, the housings 3A and 3B are substantially the same as the housing 3 described in the above embodiment.

[0165] The mesh portion 5 includes a first mesh body 54A provided within the housing 3A and a second mesh body 54B provided within the housing 3B. That is, the first mesh body 54A and the second mesh body 54B are provided in different positions. The first mesh body 54A has holes 50 (first holes). The second mesh body 54B has holes 50 (second holes) provided at a different interval D than the holes 50 (first holes). In this embodiment, the holes 50 of the second mesh body 54B are larger in spacing D than the holes 50 of the first mesh body 54A.

[0166] Furthermore, the supply unit 10 includes a first pipe 71 as a first supply unit and a second pipe 72 as a second supply unit. The downstream end of the first pipe 71 is connected to the housing 3A of the first distribution unit 18A, and the downstream end of the second pipe 72 is connected to the housing 3B of the second distribution unit 18B. Therefore, selecting which of the first pipe 71 and the second pipe 72 to supply the mixture M7 to is equivalent to selecting which of the first mesh body 54A and the second mesh body 54B to supply the mixture M7 to.

[0167] The switching unit 7 includes a switching valve 285 and a control unit 281 (not shown). The switching valve 285 is located at the downstream end of the pipe 172 and has the function of switching which of the first pipe 71 and the second pipe 72, which branch off from the pipe 172, the mixture M7 is supplied to. The switching valve 285 is, for example, a solenoid valve and is electrically connected to the control device 28. The control unit 281 controls the operation of the switching valve 285 according to information about the type of fiber and selects which of the first pipe 71 and the second pipe 72 the mixture M7 is supplied to.

[0168] For example, a table or calibration curve showing the relationship between information about the type of fiber and information about which of the first mesh 54A and the second mesh 54B to supply the mixture M7 is obtained and stored in the storage unit 282. Then, the control unit 281 can determine which of the first mesh 54A and the second mesh 54B to supply the mixture M7 by referring to the table or calibration curve according to the information about the type of fiber.

[0169] Thus, the mesh portion 5 has a first mesh body 54A having holes 50 (first holes) and a second mesh body 54B having holes 50 (second holes) arranged at different intervals than the holes 50 (first holes). The switching portion 7 switches the supply portion 10 to supply fibers to the first pipe 71 as the first supply portion depending on whether the information regarding the type of fiber indicates a first type, and switches the supply portion 10 to supply fibers to the second pipe 72 as the second supply portion depending on whether the information regarding the type of fiber indicates a second type. This makes it possible to select a mesh body having holes 50 at an appropriate interval D depending on the type of fiber. Therefore, the ends of the fibers are less likely to get caught on the edges of the holes 50, and unintended retention of the mixture M7 in the dispersion portion 18 (first dispersion portion 18A or second dispersion portion 18B) can be more effectively prevented. As a result, unevenness in the amount of fiber dispersion in the dispersion portion 18 (first dispersion portion 18A or second dispersion portion 18B) can be reduced, and the quality of the sheet S can be improved.

[0170] <Fifth Embodiment> Figure 15 is a block diagram of a fiber manufacturing apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0171] The following describes a fifth embodiment of the fiber manufacturing apparatus and method for producing fiber according to the present invention, with reference to Figure 15. The description will focus on the differences from the first embodiment described above, and similar matters will be omitted.

[0172] As shown in Figure 15, the fiber manufacturing apparatus 100 includes a detection unit 286 that detects information about the type of fiber from the fiber. The detection unit 286 detects information about the type of fiber from at least one of the following: raw material M1, coarse fragments M2, defibrated material M3, first sorted material M4-1, second sorted material M4-2, first web M5, subdivided material M6, and mixture M7. Which of these to target, at what position, and how to detect them can be selected as appropriate. Below, we will describe the case in which the detection unit 286 provided in the drum section 141 detects information about the type of fiber from the first sorted material M4-1.

[0173] The detection unit 286 is, for example, a digital camera and captures an image of the first sorting material M4-1 falling from the drum unit 141. The image captured by the detection unit 286 is transmitted to a control device 28 (not shown). The control unit 281 analyzes the image captured by the detection unit 286 and obtains information, for example, about the fiber length of the fibers. After obtaining the information about the fiber length of the fibers, the process is the same as in the first embodiment.

[0174] Thus, the fiber manufacturing apparatus 100 is equipped with a detection unit that automatically detects information regarding the type of fiber. This eliminates the need for the user to input information regarding the type of fiber, as in the first embodiment. Therefore, it is possible to more easily reduce unevenness in the amount of fiber dispersed in the dispersion unit 18 (first dispersion unit 18A or second dispersion unit 18B) and improve the quality of the sheet S.

[0175] Although the fiber manufacturing apparatus and method for producing fiber of the present invention have been described above in the illustrated embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and the configuration of each part can be replaced with any configuration having a similar function. Furthermore, in the present invention, any other components may be added to each of the above embodiments. Furthermore, any two or more features from the first to fifth embodiments may be combined.

[0176] Furthermore, the switching unit 7 is not limited to one that uses a motor to perform the switching, but may also be one that allows a human to perform the switching through a screen display or sound. For example, the control unit 281 may perform the switching by instructing a human to switch from the first mesh to the second mesh, depending on the information regarding the type of fiber. Alternatively, the control unit 281 may switch the spacing of the holes in the mesh by closing the holes in the mesh, depending on the information regarding the type of fiber, by instructing a human to close which holes in the mesh. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0177] 3…Housing, 3A…Housing, 3B…Housing, 4…Agitation member, 5…Mesh section, 5A…Mesh section, 7…Switching section, 8…Drive section, 9…Drive section, 10…Supply section, 11…Raw material supply section, 12…Crushing section, 13…Fibreization section, 14…Separation section, 15…First web generation section, 16…Finement section, 17…Mixing section, 18…Dispersion section, 18A…First dispersion section, 18B…Second dispersion section, 19…Stacking section, 20…Forming section, 21…Cutting section, 22…Stock section, 27…Recovery section, 28…Control device, 31…Top plate, 32…Side wall, 41…Blade, 50…Hole, 51…First mesh body, 51A…First mesh body, 52…Second mesh body 52A...Second mesh body, 53...Engagement hole, 53A...Third mesh body, 54...Frame member, 54A...First mesh body, 54B...Second mesh body, 55...Frame member, 71...First pipe, 72...Second pipe, 81...Roller, 82...Roller, 83...Motor, 84...Motor, 85...Protrusion, 91...Support part, 92...Support part, 93...Solenoid, 94...Biasing part, 100...Fiber manufacturing device, 121...Crunching blade, 122...Crunch, 141...Drum part, 142...Housing part, 151...Mesh belt, 152...Tensioning roller, 153...Suction part, 161...Propeller, 162...Housing part, 171...Additive supply Feeding section, 172...pipe, 173...blower, 174...screw feeder, 191...mesh belt, 192...tension roller, 193...suction section, 194...motor, 201...pressurization section, 202...heating section, 203...calender roller, 204...heating roller, 211...first cutter, 212...second cutter, 231...humidification section, 232...humidification section, 233...humidification section, 235...humidification section, 236...humidification section, 241...pipe, 242...pipe, 243...pipe, 244...pipe, 245...pipe, 246...pipe, 261...blower, 262...blower, 263...blower, 281...control section, 28 2...Memory unit, 283...Communication unit, 284...Input device, 285...Switching valve, 286...Detection unit, 311...Inlet, 311...Air inlet, 321...Wall section, 322...Wall section, 323...Wall section, 324...Wall section, 325...Through hole, 326...Guide groove, 327...Rib, 501...Hole, 501A...Hole, 502...Hole, 502A...Hole, 503A...Hole, 911...Support base, 912...Rail section, 921...Support base, 922...Rail section, 931...Shaft, 941...Base, 942...Coil spring, D...Spacing, D1...Spacing, D2...Spacing, M1...Raw material, M2...Coarse fragments, M3...Fibrated material, M4-1...First sorted material,M4-2…Second sorted material, M5…First web, M6…Fragmented material, M7…Mixture, M8…Second web, O…Rotation axis, P1…Binding agent, S…Sheet, S101…Step, S102…Step, S103…Step, S104…Step, S105…Step, S106…Step, SA…Space,

Claims

1. A supply unit that supplies fibers, A mesh-like portion having a plurality of holes through which the fibers supplied from the supply unit pass, A deposit member on which the fibers that have passed through the holes accumulate, A molding section that forms a fibrous body by bonding the accumulated fibers together, A fiber manufacturing apparatus comprising a switching unit that switches the spacing of the holes according to information regarding the type of fiber supplied by the supply unit.

2. The mesh portion comprises a first mesh body and a second mesh body which is at least partially laminated with the first mesh body. The portion where the holes of the first mesh and the holes of the second mesh overlap becomes the holes of the mesh portion through which the fibers pass. The fiber manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit switches the spacing of the holes in the mesh by relatively moving the first mesh and the second mesh according to information regarding the type of fiber.

3. The mesh portion has a first mesh having the holes and a second mesh having the holes arranged at different intervals from the first mesh, in different regions. The fiber manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit moves the first mesh so that the first mesh is positioned at a location through which the fiber passes, depending on whether the information regarding the type of fiber indicates a first type, and moves the second mesh so that the second mesh is positioned at a location through which the fiber passes, depending on whether the information regarding the type of fiber indicates a second type.

4. The mesh portion comprises a first mesh having the holes and a second mesh having the holes arranged at different intervals from the first mesh. The fiber manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit switches the supply unit to supply the fiber to the first supply unit depending on whether the information regarding the type of fiber indicates a first type, and switches the supply unit to supply the fiber to the second supply unit depending on whether the information regarding the type of fiber indicates a second type.

5. The fiber manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the information relating to the type of fiber includes at least one of the fiber length information, the constituent material information of the fiber, and the morphology information of the fiber.

6. The information relating to the type of fiber includes information relating to the morphology of the fiber, The switching section is used when the fibers are derived from woven or knitted fabrics. The fiber manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the spacing of the holes is switched to make the spacing of the holes wider compared to the case in which the fibers are derived from a nonwoven fabric.

7. A fiber manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising an acquisition unit that acquires information regarding the type of fiber entered by the user.

8. A fiber manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a detection unit for detecting information relating to the type of fiber from the fiber.

9. The fiber manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the depositing member deposits the fibers while moving at a speed corresponding to the spacing of the holes.

10. The acquisition process involves obtaining information about the type of fiber, A switching step in which, in accordance with the information obtained in the acquisition step, the spacing of the holes in the mesh-like portion having a plurality of holes through which the fibers pass is switched, A supply process for supplying the aforementioned fibers, A dispersion step in which the supplied fibers are dispersed into the air by passing them through the holes of the switched spacing, A deposition step of depositing the dispersed fibers, A method for producing a fibrous material, comprising a production step of bonding the deposited fibers together to produce a fibrous material.

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