Fiber Web Forming Layout for Uniform Sheet Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet manufacturing apparatuses face challenges in reducing thickness variations in the web, leading to uneven sheet quality, particularly when processing wide-width materials.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a supply section, a supply direction change section, a reducer section, and an accumulation section to control the movement and distribution of fibers, using a combination of mechanical and airflow management to uniformly form the web, with a control system adjusting airflow rates to minimize thickness variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If material is supplied from above the center in the width direction of the rotating body, then the material can be easily supplied to the accumulation section, but the variation in thickness of the web increases in the width direction
Solution Approach 1:
The supply section divides the material supply into multiple streams by separating left-side and right-side material supplies. Each stream is directed to specific regions of the accumulation section, ensuring balanced material distribution across the width direction and reducing thickness variation.
Solution Approach 2:
The supply direction change section adjusts the movement direction of material locally for each side (left and right) independently. By controlling the flow direction separately for each region, the system achieves uniform thickness distribution while maintaining ease of material supply operation.
2Productivity
If the movement speed of material is high, then productivity is improved, but the thickness variation of the web increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reducer section dynamically adjusts the movement speed of material before it reaches the accumulation section. By controlling the deceleration process, the system maintains high productivity while ensuring uniform material distribution and reducing thickness variation in the web.
3Device complexity
If a simple supply mechanism is used, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to control thickness variation is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The supply direction change section acts as an intermediary between the simple supply mechanism and the accumulation section. It modifies the material flow direction and distribution without requiring complex supply mechanism structures, thereby achieving thickness uniformity while keeping the overall device relatively simple.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively reduces thickness variations in the web, ensuring a more uniform and consistent sheet quality by managing fiber distribution and airflow, thereby improving the manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
a pipe (40) that supplies the mixture to the forming section (100); a supply member (42) that rectifies a flow of the mixture supplied from the pipe (40) and guides the mixture to the forming section (100)
Implementation Method 2
a supply direction change section that changes a movement direction of the material supplied from the supply section
Implementation Method 3
a reducer section that is disposed downstream of the supply direction change section and decreases a movement speed of the material
Implementation Method 4
an accumulation section that is disposed downstream of the reducer section and accumulates the material to form a web
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a pipe that supplies a material containing fibers, a supply direction change section that changes a movement direction of the material supplied from the pipe, a reducer section that is disposed downstream of the supply direction change section and decreases a movement speed of the material, and an accumulation section that is disposed downstream of the reducer section and accumulates the material to form a web.