Partition Plate Thermal Barrier in Sheet Manufacturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In dry sheet manufacturing apparatuses, fibers tend to charge, leading to attachment to apparatus members, which poses a challenge for efficient operation and product quality.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a partition plate that thermally blocks the defibration unit from the sheet former, preventing heat-induced drying and subsequent fiber charging, along with the use of humidifying units to manage static electricity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a dry sheet manufacturing apparatus is used to form sheets by defibrating raw materials, then productivity and manufacturing efficiency are improved, but fibers become charged and attach to apparatus members causing operational problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a partition plate as an intermediary element positioned between the defibration unit and sheet former. This partition plate creates a physical barrier that controls the movement of hot air and moisture from the defibration unit to the sheet former, thereby mediating the environmental conditions to prevent fiber charging while maintaining manufacturing efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the environmental parameters (temperature and humidity) in the sheet former by using the partition plate to control heat and moisture transfer. By changing these parameters, the patent prevents fiber charging that would otherwise occur in the dry, hot environment created by the defibration unit
2Speed
If the defibration unit operates at high temperature to efficiently process raw materials, then processing speed is improved, but heat causes drying of fibers in the sheet former leading to charging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the internal space of the housing into separate sections using the partition plate, creating distinct thermal zones. The defibration unit operates at high temperature for efficient processing, while the sheet former maintains higher humidity conditions, with the partition plate serving as the boundary between these segmented spaces
Solution Approach 2:
The partition plate acts as a thermal intermediary that selectively controls heat and moisture transfer. It allows the defibration unit to operate at high temperature while preventing excessive heat and moisture loss from reaching the sheet former, thereby mediating the thermal environment to maintain fiber moisture content
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 suppresses fiber charging, maintaining the integrity of the sheet forming process and improving the quality of the produced sheets by preventing unwanted attachment and ensuring uniformity.
Implementation Method 1
the partition plate enables the sheet former to be less influenced by the heat emitted from the defibration unit
Implementation Method 2
along with the use of humidifying units to manage static electricity
Data Source
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AI summary
Charging of a fiber is suppressed effectively in a sheet manufacturing apparatus that forms a sheet by using fibers obtained by defibrating a raw material. A sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 includes: a defibration unit 20 that defibrates a raw material containing fibers in a gas atmosphere; and a sheet former 100b that forms a sheet by using at least a part of defibrated substances obtained through a defibrating process performed by the defibration unit 20. The defibration unit 20 and the sheet former 100b are thermally blocked from each other.