Patent Application
20250137198
The present application is based on, and claims priority from JP Application Serial Number 2023-186309, filed Oct. 31, 2023 and JP Application Serial Number 2024-115555, filed Jul. 19, 2024, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
The present disclosure relates to a sheet manufacturing apparatus.
In the related art, an apparatus for manufacturing a sheet or the like by compression-forming fibers obtained from paper pieces or the like is known. Such an apparatus may include a mechanism for weighing an aggregate of paper pieces or fibers. For example, JP-A-7-3537 discloses an apparatus that automatically corrects weight measurement of waste cotton.
However, in the apparatus described in JP-A-7-3537, there is a problem that it is difficult to improve weighing accuracy of the waste cotton, which is an aggregate of fibers. Specifically, there is a concern that a vibration caused by an operation of a compressor mechanism, conveyors, and the like may propagate to a weighing instrument. In addition, when a mechanism for transporting waste cotton or the like using an airflow is adopted, there is a concern that the weighing instrument may be affected by the airflow. That is, a sheet manufacturing apparatus that improves weighing accuracy of the paper pieces is demanded.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a sheet manufacturing apparatus includes: a first measurement portion that weighs paper pieces, in which the first measurement portion includes: a first frame portion; a second frame portion separated from the first frame portion; a first lid portion on which paper pieces to be weighed are placed in a closed state, and which transmits the weighed paper pieces to a downstream transport pipe in an open state; a first sensor portion that measures a mass of the paper pieces placed on the first lid portion; and a first shutter portion configured to close a space between the first lid portion and the transport pipe, the first sensor portion is attached to the first frame portion, and the first shutter portion is attached to the second frame portion.
In the following embodiment, a sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 that recycles paper pieces such as waste paper in a dry manner will be described with reference to the drawings. The sheet manufacturing apparatus of the present disclosure is not limited to a dry type, and may be a wet type. In the present specification, the dry type means that it is carried out in the air, such as the atmosphere, not in the liquid.
In the following drawings, the XYZ axes are attached as orthogonal coordinate axes, the direction indicated by each arrow is a +direction, and the direction opposite to the +direction is a −direction. The Z axis is a virtual axis along the vertical direction, and the +Z direction is an upward direction and the −Z direction is a downward direction. The −Z direction is a direction in which gravity acts. In the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1, the front thereof in the transport direction of raw materials, paper pieces, webs, sheets, and the like may be referred to as a downstream, and the side thereof going back in the transport direction may be referred to as an upstream. For convenience of illustration, the size of each member is different from the actual size.
As illustrated in
The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 manufactures the sheet P3 from the paper piece C. In a side view from the −X direction, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 has the first unit group 101, the third unit group 103, and the second unit group 102 which are disposed from the −Y direction to the +Y direction.
The paper pieces C are transported from the first unit group 101 to the second unit group 102 via a pipe 21 crossing an inside of the third unit group 103. Then, the paper piece C is formed of fibers by performing defibration or the like in the second unit group 102, and is a mixture containing a binder or the like. The mixture is transported to the third unit group 103 via the pipe 24. The mixture is formed into a band-shaped sheet P1 after being formed into a web W by the third unit group 103. The band-shaped sheet P1 is cut by the first unit group 101 to form a sheet P3.
The first unit group 101 includes a buffer tank 13, a discharge pipe 14, a measurement portion 15, a merging portion 17, and the pipe 21. In the first unit group 101, the configurations thereof are disposed in the above order from the upstream to the downstream. In addition, the first unit group 101 also includes a first cutting portion 81, a second cutting portion 82, a tray 91, and a shredding portion 95. The first cutting portion 81 and the second cutting portion 82 cut the band-shaped sheet P1 into the sheet P3 having a predetermined shape. Further, the first unit group 101 has a water supply portion 67. The water supply portion 67 is a water storage tank. The water supply portion 67 supplies water for humidification to each of a first humidification portion 65 and a second humidification portion 66 (to be described later) through a water supply pipe (not illustrated).
The paper pieces C are charged from a raw material charging port 11 to the buffer tank 13. The paper piece C contains fibers such as cellulose, and is, for example, shredded waste paper. A humidified air is supplied from the second humidification portion 66, which is included in the third unit group 103, to the inside of the buffer tank 13.
The paper pieces C are temporarily stored in the buffer tank 13, and then transported to the measurement portion 15 via the discharge pipe 14. The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 may include a shredder that shreds the paper pieces C or the like on an upstream of the buffer tank 13.
The measurement portion 15 weighs the paper pieces C. Although not illustrated, the measurement portion 15 includes a sensor portion that measures a mass of the paper pieces C, a lid portion on which the paper pieces C are placed during measurement, and the like. The measurement portion 15 weighs the paper pieces C in a predetermined mass and supplies the weighed paper pieces C to the downstream merging portion 17. Details of the measurement portion 15 will be described later.
In the merging portion 17, the shredded pieces of the slit pieces S, which are supplied from the shredding portion 95, are merged and mixed with the paper pieces C supplied from the measurement portion 15. The merging portion 17 is a pipe for transporting the paper pieces C and the slit pieces S, and corresponds to a transport pipe. The slit pieces S and the shredding portion 95 will be described later. The paper piece C in which the above-described shredded pieces are mixed flows into the pipe 21 from the merging portion 17.
The pipe 21 transports the paper pieces C from the first unit group 101 to the second unit group 102 by a suction airflow generated by a downstream defibration portion 31.
The second unit group 102 includes the defibration portion 31, a separation portion 32, the pipe 23, a mixing portion 33, and a pipe 24, which are a dry-type defibration machine. In the second unit group 102, the configurations thereof are disposed in the above order from the upstream to the downstream. In addition, the second unit group 102 also includes a pipe 25 coupled to the separation portion 32, a collection portion 35, a compressor 38, and a power supply portion 39.
The paper pieces C transported through the pipe 21 flow into the defibration portion 31. The defibration portion 31 defibrates the paper pieces C supplied from the measurement portion 15 in a dry manner to form fibers. A known defibration mechanism can be applied to the defibration portion 31.
Examples of the configuration of the defibration portion 31 include the following. The defibration portion 31 includes a stator and a rotor. The stator has a substantially cylindrical inner surface. The rotor is installed inside the stator and rotates along the inner surface of the stator. The paper pieces C are interposed between the inner surface of the stator and the rotor, and are defibrated by a shear force generated between the stator and the rotor. As a result, the entangled fibers included in the paper pieces C are unraveled. The paper pieces C are transported to the separation portion 32 as fibers.
The separation portion 32 sorts the defibrated fibers. Specifically, the separation portion 32 removes the unnecessary components for manufacturing the sheet P3, which is included in the fiber. Specifically, the separation portion 32 sorts the relatively long fibers and the relatively short fibers. The relatively short fibers are sorted by the separation portion 32 because the relatively short fibers may cause a decrease in strength of the sheet P3. In addition, the separation portion 32 also sorts and eliminates coloring materials, additives, and the like included in the paper piece C. A known technique such as a disc mesh method can be applied to the separation portion 32.
The air humidified by the second humidification portion 66 of the third unit group 103 is supplied into an inside of the separation portion 32.
The defibrated fibers are transported to the mixing portion 33 via the pipe 23 after relatively short fibers or the like are eliminated. The unnecessary components such as relatively short fibers and coloring materials are discharged to the collection portion 35 via the pipe 25.
The mixing portion 33 mixes the fibers with a binder or the like in the air to form a mixture. Although not illustrated, the mixing portion 33 includes a flow path through which the fibers are transported, a fan, a hopper, a supply pipe, and a valve.
The hopper communicates with the flow path of the fibers via the supply pipe. The valve is provided in a supply pipe between the hopper and the flow path. The hopper supplies a binder such as starch into the flow path. The valve adjusts the mass of the binder supplied from the hopper to the flow path. As a result, a mixing ratio of the fiber and the binder is adjusted.
The mixing portion 33 may have a similar configuration for supplying coloring materials, additives, or the like in addition to the configuration for supplying the binder.
The fan of the mixing portion 33 mixes the fibers with the binder or the like in the air while transporting the fibers to the downstream by an airflow to be generated, to form a mixture. The mixture flows into the pipe 24 from the mixing portion 33.
The collection portion 35 includes a filter (not illustrated). The filter filters out unnecessary components such as relatively short fibers transported by the airflow from the pipe 25.
The compressor 38 generates compressed air. In the above filter, clogging may occur due to fine particles or the like in the unnecessary components. The compressed air generated by the compressor 38 can be blown onto the filter to blow off adhered particles and clean the filter.
The power supply portion 39 includes a control portion 5 and a power supply device (not illustrated) that supplies power to the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. The power supply portion 39 distributes the power supplied from an outside to each configuration of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. The control portion 5 is electrically coupled to each configuration of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 and integrally controls an operation of these configurations. The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 may include a plurality of control portions 5. In this case, the plurality of control portions 5 control the operation of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 while interworking with each other.
The third unit group 103 accumulates and compresses the mixture including fibers to form the band-shaped sheet P1 which is recycled paper. The third unit group 103 includes an accumulation portion 50, a first transport portion 61, a second transport portion 62, a first humidification portion 65, the second humidification portion 66, a drainage portion 68, and a forming portion 70. In the third unit group 103, the accumulation
portion 50, the first transport portion 61, the second transport portion 62, the first humidification portion 65, and the forming portion 70 are disposed in the above order from the upstream to the downstream. The second humidification portion 66 is disposed below the first humidification portion 65.
The accumulation portion 50 accumulates the mixture including the sorted fibers in the air to generate the web W. The accumulation portion 50 includes a drum member 53, a blade member 55 installed in the drum member 53, a housing 51 that accommodates the drum member 53, and a suction portion 59. The mixture is taken into the drum member 53 from the pipe 24.
The first transport portion 61 is disposed below the accumulation portion 50. The first transport portion 61 includes a mesh belt 61a and five stretch rollers (not illustrated) for stretching the mesh belt 61a. The suction portion 59 faces the drum member 53 with the mesh belt 61a interposed therebetween in a direction along the Z axis.
The blade member 55 is located inside the drum member 53 and is rotationally driven by a motor (not illustrated). The drum member 53 is a half-cylindrical sieve. A mesh having a sieve function is provided on a side surface of the drum member 53 facing the downward. The drum member 53 allows particles such as fibers and the mixture, which are smaller than the size of a mesh opening of the sieve mesh to pass from the inside to the outside.
The mixture is released to an outside of the drum member 53 while being stirred by the rotating blade member 55 in the drum member 53. The air humidified by the second humidification portion 66 is supplied into the drum member 53.
The suction portion 59 is disposed below the drum member 53. The suction portion 59 sucks the air in the housing 51 through a plurality of holes of the mesh belt 61a. The plurality of holes of the mesh belt 61a allow the air to pass therethrough, and it is difficult for fibers, binders, and the like included in the mixture to pass therethrough. As a result, the mixture released to the outside of the drum member 53 is sucked downward together with the air. The suction portion 59 is a known suction device such as a blower.
The mixture is dispersed in the air inside the housing 51, and is accumulated on an upper surface of the mesh belt 61a by gravity and suction by the suction portion 59 to form the web W.
The mesh belt 61a is an endless belt and is stretched by five stretch rollers. The mesh belt 61a is rotated counterclockwise in
The second transport portion 62 transports the web W instead of the first transport portion 61 to the downstream of the first transport portion 61. The second transport portion 62 peels off the web W from the upper surface of the mesh belt 61a and transports the web W toward the forming portion 70. The second transport portion 62 is disposed above the transport path of the web W and on an upstream that is located slightly upward from a starting point of the mesh belt 61a on a return side. The +Y direction of the second transport portion 62 and the −Y direction of the mesh belt 61a partially overlap each other in the vertical direction.
The second transport portion 62 includes a transport belt, a plurality of rollers, and a suction mechanism (not illustrated). The transport belt is provided with a plurality of holes through which the air passes. The transport belt is stretched by the plurality of rollers and is rotated by rotation of the rollers.
The second transport portion 62 adsorbs an upper surface of the web W to a lower surface of the transport belt by a negative pressure generated by the suction mechanism. In this state, the web W is adsorbed to the transport belt and transported to the downstream by rotation of the transport belt.
The first humidification portion 65 humidifies the web W including the fibers accumulated in the accumulation portion 50 of the third unit group 103. Specifically, the first humidification portion 65 is, for example, a mist humidifier, and supplies mist M, which is transported by the second transport portion 62, from a lower part to the web W to humidify the web W. The first humidification portion 65 is disposed below the second transport portion 62 and faces the web W transported by the second transport portion 62 in the direction along the Z axis. For example, a known humidification device such as an ultrasonic type can be applied to the first humidification portion 65.
By humidifying the web W with the mist M, a function as a binder of starch is promoted, and strength of the sheet P3 is improved. Further, since the web W is humidified from the lower part, the falling of the mist-derived droplets onto the web W is prevented. Moreover, since the web W is humidified from an opposite side of a contact surface between the transport belt and the web W, sticking of the web W to the transport belt is reduced. The second transport portion 62 transports the web W to the forming portion 70.
The forming portion 70 includes processing rollers 71 and 72. The processing rollers 71 and 72 process the web W including fibers to form the band-shaped sheet P1. A pair of the processing rollers 71 and 72 are formed, each of which is installed with an electric heater to have a function of raising a temperature of a surface of the rollers.
The processing rollers 71 and 72 are members having a substantially cylindrical shape. A rotation shaft of the processing roller 71 and a rotation shaft of the processing roller 72 are disposed along the X axis. The processing roller 71 is disposed substantially above the transport path of the web W, and the processing roller 72 is disposed substantially below the transport path of the web W. A gap is provided between a side surface of the processing roller 71 and a side surface of the processing roller 72 according to a thickness of the sheet P3 to be manufactured.
The processing rollers 71 and 72 are rotationally driven by a stepping motor (not illustrated). The web W is sent out to the downstream while being heated and pressurized as the web W is interposed between the processing roller 71 and the processing roller 72. That is, the web W continuously passes through the forming portion 70 and is press-formed while being heated. By using the processing rollers 71 and 72 as a pair of forming members, the web W can be efficiently heated and pressurized.
The web W passes through the forming portion 70, so that the web W is formed into the band-shaped sheet P1 by reducing the air included in the web W and binding the fibers to each other using the binder from a relatively soft state including a large amount of air. The band-shaped sheet P1 is transported to the first unit group 101 by a transport roller (not illustrated).
The second humidification portion 66 is disposed below the first humidification portion 65. A known evaporation type humidification device can be applied to the second humidification portion 66. Examples of the evaporation type humidification device include a device that evaporates moisture by blowing the air onto a wet nonwoven fabric or the like to generate humidified air.
The second humidification portion 66 humidifies a predetermined region of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. The predetermined region is one or more of the buffer tank 13, the separation portion 32, and the accumulation portion 50 in the drum member 53. Specifically, the air humidified by the second humidification portion 66 is supplied to the region via a plurality of pipes (not illustrated). In each of the above configurations, the humidified air suppresses charging of the paper pieces C, the fibers, and the like, and prevents the same from adhering to the members due to static electricity.
The drainage portion 68 is a drainage tank. The drainage portion 68 is used in the first humidification portion 65, the second humidification portion 66, and the like, and collects and stores the old moisture. The drainage portion 68 can be removed from the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 as necessary and can discard the accumulated water.
The band-shaped sheet P1 transported to the first unit group 101 reaches a first cutting portion 81. The first cutting portion 81 cuts the band-shaped sheet P1 in a direction intersecting the transport direction, for example, in a direction along the X axis. The band-shaped sheet P1 is cut into a cut-shaped sheet P2 by the first cutting portion 81. The cut-shaped sheet P2 is transported from the first cutting portion 81 to the second cutting portion 82.
The second cutting portion 82 cuts the cut-shaped sheet P2 in the transport direction, for example, in a direction along the Y axis. Specifically, the second cutting portion 82 cuts the vicinity of the both sides of the cut-shaped sheet P2 in the direction along the X axis. As a result, the cut-shaped sheet P2 is formed of a sheet P3 having a predetermined shape such as A4 size or A3 size.
When the cut-shaped sheet P2 is cut into the sheet P3 by the second cutting portion 82, the slit pieces S, which are end materials, are generated. The slit pieces S are transported in the substantially-Y direction to reach the shredding portion 95, which is a shredder. The shredding portion 95 shreds the slit pieces S and supplies the same to the merging portion 17 as shredded pieces. A mechanism for weighing the shredded pieces of the slit piece S and supplying the same to the merging portion 17 may be installed between the shredding portion 95 and the merging portion 17.
The sheet P3 is transported substantially upward and is accumulated on the tray 91. As described above, the sheet P3 is manufactured by the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. The sheet P3 can be applied as an alternative to, for example, copy paper or the like.
As illustrated in
The discharge pipe 14 also includes discharge pipes 14a and 14b corresponding to the measurement portions 15a and 15b. The discharge pipe 14a supplies the paper pieces C to the measurement portion 15a, and the discharge pipe 14b supplies the paper pieces C to the measurement portion 15b. The measurement portion 15a is disposed below an end portion of the discharge pipe 14a in the −X direction. The measurement portion 15b is disposed below the end portion of the discharge pipe 14b in the −X direction.
In
The measurement portion 15a includes a bucket portion 151a, a lid portion 152a, a sensor portion 153a, a second frame portion 154a, and a shutter portion 155a. The measurement portion 15b includes a bucket portion 151b, a lid portion 152b, a sensor portion 153b, a second frame portion 154b, and a shutter portion 155b.
As illustrated in
The sheet metal frame Fa has a substantially U-shape when viewed from the +Z direction, and includes a base portion Fa0 extending along the Y-axis, an extension portion Fa1 extending in the −X direction from a −Y side end portion of the base portion Fa0, and an extension portion Fa2 extending in the −X direction from a +Y side end portion of the base portion Fa0. A +X side end portion of the base portion Fa0, the −Y side end portion of the extension portion Fa1, and the +Y side end portion of the extension portion Fa2 are bent in the −Z direction.
The sheet metal frame Fa is disposed on an upper surface of the resin frame Fb so as to cover a part of the resin frame Fb. The sheet metal frame Fa and the resin frame Fb are fixed by a plurality of fastening members (not illustrated) such as bolts. The first frame portion 101F, which includes the sheet metal frame Fa and the resin frame Fb, has a through-hole Fc formed therethrough in the up-down direction. In addition, the extension portion Fa1 of the sheet metal frame Fa has a protrusion portion Fa31 protruding in the +Y direction toward the through-hole Fc. In addition, the extension portion Fa2 of the sheet metal frame Fa has a protrusion portion Fa32 protruding in the −Y direction toward the through-hole Fc. The positions where the protrusion portions Fa31 and Fa32 are provided are the tip end side, that is, the −X side, of the center of the extension portions Fa1 and Fa2 in an extending direction.
As illustrated in
The second frame portions 154a and 154b are coupled to the sheet metal frame Fa at positions separated from each other. Specifically, the second frame portion 154a disposed on the −Y side is fixed to the extension portion Fa1 with the fastening member B10 in the side wall portion located on the −Y side. On the other hand, the second frame portion 154b disposed on the +Y side is fixed to the extension portion Fa2 by a fastening member (not illustrated) in the side wall portion located on the +Y side. In this case, the second frame portion 154a is fixed in the vicinity of the −Y side end portion of the extension portion Fa1 bent in the −Z direction. Similarly, the second frame portion 154b is fixed in the vicinity of the +Y side end portion of the extension portion Fa2 bent in the −Z direction.
Further, the second frame portions 154a and 154b are supported by the resin frame Fb via a plate member 157 at positions close to each other. Specifically, the second frame portion 154a disposed on the −Y side is supported by the resin frame Fb via the plate member 157 at a +Y side part of the side wall portion located on the −X side. On the other hand, the second frame portion 154b disposed on the +Y side is supported by the resin frame Fb via the plate member 157 at a −Y side part of the side wall portion located on the −X side. Although not illustrated in
In this case, the measurement portion 15a and the measurement portion 15b have the same configuration as each other. These configurations are disposed in a plane-symmetrical manner with respect to a plane along the XZ plane in the middle of the measurement portion 15a and the measurement portion 15b. Each configuration of the measurement portion 15a has the same form and the same function as each corresponding configuration of the measurement portion 15b. In the following description, the measurement portion 15a will be described as a representative example of the measurement portion 15, and the description of the measurement portion 15b will be omitted.
As illustrated in
The bucket portion 151a has a substantially box shape and has a hollow portion therein. The bucket portion 151a is accommodated inside the second frame portion 154a, that is, in the accommodation portion 154c of the second frame portion 154a, together with the lid portion 152a. However, the bucket portion 151a and the lid portion 152a do not make contact with the second frame portion 154a.
Referring back to
The lid portion 152a is closed when the paper pieces C are placed. The paper pieces C are placed on the lid portion 152a in the closed state. Then, the mass of the paper pieces C, which are placed on the lid portion 152a, is measured by the sensor portion 153a. The lid portion 152a is coupled to an opening/closing mechanism 160 (refer to
As illustrated in
The bucket portion 151a is fixed to the upper surface of the free end of the sensor portion 153a, that is, the +X side end portion by a fastening member B11, at the +X side and −Y side end portions. Therefore, the mass of the bucket portion 151a, the mass of the lid portion 152a, and the mass of the paper pieces C placed on the lid portion 152a are imparted to the +X side end portion of the sensor portion 153a. The sensor portion 153a is strained by the masses. The sensor portion 153a outputs an output signal corresponding to the strain to the control portion 5. The control portion 5 can detect the mass of the paper pieces C by canceling the mass of the bucket portion 151a and the mass of the lid portion 152a, which are known information. The sensor portions 153a and 153b are not limited to the above load cells, and may be other detection units.
The control portion 5 operates the opening/closing mechanism 160 to open the lid portion 152a when the mass of the paper pieces C placed on the lid portion 152a reaches a predetermined amount. The predetermined amount is, for example, several g to several tens of g.
The shutter portion 155a is disposed below the lid portion 152a. The shutter portion 155a is attached to the second frame portion 154a. Specifically, the shutter portion 155a is rotatably supported by the second frame portion 154a. The shutter portion 155a can be opened and closed with respect to the accommodation portion 154c of the second frame portion 154a.
The shutter portion 155a is a substantially plate-shaped and substantially rectangular member. When the shutter portion 155a is closed, a lower part of the second frame portion 154a and the shutter portion 155a make close contact with each other. The shutter portion 155a is urged to be closed by a spring member 175 (refer to
The shutter portion 155a blocks a space in the downstream merging portion 17 and the accommodation portion 154c of the second frame portion 154a in the closed state. That is, the shutter portion 155a can close a space between the downstream merging portion 17 and the bucket portion 151a and the lid portion 152a accommodated in the accommodation portion 154c of the second frame portion 154a. An airflow toward the downstream defibration portion 31 is generated in the merging portion 17. Therefore, by blocking the lid portion 152a from the inside of the merging portion 17, the influence of the airflow on the lid portion 152a and the sensor portion 153a is eliminated, and accuracy of measurement of the mass of the paper pieces C in the sensor portion 153a is improved.
As illustrated in
The lid portion 152a is opened and closed by the opening/closing mechanism 160 to be described later. The shutter portion 155a is pushed downward by the open lid portion 152a and is opened in conjunction with an opening operation of the lid portion 152a. As described above, the shutter portion 155a is urged to be closed by the spring member 175, but a force for opening the lid portion 152a downward is larger than an urging force of the spring member 175, and thus the lid portion 152a and the opening/closing mechanism 160 open the shutter portion 155a against the urging force.
When the lid portion 152a and the shutter portion 155a are opened, the paper pieces C, which are placed on the lid portion 152a and a mass thereof is measured, are released to the merging portion 17. The lid portion 152a is opened when the paper pieces C are transmitted to the merging portion 17, and transmits the weighed paper pieces C to the merging portion 17. Then, the paper piece C falls from the lid portion 152a to the merging portion 17 at a lower part by gravity, and is transported to the downstream by the airflow generated by the defibration portion 31.
The lid portion 152a is opened for a certain period of time to transmit the paper pieces C to the downstream, and then is closed. This operation is operated by the opening/closing mechanism 160. When the lid portion 152a is closed, the shutter portion 155a is closed in conjunction with a closing operation of the lid portion 152a by the urging force of the spring member 175.
As described above, the opening and closing of the lid portion 152a and the opening and closing of the shutter portion 155a interwork with each other. As a result, the shutter portion 155a is closed while the lid portion 152a is closed and the sensor portion 153a weighs the paper pieces C so that the space between the lid portion 152a and the merging portion 17 is closed. Therefore, when the sensor portion 153a is weighed, the above-described influence of the airflow on the sensor portion 153a is eliminated. Since the measurement portion 15a and the measurement portion 15b are operated with time differences, the lid portion 152a and the shutter portion 155a, and the lid portion 152b and the shutter portion 155b are not opened at the same time. That is, when the lid portion 152a is in the open state, the lid portion 152b is in the closed state, and the paper pieces C to be weighed are placed on the lid portion 152b. In addition, when the lid portion 152b is in the open state, the lid portion 152a is in the closed state, and the paper pieces C to be weighed are placed on the lid portion 152a. In other words, the measurement portion 15a and the measurement portion 15b weigh the paper pieces C at different timings.
As illustrated in
The opening/closing mechanism 160 includes a drive shaft 161, a cam member 163, a pin member 165, and an urging member and a drive motor (not illustrated). When the above-described sensor portion 153a detects that the paper pieces C placed on the lid portion 152a reaches a predetermined amount, the opening/closing mechanism 160 operates in response to the detection result. The opening/closing mechanism 160 opens the lid portion 152a by the drive motor and transmits the paper pieces C to the downstream.
The cam member 163 has a substantially fan shape when viewed from the +X direction. In the cam member 163, a part corresponding to the original center of the circle is attached to the drive shaft 161.
When the opening/closing mechanism 160 operates, the drive shaft 161 rotates counterclockwise by the drive motor when viewed from the +X direction, and thus the cam member 163 also rotates counterclockwise. In the cam member 163, a part corresponding to a radius of the fan shape makes contact with the pin member 165 by rotating.
The pin member 165 is coupled to the lid portion 152a via a stator (not illustrated). When the cam member 163 abuts on the pin member 165, the pin member 165 is pushed counterclockwise when viewed from the +X direction. A driving force of the drive motor is larger than the urging force of an urging member (not illustrated) for closing the lid portion 152a. Therefore, the lid portion 152a is opened by the driving force of the drive motor.
The cam member 163 continues to rotate even while the lid portion 152a is opened. As a result, a contact point between the pin member 165 and the cam member 163 moves from a part corresponding to the radius of the fan shape of the cam member 163 to a part corresponding to a circular arc of the fan shape. Since the pin member 165 abuts along the above-described circular arc, the lid portion 152a is not closed instantly, but is gradually closed.
Since the lid portion 152a is gradually closed, the occurrence of vibration or impact is suppressed when the lid portion 152a is closed. The shape and the number of rotations per unit time of the cam member 163 define the time when the lid portion 152a is opened, the time when the lid portion 152a is gradually closed, and the time when the lid portion 152a is completely closed.
The above-described shutter portion 155a is attached to a support member 173. The support member 173 is coupled to a support shaft 171 and is rotatable about the support shaft 171 as a fulcrum. The support shaft 171 is supported by the second frame portion 154a. One end of the spring member 175 is attached to a region of the support member 173 above the support shaft 171. The other end of the spring member 175 is attached to the sheet metal frame Fa of the first frame portion 101F.
The spring member 175 urges the region above the support shaft 171 in the −Y direction. Therefore, a region of the support member 173 below the support shaft 171 is urged in the substantially +Y direction. As a result, the shutter portion 155a is urged to be closed with respect to the second frame portion 154a.
The urging force of the spring member 175 is smaller than a force for opening the lid portion 152a. Therefore, when the lid portion 152a is opened, the shutter portion 155a is also pushed by the lid portion 152a and is opened. When the lid portion 152a is closed, the shutter portion 155a is also gradually closed while the lid portion 152a and the shutter portion 155a make contact with each other.
As described above, the second frame portions 154a and 154b are coupled to the resin frame Fb of the first frame portion 101F via the plate member 157 at positions close to each other. Specifically, as illustrated in
The configuration and function of the vibration absorption portion 156 are the same between the first frame portion 101F and the second frame portion 154a and between the first frame portion 101F and the second frame portion 154b. Therefore, in the following description, the configuration between the first frame portion 101F and the second frame portion 154a will be described as a representative example.
As will be described in detail later, the vibration absorption portion 156 alleviates the vibration or impact generated by contact between the second frame portion 154a and the shutter portion 155a when the shutter portion 155a is closed, and suppresses propagation of the vibration or impact from the second frame portion 154a to the first frame portion 101F.
The plate member 157 is a substantially rectangular-shaped and plate-shaped member, and is formed of, for example, resin or the like. The plate member 157 has a main surface along the XY plane and a long side along the Y axis. In a plan view from above, two fastening members B1 and two fastening members B2 are disposed at four corners of the plate member 157.
The fastening members B1 and B2 are bolts. The first frame portion 101F and the second frame portion 154a corresponding to each of the fastening members B1 and B2 are provided with female screws that are screwed to the fastening members B1 and B2. The fastening member B2 is disposed along the Y axis and directly fastens the first frame portion 101F and the plate member 157.
As illustrated in
The fastening member B1 is screwed to the second frame portion 154a, and a head portion thereof presses the vibration absorption portion 156 downward. As a result, the vibration absorption portion 156 and the second frame portion 154a are positioned via the fastening member B1. Furthermore, the vibration absorption portion 156 is contracted by being pressed downward, and fixes the plate member 157 that is fitted into the recess.
As described above, the vibration absorption portion 156 is disposed between the second frame portion 154a and the plate member 157, and is interposed between the second frame portion 154a and the first frame portion 101F. The vibration absorption portion 156 has a function of absorbing and attenuating vibration or impact. The vibration absorption portion 156 is formed of, for example, a material having elasticity such as rubber.
Since the shutter portions 155a and 155b are closed by the urging force of the spring member 175, the shutter portions 155a and 155b make contact with the second frame portions 154a and 154b with a certain momentum and are closed. The vibration or impact generated when the shutter portions 155a and 155b are closed may affect the weighing of the paper pieces C by propagating to the sensor portions 153a and 153b via the second frame portions 154a and 154b.
In this case, the measurement of the weight of the paper pieces C by the measurement portion 15a is started after the lid portion 152a of the measurement portion 15a is closed. That is, at the moment when the lid portion 152a and the shutter portion 155a are closed, the paper pieces C are not started to be weighed. Therefore, it is not necessary to consider the influence of the vibration or the impact, which is generated in the second frame portion 154a when the shutter portion 155a is closed, on the sensor portion 153a. However, it is assumed that the other measurement portion 15b weighs the paper pieces C at the moment when the shutter portion 155a is closed. Therefore, the vibration or impact generated when the shutter portion 155a of the measurement portion 15a is closed may affect the sensor portion 153b of the measurement portion 15b. Similarly, the vibration or impact generated when the shutter portion 155b of the measurement portion 15b is closed may affect the sensor portion 153a of the measurement portion 15a.
The vibration absorption portion 156 suppresses the propagation of the above-described vibration or impact from the second frame portion 154a to the first frame portion 101F. As a result, the vibration or the like generated from the second frame portion 154a and the shutter portion 155a is less likely to propagate from the second frame portion 154a to the sensor portion 153b via the first frame portion 101F. Similarly, the vibration or the like generated from the second frame portion 154b and the shutter portion 155b is less likely to propagate to the sensor portion 153a via the first frame portion 101F from the second frame portion 154b. As described above, the vibration and the impact propagating to the sensor portions 153a and 153b are further reduced, and the weighing accuracy of the mass of the paper pieces C in the sensor portions 153a and 153b is further improved.
On the other hand, as illustrated in
Further, a position where the second frame portion 154a and the sheet metal frame Fa of the first frame portion 101F are coupled is in the vicinity of the −Y side end portion of the extension portion Fa1 bent in the −Z direction. In addition, a position where the second frame portion 154b and the sheet metal frame Fa of the first frame portion 101F are coupled is in the vicinity of the +Y side end portion of the extension portion Fa2 bent in the −Z direction. The vicinity of the bent part has a higher rigidity than that of the other parts. That is, the second frame portions 154a and 154b are coupled to the first frame portion 101F at a position where the rigidity is high. As a result, the vibration and the impact propagated from the second frame portions 154a and 154b to the first frame portion 101F are further reduced.
When the lid portions 152a and 152b are closed, vibration or impact may be generated in the bucket portions 151a and 151b, but the lid portions 152a and 152b are smaller and lighter than the shutter portions 155a and 155b, so that the influence thereof is small. Furthermore, the vibration or the impact generated in the bucket portion 151a is transmitted to the sensor portion 153b of the measurement portion 15b via the sensor portion 153a, the protrusion portion Fa31, the extension portion Fa1, the base portion Fa0, the extension portion Fa2, and the protrusion portion Fa32. Similarly, the vibration or the impact generated in the bucket portion 151b is transmitted to the sensor portion 153a of the measurement portion 15a via the sensor portion 153b, the protrusion portion Fa32, the extension portion Fa2, the base portion Fa0, the extension portion Fa1, and the protrusion portion Fa31. That is, a path when the vibration or the impact generated by closing the lid portions 152a and 152b propagates is longer than a path when the vibration or the impact generated by closing the shutter portions 155a and 155b propagates. Therefore, the influence of the vibration or the impact, which is generated by closing the lid portions 152a and 152b, on the sensor portions 153a and 153b is sufficiently small.
According to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
The weighing accuracy of the mass of the paper pieces C can be improved. Specifically, the sensor portions 153a and 153b are attached to the first frame portion 101F, the shutter portion 155a is attached to the second frame portion 154a, and the shutter portion 155b is attached to the second frame portion 154b. As a result, vibration or the like caused by the opening and closing of the shutter portions 155a and 155b is unlikely to propagate to the sensor portions 153a and 153b. In addition, the shutter portions 155a and 155b close and protect the lid portions 152a and 152b from the airflow in which the paper pieces C are transported. Therefore, the influence of the airflow on the lid portions 152a and 152b is eliminated. Therefore, it is possible to provide the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 that improves the weighing accuracy of the paper pieces C.
In the above embodiment, the measurement portion 15a corresponds to the first measurement portion, and the measurement portion 15b corresponds to the second measurement portion. In addition, the lid portion 152a corresponds to a first lid portion, and the lid portion 152b corresponds to a second lid portion. In addition, the sensor portion 153a corresponds to a first sensor portion, and the sensor portion 153b corresponds to a second sensor portion. In addition, the shutter portion 155a corresponds to the first shutter portion, and the shutter portion 155b corresponds to the second shutter portion. In addition, the second frame portion 154b of the measurement portion 15b corresponds to a fourth frame portion.
In the above embodiment, a configuration in which both the measurement portion 15a and the measurement portion 15b are supported by the common first frame portion 101F is illustrated, but the configuration is not limited thereto. For example, the measurement portion 15a may be supported by the first frame portion 101F, and the measurement portion 15b may be supported by a third frame portion different from the first frame portion 101F. In other words, the third frame portion that supports the measurement portion 15b may be the same as or different from the first frame portion 101F. When the third frame portion is different from the first frame portion 101F, vibration or impact is less likely to propagate.
Further, the number of measurement portions is not limited to two, and may be three or more. When there are three or more measurement portions, it is preferable to perform measurement at equal intervals by shifting measurement timings of all the measurement portions. In this case, it is possible to suppress the influence of vibration or impact from the other measurement portions. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Further, only one measurement portion may be provided, and even in this case, it is possible to suppress the influence of vibration or impact from the shutter portion of the measurement portion on the measurement.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-186309 | Oct 2023 | JP | national |
| 2024-115555 | Jul 2024 | JP | national |
