Provided is technology improving the efficiency (productivity) of a sheet manufacturing apparatus. A sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 manufactures sheets S by heating with heaters 81 and 82 a mixture (second web W2) of resin and fiber produced by defibrating feedstock MA. The heaters 81 and 82 each have a first roller 171, a second roller 172 that holds the second web W2 with the first roller 171, and a moving mechanism 190. The moving mechanism 190 can switch the first roller 171 and second roller 172 to a position holding the second web W2, and a first roller 171 and second roller 172 are separated and do not hold the second web W2. The heaters 81 and 82 are configured as units that can removably installed to the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100.

In a defibrating apparatus, when a region, of a discharge path, including a discharge unit is a downstream discharge path, a region, of the discharge path, other than the downstream discharge path is an upstream discharge path, a region, of a screen, constituting the downstream discharge path is a downstream discharge screen, a region, of the screen, constituting the upstream discharge path is an upstream discharge screen, and a through-hole that causes a defibrating chamber to be in communication with the discharge path is a communication hole, the communication hole is provided on the screen such that the air is less likely to pass through the downstream screen than the upstream screen.

In a defibrating apparatus, when a region, of a discharge path, including a discharge unit is a downstream discharge path, a region, of the discharge path, other than the downstream discharge path is an upstream discharge path, a region, of a screen, constituting the downstream discharge path is a downstream discharge screen, a region, of the screen, constituting the upstream discharge path is an upstream discharge screen, and a through-hole that causes a defibrating chamber to be in communication with the discharge path is a communication hole, the communication hole is provided on the screen such that the air is less likely to pass through the downstream screen than the upstream screen.

A roll for molding a fibrous sheet. The roll includes a rotatably driven cylindrical shell. The cylindrical shell includes an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a permeable patterned surface on the exterior surface of the shell. The permeable patterned surface has at least one of a plurality of recesses and projections, a plurality of holes extending from the exterior surface to the interior to allow air to be moved through the shell. Each hole has an exterior end and an interior end, and a plurality of grooves. Each groove is fluidly connected to the exterior end of each hole and extends outward from the corresponding hole. The roll also includes a vacuum box on the inside of the cylindrical shell to draw air from the exterior surface of the shell to the interior surface. The vacuum box is stationary with respect to the rotation of the shell.

A roll for molding a fibrous sheet. The roll includes a rotatably driven cylindrical shell. The cylindrical shell includes an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a permeable patterned surface on the exterior surface of the shell. The permeable patterned surface has at least one of a plurality of recesses and projections, a plurality of holes extending from the exterior surface to the interior to allow air to be moved through the shell. Each hole has an exterior end and an interior end, and a plurality of grooves. Each groove is fluidly connected to the exterior end of each hole and extends outward from the corresponding hole. The roll also includes a vacuum box on the inside of the cylindrical shell to draw air from the exterior surface of the shell to the interior surface. The vacuum box is stationary with respect to the rotation of the shell.

A roll for molding a fibrous sheet. The roll includes a cylindrical shell and a vacuum box. The cylindrical shell is configured to be rotatably driven and is permeable to allow air to be moved through the cylindrical shell. The cylindrical shell has a permeable patterned surface on an exterior surface of the cylindrical shell. The permeable patterned surface has at least one of a plurality of recesses and a plurality of projections. The density of the at least one of the plurality of recesses and the plurality of projections is greater than about fifty per square inch. The vacuum box is positioned on the inside of the cylindrical shell and is configured to draw air from the exterior surface of the cylindrical shell to an interior surface of the cylindrical shell. The vacuum box is stationary with respect to the rotation of the cylindrical shell.

A roll for molding a fibrous sheet. The roll includes a cylindrical shell and a vacuum box. The cylindrical shell is configured to be rotatably driven and is permeable to allow air to be moved through the cylindrical shell. The cylindrical shell has a permeable patterned surface on an exterior surface of the cylindrical shell. The permeable patterned surface has at least one of a plurality of recesses and a plurality of projections. The density of the at least one of the plurality of recesses and the plurality of projections is greater than about fifty per square inch. The vacuum box is positioned on the inside of the cylindrical shell and is configured to draw air from the exterior surface of the cylindrical shell to an interior surface of the cylindrical shell. The vacuum box is stationary with respect to the rotation of the cylindrical shell.

A defibrating apparatus includes a screen and housings, and side walls of the housings have inner surfaces that define the inner surface of a discharge path. Let communication hole be any through-hole that interconnects the defibrating chamber and the discharge path, and let discharge path-side opening edge be the opening edge, close to the discharge path, of the through-hole, then the screen has through-hole rows, each of which is formed by a plurality of communication holes arranged at an interval in a circumferential direction, and the through-hole row is provided at a position where the discharge path-side opening edge of the communication holes is overlapped with the inner surface as seen in a radial direction.

A defibrating apparatus includes a screen and housings, and side walls of the housings have inner surfaces that define the inner surface of a discharge path. Let communication hole be any through-hole that interconnects the defibrating chamber and the discharge path, and let discharge path-side opening edge be the opening edge, close to the discharge path, of the through-hole, then the screen has through-hole rows, each of which is formed by a plurality of communication holes arranged at an interval in a circumferential direction, and the through-hole row is provided at a position where the discharge path-side opening edge of the communication holes is overlapped with the inner surface as seen in a radial direction.

A defibration treatment apparatus including a feeding hole through which a material is fed, a rotator that rotates about a rotational central axis, a fixed member that covers at least a portion of the rotator, and a discharge opening that discharges a defibrated object obtained by defibrating the material between the rotator and the fixed member. In the defibration treatment apparatus, the rotator includes a plurality of rotary blades that extend in directions away from the rotational central axis, at least a portion of the fixed member is configured of a screen including a plurality of openings, the screen is disposed at a position corresponding to an outer rotational circumference of the rotator, and a discharge path in communication with the discharge opening is provided along the screen and on a side opposite the rotator with respect to the screen.