A method of making a molded paper web. The method includes forming a nascent web from an aqueous solution of papermaking fibers, moving a dewatered web on a transfer surface, and applying a vacuum at a molding zone defined between the transfer surface and a molding roll. The molding roll includes a permeable patterned surface on an exterior of the molding roll. The method also includes transferring the dewatered web from the transfer surface to the permeable patterned surface at the molding zone. The vacuum is applied during the transferring of the dewatered web, and the papermaking fibers of the dewatered web are (i) redistributed on the permeable patterned surface and (ii) drawn into a plurality of recess of the permeable patterned surface, in order to form the molded paper web.

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.

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.

A sheet manufacturing method includes a web forming step of forming a web by accumulating a defibrated product in a dry manner, a moisture imparting step of imparting the web with moisture, a pressurizing step of pressurizing the web to which the moisture is imparted, and a heating step of heating the web to which the moisture is imparted, in which a water content of the web to which the moisture is imparted in the moisture imparting step is 12% by mass or more, a pressure applied to the web in the pressurizing step is 0.2 MPa or more, and a temperature of the web in the heating step is 100° C. or lower.

A sheet manufacturing method includes a web forming step of forming a web by accumulating a defibrated product in a dry manner, a moisture imparting step of imparting the web with moisture, a pressurizing step of pressurizing the web to which the moisture is imparted, and a heating step of heating the web to which the moisture is imparted, in which a water content of the web to which the moisture is imparted in the moisture imparting step is 12% by mass or more, a pressure applied to the web in the pressurizing step is 0.2 MPa or more, and a temperature of the web in the heating step is 100° C. or lower.

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 sheet manufacturing method includes a web forming step of forming a web by accumulating a defibrated product in a dry manner, a moisture imparting step of imparting the web with moisture, a pressurizing step of pressurizing the web to which the moisture is imparted, and a heating step of heating the web to which the moisture is imparted, in which a water content of the web to which the moisture is imparted in the moisture imparting step is 12% by mass or more, a pressure applied to the web in the pressurizing step is 0.2 MPa or more, and a temperature of the web in the heating step is 100° C. or lower.

A sheet manufacturing method includes a web forming step of forming a web by accumulating a defibrated product in a dry manner, a moisture imparting step of imparting the web with moisture, a pressurizing step of pressurizing the web to which the moisture is imparted, and a heating step of heating the web to which the moisture is imparted, in which a water content of the web to which the moisture is imparted in the moisture imparting step is 12% by mass or more, a pressure applied to the web in the pressurizing step is 0.2 MPa or more, and a temperature of the web in the heating step is 100° C. or lower.

A method of making a fibrous sheet. The method includes forming a nascent web from an aqueous solution of papermaking fibers, moving a dewatered web on a transfer surface, and applying a vacuum at a molding zone defined between the transfer surface and a molding roll. The molding roll includes a permeable patterned surface on an exterior of the molding roll. The method also includes transferring the dewatered web from the transfer surface to the permeable patterned surface at the molding zone. The vacuum is applied during the transferring of the dewatered web, and the papermaking fibers of the dewatered web are (i) redistributed on the permeable patterned surface and (ii) drawn into a plurality of recess of the permeable patterned surface, in order to form a molded paper web. The method further includes drying the molded paper web in a drying section to form a fibrous sheet.