PAPER STOCK MODIFICATION DEVICE

Abstract

A paper stock modification device is provided wherein accretions do not build up on the blades even when modifying paper feedstock comprising large amounts of hot melt, adhesive material, etc. and there is no risk of damage to the cylinder. Since a circular member is provided in a space at the other end, the paper feedstock accumulates in front of the end face of the circular member and is in a softened state with moisture removal being incomplete. Metal scraper parts protrude therein and the metal scraper parts are in close proximity to blades. Thus, even if paper feedstock comprising large amounts of hot melt, adhesive material, etc. adheres to the blades, the same is completely scraped off as a result of a scraping action of the plate surfaces of the metal scraper parts that is caused by the rotation of the blades.

Claims

1. A paper stock modification device, comprising: a cylinder that is provided laterally so that paper feedstock can be fed in the direction from one side of the axis to the other side of the axis; an input port that is provided in an end portion on a first end side of the cylinder through which paper feedstock can be inputted; an output port that is provided in an end portion on a second end side of the cylinder and through which the treated paper feedstock can be outputted; a rotational shaft that is provided so as to pass through a center portion within the cylinder, and can be driven so as to rotate; a feeding screw that is provided on the first end side of the rotational shaft; a plurality of blades that are provided on the second end side of the rotational shaft, and are arranged so as to have a gap between each other in the direction of the axis of the rotational shaft; blocking fittings that are provided so as to protrude towards the center of the cylinder and between the blades; a pressure maintaining means for maintaining a predetermined pressure within the cylinder; and a porous part for closing an opening created on the lower side of the cylinder, wherein the porous part further comprises: a circular member that is provided so as to fill in, on the second end side, a space at the second end that ranges from the end of the output port on the second end side inside the cylinder to the end portion of the cylinder on the second end side, and through which the rotational shaft can be placed so as to be rotatable, and a metal scraper that is provided so as to protrude from the cylinder between an end surface of the circular member on the first end side and a blade that is in the closest proximity to the space at the second end.

2. The paper stock modification device according to claim 1, wherein the end surface of the circular member on the first end side in the space at the second end is in a vertical plane, and the metal scraper has a vertical end surface which faces the vertical end surface of the circular member in close proximity.

3. The paper stock modification device according to claim 1, wherein a blade that is in the closest proximity to the space at the second end extends towards the second end side beyond the end of the output port on the second end side.

4. The paper stock modification device according to claim 1, wherein one or more metal scrapers that are the same as the metal scraper are provided so as to protrude in the peripheral directions at intervals.

5. The paper stock modification device according to claim 1, wherein the metal scraper is formed so as to have the same shape as the blocking fittings.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 is a plan diagram showing the paper stock modification device according to one embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the top;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a side diagram showing the paper stock modification device in FIG. 1;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional diagram showing a portion in FIG. 2;

[0020] FIG. 4 is a perspective diagram showing the second end portion of the paper stock modification device in FIG. 1 from which some parts have been removed; and

[0021] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional diagram along A-A in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0022] The paper stock modification device 1 for paper feedstock according to an embodiment of the present invention is described in reference to FIGS. 1 through 5.

[0023] 3 denotes a support base, and the support base 3 is provided with brackets 5 and 7. A circular hole 7a is created in the bracket 7.

[0024] 9 denotes a cylinder, and a flange 9a is formed in either end portion of this cylinder 9. The cylinder 9 is supported by the bracket 5 in its middle portion, and the two end portions are supported by the bracket 7, and thus, the cylinder 9 is laterally provided on top of the support base 3. The flange 9a of the cylinder 9 makes contact with the flange 7b of the bracket 7.

[0025] As indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1, paper feedstock such as wastepaper is conveyed through the cylinder 9 from one side (first end side) to the other side (second end side).

[0026] 11 denotes a bearing device, and the bearing device 11 is attached to the second end side of the cylinder 9 so as to close the opening of the cylinder 9 on the second end side as shown in FIG. 3 in detail. A flange 11b is formed on the case 11a of the bearing device 11 in such a manner that the flange 11b makes contact with the bracket 7. Thus, the flange 11b of the bearing device 11, the flange 9a of the cylinder 9, and the flange 7b of the bracket 7 are connected to each other by means of bolts. In the same manner, the opening of the cylinder 9 on the first end side is closed by the bearing device 13.

[0027] Four female screws (not shown) are created in the flange 11b of the bearing device 11. No female screws are created in the flange 13b of the bearing device 13.

[0028] A rotational shaft 15 passes through the center portion of the cylinder 9, and the two end portions of the shaft are supported by the bearing devices 11 and 13 respectively so as to be rotatable. In addition, one end portion of the rotational shaft 15 is connected to a drive motor 17.

[0029] A feeding screw, not shown, is provided on the rotational shaft 15 on the first end side. In addition, a plurality of blades 21, 21, . . . are provided on the second end side of the rotational shaft 15 in such a manner that the blades 21 are arranged with intervals in between in the direction of the axis of the rotational shaft 15. Blades 21 are provided so as to be inclined, and thus, the directions thereof cross each other relative to the forward direction and the backward direction in terms of the feeding direction. In addition, the blades 21 are arranged so as to shift by 90? in the direction of the periphery. Accordingly, there are places where two or four blades 21 are arranged in the direction of the periphery as viewed in the cross-section that is perpendicular to the direction of the axis.

[0030] 23 denotes blocking fittings. The cylinder 9 has a structure with a plurality of layers, and the blocking fittings 23 are provided so as to protrude from the inner cylinder 9d that forms the inner surface of the cylinder 9 towards the center of the axis. The blocking fittings protrude from the highest level in the inside of the cylinder as viewed in the cross-section, and thus, extend from the top to the bottom when they are positioned to be vertical. Each of the plurality of blocking fittings 23, 23, . . . is arranged so as to protrude between each pair of adjacent blades 21 and 21. The blocking fittings 23 are in rectangular plate form, and each plate surface 23a that faces the blade 21 is in a vertical plane.

[0031] A cylindrical input port 25 is provided so as to communicate with the inside of the cylinder 9 through the upper side of the cylinder 9 on the first end side in the direction of the axis. In addition, an output port 27 is provided in the cylinder on the second end side in the direction of the axis so as to communicate with the inside of the cylinder 9 through the front side. The output port 27 can be opened or closed with a lid body 29. An adjustment damper 33 that is connected to an air cylinder 31 is linked to the lid body 29. Accordingly, the inside of the cylinder is maintained at a predetermined pressure.

[0032] In addition, the lower side of the cylinder 9 is opened in the middle in the direction of the axis, and this opening is closed with a punched metal, not shown, through which water can pass. In addition, the portion that surrounds the opening is connected to a drainage outlet 35.

[0033] 37 denotes a circular member, and the circular member 37 has a certain thickness with a round hole 37a at the center. The size of the diameter of the round hole 37a is set so that the rotational shaft 15 is allowed to be inserted in such a manner as to be rotatable. An annular trench 37b is created on the end surface 37d of the circular member 37 on the second end side. In addition, four holes 37c through which a bolt can be inserted are created in the circular member 37 in such a manner that the bolt insertion holes 37c communicate with the end surface 37d and the trench 37b that are exposed on the first end side of the circular member 37. The end surface 37d is in a vertical plane.

[0034] A space 39 at the second end is provided inside the cylinder 9 between the end 27a of the output port 27 on the second end side and the end portion 9b of the cylinder 9 on the second end side.

[0035] The circular member 37 is provided in the space 39 at the second end so as to fill in the gap in the space 39 at the second end on the second end side. The rotational shaft 15 passes through the round hole 37a of the circular member 37. In addition, bolts 41 are inserted through the bolt insertion holes 37c so as to be screwed in the female screws 11c that are created in the flange 11b of the bearing device 11. The end surface 37d is in a plane, and the upper surface 41a of the heads of the bolts 41 is in approximately the same plane as the end surface 37d.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, two metal scrapers 43 and 43 are provided on the first end side relative to the circular member 37 in the space 39 at the second end. These metal scrapers 43 are formed to have the same shape as the blocking fittings 23 and protrude from the inner surface of the cylinder 9 towards the center of the axis. One metal scraper 43 protrudes from the highest level in the inside of the cylinder as viewed in the cross-section, and thus, extends from the top to the bottom when it is in a vertical position. The other metal scraper 43 extends in a diagonal direction. The two metal scrapers 43 and 43 are arranged so as to shift by 135? in the direction of the periphery. Here, FIG. 3 only shows the metal scraper 43 that extends from the top to the bottom from among the metal scrapers 43 and 43 for the purpose of convenience of the drawing of the figure.

[0037] These metal scrapers 43 and 43 are in close proximity to the blades 21a, 21a, . . . that are arranged on the second end side in the direction of the axis from among the blades 21, 21, . . . so as to be arranged between the blades 21a, 21a, . . . and the end surface 37d of the circular member 37.

[0038] The plate surfaces 43a, 43a of the metal scrapers 43 face the end surface 37d with a small gap in between, and thus, are in close proximity to the end surface 37d on the second end side, and face the blades 21a, 21a, . . . with a small gap in between, and thus, are in close proximity to the blades 21a, 21a, . . . on the first end side. The blades 21a, 21a, . . . extend to the second end side beyond the end 27a of the output port 27 on the second end side, and thus, partially protrude into the space 39 at the second end.

[0039] The paper stock modification device 1 is formed as described above.

[0040] The operation of the paper stock modification device 1 is described below.

[0041] Paper feedstock that includes a large amount of hot melt, an adhesive and the like is put into the cylinder 9 through the input port 25.

[0042] The paper feedstock is fed towards the output port 27 by means of the feeding screw inside the cylinder 9. When the paper feedstock reaches the second end side of the cylinder 9, the paper feedstock is in an untwisted state between the feeding forces in the forward and backward directions due to the blades 21 that rotate together with the rotational shaft 15. In addition, blocking fittings 23 that are fixed between the blades 21 are pushed into the paper feedstock sequentially, and thus, the paper feedstock is prevented from rotating together with the blades 21.

[0043] As described above, the paper feedstock is placed in an untwisted state, and thus, compression and expansion are repeated. As a result, the temperature of the paper feedstock increases, and the hot melt and the adhesive are in a state of being balled up, whereas the paper feedstock of which the treatment has been completed is discharged through the output port 27. In addition, the opening and closing of the output port 27 is adjusted by the adjustment damper 33 so that the treatment that is appropriate for the inputted paper feedstock can be carried out. Here, water is discharged through the drainage outlet 35.

[0044] The paper stock modification devise 1 has the circular member 37 being provided in the space 39 at the second end, and therefore, paper feed stock stays in front of the end surface 37d of the circular member 37 and is in a softened state with the water content being removed incompletely. The metal scrapers 43, 43 protrude thereinto in such a manner that the metal scrapers 43 and 43 are in close proximity to the blades 21a, 21a, . . . . Accordingly, the paper feedstock that includes a large amount of hot melt, an adhesive, and the like and adheres to the blades 21a, 21a, . . . , can be completely scraped off as a result of the scraping action that takes place on the plate surfaces 43a, 43a of the metal scrapers 43 due to the rotation of the blades 21a, 21a, . . . .

[0045] In addition, the plate surfaces 43a of the metal scrapers 43 are in close proximity to the end surface 37d, and thus, a large chunk of hot melt or the adhesive does not come into the small gap. When a large chunk of hot melt or the adhesive comes into the gap, accretion of paper feedstock starts therefrom and further building-up and the hardening of the accretion progress, which causes a risk of making it difficult to scrape off the accretion with the metal scrapers 43; however, there is no such risk in this paper stock modification devise.

[0046] Furthermore, blades 21a, 21a . . . extend toward the second end side beyond the end 27a of the output port 27 on the second end side, and therefore, the amount of paper feedstock that stays in front of the end surface 37d of the circular member 37 can be decreased.

[0047] Though an embodiment of the present invention is described in detail in the above, the concrete configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and modifications in the design are included in the invention as long as the gist of the present invention is not deviated from.

[0048] For example, two metal scrapers 43, 43 are provided in the space 39 at the second end in the above-described embodiment; however, the present invention is not limited to this, and three or more metal scrapers may be provided.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0049] 1 . . . Paper stock modification device [0050] 3 . . . Support base [0051] 5, 7 . . . Bracket [0052] 7a . . . Circular hole in the bracket [0053] 7b . . . Flange of the bracket [0054] 9 . . . Cylinder [0055] 9a . . . Flange of the cylinder [0056] 9b . . . End portion of the cylinder on the second end side [0057] 9d . . . Inner cylinder [0058] 11, 13 . . . Bearing device [0059] 11a . . . Case of the bearing device [0060] 11b . . . Flange of the bearing device [0061] 11c . . . Female screw in the flange of the bearing device [0062] 13b . . . Flange of the bearing device [0063] 15 . . . Rotational shaft [0064] 17 . . . Drive motor [0065] 21 . . . Blade [0066] 23 . . . Blocking fitting [0067] 23a . . . Plate surface [0068] 25 . . . Input port [0069] 27 . . . Output port [0070] 27a . . . End of the output port [0071] 29 . . . Lid body [0072] 31 . . . Air cylinder [0073] 33 . . . Adjustment damper [0074] 35 . . . Drainage outlet [0075] 37 . . . Circular member [0076] 37a . . . Round hole of the circular member [0077] 37b . . . Trench in the circular member [0078] 37c . . . Hole in the circular member through which bolts can be inserted [0079] 37d . . . End surface of the circular member [0080] 39 . . . Space at the second end [0081] 41 . . . Bolt [0082] 41a . . . Upper surface of the head of the bolt [0083] 43 . . . Metal scraper [0084] 43a . . . Plate surface