SHEET MANUFACTURING APPARATUS

Abstract

A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a sheet forming unit that forms a sheet, and a transport unit that transports the sheet along a transport path, in which the transport unit includes a plurality of transport rollers that transport the sheet, a sheet sensor that detects an abnormality generated in transport of the sheet in the transport unit, a cover that is installed above the transport path and is configured to rotate around a shaft of a rotation shaft, and a drive motor that rotates the cover, the cover moves between an open position that opens an upper portion of the transport path and a closed position that covers the upper portion of the transport path, and the cover moves from the closed position to the open position by the drive motor being rotationally driven when the sheet sensor detects an abnormality generated in the transport of the sheet.

Claims

1. A sheet manufacturing apparatus comprising: a sheet forming unit that forms a sheet by accumulating a material containing fibers and then compressing the accumulated material; and a transport unit that transports the sheet along a transport path, wherein the transport unit includes a plurality of transport rollers that transport the sheet, an abnormality detection sensor that detects an abnormality generated in transport of the sheet in the transport unit, a cover that is installed above the transport path and is configured to rotate around a shaft of a rotation shaft, and a drive motor that rotates the cover by being rotationally driven, the cover moves between an open position that opens an upper portion of the transport path and a closed position that covers the upper portion of the transport path, and the cover moves from the closed position to the open position by the drive motor being rotationally driven when the abnormality detection sensor detects an abnormality generated in the transport of the sheet.

2. The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a fixing pin; a hook that is provided in the cover and of which an engagement with the fixing pin is unlocked by rotating; and a solenoid that is coupled to the hook and rotates the hook by being driven, wherein the cover is configured to move from the closed position to the open position by unlocking the engagement between the hook and the fixing pin, and the engagement between the hook and the fixing pin is unlocked by the solenoid being driven when the abnormality detection sensor detects an abnormality generated in the transport of the sheet.

3. The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: the rotation shaft that is attached to the cover and is rotatably supported such that the cover rotates around the shaft; and a coupling portion that restricts rotation around the shaft of the rotation shaft, wherein the coupling portion allows rotation of the rotation shaft when the cover moves from the closed position to the open position, and restricts rotation of the rotation shaft when the cover moves from the open position to the closed position.

4. The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: a transmission gear that transmits a driving force of the drive motor to the rotation shaft, wherein the coupling portion is a one-way hinge provided between the transmission gear and the rotation shaft.

5. The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of transport rollers include a first transport roller and a second transport roller installed downstream of the first transport roller in the transport path, the transport unit includes an upstream transport unit in which the first transport roller is installed and a downstream transport unit in which the second transport roller is installed, and the cover and the drive motor are installed in the upstream transport unit.

6. The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first transport roller is composed of a pair of an upper side roller and a lower side roller, and the upper side roller is installed in the cover.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of a sheet manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment.

[0007] FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of a transport unit.

[0008] FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of an upstream transport unit.

[0009] FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of an opening mechanism.

[0010] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating each step of an opening operation.

[0011] FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating an opening operation of the upstream transport unit and a function of a sheet retraction portion.

[0012] FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of the opening mechanism.

[0013] FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of the opening mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0014] The following embodiment exemplifies a sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 that regenerates a sheet from a material containing fibers, such as waste paper, in a dry manner as a sheet manufacturing apparatus of the present disclosure. Hereinafter, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 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.

[0015] In each figure, the same members are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions will be omitted. The terms, same, identical, and simultaneous in the case described in the present specification do not refer to being completely the same. For example, in the present specification, when it is described as same, identical, and simultaneous, it is assumed that a case where it is the same in consideration of a measurement error is included. In addition, for example, in the present specification, when it is described as same, identical, and simultaneous, it is assumed that a case where it is the same in consideration of manufacturing variations of members is included.

[0016] In the present specification, when it is described as same, identical, or simultaneous, it is assumed that a case where it is the same in a range in which a function is not impaired is included. Therefore, for example, the dimensions of both are the same means that the difference in dimensions between the two is within +5% of one dimension, particularly preferably within +3% in consideration of a measurement error and manufacturing variations of members.

[0017] In each of the drawings, X, Y, and Z represent three spatial axes that are orthogonal to each other. In the present specification, the directions along these axes are referred to as an X-axis direction, a Y-axis direction, and a Z-axis direction. When specifying the direction, the positive direction is +, the negative direction is and by using the positive and negative signs together in the direction notation, the direction in which the arrow points in each figure will be described as the + direction, and the direction opposite to the arrow will be described as the direction.

[0018] The Z-axis direction indicates a gravity direction, the +Z direction indicates a vertically upward direction, and the Z direction indicates a vertically downward direction. A plane including the X-axis and the Y-axis is described as an X-Y plane, a plane including the X-axis and the Z-axis is described as an X-Z plane, and a plane including the Y-axis and the Z-axis is described as a Y-Z plane. The X-Y plane is a horizontal plane. The three X, Y, and Z spatial axes that do not limit the positive direction and the negative direction will be described as the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis.

[0019] The X-axis direction is a horizontal direction along an installation surface, which is a horizontal plane, on which the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 is installed. The Y-axis direction is the horizontal direction along the installation surface on which the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 is installed. The Z-axis direction is a normal direction with respect to the installation surface on which the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 is installed, and is a height direction of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1.

[0020] In the following description, the +Z direction may be referred to as an upward direction, and the Z direction may be referred to as a downward direction. In the following description, in the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1, the front in a transport direction of a raw material, a web W, sheets P1, P2, and P3, or the like may be referred to as downstream, and the side going upstream in the transport direction may be referred to as upstream. For convenience of illustration, the size of each member is different from the actual size.

1. First Embodiment

[0021] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a first unit group 101, a second unit group 102, and a third unit group 103. The first unit group 101, the second unit group 102, and the third unit group 103 are supported by a frame (not illustrated).

[0022] In FIG. 1, directions, in which a paper piece C, a sheet P3, slit pieces S, an unnecessary end material, or the like moves, are indicated by white arrows. In the following description, a set of the paper pieces C composed of a plurality of paper pieces C is also simply referred to as the paper piece C.

[0023] The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 manufactures the sheet P3 from the paper piece C that is a material containing fibers such as waste paper. The paper piece C is an example of a raw material. In a side view from the X direction, in the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1, the first unit group 101, the third unit group 103, and the second unit group 102 are disposed from the Y direction to the +Y direction.

[0024] According to the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, since the sheet P3 can be manufactured from the paper piece C, the discarded amount of the paper piece C is reduced by recycling the paper piece C. Therefore, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment can contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs) such as Target 12 To ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

[0025] The paper piece C is 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 a pipe 24. The mixture is formed into the band-shaped sheet P1 after being formed into the web W by the third unit group 103. The band-shaped sheet P1 is cut by the first unit group 101 to form the sheet P3.

[0026] The first unit group 101 includes a raw material supply device 13, 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 downstream transport unit 82 of a transport unit 80, a tray 191, and a shredding portion 913.

[0027] The downstream transport unit 82 has a first cutting portion 832 and a second cutting portion 834. The first cutting portion 832 cuts the band-shaped sheet P1 into the cut-shaped sheet P2. The second cutting portion 834 cuts the cut-shaped sheet P2 into a sheet P3 having a predetermined shape. The first cutting portion 832 and the second cutting portion 834 are examples of a cutter.

[0028] 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).

[0029] The raw material supply device 13 stores the paper piece C, which is the raw material of the sheet P3, and supplies the paper piece C to the downstream. The raw material supply device 13 includes a raw material inlet 131, a storage portion 132, and a discharge portion 140.

[0030] The paper piece C is charged from the raw material inlet 131 into the storage portion 132. The paper piece C contains fibers such as cellulose, and is, for example, shredded waste paper. Inside the storage portion 132, humidified air is supplied from a second humidification portion 66 included in the third unit group 103.

[0031] The paper piece C is temporarily stored in the storage portion 132 and then transported to the measurement portion 15 via the discharge portion 140. The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 may include a shredder that shreds the paper piece C or the like on the upstream of the storage portion 132.

[0032] The measurement portion 15 includes a sensor portion 15a and a supply mechanism (not illustrated). The sensor portion 15a measures the mass of the paper piece C. The supply mechanism supplies the paper piece C weighed by the sensor portion 15a to the downstream merging portion 17. That is, the measurement portion 15 weighs the paper piece C by the sensor portion 15a for each predetermined mass, and supplies the paper piece C to the downstream merging portion 17 by the supply mechanism.

[0033] Any of the digital type and the analog type weighing mechanisms can be applied to the sensor portion 15a. Specifically, examples of the sensor portion 15a include a physical sensor such as a load cell, and a spring scale or a balance, or the like. In the present embodiment, a load cell is applied as the sensor portion 15a. The predetermined mass of the paper piece C weighed by the sensor portion 15a is, for example, several g to several tens of g.

[0034] A feeder that can be opened and closed or the like can be applied to the supply mechanism. The supply mechanism may be configured to be included in the sensor portion 15a.

[0035] The weighing and supply of the paper piece C by the measurement portion 15 are batch processing. That is, the supply of the paper piece C from the measurement portion 15 to the merging portion 17 is intermittently performed. The measurement portion 15 may have a plurality of combinations of the sensor portion 15a and the supply mechanism, and may improve the efficiency of weighing and supply by causing the plurality of sensor portions 15a to operate in time differences.

[0036] The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 includes the two sensor portions 15a and the supply mechanisms respectively attached to the sensor portions 15a. As a result, the paper piece C is alternately transported to the merging portion 17 from two sets of the sensor portions 15a and the supply mechanisms.

[0037] In the merging portion 17, the shredded pieces of the slit pieces S, which are supplied from the shredding portion 913, are merged and mixed with the paper piece C supplied from the measurement portion 15. The slit pieces S and the shredding portion 913 will be described later. The paper piece C in which the above shredded pieces are mixed flows from the merging portion 17 into the pipe 21.

[0038] The pipe 21 transports the paper piece C from the first unit group 101 to the second unit group 102 by a suction airflow generated by a downstream defibrating portion 31.

[0039] The second unit group 102 includes the defibrating portion 31, a separation portion 32, a pipe 23, a mixing portion 33, and a pipe 24, which are a dry-type defibrating machine. In the second unit group 102, the configurations thereof are disposed in the above order from the upstream to the downstream. 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.

[0040] The paper piece C transported through the pipe 21 flow into the defibrating portion 31. The defibrating portion 31 defibrates the paper piece C supplied from the measurement portion 15 in a dry manner to form fibers. A defibrating mechanism using a rotating rotor, or the like can be applied to the defibrating portion 31.

[0041] Since the defibrating portion 31 of the present embodiment defibrates the paper piece C in a dry manner to form fibers, the usage amount of water and the discharged amount of water can be reduced as compared with a wet defibrating method of defibrating in water. Therefore, the defibrating portion 31 of the present embodiment can contribute to the achievement of the SDGs such as Target 6 To ensure access to water and sanitation for all and sustainable management. The defibrating portion 31 of the present embodiment can contribute to the achievement of the SDGs such as Target 14 To conserve and sustainably use the ocean and marine resources for sustainable development.

[0042] According to the defibrating portion 31 of the present embodiment, since it is not necessary to dry a defibrated material, the generated amount of carbon dioxide in the process of defibrating the paper piece C can be reduced. Therefore, the defibrating portion 31 of the present embodiment can contribute to the achievement of the SDGs such as Target 13 To take urgent measures to address climate change and its impacts.

[0043] Examples of the configuration of the defibrating portion 31 include the following. The defibrating 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 piece C is interposed between the inner surface of the stator and the rotor, and is defibrated by a shear force generated between the stator and the rotor. As a result, in the paper piece C, the entangled fibers included in the paper piece are unraveled. The paper piece C is transported to the separation portion 32 as fibers.

[0044] 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, or the like included in the paper piece C. A technique such as a disc mesh method can be applied to the separation portion 32.

[0045] 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.

[0046] 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.

[0047] The mixing portion 33 mixes the defibrated material 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 defibrated material is transported, a fan, a hopper, a supply pipe, and a valve.

[0048] The hopper communicates with a flow path of the defibrated material via the supply pipe. The valve is provided in the 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.

[0049] 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.

[0050] The fan of the mixing portion 33 mixes the defibrated material with the binder or the like in the air when the defibrated material including the fibers is transported to the downstream by an airflow to be generated, to form a mixture. The mixture flows from the mixing portion 33 into the pipe 24.

[0051] 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.

[0052] 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.

[0053] 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 the outside to each configuration of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1.

[0054] The control portion 5 includes a central processing unit (CPU) although not illustrated. The control portion 5 includes a storage portion including a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), or the like. Various programs for controlling the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 are stored in the storage portion.

[0055] The control portion 5 may include one or more processors that execute various processing according to a program, one or more dedicated hardware circuits such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a combination thereof. The application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) executes at least some of various processes.

[0056] The processor includes a CPU and a memory such as a RAM and a ROM. The memory stores program codes or instructions configured to cause the CPU to execute processing. A memory, that is, a computer-readable medium, includes anything accessible by a general-purpose or dedicated computer.

[0057] The control portion 5 is electrically coupled to each configuration such as a sheet forming unit 70 and the transport unit 80, which will be described later, and integrally controls the operation of these configurations.

[0058] In particular, the control portion 5 instructs the countermeasure for each configuration when the transport abnormality of the cut-shaped sheet P2 or the like occurs in the transport path. Details of the above countermeasures will be described later.

[0059] The third unit group 103 accumulates and compresses the mixture, which is a material containing fibers, to form the band-shaped sheet P1. The third unit group 103 includes an accumulation portion 50, a first transport portion 61, a second transport portion 62, the first humidification portion 65, the second humidification portion 66, a drainage portion 68, the sheet forming unit 70, a upstream transport unit 81 of the transport unit 80, and a sheet retraction portion EZ described later.

[0060] 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, the sheet forming unit 70, and the upstream transport unit 81 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.

[0061] 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.

[0062] 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.

[0063] 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.

[0064] The mixture is released to the outside of the drum member 53 by 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.

[0065] 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, or 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 suction device such as a blower.

[0066] 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.

[0067] The mesh belt 61a is an endless belt and is stretched by five stretch rollers. The mesh belt 61a is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 1 by rotation of the stretch roller. As a result, the mixture is continuously accumulated on the mesh belt 61a, and the web W is formed. The web W includes a relatively large amount of the air and is soft and swollen. The first transport portion 61 transports the formed web W to the downstream by rotating the mesh belt 61a.

[0068] 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 sheet forming unit 70. The second transport portion 62 is disposed above the transport path of the web W and slightly on the upstream of 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.

[0069] 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.

[0070] 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.

[0071] The first humidification portion 65 humidifies the web W containing 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 a direction along the Z-axis. For example, a humidification device such as an ultrasonic type can be applied to the first humidification portion 65.

[0072] 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. In addition, 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 sheet forming unit 70.

[0073] The sheet forming unit 70 forms the band-shaped sheet P1 by accumulating a mixture that is a material containing fibers to form a web W, and then compressing the web W. The sheet forming unit 70 includes processing rollers 71 and 72. 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.

[0074] 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.

[0075] The processing rollers 71 and 72 are rotationally driven by a stepping motor (not illustrated). The web W is sent out to the downstream by 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 sheet forming unit 70 and is press-formed by 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.

[0076] The web W passes through the sheet forming unit 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 the upstream transport unit 81.

[0077] The second humidification portion 66 is disposed below the first humidification portion 65. An 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.

[0078] The second humidification portion 66 humidifies a predetermined region of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. The predetermined region is one or more of the storage portion 132, the separation portion 32, and the inside of the drum member 53 of the accumulation portion 50. 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 piece C, the fibers, or the like, and prevents the same from adhering to the members due to static electricity.

[0079] 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, or 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.

[0080] The band-shaped sheet P1 transported to the first unit group 101 reaches the first cutting portion 832 via a transport roller pair 821, which will be described later, of the downstream transport unit 82. The first cutting portion 832 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 the cut-shaped sheet P2 by the first cutting portion 832. The cut-shaped sheet P2 is transported from the first cutting portion 832 to the second cutting portion 834.

[0081] The second cutting portion 834 cuts the cut-shaped sheet P2 in the transport direction, for example, in a direction along the Y-axis. Specifically, the second cutting portion 834 cuts the vicinity of the both sides of the cut-shaped sheet P2 in a direction along the X-axis. The size of the sheet P3 to be manufactured can be adjusted by the first cutting portion 832 and the second cutting portion 834. As a result, the cut-shaped sheet P2 is formed of the sheet P3 having a predetermined shape such as A4 size or A3 size.

[0082] When the cut-shaped sheet P2 is cut into the sheet P3 by the second cutting portion 834, 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 913, which is a shredder. The shredding portion 913 shreds the slit pieces S and supplies the slit pieces S to the merging portion 17 as shredded pieces. A mechanism for weighing the shredded pieces of the slit pieces S and supplying the shredded pieces to the merging portion 17 may be installed between the shredding portion 913 and the merging portion 17.

[0083] The sheet P3 is transported substantially upward and is accumulated on the tray 191. 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.

[0084] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the transport unit 80 includes the upstream transport unit 81, the downstream transport unit 82, and a sheet sensor 850. The transport unit 80 transports the band-shaped sheet P1, the cut-shaped sheet P2, and the sheet P3 along the transport path of each of the sheets P1, P2, and P3. Therefore, the transport unit 80 includes transport roller pairs 813, 815, 821, and 823, or the like as a plurality of transport rollers arranged along the transport direction of each of the sheets P1, P2, and P3. The transport roller pairs 813, 815, 821, and 823 are rotationally driven by a drive motor (not illustrated).

[0085] In the transport unit 80, the transport roller pair 813, the transport roller pair 815, the transport roller pair 821, the first cutting portion 832, the transport roller pair 823, the sheet sensor 850, and the second cutting portion 834 are disposed in this order from the sheet forming unit 70 to the downstream.

[0086] The upstream transport unit 81 includes a first transport roller group 810 including some of the plurality of transport rollers, a cover 811, and an opening mechanism 860 (refer to FIGS. 3 and 4). The first transport roller group 810 includes the transport roller pairs 813 and 815. The transport roller pair 813 is composed of a pair of an upper side roller 813a and a lower side roller 813b. The transport roller pair 815 is composed of a pair of an upper side roller 815a and a lower side roller 815b.

[0087] Since the band-shaped sheet P1 is interposed and transported between the upper side roller 813a and the lower side roller 813b and between the upper side roller 815a and the lower side roller 815b, the transportability is improved. The transport roller pair 815 is an example of the first transport roller of the present disclosure.

[0088] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cover 811 is installed above the transport path of the sheet P1. The cover 811 is provided to be movable between an open position Pk that opens an upper portion of the transport path and a closed position Ph that covers the upper portion of the transport path by rotating around the shaft of a rotation shaft 812.

[0089] The opening mechanism 860 is provided such that the cover 811 is movable from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk. Details of the cover 811 and the opening mechanism 860 will be described later.

[0090] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the downstream transport unit 82 includes a second transport roller group 820 including a plurality of transport rollers installed on the downstream in the transport direction with respect to the first transport roller group 810 among the plurality of transport rollers. The second transport roller group 820 includes the transport roller pairs 821 and 823. The transport roller pair 821 is an example of the second transport roller of the present disclosure.

[0091] The sheet sensor 850 is an example of the abnormality detection sensor of the present disclosure, and detects an abnormality in the transport of the cut-shaped sheet P2 in the transport unit 80. Specifically, the sheet sensor 850 is disposed at an upper side of the transport path of the cut-shaped sheet P2 between the transport roller pair 823 and the second cutting portion 834, and faces the single sheet P2 transported along the transport path in the vertical direction.

[0092] The sheet sensor 850 is, for example, an optical sensor, measures reflected light of light emitted by itself, and transmits a detection result to the control portion 5. The control portion 5 determines the presence or absence of the cut-shaped sheet P2 from the reflectance of the reflected light with respect to the emitted light. A reflection member that reflects the light emitted by the sheet sensor 850 may be installed in the transport path of the cut-shaped sheet P2 that the sheet sensor 850 faces.

[0093] Although not illustrated, the plurality of transport rollers are also disposed downstream of the second cutting portion 834, and transport the sheet P3 to the tray 191. The slit pieces S are transported to the shredding portion 913 by a slit piece transport roller group 911.

[0094] Next, the cover 811 and the opening mechanism 860 included in the upstream transport unit 81 will be described. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the opening mechanism 860 includes a lock mechanism 861 and an opening and closing mechanism 871. When the sheet sensor 850 detects the transport abnormality of the sheet P2, that is, so-called jam, the opening mechanism 860 performs the opening operation by being drive-controlled by the control portion 5.

[0095] In the opening operation, the upstream transport unit 81 is displaced from a normal state to an open state. The normal state is a state of the upstream transport unit 81 in which the cover 811 is at the closed position Ph when the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 is in operation to manufacture the sheet P3. The open state is a state of the upstream transport unit 81 in which the cover 811 is at the open position Pk. The opening operation will be described later.

[0096] In the following description of FIGS. 3, 4, and 6 to 8, a state viewed from the X direction will be described unless otherwise specified. In FIG. 3, the transport path along the transport direction of the band-shaped sheet P1 is indicated by a one-dot chain line, and the cover 811 at the open position Pk is indicated by a broken line.

[0097] The cover 811 is a substantially trapezoidal three-dimensional member when viewed from the X direction. The upper side rollers 813a and 815a are disposed on the side corresponding to a lower bottom of the cover 811 in the Z direction at the closed position Ph. In the lower bottom, the upper side roller 813a is positioned at an end portion in the +Y direction, and the upper side roller 815a is positioned at an end portion in the Y direction. The upper side roller 815a is installed in the cover 811. The upper side roller 813a overlaps the cover 811, but is independent of the cover 811 (refer to FIG. 6).

[0098] The rotation shaft 812 is fixed in the vicinity of an end portion in the +Y direction, in the upper bottom of the cover 811 in the +Z direction. The shaft of the rotation shaft 812 is along the X-axis. The cover 811 and a rotation shaft 812 fixed to the cover 811 are supported by a support member 851 (see FIG. 4) to be rotatable around the shaft of the rotation shaft 812. The support member 851 is provided on a frame on which the third unit group 103 is supported.

[0099] The lock mechanism 861 switches the cover 811 between the lock state and the unlock state. The lock state of the cover 811 is a state in which the cover 811 cannot move from the closed position Ph. The unlock state of the cover 811 is a state in which the cover 811 is movable between the closed position Ph and the open position Pk.

[0100] The lock mechanism 861 is composed of an operating shaft 814, a hook 816, a solenoid 817, and a fixing pin 863. The operating shaft 814, the hook 816, and the solenoid 817 are provided in the cover 811. The fixing pin 863 is provided in the support member 851.

[0101] The operating shaft 814 is fixed to the cover 811. The shaft center of the operating shaft 814 is along the X-axis. The fixing pin 863 is fixed to the support member 851. The hook 816 is provided to be rotatable around the shaft center of the operating shaft 814. The hook 816 is supported by the operating shaft 814 to be movable between a lock position Pf and an unlock position Pr.

[0102] The lock position Pf is a position at which a hook portion provided at one end of the hook 816 is engaged with the fixing pin 863. The unlock position Pr is a position at which the engagement between the hook portion of the hook 816 and the fixing pin 863 is unlocked. In the normal state in which the cover 811 is at the closed position Ph, the hook 816 is at the lock position Pf.

[0103] The hook 816 is biased to the lock position Pf by a biasing member (not illustrated). The other end of the hook 816, which is the opposite side of the hook portion, is coupled to a plunger of the solenoid 817. When the solenoid 817 is energized, the plunger moves, so that the hook 816 rotates around the shaft center of the operating shaft 814.

[0104] When the solenoid 817 is driven by energization, the hook 816 rotates clockwise around the shaft center of the operating shaft 814. As a result, the hook 816 moves from the lock position Pf to the unlock position Pr. In other words, the hook 816 is disengaged from the fixing pin 863 by rotating. When the hook 816 is at the unlock position Pr, the cover 811 is in the unlock state to be movable from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk.

[0105] When the energization of the solenoid 817 is stopped, the hook 816 rotates counterclockwise around the shaft center of the operating shaft 814. As a result, the hook 816 moves from the unlock position Pr to the lock position Pf. When the cover 811 is at the closed position Ph, the hook 816 moves from the unlock position Pr to the lock position Pf, so that the cover 811 is in the lock state.

[0106] The hook portion of the hook 816 of the present embodiment is provided with an inclined outer surface. As a result, although the cover 811 is moved from the open position Pk to the closed position Ph in a state in which the hook 816 is at the lock position Pf, the hook 816 rotates clockwise by the contact between the outer surface of the hook portion and the fixing pin 863. Then, the counterclockwise rotation is performed by the biasing of the biasing member, so that the hook portion is engaged with the fixing pin 863, and the cover 811 is in the lock state.

[0107] Therefore, in the present embodiment, the hook 816 may be at the unlock position Pr or may be the lock position Pf when the cover 811 is in a rotatable state including the open position Pk.

[0108] The opening and closing mechanism 871 moves the cover 811 from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the opening and closing mechanism 871 includes a drive motor 872 and a transmission mechanism 873. The transmission mechanism 873 includes a gear group 874, a transmission gear 875, and a coupling portion 876.

[0109] The gear group 874, the transmission gear 875, and the coupling portion 876 that compose the transmission mechanism 873 transmit the driving force of the drive motor 872 when being rotationally driven, to the rotation shaft 812. For example, it is assumed that the drive motor 872 is rotationally driven counterclockwise (in the direction of the black arrow illustrated in FIG. 4). As a result, the gear group 874 rotates in the direction of the black arrow illustrated in FIG. 4, so that the transmission gear 875 rotates clockwise (in the direction of the black arrow illustrated in FIG. 4).

[0110] The transmission gear 875 rotates clockwise, so that the driving force of the drive motor 872 is transmitted to the rotation shaft 812 via the coupling portion 876. As a result, the rotation shaft 812 rotates clockwise (in the direction of the black arrow illustrated in FIG. 4), so that the cover 811 moves from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk (refer to FIGS. 6 and 7).

[0111] The transmission gear 875 is provided on the rotation shaft 812 to be rotatable around the shaft of the rotation shaft 812. The coupling portion 876 is provided between the transmission gear 875 and the rotation shaft 812 to be configured to transmit the rotation of the transmission gear 875 to the rotation shaft 812. The coupling portion 876 switches between a coupled state in which the transmission gear 875 and the rotation shaft 812 rotate together and a decoupled state in which the transmission gear 875 and the rotation shaft 812 do not rotate together.

[0112] When a counterclockwise torque (in the direction of the white arrow illustrated in FIG. 4) is applied around the shaft of the rotation shaft 812, the coupling portion 876 causes the transmission gear 875 and the rotation shaft 812 to be in a coupled state. In the present embodiment, the counterclockwise torque is applied around the shaft of the rotation shaft 812 due to the self-weight of the cover 811.

[0113] Therefore, although the cover 811 is rotated from the closed position Ph toward the open position Pk by driving the drive motor 872, the transmission gear 875 and the rotation shaft 812 are in a coupled state. As a result, the opening and closing mechanism 871 can move the cover 811 from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk as illustrated by the black arrow in FIG. 4 by rotationally driving the drive motor 872.

[0114] A one-way hinge is adopted for the coupling portion 876 in the present embodiment. The one-way hinge is a mechanism component that includes the functions of a one-way clutch and a torque limiter. During the rotation around the shaft of the rotation shaft 812, the one-way hinge has a set load torque on the rotation in one direction, and is in an idle state without a load in the other rotation.

[0115] In the present embodiment, when a counterclockwise torque is applied around the shaft of the rotation shaft 812, the one-way hinge causes the rotation shaft 812 and the transmission gear 875 to be in a coupled state. More specifically, when a counterclockwise torque smaller than the set load torque is applied around the shaft of the rotation shaft 812, the one-way hinge causes the transmission gear 875 and the rotation shaft 812 to be in a coupled state.

[0116] When a counterclockwise torque greater than or equal to the set load torque is applied around the shaft of the rotation shaft 812, the one-way hinge idles to cause the transmission gear 875 and the rotation shaft 812 to be in a decoupled state. The set load torque in the present embodiment is larger than the torque applied around the shaft of the rotation shaft 812 due to the self-weight of the cover 811. The set load torque in the present embodiment is smaller than a torque around the shaft of the rotation shaft 812 needed to rotate the drive motor 872.

[0117] For example, when the cover 811 is at the open position Pk or at a position between the open position Pk and the closed position Ph, a counterclockwise torque due to the self-weight of the cover 811 is applied around the shaft of the rotation shaft 812. Therefore, when the cover 811 is at the open position Pk or at a position between the open position Pk and the closed position Ph, the transmission gear 875 and the rotation shaft 812 are in a coupled state.

[0118] The set load torque of the one-way hinge described above is larger than the torque applied around the shaft of the rotation shaft 812 due to the self-weight of the cover 811. Therefore, when the cover 811 is at the open position Pk or at a position between the open position Pk and the closed position Ph, the cover 811 maintains the position without rotating.

[0119] In other words, the one-way hinge restricts the rotation of the rotation shaft 812 in the direction in which the cover 811 and the rotation shaft 812 move from the open position Pk to the closed position Ph around the shaft of the rotation shaft 812. The one-way hinge is an example of the coupling portion 876.

[0120] For example, it is assumed that the operator manually moves the cover 811 from the open position Pk toward the closed position Ph as indicated by the white arrow in FIG. 7. When the cover 811 is at the open position Pk, a counterclockwise torque due to the self-weight of the cover 811 is applied around the shaft of the rotation shaft 812. Therefore, when the cover 811 is at the open position Pk, the transmission gear 875 and the rotation shaft 812 are in a coupled state.

[0121] The set load torque of the one-way hinge described above is smaller than the torque around the shaft of the rotation shaft 812 needed to rotate the drive motor 872. In this case, when the operator applies the set load torque around the shaft of the rotation shaft 812 by applying a force to the cover 811, the one-way hinge idles, so that the transmission gear 875 and the rotation shaft 812 are in a decoupled state.

[0122] As a result, the operator can manually move the cover 811 from the closed position Ph toward the open position Pk without rotating the transmission gear 875, the gear group 874, and the drive motor 872.

[0123] For example, it is assumed that the operator manually moves the cover 811 from the closed position Ph toward the open position Pk as indicated by the white arrow in FIG. 8. In this case, a counterclockwise torque is not applied around the shaft of the rotation shaft 812. Therefore, the one-way hinge idles, so that the transmission gear 875 and the rotation shaft 812 are in a decoupled state.

[0124] As a result, the operator can manually move the cover 811 from the closed position Ph toward the open position Pk without rotating the transmission gear 875, the gear group 874, and the drive motor 872. In other words, the one-way hinge allows the rotation of the rotation shaft 812 in the direction in which the cover 811 and the rotation shaft 812 move from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk around the shaft of the rotation shaft 812. The one-way hinge is an example of the coupling portion 876.

[0125] In the displacement of the upstream transport unit 81 from the normal state to the open state in the opening operation, first, the lock mechanism 861 is driven, so that the lock state of the cover 811 is switched to the unlock state. Specifically, the solenoid 817 of the lock mechanism 861 is driven, so that the hook 816 is rotated from the lock position Pf to the unlock position Pr, and the engagement between the hook of the hook 816 and the fixing pin 863 is unlocked.

[0126] Next, the opening and closing mechanism 871 is driven, so that the cover 811 moves from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk. Specifically, the drive motor 872 of the opening and closing mechanism 871 is driven, so that the cover 811 is rotated around the shaft of the rotation shaft 812 from the closed position Ph toward the open position Pk. When the cover 811 reaches the open position Pk, the driving of the drive motor 872 is stopped. As a result, the upstream transport unit 81 is in the open state in which the cover 811 is positioned at the open position Pk.

[0127] The upstream transport unit 81 can be returned from the open state to the normal state by manual operation of the operator. Specifically, the operator pushes down the end portion of the cover 811 in the Y direction in the open state downward. As a result, the hook 816 is rotated to the lock position Pf at which the hook portion of the hook 816 and the fixing pin 863 are engaged with each other, and the cover 811 is positioned at the closed position Ph to be in the normal state.

[0128] In the open state, the Y direction of the cover 811 is raised in the substantially +Z direction. Therefore, a space connecting to the transport path is generated in the +Z direction and the Y direction of the region in which the upper side roller 815a is disposed in the normal state. The space is a sheet retraction portion EZ. In FIG. 3, the sheet retraction portion EZ is indicated by hatching. The band-shaped sheet P1 is accommodated in the sheet retraction portion EZ when a jam is dealt with, which will be described later.

[0129] Next, with reference to the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 5, when where the transport abnormality of the sheet P2 occurs, a flow of processing executed by the control portion 5 when the opening operation of the upstream transport unit 81 is performed will be described in order. In the description of the opening operation of the upstream transport unit 81 described below, FIGS. 1 to 3 will also be referred to.

[0130] In a step S1, the control portion 5 causes the sheet sensor 850 to perform a detection operation of the cut-shaped sheet P2. The detection operation of the sheet P2 by the sheet sensor 850 is always performed in a normal operating state in which the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 manufactures the sheet P3. The detection result of the sheet sensor 850 is transmitted to the control portion 5. When the processing of the step S1 is finished, the control portion 5 shifts the processing to a step S2.

[0131] In the step S2, the control portion 5 determines the presence or absence of an abnormality in sheet transport based on the detection result of the sheet sensor 850. Specifically, the control portion 5 compares the detection result with the reflectance stored by the control portion 5 when the cut-shaped sheet P2 is not present, or the reflectance when the cut-shaped sheet P2 is present. As a result, the control portion 5 estimates the presence or absence of the cut-shaped sheet P2 in the transport path.

[0132] The control portion 5 determines that a jam is generated when the cut-shaped sheet P2 is not present, and determines that a jam is not generated when the cut-shaped sheet P2 is present. When the jam occurs, the step S2 is YES, and the control portion 5 shifts the processing to a step S3. When the jam does not occur, the step S2 is NO, and the control portion 5 continues the detection operation of the sheet P2 by the sheet sensor 850 in the step S1.

[0133] In the step S3, the control portion 5 starts the operation stop operation for each configuration of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. At this time, each of the above configurations stops the operation not all at once but sequentially. Specifically, the supply of the mixture, which is a material, is stopped in the accumulation portion 50 upstream of the sheet forming unit 70. On the other hand, the formation of the band-shaped sheet P1 is continued in the sheet forming unit 70 by the mixture and the web W remaining in the sheet forming unit 70 from the accumulation portion 50.

[0134] In addition, in the transport unit 80, the operation of transporting the band-shaped sheet P1 and the cut-shaped sheet P2 of the second transport roller group 820 is stopped, and the operation of transporting the sheet P3 is continued. As a result, since the material or the web W is consumed between the accumulation portion 50 and the sheet forming unit 70, a residual material, which is goods in progress, is reduced, and the labor required for restarting can be saved. When the processing of the step S3 is finished, the control portion 5 shifts the processing to a step S4.

[0135] In the step S4, the control portion 5 performs the opening operation of the upstream transport unit 81. In the opening operation of the upstream transport unit 81, first, the control portion 5 switches the lock state of the cover 811 to the unlock state. Specifically, the control portion 5 rotates the hook 816 from the lock position Pf to the unlock position Pr by driving and controlling the solenoid 817 of the lock mechanism 861. As a result, the lock state of the cover 811 is switched to the unlock state.

[0136] Next, the control portion 5 moves the cover 811 from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk. Specifically, the control portion 5 moves the cover 811 from the closed position Ph toward the open position Pk by driving and controlling the drive motor 872 of the opening and closing mechanism 871. When the cover 811 reaches the open position Pk, the control portion 5 stops driving the drive motor 872. As a result, the upstream transport unit 81 is in the open state in which the cover 811 is positioned at the open position Pk. When the processing of the step S4 is finished, the control portion 5 shifts the processing to a step S5.

[0137] In the step S5, the control portion 5 stops the operation of the downstream transport unit 82. As a result, the operation of the second transport roller group 820, the first cutting portion 832, the second cutting portion 834, or the like is stopped. The processing of the step S5 may be executed at the same time as the processing of the step S4.

[0138] Even during the processing of the step S5 is executed, the sheet forming unit 70 continues to form the band-shaped sheet P1. In the open state of the upstream transport unit 81, the band-shaped sheet P1 formed by the sheet forming unit 70 deviates from the transport path and moves to the sheet retraction portion EZ.

[0139] Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 6, since the sheet forming unit 70 continues to form the band-shaped sheet P1, the band-shaped sheet P1 is transported downstream from the sheet forming unit 70. In the first transport roller group 810, the transport roller pair 813 continues to transport the band-shaped sheet P1 downstream. On the other hand, the second transport roller group 820 including the transport roller pair 821 stops the transport of the sheet P1 in the step S5.

[0140] Therefore, the band-shaped sheet P1 is raised to the sheet retraction portion EZ above the lower side roller 815b without advancing beyond the transport roller pair 821. The band-shaped sheet P1 moves to the sheet retraction portion EZ, so that the material or the web W remaining in the sheet forming unit 70 or the like is consumed.

[0141] In addition, since the transport of the band-shaped sheet P1 or the cut-shaped sheet P2 to the occurrence point of the jam is stopped, the deterioration of the jam situation can be prevented. When the processing of the step S5 is finished, the control portion 5 shifts the processing to a step S6.

[0142] Returning to FIG. 5, in the step S6, the control portion 5 stops the forming operation of the sheet forming unit 70. At this time, after the operation of the second transport roller group 820 is stopped in the step S5 and a predetermined time elapses, the control portion 5 stops the forming operation of the band-shaped sheet P1 in the sheet forming unit 70.

[0143] The predetermined time is a time when goods in progress and a material to be charged are formed into the band-shaped sheet P1 and consumed upstream of the upstream transport unit 81 including the sheet forming unit 70. The predetermined time is appropriately set according to the scale and configuration of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1, and is, for example, several tens of seconds or more and several minutes or less. As described above, a response to the jam is executed, and the operation of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 is stopped.

[0144] As described above, according to the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0145] The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 includes the sheet forming unit 70 that forms a sheet by accumulating a material containing fibers and then compressing the accumulated material. The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 includes the transport unit 80 that transports the sheet along a transport path. The transport unit 80 includes a plurality of transport rollers that transport the sheet. The transport unit 80 includes the sheet sensor 850 that detects an abnormality generated by the transport of the sheet in the transport unit 80. The transport unit 80 includes the cover 811 that is installed above the transport path and is configured to rotate around the shaft of the rotation shaft 812, and the drive motor 872 that rotates the cover 811 by being rotationally driven. The cover 811 moves between then open position Pk that opens the upper portion of the transport path and the closed position Ph that covers the upper portion of the transport path. The cover 811 moves from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk by the drive motor 872 being rotationally driven when the sheet sensor 850 detects an abnormality generated by the transport of the sheet.

[0146] As described above, when the abnormality in the sheet transport occurs, the cover 811 moves to the open position Pk, so that the user can promptly remove the sheet fed to the retraction portion EZ, and the time and labor required for the apparatus to be restarted are reduced. As a result, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 that facilitates the restart after the abnormality in the sheet transport is generated, can be provided.

[0147] The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 further includes the fixing pin 863, and the hook 816 that is provided in the cover 811 and of which an engagement with the fixing pin 863 is unlocked by rotating. The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 further includes the solenoid 817 that is coupled to the hook 816 and rotates the hook 816 by being driven. The cover 811 is configured to move from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk by unlocking the engagement between the hook 816 and the fixing pin 863. The engagement between the hook 816 and the fixing pin 863 is unlocked by the solenoid 817 being driven when the sheet sensor 850 detects an abnormality generated by the transport of the sheet.

[0148] Accordingly, when the abnormality in the sheet transport occurs, the cover 811 can be moved to the open position Pk, so that restart can be easily performed after the abnormality in the sheet transport occurs. As a result, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 that facilitates the restart after the abnormality in the sheet transport is generated, can be provided.

[0149] The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 further includes the rotation shaft 812 that is attached to the cover 811 and is rotatably supported such that the cover 811 rotates around the shaft, and the coupling portion 876 that restricts the rotation around the shaft of the rotation shaft 812. The coupling portion 876 allows the rotation of the rotation shaft 812 when the cover 811 moves from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk, and restricts the rotation of the rotation shaft 812 when the cover 811 moves from the open position Pk to the closed position Ph.

[0150] Accordingly, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 in which the cover 811 can be easily moved from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk and the cover 811 at the open position Pk is unlikely to be inadvertently moved to the closed position Ph, can be provided. As a result, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 that facilitates the restart after the abnormality in the sheet transport is generated, can be provided.

[0151] The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 further includes the transmission gear 875 that transmits the driving force of the drive motor 872 to the rotation shaft 812, and the coupling portion 876 is a one-way hinge provided between the transmission gear 875 and the rotation shaft 812.

[0152] Accordingly, the cover 811 can be easily moved from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk, and it is easy to realize a configuration in which the cover 811 at the open position Pk is unlikely to be inadvertently moved to the closed position Ph. As a result, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 that facilitates the restart after the abnormality in the sheet transport is generated, can be provided.

[0153] The plurality of transport rollers include the transport roller pair 815 and the transport roller pair 821 installed downstream of the transport roller pair 815 in the transport path. The transport unit 80 includes the upstream transport unit 81 in which the transport roller pair 815 is installed, and the downstream transport unit 82 in which the transport roller pair 821 is installed. The cover 811 and the drive motor 872 are installed in the upstream transport unit 81. Further, the transport roller pair 815 is composed of the pair of the upper side roller 815a and the lower side roller 815b, and the upper side roller 815a is installed in the cover 811.

[0154] Accordingly, when the abnormality in sheet transport occurs, the cover 811 is moved to the open position Pk, so that the transport of the sheet by the transport roller pair 815 can be stopped. Therefore, the time and labor required for restarting are reduced. As a result, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 that facilitates the restart after the abnormality in the sheet transport is generated, can be provided.

[0155] The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the above first embodiment of the present disclosure basically has the configurations as described above. However, as a matter of course, the configurations may be partially changed or omitted within the scope not departing from the concept of the present disclosure. The above first embodiment and the other embodiments described below can be implemented in combination with each other to the extent that these embodiments are technically consistent. Hereinafter, other embodiments will be described.

[0156] In the above embodiment, the lock mechanism 861 may not include the solenoid 817. For example, the lock mechanism 861 may include a gear that rotates to rotate the hook 816 around the shaft center of the operating shaft 814, a motor, and a transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force of the motor to the gear. In this case, the lock mechanism 861 of the embodiment may also serve as the drive motor 872 of the opening and closing mechanism 871 as the motor.

[0157] In the above embodiment, the lock mechanism 861 may not switch between the lock state and the unlock state of the cover 811 by an engagement and a disengagement between the hook 816 and the fixing pin 863. For example, the lock mechanism 861 may switch between the lock state and the unlock state of the cover 811 by attracting and releasing the attraction between a yoke provided in the cover 811 and a magnet provided in the support member 851.

[0158] The lock mechanism 861 of the embodiment may move the yoke to the lock position Pf and the unlock position Pr by driving the solenoid 817 coupled to the yoke. The lock position Pf is a position at which the yoke is attracted to the magnet, and is, for example, a position at which the yoke is positioned vertically above the magnet and faces the magnet. The unlock position Pr is a position at which the yoke is not attracted to the magnet, and is, for example, a position on the +Y direction side of the lock position Pf and a position that does not face the magnet.

[0159] Alternatively, in the embodiment, the opening and closing mechanism 871 may move the yoke at the lock position Pf to the unlock position Pr by moving the cover 811 from the closed position Ph to the open position Pk. In this case, the yoke is fixed to the cover 811, and the unlock position Pr is positioned above the lock position Pf. In this case, the lock mechanism 861 may not include the solenoid 817.

[0160] In the above embodiment, the coupling portion 876 may not be a one-way hinge. For example, it is assumed that the operator can generate a torque around the shaft of the rotation shaft 812, which is needed to rotate the drive motor 872, by pushing down the cover 811 in the open state. In this case, the coupling portion 876 may be a one-way clutch. In the embodiment, the one-way clutch may be provided between the transmission gear 875 and the rotation shaft 812 to be configured to transmit the rotation of the transmission gear 875 to the rotation shaft 812.

[0161] In the embodiment, when a counterclockwise torque is applied around the shaft of the rotation shaft 812, the one-way clutch causes the rotation shaft 812 and the transmission gear 875 to be in a coupled state. When a clockwise torque is applied around the shaft of the rotation shaft 812, the one-way clutch idles to cause the transmission gear 875 and the rotation shaft 812 to be in a decoupled state. In this case, the one-way clutch is an example of the coupling portion 876.

[0162] In the above embodiment, when the driving force of the drive motor 872 can be transmitted to the rotation shaft 812, the coupling portion 876 may not be provided between the transmission gear 875 and the rotation shaft 812. In this case, the coupling portion 876 may be provided between the gears composing the gear group 874 or between the gears composing the gear group 874 and the rotation shaft of the gear.

[0163] In the above embodiment, when the necessity of moving the cover 811 to the closed position Ph by the manual operation of the operator is low, the opening and closing mechanism 871 may not include the coupling portion 876. In the embodiment, the transmission gear 875 may be attached to the rotation shaft 812 not to be rotatable around the shaft of the rotation shaft 812.