SHEET MANUFACTURING APPARATUS AND HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS

Abstract

A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a humidifying case and a humidified air generator attachable to and detachable from the humidifying case, the humidifying case includes a first sensor, the humidified air generator includes a water storage unit that stores water and a float unit that is displaced according to a water level of the water storage unit, and the first sensor detects that the float unit is located at a first position that is a position of the float unit in a state where the humidified air generator is set in the humidifying case and drainage of the water storage unit is completed.

Claims

1. A sheet manufacturing apparatus comprising: a processing unit that defibrates a material and manufactures a sheet from obtained fibers; a humidifying case; and a humidified air generator that is attachable to and detachable from the humidifying case and humidifies air, wherein the humidifying case includes a first sensor, the humidified air generator includes a water storage unit that stores water and a float unit that is displaced according to a water level of the water storage unit, and the first sensor detects that the float unit is located at a first position that is a position of the float unit in a state where the humidified air generator is set in the humidifying case and drainage of the water storage unit is completed.

2. The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the humidifying case includes a water supply unit that supplies the water to the water storage unit, and the water supply unit is controlled by a control unit included in the sheet manufacturing apparatus based on a detection result of the first sensor.

3. The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the humidifying case includes a second sensor, and the second sensor detects that the float unit is located at a second position that is a position of the float unit in a state where the humidified air generator is set in the humidifying case and the water storage unit is full of water.

4. The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control unit causes the water supply unit to start supplying water in response to a detection result of the second sensor indicating that the float unit is not located at the second position while the humidified air generator is performing humidification and causes the water supply unit to stop supplying water on condition that a detection result of the second sensor indicates that the float unit is located at the second position.

5. The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a door that enables attachment and detachment of the humidified air generator in an open state and disables attachment and detachment of the humidified air generator in a closed state, wherein the control unit causes the water supply unit to start supplying water when the detection result of the first sensor indicates that the float unit is located at the first position after the door changes from the open state to the closed state and causes the water supply unit to stop supplying water on condition that a detection result of the second sensor indicates that the float unit is located at the second position.

6. The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a door that enables attachment and detachment of the humidified air generator in an open state and disables attachment and detachment of the humidified air generator in a closed state; and a lock for locking and unlocking the door, wherein the lock unlocks the door in a state where the first sensor detects that the float unit is located at the first position.

7. The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the humidified air generator includes an inclined surface portion, the float unit includes a floating portion, a magnet, and an arm portion, the arm portion has a first end that is rotatably supported with respect to a shaft, the arm portion has a second end that is provided with the floating portion and the magnet, the floating portion generates buoyancy that causes the float unit to turn with respect to the shaft according to the water level of the water storage unit, when the float unit is located at the first position, the inclined surface portion abuts against the float unit to restrain turning of the float unit, the arm portion extends from the first end to the second end in a direction toward a side where the float unit is located when the water storage unit is full of water rather than vertically downward, and the first sensor is a magnetic sensor and detects that the float unit is located at the first position according to a magnetic field generated by the magnet.

8. A humidifying apparatus comprising: a drive unit; a first sensor; and a humidified air generator attachable to and detachable from the first sensor, wherein the humidified air generator includes a water storage unit that stores water, and the first sensor detects a state where the humidified air generator is set and drainage of the water storage unit is completed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a sheet manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment.

[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a humidifying apparatus.

[0009] FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the configuration of the humidifying apparatus.

[0010] FIG. 4 is a see-through view illustrating an arrangement and operation of a float unit, a first sensor, a second sensor, and the like.

[0011] FIG. 5 is a see-through view illustrating the operation of the float unit, the first sensor, the second sensor, and the like.

[0012] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of maintenance work of the humidifying apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0013] In the following embodiment, a sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 that manufactures a sheet from a material such as used paper containing fibers and a humidifying apparatus 200 included in the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 will be exemplified and described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] In each of the following drawings, XYZ-axes are given as coordinate axes orthogonal to each other, a direction indicated by each arrow is set as a positive direction, and a direction opposite to the positive direction is set as a negative direction. The Z-axis is a virtual axis extending in a vertical direction, a +Z direction is an upward direction, and a Z direction is a downward direction. The Z direction is the vertical direction. In addition, in the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1, a leading side in a transport direction of a material, a web, a sheet, or the like is downstream, and a going-back side in the transport direction is upstream. For convenience of illustration, the size of each member is different from the actual size.

[0015] 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). In FIG. 1, directions in which paper pieces C, a sheet P3, a slit piece S, unnecessary scraps, and the like move are indicated by white arrows. In the following description, a collection of a plurality of paper pieces C is also simply referred to as the paper piece C.

[0016] The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 manufactures the sheet P3 from the paper piece C that is a material containing fibers such as used paper. In the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1, the first unit group 101, the third unit group 103, and the second unit group 102 are arranged from a Y direction to a +Y direction in side view in a X direction.

[0017] The paper piece C is transported from the first unit group 101 to the second unit group 102 through a pipe 21 crossing the inside of the third unit group 103. The paper piece C is then defibrated in the second unit group 102 to form a defibrated material, which is an aggregate of fibers, and a binder or the like is added to the defibrated material. The defibrated material is transported to the third unit group 103 through a pipe 24. The defibrated material is formed into a web W in the third unit group 103 and then formed into a strip-shaped sheet P1. The strip-shaped sheet P1 is cut into the sheet P3 in the first unit group 101.

[0018] The first unit group 101 includes a buffer tank 13, a fixed-quantity supply unit 15, a merging unit 17, and the pipe 21. In the first unit group 101, these components are arranged in this order from upstream to downstream. The first unit group 101 also includes a first cutting unit 81, a second cutting unit 82, a tray 84, and a shredding unit 86.

[0019] In addition, a sheet transport unit 63 is disposed from the third unit group 103 to the first unit group 101. The sheet transport unit 63 transports the strip-shaped sheet P1, a single-cut sheet P2, the sheet P3, and the slit piece S. The first cutting unit 81 and the second cutting unit 82 cut the strip-shaped sheet P1 into the sheet P3 having a predetermined shape.

[0020] The first unit group 101 also includes a water supply tank 267. The water supply tank 267 is a water storage tank. The water supply tank 267 supplies water for humidification to each of a mist humidifier 265 and the humidifying apparatus 200, which will be described later, through a hose or the like (not illustrated). Pure water, tap water, or the like can be used as the water stored in the water supply tank 267. The humidifying apparatus 200 is an example of the humidifying apparatus of the present disclosure.

[0021] The paper piece C is input from a raw material input port 11 to the buffer tank 13. The paper piece C contains fibers such as cellulose and is, for example, shredded used paper. Humidified air is supplied to the inside of the buffer tank 13 from the humidifying apparatus 200 provided in the third unit group 103. As a result, the paper piece C is not easily charged, and adhesion of the paper pieces C to each other is suppressed.

[0022] The paper piece C to be defibrated is temporarily stored in the buffer tank 13 and is then transported to the fixed-quantity supply unit 15 according to the operation of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. The sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 may include a shredder that shreds the paper piece C and the like upstream of the buffer tank 13.

[0023] The fixed-quantity supply unit 15 includes a weighing device 15a and a supply mechanism (not illustrated). The weighing device 15a weighs a mass of the paper piece C. The supply mechanism supplies the paper piece C weighed by the weighing device 15a to the merging unit 17 located downstream. That is, the fixed-quantity supply unit 15 weighs the paper piece C by each predetermined mass using the weighing device 15a and supplies the paper piece C to the merging unit 17 located downstream by the supply mechanism.

[0024] Both digital and analog measuring mechanisms can be applied to the weighing device 15a. The predetermined mass for which the paper piece C is weighed by the weighing device 15a is, for example, approximately several grams to several tens of grams.

[0025] A known technique such as a vibration feeder can be applied to the supply mechanism. The supply mechanism may be included in the weighing device 15a.

[0026] The weighing and supplying of the paper piece C in the fixed-quantity supply unit 15 is batch processing. That is, the paper piece C is intermittently supplied from the fixed-quantity supply unit 15 to the merging unit 17. The fixed-quantity supply unit 15 may include a plurality of weighing devices 15a, and the plurality of weighing devices 15a may be operated at different times to improve the weighing efficiency.

[0027] In the merging unit 17, shredded pieces of the slit piece S supplied from the shredding unit 86 are merged and mixed with the paper piece C supplied from the fixed-quantity supply unit 15. The slit piece S and the shredding unit 86 will be described later. The paper piece C mixed with the above-described shredded pieces flows into the pipe 21 from the merging unit 17.

[0028] The pipe 21 allows the paper piece C to transport therethrough from the first unit group 101 to the second unit group 102 using an airflow generated by a blower (not illustrated).

[0029] The second unit group 102 includes a defibrating unit 30, which is a dry defibrator, a separator 41, a pipe 23, a powder supply unit 43, a mixing unit 45, and the pipe 24. In the second unit group 102, these components are arranged in this order from upstream to downstream. The second unit group 102 also includes a control unit 5, a capturing unit 95, a compressor 97, a power supply unit 99, and a pipe 25 and an airflow pipe 29 connected to the separator 41.

[0030] The paper piece C transported through the pipe 21 flows into the defibrating unit 30. The defibrating unit 30 defibrates the paper piece C, which is a material containing fibers, by a dry method and generates a defibrated material containing fibers. A known defibrating mechanism can be applied to the defibrating unit 30. In the present embodiment, a defibrating mechanism including a rotary blade is used as the defibrating unit 30. The defibrating mechanism generates fibers by shredding and defibrating the paper piece C with the rotary blade.

[0031] Tangled fibers contained in the paper piece C are untangled by the defibrating unit 30 to form a defibrated material containing fibers, and the defibrated material is transported to the separator 41.

[0032] The separator 41 sorts the defibrated fibers. Specifically, the separator 41 removes components contained in the fibers and unnecessary for manufacturing the sheet P3. The separator 41 separates relatively long fibers from relatively short fibers. The relatively short fibers, which may lower the strength of the sheet P3, are sorted and removed by the separator 41. The separator 41 also removes impurities such as coloring materials and additives contained in the paper piece C.

[0033] A known separation mechanism can be applied to the separator 41. In the present embodiment, a disk-type separation mechanism including a separation filter is used as the separator 41. The separation mechanism sorts and separates relatively short fibers and impurities that pass through the separation filter from relatively long fibers that do not pass through the separation filter. The relatively long fibers are used as defibrated fibers for the material of the web W.

[0034] Humidified air is supplied from the humidifying apparatus 200 of the third unit group 103 to the inside of the separator 41. As a result, the defibrated fibers are not easily charged, and attachment of the fibers to each other and adhesion of the fibers to the separator 41 are suppressed.

[0035] Relatively short fibers and the like are removed from the defibrated fibers in the separator 41. The defibrated fibers are then transported to the mixing unit 45 through the pipe 23 by an airflow generated by a blower (not illustrated) disposed at a leading end of the airflow pipe 29. Unnecessary components such as relatively short fibers and impurities are sucked by a suction device (not illustrated) of the capturing unit 95 and are discharged from the pipe 25 to the capturing unit 95.

[0036] The capturing unit 95 includes a filter (not illustrated). The filter filters out unnecessary components such as relatively short fibers transported through the pipe 25 by an airflow.

[0037] The compressor 97 generates compressed air. The above-described filter may be clogged with fine particles or the like of the unnecessary components. The filter can be cleaned by blowing the compressed air generated by the compressor 97 onto the filter to blow off adhering particles.

[0038] The power supply unit 99 includes a power supply device (not illustrated) that supplies power to the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 and the control unit 5. The power supply unit 99 distributes power supplied from the outside to each component of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1.

[0039] The powder supply unit 43 supplies a binder, which is a powder, to the mixing unit 45. The mixing unit 45 mixes the defibrated material and the binder supplied from the powder supply unit 43 in air. The binder binds the fibers to each other in a forming unit 70 described later. In the present embodiment, starch is used as the binder, but a thermoplastic resin or the like may also be used.

[0040] The powder supply unit 43 includes a powder storage unit and a powder transport unit (not illustrated). The powder storage unit is attachable to and detachable from a main body of the powder supply unit 43. The powder storage unit can be removed from the powder supply unit 43 to be filled with the binder or transported. The powder transport unit is, for example, an auger-type screw, but other methods such as transporting by a wind force may be adopted. The powder transport unit supplies a fixed amount of the binder per unit time to the mixing unit 45 while transporting the binder.

[0041] The powder supplied from the powder supply unit 43 to the mixing unit 45 is not limited to the binder and may be other additives such as a coloring material, for example. In addition, the above-described powder may be a mixture of the binder and other additives. Moreover, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 may include a plurality of powder supply units 43.

[0042] The mixing unit 45 mixes a powder with the defibrated material, which is fibers, in air. Although not illustrated, the mixing unit 45 includes a flow path through which the fibers are transported and a fan. The fan of the mixing unit 45 mixes the binder and the like in air while transporting the defibrated material downstream using a generated airflow. The defibrated material then flows into the pipe 24 from the mixing unit 45.

[0043] The control unit 5 is electrically connected to each component of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 and integrally controls the operation of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. Although not illustrated, the control unit 5 includes a central processing unit (CPU) and a storage unit including a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), and the like. Various programs for controlling the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 are stored in the storage unit. The control unit 5 may include dedicated hardware (application specific integrated circuit: ASIC) that executes at least some of various processes. That is, the control unit 5 may be configured as one or more processors that operate according to a computer program (software), one or more dedicated hardware circuits such as ASICs, or a circuit including a combination thereof.

[0044] 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 perform processes. The memory, that is, a computer-readable medium includes any medium that can be accessed by a general-purpose or dedicated computer.

[0045] Although not illustrated, an operation panel is provided on the exterior of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. The control unit 5 is electrically connected to the operation panel. The user of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 operates the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 through the operation panel. The operation panel is, for example, a touch panel type liquid crystal display device and mechanical keys.

[0046] The third unit group 103 accumulates and compresses the defibrated material containing the binder and forms the defibrated material into the strip-shaped sheet P1. The third unit group 103 includes an accumulation unit 50, a transport unit 60, the mist humidifier 265, the humidifying apparatus 200, a drainage tank 268, the forming unit 70, and the sheet transport unit 63. In the third unit group 103, the accumulation unit 50, the transport unit 60, and the forming unit 70 are arranged in this order from upstream to downstream. That is, the transport unit 60 is disposed between the accumulation unit 50 and the forming unit 70. The humidifying apparatus 200 is disposed in a lower portion of the third unit group 103.

[0047] Here, the sheet manufacturing apparatus of the present disclosure includes a processing unit, and the processing unit defibrates a material and manufactures a sheet from obtained fibers. In the present embodiment, among the components of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1, the defibrating unit 30, the separator 41, the accumulation unit 50, the transport unit 60, the forming unit 70, and the like correspond to the processing unit of the present disclosure. The humidifying apparatus 200 humidifies the separator 41 and the accumulation unit 50 of the processing unit. The humidifying apparatus 200 is not limited to humidifying the separator 41 and the accumulation unit 50. The humidifying apparatus 200 may humidify other components of the processing unit, or may humidify the buffer tank 13 as described above.

[0048] The transport unit 60 includes an accumulation transport unit 61 and a back surface transport unit 62. The transport unit 60 transports the web W formed in the accumulation unit 50 to the forming unit 70 located downstream. In the transport direction of the web W, the accumulation transport unit 61 is disposed upstream of the back surface transport unit 62. A downstream portion of the accumulation transport unit 61 and an upstream portion of the back surface transport unit 62 partially face each other in the vertical direction. The mist humidifier 265 is disposed below the back surface transport unit 62.

[0049] The accumulation unit 50 accumulates the defibrated material containing the binder and the like using an airflow and gravity to form the web W. The accumulation unit 50 includes a drum member 53, a blade member 55 disposed in the drum member 53, a housing 51 that houses the drum member 53, and a suction unit 59. The defibrated material is taken into the drum member 53 from the pipe 24.

[0050] The accumulation transport unit 61 is disposed below the accumulation unit 50. The accumulation transport unit 61 includes a mesh belt 611 and five tension rollers (not illustrated) for tensioning the mesh belt 611. The suction unit 59 faces the drum member 53 with the mesh belt 611 interposed therebetween in a direction along the Z-axis.

[0051] The blade member 55 is disposed inside the drum member 53 and is rotationally driven by an electric motor (not illustrated). The drum member 53 is a semicircular columnar sieve. A mesh having a function of a sieve is provided on a side surface of the drum member 53 facing downward. The drum member 53 allows particles such as the fibers of the defibrated material and the binder, which are smaller than the size of mesh openings of the sieve, to pass through the mesh openings from the inside to the outside.

[0052] The defibrated material is discharged to the outside of the drum member 53 while being stirred by the rotating blade member 55 in the drum member 53. Humidified air is supplied from the humidifying apparatus 200 to the inside of the drum member 53. As a result, the fibers, the binder, and the like are not easily charged, and attachment of the fibers to each other and adhesion of the fibers to the drum member 53, the blade member 55, and the like are suppressed.

[0053] The suction unit 59 is disposed below the drum member 53. The suction unit 59 sucks air in the housing 51 through a plurality of holes of the mesh belt 611. As a result, an airflow for causing the defibrated material to accumulate on the mesh belt 611 is generated. The plurality of holes of the mesh belt 611 allows air to pass therethrough but does not allow the fibers, the binder, and the like contained in the defibrated material to pass therethrough easily. As a result, the defibrated material discharged to the outside of the drum member 53 is sucked downward together with the air. The suction unit 59 is a known suction device such as a suction fan.

[0054] The defibrated material containing the binder and the like is dispersed in the air inside the housing 51 and accumulates on an upper surface of the mesh belt 611 by gravity and the airflow generated by the suction unit 59 to form the web W.

[0055] The mesh belt 611 of the accumulation transport unit 61 is an endless belt and is tensioned by the five tension rollers. The mesh belt 611 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 1 by the rotation of the tension rollers. As a result, the defibrated material continuously accumulates on the mesh belt 611, and the web W is formed. The web W contains a relatively large amount of air and is soft and swollen. The accumulation transport unit 61 transports the formed web W downstream by the rotation of the mesh belt 611.

[0056] The back surface transport unit 62 transports the web W delivered from the accumulation transport unit 61 downstream of the accumulation transport unit 61. The back surface transport unit 62 peels the web W from the upper surface of the mesh belt 611 and transports the web W toward the forming unit 70. The back surface transport unit 62 is disposed above the transport path of the web W and slightly upstream of a starting point on a return side of the mesh belt 611, that is, an end portion in the Y direction. The +Y direction of the back surface transport unit 62 and the Y direction of the mesh belt 611 partially overlap each other in the vertical direction.

[0057] The back surface transport unit 62 includes a belt portion 621, four tension rollers (not illustrated), and an attraction unit 623. The belt portion 621 is provided with a plurality of holes through which air passes. The belt portion 621 is tensioned by the four tension rollers and rotates clockwise in FIG. 1 by the rotation of the tension rollers.

[0058] The attraction unit 623 sucks air through the plurality of holes of the belt portion 621 so as to attract the web W to the belt portion 621. The web W is transported while being attracted to the belt portion 621.

[0059] The attraction unit 623 is disposed above the belt portion 621 in the transport path of the web W in the back surface transport unit 62. The attraction unit 623 sucks air from a lower side to an upper side through the plurality of holes of the belt portion 621. As a result, an upper surface of the web W is attracted to a lower surface of the belt portion 621. When the belt portion 621 rotates in this state, the web W is attracted to the belt portion 621 and transported downstream. In other words, the belt portion 621 transports the web W in contact with the upper surface of the web W. The attraction unit 623 is a known suction device such as a suction fan.

[0060] The mist humidifier 265 humidifies the web W. The mist humidifier 265 supplies mist M from below the web W transported by the back surface transport unit 62 to humidify the web W. The mist humidifier 265 is disposed below the back surface transport unit 62 and faces the web W transported by the back surface transport unit 62 in the vertical direction. As the mist humidifier 265, for example, a known device such as an ultrasonic humidifier can be used.

[0061] When the web W is humidified with the mist M, the function of the binder contained in the web W is promoted, and the strength of the sheet P3 is improved. In addition, since the web W is humidified from below, droplets derived from the mist M do not easily fall onto the web W. Moreover, since the web W is humidified from a side opposite to the upper surface of the web W in contact with the belt portion 621, sticking of the web W onto the belt portion 621 is reduced.

[0062] The forming unit 70 compresses and forms the web W into the strip-shaped sheet P1. The forming unit 70 includes a pair of a first roller 71 and a second roller 72. The forming unit 70 forms the strip-shaped sheet P1 from the web W by causing the web W to pass between the first roller 71 and the second roller 72.

[0063] Each of the first roller 71 and the second roller 72 is a substantially columnar member. A rotation axis of the first roller 71 and a rotation axis of the second roller 72 extend along the X-axis. The first roller 71 is disposed substantially below the transport path of the web W, and the second roller 72 is disposed substantially above the transport path of the web W. The first roller 71 and the second roller 72 rotate close to each other while the strip-shaped sheet P1 is formed from the web W.

[0064] In a direction along the X-axis, the length of the first roller 71 and the length of the second roller 72 are greater than the length of the web W, that is, the width of the web W. Therefore, the web W is reliably pinched between the first roller 71 and the second roller 72.

[0065] The diameter of the first roller 71 is larger than the diameter of the second roller 72. For example, the diameter of the first roller 71 is 110 mm or more and 150 mm or less, and the diameter of the second roller 72 is 80 mm or more and 110 mm or less.

[0066] The first roller 71 includes, for example, a core bar and a surface layer covering the core bar. Examples of the core bar include a hollow structure made of aluminum, iron, stainless steel, or the like. Examples of the material of the surface layer include fluororesins such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer (PFA), tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer (FEP), and tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymer (ETFE), and silicone resins. As a result, the release properties of the first roller 71 from the web W are improved. In addition, abrasion and damage of the core bar are suppressed.

[0067] The second roller 72 includes, for example, a core bar, an intermediate layer, and a surface layer. Examples of the core bar include a hollow structure made of aluminum, iron, stainless steel, or the like. The intermediate layer covers the core bar and is covered with the surface layer. In other words, the intermediate layer is interposed between the core bar and the surface layer.

[0068] Examples of the material of the intermediate layer include elastic bodies such as silicone rubber and urethane rubber. The elastic bodies preferably have a hardness of 30 or more and 70 or less, more preferably 40 or more and 60 or less when measured with an Asker C hardness tester. The thickness of the intermediate layer is preferably 1 mm or more and 10 mm or less, and more preferably 1 mm or more and 5 mm or less.

[0069] Examples of the material of the surface layer include fluororesins such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer (PFA), tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer (FEP), and tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymer (ETFE).

[0070] Since the second roller 72 has the above-described configuration, the release properties of the second roller 72 from the web W are improved. In addition, abrasion and damage of the intermediate layer are suppressed.

[0071] The web W is pressurized while passing between the first roller 71 and the second roller 72. The pressure applied to the web W by the first roller 71 and the second roller 72 is preferably 0.1 MPa or more and 15.0 MPa or less, more preferably 0.2 MPa or more and 10.0 MPa or less, and still more preferably 0.4 MPa or more and 8.0 MPa or less. As a result, deterioration of the fibers in the web W is suppressed.

[0072] The first roller 71 has a built-in electric heater and has a function of increasing the temperature of a roller surface. Similarly to the first roller 71, the second roller 72 preferably has the function of increasing the temperature of a roller surface by an electric heater.

[0073] The surface temperature of the first roller 71, that is, the temperature of the surface layer of the first roller 71 in contact with the web W is preferably 100 C. or more and 130 C. or less. The surface temperature of the second roller 72, that is, the temperature of the surface layer of the second roller 72 in contact with the web W is preferably 80 C. or more and 100 C. or less.

[0074] The first roller 71 is rotationally driven by a stepping motor (not illustrated). The second roller 72 is a driven roller that is not driven by an electric motor or the like but rotates with the rotation of the first roller 71. Therefore, the second roller 72 rotates in the opposite direction to the first roller 71 in side view in the X direction.

[0075] The web W is sent downstream while being pinched between the first roller 71 and the second roller 72, and being heated and pressurized. That is, the web W continuously passes through the forming unit 70 and is press-formed while being heated. The use of the first roller 71 and the second roller 72 as a pair of forming members enables the web W to be efficiently heated and pressurized.

[0076] When the web W, which is in a state where it contains a relatively large amount of air and is soft, passes through the forming unit 70, the amount of air contained in the web W is reduced, and the density is increased. Then, the fibers are bound to each other by the binder and formed into the strip-shaped sheet P1. The strip-shaped sheet P1 is transported to the first unit group 101 by a plurality of rollers (not illustrated) of the sheet transport unit 63.

[0077] The humidifying apparatus 200 is disposed below the mist humidifier 265. The humidifying apparatus 200 supplies humidified air through a plurality of tubes (not illustrated) and humidifies the above-described regions of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. The exterior of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 is provided with a door (not illustrated) corresponding to the humidifying apparatus 200. The door needs to be opened in order for the user to access the humidifying apparatus 200, but does not need to be opened in order to access other mechanisms and is a door corresponding only to the humidifying apparatus 200. A lock for interlocking is attached to the door, and locking and unlocking of the door are controlled by the control unit 5. Details of the humidifying apparatus 200 will be described later.

[0078] The drainage tank 268 is a tank for drainage. The drainage tank 268 is used by the mist humidifier 265, the humidifying apparatus 200, and the like and collects and stores old water. The drainage tank 268 can be removed from the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 as necessary, and the collected water can be discarded.

[0079] The strip-shaped sheet P1 transported from the forming unit 70 to the first unit group 101 reaches the first cutting unit 81. The first cutting unit 81 cuts the strip-shaped sheet P1 in a direction intersecting the transport direction, for example, in the direction along the X-axis. The strip-shaped sheet P1 is cut into the single-cut sheet P2 by the first cutting unit 81. The single-cut sheet P2 is transported from the first cutting unit 81 to the second cutting unit 82 by the sheet transport unit 63.

[0080] The second cutting unit 82 cuts the single-cut sheet P2 in the transport direction, for example, in a direction along the Y-axis. Specifically, the second cutting unit 82 cuts both end portions in the direction along the X-axis of the single-cut sheet P2. As a result, the single-cut sheet P2 is formed into the sheet P3 having a predetermined shape such as an A4 size or an A3 size, for example.

[0081] When the single-cut sheet P2 is cut into the sheet P3 in the second cutting unit 82, the slit piece S, which is a scrap piece, is generated. The slit piece S is transported substantially in the Y direction and reaches the shredding unit 86 which is a shredder. The shredding unit 86 shreds the slit piece S into shredded pieces and supplies the shredded pieces to the merging unit 17. A mechanism for weighing the shredded pieces of the slit piece S and supplying the shredded pieces to the merging unit 17 may be provided between the shredding unit 86 and the merging unit 17.

[0082] The sheet P3 is transported substantially upward and collected in the tray 84. In this manner, the sheet P3 is manufactured by the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. The sheet P3 can be used as a substitute for, for example, copy paper or the like.

[0083] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the humidifying apparatus 200 includes a case 200a, a drive unit 201, a guide member 202, a suction port 203, air blowing units 204, a first sensor 206, a second sensor 207, a water supply unit 208, and a humidified air generator 210.

[0084] Here, FIG. 2 illustrates a state where the humidified air generator 210 is pulled out in the X direction with respect to the case 200a. FIG. 3 illustrates a state where the humidified air generator 210 is set in the case 200a and water stored in a water storage unit 211 is omitted.

[0085] The case 200a has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box shape, and the humidified air generator 210 is set inside the case 200a. The water supply unit 208 and two air blowing units 204 are disposed on a surface of the case 200a facing upward. The suction port 203 is disposed on a side surface of the case 200a facing in the +Y direction. The case 200a is an example of the humidifying case of the present disclosure.

[0086] The humidified air generator 210 is supported by the guide member 202 extending along the X-axis. The humidified air generator 210 is supported by the guide member 202 and can reciprocate along the X-axis with respect to the case 200a. When the humidified air generator 210 is moved in the +X direction and set in the case 200a, the inside and the outside of the case 200a are blocked except for the suction port 203 and the air blowing units 204.

[0087] Although not illustrated, the door of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 described above is disposed in the X direction of the humidifying apparatus 200 corresponding to the humidified air generator 210. The user of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 can perform maintenance work related to the humidifying apparatus 200 and the humidified air generator 210 by opening the door and pulling out the humidified air generator 210 in the X direction. The maintenance work is mainly cleaning. In the following description, the user of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 may be simply referred to as a user.

[0088] The humidified air generator 210 is also attachable to and detachable from the case 200a. Specifically, the humidified air generator 210 can be separated from the guide member 202 from the state illustrated in FIG. 2. As a result, the humidified air generator 210 can be removed from the case 200a, that is, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. Accordingly, the user can easily perform the maintenance work of the humidified air generator 210, and the convenience of the user is further improved.

[0089] The humidified air generator 210 humidifies the air inside the case 200a. The humidified air generator 210 is of a disk rotation type and includes a drainage unit 209, the water storage unit 211, a plurality of disks 213, and a float unit 219. In FIG. 2, for convenience of illustration, the number of disks 213 is reduced from the actual number. The humidified air generator 210 is not limited to the above-described configuration. A known mechanism such as an ultrasonic type or a heating type other than the disk rotation type may be applied to the humidified air generator 210.

[0090] Although not illustrated, the water storage unit 211 is a container having edges extending upward and a bottom surface. The water storage unit 211 has a U-shaped cross section. The water storage unit 211 stores water for humidifying the inside of the case 200a by the edges and the bottom surface. When the humidifying apparatus 200 is in operation, a portion of each disk 213 is immersed in the water stored in the water storage unit 211.

[0091] The water supply unit 208 is disposed above the water storage unit 211. The water supply unit 208 is a valve mechanism for water supply and adjusts the supply of water to the water storage unit 211. Although not illustrated, the water supply unit 208 is connected to the above-described water supply tank 267 through a pipe such as a hose. The adjustment of the water supply by the water supply unit 208 is automatically performed by the control of the control unit 5. The above-described adjustment may be manually performed by the user.

[0092] The drainage unit 209 is disposed at the bottom of the water storage unit 211. The drainage unit 209 is a valve mechanism for drainage and adjusts the discharge of water from the water storage unit 211 in the maintenance work or the like of the humidifying apparatus 200. Although not illustrated, the drainage unit 209 is connected to the above-described drainage tank 268 through a pipe such as a hose. The adjustment of the drainage from the water storage unit 211 by the drainage unit 209 is automatically performed by the control of the control unit 5. The above-described adjustment may be manually performed by the user.

[0093] Each of the plurality of disks 213 has a substantially disk shape and is circular when viewed in the X direction. Each disk 213 is fixed to a shaft Ax along the X-axis in a portion corresponding to the center of the circle. Two opposing surfaces of the disk 213 are orthogonal to the shaft Ax. The shaft Ax is disposed above the water storage unit 211 and is rotatably supported by the humidified air generator 210.

[0094] The plurality of disks 213 is arranged at substantially equal intervals in the direction along the X-axis. An interval between the disks 213 adjacent to each other in the direction along the X-axis is, for example, several millimeters. Although not particularly limited, the total number of the disks 213 is set to approximately 120 in the present embodiment.

[0095] A plurality of gears (not illustrated) is disposed at an end portion in the +X direction of the shaft Ax. The drive unit 201 is disposed on the +X direction side of the plurality of gears, that is, on an inner side of the end portion in the +X direction of the case 200a. The drive unit 201 is an electric motor and rotationally drives the shaft Ax through the plurality of gears.

[0096] Here, when the humidified air generator 210 is pulled out from the case 200a, engagement of some of the plurality of gears is released. That is, while some of the plurality of gears remain on the case 200a side, others of the plurality of gears move in the X direction together with the humidified air generator 210 while remaining connected to the shaft Ax.

[0097] When the humidifying apparatus 200 is operated to perform humidification, a portion of the lower portion of each disk 213 is under the water surface of the water storage unit 211, and the other portion of the upper portion of each disk 213 is exposed above the water surface of the water storage unit 211. In the above-described state, when the shaft Ax is rotationally driven by the drive unit 201, the plurality of disks 213 fixed to the shaft Ax rotate clockwise when viewed in the X direction. By the rotation of the plurality of disks 213, the water in the water storage unit 211 is stirred up into the air in the case 200a, and the air in the case 200a is humidified. The number of rotations of the plurality of disks 213 is, for example, six per minute.

[0098] The suction port 203 is in communication with the inside and the outside of the case 200a. Air is sucked from the outside to the inside of the case 200a through the suction port 203 by a negative pressure generated by the air blowing units 204 described later. The air outside the case 200a is sucked substantially in the Y direction with respect to the suction port 203, flows along the inner side of the surface facing in the +X direction of the case 200a and then along the inner side of the surface facing in the Y direction of the case 200a, advances substantially in the +Y direction, and reaches the inside of the case 200a.

[0099] Each air blowing unit 204 is, for example, an electric air blowing fan and supplies humidified air in the case 200a to the processing unit described above. Specifically, the air blowing unit 204 sucks air outside the case 200a into the case 200a through the suction port 203. The air is humidified with the water stirred up by the disks 213 in the humidified air generator 210 and is supplied from duct portions 205 to the outside of the case 200a. The plurality of disks 213 is arranged such that the above-described air flows through the portion exposed above the water surface of the water storage unit 211. In the present embodiment, two sets of the air blowing units 204 and the duct portions 205 are arranged in parallel, but the number and arrangement are not limited thereto.

[0100] Each duct portion 205 is a substantially cylindrical member and is connected to a corresponding one of the air blowing units 204 in the Y direction. An air blowing tube (not illustrated) is connected to the duct portion 205 in the Y direction. Humidified air is distributed to each component of the processing unit of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 through the air blowing tube.

[0101] The float unit 219 is disposed at an end portion in the X direction of the shaft Ax. The float unit 219 is displaced according to the water level of the water storage unit 211.

[0102] The first sensor 206 and the second sensor 207 detect the orientation of the float unit 219 that is displaced according to the water level of the water storage unit 211 in the state of FIG. 3 where the humidified air generator 210 is set in the case 200a. The first sensor 206 and the second sensor 207 are disposed inside the case 200a corresponding to a first position and a second position, which will be described later, of the float unit 219. The first sensor 206 is located at the bottom of the case 200a and corresponds to the first position. The second sensor 207 is located on an inner surface facing in the Y direction of the case 200a and corresponds to the second position. When the humidified air generator 210 is set in the case 200a, the float unit 219, the first sensor 206, and the second sensor 207 are located on a line along the Z-axis when viewed in the Y direction. Details of the float unit 219, the first sensor 206, and the second sensor 207 will be described later.

[0103] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the float unit 219 includes an arm portion 219a, a floating portion 219b, and a magnet 219c. The humidified air generator 210 includes an inclined surface portion 214.

[0104] A first end of the arm portion 219a is rotatably supported with respect to the shaft Ax. A second end of the arm portion 219a is provided with the floating portion 219b and the magnet 219c. The arm portion 219a is supported by the shaft Ax at the first end and supports the floating portion 219b and the magnet 219c at the second end. In the description of FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 described below, a state viewed in the X direction will be described unless otherwise specified.

[0105] The floating portion 219b generates buoyancy that causes the float unit 219 to turn around the shaft Ax according to the water level of the water storage unit 211. The floating portion 219b is formed of a sponge, a hollow member, or the like and has a specific gravity lighter than that of water. Since buoyancy is generated in the floating portion 219b in water, the float unit 219 moves like a pendulum around the shaft Ax according to the water level. That is, the float unit 219 is turned and displaced in a range of approximately 20 to 60 from the vertically downward direction according to the water level of the water storage unit 211. The inside of the water storage unit 211 is formed in an arc shape corresponding to the turning of the float unit 219.

[0106] When the water level of the water stored in the water storage unit 211 is equal to or lower than a water level Lv1, the second end of the float unit 219 is located at a position of approximately 20 from the vertically downward direction with respect to the shaft Ax. This is a state where the amount of water stored in the water storage unit 211 is substantially zero. A relative position of the float unit 219 with respect to the case 200a in this state is set as the first position.

[0107] When the water stored in the water storage unit 211 is at a water level Lv2, the second end of the float unit 219 is located at a position of approximately 60 from the vertically downward direction with respect to the shaft Ax. This state is illustrated in FIG. 4. When the humidifying apparatus 200 is operated to perform humidification, an adjustment is made to maintain the water level Lv2. The relative position of the float unit 219 with respect to the case 200a in this state is set as the second position.

[0108] The magnet 219c is an object to be detected by the first sensor 206 and the second sensor 207 and generates a magnetic field. The magnet 219c is disposed near an inner surface of the water storage unit 211 at the second end of the arm portion 219a. A known permanent magnet such as a ferrite magnet or a rare-earth magnet can be used as the magnet 219c.

[0109] The first sensor 206 and the second sensor 207 are magnetic sensors and detect the position of the float unit 219 according to a magnetic field generated by the magnet 219c. The second sensor 207 is disposed substantially in the Y direction of the shaft Ax and slightly below an extension line of the water level Lv2. A known magnetic sensor can be applied to the second sensor 207.

[0110] The second sensor 207 detects that the float unit 219 is located at the second position in an operating state where the humidifying apparatus 200 performs humidification. Specifically, in a case where the magnet 219c is located at a position facing the second sensor 207, when the magnetic field detected by the second sensor 207 is equal to or greater than a threshold value, the float unit 219 is located at the second position. That is, the control unit 5 can detect that the water level is the water level Lv2 using the second sensor 207.

[0111] In the operating state where the humidifying apparatus 200 is performing humidification, the control unit 5 controls water supply by the water supply unit 208 based on the detection result of the second sensor 207. Specifically, in response to the float unit 219 moving away from the second position, the control unit 5 causes the water supply unit 208 to supply water. Thereafter, in response to the float unit 219 existing at the second position based on the detection result of the second sensor 207, the control unit 5 causes the water supply unit 208 to end the water supply. Therefore, when the humidifying apparatus 200 is operated, the water level Lv2, which is an appropriate water level, can be easily maintained. This further improves the convenience of the user. Instead of stopping the water supply immediately after the float unit 219 comes to exist at the second position based on the detection result of the second sensor 207 during the water supply, the water supply may be stopped after waiting for a fixed time.

[0112] The inclined surface portion 214 restrains the counterclockwise turning of the float unit 219 at the first position in the operating state. The inclined surface portion 214 is disposed on the +Y direction side of the float unit 219. The inclined surface portion 214 has an inclination that becomes gradually higher in the +Y direction. The operation of the inclined surface portion 214 and the first position will be described later in detail. The inclined surface portion 214 is provided only at a position where the float unit 219 exists in an X-axis direction and is not provided at the positions of the disks 213. The inclined surface portion 214 is provided with a space from the disks 213 and does not interfere with the rotation of the disks 213.

[0113] As illustrated in FIG. 5, when the water is drained from the water level Lv2, and drainage of the water storage unit 211 is completed, the float unit 219 rotates counterclockwise and abuts against the inclined surface portion 214. A relative position of the float unit 219 with respect to the case 200a at this time is set as the first position. The user takes out the humidified air generator 210 in a state where the drainage of the water storage unit 211 is completed, that is, a state where the float unit 219 is located at the first position and performs the maintenance work of the humidifying apparatus 200.

[0114] The first sensor 206 is disposed at a position closest to the magnet 219c at the first position. The first sensor 206 detects that the float unit 219 is located at the first position in a state where the humidified air generator 210 is set in the case 200a and the drainage of the water storage unit 211 is completed. The magnetic field of the magnet 219c detected by the first sensor 206 exceeds the threshold value at the first position. That is, the control unit 5 can detect that the water level is equal to or lower than the water level Lv1 and the float unit 219 is located at the first position by using the first sensor 206. The water level Lv1 is a water level when the float unit 219 falls from the second position to the first position and is a water level when drainage of the water storage unit 211 is almost completed.

[0115] When the float unit 219 is located at the first position, the inclined surface portion 214 abuts against the float unit 219 to restrain the counterclockwise turning of the float unit 219. At this time, an angle between an extending direction from the first end to the second end of the arm portion 219a, that is, a central axis 219x of the arm portion 219a and the vertically downward direction is set to 15 or more. In the present embodiment, the above-described angle is approximately 20.

[0116] After it is confirmed that the maintenance work is performed, the humidified air generator 210 is set and the float unit 219 is located at the first position, water is supplied to the water storage unit 211. When the water storage unit 211 starts to be filled with water, buoyancy is generated by the floating portion 219b. Then, the float unit 219 starts to turn clockwise. At this time, since the above-described angle is sufficiently large, the buoyancy of the floating portion 219b can easily turn the float unit 219. That is, when the angle is small, the buoyancy acts substantially in the +Z direction, and thus the float unit 219 does not easily rotate clockwise.

[0117] In the present embodiment, the float unit 219 is configured to turn in a range of approximately 20 to 60 by converting buoyancy into a rotational force, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The float unit of the present disclosure may be configured to turn in another range or may be configured to be displaced straight up and down by buoyancy instead of turning.

[0118] In the present embodiment, the position of the float unit 219 is detected by a magnet and magnetic force sensors, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The water level may be detected by another method, for example, by detecting the position of the float unit 219 using a mirror and a light source attached to the float unit, and light receiving sensors, or by detecting the weight of the water storage unit 211 using a weight sensor.

[0119] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the procedure of the maintenance work of the humidifying apparatus 200 includes steps S1 to S11. The above-described procedure will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

[0120] In the procedure, the control unit 5 controls the water supply unit 208 and the drainage unit 209 based on the detection result of the first sensor 206 and the detection result of the second sensor 207. Since the control unit 5 automatically controls water supply and drainage in the water storage unit 211, the convenience of the user is improved. The procedure described below is an example, and the procedure of the maintenance work of the humidifying apparatus 200 is not limited thereto.

[0121] In step S1, the user gives an instruction to drain water to the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. Specifically, the user presses the maintenance button of the humidifying apparatus 200 on the operation panel of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. The control unit 5 receives the drainage instruction and controls the water supply unit 208 and the drainage unit 209 to start drainage of the water storage unit 211. In parallel, the control unit 5 receives the drainage instruction and causes the operation panel to display that drainage operation is being performed.

[0122] As the drainage progresses, the second sensor 207 no longer detects that the float unit 219 is located at the second position. Thereafter, when the drainage of the water storage unit 211 is completed, the float unit 219 moves to the first position, and the float unit 219 is detected by the first sensor 206. Thereafter, the drainage is completed after waiting for a predetermined time. Then, the process proceeds to step S2.

[0123] In step S2, the control unit 5 unlocks the door of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. The operation panel displays that the drainage is completed and the door is unlocked. The user confirms the display and opens the door. Since the door opening is restricted until the drainage is completed, it is possible to prevent the user from accidentally pulling out the humidified air generator 210, in which water is stored, and spilling the water. Then, the process proceeds to step S3.

[0124] In step S3, the humidifying apparatus 200 waits until the user closes the door of the exterior of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. Meanwhile, the user pulls out the humidified air generator 210 from the case 200a of the humidifying apparatus 200. At this time, the first sensor 206 does not detect the float unit 219. As a result, the control unit 5 determines that the humidified air generator 210 has been pulled out.

[0125] Next, the user removes the plurality of disks 213 from the humidified air generator 210 that has been pulled out and cleans the disks 213 with running water or the like. At this time, in addition to the disks 213, the inside of the water storage unit 211 of the humidified air generator 210 may also be cleaned.

[0126] After the cleaning is completed, the user attaches the plurality of disks 213 that has been cleaned to the humidified air generator 210.

[0127] Next, the user pushes the humidified air generator 210 into the case 200a of the humidifying apparatus 200. At this time, no water is stored in the water storage unit 211. When the humidified air generator 210 is set at an appropriate position of the humidifying apparatus 200, the first sensor 206 can detect that the float unit 219 is located at the first position, that is, that the humidified air generator 210 is set in the case 200a.

[0128] The user then closes the door of the exterior of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. In step S7, the control unit 5 detects that the door is closed by a door sensor. The control unit 5 causes the operation panel to display the work end button in response to the detection of door closing by the door sensor. Then, the process proceeds to step S8.

[0129] The user presses the work end button to report the end of the maintenance work. In step S8, the control unit 5 detects that the work end button is operated, and the process proceeds to step S9. Step S8 may be omitted, and the control unit 5 may proceed to step S9 in response to the detection of door closing by the door sensor.

[0130] In step S9, it is determined whether or not the first sensor 206 detects that the float unit 219 is located at the first position. When it is detected that the float unit 219 is located at the first position, the process proceeds to step S10. When it is not detected that the float unit 219 is located at the first position, the process proceeds to step S11.

[0131] In step S10, the control unit 5 locks the door of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1. The control unit 5 then controls the water supply unit 208 to start supplying water to the water storage unit 211 and starts preparation for operation of the humidifying apparatus 200. This water supply ends in response to the float unit 219 reaching the second position. In this manner, the maintenance work of the humidifying apparatus 200 is completed.

[0132] Step S11 means that the humidified air generator 210 is not set in the case 200a, or even if it is set, there is an abnormality. In this case, in response to the report of the end of the maintenance work, the operation panel display an error, the door is not locked, and water is not supplied. Then, the user is prompted to open the door and appropriately set the humidified air generator 210 in the case 200a. Then, the process proceeds to step S3. Thereafter, when the user appropriately sets the humidified air generator 210 in the case 200a, and the user closes the door of the exterior of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1, the process proceeds from step S7 to step S10, and the maintenance work of the humidifying apparatus 200 is completed.

[0133] According to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0134] The convenience of the user can be improved. More specifically, since the setting of the humidified air generator 210 in the case 200a is detected, the user does not need to visually confirm the setting. In addition, when water in the water storage unit 211 is drained for maintenance of the humidifying apparatus 200 or the like, completion of the drainage can be easily recognized. In this manner, it is possible to provide the sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 and the humidifying apparatus 200 that improve the convenience of the user.

[0135] The first sensor 206 detects two operations, which are the setting of the humidified air generator 210 in the case 200a and the completion of drainage from the water storage unit 211. Compared to a case where individual sensors detect the setting and drainage, the humidifying apparatus 200 can be easily simplified and reduced in size.