# US 11,306,439 B2 · Fiber material accumulating apparatus and sheet manufacturing apparatus

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- Number: US 11,306,439 B2
- Document ID: US11306439B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/699,194
- Filed: 2019-11-29
- Published: 2020-06-04
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2018-11-30
- Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Inventors: Naotaka Higuchi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11306439B2

## CPC

- D21F 7/00: Other details of machines for making continuous webs of paper
- D04H 1/732: by fluid current, e.g. air-lay
- D04H 1/736: characterised by the apparatus for arranging fibres (D04H1/728, D04H1/732 take precedence)
- D21F 1/80: using endless screening belts
- D21F 9/00: Complete machines for making continuous webs of paper
- Y02W 30/64: Paper recycling
- D21F: PAPER-MAKING MACHINES; METHODS OF PRODUCING PAPER THEREON
- D04H: MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL (weaving D03; knitting D04B; braiding D04C; net-making D04G; sewing D05B; tufting D05C; finishing non-woven fabrics D06); FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING {; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION}(non-woven fabrics having an intermediate or external layer of a different kind, e.g. of woven fabric, B32B)
- Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT

## Abstract

A fiber material accumulating apparatus which includes a storage section including a porous screen, a supply section which supplies a material containing fibers to the storage section, and a rotating body which is provided inside the storage section and includes a blade which rotates to agitate the material, in which the blade includes an extending portion extending along a rotational axis of the rotating body, and an opening through which the material passes when the blade rotates.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fiber material accumulating apparatus comprising:
a storage section which includes a porous screen;
a supply section which supplies a material containing fibers to the storage section;
a rotating body which is provided inside the storage section and includes a blade which rotates to agitate the material; and
a belt on which the material dispersed via the porous screen accumulates, wherein
the blade includes
an extending portion that includes a longest dimension of the blade extending parallel to a rotational axis of the rotating body,
a plurality of extending portions separated in a direction intersecting the rotational axis, the extending portions including the extending portion, and
an opening through which the material passes when the blade rotates, a gap between the extending portions functioning as the opening.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fiber material accumulating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the extending portions have a plate shape.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The fiber material accumulating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
the extending portions are disposed such that a thickness direction extends along a radial direction of the rotating body.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The fiber material accumulating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
the extending portions are disposed such that a thickness direction is oriented to intersect a radial direction of the rotating body.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The fiber material accumulating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the extending portions have a round rod shape.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The fiber material accumulating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the rotating body rotates in a state of being separated from the porous screen.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The fiber material accumulating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the porous screen includes a portion having an arc shape in a cross-sectional view.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The fiber material accumulating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a housing which covers a portion between the storage section and a belt and in which an opening is formed at a position facing the belt.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The fiber material accumulating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the belt is a mesh belt, and further comprising:
a suction section provided on a side of the mesh belt opposite to the storage section.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A sheet manufacturing apparatus comprising:
the fiber material accumulating apparatus according to claim 1; and
a shaping section which shapes accumulated matter formed by the fiber material accumulating apparatus into a sheet shape.