# US 2020/0399830 A1 · Fiber transport apparatus and fiber transport method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0399830 A1 - Document ID: US20200399830A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/902,324 - Filed: 2020-06-16 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-18 - Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation - Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation - Inventors: Koji MOTOHASHI; Makoto SATO; Takashi ABE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200399830A1 ## CPC - D21B 1/34: Kneading or mixing; Pulpers - D21F 1/026: {Details of the turbulence section} - D21B: FIBROUS RAW MATERIALS OR THEIR MECHANICAL TREATMENT - D21F: PAPER-MAKING MACHINES; METHODS OF PRODUCING PAPER THEREON ## Abstract A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a case that accommodates raw material pieces including fibers, a rotator that rotates inside the case to stir the raw material pieces, a stirring motor that rotates the rotator, a transport apparatus that transports the raw material pieces through a transport path coupled to a side wall of the case, and a control apparatus that controls rotation states of the rotator and the transport apparatus, in which the transport apparatus includes a discharge pipe that rotates on a central axis along the transport path, and a transport motor that rotates the discharge pipe. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fiber transport apparatus comprising: a case that accommodates fiber pieces containing fibers; a stirring portion that rotates inside the case to stir the fiber pieces; a first driving portion that rotates the stirring portion; a transport apparatus that transports the fiber pieces through a transport path coupled to a side surface of the case; and a control portion that controls rotation states of the stirring portion and the transport apparatus, wherein the transport apparatus includes a rotator that rotates on an axis along the transport path, and a second driving portion that rotates the rotator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fiber transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation states of the stirring portion and the rotator are at least one of a rotation speed and a rotation direction of the stirring portion, and at least one of a rotation speed and a rotation direction of the rotator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fiber transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotator is a tube that forms the transport path, and the second driving portion rotates the tube. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The fiber transport apparatus according to claim 3, wherein one end of the tube in an axial direction communicates with an internal space of the case, and the other end has an outlet for discharging the fiber piece, and a protrusion is disposed on an inner surface of the tube in a spiral shape on an axis of the tube. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The fiber transport apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the tube is inclined so that the outlet is lower in a vertically downward direction than a coupling portion with the case. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fiber transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stirring portion includes a rotating portion that forms a part of a bottom surface of the case, and a blade erected on the rotating portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fiber transport apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the transport path is coupled to the case at an overlapping position with the blade in a height direction of the case. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fiber transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a half-linear extension virtual line extending from the axis of the rotator to an outside of the transport path is orthogonal to a virtual half-line extending from a rotation center of the stirring portion in a radial direction and defining a passing position of the stirring portion in a circumferential direction, at a position shifted from the rotation center of the stirring portion, and the control portion rotates the stirring portion such that a portion of the stirring portion passing through the virtual half-line moves in a direction approaching the transport path. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fiber transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a half-linear extension virtual line extending from the axis of the rotator to an outside of the transport path is orthogonal to a virtual half-line extending from a rotation center of the stirring portion in a radial direction and defining a passing position of the stirring portion in a circumferential direction, at a position shifted from the rotation center of the stirring portion, and the control portion rotates the stirring portion such that a portion of the stirring portion passing through the virtual half-line moves in a direction away from the transport path. ### Claim 10 A fiber transport method of controlling a fiber transport apparatus including a case that accommodates fiber pieces containing fibers, a stirring portion that rotates inside the case to stir the fiber pieces, a first driving portion that rotates the stirring portion, a transport apparatus that transports the fiber pieces through a transport path coupled to a side surface of the case, and a control portion that controls the stirring portion and the transport apparatus, the transport apparatus including a rotator that rotates on an axis along the transport path and a second driving portion that rotates the rotator, the method comprising: causing the control portion to control the first driving portion and the second driving portion, adjusting a rotation state of each of the stirring portion and the rotator, and controlling a transport amount of the fiber pieces.