# US 2025/0154720 A1 · Paper piece supply device and sheet manufacturing apparatus

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- Number: US 2025/0154720 A1
- Document ID: US20250154720A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/939,595
- Filed: 2024-11-07
- Published: 2025-05-15
- Earliest claimed: 2023-11-09
- Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Inventors: Jun SAKURADA; Makoto SATO; Koji MOTOHASHI; Karen HASEBE; Takashi ABE
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250154720A1

## CPC

- D21B 1/08: the raw material being waste paper (chemical part D21C5/02); the raw material being rags
- D21F 9/00: Complete machines for making continuous webs of paper
- D21B: FIBROUS RAW MATERIALS OR THEIR MECHANICAL TREATMENT
- D21F: PAPER-MAKING MACHINES; METHODS OF PRODUCING PAPER THEREON

## Abstract

A paper piece supply device includes a storage unit that stores paper pieces, a tube that discharges the paper pieces from the storage unit, a motor that rotates the tube, and a fixed portion positioned inside the tube and not movable with rotation of the tube.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A paper piece supply device comprising:
a storage unit that stores paper pieces;
a tube that discharges the paper pieces from the storage unit;
a motor that rotates the tube; and
a fixed portion positioned inside the tube and not movable with rotation of the tube.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The paper piece supply device according to claim 1, wherein the fixed portion has a rod shape whose length direction is parallel to a rotation axis of the tube, the fixed portion being located at a position different from the rotation axis of the tube.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The paper piece supply device according to claim 1, wherein the fixed portion has a rod shape and has a leading end, on a storage unit side, having a truncated cone shape tapered toward the storage unit side.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The paper piece supply device according to claim 1, wherein the fixed portion is away from an opening on a storage unit side.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The paper piece supply device according to claim 4, wherein
the tube has a substantially cylindrical shape, and
when the tube is viewed such that a rotation direction of the tube is clockwise, and when a vertically downward direction from a central axis of the tube is defined as a 6 o'clock direction, the fixed portion is disposed at a 2 o'clock position.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The paper piece supply device according to claim 1, wherein an end portion of the tube in a transport direction is provided with a ring that protrudes in a direction intersecting the transport direction and toward an inside of the tube.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The paper piece supply device according to claim 6, wherein the fixed portion has a rod shape and is thinner at a position facing the ring than at a position not facing the ring.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A sheet manufacturing apparatus comprising:
the paper piece supply device according to claim 1;
a defibrating unit that defibrates the paper pieces discharged from the tube to produce fibers;
an accumulation unit in which the fibers accumulate and form a web in air; and
a forming unit that compresses the web to form a sheet.