Separation device, sheet production apparatus, and method of producing filtration product

A method of producing a filtration product by using a separation device including:

• a sieve including a mesh;
• a cover member forming a first chamber, a second chamber, a third chamber, and a fourth chamber on a front surface side of the sieve;
• a motor configured to move the front surface side of the sieve sequentially from the first chamber to the fourth chamber by rotating the sieve;
• a first pipe configured to blow air mixed with a filtration product and foreign materials toward the front surface of the sieve, in the first chamber;
• a second pipe located at a position facing the first chamber and configured to draw air by suction from a back surface side of the sieve;
• a third pipe configured to draw air by suction from the front surface of the sieve, in the third chamber;
• a fourth pipe located at a position facing the third chamber and configured to blow air toward the back surface of the sieve;
• and
• a moistening pipe configured to blow humidified air toward the front surface side of the sieve, in the second chamber, the method comprising:
• drawing, by suction, air mixed with one of the filtration product or the foreign materials that passed through the mesh, through the second pipe while supplying air mixed with the filtration product and the foreign materials from the first pipe to the front surface of the sieve;
• blowing the humidified air to the front surface side of the sieve through the moistening pipe when the filtration products reaches the second chamber along with the rotation of the sieve;
• and
• drawing, by suction, air mixed with the other of the filtration product and the foreign materials through the third pipe while blowing air to the sieve through the fourth pipe, when the sieve rotates.