IP Library Granted Patent US 12686972
Granted Patent B2
US 12686972 · App. 18/230,698 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Sheet manufacturing apparatus

Inventor: Naoto Aruga (Matsumoto, JP)
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
D21F3/0272D21F5/022
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12686972
App. No.
18/230,698
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is provided a sheet manufacturing apparatus including: an accumulation section that forms a web by accumulating a material containing fibers by an air flow; a web transport section including a transport belt that comes into contact with one surface of the web and holds the web; a sheet forming section that forms a sheet by subjecting the web supplied from the web transport section to at least one of heating and pressurizing treatments; and an air ejection section provided at an end portion positioned on a sheet forming section side in the web transport section, and ejecting compressed air to the web.

Claims (21)

1 . A sheet manufacturing apparatus comprising:

an accumulation section including a first transport belt on which a material containing fibers is accumulated by an air flow to form a web, the first transport belt transporting the web in a state in which an opposite surface of the web in contact with the first transport belt;

a web transport section including a second transport belt that transports the web which has been transported by the first transport belt and comes into contact with one surface of the web that is opposite to the opposite surface of the web and holds the web, a part of the second transport belt facing a part of the first transport belt;

a suction section facing the second transport belt and arranged such that the second transport belt is interposed between the suction section and the web, the suction section generating an air flow, thereby suctioning the web toward the second transport belt, peeling off the opposite surface of the web from the first transport belt, and bringing the one surface of the web into contact with the second transport belt;

a sheet forming section that forms a sheet by subjecting the web supplied from the web transport section to at least one of heating and pressurizing treatments; and

an air ejection section arranged downstream relative to the suction section in a transport direction of the web and arranged at an end portion positioned on a side of the sheet forming section in the web transport section, the air ejection section facing the second transport belt and being arranged such that the second transport belt is interposed between the air ejection section and the web, the air ejection section ejecting compressed air toward the web to peel off the one surface of the web from the second transport belt,

both of the suction section and the air ejection section being arranged on a side of the one surface of the web, and

the air ejection section ejecting the compressed air toward a part of the one surface of the web while the part of the one surface of the web is in contact with the second transport belt.

2 . The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a humidification section provided to face toward the second transport belt and applying moisture to the web.

3 . The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the web transport section has a plurality of rollers for driving the second transport belt, and

the plurality of rollers include an outlet side roller provided at a position closest to the sheet forming section among the plurality of rollers, and

the air ejection section is provided at a position adjacent to the outlet side roller.

4 . The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

the air ejection section includes a compression section that compresses air and a nozzle that discharges the compressed air, and

the nozzle is provided at a position adjacent to the outlet side roller, which is a position facing the second transport belt.

5 . The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein

the air ejection section ejects the compressed air from the nozzle at a timing when a tip end of the web passes a position facing the outlet side roller.

6 . The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the humidification section is arranged such that the second transport belt and the web are interposed between the humidification section and the suction section, and the humidification section faces toward the second transport belt to apply the moisture to the opposite surface of the web.