IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,404,633
Granted Patent B2
US 12,404,633 · App. 18/474,299 · Granted Sep 2, 2025

Fibrous body processing apparatus

Inventors: Jun Sakurada (Nagano, JP); Makoto Sato (Nagano, JP); Koji Motohashi (Nagano, JP); Karen Hasebe (Nagano, JP); Toshihiko Yamazaki (Nagano, JP); Takashi Abe (Nagano, JP)
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
D21B1/08D21B1/32D21C1/02D21C5/02D21F9/00D21G9/0018D21H11/14Y02W30/64
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,404,633
App. No.
18/474,299
Granted
Sep 2, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fibrous body processing apparatus includes a coarsely-crushed-pieces reservoir unit; a humidifying unit that generates humidified air and supplies the humidified air to the coarsely-crushed-pieces reservoir unit; a weight measurement unit that measures a weight of the coarsely crushed pieces let out of the coarsely-crushed-pieces reservoir unit; a fixed amount supplying unit that supplies a fixed amount of the coarsely crushed pieces measured by the weight measurement unit; a defibrating unit that defibrates the coarsely crushed pieces supplied from the fixed amount supplying unit; a first transportation portion through which the coarsely crushed pieces are sent from the coarsely-crushed-pieces reservoir unit to the weight measurement unit; a second transportation portion through which the coarsely crushed pieces are sent from the fixed amount supplying unit to the defibrating unit; and a generated at the humidifying unit is supplied to the defibrating unit while bypassing the weight measurement unit.

Claims (20)

1. A fibrous body processing apparatus, comprising:

a coarsely-crushed-pieces reservoir unit that stores coarsely crushed pieces made of a material that contains fibers;

a humidifying unit that generates humidified air and supplies the humidified air to the coarsely-crushed-pieces reservoir unit;

a weight measurement unit that measures a weight of the coarsely crushed pieces let out of the coarsely-crushed-pieces reservoir unit;

a fixed amount supplying unit that supplies a fixed amount of the coarsely crushed pieces measured by the weight measurement unit;

a defibrating unit that defibrates the coarsely crushed pieces supplied from the fixed amount supplying unit;

a first transportation portion through which the coarsely crushed pieces are sent from the coarsely-crushed-pieces reservoir unit to the weight measurement unit;

a second transportation portion through which the coarsely crushed pieces are sent from the fixed amount supplying unit to the defibrating unit; and

a humidified air supplying passage which includes an upstream-side end portion and a downstream-side end portion and through which humidified air generated at the humidifying unit is supplied to the defibrating unit while bypassing the weight measurement unit.

2. The fibrous body processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the humidified air supplying passage includes, between the upstream-side end portion and the downstream-side end portion, a first blowing unit that generates airflow directed toward the defibrating unit.

3. The fibrous body processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the upstream-side end portion of the humidified air supplying passage is connected directly or indirectly to the coarsely-crushed-pieces reservoir unit, and

the downstream-side end portion of the humidified air supplying passage is connected directly or indirectly to the second transportation portion.

4. The fibrous body processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a returning passage through which humidified air that is present inside the humidified air supplying passage or the second transportation portion is returned to the humidifying unit.

5. The fibrous body processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein

the returning passage includes a second blowing unit that generates airflow directed toward the humidifying unit.

6. The fibrous body processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a communication portion via which the first transportation portion and the humidified air supplying passage are in communication with each other.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 26, 2023
From: SAKURADA, JUN; SATO, MAKOTO; MOTOHASHI, KOJI; HASEBE, KAREN; YAMAZAKI, TOSHIHIKO; ABE, TAKASHI
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 065024/0149 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-154646 · Sep 28, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240102240A1 · Mar 28, 2024
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