Measuring device, web processing device, fiber feedstock recycling device, and measuring method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11001966-B2
Application number	US-201916503727-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 5, 2019
Priority date	Jul 6, 2018
Publication date	May 11, 2021
Grant date	May 11, 2021

Abstract

The thickness of accumulated fiber can be appropriately measured when accumulating and processing fiber. A measuring device includes a distributor 60 that disperses material containing fiber; a mesh belt 72 that accumulates material dispersed by the distributor 60; a roller unit 650 that compresses a second web W2 accumulated on the mesh belt 72; and a measurement device 400 that measures the thickness of the second web W2 after compression by the roller unit 650.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A measuring device comprising:
a distributor configured to disperse material containing fiber;
an accumulator configured to accumulate the material dispersed by the distributor;
a compression device configured to compress accumulated material accumulated on the accumulator; and
a measurement device configured to measure a thickness of the accumulated material compressed by the compression device.

2. The measuring device described in claim 1 , wherein:
the measurement device measures a thickness of the accumulated material after the accumulated material is compressed by the compression device.

3. The measuring device described in claim 2 , wherein:
the compression device includes a pressure roller that contacts the accumulated material and applies pressure to the accumulated material, and a displacement member enabling the pressure roller to move according to the thickness of the accumulated material; and
the measurement device measures displacement of the pressure roller.

4. The measuring device described in claim 3 , wherein:
the distributor has a case, and a configuration that disperses the material inside the case; and
the pressure roller is disposed to a discharge exit through which the accumulated material is conveyed out from the case.

5. The measuring device described in claim 2 , wherein:
the compression device has a suction device configured to suction air through the accumulated material; and
the measurement device measures a thickness of the accumulated material suctioned and compressed by the suction device.

6. The measuring device described in claim 1 , further comprising:
a conveyor having a conveyance surface on which the accumulated material accumulates, and configured to convey the accumulated material;
the measurement device measuring a thickness of the accumulated material referenced to the conveyance surface at a position on a same side of the conveyance surface as the accumulated material.

7. The measuring device described in claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of measurement devices disposed along a direction intersecting a conveyance direction of the accumulated material, each of the plural measurement devices measuring a thickness of the accumulated material.

8. A web processing device comprising:
a distributor configured to disperse material containing fiber;
an accumulator configured to accumulate the material dispersed by the distributor and form a web;
a first compression device configured to compress the web; and
a measurement device configured to measure a thickness of the web compressed by the first compression device; and
a second compression device configured to compress the web compressed by the first compression device after measurement by the measurement device.

9. The web processing device described in claim 8 , wherein:
the first compression device compresses the web by less pressure than the second compression device.

10. A fibrous feedstock recycling device comprising:
a defibrator configured to defibrate material containing fiber;
a distributor configured to disperse defibrated material defibrated by the defibrator;
an accumulator configured to accumulate the defibrated material dispersed by the distributor and form a web;
a first compression device configured to compress the web; and
a measurement device configured to measure a thickness of the web compressed by the first compression device; and
a second compression device configured to compress the web compressed by the first compression device after compression by the first compression device.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Kobayashi Nao

Classifications

• D21F3/0272

  in combination with suction or blowing devices · CPC title

• B32B27/10

  of paper or cardboard · CPC title

• G01B11/0691 Primary

  of objects while moving (G01B11/0616 takes precedence) · CPC title

• D21B1/32 Primary

  of waste paper · CPC title

• Y02W30/64

  Paper recycling · CPC title