U.S. patent application number 11/165042 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-27 for paper making method and apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to NSK-WARNER KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Azuma, Takashi, Horiuchi, Nobuhiro, Suzuki, Makoto.
Application Number | 20050236130 11/165042 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26595511 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050236130 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Azuma, Takashi ; et
al. |
October 27, 2005 |
Paper making method and apparatus
Abstract
An apparatus for making paper includes a stirring tank and a
paper making portion. The stirring tank includes: an outer
cylinder; a middle cylinder disposed concentrically with the outer
cylinder; a raw-material feeding port for feeding raw-material into
said stirring tank; a stirring mechanisms; and a top plate for
holding the outer and middle cylinders in a predetermined position.
The paper making portion is installed below the stirring tank and
includes: a wire cloth and a paper making frame having an opening
for holding said wire cloth, and the opening is connected to a
suction unit. The stirring mechanisms are uniformly disposed above
the wire cloth. In addition, a plurality of raw-material feeding
ports are uniformly disposed above the wire cloth.
Inventors: |
Azuma, Takashi; (Shizuoka,
JP) ; Suzuki, Makoto; (Shizuoka, JP) ;
Horiuchi, Nobuhiro; (Shizuoka, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
NSK-WARNER KABUSHIKI KAISHA
|
Family ID: |
26595511 |
Appl. No.: |
11/165042 |
Filed: |
June 24, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11165042 |
Jun 24, 2005 |
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09899601 |
Jul 6, 2001 |
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6929717 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
162/218 ;
162/382 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D21F 13/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
162/218 ;
162/382 |
International
Class: |
D21F 013/00; D21J
007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 6, 2000 |
JP |
P.2000-205188 |
Jul 6, 2000 |
JP |
P.2000-205411 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for making paper, comprising: a stirring tank
including: an outer cylinder; a middle cylinder located
concentrically with said outer cylinder and in the inside of said
outer cylinder; a raw-material feeding port for feeding a raw
material; stirring mechanisms disposed between said outer cylinder
and said middle cylinder; and a top plate for holding said outer
and middle cylinders in a predetermined position, and a paper
making portion installed below said stirring tank, said paper
making portion including: a wire cloth; and a paper making frame
having an opening for holding said wire cloth, said opening being
connected to a suction unit, wherein said stirring mechanisms are
uniformly disposed above said wire cloth.
2. The paper making apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
equally disposed stirring mechanisms are alternately disposed with
respect to a central annular line of a paper making portion of said
wire cloth.
3. The paper making apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
stirring mechanisms are air nozzles.
4. The paper making apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a
cleaning fluid jet mechanism is provided on said top plate.
5. A method of making an annular paper body, comprising the steps
of: feeding a raw material from a raw-material feeding port
disposed above a wire cloth so that the raw material is uniformly
fed onto said wire cloth; and passing the raw material diluted in
water through said wire cloth.
6. The paper making method according to claim 5, wherein said
feeding step feeds the raw material from a plurality of
raw-material feeding ports uniformly disposed above said wire
cloth.
7. The paper making method according to claim 6, wherein said
feeding step feeds the raw material from said plurality of
raw-material feeding ports alternately disposed with respect to a
central annular line of a paper making portion of said wire
cloth.
8. The paper making method according to claim 5, wherein in said
feeding step, the raw material is fed while crawling on the surface
of a middle cylinder provided within a paper making apparatus.
9. The paper making method according to claim 5, wherein a central
body having a substantially conical portion is provided within a
paper making apparatus, and said feeding step feeds the raw
material toward the apex of said conical portion of said central
body.
10. The paper making method according to claim 5, wherein said
feeding step feeds the raw material with a predetermined
concentration into water which is in a stirred condition, and said
passing step is carried out while maintaining the stirred condition
for a predetermined time after said feeding step is completed.
11. A paper making apparatus comprising: a stirring tank including:
an outer cylinder; a middle cylinder located concentrically with
the outer cylinder and in the inside of said outer cylinder; a
raw-material feeding port for feeding a raw material; stirring
mechanisms disposed between said outer cylinder and said middle
cylinder; and a top plate for holding said outer cylinder, said
middle cylinder and said stirring mechanisms in a predetermined
position; and a paper making portion disposed in a lower portion of
said stirring tank, said paper making portion including: a wire
cloth; and a central body having an opening for holding said wire
cloth and is connected to a suction unit, wherein said raw-material
feeding ports -are uniformly disposed above said wire cloth.
12. The paper making apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said
raw-material feeding ports are alternately disposed with respect to
a central annular line of a paper making portion of said wire
cloth.
13. The paper making apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the
middle cylinder has a cylindrical column shape.
14. The paper making apparatus according to claim 11, wherein one
of a stirring air supply hole, said raw-material feeding port and a
cleaning fluid jet port is provided on a side surface of said
middle cylinder.
15. A paper making apparatus comprising: a stirring tank including:
an outer cylinder; a middle cylinder located concentrically with
the outer cylinder and in the inside of said outer cylinder; a
raw-material feeding port for feeding a raw material; stirring
mechanisms disposed between said outer cylinder and said middle
cylinder; and a top plate for holding said outer cylinder, said
middle cylinder and said stirring mechanisms in a predetermined
position; and a paper making portion disposed in a lower portion of
said stirring tank, said paper making portion including: a wire
cloth; and a central body having an opening for holding said wire
cloth and is connected to a suction unit, wherein said raw-material
feeding port is directed to the outer peripheral surface of said
middle cylinder.
16. A paper making apparatus comprising: a stirring tank including:
an outer cylinder; a raw-material feeding port for feeding a raw
material; stirring mechanisms disposed within said outer cylinder;
and a top plate for holding said outer cylinder, said raw-material
feeding port and said stirring mechanisms in a predetermined
position; and a paper making portion disposed in a lower portion of
said stirring tank, said paper making portion including: a wire
cloth; and a central body having an opening for holding said wire
cloth and is connected to a suction unit, an upper surface of said
central body being formed in a substantially conical shape, wherein
said raw-material feeding port is disposed above the apex of the
conical upper surface.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for
making paper from a solution including various kinds of fiber base
materials and fillers dispersed in water, and more particularly to
a method and apparatus for making raw paper as an intermediate of a
wet friction material for use as a friction plate.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Conventionally, annular frictional materials for use as
frictional plates and the like have been made by punching from
sheets of paper before or after the paper are thermoset while
impregnating with thermosetting resin. However, since the yield of
the raw material under this method is low, there have recently been
developed new methods of directly making such annular frictional
plates out of raw paper (e.g., JP-A-2-91294, JP-A-3-76780,
JP-A-3-107628, etc.).
[0005] On the other hand, in the case of obtaining discontinuous
paper bodies such as handmade paper, there still exists a problem
of bad formation, and JP-A-11-241290 discloses a method of
improving the formation.
[0006] According to the conventional methods and apparatus for
manufacturing discontinuous paper bodies such as annular bodies,
the paper formation has not necessarily been satisfactory.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a paper
making method and apparatus for obtaining discontinuous paper
bodies with further good paper formation.
[0008] In order to solve the foregoing problem, according to the
present invention, there is provided a method of making a
discontinuous paper body, including the steps of: feeding a raw
material with a predetermined concentration into water which is in
a stirred condition; maintaining the stirring condition for a
predetermined time after the feeding step is completed; and passing
the raw material diluted with the water through a wire cloth, while
the stirred condition is maintained. Further, there is provided an
apparatus for making paper, including: a stirring tank including:
an outer cylinder; a middle cylinder disposed concentrically with
said outer cylinder; a raw-material feeding port for feeding
raw-material into said stirring tank; stirring mechanisms; and a
top plate for holding said outer and middle cylinders in a
predetermined position, and a paper making portion installed below
the stirring tank, said paper making portion including: a wire
cloth; and a paper making frame having an opening for holding the
wire cloth, the opening being connected to a suction unit, wherein
the stirring mechanisms are uniformly disposed above the wire
cloth.
[0009] In addition, there is provided a paper making method wherein
raw material is supplied from a raw-material feeding port disposed
above a wire cloth uniformly onto the wire cloth. Further, there is
provided a paper making apparatus includes a stirring tank
including an outer cylinder, raw-material feeding ports for
supplying raw material, stirring mechanisms, and a top for holding
these members in position, wherein a paper making portion which is
disposed in the lower portion of the stirring tank, has a central
body having an opening for holding wire cloth and is connected to a
suction unit, wherein said raw-material feeding ports are uniformly
disposed above the wire cloth or the raw material is supplied from
the raw-material feeding ports alternately disposed with respect to
the central annular line of the paper making portion of wire cloth
or each raw-material feeding port is directed toward the outer
peripheral face of the middle cylinder or each raw-material feeding
port is directed toward the upper apex of the conical surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a top view of a paper making apparatus according
to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a top view of a paper making portion according to
the first embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a view showing a separate condition of a stirring
tank and the paper making portion according to the first
embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a top view of an arrangement of stirring
mechanisms according to the first embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a top view of another arrangement of stirring
mechanisms according to the first embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a top view of a paper making apparatus according
to a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of
FIG. 7;
[0018] FIG. 9 is a top view of a paper making portion according to
the second embodiment;
[0019] FIG. 10 is a view showing an arrangement of raw-material
feeding ports according to the second embodiment;
[0020] FIG. 11 is a view showing another arrangement of
raw-material feeding ports according to the second embodiment;
[0021] FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line XII-XII of
FIG. 7 and showing a paper making apparatus that is separated;
[0022] FIG. 13 is a top view of a paper making apparatus according
to a third embodiment of the invention;
[0023] FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line XIV-XIV of
FIG. 13;
[0024] FIG. 15 is a top view of a paper making apparatus according
to a fourth embodiment of the invention;
[0025] FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along the line XVI-XVI of
FIG. 15;
[0026] FIG. 17 is a top view of a paper making apparatus according
to a fourth embodiment of the invention;
[0027] FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken on line XVIII-XVIII of
FIG. 17; and
[0028] FIG. 19 is a sectional view of a paper making apparatus
according to a sixth embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] A paper making apparatus according to a first aspect of the
invention is structured that an outer cylinder, a middle cylinder,
stirring air nozzles, a cleaning fluid jet mechanism and a
raw-material feeding port are secured to a top plate. The air
nozzles are uniformly arranged above the central annular line of a
paper making portion of a wire cloth or alternately arranged with
respect to the central annular lines thereof. The paper formation
is improved on a condition that the air nozzles are uniformly
arranged without being biased to the upper portion of the paper
making portion of the wire cloth. Consequently, it is also
preferable to uniformly arrange the directions of openings for
jetting air without being biased in one direction.
[0030] The middle cylinder is formed in a substantially conical
shape and the raw-material feeding port is provided above the apex
of the substantially conical portion, so that the thickness of a
paper body can be uniformed.
[0031] Further, a water jet is used as the cleaning fluid jet
mechanism. A jet of water from the water jet may be performed in
the form of a mist, waterdrops or a line of water, but it is
preferable that a plurality of water jets are provided so that the
fluid can equally be sprayed on the whole inside of a stirring
tank.
[0032] In addition, a paper making apparatus according to a second
aspect of the invention is structured that an outer cylinder, a
middle cylinder, stirring air nozzles, a cleaning fluid jet
mechanism, raw-material feeding ports and the like are secured to a
top. The raw-material feeding ports are uniformly arranged above
the central annular line of a paper making portion of a wire cloth
or alternately arranged with respect to the central annular lines
thereof. Moreover, the raw-material feeding ports are directed to
the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder. Otherwise, the
central body of a paper making frame is formed in a conical shape,
whereby to construct the raw-material feeding ports above the apex.
By feeding the raw material from the raw-material feeding ports,
the concentration of the raw material before the operation of
making paper is uniformed without imbalance.
[0033] The paper making portion of the wire cloth means an exposed
portion between the outer cylinder and the central body, that is, a
portion where the paper body is remained on the wire cloth after
the paper making operation. Further, the central body is structured
to form a central hole of an annular paper body.
[0034] The raw-material feeding ports are only needed for allowing
the raw material to be fed and the diameter of each jet hole is set
to be large enough to prevent the raw material from being
clogged.
[0035] [First Embodiment]
[0036] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, a description will be given
of a paper making apparatus according to a first embodiment of the
invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a paper making apparatus 1
includes a stirring tank 2 and a paper making portion 3. The
stirring tank 2 includes a middle cylinder 21, an outer cylinder 23
concentric with the middle cylinder 21, a raw-material feeding port
24, air nozzles 25 as stirring mechanisms and jet holes 28, which
are respectively secured to an aluminum top plate 26. The middle
cylinder 21 has a substantially conical portion 22 in the lower end
portion thereof. The jet holes 28 jet water for cleansing the
middle cylinder 21 and the outer cylinder 23. A seal ring 27 is
also secured to the lower end portion of the outer cylinder 23.
[0037] The paper making portion 3 is structured such that a wire
cloth 31 is fitted to the top of a paper making frame 32 and a
cover 34 for collecting moisture component such as the overflowed
raw material is located in the outside of the paper making frame
32. FIG. 3 is a top view of the paper making portion 3. Reference
numeral 38 denotes a water supply port; 33, a moisture suction
port; 35, a discharge port of the cover 35; 45, a central body; and
46, an opening.
[0038] The apparatus shown in the drawings is designed to form an
annular paper body as a discontinuous paper body, and the central
body 45 forms a central hole.
[0039] FIG. 4 shows a condition that the stirring tank 2 and the
paper making portion 3 in the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are
separated from each other. FIGS. 5 and 6 are top views showing an
arrangement of air nozzles 25 as stirring mechanisms.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 4, the stirring tank 2 is separated from
the paper making portion 3 and cleansed in another place where
smudges adhered to the inner wall of the outer cylinder 23 and the
outer wall of the middle cylinder 21.
[0041] In FIGS. 5 and 6, a line X represents a central annular line
of the paper making portion of the wire cloth 31. In FIG. 5, the
air nozzles 25 are uniformly disposed along the central annular
line X, whereas in FIG. 6, the air nozzles 25 are alternately
disposed with respect to the central annular line X. With these
arrangements, the raw material within the stirring tank 2 is evenly
stirred, whereby the formation of the paper body is improved.
[0042] A description will now be given of a method of making paper
using the apparatus according the first embodiment. First, the
stirring tank 2 and the paper making portion 3 are combined
together as shown in FIG. 2. When a predetermined amount of water
is supplied via the water supply port 38, the water is passed
through an opening 46 to thereby be gathered inside the paper
making frame 32 and between the middle cylinder 21 and the outer
cylinder 23. Further, the air is jetted out via the air nozzles 25
so as to stir the water gathered between the middle cylinder 21 and
the outer cylinder 23. In this condition, the raw material diluted
to a predetermined concentration is fed from the raw-material
feeding port 24. While the stirred condition is kept even after the
raw material has been fed for several ten seconds, the paper making
is carried out. Then, moisture component (including moisture
component contained in the raw material) is sucked from a suction
port 33 and discharged. Thus, a paper body is made on the wire
cloth 31.
[0043] [Second Embodiment]
[0044] A description will be given of a paper making apparatus
according to a second embodiment of the invention with reference to
FIGS. 7 to 12. As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, a paper making apparatus
101 includes a stirring tank 102 and a paper making portion 103.
The stirring tank 102 is formed by mounting raw-material feeding
ports 150, stirring air nozzles 160, jet nozzles 170 and an outer
cylinder 112 onto an aluminum top 110 integrally formed with a
middle cylinder 111. A seal 114 is secured to the lower portion of
the outer cylinder so as not to leak the raw material outside.
[0045] On the other hand, the paper making portion 103 includes a
paper making frame 115, a cover 116 and a central body 120. The
paper making frame 115 holds a wire cloth 113 and has a suction
port 117. The cover 116 collects moisture component such as the raw
material caused to overflow outside from the paper making frame
115. The central body 120 has an opening 121 communicating with the
suction port 117. Reference numeral 118 denotes a discharge port of
the cover 116.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 7, the raw-material feeding ports 150 and
the air nozzles 160 are arranged equally on the annular wire cloth.
With this arrangement, the raw material can equally be fed within
the stirring tank and the concentration of the raw material within
the stirring tank can also be equalized immediately before the
operation of making paper is performed.
[0047] FIGS. 10 and 11 are views showing an arrangement of the
raw-material feeding ports when viewed the paper making portion of
the wire cloth 113 from the above; FIG. 10 illustrates as shown in
FIGS. 7 and 8 the raw-material feeding ports that are equally
arranged on the central annual line X of the paper making portion
of the wire cloth 113; and FIG. 11 illustrates the raw-material
feeding ports that are alternately arranged with respect to the
central annular line X.
[0048] A description will now be given of a method of making paper
using the apparatus according to the second embodiment of the
invention. First, the stirring tank 102 and the paper making
portion 103 are combined together as shown in FIG. 8. (FIG. 12
shows a separated condition. Incidentally, although FIG. 8 shows
the sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7, FIG.
12 shows a sectional view taken along the line XII-XII of FIG. 7).
When a predetermined amount of water is supplied via a water supply
port 122 to be gathered inside the paper making frame 115 and
between the middle cylinder 111 and the outer cylinder 112.
Further, air is jetted via the air nozzles 160 so as to stir the
water gathered between the middle cylinder 111 and the outer
cylinder 112.
[0049] In this condition, the raw material diluted to a
predetermined concentration is fed from the raw-material feeding
ports 150. The stirred condition is kept even after the raw
material has been fed for 30 seconds, and then, the paper making is
carried out. Moisture component (including moisture component
containing the raw material) is sucked from a suction port 117 and
discharged. Thus, a paper body is made on the wire cloth 113. The
operation of making paper may be performed while the stirred
condition is maintained or after the stirred condition is
stopped.
[0050] FIG. 12 shows a condition that the stirring tank 102 and the
paper making portion 103 in the paper making apparatus 111 are
separated and further the stirring tank 102 is cleansed. The
cleansing is carried out by jetting the water in the stirring tank
102 via the air nozzles 170. The air nozzle 170 is installed in a
plurality of places and the cleansing is carried out as a separate
step separately from the paper making portion 103.
[0051] [Third Embodiment]
[0052] A description will be given of a paper making apparatus
according to a third embodiment of the invention with reference to
FIGS. 13 and 14. The third embodiment is different from the second
one in that raw-material feeding ports 151 are provided on the
sides of the middle cylinder 111. The basic structure of the third
embodiment is similar to what is shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, and the
constitutional elements identical with those of the second
embodiment are given by like reference numerals. In the second
embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, as the
raw-material feeding ports 150, the air nozzles 160 and the jet
water nozzles 170 are fitted to the top plate 110, the space of the
top is narrowed. In case where the diameter of the paper body to be
made is large, there develops no problem, but in case where the
diameter thereof is small, however, the installation area of such a
top plate would cause a serious problem.
[0053] The apparatus structured according to the third embodiment
of the invention can solve any problem of the sort mentioned above.
Further, since the number of raw-material feeding ports 151 and air
nozzles 160 can be increased, the concentration of raw material is
uniformed further. Incidentally, the positions of the raw-material
feeding ports may be above or below the water level Y in the
stirring tank 102.
[0054] Further, an inclination 152 directed upward from each
raw-material feeding port 151 is formed such that no raw material
is left on the bottom surface of the middle cylinder 111. In
addition, the raw-material feeding port 151 is also inclined so as
to match with the inclination 152.
[0055] [Fourth Embodiment]
[0056] A description will be given of a paper making apparatus
according to a fourth embodiment of the invention with reference to
FIGS. 15 and 16. The constitutional elements identical with those
of FIGS. 7 and 9 are given by like reference numerals. The fourth
embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments in
that the stirring air nozzles are not fitted to the top plate, but
air is jetted from air jet holes 161 defined to the middle cylinder
111. The rest of the formation of this embodiment of the invention
is similar to what is shown in the second embodiment thereof.
[0057] Although not shown, the stirring tank may be cleansed by
jetting the water from the holes bored in the middle cylinder.
[0058] [Fifth Embodiment]
[0059] A description will be given of a paper making apparatus
according to a fifth embodiment of the invention with reference to
FIGS. 17 and 18. In this embodiment, the front end 153 of each
raw-material feeding port 150 is directed to the outer peripheral
face of the middle cylinder 111 and the fed raw material is flown
along the outer peripheral face of the middle cylinder 111.
Further, the lower end of the middle cylinder 111 is formed in a
conical surface 119 and with this arrangement, even though only one
raw-material feeding port is provided, the raw material moves down
on the outer peripheral face of the middle cylinder 111 and
together with the conical surface at its lower end, the raw
material is uniformly supplied onto the wire cloth 113.
[0060] [Sixth Embodiment]
[0061] A description will be given of a paper making apparatus
according to a sixth embodiment of the invention with reference to
FIG. 19. In this embodiment, the surface of the central body 120 is
formed in a substantially conical shape, and the raw-material
feeding port 150 is disposed above the apex of the cone.
[0062] With this arrangement, the raw material is caused to flow in
the whole peripheral direction along the conical surface 154, so
that the raw material is uniformly supplied onto the wire cloth
113.
[0063] According to the present invention, the paper making method
and apparatus are thus arranged, it is possible to obtain the
discontinuous paper body with an excellent paper formation.
[0064] While only certain embodiments of the invention have been
specifically descried herein, it will apparent that numerous
modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention.
* * * * *