U.S. patent application number 13/115808 was filed with the patent office on 2012-01-19 for recycled paper smoothing device for used paper recycling apparatus.
Invention is credited to Yuji Koyama, Shigeru Tamai.
Application Number | 20120012269 13/115808 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44508812 |
Filed Date | 2012-01-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120012269 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tamai; Shigeru ; et
al. |
January 19, 2012 |
RECYCLED PAPER SMOOTHING DEVICE FOR USED PAPER RECYCLING
APPARATUS
Abstract
A recycled paper smoothing technology capable of regenerating
the wet paper made and formed in the paper making process unit of
the paper making unit securely as a smooth recycled paper free from
wrinkle, in a very narrow used paper processing space of a used
paper recycling apparatus of furniture size. A recycled paper
smoothing unit has a smooth surface belt for conveying the wet
paper, and a belt guide unit for conveying and guiding the smooth
surface belt in a state curved upward toward the running direction
thereof, and the wet paper on the smooth surface belt conveyed by
the smooth surface belt is provided with a tension uniformly in the
conveying and running direction, by the running action of the
smooth surface belt, and the curved shape of the smooth surface
belt due to the belt guide unit, so that a smooth recycled paper
free from wrinkle is regenerated securely.
Inventors: |
Tamai; Shigeru; (Osaka,
JP) ; Koyama; Yuji; (Osaka, JP) |
Family ID: |
44508812 |
Appl. No.: |
13/115808 |
Filed: |
May 25, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
162/358.2 ;
162/289; 162/358.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02W 30/646 20150501;
D21F 13/00 20130101; D21F 5/004 20130101; D21G 1/0066 20130101;
D21F 9/00 20130101; D21B 1/32 20130101; Y02W 30/64 20150501 |
Class at
Publication: |
162/358.2 ;
162/289; 162/358.1 |
International
Class: |
D21F 9/00 20060101
D21F009/00; D21F 5/00 20060101 D21F005/00; D21F 3/02 20060101
D21F003/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 18, 2010 |
JP |
2010-162363 |
Claims
1. A recycled paper smoothing device of a used paper recycling
apparatus, being a recycled paper smoothing device for smoothing
and processing recycled paper, being disposed in a paper making
unit for manufacturing recycled paper by making from used paper
pulp manufactured in a proceeding process of pulp making unit, in a
used paper recycling apparatus of furniture size to be installed at
the site of origin of used paper, wherein in the paper making unit,
the recycled paper smoothing device is provided in a drying belt
conveyor unit for producing recycled paper by drying the wet paper
made and formed in a paper making belt unit for producing wet paper
by making from used paper pulp, and the recycled paper smoothing
device constitutes the drying belt conveyor unit, and comprises a
smooth surface belt for running and conveying the wet paper, and
belt guide means for guiding the running smooth surface belt in a
state curved upward toward the running direction, while sliding and
supporting the running smooth surface belt from the lower side, and
therefore the wet paper on the smooth surface belt conveyed by the
smooth surface belt is provided with a tension uniformly at least
in the conveying and running direction, by the running action of
the smooth surface belt, and the curved shape of the smooth surface
belt by the belt guide means.
2. The recycled paper smoothing device of a used paper recycling
apparatus according to claim 1, comprising pressing means for
pressing the entire wet paper conveyed on the smooth surface belt
with a uniform pressure from the upper side, wherein this pressing
means is formed as a covering belt conveyor having a covering belt
for running with covering the entire wet paper on the smooth
surface belt together with the smooth surface belt in a pressed
state, and the covering belt has its lower side cooperating with
the upper side of the smooth surface belt so as to form a flat
smoothing action surface for smoothing and processing the entire
wet paper.
3. The recycled paper smoothing device of a used paper recycling
apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the belt guide means is
provided a curved guide surface having a main curved section curved
upward to the running direction of the smooth surface belt, and
this smooth surface belt is designed to run in a state being curved
upward, as being guided by sliding on the curved guide surface of
the belt guide means.
4. The recycled paper smoothing device of a used paper recycling
apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the curved guide surface of
the belt guide means has an auxiliary curved section curved upward
vertically to the main curved section.
5. The recycled paper smoothing device of a used paper recycling
apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the belt guide means is
formed of a plate material curved and formed upward toward the
running direction of the smooth surface belt, and its upper side is
the curved guide surface.
6. The recycled paper smoothing device of a used paper recycling
apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the belt guide means
functions also as heating means for heating the smooth surface belt
from the lower side, and the wet paper on the smooth surface belt
is heated and dried indirectly by the smooth surface belt heated by
this heating means.
7. The recycled paper smoothing device of a used paper recycling
apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the heating means is a
heater plate curved and formed upward toward the running direction
of the smooth surface belt, and the upper side of this heater plate
is the curved guide surface.
8. The recycled paper smoothing device of a used paper recycling
apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the covering belt conveyor
includes the covering belt formed as an endless belt running with
covering the entire wet paper on the smooth surface belt held
tightly together with the smooth surface belt, and a drive motor
for propelling and driving this covering belt.
9. The recycled paper smoothing device of a used paper recycling
apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the covering belt is formed
of a mesh belt composed of numeral mesh cells for passing and
releasing the moisture heated and evaporated from the wet paper on
the smooth surface belt to the upper side.
10. The recycled paper smoothing device of a used paper recycling
apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the mesh of the mesh belt
is set at 12 to 40 mesh cells.
11. The recycled paper smoothing device of a used paper recycling
apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the running speed of the
mesh belt is controlled to be synchronized with the running speed
of the smooth surface belt in the drying process unit.
12. The recycled paper smoothing device of a used paper recycling
apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the mesh belt is made of
the mesh belt for composing the paper making net conveyor of the
paper making belt unit, the mesh belt is disposed and configured to
run straightly toward the running direction in the paper making
belt conveyor unit, and run by returning in the opposite direction
in the drying belt conveyor unit.
13. A paper making device of a used paper recycling apparatus, in a
paper making device for composing a used paper recycling apparatus
of furniture size to be installed at the site of origin of used
paper, being a paper making device for manufacturing recycled paper
by making from used paper pulp manufactured in a proceeding process
of a pulp making device, comprising: a paper making belt conveyor
unit for producing wet paper by making from a slurry-like pulp
suspension mixing water and used paper pulp sent from the pulp
making device, a drying belt conveyor for producing recycled paper
by drying the wet paper made and formed in this paper making belt
conveyor unit, and a dewatering roll unit for squeezing and
dewatering the wet paper at the linkage position of the paper
making belt conveyor unit and the drying belt conveyor unit,
wherein the drying belt conveyor unit includes recycled paper
smoothing means for processing and discharging the wet paper made
and formed in the paper making conveyor unit as smooth recycled
paper, and this recycled paper smoothing means is composed of the
recycled paper smoothing device of any one of claims 1 to 12.
14. A used paper recycling apparatus, comprising: in an apparatus
case of furniture size, a pulp making unit for manufacturing used
paper pulp by macerating and beating used paper, a paper making
unit for manufacturing recycled paper by making from the used paper
pulp manufactured in this pulp making unit, and a control unit for
driving and controlling the pulp making unit and the paper making
unit by interlock, wherein the paper making unit is composed of the
paper making device of claim 13.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a recycled paper smoothing
device for used paper recycling apparatus, and more particularly to
a recycled paper smoothing technology in a used paper recycling
apparatus of a small furniture size to be installed at the site of
origin of used paper, for regenerating and processing the used
paper into a reusable paper at the site without disposing and
discarding.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Used paper occurs everyday and everywhere, including
government offices, companies, and general household, such as used
and unnecessary documents. Generally, used paper is disposed as
refuse, incinerated, or discarded.
[0005] On the other hand, from the global trend of effective use of
limited resources on earth, various technologies have been
developed for regenerating and reusing the used paper discarded so
far without disposing or discarding.
[0006] These used paper recycling technologies are mostly employed
in the paper making industry, and the used paper recycling
equipment requires, like an ordinary paper making equipment, a vast
land, a tremendous capital investment, and a huge amount of
chemicals and water used in paper making, for the purpose of fast
and mass production of recycled paper, and enhancement of paper
quality.
[0007] Used paper recycling requires manual used paper collection
works by many people, and involves various problems, such as
mixture of foreign matter, defective sorting due to lack of
knowledge about used paper recycling, failure in removal of debris,
and many others, and if used paper is collected, in order to
regenerate the used paper as recycled paper perfectly by 100%,
final sorting by specialists and cleaning or screening should be
needed. Moreover, used paper includes confidential documents, and
due to the confidential problems, such documents are not collected
as general garbage, but may be incinerated and discarded, and
recycling is not promoted in certain fields.
[0008] To solve these problems of used paper recycling, it is
effective to develop a technology capable of regenerating and
utilizing at the site of origin of the used paper, and from such
point of view, the present applicant has developed and proposed
various used paper recycling apparatus as disclosed, for example,
in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-308837.
[0009] This used paper recycling apparatus relates to a used paper
recycling apparatus of a large scale such as used paper recycling
plant, realized as an apparatus to be installed indoors in a small
shop, a general household, or the like, and the apparatus includes,
in an apparatus case of furniture size, a pulp making unit for
macerating and beating used paper and manufacturing used paper
pulp, a paper making unit for manufacturing recycled paper by
making the used paper pulp manufactured in the pulp making unit,
and a control unit for driving and controlling the pulp making unit
and the paper making unit by interlocking, in which the paper
making unit includes a paper making process unit for producing wet
paper by making the used paper pulp sent from the pulp making unit,
and a drying process unit for produced recycled paper by drying the
wet paper made and formed in the paper making process unit, and
these two process units are composed in a form of a belt conveyor
having a running belt for processing and conveying the used paper
pulp.
[0010] The used paper is macerated and beaten in the pulp making
unit and becomes used paper pulp, and this used paper pulp is
conveyed on the running belt of the belt conveyor in the paper
making unit, and is processed in the processes of filtering and
dewatering, squeezing and dewatering, and heating and drying, and
is recycled paper is obtained. In this process, at the stage of
pulp, the used paper is decomposed to fiber level, and written or
printed characters and diagrams are completely decomposed and lost,
and cannot be restored, so that the confidential information or
personal information composed in these characters and diagrams are
securely prevented from leaking or disclosing outside.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] It is a primary object of the present invention to present a
novel cleaning technology of a used paper recycling apparatus
further improved from the conventional used paper recycling
apparatus.
[0012] It is other object of the present invention to present
[0013] The present invention is devised in the light of the
conventional problems, and it is hence an object thereof to present
a recycled paper smoothing technology capable of regenerating
securely as a smooth recycled paper free from wrinkles from wet
paper made and formed in the paper making process unit of the paper
making unit, in a very narrow used paper processing space of a used
paper recycling apparatus of furniture size to be installed indoors
in a small shop, a general household, or the like, not limited to a
large office or the like, in particular, by improving the
configuration of the drying process unit in the paper making unit
of the used paper recycling apparatus.
[0014] To achieve the object, the recycled paper smoothing device
of the used paper recycling apparatus of the present invention is a
recycled paper smoothing device for smoothing and processing
recycled paper, being disposed in a paper making unit for
manufacturing recycled paper by making from used paper pulp
manufactured in a proceeding process of pulp making unit, in a used
paper recycling apparatus of furniture size to be installed at the
site of origin of used paper, in which in the paper making unit,
the recycled paper smoothing device is provided in a drying belt
conveyor unit for producing recycled paper by drying the wet paper
made and formed in a paper making belt conveyor unit for producing
wet paper by making from used paper pulp, and the recycled paper
smoothing device constitutes the drying belt conveyor unit, and
comprises a smooth surface belt for running and conveying the wet
paper, and belt guide means for guiding the running smooth surface
belt in a state curved upward toward the running direction, while
sliding and supporting the running smooth surface belt from the
lower side, and therefore the wet paper on the smooth surface belt
conveyed by the smooth surface belt is provided with a tension
uniformly at least in the conveying and running direction, by the
running action of the smooth surface belt, and the curved shape of
the smooth surface belt by the belt guide means.
[0015] A preferred embodiment is composed as follows.
[0016] (1) Having pressing means for pressing the entire wet paper
conveyed on the smooth surface belt with a uniform pressure from
the upper side, this pressing means is formed as a covering belt
conveyor having a covering belt for running with covering the
entire wet paper on the smooth surface belt together with the
smooth surface belt, and the covering belt has its lower side
cooperating with the upper side of the smooth surface belt so as to
form a flat smoothing action surface for smoothing and processing
the entire wet paper.
[0017] (2) The belt guide means is provided a curved guide surface
having a main curved section curved upward to the running direction
of the smooth surface belt, and this smooth surface belt is
designed to run in a state being curved upward, as being guided by
sliding on the curved guide surface of the belt guide means.
[0018] (3) The curved guide surface of the belt guide means has an
auxiliary curved guide section curved upward vertically to the main
curved section.
[0019] (4) The belt guide means is formed of a plate material
curved and formed upward toward the running direction of the smooth
surface belt, and its upper side is the curved guide surface.
[0020] (5) The belt guide means functions also as heating means for
heating the smooth surface belt from the lower side, and the wet
paper on the smooth surface belt is heated and dried indirectly by
the smooth surface belt heated by this heating means.
[0021] (6) The heating means is a heater plate curved and formed
upward toward the running direction of the smooth surface belt, and
the upper side of this heater plate is the curved guide
surface.
[0022] (7) The covering belt conveyor includes the covering belt
formed as an endless belt running with covering the entire wet
paper on the smooth surface belt held tightly together with the
smooth surface belt, and a drive motor for propelling and driving
this covering belt.
[0023] (8) The covering belt is formed of a mesh belt composed of
numeral mesh cells for passing and releasing the moisture heated
and evaporated from the wet paper on the smooth surface belt to the
upper side.
[0024] (9) The mesh of the mesh belt is set at 12 to 40 mesh
cells.
[0025] (10) The running speed of the mesh belt is controlled to be
synchronized with the running speed of the smooth surface belt in
the drying process unit.
[0026] (11) The mesh belt is made of the mesh belt for composing
the paper making net conveyor of the paper making belt unit, the
mesh belt is disposed and configured to run straightly toward the
running direction in the paper making belt conveyor unit, and run
by returning in the opposite direction in the drying belt conveyor
unit.
[0027] The paper making device of the used paper recycling
apparatus of the present invention is a paper making device for
composing a used paper recycling apparatus of furniture size to be
installed at the site of origin of used paper, being a paper making
device for manufacturing recycled paper by making from used paper
pulp manufactured in a proceeding process of a pulp making device,
comprising a paper making belt conveyor unit for producing wet
paper by making from a slurry-like pulp suspension mixing water and
used paper pulp sent from the pulp making device, a drying belt
conveyor unit for producing recycled paper by drying the wet paper
made and formed in this paper making belt conveyor unit, and a
dewatering roll unit for squeezing and dewatering the wet paper at
the linkage position of the paper making belt conveyor unit and the
drying belt conveyor unit, in which the drying belt conveyor unit
includes recycled paper smoothing means for processing and
discharging the wet paper made and formed in the paper making belt
conveyor unit as smooth recycled paper, and this recycled paper
smoothing means is composed of the recycled paper smoothing
device.
[0028] The used paper recycling apparatus of the present invention
includes, in an apparatus case of furniture size, a pulp making
unit for manufacturing used paper pulp by macerating and beating
used paper, a paper making unit for manufacturing recycled paper by
making from the used paper pulp manufactured in this pulp making
unit, and a control unit for driving and controlling the pulp
making unit and the paper making unit by interlock, and the paper
making unit is composed of the paper making device.
[0029] (A) The recycled paper smoothing device of the used paper
recycling apparatus of the present invention composes a drying belt
conveyor unit in the drying belt conveyor unit for forming a paper
making unit for manufacturing recycled paper by making from used
paper pulp manufactured in a proceeding process of pulp making
unit, this drying belt conveyor unit is composed by comprising a
smooth surface belt for conveying and driving the wet paper, and
belt guide means for driving and guiding the smooth surface belt in
a state curved upward toward the running direction, while sliding
and supporting the smooth surface belt from the lower side, and
therefore the wet paper on the smooth surface belt conveyed by the
smooth surface belt is provided with a tension uniformly at least
in the conveying and running direction, by the running action of
the smooth surface belt, and the curved shape of the smooth surface
belt by the belt guide means, and hence in a very narrow used paper
processing space of a used paper recycling apparatus of furniture
size to be installed not only in a large office, but also in a
small shop, general household, or in other indoor place, the wet
paper made and formed in the paper making process unit can be
regenerated as a smooth and wrinkle-free recycled paper.
[0030] That is, the wet paper made and formed in the paper making
belt conveyor unit (paper making process unit) for producing wet
paper by making from the used paper is sent to a drying belt
conveyor unit for composing the successive drying process unit, and
is heated and dried while being conveyed on a smooth surface belt,
and the wet paper on the smooth surface belt processed by running
operation of the smooth surface belt and the curved shape of the
smooth surface belt by the belt guide means, and is uniformly given
a tension at least in the conveying and running direction.
[0031] Therefore, the wet paper on the smooth surface belt is
effectively deprived of wrinkles or warp caused in the proceeding
process of the paper making process, and occurrence of wrinkles or
warp of wet paper due to heating and drying action can be
effectively prevented, and a smooth recycled paper is produced on
the whole.
[0032] (B) Further, having pressing means for pressing the entire
wet paper conveyed on the smooth surface belt with a uniform
pressure from the upper side, this pressing means is formed as a
covering belt conveyor having a covering belt for running with
covering the entire wet paper on the smooth surface belt together
with the smooth surface belt in an enclosed state, and the covering
belt has its lower side cooperating with the upper side of the
smooth surface belt so as to smooth and process the entire wet
paper, thereby forming a flat smoothing action surface for
smoothing the entire wet paper, and the wet paper on the smooth
surface belt is smoothed by the running operation of the smooth
surface belt mentioned above, and the curved shape of the smooth
surface belt by the belt guide means, and is covered and pressed by
the covering belt conveyor from the upper side, and it is heated
and dried, being held in a sandwich state, with a uniform pressure
from upper and lower side, so that smoothing of the entire recycled
paper is further promoted.
[0033] In other words, the wet paper is processed by a cooperative
action by a tension uniformly applied in the conveying and running
direction and a sandwich structure with a specified pressure by the
smooth surface belt and the covering belt, and is heated and dried
while kept in a flat state, and therefore wrinkles and warp of the
wet paper caused in the proceeding process of paper making process
can be effectively removed, and occurrence of wrinkles or warp of
wet paper due to heating and drying action can be effectively
prevented, so that a very smooth wrinkle-free recycled paper can be
securely produced in a very narrow used paper processing space of
furniture size.
[0034] The covering belt of the covering belt conveyor is formed of
a mesh belt composed of numerous mesh cells capable of passing and
releasing the moisture heated and evaporated from the wet paper on
the smooth surface belt to the upper side, and regardless of the
presence or absence of the covering belt, the steam generated by
heating of the wet paper may be effectively lifted and dissipated,
and the heating process can be smoothly promoted.
[0035] Further, the running speed of the mesh belt for composing
the covering belt is controlled in synchronism with the running
speed of the smooth surface belt in the drying process unit, so
that the wet paper is heated and dried while being stably
maintained in a sandwich structure.
[0036] These and other objects and features of the present
invention will be appreciated by reading the detailed description
made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and novel facts
pointed out in the claims thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0037] FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing an entire outline
configuration of a used paper recycling apparatus in preferred
embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0038] FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing an entire outline
configuration of the used paper recycling apparatus of the
same.
[0039] FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a
used paper pulp circulation route of a beating unit of the used
paper recycling apparatus of the same.
[0040] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a pulp
concentration adjustment unit of the used paper recycling apparatus
of the same.
[0041] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an entire outline
configuration of a paper making unit of the used paper recycling
apparatus of the same.
[0042] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a recycled
paper smoothing process unit in the paper making unit of the same,
FIG. 6A being a front view, and FIG. 6B being a sectional view
along line B-B in FIG. 6A.
[0043] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an appearance
configuration of the used paper recycling apparatus of the
same.
[0044] FIG. 8 is a front sectional view showing an entire outline
configuration of a used paper recycling apparatus in preferred
embodiment 2 of the present invention.
[0045] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an entire outline
configuration of a paper making unit of the used paper recycling
apparatus of the same.
[0046] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of a recycled
paper smoothing process unit in the paper making unit of the same,
FIG. 10A being a front view, and FIG. 10B being a sectional view
along line B-B in FIG. 10A.
[0047] FIG. 11 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 10B,
showing a configuration of a recycled paper smoothing process unit
in a paper making unit of a used paper recycling apparatus in
preferred embodiment 3 of the present invention.
[0048] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing an overall outline
configuration of a paper making unit of a used paper recycling
apparatus in preferred embodiment 4 of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0049] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described
specifically below while referring to the accompanying drawings.
Throughout the drawings, same reference numerals refer to same or
similar constituent components or elements.
Embodiment 1
[0050] A used paper recycling apparatus of the present invention is
shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, and this used paper recycling apparatus 1 is
specifically installed at the site of origin of used paper, and is
an apparatus for regenerating into a reusable paper at the same
site, without disposing or discarding the used paper UP, and the
used paper UP includes confidential documents from government
offices and general corporate offices, personal letters from
general household, and other used and unnecessary documents.
[0051] The used paper recycling apparatus 1 is as small as
furniture size shown in FIG. 7, that is, small and compact similar
to document rack, locker, desk, copier, personal computer, and
other equipment installed in an office, and includes, as shown in
FIG. 1, main units, specifically a pulp making unit 2, a pulp
concentration adjustment unit 3, a paper making unit (paper making
device) 4, and a device control unit (control unit) 5, and the
paper making unit 4 includes a recycled paper smoothing process
unit (recycled paper smoothing device, recycled paper smoothing
means) 10 which is a feature mechanism of the present
invention.
[0052] These apparatus components 2 to 5 are compact in design to
be incorporated and installed in an apparatus case 6. This
apparatus case 6 is a furniture size as mentioned above, and the
specific shape and size may be designed appropriately depending on
the purpose or application. The apparatus case 6 of the illustrated
preferred embodiment is formed like a box of shape and size similar
to a copier installed and used in an office, and the top plate of
the apparatus case 6 is provided with an inlet port 7 opening and
closing for putting in used paper UP, an the side part is provided
with an outlet port 8 for discharging recycled paper RP, RP, . . .
At the lower edge position of this outlet port 8, a recycled paper
receiving tray 9 is detachably provided for receiving the recycled
paper RP, RP, . . . discharged from the outlet port 8.
[0053] The pulp making unit 2 is a process unit for manufacturing
used paper pulp by macerating and beating the used paper UP, and
consists of a macerating unit 20 for agitating, crushing, and
macerating the used paper UP, and a beating unit 21 for beating the
used paper UP macerated in this macerating unit 20.
[0054] The macerating unit 20 is a process unit for agitating,
crushing, and macerating the used paper UP, and mainly consists of
a macerating tank 25, an agitating device 26, and a water feed
device 27.
[0055] The macerating tank 25 is, as shown in FIG. 2, provided with
the inlet port 7 for feeding and supplying the used paper UP in its
ceiling wall, and its bottom wall is provided with a discharge port
28 for discharging the macerated used paper pulp UPP to the
downstream side. The inner volume of the macerating tank 25 is set
depending on the number of used paper UP to be agitated and
processed in batch. In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the
macerating tank 25 has a capacity of agitating and processing (in
batch process) about 500 sheets (about 2000 g) of used paper UP of
A4 format PPC (plain paper copier) by adding about 98 liters of
water. In this case, the concentration of the used paper pulp UPP
to be macerated is about 2%. This concentration adjustment is
conducted by water supplied from the water feed device 27, and this
water feed device 27 forms a part of the pulp concentration
adjustment unit 3 as described below.
[0056] The inlet port 7 is designed to be opened and closed with
respect to the outside of the case cover 6a of apparatus case 6.
The discharge port 28 is opened and closed by a switch valve 29,
and is connected to a used paper circulation route 49 mentioned
below. The position of the discharge port 28 is provided with a
debris filter 30 for removing debris harmful for the subsequent
process of the beating process, such as clips, staples, and others
binding the used paper UP, UP, . . .
[0057] The switch valve 29 is opened and closed specifically by
crank motion of a crank mechanism 36 by a driving motor 35. The
driving motor 35 is specifically an electric motor, and this
driving motor 35 is electrically connected to the device control
unit 5.
[0058] An agitating device 26 is provided inside of the macerating
tank 25, and includes an agitating impeller 40 and a driving motor
41.
[0059] The agitating impeller 40 has its rotation shaft 40a
rotatably supported in an upright position in the bottom center of
the macerating tank 25, and the lower end of the rotation shaft 40a
is driven and coupled to a rotation shaft 41a of the driving motor
41 by way of transmission means 42 composed of a transmission
pulley 42a, a transmission belt 42b, and a transmission pulley
42c.
[0060] The water feed device 27 is to supply water W into the
macerating tank 25, and composes a beating concentration adjustment
unit 3A of the pulp concentration adjustment unit 3 as described
below.
[0061] The water feed device 27 of the illustrated preferred
embodiment includes, as shown in FIG. 1, a white water collection
tank 45, a water feed pump 46 for beating concentration adjustment,
and a water feed pump 47 for paper making concentration adjustment.
The white water collection tank 45 is, as described below, designed
to collect white water W filtered and dewatered in the paper making
unit 4 (that is, pulp water of ultra-low concentration filtered by
the paper making mesh in the paper making process), and the white
water W collected in the white water collection tank 45 is supplied
into the macerating tank 25 through the water feed pump 46, and
into a concentration adjustment tank 85 through the water feed pump
47 mentioned below.
[0062] In this relation, in the bottom of the macerating tank 25, a
weight sensor 48 is provided, and the used paper UP, UP, . . . and
the amount of water processed in batch in the macerating tank 25
are weighed and controlled, and the weight sensor 48 is
electrically connected to the device control unit 5.
[0063] The weight sensor 48 of the illustrated preferred embodiment
is composed of a load cell, and is designed to sense and measure
the total weight of the used paper UP, UP, . . . and the water
charged and supplied in the macerating tank 25.
[0064] In a specific control configuration of the macerating unit
20, first the operator opens the inlet port 7, and charges used
paper UP, UP, . . . into the macerating tank 25, and its weight is
sensed and measured by the weight sensor 48, and when reaching the
specified weight (number of sheets), it is noticed to the operator
by sound and/or display. Corresponding to this display, the
operator closes the inlet port 7, and the water feed device 27 is
driven, and the feed water pump 46 supplies the water W in the
white water collection tank 45 into the macerating tank 25 by the
amount corresponding to the charged weight (number of sheets) of
the used paper UP, UP, . . .
[0065] When the operator closes the inlet port 7 after feeding an
arbitrary amount (smaller than the specified weight (number of
sheets)) of used paper UP, UP, . . . into the macerating tank 25
from the inlet port 7, the weight is sensed and measured by the
weight sensor 48, and the water feed device 27 is driven, and a
proper amount of water W corresponding to the result of measurement
is supplied into the macerating tank 25 from the white water
collection tank 45.
[0066] In the illustrated preferred embodiment, as mentioned above,
when a maximum of about 500 sheets (about 2000 g) of A4 format PPC
used paper UP is charged into the macerating tank 25, at this
moment, it is noticed to the operator by sound and/or display, and
by the closing action of the inlet port 7, about 98 liters of water
is supplied from the water feed device 27, or when an arbitrary
amount (smaller than the specified weight (number of sheets)) of
used paper UP, UP, . . . is supplied, a proper amount of water
corresponding to the supplied amount of the used paper is added
from the water feed device 27, and the concentration of the used
paper pulp UPP to be macerated is controlled and adjusted to be
about 2%.
[0067] In the agitating device 26, the used paper UP, UP, . . .
charged into the macerating tank 25 from the supply opening of the
apparatus case 6, that is, the inlet port 7, are operated by normal
and reverse rotation of the agitating impeller 40 by the driving
motor 41, and agitated and mixed for a specified time (10 to 20
minutes in the illustrated preferred embodiment) in the water
supplied from the water feed device 27, so that the used paper UP,
UP, are macerated and beaten, and used paper pulp UPP is
obtained.
[0068] The discharge port 28 of the macerating tank 25 is closed by
the switch valve 29 during operation of the macerating unit 20, and
flow of used paper UP or used paper pulp UPP from the macerating
tank 25 into the used paper pulp circulation route 49 is prevented,
and the discharge port 28 is opened by the switch valve 49 during
operation of the beating unit 21 described below, and the flow of
used paper pulp UPP from the macerating tank 25 into the used paper
pulp circulation route 49 and the circulation flow are allowed.
[0069] The beating unit 21 is a process unit for beating the used
paper UP macerated in the macerating unit 20, and specifically the
used paper UP macerated in the macerating unit 20 is pressurized
and beaten, and the inks for forming characters and patterns on the
used paper UP (printing ink forming characters and patterns on the
used paper UP by various printing technologies, characters and
patterns formed on the used paper UP by pencil, ball-point pen,
fountain pen, or the like, and other inks) are ground and
pulverized (to be micro-fibers)
[0070] The beating unit 21 has a grinder 50 as a principal
component. This grinder 50 mainly includes a pair of beating disks
51, 52 rotated and driven relatively, and the pair of beating disks
51, 52 are disposed oppositely and concentrically across a tiny
beating gap G between beating action faces 51a, 52a.
[0071] The beating gap G of the beating action faces 51a, 52a of
the grinder 50 is set to be narrower gradually from the grinder 50
for initial period to the grinder 50 for terminal period of the
beating process, as described below.
[0072] In the beating unit 21 of the present preferred embodiment,
as shown in FIG. 3, the used paper pulp circulation route 49
comprising one grinder 50 is formed, and the used paper UP is
beaten and processed while being circulated for a specified time by
way of the grinder 50 in a circulation system.
[0073] By the execution of the beating process by the used paper
pulp circulation route 49, in spite of a very small and narrow
process space of the apparatus case 6 of furniture size, a used
paper pulp beating process route of limitless length basically not
limited in length, a beating process space practically equal to the
beating process in a large-scale plant can be assured, and an
optimum beating effect can be obtained depending on the
purpose.
[0074] In relation to one grinder 50 for executing the beating
process throughout the whole process of the beating process, this
one grinder 50 plays the function of a plurality of grinders from
the grinder for initial period to the grinder for terminal period
of the beating process. Specifically, the beating gap G of the
beating action faces 51a, 52a of this grinder 50 is controlled and
adjusted to be narrower gradually from the initial period to the
terminal period of the beating process.
[0075] The grinder 50 of the illustrated preferred embodiment as
shown in FIG. 2 is installed adjacently to the macerating tank 25
of the macerating unit 20, in an apparatus machine body 54 for
composing the apparatus case 6, and as shown in FIG. 3, it includes
a beating tank 55 communicating with the macerating tank 25 of the
macerating unit 20, the pair of beating disks 51, 52 rotatably
provided relatively in this beating tank 55, a rotation drive
source 56 for rotating the pair of beating disks 51, 52 relatively,
and gap adjusting means 57 for adjusting the beating gap G of the
pair of beating disks 51, 52.
[0076] The beating tank 55 is formed in a closed cylindrical shape
capable of accommodating the pair of beating disks 51, 52, and has
a supply port 55a for supplying the used paper pulp UPP from the
upstream side, and a discharge port 55b for discharging the beaten
used paper pulp UPP to the downstream side.
[0077] Specifically, the supply port 55a is opened toward the
vertical direction in the center of the bottom of the beating tank
55, and the discharge port 55b opened toward the horizontal
direction at the cylindrical side of the beating tank 55. The
supply port 55a and the discharge port 55b are connected, as shown
in FIG. 3, to communicate with the macerating tank 25 of the
macerating unit 20, respectively by way of circulation pipings 49a,
49b, and the discharge port 55b further communicates with a used
paper pulp collection tank 60 by way of a discharge piping 59.
[0078] Reference numeral 61 is a direction changeover valve, and by
the switching action of this direction changeover valve 61, the
used paper pulp UPP discharged from the discharge port 55b is
selectively returned to the macerating tank 25, or collected in the
used paper pulp collection tank 60. The direction changeover valve
61 is specifically an electromagnetic valve, and it is electrically
connected to the device control unit 5.
[0079] One of the pair of beating disks 51, 52 is a fixed side
beating disk fixed and provided in the rotating direction, and the
other is a rotating side beating disk capable of rotating. In the
illustrated preferred embodiment, the upper side beating disk 51 is
the rotating side, and the lower side beating disk 52 is the fixed
side, and with respect to the lower side fixed side beating disk
52, the upper side rotating side beating disk 51 is disposed
oppositely concentrically and rotatably across a tiny beating gap
G. This rotating side beating disk 51 is coupled and driven to a
driving motor 56 by way of a rotation main shaft 64 supported
rotatably at the fixed side of the apparatus machine body 54 and
movably in the axial direction.
[0080] The rotation main shaft 64 is rotatably supported on an
elevating member of the gap adjusting means 57 although not shown
specifically, and the rotating side beating disk 51 is fitted to
its leading end concentrically and integrally, and its base end
part is driven and coupled to the rotation shaft of the driving
motor 56 integrally in the rotating direction, and relatively
movably in the axial direction.
[0081] The driving motor 56 is a rotation drive source, and it
relatively rotates the pair of beating disks 51, 52, and an
electric motor is used specifically, and this driving motor 56 as
the drive source is electrically connected to the device control
unit 5.
[0082] Opposite faces 51a, 52a of the both beating disks 51, 52
forming the tiny beating gap G cooperate with each other, and form
beating action faces. These opposite beating action faces 51a, 52a
are grinding wheel surfaces formed of multiple abrasive grains
bonded by a bonding material. The both beating action faces 51a,
52a are formed in a taper shape, as shown in FIG. 3, so that the
diameter dimension may be larger continuously in the mutually
opposite directions, and the outermost peripheral edges are
mutually parallel annular flat surfaces, and these annular flat
surfaces form the beating gap G.
[0083] In other words, in the pair of beating disks 51, 52, at the
central position of the beating action face 52a of the fixed side
beating disk 52, an inlet 70 is formed so as to communicate
coaxially with the supply port 55a of the beating tank, and two
annular flat surfaces formed on the outer peripheral edges of the
beating action faces 51a, 52a of the pair of beating disks 51, 52
communicate with the discharge port 55b of the beating tank 55, and
form a outlet 71 having the beating gap G.
[0084] On the outer circumference of the rotating side beating disk
51, a plurality of blades 72, 72, . . . are provided at specified
intervals in the circumferential direction, and these blades 72,
72, . . . are rotated by the rotating side beating disk 51, and the
used paper pulp UPP discharged from the outlet 71 is forced out by
pumping action toward the discharge port 55b of the beating tank 55
by a centrifugal force.
[0085] In this way, by the driving motor 56 as the drive source,
when the rotating side beating disk 51 is rotated and driven with
respect to the fixed side beating disk 52, the used paper pulp UPP
supplied in the beating space B from the macerating tank 25 of the
macerating unit 20 by way of the supply port 55a and the inlet 70
of the beating tank 55 flows into the beating space B from the
inlet 70, and passes through this beating space B, and is
pressurized and beaten by the relatively rotating beating action
faces 51a, 52a, and the inks forming characters and patterns on the
used paper UP are ground and pulverized, and the used paper UP is
discharged through the discharge port 55b of the beating tank 55
from the outlet 71.
[0086] When being discharged from the outlet 71, the used paper
pulp UPP further receives the pressurizing and beating actions at
the location of the outlet 71 having the beating gap G, and is
pulverized to a micron size (to be micro fibers) specified by the
beating gap G.
[0087] In this regard, in the present preferred embodiment, as
mentioned above, since the used paper pulp circulation route 49 is
provided with the circulation beating process (see FIG. 3) having
one grinder 50, that is , the one grinder 50 functions as a
plurality of grinders from the grinder for initial period to the
grinder for terminal period of the beating process, and the beating
gap G of this grinder 50 is controlled and adjusted so as to be
gradually narrower from the initial period to the terminal period
of the beating process by the gap adjusting means 57.
[0088] The gap adjusting means 57 is composed to control and adjust
the beating gap G of the beating disks 51, 52, although not shown
specifically, by moving the pair of beating disks 51, 52 relatively
in the rotation axial direction, and is mainly composed of moving
means (not shown) for moving the rotating side beating disk 51 in
the rotation axial direction, that is, in the axial direction of
the rotation main shaft 64, and a drive source 66 for driving this
moving means. The drive source is specifically an electric motor,
and this driving motor 66 is electrically connected to the
apparatus control unit 5.
[0089] By rotation of this electric motor 66, the rotation main
shaft 64 is moved up and down by way of the moving means, and the
rotating side beating disk 51 integral with the rotation main shaft
64 is moved in the vertical direction to the fixed side beating
disk 52, that is, in the rotation axial direction, and the beating
gap G of the both beating disks 51, 52 is controlled and
adjusted.
[0090] For this purpose, a position detection sensor (not shown) is
provided for detecting the elevating position of the rotating side
beating disk 51, and by the detection result of the position
detection sensor, the driving motor 66 is controlled and driven.
The position detection sensor is electrically connected to the
device control unit 5.
[0091] The beating gap G of the beating disks 51, 52 by the gap
adjusting means 57 is controlled and adjusted in mutual cooperation
with a circulation pump 69 as circulation means, in the circulation
beating process in the used paper pulp circulation route 49 shown
in FIG. 3.
[0092] That is, in FIG. 3, the used paper pulp UPP macerated and
processed in the macerating unit 20 is circulated in the used paper
circulation route 49 by means of the circulation pump 69, and the
beating process is executed by the grinder 50, and at this time the
beating gap G of the beating action faces 51a, 52a of the grinder
50 is adjusted to be narrower gradually from the initial period to
the terminal period of the beating process by the gap adjusting
means 57.
[0093] In this manner, one grinder 50 is disposed in the used paper
pulp circulation route 49, and the beating gap G of this grinder 50
is controlled and adjusted to be narrower gradually from the
initial period to the terminal period of the beating process in the
circulation system, and therefore in a very narrow process space of
furniture size, the used paper pulp UPP is repeatedly and
sequentially processed by the pressurizing and beating action and
the ink grinding and pulverizing action by the beating action faces
51a, 52a of grinder 50 becoming gradually narrower in the beating
gap G, and further the beating and the ink grinding and pulverizing
actions are executed uniformly on the entire used paper pulp UPP
circulating in the used paper pulp circulation route 49. As a
result, an optimum paper tenacity is obtained for the recycled
paper RP made and regenerated in the paper making unit 4 described
below, and the recycled paper RP of high degree of whiteness (equal
to de-inked quality) will be obtained.
[0094] The used paper pulp circulation route 49 includes the
macerating tank 25 of the macerating unit 20, and in this relation,
in the beating process, the agitating device 26 of the macerating
unit 20 is driven and controlled, and the macerating unit 20 and
the beating unit 21 are drived at the same time. That is, in the
circulation type beating process, while the used paper pulp UPP
flows out from the macerating tank 25 into the used paper pulp
circulation route 49, the used paper pulp UPP after beaten by the
grinder 50 flows into the macerating tank 25, and therefore in the
macerating tank 25, the used paper pulp UPP different in the
beating degree is mixed, and by the agitating action by the
agitating device 26, the beating degree of the used paper pulp UPP
in the macerating tank 25 is made uniform, and the beating process
is promoted.
[0095] The used paper pulp collection tank 60 is a location for
collecting the used paper pulp UPP beaten and pulverized to a
specified size by the beating unit 21, and the used paper pulp UPP
collected herein is sent into the pulp concentration adjustment
unit 3 to be processed into a pulp suspension PS mixed and adjusted
to a paper making concentration corresponding to the finished paper
quality of the recycled paper RP to be regenerated before being
sent into the paper making unit 4 of the next process of paper
making process.
[0096] The pulp concentration adjustment unit 3 is a weight type
device for adjusting the mixing rate of the used paper UP and the
water W to be charged into the apparatus, and adjusting the
concentration of the used paper pulp UPP to be supplied in the
paper making unit 4, and specifically as shown in FIG. 4, it
includes a beating concentration adjustment unit 3A, a paper making
concentration adjustment unit 3B, and a pulp concentration control
unit 3C,
[0097] The beating concentration adjustment unit 3A is intended to
adjust the beating concentration of the used paper pulp UPP in the
pulp making unit 2, corresponding to the beating efficiency by the
beating unit 21, and mainly includes the water feed pump 46 for
beating concentration adjustment of the water feed device 27, as
mentioned above, and a beating concentration control unit 75.
[0098] The supply amount of white water W by the water feed pump 46
of the beating concentration adjustment unit 3A is preferably set
so that the beating concentration of the used paper pulp UPP
macerated and beaten by the agitating device 26 may be the maximum
concentration allowable for the beating capacity of the grinder 50
of the beating unit 21 for executing the next process of beating
process, and in the illustrated preferred embodiment, it is set to
be a beating concentration of about 2% as mentioned above.
[0099] The beating concentration control unit 75 drives and
controls, as mentioned above, the water feed pump 46 so as to
supply a necessary amount of water W into the macerating tank 25,
depending on the measurement result from the weight sensor 48. This
beating concentration control unit 75 forms a part of the device
control unit 5 as described below.
[0100] The paper making concentration adjustment unit 3B is for
adjusting the paper making concentration of the used paper pulp UPP
in the paper making unit 4 to an appropriate concentration
corresponding to the finished paper quality of the recycled paper
RP for regenerating, and is specifically designed to adjust the
concentration of the used paper pulp UPP manufactured in the pulp
making unit 2 in division type, and it mainly includes a division
extraction unit 80, a suspension adjustment unit 81, and a paper
making concentration control unit 82.
[0101] The division extraction unit 80 is for dividing and
extracting a specified small amount from the whole volume of the
used paper pulp UPP manufactured in the pulp making unit 2 in the
proceeding process, and includes a used paper pulp supply pump 86
for division extraction for extracting the used paper pulp UPP of
the used paper pulp collection tank 60 and sending into a
concentration adjustment tank 85.
[0102] The suspension adjustment unit 81 is for preparing the pulp
suspension PS of a specified concentration by adding a specified
amount of water W for concentration adjustment to a specified small
amount of used paper pulp UPP divided and extracted by the division
extraction unit 80, and mainly includes the water feed pump 47 of
the water feed device 27 as mentioned above.
[0103] Specifically, although not shown in the drawing, in the
bottom of the concentration adjustment tank 85, same as in the
macerating tank 25 stated above, a weight sensor 87 formed of a
load cell is provided, and it is designed to measure and control
the amount of used paper pulp UPP and water W for concentration
adjustment supplied into the concentration adjustment tank 85, and
the weight sensor 87 is connected electrically to the device
control unit 5.
[0104] The paper making concentration control unit 82 is for
controlling by interlocking the division extraction unit 80 and the
suspension adjustment unit 81, and forms a part of the device
control unit 5, and interlocks and controls pumps 86, 47 of the
division extraction unit 80 and the suspension adjustment unit 81
so as to execute the paper making concentration adjustment process
as described below.
[0105] First of all, from the whole volume of used paper pulp UPP
collected in the used paper pulp collection tank 60 from the
beating unit 21 (in the illustrated preferred embodiment, about
2000 g of used paper UP+100 liters of water W), a specified portion
(1 liter in the illustrated preferred embodiment) of used paper
pulp UPP is divided by the used paper pulp feed pump 86, and is
transferred and contained in the concentration adjustment tank 85.
As a result, the weight is sensed and measured by the weight sensor
87, and the result is transmitted to the device control unit 5.
[0106] In succession, corresponding to the specified portion of the
divided used paper pulp UPP, the water feed pump 47 supplies a
specified amount of water W for dilution into the concentration
adjustment tank 85 from the white water collection tank 45 (9
liters in the illustrated preferred embodiment (actually as
measured by the weight sensor 87)).
[0107] In consequence, in the concentration adjustment tank 85, the
used paper pulp UPP of beating concentration (2% in the illustrated
preferred embodiment) and the water W are mixed and diluted, and
pulp suspension PS of specified concentration (in the illustrated
preferred embodiment, about 0.2% concentration (target
concentration)) is prepared.
[0108] Meanwhile, the target concentration of the pulp suspension
PS to be prepared is set in consideration of the paper making
capacity in the paper making unit 4 as described below on the basis
of the preliminary experiment, and it is set at about 0.2% as
mentioned above in the case of the illustrated preferred
embodiment.
[0109] In this manner, the pulp suspension PS adjusted to the
target concentration of paper making concentration (0.2%) in the
concentration adjustment tank 85 is transferred and supplied into a
pulp supply tank 89 from the concentration adjustment tank 85 by
way of a first suspension supply pump 88, and is temporarily stored
in wait for the next process of the paper making unit 4.
Hereinafter, this paper making concentration adjustment process is
repeatedly executed similarly for the whole amount of the used
paper pulp UPP in the used paper pulp collection tank 60. In the
pulp supply tank 89, a second suspension supply pump 90 is provided
for sending the pulp suspension PS to a paper making belt conveyor
unit 95 of the paper making unit 4.
[0110] An agitating device 91 is provided in the pulp supply tank
89, and by the agitating action of this agitating device 87 (91?),
the entire paper making concentration of the temporarily stored
pulp suspension PS is maintained uniformly at a specific value.
[0111] Thus, since the concentration adjustment by the paper making
concentration adjustment unit 3 is not executed in batch of whole
volume, but in small divided portions or dispensed portions, not
only the water consumption is saved substantially, but also the
shape and size of the concentration adjustment tank 85 can be
reduced substantially, and the entire structure of the used paper
recycling apparatus 1 is realized in a compact design.
[0112] The pulp concentration control unit 3C is to drive and
control the beating concentration adjustment unit 3A and the paper
making concentration adjustment unit 3B in cooperation, and
specifically by receiving the pulp concentration control
information (the charged amount of used paper UP, water supply
amount to the macerating tank 25, beating concentration of used
paper pulp UPP, and others) from the beating concentration control
unit 75 of the beating concentration adjustment unit 3A, depending
on this control information, the paper making concentration control
information (the target paper making concentration of the used
paper pulp UPP, the division extraction amount of the used paper
pulp UPP from the used paper pulp collection tank 60, the water
supply amount to the concentration adjustment tank 85, and others)
for controlling the concentration of the used paper pulp UPP
manufactured in the pulp making unit 2 to the target value (paper
making concentration) is sent to the paper making concentration
control unit 82 of the paper making concentration adjustment unit
3B, so that the paper making concentration adjustment process
mentioned above can be executed.
[0113] The paper making unit 4 is a process unit for manufacturing
recycled paper RP by making from the used paper pulp UPP
manufactured in the pulp making unit 2, and as shown in FIG. 1 and
FIG. 5, it mainly includes a paper making belt conveyor unit 95, a
dewatering roll unit 96, and a drying belt conveyor unit 97, and
the drying belt conveyor unit 97 is provided with the recycled
paper smoothing process unit (recycled paper smoothing device,
recycled paper smoothing means) 10 as a characteristic component of
the present invention as mentioned above.
[0114] The paper making belt conveyor unit 95 is a location for
manufacturing wet paper by making from a slurry-like pulp
suspension PS containing used paper pulp UPP mixed with water W
sent from the pulp supply tank 89 of the pulp making unit 2, and it
mainly includes a paper making net conveyor 100, and a pulp supply
unit 101.
[0115] The paper making net conveyor 100 is for conveying the pulp
suspension while making paper, and has a mesh belt 105 of paper
making mesh structure composed of numerous mesh cells for filtering
and dewatering the pulp suspension PS disposed to run straightly
toward its running direction.
[0116] Specifically, the paper making net conveyor 100 includes the
mesh belt 105 formed as an endless belt conveying and running while
making paper from the pulp suspension PS, and a drive motor 106 for
driving this mesh belt 105.
[0117] The plate material of the paper making mesh structure for
composing the mesh belt 105 is a material capable of filtering and
dewatering the pulp suspension PS appropriately through numerous
mesh cells of the paper making mesh structure, and preferable
examples are polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET),
polyamide (PA) (generally known as Nylon, a registered trademark),
stainless steel (SUS), and other corrosion resistant materials, and
in the illustrated preferred embodiment, a PET mesh belt 105 in
heat resistance is used.
[0118] The paper making mesh structure for composing the mesh belt
105 is preferably fine in mesh size, and fine and smooth in weaving
mesh, and may be specifically selected depending on the
characteristic of the desired paper, and for example, the following
points are taken into consideration.
(1) Mesh Size of Mesh Belt 105
[0119] The mesh size of the mesh belt 105 is preferably set at 25
mesh cells to 80 mesh cells, and in the illustrated preferred
embodiment, the mesh belt 105 of 50 mesh cells is used.
(2) Wire Diameter of Mesh of Mesh Belt 105
[0120] The mesh of the mesh belt 105 is determined not only by the
number of mesh cells (size), but also by the wire diameter of the
mesh. If the number of mesh cells is the same, the mesh size is
smaller when the wire diameter is larger, or larger when the
diameter is smaller, and this relation is expressed by the porosity
of mesh, or the ventilation degree of airiness
(cm.sup.3/cm.sup.2/sec).
[0121] For example, when the mesh is fine and the ventilation is
poor, the water filtering rate is low, and the shape and dimension
of the pulp supply unit 101 described below may be longer in the
running direction of the mesh belt 105, and the apparatus is
increased in size. To the contrary, when the mesh is coarse and the
ventilation is good, the pulp supply unit 101 is short and the
apparatus is small, but the paper quality of the recycled paper RP
is coarse, and the difference of smoothness of the face and back
sides is larger, and the paper is poor in smoothness.
[0122] Considering these conditions comprehensively, the mesh belt
105 is desired to be small in the wire diameter of mesh, large in
the number of mesh cells, and reticular in structure not lowering
in the degree of ventilation, in order to present the used paper
pulp UPP from slipping out of the mesh cells of the mesh belt 105
in the paper making process, and the mesh belt 105 in the
illustrated preferred embodiment is a plain-woven PET mesh belt 105
of 50 mesh cells. By using this mesh belt 105, it has been
experimentally proved that a favorable paper quality suited to
writing is obtained.
[0123] The width dimension of the mesh belt 105 is set at a
specified width dimension slightly larger than the width dimension
of the recycled paper RP to be manufactured by making from the pulp
suspension PS.
[0124] The mesh belt 105 is supported and suspended so as to be
rotatable by way of a drive roller 107, a dewatering roll unit 96,
a driven roller 108, and a support roller 109 as shown in FIG. 1
and FIG. 5, and it is driven and coupled to the drive motor 106 by
way of the drive roller 107.
[0125] The paper making process length in the mesh belt 105 is set
in a range of the upper side running direction length of the mesh
belt 105 in the apparatus case 6 of furniture size (in the shown
case, the lateral direction length from the pulp supply unit 101 to
the dewatering roll unit 96 in FIG. 1).
[0126] The running speed of the mesh belt 105 is set in
consideration of the various conditions in the paper making
process, and it is preferably set at 0.1 m/min to 1 m/min, and in
the illustrated preferred embodiment, it is set at 0.2 m/min
Incidentally, in the conventional used paper recycling plant of a
large scale, the running speed of the paper making belt of this
type was set at least at more than 100 m/min, or more than 1000
m/min in a faster version.
[0127] The mesh belt 105 disposed so as to run upward obliquely and
straightly toward its running direction as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
5, and the paper making process length is extended considerably in
a limited space of installation, and the filtering and dewatering
efficiency is enhanced in relation to the paper making mesh
structure of the mesh belt 105.
[0128] The drive motor 106 for driving the mesh belt 105 is
specifically an electric motor, and is electrically connected to
the device control unit 5. This drive motor 106 is also used as the
drive source of the dewatering roll unit 96 and the drying belt
conveyor unit 97 described below.
[0129] The pulp supply unit 101 is a location for supplying the
pulp suspension PS on the mesh belt 105 from the pulp making unit
2, and its specific structure is not shown, but this pulp supply
unit 101 supplies the pulp suspension PS, and diffuses widely and
uniformly on the upper surface of the mesh belt 105. The pulp
supply unit 101 is provided at the paper making process starting
end position of the paper making net conveyor 100.
[0130] By the second suspension supply pump 90, the pulp suspension
PS supplied in the pulp supply unit 101 from the pulp supply tank
89 is stored by a specified amount in the pulp feed unit 101, and
by the stagnant action, it is uniformly dispersed on the upper
surface of the mesh belt 105. The pulp suspension PS uniformly
dispersed on the upper surface of the mesh belt 105 is conveyed
together with the mesh belt 105 by the running action of the mesh
belt 105 in the running direction, and is filtered by the own
weight by the mesh of the mesh belt 105, and is dewatered, and wet
paper RP.sub.0 (water content 90 to 85% in the illustrated
preferred embodiment) is obtained.
[0131] The white paper W filtered and dewatered by the mesh belt
105 (the pulp water of an ultra-low concentration filtered by the
paper making mesh in the paper making process) is collected in the
white water collection tank 45 of the water feed device 27 as
mentioned above.
[0132] The dewatering roll unit 96 composes a location for
squeezing and dewatering the wet paper RP.sub.0 on the mesh belt
105 at the linkage position of the paper making belt conveyor unit
95 mentioned above and the drying belt conveyor unit 97 described
below.
[0133] More specifically, the smooth surface belt 145 described
below of the drying belt conveyor unit 97 at the downstream side,
and the mesh belt 105 of the paper making belt conveyor unit 95 at
the upstream side are stacked up in upper and lower layers as shown
in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, and the upper and lower adjacent portions of
the smooth surface belt 145 and the mesh belt 105 are the linkage
location, and at this linkage location, the dewatering roll unit 96
rolls and squeezes the mesh belt 105 and the smooth surface belt
145 by squeezing from upper and lower sides, thereby
dewatering.
[0134] The dewatering roll unit 96 includes at least a preliminary
dewatering roll unit 96A, and a final dewatering roll unit 96B.
[0135] The illustrated dewatering roll unit 96 is, as specifically
shown in FIG. 1, mainly composed of the preliminary dewatering roll
unit 96A, the final dewatering roll unit 96B, and an angle defining
roll unit 96C as auxiliary means.
[0136] The preliminary dewatering roll unit 96A is for squeezing
and dewatering the wet paper RP.sub.0 on the mesh belt 105
preliminarily, and more specifically it includes a preliminary
squeezing roll pair 122 consisting of a preliminary dewatering roll
120 for rolling on the mesh belt 105 from the lower side, and a
preliminary press roll 121 for rolling and pressing on the smooth
surface belt 145 from the upper side in relation to this
preliminary dewatering roll 120.
[0137] By the preliminary squeezing roll pair 122 consisting of the
preliminary dewatering roll 120 and the preliminary press roll 121,
the mesh belt 105 and the smooth surface belt 145 are rolled and
squeezed in a pressed form by a specified preliminary pressure from
the upper and lower sides, and the moisture contained in the wet
paper RP.sub.0 on the mesh belt 105 is preliminarily dewatered and
removed.
[0138] In this case, the preliminary pressure, that is, the
preliminary squeezing force of the preliminary dewatering roll unit
96A for preliminarily squeezing and dewatering the wet paper
RP.sub.0 on the mesh belt 105 is set in a range not to destroy the
wet paper RP.sub.0 having a large water content, and in the
illustrated preferred embodiment, the preliminary squeezing force
is set in a range so that the water content of the wet paper on the
mesh belt 105 may be 80 to 75% after the preliminary dewatering
process.
[0139] The final dewatering roll unit 96B is a location for finally
squeezing and dewatering the wet paper RP.sub.0 on the mesh belt
105 after preliminary dewatering in the preliminary dewatering roll
unit 96A to obtain dried paper (recycled paper) RP of a specified
water content, and more specifically includes at least one set of
final squeezing roll pair 127 consisting of a final dewatering roll
125 for rolling on the mesh belt 105 from the lower side, and a
final press roll 126 for rolling and pressing on the smooth surface
belt 145 from the upper side in relation to this final dewatering
roll 125.
[0140] By the final squeezing roll pair 127 consisting of the final
dewatering roll 125 and the final press roll 126, the mesh belt 105
and the smooth surface belt 145 are rolled and squeezed in a
pressed form by a specified final pressure from the upper and lower
sides, and the moisture contained in the wet paper RP.sub.0 on the
mesh belt 105 is finally dewatered and removed, and a dried paper
of specified water content, that is, a recycled paper RP is
obtained.
[0141] In this case, the final pressure, that is, the final
squeezing force of the final dewatering roll unit 96B for finally
squeezing and dewatering the wet paper RP.sub.0 on the mesh belt
105 is set to such a degree as to be capable of obtaining a
specified dewatering effect securely on the preliminarily dewatered
wet paper RP.sub.0, and in the illustrated preferred embodiment, it
is set in a range of water content of 70 to 85% in the dried paper
(recycled paper) RP on the mesh belt 105 after final
dewatering.
[0142] The rolls 120, 121, 125, 126 in the dewatering roll unit 96
are not specifically shown in the drawing, but are driven and
coupled to a single drive motor 106 by means of driving and
coupling means composed of a gearing mechanism, and all rolls 120,
121, 125, 126 are rotated and driven in mutual cooperation.
[0143] In this case, these rolls 120, 121, 125, 126 are rotated and
controlled so that the outer circumference of the upper and lower
rolls 120, 125, and the outer circumference of the rolls 121, 126
may mutually roll and contact with each other and a slight rotating
speed difference each other, with respect to the contact, surface
of the mesh belt 105 and the smooth surface belt 145 (the lower
side of the mesh belt 105 and the upper side of the smooth surface
belt 145) being rolled and squeezed in a pressed state, between
their outer circumferential surfaces.
[0144] More specifically, the rotating speed of the preliminary and
final press rolls 121,126 of the upper side is set slightly larger
than the rotating speed of the preliminary and final press rolls
120,125 of the lower side, and hence the running speed of the
smooth surface belt 145 is set lightly larger than the running
speed of the mesh belt 105. In this constitution, as described
below, when the wet paper RP.sub.0 squeezed and dewatered by the
dewatering roll 96 is transferred and moved to the lower side of
the smooth surface belt 145 of the upper side from the upper side
of the mesh belt 105 of the lower side, a tension is applied to the
wet paper RP.sub.0, and wrinkling of the wet paper RP.sub.0 may be
prevented effectively.
[0145] The angle defining roll unit (angle defining means) 96C is a
location for assisting and validating the squeezing and dewatering
action by the preliminary dewatering roll unit 96A and the final
dewatering roll unit 96B, and it is provided at the upstream side
of the preliminary dewatering roll unit 96A, and defines the
inclination angle between the mesh belt 105 and the smooth surface
belt 145 inserted in the preliminary dewatering roll unit 96A.
[0146] The angle defining roll unit 96C specifically defines the
inclination angle between the mesh belt 105 and the smooth surface
belt 145 inserted in the preliminary dewatering roll unit 96A, and
more specifically it includes a mesh belt guide roll 130 for
defining the insertion angle of the mesh belt 105 into the
preliminary dewatering roll unit 96A by rolling on the mesh belt
105 from the lower side, and a smooth surface belt guide roll 131
for defining the insertion angle of the smooth surface belt 145
into the preliminary dewatering roll unit 96A by rolling on the
smooth surface belt 145 from upper side.
[0147] The insertion angle of the mesh belt 105 into the
preliminary dewatering roll unit 96A is defined by the mesh belt
guide roll 130, and the insertion angle of the smooth surface belt
145 into the preliminary dewatering roll unit 96A is defined by the
smooth surface belt guide roll 131, and therefore the inclination
angle between the mesh belt 105 and the smooth surface belt 145 is
determined indirectly in a specified range.
[0148] The inclination angle between the mesh belt 105 and the
smooth surface belt 145 is set so as to prevent the wet paper
RP.sub.0 from becoming slurry again by the preliminary dewatering
action by the preliminary dewatering roll unit 96A, as the moisture
contained in the wet paper RP.sub.0 is massively squeezed out to
the upstream side of the preliminary dewatering roll unit 96A, and
the large amount of water thus squeezed is absorbed again in the
wet paper RP.sub.0.
[0149] In other words, by the preliminary dewatering roll 120 and
the preliminary press roll 121 of the preliminary dewatering roll
unit 96A, when the mesh belt 105 mounting the wet paper RP.sub.0 on
the upper side and the smooth surface belt 145 are rolled and
squeezed in a pressed state from the upper and lower sides, the
moisture contained in the wet paper RP.sub.0 is squeezed out to the
upstream side of the both rolls 120, 121.
[0150] In this case, if the inclination angle .alpha. formed
between the mesh belt 105 and the smooth surface belt 145 is large,
at a position near the upstream side of the both rolls 120, 121,
the smooth surface belt 145 of the upper side is departed from the
wet paper RP.sub.0 on the mesh belt 105 at the lower side, and a
part of the massive squeezed moisture contained in the wet paper
RP.sub.0 is absorbed again in the wet paper RP.sub.0 and the wet
paper RP.sub.0 may become slurry again.
[0151] By contrast, when the inclination angle a formed between the
mesh belt 105 and the smooth surface belt 145 is small, at a
position near the upstream side of the both rolls 120, 121, the
smooth surface belt 145 of the upper side is pressed to the wet
paper RP.sub.0 on the mesh belt 105 at the lower side, and all of
the massive squeezed moisture contained in the wet paper RP.sub.0
falls down through the mesh belt 105, and is not absorbed again in
the wet paper RP.sub.0 and the wet paper RP.sub.0 may be prevented
from becoming slurry again.
[0152] The inclination angle a formed between the mesh belt 105 and
the smooth surface belt 145 is preferably set at 1 to 20 degrees as
a result of experiments, and more preferably set at 3 to 7 degrees,
and it is set at 5 degrees in the illustrated preferred
embodiment.
[0153] Thus, by driving of the drive motor 106, the rolls 120, 121,
125, 126 of the preliminary dewatering roll unit 96A and the final
dewatering roll unit 96B in the dewatering roll unit 96 are put in
rotation, and first by the preliminary squeezing roll pair 122 in
the preliminary dewatering roll unit 96A, the mesh belt 105 and the
smooth surface belt 145 are rolled and squeezed in a pressed state
from both upper and lower sides with a specified preliminary
pressure, and the moisture contained in the wet paper RP.sub.0 on
the mesh belt 105 is preliminarily dewatered and removed (in the
illustrated preferred embodiment, the water content of the wet
paper RP.sub.0 is reduced from 90 to 85% to 80 to 75%).
[0154] In succession, by the final squeezing roll pair 127 in the
final dewatering roll unit 96B, the mesh belt 105 and the smooth
surface belt 145 are rolled and squeezed in a pressed state from
both upper and lower sides with a specified final pressure, and the
moisture contained in the wet paper RP.sub.0 on the mesh belt 105
is finally dewatered and removed, and dry paper of specified water
content, that is, recycled paper RP is obtained (in the illustrated
preferred embodiment, the water content of the wet paper RP.sub.0
is reduced from 80 to 75% to 70 to 65%). In this series of
processes, the white water W squeezed and dewatered from the wet
paper RP.sub.0 is collected in the white water collection tank 45
of the water feed unit 27.
[0155] The wet paper RP.sub.0 squeezed and dewatered in the
dewatering roll unit 96 is transferred and conveyed to the lower
side of the smooth surface belt 145 at the upper side from the
upper side of the mesh belt 105 of the lower side at the downstream
side location of the dewatering roll unit 96, and is conveyed
together with the smooth surface belt 145, and the drying process
by the drying belt conveyor unit 97 is executed.
[0156] This transfer action is considered to be caused by the
smooth surface structure of the smooth surface belt 145. That is,
the surface of the mesh belt 105 at the lower side is a fine
undulated surface forming multiple fine continuous pores, while the
surface of the smooth surface belt 145 at the upper side is a
smooth surface without pores, and the wet paper RP.sub.0 containing
a slight moisture seems to be attracted by the surface tension
against the surface of the smooth surface belt 145.
[0157] The drying belt conveyor unit 97 is a location for obtaining
recycled paper RP by further heating and drying the dried paper RP
squeezed and dewatered in the dewatering roll unit 96 after the
paper making process in the paper making belt conveyor unit 95, and
mainly includes a drying conveyor 170, a heating and drying unit
171, and the recycled paper smoothing process unit (recycled paper
smoothing device, recycled paper smoothing means) 10 mentioned
above.
[0158] The drying conveyor 170 smoothes and conveys the wet paper
RP.sub.0 squeezed and dewatered in the dewatering roll unit 96, and
mainly includes the smooth surface belt 145, and the drive motor
106 for driving the smooth surface belt 145.
[0159] The smooth surface belt 145 is for conveying the wet paper
RP.sub.0 while heating and drying, and specifically it is an
endless belt of plate materials of smooth surface structure having
a specified width connected and formed like a ring of a specified
length. The plate material of the smooth surface structure is any
material capable of finishing the one side surface of the wet paper
RP.sub.0 to a proper smoothness, and withstanding the heating
action by the heating and drying unit 171 described below, and
preferably fluoroplastic, stainless steel, or other flexible
heat-resistant material may be used, and a fluoroplastic belt is
used in the illustrated preferred embodiment.
[0160] This smooth surface belt 145, as shown in FIG. 1, is
rotatably suspended and supported by way of a drive roller 176, a
driven roller 177, the dewatering roll unit 96, and a driven roller
178, and is driven and coupled to the drive motor 106 by way of the
drive roller 176.
[0161] The drive motor 106 for driving the smooth surface belt 145,
as described above, is used commonly as the driving source of the
paper making net conveyor 100 and the dewatering roll unit 96.
[0162] The heating and drying unit 171 is a location for heating
and drying the wet paper RP.sub.0 transferred, rolled and conveyed
on the smooth surface belt 145 from the mesh belt 105 of the paper
making net conveyor 100, and specifically the smooth surface belt
145 for conveying and supporting the lower side of the wet paper
RP.sub.0 is heated from the lower side by a heater 180 disposed in
an intermediate position of the running route thereof.
[0163] This heater 180 is a heater plate sliding and contacting
with the opposite side of the conveying and supporting side of the
wet paper RP.sub.0 on the smooth surface belt 145, and is provided
in a horizontal direction running portion in the running route of
the smooth surface belt 145, and is provided in slide and contact
with the opposite side of the upper side of the holding side of the
wet paper RP.sub.0 in the smooth surface belt 145, that is, at the
lower side. As a result, the wet paper RP.sub.0 on the smooth
surface belt 145 is heated indirectly and dried by the smooth
surface belt 145 heated by the heater plate 180.
[0164] The specific structure of the heater 180 in the illustrated
preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 6, and it is designed to
function also as the recycled paper smoothing processing unit
10.
[0165] That is, the recycled paper smoothing processing unit 10 of
the present preferred embodiment mainly includes the smooth surface
belt 145, and a belt guide unit (belt guide means) 200 for sliding
and supporting this smooth surface belt 145 from the lower side,
and guiding the smooth surface belt 145 in a running state being
curved upward toward the running direction, and the belt guide unit
200 is provided with the heater 180.
[0166] The belt guide unit 200 is composed as shown in FIG. 5 and
FIG. 6A, having a curved guide surface 200a having a principal
curved section, that is, a belt running direction section, curved
upward toward the running direction of the smooth surface belt 145,
and this curved guide surface 200a is formed, as shown in FIG. 6B,
in a horizontal straight form on the section contour vertical to
the principal curved section, that is, on the section contour in
the belt width direction.
[0167] More specifically, the belt guide unit 200 is a plate
material curved upward toward the running direction of the smooth
surface belt 145, and having a horizontal and straight contour in
the width direction, and this component material has a sufficient
strength and wear resistance for sliding and supporting the smooth
surface belt 145 from the lower side, and in particular a material
excellent in heat transfer property is preferred as a base material
for the heater plate.
[0168] The belt guide unit 200 in the illustrated preferred
embodiment is made of a stainless steel plate (SUS), and is mounted
and supported on the apparatus machine body 54 by means of support
base plates 201, 201, and its upper surface is the curved guide
surface 200a. Although not shown specifically in the drawing, the
lower side 200b of the belt guide unit 200 is integrally provided
with a flat heater of a thin plate, and it is formed as a heater
plate of the heater 180.
[0169] This flat heater of a thin plate is specifically a known
electric heater, and in particular a flexible flat heater such as
silicone rubber heater is ideal because it can be tightly adhered
to the profile of the lower side 200b of the curved stainless steel
plate.
[0170] On the curved guide surface 200a of the belt guide unit 200
having such configuration, the smooth surface belt 145 is slidably
disposed with a specified tension. As a result, the smooth surface
belt 145 is guided slidably on the curved guide surface 200a of the
belt guide unit 200 so as to run in an upward curved state (see
FIG. 5 and FIG. 6A)
[0171] Consequently, the wet paper RP.sub.0 squeezed and dewatered
by the dewatering roll unit 96 is transferred and rolled to the
lower side of the smooth surface belt 145 of the upper side from
the upper side of the mesh belt 105 of the lower side, and the
smooth surface belt 145 is inverted to run by way of the rollers
178, 176, and the wet paper RP.sub.0 on the smooth surface belt 145
conveyed by the smooth surface belt 145 is provided with a tension
uniformly in the conveying and running direction, by means of the
running action of the smooth surface belt 145 and the curved shape
of the smooth surface belt 145 by the belt guide unit 200 (180). As
a result, the wet paper RP.sub.0 on the smooth surface belt 145 is
effectively deprived of wrinkle and warp caused in the proceeding
process of paper making process, and wrinkle and warp of the wet
paper RP.sub.0 caused by the heating and drying action by the
heater plate 180 can be effectively prevented, so that the wet
paper RP.sub.0 is regenerated as a smooth recycled paper (dry
paper) RP on the whole.
[0172] At the downstream side of the heating and drying unit 171 on
the smooth surface belt 145, a stripping member 210 is provided,
and the dry paper or the recycled paper RP (water content 10 to 7%)
being dried and conveyed on the smooth surface belt 145 is
sequentially stripped off from the holding side of the smooth
surface belt 145.
[0173] In this relation, at the running route terminal end position
of the smooth surface belt 145 at the downstream side of the
stripping member 210, a fixed size cutter unit 211 is provided, and
the recycled paper RP stripped from the smooth surface belt 145 is
cut to a specified size (in the illustrated preferred embodiment,
an A4 size format), and is discharged from the outlet port 8 of the
apparatus case 6.
[0174] The device control unit 5 is to control the driving parts of
the pulp making unit 2, the pulp concentration adjustment unit 3,
and the paper making unit 4 automatically by mutual cooperation,
and is specifically composed of a microcomputer having CPU, ROM,
RAM, and I/O port.
[0175] This device control unit 5 stores programs for executing the
pulp making process of the pulp making unit 2, the concentration
adjustment process of the concentration adjustment unit 3, and the
paper making process of the paper making unit 4 by mutual
cooperation, and various items of information necessary for driving
of the component units 2 (20, 21), 3 (3A, 3B), and 4 (95, 96, 97)
are preliminarily entered as data through keyboard or other input
means appropriately, including, for example, the driving time and
rotating speed of the agitating device 26 in the macerating unit
20, the water feed timing and the water feed amount of the water
feed device 27, the driving time and the agitation amount of the
circulation pump 69 in the beating unit 21, the driving time and
the rotating speed of the grinder 50, the adjustment timing and the
beating gap G adjustment amount of the gap adjusting means 57, the
running speed of the conveyors 100, 170 in the paper making unit 4,
the driving time of the heating and drying unit 171, and the
operation timing of the fixed size cutter unit 211.
[0176] The device control unit 5 electrically connected with the
weight sensors 48, 87, and the drive units 35, 41, 56, 61, 66, and
106 as mentioned above, and the drive control unit 5 controls these
drive units 35, 41, 56, 61, 66, and 106, according to these
measured values and control data.
[0177] The used paper recycling apparatus 1 having such
configuration is started when the power source is turned on, and
the component units 2 (20, 21), 3 (3A, 3B), and 4 (95, 96, 97) are
controlled automatically by mutual cooperation, and the used paper
UP, UP, . . . charged into the inlet port 7 of the apparatus case 6
are macerated and beaten by the macerating unit 20 and the beating
unit 21 of the pulp making unit 2, and the used paper pulp UPP is
manufactured, and the pulp suspension PS of paper making
concentration is prepared in the pulp concentration adjustment unit
3, and this pulp suspension PS is manufactured in the paper making
belt conveyor unit 95 of the paper making unit 4, the dewatering
roll unit 96, and the drying belt conveyor unit 97, and is
regenerated as recycled paper RP, and is discharged onto the
recycled paper receiving tray 9 from the outlet port 8 of the
apparatus case 6.
[0178] In this case, the recycled paper smoothing unit 10 in the
drying belt conveyor unit 97 in the paper making unit 4 includes
the smooth surface belt 145 for conveying and moving the wet paper
RP.sub.0, and the belt guide unit 200 (180) for driving and guiding
this smooth surface belt 145 in a state curved upward toward the
running direction of the smooth surface belt 145 while sliding and
supporting from the lower side, and hence the wet paper RP.sub.0 on
the smooth surface belt 145 conveyed by the smooth surface belt 145
is provided with a tension uniformly in the conveying and running
direction by the running action of the smooth surface belt 145 and
the curved shape of the smooth surface belt 145 by the belt guide
unit 200 (180), and therefore in a very narrow used paper
processing space of the used paper recycling apparatus 1 of
furniture size to be installed not only in a large office but also
in a small shop or a general household room, the wet paper RP.sub.0
made and formed by the paper making net conveyor 100 in the paper
making process can be securely regenerated as a smooth and
wrinkle-free recycled paper RP.
[0179] The wet paper made and formed in the paper making belt
conveyor unit (paper making process unit) 95 for obtaining wet
paper RP.sub.0 by making from the used paper pulp UPP is sent into
the drying belt conveyor unit 97 for composing the successive
drying process unit, and conveyed on the smooth surface belt 145,
and heated and dried, and the wet paper RP.sub.0 on the smooth
surface belt 145 is provided with a tension uniformly at least in
the conveying and running direction by the running action of the
smooth surface belt 145 and the curved shape of the smooth surface
belt 145 by the belt guide unit 200 (180)
[0180] Therefore, the wet paper RP.sub.0 on the smooth surface belt
145 is effectively deprived of the wrinkle or the warp caused in
the proceeding process of paper making process, and occurrence of
wrinkle or warp of wet paper RP.sub.0 by the heating and drying
action can be effectively prevented, and a smooth recycled paper RP
is regenerated on the whole.
Embodiment 2
[0181] This preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 8 to FIG. 10, in
which the configuration of the recycled paper smoothing unit
(recycled paper smoothing device, recycled paper smoothing means)
10 of preferred embodiment 1 is modified.
[0182] That is, the recycled paper smoothing unit 10 of this
preferred embodiment includes a pressing unit (pressing means) 250
for pressing the entire surface of the wet paper RP.sub.0 conveyed
by the smooth surface belt 145 with a uniform pressure from the
upper side, in addition to the configuration of preferred
embodiment 1.
[0183] This pressing unit 250 is composed in a form of a covering
belt conveyor specifically as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10.
[0184] The covering belt conveyor 250 includes a covering belt 251
disposed and composed to run in a same horizontal direction in a
state overlaid with the smooth surface belt 145, and the drive
motor 106 for driving this covering belt 251. This drive motor 106
is used commonly as the drive source of the paper making net
conveyor 100 and the dewatering roll unit 96 as explained in
preferred embodiment 1.
[0185] The covering belt 251 is an endless belt running while
covering the entire wet paper RP.sub.0 on the smooth surface belt
145 while tightly holding together with the smooth surface belt
145, and its lower side, that is, the side covering the entire wet
paper RP.sub.0 together with the smooth surface belt 145 cooperates
with the upper side of the smooth surface belt 145, and a flat
smoothing action surface is formed for smoothing the entire wet
paper RP.sub.0. The covering range of the wet paper RP.sub.0
(recycled paper RP) by the covering belt 251 is set in a range
nearly opposite to the belt guide unit 200 (that is, the heater
plate 180) in the running route of the smooth surface belt 145.
[0186] The covering belt 251 is specifically a mesh belt, and has a
ventilation mesh structure composed of numerous mesh cells for
passing and releasing the steam heated and evaporated from the wet
paper RP.sub.0.
[0187] The plate material of the ventilation mesh structure for
composing the mesh belt 251 is a material capable of passing and
releasing the moisture heated and evaporated from the wet paper
RP.sub.0 on the smooth surface belt 145 smoothly to the upper side
from the numerous mesh cells, and preferable, same as in the mesh
belt 105 of the paper making unit 4 mentioned above, desired
examples are polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET),
polyamide (PA) (generally known as Nylon, a registered trademark),
stainless steel (SUS), and other corrosion resistant materials, and
in the illustrated preferred embodiment, a PET mesh belt 251
excellent in heat resistance is used.
[0188] The ventilation mesh structure of the mesh belt 251 is
preferred to be fine in mesh size, and fine and smooth in weaving,
and same as the mesh belt 105 of the paper making unit 4 described
above, a specific material is selected in consideration of the
characteristic of the desired paper.
[0189] For example, the mesh size of the mesh belt 251 is set
larger than in the mesh belt 105 of the paper making unit 4 due to
difference in purpose, and it is preferably set at 12 mesh cells to
40 mesh cells (about 4 times of the mesh size of the mesh belt
105), and in the illustrated preferred embodiment, the mesh belt
251 of 25 mesh cells is used.
[0190] As far as the mesh belt 251 satisfies the requirements of
heat resistance of withstanding high heat in the heating and drying
process, and the ventilation for passing the steam heated and
evaporated from the wet paper RP.sub.0, strict design conditions as
required in the mesh belt 105 forming the core of the paper making
unit 4 are not needed, but the mesh belt 251 in the illustrated
preferred embodiment is a plain-woven PET-made mesh belt of 25 mesh
cells.
[0191] The width dimension of the mesh belt 251 is set same as the
width dimension of the smooth surface belt 145 as shown in FIG. 10B
so as to overlap with the smooth surface belt 145 and hold the wet
paper RP.sub.0 in a sandwich state.
[0192] The mesh belt 251 is rotatably suspended and supported by
way of a drive roller 255, and a driven roller 256, and the drive
roller 255 is driven and coupled to the drive motor 106.
[0193] The mesh belt 251 is slidably disposed on a curved guide
surface 200a of a belt guide unit 200 with a specified tension by
way of the smooth surface belt 145. As a result, in a state
overlaid with the smooth surface belt 145, the mesh belt 251 is
guided slidably in a same direction on the curved guide surface
200a of the belt guide unit 200, and runs in an upward curved state
(see FIG. 9 and FIG. 10A).
[0194] By such disposition and configuration of the mesh belt 251,
the mesh belt 251 pressed the wet paper RP.sub.0 on the smooth
surface belt 145 with a uniform pressure in the overall length of
the covering range, and without causing warp or wrinkle in the wet
paper RP.sub.0 (recycled paper RP), the one-side surface of the wet
paper RP.sub.0 (recycled paper RP) contacting with the surface of
the smooth surface belt 145 and the opposite-side surface are
finished to an appropriate smooth surface.
[0195] After the wet paper RP.sub.0 squeezed and dewatered by the
dewatering roll unit 96 is transferred and roll on the lower side
of the smooth surface belt 145 at the upper side from the upper
side of the mesh belt 105 of the lower side, the smooth surface
belt 145 is inverted to run by way of the rollers 178, 176, and the
wet paper RP.sub.0 on the smooth surface belt 145 conveyed from the
smooth surface belt 145 is provided with a uniform tension in the
conveying and running direction by means of the running action of
the smooth surface belt 145, and the curved shape of the smooth
surface belt 145 by the belt guide unit 200 (180), and by the
pressing force by covering with the mesh belt 251 of the covering
belt conveyor 250 from the upper side, the wet paper is heated and
dried while being held in a sandwich state by uniform pressures
from the upper and lower side. As a result, the wrinkle and the
warp of the wet paper RP.sub.0 caused in the proceeding process of
paper making process are effectively eliminated, and occurrence of
wrinkle or warp of the wet paper by the heating and drying process
by the heater plate 180 can be effectively prevented, and the
entire wet paper RP.sub.0 is uniformly dried by an appropriate
ventilation of the mesh belt 251 of the upper side, so that the wet
paper RP.sub.0 is regenerated into a smooth recycled paper (dry
paper) RP on the whole.
[0196] The running speed of the mesh belt 251 is controlled in
synchronism with the running speed of the smooth surface belt 145
in the drying conveyor 170 in the drying process unit, and recycled
paper of smooth and desired paper quality will be obtained.
[0197] In other words, if the running speed of the mesh belt 251 of
the upper side is not synchronized with the conveying speed of the
smooth surface belt 145 of the lower side, the wet paper RP.sub.0
(or dry paper (recycled paper RP)) may be loosened to be wrinkled,
or torn apart by an excessive tension to the contrary, and desired
smoothing processing effect may not be obtained. To prevent such
inconvenience, it is necessary to synchronize the running speed of
the mesh belt 251 with the conveying speed of the smooth surface
belt 145 of the drying process unit 170.
[0198] In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the running drive
source of the two belts 145, 251 is the common drive motor 106, and
by the mechanical configuration of the drive transmission system,
the running speeds of the two belts 145, 251 are synchronized.
[0199] The recycled paper smoothing unit 10 of the present
preferred embodiment having such configuration is provided with the
pressing unit 250 for pressing the entire wet paper RP.sub.0
conveyed on the smooth surface belt 145 with a uniform pressure
from the upper side, and this pressing unit 250 is formed as a
covering belt conveyor having the covering belt 251 running while
covering the entire wet paper RP.sub.0 on the smooth surface belt
145 in a pressed state together with the smooth surface belt 145.
The lower side of the covering belt 251 cooperates with the upper
side of the smooth surface belt 145, and forms a flat smoothing
action surface for smoothing the entire wet paper RP.sub.0. As a
result, the wet paper RP.sub.0 on the smooth surface belt 145 is
heated and dried while being held in a sandwich state with a
uniform pressure from the upper and lower side, by the pressing
force by the covering belt conveyor 250 from the upper side, in
addition to the smoothing action by the running action of the
smooth surface belt 145 and the curved shape of the smooth surface
belt 145 by the belt guide unit 200 (180), and hence smoothing of
the entire recycled paper RP may be further promoted from the
configuration in preferred embodiment 1.
[0200] In other words, the wet paper RP.sub.0 (recycled paper RP)
is heated and dried while being held in a flat state, by the
cooperative action of the sandwich structure of a specified
pressure by the smooth surface belt 145 and the covering belt 251,
together with the uniform tension applied in the conveying and
running direction, and the wrinkle and warp caused on the wet paper
RP.sub.0 in the proceeding process of paper making process is
effectively lost and removed, and occurrence of wrinkle and warp of
the wet paper RP.sub.0 (recycled paper RP) by the heating and
drying action by the heater plate 180 can be effective prevented
further, and therefore in the very narrow used paper processing
space of a furniture size, a smooth recycled paper RP free from
wrinkle can be regenerated securely.
[0201] Moreover, the covering belt 251 of the covering belt
conveyor 250 is formed of a mesh belt composed of numerous mesh
cells capable of passing and releasing the steam heated and
evaporated fro the wet paper RP.sub.0 on the smooth surface belt
145 to the upper side, in spite of the presence of the covering
belt 251, the steam generated by heating of the wet paper RP.sub.0
can be effectively elevated and dissipated, and the drying process
is smoothly promoted.
[0202] Further, the running speed of the mesh belt for composing
the covering belt 251 is controlled in synchronism with the running
speed of the smooth surface belt 145 in the drying belt conveyor
unit (drying process unit) 97, and the wet paper RP.sub.0 is stably
maintained in a sandwich structure, and is heated and dried
effectively.
[0203] The other configuration and effects are same as in preferred
embodiment 1.
Embodiment 3
[0204] This preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 11, in which the
configuration of the recycled paper smoothing unit (recycled paper
smoothing device, recycled paper smoothing means) 10 of preferred
embodiment 2 is slightly modified.
[0205] That is, a curved guide surface 200a of the belt guide unit
200 of the present preferred embodiment has a principal curved
section curved upward to the running direction of the smooth
surface belt 145, and an auxiliary curved section curved vertically
upward to this principal curved section.
[0206] In other words, in the foregoing preferred embodiments 1 and
2, the belt guide unit 200 has the curved guide surface 200a having
a principal curved section curved upward toward the running
direction of the smooth surface belt 145, that is, the belt running
direction section as shown in FIG. 6A and FIG. 10A, and this curved
guide surface 200a is formed in a horizontal straight state in a
section contour vertical to the principal curved section, that is,
in a section contour in the belt width direction, as shown in FIG.
6B and FIG. 10B.
[0207] By contrast, in the recycled paper smoothing unit 10 of the
present preferred embodiment, the belt guide unit 200 has the
curved guide surface 200a having a principal curved section (belt
running direction section) curved upward toward the running
direction of the smooth surface belt 145, but this curved guide
surface 200a has an auxiliary curved section curved upward
vertically to this principal curved section, same as in the
principal curved section as shown in FIG. 11.
[0208] By such section structure of the curved guide surface 200a
of the belt guide unit 200, the wet paper RP.sub.0 on the smooth
surface belt 145 receives the smoothing action by the running
action of the smooth surface belt 145 mentioned above, and the
curved shape of the smooth surface belt 145 by the belt guide unit
200 (180), and the pressing force by covering of the covering belt
conveyor 250, not only in the belt running direction but also in
the belt width direction vertical thereto, and as a result the
smoothing of the entire recycled paper RP may be further promoted
from the configuration of preferred embodiment 2.
[0209] The other configuration and effects are same as in preferred
embodiment 2.
Embodiment 4
[0210] This preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 12, in which the
configuration of the recycled paper smoothing unit (recycled paper
smoothing device, recycled paper smoothing means) 10 of embodiment
2 is slightly modified.
[0211] That is, the mesh belt 251 of the covering belt conveyor 250
in the recycled paper smoothing unit 10 of the present embodiment
is made of the mesh belt 105 for composing the paper making net
conveyor 100.
[0212] This mesh belt 105 is, as shown in the drawing, disposed and
configured to run straightly toward the running direction in the
paper making belt conveyor unit 95, and run by returning in the
opposite direction in the drying belt conveyor unit 97. As a
result, the wet paper RP.sub.0 made and formed in the paper making
belt conveyor unit 95 is directly transferred to the drying belt
conveyor unit 97, and is dried and processed.
[0213] The other configuration and effects are same as in preferred
embodiment 2.
[0214] The foregoing embodiments 1 to 4 may be modified and changed
in design as described below.
[0215] For example, the specific configuration of the recycled
paper smoothing unit (recycled paper smoothing device, recycled
paper smoothing means) 10 of the present invention is not limited
to the illustrated preferred embodiments alone, but other
configurations having similar functions may be employed.
[0216] For example, in preferred embodiments 1 to 4, the drive
motor 106 for driving the smooth surface belt 145 is used commonly
as the running drive source of the covering belt 251, and hence the
running speeds of the both belts 145, 251 are synchronized by the
mechanical configuration of the drive transmission system, but by
using individual independent running drive sources for the belt
145, 251, these drive sources may be electrically controlled in
synchronism by the device control unit 5.
[0217] In the used paper recycling apparatus in preferred
embodiments 1 to 4, the grinder 50 for composing the beating unit
21 of the pulp making unit 2 is used for pressurizing and beating
the used paper by the beating action surfaces 5la, 52a, and for
grinding and pulverizing the inks forming the characters and
patterns on the used paper, and by using only the tap water such as
drinking water obtained from the general water services, the
configuration requires no paper making chemicals such as used paper
de-inking chemicals conventionally essential in large-scale used
paper recycling equipment in the paper making plant or used paper
recycling plant, and moreover the present invention is applicable,
as a matter of course, not only in the used paper recycling
apparatus capable of realizing used paper recycling by ordinary
water alone, but also in the used paper recycling apparatus using
paper making chemicals such as used paper de-inking chemicals.
[0218] As the present invention may be embodied in several forms
without departing from the spirit of essential characteristics
thereof, the present preferred embodiment is therefore illustrative
and not restrictive, since the scope of the present invention is
defined by the appended claims rather than by the description
preceding them, and all changes that fall within metes and bounds
of the claims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds thereof are
therefore intended to be embraced by the claims.
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