JP2017048473A - Tow opening apparatus, apparatus for producing fiber sheet using the same, and method for producing fiber sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enclose granular matter in the inside at a desired position of a fiber sheet composed by using a long fiber tow, thereby enabling the characteristics of the granular matter to be locally exhibited in the fiber sheet and enabling the degree of freedom in the design of the fiber sheet to be increased.SOLUTION: A tow opening apparatus 9 includes: a cylindrical body part 26 within which a tow conveyance path including at least one opening chamber 43b, 43c for opening a long fiber tow by using first gas G1 is formed; a gas introduction part 29a which is provided at a position on an upstream side in a tow conveyance direction P1 from an outlet 43d of the opening chamber 43c on the most downstream side in the tow conveyance direction P1, and which introduces the first gas G1 into the conveyance path; a granular matter feed part 27 which feeds granular matter 65 to be added to the tow; and a discharge opening 44b which is provided at a position on a downstream side in the conveyance direction P1 from the gas introduction part 29a and on an upstream side in the conveyance direction P1 from the outlet 43d of the opening chamber 43c on the most downstream side in the conveyance direction P1, and which discharges the granular matter 65 fed from the granular matter feed part 27 in the inside of the tow.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a tow opening apparatus, a fiber sheet manufacturing apparatus using the tow opening apparatus, and a fiber sheet manufacturing method.

  In general, a fiber sheet is used as a material for absorbent bodies (also referred to as absorbent members) such as paper diapers and sanitary products. For example, the fiber sheet is produced by opening a long fiber tow such as cellulose acetate. A fiber sheet produced by opening a long fiber tow has a characteristic that it is less likely to lose its shape than a fiber sheet produced by fluff pulp.

  The absorber is required to have good tactile sensation and high water absorption characteristics. Therefore, as shown in Patent Document 1, there is a case where a fiber sheet containing a granular material is manufactured and given characteristics are given to the absorbent body. Examples of the material of the granular material include a super absorbent polymer (SAP).

JP2013-112909A

  When producing a fiber sheet containing a granular material, for example, if the granular material is enclosed inside a desired position of the fiber sheet and the characteristics of the granular material can be expressed locally in the fiber sheet, the entire fiber sheet is Compared with the case where the characteristics are expressed, the fiber sheet can be highly functionalized, and the design freedom of the fiber sheet can be improved.

  Therefore, the present invention encloses a granular material inside a desired position of a fiber sheet composed of long fiber tows, and allows the fiber sheet to express the characteristics of the granular material locally. The purpose is to improve the degree of design freedom.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a tow opening device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a tow conveyance path including at least one opening chamber in which a long fiber tow is opened with a first gas. A cylindrical main body formed and provided at a position on the upstream side in the transport direction from the opening of the opening chamber on the most downstream side in the transport direction of the tow, and introduces the first gas into the transport path A gas introduction unit that supplies the particulate matter to be added to the tow, and the opening on the downstream side in the conveyance direction and on the most downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the gas introduction unit. A discharge port provided at a position upstream of the exit of the fiber chamber in the transport direction and discharging the granular material supplied from the granular material supply unit inside the tow.

  According to the above configuration, since the particulate matter is discharged from the discharge port inside the tow at a position upstream of the opening of the opening chamber on the most downstream side in the tow transfer direction in the tow transfer direction, gas introduction Particulate matter enters a region of sufficient depth inside the tow through the fiber gap of the tow that is introduced from the section into the transport path and opened with the first gas. In addition, since the granular material is discharged from the discharge port inside the tow at a position downstream of the gas introduction portion in the tow conveying direction, excessive diffusion of the granular material is suppressed, and the desired position of the tow is achieved. The granular material can be easily arranged, and the characteristics of the granular material can be expressed locally with the tow. Therefore, by using the tow containing the particulate matter in this way, the particulate matter can be enclosed inside the desired position of the fiber sheet, and the characteristics of the particulate matter can be expressed locally in the fiber sheet, The degree of freedom in designing the fiber sheet can be improved.

  The main body has at least one flow part provided therein with a flow passage through which the granular material flows, and the granular material supply unit supplies the granular material together with a pressurized second gas, The discharge port is an outlet of the flow passage in the flow direction of the granular material, and the granular material may be ejected together with the second gas inside the tow conveyed in the opening chamber.

  In this way, by blowing out the particulate matter together with the pressurized second gas from the discharge port inside the tow conveyed in the opening chamber, the particulate matter is vigorously added to the inside of the tow being opened. Granules can enter. Therefore, the granular material can be satisfactorily arranged inside the tow at the position where the granular material is added to the tow.

  The flow part may be a tubular part, and a downstream end of the flow part may protrude toward the opening chamber and extend in the transport direction of the transport path. Thereby, the resistance which the granular material discharged from a discharge outlet receives from a tow can be reduced, and a granular material can be efficiently added to the inside of the tow | toe conveyed.

  The discharge port may discharge the granular material toward the downstream side in the transport direction. Thereby, a granular material can be efficiently added in the inside of a tow, reducing the collision with the tow | toe and granular material conveyed.

  The discharge port may be provided on the downstream side of the center between the joining position where the first gas joins the tow and the outlet of the opening chamber on the most downstream side in the transport direction. Thereby, in the opening chamber, the particulate matter can be added to the inside of the tow where the opening has progressed to some extent, and the particulate matter can be favorably arranged at a desired position of the tow through the fiber gap of the tow to be opened.

  The discharge port may discharge the particulate matter in at least one unevenly distributed region that is unevenly distributed in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction inside the tow. Thereby, a granular material can be favorably enclosed in the uneven distribution area | region of a tow, and the characteristic of a granular material can be expressed locally with a tow.

  The main body part has at least one molding part for molding the tow by projecting from a part of a circumferential direction of an inner peripheral surface forming the opening chamber into the opening chamber, and the unevenly distributed region May be either inside the region molded by the molded part of the tow or inside the region other than the region molded by the molded part of the tow.

  Thereby, a granular material can be arrange | positioned in either the inside of the area | region shape | molded by the shaping | molding part of the tow | toe, or the area | region which is not shape | molded by the shaping | molding part of the tow | toe, and the characteristic of a granular material can be expressed. .

  The main body may have a region where the flow path cross-sectional area of the opening chamber increases from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction. Thereby, the tow can be efficiently opened in the area of the opening chamber where the flow path cross-sectional area increases from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction. Therefore, the granular material is added to the inside of the tow at a position downstream of the gas introduction part in the conveying direction of the tow and upstream of the opening of the opening chamber in the conveying direction. Granules can be satisfactorily arranged at desired positions on the tow through the fiber gap.

  You may further provide the retention part which was provided in the position of the downstream of the said conveyance direction rather than the said fiber opening chamber, and the retention chamber which temporarily retains the said tow which passed the said conveyance path was formed in the inside. Thereby, the tow | toe opened by enclosing a granular material can be temporarily retained in a retention part, and the shape of a tow | toe can be prepared.

  A fiber sheet manufacturing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a first sheet supply unit that supplies a first sheet to a conveyance line, one of the tow opening apparatuses, and a tow opened by the tow opening apparatus. A second sheet supply unit that supplies the second sheet to the conveyance line so as to be sandwiched between the first sheet and the first sheet in the conveyance line.

  Thereby, a fiber sheet can be manufactured by sandwiching the tow opened by any of the above-described tow opening devices and added with particulates between the first sheet and the second sheet.

  The method for producing a fiber sheet according to one aspect of the present invention includes: transporting the tow into a tow transport path formed inside a cylindrical main body of a tow opening device and including at least one opening chamber. In the opening chamber, the tow of long fibers is conveyed to the conveying path by introducing the first gas from the gas introducing portion provided upstream of the opening of the opening chamber on the most downstream side in the direction. The tow is opened with the first gas, the downstream of the tow transfer direction with respect to the gas introduction portion, and the outlet of the opening chamber on the most downstream side with respect to the transfer direction. The granular material supplied from the granular material supply unit is discharged from the discharge port of the tow opening device provided at the upstream position inside the tow.

  According to the above manufacturing method, the particulate matter is discharged from the discharge port inside the tow at a position upstream of the opening of the opening chamber on the most downstream side in the tow transfer direction in the tow transfer direction. Through the fiber gap of the tow that is introduced from the section into the transport path and opened with the first gas, the granular material can enter the region of sufficient depth inside the tow, and the granular material can be enclosed in the tow. In addition, since the granular material is discharged from the discharge port inside the tow at a position downstream of the gas introduction unit in the tow conveying direction, excessive diffusion of the granular material is suppressed and the granular material is granular at the desired position of the tow. A thing can be made easy to arrange | position and the characteristic of a granular material can be locally expressed with a tow | toe. Therefore, by using the tow containing the particulate matter in this way, the particulate matter can be enclosed inside the desired position of the fiber sheet, and the characteristics of the particulate matter can be expressed locally in the fiber sheet, The degree of freedom in designing the fiber sheet can be improved.

  A body having at least one flow passage provided therein with a flow passage through which the granular material flows, and an outlet of the flow passage in the flow direction of the granular material being the discharge port; and pressurization The granular material is supplied together with the second gas from the discharge port inside the tow conveyed in the opening chamber using the granular material supply unit that supplies the granular material together with the second gas. May be.

  In this way, the granular material is spouted together with the second gas pressurized from the discharge port inside the tow conveyed in the opening chamber, so that the granular material is vigorously added to the inside of the tow being opened. Granules can enter. Therefore, the granular material can be satisfactorily arranged inside the tow at the position where the granular material is added to the tow.

  The particulate matter may be discharged from the discharge port of the circulation portion that is a tubular portion and has a downstream end protruding toward the opening chamber and extending in the transfer direction of the transfer path. Thereby, the resistance which the granular material discharged from a discharge outlet receives from a tow can be reduced, and a granular material can be efficiently added to the inside of the tow | toe conveyed.

  The particulate matter may be discharged from the discharge port toward the downstream side in the transport direction. Thereby, a granular material can be efficiently added in the inside of a tow, reducing the collision with the tow | toe and granular material conveyed.

  The particulate matter is discharged from the discharge port provided downstream of the center between the joining position where the first gas joins the tow and the outlet of the opening chamber on the most downstream side in the transport direction. You may let them. Thereby, in the opening chamber, the particulate matter can be added to the inside of the tow where the opening has progressed to some extent, and the particulate matter can be favorably arranged at a desired position of the tow through the fiber gap of the tow to be opened.

  The particulate matter may be discharged from the discharge port in at least one unevenly distributed region that is unevenly distributed in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction inside the tow. Thereby, a granular material can be favorably enclosed in the uneven distribution area | region of a tow, and the characteristic of a granular material can be expressed locally with a tow.

  Using the main body portion having at least one molding portion for projecting from the part of the inner circumferential surface forming the opening chamber toward the opening chamber to mold the tow, the tow of the tow Either the inside of the region molded by the molding unit or the region other than the region molded by the molding unit of the tow is set as the unevenly distributed region, and the particulate matter is discharged from the discharge port. You may let them.

  Thereby, a granular material can be arrange | positioned in either the inside of the area | region shape | molded by the shaping | molding part of the tow | toe, or the area | region which is not shape | molded by the shaping | molding part of the tow | toe, and the characteristic of a granular material can be expressed. .

  You may use the said main-body part which has an area | region where the flow-path cross-sectional area of the said opening chamber increases toward the downstream from the upstream of the said conveyance direction.

  Thereby, the tow can be efficiently opened in the area of the opening chamber where the flow path cross-sectional area increases from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction. Therefore, the granular material is added to the inside of the tow at a position downstream of the gas introduction part in the conveying direction of the tow and upstream of the opening of the opening chamber in the conveying direction. Granules can be satisfactorily arranged at desired positions on the tow through the fiber gap.

  Even if the tow that has passed through the transfer path is temporarily retained in the stay chamber of the stay portion that is provided at a position downstream of the opening chamber in the transport direction and in which the stay chamber is formed. Good. Thereby, the tow | toe opened by enclosing a granular material can be temporarily retained in a retention part, and the shape of a tow | toe can be prepared.

  According to the present invention, a granular material is enclosed inside a desired position of a fiber sheet configured using long fiber tows, and the characteristics of the granular material can be locally expressed by the fiber sheet. The degree of design freedom can be improved.

1 is an overall view of a fiber sheet manufacturing apparatus according to a first embodiment. It is the partial vertical sectional view seen from the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the tow band of the tow opening apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 is a set view seen from obliquely above the main body portion of FIG. 2. It is the horizontal sectional view looked down from the perpendicular direction of the tow opening apparatus of FIG. It is the vertical sectional view seen from the conveyance direction of the tow band which passed the tow opening apparatus of FIG. It is the front view seen from the exit side of the main-body part of the tow opening apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is the vertical sectional view seen from the conveyance direction of the tow band which passed the tow opening apparatus of FIG. It is the front view seen from the exit side of the main-body part of the tow opening apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is the vertical sectional view seen from the conveyance direction of the tow band which passed the tow opening apparatus of FIG. It is the front view seen from the exit side of the main-body part of the tow opening apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is the vertical sectional view seen from the conveyance direction of the tow band which passed the tow opening apparatus of FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
[Fiber sheet manufacturing equipment]
FIG. 1 is an overall view of a fiber sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. The fiber sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a toe opening part 2 and a sheet stacking part 3. A packing box 50 is placed in the vicinity of the toe opening part 2. A bale-like tow band 60 made of crimped long fiber tows is folded and packed in the packing box 50. Here, the fibers of the tow band 60 are long cellulose acetate fibers. However, the fibers of the tow band 60 may be fibers other than cellulose acetate fibers. As an example, in the fiber sheet manufacturing apparatus 1, the toe band 60 is conveyed in the conveyance direction P1 while the width direction of the toe band 60 is kept horizontal.

  The toe opening portion 2 adjusts the tow band 60 to be bulky by applying an external force to the toe band 60 and releasing a part of the crimp of the tow band 60. The toe opening part 2 is the 1st opening apparatus 4, the guide 5, the 2nd opening apparatus 6, the 1st opening roll 7, the 2nd opening roll 8 toward the downstream from the upstream of the conveyance direction P1. And a tow opening device 9 and a transport unit 10.

  The first opening device 4 blows a gas such as air onto the tow band 60 drawn upward from the packing box 50, and opens the tow band 60 in one direction (here, the width direction of the tow band 60) perpendicular to the transport direction P1. To do. The guide 5 guides the tow band 60 that has passed through the first fiber opening device 4 to the second fiber opening device 6. As an example, the first fiber opening device 4 and the guide 5 are respectively supported by an arm (boom) (not shown) extending upward from the housing of the toe fiber opening unit 2. As an example, the second fiber opening device 6 has the same configuration as the first fiber opening device 4, and further opens the toe band 60 in the one direction. The first fiber opening device 4 and the second fiber opening device 6 are also referred to as banding jet devices.

  The first spread roll 7 has a pair of rolls 11 and 12. The second spread roll 8 has a pair of rolls 13 and 14. The second spread roll 8 is rotationally driven at a peripheral speed faster than the peripheral speed of the first spread roll 7. The tow band 60 that has passed through the second fiber opening device 6 is inserted between the pair of rolls 11 and 12 and inserted between the pair of rolls 13 and 14. The tow band 60 is opened by the first opening roll 7 and the second opening roll 8 with tension applied in the transport direction P1. A groove for opening the tow band 60 in the width direction is formed in a spiral shape in the circumferential direction on at least one of the one roll of the pair of rolls 11 and 12 and the one roll of the pair of rolls 13 and 14. May be. The toe opening device 9 opens the tow band 60 conveyed to the second opening roll 8. The transport unit 10 takes the tow band 60 that has passed through the toe opening device 9 and transports it to the downstream side in the transport direction P1. The transport unit 10 includes a pair of transport rolls (take-off rolls) 15 and 16 that are pivotally supported in parallel with each other. In the transport unit 10, the toe band 60 is inserted between the pair of transport rolls 15 and 16. The toe band 60 is taken up by the pair of transport rolls 15 and 16 and transported downstream in the transport direction P1.

  The sheet stacking unit 3 stacks the first sheet 61 and the second sheet 62 on the opened tow band 60. The sheet stacking unit 3 includes a first sheet (bottom sheet) supply unit 17, a sheet conveyance unit 18, a second sheet (top sheet) supply unit 19, an adhesive attachment unit 20, a sheet molding unit 21, and a bonding unit 22. Have The first sheet supply unit 17 feeds the belt-shaped first sheet 61 from the axially supported sheet roll 17 a and supplies it to the transport line L. The sheet transport unit 18 transports the first sheet 61 to the transport line L. On the first sheet 61, the opened tow band 60 is supplied. The second sheet supply unit 19 feeds the belt-shaped second sheet 62 from the axially supported sheet roll 19 a and stacks the second sheet 62 with the toe band 60 sandwiched between the first sheet 61 and the second sheet 62. The sheet 62 is supplied onto the conveyance line L. The adhesive attaching unit 20 attaches an adhesive (for example, a hot-melt adhesive) to the second sheet 62 on the downstream side of the second sheet supply unit 19 in the transport direction P1. The sticking part 22 presses the first sheet 61 and the second sheet 62 that have passed through the sheet molding part 21, and sticks the first sheet 61 and the second sheet 62 in a state of being laminated with the toe band 60 interposed therebetween. To wear. In the fiber sheet manufacturing apparatus 1, a fiber sheet 63 having a predetermined shape is manufactured by cutting the first sheet 61, the toe band 60, and the second sheet 62 that are bonded by the bonding unit 22.

[Toe opening device]
FIG. 2 is a partial vertical sectional view of the toe opening device 9 of FIG. 1 as viewed from a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction P1. The toe opening device 9 includes a nozzle part 25, a main body part 26, a pair of granular material supply parts 27, and a staying part 28.

  The nozzle unit 25 transports the toe band 60 together with the first gas G1 to the downstream side in the transport direction P1. The nozzle part 25 has a mixing part 29 and a nozzle body part 30. The mixing part 29 is a tubular part extending in the transport direction P1, and mixes the tow band 60 and the first gas G1. A gas introduction port 29 a is provided on the upstream side of the mixing unit 29. The gas inlet 29a is provided at a position upstream of the outlet 43d of the opening chamber (here, the second opening chamber 43c) on the most downstream side in the transport direction P1 of the main body portion 26 in the transport direction P1. The gas introduction port 29a is a gas introduction part that introduces the first gas G1 into the internal space 40 of the nozzle part 25, and is connected to a compressor (not shown). The first gas G1 is air as an example, and is used to convey and open the tow band 60 in the conveyance direction P1. The first gas G <b> 1 is pressurized by the compressor and introduced into the gas introduction port 29 a, passes through the nozzle portion 25, and is then introduced into the conveyance path 43 of the main body portion 26. A toe band introduction port 29 c is provided at the upstream end 29 b of the mixing unit 29. The toe band 60 is introduced into the internal space 40 of the nozzle portion 25 from the outside through the toe band introduction port 29c. A downstream end portion 29 d of the mixing portion 29 is connected to the main body portion 26.

  The nozzle body 30 is provided inside the mixing unit 29 on the upstream side in the transport direction P <b> 1 of the mixing unit 29. A tapered portion 30a is formed at the tip of the nozzle body portion 30 on the downstream side in the transport direction P1. The tapered portion 30a has a tapered shape from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction P1. The inner peripheral surface of the mixing portion 29 facing the outer peripheral surface of the tapered portion 30a is reduced in diameter from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction P1 while being separated from the outer peripheral surface of the tapered portion 30a. Thereby, between the outer peripheral surface of the taper part 30a, and the internal peripheral surface of the mixing part 29, the flow path of the annular cross section which ejects the 1st gas G1 introduce | transduced from the gas inlet 29a to the internal space 40 in jet form 41 is provided. A tow band introduction path 42 extending in the longitudinal direction of the mixing unit 29 from the toe band introduction port 29 c is provided inside the nozzle body 30. The exit in the transport direction P1 of the toe band introduction path 42 is provided at a position downstream of the gas introduction port 29a in the transport direction P1. The tow band 60 that has passed through the tow band introduction path 42 is mixed with the jet-like first gas G <b> 1 that has passed through the flow path 41 and conveyed to the internal space 40. Note that the outlet of the toe band introduction path 42 and the gas introduction port 29a may be provided at a position overlapping each other when viewed from the vertical direction, and the outlet of the toe band introduction path 42 is in the transport direction more than the gas introduction port 29a. It may be provided at a position upstream of P1.

  The main body 26 opens the toe band 60. The main body 26 has a cylindrical shape and has a conveyance path 43 for the toe band 60 inside. The conveyance path 43 extends in the conveyance direction P1. The flow path cross-sectional area of the conveyance path 43 at the position of the outlet 26b of the main body 26 is larger than the flow path cross-sectional area of the conveyance path 43 at the position of the inlet 26a of the main body 26 (see FIG. 3). The conveyance path 43 includes a flow path 43a, a first opening chamber 43b, and a second opening chamber 43c. The tow band 60 is opened by the first gas G <b> 1 while being transported through the transport path 43. The nozzle portion 25 and the main body portion 26 may be configured integrally.

  The main body portion 26 includes a first member 31 and a second member 32. The first member 31 and the second member 32 have plate-like portions 31a and 32a. The plate-like portions 31a and 32a have plate surfaces perpendicular to the vertical direction. The first member 31 and the second member 32 are combined with each other using a fastening member (not shown) such as a screw. The main body portion 26 is provided on one of the first member 31 and the second member 32 and has at least one circulation portion for circulating the granular material 65. Here, the second member 32 has a pair of flow portions 33 arranged side by side in the width direction of the toe band 60. As an example, the circulation part 33 is a tubular part, and has an upstream end part 33a, a central part 33b, and a downstream end part 33c. The upstream end portion 33a is located on the upstream side in the transport direction P1 in the circulation portion 33, and protrudes upward from the upper surface of the plate-like portion 32a. The central portion 33b is located below the upstream end portion 33a. The central portion 33b extends from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction P1 so as to be inclined downward with respect to the transport direction P1, and penetrates the plate-like portion 32a in the thickness direction. Inside the central portion 33b, the angle θ between the line A1 going upstream in the transport direction P1 and the line A2 going upstream in the flow direction P2 is set to an acute angle. The value of the angle θ is preferably in the range of 10 ° to less than 90 °, more preferably in the range of 20 ° to 70 °, and even more preferably in the range of 30 ° to 60 °. Here, the angle θ is set to approximately 45 °. The downstream end portion 33c is located below the central portion 33b. The downstream end portion 33c protrudes into the first fiber opening chamber 43b below the lower surface of the plate-like portion 32a, and extends from the upstream side in the transport direction P1 to the downstream side.

  A first flow path 44 is provided inside each circulation part 33. The first flow path 44 extends in the longitudinal direction of the transport direction P1, and communicates with the inner peripheral surface 26c and the outer peripheral surface 26d of the main body 26. The inlet 44a of the first flow passage 44 is provided at the upstream end 33a, and the outlet 44b of the first flow passage 44 is provided at the downstream end 33c. The toe opening device 9 has an outlet 44 b as a discharge port for discharging the granular material 65 supplied from the granular material supply unit 27 inside the tow band 60. The first flow passage 44 is used to circulate the granular material 65 in the flow direction P <b> 2 from the upper side to the lower side and add the granular material 65 to the tow band 60 conveyed through the conveyance path 43. The outlet 44b is downstream in the transport direction P1 with respect to the gas introduction port 29a and in the transport direction with respect to the outlet of the opening chamber on the most downstream side in the transport direction P1 (here, the outlet 43d of the second opening chamber 43c). It is provided at a position upstream of P1. The outlet 44b is a joining position of the first gas G1 introduced from the gas introduction port 29a and the tow band 60 introduced from the toe band introduction path 42 in the toe opening device 9 (exit in the conveying direction P1 of the toe band introduction path 42). It is desirable to be provided at a position downstream of N and upstream of the outlet 43d. Furthermore, the outlet 44b is more preferably provided at a position downstream of the center M1 between the merge position N and the outlet 43d and at an upstream side of the outlet 43d in the transport direction P1. Here, the outlet 44b is provided at the position of the center M2 between the center M1 and the outlet 43d.

  The granular material supply unit 27 adds the granular material 65 to the tow band 60 conveyed in the first opening chamber 43b. The granular material supply unit 27 includes a supply pipe unit 34 and a hopper 35. The supply pipe portion 34 extends in the vertical direction. An upstream end portion 34 a of the supply pipe portion 34 is connected to the hopper 35. The downstream end portion 34 b of the supply pipe portion 34 is connected to the upstream end portion 33 a of the circulation portion 33. A second flow passage 45 through which the particulate matter 65 flows is provided inside the supply pipe portion 34. The second flow passage 45 extends in the longitudinal direction of the supply pipe portion 34.

  A nozzle part 37 is provided in the middle of the supply pipe part 34. The nozzle part 37 includes a mixing part 38 and a nozzle body part 39. A gas introduction port 38 a is provided on the side of the mixing unit 38. The gas introduction port 38a is a gas introduction part for introducing the second gas G2 into the second flow passage 45, and is connected to the compressor here. The mixing unit 38 mixes the granular material 65 and the second gas G2. The second gas G2 is air as an example.

  The nozzle body 39 is provided inside the mixing unit 38. A tapered portion 39 a is formed at the tip of the nozzle main body 39 on the downstream side in the flow direction P <b> 2 of the second flow passage 45. The tapered portion 39a has a tapered shape from the upstream side to the downstream side in the flow direction P2. The inner peripheral surface of the mixing portion 38 facing the outer peripheral surface of the tapered portion 39a is reduced in diameter from the upstream side to the downstream side in the flow direction P2 while being separated from the outer peripheral surface of the tapered portion 39a. Thereby, between the outer peripheral surface of the taper part 39a and the internal peripheral surface of the mixing part 38, the 2nd gas G2 introduce | transduced from the gas introduction port 38a of the cyclic | annular cross section which ejects to the 2nd flow path 45 at jet form is carried out. A flow path 47 is provided. A flow passage 48 that extends in the flow direction P <b> 2 and flows the granular material 65 is provided inside the nozzle body 39. The second gas G2 is pressurized by the compressor and introduced into the gas introduction port 38a, flows through the second flow passage 45 of the supply pipe portion 34, then flows through the first flow passage 44 of the flow portion 33, It is ejected together with the particulate matter 65 supplied from the hopper 35 through the supply hole 35a toward the inside of the first opening chamber 43b. The second gas G2 is not limited to a pressurized gas, and may be a gas set to atmospheric pressure or negative pressure.

  The hopper 35 stores the granular material 65. Below the hopper 35, a supply hole 35a for supplying the particulate matter 65 to the second flow passage 45 side is provided. The granular material 65 is SAP as an example. However, the granular material 65 is not limited to SAP, and may be any of a deodorizing material, an antibacterial material, and an adsorbing material. As the deodorizing material and the antibacterial material, for example, a predetermined resin material can be used. As the adsorbent, for example, activated carbon can be used in addition to a predetermined resin material.

  The staying part 28 temporarily restrains the tow band 60 that has passed through the conveyance path 43, thereby suppressing excessive expansion of the tow band 60 and adjusting the bulk or density of the tow band 60. The retention part 28 has a plurality of long members 36. Each long member 36 is connected to the end face 26 g of the main body 26. The long members 36 extend from the main body 26 toward the downstream side in the transport direction P <b> 1 while being separated from each other in the circumferential direction of the transport path 43. Each elongate member 36 is comprised with the metal rod-shaped member which has fixed elasticity. A staying chamber 46 surrounded by a plurality of long members 36 is formed in the staying portion 28.

  The plurality of long members 36 are close to each other from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction P1. Thereby, the cross section (flow path cross section) orthogonal to the conveyance direction P1 of the residence chamber 46 is gradually reduced from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveyance direction P1. In the staying chamber 46, the pressing force that the tow band 60 receives from each elongated member 36 increases as the tow band 60 is transported through the staying chamber 46 downstream in the transport direction P1. As a result, the tow band 60 is compressed in the transport direction P1 by the plurality of long members 36 while staying in the stay chamber 46, and the fiber gap is narrowed to increase the density. The first gas G <b> 1 and the second gas G <b> 2 exhausted from the main body portion 26 are diffused through the gap between the long members 36 to the outside. In addition, the elongate member 36 is not limited to a rod-shaped member, For example, a plate-shaped member may be sufficient. When the long member 36 is configured by a plate-like member, the plate surface of the plate-like member is brought into surface contact with the toe band 60.

  FIG. 3 is an assembled view of the main body 26 shown in FIG. The first member 31 and the second member 32 have a common configuration. The first member 31 and the second member 32 are formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape in which the vertical direction is the thickness direction, the transport direction P1 is the longitudinal direction, and the direction orthogonal to the transport direction P1 in the horizontal plane is the width direction. ing. Grooves 31b and 32b extending in the transport direction P1 are formed in the center of the plate surfaces of the plate-like parts 31a and 32a facing each other. The portions on both sides of the first member 31 sandwiching the groove portion 31b are in surface contact with the portions on both sides of the second member 32 sandwiching the groove portion 32b. Thereby, the groove portions 31 b and 32 b are combined, the inner surfaces of the first member 31 and the second member 32 are continuous, and the inner peripheral surface 26 c of the main body portion 26 is formed. A flow path 43a, a first opening chamber 43b, and a second opening chamber 43c are formed by the inner peripheral surface 26c of the main body portion 26, respectively. In the second member 32, each flow portion 33 is provided so that the outlets 44 b are located at both ends of the groove portion 32 b in the width direction of the main body portion 26. As an example, each circulation part 33 is connected to the second member 32 by welding. The flow passage cross section of the first flow passage 44 has a substantially circular shape, but is not limited to this shape, and may have, for example, an elliptical shape or a rectangular shape. In addition, each circulation part 33 may be provided such that the outlet 44b is located closer to the center of the main body part 26 than both ends of the groove part 32b in the width direction of the main body part 26.

  A downstream end 29 d of the nozzle portion 25 is connected to the inlet 26 a of the main body portion 26. Thereby, the flow path 43 a is connected to the internal space 40 of the mixing unit 29. The main body portion 26 includes an upstream side portion 26e and a downstream side portion (also referred to as an adapter portion) 26f. A flow path 43a and a first opening chamber 43b are formed inside the upstream side portion 26e. The flow path 43a is located on the upstream side in the transport direction P1 of the upstream side portion 26e, and the first opening chamber 43b is located on the downstream side in the transport direction P1 of the upstream side portion 26e. The first opening chamber 43b includes an upstream opening chamber 43b1 and a downstream opening chamber 43b2. The width W1 of the upstream opening chamber 43b1 is gradually increased from the upstream side in the transport direction P1 toward the downstream side. The width W2 of the downstream opening chamber 43b2 gradually increases from the upstream side in the transport direction P1 toward the downstream side at a steep rate than the width W1 of the upstream opening chamber 43b1. Thereby, the channel cross-sectional area of the first opening chamber 43b gradually increases from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction P1. As described above, the main body 26 has a region where the cross-sectional area of the transport path 43 increases in the direction from the inlet 26a to the outlet 26b. When the tow band 60 is transported in the first opening chamber 43b, the tow band 60 expands corresponding to the shape of the first opening chamber 43b by the first gas G1, and each fiber of the tow band 60 is efficiently Opened.

  A second opening chamber 43c is formed in the downstream side portion 26f. The second opening chamber 43c is continuous with the first opening chamber 43b. The width W3 of the second opening chamber 43c is wider than the width W2 at the outlet of the downstream opening chamber 43b2. Thereby, the flow-path cross-sectional area of the 2nd opening chamber 43c is expanded rather than the flow-path cross-sectional area in the exit of the downstream opening chamber 43b2. The width W3 of the second opening chamber 43c is constant in the transport direction P1. When the tow band 60 is transported in the second opening chamber 43c, the tow band 60 is further opened and expanded.

  As an example, the cross-section of each flow path of the first opening chamber 43b and the second opening chamber 43c has a shape in which the dimension in the width direction is larger than the dimension in the vertical direction. Thereby, each flow path cross section of the 1st opening chamber 43b and the 2nd opening chamber 43c has a flat shape which makes the width direction a longitudinal direction. In addition, in this embodiment, since the cross-sectional shape of the tow band 60 that has passed through the main body portion 26 is not limited, the cross-sectional shape of each flow path between the first fiber opening chamber 43b and the second fiber opening chamber 43c is substantially circular or substantially rectangular. You may have a shape. Or each flow-path cross section of the 1st opening chamber 43b and the 2nd opening chamber 43c may have a substantially elliptical shape which makes a width direction a major axis direction and makes a perpendicular direction a minor axis direction.

  An annular end surface 26g orthogonal to the transport direction P1 is formed at the boundary between the upstream side portion 26e and the downstream side portion 26f. The end face 26g extends in the circumferential direction of the second opening chamber 43c. A plurality of holes 26h are provided in the end face 26g along the opening periphery of the outlet 26b. Each long member 36 is connected to each hole 26h (see FIG. 2). Thereby, the channel cross-sectional shape of the retention chamber 46 is similar to the channel cross-sectional shape of the conveyance path 43 at the connection position where each long member 36 is connected to the end face 26g. Therefore, the shape of the tow band 60 formed while being opened by the first opening chamber 43 b and the second opening chamber 43 c is also maintained in the staying chamber 46.

  FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the toe opening device 9 of FIG. 1 as viewed from the vertical direction. FIG. 4 shows the position of each outlet 44b in the first opening chamber 43b. Each outlet 44b is directed toward the downstream side in the transport direction P1 in at least one unevenly distributed region (here, a pair of unevenly distributed regions at both ends in the width direction of the toe band 60) that is unevenly distributed in the width direction of the toe band 60. The granular material 65 is disposed so as to be discharged together with the second gas G2. As an example, each outlet 44b is located at both ends of the first opening chamber 43b in the width direction of the main body 26. The uneven distribution region of the toe band 60 is set inside a pair of end portions 60 a located on both sides of the center portion 60 b of the toe band 60 in the width direction of the toe band 60.

  When the fiber sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 is in operation, the toe opening device 9 transports the tow band 60 from the nozzle unit 25 in the transport direction P1 and passes the transport path 43 of the main body unit 26. At this time, the granular material 65 supplied from the granular material supply part 27 is discharged from the outlet 44b in the uneven distribution area inside the tow band 60 in the first opening chamber 43b. In this way, at the position upstream of the outlet 43d of the second opening chamber 43c in the transport direction P1, the granular material 65 is discharged from the outlet 44b inside the tow band 60, and the granular material 65 is added to the inside of the tow band 60. To do. Here, the granular material 65 is enclosed inside the tow band 60 in the first opening chamber 43b where the opening is progressing compared to the tow band 60 at a position upstream of the gas introduction port 29a in the transport direction P1.

  As a result, the particulate matter 65 enters and is enclosed in a sufficiently deep region of the tow band 60 through the fiber gap of the tow band 60. Moreover, the granular material 65 is jetted together with the second gas G2 from the outlet 44b, and the granular material 65 is vigorously added to the inside of the tow band 60 being opened, so that the granular material 65 can efficiently enter the tow band 60. be able to. Further, by allowing the particulate matter 65 to be discharged from the outlet 44b to the inside of the tow band 60 on the downstream side of the gas introduction port 29a in the transport direction P1, excessive diffusion of the particulate matter 65 is suppressed, and the unevenly distributed region of the toe band 60 It is possible to facilitate the arrangement of the granular material 65. In addition, in the part where the outlet 44b inside the tow band 60 is located, the fiber wraps around on the downstream side in the transport direction P1 from the outlet 44b, so that a cavity is generated in the part where the outlet 44b inside the tow band 60 was located. There is no.

  In the fiber sheet manufacturing apparatus 1, the settings of the bulk, density, conveyance speed, supply amount of the granular material 65, the atmospheric pressure of the second gas G2, and the like when the granular material 65 is added to the tow band 60 are adjusted. Thus, the granular material 65 can be enclosed in the inside of the tow band 60 in a region having a predetermined depth in the thickness direction of the tow band 60.

  The tow band 60 that has passed through the conveyance path 43 is temporarily retained in the retention chamber 46 continuously from the upstream side in the conveyance direction P1, and is compressed in the conveyance direction P1. As a result, the shape of the tow band 60 encapsulated with the granular material 65 is adjusted in the retention chamber 46. In the staying chamber 46, the tow band 60 is compressed in the transport direction P1 to narrow the fiber gap, and the granular material 65 is carried on the tangled fibers. Accordingly, even if an external force such as vibration or impact is applied to the toe band 60 to some extent, the granular material 65 is less likely to fall out of the fiber gap, and the granular material 65 is less likely to be displaced within the toe band 60. Therefore, the state where the granular material 65 is enclosed in the uneven distribution region of the toe band 60 is maintained. In addition, the granular material 65 is less likely to drop out from the fiber gap of the tow band 60 without using a binder or the like.

  While the tow band 60 having passed through the staying chamber 46 is transported to the transport path between the staying part 28 and the transporting part 10, the compressed state of the tow band 60 is partially released. Thereby, the toe band 60 is restored to some extent to the shape immediately after being carried out from the second opening chamber 43c. Thereafter, the tow band 60 is inserted between the pair of transport rolls 15 and 16 of the transport unit 10.

  FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the tow band 60 that has passed through the toe opening device 9 of FIG. The toe band 60 has a substantially elliptical cross-sectional shape in which the width direction is the major axis direction and the thickness direction is the minor axis direction. A granular material 65 is enclosed inside each end portion 60a which is an unevenly distributed region of the toe band 60. As an example, it is desirable that the granular material 65 be disposed in a region deeper than the value of 1/20 of the thickness dimension of the toe band 60 from the outer peripheral surface of the toe band 60, and the thickness dimension of the toe band 60 from the outer peripheral surface of the toe band 60. It is more desirable to dispose in a region deeper than 1/10, and it is even more desirable to dispose in a region deeper than 1/8 of the thickness dimension of the tow band 60 from the outer peripheral surface of the tow band 60. Here, the granular material 65 is arranged in a region deeper than the value of 1/6 of the thickness dimension of the toe band 60 from the outer peripheral surface of the toe band 60. In the vertical cross section viewed from the conveyance direction P <b> 1 of the toe band 60, the granular material 65 is disposed in a substantially circular region with the center in the thickness direction of the toe band 60 as the center.

  Thus, in the fiber sheet 63 manufactured using the tow band 60 in which the granular material 65 is enclosed, the characteristics of the granular material 65 can be expressed locally at positions corresponding to the respective end portions 60a, and the entire fiber sheet. As compared with the case where the characteristics of the granular material are expressed, the fiber sheet 63 can be highly functionalized. For example, the entire tow band 60 has good cushioning properties, and has high lateral leakage resistance and rewet resistance (water absorbed by the fiber sheet 63 is absorbed on the surface of the fiber sheet 63 at positions corresponding to the end portions 60a. The fiber sheet 63 having the characteristic of oozing again (also referred to as a rewet back) is obtained.

  In the fiber sheet manufacturing apparatus 1, the arrangement position of the granular material 65 in the toe band 60 is unevenly distributed in the width direction of the toe band 60, for example, only at the center part 60b of the toe band 60 or only at each end part 60a of the toe band 60. The characteristics of the granular material 65 can be locally expressed in the toe band 60. Therefore, in the fiber sheet 63 manufactured using such a tow band 60, the position where the characteristics of the granular material 65 are expressed can be easily set, and the design freedom of the fiber sheet 63 can be improved. Further, by adding the granular material 65 locally to the tow band 60, the amount of the granular material 65 added to the tow band 60 can be saved.

  As described above, since the granular material 65 is discharged from the outlet 44b inside the tow band 60 at a position upstream of the outlet 43d of the second opening chamber 43c in the conveying direction P1, it is conveyed from the gas introduction port 29a. Through the fiber gap of the tow band 60 introduced into the passage 43 and opened by the first gas G1, the particulate matter 65 enters and is enclosed in a sufficiently deep region inside the tow band 60. Further, since the particulate matter 65 is discharged from the outlet 44b in the toe band 60 at a position downstream of the gas introduction port 29a in the transport direction P1, excessive diffusion of the particulate matter 65 is suppressed, The granular material 65 can be easily arranged at a desired position, and the characteristics of the granular material 65 can be locally expressed in the toe band 60. Therefore, by using the tow band 60 including the granular material 65 in this way, the granular material 65 can be enclosed at a desired position of the fiber sheet 63, and the characteristics of the granular material 65 can be expressed locally by the fiber sheet 63. At the same time, the design freedom of the fiber sheet 63 can be improved.

  Further, in the toe opening device 9, the downstream end 33c of the circulation part 33 protrudes into the first opening chamber 43b and extends in the transfer direction P1 of the transfer path 43, so that the discharge from the discharge port 44b. It is possible to reduce the resistance of the granular material 65 to be received from the tow band 60 and to efficiently add the granular material 65 to the inside of the tow band 60 to be conveyed. In addition, since the angle θ between the lines A1 and A2 is set to an acute angle inside the central portion 33b, the granular material 65 flowing through the central portion 33b in the first flow passage 44 is inside the downstream end portion 33c. Collision with the peripheral surface can be suppressed, and the granular material 65 can be favorably added to the inside of the tow band 60 being conveyed.

  Further, since the particulate matter 65 is discharged from the outlet 44b toward the downstream side in the transport direction P1, the particulate matter 65 is efficiently introduced into the toe band 60 while reducing the collision between the tow band 60 and the particulate matter 65 being transported. Can be added well.

  Further, the first flow passage 44 can be easily provided in the toe opening device 9 by providing the flow portion 33 by penetrating the plate-like portion 32a of the second member 32 in the thickness direction. In the main body 26, the outlet 44b is provided at a position downstream of the center M1 in the transport direction P1 and upstream of the outlet 43d of the second opening chamber 43c in the transport direction P1. In the first opening chamber 43b, the granular material 65 can be added to the inside of the tow band 60 where the opening has progressed to some extent, and the granular material 65 is placed at a desired position of the tow band 60 through the fiber gap of the tow band 60 to be opened. Can be placed well.

  Moreover, since the main-body part 26 has an area | region where the flow-path cross-sectional area of the 1st opening chamber 43b increases toward the downstream from the upstream of the conveyance direction P1, the flow-path cross-sectional area increases in this way. The tow band 60 can be efficiently opened in the region of the 1 opening chamber 43b. Therefore, the granular material 65 can be satisfactorily sealed inside the tow band 60 through the fiber gap of the tow band 60 opened in the region. Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention will be described focusing on differences from the first embodiment.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 6 is a front view of the main body 126 of the toe opening device according to the second embodiment as viewed from the outlet 126b side. FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the tow band 160 that has passed through the toe opening device of FIG. 6 as viewed from the conveyance direction P1. The main body 126 has at least one molding part that projects from a part in the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface 126c into the first opening chamber 43b and molds the toe band 160. As shown in FIG. 6, as an example, a plurality (here, a pair) of intermediate plates 136 and 137 are provided in a portion of the inner peripheral surface 126 c of the main body 126 that forms the first opening chamber 43 b. Yes. The intermediate plate 136 is provided on the first member 131, and the intermediate plate 137 is provided on the second member 132. The intermediate plates 136 and 137 have molding parts 136a and 137a exposed to the first opening chamber 43b. The molding parts 136a and 137a are used to mold the toe band 160, and project from the part of the inner peripheral surface 126c in the circumferential direction toward the first opening chamber 43b. Here, the molding parts 136a and 137a are provided so as to protrude in the thickness direction of the main body 126 at the center in the width direction of the main body 126 in the flow path cross section of the first opening chamber 43b. The molding parts 136a and 137a are long and extend in the transport direction P1. The flow path cross section of the first opening chamber 43b has an atypical cross section in which a portion corresponding to the position where the molding parts 136a and 137a are provided is recessed inward.

  The end surfaces 136b and 137b of the intermediate plates 136 and 137 and the end surface 126g of the main body 126 are provided with a plurality of members for connecting the elongated member 36 to the main body 126 along a part of the opening periphery of the outlet 126b. Holes 136c, 137c, and 126h are provided. On the inner peripheral surface 126 c side of the main body 126 in the second member 132, a pair of flow portions 133 are provided on both sides in the width direction of the second member 132 sandwiching the intermediate plate 137.

  When the fiber sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 is in operation, the tow band 160 is opened with the first gas G1 while being conveyed to the first opening chamber 43b and abuts against the molding parts 136a and 137a. Thereby, the tow band 160 is opened and molded while a depression extending in one direction (here, the conveyance direction P1) is formed on the surface. As shown in FIG. 7, the toe band 160 has a dumbbell-shaped atypical cross-sectional shape in which the thickness of the central portion 160b in the width direction is thinner than the thickness of the end portions 160a on both sides in the width direction.

  The uneven distribution region of the toe band 160 can be set to one of a region where the toe band 160 is molded by the molding parts 136a and 137a, or a region where the toe band 160 is not molded. Here, as an example, the uneven distribution region of the toe band 160 is set to a region (inside each end portion 160a) that is not formed by the forming portions 136a and 137a of the toe band 160. In the first fiber opening chamber 43b, the granular material 65 that has flowed through the first flow passage 144 of each flow portion 133 is jetted from the outlet 144b into the inside of the tow band 160 being opened together with the pressurized second gas G2. The Thereby, the granular material 65 is enclosed inside each end 160a.

  When a fiber sheet is manufactured using the tow band 160 having such a configuration, for example, at a position corresponding to the central portion 160b, liquid permeability is improved and weight reduction is achieved, and the end portion 160a is provided with an end portion 160a. At a corresponding position, a fiber sheet having improved properties such as bulkiness, liquid diffusibility, side leakage resistance, and rewet resistance is obtained. It should be noted that a water absorbent sheet or the like for increasing water absorption can be stacked on the upper surface of the central portion 160b.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 8 is a front view of the main body 226 of the toe opening device according to the third embodiment as viewed from the outlet 226b side. FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of the tow band 260 that has passed through the toe opening device of FIG. 8 as viewed from the conveying direction P1. As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality (four in this case) of intermediate plates 236 and 237 are provided in a portion of the inner peripheral surface 226 c of the main body 226 that forms the first opening chamber 43 b. . Specifically, two intermediate plates 236 are attached to both sides of the first member 231 in the width direction. Two intermediate plates 237 are attached to both sides of the second member 232 in the width direction. The molding parts 236a and 237a of the intermediate plates 236 and 237 protrude in the thickness direction of the main body part 226 toward the first opening chamber 43b. Thereby, the flow path cross section of the 1st opening chamber 43b has a cross-shaped unusual cross-sectional shape.

  The end surfaces 236b and 237b of the intermediate plates 236 and 237 and the end surface 226g of the main body 226 have a plurality of members for connecting the elongated member 36 to the main body 226 along a part of the opening periphery of the outlet 226b. Holes 236c, 237c, and 226h are provided. A single flow portion 233 is provided between the pair of intermediate plates 237 on the inner peripheral surface 226 c side of the main body portion 226 in the second member 232.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the tow band 260 that has passed through the toe opening device has a cross-shaped atypical cross-sectional shape. In the first opening chamber 43b, the granular material 65 that has flowed through the first flow passage 244 of the flow portion 233 is jetted from the outlet 244b into the inside of the tow band 260 being opened together with the pressurized second gas G2. . Thereby, the granular material 65 is enclosed in the center part 260b. When the fiber sheet is manufactured using the toe band 260 having such a configuration, for example, at a position corresponding to the central portion 260b, characteristics such as water absorption, liquid diffusibility, and cushioning properties are particularly enhanced. A fiber sheet is obtained.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 10 is a front view of the main body 326 of the toe opening device according to the fourth embodiment as viewed from the outlet 326b side. FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the tow band 360 that has passed through the toe opening device of FIG. 10 as viewed from the conveyance direction P1. As shown in FIG. 10, a plurality (three in this case) of intermediate plates 337 are provided in a portion of the inner peripheral surface 326 c of the main body 326 that forms the first opening chamber 43 b. Specifically, each intermediate plate 337 is provided on the second member 332 at intervals in the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface 326c. The plurality of molding portions 337a of each intermediate plate 337 protrude in the vertical direction toward the first opening chamber 43b. The first member 331 is not provided with a molding part. Thereby, the flow path cross section of the 1st opening chamber 43b has the unusual cross-sectional shape from which the upper-and-lower periphery shape extended in the width direction of the toe band 360 mutually differs.

  A plurality of holes 337c for connecting the elongate member 36 to the main body 326 along a part of the peripheral edge of the opening of the outlet 26b are formed on the end surface 337b of each intermediate plate 337 and the end surface 326g of the main body 326. 326h is provided. On the inner peripheral surface 326 c side of the main body 326 in the second member 332, a plurality of flow portions 333 are provided so as to penetrate each intermediate plate 337 in the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the tow band 360 that has passed through the toe opening device has a flat surface on one side (here, the lower surface) and a convex portion 360 a and a concave portion 360 b on the other surface (here, the upper surface) in the width direction. It has an atypical cross-sectional shape arranged alternately. In the first opening chamber 43b, the particulate matter 65 that has circulated through the first flow path 344 of each flow portion 33 is ejected from the outlet 344b together with the pressurized second gas G2 inside the toe band 360. Thereby, the granular material 65 is enclosed in each recess 360b of the toe band 360.

  In the toe band 360 having such a configuration, the characteristics of the granular material 65 are expressed in each recess 360b. When a fiber sheet is manufactured using the toe band 360, for example, water absorption is increased at a position corresponding to each recess 360b, and contact between the fiber sheet and the user's skin is suppressed at a position corresponding to the recess 360b. It is possible to improve the feel of the fiber sheet after water absorption. Moreover, since each recessed part 360b with which water absorption was improved is located in a line with the width direction of the toe band 360, it can make it difficult to leak a water | moisture content to the width direction of the toe band 360 from the fiber sheet after water absorption. In the fourth embodiment, the first member 331 is provided with a plurality of intermediate plates similar to the intermediate plate 337 at intervals in the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface 326c, and the upper and lower peripheral edge shapes extending in the width direction are the same. A tow band having a cross-sectional shape may be manufactured.

(Other)
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and the configuration and method thereof can be changed, added, or deleted without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The above embodiments may be arbitrarily combined with each other. For example, some configurations or methods in one embodiment may be applied to other embodiments.

  In each embodiment, the granular material 65 may be intermittently added to the inside of the tow bands 60, 160, 260, 360, for example, by operating the compressor intermittently at a predetermined time. In this case, the granular material 65 can be enclosed in the tow bands 60, 160, 260, 360 in a region that is unevenly distributed in the transport direction P <b> 1 inside the tow bands 60, 160, 260, 360.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a granular material is enclosed inside a desired position of a fiber sheet configured using long fiber tows, and the characteristics of the granular material can be expressed locally in the fiber sheet. In addition, it has an excellent effect of improving the degree of freedom in designing the fiber sheet. Therefore, it is beneficial to apply widely as a tow opening device that can demonstrate the significance of this effect, a fiber sheet manufacturing device using the tow opening device, and a fiber sheet manufacturing method.

G1 1st gas G2 2nd gas L Conveyance line M1 Center of the conveyance direction of the tow band between the merge position where the first gas merges with the tow band and the outlet of the second opening chamber N Merge position of the first gas and the tow band P1 Tow band conveyance direction P2 Granular material distribution direction 1 Fiber sheet manufacturing device 9 Tow opening device 17 First sheet supply unit 19 Second sheet supply unit 24 Conveyance unit 26, 126, 226, 326 Main unit 26c, 126c, 226c 326c Inner peripheral surface of the main body 27 Granule supply part 28 Retention part 29a Gas introduction part 33, 133, 233, 333 Flowing part 33c Downstream end part 43 Conveyance path 43b First opening chamber 43c Second opening chamber 43d First 2 Exit of the opening room
44, 144, 244, 344 First flow path (flow path)
44b, 144b, 244b, 344b Outlet (discharge port) of flow passage
46 Retention chamber 60, 160, 260, 360 Tow band (long fiber tow)
61 1st sheet 62 2nd sheet 63 Fiber sheet 65 Granular material 136a, 137a, 236a, 237a, 337a Molding part

Claims (19)

A cylindrical main body portion in which the tow conveyance path including at least one opening chamber in which the tow of the long fiber is opened with the first gas is formed;
A gas introduction part that is provided at a position on the upstream side in the transport direction from the opening of the opening chamber on the most downstream side in the transport direction of the tow, and that introduces the first gas into the transport path;
A granular material supply unit for supplying granular material for addition to the tow;
Provided at a position downstream of the gas introduction part in the transport direction and upstream of the opening chamber in the transport direction from the most downstream side in the transport direction, from the granular material supply part A toe opening device comprising: a discharge port for discharging the supplied granular material inside the tow. The main body has at least one flow part provided with a flow path through which the granular material flows.
The granular material supply unit supplies the granular material together with the pressurized second gas,
The discharge port is an outlet of the flow passage in the flow direction of the particulate matter, and the particulate matter is ejected together with the second gas inside the tow conveyed in the opening chamber. The tow opening device as described.   The tow opening device according to claim 2, wherein the flow part is a tubular part, and a downstream end of the flow part protrudes toward the opening chamber and extends in the transfer direction of the transfer path. .   The tow opening device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the discharge port discharges the granular material toward a downstream side in the transport direction.   The discharge port is provided on the downstream side of the center between the joining position where the first gas joins the tow and the outlet of the opening chamber on the most downstream side in the transport direction. The tow opening apparatus of any one of -4.   The tow opening according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the discharge port discharges the granular material in at least one unevenly distributed region that is unevenly distributed in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction inside the tow. apparatus. The main body part has at least one molding part for molding the tow by projecting from a part of the inner circumferential surface forming the opening chamber toward the opening chamber,
The toe opening device according to claim 6, wherein the unevenly distributed region is one of a region formed by the forming part of the tow and a region other than the region formed by the forming part of the tow. .   The tow opening according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the main body has a region in which a flow path cross-sectional area of the opening chamber increases from an upstream side to a downstream side in the transport direction. apparatus.   It further includes a staying portion provided at a position downstream of the opening chamber in the transport direction and in which a stay chamber for temporarily staying the tow that has passed through the transport path is formed. The toe opening device according to any one of 8. A first sheet supply unit for supplying the first sheet to the conveyance line;
The toe opening device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
A fiber sheet comprising: a second sheet supply unit that supplies a second sheet to the conveyance line so that the tow opened by the tow opening device is sandwiched between the first sheet and the first sheet in the conveyance line. manufacturing device. The tow opening formed in the cylindrical main body of the tow opening device and including at least one opening chamber in the tow transfer path is more downstream than the opening of the opening chamber on the most downstream side in the tow transfer direction. By introducing the first gas from the gas introduction portion provided on the upstream side, the tow of long fibers is conveyed to the conveying path and the tow is opened with the first gas in the opening chamber,
The tow opening provided at a position downstream of the gas introduction portion in the conveying direction of the tow and upstream of the opening of the opening chamber on the most downstream side in the conveying direction. The manufacturing method of the fiber sheet which discharges the granular material supplied from a granular material supply part from the discharge port of an apparatus inside the said tow | toe.   A body having at least one flow passage provided therein with a flow passage through which the granular material flows, and an outlet of the flow passage in the flow direction of the granular material being the discharge port; and pressurization The granular material is supplied together with the second gas from the discharge port inside the tow that is conveyed in the opening chamber using the granular material supply unit that supplies the granular material together with the second gas. The manufacturing method of the fiber sheet of Claim 11.   The granular material is discharged from the discharge port of the circulation portion that is a tubular portion and has a downstream end protruding toward the opening chamber and extending in the transfer direction of the transfer path. Manufacturing method of fiber sheet.   The manufacturing method of the fiber sheet of any one of Claims 11-13 which discharges the said granular material toward the downstream of the said conveyance direction from the said discharge outlet.   The particulate matter is discharged from the discharge port provided downstream of the center between the joining position where the first gas joins the tow and the outlet of the opening chamber on the most downstream side in the transport direction. The manufacturing method of the fiber sheet of any one of Claims 11-14 made to make.   The production of the fiber sheet according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the granular material is discharged from the discharge port in at least one unevenly distributed region that is unevenly distributed in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction inside the tow. Method.   Using the main body portion having at least one molding portion for projecting from the part of the inner circumferential surface forming the opening chamber toward the opening chamber to mold the tow, the tow of the tow The region formed by the molding unit or the region other than the region molded by the molding unit of the tow is set as the uneven distribution region, and the particulate matter is discharged from the discharge port. 16. A method for producing a fiber sheet according to 16.   The fiber sheet according to any one of claims 11 to 17, wherein the main body portion having a region in which a flow path cross-sectional area of the opening chamber increases from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction. Production method.   The tow that has passed through the transport path is temporarily retained in the staying chamber of a staying portion that is provided at a position downstream of the opening chamber in the transport direction and in which a staying chamber is formed. The manufacturing method of the fiber sheet of any one of claim | item 11 -18.

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