Sheet manufacturing apparatus and sheet manufacturing method

Abstract

The sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a deposition portion configured to deposit a material containing a fiber to form a web, a web transport portion including a transport belt configured to hold and transport the web, a humidifier provided to face the transport belt and configured to apply moisture to the web, a sheet forming portion configured to perform at least one of heating and pressing on the web to which the moisture was applied, and a controller. The humidifier includes at least a first mist generation element and a second mist generation element, and the controller is configured to individually control the first mist generation element and the second mist generation element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sheet manufacturing apparatus, comprising:
 a deposition portion configured to deposit a material containing a fiber to form a web;   a web transport portion including a transport belt configured to hold and transport the web;   a humidifier provided to face the transport belt and configured to apply moisture to the web;   a sheet forming portion configured to perform at least one of heating and pressing on the web to which the moisture was applied; and   a controller, wherein   the humidifier includes at least a first mist generation element and a second mist generation element, and   the controller is configured to individually control the first mist generation element and the second mist generation element.   
     
     
         2 . The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the humidifier includes   a duct and an exhaust port, and   mist generated by at least one of the first mist generation element and the second mist generation element is exhausted from the exhaust port to the web through the duct.   
     
     
         3 . The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 one or more sensors, wherein   the controller is configured to control at least one of the first mist generation element and the second mist generation element based on a result measured by the sensors.   
     
     
         4 . The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a moisture meter configured to measure moisture of the web, wherein   the controller is configured to individually control the first mist generation element and the second mist generation element based on the moisture of the web measured by the moisture meter.   
     
     
         5 . The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a temperature detector configured to measure temperature, wherein   the controller is configured to individually control the first mist generation element and the second mist generation element based on the temperature measured by the temperature detector.   
     
     
         6 . The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a humidity detector configured to measure humidity, wherein   the controller is configured to individually control the first mist generation element and the second mist generation element based on the humidity measured by the humidity detector.   
     
     
         7 . The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a thickness detector configured to measure a thickness of the web, wherein   the controller is configured to individually control the first mist generation element and the second mist generation element based on the thickness of the web measured by the thickness detector.   
     
     
         8 . The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a water temperature detector configured to measure water temperature of water stored in the humidifier and used for generating mist, wherein   the controller is configured to individually control the first mist generation element and the second mist generation element based on the water temperature measured by the water temperature detector.   
     
     
         9 . A sheet manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a sheet from a material containing a fiber, the sheet manufacturing apparatus comprising:
 a deposition portion configured to deposit a material containing the fiber to form a web;   a web transport portion including a transport belt configured to hold and transport the web in a transport direction;   a humidifier provided to face the transport belt and configured to apply moisture to the web;   a sheet forming portion configured to perform at least one of heating and pressing on the web to which the moisture was applied; and   a controller, wherein   the humidifier includes a plurality of mist generation elements arranged in line symmetry in a width direction of the web, and   the controller is configured to individually control the plurality of mist generation elements in accordance with a condition corresponding to the line symmetry.   
     
     
         10 . A sheet manufacturing method for a sheet manufacturing apparatus including at least a first mist generation element and a second mist generation element, the sheet manufacturing method comprising:
 depositing a material containing a fiber to form a web;   transporting the web;   applying moisture to the web by at least one of the first mist generation element and the second mist generation element configured to be individually controlled; and   applying at least one of heating and pressing to the web to which the moisture was applied.   
     
     
         11 . A sheet manufacturing method for a sheet manufacturing apparatus including a plurality of mist generation elements arranged in line symmetry in a width direction of a web, the sheet manufacturing method comprising:
 depositing a material containing a fiber to form the web;   transporting the web;   applying moisture to the web by individually controlling the plurality of mist generation elements in accordance with a condition corresponding to the line symmetry; and   applying at least one of heating and pressing to the web to which the moisture was applied.