Patent Publication Number: US-11661702-B2

Title: Fiber transport apparatus and fiber transport method

Description:
The present application is based on, and claims priority from JP Application Serial Number 2019-112947, filed Jun. 18, 2019, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a fiber transport apparatus and a fiber transport method. 
     2. Related Art 
     In the related art, a transport apparatus which transports fiber pieces stirred inside a container from the container is known. For example, JP-A-2011-241497 discloses a configuration in which an outlet is provided on a bottom surface of a storage container in which a paper material is stirred, and a rectangular frame-shaped casing extending downwardly communicates with the outlet. In JP-A-2011-241497, the paper material is scraped into the casing from the outlet by a rotating shaft-shaped scraping rod disposed inside the casing. Further, in JP-A-2011-241497, the paper material dropped into the casing is discharged from the casing by a pair of rotatable delivery rollers arranged to face each other inside the casing. 
     In the configuration described in JP-A-2011-241497, the outlet is provided on the bottom surface of the container, and the fiber piece can be dropped from the outlet regardless of an operation state of the scraping rod, and when a state of the paper piece held between the delivery rollers varies, it is difficult to adjust the transport amount of fiber pieces. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a fiber transport apparatus including: a case that accommodates fiber pieces containing fibers; a stirring portion that rotates inside the case to stir the fiber pieces; a first driving portion that rotates the stirring portion; a transport apparatus that transports the fiber pieces through a transport path coupled to a side surface of the case; and a control portion that controls rotation states of the stirring portion and the transport apparatus, in which the transport apparatus includes a rotator that rotates on an axis along the transport path, and a second driving portion that rotates the rotator. 
     In the fiber transport apparatus, the rotation states of the stirring portion and the rotator may be at least one of a rotation speed and a rotation direction of the stirring portion, and at least one of a rotation speed and a rotation direction of the rotator. 
     In the fiber transport apparatus, the rotator may be a tube that forms the transport path, and the second driving portion may rotate the tube. 
     In the fiber transport apparatus, one end of the tube in an axial direction may communicate with an internal space of the case, and the other end may have an outlet for discharging the fiber piece, and a protrusion may be disposed on an inner surface of the tube in a spiral shape on an axis of the tube. 
     In the fiber transport apparatus, the tube may be inclined so that the outlet is lower in a vertically downward direction than a coupling portion with the case. 
     In the fiber transport apparatus, the stirring portion may include a rotating portion that forms a part of a bottom surface of the case, and a blade erected on the rotating portion. 
     In the fiber transport apparatus, the transport path may be coupled to the case at an overlapping position with the blade in a height direction of the case. 
     In the fiber transport apparatus, a half-linear extension virtual line extending from the axis of the rotator to an outside of the transport path may be orthogonal to a virtual half-line extending from a rotation center of the stirring portion in a radial direction and defining a passing position of the stirring portion in a circumferential direction, at a position shifted from the rotation center of the stirring portion, and the control portion may rotate the stirring portion such that a portion of the stirring portion passing through the virtual half-line moves in a direction approaching the transport path. 
     In the fiber transport apparatus, a half-linear extension virtual line extending from the axis of the rotator to an outside of the transport path may be orthogonal to a virtual half-line extending from a rotation center of the stirring portion in a radial direction and defining a passing position of the stirring portion in a circumferential direction, at a position shifted from the rotation center of the stirring portion, and the control portion may rotate the stirring portion such that a portion of the stirring portion passing through the virtual half-line moves in a direction away from the transport path. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a fiber transport method of controlling a fiber transport apparatus including a case that accommodates fiber pieces containing fibers, a stirring portion that rotates inside the case to stir the fiber pieces, a first driving portion that rotates the stirring portion, a transport apparatus that transports the fiber pieces through a transport path coupled to a side surface of the case, and a control portion that controls the stirring portion and the transport apparatus, the transport apparatus including a rotator that rotates on an axis along the transport path and a second driving portion that rotates the rotator, the method including: causing the control portion to control the first driving portion and the second driving portion, adjusting a rotation state of each of the stirring portion and the rotator, and controlling a transport amount of the fiber pieces. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a sheet manufacturing apparatus. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of a storage portion. 
         FIG.  3    is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line in  FIG.  2   . 
         FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view of a discharge pipe. 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view of a spiral member. 
         FIG.  6    is a schematic diagram corresponding to a plan view of the storage portion. 
         FIG.  7    is an explanatory diagram illustrating movement of raw material pieces when being rotated in a forward direction. 
         FIG.  8    is a schematic diagram illustrating the movement of the raw material pieces when being rotated in a reverse direction. 
         FIG.  9    is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a control system of the sheet manufacturing apparatus. 
         FIG.  10    is a schematic diagram corresponding to a plan view of a storage portion according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG.  11    is a schematic diagram corresponding to a plan view of a storage portion according to a third embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, appropriate embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments to be described below do not limit contents of the disclosure described in the claims. In addition, all of configurations to be described below are not essential components of the disclosure. 
     1. First Embodiment 
     1-1. Overall Configuration of Sheet Manufacturing Apparatus 
       FIG.  1    is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a sheet manufacturing apparatus  100 . 
     The sheet manufacturing apparatus  100  manufactures a sheet S by fiberizing a raw material MA containing fibers such as a wood-based pulp material or kraft pulp, waste paper, and synthetic pulp. 
     The sheet manufacturing apparatus  100  includes a supply portion  10 , a crushing portion  12 , a storage portion  13 , a defibration portion  20 , a sorting portion  40 , a first web forming portion  45 , a rotator  49 , a mixing portion  50 , a dispersion portion  60 , a second web forming portion  70 , a web transport portion  79 , a processing portion  80 , and a cutting portion  90 . 
     The supply portion  10  supplies the raw material MA to the crushing portion  12 . The crushing portion  12  is a shredder which cuts the raw material MA by a crushing blade  14 . The raw material MA is cut into paper pieces by the crushing portion  12  to become raw material pieces MS, and the raw material pieces MS are collected by a hopper  9  and transported into the storage portion  13 . The raw material piece MS can be referred to as a crushed piece or a cut piece, and corresponds to an example of a fiber piece containing fibers. The raw material piece MS has, for example, a rectangular shape with a length of approximately 20 mm and a width of approximately 3 mm. 
     The storage portion  13  temporarily stores the raw material pieces MS supplied from the crushing portion  12  and supplies a predetermined amount of raw material pieces MS to the defibration portion  20 . As a result, it possible to stabilize the supply amount of raw material pieces MS supplied for a manufacturing process of the sheet S. 
     The defibration portion  20  defibrates the fine piece cut by the crushing portion  12  in a dry method to obtain a defibrated material MB. The defibration is a process of unraveling the raw material piece MS in a state in which a plurality of fibers are bound into one or a small number of fibers. The dry method refers to performing a process such as defibration in the air, instead of in a liquid. For example, the defibrated material MB contains components derived from the raw material MA, such as fibers contained in the raw material MA, resin particles, coloring agents such as ink or toner, anti-smearing materials, and paper strength enhancers. 
     The defibration portion  20  is, for example, a mill which includes a tube-shaped stator  22  and a rotor  24  which rotates inside the stator  22 , and defibrates the raw material piece MS by holding the raw material piece MS between the stator  22  and the rotor  24 . The defibrated material MB is sent to the sorting portion  40  through a pipe. 
     The sorting portion  40  includes a drum portion  41  and a housing portion  43  which accommodates the drum portion  41 . The drum portion  41  is a sieve having openings such as a net, a filter, and a screen, and is rotated by power of a motor (not illustrated). The defibrated material MB unravels inside the rotating drum portion  41  and descends through the opening of the drum portion  41 . Among components of the defibrated material MB, a component does not pass through the opening of the drum portion  41  is transported to the hopper  9  through a pipe  8 . 
     The first web forming portion  45  includes an endless-shaped mesh belt  46  having a large number of openings. The first web forming portion  45  manufactures a first web W 1  by accumulating fibers and the like descending from the drum portion  41  on the mesh belt  46 . Among the components descending from the drum portion  41 , those smaller than the opening of the mesh belt  46  pass through the mesh belt  46  and are suctioned and removed by a suction portion  48 . Thus, among the components of the defibrated material MB, short fibers, resin particles, ink, toner, anti-smearing agents, and the like, which are not appropriate for manufacturing the sheet S, are removed. 
     A humidifier  77  is disposed on a movement path of the mesh belt  46 , and the first web W 1  accumulated on the mesh belt  46  is humidified by mist-like water or high-humidity air. 
     The first web W 1  is transported by the mesh belt  46  and comes into contact with the rotator  49 . The rotator  49  divides the first web W 1  by a plurality of blades to obtain a material MC. The material MC is transported to the mixing portion  50  through a pipe  54 . 
     The mixing portion  50  includes an additive supply portion  52  which adds an additive material AD to the material MC, and a mixing blower  56  which mixes the material MC and the additive material AD. The additive material AD includes a binding material such as a resin for binding a plurality of fibers, and may include a colorant, an aggregation inhibitor, a flame retardant, and the like. The mixing blower  56  generates airflow in the pipe  54  to which the material MC and the additive material AD are transported, mixes the material MC and the additive material AD, and transports a mixture MX to the dispersion portion  60 . 
     The dispersion portion  60  includes a drum portion  61  and a housing  63  which accommodates the drum portion  61 . The drum portion  61  is a cylinder-shaped sieve having the same configuration as the drum portion  41 , and is driven by a motor (not illustrated) to rotate. By the rotation of the drum portion  61 , the mixture MX unravels and descends into the housing  63 . 
     The second web forming portion  70  includes an endless-shaped mesh belt  72  having a large number of openings. The second web forming portion  70  manufactures a second web W 2  by accumulating the mixture MX descending from the drum portion  61  on the mesh belt  72 . Among components of the mixture MX, those smaller than the opening of the mesh belt  72  pass through the mesh belt  72  and are suctioned by a suction portion  76 . 
     A humidifier  78  is disposed on a movement path of the mesh belt  72 , and the second web W 2  accumulated on the mesh belt  72  is humidified by mist-like water or high-humidity air. 
     The second web W 2  is peeled off from the mesh belt  72  by the web transport portion  79 , and is transported to the processing portion  80 . The processing portion  80  includes a pressing portion  82  and a heating portion  84 . The pressing portion  82  holds the second web W 2  between a pair of pressing rollers and presses the second web W 2  with a predetermined nip pressure to form a pressurized sheet SS 1 . The heating portion  84  applies heat across the pressurized sheet SS 1  by a pair of heating rollers. Thus, fibers contained in the pressurized sheet SS 1  are bound by resin contained in the additive material AD, and a heated sheet SS 2  is formed. The heated sheet SS 2  is transported to the cutting portion  90 . 
     The cutting portion  90  cuts the heated sheet SS 2  in a direction crossing a transport direction F and/or in a direction along the transport direction F, and manufactures a sheet S having a predetermined size. The sheet S is stored in a discharge portion  96 . 
     The sheet manufacturing apparatus  100  includes a control apparatus  110 . The control apparatus  110  controls each portion of the sheet manufacturing apparatus  100  including the defibration portion  20 , the additive supply portion  52 , the mixing blower  56 , the dispersion portion  60 , the second web forming portion  70 , the processing portion  80 , and the cutting portion  90  so as to execute a method of manufacturing the sheet S. Further, the control apparatus  110  may control the operations of the supply portion  10 , the sorting portion  40 , the first web forming portion  45 , and the rotator  49 . 
     The sheet manufacturing apparatus  100  corresponds to an example of a fiber transport apparatus of the present disclosure. 
     1-2. Configuration of Storage Portion 
       FIG.  2    is a perspective view of the storage portion  13 .  FIG.  3    is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in  FIG.  2   . In  FIG.  3   , a measurement portion  134  is not illustrated. 
     The storage portion  13  includes a stirring apparatus  130 , a discharge pipe  132 , and the measurement portion  134 . 
     The stirring apparatus  130  has a function of temporarily storing the raw material pieces MS transported from the hopper  9  and a function of stirring the stored raw material pieces MS. The stirring apparatus  130  includes a case  170 , a rotator  172 , and a drive mechanism  174 , as illustrated in  FIG.  3   . 
     The hopper  9  is located above an opening portion  184  of the case  170 , and the raw material pieces MS are put into the case  170  from the hopper  9  through the opening portion  184 . 
     The case  170  is formed such that a side wall  180 , which is a cylinder-shaped member, is mounted on a mounting table  136 , and accommodates the raw material pieces MS. A bottom portion of the side wall  180  is open and clogged by an upper surface of the mounting table  136 . That is, the upper surface of the mounting table  136  forms a bottom surface  182  of the case  170 . 
     The side wall  180  is fixed to the mounting table  136  by a plurality of support members  122 . As illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the support member  122  is a columnar member having a C-shaped cross-section, and is erected on the upper surface of the mounting table  136 . A claw portion  124  is provided at an upper end of the support member  122 , and the claw portion  124  is engaged with an upper end of the side wall  180 , so that the side wall  180  is fixed to the mounting table  136 . In the present embodiment, a configuration in which four support members  122  are arranged at equal intervals along the outer periphery of the case  170  is illustrated.  FIG.  2    illustrates only some of the support members  122 . The side wall  180  may be fixed to the mounting table  136  by an adhesive or the like without using the support member  122 . Further, the support member  122  and the side wall  180  may be fixed by an adhesive. 
     An annular overhang  230  is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the side wall  180 . The overhang  230  regulates winding of the raw material pieces MS so that the raw material pieces MS stirred inside the stirring apparatus  130  do not overflow from the opening portion  184 . A width and a height position of the overhang  230  can be appropriately changed in accordance with a shape or a size and a processing speed of the stirring apparatus  130 . 
     A discharge portion  186  is provided on the side wall  180 . The discharge portion  186  corresponds to an example of a coupling portion. The discharge portion  186  is a hollow overhang portion provided from a lower portion of the side wall  180  toward the outside of the case  170 . The measurement portion  134  is disposed outside the case  170  so as to face the discharge portion  186 . 
     The discharge portion  186  includes an inclined surface  188  which is inclined downward to face the measurement portion  134 . An outlet  189  is open on the inclined surface  188 , and the raw material pieces MS can be discharged from the inside of the case  170  through the outlet  189 . The discharge pipe  132  is coupled to the outlet  189 . 
     The rotator  172  which stirs the raw material pieces MS is disposed at a bottom portion of the case  170 . The rotator  172  corresponds to an example of a stirring portion. The rotator  172  is rotatably installed with respect to the bottom surface  182 , and includes a rotating portion  190 , a plurality of blades  196 , and a protrusion member  198 . 
     The rotating portion  190  is a disk-shaped member which is disposed so as to overlap with the bottom surface  182 , and a boundary between the rotating portion  190  and the bottom surface  182  is sealed by a sealing member  192 . The sealing member  192  suppresses a situation in which the raw material pieces MS enter between the rotating portion  190  and the bottom surface  182 , are compressed, and becomes a lump. The sealing member  192  is formed of, for example, a resin such as polyacetal. 
     A center hole  191 , which is a through-hole, is provided at a rotation center of the rotating portion  190 . Further, a bottom surface hole  183 , which is a through-hole, is provided at a position at which the bottom surface  182  overlaps with a center of the rotating portion  190 , on the bottom surface  182 . A coupling member  194  which penetrates through the center hole  191  and reaches an inside of the bottom surface hole  183  is disposed in the rotating portion  190 . The coupling member  194  is fixed to the rotating portion  190 . 
     The rotator  172  is coupled to the drive mechanism  174 , and is rotated by power of the drive mechanism  174 . The drive mechanism  174  includes a stirring motor  210 , a housing member  214 , a drive shaft  216 , and the coupling member  194 , and is disposed below the mounting table  136 . The stirring motor  210  corresponds to an example of a first driving portion. The housing member  214  is a cylinder-shaped housing which accommodates the drive shaft  216 , and is coupled to a lower surface of the mounting table  136 . 
     The drive shaft  216  is an output shaft of the stirring motor  210 , passes through an inside of the housing member  214 , and is coupled to an insertion portion  195  formed below the coupling member  194  inside the bottom surface hole  183 . The drive shaft  216  is rotatably supported by the housing member  214  by two bearings  220 . 
     With this configuration, when the stirring motor  210  operates and the drive shaft  216  rotates, the rotator  172  rotates at the bottom portion of the case  170  together with the drive shaft  216 . 
     The plurality of blades  196  are fixed to an upper surface of the rotating portion  190 . The blade  196  is disposed so as to extend radially from the rotation center of the rotating portion  190 . In the present embodiment, the four blades  196  are arranged in the rotator  172 , and the respective blades  196  are arranged at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction of the rotating portion  190 . A flange  200  is formed at a lower end of the blade  196 , and the flange  200  is fixed in surface contact with the rotating portion  190 . With this configuration, there is an effect of preventing the raw material pieces MS from entering between the blade  196  and the rotating portion  190 . Although an example in which the blade  196  is erected substantially vertically is illustrated, the blade  196  may be installed at an angle which is an acute angle or an obtuse angle from the upper surface of the rotating portion  190 . 
     One end of the blade  196  is close to the coupling member  194  near a center of the rotator  172 . The other end of the blade  196  is located at a position close to the periphery of the rotating portion  190 . For this reason, when the rotator  172  rotates, the raw material pieces MS are stirred over a wider range in a radial direction of the case  170 . 
     A protrusion piece  204  which protrudes in a radial direction of the rotating portion  190  is formed at an end of the blade  196  at an outer peripheral portion of the rotator  172 . The protrusion piece  204  is disposed at an overlapping position with the outlet  189  in a height direction of the case  170 . The protrusion piece  204  acts to push the raw material piece MS to the outlet  189  while the rotator  172  rotates. 
     The protrusion member  198  is disposed at a rotation center of the upper surface of the rotating portion  190 . The protrusion member  198  is a semi-elliptical sphere or a hemispherical member, and covers the coupling member  194 . In addition, an end of the blade  196  and the coupling member  194  are coupled such that there is no gap or the gap is small. A height of the protrusion member  198  may be higher than a height of the blade  196 , and in the present embodiment, is approximately half a height of the side wall  180 . 
     The protrusion member  198  closes a space at the rotation center of the rotating portion  190 , and suppresses the accumulation of the raw material pieces MS in this space. The raw material piece MS located at the rotation center of the rotating portion  190  is not easily affected by centrifugal force due to the rotation, and does not contact the blade  196 . For this reason, when the rotating portion  190  is rotated, the raw material piece MS tends to stay at the rotation center. By disposing the protrusion member  198  at the rotation center of the rotating portion  190  to close the space of the rotation center, stagnation of the raw material pieces MS can be suppressed, and the raw material pieces MS can be effectively stirred in the case  170 . A shape of the protrusion member  198  is not limited to the hemisphere or the semi-elliptic sphere, and may be a cone such as a cone or a pyramid, or a cone having a spherical tip. 
       FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view of the discharge pipe  132 . 
     The discharge pipe  132  is a hollow tubular member, and transports the raw material pieces MS stored in the stirring apparatus  130  toward the measurement portion  134 . In the present embodiment, the discharge pipe  132  is a straight pipe having a circular cross-section, and a virtual axis passing through a center of the cross section is defined as a central axis L 1 . The discharge pipe  132  corresponds to an example of a rotator. The discharge pipe  132  corresponds to an example of a tube. The central axis L 1  corresponds to an example of an axis. The discharge pipe  132  according to the present embodiment is made of ABS resin, but may be made of another material. Here, the ABS is an abbreviation of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. 
     Both ends of the discharge pipe  132  are open, an opening at one end is an inlet  132 A, and an opening at the other end is an outlet  132 B. The inlet  132 A is coupled to the discharge portion  186  of the stirring apparatus  130 , communicates with an internal space  170 A of the case  170 , and the outlet  132 B opens at a position close to the measurement portion  134 . The discharge pipe  132  functions as a transport path  133  which transports the raw material pieces MS from the internal space  170 A to the measurement portion  134 . 
     The discharge pipe  132  is installed horizontally so that the outlet  132 B is at the same height position as the inlet  132 A, or is inclined so that the outlet  132 B is at a lower position than the inlet  132 A. The inclination of the discharge pipe  132  is specified by an angle θ of the central axis L 1  from a horizontal line L 0 , and for example, the angle θ is appropriately within a range equal to or more than 0° and equal to or less than 15°, and appropriately 5° in particular. 
     An annular rib  141  is formed at an edge of the outlet  132 B. According to the formation of the rib  141 , a diameter of the outlet  132 B is reduced. The rib  141  suppresses discharge of the raw material pieces MS from the outlet  132 B, and facilitates adjustment of the amount of raw material pieces MS discharged from the outlet  132 B. 
     Spiral members  140  are arranged inside the discharge pipe  132 . 
       FIG.  5    is a perspective view of the spiral member  140 . 
     The spiral member  140  has a shape in which a thin plate having a rectangular cross-section draws a spiral. The spiral member  140  illustrated in  FIG.  5    forms the spiral having three and a half turns at an equal pitch, but the number of turns and the pitch of the spiral member  140  can be optionally changed. Here, the pitch refers to a length of the spiral member  140  per one turn in a direction along an axis L 2 . The axis L 2  is a virtual axis passing through a center of a circumference of the spiral member  140 , and ends of the spiral member  140  in the direction along the axis L 2  are referred to as an end  140 A and an end  140 B. A width of the spiral member  140  may be uniform throughout, but in the present embodiment, a width H 2  of the spiral member  140  in one turn including the end  140 B is larger than a width H 1  of the spiral member  140  in the other turn, and the amount of raw material pieces MS discharged from the outlet  132 B can be easily adjusted. 
     The spiral member  140  is disposed along an inner peripheral surface  132 C of the discharge pipe  132 . The spiral member  140  may be in close contact with the inner peripheral surface  132 C without any gap. The axis L 2  of the spiral member  140  coincides with the central axis L 1  of the discharge pipe  132 , or may be parallel to the central axis L 1 . In the present embodiment, the axis L 2  of the spiral member  140  coincides with the central axis L 1  of the discharge pipe  132 . The end  140 A of the spiral member  140  is located near the inlet  132 A of the discharge pipe  132 , and the end  140 B is located near the outlet  132 B. The end  140 A and the inlet  132 A may be separated, and the end  140 B and the outlet  132 B may be separated. 
     By disposing the spiral member  140  inside the discharge pipe  132 , a protrusion in a spiral shape is formed at the inner peripheral surface  132 C. A height of the protrusion formed by the spiral member  140  is the width H 1  and the width H 2  of the spiral member  140 . For this reason, in an internal space of the discharge pipe  132 , a height H 2  of the protrusion at a position near the outlet  132 B is higher than a height H 1  of the protrusion at a position near the inlet  132 A. 
     The discharge pipe  132  is rotatably supported by bearings  137  and  137 . Annular bearing support portions  132 D and  132 D are attached to an outer peripheral surface  132 E of the discharge pipe  132 , and the bearing support portions  132 D are  132 D respectively fit into the bearings  137  and  137 . One bearing  137  is fixed to the discharge portion  186 , and the other bearing  137  is fixed to a pipe support member  135  provided on a side surface of the mounting table  136 . Thus, the discharge pipe  132  is supported at a plurality of positions in a longitudinal direction. 
     A driven gear  142  is provided on the outer peripheral surface  132 E of the discharge pipe  132  between the bearing support portions  132 D and  132 D. The driven gear  142  is a spur gear disposed or formed at the outer peripheral surface  132 E in a circumferential direction. The driven gear  142  is coupled to a transport motor  150  installed on an upper surface of the pipe support member  135 . Here, the transport motor  150  corresponds to an example of a second driving portion. A drive gear  152  is attached to a drive shaft of the transport motor  150 , and the drive gear  152  meshes with the driven gear  142 . When the transport motor  150  rotates the drive shaft, the discharge pipe  132  rotates on the central axis L 1 . The transport motor  150  can rotate in a forward direction and in a reverse direction as described below, and can control a rotation direction of the discharge pipe  132  by controlling a rotation direction of the transport motor  150 . Here, the rotation direction of the discharge pipe  132  is a forward direction RO or a reverse direction RV. 
     A transport apparatus  131  which transports the raw material pieces MS is configured to include the discharge pipe  132 , the spiral member  140 , the driven gear  142 , the transport motor  150 , the drive gear  152 , and the like. 
     The discharge pipe  132  rotates at a speed corresponding to a rotation speed of the transport motor  150 . The rotation speed of the discharge pipe  132  affects the transport amount of raw material pieces MS transported by the discharge pipe  132 . Therefore, the control apparatus  110  to be described below controls rotation of the transport motor  150  such that the rotation speed of the discharge pipe  132  is within an appropriate range. 
     When the rotation speed of the discharge pipe  132  is too low, that is, when the number of revolutions per unit time is small, an action of lifting the raw material pieces MS inside the discharge pipe  132  is weak and an effect of dropping and unraveling by gravity is small, so that it is difficult to break the lump-shaped raw material pieces MS. Further, since the rotation speed of the discharge pipe  132  is low, the raw material pieces MS are less likely to move in a direction of the central axis L 1 , and the amount of raw material pieces MS transported by the discharge pipe  132  is reduced. On the other hand, when the rotation speed of the discharge pipe  132  is too high, that is, when the number of revolutions per unit time is large, the raw material pieces MS inside the discharge pipe  132  are in a state of being attached to the inner peripheral surface  132 C by centrifugal force, and is not dropped by gravity from the state of being lifted inside the discharge pipe  132 , so that it is difficult to transport the raw material pieces MS. Therefore, the raw material pieces MS are less likely to move in the direction of the central axis L 1 , and the amount of raw material pieces MS transported by the discharge pipe  132  is small. 
     Therefore, by adjusting the rotation speed of the discharge pipe  132  within the appropriate range, the raw material pieces MS can be stably transported while unraveling, inside the discharge pipe  132 . 
     The rotation speed of the discharge pipe  132  is adjusted, for example, within a range equal to or more than 45 rpm (revolutions/min) and equal to or less than 105 rpm. In particular, a speed within a range equal to or more than 50 rpm and equal to or less than 95 rpm is appropriate, and the raw material pieces MS can be transported effectively. In the present embodiment, as an example, the discharge pipe  132  is rotated at 75 rpm. 
     In addition, the rotation direction of the discharge pipe  132  affects the transport amount of raw material pieces MS transported by the discharge pipe  132 . Therefore, the control apparatus  110  to be described below changes the rotation direction of the transport motor  150  so that the rotation speed of the discharge pipe  132  is within the appropriate range. 
       FIG.  6    is a schematic diagram corresponding to a plan view of the storage portion  13 . 
     In the plan view of the storage portion  13  illustrated in  FIG.  6   , a first virtual straight line L 11  passing through a rotation center  172 A of the rotator  172  and a second virtual straight line L 12  which is orthogonal to the first virtual straight line L 11  and passes through the rotation center  172 A of the rotator  172  divide a rotation region of the rotator  172  into four. That is, as illustrated in  FIG.  6   , the rotation region of the rotator  172  is divided into regions D 1 , D 2 , D 3 , and D 4  by the first virtual straight line L 11  and the second virtual straight line L 12 . Meanwhile, the first virtual straight line L 11  and the second virtual straight line L 12  are arranged so that the second virtual straight line L 12  is orthogonal to an extension axis L 1   a . Here, the extension axis L 1   a  is a half-linear virtual line extending from the central axis L 1  of the discharge pipe  132  to the outside in an extension direction Y 1  of the discharge pipe  132 . The extension axis L 1   a  corresponds to an example of an extension virtual line. 
     In the present embodiment, a position of the extension axis L 1   a  coincides with a position of the first virtual straight line L 11 , and the inlet  132 A of the discharge pipe  132  faces the two regions D 2  and D 3  on the discharge pipe  132  side than the second virtual straight line L 12 , among the four-divided regions D 1 -D 4 . In the present embodiment, the inlet  132 A of the discharge pipe  132  is disposed on a tangent of the outer peripheral portion of the rotator  172 . 
     Here, in the present embodiment, the rotator  172  has a circular shape in plan view. When the rotator  172  rotates, a direction of a velocity vector V at the outer peripheral portion of the rotator  172  at each position in a circumferential direction is a tangential direction of the outer peripheral portion of the rotator  172 , and faces downstream in a rotation direction of the rotator  172 . In the vicinity of the inlet  132 A, that is, on the discharge pipe  132  side of the second virtual straight line L 12 , the velocity vector V tends to have a component in a direction crossing the central axis L 1  or the extension axis L 1   a  of the discharge pipe  132  in a moving direction according to a rotation direction R 1 . 
     Therefore, when the rotator  172  rotates in the counterclockwise rotation direction R 1  in plan view, in the vicinity of the inlet  132 A, the velocity vector V of the rotator  172  tends to have a component in a direction crossing the central axis L 1  or the extension axis L 1   a  from the left to the left. For this reason, the raw material piece MS which moves by receiving a force from the rotator  172  tends to enter the downstream in the rotation direction R 1  of the rotator  172  from the central axis L 1 , that is, the right side of the central axis L 1 , inside the discharge pipe  132 . 
       FIG.  7    is an explanatory diagram illustrating movement of the raw material pieces MS when the inlet  132 A is viewed in an arrow direction Y in  FIG.  6    when being rotated in the forward direction RO.  FIG.  8    is a schematic diagram illustrating the movement of the raw material pieces MS when the inlet  132 A is viewed in the arrow direction Y in  FIG.  6    when being rotated in the reverse direction RV. 
     As illustrated by an arrow Ta 1  in  FIG.  7   , when the rotator  172  rotates in the counterclockwise rotation direction R 1 , the raw material pieces MS tend to flow on the right into the discharge pipe  132 . When the discharge pipe  132  rotates in the forward direction RO, as illustrated by an arrow Ta 2  in  FIG.  7   , the raw material piece MS flowing on the right tend to move to the left through the lower side of the central axis L 1  due to frictional force with the inner peripheral surface  132 C of the discharge pipe  132 . Therefore, the space  133 A is easily generated on the right side of the central axis L 1 . As illustrated by an arrow Ta 3 , new raw material pieces MS 2  tend to flow from the case  170  into the space  133 A generated on the right side of the central axis L 1 . 
     On the other hand, when the discharge pipe  132  rotates in the reverse direction RV, as illustrated by arrows Tb 1  and Tb 2  in  FIG.  8   , the raw material piece MS which flows on the right side into the discharge pipe  132  is easily held on the right side of the central axis L 1  by frictional force with the inner peripheral surface  132 C of the discharge pipe  132 . For this reason, as illustrated by an arrow Tb 3 , even when the new raw material piece MS 2  tries to enter the discharge pipe  132  from the right side of the central axis L 1 , the inflow is easily regulated by the raw material piece MS. 
     Here, as illustrated in  FIG.  7   , the forward direction RO of the present embodiment is a direction such that when the inlet  132 A side is viewed from the outlet  132 B side, a portion below the central axis L 1  of the discharge pipe  132  moves in an opposite direction of the counterclockwise rotation direction R 1  of the rotator  172 . In addition, as illustrated in  FIG.  8   , the reverse direction RV of the present embodiment is a direction such that when the inlet  132 A side is viewed from the outlet  132 B side, the portion below the central axis L 1  of the discharge pipe  132  moves in the counterclockwise rotation direction R 1  of the rotator  172 . 
     That is, depending on a rotation state of the rotator  172  inside the case  170 , by moving the portion below the central axis L 1  of the discharge pipe  132  in the rotation direction R 1  of the rotator  172  or in an opposite direction of the rotation direction R 1 , a rotation state of the discharge pipe  132  is switched. Thus, it is possible to allow or regulate the flow of the new raw material piece MS 2  into the discharge pipe  132 . Therefore, as described below, the control apparatus  110  of the present embodiment switches the rotation direction of the discharge pipe  132  between the forward direction RO and the reverse direction RV, so that it is possible to adjust the discharge amount of raw material pieces MS discharged from the outlet  132 B. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the measurement portion  134  is disposed below the outlet  132 B of the discharge pipe  132 . The measurement portion  134  includes a reception portion  160  which stores the raw material pieces MS discharged from the outlet  132 B, and a load cell  164  which measures a weight of the reception portion  160 . The reception portion  160  corresponds to an example of a container which accommodates the raw material pieces MS. The load cell  164  is fixed to a support  138 . The load cell  164  measures a weight of the raw material pieces MS stored in the reception portion  160  by measuring the weight of the reception portion  160 , and corresponds to an example of a weight measurement portion. 
     The reception portion  160  is a hollow box-shaped member having an open upper surface. Since the outlet  132 B is located above an upper opening portion  166  of the reception portion  160 , the raw material pieces MS fall from the outlet  132 B and are stored in the reception portion  160 . 
     A side surface of the reception portion  160  is provided with a protrusion portion  169  which protrudes sideways, and a bottom portion of the protrusion portion  169  is in contact with the load cell  164 . For this reason, a load is applied to the load cell  164  from the reception portion  160  via the protrusion portion  169 . 
     A bottom opening portion  168  is open on a bottom surface of the reception portion  160 , and a closing member  162  is attached to the bottom opening portion  168 . 
     The closing member  162  is rotatably attached by a shaft  160 A. The closing member  162  is rotatable between a closing position for closing the bottom opening portion  168  and an opening position for opening the bottom opening portion  168  by power of an opening and closing motor  165  to be described below. That is, the bottom opening portion  168  of the reception portion  160  is opened and closed by an operation of the opening and closing motor  165 . When the bottom opening portion  168  is opened, the raw material pieces MS stored in the reception portion  160  are discharged and sent to the defibration portion  20 . The bottom opening portion  168  may be opened and closed by a sliding plate member. 
     The load cell  164  is a sensor which measures a weight or a force such as torque. In the configuration illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the load cell  164  measures a force applied via the protrusion portion  169  and outputs a signal corresponding to the measured value to the control apparatus  110 . 
     1-3. Configuration of Control System of Sheet Manufacturing Apparatus 
       FIG.  9    is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a control system of the sheet manufacturing apparatus  100 . 
     The control apparatus  110  manufactures the sheet S by controlling each portion of the sheet manufacturing apparatus  100  based on an input operation of an operation portion (not illustrated) and detected values obtained by various sensors included in the sheet manufacturing apparatus  100 . 
     The control apparatus  110  includes, for example, a processor such as a CPU or a microcomputer, and controls each portion of the sheet manufacturing apparatus  100  by executing a program. The control apparatus  110  may be configured to include a ROM, a RAM, other signal processing circuits, and the like in addition to the processor described above, and may be configured by an SoC in which these are integrated. The control apparatus  110  executes processes by cooperating with the hardware and the software, for example, the CPU reads out the program stored in the ROM into the RAM to execute the process, or also executes a signal process in the signal processing circuit to execute the process. Further, the control apparatus  110  may be configured to include an ASIC and execute various types of processes by using functions mounted on hardware, such as a configuration in which the process is executed by using a function mounted on the ASIC. 
     Here, the ROM is an abbreviation of read only memory. The RAM is an abbreviation of random access memory. The CPU is an abbreviation of central processing unit. The SoC is an abbreviation of system-on-a-chip. The ASIC is an abbreviation of application specific integrated circuit. 
       FIG.  9    illustrates the load cell  164  among sensors coupled to the control apparatus  110 . In addition, the stirring motor  210 , the transport motor  150 , and the opening and closing motor  165  are illustrated as driving portions coupled to the control apparatus  110 . Further, various sensors which control operations of the sheet manufacturing apparatus  100  and various driving portions which operate the sheet manufacturing apparatus  100  are coupled to the control apparatus  110 , but these are not illustrated. 
     A signal indicating the measured value of the weight of the reception portion  160  is input from the load cell  164  to the control apparatus  110 . The control apparatus  110  controls driving and stopping of the stirring motor  210 . The control apparatus  110  causes the discharge pipe  132  to rotate in the forward direction and in the reverse direction by controlling driving and stopping of the transport motor  150  and switching of the rotation direction of the transport motor  150 . The control apparatus  110  controls driving and stopping of the opening and closing motor  165  and a rotation direction of the opening and closing motor  165 , and operates the closing member  162  to open and close the bottom opening portion  168 . 
     When detecting an operation of instructing a start of manufacturing of the sheet S, the control apparatus  110  initializes each portion of the sheet manufacturing apparatus  100  and starts the operation. At this time, the control apparatus  110  starts operations of the stirring motor  210  and the transport motor  150  to start stirring and transport of the raw material pieces MS. Further, when the measured value of the load cell  164  reaches a set target value, the control apparatus  110  operates the opening and closing motor  165  to open the bottom opening portion  168 . 
     The control apparatus  110  has a timing function, and counts a time until the measured value of load cell  164  reaches the target value. The control apparatus  110  controls the rotation direction of the transport motor  150  by comparing the counted time with a preset threshold value. 
     The control apparatus  110  corresponds to an example of a control portion of the present disclosure. 
     1-4. Operation of Sheet Manufacturing Apparatus 
     When the sheet manufacturing apparatus  100  is started, the control apparatus  110  drives the stirring motor  210  of the stirring apparatus  130  of the storage portion  13  to rotate the rotator  172 . Further, the control apparatus  110  drives the transport motor  150  of the transport apparatus  131  of the storage portion  13  to rotate the discharge pipe  132 . 
     At this time, when the raw material pieces MS are put into the case  170  of the stirring apparatus  130  from the hopper  9 , the raw material pieces MS are stirred by the rotator  172  which rotates at the bottom portion inside the case  170 . The raw material pieces MS are stirred by the blades  196  of the rotator  172  while being sent outward in a radial direction of the rotator  172 , that is, in a direction of the side wall  180  of the case  170 . Thus, even when a plurality of types of raw material pieces MS having different densities, thicknesses, colors, and the like are put into, a mixing state of the raw material pieces MS can be easily homogenized inside the case  170 . In the rotator  172 , the rotating portion  190  and the blade  196 , which form a part of the bottom surface  182 , rotate integrally. For this reason, for example, unlike the case where only the blade rotates on the bottom surface portion, it is possible to suppress the raw material piece MS from being compressed between the blade  196  and the bottom surface  182  and becoming a lump. 
     The stirred raw material pieces MS are sent from the discharge portion  186  of the case  170  to the discharge pipe  132  of the transport apparatus  131  by the blade  196 . In the discharge pipe  132 , the raw material pieces MS sent into the discharge pipe  132  are transported to the outlet  132 B while being stirred by the spiral member  140  which rotates together with the discharge pipe  132 . Thus, the raw material pieces MS are suppressed from becoming a lump during the transportation of the raw material pieces MS. 
     The raw material piece MS sent to the measurement portion  134  is put into the reception portion  160  through the upper opening portion  166 . When the load cell  164  detects that the raw material pieces MS inside the reception portion  160  reach a preset target value, the control apparatus  110  drives the opening and closing motor  165 . As a result, the closing member  162  rotates from the closing position to the opening portion position, and the bottom opening portion  168  of the reception portion  160  is opened. When the bottom opening portion  168  is opened, the raw material piece MS of the reception portion  160  falls by the own weight of the raw material piece MS. The dropped raw material piece MS is transported to the defibration portion  20 . In the sheet manufacturing apparatus  100 , as the stirring apparatus  130  and the transport apparatus  131  continue to be driven, the transport of the raw material pieces MS to the measurement portion  134  is repeated. Therefore, when the opening and closing motor  165  is operated and the measurement portion  134  is emptied, the control apparatus  110  resets the value of the counted time and repeats to count a time until the measured value of the load cell  164  reaches the target value. 
     In the transport apparatus  131 , there are a case where a large amount of raw material pieces MS are sent from the case  170  of the stirring apparatus  130 , and a case where a large amount of raw material pieces MS are discharged from the discharge pipe  132  of the transport apparatus  131 . 
     At this time, the control apparatus  110  changes a rotation state of the transport apparatus  131  based on rotation states of the rotator  172  and the transport apparatus  131 . When a time for the weight of the reception portion  160  to reach the preset target value is smaller than the preset threshold value, the control apparatus  110  of the present embodiment rotates the discharge pipe  132  in the reverse direction RV. In other words, the control apparatus  110  rotates the discharge pipe  132  in the reverse direction RV when an increase pace of the weight of the raw material pieces MS is fast. When the time for the weight of the reception portion  160  to reach the preset target value is larger than the preset threshold value, the control apparatus  110  of the present embodiment rotates the discharge pipe  132  in the forward direction RO. In other words, the control apparatus  110  rotates the discharge pipe  132  in the forward direction RO when the increase pace of the weight of the raw material pieces MS is slow. In a case of determining whether the time for the weight of the reception portion  160  to reach the target value is short, a value smaller than the target value may be used instead of the target value for opening and closing the opening and closing motor  165  so as to perform the determination. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  8   , when the discharge pipe  132  rotates in the reverse direction RV, the raw materials MS unevenly stagnate inside the discharge pipe  132 , so that the flow of the raw material pieces MS from the case  170  into the discharge pipe  132  is regulated. Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the raw material pieces MS from flowing into the discharge pipe  132  from the case  170 , or to reduce the flow of the raw materials MS, without providing a shutter member which moves the inlet  132 A to be able to open and close, and an effect of closing at least a part of the inlet  132 A is obtained by the rotation of the discharge pipe  132 . A so-called shutter effect can be obtained. Thus, the transport amount of raw material pieces MS inside the discharge pipe  132  can be adjusted. In addition, in a state in which the flow of the raw material pieces MS into the discharge pipe  132  is regulated, the rotator  172  is rotated to stir the raw material pieces MS. 
     In particular, a winding direction of the spiral member  140  of the present embodiment is a direction of being wound around the central axis L 1  in a clockwise direction when the spiral member  140  heads from the inlet  132 A toward the outlet  132 B along the central axis L 1 . That is, the spiral member  140  has a winding direction for transporting the raw material pieces MS toward the outlet  132 B when the discharge pipe  132  rotates in the forward direction RO, and transporting the raw material pieces MS toward the inlet  132 A when the discharge pipe  132  rotates in the reverse direction RV. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the discharge pipe  132  is rotated in the reverse direction RV so as to regulate the inflow of the raw material pieces MS, inside the discharge pipe  132 , the raw materials MS are transported to the inlet  132 A side. Therefore, it is easier to further suppress the raw material pieces MS from flowing into the discharge pipe  132  from the case  170 . 
     In the present embodiment, the control apparatus  110  rotates the rotator  172  in the counterclockwise rotation direction R 1 , but may rotate the rotator  172  in the clockwise direction opposite to the counterclockwise rotation direction R 1 . In this case, the rotation directions of the discharge pipe  132  when the inflow is allowed and when the inflow is regulated are reversed. That is, when the rotator  172  of the stirring apparatus  130  is rotated in the clockwise direction, when the flow of the raw material pieces MS is allowed, the discharge pipe  132  is rotated in the reverse direction RV, and when the flow of the raw material pieces MS is regulated, the discharge pipe  132  is rotated in the forward direction RO. Further, instead of these, the stirring motor  210  may be configured to be switchable between forward rotation and reverse rotation, and the rotation direction of the rotator  172  may be controlled to be switched by controlling the rotation direction of the stirring motor  210 . For example, the control apparatus  110  may perform control to switch the rotation direction of the rotator  172  between the counterclockwise rotation direction R 1  and the clockwise rotation direction, at each preset timing. The control apparatus  110  may switch the rotation direction of the discharge pipe  132  between a rotation direction when allowing the inflow and a rotation direction when regulating the inflow in accordance with the rotation direction of the rotator  172 . The preset timing may be, for example, a timing at regular time intervals, or a timing at which the closing member  162  of the measurement portion  134  is opened and closed. 
     In addition, the control apparatus  110  according to the present embodiment rotates the discharge pipe  132  in the reverse direction RV when the weight of the raw material pieces MS in the reception portion  160  increases at a rapid pace. Meanwhile, the rotation of the discharge pipe  132  may be stopped. When the rotation of the discharge pipe  132  is stopped, it is difficult for the raw material pieces MS to be transported in the discharge pipe  132 . Therefore, a space in which new raw material pieces MS 2  enter near the inlet  132 A does not easily occur, and the raw material pieces MS stay inside the upstream case  170  of the inlet  132 A and easily blocks the inlet  132 A. By stopping the rotation of the discharge pipe  132 , the flow of the raw material pieces MS into the discharge pipe  132  can be suppressed, and the transport amount can be adjusted. 
     As described above, in the present embodiment, the sheet manufacturing apparatus  100  includes the case  170  which accommodates the raw material pieces MS including fibers, the rotator  172  which rotates inside the case  170  to stir the raw material pieces MS, and the stirring motor  210  which rotates the rotator  172 . In addition, the sheet manufacturing apparatus  100  includes the transport apparatus  131  which transports the raw material pieces MS through the transport path  133  coupled to the side wall  180  of the case  170 , and the control portion which controls the rotation states of the rotator  172  and the transport apparatus  131 . The transport apparatus  131  of the sheet manufacturing apparatus  100  includes the discharge pipe  132  which rotates on the central axis L 1  along the transport path  133 , and the transport motor  150  which rotates the discharge pipe  132 . Therefore, by changing the rotation states of the transport apparatus  131  based on the rotation states of the rotator  172  and the transport apparatus  131 , the transport amount of raw material pieces MS by the transport apparatus  131  can be adjusted. For this reason, it is possible to stably supply the raw material pieces MS which are raw materials for manufacturing the sheet S from the storage portion  13  to the defibration portion  20 , and it is possible to stabilize the amount of raw material pieces MS supplied to the defibration portion  20 . 
     In the present embodiment, the rotation states of the rotator  172  and the discharge pipe  132  have the rotation direction R 1  of the rotator  172 , and the rotation speed and the rotation directions RO and RV of the discharge pipe  132 . That is, the control apparatus  110  performs control to rotate the rotator  172  in the rotation direction R 1 . Further, the control apparatus  110  performs control to rotate the discharge pipe  132  in the forward direction RO and the reverse direction RV. In this case, the control apparatus  110  performs control to rotate the rotation speed of the discharge pipe  132  at a constant 75 rpm. Here, based on the rotation direction R 1  of the rotator  172 , the rotation direction of the discharge pipe  132  in a case of allowing the inflow of the raw material piece MS into the discharge pipe  132  and in a case of regulating the flow of the raw material piece MS into the discharge pipe  132  are determined. Therefore, by switching the rotation directions RO and RV of the discharge pipe  132  of the transport apparatus  131  based on the rotation direction R 1  of the rotator  172 , the transport amount of raw material pieces MS of the transport apparatus  131  can be adjusted. 
     In the present embodiment, the discharge pipe  132  is a tube which forms the transport path  133 , and the transport motor  150  rotates the discharge pipe  132 . Therefore, the raw material pieces MS can be transported by passing through the transport path  133  inside the discharge pipe  132 . 
     In the present embodiment, in the discharge pipe  132 , one end in an axial direction communicates with the internal space  170 A of the case  170 , and the other end has the outlet  132 B which discharges the raw material pieces MS. Further, on the inner peripheral surface  132 C corresponding to an example of an inner surface of the discharge pipe  132 , a protrusion formed by a spiral member  140  with respect to the central axis L 1  of the discharge pipe  132  is spirally disposed. Therefore, the transport amount can be adjusted by using transport force on the fiber piece MS in accordance with the rotation of the spiral member  140 . 
     Further, in the present embodiment, the discharge pipe  132  is inclined such that the outlet  132 B is lower in a vertically downward direction than the discharge portion  186  corresponding to an example of a coupling portion with the case  170 . Therefore, the raw materials MA can be easily moved to the outlet  132 B side by using gravity. 
     Further, in the present embodiment, the rotator  172  includes the rotating portion  190  which forms a part of the bottom surface of the case  170 , and the blade  196  erected on the rotating portion  190 . Therefore, rotation force of the rotator  172  can be largely applied to the raw material pieces MS by the blade  196  of the rotating portion  190 . 
     In the present embodiment, the transport path  133  is coupled to the case  170  at an overlapping position with the blade  196  in a height direction of the case  170 . Therefore, when the blade  196  of the rotator  172  stirs the raw material pieces MS, an effect of pushing out the raw material pieces MS from the case  170  to the discharge pipe  132  can be expected. For this reason, the raw material pieces MS can be transported more efficiently by the discharge pipe  132 . 
     As described above, in the fiber transport method of the present embodiment, the sheet manufacturing apparatus  100  is controlled. The sheet manufacturing apparatus  100  includes the case  170  which accommodates the raw material pieces MS including fibers, the rotator  172  which rotates inside the case  170  to stir the raw material pieces MS, and the stirring motor  210  which rotates the rotator  172 . In addition, the sheet manufacturing apparatus  100  includes the transport apparatus  131  which transports the raw material pieces MS through the transport path  133  coupled to the side wall  180  of the case  170 , and the control apparatus  110  which controls the rotator  172  and the transport apparatus  131 . The transport apparatus  131  includes the discharge pipe  132  which rotates on the central axis L 1  along the transport path  133 , and the transport motor  150  which rotates the discharge pipe  132 . In the fiber transport method, the control apparatus  110  controls the transport amount of raw material pieces MS by controlling the stirring motor  210  and the transport motor  150  and adjusting the rotational state of each of the rotator  172  and the discharge pipe  132 . Therefore, by adjusting the rotation state of each of the rotator  172  and the discharge pipe  132 , the transport amount of raw material pieces MS can be adjusted. 
     2. Second Embodiment 
     2-1. Configuration of Storage Portion of Sheet Manufacturing Apparatus 
     Next, a second embodiment according to the present disclosure will be described. The same components as those in the above-described first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will not be repeated. 
       FIG.  10    is a schematic diagram corresponding to a plan view of the storage portion  13  according to the second embodiment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  10   , in the storage portion  13  of the second embodiment, the discharge pipe  132  which forms the transport path  133  is different from the first embodiment in that the extension axis L 1   a  is a disposed axis shifted on the left from the rotation center  172 A of the rotator  172  in plan view. The extension axis L 1   a  is orthogonal to a virtual half-line L 12   a  as a portion of the second virtual straight line L 12  extending on the left from the rotation center  172 A. 
     In the present embodiment, the inlet  132 A of the discharge pipe  132  faces the region D 2  on the left side of the discharge pipe  132  than the second virtual straight line L 12 . The inlet  132 A of the discharge pipe  132  is disposed on a tangent to the outer peripheral portion of the rotator  172  in the region D 2 . 
     The control apparatus  110  rotates the rotator  172  so that the rotator  172  at a portion passing through the virtual half-line L 12   a  moves in a direction approaching the inlet  132 A of the discharge pipe  132 . That is, the control apparatus  110  rotates the rotator  172  in the counterclockwise rotation direction R 1  in plan view. 
     In this case, the region D 2  corresponds to a region from when the rotator  172  passes through the virtual half-line L 12   a  to when the rotator  172  rotates on the rotation center  172 A by 90 degrees in the rotation direction R 1 . 
     A velocity vector V 1  of the outer peripheral portion of the rotator  172  at a position P 1  on the virtual half-line L 12   a  is parallel to the extension axis L 1   a , and faces in a direction opposite to the extension direction Y 1  of the extension axis L 1   a . Further, a velocity vector V 2  of the outer peripheral portion of the rotator  172  at a position P 2  rotated on the rotation center  172 A by 90 degrees in the rotation direction R 1  from the position P 1  on the virtual half-line L 12   a  is orthogonal to the extension axis L 1   a , and faces in a direction away from the extension axis L 1   a.    
     In addition, the velocity vector V of the rotator  172  in the region D 2  tends to have a component in a direction approaching the inlet  132 A. Further, the velocity vector V of the rotator  172  in the region D 2  tends to have a component in a direction crossing the central axis L 1  or the extension axis L 1   a  from left to right in accordance with the rotation direction R 1 . Therefore, the raw material pieces MS receive force from the rotator  172  and tend to enter the discharge pipe  132  on the right from the central axis L 1 . 
     2-2. Operation of Storage Portion of Sheet Manufacturing Apparatus 
     In the storage portion  13  of the sheet manufacturing apparatus  100  according to the second embodiment, when the raw material pieces MS flow into the discharge pipe  132 , the raw material pieces MS tend to flow on the right of the central axis L 1 . Therefore, in the same manner as the first embodiment, the control apparatus  110  controls the transport motor  150  to control the rotation state such as the rotation speed or the rotation direction of the discharge pipe  132 , so that the flow amount of raw material pieces MS into the discharge pipe  132  is adjusted. 
     In the present embodiment, in the region D 2  facing the inlet  132 A, the rotator  172  rotates in a direction approaching the inlet  132 A. For this reason, the raw material pieces MS easily receive force in the direction approaching the inlet  132 A from the rotator  172 , and the raw material pieces MS tend to flow into the discharge pipe  132  through the inlet  132 A. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the raw material pieces MS can easily flow into the discharge pipe  132 , and the transport amount of raw material pieces MS can be easily increased. 
     As described above, also in the second embodiment, in the same manner as the first embodiment, the control apparatus  110  controls the stirring motor  210  and the transport motor  150  to adjust the rotation state such as the rotation speed or the rotation direction of each of the rotator  172  and the discharge pipe  132 , so that the transport amount of raw material pieces MS is controlled. Therefore, in the same manner as the first embodiment, the transport amount of raw material pieces MS can be adjusted. 
     Further, in the present embodiment, the virtual half-line L 12   a  extends in a radial direction from the rotation center  172 A of the rotator  172  and defines a passing position of the rotator  172  in a circumferential direction. The half-linear extension axis L 1   a  extending from the central axis L 1  of the discharge pipe  132  to the outside of the transport path  133  is orthogonal to the virtual half-line L 12   a  at a position shifted from the rotation center  172 A of the rotator  172 . The control apparatus  110  rotates the rotator  172  so that the rotator  172  at a portion passing through the virtual half-line L 12   a  moves in a direction approaching the transport path  133 . Therefore, the large amount of raw material pieces MS can easily flow into the discharge pipe  132 , and the transport amount can be easily increased. 
     3. Third Embodiment 
     3-1. Configuration of Storage Portion of Sheet Manufacturing Apparatus 
     Next, a third embodiment according to the present disclosure will be described. The same components as those in the above-described first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will not be repeated. 
       FIG.  11    is a schematic diagram corresponding to a plan view of the storage portion  13  according to the third embodiment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  11   , in the storage portion  13  of the third embodiment, the discharge pipe  132  which forms the transport path  133  is different from the first embodiment in that the extension axis L 1   a  is a disposed axis shifted on the right from the rotation center  172 A of the rotator  172  in plan view. The extension axis L 1   a  is orthogonal to a virtual half-line L 12   b  as a portion of the second virtual straight line L 12  extending on the right from the rotation center  172 A. 
     In the present embodiment, the inlet  132 A of the discharge pipe  132  faces the region D 3  on the right side of the discharge pipe  132  than the second virtual straight line L 12 . The inlet  132 A of the discharge pipe  132  may be disposed on a tangent to the outer peripheral portion of the rotator  172  in the region D 3 . 
     The control apparatus  110  rotates the rotator  172  so that the rotator  172  at a portion passing through the virtual half-line L 12   b  moves in a direction away from the inlet  132 A of the discharge pipe  132 . That is, the control apparatus  110  rotates the rotator  172  in the counterclockwise rotation direction R 1  in plan view. 
     In this case, the region D 3  corresponds to a region when the rotator  172  rotates on the rotation center  172 A by 90 degrees in the rotation direction R 1  until the rotator  172  reaches the virtual half-line L 12   b.    
     A velocity vector V 3  of the outer peripheral portion of the rotator  172  at a position P 3  on the virtual half-line L 12   b  is parallel to the extension axis L 1   a , and faces in the same direction as the extension direction Y 1  of the extension axis L 1   a . Further, the velocity vector V 2  of the outer peripheral portion of the rotator  172  at the position P 2  rotated on the rotation center  172 A by 90 degrees in a direction opposite to the rotation direction R 1  from the position P 3  on the virtual half-line L 12   b  is orthogonal to the extension axis L 1   a , and faces in a direction approaching the extension axis L 1   a.    
     Further, the velocity vector V of the rotator  172  in the region D 3  tends to have a component in a direction away from the inlet  132 A. Further, the velocity vector V of the rotator  172  in the region D 3  tends to have a component in a direction crossing the central axis L 1  or the extension axis L 1   a  from left to right in accordance with the rotation direction R 1 . Therefore, the raw material pieces MS receive force from the rotator  172  and tend to enter the discharge pipe  132  on the right from the central axis L 1 . 
     3-2. Operation of Storage Portion of Sheet Manufacturing Apparatus 
     In the storage portion  13  of the sheet manufacturing apparatus  100  of the third embodiment, when the raw material pieces MS flow into the discharge pipe  132 , the raw material pieces MS tend to flow on the right of the central axis L 1 . Therefore, in the same manner as the first embodiment, the control apparatus  110  controls the transport motor  150  to control the rotation state such as the rotation speed or the rotation direction of the discharge pipe  132 , so that the flow amount of raw material pieces MS into the discharge pipe  132  is adjusted. 
     In the present embodiment, in the region D 3  facing the inlet  132 A, the rotator  172  rotates in a direction away from the inlet  132 A. For this reason, even when the raw material pieces MS are regulated and stay on the case  170  side of the inlet  132 A, the remaining raw material pieces MS are easily separated from the inlet  132 A together with the rotator  172 . Therefore, in the present embodiment, the raw material pieces MS hardly flow into the discharge pipe  132 , and the transport amount of raw material pieces MS is easily reduced. 
     As described above, also in the third embodiment, in the same manner as the first embodiment, the control apparatus  110  controls the stirring motor  210  and the transport motor  150  to adjust the rotation state such as the rotation speed or the rotation direction of each of the rotator  172  and the discharge pipe  132 , so that the transport amount of raw material pieces MS is controlled. Therefore, in the same manner as the first embodiment, the transport amount of raw material pieces MS can be adjusted. 
     Further, in the present embodiment, the virtual half-line L 12   b  extends in a radial direction from the rotation center  172 A of the rotator  172  and defines a passing position of the rotator  172  in a circumferential direction. The half-linear extension axis L 1   a  extending from the central axis L 1  of the discharge pipe  132  to the outside of the transport path  133  is orthogonal to the virtual half-line L 12   b  at a position shifted from the rotation center  172 A of the rotator  172 . The control apparatus  110  rotates the rotator  172  so that the rotator  172  at a portion passing through the virtual half-line L 12   b  moves in a direction away from the transport path  133 . Therefore, the raw material pieces MS hardly flow into the discharge pipe  132 , and the transport amount is easily reduced. 
     4. Other Embodiments 
     Each of the above-described embodiments is merely a specific mode for implementing the present disclosure described in the claims, does not limit the present disclosure, and can be implemented in various aspects without departing from the gist thereof. 
     In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the spiral member  140  is provided is described, but the spiral member  140  may be omitted. When the spiral member  140  is omitted, when the discharge pipe  132  rotates, the raw material pieces MS inside the discharge pipe  132  move upward by centrifugal force or the like, then collapse and move downward, and move to the outlet  132 B side. By repeating these, the raw material pieces MS can be transported inside the discharge pipe  132 . 
     In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which as the rotator  172 , the disk-shaped rotating portion  190  rotates is described. Meanwhile, as described in JP-A-2011-241497, a rotator may be configured by a rotating shaft and a rod member supported by the rotating shaft, and the rotator may be rotated inside the case  170 . 
     In the above embodiment, the spiral member  140  corresponding to an example of the protrusion is formed integrally and continuously in the longitudinal direction, but a configuration in which a plurality of spiral members separated in the longitudinal direction may be provided. Further, the protrusion needs not be a plate material which is spirally curved. 
     In the above embodiment, a closing member which closes a part of the inlet  132 A may be provided. For example, the closing member which closes the downstream in the rotation direction R 1  of the rotator  172  of the inlet  132 A with respect to the central axis L 1  is provided. Thus, when the raw material pieces MS flow from the downstream in the rotation direction R 1  of the rotator  172  of the inlet  132 A, it is possible to efficiently control the inflow of the raw material pieces MS. 
     In the second embodiment, the control apparatus  110  controls the rotation of the rotator  172  in the rotation direction R 1  so that the raw material pieces MS can easily flow into the discharge pipe  132 . Meanwhile, in order to make the inflow of the raw material pieces MS difficult, the rotator  172  may be rotated in a direction opposite to the rotation direction R 1  in the storage portion  13  according to the second embodiment. 
     In the third embodiment, the control apparatus  110  controls the rotation of the rotator  172  in the rotation direction R 1  so that the raw material pieces MS do not easily flow into the discharge pipe  132 . Meanwhile, in order to facilitate the inflow, the rotator  172  may be rotated in a direction opposite to the rotation direction R 1  in the storage portion  13  of the third embodiment. 
     In the above embodiment, the control apparatus  110  performs the control of rotating the rotator  172  or the discharge pipe  132  at a constant rotation speed. Meanwhile, instead of this, the control apparatus  110  may be configured to perform control of changing the rotation speed of the rotator  172  or the discharge pipe  132 . For example, the rotation speed of the rotator  172  may be increased in a case of increasing the stirring action of the rotator  172 , and the rotating speed of the rotator  172  may be decreased in a case of suppressing the stirring action of the rotator  172 . Further, for example, control may be performed to increase or decrease the rotation speed of the discharge pipe  132  in accordance with increase or decrease of the rotation speed of the rotator  172 .