Method for producing fiber-containing material

Abstract

To provide a method for producing a fiber-containing material which allows efficient preservation and conveyance of lumps and produces a fiber-containing material having superior handling capability.SOLUTION: A method for producing fiber-containing material includes: a defibrated material producing step in which a raw material containing cellulose fibers is defibrated in air to produce a defibrated material; and a lump forming step in which the defibrated material is segmented and compressed using a mixer to form a lump having a higher cellulose fiber density than the defibrated material. The lump forming step can be performed using a mixer comprising a stirring section for stirring the defibrated material with rotating stirring blades and a transfer section for conveying the defibrated material by a screw feeder.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for producing a fiber-containing material. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a method for producing a pulp molded body with shock-absorbing properties. In the method described in Patent Document 1, pulp, which is a raw material, is defibrated to produce pulp defibrated material, and additives such as a starch-based binder and thermally expandable hollow particles are added to the defibrated pulp material, followed by molding, to produce a pulp molded body.

[0003] When manufacturing such a molded pulp body, the pulp defibrated material is transported and stored during the period from when the produced defibrated pulp material is molded into a molded pulp body. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-204800 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, pulp defibrated material has a relatively low density and a large volume, which makes it difficult to transport and store the pulp defibrated material, and there is a problem in that it is difficult to handle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The method for producing a fiber-containing material of the present invention includes: a defibrated material producing step of defibrating a raw material containing cellulose fibers in air to produce a defibrated material; and a lump generating step of generating lump materials having a higher density of cellulose fibers than the defibrated material by using a mixer to divide and compress the defibrated material. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing a schematic configuration of a fiber-containing material manufacturing apparatus for carrying out the fiber-containing material manufacturing method of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic view of the defibrated material produced by the defibrating unit shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic view of the lumps produced by the mixer shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, the method for producing a fiber-containing material of the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0009] <Embodiment> Fig. 1 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing the schematic configuration of a fiber-containing material manufacturing apparatus for carrying out the fiber-containing material manufacturing method of the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged schematic view of defibrated material produced by the defibrating unit shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged schematic view of lumps produced by the mixer shown in Fig. 1.

[0010] As shown in Figure 1, the fiber-containing material manufacturing apparatus 1 is an example of an apparatus for carrying out the fiber-containing material manufacturing method of the present invention, and includes a crushing unit 2, a defibrating unit 3, and a mixer 4. The fiber-containing material manufactured by the fiber-containing material manufacturing apparatus 1 will be described as lumps M3. The lumps M3 are lumps of cotton containing cellulose fibers F, and are used for a variety of purposes, such as for cultivating mushrooms and other fungi and various plants, as a culture medium for microbial cultivation, as a raw material for recycled paper, as a cushioning material, as a soundproofing material, and as a heat insulating material.

[0011] The crushing section 2 crushes the raw material M0 to produce crushed pieces M1, and has a pair of crushing blades 21 arranged parallel to and spaced apart from each other, and a chute 22 installed below the crushing blades 21.

[0012] The raw material M0 is in the form of a sheet containing cellulose fibers F. Examples of cellulose fibers F include wood cellulose fibers derived from softwoods and hardwoods; seed fiber cellulose fibers from cotton, linter, kabak, etc.; bast cellulose fibers from hemp, ramie, paper mulberry, etc.; and leaf stem cellulose fibers from banana and Manila hemp, etc. While one or a combination of two or more of these can be used, it is preferable to use wood cellulose fibers as the main component. Wood cellulose fibers are readily available in the form of pulp. Examples of pulp include virgin pulp, kraft pulp, chemithermomechanical pulp, synthetic pulp, and pulp derived from waste paper or recycled paper, and one or a combination of two or more of these can be used. Here, cellulose fibers refer to any fibrous material composed primarily of cellulose as a compound, i.e., cellulose in the narrow sense. Examples of cellulose fibers include regenerated cellulose such as rayon and cupra, as well as hemicellulose and lignin.

[0013] The cellulose fiber F is preferably cellulose fiber derived from waste paper or recycled paper. This is advantageous from the viewpoints of waste reduction, effective utilization of resources, forest conservation, environmental protection, etc. Waste paper is used paper to which ink or the like has been supplied. Recycled paper is paper recycled from waste paper or virgin paper. This recycled paper can be produced, for example, by a sheet manufacturing apparatus such as that described in JP 2022-176652 A.

[0014] The pair of crushing blades 21 rotate in opposite directions. When the raw material M0 is introduced between the pair of rotating crushing blades 21, the raw material M0 is crushed, i.e., cut into small pieces to generate crushed pieces M1. The shape, size, and other conditions of the crushed pieces M1 are preferably suitable for defibration processing in the defibrating unit 3, and these conditions can be set by selecting the crushing blade 21 to be used.

[0015] The shape of the coarsely crushed pieces M1 may be, for example, a square, rectangular, or particularly strip-shaped piece in plan view. The size of the coarsely crushed pieces M1 is not particularly limited, but is preferably a piece with an average side length of 100 mm or less, more preferably 3 mm to 70 mm. The shape of the pieces may be other than a square or rectangle. The thickness of the coarsely crushed pieces M1 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.07 mm to 0.10 mm.

[0016] The chute 22 is disposed below the pair of crushing blades 21 in Fig. 1 and has a converging shape such as a cone or funnel. This allows the chute 22 to receive and collect the coarsely crushed pieces M1 that have been crushed by the crushing blades 21 and dropped. The lower part of the chute 22 is connected to the defibrating unit 3, and the coarsely crushed pieces M1 collected by the chute 22 are supplied to the defibrating unit 3 where the next process is carried out.

[0017] The defibrating unit 3 performs a defibrated material production process in which coarse fragments M1, which are a raw material containing cellulose fibers F, are defibrated in the air to produce defibrated material M2 as shown in Figure 2. The defibrating unit 3 is composed of an impeller mill having a casing with an inlet for the coarse fragments M1 and an outlet for the defibrated material M2, a rotor that is installed within the casing and rotates at high speed, a liner that is installed on the inner peripheral surface of the casing and positioned on the outer periphery of the rotor, and a drive unit that rotates the rotor. A specific configuration is described, for example, in JP 2022-176652 A.

[0018] The average fiber length of the cellulose fibers F in the defibrated material M2 produced in the defibrating unit 3 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.1 mm or more and 5 mm or less, and more preferably 0.2 mm or more and 3 mm or less. This allows the cellulose fibers F to be appropriately entangled with each other, and makes it possible to obtain a defibrated material M2 that is suitable for treatment in the lump-like material production step described below. The average fiber length of the cellulose fibers F can be measured, for example, by the staple diagram method.

[0019] From the same viewpoint, the average diameter (average width) of the cellulose fibers F is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.5 μm or more and 200 μm or less, and more preferably 1.0 μm or more and 100 μm or less.

[0020] From a similar viewpoint, the average aspect ratio (ratio of average length to average width) of the cellulose fiber F is not particularly limited, but from the same viewpoint as the average fiber length, it is preferably 10 or more and 1000 or less, and more preferably 15 or more and 500 or less.

[0021] From the same viewpoint, the density ρ1 (g / cm) of the cellulose fiber F in the defibrated material M2 obtained in the defibrated material production process 3 ) is not particularly limited, but is, for example, 0.05 g / cm 3 More than 0.8g / cm 3 It is preferable that the concentration is 0.1 g / cm or less. 3 More than 0.5g / cm 3 More preferably, it is 0.2 g / cm or less. 3 More than 0.4g / cm 3 It is even more preferable that:

[0022] The defibrated material M2 produced and discharged by the defibrating unit 3 is supplied to the mixer 4 where the next process is carried out.

[0023] The mixer 4 performs the lump formation step of dividing and compressing the defibrated material M2 to form lump materials M3 shown in FIG. 3, which have a higher density of cellulose fibers F than the defibrated material M2.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 1, the mixer 4 is equipped with an agitator 41, a transfer unit 42, and a casing 40 that houses these. The agitator 41 and transfer unit 42 are responsible for breaking down and compressing the defibrated material M2. To explain in more detail, there are three cases: a first case in which the agitator 41 mainly breaks down the defibrated material M2, and the transfer unit 42 breaks down and compresses the defibrated material M2; a second case in which the agitator 41 breaks down and compresses the defibrated material M2, and the transfer unit 42 also breaks down and compresses the defibrated material M2; a third case in which the agitator 41 breaks down and compresses the defibrated material M2, and the transfer unit 42 mainly compresses the defibrated material M2; and a fourth case in which the agitator 41 mainly breaks down the defibrated material M2, and the transfer unit 42 mainly compresses the broken pieces of the defibrated material M2. The mixer 4 shown in Fig. 1 can accommodate any of the above first to fourth cases by appropriately selecting and setting the device configuration and operating conditions of each section of the agitation section 41 and the transfer section 42. Depending on which of the first to fourth cases the mixer 4 is in, it is determined whether the material present in each location inside the casing 40 is defibrated material M2 or lumpy material M3.

[0025] The casing 40 is made up of a cylindrical member whose left and right ends in FIG. 1 are closed by partition walls 405 and 406, respectively.

[0026] The casing 40 has a defibrated material inlet 401 into which the defibrated material M2 is introduced, a moisture inlet 402 into which moisture W is introduced, an additive supply section 403 into which additive AD is supplied, and a lump discharge outlet 404 from which the lump M3 is discharged. Within the casing 40, the direction in which the defibrated material M2 or lump M3 is transported is called the transport direction and is shown by an arrow (M2 or M3). Additionally, the tip side of the arrow (M2 or M3) is called the downstream side of the transport direction, and the base end side is called the upstream side of the transport direction.

[0027] In this embodiment, the defibrated material inlet 401, the moisture inlet 402, the additive supply section 403, and the lump material outlet 404 are arranged in this order from the left end to the right end of the casing 40 in FIG. 1, that is, from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transfer direction.

[0028] The casing 40 is composed of an elongated hollow member extending in the transfer direction. A defibrated material inlet 401 is provided on the outer periphery of the casing 40 on the upstream side in the transfer direction, and a moisture inlet 402 and an additive supply unit 403 are provided on the outer periphery of the casing 40 upstream of the middle part in the transfer direction. The defibrated material inlet 401, moisture inlet 402, and additive supply unit 403 are arranged in this order, lined up from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transfer direction. A lump discharge outlet 404 is provided on the outer periphery of the casing 40 on the downstream side in the transfer direction.

[0029] The installation positions of the defibrated material inlet 401, water inlet 402, additive supply unit 403, and lump discharge outlet 404 relative to the casing 40 and the order of installation relative to the transport direction are not limited to the above configuration. For example, the water inlet 402 may be located downstream of the additive supply unit 403 (to the right in FIG. 1). Also, the water inlet 402 and the additive supply unit 403 may be configured to join together and supply water into the casing 40 as a single supply inlet. As such, in the present invention, the order of addition of water W and additive AD does not matter. Also, at least one of the water inlet 402 and the additive supply unit 403 may be omitted.

[0030] The defibrated material inlet 401 may be provided in the partition wall 405, and the lump material outlet 404 may be provided in the partition wall 406.

[0031] The agitator 41 has a rotating shaft 411, multiple agitator blades 412 fixed to the rotating shaft 411, and a motor 413. As the rotating shaft 411 and agitator blades 412 rotate, the defibrated material M2 introduced into the casing 40 from the defibrated material inlet 401 is agitated by the rotating agitator blades 412.

[0032] 1 penetrates casing 40 and is located outside casing 40, and is connected to the output shaft of motor 413. This allows rotation shaft 411 and stirring blade 412 fixed thereto to rotate in a predetermined direction when driven by motor 413.

[0033] The extension direction of the rotation shaft 411 extends in a direction that intersects with the transfer direction. That is, the axial direction (vertical direction in FIG. 1) of the rotation shaft 411 of the agitating blade 412 is a direction different from the transfer direction (horizontal direction in FIG. 1) of the material in the transfer section 42. This allows the defibrated material M2 to be agitated efficiently, and also allows the defibrated material M2 to be broken down and further compressed efficiently.

[0034] The "direction different from the transport direction" may be a direction inclined at a predetermined angle, for example, an angle of ±1° to 60°, relative to the vertical direction in FIG.

[0035] The agitator 41 is provided directly below the defibrated material inlet 401. Furthermore, there are no blades 420 of the screw 42S, which will be described later, between the defibrated material inlet 401 and the agitator 41. As a result, the defibrated material M2 fed from the defibrated material inlet 401 quickly reaches the agitator 41 and is agitated, and further broken down and compressed as necessary. Therefore, the agitation, cutting and compression of the defibrated material M2 can be performed quickly and efficiently.

[0036] The configuration is not limited to the above, and the stirring section 41 may be provided downstream of the position shown in the figure. Also, a plurality of stirring sections 41 may be provided.

[0037] The transfer unit 42 is configured as a screw feeder having a screw 42S. The screw 42S has a screw shaft 421, a spiral blade 420 fixed to the screw shaft 421, and a motor 422 that rotates the screw shaft 421 in a predetermined direction.

[0038] The blade 420 is made up of a continuous spiral plate material, but is not limited to this configuration, and the blade 420 may be made up of a plurality of independently provided plate materials.

[0039] The screw 42S extends in the left-right direction in FIG. 1, and by rotating, can divide and compress the defibrated material M2 or lumps M3 while transporting them in the longitudinal direction.

[0040] The screw 42S has a screw shaft 421, and the screw shaft 421 is rotatably supported by a partition wall 405 on the upstream side of the conveying direction of the casing 40 and a partition wall 406 on the downstream side of the conveying direction via, for example, bearings (not shown).

[0041] The upstream end of the screw shaft 421 in the conveying direction passes through the partition wall 405 and is positioned outside the casing 40, and is connected to the output shaft of the motor 422. This allows the screw shaft 421 and the blades 420 fixed thereto to rotate in a predetermined direction, and the defibrated material M2 and lumps M3 can be transferred from the upstream side to the downstream side.

[0042] By rotating the screw 42S, for example, the lumps M3 that have been stirred, broken up, and compressed in the stirring section 41 can be further broken up and compressed while being transferred. Also, the defibrated material M2 that has not been sufficiently broken up or compressed in the stirring section 41 can be further broken up and compressed.

[0043] The lumps M3 are transferred by the rotating screw 42S to the downstream end of the casing 40, that is, near the partition wall 406, and are pushed out through the lump discharge port 404 and discharged.

[0044] In such a lump generating step, the defibrated material M2 is divided and compressed to generate the lump materials M3, thereby obtaining a plurality of lump materials M3 that have a high density and a small volume compared to the defibrated material M2 itself.

[0045] Compared to conventional methods of storing and transporting defibrated material as is, in the present invention, more lumps M3 can be stored and transported in the same space. Therefore, compared to storing and transporting the defibrated material M2 itself, when storing and transporting the lumps M3, they can be stored and transported more efficiently and are easier to handle.

[0046] The density ρ2 of the cellulose fibers F in the aggregates M3 obtained in the aggregate formation step is not particularly limited, but is, for example, 0.08 g / cm3 More than 2.0g / cm 3 It is preferable that the concentration is 0.2 g / cm or less. 3 More than 1.0g / cm 3 More preferably, it is 0.4 g / cm or less. 3 More than 0.8g / cm 3 It is more preferable that the density ρ2 of the lumps M3 is not more than 1 / 2. This makes it possible to sufficiently increase the density ρ2 of the lumps M3, and to efficiently transport and store the lumps M3.

[0047] If the density ρ2 of the lumps M3 is too low, the effect of carrying out the lumps generating step is diminished, whereas if the density ρ2 of the lumps M3 is too high, the uses of the lumps M3 are limited, resulting in reduced versatility.

[0048] The density of cellulose fiber F in defibrated material M2 obtained in the defibrated material generation process is ρ1 (g / cm 3 ), and the density of the cellulose fiber F in the aggregate M3 obtained in the aggregate formation step is ρ2 (g / cm 3 ), ρ1 / ρ2 is preferably 0.25 or more and 0.5 or less. This allows the density ρ2 of the cellulose fibers F in the aggregates M3 to be sufficiently high, and allows the aggregates M3 to be transported and stored efficiently.

[0049] Furthermore, by appropriately selecting and setting various conditions such as the shape, dimensions, and number of installed stirring blades 412, the rotation speed of stirring blades 412, the installation position and number of installed stirring sections 41, the total length (transport length) of screw 42S, the diameter of blades 420, and the rotation speed of screw 42S, the density ρ2 and ρ1 / ρ2 of cellulose fiber F in the lump M3 can be set to the desired values.

[0050] In the fiber-containing material manufacturing apparatus 1 having the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the transfer path and transfer direction of the defibrated material M2 and lumps M3 in the mixer 4 are set linearly in the horizontal direction in FIG. 1, but are not limited to this, and may be in a direction inclined at a predetermined angle to the horizontal direction in FIG. 1, or in the vertical direction in FIG. 1, or may be curved, bent, or divided in any direction along the way.

[0051] The configuration of the agitator 41 of the mixer 4 is not limited to that shown in the drawing, and may be configured to agitate and break down the defibrated material M2 by a swirling air current, for example.

[0052] The screw feeder in the transfer section 42 of the mixer 4 may be configured to have a pair of screws (double screws) arranged parallel to each other. Furthermore, the transfer section 42 of the mixer 4 may use a feeder of another configuration, such as a vibrating feeder, instead of a screw feeder.

[0053] As explained above, the method for producing a fiber-containing material of the present invention comprises a defibrated material production step in which coarsely crushed pieces M1, which is an example of a raw material containing cellulose fibers F, are defibrated in air to produce defibrated material M2, and an agglomerate production step in which the defibrated material M2 is divided and compressed using a mixer 4 to produce agglomerates M3 having a higher density of cellulose fibers F than the defibrated material M2. The agglomerates M3 obtained through the defibrated material production step and the agglomerate production step can be efficiently stored or transported and have excellent handleability.

[0054] The mixer 4 is equipped with an agitation unit 41 that agitates the defibrated material M2 with rotating agitation blades 412, and a transfer unit 42 that transfers the defibrated material M2 with a screw feeder having a screw 42S, and the agitation unit 41 and the transfer unit 42 perform breaking up and compression of the defibrated material M2. This makes it possible to efficiently and satisfactorily produce lumps M3, in particular lumps M3 having the above-mentioned suitable density ρ2.

[0055] The axial direction of the rotation shaft 411 of the agitating blade 412 is different from the transfer direction of the transfer section 42. As a result, the rotation directions of the agitating section 41 and the transfer section 42 are different, so the defibrated material M2 can be efficiently divided and compressed.

[0056] From the water inlet 402 described above, water W is supplied to the defibrated material M2 being transported inside the casing 40. That is, after the defibrated material supplying process is performed, the water supplying process is performed together with the lump formation process. This allows the supplied water W to form lumps of the defibrated material M2, and allows the generation of lumps M3 in the lump formation process to be performed more efficiently and well.

[0057] The moisture W may be supplied as droplets, as a mist, or as humidified air.

[0058] The water W supplied from the water inlet 402 is preferably 0.01 parts by weight or more and 2.0 parts by weight or less, and more preferably 0.02 parts by weight or more and 1.0 part by weight or less, relative to 100 parts by weight of the defibrated material M2 being fed in. This prevents the generated aggregates M3 from becoming too wet, while more reliably achieving the above-mentioned effects.

[0059] In this way, after the defibrated material generating step, there is a moisture supplying step of supplying moisture W to the defibrated material M2. This makes it possible to form lumps of the defibrated material M2 with the supplied moisture W, and the generation of lumps M3 in the lump generating step can be carried out more efficiently and satisfactorily.

[0060] The water supplying step can be carried out after the defibrated material generating step and either before the lump generating step, during the lump generating step, or after the lump generating step. The water supplying step may also be carried out during the defibrated material generating step or before the defibrated material generating step. The water supplying step may also be omitted.

[0061] From the additive supply unit 403 described above, additives AD are supplied to the defibrated material M2 being transported inside the casing 40. That is, after the defibrated material supply process is performed, the additive supply process is performed together with the lump formation process. By supplying the additives AD to the defibrated material M2, it is possible to impart various functions and properties to the lump M3 according to the type of additive AD. Furthermore, by supplying the additives AD while stirring the defibrated material M2, it is possible to uniformly mix the additives AD into the defibrated material M2.

[0062] The amount of additive AD supplied from the additive supply unit 403 depends on the type, etc., but is preferably 0.01 to 2.0 parts by weight, and more preferably 0.02 to 1.0 part by weight, relative to 100 parts by weight of the defibrated material M2 to be added. This prevents the generated aggregates M3 from containing too much additive AD, while more reliably exerting the action and effect of adding the additive AD.

[0063] The additives AD are appropriately selected depending on the use of the lump M3, but in one example given in this embodiment, the additives AD include a binder and a nutrient.

[0064] The binding material functions as a binder that partially binds the cellulose fibers F in the defibrated material M2 together. This makes it possible to effectively maintain the density and shape of the cellulose fibers F in the lumps M3 after production. When the lumps M3 are used as a raw material for recycled paper, the strength of the recycled paper can be increased. Furthermore, when the lumps M3 are used as a medium for cultivating mushrooms, other fungi, various plants, or microbial culture, for example, the breathability of the lumps M3 can be ensured, which is preferable as it promotes culture.

[0065] The binder is not particularly limited as long as it exhibits the above-mentioned functions, and for example, a thermoplastic resin, a curable resin, etc. can be used, but it is preferable to use a thermoplastic resin. Examples of thermoplastic resins include polyolefins such as AS resin, ABS resin, polyethylene, polypropylene, and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, modified polyolefins, acrylic resins such as polymethyl methacrylate, polyesters such as polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polybutylene terephthalate, polyamides (Nylon: registered trademark) such as nylon 6, nylon 46, nylon 66, nylon 610, nylon 612, nylon 11, nylon 12, nylon 6-12, and nylon 6-66, liquid crystal polymers such as polyphenylene ether, polyacetal, polyether, polyphenylene oxide, polyether ether ketone, polycarbonate, polyphenylene sulfide, thermoplastic polyimide, polyetherimide, and aromatic polyester, water-soluble polymers such as PVA and PAP, and various thermoplastic elastomers such as styrene-based, polyolefin-based, polyvinyl chloride-based, polyurethane-based, polyester-based, polyamide-based, polybutadiene-based, trans-polyisoprene-based, fluororubber-based, and chlorinated polyethylene-based elastomers. One or more selected from these may be used in combination. Preferably, the thermoplastic resin used is polyester or a material containing polyester.

[0066] Examples of the curable resin include thermosetting resin, photocurable resin, and ultraviolet curable resin. Specifically, epoxy resin, phenol resin, polyurethane, and the like can be used.

[0067] The binder may be a resin material other than thermoplastic resin and curable resin, or may be a material other than resin, such as a material derived from a natural product, such as starch, protein-based adhesive, wood component-based adhesive, PLA (polylactic acid), etc. Also, the binder may be a mixture of a thermoplastic resin and another material at a predetermined ratio, for example, a weight ratio of 1:9 to 9:1.

[0068] The binder may be a resin material other than a thermoplastic resin or a curable resin, and is preferably derived from a natural product in order to reduce the environmental impact. Examples of naturally derived materials include starch, protein-based adhesives, wood-based adhesives, and PLA (polylactic acid). Protein-based adhesives include glue, casein glue, and soybean glue. Wood-based adhesives include lacquer, cellulose-based adhesives, and lignin-based adhesives.

[0069] Among these, starch is suitable as a binder. When supplied with moisture and heat, starch gelatinizes and develops binding power. Starch is derived from natural products, which is advantageous in reducing environmental impact. In addition, when the aggregate M3 is used as a culture medium for growing mushrooms or plants, it also functions as a nutrient source and water retention agent.

[0070] Nutrients have the function of supplying nutrients to, for example, mushroom mycelia, plant seeds, and microorganisms including various fungi, and promoting their growth.

[0071] Examples of nutrients include nitrogen fertilizers such as ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride, and ammonium nitrate, phosphate fertilizers such as superphosphate, triple superphosphate, and fused phosphate fertilizer, potassium fertilizers such as potassium chloride and potassium nitrate, soybean meal, rice bran, wheat bran, chicken manure, horse manure, etc. Other examples include chicken matter (shells of crustaceans such as shrimp and crab, and exoskeletons of arthropods such as insects), and nutrients contained in foods for specified health uses (e.g., DHA and EPA).

[0072] When the lump M3 is used as a culture medium for cultivating mushrooms or plants, the additives AD may include binders, nutrients, soil conditioners, pest repellents or insecticides, water retention agents, lactic acid bacteria or fermentation promoters, ash, etc.

[0073] Examples of soil conditioners include pH adjusters such as organic lime, wood ash, quicklime, and slaked lime.

[0074] Examples of pest repellents and insecticides include known chemically synthesized agents such as camphor and naphthalene, and natural materials such as camphor wood flour and cypress wood flour. These agents and natural materials may be used alone or in combination.

[0075] Examples of water-retaining agents include acrylic acid-vinyl alcohol copolymers, alkaline hydrolysates of starch-acrylonitrile graft copolymers, sodium acrylate polymers, and mixtures of multiple types of water-absorbent polymers.

[0076] Lactic acid bacteria inhibit the activity of mold and aerobic fungi that cause spoilage. Fermentation accelerators promote the activity of microorganisms such as lactic acid bacteria in the mass M3.

[0077] Examples of ash include charcoal, bamboo charcoal, coconut shell charcoal, etc. Ash can suppress the growth of germs and insects in the lump M3.

[0078] As described above, the method for producing a fiber-containing material of the present invention has an additive supplying step of supplying additives AD to the defibrated material M2 after the defibrated material generating step, thereby imparting various functions to the aggregates M3.

[0079] The additive supplying step can be carried out after the defibrated material generating step and either before the agglomerate generating step, during the agglomerate generating step, or after the agglomerate generating step. Also, the additive supplying step may be carried out during the defibrated material generating step or before the defibrated material generating step. Also, the additive supplying step may be omitted.

[0080] The additive AD preferably contains a binder that binds the cellulose fibers F together, thereby effectively maintaining the density, shape, function, etc. of the cellulose fibers F in the produced aggregates M3.

[0081] The lump M3 is used as a culture medium, and the additive AD preferably contains nutrients, which can provide nutrients to, for example, mushroom mycelia, plant seeds, microorganisms including bacteria, and the like cultivated in the culture medium, thereby promoting their growth.

[0082] The method for producing a fiber-containing material of the present invention has been described above based on the illustrated embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this, and each step can be replaced with any step having a similar function. Furthermore, any other step may be added. For example, the method may include a molding step in which the aggregates M3 produced in the aggregate production step are molded into a desired shape.

[0083] Furthermore, the fiber-containing material manufacturing apparatus 1 shown in Figure 1 has been used as an example of a fiber-containing material manufacturing apparatus for carrying out the fiber-containing material manufacturing method of the present invention, but this is not limited to this, and fiber-containing material manufacturing apparatuses with other configurations may also be used, and all or part of the steps in the fiber-containing material manufacturing method may be performed manually. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Fiber-containing material manufacturing apparatus, 2...Coarse crushing section, 3...Defibrillation section, 4...Mixer, 21...Coarse crushing blade, 22...Chute, 40...Casing, 41...Agitation section, 42...Transfer section, 42S...Screw, 401...Defibrilated material inlet, 402...Moisture inlet, 403...Additive supply section, 404...Lump discharge outlet, 405...Partition wall, 406...Partition wall, 411...Rotating shaft, 412...Agitation blade, 413...Motor, 420...Blade, 421...Screw shaft, 422...Motor, AD...Additive, F...Cellulose fiber, M0...Raw material, M1...Coarse crushed pieces, M2...Defibrilated material, M3...Lumps, W...Moisture

Claims

1. a defibrated material generating step of defibrating a raw material containing cellulose fibers in air to generate a defibrated material; a lump formation step of using a mixer to break up and compress the defibrated material to form lump materials having a higher density of cellulose fibers than the defibrated material.

2. 2. The method for producing a fiber-containing material according to claim 1, wherein the mixer comprises an agitation unit that agitates the defibrated material with rotating agitation blades, and a transfer unit that transfers the defibrated material with a screw feeder, and the agitation unit and the transfer unit perform cutting and compression of the defibrated material.

3. The method for producing a fiber-containing material according to claim 2 , wherein the axial direction of the rotation shaft of the agitating blade is different from the transport direction of the transport section.

4. The density of the defibrated material obtained in the defibrated material generating step is ρ1 (g / cm ３ ), and the density of the aggregates obtained in the aggregate formation step is ρ2 (g / cm ３ 4. The method for producing a fiber-containing material according to claim 1, wherein ρ1 / ρ2 is 0.25 or more and 0.5 or less when ρ1 / ρ2 is 0.25 or more and ρ2 is 0.5 or less.

5. The method for producing a fiber-containing material according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a moisture supplying step of supplying moisture to the defibrated material after the defibrated material generating step.

6. The method for producing a fiber-containing material according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an additive supplying step of supplying an additive to the defibrated material after the defibrated material generating step.

7. The method for producing a fiber-containing material according to claim 6 , wherein the additive includes a binder that binds the cellulose fibers together.

8. The aggregate is used as a culture medium, The method for producing a fiber-containing material according to claim 6 , wherein the additive comprises a nutrient.

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