Paper yarn containing coffee grounds, paper yarn fabric containing coffee grounds, and methods for manufacturing the same, as well as furniture

Abstract

This invention provides a method for manufacturing paper yarn containing coffee grounds, which allows for the effective utilization of coffee grounds after coffee extraction, thereby contributing to environmental conservation by reducing the amount of coffee grounds that are incinerated. [Solution] The method for manufacturing paper yarn 5 containing coffee grounds includes a papermaking step (step S2) in which papermaking raw materials mixed with coffee grounds 1 after coffee extraction are made into paper 3, a slitting step (step S3) in which the paper 3 is cut into paper tape 4, and a twisting step (step S4) in which the paper tape 4 is twisted into paper yarn 5.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a paper yarn containing coffee grounds, a paper yarn fabric containing coffee grounds, methods for producing the same, and furniture.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, with the increasing demand for coffee beverages, a large amount of coffee grounds after coffee extraction is generated in coffee beverage manufacturing plants. Such coffee grounds are usually often incinerated as industrial waste. However, since coffee grounds contain a large amount of moisture, a drying treatment is required before incineration, which consumes a great deal of energy. In addition, incineration disposal also has the problem of discharging carbon dioxide (carbonic acid gas), which is a greenhouse gas.

[0003] On the other hand, it has been proposed to reuse such coffee grounds as fertilizers, deodorants and the like (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). However, only a very small part of coffee grounds is reused, and the amount that has to be incinerated is not small. Therefore, in addition to reuse as fertilizers and deodorants, an effective utilization method for coffee grounds is desired.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The present invention has been made to improve such current situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a paper yarn that can effectively utilize coffee grounds after coffee extraction, a method for producing the same, and a fabric and furniture using the paper yarn.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is a method for producing paper yarn containing coffee grounds, comprising: a papermaking step of obtaining paper by papermaking a papermaking material mixed with coffee grounds after coffee extraction; a slitting step of cutting the paper into paper tape; and a twisting step of twisting the paper tape into paper yarn.

[0007] According to the present invention's method for producing paper yarn containing coffee grounds, since coffee grounds are used as a raw material for the paper yarn, coffee grounds can be effectively utilized, and in turn, contribute to reducing the amount of coffee grounds that would otherwise be incinerated, thereby contributing to environmental protection.

[0008] In the method for producing paper yarn containing coffee grounds according to the present invention, a grinding step of drying and grinding the coffee grounds may be included before the papermaking step.

[0009] In this scenario, the particle size of coffee grounds contained in the papermaking raw material can be reduced, enabling the production of paper of uniform thickness during the papermaking process, preventing coffee grounds from falling out during the slitting process, and further, obtaining paper yarn with a uniform twist during the yarn twisting process.

[0010] Furthermore, in the papermaking process, the coffee grounds may be mixed with the papermaking raw material before it is fed into the papermaking machine, or the coffee grounds may be sprinkled and mixed with the papermaking raw material that has been formed into a sheet by the papermaking machine.

[0011] In this scenario, mixing coffee grounds into the papermaking material before feeding it into the papermaking machine allows the coffee grounds to be dispersed within the paper, preventing them from falling out. Furthermore, by scattering and mixing coffee grounds into the papermaking material that has been formed into a sheet by the papermaking machine, it is possible to prevent the coffee grounds from clumping together inside the paper, resulting in the production of paper yarn with uniform tensile strength.

[0012] Furthermore, the paper obtained in the papermaking process may be Japanese paper (washi). Here, "washi" includes not only washi made by hand using bast fibers such as kozo, mitsumata, and gampi (washi in the narrow sense), but also washi made using a papermaking machine with pulp as the raw material (paper made mechanically using the washi manufacturing method).

[0013] Under these circumstances, it is possible to manufacture washi yarn made from paper that contains coffee grounds and has the texture and feel of washi.

[0014] Another aspect of the present invention includes a weaving process for producing a fabric by weaving paper yarn obtained by the method for producing coffee grounds-containing paper yarn of the present invention, or by weaving the paper yarn with other yarns. This is a method for manufacturing paper yarn fabric containing coffee grounds.

[0015] The present invention's method for producing paper yarn fabric containing coffee grounds allows for the production of paper yarn fabric mixed with coffee grounds, thus enabling the effective utilization of coffee grounds left over after coffee extraction.

[0016] One aspect of the present invention is a paper yarn containing coffee grounds, made from twisted paper yarn containing coffee grounds.

[0017] The present invention's paper yarn containing coffee grounds allows for the effective utilization of coffee grounds as a raw material for the paper yarn, thereby contributing to environmental conservation.

[0018] Another aspect of the present invention is a coffee grounds-containing paper yarn fabric that contains the coffee grounds-containing paper yarn of the present invention in whole or in part.

[0019] Yet another aspect of the present invention is furniture comprising upholstery formed from the coffee grounds-containing paper yarn fabric of the present invention.

[0020] The present invention provides fabric and furniture made from coffee grounds-containing paper yarn, which utilizes coffee grounds as part of its raw materials. This allows for the effective use of coffee grounds and contributes to environmental conservation. [Effects of the Invention]

[0021] The paper yarn containing coffee grounds, the paper yarn fabric containing coffee grounds, the methods for producing the same, and the furniture of the present invention enable effective utilization of coffee grounds after coffee extraction, thereby contributing to reduction of coffee grounds to be incinerated and contributing to environmental conservation. [Brief Description of the Drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] It is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the method for producing a paper yarn containing coffee grounds. [Figure 2] It is a schematic diagram for explaining an application example of the paper yarn containing coffee grounds. [Figure 3] It is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of the method for producing a carrier with coffee grounds. [Figure 4] It is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of the method for producing a carrier containing coffee grounds. [Modes for Carrying Out the Invention]

[0023] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described. The paper yarn containing coffee grounds according to one embodiment is a twisted paper yarn containing coffee grounds. Such a paper yarn containing coffee grounds is obtained by mixing coffee ground powder with fibers as a papermaking raw material, forming the mixture into paper, cutting the obtained paper into long thin paper tape shapes, and twisting the tapes to form a paper yarn. With reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2, as one embodiment of the method for producing a paper yarn containing coffee grounds, a method for producing a Japanese paper yarn containing coffee grounds will be described.

[0024] Figure 1 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the method for producing a paper yarn containing coffee grounds. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the flow of paper recycling of the paper yarn containing coffee grounds.

[0025] In manufacturing paper yarn containing coffee grounds, coffee grounds 1 collected from coffee beverage manufacturing plants and coffee shops are dried and ground to a predetermined particle size (grounding process: step S1). The process of grinding the coffee grounds 1 to a predetermined particle size may also be carried out by wet grinding. Furthermore, the ground coffee grounds 1 may be granulated with a binder to achieve a desired particle size and shape.

[0026] Next, coffee grounds 1, which have been ground to a predetermined particle size, are mixed with papermaking raw material (a solution of pulp dissolved in water), and the papermaking raw material mixed with coffee grounds 1 is used to make Japanese paper 3 (papermaking process: step S2). The pulp raw material may be wood 2, non-wood, recycled pulp (recycled paper pulp), or a mixture thereof. Chemically synthesized fibers such as rayon or vinylon may also be mixed in.

[0027] The above papermaking process may be carried out by hand or by machine using a papermaking machine, but here it will be carried out by machine using the traditional Japanese papermaking method. For example, the papermaking machine has a wire part, a press part, and a dry part. In the wire part, the papermaking raw material is flattened to produce wet paper, in the press part the wet paper is compressed, and in the dry part the wet paper is heated and dried. The produced Japanese paper 3 is wound into a roll.

[0028] When mixing coffee grounds 1 into the papermaking raw material, the coffee grounds may be mixed into the papermaking raw material before it is fed into the papermaking machine, or the coffee grounds 1 may be sprinkled and mixed into the papermaking raw material (wet paper) that has been made into a sheet by the papermaking machine. According to the former method, the coffee grounds can be dispersed inside the resulting paper, and the detachment of the coffee grounds can be prevented. On the other hand, according to the latter method, the coffee grounds can be prevented from forming clumps inside the paper, and paper with uniform tensile strength can be produced.

[0029] Next, the washi obtained in the papermaking process is cut to a desired width to form washi tape 4 (slitting process: step S3). Then, the obtained washi tape 4 is twisted to form washi yarn 5 (twisting process: step S4). This yields washi yarn 5 made of paper that contains coffee grounds 1 and has the feel and texture of washi. When manufacturing washi yarn 5 in the twisting process, one washi tape 4 may be twisted to form washi yarn 5, multiple washi tapes 4 may be twisted together to form washi yarn 5, or washi tape 4 may be twisted with other yarns to form washi yarn 5.

[0030] The method for manufacturing the coffee grounds-containing washi paper yarn 5 in the above embodiment uses coffee grounds 1 as a raw material for the washi paper yarn 5, thus making effective use of the coffee grounds 1 and contributing to environmental conservation by reducing the amount of coffee grounds 1 that would otherwise be incinerated.

[0031] Furthermore, because the process includes a grinding step (Step S1) in which the coffee grounds 1 are dried and ground before the papermaking process (Step S2), the particle size of the coffee grounds 1 contained in the papermaking raw material can be reduced, enabling the production of washi paper of uniform thickness in the papermaking process. In addition, by reducing the particle size of the coffee grounds 1 contained in the papermaking raw material, it is possible to prevent the coffee grounds 1 from falling out in the slitting process (Step S3), and to obtain washi yarn with a uniform twist in the twisting process (Step S4).

[0032] In the above embodiment, Japanese paper is made in the papermaking process (step S2), but the paper obtained in the papermaking process may be Western-style paper containing coffee grounds or synthetic fiber paper. Furthermore, the paper yarn obtained in the yarn twisting process (step S4) may be paper yarn containing coffee grounds, which is produced by twisting Western-style paper containing coffee grounds or synthetic fiber paper.

[0033] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the paper recycling process of washi paper yarn 5 containing coffee grounds. The washi paper yarn 5 containing coffee grounds is woven to produce washi paper yarn fabric 6 and washi paper yarn cord 7 (weaving process). In this embodiment, the washi paper yarn fabric 6 and washi paper yarn cord 7 are fabrics woven using a loom, with washi paper yarn 5 used for one of the warp and weft threads, and other threads (for example, cotton thread 8, silk thread, hemp thread, or biodegradable thread 9) used for the other. The washi paper yarn fabric 6 and washi paper yarn cord 7 can be reinforced by weaving the washi paper yarn 5 with other threads. Note that both the warp and weft threads may be washi paper yarn 5. In addition, any weaving method is acceptable, such as twill weave, plain weave, or satin weave.

[0034] In this embodiment, coffee grounds-containing washi yarn fabric 6 and coffee grounds-containing washi yarn cord 7 can be manufactured by weaving washi yarn 5 mixed with coffee grounds 1. Since the washi yarn fabric 6 and washi yarn cord 7 contain washi yarn 5 with coffee grounds 1 as part of the raw material, either entirely or partially, the coffee grounds 1 left over after coffee extraction can be effectively utilized, thereby contributing to environmental conservation. Furthermore, because washi yarn 5 is lighter than cotton yarn, it is possible to manufacture washi yarn fabric 6 and washi yarn cord 7 that are lighter than cotton fabric, for example, if both the warp and weft threads are made of cotton yarn. In addition, washi yarn fabric 6 and washi yarn cord 7 using washi yarn 5 have the advantage of being more breathable and not generating lint compared to cotton fabric.

[0035] As shown in Figure 2, the resulting washi paper yarn fabric 6 containing coffee grounds can be used as upholstery for furniture such as partitions 10, sofas 11, and chairs 12. Specifically, the washi paper yarn fabric 6 containing coffee grounds can be used as upholstery to cover the entire surface or part of the surface of partition 10, or as upholstery for the seats and backs of sofas 11 and chairs 12.

[0036] In this embodiment, the partition 10, sofa 11, and chair 12 use washi yarn fabric 6, which is woven from washi yarn 5 that uses coffee grounds 1 as part of its raw material, as upholstery. Therefore, it is possible to provide furniture that makes effective use of coffee grounds 1, and in turn, contribute to environmental conservation.

[0037] Although specific examples of the present invention have been described above, the present invention can be embodied in various other ways. For example, the configurations described in the embodiments and modifications (see notes, etc.) above may be combined, and the configurations can be added, omitted, substituted, or otherwise modified.

[0038] For example, when mixing coffee grounds 1 into the papermaking raw material, the process may include taking out all or part of the pulp that has been beaten after the disintegration treatment and binding the coffee grounds 1 to the pulp using a binder such as an adhesive. Then, the papermaking raw material containing the pulp to which the coffee grounds 1 have been bound with the binder is made into paper to obtain Japanese paper containing coffee grounds 3. This makes it difficult for the coffee grounds 1 to detach from the Japanese paper containing coffee grounds 3, and prevents the coffee grounds 1 from detaching from the Japanese paper yarn 5 produced by twisting the Japanese paper containing coffee grounds 3.

[0039] Alternatively, coffee grounds 1 may be supported on a fibrous carrier, and the papermaking raw material mixed with the fibrous carrier may be used to create a papermaking process that intertwines the fibrous carrier supporting the coffee grounds 1 with the pulp, thereby suppressing the detachment of the coffee grounds 1 from the coffee grounds-containing Japanese paper 3. Then, by twisting the coffee grounds-containing Japanese paper 3 to form coffee grounds-containing Japanese paper yarn 5, the detachment of the coffee grounds 1 from the coffee grounds-containing Japanese paper yarn 5 can be prevented. Here, it is preferable that the fibrous carrier is water-insoluble or poorly water-soluble.

[0040] As a method for obtaining a fibrous carrier carrying coffee grounds, for example, as shown in Figure 3, a thread-like carrier 21 is sent through a container containing adhesive 22, and then the carrier 21 with adhesive 22 attached is passed through a container containing coffee grounds 1, so that the coffee grounds 1 are bonded to the carrier 21 with the adhesive 22. Then, the carrier 21 with the bonded coffee grounds 1 is sent to an adhesive curing unit 23 to cure the adhesive 22, and then cut to the desired length with a cutting device (not shown) to form an elongated fibrous carrier 24 with coffee grounds attached. Then, the obtained carrier 24 with coffee grounds attached is mixed with papermaking raw materials and paper is made to obtain Japanese paper containing coffee grounds 3. The carrier 21 may be made from a natural material or from a chemically synthesized material.

[0041] Alternatively, as shown in Figure 4, coffee grounds 1 may be kneaded into a carrier 25 made of a binder such as synthetic resin, the carrier 25 containing coffee grounds 25 may be compressed into a sheet using a roller device 26, and the resulting sheet-like carrier 25 may be cut into long, thin strips of a desired width and length using a cutting device (not shown) to form a fibrous coffee grounds-containing carrier 27. Then, the obtained coffee grounds-containing carrier 27 may be mixed with papermaking raw materials and paper made to obtain coffee grounds-containing Japanese paper 3 in which the coffee grounds-containing carrier 27 and pulp are intertwined. Alternatively, a fibrous coffee grounds-containing carrier may be obtained by extruding the carrier 25 kneaded with coffee grounds 1 into fibers and cutting them to a desired length. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1. Coffee grounds 3. Washi paper containing coffee grounds (paper containing coffee grounds) 4. Washi tape (paper tape) 5. Washi paper yarn with coffee grounds (paper yarn with coffee grounds) 6. Washi paper yarn fabric with coffee grounds (paper yarn fabric with coffee grounds) 7. Washi paper string with coffee grounds 10. Partitions (Examples of furniture) 11. Sofa (Example of furniture) 12. Chair (Example of furniture)

Claims

1. The papermaking process involves mixing coffee grounds after coffee extraction with papermaking raw materials to obtain paper, A slitting process in which the aforementioned paper is cut to form paper tape, The process includes a twisting step of twisting the aforementioned paper tape to make paper yarn, A method for manufacturing paper yarn containing coffee grounds.

2. The process includes a grinding step in which the coffee grounds are dried and ground before the papermaking step, The method for producing paper yarn containing coffee grounds as described in claim 1.

3. In the papermaking process, the coffee grounds are mixed with the papermaking raw material before it is fed into the papermaking machine, or the coffee grounds are sprinkled and mixed with the papermaking raw material that has been formed into a sheet by the papermaking machine. The method for producing paper yarn containing coffee grounds as described in claim 1.

4. The paper obtained in the aforementioned papermaking process is Japanese paper. The method for producing paper yarn containing coffee grounds as described in claim 1.

5. The method includes a weaving step of weaving paper yarn obtained by the method for producing paper yarn containing coffee grounds according to any one of claims 1 to 4, or weaving the paper yarn with other yarns to produce a fabric. A method for manufacturing paper yarn fabric containing coffee grounds.

6. It is a twisted yarn made from paper containing coffee grounds. Coffee grounds mixed into paper yarn.

7. The paper yarn containing coffee grounds as described in claim 6 is included in whole or in part. Coffee grounds-infused paper yarn fabric.

8. The upholstery is made of a paper yarn fabric containing coffee grounds as described in claim 7. furniture.

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