Artificial turf installation structure and infill material

Abstract

To provide an artificial turf installation structure and infill material that reduces the environmental impact while improving the safety and comfort of players. [Solution] The artificial turf laying structure 1 comprises an artificial turf body with piles 2 erected on a sheet-like substrate, and a filling layer formed by filling the spaces between the piles with filling material 3 made by crushing a material derived from fruit seeds. The filling material is made by soaking the fruit for a certain period of time in a vinegar solution containing a prescribed concentration of salt and citric acid, after which the flesh of the fruit is removed and the dried seeds are crushed; plums can be used as this fruit. It is preferable that a buffer layer is laid on the bottom side of the artificial turf body.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This invention relates to an artificial turf installation structure and infill material used therein. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an artificial turf laid in stadiums used for ball games such as soccer and track and field events, a system such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been devised.

[0003] In the artificial turf system disclosed in Patent Document 1, piles are planted on a base fabric, and infill is filled between the piles on the base fabric, with the infill forming three layers: a lower layer made of elastic granular material, a middle layer made of a mixture of an anti-caking agent, elastic granular material, and hard granular material, and an upper layer made of hard granular material. Patent Document 1 also discloses the use of black rubber chips made from crushed waste tires as the elastic granular material, and silica sand as the hard granular material. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2024-521038

[0005] [Patent Document 2] JP 2024-165585 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, the artificial turf system disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 uses black rubber chips derived from waste tires as infill, which may cause damage to the health of athletes by wearing down fine particles of the black rubber chips and releasing them into the environment. In addition, the black rubber chips are prone to absorbing sunlight and the surface temperature is prone to increase, reducing the comfort of the athletes when used, and there is a risk that the rubber will deteriorate over long-term use, reducing elasticity and shock absorption.

[0007] In addition, the conventional artificial turf systems described above use silica sand as the hard granular material, which can generate dust during use and maintenance, which can have adverse effects on the health of workers and players. The hard granular material also increases friction and impact when players fall during a game, making them more susceptible to injury.

[0008] Furthermore, a technology has been proposed that uses natural materials such as sawdust as a filler (for example, see Patent Document 2). However, because this sawdust floats on water, it not only becomes slippery when it rains, but also has the problem of being washed away by rainwater.

[0009] In order to solve these problems, the present invention aims to provide an artificial turf installation structure and infill material that reduces the environmental impact and improves the safety and comfort of players. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above problems, the artificial turf structure of the present invention is: An artificial turf body having piles erected on a sheet-like substrate; A filling layer is formed by filling the space between the piles with a filling material produced by crushing a material derived from fruit seeds; The present invention is characterized by comprising: In addition, a buffer layer may be laid on the bottom side of the artificial turf body.

[0011] The present invention further provides an infill material for use in the artificial turf structure, the infill material being produced by crushing a material derived from fruit seeds.The present invention also provides a method for producing the infill material, the infill material being produced by crushing a material derived from fruit seeds.

[0012] In the above invention, the filler is preferably produced by immersing the fruit in a vinegar solution containing a predetermined concentration of salt and citric acid for a certain period of time, and then removing the flesh of the fruit and crushing the dried seeds. For example, plums can be used as the fruit. Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, an artificial turf structure can be provided that reduces the environmental impact while improving the safety and comfort of players.

[0014] In more detail, this invention uses crushed infill material derived from fruit seeds to create an environmentally friendly artificial turf structure. This infill material scatters less fine particles and generates less dust than conventional black rubber chips and silica sand, reducing the health hazards to players and workers. In addition, the use of natural materials reduces the environmental impact and makes disposal easier.

[0015] In particular, by soaking the fruit in a vinegar solution containing a certain concentration of salt and citric acid, removing the pulp, drying, and crushing the seeds, the moisture absorption, durability, and density of the filler are appropriately adjusted, resulting in excellent preservative and weather resistance, preventing floating in the rain, and making it less likely to deteriorate even with long-term use. Furthermore, by applying treatments containing salt and citric acid, it is given anti-mold and preservative effects, providing a hygienic artificial turf environment.

[0016] Furthermore, when plum seeds are used, the antibacterial and antiseptic properties of the filler are further improved, and the citric acid contained in plums provides a natural antibacterial and antiseptic effect, improving the hygiene of the entire artificial turf structure and preventing the occurrence of mold and unpleasant odors, especially when used over a long period of time.

[0017] Furthermore, by laying a cushioning layer on the bottom side of the artificial turf itself, the impact received by players can be effectively mitigated, improving safety and comfort, and particularly reducing the risk of injury in the event of a fall. The cushioning layer also has moderate elasticity, which contributes to reducing player fatigue. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic cross section of an artificial turf structure according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] A cross-sectional view showing a schematic cross-section of an artificial turf structure according to a modified example. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a method for producing a filler according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a method for laying an artificial turf structure according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] (Overall structure of artificial turf installation) Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the materials, dimensions, weights, and volumes mentioned in the following description are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section of an artificial turf laying structure 1 according to this embodiment. The artificial turf laying structure 1 according to this embodiment is generally composed of piles 2, 2 planted in a base 4, and a filling layer 30 in which a filling material 3 is filled between the piles 2, 2. The base 4 can be formed as a base fabric in which synthetic resins such as polypropylene, nylon, and polyethylene are woven into a plain weave cloth and polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate cotton is punched and planted. The piles 2, 2, which are made of polyethylene, nylon, or other materials and have a thickness of 10,000 dtex or more by a split manufacturing method or a monofilament manufacturing method, are planted on the base 4 at a planting density of 6,000 to 9,000 threads / m2, penetrating the front and back of the base 4 and fixed thereto. The back side of the base 4 is coated with a mixture of an SBR latex / ethylene emulsion mixture and a calcium carbonate filler, for example, which serves as a backing material. In this state, the base 4 is laid on top of the weed control sheet 5.

[0021] The filling layer 30 is made of dried and crushed fruit seeds, and it is preferable to use pickled plum seeds as the fruit seeds, which have a pleasant aroma, antibacterial properties, are resistant to decay, and have water retention. The crushed pickled plum seeds should preferably have a particle size of 3 mm or less.

[0022] In addition, in this filling tank, sand such as silica sand may be mixed with the fruit seeds as the filling material. Although there is no particular limitation on the type, it is preferable to use silica sand having a particle size of 0.2 mm to 1.5 mm.

[0023] In the artificial turf laying structure 1, crushed fruit seeds or fruit seeds and sand are alternately filled between the piles 2, 2 planted on the base 4, and the filled filler 3 and sand are mixed by brushing the piles each time they are filled. It is desirable that this mixing is performed so that the crushed fruit filler 3 or the sand mixed with it is as uniform as possible. The filler 3 is filled multiple times, and by making the thickness of this filler layer 30 100 mm or more, for example, the protruding length of the piles 2, 2 from the filler layer 30 can be 15 mm or more and 30 mm or less.

[0024] (How to lay artificial turf) The method of laying the artificial turf shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2 is carried out, for example, as follows. First, a weed control sheet 5 is laid on a foundation such as soil, crushed stone, concrete, asphalt, etc., and a base 4 with piles 2,2 planted thereon is laid on top of the weed control sheet 5. Next, as shown in Figure 3, filler material 3, which is pickled plum seeds, is scattered from above the piles 2,2 and spread evenly so as to get into the spaces between the piles 2,2. This spreading may be done manually or mechanically using a spreader or the like. Then, brushing is performed from above the piles 2,2. When a mixture of pickled plum seeds and sand is used as the filler material, sand is scattered on top of the scattered pickled plum seeds and spread evenly, so that the pickled plum seeds and sand are mixed together.

[0025] (Filler manufacturing method) A method for producing the filler made by crushing the seeds of the pickled plum will be described. Fig. 3 shows the procedure for producing the filler according to this embodiment. Note that the procedure described below is merely an example, and each process may be changed as much as possible. In addition, steps may be omitted, replaced, or added as appropriate for the procedure described below depending on the embodiment.

[0026] First, the raw plums are washed and sorted (S101). Raw plums can range from unripe to fully ripe. In the washing process, dirt, dust, dead branches, leaves, and other impurities are removed from the raw plums. In the sorting process, the plums are graded based on ripeness, color, insect damage, blemishes, and decay, and are sorted and ranked by size (S, M, L to 4L). It is preferable that the plums used are of uniform size, have a good shape, and are free of blemishes. Next, they are frozen or stored in a freezer as necessary (S102). In the freezing process, it is preferable to freeze them in an IQF (Individual Quick Freezing) manner in a freezer at -20℃ or below. In the freezing and storage process, the frozen plums are sealed in a container and stored in the freezer. It is preferable to store them at a temperature of -20℃ to -25℃.

[0027] Next, in the hot water thawing step (S103), the frozen plums are thawed by contacting them with hot water at a temperature of 50 to 65° C. If the temperature is less than 50° C., the thawing time is long and the enzyme decomposition is insufficient, while if the temperature is more than 65° C., the enzymes are deactivated, which is undesirable. Among these, thawing at 55 to 60° C. is most effective.

[0028] In the plum vinegar soaking process (S104), the thawed plums are cooled with tap water, drained, and then soaked in plum vinegar at room temperature or below (at a ratio of 1 kg of plums to 1 liter of plum vinegar). For mass production, a 20-liter plastic container is filled with plastic bags, 10 liters of plum vinegar is poured in, and 10 kg of cooled plums are added, and the opening is tightly sealed while removing the air. The initial plum vinegar usually has a high salt content of 18 to 20 wt%, and if used as is, it will be high in salt, so the salt needs to be diluted with water. It is preferable to dilute it so that the salt concentration is 2 to 12 wt%. The plum vinegar has strong germicidal properties, and the surface of the plums is pasteurized at low temperature, so mold will not grow even if left at room temperature for a long period of time. The soaking period is kept at room temperature or below room temperature (30°C to 5°C) for 1 to 5 weeks. The pickling period is affected by the degree of ripeness, so it is longer for less ripe fruits and shorter for more ripe fruits.

[0029] In this embodiment, the salt content of the umeboshi comes from the salt content of the umeboshi vinegar, and the salt concentration of the umeboshi vinegar may be 2-12 wt% and the salt concentration of the umeboshi vinegar may be 1-10 wt%, preferably a low salt content of about 10 wt% and 5-6 wt%.

[0030] When the target pickling time has arrived, a draining process (S105) is carried out, in which the liquid is drained using a colander or similar tool to remove the plums. The separated plum vinegar liquid is supplemented with salt and water to adjust the salt concentration to the desired level and reused. When it is used multiple times under the same conditions, the organic acids such as citric acid are concentrated to the same level as the plums, so there is no further loss of plum components, the nutritional value is not impaired, and the bactericidal power is improved. The salt content is also balanced, so only the amount desired to be transferred to the plums is added. As the plum vinegar liquid can be completely reused, there is no waste liquid (plum vinegar liquid, salt-removed water, leftover seasoning liquid, etc.), and there is no need for expensive waste liquid treatment, making it possible to significantly reduce costs. It also contributes to the ecology by eliminating environmental destruction caused by illegal dumping.

[0031] In the drying process (S107), the drained plums are dried in the sun, and the moisture is evaporated until the weight of the plums is 85-50 wt%. The polyphenols in the plums turn brown when exposed to ultraviolet light, giving them the color of umeboshi (brown), and if there is a lot of moisture, drips will occur when sugar is mixed in, making the plums look unattractive. For these two reasons, sun drying is the preferred drying method. Sun drying removes 15-50 wt% of the plums' weight. When drying in the sun, 15-25 wt% of the moisture evaporates per day under direct sunlight on a sunny day, so the desired umeboshi can be made by drying in the sun for 1-2 days. If the moisture is too low, the plums will become hard and the yield will be low. Although it depends on the ripeness of the plums, it is preferable to reduce the moisture by about 20 wt% after one day of sun drying in terms of quality, work effort, and yield.

[0032] The pulp and seeds of the dried umeboshi are separated (S107), the pulp is used for food (S109), and the seeds are crushed and used as a filler (S108).

[0033] (Action and effect) This embodiment can provide an artificial turf construction that reduces the environmental impact and improves the safety and comfort of players. More specifically, this embodiment can realize an environmentally friendly artificial turf by using infill material 3 derived from fruit seeds. This infill material 3 scatters less fine particles and generates less dust than conventional black rubber chips and silica sand, reducing health hazards for players and workers, and using a naturally derived material reduces the environmental impact and makes disposal easier.

[0034] In particular, in this embodiment, pickled plums are used as the fruit, soaked in a vinegar solution containing a certain concentration of salt and citric acid, the flesh is removed, dried, and the seeds are crushed and used. This allows the moisture absorption, durability, and density of the filler 3 to be appropriately adjusted, resulting in excellent antiseptic and weather resistance, preventing floating in the rain, and making it less likely to deteriorate even with long-term use. Furthermore, treatment with salt and citric acid gives it anti-mold and antiseptic effects, providing a hygienic artificial turf environment.

[0035] In addition, the use of plum seeds further enhances the antibacterial and antiseptic properties of the filler, and the citric acid contained in plums provides a natural antibacterial and antiseptic effect, improving the hygiene of the entire artificial turf structure and preventing the occurrence of mold and unpleasant odors, especially when used for long periods of time.

[0036] Furthermore, by laying a buffer layer 6 on the bottom side of the artificial turf body, the impact received by the players can be effectively mitigated, improving safety and comfort, and in particular reducing the risk of injury in the event of a fall. As the buffer layer has moderate elasticity, it also contributes to reducing the fatigue of the players.

[0037] Furthermore, the vinegar treatment gives the infill material antiseptic and antibacterial properties, making it less susceptible to deterioration even after long-term use and helping to maintain a hygienic artificial turf environment. The salt and citric acid also improve the weather resistance of the infill material, making it less susceptible to the effects of humidity and climate. Drying the seeds also reduces the moisture content, preventing decay and deterioration. Crushing the seeds further standardizes the particle size, allowing them to be evenly packed into the artificial turf, improving performance during competition and shock absorption. In particular, plum seeds contain a lot of citric acid, which further strengthens their antibacterial and antiseptic properties, and plum-derived materials also contribute to the effective use of natural resources and reducing waste.

[0038] In particular, in this embodiment, the installation work can be performed simply and efficiently, shortening the construction time, and the infill material is lightweight and easy to handle, reducing the work load on site. Furthermore, maintenance after installation is easy, and an artificial turf structure that can provide stable performance for a long period of time is realized.

[0039] In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and the components can be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention. In addition, various ideas can be formed by appropriately combining the components disclosed in the above-mentioned embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1...Artificial turf laying structure 2,2…Pile 3…Filling material 4. Bass 6...Buffer layer 5…Weed control sheet 30...Filled bed

Claims

1. An artificial turf body having piles erected on a sheet-like substrate; A filling layer is formed by filling the space between the piles with a filling material produced by crushing a material derived from fruit seeds; An artificial turf laying structure comprising:

2. The filler is The fruit is soaked in a vinegar solution containing a predetermined concentration of salt and citric acid for a certain period of time; Then, the flesh of the fruit is removed and the dried seeds are crushed, The artificial turf laying structure according to claim 1, characterized in that

3. The artificial turf laying structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the fruit is a plum.

4. 2. The artificial turf laying structure according to claim 1, wherein a buffer layer is laid on the bottom side of the artificial turf body.

5. In an artificial lawn having piles erected on a sheet-like substrate, a filler is filled between the piles, Produced by crushing material derived from fruit seeds An artificial turf infill material.

6. The filler is The fruit is soaked in a vinegar solution containing a predetermined concentration of salt and citric acid for a certain period of time; Then, the flesh of the fruit is removed and the dried seeds are crushed, Generated 6. An artificial turf infill material according to claim 5.

7. 7. An artificial turf infill material as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the fruit is plum.

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