Compression dehydration device, wood raw material processing vehicle, and method for manufacturing compressed wood raw material

Abstract

To provide a compression dehydrating device by which a state that a woody raw material is compressed is easily maintained due to a cured or solidified adhesive component so that conveyability and storage property of the woody raw material are improved.SOLUTION: A compression dehydrating device 1 compresses a woody raw material T to extract moisture contained in the woody raw material T. The compression dehydrating device 1 comprises a feed unit 2 and a compression unit 3. The feed unit 2 feeds an adhesive component to the woody raw material T before compression. The compression unit 3 cures or solidifies the adhesive component in a state that the woody raw material T is compressed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a compression dehydration device, a wood raw material processing vehicle, and a method for manufacturing compressed wood raw materials. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a compression dehydration device for compressing and dehydrating wood raw materials, a wood raw material processing vehicle equipped with this compression dehydration device, and a method for manufacturing compressed wood raw materials.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, wood raw materials such as freshly cut wood from trees have been transported by loading them onto trucks. In such cases, Patent Document 1 describes making freshly cut wood (logs) smaller and easier to transport using a mobile wood chipper. Also, Patent Document 2 describes a method and device for compressing and dehydrating wood, and describes compressing and dehydrating log materials to reduce their weight in order to improve transportation efficiency.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, if freshly cut logs with a high moisture content are transported directly from the logging site, unnecessary moisture is also transported together, which may reduce the loading efficiency on the transport vehicle and lower the transportability. Also, in some cases, a general method of chipping and leaving wood to dry is taken, but for woods with a high sugar content such as palm, there may be problems such as rot and pests, resulting in low storage stability.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a compression dehydration device, a wood raw material processing vehicle, and a method for manufacturing compressed wood raw materials that improve the transportability and storage stability of wood raw materials.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] A compression and dehydration device according to an aspect of the present disclosure is a compression and dehydration device that compresses a woody raw material to squeeze out the moisture contained in the woody raw material. The compression and dehydration device includes a supply unit for supplying an adhesive component to the woody raw material before compression, and a compression unit for curing or solidifying the adhesive component in a state where the woody raw material is compressed.

[0007] A woody raw material processing vehicle according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes the compression and dehydration device and a vehicle on which the compression and dehydration device is mounted.

[0008] A method for manufacturing a compressed woody raw material according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a step of supplying an adhesive component to a woody raw material, a step of compressing the woody raw material to squeeze out the moisture contained in the woody raw material, and a step of curing or solidifying the adhesive component so that the compressed woody raw material maintains the compressed state.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] According to the present disclosure, there is an advantage that the transportability and storability of the woody raw material are improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] (Embodiment 1) (1) Overview The compression and dehydration device according to this embodiment is a device that compresses a woody raw material to squeeze out the moisture contained in the woody raw material. Therefore, the weight of the compressed woody raw material becomes smaller due to dehydration compared to the woody raw material before compression. For this reason, the compressed woody raw material becomes lighter compared to the woody raw material before compression, is easier to transport, and the transportability is improved.

[0012] In addition, the compression and dehydration device according to this embodiment cures or solidifies the adhesive component in a state where the volume of the woody raw material is reduced by compression. Therefore, the compressed woody raw material is suppressed from returning to the state before compression due to the curing or solidification of the adhesive component. For this reason, it becomes easier for the woody raw material to maintain the state where it has been compressed and its volume has become smaller, it becomes possible to increase the loading capacity, and the transportability is improved.

[0013] Furthermore, since the compression and dehydration device according to this embodiment dehydrates the moisture contained in the woody raw material by compression, the moisture contained in the woody raw material can be reduced in a shorter time compared to the case of leaving it to dry. For this reason, it is possible to reduce leaving the woody raw material to dry, it is less likely for rot, pests, etc. to occur, and the storage property is excellent.

[0014] (2) Details (2.1) Configuration FIG. 1A shows a woody raw material processing vehicle 10 according to this embodiment. The woody raw material processing vehicle 10 includes a compression and dehydration device 1 and a vehicle 4. The vehicle 4 is a truck and includes a driving operation unit 41, wheels 42, a loading platform 43, and the like. The vehicle 4 may be a normal passenger car, but preferably has a portion on which the compression and dehydration device 1 is placed. In the vehicle 4 of this embodiment, the compression and dehydration device 1 is placed on the loading platform 43. The compression and dehydration device 1 is fixed to the loading platform 43, but can be removed if necessary.

[0015] Figure 1B shows the compression dehydration device 1. The compression dehydration device 1 includes a supply unit 2, a compression unit 3, a lid unit 5, a front wall unit 6, a rear wall unit 7, and a bottom unit 8. The front wall unit 6 and the rear wall unit 7 are arranged to face each other in the front-rear direction (the same as the front-rear direction of the vehicle 4). Also, the front wall unit 6 and the rear wall unit 7 are formed in a rectangular plate shape extending in the width direction (the same as the width direction of the vehicle 4).

[0016] The compression unit 3 is composed of a press plate. The compression unit 3 is arranged between the front wall unit 6 and the rear wall unit 7, and a pair of compression units 3 are arranged to face each other in the width direction. The pair of compression units 3 are formed to be movable in the direction of approaching each other and the direction of moving away from each other. The pair of compression units 3 are driven by a driving machine provided in the compression dehydration device 1 or the vehicle 4. The pair of compression units 3 can move in the direction of approaching each other and the direction of moving away from each other by being driven by the driving machine. Note that the driving machine may not be provided in the compression dehydration device 1 or the vehicle 4. For example, there may be a driving machine outside the vehicle 4.

[0017] The bottom unit 8 is arranged below the pair of compression units 3, the front wall unit 6, and the rear wall unit 7. That is, the compression dehydration device 1 is formed like a bottomed container by the pair of compression units 3, the front wall unit 6, the rear wall unit 7, and the bottom unit 8. The compression dehydration device 1 has a supply unit 2 at a position facing the bottom unit 8. The supply unit 2 is an opening that opens upward the space surrounded by the pair of compression units 3, the front wall unit 6, the rear wall unit 7, and the bottom unit 8. The supply unit 2 is formed to be openable and closable by the lid unit 5.

[0018] The compression and dehydration device 1 has a drainage structure. The drainage structure is a structure that drains the moisture discharged from the wood raw material T to the outside of the compression and dehydration device 1. As the drainage structure, a mesh structure can be exemplified. The mesh structure is composed of a mesh such as a wire mesh and can drain water through the mesh openings. The mesh structure can be provided at any part of the compression and dehydration device 1. For example, the mesh structure can be provided at the bottom 8. That is, the bottom 8 can be formed of a wire mesh or the like. Also, the mesh structure can be provided on either one or both of the front wall portion 6 and the rear wall portion 7. In this case, either one or both of the front wall portion 6 and the rear wall portion 7 can be formed of a wire mesh or the like. FIG. 1C shows a case where the rear wall portion 7 has a mesh structure. In this case, the rear wall portion 7 is formed of a wire mesh. Also, one end of a drain pipe 9 is connected to a substantially central portion of the rear wall portion 7. A drainage device such as a pump is connected to the other end of the drain pipe 9, and water can be drained from the compression and dehydration device 1 through the rear wall portion 7 by the suction action of the drainage device. Note that the mesh structure may be provided partially at the bottom 8. Also, the mesh structure may be provided partially on the front wall portion 6 and the rear wall portion 7.

[0019] (2.2) Operation The wood raw material T is compressed by the compression and dehydration device 1. Also, the internal moisture of the wood raw material T is squeezed out and drained by the compression by the compression and dehydration device 1. The wood raw material T is, for example, a log (round wood) cut from a logging site. In this case, the wood raw material T is, for example, cylindrical and cut to a diameter of 30 to 60 cm and a length of about 2 m. Also, the wood raw material T has a volume of 0.14 to 0.56 m 3 , a water content of 100 to 300%, a weight of 200 to 300 kg per piece, a specific gravity (in a water-containing state) of 0.8 to 1.2, and a specific gravity (only of the wood part) of 0.2 to 0.6.

[0020] Also, as the wood raw material T, a chip-shaped one can be used. The chip-shaped wood raw material T is obtained by chipping the above-mentioned log. The chip-shaped wood raw material T is, for example, about 1 to 5 cm on each side, has a water content of 100 to 300%, and a bulk specific gravity of 0.1 to 0.5.

[0021] As the woody raw material T, coniferous trees such as pine, cedar, and cypress, broad-leaved trees such as zelkova and oak, etc. can be used. Also, as the woody raw material T, plants of the palm family can be used. Examples of plants of the palm family include oil palm and coconut palm.

[0022] The woody raw material T is accommodated in a space surrounded by a pair of compression parts 3, a front wall part 6, a rear wall part 7, and a bottom part 8 and set in the compression and dehydration device 1. In this case, the lid part 5 of the compression and dehydration device 1 is lifted, the supply part 2 is opened, and the woody raw material T is put into the above space from the opened supply part 2. When the woody raw material T is a log, a plurality of woody raw materials T are set in a state of extending in the front-rear direction. When the woody raw material T is in chip form, a large number of chip-shaped woody raw materials T are filled in the above space and set.

[0023] Next, an adhesive component is supplied to the woody raw material T accommodated in the above space. The adhesive component is sprayed and supplied from the supply part 2 toward the woody raw material T. As the adhesive component, it is preferably one that cures or solidifies by heating or one that cures or solidifies by cooling. For example, starch, sugar solution, citric acid, phenolic resin, urea resin, melamine resin, hot melt adhesive, etc. are exemplified.

[0024] When the adhesive component is starch, the supply amount to the woody raw material T can be 5% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less with respect to the wood part (the part from which moisture has been removed) of the woody raw material T, and the heating temperature can be 100°C or more and 150°C or less.

[0025] When the adhesive component is a sugar solution, the supply amount to the woody raw material T can be 5% by mass or more and 10% by mass or less with respect to the wood part (the part from which moisture has been removed) of the woody raw material T, and the heating temperature can be 150°C or more and 220°C or less. The sugar solution is a concentrate of the squeezed juice obtained by compressing and squeezing a plant of the palm family when the woody raw material T is a plant of the palm family. In this case, the sugar contained in the sugar solution reacts to become an adhesive.

[0026] When the woody raw material T is a plant of the palm family and the adhesive component is citric acid, the supply amount relative to the woody raw material T can be 5% by mass or more and 10% by mass or less with respect to the xylem (the part from which moisture has been removed) of the woody raw material T, and the heating temperature can be 150°C or more and 220°C or less. In this case, the sugar contained in the plant of the palm family reacts with citric acid to become an adhesive.

[0027] When the adhesive component is a phenolic resin, a urea resin, or a melamine resin, the supply amount relative to the woody raw material T can be 5% by mass or more and 10% by mass or less with respect to the xylem (the part from which moisture has been removed) of the woody raw material T, and the heating temperature can be 130°C or more and 180°C or less.

[0028] When the adhesive component is a hot melt adhesive, the supply amount relative to the woody raw material T can be 2% by mass or more and 5% by mass or less with respect to the xylem (the part from which moisture has been removed) of the woody raw material T. After supplying the heated and melted hot melt adhesive, it is cooled and solidified.

[0029] Next, after supplying the adhesive component to the woody raw material T, the lid portion 5 is lowered to close the supply portion 2. Thereby, even if the woody raw material T accommodated in the above space is compressed, it is difficult to pop out.

[0030] Next, the pair of compression portions 3 are moved closer to each other to compress the woody raw material T in the above space. When the woody raw material T is a log, the woody raw material T is pressurized and compressed from the peripheral surface. In this case, moisture is squeezed out from the small end (cut surface) of the compressed woody raw material T. The moisture squeezed out from the small end of the woody raw material T is drained through the drainage structure in the front wall portion 6, the rear wall portion 7, and the bottom portion 8. If the compression portion 3 simply presses, moisture is discharged from the small end surface cut by the compression, but there is a possibility of reabsorbing water due to springback when the pressing is released. Therefore, it is possible to drain water from the compression dehydration device 1 through the drainage structure and make it difficult for the woody raw material T to reabsorb water.

[0031] Next, while maintaining the compressed state of the woody raw material 1, the adhesive component is cured or solidified. In the case of an adhesive component that is cured or solidified by heating, for example, it can be heated with a heater built into the compression part 3. Alternatively, the woody raw material 1 may be heated through the front wall portion 6, the rear wall portion 7, and the bottom portion 8 by a heater provided outside the compression and dehydration device 1. When the adhesive component is cured or solidified by cooling, cold pressing by the compression part 3 can be performed.

[0032] The compression time (clamping time) by the compression part 3 is not particularly limited, but for example, it is 5 minutes or less, and it is preferable to compress the woody raw material T with the compression part 3 until the adhesive component is cured or solidified. Also, the pressing pressure by the compression part 3 can be, for example, 1 to 10 MPa.

[0033] Then, after the adhesive component is cured or solidified, by releasing the woody raw material T from the compression by the compression part 3, a compressed woody raw material is obtained. The compressed woody raw material has a water content smaller than that of the woody raw material T due to dehydration and is cured or solidified with the adhesive component. Note that the shape of the compressed woody raw material after releasing the compression may be slightly larger than the shape during compression as long as it is smaller than the shape of the woody raw material T before compression.

[0034] When using the woody raw material T of a log, as the compressed woody raw material, for example, it is formed in a quadrangular prism shape with a width of 5 to 20 cm, a thickness of 45 to 55 cm, and a length of about 2 m, and also has a volume of 0.045 to 0.22 m 3 , a water content of 50 to 150%, a weight of 100 to 200 kg per piece, a specific gravity (in the water-containing state) of 0.8 to 1.2, and a specific gravity (only of the wood part) of 0.6 to 0.8 can be obtained.

[0035] Also, when using a chip-shaped woody raw material T, the compressed woody raw material is obtained in a block shape, for example, formed with a width of 35 to 60 cm, a thickness of 35 to 60 cm, and a length of 35 to 60 cm, and also has a volume of 0.045 to 0.22 m 3 , a water content of 50 to 150%, a weight of 100 to 200 kg per piece, a specific gravity (in the water-containing state) of 0.8 to 1.2, and a specific gravity (only of the wood part) of 0.6 to 0.8 can be obtained.

[0036] And the compressed and dehydrated woody raw material obtained by the compression and dehydration device 1 according to this embodiment has a smaller volume, higher loading efficiency, and improved transportability compared to the woody raw material T before compression. Also, by transporting the dehydrated woody raw material T, the amount of moisture contained in the woody raw material T transported is reduced, and the transport efficiency is improved. Note that the compressed woody raw material when taken out from the compression unit 3 may adhere to adjacent compressed woody raw materials, but it can be easily separated between the compressed woody raw materials, and the workability of loading onto a truck or the like is less likely to decrease. Further, the woody raw material processing vehicle 10 according to this embodiment can transport the compression and dehydration device 1 close to the logging site of the log, and can perform compression and dehydration of the woody raw material T with the compression and dehydration device 1 near the logging site, improving the transport efficiency.

[0037] The compressed woody raw material obtained by the compression and dehydration device 1 of this embodiment is a biomass compress, and this biomass compress can be used, for example, as a material for fuel pellets or a material for fiber boards.

[0038] (3) Modification Embodiment 1 is merely one of various embodiments of the present disclosure. Embodiment 1 can be variously modified according to design and the like as long as the object of the present disclosure can be achieved.

[0039] In the above compression and dehydration device 1, a plate-shaped flat press is provided as the compression unit 3, but it is not limited to this. For example, the compression and dehydration device 1 may be provided with a roll-shaped press roll as the compression unit 3. When a press roll is used, it becomes easier to continuously compress the woody raw material T compared to the case of a flat press, and the press efficiency is improved.

[0040] Further, the adhesive component may be supplied to the woody raw material T before compression after setting the woody raw material T in the compression and dehydration device 1, or may be supplied to the woody raw material T during compression by the compression unit 3. Further, after compression and dehydration by the compression unit 3, the compression may be temporarily released, the adhesive component may be supplied to the woody raw material T in the state where the compression is released, and then compression may be performed again. When the adhesive component is supplied to the woody raw material T after compression, it is preferable to maintain the compressed state of the woody raw material T by the compression unit 3 until the adhesive component hardens or solidifies. Further, the compressed state of the woody raw material T after compression may be tied with a band or the like and air-dried until the adhesive component hardens or solidifies.

[0041] (Summary) The compression and dehydration device (1) according to the present embodiment has the following features.

[0042] The first aspect is a compression and dehydration device (1) that compresses a woody raw material (T) to squeeze out the moisture contained in the woody raw material (T). The compression and dehydration device (1) includes a supply unit (2) and a compression unit (3). The supply unit (2) is for supplying an adhesive component to the woody raw material (T) before compression. The compression unit (3) hardens or solidifies the adhesive component in a state where the woody raw material (T) is compressed.

[0043] According to the first aspect, the hardened or solidified adhesive component makes it easier for the woody raw material (T) to maintain a high specific gravity state in the compressed state, and the transportability and storability of the woody raw material (T) are improved.

[0044] The second aspect is the compression and dehydration device of the first aspect, which has a net structure for discharging the moisture squeezed out from the woody raw material (T).

[0045] According to the second aspect, the moisture squeezed out from the woody raw material (T) is discharged from the net structure, and even when springback occurs in the woody raw material (T) when the compression by the compression unit (3) is released, it is difficult for the woody raw material (T) to reabsorb water.

[0046] A third aspect is a wood raw material processing vehicle (10), comprising the compression and dehydration device (1) according to the first or second aspect, and a vehicle (4) on which the compression and dehydration device (1) is mounted.

[0047] According to the third aspect, the compression and dehydration device (1) can be transported to the supply place of the wood raw material (T) (for example, the logging place of the log) by the vehicle (4), and moisture can be removed from the wood raw material (T) at the supply place, improving the transport efficiency.

[0048] A fourth aspect is a method for manufacturing a compressed wood raw material, comprising a step of supplying an adhesive component to the wood raw material (T), a step of compressing the wood raw material (T) to squeeze out the moisture contained in the wood raw material (T), and a step of curing or solidifying the adhesive component so that the compressed wood raw material (T) maintains the compressed state.

[0049] According to the fourth aspect, the cured or solidified adhesive component makes it easier to maintain the compressed state of the wood raw material (T), improving the transportability and storability of the wood raw material (T).

[0050] A fifth aspect is a method for manufacturing a compressed wood raw material according to the fourth aspect, wherein the adhesive component contains starch.

[0051] According to the fifth aspect, the cured or solidified starch makes it easier to maintain the compressed state of the wood raw material (T), improving the transportability and storability of the wood raw material (T).

[0052] A sixth aspect is a method for manufacturing a compressed wood raw material according to the fourth or fifth aspect, wherein the wood raw material (T) is a palm family plant.

[0053] Since palm family plants have a high moisture content and sugar content, the transport efficiency is poor and problems such as spoilage and pests are likely to occur. However, according to the sixth aspect, the cured or solidified adhesive component makes it easier to maintain the compressed state of the palm family plant, improving the transportability and storability of the palm family plant.

[0054] The seventh aspect is a method for producing the compressed woody raw material according to the sixth aspect, wherein the adhesive component is a concentrate of the squeezed juice obtained by compressing and squeezing the woody raw material (T).

[0055] According to the seventh aspect, due to the hardening of the concentrate of the squeezed juice obtained from the palm family plant, it becomes easier to maintain the compressed state of the palm family plant, and the transportability and storability of the palm family plant are improved.

Explanation of symbols

[0056] 1 Compression dehydration device 2 Supply unit 3 Compression unit 4 Vehicle 10 Woody raw material processing vehicle T Woody raw material

Claims

1. A compression and dehydration device that compresses a woody raw material to squeeze out the moisture contained in the woody raw material, comprising: A supply unit for supplying an adhesive component to the woody raw material before compression; A compression unit that cures or solidifies the adhesive component in a state where the woody raw material is compressed. A compression and dehydration device.

2. Having a net structure for discharging the moisture squeezed out from the woody raw material, The compression and dehydration device according to Claim 1.

3. The compression and dehydration device according to Claim 1 or 2, and A vehicle on which the compression and dehydration device is mounted. A woody raw material processing vehicle.

4. A step of supplying an adhesive component to a woody raw material; A step of compressing the woody raw material to squeeze out the moisture contained in the woody raw material; A step of curing or solidifying the adhesive component so that the compressed woody raw material maintains its compressed state. A method for manufacturing a compressed woody raw material.

5. The adhesive component contains starch. The method for manufacturing a compressed woody raw material according to Claim 4.

6. The woody raw material is a plant of the palm family. The method for manufacturing a compressed woody raw material according to Claim 4 or 5.

7. The adhesive component is a concentrate of the juice squeezed out by compressing the woody raw material. The method for manufacturing a compressed woody raw material according to Claim 6.

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