WO1994012330A1 - Styrene foam processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A styrene foam processing apparatus capable of efficiently reducing the volume of styrene foam while maintaining the high quality condition thereof without causing the melt-decomposition of the foam. This apparatus consists of a pluverization roll for pulverizing a material to be treated composed of styrene foam, a filter for subjecting the pulverized styrene foam to selection and supplying only the styrene foam of not larger than a predetermined size to a conveyor, a conveyor for transferring the selected styrene foam to a vessel for holding a material to be treated, and an infrared heater for applying infrared rays to the styrene foam being transferred by the conveyor and reducing the volume thereof. The size of the styrene foam supplied during the application of infrared rays by the infrared heater is preferably not more than 30 mm square, and the temperature during this time preferably 110°-120 °C. Accordingly, the selecting means shall consist of a filter having a plurality of circular holes 20-30 mm in diameter, and the heating means a plate type infrared heater.

Description

 TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a styrofoam processing apparatus that collects and regenerates styrofoam used for packing or packaging, for example, home appliances, food and drink, and the like. Background technology Styrofoam, for example, is widely used for packing and packaging everything from home appliances to food and drink because of its excellent buffering, heat insulation and heat retention properties. . On the other hand, styrofoam has been simply discarded or incinerated until now, but its disposal is inconvenient due to problems such as securing landfill sites, odors generated during incineration, and pollution caused by combustion smoke. is there.

Therefore, in the past, various devices have been devised so as not to cause the above-mentioned inconvenience. For example, a processing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 189110/1998 has been proposed. The force and calving treatment device is to reduce the styrofoam formed into a shape to a very small size of about 3 to 5 mm, convey it on a belt conveyor, and irradiate it with far-infrared rays from a far-infrared heater placed in the middle of the conveyance. However, the volume is reduced. According to far-infrared rays, it does not cause It has the advantage that its volume can be reduced without raising the temperature inside the odor furnace.

 However, in the above-described processing apparatus, the volume of the expanded polystyrene is reduced to 3 to 5 mm, and the volume is reduced by far-infrared rays. Inefficient for mass processing.

 In addition, this processing apparatus requires a plurality of far-infrared heaters in which a nichrome wire is inserted into a ceramic tube, and furthermore, since each of these far-infrared heaters is provided with a reflection plate, the apparatus configuration is complicated and cost / maintenance is reduced. There is inconvenience in terms of inspection. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in view of such a conventional technical situation, and can efficiently reduce the volume in a high quality state as a material without causing melting and decomposition. It is an object of the present invention to provide a styrofoam processing apparatus having a very simple configuration.

 The styrofoam processing apparatus of the present invention includes a crushing means for crushing an object to be processed, which is made of styrofoam, and a crushed styrofoam, and supplies only the styrofoam orifice having a size equal to or less than a predetermined value to the conveying means. A styrofoam conveyed by the convection means, a styrene foam conveyed by the convection means, and a far-infrared ray. And a heating means for reducing the volume.

In this device, the selected polystyrene foam is transported. A supply means provided with a supply amount adjusting mechanism so that a constant volume is supplied to the means.

 Further, the heating means in this apparatus is characterized by comprising a plate-like far infrared ray.

 Further, the sorting means in this apparatus is characterized by comprising a filter provided with a plurality of circular holes having a diameter of 20 to 30 mm. In the styrofoam processing apparatus of the present invention, among the styrofoam crushed by the crushing means, a styrene foam having a diameter of 20 to 3 O mm, which shrinks in the shortest time, is supplied to the conveying means, and the far-infrared rays are irradiated to the conveying means. Therefore, the reproduction process is performed efficiently.

 Further, in the styrofoam processing apparatus of the present invention, since the far-infrared rays are formed in a plate shape, a reflector or the like is not required, and the apparatus configuration is simplified. This has advantages in terms of cost and maintenance.

 Furthermore, in the styrofoam processing apparatus of the present invention, the selected styrofoam is always supplied to the conveying means so as to have a constant capacity, so that the apparatus is irradiated with far-infrared rays from the start to the end of the operation of the apparatus. The amount of shrinkage does not vary. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a styrene foam processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a left side view of a styrofoam processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 3 is a right side view of the styrofoam processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

 FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view showing a grinding roll incorporated in a styrene foam processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

 FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram showing a relationship between the shrinkage time of the foamed polystyrene when irradiating far-infrared rays to the polystyrene foams of different sizes and the temperature at which the polystyrene foam was generated at that time.

 FIG. 6 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship with the shrinkage time when irradiating far-infrared rays while changing the irradiation distance to polystyrene foams of different sizes. FIG. 7 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between shrinkage time when irradiating far-infrared rays by mixing styrofoams having different sizes and changing the irradiation distance. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, specific examples to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

 The styrofoam processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is a device for crushing styrofoam formed into a shape used for packing, for example, into fine pieces, and selecting only those having a certain size or less from the crushed styrofoam. The process of supplying this to a conveyor, transporting the same, and shrinking it in a granular form by a plate-like far-infrared ray arranged in the middle of the transport is performed continuously in a series of processes.

In such a styrofoam processing apparatus, as shown in FIG. Crushing rolls 2 and 3, filter 4 which is a means for selecting crushed styrofoam and supplying only styrofoam sized to a certain size or less to the conveying means, and foaming selected by this filter 4 A gate 5 which is a supply means for supplying the styling nozzle to the conveying means so as to have a constant capacity, and a conveyor which is a conveying means for conveying the styrofoam supplied from the gate 5 to the workpiece storage section. 6 and a far-infrared heater 7 as heating means for irradiating the styrofoam conveyed by the conveyor 6 with far-infrared rays and reducing the volume of the styrofoam.

The apparatus main body 1 is formed as a housing large enough to accommodate at least the crushing rolls 2 and 3, the filter 14, the gate 5, the conveyor 6, and the far-infrared ray heater 7. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, one side 1a of the apparatus body 1 is used for charging a styrofoam 8 formed into a shape used for packing, for example, into pulverizing rolls 2, 3. The workpiece inlet 9a is provided as an opening having a substantially rectangular shape in a plane. On the other side 1b opposite to the main body 1, as shown in FIG. 3, there is provided a reclaimed material discharge port 9b for taking out the polystyrene foam 8 that has been regenerated and has been granulated. As shown in FIG. 4, one of the pair of crushing rolls 2 and 3 has a corrugated cutting edge 11 at predetermined intervals on a circumferential surface of a roller 10 having a cylindrical shape. The blades 11 are arranged so as to mesh with each other and to be substantially parallel with a predetermined interval. These crushing rolls 2 and 3 are arranged to rotate in opposite directions as shown by arrows a and b in FIG. 1, and the styrofoam 8 inserted between them has an irregular shape of a certain size or less. It is finely crushed as it becomes. Also, In order to remove the Styrofoam 8 which did not become smaller than a certain size and to put it between the pair of crushing rolls 2 and 3, a removing roll 1 2 was provided at a position close to one of the crushing rolls 3. Is provided so as to be rotatable in the direction of arrow c in FIG. The crushing rolls 2 and 3 and the wiping roll 12 are rotated by a 1.5 kilowatt (KW) drive motor.

 The filter 4 has a function of selecting the styrofoam 8 crushed by the crushing rolls 2 and 3 and supplying only the styrofoam 8 having a certain size or less to the conveyor 6. Yes, it is provided under the above crushing rolls 2 and 3. For this reason, the filter 14 is made of a metal plate having a plurality of small circular holes (not shown) having a diameter of 20 to 30 mm. Further, the filter 14 has a curved central portion so as to surround the pair of crushing rolls 2 and 3 so that both end portions 4 a and 4 b are fixed to the inner wall surface of the apparatus body 1, respectively. It has been done.

 The gate 5 is provided below the grinding rolls 2 and 3 in a truncated conical shape, and supplies the polystyrene foam 8 selected by the filter 14 to the conveyor 6. The gate 5 is configured such that the opening width W on the side facing the conveyor 6 can be freely adjusted in order to always supply a constant volume of the polystyrene foam 8 to the conveyor 6.

The conveyor 6 includes a pair of drive rollers 13, 14, which are rotatably disposed at one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction of the apparatus main body 1, respectively, and is hung on these drive rollers 13, 14. And a belt 15 made of glass fiber. The belt 15 is, for example, In the figure, the motor moves at a constant speed in the direction of arrow d in the figure by a driving mode with a capacity of about 60 ヮ via the motor. In addition, the belt 15 has a surface made of carbon-containing Teflon for conductivity so that the styrofoam 8 does not adhere to the belt 15 due to static electricity.

 The far-infrared heater 7 is configured by arranging far-infrared heaters formed in a plate shape, for example, in a plurality of rows so as to be connected in a longitudinal direction along the running direction of the belt 15. In the present embodiment, six rows of far infrared heaters having a capacity of 1.5 kilobytes are arranged. Then, the far-infrared heater 7 drops the styrofoam 8 from the gate 5 onto the belt 15 and discharges it to the screver 16 disposed below one of the drive rollers 14 and the container 17 to be processed. By this time, the styrofoam 8 is provided at a position facing the conveying surface of the belt 15 at a predetermined distance from the conveying surface of the belt 15 so as to have a length sufficient to reliably reduce the volume and become granular. The object container 17 can be taken out of the apparatus main body 1 from a recycle object discharge port 9b provided on the other side surface 1b of the apparatus body 1.

Further, the far-infrared ray heater 7 irradiates far-infrared rays to the styrene foam 8 conveyed on the belt 15 so as to have a temperature equal to or higher than the softening point of the styrene foam 8 and lower than the melting temperature. Therefore, the styrofoam 8 does not generate odor or combustion smoke, and its volume is reduced without causing melting and decomposition. As a result, the quality of the recycled polystyrene 8 is extremely low as a material. The far-infrared heater 7 is fixed at an optimum position based on the following experimental results without adjusting the heater position for adjusting the irradiation intensity. In particular, in the processing apparatus of this embodiment, in order to reduce the volume of the styrofoam 8 in a short time and increase the regeneration efficiency, the size of the styrofoam 8 to be supplied at the time of irradiating far infrared rays based on the following experimental results, The irradiation distance and wavelength of far infrared rays, and the temperature of the styrene foam 8 during irradiation were specified as follows.

Experiment 1

 Styrofoam is provided as a sample, and the shape of the sample is square and each side is 40 mm (this is referred to as a 40 mm square shape, hereinafter the same), 30 mm (a 30 mm square shape), 2 Dimensions of 0 mm (20 mm square shape) and 10 mm (10 mm square shape) are made, and each sample is irradiated with far-infrared rays from a far infrared ray with a capacity of 500 mm in a room temperature atmosphere. Then, the relationship between the time until the sample completes shrinkage (this is referred to as shrinkage time) and the temperature generated in the sample at that time was examined. Figure 5 shows the results.

 Since it is actually difficult to measure the temperature generated in the sample, a thermometer (manufactured by Anritsu Keiki Co., Ltd., product name: Digital Surface Thermometer HL-201) is placed near the sample to measure the temperature. It was used as an index of far-infrared radiation dose.

From Fig. 5, the region where the contraction time is not too long (the region to the left of the point where the curve at the temperature of 100 ° C changes significantly) is within a range of about 65 seconds or less, and the sample size is 3 It became clear that the one with a square shape of 0 mm or less was optimal. At this time, the temperature generated in each sample (actually the temperature of the thermometer above) is a high temperature of 100 ° C or more, and from experiments, it was in the range of 110 ° C to 130 ° C. In the vicinity, there is no melt decomposition of the sample, and the shrinkage time can be shortened (about 30 seconds in this figure). It turned out to be a zone. The region on the right side of the curve at 100 ° C. in FIG. 5 is where the sample does not shrink. In experiments, it was confirmed that the sample did not shrink even if the irradiation time of the far-infrared ray was long, even if the temperature generated in the sample was 9590 ° C.

Experiment 2

 Next, from the results of Experiment 1, the sample size is optimally less than 3 O mm square shape.In Experiment 2, the sample size is limited and the 25 mm square shape and 20 mm square shape, respectively. Experiments were performed using mm square, 15 mm square, 10 mm square, and 5 mm square.

 In such an experiment, when the distance between a far infrared ray with a capacity of 500 ヮ and the sample to be irradiated with the infrared ray (hereinafter referred to as the irradiation distance) was changed, each of the preceding samples was changed. Figure 6 shows the results of individually examining the time (shrinkage time) until the shrinkage was completed.

As can be seen from the results, it is clear that in the region of 65 seconds or less (the region obtained from Experiment 1) in which the shrinkage time is not so long in practice, any of the provided samples shrinks without melting and decomposing. When the irradiation distance is 40 mm, the contraction times are gathered in the range of 10 to 20 seconds. This is because if the styrofoam is processed to a certain size or less, and the irradiation distance from the far-infrared heater is set under the optimum condition, relative to the processed styrofoam, the far-infrared light will be generated from the evening. Styrofoam that has received electromagnetic waves absorbs electromagnetic waves (wavelengths from 5 m to 25 m, and activates its own molecular activities. As a result, there is a region where the volume shrinks without melting and decomposing while increasing the temperature. Means that. -1 o-From this point of view, the results of Experiments 1 and 2 can be summarized as follows: far-infrared rays so that the temperature of styrofoam that has received electromagnetic waves will be in the range of about 110 ° C, and about 120 ° C. It can clearly be said that the irradiation distance from the heater to the polystyrene foam should be set as the optimum condition. In other words, if the far-infrared heat capacity is increased from 500 watts to a larger capacity such as 150 watts as in this experiment, optimal irradiation There will be a distance. Experiment 3

 In this experiment, samples of 25 mm square shape, 20 mm square shape, 15 mm square shape, 10 mm square shape, and 5 mm square shape were randomly mixed in this experiment. Figure 7 shows the relationship between the distance (irradiation distance) from the far-infrared ray to the sample to be irradiated and the contraction time of the sample. The purpose of this experiment is to naturally mix crushed styrofoam with a shape smaller than a certain size into a random process in the actual process, and if the irradiation distance is changed in such a state, The purpose of this study is to determine the contraction time.

 In the region of 65 seconds or less, where the shrinkage time obtained in Experiments 1 and 2 is not too long, it can be confirmed that the randomly mixed sample shrinks efficiently without melting and decomposing. It is clear from the results of FIG. 7 that the shrinkage is similarly caused without melting and decomposing even in the range of 20 seconds to 30 seconds. The fact that the contraction time can be shortened enables the regeneration process to be performed in a short time in an actual device, and is advantageous in improving the throughput.

Summarizing the results of each of the above experiments, The size of the supplied Styrofoam is 30 mm square or less, and the optimal temperature at that time is 110 ° C to 120 ° C, and the irradiation distance is 25 mm square or less. If it is optimized, it will shrink efficiently in a short time even if it is mixed irrespective of its size. Therefore, based on the above results, the size of styrofoam was specified as shown in Table 1. Table 1 shows the values used in actual equipment.

【table 1】

 Next, the operation of the styrofoam processing apparatus configured as described above will be described.

 First, after supplying AC three-phase 220 V power to the power operation panel 18, an operation button (not shown) is pressed in the order of the power switch and the start switch provided on the power operation panel 18. .

Then, the far-infrared heater 7 starts to generate heat, and the conveyor 6 starts to move at a preset speed, and at the same time, the timer provided in the power supply operation panel 18 is activated, and the plate-like far-infrared heater is activated. Evening 7 The crushing rolls 2 and 3 and the louver 12 automatically start operation in accordance with the start-up time (set for a fixed time).

 Next, the styrofoam 8 for packing prepared in advance is placed on a belt conveyor (not shown), and is conveyed by the belt conveyor. 9 Add Styrofoam 8 to a.

 Note that the worker himself may insert the styrofoam 8 into the workpiece inlet 9a.

The styrofoam 8 supplied from the processing object inlet 9a is pulverized to a predetermined volume or less by a pair of crushing rolls 2 and 3, and is slashed and repelled by the squeezing hole 12. Then, only those having a certain size or less are extruded to the gate 5 through the circular hole provided in the filter 14. For example, a polystyrene foam 8 having a volume of about 16 cm ³ is extruded through a filter 14 to a gate 5.

 Styrofoam 8 is supplied to the belt 15 moving at a constant speed from the gate 5 so as to always have a constant capacity.

 Next, while the styrofoam 8 moves as the belt 15 moves, far-infrared rays are emitted from the far-infrared ray 7.

 When the styrofoam 8 is irradiated with far-infrared rays, the styrofoam 8 generates internal heat, the foaming space is destroyed, and shrinkage starts. Then, the Styrofoam 8 shrinks into granules without melting and decomposing within a certain period of time.

The styrofoam 8 that has shrunk to a small size is discharged to the object storage container 17 by the screver 16, and is transferred to the other side 1 of the apparatus body 1. It is taken out from the provided recycled material discharge port 9b.

 When the contraction processing is completed as described above, the stop switch button of the power supply operation panel 18 is pressed. Then, the crushing rolls 2 and 3 and the take-out port 12 are stopped, the power to the far-infrared heater 7 is cut off, and at the same time, the timer is activated, and the far-infrared heater 7 is brought to near normal temperature. After about 30 minutes, the time required for cooling to the temperature, the operation of the conveyor 6 for the antistatic protection of the belt 15 is stopped, and the function of the device is completely stopped.

 As is clear from the above description, in the foaming nozzle processing apparatus of the present embodiment, when irradiating far-infrared rays by the far-infrared heater, the crushing rolls are set so that the size of the foamed polystyrene becomes a certain size or less. In addition, since the supply is performed using a filter provided with circular holes, the styrofoam can be contracted in a short time, and the generation of offensive odor and combustion smoke due to no melting and decomposition can be prevented. In addition, since no melt decomposition occurs, high-quality styrene foam can be recycled as a material, and the cost for recycling can be reduced, which is economically advantageous. Therefore, if the styrofoam processing apparatus of the present embodiment is used, high-quality styrofoam can be regenerated in large quantities and efficiently.

Further, in the styrofoam processing apparatus of the present embodiment, since a plate-shaped far-infrared heater is used, it is necessary to provide a reflecting plate for each heater as compared with a device using a rod-shaped far-infrared ray heater. Therefore, the structure can be simplified and maintenance and inspection can be simplified. In addition, the use of a far-infrared infrared heater can reduce the amount of foamed steel at low temperatures, thereby avoiding the risk of ignition and reducing the volume to about 1/30. can do. Further, in the styrofoam processing apparatus of this embodiment, since the styrofoam can be automatically processed from the input to the discharge, it can be easily operated and maintained even by a person with no specialized knowledge or skill.

Claims

The scope of the claims 1. A pulverizing means for pulverizing the object to be processed, which is made of Styrofoam, and a separating means for selecting the pulverized Styrofoam and supplying only the Styrofoam of a certain size or less to the conveying means,  Conveying means for conveying the foamed foam nozzles selected by the above-mentioned sorting means to the processing object storage container,  A styrofoam processing apparatus, comprising: heating means for irradiating the styrofoam conveyed by the conveying means with far-infrared rays to reduce the volume of the styrofoam opening.  2. The styrofoam processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a supply means provided with a supply amount adjusting mechanism such that the selected polystyrene foam nozzles are supplied to the transport means with a constant volume.  3. The styrofoam processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating means comprises a plate-shaped far-infrared ray heater.  4. The styrofoam processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sorting means comprises a filter provided with a plurality of circular holes having a diameter of 20 to 30 mm.