JP2006095983A - Volume reduction method of foamed resin molding and equipment therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide, in order to reuse and completely recycle wastes of foamed resin moldings including foamed polystyrene boxes and the like that have been used for packaging agricultural and marine products and home electric appliances, a processing method which performs the volume reduction needed to reduce costs of the transportation to a reclamation factory and which does not degrade the quality as a recycled material. <P>SOLUTION: An object 5 to be processed is loaded on a roller conveyer 1 installed inside of a box 2 that is enclosed with aluminum reflectors, and transferred. Far infrared rays with wave lengths of 2-15 μm are irradiated on the object to be processed by a far-infrared radiator 3, and the volume of the object is reduced at 70-100°C without causing melting or deterioration. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  In the present invention, it is necessary to reduce costs in order to recycle and completely recycle the waste of foamed resin moldings including foamed polystyrene boxes used for packaging of agricultural and marine products and household appliances. The present invention relates to a new and innovative technology for a processing method that reduces the volume and does not deteriorate the quality as a recycled material.

Low melting point materials such as foamed polystyrene rapidly soften and deform by heating, but their melting point and ignition point are close to each other, and if they melt, they change in quality, and if they ignite, they are dangerous. Therefore, conventionally, there are a method of indirectly heating at a low temperature of 100 to 150 ° C., a method of heating with superheated steam, or a method of heating with hot air.
For example, as a first prior art, there is a polystyrene foam recycling apparatus such as Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Hei 6-45714. The purpose is to establish a low-cost, easy-to-operate, high-safety, hot-melt recycling equipment for waste foamed styrene that is suitable for a small amount of processing. In addition, in the equipment that is used for recycling by heat melting and reducing the volume of waste foamed styrene, a variable temperature hot air generator and a far infrared radiation part made of ceramic material on the inner wall surface are stretched to insulate the outer surface. The volume reduction furnace is provided with a section, an operation section for automatic operation, and a deodorization device for removing odor components generated in the volume reduction furnace. In summary, this is a method of heat melting with a device in which a far-infrared radiation ceramic plate is attached to a space of a hot air atmosphere.

Further, as a second prior art, there is recycling of polystyrene foam as disclosed in JP-A-2004-142235. This problem is to compress the foamed polystyrene recovered as waste by applying pressure, condense the volume of the foamed foamed polystyrene, and recycle the foamed polystyrene.
The solution is to place foamed polystyrene in a mold and compress it with a compressor to condense the volume. At this time, if the plate is compressed while being bonded up and down with a bond or the like, the subsequent processing becomes easy. In addition, it is easy to bond by applying heat at a temperature at which foamed polystyrene melts up and down after being lightly compressed, and it is also possible to bond a plate etc., so there is no need to apply a bond and the compression time can be shortened It is.

Japanese Utility Model No. 3-40407; Japanese Utility Model Application No. 6-45714 Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-309267; Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-142235

  However, the above-described conventional techniques have the following drawbacks or problems when trying to recycle the foamed resin molded product. That is, in the first prior art, heating is always performed at 200 ° C., but since the foamed molded article that is the object to be heated is porous including a large amount of air, the thermal conductivity is extremely low, and the thermal efficiency is poor. Long heating is required. Therefore, a method is adopted in which the volume is reduced by adding a temperature of 200 ° C. which is much higher than the melting point of about 100 to 150 ° C. However, styrene and the like volatilize when it exceeds 100 ° C., gas is volatilized and starts to change, and when it is in a molten state, it becomes an altered body, and if it does not depend on other chemical processes, it can be recycled to the original foam. There is a problem that becomes impossible. Furthermore, the volatile matter has a major drawback that causes air pollution by air release.

  Next, in the second prior art, the foamed polystyrene is compressed. However, the fact that fine bubbles remain in the material is the same as the first prior art, and thus has the same problem. In addition, since heat at a temperature at which the foamed polystyrene is melted is added, there is a drawback in that it causes overheating of the arrowhead part and volatilization pollution of the gas.

  The present invention eliminates and improves all the problems and disadvantages of the prior art as described above. First, the volume is reduced under the condition that the volatile component is the smallest without altering the object to be processed. This is a revolutionary method.

In the present invention, the following means have been created to solve the above problems.
The first feature of the means of the present invention is that the foamed resin molded product is loaded and transported on a mesh belt conveyor or roller conveyor capable of speed control provided in a tunnel-shaped volume reducing chamber. By the far-infrared radiation mechanism provided in the chamber, far-infrared rays having a wavelength of 2 to 15 μm are radiated to the foamed resin molded product, and the foamed resin molded product is melted or altered at 100 to 70 ° C. It is a method of reducing the volume of a foamed resin molded product that reduces the volume.
Next, the second feature of the means is that there is a light reflecting box with a metal aluminum or stainless steel lined on the ceiling and side walls inside the volume reduction chamber of the foamed resin molding provided in the shape of an elongated tunnel, and in the box. A far-infrared radiation mechanism constituted by an installed far-infrared radiator, a mesh belt conveyor or roller conveyor capable of endless track-type speed control in the longitudinal direction of the interior space of the volume reducing chamber, and the conveyor -Volume of the foamed resin molded product constituted by a mechanism for continuously moving the foamed resin molded product loaded thereon and a far-infrared radiation mechanism for radiating far-infrared rays having a wavelength of 2 to 15 µm directly or by reflection to the foamed resin molded product. It is a reduction device.
A third feature of the means is that the far-infrared radiation mechanism has a function of scattering the far-infrared radiation between the far-infrared radiation box and the conveyor. This is a volume reducing device for a foamed resin molded product having an installed configuration.
Further, the fourth feature of the means is that the mesh belt conveyor or the roller conveyor is provided with a conveyor-end water-cooled rolling roller and a crusher, and the end of the far-infrared radiation mechanism. The volume-reducing apparatus for foamed resin moldings for improving the efficiency of recycling by converting the plastic lump in the plastic state into thin pieces with the roller and then making small pieces with the crusher. .
The main point of these means is to first absorb the far infrared ray in the same wavelength range on the object to be processed between the infrared absorption wavelengths of 2 to 15 μm and generate heat at a temperature of 100 ° C. or less, in the shortest time. Softening and releasing the enclosing air.
Next, it is necessary to use a novel means to irradiate far-infrared rays that are uniformly scattered to an indefinite shape such as a box shape. As a means for making the reuse effective, it is necessary to make the mass into small pieces of flakes.

1) In the conventional technology, the volume reduction method for foamed resin waste is non-uniform and partially overheated even when it is heated, and there are problems such as alteration, decomposition and volatilization, and generation of bad odors. In the conventional technology, the uniform softening and deaeration method with a special mechanism reduces the volume reduction rate to 1/60 after 60 seconds of treatment with far infrared rays, and there is almost no volatile gas and no change in material. No, it has an epoch-making remarkable effect.
2) In the conventional technology, the foamed resin waste is transformed to be melted and processed, and it becomes difficult to foam in the subsequent recycling process, making it virtually impossible to reproduce, and just reducing the volume to the disposal site. However, in the present invention, it can be recovered as an intermediate raw material without alteration, so if you soften it, break it down, add foaming agent again and foam it, a new one can be obtained. The foamed resin product can be obtained at a cost of 1 / minute.
3) In the conventional technology, simply reducing the volume of foamed resin waste and lowering the fare to the disposal site, and taking a landfill site is the same as in the past. According to the present invention, since the entire amount of foamed resin waste can be recycled and re-similar to that of the new product, it has a great public effect that the final disposal site is hardly used. It is.

  Tunnel-type internal aluminum reflector with a total length of 3 to 3.5m, height of 2m, and width of 1.5m, far-infrared radiation device; a volume reduction chamber is provided, and the speed can be controlled with a length of 3m and a width of 1.2m. An endless track type metal mesh belt conveyor or a roller conveyor is provided, and an object to be processed is loaded on the mesh belt conveyor and moved from an inlet toward an outlet. This speed is adjusted and controlled according to the processing status of the workpiece. And far infrared rays with a wavelength of 2 to 15 μm are emitted from above the conveyor by a far infrared burner. Far infrared rays are radiated by radiator ceramics, and those whose temperature can be adjusted to 550 to 700 ° C. are used. In order to make the far infrared rays act on the workpiece as uniformly as possible, The middle is bent downward, and a flat stainless steel mesh is provided horizontally as a whole. The area of the opening portion of this stainless steel wire mesh is optimally about 15 mm × 15 mm. With such a structure, there is an appropriate distance between the object to be processed and the radiator ceramic, and there is a uniform scattering mechanism of far infrared rays. The volume can be reduced without changing quality at 0 ° C., and deaeration is performed in the best condition, and the volume of the processed product is reduced to several tenths. Furthermore, these can be put into a crusher at the end of the belt, and the best recycling can be achieved as a raw material for foamed resin products as fine pieces. The embodiment will be described in more detail.

  In order to solve the above problems, the following implementation was performed. A gas far-infrared irradiation space having a dominant wavelength of 4 to 10 μm was created, and experiments were conducted on the distance, softening deformation and approximate melting of the object to be processed from the radiation surface having a radiation band temperature of 550 to 600 ° C. In this case, the irradiation intensity of far infrared rays was 5 kcal per 1 cm @ 2 of the radiator area. Table 1 shows the distance between the radiator and the object to be processed (heated object) and the presence or absence of volatile deformation.

なお、表１において、距離２００ｍｍの空間温度は１５０℃であり、４００ｍｍの空間温度は９０〜１００℃であった。

In Table 1, the space temperature at a distance of 200 mm was 150 ° C., and the space temperature at 400 mm was 90 to 100 ° C.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a volume reduction device for a foamed resin molding according to the present invention. The infrared irradiation area is 1 m @ 2 and the roller conveyor 1 flows the load from the entrance to the exit. An equipment with a total length of 3.0 m was manufactured. Reference numeral 2 denotes an aluminum reflector-enclosed box, and the far-infrared radiator 3 is a gas far-infrared burner, and a stainless wire mesh 4 is horizontally provided below the far-infrared burner. The processing object 5 made of Styrofoam is a used fishing box with a size of 350 mm x 550 mm x 185 (thickness 30 mm) as the object to be processed, and the irradiation time is 60 seconds, 80 seconds, and 120 seconds. The radiator ceramics can be adjusted to a temperature of 550 to 700 ° C., and a wavelength of 4 to 10 nm, one unit of 5,500 Kcal / hr, four on both sides and three on the horizontal surface of the ceiling, a total of 38 , 500-42,000 Kcal / hr of far-infrared radiator was enclosed with an aluminum plate.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the belt conveyor and the support.
Further, the stainless steel wire mesh 4 in FIG. 1 having an opening area of 15 × 15 mm was used and the center part formed into a curved surface was installed horizontally. Further, the processed product in the plastic state after being reduced in volume and softened at the roller conveyor end is made into a thin piece having a thickness of 2 mm by a water-cooled rolling roller 7 and then crushed by a crusher 8 to give small pieces. Collect as a state. The relationship between far-infrared irradiation time and volume reduction rate, presence or absence of volatile gas, and change in material is as shown in Table 2. If irradiation time is 60 seconds, there is no volatile gas and the material does not change, volume reduction rate Was confirmed to be 1/60. Further, from the above experiment, the foamed polystyrene (bulk density 0.02) is close to melting when treated under the condition of a space temperature of 90 to 100 ° C., and is 1 for about 2 minutes without releasing volatile styrene. / 50 or less, it was confirmed that the volume-reducing mass 6 can be obtained.

特に被熱体が箱状のものは、側壁の高さが約２００ｍｍ程度ある為、照射初期には約１５秒で変形して軟化するが、照射時間の経過と共に急速に距離が長くなり、微量の揮発成分の放出でほぼ均等に減容し処理時間僅か６０秒で約１／５０〜１／６０となる事を確認した。
もう１つの課題は、箱形被処理体の内外側壁面と底面に遠赤外線を均等に放射させる方法であるが、遠赤外放射室内は前記請求項２に記載したように、遠赤外線反射率の最も高いアルミニウム板で囲ってあり、また、外側面には約４５度の傾斜角度でそれぞれ放射体を取り付けるが、内側面の受熱面積を広くする為、図１中の４に示すように、ステンレス又はアルミニウムの金網を水平に設置し特に中央部分を断面が曲線状になるようにして、遠赤外線を内側面へ散乱放射させるようにしたものである。

In particular, a box-shaped object to be heated has a side wall height of about 200 mm, so it deforms and softens in about 15 seconds in the initial stage of irradiation. It was confirmed that the volume was reduced almost evenly by the release of the volatile components, and it was about 1/50 to 1/60 in only 60 seconds.
Another problem is a method of uniformly radiating far-infrared rays on the inner and outer wall surfaces and bottom surface of the box-shaped object. The far-infrared radiation chamber has a far-infrared reflectance as described in claim 2. In addition, each radiator is attached to the outer side surface at an inclination angle of about 45 degrees. In order to increase the heat receiving area on the inner side surface, as indicated by 4 in FIG. A stainless steel or aluminum wire mesh is installed horizontally, and in particular, the central portion has a curved cross section so that far infrared rays are scattered and radiated to the inner surface.

  As almost described in the technical field, the present invention is to recycle the waste of foamed resin moldings including foamed polystyrene boxes used for packaging of agricultural and fishery products and household appliances. Because it is necessary to reduce the cost for transportation, it is related to a new technology with a novel and innovative process method that does not deteriorate the quality as a recycled material, and it is a novel method and apparatus. Its industrial applicability is tremendous.

Cross-sectional explanatory drawing of a volume reduction device for foamed resin moldings of the present invention Longitudinal sectional view of belt conveyor and support of the device of the present invention

Explanation of symbols

1; Roller conveyor
2; Aluminum reflector-enclosed box 3; Far-infrared radiator 4; Stainless steel mesh 5; Material to be treated 6; Volume-reducing mass 7; Water-cooled rolling roller
8; Crusher

Claims (4)

  The foamed resin molded product is loaded and transported on a mesh belt conveyor or roller conveyor capable of speed control provided in a tunnel-shaped volume reduction chamber, and the far infrared radiation mechanism provided in the volume reduction chamber. Thus, the foamed resin molded product is characterized by reducing the volume of the foamed resin molded product at 100 to 70 ° C. without irradiating the foamed resin molded product with far infrared rays having a wavelength of 2 to 15 μm and without melting or altering. A method of reducing the volume of melting a molding.   A far-infrared tunnel is formed by a light-reflective box with metal aluminum or stainless steel lined on the inside, ceiling, and side walls of a foamed resin molding provided in an elongated tunnel shape, and a far-infrared radiator installed in the box. Continuous movement of infrared radiation mechanism, mesh belt conveyor or roller conveyor capable of endless track type and speed control in the longitudinal direction of the interior space of the volume reducing chamber, and foamed resin moldings loaded on the conveyor And a far-infrared radiation mechanism that radiates far-infrared rays having a wavelength of 2 to 15 μm directly or by reflection to the foamed resin molded product.   The far-infrared radiation mechanism has a configuration in which a metal aluminum or stainless steel wire mesh having a function of scattering far-infrared radiation between the far-infrared radiation box and the conveyor is installed horizontally or on a curved surface. 3. A volume reducing device for a foamed resin molded article according to 1 or 2.   The mesh belt conveyor or roller conveyor is provided with a conveyor-end water-cooled rolling roller and a crusher, and the resin mass in the plastic state at the end of the far-infrared radiation mechanism is added to the mesh belt conveyor or roller conveyor. The volume reduction device for a foamed resin molded product according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a recycling process is made highly efficient by making a thin piece by a roller and then making a small piece by the crusher.

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