JP2011011444A

JP2011011444A - Wood for compression and method for molding wood

Info

Publication number: JP2011011444A
Application number: JP2009157171A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Toshibumi Nakano; 俊文中野; Nobuo Kitayoshi; 信雄北吉
Original assignee: Olympus Corp
Current assignee: Olympus Corp
Priority date: 2009-07-01
Filing date: 2009-07-01
Publication date: 2011-01-20

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide wood for compression and a method for molding wood with which occurrence of defects such as a crack is prevented even when wood having complicated three-dimensional shapes is compression molded, and thereby yield can be improved.SOLUTION: The wood for compression has a form of a bowl-like shape with nearly uniform wall thickness, provided with a concave part and a convex part on the inner face and the outer face thereof, where the shape of the concave part is formed closer to the three-dimensional shape than the convex part. The formed wood is molded into a predetermined three-dimensional shape by applying compression force.

Description

本発明は、木材を所定の３次元形状に圧縮成形する際に使用する圧縮用木材および木材の成形方法に関する。 The present invention relates to a compression wood used when compression-molding wood into a predetermined three-dimensional shape and a method for forming the wood.

近年、自然素材である木材が注目されている。木材は様々な木目を有するため、原木から形取る箇所に応じて個体差が生じ、その個体差が製品ごとの個性となる。また、長期の使用によって生じる傷や色合いの変化自体も、独特の風合いとなって使用者に親しみを生じさせることがある。これらの理由により、合成樹脂や軽金属を用いた製品にはない、個性的で味わい深い製品を生み出すことのできる素材として木材が注目されており、その成形技術も飛躍的に進歩しつつある。 In recent years, natural wood has attracted attention. Since wood has various grain patterns, individual differences occur depending on the location of the raw wood, and the individual differences are the individuality of each product. In addition, scratches and changes in color caused by long-term use may also have a unique texture and may be familiar to the user. For these reasons, wood has been attracting attention as a material that can produce unique and tasty products that are not found in products using synthetic resins and light metals, and its molding technology is also making rapid progress.

従来、かかる木材の成形技術として、吸水軟化した１枚の木材を圧縮し、その木材を圧縮方向と略平行にスライスして板状の一次固定品を得た後、この一次固定品を加熱吸水させながら所定の３次元形状に成形する技術が知られている（例えば、特許文献１を参照）。また、軟化処理した状態で圧縮した１枚の木材を仮固定し、この木材を型に入れて回復させることによって型成形する技術も知られている（例えば、特許文献２を参照）。また、木材を高温高圧の水蒸気雰囲気内において軟化させた後、水蒸気雰囲気内で木材を機械的に圧縮し、その後、再び水蒸気雰囲気内で変形を固定化する技術も知られている（例えば、特許文献３を参照）。 Conventionally, as a technique for forming such wood, after compressing a piece of water softened and softened, and slicing the wood substantially parallel to the compression direction to obtain a plate-like primary fixed product, this primary fixed product is heated and absorbed by water. There is known a technique of forming a predetermined three-dimensional shape while performing the process (for example, see Patent Document 1). There is also known a technique in which a piece of wood compressed in a softened state is temporarily fixed, and this wood is put into a mold and recovered to mold (for example, see Patent Document 2). Also known is a technique in which wood is softened in a high-temperature and high-pressure steam atmosphere, the wood is mechanically compressed in the steam atmosphere, and then the deformation is fixed again in the steam atmosphere (for example, patents). (Ref. 3).

特許第３０７８４５２号公報Japanese Patent No. 3078452 特開平１１−７７６１９号公報JP-A-11-77619 特公平７−２３２６号公報Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-2326

しかしながら、上述した従来技術では、板状、柱状、断面円弧状、皿状などの比較的単純な形状の木材を圧縮成形することしか想定されていなかった。このため、表面に凹凸を有するような複雑な３次元形状の木材を圧縮成形しようとすると、凸状部分に過度の引張力が加わって割れ等の不具合を発生しやすく、歩留まりが低下してしまうおそれがあった。 However, in the above-described prior art, only compression molding of relatively simple wood such as a plate shape, a columnar shape, a cross-sectional arc shape, and a dish shape has been assumed. For this reason, when trying to compression-mold a complicated three-dimensional wood having irregularities on the surface, excessive tensile force is applied to the convex part, which tends to cause defects such as cracks, resulting in a decrease in yield. There was a fear.

本発明は、上記に鑑みてなされたものであって、複雑な３次元形状を有する木材を圧縮成形する際にも割れ等の不具合の発生を防止し、歩留まりを向上させることができる圧縮用木材および木材の成形方法を提供することを目的とする。 This invention was made in view of the above, Comprising: The compression wood which can prevent generation | occurrence | production of malfunctions, such as a crack, and improve a yield also when carrying out compression molding of the wood which has a complicated three-dimensional shape And it aims at providing the shaping | molding method of wood.

上述した課題を解決し、目的を達成するために、本発明に係る圧縮用木材は、圧縮力を加えることによって所定の３次元形状に成形される圧縮用木材であって、略均一な肉厚を有する椀状をなし、内側面および外側面に凹部および凸部が形成され、前記凹部の形状は前記凸部の形状よりも圧縮後の形状に近いことを特徴とする。 In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the compression wood according to the present invention is a compression wood formed into a predetermined three-dimensional shape by applying a compression force, and has a substantially uniform wall thickness. The concave portion and the convex portion are formed on the inner side surface and the outer side surface, and the shape of the concave portion is closer to the shape after compression than the shape of the convex portion.

また、本発明に係る圧縮用木材は、上記発明において、原木から形取ったブランク材であることを特徴とする。 Moreover, the wood for compression which concerns on this invention is the blank material shape | molded from the raw wood in the said invention, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

また、本発明に係る圧縮用木材は、上記発明において、原木から形取ったブランク材を大気よりも高温高圧の水蒸気雰囲気中で圧縮成形したものであることを特徴とする。 Moreover, the wood for compression according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the blank material shaped from the raw wood is compression-molded in a steam atmosphere at a higher temperature and pressure than the atmosphere.

また、本発明に係る木材の成形方法は、木材を圧縮することによって所定の３次元形状に成形する木材の成形方法であって、略均一な肉厚を有する椀状をなし、内側面および外側面に凹部および凸部を有し、前記凹部の形状が前記凸部の形状よりも前記３次元形状に近い形状をなす圧縮用木材を形成する圧縮用木材形成工程と、前記圧縮用木材形成工程で形成した圧縮用木材に圧縮力を加えることによって前記３次元形状に成形する圧縮工程と、を有することを特徴とする。 The wood molding method according to the present invention is a wood molding method in which a wood is molded into a predetermined three-dimensional shape by compressing the wood, having a bowl shape having a substantially uniform thickness, and having an inner surface and an outer surface. A compression wood forming step for forming a compression wood having a recess and a protrusion on a side surface, and the shape of the recess is closer to the three-dimensional shape than the shape of the protrusion, and the compression wood forming step And a compression step of forming the three-dimensional shape by applying a compression force to the compression wood formed in step (1).

また、本発明に係る木材の成形方法は、上記発明において、前記圧縮用木材形成工程は、前記圧縮用木材を原木から形取ることを特徴とする。 The wood forming method according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the compression wood forming step forms the compression wood from a raw wood.

また、本発明に係る木材の成形方法は、上記発明において、前記圧縮用木材形成工程は、原木から形取った所定の形状のブランク材を大気よりも高温高圧の水蒸気雰囲気中で圧縮することによって前記圧縮用木材を形成し、前記圧縮工程は、大気中で前記圧縮用木材を加熱しながら圧縮し、前記圧縮用木材形成工程における前記ブランク材の圧縮率は、前記圧縮工程における前記圧縮用木材の圧縮率よりも大きいことを特徴とする。 Further, in the wood molding method according to the present invention, in the above invention, the compression wood forming step compresses a blank material having a predetermined shape taken from the raw wood in a steam atmosphere at a higher temperature and pressure than the atmosphere. The compression wood is formed, the compression step compresses the compression wood while heating in the atmosphere, and the compression ratio of the blank material in the compression wood formation step is the compression wood in the compression step. It is characterized by being larger than the compression ratio.

また、本発明に係る木材の成形方法は、上記発明において、前記ブランク材は、略均一な肉厚を有する椀状をなし、内側面および外側面にブランク凹部およびブランク凸部を有し、前記ブランク凹部の形状が前記ブランク凸部の形状よりも前記圧縮用木材の形状に近い形状をなすことを特徴とする。 Further, in the method for molding wood according to the present invention, in the above invention, the blank material has a bowl shape having a substantially uniform thickness, and has a blank concave portion and a blank convex portion on the inner side surface and the outer side surface, The shape of a blank recessed part makes the shape close | similar to the shape of the said wood for compression rather than the shape of the said blank convex part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

本発明によれば、略均一な肉厚を有する椀状をなし、内側面および外側面に凹部および凸部を形成し、凹部の形状を凸部の形状よりも圧縮後の形状に近くしているため、圧縮時には凹部は変形せずに凸部が小さく縮むように変形する。したがって、圧縮時に引張力が発生するのを抑制することができ、複雑な３次元形状を有する木材を圧縮成形する際にも割れ等の不具合の発生を防止し、歩留まりを向上させることが可能となる。 According to the present invention, a bowl shape having a substantially uniform thickness is formed, and concave portions and convex portions are formed on the inner surface and the outer surface, and the shape of the concave portion is made closer to the shape after compression than the shape of the convex portion Therefore, at the time of compression, the concave portion is not deformed, and the convex portion is deformed so as to shrink. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the generation of tensile force during compression, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of defects such as cracks and improve the yield even when compression-molding wood having a complicated three-dimensional shape. Become.

図１は、本発明の一実施の形態に係る圧縮用木材の構成を示す斜視図である。FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a compression wood according to an embodiment of the present invention. 図２は、図１の矢視Ａ方向の平面図である。2 is a plan view in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 図３は、図１の平面Ｓ₁を切断面とする断面図である。FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane S ₁ in FIG. 図４は、図１の平面Ｓ₂を切断面とする断面図である。Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane S ₂ of Figure 1. 図５は、本発明の一実施の形態に係る圧縮用木材を圧縮する際に使用する一対の金型の構成を示す斜視図である。FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a pair of molds used when compressing the compression wood according to the embodiment of the present invention. 図６は、図５のＢ−Ｂ線断面図である。6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 図７は、図５のＣ−Ｃ線断面図である。7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 図８は、本発明の一実施の形態に係る圧縮用木材を圧縮している途中の状態を示す斜視図である。FIG. 8: is a perspective view which shows the state in the middle of compressing the wood for compression which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. 図９は、図８のＢ−Ｂ線断面図である。9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 図１０は、図８のＣ−Ｃ線断面図である。10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 図１１は、本発明の一実施の形態に係る圧縮用木材の変形が完了した状態を示す斜視図である。FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which the deformation of the compression wood according to the embodiment of the present invention is completed. 図１２は、図１１のＢ−Ｂ線断面図である。12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 図１３は、図１１のＣ−Ｃ線断面図である。13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG.

以下、添付図面を参照して、本発明を実施するための形態（以下、「実施の形態」という）を説明する。なお、以下の説明で参照する図面は模式的なものであって、同じ物体を異なる図面で示す場合には、寸法や縮尺等が異なる場合もある。 DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiments”) will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the drawings referred to in the following description are schematic, and when the same object is shown in different drawings, dimensions, scales, and the like may be different.

図１は、本発明の一実施の形態に係る圧縮用木材の構成を示す斜視図である。同図に示す圧縮用木材１は、無圧縮状態にある無垢材などの原木から切削によって形取られたブランク材である。原木は、ヒノキ、ヒバ、桐、杉、松、桜、欅、黒檀、紫檀、竹、チーク、マホガニー、ローズウッドなどの中から最適な素材を選択すればよい。本実施の形態においては、原木から圧縮用木材１となるブランク材を形取る工程が「圧縮用木材形成工程」に対応している。 FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a compression wood according to an embodiment of the present invention. A compression wood 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a blank material cut by cutting from a raw wood such as a solid wood in an uncompressed state. For the log, the most suitable material may be selected from among cypress, hiba, paulownia, cedar, pine, cherry blossom, bud, ebony, rosewood, bamboo, teak, mahogany and rosewood. In the present embodiment, the step of shaping the blank material that becomes the compression wood 1 from the raw wood corresponds to the “compression wood formation step”.

圧縮用木材１は、表面がハート型をなす平板状の主板部１１と、主板部１１の外縁部から主板部１１の表面と略直交する方向に立ち上がって延びる側板部１２とを有しており、略均一な肉厚の椀状をなしている。圧縮用木材１の椀状の外側面の一部をなす側板部１２の外周面は、主板部１１の縁端部に対応するハート型をなしており、凸部１２ａと凹部１２ｂとを有する。また、圧縮用木材１の椀状の内側面の一部をなす側板部１２の内周面も外周面と略相似なハート型をなしており、肉厚方向に沿って凸部１２ａと対向する凹部１２ｃを有するとともに、肉厚方向に沿って凹部１２ｂと対向する凸部１２ｄを有する。 The compression wood 1 has a flat main plate portion 11 having a heart-shaped surface, and side plate portions 12 extending from an outer edge portion of the main plate portion 11 in a direction substantially orthogonal to the surface of the main plate portion 11. It has an almost uniform wall shape. The outer peripheral surface of the side plate portion 12 that forms a part of the bowl-shaped outer surface of the compression wood 1 has a heart shape corresponding to the edge portion of the main plate portion 11, and has a convex portion 12a and a concave portion 12b. Further, the inner peripheral surface of the side plate portion 12 forming a part of the bowl-shaped inner surface of the compression wood 1 has a heart shape substantially similar to the outer peripheral surface, and faces the convex portion 12a along the thickness direction. While having the recessed part 12c, it has the convex part 12d facing the recessed part 12b along the thickness direction.

図２は、図１の矢視Ａ方向の平面図である。また、図３は図１の平面Ｓ₁を切断面とする断面図であり、図４は図１の平面Ｓ₂を切断面とする断面図である。図２〜図４においては、破線によって圧縮用木材１の圧縮後の形状（以下、「圧縮後形状１Ｆ」という）を示している。図２において、４つの黒点は、凸部１２ａと凹部１２ｂとの境界（凹凸が変化する点）および凹部１２ｃと凸部１２ｄとの境界を示している。図２〜図４からも明らかなように、凹部１２ｂ、１２ｃは圧縮後形状１Ｆと一致している一方、凸部１２ａ、１２ｄは、圧縮後形状１Ｆと異なっている。凸部１２ａ、１２ｄの形状と圧縮後形状１Ｆとの差分は、後述する圧縮工程における成形代に他ならない。このように、圧縮用木材１は、圧縮によって減少する分の容積を予め加えた容積を有している。 2 is a plan view in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view with the plane S _{1 in} FIG. 1 as a cut surface, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view with the plane S _{2 in} FIG. 1 as a cut surface. 2 to 4, the shape after compression of the compression wood 1 (hereinafter, referred to as “post-compression shape 1F”) is indicated by a broken line. In FIG. 2, four black dots indicate the boundary between the convex portion 12a and the concave portion 12b (the point at which the concave and convex portions change) and the boundary between the concave portion 12c and the convex portion 12d. As is clear from FIGS. 2 to 4, the concave portions 12 b and 12 c are identical to the post-compression shape 1F, while the convex portions 12 a and 12 d are different from the post-compression shape 1 F. The difference between the shape of the convex portions 12a and 12d and the post-compression shape 1F is nothing but the molding allowance in the compression step described later. Thus, the wood 1 for compression has the volume which added the volume for the amount reduced by compression previously.

なお、圧縮用木材１は側板部１２にのみ凹部や凸部を有しているが、椀状の主板部に凹部や凸部を有する圧縮用木材をブランク材とすることも可能である。この場合にも、凹部の方が凸部よりも圧縮後の形状に近くなるように形取を行えばよい。 In addition, although the compression wood 1 has a recessed part and a convex part only in the side-plate part 12, it is also possible to use the compression wood which has a recessed part and a convex part in a bowl-shaped main board part as a blank material. In this case as well, shaping may be performed so that the concave portion is closer to the compressed shape than the convex portion.

以上の構成を有する圧縮用木材１を圧縮する際には、大気よりも高温高圧の水蒸気雰囲気中で所定時間放置して水分を過剰に吸収させることにより、圧縮用木材１を軟化させる。ここでの水蒸気は、温度が１００〜２３０℃程度であり、圧力が０．１０〜３．０ＭＰａ（メガパスカル）程度である。このような水蒸気雰囲気は、例えば圧力容器を用いることによって実現することができる。圧力容器を用いる場合には、その圧力容器の中に圧縮用木材１を放置することによって軟化させる。なお、水蒸気雰囲気中で圧縮用木材１を放置して軟化させる代わりに、圧縮用木材１の表面に水分を供給した後、マイクロウェーブの如き高周波の電磁波によって圧縮用木材１を加熱して軟化させてもよいし、圧縮用木材１を煮沸して軟化させてもよい。 When compressing the compression wood 1 having the above configuration, the compression wood 1 is softened by allowing it to stand for a predetermined time in a steam atmosphere at a higher temperature and pressure than the atmosphere to absorb moisture excessively. The water vapor here has a temperature of about 100 to 230 ° C. and a pressure of about 0.10 to 3.0 MPa (megapascal). Such a water vapor atmosphere can be realized, for example, by using a pressure vessel. When a pressure vessel is used, the compression wood 1 is softened by leaving it in the pressure vessel. Instead of leaving the compression wood 1 in the water vapor atmosphere and softening it, after supplying moisture to the surface of the compression wood 1, the compression wood 1 is heated and softened by high frequency electromagnetic waves such as microwaves. Alternatively, the compression wood 1 may be boiled and softened.

この後、軟化させて圧縮用木材１を上述した水蒸気雰囲気中で一対の金型によって挟持して圧縮力を加えることにより、圧縮用木材１を圧縮後形状１Ｆに変形させる。圧力容器の中で圧縮用木材１を軟化させた場合には、引き続きその圧力容器の中で圧縮用木材１を圧縮すればよい。 After that, the compressed wood 1 is deformed into a post-compression shape 1F by softening and sandwiching the compressed wood 1 between the pair of molds in the above-described steam atmosphere and applying a compressive force. When the compression wood 1 is softened in the pressure vessel, the compression wood 1 may be subsequently compressed in the pressure vessel.

図５は、圧縮用木材１を圧縮する工程の概要を示す図である。また、図６は図５のＢ−Ｂ線断面図であり、図７は図５のＣ−Ｃ線縦断面図である。なお、図６における圧縮用木材１の断面は図３と同じであり、図７における圧縮用木材１の断面は図４と同じである。図５〜図７に示すように、圧縮用木材１を圧縮する際には、一対の金型２、３を用いて圧縮用木材１を挟持することによって圧縮力を加える。 FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a process of compressing the wood 1 for compression. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 6 is the same as FIG. 3, and the cross section of the compression wood 1 in FIG. 7 is the same as FIG. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, when compressing the compression wood 1, a compression force is applied by sandwiching the compression wood 1 using a pair of molds 2 and 3.

圧縮用木材１の上方から圧縮力を加える金型２は、圧縮用木材１のくぼんでいる側の表面に当接する突起部２１を備えたコア金型である。一方、圧縮用木材１の下方から圧縮力を加える金型３は、圧縮用木材１の突出している側の表面を嵌入する凹状の嵌入部３１を備えたキャビティ金型である。嵌入部３１の上端開口面付近の一部には、内側へ向けて傾斜した斜面からなるテーパ部３１１が形成されている。テーパ部３１１は、圧縮用木材１の外周面の凸部１２ａと当接する部分に設けられており、圧縮用木材１を嵌入部３１の底面へガイドする機能を有している。 The mold 2 for applying a compressive force from above the compression wood 1 is a core mold provided with a protrusion 21 that abuts the surface of the compression wood 1 on the recessed side. On the other hand, the mold 3 for applying a compressive force from the lower side of the compression wood 1 is a cavity mold provided with a concave insertion portion 31 for inserting the surface of the compression wood 1 on the protruding side. A taper portion 311 having a slope inclined inward is formed in a part near the upper end opening surface of the fitting portion 31. The tapered portion 311 is provided at a portion that contacts the convex portion 12 a on the outer peripheral surface of the compression wood 1, and has a function of guiding the compression wood 1 to the bottom surface of the fitting portion 31.

図８〜図１０は、圧縮工程の途中の状態を示す図であり、金型２を下降させて金型３に近づけている状態を示す図である。このうち、図９は図８のＢ−Ｂ線断面図であり、図１０は図８のＣ−Ｃ線断面図である。図８〜図１０に示す状態で、金型２は圧縮用木材１の側板部１２の端面に当接し、端面を押圧している。このように端面を押圧しながら圧縮用木材１を徐々に変形させていくことにより、圧縮工程において圧縮用木材１の割れ等の不具合が発生するのを確実に防止することができる。 8-10 is a figure which shows the state in the middle of a compression process, and is a figure which shows the state which lowers the metal mold | die 2 and is approaching the metal mold | die 3. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 8 to 10, the mold 2 is in contact with the end face of the side plate portion 12 of the compression wood 1 and presses the end face. Thus, by gradually deforming the compression wood 1 while pressing the end face, it is possible to reliably prevent problems such as cracking of the compression wood 1 during the compression process.

図１１〜図１３は、圧縮用木材１の変形が完了した状態で金型２、３が圧縮用木材１に圧縮力を加えている状態を示す図である。このうち、図１２は図１１のＢ−Ｂ線断面図であり、図１３は図１１のＣ−Ｃ線断面図である。なお、図１２における圧縮用木材１の断面は図３の破線の形状と同じであり、図１３における圧縮用木材１の断面は図４の破線の形状と同じである。図１１〜図１３に示すように、圧縮用木材１は、金型２、３から圧縮力を受けることにより、金型２と金型３との隙間に相当する３次元形状に変形する。図１１〜図１３に示す状態で、圧縮用木材１に所定時間（１〜数十分、より好ましくは５〜１０分程度）圧縮力を加え続ける。 FIGS. 11 to 13 are views showing a state in which the molds 2 and 3 apply a compressive force to the compression wood 1 in a state where the deformation of the compression wood 1 is completed. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 11, and FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 12 is the same as the shape of the broken line in FIG. 3, and the cross section of the compressed wood 1 in FIG. 13 is the same as the shape of the broken line in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the compression wood 1 is deformed into a three-dimensional shape corresponding to the gap between the mold 2 and the mold 3 by receiving a compression force from the molds 2 and 3. In the state shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the compression force is continuously applied to the compression wood 1 for a predetermined time (1 to several tens of minutes, more preferably about 5 to 10 minutes).

このようにして圧縮用木材１を圧縮する際、凹部１２ｂと金型３、および凹部１２ｃと金型２との間に隙間が生じることがほとんどない。また、引張力が発生しやすい凸部１２ａ、１２ｄには小さく縮む方向への圧縮力が作用し続ける。したがって、圧縮時に圧縮用木材１に割れ等の不具合が発生するのを回避することが可能となる。 Thus, when compressing the wood 1 for compression, a clearance gap hardly arises between the recessed part 12b, the metal mold | die 3, and the recessed part 12c, and the metal mold | die 2. FIG. Further, a compressive force in the direction of shrinking continues to act on the convex portions 12a and 12d where a tensile force is likely to be generated. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of defects such as cracks in the compression wood 1 during compression.

圧縮工程が終了した後、図１１〜図１３に示す状態を保持したまま、上述した水蒸気よりさらに高温の水蒸気を金型２、３の周囲に加えることにより、圧縮用木材１の形状を固定化する。この固定化処理を圧力容器中で行う場合には、圧縮工程における水蒸気よりもさらに高温の水蒸気を圧力容器へ吹き込めばよい。 After the compression process is completed, the shape of the wood 1 for compression is fixed by adding steam higher than the steam described above to the molds 2 and 3 while maintaining the state shown in FIGS. To do. When this immobilization process is performed in a pressure vessel, water vapor having a temperature higher than that in the compression step may be blown into the pressure vessel.

続いて、金型２、３および圧縮用木材１を大気中へ開放することによって圧縮用木材１を乾燥させる。この際には、金型２、３の型締め状態を解除し、金型２または金型３を圧縮用木材１から離間することによって乾燥を促進させるようにしてもよい。 Subsequently, the compression wood 1 is dried by opening the molds 2 and 3 and the compression wood 1 to the atmosphere. In this case, drying may be promoted by releasing the mold clamping state of the molds 2 and 3 and separating the mold 2 or the mold 3 from the compression wood 1.

この後、乾燥した圧縮用木材１の最終形状への仕上げを行う。この仕上げを行う際には、切削によって圧縮用木材１の端面を揃えたり孔や切り欠きなどを形成したりする。仕上げ工程を完了することによって圧縮用木材１を原材料として成形した圧縮木製品が完成する。 Thereafter, the dried compressed wood 1 is finished to the final shape. When performing this finishing, the end face of the compression wood 1 is aligned by cutting or a hole or a notch is formed. By completing the finishing process, a compressed wooden product formed using the compression wood 1 as a raw material is completed.

本実施の形態に係る木材の成形方法によって圧縮成形された木材は、様々な用途に使用することができる。例えば、デジタルカメラやＩＣレコーダなどの小型の電子機器の外装体として適用することができるし、食器、各種筐体、建材などにも適用することもできる。この意味で、圧縮用木材の形状は上述した形状に限られるわけではなく、略均一な肉厚を有する椀状をなし、内側面および外側面に凹部および凸部が形成されていればいかなる形状であってもかまわない。このうち、小型の電子機器の外装体として適用する場合には、肉厚が１．６〜２．０ｍｍ程度であればより好ましい。 The wood compression-molded by the wood molding method according to the present embodiment can be used for various applications. For example, it can be applied as an exterior body of a small electronic device such as a digital camera or an IC recorder, and can also be applied to tableware, various cases, building materials, and the like. In this sense, the shape of the wood for compression is not limited to the above-mentioned shape, but is any shape as long as it has a bowl shape having a substantially uniform thickness, and concave and convex portions are formed on the inner side surface and the outer side surface. It doesn't matter. Among these, when applying as an exterior body of a small electronic device, it is more preferable if the wall thickness is about 1.6 to 2.0 mm.

以上説明した本発明の一実施の形態によれば、略均一な肉厚を有する椀状をなし、内側面および外側面に凹部および凸部を形成し、凹部の形状を凸部の形状よりも圧縮後の形状に近くしているため、圧縮時には凹部は変形せずに凸部が小さく縮むように変形する。したがって、圧縮時に引張力が発生するのを抑制することができ、複雑な３次元形状を有する木材を圧縮成形する際にも割れ等の不具合の発生を防止し、歩留まりを向上させることが可能となる。 According to one embodiment of the present invention described above, a bowl shape having a substantially uniform thickness is formed, and concave portions and convex portions are formed on the inner side surface and the outer side surface. Since it is close to the shape after compression, the concave portion is not deformed during compression, and the convex portion is deformed so as to be shrunk small. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the generation of tensile force during compression, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of defects such as cracks and improve the yield even when compression-molding wood having a complicated three-dimensional shape. Become.

なお、圧縮後の圧縮用木材１を乾燥させた後であって最終形状への仕上げを行う前に、金型２、３とは異なる一対の金型を用いて大気中で圧縮用木材１を加熱しながら圧縮することにより、圧縮用木材１をより最終形状に近い形状に整形することも可能である。この場合には、一対の金型に熱を発生するヒータを設け、各金型の温度を１５０〜２００℃程度として圧縮用木材１を挟持する。圧縮用木材１を加熱圧縮整形する場合の圧縮用木材１の形状変化は、金型２、３を用いて行う圧縮前後の形状変化と比較して顕著に小さい。換言すれば、圧縮用木材１を加熱圧縮整形する場合の圧縮用木材１の圧縮率は、金型２、３を用いて行う場合の圧縮用木材１の圧縮率と比較して顕著に小さい。このように圧縮率が小さいとはいえ、圧縮用木材１を圧縮することに変わりはないので、加熱圧縮整形を行う前の圧縮用木材１の形状は、凹部１２ｂ、１２ｃの形状が凸部１２ａ、１２ｄの形状よりも加熱圧縮整形後の形状に近くなければならない。 In addition, after drying the compressed wood 1 after compression and before finishing the final shape, the compressed wood 1 is used in the atmosphere using a pair of molds different from the molds 2 and 3. By compressing while heating, it is also possible to shape the compression wood 1 into a shape closer to the final shape. In this case, a heater for generating heat is provided in the pair of molds, and the temperature of each mold is set to about 150 to 200 ° C., and the compression wood 1 is sandwiched. The shape change of the compression wood 1 when the compression wood 1 is heated and compressed is significantly smaller than the shape change before and after compression performed using the molds 2 and 3. In other words, the compression rate of the compression wood 1 when the compression wood 1 is subjected to heat compression shaping is significantly smaller than the compression rate of the compression wood 1 when the molds 2 and 3 are used. Although the compression rate is small in this way, the compression wood 1 is still compressed, so that the shape of the compression wood 1 before the heat compression shaping is the shape of the recesses 12b and 12c is the protrusion 12a. , 12d must be closer to the shape after heat compression shaping.

以上説明した加熱圧縮整形工程をさらに行うことにより、圧縮用木材１の内部にある樹液の一部が圧縮用木材１の表面に染み出してきて圧縮用木材１の表面に深い色合いとツヤを生じさせることができる。 By further performing the heating compression shaping step described above, a part of the sap inside the compression wood 1 oozes out on the surface of the compression wood 1 and produces a deep color and gloss on the surface of the compression wood 1. Can be made.

加熱圧縮整形工程において圧縮用木材１を金型によって挟持する時間や金型の温度は、圧縮用木材１が有する特性や加工後の圧縮用木材１に付与すべき性質等に応じて定めればよい。なお、ここでいう「圧縮用木材１が有する特性」には、形状のほか、原材料である原木の種類、産地、生育環境、生育状態なども含まれる。また、「圧縮用木材１に付与すべき性質」には、成形後の圧縮用木材１の表面の色合いやツヤ、強度などが含まれる。 If the compression wood 1 is clamped by the mold in the heat compression shaping step and the mold temperature is determined according to the characteristics of the compression wood 1 and the properties to be imparted to the compressed wood 1 after processing. Good. The “characteristics of the compression wood 1” mentioned here include not only the shape but also the type of raw wood that is the raw material, the production area, the growth environment, the growth state, and the like. The “properties to be imparted to the compression wood 1” includes the color, gloss, strength, and the like of the surface of the compression wood 1 after molding.

上記のごとく加熱圧縮成形工程を行う場合、金型２、３を用いた圧縮工程は「圧縮用木材形成工程」に対応し、加熱圧縮成形工程が「圧縮工程」に対応することとなる。この場合、凸部１２ａ、１２ｄは「ブランク凸部」に相当し、凹部１２ｂ、１２ｃは「ブランク凹部」に相当する。 When the heat compression molding process is performed as described above, the compression process using the molds 2 and 3 corresponds to the “compression wood forming process”, and the heat compression molding process corresponds to the “compression process”. In this case, the convex portions 12a and 12d correspond to “blank convex portions”, and the concave portions 12b and 12c correspond to “blank concave portions”.

ここまで、本発明を実施するための形態を詳述してきたが、本発明は上述した一実施の形態によってのみ限定されるべきものではない。例えば、上述した実施の形態では、凹部が圧縮後の形状と一致している場合を説明したが、本発明においては、凹部の方が凸部よりも圧縮後の形状に近ければよく、必ずしも圧縮後の形状と一致している必要はない。 The embodiments for carrying out the present invention have been described in detail so far, but the present invention should not be limited only by the above-described embodiments. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the concave portion matches the shape after compression has been described. However, in the present invention, the concave portion only needs to be closer to the shape after compression than the convex portion, and is not necessarily compressed. It does not have to match the later shape.

このように、本発明はここでは記載していない様々な実施の形態等を含みうるものであり、特許請求の範囲により特定される技術的思想を逸脱しない範囲内において種々の設計変更等を施すことが可能である。 As described above, the present invention can include various embodiments and the like not described herein, and various design changes and the like can be made without departing from the technical idea specified by the claims. It is possible.

１圧縮用木材
１Ｆ圧縮後形状
２、３金型
１１主板部
１２側板部
１２ａ、１２ｄ凸部
１２ｂ、１２ｃ凹部
２１突起部
３１嵌入部
３１１テーパ部
Ｓ₁、Ｓ₂ 平面 After one compression wood 1F compressed configuration 2,3 mold 11 main plate portion 12 side plate portion 12a, 12d projecting portions 12b, 12c recess 21 projection 31 fitting portion 311 tapered section S _1, S ₂ plane

Claims

A compression wood that is formed into a predetermined three-dimensional shape by applying a compression force,
It has a bowl shape with a substantially uniform thickness, and concave and convex portions are formed on the inner and outer surfaces,
A wood for compression, wherein the shape of the concave portion is closer to the shape after compression than the shape of the convex portion.

2. The wood for compression according to claim 1, wherein the wood is a blank made from raw wood.

2. The wood for compression according to claim 1, wherein a blank material shaped from raw wood is compression-molded in a steam atmosphere at a higher temperature and pressure than the atmosphere.

A method of forming wood, which is formed into a predetermined three-dimensional shape by compressing wood,
Compressed wood having a bowl shape having a substantially uniform thickness, having concave and convex portions on the inner and outer surfaces, and the shape of the concave portion being closer to the three-dimensional shape than the shape of the convex portion Forming a compression wood forming process;
A compression step of forming the three-dimensional shape by applying a compression force to the compression wood formed in the compression wood formation step;
A method for forming a wood, comprising:

The compression wood forming step includes
5. The method for forming wood according to claim 4, wherein the compression wood is formed from raw wood.

The compression wood forming step includes
The compression wood is formed by compressing a blank material of a predetermined shape shaped from raw wood in a steam atmosphere at a higher temperature and pressure than the atmosphere,
The compression step includes
Compressing the wood for compression while heating in the atmosphere,
The wood molding method according to claim 4, wherein a compression rate of the blank material in the compression wood forming step is larger than a compression rate of the compression wood in the compression step.

The blank material is
It has a bowl shape with a substantially uniform thickness, has a blank recess and a blank projection on the inner surface and the outer surface, and the shape of the blank recess is closer to the shape of the compression wood than the shape of the blank projection The method for forming a wood according to claim 6, wherein the method has a shape.