Processing apparatus, mold for wood processing, and method of processing wood

Abstract

A processing apparatus for processing a wooden piece into a predetermined three-dimensional shape includes a first mold made of a material having at least one of viscosity and elasticity at least in a portion that abuts a surface of the wooden piece; and a second mold made of metal sandwiching the wooden piece with the first mold to apply compressive force on the wooden piece.

1 . A processing apparatus for processing a wooden piece into a predetermined three-dimensional shape, comprising: 
 a first mold made of a material having at least one of viscosity and elasticity at least in a portion that abuts a surface of the wooden piece; and    a second mold made of metal sandwiching the wooden piece with the first mold to apply compressive force on the wooden piece.    
   
   
       2 . The processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the first mold includes 
 a protrusion that abuts the surface of the wooden piece at compression of the wooden piece, and applies compressive force on the surface of the wooden piece while gradually expanding an abutting region of the surface from a central portion to a peripheral portion; and  
 an end surface pressing portion that abuts an end surface of the wooden piece at compression of the wooden piece, and applies compressive force on the wooden piece in a direction substantially perpendicular to a thickness direction of the end surface.  
   
   
   
       3 . The processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising 
 a guide mold that guides the first mold in a moving direction.    
   
   
       4 . The processing apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein 
 the guide mold includes a guide which is formed as a substantially frustum-shaped penetration of a main body of the guide mold, and    a smaller opening of openings formed at ends of the guide has a same shape as an opening of the second mold.    
   
   
       5 . The processing apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein 
 the first mold can be inserted into the guide mold from a larger opening of the openings formed at the ends of the guide.    
   
   
       6 . The processing apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein 
 the guide mold is formed integrally with the second mold.    
   
   
       7 . A wood processing mold for processing a wooden piece into a predetermined three-dimensional shape by sandwiching the wooden piece with a metal mold to apply compressive force thereto, the wood processing mold comprising: 
 a protrusion that abuts the surface of the wooden piece at compression of the wooden piece, and applies compressive force on the surface of the wooden piece while gradually expanding an abutting region of the surface from a central portion to a peripheral portion; and    an end surface pressing portion that abuts an end surface of the wooden piece at compression of the wooden piece, and applies compressive force on the wooden piece in a direction substantially perpendicular to a thickness direction of the end surface,    wherein the protrusion and the end surface pressing portion are made of a material having at least one of viscosity and elasticity.    
   
   
       8 . A method of processing wood for processing a wooden piece into a predetermined three-dimensional shape by applying compressive force on the wooden piece, the method comprising 
 performing a compression process in which the wooden piece is compressed while a region of the wooden piece on which the compressive force acts is gradually expanded from a central portion to a peripheral portion.    
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising, 
 prior to the compression process, performing a primary compression process in which the wooden piece is sandwiched and compressed between a pair of metal molds.    
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein 
 an average compression rate of the wooden piece in the primary compression process is smaller than an average compression rate of the wooden piece in the compression process.    
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein 
 the pair of metal molds is formed so that the compressive force is applied at least on a portion of the wooden piece where a thickness direction of the wooden piece is substantially parallel to a direction of action of the compressive force.    
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising 
 performing a shaping process in which the wooden piece compressed in the compression process is shaped into the three-dimensional shape.    
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein 
 the shaping process includes a finishing compression process in which the wooden piece is compressed.    
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein 
 the shaping process includes a cutting process in which a surface of the wooden piece is cut.    
   
   
       15 . A method of processing wood for processing a wooden piece into a predetermined three-dimensional shape by applying compressive force on the wooden piece, the method comprising 
 performing a compression process in which the wooden piece is sandwiched and compressed between a first mold made of a material having at least one of viscosity and elasticity at least in a portion that abuts a surface of the wooden piece, and a second mold made of metal.    
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising, 
 prior to the compression process, performing a primary compression process in which the wooden piece is sandwiched and compressed between a pair of metal molds.    
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein 
 an average compression rate of the wooden piece in the primary compression process is smaller than an average compression rate of the wooden piece in the compression process.    
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein 
 the pair of metal molds is formed so that the compressive force is applied at least on a portion of the wooden piece where a thickness direction of the wooden piece is substantially parallel to a direction of action of the compressive force.    
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising 
 performing a shaping process in which the wooden piece compressed in the compression process is shaped into the three-dimensional shape.    
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein 
 the shaping process includes a finishing compression process in which the wooden piece is compressed.    
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein 
 the shaping process includes a cutting process in which a surface of the wooden piece is cut.