Method and apparatus for manufacturing fiber molded article, and binding raw material and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a fiber molded article includes a step of heating a mixture of defibrated first fibers and a binding raw material in which a thermoplastic plant-derived resin is integrated with natural fibers to bind the first fibers with the binding raw material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for manufacturing a fiber molded article, the method comprising:
 heating a mixture of defibrated first fibers and a binding raw material in which a thermoplastic plant-derived resin is integrated with natural fibers to bind the first fibers with the binding raw material.   
     
     
         2 . The method for manufacturing a fiber molded article, according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the natural fibers include cellulose fibers.   
     
     
         3 . The method for manufacturing a fiber molded article, according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the thermoplastic plant-derived resin is at least one selected from a polylactic acid), a bio-polyamide, a poly(hydroxyalkanoic acid), and an isosorbide-containing resin.   
     
     
         4 . The method for manufacturing a fiber molded article, according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the thermoplastic plant-derived resin and the natural fibers in the binding raw material are contained at a mass ratio (thermoplastic plant-derived resin/natural fibers) of 1/3 to 4/1.   
     
     
         5 . The method for manufacturing a fiber molded article, according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the natural fibers in the binding raw material have an average fiber length of 0.8 to 2.0 mm.   
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for manufacturing a fiber molded article, the apparatus comprising:
 a heating portion heating defibrated first fibers and a binding raw material in which a thermoplastic plant-derived resin is integrated with natural fibers to bind the first fibers with the binding raw material.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus for manufacturing a fiber molded article according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a defibrating portion defibrating a raw material containing fibers to obtain the first fibers; and   a mixing portion mixing the first fibers and the binding raw material.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus for manufacturing a fiber molded article according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a deposition portion depositing the first fibers and the binding raw material which are mixed in the mixing portion.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus for manufacturing a fiber molded article according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the thermoplastic plant-derived resin and the natural fibers in the binding raw material are contained at a mass ratio (thermoplastic plant-derived resin/natural fibers) of 1/3 to 4/1.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus for manufacturing a fiber molded article according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a pressure application portion pressurizing the first fibers bound with the binding raw material by the heating portion.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus for manufacturing a fiber molded article according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the thermoplastic plant-derived resin is at least one selected from a poly(lactic acid), a bio-polyamide, a poly(hydroxyalkanoic acid), and an isosorbide-containing resin.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus for manufacturing a fiber molded article according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the natural fibers in the binding raw material have an average fiber length of 0.8 to 2.0 mm.   
     
     
         13 . A binding raw material comprising: a thermoplastic plant-derived resin; and natural fibers integrated therewith. 
     
     
         14 . A method for manufacturing a binding raw material, the method comprising:
 kneading a thermoplastic plant-derived resin and natural fibers so that the thermoplastic plant-derived resin is integrated with the natural fibers.