US 11,697,224 B2
Method for manufacturing compact
Yoko Nakai, Nagano (JP); Shinobu Yokokawa, Nagano (JP); Hideki Tanaka, Nagano (JP); and Naotaka Higuchi, Nagano (JP)
Assigned to Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Sep. 27, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/485,607.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-163404 (JP), filed on Sep. 29, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0097262 A1, Mar. 31, 2022
Int. Cl. D04H 1/587 (2012.01); D04H 1/732 (2012.01); D04H 1/60 (2006.01); B27N 3/00 (2006.01); B27N 3/18 (2006.01); B29C 43/00 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 43/006 (2013.01) [B27N 3/002 (2013.01); B27N 3/18 (2013.01); D04H 1/587 (2013.01); D04H 1/60 (2013.01); D04H 1/732 (2013.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for manufacturing a compact, comprising:
a mixing step of mixing a fiber and a powder of a binder to obtain a mixture;
an accumulating step of making the mixture fall and accumulate on an accumulation surface to form a web on the accumulation surface;
a humidifying step of adding water to the web such that the web has a moisture content of 7.0 mass % or more and 50.0 mass % or less with respect to the total mass of the web; and
a forming step of pressurizing the water-added web and heating the water-added web at a temperature of 50.0° C. or more and 100.0° C. or less to obtain a compact, wherein
the binder is starch that binds between fiber molecules by the addition of water; and
the powder of the binder has an average particle diameter (D50) of 20.0 μm or less.