JPH10330201A - Production of dry plant, such as pressed flower, and apparatus therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for producing a dry plant, such as pressed flower or the like, which dehydrates and dries the plant quickly to shorten production time without causing its discoloration or fading by drying it by hot or warm wind. SOLUTION: This dry plant is obtained by a pressed flower production apparatus 1, equipped with a heater 2 as the warm wind supply source, two holders 3, 3 which hold a pressed flower 6 in-between under pressure, and lid 4. Two drying sheets 9, 9 are placed on both upper and lower sides of the plant, e.g. pressed flower, at least via buffer sheets 8, 8. Stops 22 and 23 for the holders 3, 3 are fastened to each other, to hold the pressed flower 6 via the buffer sheet 8 and drying sheet 9. The space between the holders 3, 3, in which the pressed flower 6, buffer sheet 8, drying sheet 9 and the like are placed, provides a drying chamber. When the heater 2 is switched on, hot or warm wind is supplied.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing dried plants such as pressed flowers, and more particularly to a method and an apparatus for producing dried plants such as pressed flowers by dehydrating and drying plants and flowers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, dried plants such as pressed flowers are produced by dehydrating and drying plants.

[0003] As means for producing such dried plants such as pressed flowers, conventionally, means for accelerating the dehydration and drying of the plants by using a hygroscopic agent such as silica gel has been employed.

However, according to this means, dehydration and drying require time, and therefore, a considerable number of days are required for the production operation. In particular, in the case of chrysanthemums and columns, it took about one month.

Therefore, from the viewpoint of quickly performing dehydration and drying and shortening the time required for production, a means using a heating element such as a heating wire has been adopted. Evaporated water cannot be removed quickly, resulting in a peeling state. For example, plants that are weak to heat, such as cherry blossoms and hydrangea, may be discolored or faded. There is also.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above contradictory problems at the same time, and can quickly dehydrate and dry a plant, shorten the time required for production, and furthermore, It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for producing a pressed flower or the like which does not cause discoloration or fading.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has been made as a method and an apparatus for producing dried plants such as pressed flowers. The features of the method for producing dried plants are as follows. It is to produce a dried plant such as a pressed flower by drying a plant such as a flower with hot or warm air.

In this case, plants such as flowers and the like are dried with hot air or hot air while being pressed and sandwiched from both upper and lower sides, for example.

More specifically, for example, drying sheets 9, 9 are arranged on the upper and lower sides of a plant such as a flower or the like, and dried with hot air or hot air while being pressed and sandwiched from both sides of the drying sheets 9, 9. You.

In this case, the drying sheets 9 and 8 are provided on both upper and lower sides of plants such as flowers and the like via at least buffer sheets 8 and 8.
It is also possible to arrange 9.

[0011] A feature of the apparatus for producing a dried plant is that it has a drying room for producing a dried plant such as a pressed flower by drying a plant such as a flower with hot or warm air.

A more specific feature of the apparatus for producing a dried plant is that the apparatus main body 1 has a drying chamber for producing a dried plant such as a pressed flower by drying a plant such as a flower with hot or warm air.
And a holding body 5 installed in the drying chamber in a state where plants such as flowers and the like are pressed and held from both upper and lower sides.

As the holding body 5 in this case, one having drying sheets 9, 9 which are arranged on the upper and lower sides of a plant such as a pressed flower and absorb the moisture of the plant is used.

The holding body 5 includes the drying sheet 9,
In addition to 9, a buffer sheet 8 having a buffering function for plants may be provided.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an apparatus for manufacturing a pressed flower as one embodiment.

1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes an apparatus main body of a pressed flower manufacturing apparatus, which is a heating element serving as a hot air supply source, and two holding members 3, 3 for pressing and holding the pressed flowers. And a lid 4.

The holding body 3 is made of plastic as a whole, and has a net-shaped pressing portion 16, a rising portion 17 formed from the periphery of the mounting portion 16, and a stepped portion 18 with respect to the rising portion 17. And a falling section 19 formed with a falling edge.

Reference numerals 22 and 23 denote stoppers for applying a pressing force to the pressed flowers. The stoppers are provided at the lower end of the falling portion 19 of the upper holding body 3 and fall of the lower holding body 3. It is provided on the upper end side of the part 19.

Then, the pressed flower is held between the two holding bodies 3 and 3.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, a drying sheet 9 is disposed at the uppermost portion between the two sandwiching bodies 3 and 3, and a buffering sheet 8 made of urethane foam is disposed below the drying sheet 9 in order. A thin sheet 7 and a flower 6 are arranged, and further, a thick paper-like drying sheet 9 having water absorbency and air permeability, a thin sheet 7, a flower 6, a thin sheet 7, and a buffer sheet 8 are arranged below the sheet, and further below the sheet. , Drying sheet 9, thin paper 7, flower 6, thin paper 7, buffering sheet 8
The flowers 6 are pressed and sandwiched via the buffer sheet 8 and the drying sheet 9 by fastening the stoppers 22 and 23 of the sandwiching bodies 3 and 3 to each other in this state. .

The flowers 6 and the buffer sheet 8,
The space between the sandwiching members 3, 3 where the drying sheet 9 and the like are present is formed as a drying chamber for the pressing flower operation.

Next, when a pressed flower is manufactured by such a pressed flower manufacturing apparatus, when the power is turned on, the heating element 2 is turned on.
Generates heat and hot air is supplied from the lower side to the upper side in the apparatus main body 1.

In this case, among the members constituting the holding body 3, the pressing portion 16 is air-permeable because it is mesh-like, and the cushioning sheet 8 is air-permeable because it is made of porous urethane foam. In addition, since the material of the drying sheet 9 has air permeability, the entirety of the holding body 3 has air permeability for the flowers 6 to be held.

Therefore, the flow of warm air to the flower 6 is not impaired even though the flower 6 is held inside the holding body 3.

Further, a space 13 is formed between the lid 4 and the upper holding member 3, a space 13 is formed between the lower holding member 3 and the heating element 2, and two more holding members 3 are provided. , 3 are also formed on the sides, so that the warm air is efficiently circulated from below to above.

Therefore, the warm air from the heating element 2 flows up and down in these space portions 13 and 14, thereby efficiently flowing in the apparatus main body 1 in a convection state.

The warm air gradually penetrates into the holding bodies 3 and 3.

As described above, as a result of the efficient flow of the warm air throughout the apparatus main body 1, the flower 6 is dehydrated in a relatively short time.
It is dried to produce pressed flowers.

In addition, although the drying is performed by heat, the evaporated water is quickly removed by the warm air, so that the color of the flower 6 does not inadvertently change or fade.

Since the flower 6 is sandwiched between the drying sheet 9 via the thin paper 7 and the porous buffer sheet 8,
The drying sheet 9 promotes the dehydration of the flower 6.

Embodiment 2 This embodiment is the same as Embodiment 1 in that the apparatus main body 1 is provided with a heating element 2 and a lid 4. Instead of holding the flowers 6 and the like, a mounting body 15 for simply mounting the flowers 6 and the like is provided.

The structure of the mounting body 15 is substantially the same as that of the holding body 3 of the first embodiment, and is entirely made of plastic, and has a net-shaped mounting portion 16 for mounting the flowers 6 and the like. A rising portion 17 formed from the periphery of the mounting portion 16;
It is composed of a rising portion 17 and a falling portion 19 having a stepped portion 18 and formed to fall.

Then, the holding body 5 in which the flowers 6 and the like are pressed and held by the clip 11 is mounted on the mounting portion 16 of the mounting body 15 described above.

Specifically, thin papers 7, 7 are placed on the upper and lower sides of the flower 6.
The cushioning sheets 8, 8 made of urethane foam are arranged through the intermediary, and the cardboard-like drying sheets 9, 9 having water absorption and air permeability are arranged outside the cushioning sheets 8, 8. I have.

Then, the mounting bodies 15 are stacked in three stages, and the lid 4 is further mounted thereon, whereby the apparatus main body 1 as shown in FIG. 4 is configured.

As shown in FIG. 3, the falling portion 19 is mounted on the step 18 so that the falling portion 19 of the upper mounting body 15 and the lower mounting body 15 are placed. The three standing members 15 are stacked in a suitable state so that the rising portions 17 are in contact with each other and the outer peripheral surfaces of the three stages of mounting members 15 are flush with each other.

Further, as shown in FIG.
By mounting the holding bodies 5,... On the mounting sections 16 of 15, respectively, an apparatus for manufacturing pressed flowers as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, the clip 11 is alternately inserted from both sides of the long side edge in the short direction to hold the holding body 5.

As in the first embodiment, the buffer sheet 8 and the drying sheet 9 are arranged on both sides of the flower 6 via the thin paper 7.

Also in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the spaces 13,... Are automatically formed by stacking the mounting bodies 15, and these spaces 13 and the like are formed by pressing flowers. Becomes a drying room.

Therefore, the hot air from the heating element 2 is dissipated by the mounting member 15.
Through the mesh of the mounting portion 16, the fluid flows smoothly into each space portion 13.

Therefore, also in this embodiment, the pressed flower is manufactured in a relatively short time, and the careless discoloration and fading of the flower color are prevented.

Other Embodiments In the above-described embodiment, a set of the drying sheet 9, the buffering sheet 8, the thin paper 7, etc., which are the constituent members of the holding body 5, is arranged so that the flowers are arranged in one stage. It was arranged,
The structure of the holding body is not limited to this, and may be a structure in which flowers are arranged in multiple stages as shown in FIG.

That is, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the drying sheet 9 is arranged at the top, and the buffer sheet 8, the thin paper 7, and the flower 6 are arranged below the drying sheet 9 in the same manner as the arrangement of the first embodiment. The drying sheet 9, the thin paper 7,
The flower 6, the thin paper 7, and the buffer sheet 8 are arranged, and further below the drying sheet 9, the thin paper 7, the flower 6, the thin paper 7, and the buffer sheet 8 are arranged.

By arranging the flowers 6 in multiple stages with one holding body 5 in this way, a large number of pressed flowers can be manufactured with one holding body 5.

Further, in the above embodiment, since the holding sheet 5 is provided with the cushioning sheet 8, a preferable effect is obtained that a thick flower such as a sunflower can be suitably held without being damaged. However, in the case of a thin flower, the buffer sheet 8 is not always necessary, and it is also possible to sandwich the sheet with only the drying sheet 9 and the thin paper 7.

The hot air generally has a temperature of about 50 ° C., but the temperature is not particularly limited. Depending on the type of flower, hot air having a higher temperature may be used.

In the present invention, the term "pressed flower" broadly includes not only flowers but also leaves, stems, and the like, which are depressed, dehydrated and dried by pressing one plant.

Therefore, the type of plant to which the present invention is applied does not matter.

Further, the present invention can be applied to the production of dried flowers.

In this case, as shown in FIG.
A plurality of S-shaped rods 21 are suspended from the
The stems of the flowers 6 are placed along the lines 21..., And stored in the apparatus main body 1 in that state to perform hot air or hot air drying.

As a result, there is an advantage that a dried flower can be manufactured in a shorter time than a general means of natural drying, and a dried flower having a more natural color and shape can be manufactured.

Such a dried flower can be produced by drying as it is in order to maintain the form of the flower. However, the present invention is not limited to this. When dried with hot air or hot air, it is also possible to produce a leased dry flower.

In addition to the leasing, it is also possible to produce fresh flowers by drying fresh flowers designed in various forms as they are. Even in such a case, the flowers are dried by hot air or hot air. Can be maintained as it is.

The production of such a dried flower is shown in FIG.
In addition to drying with the S-shaped rod 21 suspended as described above, for example, it is also possible to dry it by mounting it on the mounting portion 16 of the mounting body 15 of the device as in the second embodiment. is there.

If the flowers are bulky, a ring-shaped one is prepared in addition to the above-described mounting member 15 and the ring-shaped one is dried with the flowers contained therein. Will be done.

Further, the present invention can be applied to the production of herbal tea.

In this case, for example, a raw herb is stored in a bag, and the raw herb is placed on the mounting body 15 of the apparatus as in the second embodiment.
By placing the dried herbal tea on a dry herb, it is possible to produce a dry herbal tea that can be sold as packed. On the other hand, it is of course possible to dry without putting in a bag.

In any case, the type of dried plant to be produced does not matter, and it is possible to produce a dried plant by using an arbitrary plant according to the present invention.

Incidentally, in the case of flowers, flowers generally considered to be vulnerable to heat, for example, cherry, hydrangea, kodemari, fuji, southern cross, phalaenopsis, snapdragon, banda, azalea (some), stock, sweet pea ,
Ocatranoo, Bhuvardeia white, Clematis white, part of rose petals, Laurentia (Isotoma), Murasakikeman, Fujibakama, Margaret (white, pink), Ezoengosaku, Fushigurosennow, Chives, Katakuri, Potato coral, Yarrow, Gerbera (some things) ), Buttons (partial), etc., the effect of preventing discoloration and fading can be utilized.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention, plants such as flowers and the like are dried with warm or hot air to produce dried plants such as pressed flowers. Thus, it is possible to quickly dehydrate plants such as flowers, and as a result, it is possible to produce dried plants such as pressed flowers in a shorter time than before.

By the way, according to the present invention, the manufacturing period could be shortened to 1/2 or less as compared with the prior art.

Further, in order to dry with hot air or hot air,
Moisture dehydrated by heat is quickly scattered by warm air or hot air, and there is an effect that discoloration and fading do not occur in plants, especially flowers.

Therefore, there is an advantage that it can be suitably used for producing pressed flowers using heat-sensitive flowers such as cherry and hydrangea.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an apparatus for manufacturing pressed flowers as one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary sectional view showing the disassembled state of the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an apparatus for manufacturing a pressed flower according to another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of the apparatus main body.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the mounting body.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a holding body according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a holding body according to another embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional side view of another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Device main body 5 ... Nipping body 8 ... Buffer sheet 9 ... Drying sheet

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A method for producing a dried plant such as a pressed flower, comprising drying a plant such as a flowering plant with hot or hot air to produce a dried plant such as a pressed flower. 2. A method for producing a dried plant such as a pressed flower, comprising drying a plant such as a pressed flower by drying it with hot air or hot air while pressing and holding a plant such as a flower from both upper and lower sides. 3. Drying sheets (9) and (9) are arranged on the upper and lower sides of a plant such as a flower or the like, and hot air or hot air is pressed and sandwiched from both sides of the drying sheets (9) and (9). A method for producing a dried plant such as a pressed flower, comprising drying the plant with hot air to produce a dried plant such as a pressed flower. 4. A drying sheet on at least one of the upper and lower sides of a plant such as a flower or the like via a buffer sheet (8).
(9), (9) is placed, and the drying sheets (9), (9) are pressed and sandwiched from both sides and dried with warm air or hot air to produce dried plants such as pressed flowers. How to make dried plants such as pressed flowers. 5. An apparatus for producing a dried plant such as a pressed flower, comprising a drying chamber for producing a dried plant such as a pressed flower by drying a plant such as a flower plant with hot or hot air. 6. An apparatus body (1) having a drying chamber for producing plants such as pressed flowers by drying plants such as flowers and the like with hot air or hot air, and pressing plants such as flowers from both upper and lower sides. An apparatus for producing a dried plant such as a pressed flower, comprising: a holding body (5) installed in the drying chamber while being held in a sandwiched state. 7. The drying sheet, wherein the holding body (5) is arranged on both upper and lower sides of a plant such as a pressed flower, and absorbs moisture of the plant.
The apparatus for producing a dried plant such as a pressed flower according to claim 6, comprising (9), (9). 8. A drying sheet, wherein the holding body (5) is arranged on both upper and lower sides of a plant such as a pressed flower, and absorbs water of the plant.
7. The apparatus for producing dried plants such as pressed flowers according to claim 6, comprising (9), (9) and buffer sheets (8), (8) having a function of buffering plants.