PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and an apparatus for producing a solid greening material by press-compressing a mixed material of a nursery soil and a thermally fusible fiber, and melt-adhering the fiber using steam heating, characterized by highly efficient steam-heating to achieve high temperature at the central portion of the material, less steam loss and a smaller number of the necessary lower mold.SOLUTION: The method comprises the steps of: locating a plurality of lower mold 11 having numeral air holes in the bottom 16 at an equal angle along the horizontal circular movement route, rotationally moving them intermittently to carry out, at the stop positions, the steps of filling, pressing and steam-heating, and removal of material 33 in this order, where in the step of pressing and steam-heating, the material 33 filled in the molding space of the lower mold 11 is compressed by upper mold 24 having numeral air holes in press face 30, then high temperature steam is supplied under pressure into the upper mold 24, the steam flows into the molding space through the air hole 31 to heat the material 33 and flows out through air holes 22 and 18.COPYRIGHT: (C)2014,JPO&INPIT【課題】育苗培土に熱融着性繊維を混合した材料をプレス圧縮し、蒸気加熱して熱融着性繊維を溶融接着させ、固形の緑化資材を製造する場合に、蒸気加熱の加熱効率を高め、材料を中心まで高温に加熱し、蒸気ロスを減少させ、下金型の必要数を減少させる。【解決手段】底面16に多数の通気穴18が形成された下金型11を複数個、水平面内の円形の移動経路に沿って等角度間隔で設置し、間欠的に回転移動させ、各停止位置で充填、プレス及び蒸気加熱、取り出しの各工程を順次行う。プレス及び蒸気加熱工程では、下金型11の成形空間に充填された材料33を、押圧面30に多数の通気穴31が形成された上金型24でプレスして圧縮し、続いて上金型24内に高温の加圧水蒸気を供給する。この水蒸気は通気穴31を通して成形空間内に流入し、材料33を蒸気加熱する。成形空間内に流入した水蒸気は、通気穴22、18を通して流出する。【選択図】図4
