Abstract:
A method for re-using unneeded expanded styrene and an apparatus for preparing comminuted expanded styrene that can be used as a starting material for injection molding. The expanded styrene is rendered re-usable through a first step of comminuting expanded styrene, a second step of illuminating far-infra-red light to the expanded styrene comminuted by the first step to reduce its volume, a third step of further comminuting expanded styrene, reduced in volume by the second step, to prepare a granulated material, and a fourth step of injection-molding the granulated material from the third step to prepare a regenerated article.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
     This application claims priority to Japanese Application No. P10-105028 filed Apr. 15, 1998, and is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/287,316, filed Apr. 7, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,248,283 both of which are incorporated herein by reference to the extent permitted by law. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a method for re-using expanded styrene by processing used expanded styrene to fabricate regenerated products, and an apparatus used in this method for processing expanded styrene. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Expanded styrene is superior in shock-absorption, heat-insulating and heat retaining properties, and hence is used extensively for packaging a wide variety of products from electric appliances to food and beverages. 
     However, this expanded styrene has a drawback that it presents disposal difficulties when the articles are unpacked and the packaging material is to be discarded. That is, expanded styrene, which has become unnecessary, was simply destroyed or incinerated. However, this disposal system is now to be re-considered because of the problems of procurement of land-filling sites and public hazards caused by bad smell or smoke generated on incineration. 
     In order to meet this request, there has been proposed a processing apparatus for expanded styrene such as is disclosed in Japanese Laying-Open Patent H-1-89110 or in Japanese Laying-Open Patent H-6-166034. The processing apparatus pulverizes the unneeded expanded styrene, transports the pulverized product on a belt conveyor and illuminates far-ultra-red light from a far-ultra-red heater provided partway on the transport path to reduce its volume. If the far-ultra-red light is illuminated to heat the pulverized product of the expanded styrene, as in this processing apparatus for the expanded styrene, the used styrene can be reduced in its volume without causing fusion decomposition or bad smell or elevating the furnace temperature. Thus, the processing apparatus for expanded styrene is meritorious in handling the unneeded expanded styrene as a waste material. 
     However, if the expanded styrene is processed using the above-described processing apparatus, the aforementioned problem cannot be solved completely because the expanded styrene, reduced in its volume on pulverization, is handled as a waste material. 
     It is therefore desired to re-use the pulverized expanded styrene, thus reduced in its volume, as a starting material for producing a regenerated product. However, the pulverized expanded styrene, thus reduced in its volume, is not uniform in size and shape, such that it cannot be used as a starting material for injection molding. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method for re-using unneeded used expanded styrene and a processing apparatus for expanded styrene for producing pulverized expanded styrene. 
     In one aspect, the present invention provides a method for re-using expanded styrene including a first step of comminuting expanded styrene, a second step of illuminating far-infra-red light to the expanded styrene comminuted by the first step to reduce the volume thereof, a third step of further comminuting expanded styrene, reduced in volume by the second step, to prepare a granulated material and a fourth step of injection-molding the granulated material from the third step to prepare a regenerated article. 
     In this re-using method for expanded styrene, unneeded expanded styrene is first-order comminuted in the first step to a pre-set size. The expanded styrene, first-order comminuted in the first step, is illuminated by far-infra-red light in the second step and thereby reduced in volume. 
     The expanded styrene, reduced in volume by the second step, is second-order comminuted in the third step to a granulated material having uniform size and shape. The granulated material from the third step is injection-molded in the fourth step to produce a regenerated article. This enables the unneeded expanded styrene to be re-used as a starting material for a regenerated article. 
     In another aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for processing expanded styrene including first comminuting means for first-order comminuting charged expanded styrene, heating means for heating and reducing the volume of the expanded styrene first-order comminuted by the first comminuting means by illuminating the far-infra-red light thereon and second comminuting means for first-order comminuting the expanded styrene reduced in volume by the heating means to prepare a granulated material. 
     The first comminuting means first-order comminutes the unneeded expanded styrene to a pre-set size. The expanded styrene, first-order comminuted by the first comminuting means, is routed to the heating means. 
     The heating means illuminates the far-infra-red light on the expanded styrene, first-order comminuted by the first comminuting means, to heat the expanded styrene to reduce its volume. The expanded styrene, reduced in volume by this heating means, is sent to the second comminuting means. 
     The second comminuting means second-order comminutes the expanded styrene, first-order comminuted by the heating means, to render the expanded styrene uniform in size and shape to prepare a granulated starting material. 
     The granulated starting material, prepared by this processing apparatus for expanded styrene, is charged into, for example, an injection molding machine so as to be used as a starting material for a regenerated article as the product of the injection molding machine. 
     In the re-using method for the expanded styrene according to the present invention, unneeded expanded styrene is comminuted in the first step to the comminuted expanded styrene which is illuminated in the second step by the far-infra-red light and thereby reduced in volume. The expanded styrene, thus reduced in volume, is further comminuted in the third step to give a granulated starting material which is injection-molded in the fourth step to produce a regenerated article. Thus, the unneeded expanded styrene can be re-used without producing pollution problems attributable to increased volume of industrial wastes and disposal thereof on incineration. 
     Moreover, the processing apparatus for expanded styrene according to the present invention is configured for first-order comminuting unneeded expanded styrene by the first comminution means, illuminating the far-infra-red light by heating means to reduce its volume and second-order comminuting the material reduced in volume by second-order comminuting means to prepare the granulated starting material. This gives a re-usable starting material uniform in size and shape. 
     Therefore, if the unneeded expanded styrene is processed using the processing apparatus for expanded styrene according to the present invention, the expanded styrene, which is not needed, can be used as a starting material for a regenerated article, without handling the unneeded expanded styrene as a waste material, thus completely eliminating the pollution of other problems attributable to increased volume of the industrial wastes or disposal thereof on incineration. 
     Moreover, since the present processing apparatus for expanded styrene illuminates the far-infra-red light on the unneeded expanded styrene for reducing its volume without causing decomposition on fusion, it is possible to prevent bad smell or smoke of combustion attributable to decomposition on fusion of the expanded styrene. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a unitary type processing apparatus for expanded styrene according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of a pulverizing roll. 
     FIG. 3 shows the particle size distribution of a secondary pulverized product fabricated by the expanded styrene processing apparatus. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a two-segment type expanded styrene processing apparatus according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in detail. 
     The preset processing apparatus for expanded styrene consecutively performs a series of operations consisting in finely comminuting unneeded expanded styrene, used up for packaging commercial products, illuminating far-infra-red light on the comminuted expanded styrene to reduce its volume and further comminuting the comminuted product to render its size and shape thereof uniform. 
     A processing apparatus  1  for expanded styrene of an unitary structure, having various units for performing these re respective steps, is first explained. Referring to FIG. 1, this unitary type processing apparatus  1  includes a first-order comminuting unit  10 , for comminuting expanded styrene  3  injected into a main body unit  2  of the apparatus, a heating unit  20  for heating the first-order comminuted expanded styrene, referred to hereinafter as first-order comminuted article  4 , by illuminating far-infra-red light thereto, a cooing unit  30  for cooling the first-order comminuted article  4 , reduced in its volume by heating, and a second-order comminuting unit  40  for further comminuting the cooled first-order comminuted article  4  to produce granulated product having uniform size and shape, referred to hereinafter as second-order comminuted article  5 . These units are enclosed within the main body unit  2  of the apparatus  1 . 
     The first-order comminuting unit  10  includes a pair of comminuting rolls  11 ,  12  as means for comminuting the expanded styrene  3  injected into the main body unit  2  of the apparatus via an injection port  2   a  provided in the main body unit  2 , and a first filter  13  for sorting the first-order comminuted article  4  comminuted by the paired comminuting rolls  11 ,  12  to permit only the first-order comminuted article  4  of a size not larger than a pre-set size to pass therethrough, and a scraper roll  14  for scraping the first-order comminuted article  4  not reduced to a size not larger than the pre-set size to inject the scraped first-order comminuted article  4  into a space between the paired comminuting rolls  11 ,  12 . The first-order comminuting unit  10  also includes a gate  15  for quantitatively supplying the first-order comminuted article  4  selected by the first filter  13  to the heating unit  20 , and a paddler  16  for stirring the first-order comminuted article  4  in the gate  15  so that the first-order comminuted article  4  transmitted through the first filter  13  will not be accumulated at the gate  15 . 
     Referring to FIG.2, the paired comminuting rolls  11 ,  12  include plural wave-front-shaped cutting edges  11   b,    12   b,  provided at pre-set intervals on the peripheral surfaces of the columnar-shaped rolls  11   a,    12   a.  The comminuting rolls  11 ,  12  are provided in the vicinity of the injection port  2   a  in the main body unit  2  parallel to and at a pre-set spacing from each other so that the cutting edges  11   b,    12   b  mesh each other. The comminuting rolls  11 ,  12  are adapted for being rotated in reverse direction to each other, as indicated by arrows a and b in FIG. 1, to crush the expanded styrene  3  charged therebetween to a comminuted product of an indefinite shape and a size not larger than a pre-set value. 
     Adjacent to the comminuting roll  12  is arranged a scraper roll  14  adapted to be rotated in the direction indicated by arrow c in FIG.  1 . This scraper roll  14  scrapes the first-order comminuted article  4  not reduced to the size not larger than the pre-set size to inject this first-order comminuted article  4  to a space between the paired comminuting rolls  11 ,  12 . These comminuting rolls  11 ,  12  and the scraper roll  14  are run in rotation by a driving motor, not shown. 
     The first filter  13  is configured as a metal plate having plural circular orifices approximately 20 to 30 mm in diameter, although these orifices are not shown. This first filter  13  has its center portion molded to a curvilinear shape surrounding the paired comminuting rolls  11 ,  12 . The first filter  13  is arranged below the comminuting rolls  11 ,  12 , by having both ends  13   a,    13   b  thereof secured to the inner wall section of the main body unit  1 . 
     This first filter  13  sorts the first-order comminuted article  4  by allowing the first-order comminuted article  4  from the comminuting rolls  11 ,  12  of the size not larger than the size of the orifices to pass through these orifices, while not allowing the first-order comminuted article  4  of the size larger than the orifice diameter to pass through the orifices. The first-order comminuted article  4  passed through the first filter  13  is supplied to the gate  15 , while the first-order comminuted article  4  not passed through the first filter  13  is scraped by the scraper roll  14  so as to be again injected into the space between the paired comminuting rolls  11 ,  12 . 
     The gate  15  is funnel-shaped and is arranged below the first filter  13  so that its upper end opening  15   a  faces the first filter  13 . The gate  15  has its lower opening  15   b  smaller in diameter than the upper side opening  15   a  so that the first-order comminuted article  4  injected at the upper end opening  15   a  is temporarily accumulated between these openings  15   a,    15   b  and so that the first-order comminuted article  4  is discharged quantitatively via the lower end opening  15   b  to moderate the amount of supply of the first-order comminuted article  4  to the heating unit  20 . 
     On the lower end of the gate  15  is mounted the paddler  16  which is comprised of a rotary shaft to which is mounted a flat-plate-shaped rotary plate. This rotary plate is run in rotation with rotation of the rotary shaft to stir the first-order comminuted article  4  to permit the first-order comminuted article  4  to be supplied appropriately to the heating unit  20  without being accumulated in the gate  15 . 
     The heating unit  20  includes a first conveyor  21  for transporting the first-order comminuted article  4  supplied from the first-order comminuting unit  10 , and a far-infra-red heater  22  for illuminating the far infra-red light to the first-order comminuted article  4  transported by the first conveyor  21  to heat and reduce the volume of the first-order comminuted article  4 . 
     The first conveyor  21  includes a pair of driving rolls  23 ,  24 , rotatably arranged in the main body unit  2 , and a belt  25  of glass fibers placed on these driving rolls  23 ,  24 . The first conveyor  21  is adapted to receive the first-order comminuted article  4  descending from the gate  15  of the first-order comminuting unit  10  to transport the received article to the cooling unit  30 . 
     The belt  25  is adapted for being moved via e.g., a chain at a pre-set velocity in the direction indicated by arrow d by a driving motor, not shown. The speed of movement of the belt  25  is variable in a range from 0.5 to 10.5 m/min and can be set to an optimum velocity depending on the sort or the state of the expanded styrene  3  charged into the main body unit  2 . The belt  25  is processed on the glass fiber surface with Teflon containing carbon for electric conduction. 
     On the more inchoate side of the first conveyor  21  than the point of reception of the first-order comminuted article  4 , there is mounted a flat-plate-shaped scraper  26  so that its foremost part abuts on the belt  25 . This scraper  26  scrapes off the material deposited on the belt  25 . 
     The far-infra-red heater  22  has plural heat-radiating plates, generating far-infra-red light, so that its longitudinal direction extends parallel to the running direction of the belt  25 . In the present embodiment, four rows of heat radiating plates, each having a capacity of 2.0 kW, are arrayed to constitute the far-infra-red heater  22 . This far-infra-red heater  22  is mounted at a pre-set separation from the transporting surface of the belt  25  and has a length sufficient to reduce the volume of the first-order comminuted article  4  transported by the first conveyor  21  reliably until the time the first-order comminuted article  4  reaches the cooling unit  30 . This far-infra-red heater  22  illuminates the far-infra-red light on the first-order comminuted article  4  to heat the first-order comminuted article  4  to a temperature not less than its softening point and less than its fusion point. This allows the first-order comminuted article  4  to be reduced in volume without producing bad smell or smoke of combustion and without inducing decomposition on fusion. 
     The perimetral portion of the far-infra-red heater  22 , except its surface facing the belt  25 , is surrounded by an insulating material  27  to improve the best utilization efficiency. 
     The first-order comminuted article  4 , heated by the heating unit  20  and thereby reduced in its volume, is routed to the closure member  30 . 
     The closure member  30  includes a second conveyor  31 , for transporting the first-order comminuted article  4  illuminated by the infra-red light by the far-infra-red heater  22  and thereby reduced in volume, as the first-order comminuted article  4  is allowed to cool, and a cooling fan  32  for sending cooling air to the first-order comminuted article  4  transported by the second conveyor  31  to promote heat dissipation form the first-order comminuted article  4 . 
     Similarly to the first conveyor  21 , the second conveyor  31  is provided with a pair of driving rolls  33 ,  34 , rotatably mounted within the main body unit  2 , and a belt  35  of polyurethane rubber, placed on these driving rolls  33 ,  34 . This second conveyor  31  is arranged below the first conveyor  21  and accepts the first-order comminuted article  4  descending from the trailing end of the first conveyor  21  to transport the first-order comminuted article  4  under cooling. 
     Similarly to the belt  25  of the first conveyor  21 , the belt  35  is adapted to be moved via e.g., a chain by a driving motor, not shown, in the direction indicated by arrow e in the drawing, at a movement velocity of, for example, 2 m/min. The first-order comminuted article  4 , transported by the second conveyor  31 , is set on the belt  35 , and is moved at a movement velocity of, for example, 2 m/min, as it is cooled by the cooling air from the cooling fan  32 , so that the first-order comminuted article  4  is gradually cooled until it reaches the second-order comminuting unit  40 . 
     The cooling fan  32  is a so-called cross-flow fan having a unitary structure with the motor and, by rotation of an air-blowing drum mounted on a motor rotary shaft, the cooling air is supplied to the first-order comminuted article  4  transported by the second conveyor  31  to promote heat radiation from the first-order comminuted article  4 . 
     The first-order comminuted article  4 , transported by the second conveyor  31  and cooled, is supplied to the second-order comminuting unit  40 . 
     The second-order comminuting unit  40  includes an inclined conveyor  41 , for uplifting the first-order comminuted article  4  cooled by the closure member  30 , a coil conveyor  42  for transferring the first-order comminuted article  4 , transported by the second conveyor  32  of the closure member  30 , onto the inclined conveyor  41 , and a comminuting roll  43  for further comminuting the first-order comminuted article  4  uplifted by the inclined conveyor  41 . The second-order comminuting unit  40  also includes a second filter  44  for sorting the second-order comminuted article  5  comminuted by the comminuting roll  43  to permit only the second-order comminuted article  5  not larger than a pre-set size to be passed therethrough. 
     The inclined conveyor  41  is made up of a first driving roll  45 , adjacent to the driving roll  34  for the second conveyor  31 , a second driving roll  46  mounted at a higher position than the first driving roll  45 , and a belt  47  in the form of a catapillar  47  placed on the first and second rolls  45 ,  46 . There are mounted on the belt  47  plural uplifting pieces  47   a  for uplifting the first-order comminuted article  4  at a pre-set interval. This belt  47  is adapted to be moved by a driving motor, not shown, at a pre-set velocity, in the direction indicated by arrow f, whereby the first-order comminuted article  4  supplied to the inclined conveyor  41  is uplifted by the uplifting pieces  47   a  to a pre-set height. 
     The coil conveyor  42  is coil-shaped and has its one end positioned below the trailing end of the second conveyor  31 , while having its other end positioned below the inchoate end of the inclined conveyor  41 . This coil conveyor  42  is adapted to be run in rotation by a driving motor not shown. This coil conveyor  42  is driven to transport the first-order comminuted article  4  descending from the trailing end of the second conveyor  31  to the inchoate end of the inclined conveyor  41 . 
     The comminuting roll  43  is arranged within the main body unit  2  at a position below the trailing end of the inclined conveyor  41  for further comminuting the first-order comminuted article  4  uplifted to a pre-set height by the inclined conveyor  4 . 
     The comminuting roll  43  has a sole rotary blade and two fixed blades arranged on both sides of the rotary blade and is run in rotation by a driving motor, not shown, via a V-belt for example, to crush the first-order comminuted article  4  descending from the trailing end of the inclined conveyor  41  to produce granulated second-order comminuted article  5 . 
     The second filter  44  is formed by, for example, a metal plate, having plural circular-shaped orifices, not shown, approximately 7 mm in diameter. This second filter  44 , arranged below the comminuting roll  43 , has its center portion molded to a curvilinear shape to surround the comminuting roll  43 , while having its both ends secured to the inner wall surface of the main body unit  2 . 
     This second filter  44  allows the second-order comminuted article  5  from the comminuting roll  43 , having the diameter less than the orifice diameter, to pass through the orifices, while not allowing the second-order comminuted article  5  of the diameter, larger than the orifice diameter, to pass through the orifices, to sort the second-order comminuted article  5 . 
     The second-order comminuted article  5 , passed through the second filter  44 , is discharged to outside the main body unit  2  via a discharge port  2   b  provided in the main body unit  2 . The granulated second-order comminuted article  5 , discharged to outside, is used as a starting material for e.g., injection molding. 
     The operation of the processing apparatus  1  for expanded styrene, constructed as described above, is now explained. 
     First, the power source of the processing apparatus  1  is turned on, and unneeded expanded styrene  3  is charged into the main body unit  2  via the injection port  2   a.  The paired comminuting rolls  11 ,  12  operate for finely comminuting the expanded styrene  3 . 
     The first-order comminuted article  4  from the paired comminuting rolls  11 ,  12 , having a size not larger than the pre-set size, is transmitted through the first filter  13  so as to be extruded to the gate  15 . For example, the first-order comminuted article  4  having the diameter not larger than 20 to 30 mm is passed through the filter  13  and extruded onto the gate  15 . 
     The first-order comminuted article  4 , extruded onto the gate  5 , is agitated by the paddler  16 , and supplied to the inchoate side of the first conveyor  21 , moving at a constant velocity, at a constant feed rate. The first-order comminuted article  4  having a size larger than a pre-set value is scraped by the scraper roll  14  so as to be re-comminuted by the paired comminuting rolls  11 ,  12 . 
     Th first-order comminuted article  4  supplied to the first conveyor  21  is transported by the first conveyor  21  and irradiated with the far-infra-red light by the far-infra-red heater  22  arranged on the transporting channel. The first-order comminuted article  4 , thus illuminated by the far-infra-red light, undergoes internal heating, so that its expanded space is destructed and hence the first-order comminuted article  4  starts to be contracted. This first-order comminuted article  4  undergoes volumetric contraction, without decomposition on fusion, until the time it reaches the trailing end of the first conveyor  21 , so that the first-order comminuted article  4  is deformed in a coral shape. 
     The first-order comminuted article  4  deformed into the coral shape, descends from the trailing end of the first conveyor  21  and is thence supplied to the second conveyor  31  travelling at a constant rate. The first-order comminuted article  4 , supplied to the second conveyor  31  is transported as it is cooled gradually by the second conveyor  31 . The first-order comminuted article  4  transported by this second conveyor  31 , is exposed to the cooling air flow from the cooling fan  32  so that its heat dissipation is promoted. Thus, the first-order comminuted article  4 , at a temperature of the order of 120 to 130°, at the inchoate end of the second conveyor  31 , is cooled to a temperature of the order of 40° C. at the trailing end of the second conveyor  31 . 
     The first-order comminuted article  4 , supplied to the inclined conveyor  41 , is uplifted by the uplifting pieces  47   a  to a pre-set height. The first-order comminuted article  4 , uplifted to the pre-set height, is further comminuted by the comminuting roll  43  into granulated second-order comminuted article  5 . 
     The second-order comminuted article  5 , comminuted by the comminuting roll  43  to a size not larger than the pre-set size, is passed through the second filter  44  to descend via the discharge port  2   b  to outside the main body unit  2 . The second-order comminuted article  5 , with the diameter of not larger than 7 mm, is discharged via the discharge port  2   b  to outside the main body unit  2 . 
     With the processing apparatus  1  for expanded styrene, the unneeded expanded styrene  3  is subjected to first-order comminution, followed by irradiation with the far-infra-red light for volume reduction and by second-order comminution in this order to prepare the granulated second-order comminuted article  5 . The second-order comminuted article  5 , prepared by the processing apparatus  1  for expanded styrene through the processes of first-order comminution, irradiation with far-infra-red light and second-order comminution, is averaged in size and shape to give a granulated article having the diameter mainly in a range from 2 to 3 mm, as shown in FIG.  3 . FIG. 3 shows particle size distribution of the second-order comminuted article  5  in case the second filter  44  has the orifice diameter of the order of 7 mm. If the orifice diameter of the second filter  44  is modified, a second-order comminuted article can be obtained which has an averaged particle size different from that of the second-order comminuted article  5  shown in FIG. 2 . 
     The second-order comminuted article  5 , prepared by the processing apparatus  1  for expanded styrene according to the present invention, is charged into, for example, an injection molding machine, so as to be re-used as a starting material for injection molding. 
     The second-order comminuted article  5 , prepared by the processing apparatus  1  for expanded styrene according to the present invention, is averaged in this manner in size and shape and hence can be re-used as a starting material for injection molding. If the starting material having variations in size and shape is used for injection molding, it may be an occurrence that the material is fused only insufficiently in the injection molding machine to cause malfunctions thereof or deterioration in the quality of the molded product. However, the second-order comminuted article  5  produced by the processing apparatus  1  for expanded styrene according to the present invention is granulated to a uniform size and shape and hence can be used satisfactorily as a starting material for injection molding without producing these inconveniences. 
     The second-order comminuted article  5  an also be mixed as an ingredient into the concrete or mortar mixture so as to be re-used a lightweight construction material. 
     A two-segment type processing apparatus for expanded styrene  50 , made up of a first processor having a unit for comminuting unneeded expanded styrene and a unit for illuminating far-infra-red light on the first-order comminuted article, and a second processor having a cooling unit for cooling the first-order comminuted article, reduced in volume on heating, and a unit for further comminuting the first-order comminuted article to prepare the second-order comminuted article, is now explained. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, the two-segment type processing apparatus for expanded styrene  50  includes a first processor  51 , having a first-order comminuting unit  60  for comminuting the unneeded expanded styrene  3  and a heating unit  70  for heating the expanded styrene already subjected to first-order comminution (first-order comminuted article  4 ) by illuminating the far-infra-red light thereon, and a second processor  52 , having a cooling unit  80  for cooling the first-order comminuted article  4  reduced in volume on heating, and a second-order comminuting unit  90  for further comminuting the cooled first-order comminuted article  4  for producing the granulated second-order comminuted article  5  having uniform size and shape. 
     In this two-segment type processing apparatus for expanded styrene  50 , the first-order comminuted article  4 , processed with first-order comminution and heating by the first processor  51 , is routed by a transport blower  54  via a transport tube  53  to the second processor  52  where the article is cooled and subjected to second-order comminution to give the granulated second-order comminuted article  5 . 
     Similarly to the first-order comminuting unit  10  of the unitary processing apparatus  1  for expanded styrene, described previously, the first-order comminuting unit  60  includes a pair of comminution rolls  61 ,  62 , as comminution means for comminuting the expanded styrene  3  charged into the first processor  51  of the processing apparatus for expanded styrene  50 , a first filter  63  for sorting the first-order comminuted article  4  from the paired comminution rolls  61 ,  62  to permit only the first-order comminuted article  4  of the size less than a pre-set size to be passed therethrough, a scraper roll  64  for scraping the first-order comminuted article  4  not larger than a pre-set size to inject it into a space between the paired comminution rolls  61 ,  62  and a gate  65  for routing the first-order comminuted article  4  sorted by the first filter  63  quantitatively to the heating uni  70 . The first-order comminuting unit  60  also includes a paddler  66  for stirring the first-order comminuted article  4  in the gate  65  to prevent accumulation of the first-order comminuted article  4  passed through the first filter  63 . 
     The various components of the first-order comminuting unit  60  are similar to those of the first-order comminuting unit  10  of the unitary type processing apparatus for expanded styrene and hence are not explained specifically. 
     The first-order comminuted article  4  from the first-order comminuting unit  60  is quantitatively supplied to the heating unit  70 . 
     Similarly to the heating unit  20  of the above-described unitary type processing apparatus for expanded styrene, the heating unit  70  includes a conveyor  75  for transporting the first-order comminuted article  4  from the first-order comminuting unit  60 , and a far-infra-red heater  72  for illuminating the far-infra-red light to the first-order comminuted article  4  transported on the conveyor  75  to heat and reduce the volume of the transported article. 
     The respective components of the heating unit  70  are similar to those of the heating unit  20  of the above-described unitary type processing apparatus for expanded styrene, and hence are not explained specifically. 
     The first-order comminuted article  4 , heated by the heating unit  70  and thereby reduced in volume, is supplied to the second processor  52  via a transporting tube  53 . Within the first processor  51  is mounted a transport blower  54 , whereby the first-order comminuted article  4  heated by the heating unit  70  is transported via the transport tube  53  to the second processor  52 . 
     The cooling unit  80  includes a cooling channel  81 , operating as a movement path for the first-order comminuted article  4  charged into the second processor  52  and plural stirring blades  82  provided at a pre-set interval in the cooling channel  81  for causing movement of the first-order comminuted article  4  in the cooling channel  81  under stirring to promote heat dissipation of the first-order comminuted article  4 . 
     The stirring blades  82  are run in rotation slowly at an rpm of the order of 6 by a driving motor, not shown, to transport the first-order comminuted article  4  under stirring to promote heat dissipation of the first-order comminuted article  4  transported through the cooling channel  81 . 
     The first-order comminuted article  4 , cooled as it is transported through the cooling channel  81  under stirring by the stirring blades  82 , is routed to a second-order comminution unit  90 . 
     The second-order comminution unit  90  includes a comminution roll  91  for further comminuting the supplied first-order comminuted article  4 , and a second filter  92  for sorting out the second-order comminuted article  5  pulverized by the comminution roll  91  to permit only the second-order comminuted article  5  of a size less than a pre-set value to pass therethrough. 
     Similarly to the comminuting roll  43  of the above-described unitary type processing apparatus  1  for expanded styrene, the comminution roll  91  includes a sole rotary blade and two stationary blades on both sides of the rotary blade. The comminution roll  91  is run in rotation by a driving motor, not shown, for further crushing the first-order comminuted article  4  transported through the cooling channel  81  to the second-order comminution unit  90  to produce the granulated second-order comminuted article  5 . 
     Similar to the second filter  44  of the above-described unitary type processing apparatus  1  for expanded styrene, the second filter  92  is a metal plate including plural circular-shaped orifices, not shown, approximately 7 mm in diameter, the second filter  92  sorts out the second-order comminuted article  5  by permitting the passage of the second-order comminuted article  5  from the comminution roll  91  having the size not larger than the orifice size and by not permitting passage of the second-order comminuted article  5  from the comminution roll  91  having the size larger than the orifice size. 
     The granulated second-order comminuted article  5 , passed through the second filter  92 , is discharged outside of the second processor  52  so as to be used as a starting material for e.g., injection molding. 
     The operation of the above-described two-segment type processing apparatus for expanded styrene  50  is hereinafter explained. 
     First, the power source of the processing apparatus  50  is turned on, and unneeded expanded styrene  3  is charged into the first processor  51 . The paired comminuting rolls  61 ,  62  operate for finely comminuting the expanded styrene  3 . 
     The first-order comminuted article  4  from the paired comminuting rolls  61 ,  62 , having a size not larger than the pre-set size, is transmitted through the first filter  63  so as to be extruded to the gate  65 . For example, the first-order comminuted article  4  having the diameter not larger than 20 to 30 mm is passed through the filter  63  and extruded onto the gate  65 . 
     The first-order comminuted article  4 , extruded onto the gate  65 , is agitated by the paddler  66 , and supplied to the inchoate side of the conveyor  75 , moving at a constant velocity, at a constant feed rate. The first-order comminuted article  4  having a size larger than a pre-set value is scraped by the scraper roll  64  so as to be re-comminuted by the paired comminuting rolls  61 ,  62 . 
     The first-order comminuted article  4  supplied to the conveyor  75  is transported by the conveyor  75  and irradiated with the far-infra-red light by the far-infra-red heater  72  arranged on the transporting channel. The first-order comminuted article  4 , thus illuminated by the far-infra-red light, undergoes internal heating, so that its expanded space is destructed and hence the first-order comminuted article  4  starts to be contracted. This first-order comminuted article  4  undergoes volumetric contraction, without decomposition on fusion, until the time it reaches the trailing end of the conveyor  75 , so that the first-order comminuted article  4  without undergoing decomposition on fusion and is deformed in a coral shape. 
     The first-order comminuted article  4  deformed into the coral shape, descends from the trailing end of the conveyor  75  and is transported through the transporting tube  53  for  5  travelling within the second processor  52 . 
     The first-order comminuted article  4 , travelling within the second processor  52 , is moved as it is stirred by the stirring blades  82  to promote heat dissipation. For example, the first-order comminuted article  4 , which has retained heat of the order of 120 to 130° C. at the time point of descent from the trailing end of the conveyor  75 , is cooled to approximately 40° C. at the trailing end of the cooling channel  81 . In the drawing, an arrow g indicates the path of movement of the first-order comminuted article  4  through the inside of the second processor  52 . 
     The first-order comminuted article  4 , cooled to approximately 40° C., descends from the trailing end of the cooling channel  81  and is further comminuted by the comminution roll  91  into the granulated second-order comminuted article  5 . 
     The second-order comminuted article  5 , comminuted by the comminution roll  91  to a size not larger than a pre-set size, is passed through the second filter  92  and discharged to outside the second processor  52 . For example, the second-order comminuted article  5  having the size not larger than 7 mm is discharged to outside of the second processor  52 . 
     With the two-segment type processing apparatus for expanded styrene  50 , as described above, the unneeded expanded styrene  3  is processed with first-order comminution, then illuminated by the far-infra-red light for volumetric reduction and further processed with second-order comminution to produce the granulated second-order comminuted article  5 . The second-order comminuted article  5 , fabricated by this two-segment type processing apparatus for expanded styrene  50  by the process steps of first-order comminution, illumination by far-infra-red light and second-order comminution, presents a granular appearance having an averaged size and shape. 
     Similarly to the second-order comminuted article  5 , prepared by the unitary type processing apparatus  1  for expanded styrene, the second-order comminuted article  5  prepared by the two-segment type processing apparatus for expanded styrene  50  is charged into, for example, an injection molding machine so as to be re-used as a starting material for injection molding. 
     The second-order comminuted article  5  can also be mixed as an ingredient into the concrete or mortar mixture so as to be re-used a lightweight construction material.