Stirring and feeding apparatus, feeding method, and production method of fibrous filler, and production method of thermoplastic resin composition

A method for feeding a fibrous filler stored in a hopper to a discharge portion, comprising:

• stirring the fibrous filler by rotating an agitator such that the fibrous filler is spread, the agitator being provided in a connecting tank which is provided between the hopper and the discharge portion, the agitator comprising:
• a shaft that rotates around a rotation axis;
• and a stirring blade provided at a tip of the shaft and configured to rotate along an inner circumferential surface of the connecting tank, and the stirring blade being inclined inwards at an inclination angle θ of 10° to 70° with respect to a rotation direction of the stirring blade;
• and
• feeding the fibrous filler to the discharge portion by rotating a screw provided at a bottom portion of the connecting tank.

A method for producing a fibrous filler having a bulk density decreased by spreading the fibrous filler stored in a hopper, comprising:

• stirring the fibrous filler by rotating an agitator such that the fibrous filler is spread, the agitator being provided in a connecting tank which is provided between the hopper and a discharge portion, the agitator comprising:
• a shaft that rotates around a rotation axis;
• and a stirring blade provided at a tip of the shaft and configured to rotate along an inner circumferential surface of the connecting tank, and the stirring blade being inclined inwards at an inclination angle θ of 10° to 70° with respect to a rotation direction of the stirring blade;
• and
• supplying the fibrous filler to a discharge portion by rotating a screw provided at a bottom portion of the connecting tank.