Processing apparatus and method of processing

A method of processing a wooden piece taken out from a raw wood into a predetermined three-dimensional shape, comprising:

• compressing the wooden piece by applying compressive force thereto in a water vapor atmosphere of higher temperature and higher pressure than atmospheric air;
• and
• fracturing at least a portion of the compressed wooden piece by exposing the portion to the atmospheric air so as to cause explosion inside the exposed portion of the wooden piece;
• wherein the compressing includes
• applying the compressive force to the wooden piece using a pair of metal molds with shapes corresponding to the three-dimensional shape and a movable metal mold that penetrates at least one of the metal molds and that is movable relative to the penetrated metal mold, and
• the fracturing includes
• exposing a portion of the wooden piece abutting the movable metal mold during compression to the atmospheric air to cause an explosion inside the wooden piece, by moving the movable metal mold while maintaining the pair of metal molds in a static state.

A processing apparatus comprising:

• a pair of metal molds that sandwiches a wooden piece taken out from a raw wood and applies compressive force to the wooden piece;
• a movable metal mold that penetrates at least one of the metal molds, and is movable relative to the penetrated metal mold;
• and
• a drive unit that quickly moves the movable metal mold relative to the metal mold penetrated by the movable metal mold,
• wherein the apparatus is configured so the compressive force is applied to the wooden piece by the metal molds and the movable metal mold in a water vapor atmosphere of higher temperature and higher pressure than atmospheric air, and
• the drive unit is configured to quickly move the movable metal mold to suddenly expose a selected portion of the wooden piece abutting the movable metal mold during compression to the atmospheric air to cause an explosion inside the exposed selected portion of the wooden piece which is fractured thereby.