Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D01—NATURAL OR MAN-MADE THREADS OR FIBRES; SPINNING
  • D01G—PRELIMINARY TREATMENT OF FIBRES, e.g. FOR SPINNING
  • D01G99/00—Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B03—SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS; MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
  • B03B—SEPARATING SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS
  • B03B1/00—Conditioning for facilitating separation by altering physical properties of the matter to be treated
  • B03B1/02—Preparatory heating
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
  • B07B—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS BY SIEVING, SCREENING, SIFTING OR BY USING GAS CURRENTS; SEPARATING BY OTHER DRY METHODS APPLICABLE TO BULK MATERIAL, e.g. LOOSE ARTICLES FIT TO BE HANDLED LIKE BULK MATERIAL
  • B07B13/00—Grading or sorting solid materials by dry methods, not otherwise provided for; Sorting articles otherwise than by indirectly controlled devices
  • B07B13/003—Separation of articles by differences in their geometrical form or by difference in their physical properties, e.g. elasticity, compressibility, hardness
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29B—PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS
  • B29B17/00—Recovery of plastics or other constituents of waste material containing plastics
  • B29B17/02—Separating plastics from other materials
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D01—NATURAL OR MAN-MADE THREADS OR FIBRES; SPINNING
  • D01B—MECHANICAL TREATMENT OF NATURAL FIBROUS OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL TO OBTAIN FIBRES OF FILAMENTS, e.g. FOR SPINNING
  • D01B3/00—Mechanical removal of impurities from animal fibres
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D01—NATURAL OR MAN-MADE THREADS OR FIBRES; SPINNING
  • D01B—MECHANICAL TREATMENT OF NATURAL FIBROUS OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL TO OBTAIN FIBRES OF FILAMENTS, e.g. FOR SPINNING
  • D01B9/00—Other mechanical treatment of natural fibrous or filamentary material to obtain fibres or filaments
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D01—NATURAL OR MAN-MADE THREADS OR FIBRES; SPINNING
  • D01G—PRELIMINARY TREATMENT OF FIBRES, e.g. FOR SPINNING
  • D01G13/00—Mixing, e.g. blending, fibres; Mixing non-fibrous materials with fibres
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D01—NATURAL OR MAN-MADE THREADS OR FIBRES; SPINNING
  • D01G—PRELIMINARY TREATMENT OF FIBRES, e.g. FOR SPINNING
  • D01G31/00—Warning or safety devices, e.g. automatic fault detectors, stop motions
  • D01G31/003—Detection and removal of impurities
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D01—NATURAL OR MAN-MADE THREADS OR FIBRES; SPINNING
  • D01G—PRELIMINARY TREATMENT OF FIBRES, e.g. FOR SPINNING
  • D01G9/00—Opening or cleaning fibres, e.g. scutching cotton
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
  • B29K2023/00—Use of polyalkenes or derivatives thereof as moulding material
  • B29K2023/04—Polymers of ethylene
  • B29K2023/06—PE, i.e. polyethylene
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
  • B29K2023/00—Use of polyalkenes or derivatives thereof as moulding material
  • B29K2023/10—Polymers of propylene
  • B29K2023/12—PP, i.e. polypropylene
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
  • B29K2313/00—Use of textile products or fabrics as reinforcement
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
  • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
  • B29L2031/726—Fabrics
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
  • Y02W30/00—Technologies for solid waste management
  • Y02W30/50—Reuse, recycling or recovery technologies
  • Y02W30/62—Plastics recycling; Rubber recycling

Definitions

• THIS INVENTION relates to a system for treating a mixture of desired materials and contaminating materials for separation at a subsequent material processing stage and in particular but not limited to a system for treating a mixture of natural fibres contaminated with polymer fibres for separating the treated polymer fibres at a subsequent fibre processing stage.
• the mixture of fibres for feeding to the device must be in the form of a lap with fibres at least semicombed or at least made sufficiently straight.
• This device has a pair of endless steel belts with electrical resistors arranged thereon for heating the belts.
• the belts are moved onto each other to compress the mixture and at the same time heating and transferring the mixture along the belts.
• the polypropylene fibres form clusters when subject to heat and compressive force.
• the clusters of the polypropylene fibres will stick to the steel belts.
• the belts are coated with a Teflon material, along This system thus applies heat directly and conductively to the silk material.
• the silk fibres are prone to damage when using this prior art device as it is difficult to control and maintain temperature on the belts. Electric resistance heating takes a considerable long time to heat the belts to a desired temperature.
• An object of the present invention is to alleviate or to at least reduce to a certain level one or more of the prior art disadvantages.
• the present invention resides in a system for treating a mixture containing desired materials and contaminating plastic materials for separation at a subsequent material processing stage.
• the system comprises a treatment station, guiding means for guiding the mixture into the treatment station, heating means for heating a fluid medium flowing in said treatment station so that the mixture at said treatment station is heated to a temperature within a predetermined temperature range below melting points of the plastic materials, at which the contaminating plastic materials change their physical characteristics to a form allowing separation at the subsequent material processing stage when exposed in the treatment station within a predetermined time period.
• the present invention resides in a method for treating a mixture containing desired materials and contaminating plastic materials for separation at a subsequent material processing stage.
• the method comprising the steps of: a. guiding the mixture into a treatment station; b. applying heat to a fluid medium flowing in said treatment station so that the mixture at said treatment station is heated to a temperature within a predetermined range below melting points of the plastic materials; and c. exposing the mixture in the treatment station for a predetermined time period so that the contaminating plastic materials change their physic characteristics to a form allowing separation at the subsequent material processing stage.
• the forms of the changed characteristics include shrinking, curling, balling of the contaminating material, beads, denser mass or larger mass, so that the contaminating materials can be separated by beating, combing or be easily identified for picking.
• the desired material in the mixture may include one of natural fibres including wool, cotton, silk and the like. Said one natural fibres may be in the form of loose fibres, slivers or the like.
• the contaminating plastic materials may be any type of heat shrinkable plastic fibres including polyethylene (PE) fibres, polypropylene (PP) fibres, high- density polyethylene (HDPE) fibres, nylon and the like.
• PE polyethylene
• PP polypropylene
• HDPE high- density polyethylene
• the heating means includes a heat source and a blower arranged to blow or draw said fluid medium over the heat source and into the treatment station.
• the heat source include fuel burners, electronic heaters, microwave, steam and the like.
• Said fluid medium may be any flowable material.
• said fluid medium is air.
• the heat source may be arranged in any suitable location. In a preferred the heat source is located within feed rollers upstream of the treatment station.
• the predetermined temperature range is typically between 1 50-300 degree Centigrade and the predetermined time period is typically within 1 to 20 seconds.
• the treatment station is heated to 180-192 degrees Centigrade and the mixture is exposed to heat in the treatment station for about 3 seconds.
• the system for the present invention may be provided with guiding means for movably guiding the mixture into the treatment station at a speed of travel so that the mixture is exposed to heat within the predetermined time period.
• the guiding means may include one or more of a laminar air stream, a conveying arrangement, rollers or the like.
• said guiding means includes a first pair of cooperating feed rollers arranged upstream of said treatment station for guiding said mixture into the treatment station.
• the guiding means may include a second pair of cooperating feed rollers arranged downstream of said treatment station for guiding treated mixture out of the treatment station.
• the rollers each have a hollow body with perforations and a baffle arranged in the body.
• the baffles of said first pair are so arranged that an air stream guiding said mixture towards the treatment station enters into said body through said perforations on one side of the baffles, and the heated fluid medium enters said treatment station through said perforations on opposite side of the baffles .
• connection paths may be connected to the first pair of feed rollers.
• the connection path or paths are arranged for substantial of said guide air stream to bypass said treatment station.
• the connection path or paths are arranged to join said first and second pairs of feed rollers so that said guide air stream can guide the treated mixture downstream of the treatment station.
• one or more fluid medium return paths are connected to said first pair of feed rollers and are so arranged that the fluid medium flowing in said treatment station can return to the treatment station through the perforations in said first feed rollers.
• a pump may be included in one or each said return paths for pumping said fluid medium towards the first feed rollers.
• the said processing stage may be any one of the stages for scouring, carding, gilling, combing and spinning or between any two stages.
• the treatment station is incorporated in the carding stage or the combing stage. More desirably the treatment station is arranged at the doffer in the carding stage.
• the treatment station may have means directing said mixture along a serpentine path.
• Said directing means may include rollers and/or conveyors and/or air stream.
• Figure 1 is a schematic drawing showing one embodiment of the system according to the present invention.
• Figure 2 is a schematic drawing showing a second embodiment of the system according to the present invention.
• Figure 3 is a schematic drawing showing a third embodiment of the system according to the present invention
• Figure 4 is a schematic drawing showing a fourth embodiment of the system according to the present invention
• Figure 5 is a schematic drawing showing a fifth embodiment of the system according to the present invention.
• Figure 6 is a schematic drawing showing a sixth embodiment of the system according to the present invention.
• Figures 6A to 6C are schematic drawings showing different serpentine paths within the treatment station of the system according to the present invention;
• Figure 7 is a schematic drawing showing a seventh embodiment of the system according to the present invention, in which the treatment station is incorporated into a carding stage for wool processing;
• Figure 8 is a schematic drawing showing an eight embodiment of the system according to the present invention.
• Figures 9 to 1 1 show contaminated wool before, during and after being subject to treatment in the system according to the present invention.
• FIG. 1 there is shown a system 10 for treating a mixture 12 of wool fibres 14 and polymer fibres 16 which represent contamination of the wool fibres 14.
• the system 10 has a treatment station 18 which in this case has a hot air blower 20 for blowing hot air at about 180°C onto the mixture 12.
• the mixture 12 as can be seen is guided into the treatment station 18 by guiding means in the form of a perforated conveyor 22 movably controlled by spaced rollers 24.
• the rollers 24 are controlled so that the mixture 12 is exposed to heat in the treatment 18 for about 3 seconds.
• Figure 1 shows that the treated contaminating fibres 1 6 change shape and a fine reticulating comb 26 separates the treated fibres 16 from the wool fibres 14. Clean wool fibre 28 is thereby obtained following combing.
• the mixture 12 is guided into the treatment station 18 and then guided through the station 18 under tension by rollers 30.
• FIG 3 shows an embodiment of the system 10 which is similar to the Figure 2 embodiment except for the addition of a conveyor 24.
• the embodiment of the system 10 shown in Figure 4 has a further conveyor 25.
• the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 4 have hot air applied from one side of the mixture 12.
• the treatment station 18 has air openings 32 positioned just downstream of the rollers 30 at the inlet end of the station 18. The openings 32 allow hot air to be applied to either sides of the mixture 12. In this manner contaminating plastic materials 16 on or near both surfaces of the mixture 12 are equally treated.
• Figure 6 shows an embodiment of the system 10 which guides the wool mixture 12 from the doffer 34 of the carding stage into the treatment station 18 for heat treatment before being collected in the coil head 36.
• the treatment station 18 shown in Figure 6 has a serpentine path which helps to reduce the length of the station 18.
• FIG. 6A Another form of the serpentine path is shown in Figure 6A.
• the treatment station 18 has feed rollers 30 at inlet and outlet thereof.
• the feed rollers 30 at the inlet guide the mixture 12 into the station 18.
• various rollers and conveyors arranged as shown move the mixture 12 in a three loop serpentine path before being guided by the feed rollers 30 at the outlet out of the station 18.
• FIG. 6B there is shown a further form of the serpentine path.
• a pulley arrangement is used to train the mixture 12 along a serpentine path.
• the form of the serpentine path for the mixture 12 in Figure 6C is guided by a series a rollers arranged as shown.
• the system 10 is incorporated into the carding stage of wool processing.
• the treatment station has an oven 38 shaped to fit over the lower part of the doffer 40.
• the wall of the oven which embraces the doffer 40 is spaced from the outer perimeter of the doffer 40 so that the mixture 12 can enter the space in which it is subject to heat treatment.
• the mixture 12 is guided by the doffer 40 to the doffer comb 42 which removes the mixture 12 from the doffer 40.
• Col lander rollers 44 guide the mixture 12 out of the carding stage and the station 18.
• FIG 8 shows an embodiment of the system 10 according to the present invention in which both heated air and a guide air stream are reused.
• the feed rollers 30 have a hollow body with perforations, and a baffle plate 52 separating the perforations so that half of the perforations are exposed to the guide air stream 54 shown in solid arrows and half are exposed to heated air 56 shown in hollow arrows.
• a conduit 58 provides a bypass path for the air stream 52 through said perforations of the rollers 30 at the inlet of said treatment station 18 to flow to said rollers 30 at the outlet of the station 18.
• the air stream 54 then flows through perforations of the rollers at said outlet to guide treated mixture 12 to a subsequent process station (not shown).
• the heated air 56 is recirculated by a pump 60 in a conduit 62 which joins the rollers 30 at the inlet and the outlet.
• the perforations and the baffle plate 52 in the rollers 30 allow substantially all of the guide air stream to bypass the station 18 and to be reused for guiding treated mixture 12. The same also allow substantially all of the heated air 56 to recirculate in and out of the station 18 so that heating costs are minimised.
• Figure 9 shows a sample of wool 14 contaminated with polymer fibres 16.
• the fibres 16 shrunk following heat treatment at the station 18. They become shorter but with denser mass and larger cross-section.
• Figure 1 1 the treated fibres 16 have been removed in a combing processing step.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Preliminary Treatment Of Fibers (AREA)
• Processing And Handling Of Plastics And Other Materials For Molding In General (AREA)
• Separation, Recovery Or Treatment Of Waste Materials Containing Plastics (AREA)
• Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
• Combined Means For Separation Of Solids (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=3809600

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Families Citing this family (8)

Citations (1)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 1998
  • 1998-08-21 AU AUPP5371A patent/AUPP537198A0/en not_active Abandoned
• 1999
  • 1999-08-23 JP JP2000566046A patent/JP2002523220A/ja active Pending
  • 1999-08-23 NZ NZ51060799A patent/NZ510607A/xx unknown
  • 1999-08-23 EP EP99939865A patent/EP1181109A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1999-08-23 KR KR1020017002160A patent/KR20010079667A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1999-08-23 WO PCT/AU1999/000677 patent/WO2000010738A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1999-08-23 ID ID20010412A patent/ID29802A/id unknown

Patent Citations (1)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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