EP2396472A1

EP2396472A1 - Recycling of artificial turf

Info

Publication number: EP2396472A1
Application number: EP10702153A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Joseph Hinkel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-02-06
Filing date: 2010-02-04
Publication date: 2011-12-21
Also published as: US20120031814A1; LU91522B1; CA2761735A1; WO2010094576A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for recovering artificial turf installed on a field, the artificial turf including a backing in which fibres are inserted and one or more layers of filling particles, wherein the synthetic turf is lifted and continuously cut into strips, the strips thus cut are then raised and turned over one by one in order to drop the filling particles into a recovery container, the strips then being deposited back onto the field or rolled up.

Description

RECYCLING OF SYNTHETIC LAWN

Technical area

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the recovery and recycling of synthetic turf and in particular for the recovery and recycling of artificial turf pads placed on football fields, tennis courts, playgrounds, golf courses or dog training grounds etc.

State of the art

[0002] Synthetic turf has many advantages over natural turf in outdoor sports practice. So their maintenance is very easy and the playgrounds are passable in all weather and all seasons.

[0003] The major sports federations as p. ex. FIFA has approved a number of synthetic turfs on which even high level football matches can be played.

[0004] Typically a playground with a synthetic turf has a foundation with a drainage system, a permeable layer p. ex. a permeable bituminous mix and optionally an elastic layer on which the artificial turf is placed. This artificial turf consists of a folder generally polypropylene in which are tufted by spaced rows of filaments or fibers. A filling layer is spread between the filaments. This filler layer generally consists of a first ballast layer, usually sand, on which are then spread one or more additional layers comprising p. ex. rubber granules or a mixture of granules of sand and rubber. Synthetic lawns are filled only up to a certain height so that the ends of the fibers protrude beyond the filling layer. Synthetic turf is marketed p. ex. by the companies POLYTAN, FIELDTURF TARKETT etc. Synthetic turfs are described in more detail eg in patent application WO98 / 40559. Although artificial turf is durable, the life of the turf generally does not exceed the 10 to 12 years: although the fibers will not be completely worn, they will no longer meet the very strict technical requirements of sports federations or will no longer meet the aesthetic requirements of their owners and synthetic turf will need to be replaced.

Object of the invention

An object of the present invention is to remove the synthetic grass to release the land as quickly as possible, without polluting the underlying elastic-draining or draining layer.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a synthetic turf recovery method installed on a field, the synthetic turf comprising a file in which are integrated fibers and one or more layers of filling particles, wherein the artificial grass is lifted and continuously cut into strips, the strips thus cut are then lifted and turned over and over and brought over a filling tank to drop the filler particles in the recovery tank, the strips are then redeposited on the ground or rolled up.

The method makes it possible to recover the artificial turf installed on a ground with a draining base without polluting or clogging the drainage system. A new synthetic turf can be installed quickly without having to redo the drainage.

The method thus saves time and costs associated with cleaning the underlying draining layer.

[0010] Other embodiments of this method are described in the subclaims.

According to another aspect, the invention also proposes a device for recovering artificial turf installed on a field, the synthetic turf comprising a backrest in which fibers and one or more layers of filling particles are integrated, characterized in that the device comprises means for lifting the artificial turf from the ground, means for cutting the synthetic grass into strips, means for turning the synthetic turf strip above the synthetic turf still in place and bring it over a recovery tank, means for removing the filling particles from the synthetic turf above the recovery tank, means for evacuating synthetic turf as well as means for advancing the recovery device.

[0012] It is interesting to note that the cut strips are raised and then turned back over the synthetic turf so that if filling particles fall from the synthetic grass during uplift and overturning and before reaching the recovery tank, they will fall on the grass strip that is still in place and do not risk polluting the draining basement. Indeed, the turf recovery device advances "backward" on the artificial turf.

Unlike the method and the device described in JP2000 008314 in which the cut strips are turned over and treated above the underlying drainage layer, the cut strip is returned above the synthetic grass still in place. and treated over synthetic grass still in place. If particles fall out of the turf strip before reaching the recovery tank, they will fall on the artificial turf and will be collected together with the piece of synthetic grass on which they fell when it is treated.

Returning the synthetic grass strip over the synthetic grass still in place and thus achieve the process "in reverse" requires less energy.

[0015] Other embodiments of this device are described in the subclaims.

Brief description of the drawings

Other features and features of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of some advantageous embodiments presented below, by way of illustration, with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show:

Fig. 1: a schematic diagram of a synthetic turf. Fig. 2: a schematic diagram of a synthetic turf recovery device.

The synthetic turf (1) as shown in FIG. 1 comprises a thin and flexible backrest (3) with parallel rows (5) of fibers or filaments (7) vertical relative to the backrest. The flexible backrest (3) as shown in FIG. 1 may comprise two support layers (1 1, 13). The backrest (3) is most often a woven polypropylene.

The fibers or filaments generally made of polypropylene have a width of between 2 and 30 mm and a thickness of 60 to 150 microns. Their length depends on the use of artificial grass and is normally between 20 and 70 mm. The length is about twice as large as the spacing (15) between rows (5) of fibers (7). The fibers are attached to the backrest by tufting. The end of the fibers is usually mechanically fibrillated to better mimic the appearance of natural grass. A particulate material (9) is deposited on the backing (3) of the synthetic turf between the rows of fibers and the thickness (17) of this layer of particulate material (9) is about two-thirds of the length (19) of the fibers (7).

In FIG. 2, the synthetic turf recovery device set up on the synthetic turf to be removed as shown allows in situ recovery of rolls of small and large width p. ex. ± 3.5 m to release the ground as quickly as possible, without pollution of the underlying elastic-draining and / or draining layer. Indeed, it is important to ensure that the filler material will be removed with synthetic turf to prevent it from clogging the underlying drainage layer and prevent reuse of the ground for later application of synthetic turf.

The device called furling separator aggregating filler (sand and rubber) or other aims to wind the synthetic turf not above the layer and extract a maximum or all of the filling material in a container (N) which is emptied during the advance or when the machine is stopped by a moving floor (A) and then by a second conveyor belt or by tilting, pneumatically or by any other system discharge. Alternatively, the synthetic grass strips are redeposited in the field after extraction of the filling layer.

To force the filling material to be deposited in the crop tank (N), the wrapper separator of filling aggregates is placed on the synthetic grass and advance "in reverse" or "backing" on synthetic grass. The artificial turf is lifted, then rolled back over the remaining synthetic turf and slides upside down on a curved sheet (B) or rotating cylinder so that the entire filler material is transported to the bin of harvest. The upside-down movement of artificial turf on a curved plate or cylinder prevents the filler from falling beside the recovery bin during the overturning of the synthetic turf.

To facilitate this uplift synthetic grass, it will be cut by the machine on one or both sides by one or fixed knives (C) or movable cutting either from the top, the bottom or both. The knives (C) can be vibrating or rotating. It should be noted that alternatively any other system as p. ex. hot knives, laser, scissors, etc. can be used.

So that the synthetic grass passing over the harvesting tray loses some or all of the materials, it will pass in a system of rollers (D) adjustable between them and in varying amounts. Preferably, at least one of these rollers will be vibrating, shaking, striking, etc. If necessary, the work can be made more effective through the intervention of brushes (F) is rotating, alternating, vibrating, shaking, and / or by jets of compressed air or any other system facilitating the release of particles. A scraper (E) cleans the back of the rollers.

The reason for the passage of the carpet back on the rollers of small diameter (G) is to maximize its outer surface so that the synthetic grass fibers deviate to facilitate the release of filler materials.

The belt is then wound on a tube (H) or a coil or other driven system. Alternatively, if for climatic reasons or configuration of the synthetic turf, the cleanliness leaves something to be desired, it is redeposited to the back of the machine by pinching between the rollers (I) so that it is exposed to the sun and rain and to be able to repeat the cleaning operation a second time if necessary.

With an additional roller (J), the synthetic grass can be rolled so that the strands look either inwardly or outwardly.

To initiate the winding work, the synthetic grass can be taken by straps that wind around the winding shaft, either by a chain slide system, belt or other means of connection between the carpet at ground and retractor shaft.

The synthetic grass thus cleaned and rolled can easily serve as geotextile for soil stabilization, the separation between the trunk layers for new constructions in the field of civil engineering, for stabilization and erosion of banks and trees. talus and others. It can also easily and without excessive wear cutting organs chop, chop, cut into strips, round etc. for the stabilization of grassy grounds, roads, riding tracks, paddocks, etc.

Without their ballast of sand and rubber, synthetic turf rolls or plates emptied of their filling material are easily transportable to their place of deposit, easy to implement for the new geotextile destination and easy to unwind, even manually. It is also easy to unwind the coils in a washing machine with running water for a 100% cleaning, in order to allow their recycling to other objects by fusion extrusion, hashing or by passing them on a heating roller for the purpose of weld together the polypropylene fibers to make them more resistant to punching.

The drive of the machine can be done by engine, electric, hydraulic, by a central motor or by separate engines or the combination of various systems (K).

The wheels of the machine (L) will be all or partially driven and or directional to allow movement of the machine in all directions. The engine (s) and the adjustment system of the machine can be placed p. ex. between the harvesting tank and the curved sheet, or at any other place.

The wheels of the machine are adjustable in height independently of each other to optimize the height adjustment with respect to the curved sliding sheet of the synthetic turf according to the thickness of the carpet to be wound.

The unloading of the reel of cleaned synthetic grass can be done by tilting of the holding forks (M) of the retractor shaft by a mechanical or manual or combined system or any other system, so can we imagine a process at edge of the ground on a larger coil or in a washing machine with water or compressed air. The machine can also be released from its roller by a crane or other lifting system.

Legend:

1 synthetic grass

3 folder

5 rows

7 fibers

9 Filling Materials

1 1, 13 Support layers

15 spacing

17 thickness

19 Length of fibers

A Moving floor

B Curved plate

C knives

D adjustable rollers

E Cleaning squeegee

F brush

G Roll of small diameter

H Winding tube

I Pinch rolls

J Extra Roll

K Training System

The wheel

M retention fork

Claims

claims

1. A process for recovering artificial turf installed on a field, the artificial turf comprising a backrest in which fibers and one or more layers of filling particles are integrated, in which the synthetic grass is lifted and continuously cut into strips, the strips thus The blanks are then raised and turned over and brought over a collection tank to drop the filler particles into the recovery tank, the strips being then redeposited on the ground or rolled up.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the strips are pressed against a curved plate or a rotating cylinder before passing over the recovery tank.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the strips are returned several times above the recovery tank by passing over a system of rollers.

4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reversal of the strips is performed on rollers of small diameter in order to spread the fibers and facilitate the fall of the filler particles.

5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the strips are shaken and / or brushed during their turning over the recovery tank.

6. Device for recovering artificial turf installed on a field, the synthetic turf comprising a backrest in which fibers and one or more layers of filling particles are integrated, characterized in that the device comprises means for lifting the synthetic turf of the field, means for cutting the synthetic turf into strips, means for turning the synthetic turf and bringing it over a collection tank, means for removing the filling particles from the synthetic grass above the tank of recovery, means for evacuating synthetic turf as well as means for advancing the recovery device.

7. Device for recovering synthetic grass according to claim 7, characterized in that the means for lifting the artificial turf from the ground comprise straps which wind around a winding shaft, a chain sliding system, a control system. belts allowing the connection between the artificial grass deposited on the ground and the retractor shaft.

8. Device for recovering artificial grass according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the means for returning the synthetic grass over a recovery tank comprises a curved plate (B) or a rotating cylinder against which ( ) the synthetic turf is pressed during the turnaround.

9. A synthetic grass recovery device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the recovery tank (N) comprises an evacuation system for emptying the tray (N).

10. Device for recovering synthetic grass according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the means for removing the filling particles of the synthetic grass above the recovery tank comprises a roller system of at least three rollers (D) adjustable between them.

1 1. Synthetic turf recovery device according to claim 10, characterized in that the rollers are vibrating, shaking or striking.

12. Device for recovering artificial turf according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the means for removing the filling particles of the synthetic turf comprise rotating brushes (F), alternating, vibrating or shaking.

13. synthetic grass recovery device according to any one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the means for removing the synthetic grass filling particles comprise nozzles for applying compressed air jets on the synthetic turf.

14. Synthetic turf recovery device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the means for advancing the recovery device comprise a drive unit and wheels driven by the drive unit.