JP2002010901A - Method for recycling carpet, carpet for recycling and recycling system for carpet for recycling - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recycling method for carpets and a carpet for recycling which can realize resource recovery in a society of consumption where throw-away use prevails, and also provide a recycling system for the carpets for recycling. SOLUTION: This recycling method is to recycle the carpets constituted by forming backing layers 5 and front layers 1 of the same or same-quality thermoplastic resin materials and adhering the backing layers 5 and the front layer 1 by a hot melt adhesive 4. The method has a peeling process for peeling the old front layers 1 from the backing layers 5 of the used carpets and an adhering process for adhering the fresh front layers 1 onto the old backing layers 5 from which the front layers 1 are peeled. The method has also crushing treatment process for crushing the separated old backing layers 5 and the front layers 1, a recycling process for recycling the fresh backing layers 5 and the front layers 1 and an adhering process for adhering these layers. Accordingly, the useless reutilization of the used carpets is made possible without wasting. The whole systems from manufacture to sales, rental and recovery is supported, by which the wastes may be decreased as far as possible. The resource economization in the consuming society may be realized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to carpet recycling, and more particularly to a carpet regenerating method, a regenerating carpet, and a regenerating carpet capable of realizing resource saving in a consumer society in which disposable use is remarkable. The present invention relates to a carpet recycling system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, environmental issues have been highlighted,
At present, it is difficult to handle waste in various fields.

[0003] In a used carpet, a material which does not generate chlorine, NOx, and SOx when incinerated at the time of disposal is preferable. Therefore, materials such as pile yarn and base cloth material forming the surface layer, or various nonwoven fabrics are, for example, carbon,
It is desirable from the viewpoint of environmental health to select and use an olefin polymer material composed of only hydrogen.

Conventionally, however, synthetic fibers such as acrylic, polyester, nylon, and polypropylene have been mainly used as the material of the surface layer in order to make use of various characteristics suited to the application, such as price, texture, color, and performance of various fibers. These materials are used alone or as a mixture of many materials including natural fibers, and no material is selected from the viewpoint of environmental hygiene.

[0005] Further, the material constituting the backing layer is also an olefin-based polymer material from the viewpoint of suppressing the generation of toxic gas at the time of incineration, the life of the incinerator, or the difficulty of the regeneration treatment, like the surface layer. A certain polypropylene or copolymer of propylene and ethylene mixed with an inorganic filler such as calcium carbonate and melt-kneaded, and a methacrylic resin whose unit molecule is composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen is plasticized like dioctyl phthalate It is environmentally desirable that the backing layer is formed of an acrylic resin-based sol or the like obtained in combination with the agent. However, conventionally, a mixed material of a vinyl chloride resin, an inorganic filler, and a plasticizer has been generally used because of its advantages in price, processability, and performance.

[0006]

As described above, in the conventional carpet, the surface layer and the backing layer are very rarely made of materials that are desirable for environmental hygiene at the time of disposal. Moreover, the surface layer and the backing layer are often made of different materials. When the surface layer and the backing layer of the carpet are made of different materials in this way, chemical regeneration in response to environmental issues, or oiliness by thermochemical decomposition recovery for thermal regeneration, or mechanically Even when crushing and separating the resin of the backing layer to perform material regeneration, it is difficult to separate and separate the fiber component of the surface layer and the resin component of the backing layer, and it is necessary to pass through the pulverization and separation processes many times, etc. However, there is a problem that the sorting process requires much time and effort.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of a conventional general carpet. For example, a nonwoven fabric, a plain woven fabric, or the like is used for the base fabric 3 shown in the figure, and a surface layer 1 in which a pile yarn 2 such as a filament or a spun yarn is tufted, and a backing layer 5 mainly composed of vinyl chloride and calcium carbonate. Generally, the materials used in each part are different. This carpet has advantages such as its transportability, on-site transportability, ease of partial replacement, etc., as well as the flexibility of combination of colors and patterns.
Market demand is growing remarkably, mainly for offices and stores. However, when discarding these carpets, it is difficult to separate the materials and structures constituting the carpet for the above-mentioned reasons, and it is the current state of the consumer society that all of the carpets are landfilled or incinerated.

In such a situation, it is necessary to actively perform not only a disposal method such as landfilling and incineration, but also a recycling method. In the case of disposal, it is necessary to be in a state where regeneration can be performed first.

The present invention has been developed from such a point of view, and makes it possible to reuse a used carpet without waste, and to support all systems from manufacturing to sales, rental, and collection. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a carpet regenerating method, a regenerating carpet, and a recycling system for a regenerating carpet that can reduce waste and minimize resource consumption in a consumer society.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for regenerating a recording medium in which a backing layer and a surface layer are formed of the same or the same thermoplastic resin material. In the carpet recycling method in which the carpet in which the layer 5 and the surface layer 1 are bonded with the hot-melt adhesive 4 is used, the backing layer 5 of the used carpet is used.
And a bonding step of bonding a new, identical or homogeneous surface layer 1 onto the old backing layer 5 from which the surface layer 1 has been separated.

In the second method, the backing layer 5 and the surface layer 1 are formed of the same or the same thermoplastic resin material, and the backing layer 5 and the surface layer 1 are bonded with the hot-melt adhesive 4. In the method for regenerating a carpet for recycling used carpets, a peeling step of peeling the backing layer 5 and the surface layer 1 of the used carpet, a crushing treatment step of crushing the separated old backing layer 5 and the old surface layer 1, and crushing A foreign matter separating step of removing foreign matter from the recovered backing layer 5 and surface layer 1, a regeneration step of regenerating a new backing layer 5 and surface layer 1 from each of the crushed materials, and heating the regenerated backing layer 5 and surface layer 1 And a bonding step of bonding with the fusible adhesive 4.

A third means is a carpet for recycling in which a used carpet can be reused, wherein the backing layer 5 and the surface layer 1 made of pile yarn and base cloth are made of the same or the same thermoplastic resin. The recycled carpet is made of a material, and the backing layer 5 and the surface layer 1 are bonded to each other with the hot-melt adhesive 4.

The carpet for regeneration in the fourth means is
A urethane resin-based hot-melt adhesive 4 that melts at 60 to 100 ° C. is used as the hot-melt adhesive 4.

In the recycling system of the fifth means, the backing layer 5 and the surface layer 1 are formed of the same or the same thermoplastic resin material, and the backing layer 5 and the surface layer 1 are adhered to each other with the hot-melt adhesive 4. A carpet recycling system that regenerates a recycled carpet, collects sold or rented carpet at the customer's request, cleans the carpet, and reuses it.
Peeling off the old surface layer 1 from the backing layer 5 of the used regenerated carpet and bonding a new same or homogeneous surface layer 1;
The old backing layer 5 is reused to regenerate a new regenerating carpet, or the separated old backing layer 5 and the old surface layer 1 are crushed to regenerate the new backing layer 5 and the surface layer 1, and they are bonded to form a new carpet. Information is exchanged via a computer network between a recycling plant 20 for recycling the recycled carpet and a product warehouse for storing and managing the recycled carpet, and the sale, rental, and maintenance of the recycled carpet in response to a request from a customer. It has a management center to take charge of management and collection.

The sixth aspect of the recycling system is to solve the problem by instructing the maintenance shop or the remanufacturing factory to set the cycle carpet to a color scheme desired by the customer at the management center. .

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a carpet manufactured according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 shows the surface layer 1
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a side surface of a carpet in which a carpet and a backing layer 5 are bonded and fixed with a hot-melt adhesive 4. In the figure, reference numeral 2 denotes a pile yarn, and 3 denotes a base cloth.

The surface layer 1 is obtained by tufting a pile yarn 2 on a base fabric 3 in a loop or cut shape. other than this,
The structure of the surface layer 1 includes a mechanically woven pile woven fabric, a nonwoven fabric as it is, or a nonwoven fabric that is adhered and fixed to a folded base fabric 3.

As the base fabric 3, a melt blown nonwoven fabric, a needle punched nonwoven fabric, or the like is used. The backing layer 5 is formed into a sheet.

The pile yarn 2, the base cloth 3, and the backing layer 5
In the separation and separation at the time of the regeneration, in consideration of the case where the separation cannot be completely performed for each material, all the same or the same thermoplastic resin is used. Examples of combinations of the same thermoplastic resin include, for example, a combination in which polypropylene is used for the pile yarn 2 and the base fabric 3 of the surface layer 1 and a polypropylene-based elastomer is used for the backing layer 5.

The heat-meltable adhesive 4 is melted by application of heat to lower the adhesive strength, and the surface layer 1 and the backing layer 5
The purpose is to separate the urethane resin,
An olefin-based hot-melt adhesive 4 is used alone or in combination, and is adjusted in consideration of the initial adhesiveness, the rewetting adhesiveness, and the degree and time when the adhesive force is reduced by heating.

The results obtained when the urethane resin-based hot-melt adhesive 4 is used as the hot-melt adhesive 4 are as follows.
When this hot-melt adhesive 4 is used, it is applied to the bonding surfaces of the surface layer 1 and the backing layer 5 to evaporate the solvent contained therein and pass through a drying chamber at 80 ° C. so as to have a viscosity suitable for bonding. The time for passing through the drying chamber is about one minute. The adhesive strength of this adhesive has the same peel strength as the backing layer 5 of the tile carpet currently on the market, and when immersed in warm water of 60 to 100 ° C., the surface layer 1 and the backing layer 5 Adhesive strength decreases until it can be easily peeled off (in this adhesive,
FIG. 3 shows the peel strength over time when immersed in warm water.) In addition, as described above, after the hot-melt adhesive 4 is melted with warm water to lower the adhesive strength, pressure is applied again from the surface layer 1 and the carpet is cooled in that state, and then the hot-melt adhesive 4 Cures and has the same adhesive strength as the original.

The results obtained when the olefin resin-based hot-melt adhesive 4 is used as the adhesive are as follows. When this hot-melt adhesive 4 is used, it is applied to the bonding surfaces of the surface layer 1 and the backing layer 5 to evaporate the solvent contained therein and pass through a drying chamber at 120 ° C. so as to have a viscosity suitable for bonding. It takes about 3 minutes to pass through the drying chamber. The adhesive strength of the olefin resin-based hot-melt adhesive 4 is 1 compared with the urethane resin-based hot-melt adhesive 4 described above.
/ 3 ° C, and 60-100 ° C
When immersed in warm water, the adhesive strength decreases until the surface layer 1 and the backing layer 5 can be easily separated.

The results when using an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive as the hot-melt adhesive 4 are as follows. When this acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive is used, it is applied to the bonding surface of the surface layer 1 and the backing layer 5 to volatilize a solvent contained therein,
Via a drying room at 80 ° C. The time for passing through the drying chamber is about one minute. The adhesive strength of this acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive is about half that of the urethane resin-based hot-melt adhesive 4, and when immersed in warm water of 60 to 100 ° C, the backing layer 1 The adhesive strength decreases until the layer 5 can be easily peeled off.

From the above comparison of results, it is preferable to use a urethane resin-based hot-melt adhesive having a large peel strength.

Next, the physical properties of the hot-melt adhesive 4 are shown in FIG. To measure the physical properties, the peel strength of the backing layer of a tile carpet currently on the market is measured, and this strength is set as a reference value 5, and the peel strength of the urethane resin-based hot-melt adhesive 4 is quantified. It was done. FIG. 3 also shows a change in peel strength with time when heated. According to the figure, it can be confirmed that the peel strength of each water temperature decreases exponentially with the passage of time, and the decrease is remarkable as the water temperature increases.

In the regeneration of the carpet according to the present invention, the surface layer 1 and the backing layer 5 are mechanically separated and separated. To make this possible, the adhesive strength between the surface layer 1 and the backing layer 5 is set to 1.5 or less. This has been confirmed in preliminary tests. Accordingly, it can be confirmed from FIG. 3 that in order to realize this, it is necessary to immerse in warm water of 60 ° C. or more for about 1 to 3 minutes.

On the other hand, when using the carpet, there is a possibility of spilling the drink. In this case, for example, when a drink using hot water such as tea or coffee is spilled, the temperature is usually 50 to 60 ° C. Therefore, if an adhesive whose adhesive strength is reduced at a low temperature is used, the surface layer 1 and the backing layer 5 can be formed. It is considered that peeling occurs, and it cannot be used as a carpet. However, even if the boiling water is spilled, the hot-melt adhesive 4 used in the present invention does not peel off because the time required to be exposed to high temperatures by immediately wiping the carpet surface layer 1 becomes shorter.
When the carpet is cooled while pressure is applied from the surface layer 1, the adhesive is cured again, and the surface layer 1 and the backing layer 5 are bonded.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a carpet regeneration flow according to the present invention. The used carpets are once cleaned and maintained, and those which can be reused depending on the degree of dirt are reused as they are, and the other carpets are separated from the surface layer 1 and the backing layer 5. Details of the separation method will be described later.

The separated surface layer 1 is finely crushed to facilitate removal of foreign matters such as sand and pebbles remaining inside. The material from which the foreign matter has been removed becomes the raw material of the yarn, and is recycled through the spinning process as a base fabric 3 represented by a pile yarn, a nonwoven fabric, or the like.
It is reproduced again as the surface layer 1 through a process such as tufting. In this step, for example, an existing technology such as an extruder for the raw yarn and a tufting machine for the tufting are selected.

The surface layer 1 and the backing layer 5 can be regenerated even if it is assumed that the carpet currently on the market can be separated using the hot-melt adhesive 4 of the present invention.
Is made of a different material, the material of the backing layer 5 is mixed into the surface layer 1 to some extent, and the yarn cannot be recycled as a thin yarn in the original yarn manufacturing process. As an example of this, in the case of different materials, since the melting temperatures are different, they are not integrated and the yarn is cut off, or the backing layer 5
There are inconveniences such as the sand-like inorganic filler contained in clogged nozzles. In the present invention, since the surface layer 1 and the backing layer 5 use the same or the same thermoplastic resin,
Even if the backing layer 5 is mixed to some extent, the yarn can be manufactured without any trouble in the raw yarn manufacturing process using the surface layer 1 material.

The backing layer 5, unlike the surface layer 1, has less wear and dirt during use and can withstand normal use as the backing layer 5, so that it can be reused as it is. However, those which are clearly unusable due to damage or the like are crushed in order to easily remove foreign matters such as sand and pebbles adhered to the backing and to make it easy to use as a re-raw material. The material from which the foreign matter has been removed becomes a raw material of the backing layer 5 and is regenerated as the backing layer 5 through a dedicated device. The crushing step is performed by selecting a currently existing technique such as, for example, using an extruder.

The surface layer 1 and the backing layer 5 regenerated as described above are adhered to the surface layer 1 and the backing layer 5 using a hot-melt adhesive 4 as shown in FIG. .

FIG. 5 shows the flow of the step of separating the surface layer 1 and the backing layer 5 performed in the above-mentioned regeneration step. After use, the carpet that has been cleaned and maintained and determined to be unusable is placed in warm water adjusted to 60 to 100 ° C for 1 to 3 times.
Soak for about a minute. As a result, the hot-melt adhesive 4 is melted and the adhesive strength is reduced.

The heated carpet is immediately put on a peeling device. Although there are various kinds of peeling steps, for example, a pair of upper and lower rollers having different speeds is used, and the surface layer 1 and the backing layer 5 are separated by the speed difference. The surface layer 1 and the backing layer 5 thus separated are individually collected and regenerated in the next step.

Next, FIG. 6 shows a flow of a bonding step of the surface layer 1 and the backing layer 5. The surface layer 1 and the backing layer 5, each of which has been independently regenerated, are applied to the bonding equipment with the bonding surface up. Here, first, the hot-melt adhesive 4 is applied to the adhesive surfaces of the surface layer 1 and the backing layer 5 by brushing, roller coating, spraying, or the like. The attached hot-melt adhesive 4 passes through a drying chamber adjusted to 80 to 120 ° C. so that the solvent contained therein is volatilized and the hot-melt adhesive 4 has a viscosity suitable for bonding. The time passing through the drying chamber is about 1 to 3 minutes. After the hot-melt adhesive 4 is in a state suitable for bonding, the surface layer 1 that is turned upside down and the bonding surface faces downward is placed on the backing layer 5 and pressed for about 1 minute. At this time, on the contrary, there is no problem if the backing layer 5 which is turned upside down and the adhesive surface faces down is put on the surface layer 1 and pressed in the same manner. After this, the hot-melt adhesive 4
Gradually hardens as the temperature drops to room temperature, and the surface layer 1 and the backing layer 5 are bonded. However, in order to improve the adhesive strength, this is left for about one day, and the specified side of 50
The burrs at the ends are cut so that the thickness becomes 0 mm, and a recycled carpet is completed.

FIG. 7 shows a flow of the recycling system of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a car repair shop 10 is provided which collects carpets sold or rented at the request of customers, cleans and reuses carpets.

Further, the old surface layer 1 is peeled off from the backing layer 5 of the used regenerating carpet and a new same or homogeneous surface layer 1 is adhered, and the old backing layer 5 is reused to regenerate a new regenerating carpet. Alternatively, the separated old backing layer 5 and the old surface layer 1 are crushed to regenerate the new backing layer 5 and the surface layer 1 and bonded together to regenerate a new regenerated carpet, and a storage and management of the regenerated carpet. Product warehouse 30 is provided.

Further, these maintenance shop 10 and regeneration factory 2
0, exchange information with the product warehouse 30 via a computer,
It is provided with a management center 40 that is responsible for selling, renting, maintaining and managing the carpet for reproduction, and collecting it in response to a request from a customer.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing computer communication in the management center 40. As shown in the figure, the management center 40 is set so that the needs of customers can be grasped via the Internet. The data is exchanged via the central processing unit with the maintenance management section of the maintenance factory 10, the recovery factory management section of the recovery factory 20, or the product management section and the delivery management section of the product warehouse 30.
Further, the management system can be supported by processing software such as carpet placement software, customer correspondence software, and information management software.

The management center 40 also performs a task of instructing the maintenance shop 10 or the recycling factory 20 to set the color of the recycled carpet to a color desired by the customer. The carpet arrangement software provided in the management center 40 provides a standard carpet color arrangement, receives arrangement information according to a customer's request, and checks the information on the Internet or the like. For example, on the carpet pattern changing screen shown in FIG. 9, a customer creates a colored image by designating the color of each grid in a grid pattern to a desired color selected from a color table, and creates the colored image. When transmitted, the management center 40 regenerates the factory 2
The data is sent to 0, and the reproduction carpet is set to the color scheme according to the color image of the customer.

[0041]

According to the present invention, the original object is achieved by the above-mentioned structure. That is, by the recycling method of claim 1, a peeling step of peeling the old surface layer 1 from the backing layer 5 of the used carpet, and a bonding step of bonding a new surface layer 1 on the old backing layer 5 from which the surface layer 1 has been peeled. Therefore, the backing layer 5 still usable from the used carpet can be repeatedly reused.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the surface layer 1 and the backing layer 5 can be crushed, respectively, and the new backing layer 5 and the surface layer 1 can be regenerated from each material. Can be used.

Further, in the carpet for recycling according to the third and fourth aspects, the surface layer 1 and the backing layer 5 are 60 to 60.
Since the adhesive is bonded with the hot-melt adhesive 4 that melts at 100 ° C. and reduces the adhesive strength, the adhesive strength of the hot-melt adhesive 4 is reduced by heating, and the surface layer 1 and the backing layer 5 are easily bonded. Since they can be separated and separated, they can be reused by a recycling method suitable for each member when they are disposed of, and can be recycled as a carpet.

Further, since the recycling system according to the fifth aspect has constructed a system that supports all the systems from manufacturing to sales, rental, and collection, the amount of waste is reduced as much as possible, and the resource consumption in the consumer society is reduced. Can be realized. In addition, the customer who uses the recycled carpet is not burdened with the burden of disposing of the used carpet.

According to the recycling system of the sixth aspect, it is possible to extremely easily provide a recycled carpet having a color scheme that meets a customer's request.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reuse a used carpet without waste, and furthermore, by supporting all systems from manufacturing to sales, rental, and collection, waste can be reduced to the utmost. It has various industrially beneficial effects such as reduction of resources and realization of resource saving in a consumer society.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a carpet of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a prior art carpet.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the carpet peeling strength of the hot-melt adhesive used in the present invention when immersed in warm water.

FIG. 4 is a carpet regeneration flow according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a peeling step of peeling a surface layer and a backing layer.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a bonding step of bonding a regenerated surface layer and a backing layer.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a recycling system of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing computer communication in the management center of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a carpet pattern changing screen in the management center of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Surface layer 2 Pile thread 3 Base cloth 4 Hot-melt adhesive 5 Backing layer 10 Maintenance shop 20 Remanufacturing factory 30 Product warehouse 40 Management center

Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 3B120 AA04 AA14 AB02 BA03 BA17 BA22 BA28 CA02 CA03 CA04 DB01 EB30 4D004 AA07 CA02 CA04 CA12 CA14 CA40 CA50 CC17 DA03 DA06 DA16 4F301 AA13 AA14 AA29 AD02 BF04 BF08 BF12 BF26 BF27 BF27 BF27 BF27 BF27 GG04 GG07

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A carpet recycling method in which a backing layer and a surface layer are formed of the same or the same thermoplastic resin material, and the backing layer and the surface layer are bonded to each other with a hot-melt adhesive. A method for regenerating a carpet, comprising: a peeling step of peeling an old surface layer from a backing layer of a used carpet; and a bonding step of bonding a new same or homogeneous surface layer on the old backing layer from which the surface layer has been peeled. . 2. A carpet recycling method in which a backing layer and a surface layer are formed of the same or the same thermoplastic resin material, and the backing layer and the surface layer are reused with a carpet bonded with a hot-melt adhesive. A peeling step of peeling the backing layer and the surface layer of the used carpet, a crushing process step of crushing the separated old backing layer and the old surface layer, a foreign matter separating step of removing foreign matter from the crushed backing layer and the surface layer, and crushing A method for regenerating a carpet, comprising: a regenerating step of regenerating a new backing layer and a surface layer from each of the recycled materials; and a bonding step of bonding the regenerated backing layer and the surface layer with a hot-melt adhesive. 3. A carpet for recycling, wherein a used carpet can be reused, comprising: a backing layer;
A reclaimed carpet, wherein a surface layer made of a pile yarn and a base cloth is formed of the same or the same thermoplastic resin material, and the backing layer and the surface layer are bonded with a hot-melt adhesive. 4. The hot-melt adhesive has a temperature of 60 to 100 ° C.
The recycled carpet according to claim 3, wherein a urethane resin-based hot-melt adhesive that melts in step (a) is used. 5. Recycling of a recycled carpet for recycling a recycled carpet in which the backing layer and the surface layer are formed of the same or the same thermoplastic resin material, and the backing layer and the surface layer are bonded with a hot-melt adhesive. In the system, the carpet sold or rented is collected at the customer's request, the carpet is cleaned and reused, and a repair shop where the old surface layer is removed from the backing layer of the used carpet and a new same or similar surface layer is removed. Glue the
Recycle the new backing carpet by recycling the old backing layer, or crush the separated old backing layer and the old surface layer to regenerate the new backing layer and surface layer and bond them to regenerate the new carpet for regeneration And a product warehouse that houses and manages the recycled carpet, exchanges information with these maintenance shops, recycled factories, and product warehouses via a computer network, and sells the recycled carpet in response to requests from customers. A recycling system for carpets for recycling, comprising a management center that takes charge of rental, maintenance during use, and collection. 6. The recycling system for a recycled carpet according to claim 5, wherein the control center instructs the maintenance shop or the recycling factory to set the color of the recycled carpet to a color scheme desired by a customer.