The present invention discloses a method and corresponding apparatus using UV-A and UV-C to treat textile materials. The method comprises the steps of (a) exposing incoming textile materials to UV-A radiation for detection of optically brightened textile materials and/or synthetic fiber materials; (b) separating detected optically brightened textile materials and/or synthetic fiber materials from the incoming textile materials; and (c) exposing the separated incoming textile materials to UV-C radiation for sterilization and surface modification of the textile materials to increase wettability and absorbability and reduce pilling. The apparatus comprises a segregation chamber disposed with a cascading conveying means, a UV-A radiation source and an optically brightened textile materials and/or synthetic fiber materials separating means therewithin, and a segregation chamber disposed with a UV-C radiation source therewithin.
D06M 10/00 - Traitement physique des fibres, fils, filés, tissus ou articles fibreux faits de ces matières, p. ex. ultrasonique, effet corona, irradiation, courants électriques ou champs magnétiquesTraitement physique combiné avec le traitement avec des composés ou des éléments chimiques
D06M 10/04 - Traitement physique combiné avec le traitement avec des composés ou des éléments chimiques
2.
PROCESS FOR APPLICATION OF CHEMICALS ON TEXTILE MATERIALS
A process for applying chemicals on textile materials to remove surface chemicals and finishes from the materials. The process involves reducing the materials to an appropriate size, applying a first catalyzed vapor treatment to the textile materials to cleanse and strengthen the textile materials, and penetrating the textile materials, for example, with industrial needles, to break surface bonds in the textile materials so that the chemicals in the catalyzed vapor treatment can begin to remove the surface chemicals and finishes. Then, a second catalyzed vapor treatment is applied to further cleanse and strengthen the textile materials, and the textile materials are blended in one or more blending boxes, and a third catalyzed vapor treatment is applied. When the surface treatments have been removed, a blast of cool air is applied to stop chemical actions in the textile materials. The resulting textile materials can be transported to a subsequent station for further deconstruction.
D06B 1/00 - Application de liquides, de gaz ou de vapeurs aux matières textiles en vue d'effectuer un traitement, p. ex. lavage, teinture, blanchiment, encollage ou imprégnation
D06B 3/00 - Passage des matières textiles à travers des liquides, gaz ou vapeurs en vue d'effectuer un traitement, p. ex. lavage, teinture, blanchiment, encollage, imprégnation
D06B 5/00 - Opérations forçant les liquides, gaz ou vapeurs à traverser les matières textiles en vue d'effectuer un traitement, p. ex. lavage, teinture, blanchiment, encollage, imprégnation
D06B 1/08 - Application de liquides, de gaz ou de vapeurs aux matières textiles en vue d'effectuer un traitement, p. ex. lavage, teinture, blanchiment, encollage ou imprégnation par des orifices au contact, ou presque au contact, de la matière textile
D06M 16/00 - Traitement biochimique des fibres, fils, filés, tissus ou articles fibreux faits de ces matières, p. ex. enzymatique
D06M 13/00 - Traitement des fibres, fils, filés, tissus ou articles fibreux faits de ces matières, avec des composés organiques non macromoléculairesUn tel traitement combiné avec un traitement mécanique
3.
PROCESS FOR PROVIDING ANTIMICROBIAL TREATMENT TO NOV-WOVEN FABRICS
An apparatus and process for disinfecting, and, optionally, sterilizing, fibers and non-woven materials produced from the fibers is disclosed, as well as processes for converting fibers into disinfected and/or sterilized non-woven materials. The process involves contacting the fibers and/or non-woven materials with high temperature steam, and then with UV light, which is preferably UV-C light, or another disinfectant process, such as ozone treatment. The process can also involve process steps such as blending fibers, applying fibers to an air card, subjecting the fibers to one or more carding steps, subjecting the carded fibers to non-woven process steps, and chemically treating the fibers and/or non-woven materials. The resulting non-woven materials can be used, for example, in personal care, baby care (including baby wipes), cosmetic applications, household cleaning, automotive, industrial cleaning applications, industrial uses, and the like.
A61L 2/00 - Procédés ou appareils de désinfection ou de stérilisation de matériaux ou d'objets autres que les denrées alimentaires ou les lentilles de contactAccessoires à cet effet
D04H 1/00 - Non-tissés formés uniquement ou principalement de fibres coupées ou autres fibres similaires relativement courtes
4.
PROCESS FOR PREPARING FIBERS FOR USE IN REJUVENATED LEATHER SUBSTRATES
A process for converting post-industrial or post-consumer waste leather materials to leather fibers is disclosed. The process involves obtaining post-industrial or post-consumer waste leather materials with a surface finish, removing the surface finish, reduced the size of the materials to a size between about 0.5 and about 3 inches in length and in width, and adding a surfactant. After the surfactant has been added, the waste leather materials are again reduced in size to between 3mm and 9mm in length to form leather fibers, and a humectant and/or lubricant is added to the fibers, optionally after first opening up with steam. FTIR or other analytical chemistry can be used to identify the surface finishes before they are removed, which allows for selection of the most appropriate treatment to remove the finish.
The present invention relates to an apparatus for quality deconstruction of textile waste materials which comprises an initial feedbox or hopper, a feedbox conveyor, one or more than one serially-connected treatment/deconstruction groups, an outlet conveyor, and a centralized computer controller. The apparatus described herein can produce fibers with one or more enhanced qualities relative to those fibers produced by tearing drums.
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