Closed loop recycling identification system

Abstract

This invention provides a closed-loop recycling and identification system. During the process of reprocessing recycled materials into yarn, a specific tracking agent is added before the product is manufactured. This product is sold to consumers. When consumers return the product to recyclers after use, the recyclers can detect whether the yarn contains the specific tracking agent. If the tracking agent is confirmed, the product is recycled and sent to a recycling plant for further processing into short fibers or polyester granules. These granules are then sent to downstream manufacturers for reuse. This circular system ensures that all products are environmentally friendly recycled materials, allowing for repeated recycling and reuse, reducing environmental pollution, saving energy and carbon emissions, and lowering costs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention provides a closed-loop recycling and identification system, particularly one that incorporates a tracer during the yarn spinning process to recycle used textile products and provide them back to the market in a reusable and recycled manner. Prior Technology

[0002] Currently, most used plastic bottles, old clothes, and waste textiles worldwide are either recycled or disposed of as waste through incineration or landfill. However, the carbon dioxide produced by incineration contributes to the greenhouse effect and generates harmful substances. Landfills, on the other hand, discharge wastewater and odors containing harmful substances, causing serious pollution to the living environment and the Earth's environment.

[0003] In recent years, both the government and private sector have implemented recycling programs for used PET bottles (polyethylene terephthalate bottles). For example, Taiwan Patent I317100, "Recycling Method and System," mentions that used products destined for waste can be reused as intermediate raw materials for manufacturing products, thus providing a method and system for recycling products using minimal energy. However, this patent is a group-based system. While each upstream and downstream member can know the other members, there is no real control mechanism to manage each step (the quantity). Although the patent uses identification tags to confirm the management information for recycling, these tags are not internal to the product itself, so there is a risk of falsification. Furthermore, the patent data includes transaction prices and bonuses, which can easily lead to transaction disputes. Therefore, this technology still has problems that need to be addressed.

[0004] Given that existing recycling systems are not ideal, the inventor, based on years of experience in research, design, manufacturing and marketing in this industry, set out to develop a solution, hoping to develop an effective recycling and reprocessing system to promote the development of this industry. Thus, after much conceptualization, this invention came into being. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The main objective of this invention is to provide a closed-loop recycling identification system. This system incorporates a tracer during the yarn spinning process of recycled products, ensuring that the yarn, woven fabric, and finished products contain tracer components. This clearly demonstrates the origin of the recycled materials. When recycling secondhand products or old clothes, the system can prove / trace the source, allowing for acceptance of the recycling. Furthermore, the finished products can be fully recycled and reused through the operation of the closed-loop recycling identification system, achieving the effect of repeated recycling and reuse.

[0006] A second objective of this invention is to provide a closed-loop recycling identification system. By utilizing the operation of the closed-loop recycling identification system, all products manufactured can be recycled and reused, thereby saving energy, reducing carbon emissions, reducing environmental pollution, and helping to lower costs.

[0007] The technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above-mentioned objectives include: a first process and a second process; the first process includes: a polyester material recycling process: processing general recycled sources and extracting polyester materials; a spinning process: spinning the polyester materials into yarn, and adding a tracking agent during the spinning process so that the yarn contains the tracking agent component; a weaving process: weaving the yarn containing the tracking agent into fabric; a product manufacturing process: manufacturing the fabric containing the tracking agent... The fabric is made into clothing or other textiles; the second process includes: a sorting and cleaning process: collecting and washing the recycled materials containing traceable substances; a sorting and processing process: separating the polyester materials from the recycled materials containing traceable substances; a shredding and fiber process: shredding the blended polyester materials and scraping out the polyester fibers; a crushing and granulation process: converting 100% polyester materials into polyester fiber granules; and a transfer process: transferring the materials into the spinning process of the first process, forming a closed-loop recycling process. Since the yarn, woven fabric, and finished products contain traceable substances, the source of the recycled materials can be clearly identified, allowing for traceability and recycling.

[0008] The typical sources of recycled polyester materials in the process described can be PET bottles, old clothes, accessories, polyester fiber products from industrial and home textiles, and used fabrics / textile waste.

[0009] The polyester material in the first process can be recycled polyester fibers extracted from recycled PET bottles, old clothes, accessories, industrial and household textiles, and used fabrics / textile waste; the recycled PET bottles are crushed into polyester fiber particles, which are then extruded and extracted into long yarns.

[0010] The yarn spinning process described herein involves reprocessing polyester fibers into long-fiber yarn.

[0011] The yarn spinning process described herein involves reprocessing polyester fibers into long yarns and then cutting them into short yarns as needed.

[0012] The general sources of recycling include: recycled used clothing, polyester products from industrial and household goods, and recycled used polyester fabrics / textile waste, for the extraction of recycled polyester fibers to be spun into staple yarn.

[0013] The closed-loop recycling and identification system incorporates traceable items at a weight of 1% or less during the yarn spinning process.

[0014] The tracked object is one of the fibers of different materials or different shapes in the yarn.

[0015] The tracked material refers to the different colored fiber portions of the yarn.

[0016] The closed-loop recycling identification system further includes a sales process: selling textile products containing traceable items.

[0017] The closed-loop recycling identification system further includes a consumer-end process: the textile products purchased by consumers contain traceable materials.

[0018] The system incorporates multiple recycling plants, spinning mills, weaving mills, product manufacturers, and sales outlets that have been certified by the system's certification and licensing unit into a blockchain, forming a blockchain.

[0019] This system utilizes a blockchain network for the control and management of a closed-loop recycling and identification system. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0020] Figure 1 is a flowchart of the present invention; Figure 2 is a system structure diagram of the present invention; Figure 3 is a structure diagram of the procedure for adding a purchase order in the present invention. Implementation

[0021] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a diagram of the closed-loop recycling identification system of the present invention. It includes a first process 10 and a second process 20. The first process 10 is applied to general recycling sources, which refers to recycling sources that do not contain traceable materials.

[0022] The first process 10 includes: firstly, a polyester material recycling process 11 is carried out, in which the general recycling sources are processed and recycled polyester materials are extracted by the recycling plant 110. The general recycling sources include recycled PET bottles, which are mechanically cut into thin sheets and crushed into polyester fiber particles; recycled old clothes and accessories, which are mechanically shredded after being cleaned and having parts removed, and recycled polyester fibers are scraped out; recycled industrial and household polyester fiber products, which are cleaned and then mechanically shredded to extract recycled polyester fibers; and used fabrics / textile waste, which are mechanically shredded to extract recycled polyester fibers.

[0023] The 100% polyester fiber obtained after processing is converted into polyester granules, or the recycled polyester fiber is used in a yarn spinning process 12 to spin the recycled polyester fiber into yarn. The polyester fiber granules are drawn into long yarns by the spinning mill 120, or the long yarns are cut into short yarns as needed; the spinning mill 120 can also spin the recycled polyester fiber into short yarns.

[0024] A tracking element 121 is added to the yarn spinning process 12. The tracking element 121 is added at 1% or less by weight during the spinning process, so that the yarn contains products that can be identified and tracked to determine whether they are products manufactured by the process of this invention. The tracking element 121 can be a part of the yarn containing different substances, different shaped fibers, or different colored fibers.

[0025] Different substances can be added to the yarn, such as silver ions or one of the minerals as a tracer 121.

[0026] Different shaped fibers (irregular cross sections) can also be added to the yarn, such as: round, triangular, W-shaped, M-shaped, four T-shaped, U-shaped, W-shaped, X-shaped, Y-shaped, Z-shaped, cross-shaped, double cross-shaped, cup-shaped, snowman-shaped, pentagonal, hollow round, hollow cross-shaped, hollow Y-shaped, or combinations thereof, etc., as a tracking element 121.

[0027] You can also mix a small amount of a specific color into the yarn as a tracer 121, such as red yarn, but with a small amount of green element mixed in as a tracer 121.

[0028] The short-fiber yarns from the different sources mentioned above are all 100% homogenized polyester yarns, which are then used to manufacture textile / fabric products.

[0029] Next, the yarn undergoes a weaving process 13, where a weaving mill 130 weaves the yarn containing the tracer 121 into fabric. Then, a product manufacturing process 14 is carried out, where a product manufacturing plant 140 makes clothing or other products from the fabric containing the tracer 121. The products are then sold to consumers 16 through an exporter, distributor, or retailer via a sales process 15.

[0030] Clothing or other products made through the above process can be traced back to prove that they were recycled and remanufactured using the system of the present invention through the included traceability item 121, so that they can be traced back to their source and recycled for reuse.

[0031] The recycling source processing system containing traceable material 121 adopts a second process 20, which includes: firstly, a sorting and cleaning process 21 is carried out. The designated recycling plant 110 can centrally collect the recycling source containing traceable material 121, remove dirt first, and then remove buttons, zippers and other non-100% polyester materials from the residual by-products. Alternatively, antimicrobial treatment can be added and the product can be bagged to maintain cleanliness.

[0032] Next, the recycled source containing tracer 121, which has been cleaned, undergoes a pre-spinning sorting process 22, and is pulverized into fibers according to its composition. For example, if the recycled source is composed of 100% polyester fiber, it is pulverized and converted into polyester fiber particles in process 24; or the blended material that is not 100% polyester fiber is shredded and the polyester fibers are scraped out in process 23.

[0033] It is also possible to further categorize different materials by color when classifying them by composition.

[0034] The second process 20 is transferred to process 25, where fibers classified according to different materials are obtained. 100% polyester fibers are made into polyester fiber granules, and new tracking material 121 is added to spin them into long fiber yarns; or recycled blended polyester fibers are taken out, and new tracking material 121 is added to spin them into short fiber yarns, which are then continued into the yarn spinning process 12 in the first process 10 and its subsequent processes, forming a closed-loop recycling process that can be repeated again and again.

[0035] This invention incorporates traceable components within the yarn, woven fabric, and finished clothing or other textiles. These traceable components can be visually inspected (microscopically), clearly demonstrating the material's recycling origin. When old clothes are recycled, this traceability can be proven, allowing for acceptance into the recycling process. The resulting products can be fully recycled and reused through a closed-loop recycling process, achieving the effect of repeated recycling and reuse.

[0036] The polyester fibers recovered in this invention are recycled using a closed-loop recycling process. The products made from these fibers can be fully recycled and reused, which can save energy, reduce carbon emissions, reduce environmental pollution, and help reduce costs.

[0037] Please refer to Figure 2, which is a system structure diagram of the present invention. The present invention is a closed-loop recycling identification system 100 applied in a blockchain network for control. The system includes multiple recycling plants 110, multiple spinning mills 120, multiple weaving mills 130, multiple product manufacturing plants 140, multiple sales terminals 150, multiple consumer terminals 160, and a cloud database 101. Except for the consumer terminal 160, each of them can individually upload its production record data to the cloud database 101 of the system 100.

[0038] Furthermore, only manufacturers—including the recycling plant 110, spinning mill 120, weaving mill 130, product manufacturer 140, and sales outlet 150—are certified by the closed-loop recycling identification system 100 and authorized to use it. They obtain recycling identification marks issued by the system 100 through certification, allowing consumers 160 to verify that the products they purchase are indeed made from recycled sources. Similarly, consumers 160 can also directly or through the closed-loop recycling identification system 100 to have textiles containing traceable material 121 recycled when they need to be disposed of.

[0039] This system records 100% of the data at every stage, including the source of the recycled materials, traceable items, production records, purchase records, and shipment records.

[0040] Please refer to Figure 3, which is a structural diagram of the purchase order procedure added to this invention. This invention further includes a purchase order procedure 30, which includes: when the sales end 150 wants to sell a product made of recycled materials, such as clothing or home textiles, it can place an order with a qualified product manufacturer 140 through the matchmaking of the certified and licensed unit of this system 100; at this time, the product manufacturer 140 can place an order with a qualified weaving mill 130 for the amount of fabric needed for the product through the matchmaking of the certified and licensed unit of this system 100; similarly, the weaving mill 130 then places an order with the spinning mill 120 for the amount of yarn needed to produce the fabric through the matchmaking of the certified and licensed unit of this system 100; the spinning mill 120 then uses the same procedure to obtain the amount of polyester fiber granules or recycled polyester fibers from the recycling plant 110 for the required amount of yarn to be drawn or twisted into yarn through the matchmaking of the certified and licensed unit of this system 100. This layer-by-layer control is used to form another closed recycling identification system.

[0041] This system 100 sets the conditions for adding trackable items 121 in the cloud database 101, so that the recycling plant 110 can identify that the products obtained by the consumer 160 are recycled products of this system 100. Furthermore, it can control each producer (who is also the consumer) in the entire production process on a batch / item-by-item basis as needed; even the sales end 150 can use the system 100 to certify and license (control) units, specifying the source of its initial raw materials. By controlling the output date and quantity of each production stage, the system can ultimately produce products with a clear and verifiable story. Finally, the consumer 160 can also verify the QR code of the products produced by this system to ensure that they are environmentally friendly and recyclable.

[0042] The conditions for tracking materials can be set by having different substances, different shapes of fibers, or different colors of fibers in the yarn.

[0043] Different substances can be added to the yarn, such as silver ions or one of the minerals as a tracer 121.

[0044] Different shaped fibers (irregular cross sections) can also be added to the yarn, such as: round, triangular, W-shaped, M-shaped, four T-shaped, U-shaped, W-shaped, X-shaped, Y-shaped, Z-shaped, cross-shaped, double cross-shaped, cup-shaped, snowman-shaped, pentagonal, hollow round, hollow cross-shaped, hollow Y-shaped, or combinations thereof, etc., as a tracking element 121.

[0045] You can also mix a small amount of a specific color into the yarn as a tracer 121, such as red yarn, but with a small amount of green element mixed in as a tracer 121.

[0046] Recycling plant 110 certified by closed-loop recycling identification system 100 can obtain general recycling sources through closed-loop recycling identification system 100. General recycling sources refer to recycling sources that do not contain traceable items. After the recycling source is certified and authorized by the certification (control) unit of closed-loop recycling identification system 100, it can be added to the traceable items 121 and enter the operation of the production recycling and recycling process of this system, thereby expanding the production capacity and processing more waste for recycling and reuse.

[0047] In summary, the present invention is indeed a superior concept, and therefore a patent application is filed in accordance with the law. However, the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. All variations, design changes, modifications, substitutions, combinations, simplifications, and equivalent substitutions derived from the technical means of the present invention should fall within the scope of the patent application of the present invention.

[0048] 10: First Process

[0049] 11: Process for recycling polyester materials

[0050] 12: Yarn spinning process

[0051] 121: Tracking Object

[0052] 13: Weaving Process

[0053] 14: Product Manufacturing Process

[0054] 15: Sales Process

[0055] 16: Consumers

[0056] 20: Second Process

[0057] 21: Categorized Cleaning Process

[0058] 22: Classification and Processing Flow

[0059] 24: Crushing and conversion into polyester fiber granules process

[0060] 23: Process for scraping out polyester fibers

[0061] 25: Transfer Process

[0062] 30: Purchase Order Procedure

[0063] 100: Closed-loop recycling identification system

[0064] 101: Cloud Database

[0065] 110: Recycling Plant

[0066] 120: Spinning mill

[0067] 130: Weaving Factory

[0068] 140: Product manufacturing plant

[0069] 150: Sales end

[0070] 160: Consumer side

Claims

1. A closed-loop recycling identification system, comprising: A first process and a second process; The first process includes: a polyester material recycling process: processing general recycling sources and extracting polyester materials; a spinning process: spinning the polyester materials into yarn, adding tracers during the spinning process to make the yarn contain tracer components; a weaving process: weaving the yarn containing tracers into fabrics; and a product manufacturing process: making the fabrics containing tracers into clothing or other textiles. The second process includes: a sorting and cleaning process: collecting and washing the recycling sources containing tracers; and a sorting and processing process. The recycling process focuses on separating polyester materials from the source: a shredding process: the blended polyester material is shredded and polyester fibers are scraped out; a crushing and granulation process: 100% polyester material is converted into polyester fiber granules; a transfer process: the spinning process in the first process is carried out, forming a closed-loop recycling process; the traceable material is 1% by weight of fibers that are different in color from the yarn; since the yarn, woven fabric and finished products contain traceable material components, the source of the material recycling can be clearly proven, allowing for traceability and recycling.

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