Device and method for sorting textile products

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for sorting textile products. Comprising a belt conveyor (8) designed to advance a plurality of textile products continuously, a first detection station (3) for detecting the structure and color of individual textile products, a second detection station (10) for detecting the composition of individual textile products, positioned at a predetermined position along the belt conveyor and designed to be driven from the belt conveyor (8) a plurality of selection elements (17) on which individual textile products are removed, a computerized command and control unit for selectively controlling the selection elements (17).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a device for sorting textile products.

[0002] In particular, the invention relates to a device for sorting textile products which is able to identify a number of characteristics of individual products and direct them towards specific relevant collectors.

[0003] The invention also relates to a method for sorting textile products. Background Art

[0004] Historically, the recycling and reuse of textile products has been entrusted to so-called "sorters", specifically specialized workers who are able to tell the composition of an item of clothing or other textile product by a quick glance or, at best, by helping themselves by feeling the product with their fingers.

[0005] Over the years, with the spread of a certain level of well-being in many countries, the recycling and reuse of waste or second-hand textile products has declined, also due to the poor economic sustainability of a large number of manual activities, which are therefore costly, take a long time to execute and therefore have limited profitability.

[0006] On the one hand, there is a decreasing number of manual selections of recycled textile products, and on the other hand, due to the increase in well-being levels, the amount of discarded textile materials has increased significantly, thus creating major problems in the correct use or reuse of these materials.

[0007] It should also be noted that fashion demand changes so quickly that this means that many new clothing items that are unsold at the end of the season do not find any real outlet in the marketplace as they are not considered very attractive by potential buyers due to being out of fashion and therefore become waste.

[0008] It is clear that in recent years, a combination of these factors has led to the generation of large amounts of difficult-to-place textile waste, which is usually destined for incineration.

[0009] In recent years, increasingly urgent ecological demands, combined with a more mature awareness among many buyers of the importance of limiting the environmental impact of the disposal of used textile products, have led to a greater awareness of the issues of recovery and recycling of textile materials.

[0010] Recent inputs, including from institutions, mean that it is no longer just charities and non-profit associations that are interested in the reuse of used textile products, which has triggered a virtuous process involving businesses and consumers focusing on the recovery and reuse of textile products.

[0011] In particular, in Italy, for example, the recycling of used clothing has received a wide response, both from the point of view of actual recycling and reuse, which has led to the need for a significant upgrade of the equipment designed for its processing.

[0012] In particular, regarding the recycling of the raw materials that make up textile materials, their sorting activities are essential in order to be able to direct uniform quantities of materials towards those who are responsible for giving them new life.

[0013] As mentioned above, the actions of operators who manually handle the sorting of textile materials have now clearly become uneconomical and inefficient.

[0014] An example of a sorting device is described in patent document US20022161298A1. Summary of the invention

[0015] The object of the present invention is to provide a sorting apparatus and method which are able to overcome the disadvantages associated with prior art methods for sorting textile materials for recycling.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for sorting textile products which is effective, practical and inexpensive to implement.

[0017] According to the present invention, these and other objects are achieved by a method and a device for sorting textile products comprising the technical features described in the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] With reference to the above objects, the technical features of the present invention are clearly described in the appended claims and its advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description, which shows non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0019] - Figure 1 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of a sorting device according to the present invention;

[0020] - Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic plan view of the device shown, seen from above;

[0021] - Figure 3 is a perspective view from above of a detail of the apparatus of the preceding figures;

[0022] - Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A schematic side view of a detail of;

[0023] - Figure 5 Shown along Figure 4 A sectional view taken by plane CC in FIG.

[0024] - Figure 6 is a perspective view from above of further details of the apparatus of the preceding figures;

[0025] - Figure 7 yes Figure 6 Schematic side view of a detail of. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown in the figure, the number 1 as a whole indicates an apparatus for sorting textile products (not shown) made according to the present invention.

[0027] The sorting device 1 extends longitudinally along a first predetermined direction D1 , and the sorting device 1 is hereinafter also referred to as device 1 for the sake of simplicity.

[0028] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the device 1 has an area 2 for loading the above-mentioned textile products, not shown.

[0029] The apparatus 1 comprises a first inspection station 3 adjacent to the loading area 2, where the structure and color of the individual textile products are inspected.

[0030] The term “structure” refers to the type of connection of the yarns in a textile product and is classified into three different types: knitted structure, non-knitted structure, and weft and warp structure.

[0031] For the purpose of this specification, a non-woven structure is considered to be a textile structure carried out on a specific framework that does not allow the threads used to separate after breaking, in other words, it prevents the textile from breaking.

[0032] The first inspection station 3 comprises a camera 4 for inspecting the structure and color of the textile product.

[0033] Camera 4 is a color camera.

[0034] The camera 4 is a camera operating in the visible spectrum.

[0035] According to an embodiment, the camera 4 is a matrix camera, in other words it is capable of producing a two-dimensional image of the captured scene.

[0036] Advantageously, this type of camera is used to capture images of a static type, in other words when the textile product is stationary in the capture field of the camera, even if for a limited time.

[0037] According to other embodiments, the camera 4 is a linear camera.

[0038] Advantageously, this type of camera is used to capture images of a non-static type, in other words when the textile product moves in the capture area of ​​the camera.

[0039] like Figures 3 to 5 As shown, with reference to the details of the first inspection station 3, the first inspection station 3 comprises a support plane 5 for supporting the above-mentioned textile products to be sorted, not shown.

[0040] refer to Figure 3 On the above-mentioned support plane 5 there is a window 6 which is advantageously made of glass or other transparent scratch-resistant material.

[0041] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown in FIG. 4 , the camera 4 is positioned below the window 6 for capturing individual textile products placed on the window 6 .

[0042] The first detection station 3 also comprises an illumination device 7 having the shape of a circular crown extending around the above-mentioned camera 4 .

[0043] In other words, the camera 4 is positioned substantially at the centre of the circular crown defined by the lighting means 7 .

[0044] The lighting device 7 having the shape of a circular crown defines for the sorting device 1 respective first lighting devices configured to illuminate the aforementioned textile products, not shown, from below through the window 6 .

[0045] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , the sorting device 1 comprises a belt conveyor 8 extending longitudinally along the first direction D1 , which is designed to continuously advance the textile products.

[0046] The belt conveyor 8 is basically of known type and comprises a belt 9 which is passed around respective pulleys, at least one of which is driven by a motor.

[0047] The direction of advance of the belt 9 of the belt conveyor 8 is indicated by arrow F in the drawing.

[0048] Therefore, the above-mentioned textile product (not shown) also advances in the direction of arrow F along the device 1.

[0049] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As clearly shown in FIG. 1 , the belt conveyor 8 extends from the first inspection station 3 in the direction indicated by the arrow F immediately downstream thereof.

[0050] In the direction of arrow F, downstream of the first station 3 , the device 1 comprises a second detection station 10 .

[0051] The second detection station 10 is configured to detect the composition of the individual textile products, in other words the composition of the yarn(s) constituting the individual textile products.

[0052] For this purpose, Figure 1 As shown in , in more detail Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown in FIG. 1 , the second inspection station 10 comprises a hyperspectral camera 11 designed to frame individual textile products and acquire corresponding images.

[0053] The operation of the above-mentioned hyperspectral camera 11 is explained in more detail below.

[0054] like Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown in FIG. 1 , at the second inspection station 10 , the device 1 has a plurality of linear lighting units 12 positioned parallel to each other, and the second direction D2 is perpendicular to the above-mentioned first direction D1 .

[0055] The plurality of lighting units 12 define a corresponding second lighting device 13 for the device 1 , for illuminating a region 14 having a linear extension, in order to acquire an image by the hyperspectral camera 11 .

[0056] Advantageously, according to the embodiment shown, each lighting unit 12 comprises a plurality of lighting bodies 15 which are aligned and positioned successively according to the above-mentioned direction D2.

[0057] The second inspection station 10 includes a frame 16 for supporting the hyperspectral camera 11 and the lighting unit 12 .

[0058] The lighting unit 12 is pivoted on the frame 16 so as to be angularly adjusted around a corresponding oscillation axis parallel to the second direction D2 , thereby achieving optimal illumination of the photographing area of ​​the hyperspectral camera 11 .

[0059] like Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , the sorting device 1 comprises a plurality of selection elements 17 which are located at predetermined positions along the conveyor belt, downstream of the above-mentioned first and second detection stations 3 , 10 in the advancement direction F of the belt 9 .

[0060] As described in more detail below, the selection element 17 is designed to remove individual textile products from the belt conveyor.

[0061] In order to collect the above-mentioned textile products, not shown, removed from the belt conveyor 8 by the selection element 10 , the device 1 comprises a plurality of collecting containers 18 positioned at the selection element 17 .

[0062] In other words, the above-mentioned collecting container 18 is positioned at the side of the belt conveyor 8, below the belt conveyor, for collecting the removed textile products by gravity.

[0063] According to the embodiment shown, the selection element 17 comprises a pneumatic nozzle 19 designed to generate corresponding air jets for striking the above-mentioned and not shown textile products advancing through the belt conveyor 8 and removing them from the surface of the belt 9 and then selectively falling into corresponding collecting containers 18.

[0064] The pneumatic nozzle 19 is supplied in a known manner by a pneumatic system of a substantially known type and is not further shown or described.

[0065] Advantageously, according to the embodiment shown, each selection element comprises three pneumatic nozzles positioned successively adjacent to one another along the direction of advancement F.

[0066] Each nozzle 19 is controlled by a corresponding electrically controlled valve, not shown.

[0067] The three nozzles 19 of each selection element 17 are advantageously controlled to discharge air under pressure simultaneously or successively, depending on the consistency of the textile product and / or its extension along the belt 9 , in order to optimize the removal from the belt 9 .

[0068] Advantageously, the sorting device 1 comprises a collecting container 18 positioned at the end 8a of the belt conveyor 8 for collecting any textile products not previously removed and / or other collecting containers 18 not intended for positioning along the conveyor 8 in any case.

[0069] The device 1 comprises a computerized command and control unit, not shown, operatively connected to the camera 4 , the hyperspectral camera 11 , the pneumatic nozzle 19 of the selection element 17 , and an encoder, also not shown, controlling the movement of the belt 9 .

[0070] In other words, the computerized command and control unit is configured to process the images acquired by the first camera 4 and the second camera 11 and the detection stations 3 , 10 and to selectively control the selection element 17 .

[0071] In use, the above-mentioned textile products, not shown, are transferred to the loading area 2 .

[0072] Advantageously, an operator positioned near the loading area 2 picks out the textile products and positions them one by one on the window 6 in such a way that they are illuminated by the lighting means 7 and the camera 4 captures the textile products and acquires a matrix image.

[0073] Once an image of the significant portion of the textile product has been acquired, a situation advantageously indicated to the operator by acoustic and / or optical signals, the operator moves the textile product on the belt 9 of the belt conveyor 8 , upstream of the second inspection station 10 .

[0074] As the belt 9 advances in the direction of arrow F, the textile product passes beneath the hyperspectral camera 11 and is captured thereby.

[0075] The hyperspectral camera 11 is of the linear type, that is to say it scans a strip or segment, thus making a series of scans during the passage of the textile product.

[0076] Once all textile products have been scanned, a computerized command and control unit performs a process by means of which the background is eliminated from the image and a region of interest (ROI) is selected from the image of the textile product.

[0077] The above scanning is performed while the above illumination unit 12 illuminates the region of interest with a corresponding light beam.

[0078] Advantageously, multiple strips or sectors are acquired over the region of interest (because, as mentioned above, it is a linear camera).

[0079] Advantageously, for example, the number of strips acquired is approximately five hundred.

[0080] In a substantially known manner, the hyperspectral camera 11 also forms, by processing carried out by a computerized control unit, an emission spectrum for each pixel of each strip acquired.

[0081] The computerized command and control unit stores a plurality of reference spectra, each of which is associated with a predetermined composition of the yarn.

[0082] In short, a computerized command and control unit compares a curve representing the detected spectrum with a reference spectrum, identifying the composition of each band to a greater or lesser approximation.

[0083] Once the composition of all acquired bands (eg the five hundred bands mentioned above) has been established by comparison with a reference spectrum, they are processed with the aid of a dedicated algorithm and the deviations between the spectra and the reference are calculated in order to identify the overall composition of the textile product.

[0084] Merely as an example, some reference spectra inserted into the computerized command and control unit memory are listed as follows: pure wool, pure cotton, polyester, nylon, 50% to 70% wool blends, 70% to 80% wool blends, 80% to 90% wool blends, and synthetic blends mixed with elastomers.

[0085] After the steps of acquiring the image and processing it are completed, the path of the textile product continues on the belt 9 of the belt conveyor 8 .

[0086] As mentioned above, since the computerized command and control unit has assigned a very precise composition to the yarn for manufacturing the textile product, the same computerized unit knows the exact position of the textile product at every moment of its advancement on the belt 9 with the help of the above-mentioned encoder connected to the belt conveyor 8.

[0087] Thus, the computerized control unit controls the selection element 17 by activating specific pneumatic nozzles 19 located at the stations assigned to the specific combination of color, structure and composition of the individual textile product.

[0088] In other words, each collecting container 18 is assigned to a specific combination of color, structure and composition, and when a textile product corresponding to this specific combination passes through, the pneumatic nozzle 19 positioned close to it is activated in such a way that it falls precisely into this collecting container 18.

[0089] Depending on the identified class (color, structure, composition) and the number of types prepared for each class, the number of collecting containers 18 positioned along the belt conveyor 8 varies significantly.

[0090] For example, for ten component types, eight color types and three structure types, there should be forty (8x10x3=40) collecting containers 18 to be able to accommodate all relevant possible combinations.

[0091] Since this would probably lead to a considerable extension of the belt conveyor 8 and thus make the whole device too cumbersome, the sorting could be carried out one by one, for example, by means of a single succession of lanes, each lane being associated with one of the categories listed above: colour, structure and composition.

[0092] In this way, the number of collection containers 18 required for the operation of the device will be limited by the maximum number of categories established between all categories. According to the above example, the number of containers required will be ten, that is, determined by the planned ten component categories.

[0093] Advantageously, if Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , the collecting container 18 arranged at the conveyor end 8a is designed to collect textile products which are not assigned to a specific collecting container 18, for example textile products which are not identified as belonging to the category provided for the specific selection setting.

[0094] As mentioned above, the present invention also relates to a method for sorting textile products.

[0095] The method comprises the following steps:

[0096] - detecting the texture and color of the textile product by means of a camera 4 designed to frame and acquire an image of an individual textile product,

[0097] - detecting the composition of the textile products by means of a hyperspectral camera 11 designed to frame individual textile products and acquire their relevant images,

[0098] - advancing the textile product by means of a belt conveyor 8,

[0099] - providing a plurality of selection elements 17 which are arranged at specific locations along the belt conveyor 8 and are designed to remove textile products from the belt conveyor 8,

[0100] - Processing the images captured by the above-mentioned camera 4 and selectively controlling the selection element 17. The method comprises the step of selectively collecting the textile products removed from the belt conveyor 8 using a plurality of collecting containers 18 positioned at a plurality of selection elements 17.

[0101] The step of detecting the composition of the textile product advantageously comprises the step of acquiring an emission spectrum of the textile product using the hyperspectral camera 11, and wherein the processing step comprises the step of comparing the acquired emission spectrum with a plurality of reference spectra.

[0102] The device 1 and the associated sorting method according to the invention overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages and achieve important advantages.

[0103] A first advantage associated with the present invention is that it provides an apparatus designed for sorting textile products that can be operated in a substantially automatic manner, without requiring specific experience of the operator in the various steps of selecting the products.

[0104] Another advantage associated with the sorting device and the corresponding sorting method according to the invention is its versatility, which in fact can be easily adapted to the specific requirements of the user and easily modified for selecting the categories and types of textile products to be sorted.

Claims

1. A textile product sorting device, comprising: a belt conveyor (8) designed to continuously advance a plurality of textile products, a first inspection station (3), the first inspection station (3) being used to inspect the structure and color of the individual textile products, the first inspection station (3) comprising a camera (4), the camera (4) being designed to frame the individual textile products and acquire relevant images thereof, a second detection station (10) for detecting the composition of individual textile products, the second detection station (10) comprising a hyperspectral camera (11) designed to frame and acquire an image of an individual textile product, a plurality of selection elements (17) arranged at specific positions along the belt conveyor (8) downstream of the first and second detection stations (10), according to the advancement direction (F) of the belt (9) of the belt conveyor (8), the selection elements (17) being designed to remove individual textile products from the belt conveyor, - a computerized control and command unit configured to process the images captured by the cameras (4, 11) of the first (3) and second (10) inspection stations and to selectively control the selection element (17).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The first detection station (3) is placed upstream of the belt conveyor (8) according to the forward direction (F), and has a supporting plane (5) for supporting the textile products, and is characterized in that it includes a window (6) formed in the supporting plane (5), and the camera (4) is arranged below the window (6) for framing a single textile product leaning against the window (6).

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that The first inspection station (3) comprises a first lighting device (7) having a circular crown configuration, which is deployed around the camera (4) and is configured to illuminate the textile product from below through the window (6).

4. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The second detection station (10) comprises a second lighting device (13) for illuminating a linear expansion area (14) for image acquisition by the hyperspectral camera (11), characterized in that the second lighting device (13) comprises a plurality of lighting groups (12) having a linear expansion and arranged parallel to each other.

5. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The selection element (17) comprises a pneumatic nozzle (19) designed to generate a corresponding air jet to enter the textile product.

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that Each of the selection elements (17) comprises three pneumatic nozzles (19) arranged successively adjacent to one another according to the advancement direction (F).

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The device comprises a plurality of collecting containers (18) arranged adjacent to the plurality of selection elements (17), the collecting containers being designed to selectively receive textile products removed from the belt conveyor (8).

8. A method for sorting textile products, comprising the following steps: - detecting the texture and color of the textile product by means of a camera (4) designed to frame and acquire an image of an individual textile product, - detecting the composition of the textile products by means of a hyperspectral camera (11) designed to frame individual textile products and acquire their relevant images, - advancing the textile product by means of a belt conveyor (8), - providing a plurality of selection elements (17) which are arranged at specific positions along the belt conveyor (8) and are designed to remove the textile products from the belt conveyor (8), - Processing the images captured by the camera (4, 11) and selectively controlling the selection element (17).

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The method comprises the step of selectively collecting the textile products removed from the belt conveyor (8) by means of a plurality of collecting containers (18) arranged at the plurality of selection elements (17).

10. The method according to any one of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that The step of detecting the composition of the textile product comprises the step of acquiring the emission spectrum of the textile product by means of the hyperspectral camera (11), and is characterized in that the processing step comprises the step of comparing the acquired emission spectrum with a plurality of reference spectra.

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