Method and system for obtaining purified fabric material from mixed fabric stream, such as stream of one-piece fabric articles

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method (100) for obtaining a purified fabric material (10) from a hybrid fabric stream (MS). The method includes differentiating (110a) a first type of fabric material using a near infrared spectroscopy system. Transferring (110b) the first type of fabric material into the first fabric material portion (2). Differentiating (111a) the first type of fabric material in the first fabric material portion. Transferring (111b) the first type of fabric material into the cleaned first fabric material portion (3). A material monomer size of the material in the cleaned first fabric material portion is reduced (120). After reducing (120) the material monomer size, a material different from the fabric material of the first type is differentiated (130a). Transferring (130b) the material, thereby obtaining a purified textile material. The present disclosure also relates to a system (1) for obtaining a purified fabric material from a mixed fabric stream.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention generally relates to a method for obtaining purified fabric material from a mixed fabric stream, such as a stream of single-piece fabric products. This invention also generally relates to a system for obtaining purified fabric material from a mixed fabric stream, such as a stream of single-piece fabric products. Background Technology

[0002] Fabrics are used in a wide variety of products, the most common being clothing. High demand for new clothing and fabric products leads to the industrial production of increasingly more new products. Producing new fabrics from raw materials requires a significant amount of water and energy, and producing finished fabric products requires even more. This high demand for new clothing and products made from fabrics results in an increase in the amount of fabric waste that needs to be processed.

[0003] One solution to reduce energy and water consumption in the textile industry is to donate used fabrics, allowing them to be reused or used in new ways. However, the vast majority of used fabrics end up in landfills. Another way to manage textile waste is through recycling. By recycling textile materials, they can be reused, and the processing of raw materials for producing new fabrics can be partially avoided. Therefore, used fabrics can also avoid ending up in landfills. Recycling also reduces energy and water consumption compared to producing new products.

[0004] However, for recycled fabric materials to be reused, their quality must be as high as possible. High quality can be achieved by sorting blended fabric materials according to their material, such as cotton or acrylic, or by sorting them according to their color. Currently, sorting can be done manually or by robots. However, existing methods are generally too labor-intensive and too expensive. Furthermore, existing methods cannot sort fabric materials into portions with sufficiently high purity. Therefore, a more precise method is needed to sort blended fabric streams into portions with higher purity levels, as well as an effective and efficient overall fabric recycling method that offers higher profit margins. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the foregoing, the object of this disclosure is to provide an improved method for obtaining purified fabric material from a mixed fabric stream, such as a single-piece fabric product stream.

[0006] Another objective of this disclosure is to provide an improved system for obtaining purified fabric material from a mixed fabric stream, such as a single-piece fabric product stream.

[0007] The aim is also to provide a solution that addresses at least some of the aforementioned problems, namely, to recover or sort mixed fabric streams into different portions with greater precision, and to produce desired fabric materials with higher purity levels compared to existing solutions.

[0008] Another objective is to provide a method for separating fabric materials from other types of materials in a more efficient and generally more cost-effective manner.

[0009] To achieve at least one of the above objectives, and others as will become apparent from the following description, a method having the steps defined in claim 1 is provided according to this disclosure. Preferred variations of the method will be apparent from the dependent claims.

[0010] More specifically, according to a first aspect, a method is provided for obtaining purified fabric material from a mixed fabric stream, such as a single-piece fabric product stream, the method comprising: distinguishing a first type of fabric material from other types of fabric material in the mixed fabric stream using a near-infrared spectroscopy system and / or a visible spectroscopy system; transferring the first type of fabric material relative to other types of fabric material in the mixed fabric stream into a first fabric material portion, thereby sorting out material containing the first type of fabric material from the mixed fabric stream; distinguishing the first type of fabric material from other types of fabric material in the first fabric material portion using a near-infrared spectroscopy system and / or a visible spectroscopy system; and transferring the first type of fabric material relative to other types of fabric material in the first fabric material portion. Other types of fabric materials in the first fabric material section are transferred to the cleaned first fabric material section, thereby separating the material containing the first type of fabric material from the first fabric material section, reducing the material monomer size of the material in the cleaned first fabric material section, and after reducing the material monomer size, using a near-infrared spectroscopy system and / or a visible spectroscopy system to distinguish the material in the cleaned first fabric material section that is different from the first type of fabric material, transferring the material in the cleaned first fabric material section that is different from the first type of fabric material, thereby separating the material in the cleaned first fabric material section that is different from the first type of fabric material, thereby obtaining purified fabric material.

[0011] The advantage of this method lies in performing a third separation step and a third transfer step after the material size reduction step. This is because the material size reduction step aims to separate impurities, such as zippers, buttons, or other types of materials, from the fabric material located in the first fabric material portion. Therefore, the third separation step and the third transfer step can separate impurities from the first fabric material portion. By separating impurities from the first fabric material portion, the purity of the obtained purified fabric material can be further increased.

[0012] It is also advantageous to subject the fabric material to a second sorting and transfer step after the first sorting and transfer steps, as this further increases the purity of the first fabric material portion. The first sorting and transfer steps are performed when all different types of fabric material and potentially other materials are in the mixed fabric stream. Therefore, there may be material monomers missed in the sorting step due to accidental stacking, or material monomers improperly transferred due to said stacking, errors in sorting, or any other possible reason. Thus, by providing the second sorting and transfer steps, improperly sorted material can be separated and then transferred from the first fabric material portion, which further increases the purity of the first fabric material portion. It is generally advantageous to obtain purified fabric material with high purity, as this allows the purified fabric material to be recycled and reused in the same type of product. If the purity is too low, it is impossible to recycle and reuse the purified fabric material in the same type of product. In other words, a satisfactory level of purity is crucial when recycling fabric. The quality of the material may decrease each time it is recycled. The degree of quality decrease depends on the purity level of the purified fabric material. Higher purity levels result in smaller levels of quality degradation. At high purity levels, plastic fabrics can, for example, be recycled back into virgin plastic through a polymerization process.

[0013] Mixed fabric material streams typically include different types of fabric products, such as clothing, curtains, etc. However, it should be noted that mixed fabric material streams can also include other materials that are not necessarily fabric materials. These other materials are generally undesirable and will therefore be transferred so that they are not included in the purified fabric material at the end. In fact, mixed fabric material streams mainly consist of fabric products. Therefore, the contents of the mixed fabric material stream will also be referred to as fabric products. Fabric products are typically introduced into the first separation step one by one as individual fabric products or individual fabric material units. By separating individual fabric products, the accuracy level of the separation and transfer steps can be further increased.

[0014] The sorting step can be configured to sort specific types of materials, colors, or combinations thereof. Each transfer step, based on information from the preceding sorting step, transfers the first type of fabric material that has already been sorted. Transferring means separating the sorted type of fabric material from other types of material in the mixed fabric flow. It can also separate other types of material from the sorted type. In the first and second sorting steps, and the first and second transfer steps, the mixed fabric flow typically includes whole fabric pieces that have been sorted and subsequently transferred. In the third sorting and third transfer steps, the size of the whole fabric pieces has been reduced, so these two steps do not process whole fabric pieces, but rather smaller portions of each fabric piece.

[0015] The method may further include: using a near-infrared spectroscopy system and / or a visible spectroscopy system to distinguish the second type of fabric material from other types of fabric material in the mixed fabric stream from which the first type of fabric material has been transferred; transferring the second type of fabric material relative to other types of fabric material in the mixed fabric stream from which the first type of fabric material has been transferred into a second fabric material portion, thereby sorting out material containing the second type of fabric material from the mixed fabric stream from which the first type of fabric material has been transferred; using a near-infrared spectroscopy system and / or a visible spectroscopy system to distinguish the second type of fabric material from other types of fabric material in the second fabric material portion; and sorting the second type of fabric material... The material is transferred from other types of fabric material in the second fabric material section to the cleaned second fabric material section, thereby separating the material of the second type of fabric material from the second fabric material section, reducing the material monomer size of the material in the cleaned second fabric material section, and after reducing the material monomer size, the material different from the second type of fabric material in the cleaned second fabric material section is distinguished using a near-infrared spectroscopy system and / or a visible spectroscopy system, and the material different from the second type of fabric material in the cleaned second fabric material section is transferred, thereby separating the material different from the second type of fabric material in the cleaned second fabric material section, thereby obtaining a second purified fabric material.

[0016] Adding a separation and transfer step to sort out the second type of fabric material from the mixed fabric stream is advantageous because it allows the method to process more types of material simultaneously, further enhancing its efficiency. The recovery level can also be increased by sorting out the second type of fabric material. The additional steps also reduce the labor intensity of the method by minimizing the need to repeat the process on novel fabric materials that are not of the first type.

[0017] After the first type of fabric material has been transferred from the mixed fabric stream, a step is performed to separate the second type of fabric material from the other types of fabric materials in the mixed fabric stream. The separated and subsequently transferred second type of fabric material undergoes the same purification process as the first type of fabric material, however with different settings designed to purify the second type of fabric material. As an example, the first type of fabric material may be white, while the second type of fabric material may be another color. Therefore, the settings for the corresponding separation step are set to match the corresponding desired type of fabric material. The step of reducing material size may also have different settings depending on the type of fabric material. In other words, the settings for the second type of fabric material may differ from the corresponding settings for the first type of fabric material; as an example, the size may be different.

[0018] The method may further include: using a near-infrared spectroscopy system and / or a visible spectroscopy system to distinguish another type of fabric material from other types of fabric materials in a mixed fabric stream from which the second type of fabric material has been transferred; transferring the other type of fabric material relative to other types of fabric materials in the mixed fabric stream from which the second type of fabric material has been transferred into another fabric material portion, thereby sorting out material containing the other type of fabric material from the mixed fabric stream from which the second type of fabric material has been transferred; using a near-infrared spectroscopy system and / or a visible spectroscopy system to distinguish the other type of fabric material from other types of fabric materials in the other fabric material portion; and sorting the other type of fabric material... The other types of fabric material in the other fabric material section are transferred to the cleaned fabric material section, thereby sorting out the material containing the other type of fabric material from the other fabric material section, reducing the material monomer size of the material in the cleaned fabric material section, and after reducing the material monomer size, the material different from the other type of fabric material in the cleaned fabric material section is distinguished using a near-infrared spectroscopy system and / or a visible spectroscopy system, and the material different from the other type of fabric material in the cleaned fabric material section is transferred, thereby sorting out the material different from the other type of fabric material in the cleaned fabric material section, thereby obtaining another purified fabric material.

[0019] As understood by those skilled in the art, this method can be applied to obtain any required or desired quantity of purified fabric materials. By sorting more types of fabric materials, this method can be easily adapted to the types of sorting systems required in a specific region or country, thereby further increasing the efficiency of the method.

[0020] The obtained purified fabric material, the second purified fabric material (if present), and another purified fabric material (if present) can have a purity level of 85%, preferably 90%, and more preferably 95%.

[0021] A high level of purity ensures or anticipates a high probability that one or more purified fabric materials obtained will have a quality level high enough to be recycled.

[0022] For each type of fabric material, the first type of fabric material, the second type of fabric material (if present), and another type of fabric material (if present) can be distinguished based on the main material and / or main color of each monomer in the mixed fabric flow.

[0023] By differentiating materials based on their primary material or primary color for each type of fabric, desired types of fabric materials can be separated from a mixed fabric stream. Sorting based on primary material and / or primary color can further enhance the possibility of meeting, for example, customer expectations.

[0024] The method may further include: using a near-infrared spectroscopy system and / or a visible spectroscopy system to distinguish the first type of fabric material, the second type of fabric material (if present), and another type of fabric material (if present) from other types of fabric materials in the mixed fabric stream from which the first type of fabric material, the second type of fabric material (if present), or the other type of fabric material (if present) has been transferred; transferring the first type of fabric material, the second type of fabric material (if present), and the other type of fabric material (if present) from other types of fabric materials in the mixed fabric stream from which the first type of fabric material, the second type of fabric material (if present), or the other type of fabric material (if present) has been transferred to a recycled fabric material portion, which is recombined with the initial mixed fabric stream.

[0025] Having material separation and transfer steps in the mixed fabric stream after all types of fabric material have been transferred can be advantageous. Thus, material monomers of each type of fabric material can be sorted and reintroduced to the starting point of the mixed fabric stream. Material monomers of each type of fabric material may not be separated or transferred when they should have been, for various reasons. This could be due to stacking of material monomers, which may not allow all material monomers to be separated, or due to omissions in the transfer or separation steps. Therefore, providing material monomers missed in the first separation and first transfer steps gives them a further chance to be separated and transferred to the correct type of fabric material portion, thereby further enhancing the recovery level of the method. This cycle can continue until the material monomers are correctly sorted. Thus, both the effectiveness and yield of the method are increased.

[0026] The step of reducing the size of a single material unit may include crushing material from a first fabric material portion, material from a second fabric material portion (if present), and material from another fabric material portion (if present).

[0027] Using pulverization to reduce the size of material monomers can be advantageous because it is a well-known and generally cost-effective method. Pulverization can typically be accomplished by a pulverizer.

[0028] After the step of reducing the size of the material unit, the material unit can have a maximum cross-sectional extension of up to 18 mm.

[0029] Reducing the maximum cross-sectional extension to below 18 mm can be advantageous because it increases the success rate when differentiating and transferring certain types of fabric materials into purified fabric materials. The reduced size also facilitates the removal of, for example, zippers, buttons, and non-woven markings from corresponding fabric articles originating from mixed fabric streams. In fact, these zippers, buttons, and non-woven markings can also be reduced in size to correspond to the fabric of the reduced-size fabric article. Since a complete fabric article can have different materials in different parts, reducing the size also increases the chance of finding a single material within the already reduced-size material monomers. Therefore, the purity of the obtained purified fabric material can be further increased.

[0030] The obtained purified fabric material, the obtained second purified fabric material (if present), and the obtained another purified fabric material (if present) may be one of the following groups: cotton, viscose fiber, acrylic fiber, polyester, wool, nylon, cotton denim, natural white cotton, fabric material comprising more than 90% viscose fiber, fabric material comprising more than 90% acrylic fiber, fabric material comprising more than 90% cotton, fabric material comprising more than 80% wool, material comprising more than 90% cotton denim, material comprising more than 90% natural white cotton, and material comprising more than 90% polyester.

[0031] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, this method is suitable for obtaining a variety of different fabric materials, and it can be applied to other types or other compositions of fabric materials.

[0032] The differentiation step may include acquiring the spectrum of the aforementioned type of fabric material originating from the mixed fabric stream, and the transfer step includes transferring the aforementioned type of fabric material originating from the mixed fabric stream based on the acquired spectrum.

[0033] When the sorting process acquires spectra, these can be compared with a database containing spectra or with simplified spectra, or an exclusion method can be used to determine which objects should be transferred. As one embodiment, the database may contain a range of spectra considered to be of a certain type of fabric material, and if the spectrum matches any of these spectra, it is transferred. Another embodiment involves using simplified spectra, where some property is searched in the spectral distribution map, and if the acquired spectrum matches this property, it is transferred. Objects originating from the mixed fabric stream can be within the mixed fabric stream itself, or in any subsequently sorted portion, such as a portion of the first type of fabric material or a cleaned portion of the first type of fabric material.

[0034] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, a system is provided for obtaining purified fabric material from a mixed fabric stream, such as a single-piece fabric product stream. The system includes: a first classification and sorting device, a cleaning classification and sorting device, a material monomer size reduction device, and a purification classification and sorting device. The first classification and sorting device includes a first classification and sorting station configured to receive the mixed fabric stream. The first classification and sorting station includes a near-infrared (NIR) spectral system and / or a visible spectral system configured to distinguish a first type of fabric material from other types of fabric material in the mixed fabric stream. A discharge unit is configured to transfer the first type of fabric material relative to other types of fabric material in the mixed fabric stream into a first fabric material portion, thereby sorting material containing the first type of fabric material from the mixed fabric stream. The cleaning classification and sorting device includes a first cleaning classification and sorting station configured to receive a first fabric material portion from the first classification and sorting device. The first cleaning classification and sorting station includes a near-infrared (NIR) spectral system and / or a visible spectral system configured to distinguish the first type of fabric material from other types of fabric material in the mixed fabric stream. The first fabric material is separated from other types of fabric materials in the first fabric material section; and a discharge unit is configured to transfer the first type of fabric material relative to other types of fabric materials in the first fabric material section to the cleaned first fabric material section, thereby sorting out the material containing the first type of fabric material from the first fabric material section, wherein the material monomer size reduction device includes a first pulverizer configured to receive the cleaned first fabric material section and reduce the size of the material monomers in the cleaned first fabric material section, wherein the purification classification and sorting device includes a first purification classification and sorting station configured to receive the cleaned first fabric material section from the material monomer size reduction device, the first purification classification and sorting station including: a near-infrared NIR spectral system and / or a visible spectral system configured to distinguish materials in the cleaned first fabric material section that are different from the first type of fabric material; and a discharge unit configured to transfer materials in the cleaned first fabric material section that are different from the first type of fabric material, thereby sorting out the materials in the cleaned first fabric material section that are different from the first type of fabric material, thereby obtaining purified fabric material.

[0035] Generally, the features in this aspect provide similar advantages to those discussed above with respect to the preceding aspects of the invention. The features of the method can be provided to the system individually or in combination. Therefore, to avoid excessive repetition, the aforementioned features and advantages will not be repeated.

[0036] The system can be configured to process between 3 and 5 tons of mixed fabric material per hour, and preferably between 4 and 4.5 tons of mixed fabric material per hour.

[0037] Systems capable of processing between 3 and 5 tons of mixed fabric material per hour can be advantageous because they can handle large quantities of mixed fabrics, potentially facilitating collaboration between cities and regions in the processing and recycling of mixed fabric materials. Furthermore, economies of scale can be achieved, such as reduced overall labor and / or energy requirements.

[0038] Further applications of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description given below. However, it should be understood that while the detailed description and specific embodiments indicate preferred variations of the inventive concept, they are given by way of example only, as various changes and modifications within the scope of the inventive concept will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

[0039] Therefore, it should be understood that the inventive concept is not limited to the specific components of the described device, as such device can vary. It should also be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular variations only and is not intended to be limiting. Attached Figure Description

[0040] Various aspects of the inventive concept, including its specific features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. The drawings are provided to illustrate the general structure of the inventive concept. The same reference numerals throughout denote the same elements.

[0041] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of a system for obtaining purified fabric material from a mixed fabric stream.

[0042] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of a system for obtaining purified fabric material from a mixed fabric stream, and... Figure 1 Compared to the system, the system has another station.

[0043] Figure 3 This is a perspective diagram of the sorting and classification station.

[0044] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the different steps in a method for obtaining purified fabric material from a mixed fabric stream.

[0045] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating the different steps in a method for obtaining purified fabric material from a mixed fabric stream, and... Figure 4 Compared to the previous method, this method has additional steps. Detailed Implementation

[0046] The inventive concept will now be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which presently preferred variations of the inventive concept are shown. However, the inventive concept can be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the variations set forth herein; rather, these variations are provided for thoroughness and completeness and to fully convey the scope of the inventive concept to those skilled in the art.

[0047] The growing need to limit human-induced climate impacts necessitates a circular economy with higher recycling levels. To achieve high levels of quality in recycled materials, high levels of purification are essential, which can be achieved through sorting. Consequently, the demand for efficient sorting facilities and systems is rising. Figure 1 A flowchart of a system 1 for obtaining purified fabric material 10 from a mixed fabric stream MS (e.g., a single-piece fabric product stream) is shown. The mixed fabric material stream MS typically includes different types of fabric products, such as clothing, curtains, etc. However, it should be noted that the mixed fabric material stream MS may also include other materials that are not necessarily fabric materials. These other materials are generally undesirable and will therefore be diverted so that they are not ultimately included in the purified fabric material 10. In fact, the mixed fabric material stream MS mainly consists of fabric products. Therefore, the contents of the mixed fabric material stream will also be referred to as fabric products.

[0048] System 1 includes a first classification and sorting device 20, a cleaning classification and sorting device 30, a material monomer size reduction device 40, and a purification classification and sorting device 50. See also... Figure 3 The first sorting and classification device 20 receives the mixed fabric stream and provides initial sorting. The first sorting and classification station 22 includes a near-infrared (NIR) spectral system 222 and / or a visible spectral system, which distinguishes first-type fabric materials from other types of fabric materials in the mixed fabric stream MS. Fabric articles typically enter the sorting and classification station 22 one after another as individual articles or individual fabric materials. The first sorting and classification station 22 also includes a discharge unit 224 that transfers the distinguished first-type fabric materials relative to other types of fabric materials. This transfer signifies the separation of the distinguished type of fabric material from other types of materials in the mixed fabric stream. Alternatively, other types of materials can be separated from the distinguished type of material. The discharge unit 224 of the first sorting and classification station 22 transfers the first-type fabric material to a first fabric material section 2, thereby sorting materials containing the first-type fabric material from the mixed fabric stream MS. The near-infrared spectral system 222 can be configured to distinguish the first-type fabric material based on a specific type of material, color, or a combination of both. The discharge unit 224 transfers the first type of fabric material based on information from the preceding near-infrared spectroscopy system 222, thereby transferring the first type of fabric material that has been distinguished.

[0049] The first type of fabric material, from which other types of fabric material have been separated, is represented by dashed arrows in the diagram. This material may be sorted in another system, treated as waste, or recycled by another method. The other dashed arrows in the diagram will not be described further, as they all represent material already sorted from System 1.

[0050] The cleaning, sorting, and separating device 30 includes a first cleaning, sorting, and separating station 32, which receives a first portion 2 of fabric material from the first sorting and separating device 20. The first cleaning, sorting, and separating station 32 is generally of the same type as the first sorting and separating station 22. For efficiency reasons, its operation will not be repeated and will be combined with... Figure 3 Further description of the classification and sorting stations. Any other classification and sorting stations mentioned will also be discussed in conjunction with... Figure 3 The described sorting and classification stations are of the same type. The main difference between the first sorting and classification station 22 and the first cleaning sorting and classification station 32 is that the cleaning sorting and classification station 32 sorts out other types of materials from the first type of fabric material portion 2, thereby obtaining the cleaned first type of fabric material portion 3. The first sorting and classification station 22 processes the entire mixed fabric material stream MS, which may result in material monomers that may have been missed due to accidental stacking, or material monomers that were improperly transferred due to said stacking, errors in sorting, or any other possible reason. By providing the first cleaning sorting and classification station 32, materials that were ultimately incorrectly separated from the first type of fabric material portion 2 can be sorted out. Therefore, the purity of the first type of fabric material portion 2 is increased in the cleaned first type of fabric material portion 3.

[0051] The material unit size reduction device 40 includes a first shredder 42 that receives the cleaned first fabric material portion 3 and reduces the size of the material units within the cleaned first fabric material portion 3. As the material unit size reduction device 40 reduces the material size, it can separate impurities, such as zippers, buttons, or other types of materials, from the fabric material types intended to be located in the cleaned first fabric material portion 3. In practice, such zippers, buttons, and non-woven markings can also be reduced in size corresponding to the fabric of the reduced-size fabric article. Since a complete fabric article can have different materials in different parts of the article, size reduction also increases the chance of finding a single material in the material units that have already undergone size reduction. The material units can be reduced to a predetermined size of the maximum cross-sectional extension. This predetermined size can be, for example, a maximum cross-sectional extension of 18 mm for the material unit. However, other sizes can be used to gain advantages.

[0052] The purification, sorting, and separation apparatus 50 includes a first purification, sorting, and separation station 52, which receives the cleaned first fabric material portion 3 from the material monomer size reduction apparatus 40. The main difference between the first purification, sorting, and separation station 52 and other sorting and separation stations is that the first purification, sorting, and separation station 52 separates materials from the cleaned first fabric material portion 3 that are different from the first type of fabric material, thereby obtaining purified fabric material 10. Another key difference is that the first sorting and separation station 22 and the first cleaning, sorting, and separation station 32 distinguish and transfer mixed fabric streams MS that typically include whole fabric articles. The first purification, sorting, and separation station 52 is located after the material monomer size reduction apparatus 40, which reduces the size of the whole fabric articles; therefore, the first purification, sorting, and separation station 52 does not process whole fabric articles, but rather processes smaller portions of each fabric article. Thus, the first purification, sorting, and separation station 52 is able to separate impurities from the cleaned first fabric material portion 3. By separating impurities from the cleaned first fabric material portion 3, the purity of the obtained purified fabric material 10 can be further increased.

[0053] Go to Figure 2 An embodiment of system 1 for obtaining purified fabric material 10 from a mixed fabric stream MS is shown, in comparison with... Figure 1 In contrast, this system has another station. It has already been integrated. Figure 1 The described site has also been formed Figure 2 This is part of System 1 and will not be described further in this section. It should be emphasized that... Figure 1 The stations in System 1 are sufficient to achieve a synergistic effect when sorting mixed fabric streams MS.

[0054] exist Figure 2 There are examples of station types that could be further part of System 1. Figure 2 Any one of the stations can be individual or in combination. Figure 1 This is part of System 1. These stations are shown together for ease of understanding of this specification. The different stations described below can be used individually or in any combination, depending on the requirements of the plant in which System 1 operates. Sorting and sorting stations are typically combined with... Figure 3 The classification and sorting stations described are of the same type.

[0055] exist Figure 2 The first sorting and separating device 20 further includes a second sorting and separating station 23. The second sorting and separating station 23 receives the mixed fabric stream MS from the first sorting and separating station 22 and distinguishes and transfers a second type of fabric material. When the first type of fabric material has been transferred from the mixed fabric stream MS, the second sorting and separating station 23 distinguishes and transfers the second type of fabric material relative to other types of fabric material in the mixed fabric stream MS.

[0056] The second type of fabric material has other properties, such as a different material composition and / or a different color than the first type of fabric material. As an example, the first type of fabric material could be white, while the second type of fabric material could be another color, such as red. Therefore, the settings for the corresponding sorting and classification stations are configured to match the desired type of fabric material. The second sorting and classification station 23 allows the system 1 to sort more types of fabric materials at once.

[0057] When the second type of fabric material is transferred, it is sorted into the second type of fabric material section 4. The second type of fabric material section 4 is received by the second cleaning, sorting, and separating station 33 of the cleaning, sorting, and separating device 30. The second cleaning, sorting, and separating station 33 distinguishes the second type of fabric material and transfers it to the cleaned second type of fabric material section 5. The cleaned second type of fabric material section 5 is received by the second shredder 44 of the material monomer size reduction device 40. The second shredder 44 reduces the size of the material monomers in the cleaned second type of fabric material section 5. Therefore, impurities from the fabric material that should not be in the cleaned second type of fabric material section 5, such as zippers, buttons, or other types of materials, can be separated from the fabric. When the size of the material monomers in the cleaned second type of fabric material section 5 has been reduced, the cleaned second type of fabric material section 5 is received by the second purification, sorting, and separating station 54 of the purification, sorting, and separating device 50.

[0058] The main difference between the second purification sorting and separation station 54 and other sorting and separation stations is that the second purification sorting and separation station 54 separates materials that are different from the second type of fabric materials in the cleaned second fabric material portion 5, thereby obtaining the second purified fabric material 12.

[0059] The sorting and classification device 20 also includes another sorting and classification station 24 that receives the mixed fabric stream MS from the second sorting and classification station 23. Therefore, when the mixed fabric stream MS is sorted by the other sorting and classification station 24, both the first type of fabric material and the second type of fabric material have been separated from the mixed fabric stream MS. The other type of fabric material is distinguished and transferred by the other sorting and classification station 24 to another type of fabric material section 6, thereby separating the other type of fabric material from the other types of fabric material. The other type of fabric material section 6 is received by another cleaning, sorting, and classification station 34 of the cleaning, sorting, and classification device 30. This other cleaning, sorting, and classification station 34 distinguishes the other type of fabric material and transfers it to another clean type of fabric material section 7.

[0060] Another type of cleaned fabric material portion 7 is received by another pulverizer 46 of the material monomer size reduction device 40. This other pulverizer 46 reduces the material monomer size in the other type of cleaned fabric material portion 7. The other type of cleaned fabric material portion 7 is received by another purification, sorting, and separation station 56 of the purification, sorting, and separation device 50. This other purification, sorting, and separation station 56 separates materials that are different from the other type of fabric material in the cleaned other fabric material portion 7, thereby obtaining another purified fabric material 14.

[0061] The sorting and classification device 20 also includes a recycling sorting and classification station 25, which is of the same type as the other sorting and classification stations. The recycling sorting and classification station 25 receives the mixed fabric stream MS from another sorting and classification station 24. The recycling sorting and classification station 25 distinguishes and transfers materials of the first type of fabric, the second type of fabric, and / or another type of fabric, and reintroduces them into the mixed fabric stream MS before it enters the first sorting and classification station 22. In practice, the recycling sorting and classification station 25 typically distinguishes and transfers materials of the first type of fabric, the second type of fabric, and another type of fabric, and reintroduces them into the mixed fabric stream MS before it enters the first sorting and classification station 22. Having a recycling sorting and classification station 25 after all types of fabric materials have been transferred may be advantageous, as the individual materials of each type of fabric can be sorted out and reintroduced to the starting point of the mixed fabric stream MS. Individual materials of each type of fabric may not be distinguished or transferred when they should be, for various reasons. This could be due to the stacking of material monomers, which may prevent all material monomers from being separated, or due to omissions in the transfer or separation steps. Therefore, material monomers missed at the first sorting and separation station 22, the second sorting and separation station 23, or another sorting and separation station 24 are given a further opportunity to be separated and transferred to the correct type of fabric material portion. Thus, the recycling level of System 1 can be further enhanced, meaning less material will be wasted. The aforementioned cycle, including the recycling sorting and separation station 25, can continue until the material monomers are correctly sorted.

[0062] As understood by those skilled in the art, System 1 can be adapted to obtain any required or desired quantity of purified fabric material. By sorting out more types of fabric material, System 1 can be easily adapted to the type of sorting system required in a particular region or country, thereby further increasing the efficiency of System 1. As one embodiment, System 1 can be configured to process between 3 and 5 tons of mixed fabric material per hour, and preferably between 4 and 4.5 tons of mixed fabric material per hour.

[0063] Go to Figure 3A perspective view of the sorting and classification station 700 is shown. The first sorting and classification station 22, the second sorting and classification station 23, and another sorting and classification station 24, the recycling sorting and classification station 25, the first cleaning sorting and classification station 32, the second cleaning sorting and classification station 33, and another cleaning sorting and classification station 34, as well as the first purification sorting and classification station 52, the second purification sorting and classification station 54, and another purification sorting and classification station 56, can all be of the same type as the sorting and classification station 700 described herein. However, other types of stations can also be advantageously used. Each of the stations may have one or more of the features described below. However, for simplicity, station 700 will be described below as a sorting and classification station 700.

[0064] Material pieces, objects, or articles 710 are supplied to the sorting and classification station 700. The material pieces 700 are conveyed through the detection area 720. However, the material pieces 700 can be provided through the detection area 720 manually, either by any suitable means or without any technical means. A light source device 730 and an NIR spectral system 222 are provided. The spectral system 222 is adapted to receive and analyze light 732 reflected and / or scattered from the material piece 710 in the detection area 720 of the light source device 730. Therefore, the NIR spectral system 222 typically acquires the spectrum of the material piece 710 from the material stream conveyed through the detection area 720. The NIR spectral system 222 of the sorting and classification station 700 is configured to distinguish one type of fabric material from other fabric materials based on the acquired spectrum. In other words, the NIR system 222 is typically set up so that a particular type of fabric material can be distinguished from other types of materials due to its spectrum.

[0065] The classification and sorting station 700 may also include a visible spectroscopy system 760 configured to acquire the spectrum of the fabric material originating from the mixed fabric material stream MS being conveyed through the detection area 720.

[0066] The depicted sorting and classification station 700 also includes a discharge unit 224. The discharge unit 224 of the sorting and classification station 700 is typically configured to sort portions of a type of fabric material based on its color and / or material composition, based on the specific type of fabric material obtained from the spectral transfer of the mixed fabric stream MS.

[0067] The visible spectrum system 760 can determine the different colors of the fabric material being transmitted through the detection area 720 using the acquired spectrum. The advantage of determining the color of the fabric material is that it can be sorted into different sections based on color.

[0068] The sorting and classification station 700 may also include a laser triangulation system 740 configured to determine the height information of the material 710 being transferred through the detection area 720. The discharge unit 224 of the at least one sorting and classification station may be further configured to transfer fabric material of the determined type based on the determined height information.

[0069] The laser triangulation system 740 is typically configured to emit a laser line 742 toward a detection area 720. The depicted laser triangulation system 740 includes a camera-based sensor device 744 configured to receive and analyze light 746 reflected and / or scattered by the material piece 710 in the detection area 720. With the laser triangulation system 740, the sorting and classification station 700 can detect fabric materials that are difficult for the NIR spectral system 222 to detect. One embodiment of such fabric material could be black fabric material being conveyed on a black conveyor belt. By detecting the height difference on the conveyor belt used to convey the sorted material, the sorting and classification station 700 can combine this height information with information obtained from the NIR spectral system 222 to determine the presence of any black fabric material or other fabric materials that are difficult to detect on the conveyor belt. Therefore, another fabric material can be distinguished and thus recycled.

[0070] The classification and sorting station 700 may also include a camera 750 configured to acquire images of fabric material originating from the mixed fabric stream MS being conveyed through the detection area 720. The classification and sorting station 700 may include an artificial neural network in conjunction with the camera 750. This artificial neural network may be configured to detect different characteristics of the fabric material being conveyed through the detection area 720 based on the images acquired by the camera 750. In this case, the discharge unit 224 of the classification and sorting station 700 may be further configured to transfer the fabric material being conveyed through the detection area 720 based on the detected characteristics of the fabric material. In other words, the characteristics of the fabric material can therefore be determined by the artificial neural network from the images acquired by the camera 750. This characteristic can be anything—shape, color, surface features, or the visual appearance of the fabric material—that can be determined and sorted by the artificial neural network. The camera 750 can therefore provide the possibility of further sorting the material into different sections. With the help of the artificial neural network, fabric materials with the same material composition may be sorted into different sections based on quality and origin.

[0071] Now go to Figure 4 This document describes a method 100 for obtaining purified fabric material 10 from a mixed fabric stream MS, such as a single-piece fabric stream. Method 100 begins by using a near-infrared spectroscopy system 222 and / or a visible spectroscopy system to distinguish a first type of fabric material from other types of fabric materials in the mixed fabric stream MS 110a.

[0072] Method 100 continues, transferring 110b of the first type of fabric material to the first fabric material portion 2 relative to other types of fabric materials in the mixed fabric flow MS, thereby sorting out the material containing the first type of fabric material from the mixed fabric flow MS.

[0073] Method 100 continues, using a near-infrared spectroscopy system 222 and / or a visible spectroscopy system to distinguish the first type of fabric material in the first fabric material portion 2 from other types of fabric materials 111a.

[0074] Method 100 continues, transferring the first type of fabric material relative to other types of fabric material in the first fabric material portion 2 to the cleaned first fabric material portion 3, thereby sorting out the material containing the first type of fabric material from the first fabric material portion 2.

[0075] Method 100 continues, reducing the material unit size of the material in the first fabric material portion 3 after cleaning 120.

[0076] Method 100 continues, and after reducing the size of the 120 material unit, the near-infrared spectroscopy system 222 and / or the visible spectroscopy system are used to distinguish materials in the first fabric material portion 3 after cleaning 130a that are different from the first type of fabric material.

[0077] Method 100 continues, transferring 130b materials that are different from the first type of fabric materials in the cleaned first fabric material portion 3, thereby sorting out materials that are different from the first type of fabric materials in the cleaned first fabric material portion 3, thereby obtaining purified fabric material 10.

[0078] It should be noted that the steps or actions of method 100 described above can be performed in any suitable order, and therefore not only in the order given above. Furthermore, one or more steps or actions can be performed in parallel. It should also be noted that the steps or actions can be performed by different devices at different times and / or at different locations. In other words, as an embodiment, the method can be performed in a distributed manner at multiple locations, with different steps or actions performed at different points in time. However, the method can advantageously be performed at a single location in the order described above.

[0079] Go to Figure 5 , Figure 4 Method 100 is shown together with a set of alternative steps. Alternative steps can be added individually or in any combination, as needed. Figure 4 Method 100. For efficiency, the already combined methods will not be described further. Figure 4 The steps mentioned.

[0080] Method 100 also includes the step of using a near-infrared spectroscopy system 222 and / or a visible spectroscopy system to distinguish the second type of fabric material from other types of fabric materials in the mixed fabric stream MS from which the first type of fabric material has been transferred 112a.

[0081] Method 100 continues, transferring 112b of the second type of fabric material to the second fabric material portion 3 relative to other types of fabric materials in the mixed fabric stream MS from which the first type of fabric material has been transferred, thereby sorting out the material containing the second type of fabric material from the mixed fabric stream MS from which the first type of fabric material has been transferred.

[0082] Method 100 continues, using a near-infrared spectroscopy system 222 and / or a visible spectroscopy system to distinguish another type of fabric material from other types of fabric materials in the mixed fabric stream MS from which the second type of fabric material has been transferred 114a.

[0083] Method 100 continues, transferring 114b of other types of fabric materials in the mixed fabric stream MS from which the second type of fabric material has been transferred to another fabric material portion 6, thereby sorting out the material containing the other type of fabric material from the mixed fabric stream MS from which the second type of fabric material has been transferred.

[0084] Method 100 continues, using a near-infrared spectroscopy system 222 and / or a visible spectroscopy system to distinguish the first type of fabric material, the second type of fabric material (if present), and another type of fabric material (if present) from other types of fabric materials in the mixed fabric stream MS from which the first type of fabric material, the second type of fabric material (if present), and another type of fabric material (if present) have been transferred 116a.

[0085] Method 100 continues, transferring 116b of the first type of fabric material, the second type of fabric material (if present), and another type of fabric material (if present) from the mixed fabric stream MS from which the first type of fabric material, the second type of fabric material (if present), and the other type of fabric material (if present) have been transferred to the recycled fabric material section 8, which is recombined with the initial mixed fabric stream MS.

[0086] The following sections will describe the different steps for processing the second fabric material portion 4 and the other fabric material portion 6. For efficiency, these steps will be described together. However, it should be understood that these are two different processes, and these steps are performed in parallel with each other and can be performed at different stations, such as... Figure 5 As shown. These steps and combinations Figure 4 The steps for the first fabric material portion 2 are largely the same. It should be understood that the first fabric material portion is... Figure 5 The other two different processes are shown.

[0087] The method continues, using a near-infrared spectroscopy system 222 and / or a visible spectroscopy system to distinguish the second type of fabric material and another type of fabric material from other types of fabric materials in the second fabric material portion 4 and the other fabric material portion 6 113a, 115a.

[0088] The method continues by transferring the second type of fabric material and the other type of fabric material relative to other types of fabric materials in the second fabric material portion 4 and the other fabric material portion 6 to the cleaned second fabric material portion 5 and the cleaned other fabric material portion 7, thereby sorting out the material containing the second or other type of fabric material from the second fabric material portion 4 and the other fabric material portion 6.

[0089] The method continues to reduce the material unit size (122, 124) of the material in the second fabric material portion 5 and the other fabric material portion 7 after cleaning.

[0090] The method continues, and after reducing the size of material units 122 and 124, near-infrared spectroscopy system 222 and / or visible spectroscopy system are used to distinguish 132a and 134a from the second type of fabric material and the other type of fabric material in the cleaned second fabric material portion 5 and the cleaned other fabric material portion 7.

[0091] The method continues, transferring materials 132b and 134b that are different from the second type of fabric material and the other type of fabric material in the cleaned second fabric material portion 5 and the cleaned other fabric material portion 7, thereby sorting out the materials in the cleaned second fabric material portion 5 and the cleaned other fabric material portion 7 that are different from the second type of fabric material and the other type of fabric material, thus obtaining a second purified fabric material 12 and another purified fabric material 14. As understood by those skilled in the art, this method can be applied to obtain any required or desired quantity of purified fabric material. By sorting out more types of fabric material, this method can be easily adapted to the types of sorting systems required in a specific region or country, thereby further increasing the efficiency of the method.

[0092] The method may include: the obtained purified fabric material 10, the second purified fabric material 12 (if present), and another purified fabric material 14 (if present) may have a purity level of 85%, preferably 90%, and more preferably 95%.

[0093] The method may include the step of reducing the size of 120, 122, and 124 material units, which may include crushing the material of the first fabric material portion 2, crushing the material of the second fabric material portion 4 (if present), and crushing the material of another fabric material portion 6 (if present).

[0094] The obtained purified fabric material 10, the obtained second purified fabric material 12 (if present), and the obtained other purified fabric material 14 (if present) may be one of the following: cotton, viscose fiber, acrylic fiber, polyester, wool, nylon, cotton denim, natural white cotton, fabric material comprising more than 90% viscose fiber, fabric material comprising more than 90% acrylic fiber, fabric material comprising more than 90% cotton, fabric material comprising more than 80% wool, material comprising more than 90% cotton denim, material comprising more than 90% natural white cotton, and material comprising more than 90% polyester.

[0095] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, this method is suitable for obtaining a variety of different fabric materials, and it can be applied to other types or other compositions of fabric materials.

[0096] It should be noted that the steps or actions in the method 100 described above can be performed in any suitable order, and therefore not only in the order given above. Furthermore, one or more steps or actions can be performed in parallel. It should also be noted that the steps or actions can be performed by different devices at different times and / or at different locations. In other words, as an embodiment, the method can be performed in a distributed manner at multiple locations, with different steps or actions performed at different points in time. However, the method can advantageously be performed at a single location in the order described above.

[0097] Furthermore, those skilled in the art, when practicing the claimed invention, can understand and implement modifications to the disclosed variations by studying the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements, and the indefinite articles "a" or "an" do not exclude multiple elements. The fact that certain measures are described in mutually different dependent claims does not mean that a combination of these measures cannot be used advantageously.

Claims

1. A method (100) for obtaining purified fabric material (10) from a mixed fabric stream (MS), said mixed fabric stream being, for example, a single-piece fabric product stream, said method comprising: The first type of fabric material in the mixed fabric stream (MS) is distinguished from other types of fabric materials using a near-infrared spectroscopy system and / or a visible spectroscopy system (110a). The first type of fabric material is transferred (110b) relative to other types of fabric materials in the mixed fabric stream (MS) to the first fabric material portion (2), thereby sorting out material containing the first type of fabric material from the mixed fabric stream (MS). The first type of fabric material in the first fabric material portion (2) is distinguished from other types of fabric materials using a near-infrared spectroscopy system and / or a visible spectroscopy system (111a). The first type of fabric material is transferred (111b) relative to other types of fabric materials in the first fabric material portion (2) to the cleaned first fabric material portion (3), thereby sorting out the material containing the first type of fabric material from the first fabric material portion (2). Reduce the material unit size of the material in the first fabric material portion (3) after cleaning (120). After reducing the size of the material monomers (120), near-infrared spectroscopy and / or visible spectroscopy are used to distinguish (130a) materials in the cleaned first fabric material portion (3) that are different from the first type of fabric material. Transfer (130b) materials in the cleaned first fabric material portion (3) that are different from the first type of fabric material, thereby sorting out materials in the cleaned first fabric material portion (3) that are different from the first type of fabric material, thereby obtaining the purified fabric material (10).

2. The method (100) according to claim 1, further comprising: The second type of fabric material in the mixed fabric stream (MS) from which the first type of fabric material has been transferred is distinguished from other types of fabric materials using a near-infrared spectroscopy system and / or a visible spectroscopy system (112a). The second type of fabric material is transferred (112b) to the second fabric material portion (3) from the mixed fabric stream (MS) from which the first type of fabric material has been transferred, thereby sorting out material containing the second type of fabric material from the mixed fabric stream (MS) from which the first type of fabric material has been transferred. The second type of fabric material in the second fabric material section (4) is distinguished from other types of fabric materials using a near-infrared spectroscopy system and / or a visible spectroscopy system (113a). The second type of fabric material is transferred (113b) relative to other types of fabric material in the second fabric material portion (4) to the cleaned second fabric material portion (5), thereby sorting out the material containing the second type of fabric material from the second fabric material portion (4). Reduce the material unit size of the material in the second fabric material portion (5) after cleaning (122). After reducing the size of the material unit (122), near-infrared spectroscopy and / or visible spectroscopy are used to distinguish (132a) materials in the cleaned second fabric material portion (5) that are different from the second type of fabric material. Transfer (132b) materials in the cleaned second fabric material portion (5) that are different from the second type of fabric material, thereby sorting out materials in the cleaned second fabric material portion (5) that are different from the second type of fabric material, thereby obtaining a second purified fabric material (12).

3. The method (100) according to claim 2, further comprising: The second type of fabric material in the mixed fabric stream (MS) from which the second type of fabric material has been transferred is distinguished from the other types of fabric materials using a near-infrared spectroscopy system and / or a visible spectroscopy system (114a). The other types of fabric material in the mixed fabric stream (MS) from which the second type of fabric material has been transferred (114b) are transferred to another fabric material portion (6), thereby sorting out material containing the other type of fabric material from the mixed fabric stream (MS) from which the second type of fabric material has been transferred. The other type of fabric material in the other fabric material section (6) is distinguished from other types of fabric materials using a near-infrared spectroscopy system and / or a visible spectroscopy system (115a). The other type of fabric material is transferred (115b) relative to other types of fabric materials in the other fabric material portion (6) to the cleaned other fabric material portion (7), thereby sorting out the material containing the other type of fabric material from the other fabric material portion (6). Reduce the material unit size of the material in the other fabric material portion (7) after cleaning (124). After reducing the size of the material unit (124), a near-infrared spectroscopy system and / or a visible spectroscopy system are used to distinguish (134a) materials in the other fabric material portion (7) that are different from the other type of fabric material. Transfer (134b) materials that are different from the other type of fabric material in the other fabric material portion (7) after cleaning, thereby sorting out materials that are different from the other type of fabric material in the other fabric material portion (7) after cleaning, thereby obtaining another purified fabric material (14).

4. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The obtained purified fabric material (10), the second purified fabric material (12) in the presence, and the other purified fabric material (14) in the presence have a purity level of 85%, preferably 90%, and more preferably 95%.

5. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, For each type of fabric material, the first type of fabric material, the second type of fabric material (if present), and the other type of fabric material (if present) are distinguished based on the main material and / or main color of each monomer in the mixed fabric flow.

6. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims further includes: Using a near-infrared spectroscopy system and / or a visible spectroscopy system, the first type of fabric material, the second type of fabric material (if present), and the other type of fabric material (if present) are distinguished from other types of fabric materials in the mixed fabric stream (MS) from which the first type of fabric material, the second type of fabric material (if present), or the other type of fabric material (if present) has been transferred out (116a). The first type of fabric material, the second type of fabric material if present, and the other type of fabric material if present, are transferred (116b) from the mixed fabric stream (MS) relative to the first type of fabric material, the second type of fabric material if present, or the other type of fabric material if present, to the recycled fabric material section (8), which is recombined with the initial mixed fabric stream (MS).

7. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The steps of reducing the size of (120, 122, 124) material units include crushing the material of the first fabric material portion (2), crushing the material of the second fabric material portion (4) if present, and crushing the material of the other fabric material portion (6) if present.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, After the step of reducing the size of the material monomer, the material monomer has a maximum cross-sectional extension of up to 18 mm.

9. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The purified fabric material (10), the second purified fabric material (12) obtained in the presence of the present, and the other purified fabric material (14) obtained in the presence of the present are one of the following: cotton, viscose fiber, acrylic fiber, polyester, wool, nylon, cotton denim, natural white cotton, fabric material comprising more than 90% viscose fiber, fabric material comprising more than 90% acrylic fiber, fabric material comprising more than 90% cotton, fabric material comprising more than 80% wool, material comprising more than 90% cotton denim, material comprising more than 90% natural white cotton, and material comprising more than 90% polyester.

10. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The differentiation step includes acquiring the spectrum of the type of fabric material originating from the mixed fabric stream, and the transfer step includes transferring the type of fabric material originating from the mixed fabric stream based on the acquired spectrum.

11. A system (1) for obtaining purified fabric material (10) from a mixed fabric stream (MS), said mixed fabric stream being, for example, a single-piece fabric product stream, said system comprising: First classification and sorting device (20). Clean the sorting and sorting device (30). Material unit size reduction device (40), and Purification, classification and sorting device (50). The first classification and sorting device (20) includes a first classification and sorting station (22) configured to receive the mixed fabric stream (MS). The first classification and sorting station (22) includes: a near-infrared NIR spectral system (222) and / or a visible spectral system configured to distinguish a first type of fabric material in the mixed fabric stream (MS) from other types of fabric materials; and a discharge unit (224) configured to transfer the first type of fabric material relative to other types of fabric materials in the mixed fabric stream (MS) into a first fabric material portion (2), thereby sorting out material containing the first type of fabric material from the mixed fabric stream (MS). The cleaning, sorting, and separating device (30) includes a first cleaning, sorting, and separating station (32), configured to receive the first fabric material portion (2) from the first sorting and separating device (20). The first cleaning, sorting, and separating station (32) includes: a near-infrared (NIR) spectral system (222) and / or a visible spectral system, configured to distinguish the first type of fabric material in the first fabric material portion (2) from other types of fabric materials; and a discharge unit (224), configured to transfer the first type of fabric material relative to other types of fabric materials in the first fabric material portion (2) to the cleaned first fabric material portion (3), thereby separating the material containing the first type of fabric material from the first fabric material portion (2). The material unit size reduction device (40) includes a first shredder (42), which is configured to receive the cleaned first fabric material portion (3) and reduce the size of the material units in the cleaned first fabric material portion (3). The purification, sorting and separation device (50) includes a first purification, sorting and separation station (52), which is configured to receive the cleaned first fabric material portion (3) from the material monomer size reduction device (40). The first purification, sorting and separation station (52) includes: a near-infrared NIR spectral system (222) and / or a visible spectral system, configured to distinguish materials in the cleaned first fabric material portion (3) that are different from the first type of fabric material; and a discharge unit (224), configured to transfer materials in the cleaned first fabric material portion (3) that are different from the first type of fabric material, thereby sorting out materials in the cleaned first fabric material portion (3) that are different from the first type of fabric material, thereby obtaining the purified fabric material (10).

12. The system (1) according to claim 11, wherein, The system (1) is configured to process between 3 and 5 tons of mixed fabric material per hour, and preferably between 4 and 4.5 tons of mixed fabric material per hour.

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