Arrangement and method for sorting a material batch including textile, leather and / or footwear feed material

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an arrangement (1) for sorting a material batch including textiles, leather, and / or footwear feed material, TLF-feed material. An arrangement of the present disclosure comprises a first primary classification and sorting, PCS, arrangement (100, 100-1) configured to classify TLF-feed material and actively sort classified TLF-feed material one or more primary active sorting output stream (PASOS-1, PASOS-1'), and pass on a remainder of the first primary input material batch stream (PIMBS-1) as a first primary passive sorting output stream (PPSOS-1); the arrangement further comprising a first auxiliary classification and sorting, ACS, arrangement (200, 200-1) configured to receive as an input stream either the first primary active sorting output stream (PASOS-1, PASOS-1') or primary passive sorting output stream (PPSOS-1) and to classify TLF-feed material and actively sort classified TLF-feed material into at least N1 fractions, wherein N1 is at least 3. A method of sorting a material batch including textiles and more generally TLF-feed material is also disclosed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to an arrangement for sorting at least one material batch including textile, leather and / or footwear feed material, TLF-feed material, and to a method of sorting the same.Background of the Invention

[0002] Textile waste disposal is a key issue around the world. Currently, the primary end destinations of textile waste are incineration and landfills, which have detrimental effects on both people and the environment. These practices contribute to pollution, resource depletion, and greenhouse gas emissions. This linear disposal perpetuates increasing amounts of waste rather than promotes sustainability. Thus, there is a need for proper and efficient textile waste processing.

[0003] In certain applications, such as processing textile waste including unsorted textiles, it is necessary to classify textile waste before sorting the textile waste accordingly based on the classification. In recent years, effort has been made to develop improved arrangements and processes. The following patent applications are a few examples relating to the above-mentioned aspects.

[0004] WO22115602 A1 discloses a modular textile recycling system comprising a sorting module, and further modules such as a pre-treatment module and a purification module. The modularity of the system enables reconfiguring the system for a particular use or customer segment, enabling it to be more easily integrated into current operations of many different parts in the waste and value chain. Moreover, the modularity of the system enables easy expansion of the system and process embodied therein into additional / different fiber types as needed. A purification method aiming to minimize degradation and yield loss of targeted polymers in textile waste is also disclosed.

[0005] CN219971005 U discloses a waste textile sorting device adapted to receive a stack of waste textile and disperse waste textiles onto a conveying belt in an orderly manner. By this, sorting efficiency of waste textile can be improved.

[0006] US2023227621 AA discloses a method for processing textile waste into a material as an alternative to plastic. The method allows to produce a plastic-like material in form of granule which can replace normal plastics in conventional plastic processing techniques, such as injection molding.

[0007] A problem of current solutions for sorting textiles is related to the overall throughput of sorting textiles. Due to the large amount of textile waste that must be processed, it is desired that arrangements have a high overall throughput of textile sorting. However, in order to ensure satisfactory sorting at the throughput desired for sorting textiles, the sorting thereof is typically limited to arrangements sorting textiles into only one fraction, wherein the remainder of the material provided is passed on. In order to sort textiles into a plurality of fractions, it is typically required to completely redesign the sorting arrangement used. Currently available solutions for multi-fractional sorting of textiles are significantly limited in terms of throughput. For instance, the throughput can be reduced from e.g., 4.5 kt / year down per machine to just 0.5 kt / year per machine, depending on the number of fractions.

[0008] In addition to textiles, other materials such as leather and footwear can also be prevalent in textile waste.

[0009] Thus, there is a need for an improved arrangement and method for sorting feed material, and in particular textile feed material, leather feed material, and / or footwear feed material.Summary of the Invention

[0010] In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved arrangement for sorting a material batch including textile, leather, and / or feed material. It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of sorting the same. Moreover, it is an object to provide an arrangement and method capable of sorting the same at high overall throughput. Further, it is an object of the invention to provide a cost-effective arrangement and method for sorting the same. In addition, it is an object of the invention to provide an arrangement and method for sorting the same which arrangement and method enables modularity and facilitates scalability.

[0011] To achieve at least one of the above objects, and also other objects that will be evident from the following description, an arrangement and a method is provided, which arrangement and method is suitable for sorting textile, leather, and / or footwear feed material, TLF-feed material, and optionally only a specific subgroup thereof. The terms "textile", "leather", "footwear" and "feed material" are defined in a subsequent section of this disclosure, see "Feed material and related information".Introductory disclosure

[0012] The invention is based on the inventor's realization that an overall high throughput with a satisfactory sorting of feed material is achievable by sorting said feed material with a primary sorting step and a subsequent auxiliary sorting step. The primary sorting step sorts feed material present in a sorting zone into any of a number of primary fractions. The subsequent auxiliary sorting step sorts feed material present in a plurality of subsequently arranged sorting zones into at least one auxiliary fraction associated with each sorting zone. The primary sorting step is provided by a primary classification and sorting arrangement, abbreviated as PCS arrangement. The auxiliary sorting step is provided by an auxiliary classification and sorting arrangement, abbreviated as ACS arrangement. With the primary sorting step, feed material is sortable into a small number of primary fractions so that the PCS arrangement can operate at a desirable high throughput. With the subsequent auxiliary sorting step, feed material is sortable into respective fractions from different sorting zones in a sequential manner and / or a simultaneous manner. Thereby, an overall high throughput is achieved with a satisfactory sorting of feed material. Due to the high throughput required when sorting textile, leather, and / or footwear feed material, TLF-feed material, this solution is particularly useful for sorting those types of materials.

[0013] As a non-limiting example, the PCS arrangement may be adapted to sort into two fractions, whereas the ACS arrangement may be adapted to sort into five fractions. The ACS arrangement may be adapted to receive one of said two fractions from the PCS arrangement and classify the feed material accordingly. The ACS arrangement may then sort the feed material depending on classification into any of said five fractions. For instance, a first item of the feed material may be classified as belonging to a first fraction and a second item of the feed material may be classified as belonging to a fifth fraction. The ACS arrangement may be adapted to determine and / or receive information indicating a first timepoint when the first item arrives at the first sorting zone for being sorted into said first fraction. The ACS arrangement may be adapted to determine and / or receive information indicating a second timepoint when the second item arrives at the fifth sorting zone for being sorted into said fifth fraction. The ACS arrangement may be adapted to sort the first item into said first fraction at said first timepoint. The ACS arrangement may be adapted to sort the second item into said fifth fraction at said second timepoint. Depending on how the first timepoint and the second timepoint relate to one another, the first item and the second item may be sorted in a sequential manner or a simultaneous manner, either of which is favorable for maintaining an overall high throughput.

[0014] The primary sorting step may be a high-throughput-per-fractions sorting step. The auxiliary sorting step may be a low-throughput-per-fractions sorting step. Hereby, high throughput per fractions and low throughput per fractions refers to the relative throughputs of the primary sorting step and the auxiliary sorting step in terms of fractions. With the primary sorting step, feed material received by the PCS arrangement will be sorted into the respective primary fractions. With the auxiliary sorting step, only a portion of all feed material will be sorted, thereby resulting in less feed material to be sorted. Moreover, preferably, the number of auxiliary fractions is larger than the number of primary fractions, thereby further reducing the throughput per fractions.

[0015] As a non-limiting example, said primary sorting step may comprise multi-sorting. In the context of the application, multi-sorting refers to a type of sorting wherein items and / or fragments of feed material present in a sorting zone are simultaneously sortable into any of a number of primary fractions. As a non-limiting example, a first item of a first classification and a second item of a second classification may simultaneously be sorted into different primary fractions. As a non-limiting example, a first item of a first classification and a second item of the same first classification may simultaneously be sorted into the same primary fraction.

[0016] As a non-limiting example, said auxiliary sorting step may comprise branched sorting. In the context of the application, branched sorting refers to a type of sorting wherein items and / or fragments of feed material within a plurality of subsequently arranged sorting zones are respectively sortable into at least one auxiliary fraction associated with each sorting zone. As a non-limiting example, a first item of a first classification may be sorted into a first auxiliary fraction from a first sorting zone and a second item of a second classification may be sorted into a second auxiliary fraction from a second sorting zone different from the first sorting zone. As a non-limiting example, two or more auxiliary fractions may be accessible from a single sorting zone. As a non-limiting example, only one auxiliary fraction may be accessible from a single sorting zone. The above may apply to any or a combination or all sorting zones wherein branched sorting takes places. As a non-limiting example, the items and / or fragments of feed material may be sorted into a respective auxiliary fraction based on the same analysis made of items and / or fragments of feed material present in a detection zone. Thus, sensor measurements of items and / or fragments of feed material present in the detection zone allow for sorting into the plurality of auxiliary fractions.

[0017] Generally, the number of auxiliary fractions of a first ACS arrangement is equal to or more than the number of primary fractions of a preceding PCS arrangement. Preferably, the number of auxiliary fractions of a first ACS arrangement is more than the number of primary fractions of a preceding PCS arrangement.

[0018] An arrangement and method based on the above concept advantageously allows for the number of auxiliary fractions of a first ACS arrangement to be more than the number of primary fractions of a preceding PCS arrangement, for instance, the number of auxiliary fractions of a first ACS arrangement is at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more, than the number of primary fractions of a preceding PCS arrangement.

[0019] Moreover, advantageously, a plurality of primary sorting steps can be carried out by respective two or more PCS arrangements, wherein a first PCS arrangement provides a primary fraction to a subsequent additional PCS arrangement. Optionally, a first PCS arrangement provides a first primary fraction to a subsequent first additional PCS arrangement and a second primary fraction to a subsequent second additional PCS arrangement. An ACS arrangement may be configured to receive a primary fraction from any of the first PCS arrangement, the first additional PCS arrangement, and / or the second additional PCS arrangement.

[0020] As a non-limiting example, the primary sorting step may involve sorting feed material into two primary fractions, such as i) cotton-based textiles and ii) everything else. As a non-limiting example, the auxiliary sorting step may involve sorting cotton-based textiles into three auxiliary fractions, such as i) 50 / 50 mix of cotton and polyester, ii) 80 / 20 mix of cotton and polyester, iii) 100% cotton. Due to the sorting of the primary sorting step, the auxiliary sorting step will involve sorting a smaller amount of feed material. Moreover, the auxiliary sorting step can be adapted to allow for any number of auxiliary fractions as desired.

[0021] The term "throughput" may refer to a capacity of the amount of feed material that can be received and / or sorted in a given amount of time. The term "throughput" may refer to the capacity of feed material an arrangement can receive and / or sort, actively and passively, in a given amount of time. As a non-limiting example, throughput may be quantified in tons per hour, tons per day, tons per week, tons per month, and / or tons per year. As a non-limiting example, a high throughput may refer to at least 2 tons per hour, at least 2.5 tons per hour, 3 tons per hour, at least 3.5 tons per hour, at least 4 tons per hour, or at least 4.5 tons per hour.

[0022] The term "active sorting" refers to sorting including at least an action of diverting an item and / or a fragment of feed material, such as TLF-feed material, from a transportation path extending between a sorting input and a passive sorting output so that said item and / or fragment is diverted via one of at least one or more active sorting outputs. The term "passive sorting" refers to sorting involving passing on a remainder of items and / or fragments of feed material, which are not being actively sorted, into a passive sorting output. A fraction of a classification and sorting arrangement may refer to any of all active sorting outputs and passive sorting outputs of the classification and sorting arrangement in question. Sorting into a primary / auxiliary fraction may refer to sorting an item into a particular active / passive sorting output for receiving said fraction of feed material.

[0023] By at least one material batch, it refers to one material batch or a plurality of material batches, which comprises or contains feed material such as TLF-feed material. A material batch may have a limited quantity of feed material. A material batch may be provided e.g., by means of a container, as a plastic bale, or may be provided from a warehouse storing a material batch or a plurality of material batches. Moreover, sorting at least one material batch refers to sorting the feed material of the material batch, which generally is provided in form of whole items, damaged items, fragmented items and / or the like. A plurality of material batches may be provided in a continuous stream. The method and arrangement of the present disclosure may be adapted for processing a continuous stream of material batches.

[0024] The feed material of said at least one material batch includes TLF-feed material (see next section). The feed material of said at least one material batch may also include non-textiles, such as metal, plastics, and other hazardous / non-hazardous substances, associated with various textile items (prints, coatings, stains, etc.). The feed material of said at least one material batch may also include non-textiles, such as metal, plastics, and other hazardous / non-hazardous substances, which is not associated with textile items (other waste material or unsorted feed material in general). As a non-limiting example, the feed material of the material batch may include general waste. As a non-limiting example, the feed material of the material batch may be unsorted feed material including TLF-feed material. As a non-limiting example, the feed material of the material batch may include textile waste including TLF-feed material. As a non-limiting example, said at least one material batch may comprise at least 50%, or at least 80%, TLF-feed material by weight or by volume. As a non-limiting example, said at least one material batch may contain only TLF-feed material.Feed material and related information

[0025] Admittedly, today there are various different terms and abbreviations for denoting textile material and materials which are, depending on context, associated with textile material. For instance, the European Commission group the following into the same ECO system: Textile, Clothing, Leather and Fur and sometimes Textile, Clothing, Leather and Footwear.

[0026] In the context of this application, the term TLF-feed material refers to textile, leather, and / or footwear feed material, wherein textile feed material includes fur as discussed in more detail below.

[0027] In the context of this application, feed material refers to material being received by the arrangement for processing. Processing may include events such as detection, classification, transportation, and / or sorting.

[0028] ASTM Standard D123 - 23, henceforth referred to as "The ASTM Standard", is a standard including a compilation of all terminology developed by Committee D13 on Textiles. This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. The ASTM Standard is incorporated herein by reference.

[0029] Terms of the present disclosure are used with a meaning consistent with the ASTM Standard, a few examples being: "textile", "textile fiber", "fabric, "garment", "leather".

[0030] Although broad definitions are applied throughout, a few specific examples are mentioned in the following. As non-limiting examples, fiber-based materials referred to herein include fibers, yarns, filaments, threads, different fabric types such as woven and non-woven fabrics, cloth, leather etc. As non-limiting examples, fiber-based materials may include natural fibers, man-made fibers, or a combination thereof.

[0031] Moreover, non-limiting examples of natural fibers include fibers of vegetable origin, such as cotton or flax / linen, and / or of animal origin, such as wool. Non-limiting examples of man-made fibers include natural polymers from the various kingdoms of life, such as lyocell, modal and viscose from the plantae / vegetable kingdom, synthetic polymers fossil-based or bio-based, such as polyester, or inorganic fibers, such as glass and metal fibers.

[0032] In the context of this application, the term "textile item" refers to an item containing at least some textile fiber, for instance containing at least 20% or at least 40% or at least 60% or at least 80% by weight of textile fibers. As a non-limiting example, textile items may include textile products. Textile products may refer to those products comprising at least 80% by weight of textile fibers. Textile items may comprise 1 %-10%, 10%-20%, 20%-30%, 30%-40%, 40%-50%, 50%-60%, 60%-70%, 70%-80%, 80%-90%, 90%-99%, 100%, by weight of textile fibers, or any combination of the listed end numbers, in a continuous interval or in two or more separate intervals.

[0033] In addition to garments, the term "textile item" may include other items such as bags and / or clothing accessories, household items such as towels, tablecloths, curtains, rugs, bedlinen, pillows, duvets, and upholstery textiles, as well as other types of items such as technical textiles.

[0034] As mentioned, TLF-feed material may include footwear. Non-limiting examples of footwear includes shoes, boots, or other outer coverings for the feet. Footwear may be at least partly manufactured from leather, textiles, synthetics, rubber, foam, and / or plastic.

[0035] The following is a non-exhaustive list of some textile compositions: cashmere, cotton, linen, polyester, synthetic, silk, stretch, viscose, wool, elastane. A textile item may comprise a mono-material or a blend of materials. As a non-limiting example, a first textile composition is a polyester blend having the composition 42% polyester, 45% cotton, 13% viscose. As a non-limiting example, a second textile composition has the composition 100% polyester. As a non-limiting example, a third textile composition has a composition of 100% cotton. As a non-limiting example, a fourth textile composition is a linen blend having the composition 55% linen, 45% viscose. As a non-limiting example, a fifth textile composition is a cotton blend having the composition 62% cotton, 36% viscose, 2% elastane.

[0036] The present disclosure is not limited to any particular TLF feed material or composition thereof. For instance, a textile item may comprise a TLF feed material at any fraction between 0% and 100%, depending on any other eventually comprised TLF feed materials. A first TLF composition may e.g. have the composition 10 % leather and 90 % linen blend. A second TLF composition may e.g. have the composition 98 % fur and 2 % cotton. A textile item may include or be composed of any textile composition mentioned herein and / or any other textile composition not disclosed herein but known in the field of textiles. A textile or fabric may comprise a blend or patchwork of any two or more textile compositions, or a blend or patchwork of any two or more TLF compositions.

[0037] Products of TLF feed material, most notably technical textiles, are present across the economic sectors, such as in agriculture (agro textiles), construction (notably geotextiles but also others, such as insulation and flooring products), the transport, defense and space industries and medical products, and include products meant for both professional and non-professional use, such as filters, cleaning products, hygiene products, protective equipment and certain sports and work wear. Smart textiles, i.e. textiles that are able to sense and respond to changes in their environment (including the wearer's conditions), are an area of particular growth and technical development for technical textiles. There is one category of smart textiles (called "e-textiles") that contain electronic components.

[0038] A non-exhaustive list of textile structure includes: fabrics from the woven, braided, knitted groups of textiles, for example: boucle, tweed, corduroy, brocade, fine suiting, jacquard, lace, embroidery, plain, shirting, tartan, uncut or cut velvet. Textile items may be provided with prints and / or coatings.

[0039] In the context of the application, the term "TLF fragment" refers to items of TLF feed material, which have been fragmented and thus reduced in size. The size reduction can occur, for example, through cutting, shredding and / or tearing. TLF fragments may include foreign non-textile objects such as zippers, buttons and / or prints. One particular form of TLF fragments include so called textile shoddy, e.g., torn textile fabrics used for the production of non-woven textiles and / or re-spinning into recycled yarn. TLF fragments may include and / or refer to cut and / or shredded and / or torn and / or any other forms of remains of said items and / or feed material. As a non-limiting example, TLF fragments may include clearly distinguishable pieces of items and / or feed material having substantially no clearly distinguishable form, such as shoddy and / or textile fluff. The arrangement and / or the method detailed in the present disclosure may equally be applied for sorting TLF fragments.Arrangement for sorting at least one material batch

[0040] According to a first aspect of the invention, an arrangement for sorting at least one material batch including textile, leather, and / or footwear feed material, TLF-feed material, is provided. The arrangement comprises: a first primary classification and sorting arrangement (PCS arrangement). The first PCS arrangement comprises: a primary sensor arrangement configured to provide primary sensor data of the TLF-feed material present in a primary detection zone; a primary sorting unit configured to sort the TLF-feed material based on said primary sensor data, wherein the first PCS arrangement is configured to: receive said at least one material batch as a first primary input material batch stream; identify one or more primary characteristics of the TLF-feed material based on said primary sensor data; classify, based on said one or more primary characteristics of the TLF-feed material, the TLF-feed material in the first primary input material batch stream; actively sort, by means of the primary sorting unit and based on TLF-feed material classification, classified TLF-feed material into one or more primary active sorting output streams, and pass on a remainder of the first primary input material batch stream as a first primary passive sorting output stream. The arrangement further comprises: a first auxiliary classification and sorting arrangement (ACS arrangement). The first ACS arrangement comprises: an auxiliary sensor arrangement configured to provide auxiliary sensor data of TLF-feed material within an auxiliary detection zone; an auxiliary sorting unit configured to sort TLF-feed material based on said auxiliary sensor data, wherein the first ACS arrangement is configured to: receive, as a first auxiliary input material batch stream, TLF-feed material directly or indirectly provided from i) one of said one or more primary active sorting output streams, or ii) the first primary passive sorting output stream; identify one or more auxiliary characteristics of said TLF-feed material based on said auxiliary sensor data; classify, based on said one or more auxiliary characteristics of said TLF-feed material, said TLF-feed material in the first auxiliary input material batch stream, and actively sort, by means of the auxiliary sorting unit and based on TLF-feed material classification, classified TLF-feed material into at least N1 fractions, wherein N1 is at least 3.

[0041] The arrangement according to the first aspect advantageously enables sorting to an increased number of total fractions at a high throughput. Instead of configuring a classification and sorting arrangement to sort TLF-feed material into three or more different active sorting fractions directly, which limits throughput, a first primary sorting step is carried out to actively sort TLF-feed material of the at least one material batch into at least one of a limited number of active sorting output of a respective primary fraction and subsequently sorted in a second auxiliary sorting step at a reduced throughput to any number of auxiliary sorting fractions.

[0042] As a non-limiting example, the first PCS arrangement may be configured to process (e.g., classify and / or actively sort and / or passively sort) X tons per hour, wherein X is in an interval of 1-1.5 tons per hour, 1.5-2 tons per hour, 2-2.5 tons per hour, 2.5-3 tons per hour, 3-3.5 tons per hour, 3.5-4 tons per hour, 4-4.5 tons per hour, 4.5-5 tons per hour, at least 5 or more than 5 tons per hour. The throughput of the first PCS arrangement may be configured to a desired throughput, e.g., by adapting a transport speed of the conveyor belt and / or operating a plurality of PCS arrangements in parallel.

[0043] As a non-limiting example, the ACS arrangement may be configured to process (e.g., classify and / or actively sort and / or passively sort) Y tons per hour, wherein Y is in an interval of less than 0.1 tons per hour, 0.1-0.2 tons per hour, 0.2-0.3 tons per hour, 0.3-0.4 tons per hour, 0.4-0.5 tons per hour, 0.5-0.6 tons per hour, 0.6-0.7 tons per hour, 0.7-0.8 tons per hour, 0.8-0.9 tons per hour, 0.9-1.0 tons per hour and / or more than 1.0 tons per hour. The throughput of the ACS arrangement may be configured to a desired throughput, e.g., by adapting a transport speed of the conveyor belt and / or operating a plurality of ACS arrangements in parallel.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the arrangement is configured to sort a continuous stream of matter including TLF-feed material. A continuous stream of matter may be provided continuously or by providing each material batch of the at least one material batch in a sequential manner.

[0045] The arrangement may comprise a pre-collection arrangement arranged upstream of said first PCS arrangement. The pre-collection arrangement may be adapted to collect at least one material batch of matter including TLF-feed material whereafter the matter including TLF-feed material is provided as a continuous stream of matter to the first PCS arrangement.

[0046] Moreover, the arrangement according to the first aspect advantageously enables easy scaling since a larger selection of TLF-feed material can be sorted by incorporating one or more additional PCS arrangements and / or one or more additional ACS arrangements. The primary and / or ACS arrangements can be arranged to in various configurations to improve throughput and / or sorting accuracy. As a non-limiting example, two PCS arrangements can be serially provided to provide one or more sequential coarse sorting steps. As a non-limiting example, two ACS arrangements may be provided in parallel to carry out fine sorting from streams of TLF-feed material from one or more PCS arrangements.

[0047] A subsequent classification and sorting arrangement, such as the first ACS arrangement or an optional additional ACS arrangement or an optional additional PCS arrangement, may be adapted to classify and sort a Feed material erroneously sorted by a prior classification and sorting arrangement into the correct sorting stream or to an end destination thereof. So, even though said prior classification and sorting arrangement happens to sort a Feed material in an erroneous manner, said subsequent classification and sorting arrangement can advantageously correct the erroneous sorting in an automatic manner without user intervention.

[0048] A subsequent classification and sorting arrangement, such as the first ACS arrangement or an optional additional ACS arrangement or an optional additional PCS arrangement, may be adapted to receive, as an input material batch stream, a combined stream from two or more different classification and sorting arrangements, such as an ACS arrangement or a PCS arrangement. This may for instance occur when one of the combined streams is stream of Feedback material that needs to be resorted.

[0049] According to an embodiment, the arrangement comprises: one or more additional PCS arrangements. Each additional PCS arrangements comprises: a further primary sensor arrangement configured to provide further primary sensor data of TLF-feed material within a primary detection zone; and a further primary sorting unit configured to sort TLF-feed material based on said further primary sensor data, wherein each additional PCS arrangement is configured to: receive as a second primary input material batch TLF-feed material directly or indirectly provided from i) one of said one or more primary active sorting output streams, or ii) the first primary passive sorting output stream; identify one or more further primary characteristics of said TLF-feed material based on said further primary sensor data; classify, based on said one or more further primary characteristics of said TLF-feed material, said TLF-feed material in the second primary input material batch stream; actively sort, by means of the further primary sorting unit and based on TLF-feed material classification, classified TLF-feed material into one or more primary active sorting output streams; pass on a remainder of the second primary input material batch stream as a second primary passive sorting output stream.

[0050] The first PCS arrangement and said one or more additional PCS arrangements may be arranged as follows. The one or more additional PCS arrangement may be arranged downstream from said first PCS arrangement. Each additional PCS arrangement may be arranged downstream from a prior PCS arrangement, either to receive a primary active sorting output stream or a primary passive sorting output stream. Two or more additional PCS arrangements may be arranged downstream from a prior PCS arrangement to receive different sorting outputs (i.e., arranged in different branches). The first PCS arrangement may be configured to actively sort TLF-feed material including a first textile material composition. A second PCS arrangement arranged downstream from the first PCS arrangement may be configured to actively sort TLF-feed material including a second textile material composition. Thereby, the PCS arrangements may at a high throughput sort out TLF-feed material of different textile material compositions for further fine sorting. As a non-limiting example, the first PCS arrangement may be configured to actively sort TLF-feed material including at least 50 WT% or 50 V / V% cotton. As a non-limiting example, the second PCS arrangement may be configured to actively sort TLF-feed material including at least 50 WT% or 50 V / V% polyester. In a subsequent fine sorting step, the TLF-feed material may be further sorted based on more exact fractions or fraction intervals.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the arrangement further comprises: one or more additional ACS arrangements. Each additional ACS arrangement comprises: a further auxiliary sensor arrangement configured to provide further auxiliary sensor data of TLF-feed material within a further auxiliary detection zone, a further auxiliary sorting unit configured to sort TLF-feed material based on said further auxiliary sensor data, wherein each additional ACS arrangement is configured to: receive, as a second auxiliary input material batch stream, TLF-feed material directly or indirectly provided from i) one of said one or more first primary active sorting output streams, or ii) the first primary passive sorting output stream, or iii) one of said one or more primary active sorting output streams, or iv) the secondary primary passive sorting output stream; identify one or more further auxiliary characteristics of TLF-feed material based on said further auxiliary sensor data; classify, based on said one or more further auxiliary characteristics of TLF-feed material, TLF-feed material in the second auxiliary input material batch stream, and actively sort, by means of the further auxiliary sorting unit and based on TLF-feed material classification, TLF-feed material into at least N2 fractions, wherein N2 is at least 3.

[0052] The arrangement advantageously enables an increased level of sorting outputs. The first ACS arrangement and the one or more additional ACS arrangement may be arranged downstream from said first PCS arrangement. One or more of the first ACS arrangement and the one or more additional ACS arrangement may be arranged downstream from one PCS arrangement. Each ACS arrangement may be configured to sort a respective selection of TLF-feed material.

[0053] According to one embodiment, the auxiliary sorting unit of the first ACS arrangement is a line sorting unit, and / or the further auxiliary sorting unit of one or more additional ACS arrangement is a further line sorting unit, wherein said line sorting unit is configured to sort TLF-feed material in a substantially singulated stream including TLF-feed material, wherein the arrangement comprises one or more singulator units configured to: receive a respective stream including TLF-feed material and provide said respective substantially singulated stream including TLF-feed material.

[0054] The arrangement may advantageously facilitate sorting TLF-feed material by means of the singulator units providing substantially singulated streams including TLF-feed material. Each auxiliary sorting unit of the first ACS arrangement and the one or more additional ACS arrangement may be a line sorting unit. Such a line sorting unit may comprise N2 number of sorting outputs and comprise sorting means to sort textile items and / or fragments of TLF-feed material into one of said N2 number of sorting outputs.

[0055] In the context of the application, the term "singulation" or "singulate" refers to the process of separating textile items and / or fragments for individual forwarding and / or processing. Further, the term "singulated items" or "singulated fragments" refers to items / fragments that have been singulated e.g. by a singulation sorting. Further, the term "singulated stream" refers to a stream of singulated items. Further, the term "singulator" or "singulator unit" refers to an arrangement configured to singulate items or fragments thereof. According to one embodiment, the singulated items or fragments may e.g. be provided one by one on a conveyor with none, or only small to medium overlaps between the items and / or fragments. Alternatively, the items and / or fragments may have a significant overlap.

[0056] According to one embodiment, at least one of the first PCS arrangement and / or the one or more additional PCS arrangement is configured to actively sort, based on TLF-feed material classification, TLF-feed material into two and / or at most two different primary active sorting output streams.

[0057] Two or more of the first PCS arrangement and the one or more additional PCS arrangement may be configured to actively sort, based on TLF-feed material classification, TLF-feed material into two or more different primary active sorting output streams. At least one of the first PCS arrangement and / or the one or more additional PCS arrangement may be configured to actively sort, based on TLF-feed material classification, TLF-feed material into at most N_prim_max different primary active sorting output streams, wherein N_prim_max is 2, 3, 4, or 5. All of the first PCS arrangement and / or the one or more additional PCS arrangement may be configured to actively sort, based on TLF-feed material classification, TLF-feed material into at most N_prim_max different primary active sorting output streams, wherein N_prim_max is 2, 3, 4, or 5.

[0058] According to one embodiment, wherein the PCS arrangement and / or one or more additional PCS arrangement and / or the first ACS arrangement and / or one or more additional ACS arrangement comprises: a first magnet arrangement configured to attract ferrous metal material from the material batch stream or any material stream originating from the material batch stream, thereby sorting out ferrous metal from said material batch stream or said any material stream originating from the material batch stream; and / or an eddy current separator configured to remove non-ferrous metals from the material batch stream or any material stream originating from the material batch stream, thereby sorting out non-ferrous metals from said material batch stream or said any material stream originating from the material batch stream.

[0059] The arrangement may advantageously thus remove ferrous and / or non-ferrous metals from the material batch including TLF-feed material. Since metal is valuable, profitability of the arrangement may be further increased by sorting out the metals. Sorting metal out from the material batch including TLF-feed material may be advantageous to remove metals from subsequent sorting steps.

[0060] According to one embodiment, any of said characteristics of TLF-feed material includes: textile composition, and / or textile composition fractions, and / or colors, and / or footprint areas, and / or volume, and / or fragment sizes, and / or textile structures, and / or textile product types, and / or moisture content, and / or hazardous non-textile substances, and / or non-hazardous non-textile substances, textile print substances, and / or surface coating substances. Any of the one or more primary characteristics and / or the one or more further primary characteristics may refer to any of the above mentioned characteristics. Any of the one or more auxiliary characteristics and / or the one or more further auxiliary characteristics may refer to any of the above mentioned characteristics.

[0061] TLF-feed material may alternatively, and / or in combination, be sorted based on color. Color may be associated with a particular dye, such as a non-pigment dye or a pigment dye. Pigment may include pigments employed in oil- and water-based paints, printing inks, and plastics. Pigment may include pigments which are organic (i.e., contain carbon) or inorganic. Color may be identified by a particular spectroscopy spectrum. Color may be identified by images, wherein colors are interpreted in a digital color system, such as RGB. Color may be characterized in other distinct color systems, such as CMYK, PANTONE, RAL, etc.

[0062] As a non-limiting example, footprint area may be a square having a side length Lx, wherein the footprint size is Lx times Lx. As a non-limiting example, footprint area may be a rectangular having a first side length Lx and a second side length Ly, wherein the footprint size is Lx times Ly. As non-limiting examples, footprint size may be a triangle, a circle, a parallelogram, and any other footprint shapes, regular or irregular, which can be limited in extension by a square footprint area or a rectangular footprint area as specified above. As a non-limiting example, volume may be a volume which can be limited in extension by a footprint area or a rectangular footprint area as specified times a height Lz.

[0063] In the context of the application, fragment size may refer to a size of a fragment of TLF-feed material. The fragment size of the TLF-feed material may be characterized by a footprint size and / or a volume.

[0064] In the context of the application, textile structures may refer to a structure of textile, such as fiber-based and / or non-fiber-based, woven and / or non-woven etc.

[0065] In the context of the application, textile product types may refer to type of textile product, such as garment, cloth, footwear, etc.

[0066] In the context of the application, moisture content may be a content of moisture in TLF-feed material. As a non-limiting example, moisture content may be surface water content. However, any aspect and / or embodiment of the inventive concept may alternatively, or in combination, use volumetric water content and / or gravimetric water content as water content.

[0067] In the context of the application, hazardous non-textile substances may be any non-textile substances which can cause harm, directly or indirectly. As non-limiting examples, hazardous substances may include corrosive substances, environmentally damaging substances, explosive substances, flammable substances, health hazardous substances, irritant substances, oxidizing substances, toxic substances.

[0068] In the context of the application, non-hazardous non-textile substances may refer to those non-textile substances which are not hazardous.

[0069] In the context of the application, textile print substances may refer to coatings. As a non-limiting examples, coatings may comprise polyvinyl chloride, PVC, and / or polyurethane, PU.

[0070] In the context of the application, stain substances may refer to stains of any non-textile substances. As non-limiting examples, non-textile substances may refer to any of oil, food residue, cleaning substances, hydrophobic substances, spin finishing, etc.

[0071] The first PCS arrangement may comprise a primary sensor arrangement configured to enable detection of any of the above mentioned characteristics. The one or more additional PCS arrangement may respectively comprise a further primary sensor arrangement configured to enable detection of any of the above mentioned characteristics. The first ACS arrangement may comprise an auxiliary sensor arrangement configured to enable detection of any of the above mentioned characteristics. The one or more additional ACS arrangements may respectively comprise a further auxiliary sensor arrangement configured to enable detection of any of the above mentioned characteristics.

[0072] According to one embodiment, at least one arrangement of the primary classification sorting arrangement and / or the one or more additional PCS arrangement and / or the first ACS arrangement and / or the one or more additional ACS arrangement comprises: a spectroscopy system configured to provide a spectroscopy spectrum of said TLF-feed materials within a detection zone, and wherein said at least one arrangement is further configured to: sort said TLF-feed material originating from the material batch stream based on the acquired spectroscopy spectrum, wherein said sorting includes sorting said TLF-feed material based on material, and / or moisture content, and / or color, and / or one or more characteristics of TLF-feed material detectable in said acquired spectroscopy spectrum.

[0073] By such a spectroscopy system, the arrangement may advantageously enable active and / or passive sorting of TLF-feed material based on characteristics detectable by said acquired spectroscopy spectrum. Moreover, the spectroscopy system may be configured to receive settings to facilitate detection of one or more TLF-feed material.

[0074] Spectroscopy system may include near-infrared, NIR, spectroscopy system. NIR spectroscopy may advantageously enable detection of characteristics of surfaces of TLF-feed material. In the context of the application, NIR refers to near-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. As a non-limiting example, near-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum is in the interval of 780 nm to 2500 nm. As an alternative, or in combination, such a spectroscopy system may be configured to use region of the electromagnetic spectrum outside NIR, such as the visible region of electromagnetic spectrum or medium infrared. The spectroscopy system may be configured to use both NIR spectroscopy and X-ray spectroscopy. The spectroscopy system may be a VIS / NIR spectroscopy system configured to detect visible spectrum and / or near-infrared spectrum.

[0075] The spectroscopy system may be configured to analyse light in the wavelength interval 400 - 1000 nm. The spectroscopy system may be configured to analyse light in the wavelength interval 500 - 1000 nm. The spectrometer may be configured to analyse light in the wavelength interval 1000 - 1900 nm. The spectroscopy system may be configured to analyse light having a wavelength above 900 nm. The spectroscopy system may be configured to analyse light in the wavelength interval 1900 - 2500 nm. The spectroscopy system may be configured to analyse light in the wavelength interval 2700 - 5300 nm. The spectroscopy system may be configured to analyse light in the wavelength interval 900 - 1700 nm. The spectroscopy system may be configured to analyse light in the wavelength interval 700 - 1400 nm. The spectroscopy system may analyse visible light. The spectroscopy system may analyse NIR light. The spectroscopy system may analyse IR light. Different types of spectroscopy system may be used depending on characteristics of the matter to be detected.

[0076] According to one embodiment, at least one arrangement of the primary classification sorting arrangement and / or the one or more additional PCS arrangement and / or the first ACS arrangement and / or the one or more additional ACS arrangement comprises: a camera-based sensor arrangement configured to receive and analyze light reflected and / or scattered by TLF-feed material in a detection zone through which the TLF-feed material are provided, wherein the arrangement is configured to: determine position and / or color and / or shape and / or textile structure of said TLF-feed material and / or TLF-feed material classifications of said TLF-feed material based on an analysis provided by the camera-based sensor arrangement.

[0077] The arrangement may advantageously be able to detect characteristics of TLF-feed material which cannot be detected, reliably or at all, by means of a spectroscopy system, such as a VIS and / or NIR spectroscopy system. Thereby, a greater variety of TLF-feed material can be sorted by the arrangement.

[0078] As a non-limiting example, the camera-based sensor arrangement may comprise one or more cameras, the camera may be sensitive to any wavelength range, and may be a grayscale camera or an RGB camera, additionally or alternatively the camera may be a NIR camera. As a non-limiting examples, the camera-based sensor arrangement may include a or more digital image sensors such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) or an active-pixel sensor (CMOS sensor).

[0079] According to one embodiment, said at least one arrangement of the first primary classification sorting arrangement and / or the one or more additional PCS arrangement and / or the first ACS arrangement and / or the one or more additional ACS arrangement comprises a laser triangulation system including: a laser arrangement configured to illuminate TLF-feed material in the detection zone by means of laser, wherein the received light of the camera-based sensor arrangement originates from the laser triangulation system.

[0080] By means of a laser arrangement and the camera-based sensor arrangement, the arrangement may advantageously facilitate detection of characteristics of TLF-feed material, such as height information. Any of the PCS arrangement, the one or more additional PCS arrangement, the ACS arrangement, the one or more additional ACS arrangement may comprise a pair of a laser arrangement and a camera-based sensor arrangement as described above.

[0081] According to one embodiment, at least one arrangement of the first primary classification sorting arrangement and / or the one or more additional PCS arrangement and / or the first ACS arrangement and / or the one or more additional ACS arrangement is adapted with: an artificial neural network configured to classify TLF-feed material based on sensor measurements provided by the at least one arrangement.

[0082] By means of said artificial neural network, the arrangement may facilitate sorting of TLF-feed material. The deep learning network may be configured to classify TLF-feed material based on sensor measurements provided by an image-based sensor arrangement and / or a spectroscopy system and / or any other sensor arrangement. The deep learning network may be trained using sample sensor measurements which have been labeled in terms of type of TLF-feed material. The arrangement may be configured to derive one or more characteristics from classifications of TLF-feed material, which classifications are provided by the deep learning network. The arrangement may sort TLF-feed material based on the classifications and / or based on one or more characteristics derived from said classifications provided by the deep learning network.

[0083] According to one embodiment, N1 and / or N2 is / are at least 4, or 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more. The ACS arrangement and / or the one or more additional ACS arrangements may thereby enable sorting of TLF-feed material into a more selective sorting, thus providing more sorting outputs. The arrangement may thus advantageously be capable of receiving a material batch including a large variety of TLF-feed material, thus reducing a need to pre-sort the material batch.

[0084] According to one embodiment, the arrangement comprises a pre-sorting arrangement. The pre-sorting arrangement may comprise a separator unit. The pre-sorting arrangement may comprise a sensor arrangement. The separator unit may be configured separate TLF-feed material from non-textile material based on sensor measurements provided by the sensor arrangement. Alternatively, one or more of the PCS arrangements may be configured to perform the functionality of the pre-sorting arrangement, thus removing the need for a dedicated textile / non-textile material sorter.

[0085] According to one embodiment, the arrangement may comprise a wind sifter and / or a ballistic separator. The wind sifter and the ballistic separator may be combined in a sorting unit or be used separately.

[0086] According to one embodiment, the arrangement may comprise a bag opening arrangement configured to open one or more bags comprising the material batch including the TLF-feed material. The bag opening arrangement may be configured to open bags in which the material batch including TLF-feed material. The bag opening arrangement may be configured to open bags by ripping and / or cutting the bags open. By opening such bags, the material batch including the TLF-feed material may be exposed and possible to sort using the arrangement as herein detailed.

[0087] According to one embodiment, the arrangement comprises a shredding arrangement configured to shred TLF-feed material provided to the shredding arrangement. By this, the arrangement may reduce size of TLF-feed material. The shredding arrangement may be arranged to receive material batch including TLF-feed material before being provided to the first PCS arrangement.

[0088] According to one embodiment, the arrangement comprises a drum screen arranged to separate oversized TLF-feed material at any stream location of the arrangement. As a non-limiting example, the arrangement may comprise a drum screen arranged to separate oversized textile items and / or oversized TLF-feed material. As a non-limiting example, a drum screen may be adapted to separate TLF-feed material having a cross-sectional extension larger than a predefined cross-section extension. Such a predefined cross-sectional extension may be defined by the aforementioned side-length Lx, the first side-length Lx, the second side-length Ly, and / or the height Lz. By separating the oversized material, the resulting TLF-feed material stream may be more stable, thereby resulting in a decreased need of personnel for unclogging the arrangement.

[0089] According to one embodiment, the arrangement may further comprise an agglomeration arrangement configured to receive a stream of material batch including TLF-feed material to increase a bulk density of TLF-feed material. By increasing bulk density, the material batch including the TLF-feed material may at least partially be made more compact. An advantage of this is a decreased need of storage capacity of the arrangement and the increased quantity that may be transported and / or processed by the arrangement.

[0090] According to one embodiment, the arrangement further comprises a transportation arrangement configured to transport said material batch including TLF-feed materials between a material input and the first PCS arrangement and between at least one sorting output of the first PCS arrangement and the first ACS arrangement. The transportation arrangement may comprise at least a first transport arrangement module. The transport arrangement may comprise a plurality of transport arrangement modules. The transport arrangement modules of the transport arrangement may be arranged so as to transport items at least partially in any of the following configurations: from a material input zone to a detection zone; from a detection zone to a sorting zone; from a sorting zone to a receiving zone; and / or from a receiving zone to a further receiving zone. One or more transport arrangement modules of the transport arrangement may include any of the following: a conveyer belt for transporting the material flow with items to be sorted; a chute arranged for transporting the material flow with items to be sorted; a free-falling segment. The receiving arrangement may be configured to provide at least a first receiving zone. Each receiving zone of said at least a first receiving zone may be adapted with a chute and / or a boundary delimiting said each receiving zone. A transport module may be arranged to transport items from one or more receiving zones to a respective further receiving zone. A further receiving zone may be provided by a storage arrangement, which may include container. The receiving arrangement may comprise one or more containers, each container corresponding to a receiving zone.Method for sorting at least one material batch

[0091] According to a second aspect of the disclosure, a method of sorting at least one material batch including TLF-feed material. The method comprises: receiving the material batch as a first primary input TLF-feed material stream in a first PCS arrangement; providing the first primary input TLF-feed material stream to a primary detection zone of the first PCS arrangement; providing primary sensor data of TLF-feed material within the primary detection zone, identifying, based on the primary sensor data, one or more primary characteristics of TLF-feed material; classifying, based on said one or more primary characteristics of TLF-feed material, TLF-feed material in the first primary input TLF-feed material stream; actively sorting, based on TLF-feed material classification, classified TLF-feed material into one or more primary active sorting output stream, and passing on a remainder of the first primary input TLF-feed material stream as a first primary passive sorting output stream; receiving, as a first auxiliary input TLF-feed material stream in a first ACS arrangement, TLF-feed material directly or indirectly provided from: i) one of said one or more first primary active sorting output streams, or ii) the first primary passive sorting output stream; identifying, based on auxiliary sensor data provided by an auxiliary sensor arrangement, one or more auxiliary characteristics of TLF-feed material; classifying, based on said one or more auxiliary characteristics of TLF-feed material, TLF-feed material in the first auxiliary input feed material stream, and actively sorting, based on TLF-feed material classification, classified TLF-feed material into at least N1 fractions, wherein N1 is at least 3.

[0092] According to one embodiment, the method comprises: sorting TLF-feed material using two or more PCS arrangement arranged to sort in series; sorting TLF-feed material using two or more ACS arrangements arranged to sort in parallel; sorting TLF-feed material in a first classification and sorting cycle and providing TLF-feed material which were not classified and / or sorted in the first classification and sorting cycle as input to the PCS arrangement in a second classification and sorting cycle; receiving waste including TLF-feed material as said TLF-feed material stream; using the arrangement according to the first aspect or any embodiments thereof.

[0093] According to one embodiment, said material batch comprises at least 50 WT% or 50 V / V% TLF-feed material. The material batch may comprises TLF-feed material in an interval of 10-20 WT% or V / V%, 20-30 WT% or V / V%, 30-40 WT% or V / V%, 40-50 WT% or VlV%, 50-60 WT% or V / V%, 60-70 WT% or V / V%, 70-80 WT% or V / V%, 80-90 WT% or V / V%, 90-99 WT% or V / V%, 99-100 WT% or V / V% or in any interval formed by any combination thereof. Any stream originating from the material batch as provided to the arrangement may have an increased WT% or V / V% following one or more sorting steps by a pre-sorting arrangement and / or any PCS arrangement.

[0094] According to one embodiment, the method is adapted for sorting a continuous stream of matter including TLF-feed material. A continuous stream of matter may be provided continuously or by providing each material batch of the at least one material batch in a sequential manner.

[0095] The arrangement may comprise a pre-collection arrangement arranged upstream of said first PCS arrangement. The pre-collection arrangement may be adapted to collect at least one material batch of matter including TLF-feed material whereafter the matter including TLF-feed material is provided as a continuous stream of matter to the first PCS arrangement.

[0096] According to a third aspect, a computer program is provided. The computer program comprises instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method according to the second aspect or any embodiments thereof.

[0097] According to a fourth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided. The computer-readable storage medium comprises instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method according to the second aspect or any embodiments thereof.

[0098] Effects and features of the second and third and fourth aspects are largely analogous to those described above in connection with the first aspect. Embodiments mentioned in relation to the first aspect are largely compatible with the second and third and fourth aspects. It is further noted that the inventive concepts relate to all possible combinations of features unless explicitly stated otherwise.

[0099] The invention is defined by the appended independent claims, with embodiments being set forth in the appended dependent claims, in the following description and in the drawings. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular component parts of the device described or steps of the methods described as such device and method may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the articles "a", "an", "the", and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a unit" or "the unit" may include several devices, and the like. Furthermore, the words "comprising", "including", "containing" and similar wordings do not exclude other elements or steps.

[0100] Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to "a / an / the [element, device, component, means, step, etc.]" are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise.Brief description of the drawings

[0101] The aspects of the present inventive concept, including its particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. The figures are provided to illustrate the general structures of the present inventive concept. Figs. 1-7 illustrate a side view of an arrangement for sorting a material batch including TLF-feed material according to various embodiments of the invention; Fig. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a sorting arrangement for sorting a material batch including TLF-feed material according to one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 9 illustrates a flow chart of different steps in a method for sorting material batch including TLF-feed material according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0102] All figures are schematic, not necessarily to scale, and generally only show parts which are necessary in order to elucidate the disclosure, wherein other parts may be omitted or merely suggested. Throughout the figures, the same reference signs designate the same, or essentially the same features.Detailed description of the drawings

[0103] In the following description, the present inventive concept is described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred variants of the inventive concept are shown. This inventive concept may, however, be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the variants set forth herein; rather, these variants are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and fully convey the scope of the present inventive concept to the skilled person.

[0104] Features illustrated in the attached drawings or described in the following as part of one embodiment may be used with another embodiment to yield still a further embodiment. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation may be described in this specification. Various structures, arrangements and systems are schematically depicted in the drawings for purposes of explanation only and so as to not obscure the description with details that are well known to those skilled in the art.

[0105] The words and phrases used herein should be understood and interpreted to have a meaning consistent with the understanding of those words and phrases by those skilled in the relevant art. No special definition of a term or phrase, i.e., a definition that is different from the ordinary and customary meaning as understood by those skilled in the art, is intended to be implied by consistent usage of the term or phrase herein. To the extent that a term or phrase is intended to have a special meaning, i.e., a meaning other than that understood by skilled artisans, such a special definition is included herein in a definitional manner that directly and unequivocally provides the special definition for the term or phrase.

[0106] Figure 1 illustrates a side view of an arrangement for sorting a material batch including TLF-feed material according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0107] The arrangement 1 comprises a first primary classification and sorting arrangement (PCS arrangement) 100. The first PCS arrangement 100 comprises a primary sensor arrangement 102. The primary sensor arrangement 102 is configured to provide primary sensor data of TLF-feed material within a primary detection zone. The first PCS arrangement 100 comprises a primary sorting unit 103 configured to sort said TLF-feed material based on said one or more sensor measurements. As a non-limiting example, as exemplified in Fig. 1, the primary sorting unit 103 may be an ejection unit configured to emit a flow of gaseous media to eject a TLF-feed material into an active sorting output. The active sorting output may be separated from a passive sorting output separating element. As a non-limiting example, the active sorting output may be separated from the passive sorting output by means of a separating element in the form of a divider 104.

[0108] The first PCS arrangement 100 is configured to receive a material batch as a first primary input material batch stream PIMBS-1. The first PCS arrangement 100 is configured to identify one or more primary characteristics of said TLF-feed material based on said primary sensor data. The first PCS arrangement 100 is configured to classify, based on said one or more primary characteristics of said TLF-feed material, TLF-feed material in the first input material batch stream PIMBS-1. The first PCS arrangement 100 is configured to actively sort, by means of the primary sorting unit 103 and based on TLF-feed material classification, classified TLF-feed material into one or more primary active sorting output stream PASOS-1. The first PCS arrangement 100 is configured to pass on a remainder of the first primary input material batch stream PIMBS-1 as a primary passive sorting output stream PPSOS-1.

[0109] The arrangement 1 further comprises a first auxiliary classification and sorting arrangement (ACS arrangement) 200. The first ACS arrangement 200 comprises an auxiliary sensor arrangement 202 configured to provide auxiliary sensor data of TLF-feed material within an auxiliary detection zone. The first ACS arrangement 200 comprises an auxiliary sorting unit 203-1, 203-N1 configured to sort TLF-feed material based on said auxiliary sensor data.

[0110] The first ACS arrangement 200 is configured to receive, as a first auxiliary input material batch stream AIMBS-1, TLF-feed material directly or indirectly provided from i) one of said one or more primary active sorting output streams PASOS-1, PASOS-1', or ii) the first primary passive sorting output stream PPSOS-1. The first ACS arrangement 200 is configured to identify one or more auxiliary characteristics of said TLF-feed material based on said auxiliary sensor data. The first ACS arrangement 200 is configured to classify, based on said one or more auxiliary characteristics of said TLF-feed material in the first auxiliary input material batch stream AIMBS-1. The first ACS arrangement 200 is configured to actively sort, by means of the auxiliary sorting unit 203-1, 203-N1 and based on TLF-feed material classification, classified TLF-feed material into at least N1 fractions, wherein N1 is at least 3.

[0111] The arrangement 1 may further comprise a transportation arrangement configured to: transport a material batch including TLF-feed material as a material batch stream MBS from a material input to and / or through the PCS arrangement 100; transport at least one of one or more primary passive sorting output streams PASOS-1, PASOS-1' to an ACS arrangement 200; and transport an auxiliary input material batch stream AIMBS-1 to and / or through the first ACS arrangement 200. The transportation arrangement may comprise as exemplified in Fig. 1 one or more conveyor segments 101, 201.

[0112] The arrangement 1 may further comprise a first sorting output receiving arrangement 401 and / or a second sorting output receiving arrangement 402. The first sorting output receiving arrangement 401 may be arranged to receive the primary passive sorting output stream PPSOS-1. The second sorting output receiving arrangement 402 may be arranged to receive an auxiliary passive sorting output stream APSOS-1. As non-limiting examples, the first sorting output receiving arrangement 401 and / or a second sorting output receiving arrangement 402 may be a container adapted in shape and size to contain a predetermined volume of material.

[0113] Advantageously, the arrangement 1 is configured to sort TLF-feed material into a large number of fractions, e.g., 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more, by means of the PCS arrangement 100 and the sequentially arranged ACS arrangement 200. Thereby, the throughput of sorting TLF-feed material may be increased.

[0114] The arrangement 1 may be adapted to sort TLF-feed material based on one or more characteristics. Said one or more characteristics of TLF-feed material may include one or a combination of the following: textile composition, and / or textile composition fractions, and / or colors, and / or sizes, and / or fragment sizes, and / or textile structures, and / or textile product types, and / or moisture content, and / or hazardous non-textile substances, and / or non-hazardous non-textile substances, textile print substances, and / or surface coating substances.

[0115] In Fig. 1, as a non-limiting example, the arrangement 1 is exemplified as being configured to transport the primary passive sorting output stream PPSOS-1 to the first sorting output receiving arrangement 401 and configured to transport the primary active sorting output stream PASOS-1 to the first ACS arrangement 200.

[0116] In Fig. 2, as a non-limiting example, the arrangement 1 is exemplified as being configured to transport the primary active sorting output stream PASOS-1 to the first sorting output receiving arrangement 401 and configured to transport the primary passive sorting output stream PPSOS-1 to the first ACS arrangement 200.

[0117] In Fig. 3, the arrangement 1 is exemplified to comprise a PCS arrangement 100 configured to actively sort TLF-feed material into a first primary active sorting output stream PASOS-1 and a second primary active sorting output stream PASOS-1'. As a non-limiting example, the arrangement 1 is exemplified as being configured to transport the first primary active sorting output stream PASOS-1 to the first sorting output receiving arrangement 401 and configured to transport the second primary active sorting output stream PPSOS-1' to the first ACS arrangement 200 and configured to transport the primary passive sorting output stream PPSOS-1 to a third sorting output receiving arrangement. As non-limiting example, the third sorting output receiving arrangement 403 may be a container adapted in shape and size to contain a predetermined volume of material.

[0118] Fig. 4 illustrates a side view of an arrangement 1 for sorting a material batch including TLF-feed material according to one embodiment of the invention. The arrangement 1 may be adapted and configured as the arrangement 1 described in association with Figs. 1-2. The arrangement may further comprise one or more additional ACS arrangements 300. As a non-limiting example, the arrangement 1 may comprise a first ACS arrangement 200 and a second ACS arrangement 300. Each additional ACS arrangement 300 comprises a further auxiliary sensor arrangement 302 configured to provide further auxiliary sensor data of TLF-feed material within a further auxiliary detection zone. Each additional ACS arrangement 300 comprises a further auxiliary sorting unit 301-1, 303-N2 configured to sort TLF-feed material based on said further auxiliary sensor data.

[0119] Each additional ACS arrangement 300 is configured to receive, as a second auxiliary input material batch stream AIMBS-2, TLF-feed material directly or indirectly provided from: i) one of said one or more first primary active sorting output streams PASOS-1, PASOS-1'; or ii) the first primary passive sorting output stream PPSOS-1; or iii) one of said one or more second primary active sorting output streams PASOS-2, PASOS-2'; or iv) the second primary passive sorting output stream PPSOS-2. Each additional ACS arrangement 300 is configured to identify one or more further auxiliary characteristics of TLF-feed material based on said further auxiliary sensor data.

[0120] Moreover, each additional ACS arrangement 300 is configured to classify, based on said one or more further auxiliary characteristics of TLF-feed material, TLF-feed material in the second auxiliary input material batch stream AIMBS-2. Each additional ACS arrangement 300 is configured to actively sort, by means of the further auxiliary sorting unit and based on TLF-feed material classification, TLF-feed material into at least N2 fractions, wherein N2 is at least 3.

[0121] In Fig. 4, as a non-limiting example, the arrangement 1 is exemplified as being configured to transport the first primary active sorting output stream PASOS-1 to the second ACS arrangement 300 and configured to transport the second primary active sorting output stream PPSOS-1' to the first ACS arrangement 200 and configured to transport the primary passive sorting output stream PPSOS-1 to a first sorting output receiving arrangement 401. Moreover, as a non-limiting example, the arrangement 1 is exemplified as being configured to transport a first auxiliary passive sorting output stream APSOS-1 to a second sorting output receiving arrangement 402 and to transport a second auxiliary passive sorting output stream APSOS-2 to a third sorting output receiving arrangement 403.

[0122] Fig. 5 illustrates a side view of an arrangement 1 for sorting a material batch including TLF-feed material according to one embodiment of the invention. The arrangement 1 may be adapted and / or configured as disclosed in association with any of Figs. 1-4. The arrangement 1 may according to one embodiment comprise: one or more additional PCS arrangements. As a non-limiting example, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the arrangement 1 may comprise a second PCS arrangement 100-2. Each additional PCS arrangement comprises: a further primary sensor arrangement 102' configured to provide further primary sensor data of TLF-feed material within a primary detection zone. Each additional PCS arrangement comprises: a further primary sorting unit 103' configured to sort TLF-feed material based on said further primary sensor data. Each additional PCS arrangement 100-2, 100-M1 is configured to receive, as a second primary input material batch stream PIMBS-2, PIMBS-M1, TLF-feed material directly or indirectly provided from one of said one or more primary active sorting output streams PASOS-1, PASOS-1', or ii) the first primary passive sorting output stream PPSOS-1. Each additional PCS arrangement 100-2, 100-M1 is configured to identify one or more further primary characteristics of said TLF-feed material based on said further primary sensor data. Each additional PCS arrangement 100-2, 100-M1 is configured to classify, based on said one or more further primary characteristics of said TLF-feed material, said TLF-feed material in the second primary input material batch stream PIMBS-2. Each additional PCS arrangement 100-2, 100-M1 is configured to actively sort, by means of the further primary sorting unit and based on TLF-feed material classification, classified TLF-feed material into one or more primary active sorting output streams PASOS-2, PASOS-2'. Each additional PCS arrangement 100-2, 100-M1 is configured to pass on a remainder of the second primary input material batch stream PIMBS-2 as a second primary passive sorting output stream PPSOS-2.

[0123] The arrangement 1 may be adapted so that the auxiliary sorting unit of the first ACS arrangement 200, 200-1 is a line sorting unit. Said line sorting unit is configured to sort TLF-feed material in a substantially singulated stream including TLF-feed material, wherein the arrangement 1 comprises one or more singulator units 205. By providing a singulated stream including TLF-feed material, the first ACS arrangement 200, 200-1 may actively sort into a plurality of active sorting outputs 204-1, ..., 204-N2. As a non-limiting example, the first ACS arrangement may comprise a plurality of auxiliary sorting unit 203-1, ..., 203-N2 to sort TLF-feed material into a selected active sorting output 204-1, ..., 204-N2. As a non-limiting example, one or more of the plurality of auxiliary sorting units may be ejection units configured to eject gaseous media onto the textile items and / or the TLF-feed material. As a non-limiting example, one or more of the plurality of auxiliary sorting units may be trap doors configured to guide selected TLF-feed material away from a main transport path through the line sorting unit, which may lead to a passive sorting output 402, 403, 404.

[0124] The arrangement 1 may comprise one or more additional ACS arrangement 300, 200-2, 200-M2, wherein the auxiliary sorting unit thereof is a further line sorting unit.

[0125] In order to provide a singulated stream of TLF-feed material, the arrangement 1 may comprise one or more singulator units 205. Each singulator unit is configured to receive a respective stream including TLF-feed material AIMBS-1 and provide said respective substantially singulated stream AIMBS-1' including TLF-feed material.

[0126] As illustrated in Fig. 3, the arrangement 1 may be adapted so that at least one of the first PCS arrangement 100, 100-1 and / or the one or more additional PCS arrangement 100-2, 100-M1 is configured to actively sort, based on TLF-feed material classification, TLF-feed material into at least two different primary active sorting output streams PASOS-1, PASOS-1'. As an alternative, the arrangement may be configured to actively sort, based on TLF-feed material classification, TLF-feed material into at most five, four, three, or two different primary active sorting output streams. As an alternative, the arrangement may be configured to actively sort, based on TLF-feed material classification, TLF-feed material into at most one primary active sorting output streams. By having fewer active sorting outputs, the PCS arrangement may process the material batch at a higher throughput. To compensate for the lack of active sorting outputs, a plurality of PCS arrangements may be connected sequentially, so that a subsequent PCS arrangement is configured to receive a passive sorting output or an active sorting output of a prior PCS arrangement.

[0127] Figs. 6-7 illustrate two generally different arrangement configurations of an arrangement for sorting a material batch including TLF-feed material.

[0128] In Fig. 6, a arrangement 1 is illustrated which comprises a plurality of PCS arrangement, either configured to actively sort TLF-feed material based on classification into one active sorting output or two active sorting outputs. Each PCS arrangement may also passively sort the material batch into a passive sorting output.

[0129] A first PCS arrangement 100-1 may actively sort TLF-feed material based on classification into a first active sorting output which leads to a second PCS arrangement 100-2 configured to sort based on classification textile items into a passive sorting output 401 and an active sorting output 402. The first PCS arrangement 100-1 may also passively sort TLF-feed material into a passive sorting output which leads to a third PCS arrangement 100-3. The first PCS arrangement 100-1 may also sort TLF-feed material into a passive sorting output 407 and an active sorting output 408.

[0130] The third PCS arrangement 100-3 may actively sort TLF-feed material based on classification into a first active sorting output which leads to a fifth PCS arrangement 100-5 configured to sort into a passive sorting output 403 and an active sorting output 404. The third PCS arrangement 100-3 may actively sort TLF-feed material based on classification into a second active sorting output which leads to a sixth PCS arrangement 100-6 configured to sort into a passive sorting output 405 and an active sorting output 406. The third PCS arrangement 100-3 may also passively sort TLF-feed material into a passive sorting output which leads to a first ACS arrangement 200. The first ACS arrangement 200 may actively sort into a plurality of active sorting outputs and pass on the remainder of the TLF-feed material into a passive sorting output 410. As a non-limiting example, the arrangement 1 may redirect TLF-feed material into an input 400 of the arrangement 1. This may advantageously enable the arrangement 1 to attempt classifying and sorting TLF-feed material which was not sorted by the ACS arrangement 200.

[0131] The arrangement 1 may be configured to redirect any sorting outputs, whether passive or active, back to the material input 400. This may advantageously enable the arrangement 1 to attempt classifying and sorting TLF-feed material which was not sorted by the arrangement. Alternatively or in combination, the arrangement 1 may be configured to process a material batch including TLF-feed material in a first cycle in which first cycle the classification and sorting arrangements are configured to classify and sort a selected type or category of TLF-feed material, and redirect a selected one or more sorting outputs into the material input and process the remainder of the material batch including TLF-feed material in a second cycle in which second cycle the classification and sorting arrangements are configured to classify and sort another selected type or category of TLF-feed material. By this, the number of classification and sorting arrangements may be reduced, which reduces cost and may reduce the risk of need of maintenance. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a particular sorting output of the arrangement 1 may in a first cycle output textile items and / or fragmented textile of a first characteristic and in a second cycle output textile items and / or fragmented textile of a second characteristic. As a non-limiting example, the first characteristic may be a first textile composition and the second characteristic may be a second textile composition.

[0132] Any of the PCS arrangement 100, 100-1 and / or one or more additional PCS arrangement 100-2, 100-M1 and / or the first ACS arrangement 200, 200-1 and / or one or more additional ACS arrangement 300, 200-2, 200-M2 may comprise a first magnet arrangement configured to attract ferrous metal material from the material batch stream MBS or any material stream originating from the material batch stream MBS, thereby sorting out ferrous metal from said material batch stream MBS or said any material stream originating from the material batch stream MBS.

[0133] The PCS arrangement 100, 100-1 and / or one or more additional PCS arrangement 100-2, 100-M1 and / or the first ACS arrangement 200, 200-1 and / or one or more additional ACS arrangement 300, 200-2, 200-M2 may comprise an eddy current separator configured to remove non-ferrous metals from the material batch stream MBS or any material stream originating from the material batch stream MBS, thereby sorting out non-ferrous metals from said material batch stream MBS or said any material stream originating from the material batch stream MBS.

[0134] As a further option, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the ACS arrangement may receive as an input auxiliary material batch stream a combined stream from the third PCS arrangement 100-3 and the sixth PCS arrangement 100-6 via a stream A-1 from one sorting output. The concept of combining streams in this manner may be useful for various applications, such as for correcting erroneous sorting or as a solution for when an auxiliary sorting arrangement is identified to not work properly.

[0135] In Fig. 7 , a arrangement 1 is illustrated which comprises a plurality of M1 PCS arrangements 100-1, 100-2, 100-M1 and a plurality of M2 ACS arrangements 200-1, 200-M2. The numbers M1 and M2 may selected so as to be capable of enabling sorting into a desired number of sorting outputs. The arrangement 1 may be configured to enable cycle sorting. By cycle sorting, it may refer to the function of sorting a material batch including TLF-feed material in a plurality of cycles, wherein TLF-feed material which need further sorting following a first sorting cycle is redirected back to the material input for a second sorting cycle wherein one or more of the classification and sorting arrangements are configured to actively and / or passively sort the remainder of the material batch including TLF-feed material based on another set of characteristics.

[0136] As an example, as illustrated in Fig. 7, the ACS arrangement 200-1 may be adapted to classify and sort a Feed material sorted by the prior PCS arrangement 100-1 into another sorting stream via auxiliary stream A-2, so that the PCS arrangement receives a combined stream from the first PCS arrangement 100-1 and the first ACS arrangement 200-1. This may for example be advantageous when the first PCS arrangement 100-1 sorts a TLF-feed material in an erroneous manner (for, instance, a first Feed material is obstructed by a second Feed material that is to be sorted to the first ACS arrangement. Alternatively, this may be used as a solution when classification and sorting arrangement is identified to be no longer working properly, so that TLF-feed material already sorted to said classification and sorting arrangement can be removed in an efficient manner so that said classification and sorting arrangement can be isolated from the arrangement (the prior PCS arrangement is configured to no longer sort to said classification and sorting arrangement) so that said classification and sorting arrangement can be reconfigured and / or repaired without stopping the entire arrangement from continuing sorting.

[0137] Fig. 8 illustrates a perspective schematic view of a classification and sorting arrangement 700. Any of the first PCS arrangements and / or any of the one or more additional PCS arrangements may be of the same type as the classification and sorting arrangement 700 that is described here. Each of the one or more additional PCS arrangements may comprise one or more of the features described below.

[0138] The classification and sorting arrangement 700 is fed with a material batch including TLF-feed material 710. The TLF-feed material 710 is conveyed through a detection zone 720. However, the TLF-feed material may be provided through the detection zone by any suitable means or manually without any technical means. A light source arrangement 730 and a NIR spectroscopy system 222 are provided. The spectroscopy system is adapted to receive and analyze 732, from the light source arrangement 730, which is reflected and / or scattered by the pieces light source arrangement 730, which is reflected and / or scattered by the TLF-feed material in the detection zone 720. Hence, the NIR spectroscopy system 222 typically acquires a spectrum of the TLF-feed material from the material batch stream that is conveyed through the detection zone 720. The NIR spectroscopy system 222 of the classification and sorting station 700 is configured to discriminate TLF-feed material from other material and / or TLF-feed material based on the acquired spectrum. In other words, the NIR system 222 is typically set up such that a specific type of TLF-feed material is discriminated form other types of the TLF-feed material owing from its spectrum.

[0139] The classification and sorting stations may further comprise a spectroscopy system 760, such as a NIR spectroscopy system, configured to acquire a spectrum of the TLF-feed material originating from the material batch stream that is conveyed through the detection zone 720. The ejection unit 224 of the classification and sorting station 700 may be further configured to divert said TLF-feed material originating from the material batch stream based on the acquired spectrum thereby sorting the TLF-feed material based on color. The spectroscopy system 760 may through the acquired spectrum determine the different colors of the TLF-feed material that is conveyed through the detection zone 720. An advantage of determining the colors of the TLF-feed material is that it may be sorted into different fractions.

[0140] The classification and sorting station 700 may further comprise a laser triangulation system 740 configured to determine height information of TLF-feed material that is conveyed through the detection zone 720. The ejection unit 224 of said at least one classification and sorting station may be further configured to divert said TLF-feed material based on the determined height information. The laser triangulation system 740 is typically configured to emit a line of laser light 742 towards the detection zone 720. The depicted laser triangulation system 740 includes a camera-based sensor arrangement 744 configured to receive and analyze light 746 which is reflected and / or scattered by the TLF-feed material in the detection zone 720. By means of the laser triangulation system 740 the classification and sorting station 700 may be able to detect TLF-feed material that the NIR spectroscopy system 222 have difficulties to detect. By detecting height differences on a conveyor belt used to convey the material batch being sorted, the classification and sorting station may combine such height information with the acquired information from the NIR spectroscopy system 222 to determine if there is any TLF-feed material that is hard to detect on the conveyor belt. Accordingly, further TLF-feed material may be recycled.

[0141] The classification and sorting station 700 may further comprise a camera 750 configured to acquire images of TLF-feed material originating from the material batch stream that is conveyed through the detection zone 720. The classification and sorting station 700 may comprise an artificial neural network in combination with the camera 750. Such artificial neural network may be configured to detect different characteristics of TLF-feed material that is conveyed through the detection zone 720 based on images acquired by the camera 750. The ejection unit 224 of the classification and sorting station 700 may in this case be further configured to divert TLF-feed material that is conveyed through the detection zone 720 based on the detected characteristics of TLF-feed material. In other words, characteristics of TLF-feed material may thus be determined by the artificial neural network from the, by the camera, acquired images. The characteristics may be a shape, a color, features at the surface or anything in the visual appearance of the TLF-feed material that may be determined and classified by the artificial neural network. The camera 750 may provide the possibility to further sort TLF-feed material into different fractions. With the help of the artificial neural network it may be possible to sort TLF-feed material of the same material composition into different fractions depending on quality and origin.

[0142] Fig. 9 is a flow chart illustrating different steps in a method for sorting material batch including TLF-feed material according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0143] The method comprises a step S1 of receiving the material batch MB as a first primary input material batch stream PIMBS-1 in a first PCS arrangement 100, 100-1. The first PCS arrangement 100, 100-1 may be a classification and sorting arrangement configured to classify and actively sort TLF-feed material at a high throughput into one or more active sorting outputs. In order to facilitate classifying and sorting at a high throughput, the number of active sorting outputs should be preferably be relatively few in relation to the total sorting outputs of the arrangement in which the first PCS arrangement 100, 100-1 is configured to operate in. As a non-limiting example, the arrangement may be configured to provide at least 4 active sorting outputs. As a non-limiting example, the first PCS arrangement 100, 100-1 may be configured to actively sort into at least 1 active sorting output.

[0144] The method comprises a step S2 of providing the first primary input material batch stream PIMBS-1 to a primary detection zone of the first PCS arrangement 100, 100-1. The first primary input material batch stream PIMBS-1 may be provided to the primary detection zone by means of a transportation arrangement. The transportation arrangement may include a conveyor arrangement including one or more conveyor belt segments. The transportation arrangement may be configured to vary speed depending on amount of material in the material batch to be sorted and / or desired throughput and / or sorting accuracy.

[0145] The method comprises a step S3 of providing primary sensor data of TLF-feed material within a primary detection zone. The primary sensor data may be provided by means of a sensor arrangement, which may include one or more of a NIR spectroscopy system, a laser triangulation system, a camera-based sensor arrangement, etc., or any other sensor arrangements herein disclosed.

[0146] The method comprises a step S4 of identifying, based on primary sensor data, one or more primary characteristics of TLF-feed material. The primary characteristics may be any characteristics herein disclosed. As a non-limiting example, primary characteristics may include textile composition.

[0147] The method comprises a step of S5 classifying, based on said one or more primary characteristics of TLF-feed material, TLF-feed material in the first primary input material batch stream PIMBS-1. As a non-limiting example, one or more textile items may be classified as cotton-based garments.

[0148] The method comprises a step S6 of actively sorting, based on TLF-feed material classification, classified TLF-feed material into one or more primary active sorting output stream PASOS-1, PASOS-1'.

[0149] Optionally, the method comprises a step S7 of passing on a remainder of the first primary input material batch stream PIMBS-1 as a first primary passive sorting output stream PPSOS-1.

[0150] The method comprises a step S8 of receiving, as a first auxiliary input material batch stream AIMBS-1 in a first ACS arrangement 200, 200-1, TLF-feed material directly or indirectly provided from i) one of said one or more first primary active sorting output streams PASOS-1, PASOS-1'; or ii) the first primary passive sorting output stream PPSOS-1.

[0151] The method comprises a step S9 of identifying, based on auxiliary sensor data provided by an auxiliary sensor arrangement, one or more auxiliary characteristics of TLF-feed material.

[0152] The method comprises a step S10 of classifying, based on said one or more auxiliary characteristics of TLF-feed material, TLF-feed material in the first auxiliary input material batch stream AIMBS-1.

[0153] The method comprises a step S11 of actively sorting, based on TLF-feed material classification, classified TLF-feed material into at least N1 fractions, wherein N1 is at least 3.

[0154] The method may further comprise sorting TLF-feed material using two or more PCS arrangement 100, 100-1 arranged to sort in series.

[0155] The method may further comprise sorting TLF-feed material using two or more ACS arrangements 200, 200-1 arranged to sort in parallel.

[0156] The method may further comprise sorting TLF-feed material in a first classification and sorting cycle and providing TLF-feed material which were not classified and / or sorted in the first classification and sorting cycle as input to the PCS arrangement 100, 100-1 in a second classification and sorting cycle.

[0157] The method may further comprise receiving waste including TLF-feed material as said material batch stream; using the arrangement according to the first aspect or any embodiments thereof.

[0158] The method may be adapted so that said material batch comprises at least 50 WT% or 50 V / V% TLF-feed material.

[0159] While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the disclosure, other and further embodiments may be devised without parting from the inventive concept discussed herein.

Claims

1. An arrangement (1) for sorting at least one material batch including textile, leather, and / or footwear feed material, TLF-feed material, the arrangement comprising: - a first primary classification and sorting, PCS, arrangement (100, 100-1) comprising: ∘ a primary sensor arrangement configured to provide primary sensor data of TLF-feed material present in a primary detection zone, ∘ a primary sorting unit configured to sort said TLF-feed material based on said primary sensor data, and - wherein the first PCS arrangement (100, 100-1) is configured to: ∘ receive the at least one material batch as a first primary input material batch stream (PIMBS-1); ∘ identify one or more primary characteristics of said TLF-feed material based on said primary sensor data; ∘ classify, based on said one or more primary characteristics of said TLF-feed material, TLF-feed material in the first primary input material batch stream (PIMBS-1); ∘ actively sort, by means of the primary sorting unit and based on TLF-feed material classification, classified TLF-feed material into one or more primary active sorting output streams (PASOS-1, PASOS-1'), and ∘ pass on a remainder of the first primary input material batch stream (PIMBS-1) as a first primary passive sorting output stream (PPSOS-1); the arrangement (1) further comprising: - a first auxiliary classification and sorting, ACS, arrangement (200, 200-1) comprising: ∘ an auxiliary sensor arrangement configured to provide auxiliary sensor data of TLF-feed material present in an auxiliary detection zone, ∘ an auxiliary sorting unit configured to sort TLF-feed material based on said auxiliary sensor data, - wherein the first ACS arrangement (200, 200-1) is configured to: ∘ receive, as a first auxiliary input material batch stream (AIMBS-1), TLF-feed material directly or indirectly provided from i) one of said one or more primary active sorting output streams (PASOS-1, PASOS-1'), or ii) the first primary passive sorting output stream (PPSOS-1), ∘ identify one or more auxiliary characteristics of said TLF-feed material based on said auxiliary sensor data; ∘ classify, based on said one or more auxiliary characteristics of said TLF-feed material, said TLF-feed material in the first auxiliary input material batch stream (AIMBS-1), and ∘ actively sort, by means of the auxiliary sorting unit and based on TLF-feed material classification, classified TLF-feed material into at least N1 fractions, wherein N1 is at least 3.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising: - one or more additional PCS arrangements (100-2, 100-M1), each comprising: ∘ a further primary sensor arrangement configured to provide further primary sensor data of TLF-feed material present in a primary detection zone, ∘ a further primary sorting unit configured to sort TLF-feed material based on said further primary sensor data, and - wherein each additional PCS arrangement (100-2, 100-M1) is configured to: ∘ receive, as a second primary input material batch stream (PIMBS-2, PIMBS-M1), TLF-feed material directly or indirectly provided from i) one of said one or more primary active sorting output streams (PASOS-1, PASOS-1'), or ii) the first primary passive sorting output stream (PPSOS-1), ∘ identify one or more further primary characteristics of said TLF-feed material based on said further primary sensor data; ∘ classify, based on said one or more further primary characteristics of said TLF-feed material, said TLF-feed material in the second primary input material batch stream (PIMBS-2); ∘ actively sort, by means of the further primary sorting unit and based on TLF-feed material classification, classified TLF-feed material into one or more primary active sorting output streams (PASOS-2, PASOS-2'), and ∘ pass on a remainder of the second primary input material batch stream (PIMBS-2) as a second primary passive sorting output stream (PPSOS-2).

3. Arrangement according to any of claims 1-2, further comprising: - one or more additional ACS arrangements (200-2, 200-M2), each additional ACS arrangement comprising: ∘ a further auxiliary sensor arrangement configured to provide further auxiliary sensor data of TLF-feed material within a further auxiliary detection zone, ∘ a further auxiliary sorting unit configured to sort TLF-feed material based on said further auxiliary sensor data, - wherein each additional ACS arrangement (200-2, 200-M2) is configured to: ∘ receive, as a second auxiliary input material batch stream (AIMBS-2), TLF-feed material directly or indirectly provided from i) one of said one or more first primary active sorting output streams (PASOS-1, PASOS-1'), or ii) the first primary passive sorting output stream (PPSOS-1), or iii) one of said one or more second primary active sorting output streams (PASOS-2, PASOS-2'), or iv) the second primary passive sorting output stream (PPSOS-2); ∘ identify one or more further auxiliary characteristics of TLF-feed material based on said further auxiliary sensor data; ∘ classify, based on said one or more further auxiliary characteristics of TLF-feed material, TLF-feed material in the second auxiliary input material batch stream (AIMBS-2), and ∘ actively sort, by means of the further auxiliary sorting unit and based on TLF-feed material classification, TLF-feed material into at least N2 fractions, wherein N2 is at least 3.

4. Arrangement (1) according to any of claims 1-3, wherein - the auxiliary sorting unit of the first ACS arrangement (200, 200-1) is a line sorting unit, and / or - the further auxiliary sorting unit of one or more additional ACS arrangement (300, 200-2, 200-M2) is a further line sorting unit, - wherein said line sorting unit is configured to sort TLF-feed material in a substantially singulated stream including TLF-feed material, - wherein the arrangement (1) comprises one or more singulator units (205) configured to: ∘ receive a respective stream including TLF-feed material (AIMBS-1) and ∘ provide said respective substantially singulated stream (AIMBS-1') including TLF-feed material.

5. Arrangement (1) according to any preceding claims, wherein at least one of the first PCS arrangement (100, 100-1) and / or the one or more additional PCS arrangement (100-2, 100-M1) is configured to: - actively sort, based on TLF-feed material classification, TLF-feed material into two and / or at most two different primary active sorting output streams (PASOS-1, PASOS-1').

6. Arrangement (1) according to any preceding claims, wherein the PCS arrangement (100, 100-1) and / or one or more additional PCS arrangement (100-2, 100-M1) and / or the first ACS arrangement (200, 200-1) and / or one or more additional ACS arrangement (300, 200-2, 200-M2) comprises: - a first magnet arrangement configured to attract ferrous metal material from the material batch stream (MBS) or any material stream originating from the material batch stream (MBS), thereby sorting out ferrous metal from said material batch stream (MBS) or said any material stream originating from the material batch stream (MBS), and / or - an eddy current separator configured to remove non-ferrous metals from the material batch stream (MBS) or any material stream originating from the material batch stream (MBS), thereby sorting out non-ferrous metals from said material batch stream (MBS) or said any material stream originating from the material batch stream (MBS).

7. Arrangement (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein any of said characteristics of TLF-feed material includes: textile composition, and / or textile composition fractions, and / or colors, and / or footprint areas and / or volume, and / or fragment sizes, and / or textile structures, and / or textile product types, and / or moisture content, and / or hazardous non-textile substances, and / or non-hazardous non-textile substances, textile print substances, and / or surface coating substances.

8. Arrangement (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one arrangement of the primary classification sorting arrangement (100, 100-1) and / or the one or more additional PCS arrangement (100-2, 100-M1) and / or the first ACS arrangement (200, 200-1) and / or the one or more additional ACS arrangement (300, 200-2, 200-M2) comprises: - a spectroscopy system configured to provide a spectroscopy spectrum of said TLF-feed materials present in a detection zone, and wherein said at least one arrangement is further configured to: - sort said TLF-feed material originating from the material batch stream (MBS) based on the acquired spectroscopy spectrum, wherein said sorting includes sorting said TLF-feed material based on material, and / or moisture content, and / or color, and / or one or more characteristics of TLF-feed material detectable in said acquired spectroscopy spectrum.

9. Arrangement (1) according to any preceding claims, wherein at least one arrangement of the primary classification sorting arrangement (100, 100-1) and / or the one or more additional PCS arrangement (100-2, 100-M1) and / or the first ACS arrangement (200, 200-1) and / or the one or more additional ACS arrangement (300, 200-2, 200-M2) comprises: - a camera-based sensor arrangement configured to receive and analyze light reflected and / or scattered by TLF-feed material present in a detection zone through which the TLF-feed material is provided, wherein the arrangement is configured to: - determine position and / or color and / or shape and / or textile structure of said TLF-feed material and / or TLF-feed material classifications of said TLF-feed material based on an analysis provided by the camera-based sensor arrangement.

10. Arrangement (1) according to claim 9, wherein said at least one arrangement of the first primary classification sorting arrangement (100, 100-1) and / or the one or more additional PCS arrangement (100-2, 100-M1) and / or the first ACS arrangement (200, 200-1) and / or the one or more additional ACS arrangement (300, 200-2, 200-M2) comprises: - a laser triangulation system including: ∘ a laser arrangement configured to illuminate TLF-feed material in the detection zone by means of laser, - wherein the received light of the camera-based sensor arrangement originates from the laser triangulation system.

11. Arrangement (1) according to any preceding claims, wherein at least one arrangement of the first primary classification sorting arrangement (100, 100-1) and / or the one or more additional PCS arrangement (100-2, 100-M1) and / or the first ACS arrangement (200, 200-1) and / or the one or more additional ACS arrangement (300, 200-2, 200-M2) is adapted with: - an artificial neural network configured to classify TLF-feed material based on sensor measurements provided by the at least one arrangement.

12. Arrangement (1) according to any preceding claims, wherein N1 and / or N2 is / are at least 4, or 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more.

13. Method of sorting at least one material batch including TLF-feed material, the method comprising: ∘ receiving the at least one material batch as a first primary input material batch stream (PIMBS-1) in a first primary classification and sorting, PCS, arrangement (100, 100-1), wherein, optionally, the matter of the at least one material batch is received batch-wise or as a continuous stream of matter; ∘ providing the first primary input material batch stream (PIMBS-1) to a primary detection zone of the first PCS arrangement (100, 100-1); ∘ providing primary sensor data of TLF-feed material within the primary detection zone, ∘ identifying, based on the primary sensor data, one or more primary characteristics of TLF-feed material; ∘ classifying, based on said one or more primary characteristics of TLF-feed material, TLF-feed material in the first primary input material batch stream (PIMBS-1); ∘ actively sorting, based on TLF-feed material classification, classified TLF-feed material into one or more primary active sorting output stream (PASOS-1, PASOS-1'), and ∘ passing on a remainder of the first primary input material batch stream (PIMBS-1) as a first primary passive sorting output stream (PPSOS-1); ∘ receiving, as a first auxiliary input material batch stream (AIMBS-1) in a first auxiliary classification and sorting, ACS, arrangement (200, 200-1), TLF-feed material directly or indirectly provided from i. one of said one or more first primary active sorting output streams (PASOS-1, PASOS-1'), or ii. the first primary passive sorting output stream (PPSOS-1), ∘ identifying, based on auxiliary sensor data provided by an auxiliary sensor arrangement, one or more auxiliary characteristics of TLF-feed material; ∘ classifying, based on said one or more auxiliary characteristics of TLF-feed material, TLF-feed material in the first auxiliary input material batch stream (AIMBS-1), and ∘ actively sorting, based on TLF-feed material classification, classified TLF-feed material into at least N1 fractions, wherein N1 is at least 3.

14. Method according to claim 13, further including one or more of: ∘ sorting TLF-feed material using two or more PCS arrangement (100, 100-1) arranged to sort in series; ∘ sorting TLF-feed material using two or more ACS arrangements (200, 200-1) arranged to sort in parallel; ∘ sorting TLF-feed material in a first classification and sorting cycle and providing TLF-feed material which were not classified and / or sorted in the first classification and sorting cycle as input to the PCS arrangement (100, 100-1) in a second classification and sorting cycle; ∘ receiving waste including TLF-feed material as said material batch stream; ∘ using the arrangement according to any preceding claims.

15. Method according to any of claims 13-14, wherein said material batch comprises at least 50 WT% or 50 V / V% TLF-feed material.

Images