Device and method for recycling textiles wherein interfering substances are detected and removed separately

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (1) for removing interfering substances (27) from textile cuttings (25), comprising a first conveyor belt (2), a first camera system (3) for capturing images of the textile cuttings, wherein the first camera system has a viewing angle covering at least a full width of the first conveyor belt, an ejection system (6) for ejecting interfering substances, a processing unit (16) for processing the captured images, a second conveyor belt (8) and a second camera system (9), wherein the first and second conveyor belt are placed in line with each other, wherein the second camera system is placed under the first and second conveyor belt and wherein the second camera system has a viewing angle that covers at least a full width of the first and second conveyor belt and a full length of a gap between the first and the second conveyor belt. The invention also relates to a method and a use.

Description

[0001] DEVICE AND METHOD FOR RECYCLING TEXTILES WHEREIN INTERFERING SUBSTANCES ARE DETECTED AND REMOVED SEPARATELY

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The invention relates to a device for removing interfering substances from textile cuttings, more particularly for removing buttons, labels and zippers. The invention also relates to a method for removing interfering substances from textile cuttings and a use of the device or method for recycling textiles.

[0004] PRIOR ART

[0005] Textiles are an important consumer product with an enormous impact on the environment and the climate. A European consumes an average of 26 kg of textiles annually and produces an average of 11.3 kg of textile waste. This amounts to a total of 5.8 million tons of textile waste per year in Europe. Of this, less than 1% was recycled in a high-quality manner in 2021. In recent years, much more attention has been paid to textile recycling, more specifically to the reuse of fibers from textile waste. It is important that textile waste is correctly identified so that the fibers can be sorted and recovered depending on their composition. Identifying and sorting textile waste is a very labor-intensive task, which also requires specific knowledge. It is advantageous to automate this task.

[0006] A known device for automatically identifying textiles is described in BE1027303 (BE '303). BE '303 describes a method and a device for automatically recognizing textile samples. Near-infrared spectroscopy is used to study a textile sample. Using a neural network, the result of the spectroscopy is studied and the material in the textile sample is identified. In this way, the identification and sorting of textile waste can be automated.

[0007] This known device has the disadvantage that although textile waste can be sorted automatically, it does not offer a solution for possible interfering substances that are attached to a piece of textile or are present in a piece of textile. Interfering substances are, for example, objects such as zippers or buttons. It is clear that the zippers and buttons are not fibers and therefore cannot be recycled in the same process. In addition, during further processing of the textile waste, for example cutting up and unraveling the textile waste, these zippers and buttons can, in addition to contaminating the fibers obtained, also cause damage to the machines used for this purpose. Another disadvantage is that a piece of textile does not always consist entirely of the same material or mixture of materials. For example, jeans are traditionally made of cotton, but the pockets of jeans pants can be made of synthetic fibers. Cotton fibers and synthetic fibers also require different treatment for fiber recovery. The synthetic fibers are interfering substances during the recovery of the cotton. It is therefore necessary to be able to separate these different pieces of textile waste from each other.

[0008] Another known device is described in CN 114871 150 (CN '150). The device from CN '150 is suitable for automatically sorting materials based on color. This device has the disadvantage that it is not suitable for the automatic detection and separate removal of interfering substances.

[0009] WO 2014 / 186498 (WO '498) describes a device for removing metal objects, such as buttons and zippers, from strips of textile. The device from WO '498 has the disadvantage that only metal objects can be detected and removed separately.

[0010] US 5 529 169 (US '169) discloses a method for automatically sorting meat products. US '169 describes the use of a camera to recognize lean and fatty meat and to separate pieces of lean and fatty meat. The method from US '169 is not suitable for detecting and separately removing interfering substances from textiles.

[0011] The present invention aims to solve at least some of the above problems or drawbacks.

[0012] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a device according to claim 1.

[0014] The advantage of this setup is that it allows for evaluating a textile sample both at a bottom and a top side. This makes it always possible to detect an interfering substance attached to the textile cutting or present in the textile cutting, regardless of the orientation of the textile cutting on the conveyor belt. For example, a button or a zipper may be sewn to the top or bottom of the textile cutting. An additional advantage of the device is that the textile cuttings do not have to be turned over to capture an image of the underside of the textile cutting. Because the second camera system is positioned below the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt and has a viewing angle that covers the full length of a gap between the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt, the underside of the textile cutting is automatically captured on camera during the fall from one conveyor belt to the other. Techniques are known for reversing textile cuttings when transferring them from one conveyor belt to another, for example where a textile cutting remains stuck to one conveyor belt until the textile cutting is upside down above the other conveyor belt and then falls onto the other conveyor belt by gravity. However, these techniques are not reliable and are extremely dependent on the type of textile cutting and the weight of the textile cutting. The device is also advantageous for determining whether a textile cutting consists of the same type of textile on both sides of the textile cutting, for example whether the textile cutting consists of jeans on the top and a synthetic textile on the bottom that formed a pocket of a pair of jeans or whether a label is attached to the bottom or top. In that case, the label and the synthetic textile are also interfering substances that must be separated from the textile waste.

[0015] Preferred forms of the device are set out in claims 2 to 10.

[0016] A specific preferred embodiment concerns a device according to claim 2.

[0017] Traditionally, textile cuttings that need to be removed are blown up by blow nozzles so that they land further and are thus removed from a stream of textile cuttings. The large stream of textile cuttings that must be retained can then fall down in an arc at the end of a conveyor belt. However, when removing interfering substances it is advantageous to blow downwards. In the presence of an interfering substance, such as a button or a zipper, a textile cutting has an unpredictable weight and therefore behavior when blown away upwards. Depending on the size of the interfering substance, for example a small button or a heavy zipper, the textile cutting with the interfering substance will fall much faster and may not be removed from the stream of textile cuttings. By blowing downwards, the textile cutting with interfering substance can be forced to fall down immediately, while the textile cuttings that need to be retained follow a predictable trajectory during their fall and land further. This is additionally advantageous because less air is needed to remove interfering substances, as there are fewer textile cuttings with interfering substances than without.

[0018] In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a method according to claim 11. This method has the advantage, among other things, that an image is captured of both the top and the bottom, so that a textile cutting with interfering substance can in any case be automatically recognized and removed, regardless of whether the interfering substance is present on the top or the bottom of the textile cutting. An additional advantage of the method is that the textile cuttings do not have to be turned over for this purpose. The underside of the textile cutting is captured on camera during the fall from one conveyor belt to the other conveyor belt. Another advantage of this method is that not only textile cuttings with objects as interfering substances can be removed automatically, but also textile cuttings that consist of different materials on the bottom and top.

[0019] Preferred embodiments of the method are described in dependent claims 12-15.

[0020] In a third aspect, the present invention relates to a use according to claim 16.

[0021] This use results in an advantageous removal of textile cuttings with buttons or zippers from the stream of textile cuttings, which, in addition to contamination of the fibers obtained, also prevents damage to machines used for this during further processing of the textile waste. It also ensures the advantageous removal of textile cuttings with seams. Seams are disadvantageous in fiber recovery because sewing thread used to stitch together textile pieces does not necessarily consist of similar fibers to the textile cutting. In addition, seams can also be a transition between two pieces of textile made of different materials, which again makes it difficult to recover fibers. The use of the device or method therefore ensures clean textile cuttings that result in high-quality recovered fibers.

[0022] DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0023] Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional side view of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 2 shows a top view of the device in Figure 1.

[0025] Figure 3 shows a grid division of a textile cutting. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used in the description of the invention, including technical and scientific terms, have the meanings as commonly understood by a person skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. For a better understanding of the description of the invention, the following terms are explained explicitly.

[0027] In this document, "a" and "the" refer to both the singular and the plural, unless the context presupposes otherwise. For example, "a segment" means one or more segments.

[0028] The terms "comprise," "comprising," "consist of," "consisting of," "provided with," "include," "including," "contain," "containing," are synonyms and are inclusive or open terms that indicate the presence of what follows, and which do not exclude or prevent the presence of other components, characteristics, elements, members, steps, as known from or disclosed in the prior art.

[0029] Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," "third" and the like are used in the specification and in the claims to distinguish between similar elements and not necessarily to describe a sequential or chronological order, unless specified. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operating in a different order than described or illustrated herein.

[0030] Quoting numeric intervals by the endpoints includes all integers, fractions, and / or real numbers between the endpoints, including those endpoints.

[0031] In the context of this document, textiles refer to flexible materials made by joining fibers, threads or yarns. Textiles can be made from natural fibers such as cotton, silk and wool, from synthetic fibers such as polyester and nylon or a combination of natural and synthetic fibers.

[0032] In the context of this document, a textile cutting is a small piece of textile that has been cut off of or cut out from a larger piece of fabric.

[0033] In the context of this document, an interfering substance refers to an object that is not made of textile or has no textile properties and is attached to a textile cutting or to a textile that has textile properties different from the textile properties of a textile cutting to be recycled and that interferes with recovery of fibers from the textile cutting. Non-limiting examples of objects are buttons and zippers. Non-limiting examples of textiles are labels and pockets made of synthetic fibers in, for example, a pair of jeans.

[0034] In the context of this document, USB means Universal Serial Bus.

[0035] In the context of this document, WiFi is a wireless network according to the IEEE 802.11 standard.

[0036] In a first aspect, the invention concerns a device for removing interfering substances from textile cuttings.

[0037] The device comprises a first conveyor belt for moving textile cuttings. The first conveyor belt extends in a longitudinal direction. The first conveyor belt comprises a belt in a closed loop around a roller at a first end and a roller at a second end of the first conveyor belt. The belt preferably has a closed transport surface. This is advantageous to prevent textile cuttings from falling through the belt. The first conveyor belt can be arranged at an angle or horizontally. Preferably, the first conveyor belt is arranged horizontally.

[0038] The device comprises a first camera system for capturing images of the textile cuttings on the first conveyor belt. The first camera system is placed above the first conveyor belt. The first camera system is directed towards an upper side of the belt of the first conveyor belt. The first camera system has a viewing angle that covers at least a full width of the first conveyor belt. The width is in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the first conveyor belt and in a direction parallel to a plane formed by the top side of the belt of the first conveyor belt. Such a viewing angle is advantageous for capturing images of a top side of textile cuttings on the first conveyor belt, regardless of their position in width on the conveyor belt.

[0039] The device comprises an ejection system for ejecting interfering substances from the textile cuttings. The ejection system is preferably placed at an end of a conveyor belt. Preferably the ejection system comprises blow nozzles. Blowing against a textile cutting changes a path that is followed by a textile cutting during a falling movement at the end of the said conveyor belt, so that textile cuttings with an interfering substance can be removed from a stream of textile cuttings. Alternatively, the ejection system comprises spoons for tapping textile cuttings while the textile cuttings are falling at the end of said conveyor belt. Tapping with the aid of a spoon also changes the path followed by a textile cutting during the falling movement at the end of the said conveyor belt. The spoons are connected to a hydraulic, pneumatic or electric actuator.

[0040] The device comprises a processing unit for processing the captured images of the textile cuttings. These are at least the images captured by the first camera system. The processing unit is communicatively connected to the first camera system. Preferably, the processing unit is directly communicatively connected to the first camera system, for example via an Ethernet connection, via a WiFi connection or via a USB cable. The processing unit is configured to perform a method for identifying textile cuttings with interfering substances and removing such textile cuttings from a stream of textile cuttings.

[0041] According to a preferred embodiment, the device comprises a second conveyor belt and a second camera system for capturing images of the textile cuttings.

[0042] The second conveyor belt extends in a longitudinal direction. The first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt are placed in line with each other. This means that the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt extend in a same longitudinal direction. The second conveyor belt comprises a belt in a closed loop around a roller at a first end and a roller at a second end of the second conveyor belt. The belt preferably has a closed transport surface. This is advantageous to prevent textile cuttings from falling through the belt. The second conveyor belt can be arranged at an angle or horizontally. Preferably, the second conveyor belt is arranged horizontally.

[0043] There is a gap between adjacent ends of the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the first and second conveyor belt. Measured in the said longitudinal direction, the gap has a length of preferably at most 8 cm, more preferably at most 7 cm, even more preferably at most 6 cm and even more preferably at most 5 cm. Most preferably, the gap has a length between 2 cm and 4 cm. There is a height difference between the adjacent ends of the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt. The height difference is measured in a vertical direction between the top side of the belt of the first conveyor belt and a top side of the belt of the second conveyor belt. The height difference is preferably at most 10 cm, more preferably at most 8 cm, even more preferably at most 6 cm and even more preferably at most 4 cm. The height difference is preferably at least 0.5 cm, and more preferably at least 1.0 cm. The gap and the height difference between the adjacent ends of the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt are advantageous for transferring textile cuttings from one conveyor belt to the other conveyor belt without the textile cuttings being turned over. The gap has a sufficiently short length that the textile cuttings fall from one conveyor belt to the other conveyor belt due to their speed and do not disappear into the gap. The height difference between one conveyor belt and the other conveyor belt is sufficiently small that the textile cuttings do not have enough time to turn over during the fall. The height difference is sufficiently large so that the textile cuttings can fall long enough to bridge the gap.

[0044] It is clear to a person skilled in the technical field that the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt form a transport system for the textile cuttings that extends in the longitudinal direction of the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt. The transport system has a supply end where the textile cuttings are supplied and a discharge end where the textile cuttings are discharged. The ejection system is located at the discharge end. It will also be apparent to a person skilled in the art that both the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt can be placed closest to the supply side. In case the first conveyor belt is placed closest to the supply side, the said adjacent end of the first conveyor belt is higher than the said adjacent end of the second conveyor belt and the ejection system is placed on the discharge side near the second conveyor belt. In case the second conveyor belt is placed closest to the supply side, the said adjacent end of the second conveyor belt is higher than the said adjacent end of the first conveyor belt and the ejection system is placed on the discharge side near the first conveyor belt. It is also clear that the conveyor belt closest to the discharge side has a width at least equal to the width of the conveyor belt closest to the supply side, so that textile cuttings do not fall next to the conveyor belt closest to the discharge side.

[0045] The second camera system is placed under the first conveyor belt and under the second conveyor belt. The second camera system is placed lower than an underside of the belt of the first conveyor belt. The second camera system is placed lower than an underside of the belt of the second conveyor belt. The second camera system is directed towards the gap between the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt. The second camera system has a viewing angle that covers at least a full width of the gap between the first and second conveyor belt. The width is in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the first conveyor belt and therefore the second conveyor belt and in a direction parallel to a plane formed by the top side of the belt of the first conveyor belt and therefore parallel to a plane formed by the top side of the belt of the second conveyor belt. The second camera system has a viewing angle that covers a full length of the gap between the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt. Such a viewing angle is advantageous for capturing images of an underside of textile cuttings as they fall from one conveyor belt to another conveyor belt, regardless of their position in width on one conveyor belt.

[0046] It is clear that the processing unit is a processing unit for processing the captured images of the textile cuttings by both the first camera system and the second camera system. The processing unit is communicatively connected to the second camera system. Preferably, the processing unit is directly communicatively connected to the second camera system, for example via an Ethernet connection, via a WiFi connection or via a USB cable.

[0047] The advantage of this setup is that it allows for evaluating a textile sample both at a bottom and a top side. This makes it always possible to detect an interfering substance attached to the textile cutting or present in the textile cutting, regardless of the orientation of the textile cutting on the conveyor belt. For example, a button or a zipper may be sewn to the top or bottom of the textile cutting. An additional advantage of the device is that the textile cuttings do not have to be turned over to capture an image of the underside of the textile cutting. Because the second camera system is positioned below the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt and has a viewing angle that covers the full length of a gap between the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt, the underside of the textile cutting is automatically captured on camera during the fall from one conveyor belt to the other. Techniques are known for reversing textile cuttings when transferring them from one conveyor belt to another, for example where a textile cutting remains stuck to one conveyor belt until the textile cutting is upside down above the other conveyor belt and then falls onto the other conveyor belt by gravity. However, these techniques are not reliable and are extremely dependent on the type of textile cutting and the weight of the textile cutting. These techniques are certainly not reliable for textile cuttings with an object as interfering substance due to the weight of this object. The device is also advantageous for determining whether a textile cutting consists of the same type of textile on both sides of the textile cutting, for example whether the textile cutting consists of jeans on the top and a synthetic textile on the bottom that formed a pocket of a pair of jeans or whether a label is attached to the bottom or top. In that case, the label and the synthetic textile are also interfering substances that must be separated from the textile waste.

[0048] According to an embodiment, the first camera system comprises multiple cameras, wherein the multiple cameras jointly have a viewing angle that covers at least the full width of the first conveyor belt. This is advantageous if the first conveyor belt is too wide to be completely covered by the viewing angle of a single camera.

[0049] According to an embodiment, the second camera system comprises multiple cameras, wherein the plurality of cameras have a viewing angle that covers at least the full width of the gap between the first and the second conveyor belt and at least the full length of the gap between the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt. This is advantageous if the gap between the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt is too wide to be completely covered by the viewing angle of a single camera.

[0050] According to an embodiment, the first camera system comprises a color camera that operates in visible light. This is advantageous because such a color camera is relatively simple and cheap. In addition, a color camera can capture images at high speed, which is advantageous for a high throughput speed for the textile cuttings in the device.

[0051] According to a further embodiment, the first camera system comprises a light source. The light source is placed above the top of the first conveyor belt and directed towards the top of the first conveyor belt. Preferably the light source is a calibrated light source. A non-limiting example of a calibrated light source is D65 as defined in ISO 10526:2007. Preferably, the first camera system is placed in a closed and non-lighttransmitting housing. This form of implementation is advantageous for controlled illumination of the textile cuttings on the first conveyor belt, which is advantageous for reproducible recording of images of the top of the textile cuttings.

[0052] According to an embodiment, the first camera system comprises a black-and-white camera that operates in visible light. This is advantageous if there are many textile cuttings with different colors, but with a similar structure and / or texture. By taking only images in black and white, processing the images of the textile cuttings is easier because color information does not have to be taken into account. This embodiment is particularly advantageous in combination with a further described embodiment, wherein the processing unit is configured to perform a method, wherein the processing unit executes a classification algorithm based on artificial intelligence. In that case, a training set needs to contain fewer images of textile cuttings, because an image of every possible color is not needed in the training set.

[0053] In an alternative embodiment, the first camera system comprises a color camera, as previously described, wherein the processing unit is configured to process only luminance values in the captured images of the textile cuttings.

[0054] According to an embodiment, the second camera system comprises a color camera that operates in visible light. This embodiment has the same advantages as the above-described embodiment regarding the first camera system.

[0055] According to a further embodiment, the second camera system comprises a light source. The light source is placed under the underside of the first conveyor belt and under the underside of the second conveyor belt. The light source is placed lower than the underside of the belt of the first conveyor belt and the underside of the belt of the second conveyor belt. The light source is directed towards the gap between the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt. Preferably the light source is a calibrated light source. A non-limiting example of a calibrated light source is D65 as defined in ISO 10526:2007. Preferably, the second camera system is placed in a closed and non-light-transmitting housing, wherein the gap between the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt is also located in the said housing. This embodiment is advantageous for controlled illumination of the textile cuttings during the fall from one conveyor belt to the other, which is advantageous for reproducible recording of images of the underside of the textile cuttings.

[0056] According to an embodiment, the second camera system comprises a black-and- white camera that operates in visible light. This embodiment has the same advantages as the above-described embodiment regarding the first camera system.

[0057] In an alternative embodiment, the second camera system comprises a color camera, as previously described, wherein the processing unit is configured to process only luminance values in the captured images of the textile cuttings. According to an embodiment, the device comprises a fourth camera system for capturing images of the textile cuttings on the second conveyor belt. The fourth camera system is similar to the first camera system. The fourth camera system is placed above the second conveyor belt. The fourth camera system is directed towards an upper side of the belt of the second conveyor belt. The fourth camera system has a viewing angle that covers at least a full width of the second conveyor belt. The width is in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the second conveyor belt and in a direction parallel to a plane formed by the top side of the belt of the second conveyor belt. Such a viewing angle is advantageous for capturing images of a top side of textile cuttings on the second conveyor belt, regardless of their position in width on the conveyor belt. In this embodiment the second conveyor belt is always the conveyor belt closest to the discharge side of the device.

[0058] The use of the fourth camera system is advantageous to check, on the one hand, whether textile cuttings have changed position in the width direction while falling from the first conveyor belt to the second conveyor belt. In addition, the fourth camera system is advantageous for taking additional images of a textile cutting, for example if an image by the first camera system is of insufficient quality to be processed by the processing unit.

[0059] The previously described embodiments of the first camera system apply mutatis mutandis to the fourth camera system.

[0060] According to a preferred embodiment, the ejection system is placed at an end of the first conveyor belt or the second conveyor belt. The ejection system comprises blow nozzles for blowing away interfering substances. The blow nozzles are directed downwards.

[0061] Traditionally, textile cuttings that need to be removed are blown up by blow nozzles so that they land further and are thus removed from a stream of textile cuttings. The large stream of textile cuttings that must be retained can then fall down in an arc at the end of a conveyor belt. However, when removing interfering substances it is advantageous to blow downwards. In the presence of an interfering substance, such as a button or a zipper, a textile cutting has an unpredictable weight and therefore behavior when blown away upwards. Depending on the size of the interfering substance, for example a small button or a heavy zipper, the textile cutting with the interfering substance will fall much faster and may not be removed from the stream of textile cuttings. By blowing downwards, the textile cutting with interfering substance can be forced to fall down immediately, while the textile cuttings that need to be retained follow a predictable trajectory during their fall and land further. This is additionally advantageous because less air is needed to remove interfering substances, as there are fewer textile cuttings with interfering substances than textile cuttings without interfering substances.

[0062] According to a further embodiment, the ejection system extends over a full width of the said conveyor belt. The conveyor belt mentioned is the conveyor belt at whose end the ejection system is placed. The ejection system comprises at least 70 blow nozzles per meter, preferably at least 80 blow nozzles per meter, more preferably at least 90 blow nozzles per meter, even more preferably at least 95 blow nozzles per meter and even more preferably at least 100 blow nozzles per meter. It will be apparent that the number of blow nozzles per meter has been viewed in the width of said conveyor belt.

[0063] Textile cuttings preferably have a length and width of at least 30 mm to 120 mm. This makes it possible to extract sufficiently long fibers from the textile cuttings that are suitable for spinning new yarns. A number of blow nozzles in the mentioned range make it possible to selectively blow away textile cuttings, regardless of their position in the width direction on the mentioned conveyor belt.

[0064] According to an embodiment, the device comprises a distribution element for distributing textile cuttings on the first conveyor belt or the second conveyor belt. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that if the first conveyor belt is placed closest to a supply side of the device, the distribution element is configured for distributing the textile cuttings on the first conveyor belt and otherwise for distributing the textile cuttings on the second conveyor belt. This allows an image to be made of both the top side and the underside of each textile cutting.

[0065] According to a preferred embodiment, the device comprises a drum condenser for distributing textile cuttings on the first conveyor belt or the second conveyor belt. A drum condenser is known in the art. A drum condenser is traditionally used to supply fiber using air ducts. The drum condenser separates the fibers from the air as a transport medium. The drum condenser comprises a rotatable drum. The fibers remain in the drum, while the air is pushed through the walls of the drum. By rotating the drum, the fibers are removed from the drum. The applicant surprisingly found that a drum condenser is suitable not only for supplying fibers using air ducts, but also for supplying textile cuttings to the supply side of the device. The applicant surprisingly found that the drum condenser is particularly advantageous for the singular distribution of textile cuttings on the conveyor belt placed closest to the supply side due to the rotation of the drum. The singular distribution of the textile cuttings makes it possible to create an image of both the top and the bottom of the textile cutting of each textile cutting. The drum condenser is therefore an embodiment of a distribution element.

[0066] According to an alternative embodiment, the device comprises a rotatable disk for distributing textile cuttings on the first conveyor belt or the second conveyor belt. The device comprises a motor for driving the rotatable disk. The motor preferably has an adjustable speed. The rotatable disk is rotatable about a rotation axis. The axis of rotation makes an angle with respect to a vertical line. Preferably, the angle of the rotation axis with respect to the vertical line is adjustable. More preferably, the direction comprises a motor for adjusting said angle. Even more preferably, the device comprises a camera system for making images of the textile cuttings on the first conveyor belt or the second conveyor belt, respectively. In the case that the textile cuttings are distributed on the first conveyor belt, the camera system is preferably the first camera system. Alternatively, the camera system is a third camera system. In the case of the second conveyor belt, the camera system is a third camera system. The camera system mentioned is linked to a control unit. The control unit is configured to adjust the speed of the motor for driving the rotatable disk and / or to adjust the angle of the axis of rotation with respect to the vertical line. During operation, textile cuttings are supplied on the rotating disk. By rotating the rotatable disk, the textile cuttings are distributed onto the first conveyor belt or the second conveyor belt, respectively. Depending on the speed of rotation or the angle of the rotation axis with respect to the vertical line, the textile cuttings are distributed less or more onto the first conveyor belt or the second conveyor belt, respectively. This also depends on how many textile cuttings are supplied simultaneously and the weight of the textile cuttings. The camera system is advantageous to automatically adjust the speed of the motor or the angle of the rotation axis depending on a distribution of the textile cuttings on the first conveyor belt or the second conveyor belt, respectively. The rotatable disk is therefore an embodiment of a distribution element. It is clear that the device can comprise several of the said rotatable disks. According to a preferred embodiment, the device comprises a metal sensor for detecting metallic interfering substances. Non-limiting examples of metallic interfering substances are metal zippers, metal buttons, metal snap fasteners and metal rivets in jeans. The metal sensor is integrated in the first conveyor belt or the second conveyor belt. The metal sensor is placed between the top and the bottom of the belt of the first conveyor belt or the second conveyor belt. The metal sensor extends over a full width of said conveyor belt. The conveyor belt mentioned is the conveyor belt in which the metal sensor is integrated. Textile cuttings with metallic interfering substances can be removed using the captured images, provided that the metallic interfering substance is visible at the bottom or top of the textile cutting. Interfering substances can be invisibly placed in a textile cutting, such as a hidden snap fastener. Metallic interfering substances increase the risk of damage to machines used to further process the textile cuttings. The metal sensor is therefore advantageous for removing non-visible metallic interfering substances.

[0067] According to a further embodiment, the metal sensor comprises at least 25 induction coils per meter, preferably at least 27 induction coils per meter, more preferably at least 29 induction coils per meter, even more preferably at least 31 induction coils per meter and even more preferably at least 33 induction coils per meter. It will be apparent that the number of induction coils per meter is has been viewed in the width of said conveyor belt. In the induction coils, an induction current is generated by a metal interfering substance when the textile cutting with the metal interfering substance passes over the induction coil. By having at least 27 induction coils per meter, there is sufficient resolution in width so that when a metal interfering substance is detected, only a limited number of textile cuttings have to be removed to ensure that the metal interfering substance has been removed from the stream of textile cuttings.

[0068] According to a preferred embodiment, there is a distance between the first camera system and the second camera system of at most 1.8 m, preferably at most 1.7 m, more preferably at most 1.6 m and even more preferably at most 1.5 m. The distance between the first camera system and the second camera system is preferably as short as possible. The shorter this distance, the smaller the chance that a textile cutting will occupy a different position on the first conveyor belt and / or the second conveyor belt. It is important that the textile cutting remains in the same position on the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt, so that a textile cutting containing an interfering substance can be removed by the ejection system on the discharge side of the device, without having to follow the textile cuttings during the entire trajectory on the first conveyor and the second conveyor.

[0069] According to an embodiment, the device comprises blow nozzles for generating an air flow over the first conveyor belt and / or the second conveyor belt, preferably over the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt. The air flow is advantageous for creating a low-pressure area above the conveyor belt, as a result of which the textile cuttings are pressed against the first conveyor belt and / or the second conveyor belt and the textile cuttings do not change position.

[0070] According to a preferred embodiment, there is a distance of at least 0.2 m and at most 1.0 m between the ejection system and a first camera system or second camera system located closest to the ejection system. If the first conveyor belt is located closest to the discharge side, then the first camera system is located closest to the ejection system. In the other case it is the second camera system. The distance is measured parallel to the longitudinal direction of the conveyor belts.

[0071] The distance between the ejection system and the first camera system or second camera system closest to the ejection system is preferably at least 0.3 m, more preferably at least 0.4 m, even more preferably at least 0.5 m and even more preferably at least 0.6 m.

[0072] The distance between the ejection system and the first camera system or second camera system closest to the ejection system is preferably a maximum of 0.9 m.

[0073] The distance between the first camera system or second camera system closest to the ejection system and the ejection system is preferably as short as possible to limit the risk, as previously described, that the position of the textile cuttings on the said conveyor belt changes. On the other hand, the distance between the first camera system or second camera system closest to the ejection system and the ejection system is preferably as large as possible to allow sufficient time to process the captured images with the processing unit before the textile cuttings reach the ejection system. A distance between 0.2 m and 1.0 m sufficiently limits the risk and provides sufficient time to process the captured images, even at transport speeds on the mentioned conveyor belt between 1.5 m / s and 6.6 m / s. According to an embodiment, the device comprises a separating plate for separating textile cuttings with interfering substance and textile cuttings without interfering substance. The separating plate is placed on the discharge side of the device. Textile cuttings with interfering substances that are ejected by the ejection system fall on a first side of the separating plate and textile cuttings without interfering substances on a second side. The separating plate is advantageous because textile cuttings whose path followed by the textile cuttings during the falling movement on the discharge side is not sufficiently influenced by the ejection system, will collide with the separating plate and still fall correctly on the first side of the separating plate.

[0074] According to a further embodiment, a separating roller is placed above the separating plate. The separating roller is rotatable. The separating roller is advantageous for preventing textile cuttings without interfering substance from accumulating above the separating plate. Textile cuttings without interfering substance could, if they fall just too quickly, get stuck on top of the separating plate and over time could form an obstacle for other textile cuttings, causing several textile cuttings without interfering substance to fall incorrectly on the first side of the separating plate. The separating roller will rotate when a textile cutting lands on the separating roller and will fall on one side of the separating plate.

[0075] According to a preferred embodiment, the separating roller is movable. The separating roller can be moved back and forth in a horizontal direction between a first position and a second position and in a vertical direction between a third position and a fourth position. It is clear that a movement of the separating roller can be a combination of a movement in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction. The first position is at a distance of at least 15 cm from the first conveyor belt or the second conveyor belt. The second position is at a distance of no more than 33 cm from the first conveyor belt or the second conveyor belt. The first position is closer in the horizontal direction to the first conveyor belt or the second conveyor belt than the second position. It is clear that the stated distance is relative to the conveyor belt closest to the discharge side of the device. The horizontal distance between the separating roller and the first conveyor belt or the second conveyor belt is measured in a horizontal direction between an axis of the separating roller and an axis of a drum of the first conveyor belt or the second conveyor belt, respectively, at a closest end of the first conveyor belt or the second conveyor belt, respectively. The third position is at a height of at least 4 cm below the first conveyor belt or the second conveyor belt. The fourth position is at a height of no more than 15 cm below the first conveyor belt or the second conveyor belt. The third position is closer in vertical direction to the first conveyor belt or the second conveyor belt than the fourth position. Again, the distance is relative to the conveyor belt closest to the discharge side of the device. The vertical distance between the separating roller and the first conveyor belt or the second conveyor belt is measured in a vertical direction between the axis of the separating roller and the axis of a drum of the first conveyor belt or the second conveyor belt, respectively, at the closest end of the first conveyor belt or the second conveyor belt, respectively. The separating roller is preferably movable by motor.

[0076] A movable separating roller is advantageous because the path followed by textile cuttings during the falling movement on the discharge side depends on the size of the textile cuttings. So depending on an average size of the textile cuttings, it is advisable to move the separating roller so that the separating roller is placed in an optimal position to minimize incorrect separation of textile cuttings with interfering substances and textile cuttings without interfering substances.

[0077] Preferably, the separating plate has a fixed position relative to the separating roller. This means that the separating plate is moved along with the separating roller.

[0078] According to a preferred embodiment, the processing unit is configured to perform a method according to the second aspect.

[0079] In a second aspect, the invention concerns a method for removing interfering substances from textile cuttings.

[0080] The method comprising the steps of:

[0081] - feeding textile cuttings onto a first conveyor belt; moving the textile cuttings on the first conveyor belt;

[0082] - capturing images of a top side of the textile cuttings on the first conveyor belt using a first camera system; processing the captured images of the top of the textile cuttings using a processing system for identifying textile cuttings with interfering substances; removing the textile cuttings with interfering substances using an ejection system. The first conveyor belt extends in a longitudinal direction. The first conveyor belt comprises a belt in a closed loop around a roller at a first end and a roller at a second end of the first conveyor belt.

[0083] The first camera system is placed above the first conveyor belt. The first camera system is directed towards an upper side of the belt of the first conveyor belt. The first camera system has a viewing angle that covers at least a full width of the first conveyor belt. The width is in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the first conveyor belt and in a direction parallel to a plane formed by the top side of the belt of the first conveyor belt.

[0084] The ejection system is preferably placed at an end of a conveyor belt. Preferably, the ejection system comprises blow nozzles for removing textile cuttings with interfering substances. Alternatively, the ejection system comprises spoons for tapping textile cuttings with interfering substances while the textile cuttings are falling at the end of said conveyor belt.

[0085] The processing unit is communicatively connected to the first camera system.

[0086] According to a preferred embodiment, the method comprises the additional step of dropping the textile cuttings from the first conveyor onto a second conveyor belt or from a second conveyor belt onto the first conveyor belt. As the textile cuttings fall, images of the underside of the textile cuttings are captured using a second camera system.

[0087] The second conveyor belt extends in a longitudinal direction. The first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt are placed in line with each other. This means that the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt extend in a same longitudinal direction. The second conveyor belt comprises a belt in a closed loop around a roller at a first end and a roller at a second end of the second conveyor belt.

[0088] The second camera system is placed under the first conveyor belt and under the second conveyor belt. The second camera system is placed lower than an underside of the belt of the first conveyor belt. The second camera system is placed lower than an underside of the belt of the second conveyor belt. The second camera system is directed toward a gap between the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt. The captured images of the underside of the textile cuttings are processed with the aid of the processing system for identifying textile cuttings with interfering substances. The processing unit is communicatively connected to the second camera system.

[0089] If the processing unit identifies a textile cutting as a textile cutting with an interfering substance on the basis of a captured image of the top and / or the underside of a textile cutting, then the processing unit controls the ejection system to remove the textile cutting with interfering substance.

[0090] This method has the advantage, among other things, that an image is captured of both the top and the bottom, so that a textile cutting with interfering substance can in any case be automatically recognized and removed, regardless of whether the interfering substance is present on the top or the bottom of the textile cutting. An additional advantage of the method is that the textile cuttings do not have to be turned over for this purpose. The underside of the textile cutting is captured on camera during the fall from one conveyor belt to the other conveyor belt. Another advantage of this method is that not only textile cuttings with objects as interfering substances can be removed automatically, but also textile cuttings that consist of different materials on the bottom and top.

[0091] According to a preferred embodiment, the method comprises the additional step of detecting textile cuttings with metallic interfering substances using a metal sensor. The metal sensor is preferably integrated in the first conveyor belt or the second conveyor belt. When a textile cutting with a metallic interfering substance is detected by the metal sensor, the ejection system is activated to remove the textile cutting with metallic interfering substance.

[0092] Textile cuttings with metallic interfering substances can be removed using the captured images, provided that the metallic interfering substance is visible at the bottom or top of the textile cutting. This embodiment is therefore advantageous for removing non-visible metallic interfering substances.

[0093] According to a preferred embodiment, the textile cuttings have a length and a width of at least 30 mm and at most 120 mm. Preferably, the textile cuttings have a length and a width of at least 40 mm, more preferably at least 40 mm, even more preferably at least 50 mm and even more preferably at least 60 mm.

[0094] Preferably, the textile cuttings have a length and a width of at most 110 mm, more preferably at most 100 mm.

[0095] Textile cuttings with a length and width of at least 30 mm make it possible to extract sufficiently long fibers from the textile cuttings that are suitable for spinning new yarns. On the other hand, textile cuttings with a length and width of more than 120 mm result in too many losses because the larger the textile cutting, the greater the chance that an object as interfering substance, such as a button or zipper, is attached to the textile cutting. Labels are also detrimental when recycling textiles because the label is often made of different fibers than the textile cutting itself.

[0096] According to a preferred embodiment, the processing unit executes a classification algorithm based on artificial intelligence while processing the captured images of the bottom and top of the textile cuttings. The classification algorithm is trained in advance using a training set of images of textile cuttings. The training is preferably a supervised training, where the images of the textile cuttings are labeled. The classification algorithm is preferably trained to classify textile cuttings into different textile classes. It is clear that if textile cuttings that do not yet belong to one of the known textile classes have to be recycled, the classification algorithm can be additionally trained before implementing the method in order to add a new class to the classification algorithm. The training set must include both textile cuttings with and textile cuttings without interfering substances, so that the classification algorithm can distinguish between the two.

[0097] According to a further embodiment, the processing unit divides a textile cutting in the recorded images of the underside and the top side of the textile cutting into a grid. The classification algorithm classifies each part of the grid. The processing unit identifies the textile cutting as a textile cutting interfering substance if at least one part of the grid is classified differently from the other parts of the grid.

[0098] This embodiment is particularly advantageous for shortening the processing time of the captured images by the processing unit. The processing unit does not need to recognize and name interfering substances in the textile cuttings to determine whether it concerns a textile cutting with interfering substance. As a result, it is also not necessary to determine edges in the captured images of interfering substances, which takes quite a bit of computing time. It is sufficient to classify each part of the grid separately as one of the known classes of textiles. A part of the grid in which an interfering substance is present will result in a specific classification, for example "unknown" or "interfering substance" and therefore the textile cutting will be removed as a whole. An additional advantage is that an as yet unknown interfering substance will also lead to the removal of the textile cutting, since this part of the grid will not or cannot be classified like the other parts. Also particularly advantageous with this embodiment is that the method is not only suitable for removing interfering substances such as zippers and buttons, but also for labels, since they are different from the rest of the textile cutting or for textile cuttings that consist of more than one type of textile. Labels and different types of textiles in one textile cutting hinder the recovery of high-quality fibers from the textile cutting.

[0099] The applicant found that a decision whether or not a textile cutting contains an interfering substance can be made by the processing unit in less than 150 ms. This allows both a high throughput of textile cuttings and a short distance between the ejection mechanism and a camera system.

[0100] According to an embodiment, textile cuttings are moved on the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt at a speed of at least 1.5 m / s and at most 6.6 m / s. Preferably, the speed on the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt is the same. A speed lower than 1.5 m / s is not advantageous because the throughput speed of textile cuttings is then too low. A speed higher than 6.6 m / s does not allow the captured images to be processed in time, or the distance between the ejection system and the closest camera system must become so large that there is a real chance that a textile cutting changes its position in front of the ejection system, resulting in the ejection system not being able to successfully remove the textile cutting or even removing an incorrect textile cutting.

[0101] One skilled in the art will appreciate that a method according to the second aspect is preferably performed using a device according to the first aspect and that a device according to the first aspect is preferably configured for performing a method according to the second aspect. Each feature described in this document, both above and below, can therefore relate to any of the three aspects of the present invention. In a third aspect, the invention relates to a use of a device according to the first aspect and / or a method according to the second aspect for recycling textiles.

[0102] This use results in an advantageous removal of textile cuttings with buttons or zippers from the stream of textile cuttings, which, in addition to contamination of the fibers obtained, also prevents damage to machines used for this during further processing of the textile waste. It also ensures the advantageous removal of textile cuttings with seams. Seams are disadvantageous in fiber recovery because sewing thread used to stitch together textile pieces does not necessarily consist of similar fibers to the textile cutting. In addition, seams can also be a transition between two pieces of textile made of different materials, which again makes it difficult to recover fibers. The use of the device or method therefore ensures clean textile cuttings that result in high-quality recovered fibers.

[0103] In what follows, the invention is described by way of non-limiting figures illustrating the invention, and which are not intended to and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0104] DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0105] Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional side view of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0106] The device (1) comprises a first conveyor belt (2) and a second conveyor belt (8) for moving textile cuttings from a supply side (14) to a discharge side (15) of the device

[0107] (1). The first conveyor belt (2) and the second conveyor belt (8) extend in a longitudinal direction (7). The second conveyor belt (8) is placed closest to the supply side (14) and the first conveyor belt (2) closest to the discharge side (15). The first conveyor belt (2) and the second conveyor belt (8) are placed in line with each other. There is a gap (12) between adjacent ends of the first conveyor belt (2) and the second conveyor belt (8). The adjacent end of the second conveyor belt (8) is higher than the adjacent end of the first conveyor belt (2). The device (1) comprises a first camera system for capturing images of a top side of the textile cuttings on the first conveyor belt (2). The first camera system is placed above the first conveyor belt

[0108] (2). The first camera system comprises a camera (3) that is directed towards an upper side of the first conveyor belt (2). The camera (3) is a color camera that works in visible light. The first camera system comprises a light source (4) that is also directed towards the top of the first conveyor belt (2). The camera (3) and the light source (4) of the first camera system are placed in a closed and non-lighttransmitting housing (5). The camera (3) of the first camera system has a viewing angle that covers at least a full width of the first conveyor belt (2). The width is in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction (7) of the first conveyor belt (2) and in a direction parallel to a plane formed by the top of the first conveyor belt (2). The width is therefore according to a width direction (24) that is depicted in Figure 2. The second camera system is placed under the first conveyor belt (2) and under the second conveyor belt (8). The device (1) comprises a second camera system for capturing images of an underside of the textile cuttings on the second conveyor belt (8) and subsequently on the first conveyor belt (2). The second camera system comprises a camera (9) that is directed towards the gap (12) between the first conveyor belt (2) and the second conveyor belt (8). The camera (9) is a color camera that works in visible light. The second camera system comprises a light source (10) that is also directed towards the gap between the first conveyor belt (2) and the second conveyor belt (8). The camera (9) and the light source (10) of the second camera system are placed in a closed and non-light-transmitting housing (11). The closed and non-light-transmitting housing (11) of the second camera system is located both below and above the second conveyor belt (8) so that the gap (12) is also shielded from external light. The camera (9) of the second camera system has a viewing angle that covers at least a full width of the first conveyor belt (2) and the second conveyor belt (8). The camera (9) has a viewing angle that covers a full length of the gap (12). The length of the gap (12) is according to the longitudinal direction (7). A metal sensor (17) is integrated in the first conveyor belt (2) for detecting metallic interfering substances. The metal sensor (17) is placed between the top and the bottom of the first conveyor belt (2). The metal sensor (17) extends over the entire width of the first conveyor belt (2). The metal sensor (17) comprises 33 induction coils per meter along the width direction (24). The device (1) comprises a drum condenser (13) on the supply side (14) for distributing textile cuttings onto the second conveyor belt (8). The drum condenser (13) is placed above the second conveyor belt (8). The device (1) comprises an ejection system (6) on the discharge side (15) for ejecting interfering substances from the textile cuttings. The ejection system (6) is placed at an end of the first conveyor belt (2). The ejection system (6) extends over the full width of the first conveyor belt (2). The ejection system (6) comprises 100 downward-facing blow nozzles per meter along the width direction (24). A textile cutting with an interfering substance is blown down by the ejection system (6) against a separating plate (18) and falls into the collection container (20) for textile cuttings with an interfering substance. Other textile cuttings fall down in an arc at the end of the first conveyor belt (2) and end up on another side of the separating plate (18) in a collection container (19) for textile cuttings without any interfering substances. A rotatable separating roller (21) is placed above the separating plate (18). Textile cuttings without interfering substance could, if they fall just too quickly, get stuck on top of the separating plate (18) and over time could form an obstacle for other textile cuttings, whereby multiple textile cuttings without interfering substance could end up incorrectly in the collection container (20). The separating roller (21) will rotate when a textile cutting lands on the separating roller and fall into one of the collection containers (19) or (20). This means there is no accumulation of textile cuttings on top of the separating plate (19). Under the first conveyor belt (2) is a processing unit (16) for processing the images captured by the first camera system and the second camera system. In this embodiment, the processing unit (16) is integrated in a control box for controlling the entire device

[0109] (1). The processing unit (16) is configured to perform a method for identifying textile cuttings with interfering substances and removing such textile cuttings from a stream of textile cuttings on the first conveyor belt (2) of the device (1). In the device (1) according to this embodiment, there is a distance of approximately 1.5 m between the camera (9) of the second camera system and the camera (3) of the first camera system. In the device (1) according to this embodiment, there is a distance of approximately 80 cm between the ejection system (6) and the camera (3) of the first camera system. The camera (3) of the first camera system is clearly located closest to the ejection system (6).

[0110] Figure 2 shows a top view of the device in Figure 1.

[0111] It is clearly visible how the ejection system (6) and the metal sensor (17) extend over the entire width of the first conveyor belt (2). Also visible is how the housing (11) of the second camera system also shields the gap (12) between the second conveyor belt (8) and the first conveyor belt (1) at the top of the first conveyor belt

[0112] (2) and the second conveyor belt (8) from external light.

[0113] Figure 3 shows a grid division of a textile cutting.

[0114] Figure 3 is not to scale and for illustration purposes only. The textile cutting (25) is a fabric with a plain weave. An interfering substance (27) is attached to the textile cutting (25). The interfering substance (27) is a button. The classification algorithm divides the textile cutting (25) into a grid (26). In this case, the grid (26) is a regular grid with square cells. A first part (28) of the grid (26) is classified as a fabric by the classification algorithm. A second part (29) of the grid (26) is not classified as a fabric. For example, the classification could be: "unknown." Since the second part (29) is classified differently from the first part (28), the textile cutting (25) is identified by the processing unit as a textile cutting (25) with an interfering substance (27), after which the textile cutting (25) is removed.

[0115] The numbered elements in the figures are:

[0116] 1. Device

[0117] 2. First conveyor belt

[0118] 3. Camera of first camera system

[0119] 4. Light source of first camera system

[0120] 5. Housing of first camera system

[0121] 6. Ejection system

[0122] 7. Longitudinal direction

[0123] 8. Second conveyor belt

[0124] 9. Camera of second camera system

[0125] 10. Light source of second camera system

[0126] 11. Housing of second camera system

[0127] 12. Gap

[0128] 13. Drum condenser

[0129] 14. Supply side

[0130] 15. Discharge side

[0131] 16. Processing unit

[0132] 17. Metal sensor

[0133] 18. Separating plate

[0134] 19. Collection container for textile cuttings without interfering substance

[0135] 20. Collection container for textile cuttings with interfering substance

[0136] 21. Separating roller

[0137] 22. Distance between the first camera system and the second camera system

[0138] 23. Distance between the first camera system and the ejection system

[0139] 24. Width direction

[0140] 25. Textile cutting

[0141] 26. Grid

[0142] 27. Interfering substance 28. First part of grid

[0143] 29. Second part of grid

Claims

CLAIMS1. Device for removing interfering substances from textile cuttings, comprising a first conveyor belt for moving textile cuttings, a first camera system for capturing images of the textile cuttings on the first conveyor belt, wherein the first camera system is placed above the first conveyor belt, and wherein the first camera system has a viewing angle covering at least a full width of the first conveyor belt, an ejection system for ejecting interfering substances from the textile cuttings and a processing unit for processing the captured images of the textile cuttings, characterized in that the device comprises a second conveyor belt and a second camera system for capturing images of the textile cuttings, wherein the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt are placed in line with each other, wherein the second camera system is placed under the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt and wherein the second camera system has a viewing angle that covers at least a full width of the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt and a full length of a gap between the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the ejection system is placed at an end of the first conveyor belt or the second conveyor belt, wherein the ejection system comprises blow nozzles for blowing away interfering substances, with the blow nozzles facing downwards.

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the ejection system extends over a full width of said conveyor belt, wherein the ejection system comprises at least 70 blow nozzles per meter.

4. The device according to any of the preceding claims 1-3, characterized in that the device comprises a drum condenser for distributing textile cuttings onto the first or second conveyor belt.

5. The device according to any of the preceding claims 1-4, characterized in that the device comprises a metal sensor for detecting metallic interfering substances, wherein the metal sensor is integrated into the first conveyor belt or the second conveyor belt and wherein the metal sensor extends over a full width of said conveyor belt.

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the metal sensor comprises at least 25 induction coils per meter.

7. The device according to any of the preceding claims 1-6, characterized in that there is a distance of at most 1.8 m between the first camera system and the second camera system, wherein the distance is measured parallel to a longitudinal direction of the conveyor belts.

8. The device according to any of the preceding claims 1-7, characterized in that there is a distance of at least 0.2 m and a maximum of 1.0 m between the ejection system and a first camera system or second camera system located closest to the ejection system, wherein the distance is measured parallel to a longitudinal direction of the conveyor belts.

9. The device according to any of the preceding claims 1-8, characterized in that the device comprises a separating plate for separating textile cuttings with and without interfering substances, wherein the separating plate is placed on a discharge side of the device, wherein a rotatable separating roller is placed above the separating plate, wherein the separating roller is movable back and forth in a horizontal direction between a first position and a second position and in a vertical direction back and forth between a third position and a fourth position, wherein the first position is at a distance of at least 15 cm and the second position at a distance of at most 33 cm from the first conveyor belt or the second conveyor belt closest to the discharge side, wherein the third position is at a height of at least 4 cm and the fourth position at a height of at most 15 cm below the first conveyor belt or the second conveyor belt closest to the discharge side.

10. The device according to any of the preceding claims 1-9, characterized in that the processing unit is configured for carrying out a method according to any of the claims 11-15.

11. Method for removing interfering substances from textile cuttings, comprising the steps of:- feeding textile cuttings onto a first conveyor belt; moving the textile cuttings on the first conveyor belt;capturing images of a top side of the textile cuttings on the first conveyor belt using a first camera system; processing the captured images of the top of the textile cuttings using a processing system for identifying textile cuttings with interfering substances; removing the textile cuttings with interfering substances using an ejection system; characterized in that the method comprises the additional step of dropping the textile cuttings from the first conveyor belt onto a second conveyor belt or from a second conveyor belt onto the first conveyor belt, whereby images of an underside of the textile cuttings are captured using a second camera system as they fall and wherein the recorded images of the underside of the textile cuttings are processed using the processing system for identifying textile cuttings with interfering substances.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the method comprises the additional step of detecting textile cuttings with metallic interfering substances using a metal sensor.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the textile cuttings have a length and width of at least 30 mm and at most 120 mm.

14. The method according to claim 11, 12 or 13, characterized in that while processing the captured images of the bottom and top of the textile cuttings, the processing unit executes a classification algorithm based on artificial intelligence.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the processing unit divides a textile cutting in the captured images of the underside and the top of the textile cutting into a grid, wherein the classification algorithm classifies each part of the grid and wherein the processing unit identifies the textile cutting as a textile cutting interfering substance if at least one part of the grid is classified differently from the other parts of the grid.

16. Use of a device according to any of claims 1-10 and / or a method according to any of claims 11-15 for recycling textiles.

Images