Identification body and fiber body

Abstract

To provide an identification body and a fiber body that enable a fiber to be efficiently recycled.SOLUTION: An identification body is attached to a fiber body made of a fiber, and the identification body is formed including a material which can be recognized with X rays, and given information on the fiber body based upon the shape of the material recognizable with X rays. The fiber body is to be recycled and also selected by an X-ray device. The fiber body has the X-ray recognizable material stuck as an identifier in a predetermined shape, the information on the fiber body is imparted in a predetermined shape, or pattern or figure, and the fiber body is to be recycled as a fiber and selected by the X-ray device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fibrous body to be recycled and an identifier attached to the fibrous body.

Background Art

[0002] Some used clothes are reused (for the second-hand market), but those in large quantities such as underwear and T-shirts are incinerated. Some are reused as industrial rags, but in order to reduce CO2 emissions, it is necessary to recycle them without burning them.

[0003] Regarding reuse, some local governments and some manufacturers individually collect used clothes that can be reused according to their respective criteria using collection boxes, circular collection, etc., and send them to the second-hand market. Alternatively, some manufacturers reuse them as cushioning materials.

[0004] In order to recycle used clothes, it is necessary to decompose the clothes and return them to fibers once. However, since the material fibers and mixing ratios vary widely, a system is required to further classify these collected fibers taking into account the fiber mixing ratio for each type. Also, for recycling, it is necessary to remove accessories such as buttons and fasteners attached to the clothes.

[0005] To construct this recycling system, it is necessary to have all clothing items for sale carry fiber information. Currently, the fiber types and mixed fiber ratios described on the product display tags attached to the clothes are used. Although a method can be considered where workers find the tags from inside the clothes and manually classify them by looking at the tags, this is too time-consuming and unrealistic. Also, it is necessary to remove accessories after further classification, which is also a manual operation and unrealistic.

[0006] In current fiber recycling, since material classification requires manual classification, there is a demand for efficiency improvement through automation of product classification, and it has been proposed to obtain accurate composition information by utilizing IC tags etc. (see Non-Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Non-Patent Documents

[0007]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] As a method of mechanically reading product display tags, a method of writing fiber types and the ratio of mixed fibers into RFID tags and reading and sorting them with an RFID reader can be considered. However, commercially available inexpensive RFID tags may malfunction during washing. Among RFID tags with washability, there are laundry tags that can withstand up to 200 washes, but they are not realistic in terms of price for attaching to inexpensive clothing such as underwear and T-shirts. Also, for fiber recycling of clothing, the RFID tag must be removed. However, since the attachment location and size vary depending on the clothing, after searching for the RFID tag, manual removal work is required.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide an identifier and a fibrous body capable of realizing efficient recycling of fibers.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] The first identifier of the present invention is an identifier attached to a fibrous body composed of fibers, the identifier is composed of a material recognizable by X-rays, and information of the fibrous body is imparted by the form of the material recognizable by the X-rays, The fibrous body is for fiber recycling and is sorted by an X-ray device.

[0011] The first fibrous body of the present invention is a fibrous body to which a material recognizable by X-rays is attached as an identifier in a predetermined form, information of the fibrous body is given by the predetermined form, the fibrous body is for fiber recycling and is sorted by an X-ray device.

[0012] The second identifier of the present invention is an identifier attached to a fibrous body composed of fibers, the identifier is composed of a diamagnetic material recognizable by X-rays, information of the fibrous body is given by the form of the diamagnetic material recognizable by X-rays, the fibrous body is for fiber recycling and is sorted by an X-ray device.

[0013] The second fibrous body of the present invention is a fibrous body to which a diamagnetic material recognizable by X-rays is attached as an identifier in a predetermined form, information of the fibrous body is given by the form of the diamagnetic material recognizable by X-rays, the fibrous body is for fiber recycling and is sorted by an X-ray device.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. 1. Basic Configuration (1) Identifier The identifier according to the embodiment is an identifier attached to a fibrous body composed of fibers. The identifier is composed of a material recognizable by X-rays. The material recognizable by X-rays is composed of a diamagnetic material, for example, a material containing copper, and is not energized. The information of the fibrous body is imparted by the form of the material recognizable by X-rays. The fibrous body can be used for fiber recycling and can be sorted by an X-ray device. The form of the material recognizable by X-rays can be at least one selected from the group consisting of shape, pattern, and design. The shape can include a symbol shape. The meaning of not being energized includes that it is not something like an element such as an IC chip where electricity flows to realize a function.

[0016] (2) Fibrous body The fibrous body according to the embodiment is composed of a material recognizable by X-rays. The material recognizable by X-rays can be a fibrous body to which a diamagnetic material, for example, a material containing copper, is attached in a predetermined form as an identifier. The information of the fibrous body can be imparted by the predetermined form of the material recognizable by X-rays. The fibrous body can be used for fiber recycling and can be sorted by an X-ray device. The form of the material recognizable by X-rays can be at least one selected from the group consisting of shape, pattern, and design. The shape can include a symbol shape.

[0017] (3) Information of the fibrous body Information about the fibrous body, for example, information about the elements constituting the fibrous body, may be stored in the identifier. Examples of the information about the fibrous body include, for example, composition information of the fibrous body and sewing specification information. Examples of the composition information include, for example, material information. Examples of the material information include, for example, information such as PET products, cotton products, and wool products. If the fibrous body is clothing, examples of the composition information include, for example, the components and positions of the clothing and the materials of each component, material information of the fabric, the presence or absence and materials of auxiliary materials (such as buttons and fasteners), size, processing agents (such as dyes and additives), other accessory information, sewing specifications, the number of recycling times, and the like.

[0018] (4) Regarding the pattern of the diamagnetic material, etc. As an identifier using a pattern of a diamagnetic material, for example, a material containing copper, information representing numerical values or characters can be imparted, such as a pattern of stripe-like lines, thickness, or length. Symbols include characters, numbers, and other graphic symbols.

[0019] The fibrous body, for example, clothing, may be passed through a needle detector to check whether needles remain in the manufacturing process. Since the needles are generally made of iron, the needle detector examines using the principle of electromagnetic induction. Therefore, when the identifier or the identifier is made of a ferromagnetic material, it will react with the needle detector. By forming the identifier or the identifier with a diamagnetic material, the presence or absence of needles can be confirmed without being affected by the presence of the identifier or the identifier. The thickness of the pattern of the diamagnetic material can be, for example, 30 to 500 μm, preferably 30 to 100 μm.

[0020] (5) Operational effects According to the present embodiment, the following operational effects can be achieved. (a) Since a diamagnetic material such as copper can be detected by an X-ray detection device, the pattern of the diamagnetic material can be grasped with an X-ray device. Since the diamagnetic material also has the merit of not reacting with the needle detector, it is possible to prevent the needle detector from judging that there are needles in the inspection process before the shipment of the fibrous body. (b) By attaching the composition information and material information of fibers and clothing to the pattern of the diamagnetic material, these information can be obtained, the sorting during recovery and selection can be facilitated, and recycling can be promoted. (c) In order to efficiently recover the recycled raw materials for fiber raw material applications, sorting can be performed automatically and efficiently. (d) Two or more types of blended products and other composite materials can be identified and applied to the technologies of clothing sorting and accessory removal. (e) Fiber information can be given to the identifier. (f) Even if the fiber body, for example, is attached to any part of the clothing, the identifier can be grasped by an X-ray device. Since the identifier can be washed, it has an advantage from the perspective of washability compared to RFID that cannot withstand washing. It has washable performance. (g) Since it is read by an X-ray device, the mounting method and mounting position do not need to be selected, increasing the degree of freedom. (h) Since it is read and sorted by an X-ray device, manual sorting can be eliminated or reduced. (i) For example, the code format, size, etc. of tags made of diamagnetic materials, such as copper tags, can be adjusted. (j) By printing or coating copper or the like, an identifier can be provided and realized at low cost. (k) Since the X-ray absorption rate of aluminum foil is low, it cannot be recognized at a thickness of 100 μm, and it is possible to achieve a thin thickness. (l) A flexible specification without discomfort during wearing can also be realized. For example, the thickness of the identifier can also be made thin, and the identifier can be configured to follow the deformation of the fiber body.

[0021] 2. Specific configuration Materials containing copper may, for example, attach a copper foil to a fiber body or a label using an adhesive, or print a copper paste and attach it to the fiber body. The copper foil may be adhered and etched to form a copper pattern. Hereinafter, a usage example of a barcode tag in which a material containing copper is attached to a plurality of linear patterns will be described.

[0022] Attach a barcode tag (hereinafter referred to as a copper barcode tag) made of copper foil or copper paste to the clothing. Encode and write the fiber type and the ratio of mixed fibers on the barcode tag, and read it with an X-ray device. If it is a copper barcode tag, failures due to washing are very unlikely to occur.

[0023] Since the copper barcode tag is read by the X-ray device, it can be read no matter where it is hidden in the clothing. Also, the clothing is always subjected to a broken needle inspection by a needle detector at the time of shipment, but copper foil and copper paste do not react to the needle detector. If a metal such as iron is used, the needle detector will react every time and the needle inspection cannot be performed, so it is considered that it cannot be put into practical use.

[0024] Also, aluminum foil has a low X-ray absorption rate and cannot read barcodes mixed in clothing. From this point of view as well, there is significance in applying a material containing copper.

[0025] Regarding the reading of the copper barcode tag, first, identify the copper barcode tag with an information processing technology based on AI installed in the X-ray device, and pass the image to barcode reading software to read the barcode. The barcode reading software can read the code after performing image correction in the rotation direction.

[0026] To more reliably read the copper barcode tag in the clothing, prepare two systems of X-ray sensing angles of 0 degrees and 20 degrees to 40 degrees, and also use two X-ray sensors accordingly to obtain two images with different reading angles. This can also handle the case where the copper barcode tag is not placed horizontally in the clothing. The barcode reading software reads the barcode of the easier-to-read image.

[0027] Since the copper barcode tag is read by the X-ray device, position information can also be obtained. After reading with the X-ray device, send the position information to the removal device to cut out and remove only the part of the copper barcode tag.

[0028] In addition, since the positions of accessories such as buttons and fasteners can also be specified by the X-ray device in the same way, the position information is sent to the removal device, and the accessories such as buttons and fasteners can also be cut out and removed together with the copper bar barcode tags.

[0029] After that, based on the information on the fiber type and the mixed fiber ratio of the read barcode, the sorting device sorts and stores each piece of clothing in a plurality of baskets prepared thereby.

[0030] The barcode described here is not a standard barcode such as JAN, and can be, for example, of a type that represents a binary number with bars of the same thickness and two lengths. It can be formed with the long bar being 1 and the short bar being 0. In this example, the barcode is not regarded as one-dimensional information, but as two-dimensional information, which is an area-advantageous method. Also, numbers may be directly formed with copper foil like an OCR system.

[0031] According to the above configuration, for example, it has the following meanings. It is possible to provide a tag equipped with fiber type, mixed fiber ratio information suitable for laundering and compatible with a needle detector. It is also possible to automatically read the fiber type and mixed fiber ratio information hidden in the clothing. It can contribute to the automatic removal of tags equipped with fiber type and mixed fiber ratio information hidden in the clothing, accessories, etc. It is possible to automatically sort clothing according to the fiber type and mixed fiber ratio of the clothing.

[0032] 3. Layer structure including a fibrous body and an identifier A printing substrate 50 can be provided on the fibrous body (e.g., fabric) 40 as needed. The printing substrate 50 functions as a base for attaching the diamagnetic material 52. For the printing substrate 50, for example, a film or a non-woven fabric can be used. Examples of the material of the printing substrate 50 include polyimide, polyolefin, and polyethylene terephthalate in the case of a film, and polyolefin and polyester in the case of a non-woven fabric. The printing substrate 50 and the fibrous body 40 can be adhered via the first adhesive layer 54. A coverlay layer 56 can be provided on the diamagnetic material 52 to prevent the diamagnetic material 52 from being corroded, scraped, or damaged. A second adhesive layer 58 can be provided between the coverlay layer 56 and the diamagnetic material 52 to adhere and fix the coverlay layer 56 to the diamagnetic material 52. Code information 60 can be printed on the coverlay layer 56 as needed. The code information 60 is human-readable or visible characters, and is for checking errors in the information given to the symbols, shapes, etc. of the diamagnetic material during post-processing.

[0033] With such a layer structure, the wearing comfort can be improved. That is, when an identifier is provided on the lining, it will touch the skin. If the skin directly touches the diamagnetic material, the wearing comfort will deteriorate. Therefore, the presence of the cover layer can prevent the wearing comfort from deteriorating. Even when the fibrous body is washed, the diamagnetic material can be prevented from falling off or being damaged, and the diamagnetic material can be maintained over a long period.

[0034] 4. Manufacturing process An example of the manufacturing process of the identifier will be described. As shown in Fig. 6(A), a laminate 70 composed of a paper nonwoven fabric 72 and an adhesive film 74 is formed. As shown in Fig. 6(B), a diamagnetic material 76 is printed on the paper nonwoven fabric 72. As shown in Fig. 6(C), another laminate 70 is stacked so as to cover the printed surface of copper and placed on a release paper 78. As shown in Fig. 6(D), character information 80 with fiber information etc. written thereon is printed on the laminate 70. As shown in Fig. 6(E), blanking is performed to obtain an identifier 100 as shown in Fig. 6(F). The identifier 100 is thermally adhered and fixed to a fibrous body such as cloth.

[0035] 5. Example The thickness of copper in the copper barcode tag can be 100 μm. The absorption rate is higher than 800 μm of aluminum and the barcode tag can be recognized using the information processing technology related to AI (see Fig. 1). The thickness of the copper barcode tag is 1 mm. This is because the size of one pixel of the X-ray sensor used in the X-ray device is 0.4 mm, so that the bar can surely enter 2 pixels. The copper barcode tag has two types of lengths. For example, the length of the bar indicating "1" can be 9 mm and the length of the bar indicating "0" can be 3 mm. The start bit can be 11 and the end bit can be 00.

[0036] As shown in Fig. 4, the space between bars can be 1 mm in width, the space between the start bit and the digital bit can be 2 mm, and the space between the digital bit and the end bit can also be 2 mm (see Fig. 4).

[0037] The number of bars can be determined according to the types of fibers of the required clothing and the number of mixed fiber ratios. Also in the case of the OCR method of forming numbers with copper foil, the number of digits can be determined by the types of fibers of the clothing and the number of mixed fiber ratios.

[0038] The main components of the system configuration can be an X-ray device 10, a removal device 20, and a sorting device 30. Behind the sorting device 30, prepare as many types of baskets as there are types for putting the sorted clothes. Specifically, the fibrous bodies can be sorted by the X-ray device, the identification bodies or identification labels and accessories can be removed by the fibrous bodies, and the fibrous bodies can be sorted by the sorting device. In addition, the X-ray device 10 includes software that uses information processing technology based on AI to detect a copper barcode tag somewhere in the clothes, cut out an image, and calculate its position coordinates, software that corrects the image of the detected identification body or identification label (for example, a copper barcode tag), and software that reads the numerical values described on the identification body or identification label (for example, a copper barcode tag). As the information processing technology based on AI, known technologies can be applied. The X-ray device software recognizes the identification body or identification label of the fibrous body from the image information obtained by the X-ray device 10, and derives the position information of the identification body or identification label and the position information of the accessories. The information derived by the X-ray device 10 is provided to the removal device 20 and the sorting device 30, and the accessory removal and fibrous body sorting are performed.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 3, taking the copper barcode tag as an example of the identification body or identification label, the origin for calculating the position coordinates is such that the sub-scanning direction is the position of the first bit of the X-ray sensor, and the main scanning direction is the distance from the edge of the clothes. In the removal device, it is possible to temporarily stop the clothes and identify the point where the edge of the clothes is found and removed by an optical two-dimensional camera. Alternatively, an X-ray image of the clothes (see FIG. 2) may also be sent to the removal device together with the position information, and the removal position of the identification body or identification label (for example, a copper barcode tag) may be identified by superimposing it on the optical image of the clothes obtained by the removal device.

[0040] 6. Experimental Example The following could be confirmed by the X-ray device. (a) The X-ray device recognized a 100-μm-thick copper foil inside the clothes. (b) A 1-mm-wide copper tag was identified with a sensor having a high-resolution accuracy (0.4 mm / pix). (c) Detected a 100-μm-thick copper foil inside the fabric with a high dynamic range (12 bits). (d) With high image processing capabilities, it was possible to quickly perform position correction before reading the copper tag. (e) The X-ray device is specified for two-directional irradiation (0 degrees and 25 degrees). It was confirmed that images with different angles could be taken even when the direction of the copper code was indefinite. It was also confirmed that images that are easy to decode can be used.

[0041] 6. Application Examples It can also function as what is called a digital product passport (DPP), which electronically records information regarding the sustainability of a product. It can be applied as a clothing automatic sorting device.

[0042] By storing the position information of elements (such as tags) that make up the fibrous body in the identifier, it is possible to obtain information on the tag position. Thus, it can also be applied as a device for automatically removing unnecessary parts of the fibrous body. For example, it is possible to obtain the position information of "tags" and "sub-materials such as buttons and fasteners" and to be linked with an automatic unnecessary part removal device.

[0043] This embodiment can be variously modified within the scope of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0044] 10 X-ray device 20 Removal device 30 Sorting device 40 Fibrous body 50 Printing substrate 52 Diamagnetic material 54 First adhesive layer 56 Coverlay layer 58 Second adhesive layer 60 Code information

Claims

1. An identification body attached to a fibrous body made of fibers, The identifier is made of a material that can be recognized by X-rays, The shape of the material that can be recognized by the X-ray provides information about the fiber body, The fiber body is an identification body that is to be subjected to fiber recycling and is to be sorted by an X-ray device.

2. A fiber body having an X-ray recognizable material attached thereto in a predetermined shape as an identifier, The predetermined shape provides information about the fibrous body; The fibrous body is to be subjected to fiber recycling and is to be sorted by an X-ray device.

3. An identification body attached to a fibrous body made of fibers, the identifier is configured to include a diamagnetic material that is recognizable by X-rays, The shape of the diamagnetic material that can be recognized by X-rays provides information about the fiber body; The fiber body is an identification body that is to be subjected to fiber recycling and is to be sorted by an X-ray device.

4. A fibrous body to which a diamagnetic material that can be recognized by X-rays is attached in a predetermined shape as an identifier, The shape of the diamagnetic material that can be recognized by X-rays provides information about the fiber body; The fibrous body is to be subjected to fiber recycling and is to be sorted by an X-ray device.

Images