Recycling method

Abstract

To provide a recycling method capable of transporting a large amount of waste at one time.SOLUTION: A recycling method comprises a collection step S02 of collecting a substrate 11 to which an adhesive layer 12 is adhered, and a volume reduction step S03 of reducing the volume of waste containing the substrate collected in the collection step.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a recycling method. [Background technology]

[0002] In order to create a recycling-oriented society, it is important that plastic containers and bottles are collected and recycled. Due to growing social demand, numerous recycling methods are being considered. The recycling process can be broadly divided into collection, sorting, crushing, washing, and granulation, and with improvements to make each process more efficient, it is expected that the importance of resource recycling will continue to increase in the future.

[0003] Labels are affixed to these plastic containers and bottles to indicate the contents and to add design features. The labels are produced from a long label sheet slit to a specified width through a die-cutting process and a waste removal process (see, for example, Patent Document 1 listed below). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-96335 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When the adhesive labels are slit to a specified width, unwanted margins are generated, and when the adhesive labels are cut, unwanted waste is generated. These unwanted materials are processed into a solid fuel called RPF (Refuse Paper and Plastic Fuel) at recycling plants.

[0006] However, when transporting unwanted waste such as waste pulp and scraps to a recycling plant, there is a problem in that it is not possible to transport a large amount at one time because the waste pulp and scraps are light in weight but large in volume.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has an object to provide a recycling method that can transport a large amount of unwanted materials at one time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The above object of the present invention can be achieved by the following means.

[0009] (1) a recovery step of recovering the substrate to which the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is attached; a volume reduction step of reducing the volume of unwanted materials including the base material recovered in the recovery step.

[0010] (2) The recycling method according to (1), wherein the volume of the unnecessary material is reduced by compressing it in the volume reduction step.

[0011] (3) The recycling method according to (1) or (2), wherein in the volume reduction step, the unwanted material is softened and reduced in volume by heating.

[0012] (4) The recycling method according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein in the volume reduction step, the unwanted materials are compressed by a screw press and the unwanted materials are softened and reduced in volume by the generated frictional heat.

[0013] (5) The recycling method according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the base material and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer are made of the same material.

[0014] (6) Before the recovery step, The recycling method according to any one of (1) to (5), further comprising a peeling step of peeling a release liner from the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the above-described recycling method, the volume of the unwanted materials is reduced in the volume reduction step, so that the volume of the unwanted materials can be reduced, and therefore a large amount of unwanted materials can be transported at one time. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the adhesive label attached to the release liner. [Figure 2] 1 is a flowchart showing a recycling method according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] 10 is a schematic diagram showing how unwanted flaps are generated when the adhesive label is slit to a predetermined width. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a compression volume reducer. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a heating and volume reducing machine. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a screw compressor volume reducer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are given the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations will be omitted. Furthermore, the dimensional proportions in the drawings are exaggerated for the convenience of explanation, and may differ from the actual proportions.

[0018] First, an adhesive label 10 and a release liner 20 (hereinafter referred to as a laminate 5) will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an adhesive label 10 laminated on a release liner 20.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the adhesive label 10 has a substrate 11 and an adhesive layer 12.

[0020] The resin constituting the substrate 11 is not particularly limited, but examples thereof include polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, and polyethylene naphthalate, polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl alcohol, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polymethylpentene, polysulfone, polyether ether ketone, polyether sulfone, polyphenylene sulfide, polyetherimide, polyimide, fluororesin, polyamide, acrylic resin, norbornene-based resin, and cycloolefin resin.

[0021] The thickness of the substrate may be set as appropriate, but in consideration of the mechanical strength of the label, it is preferably 10 to 500 μm, more preferably 20 to 100 μm.

[0022] The adhesive constituting the adhesive layer 12 is not particularly limited, and examples that can be used include olefin elastomer adhesives, acrylic adhesives, rubber adhesives, silicone adhesives, urethane adhesives, polyester adhesives, styrene-diene block copolymer adhesives, styrene elastomer adhesives, and vinyl alkyl ether adhesives.

[0023] It is preferable that the adhesives constituting the substrate 11 and the adhesive layer 12 are made of the same material. Examples of such combinations of the same material include when the substrate 11 is polypropylene, polyethylene, or biaxially oriented polypropylene, the adhesive constituting the adhesive layer 12 is an olefin elastomer-based adhesive, when the substrate 11 is PET, the adhesive constituting the adhesive layer 12 is a polyester-based adhesive, and when the substrate 11 is polystyrene, the adhesive constituting the adhesive layer 12 is a styrene elastomer-based adhesive.

[0024] In this way, since the adhesive constituting the substrate 11 and the adhesive layer 12 is made of the same material, the temperature conditions in the volume reduction step S03 can be easily set and deterioration in quality performance after material recycling can be suppressed.

[0025] The release liner 20 is a member that protects the adhesive layer and prevents a decrease in adhesiveness. The release liner is peeled off from the adhesive layer when the adhesive tape is attached to an adherend.

[0026] The release liner is not particularly limited, but examples thereof include plastic films such as polyester films such as polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, and polyethylene naphthalate, and polyolefin films such as polypropylene and polyethylene; and papers such as fine paper, glassine paper, kraft paper, and clay-coated paper.

[0027] The thickness of the release liner is usually about 10 to 400 μm. The surface of the release liner may be provided with a layer of a release agent made of silicone or the like to improve the releasability of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. When such a layer is provided, the thickness of the layer is usually about 0.01 to 5 μm.

[0028] Next, a recycling method according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 2 to 6. Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing the recycling method according to this embodiment. Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the state in which unnecessary flakes 19 are generated when the adhesive label 10 is slit to a predetermined width. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a compression volume reduction machine 40. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a heating volume reduction machine 50. Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a screw compression volume reduction machine 60.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, the recycling method according to this embodiment includes a peeling step S01, a recovery step S02, a volume reduction step S03, and a transporting step S04.

[0030] The peeling step S01 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. In the peeling step S01, the laminate 5 conveyed to the front side of Fig. 3 (see the arrow in Fig. 3) is cut to a predetermined width W by the upper blade 91 and the lower blade 92, and then unnecessary laminate 5 formed on both widths in the conveyance direction during cutting is separated by the upper blade 91 and the lower blade 92 into unnecessary selvage 19 (substrate 11 + adhesive layer 12, also referred to as unnecessary material including the substrate 11) and a release liner 20. In addition, unnecessary waste is generated when the adhesive label 10 is punched.

[0031] Next, in the recovery step S02, the margins 19 from which the release liner 20 has been peeled off in the peeling step S01 and the above-mentioned waste (hereinafter collectively referred to as waste material 19) are recovered. There are no particular limitations on the recovery method.

[0032] Next, in the volume reduction step S03, the volume of the unnecessary material 19 is reduced.

[0033] As a method of volume reduction, a compression volume reduction machine 40, a heating volume reduction machine 50, or a screw compression volume reduction machine 60, which will be described below, can be used.

[0034] The configuration and volume reduction method of each of the volume reducers 40, 50, 60 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0035] First, the compression volume reduction machine 40 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4 , the compression volume reduction machine 40 has a storage section 41 that stores the waste material 19 and a compression section 42 that compresses the waste material 19 placed in the storage section 41. The compression section 42 is moved, for example, by hydraulic pressure to compress the waste material 19. The method of moving the compression section 42 is not limited to hydraulic pressure. Unlike the thermal volume reduction machine 50 and the screw compression volume reduction machine 60, the compression volume reduction machine 40 reduces the volume of the waste material 19 without applying heat to it, thereby reducing thermal deterioration of the base material 11 and suppressing a decrease in strength and changes in physical properties of the base material 11.

[0036] Next, the thermal volume reduction machine 50 will be described. As shown in Fig. 5, the thermal volume reduction machine 50 has a storage section 51 in which the waste material 19 is stored and crushed, and a compression section 52 in which the waste material 19 air-transported from the storage section 51 is softened and compressed by an electric heater. The waste material 19 reduced in volume by the thermal volume reduction machine 50 can be extracted as ingots, pellets, or piece blocks.

[0037] Next, the screw compressor volume reduction machine 60 will be described. As shown in Fig. 6, the screw compressor volume reduction machine 60 has a storage section 61 in which the waste material 19 is stored and crushed, a compression section 62 that uses an electric heater to soften and compress the waste material 19 air-transported from the storage section 61, and a screw press section 63 that uses a screw press to compress the waste material 19 compressed by the compression section 62, softening and compressing it with the generated frictional heat. The waste material 19 reduced in volume by the screw compressor volume reduction machine 60 can be extracted as ingots, pellets, or piece blocks.

[0038] Next, in a transport step S04, the unwanted materials 19 whose volume has been reduced in the volume reduction step S03 are transported to a recycling plant. Here, since the volume of the unwanted materials 19 has been reduced in the volume reduction step S03, a larger amount can be transported, thereby reducing the amount of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere.

[0039] As described above, the recycling method according to this embodiment includes a recovery step S02 of recovering the substrate 11 having the adhesive layer 12 attached thereto, and a volume reduction step S03 of reducing the volume of the waste material 19 including the substrate 11 recovered in the recovery step S02. According to this recycling method, the volume of the waste material 19 is reduced in the volume reduction step S03, so that the volume of the waste material can be reduced. Therefore, a large amount of waste material can be transported at one time.

[0040] The recycling method according to the present invention has been described above through the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be modified in various ways within the scope of the claims.

[0041] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the substrate 11 and the adhesive layer 12 are made of the same material, but they do not have to be made of the same material.

[0042] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the recycling method includes the peeling step S01 of peeling the release liner 20 from the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 12, but the present invention also includes a recycling method that does not include the peeling step S01. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 10 adhesive labels, 11 base material, 12 adhesive layer, 19 Mimi (unwanted items), 20 release liner, S01 Peeling process, S02 Recovery process, S03 Volume reduction process.

Claims

1. a recovery step of recovering the substrate to which the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is attached; a volume reduction step of reducing the volume of unwanted materials including the base material recovered in the recovery step.

2. The recycling method according to claim 1 , wherein the volume of the unwanted materials is reduced by compressing them in the volume reduction step.

3. The recycling method according to claim 1 , wherein the volume reduction step comprises softening and reducing the volume of the unwanted materials by heating.

4. 2. The recycling method according to claim 1, wherein in the volume reduction step, the unwanted materials are compressed by a screw press and the unwanted materials are softened and reduced in volume by the generated frictional heat.

5. The recycling method according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate and the adhesive layer are made of the same material.

6. Before the recovery step, The recycling method according to claim 1 , further comprising a peeling step of peeling a release liner from the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer.

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