Apparatus for separating textile fabrics into recovered fibres and textile residues

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus (100) and a method for separating a woven fabric (210) into recovered fibers (110) and a textile residue (120), which can be reused in another textile at a later time, ensuring an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient method for recycling the textile. The apparatus (100) comprises a feeding means (200), a separation unit (300) and a fiber sorting device (400). The woven fabric (210) is separated into recovered fibers (110) and textile residue (120) by the rotation of a brush roller (310) arranged in the separation unit (300). Furthermore, the fiber sorting device (400) is arranged downstream of the separation unit (300) to collect the recovered fibers (110) and the textile residue (120). A sensor (350) is arranged to monitor and determine the position of the downstream free end of the woven fabric (210) being fed to the separating unit (300). The apparatus (100) further comprises a control unit (500) configured to control the operation of the feeding means (200), the separating unit (300) and the fiber sorting device (400).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for separating textile fabrics into recovered fibers and textile residue, and to a corresponding method for separating textile fabrics. [Background technology]

[0002] The textile industry and the life cycle of textiles are often mentioned in discussions regarding environmental impact and pollution. As consumers become increasingly aware of their impact on the environment, more sustainable ways of disposing of textile waste are being sought. Furthermore, in order to remain relevant to consumers and comply with environmental policies and regulations coming from government level, it has become equally important for the industry to take action to dispose of waste materials and reduce their environmental impact, promoting more sustainable practices.

[0003] Textile manufacturing also contributes significantly to environmental impacts and pollution. Take the cotton industry for example: cotton production and processing uses large amounts of water, pesticides and fertilizers, the use of which has a significant impact on the environment in terms of pollution, water contamination, soil degradation and impacts on biodiversity, not to mention the health of cotton farmers and people living near agricultural areas.

[0004] Traditional methods of disposing of textile waste include landfilling and incineration, which can be problematic since textiles often cannot decompose naturally. Furthermore, incineration of such textiles can result in the release of toxic gases and contribute to pollution. An alternative to disposing of textile waste is recycling. For example, textiles can be recycled by chemical or mechanical recycling methods, where chemical recycling essentially involves a series of chemical processes to dissolve fibers from textile fabrics, which often also require the use of large amounts of fresh water and energy.

[0005] Mechanical recycling is an environmentally advantageous method compared to chemical recycling of textiles, as the idea is to recycle textile fabric back into fibers without the use of chemicals, thus also minimizing fresh water and energy use. Existing mechanical recycling methods often involve cutting or tearing the textiles.

[0006] Different devices for recycling textile fabrics are disclosed in the following documents:

[0007] CN104711707A relates to a device and method for deweaving a piece of fabric into yarns, comprising a set of deweaving rollers and drive rollers, where one layer of fabric at a time is fed into the apparatus with the shorter fibers parallel to the feed direction.

[0008] CN107142561A relates to a device for separating and recycling non-twisted yarn woven fabric, which comprises a roller-type separating device with both comb needles and a comb row that is inserted into the fabric to separate the fabric and avoid fiber damage.

[0009] CN106149103A relates to a system and method for opening up a hard waste of bundled staple yarn into fibers, comprising a feeding device and a rotating clamping device, where the fiber yarn is fed through the feeding device to the rotating clamping device which holds the free end of the fiber yarn between two brush rollers which separate the fibers.

[0010] It is therefore desirable to provide alternatives in the construction and design of mechanical recycling processes, and more specifically, there is a need for improved recycling processes such that fiber quality is maintained, and improved mechanical recycling equipment that can be utilized in the textile industry. Summary of the Invention

[0011] The inventors have come to the insight that using mechanical recycling methods may be crucial for the future textile industry. In particular, using mechanical recycling methods that do not damage the fiber quality to the same extent as prior art solutions. As mentioned above, mechanical recycling methods often involve cutting or tearing the textile, damaging the original fiber length and overall quality. It is therefore an object of at least some of the embodiments of the present invention to overcome or at least mitigate the above mentioned drawbacks. In particular, it is an object to provide an alternative device and method for mechanical recycling in order to maintain fiber length and quality, improve recycling efficiency and make the recovered fibers more reusable. This and other objects are achieved by providing a device and method for separating woven fabrics having the features as set out in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

[0012] As used herein, the term "woven fabric" refers to any fabric formed by weaving. Woven fabrics are composed of two threads arranged perpendicular to each other. When the fabric is woven, one of the threads runs along the length direction and is called the warp thread. The other thread runs transverse to the length direction and is called the weft thread. Furthermore, woven fabrics are usually frayed at the edges.

[0013] As used herein, the term "separating" means separating fibers from the woven fabric, i.e., warp and weft threads, without cutting or tearing the woven fabric, to maintain the fiber length as large as possible. The separation procedure includes separating the warp and weft threads into threads, unraveling the threads, and brushing the textile fibers from the threads. The woven fabric is separated into recovered fibers and textile residue. To reuse the recovered fibers, they need to be spun again into yarns, which can then be woven or knitted into new textiles. To spin one yarn, multiple recovered fibers are required.

[0014] As used herein, the term "recovered fibers" refers to textile fibers that have been separated from a woven fabric. Recovered fibers can be either textile fibers from warp or weft yarns. Recovered fibers are the smallest components of the aforementioned yarns, warp, weft, and woven fabric.

[0015] According to a first aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for separating a woven fabric into recovered fibers and a textile residue is provided. The apparatus comprises a feeding means configured to feed the woven fabric along a feeding direction L. Furthermore, the separation unit comprises a feeding plate and a brush roller. The brush roller comprises a plurality of bristles rotatably arranged around a rotation axis substantially transverse to the feeding direction L. The brush roller is arranged such that a separation area is defined between the bristles of the roller and the feeding plate. The woven fabric is separated into recovered fibers and textile residue in the separation area by the rotation of the brush roller. Furthermore, a fiber sorting device is arranged downstream of the separation unit. The sorting device comprises a fiber collecting device configured to collect the recovered fibers and a residue chamber configured to collect the textile residue. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises a control unit configured to control the operation of the feeding means, the separation unit and the fiber sorting device. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises a sensor. The sensor is arranged to monitor and determine the position of the downstream free end of the woven fabric being fed to the separation unit. The control unit is configured to control the feeding means such that the free end of the woven fabric is maintained within the separation region. The control unit controls the feeding means based on information from the sensor regarding the position of the downstream free end of the woven fabric.

[0016] In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for separating a woven fabric, the method comprising: a. inserting a woven fabric into a feeding means; b. separating the woven fabric into recovered fibers and a woven fabric residue in a separation unit; c. separating the recovered fibers and the textile residue in a fiber separation device; d. collecting the recovered fibers from the fiber collection chamber.

[0017] Thus, an apparatus and a method for separating woven fabrics are provided. It will be appreciated that the inventive concept with the method and the apparatus comprising the above steps provides a sustainable method of separating woven fabrics. The apparatus and the method have many advantages, the first of which is that the woven fabric can be efficiently separated into recovered fibers and textile residue. This ensures that the recovered fibers from the woven fabric can be reused in another textile at a later time. This further ensures a more environmentally friendly and energy-efficient method for recycling the woven fabrics. The feeding means allows the woven fabric to be fed to the separation unit along the feeding direction L. Thus, the second advantage is that the woven fabric is fed to the separation unit in a controlled manner, which facilitates the operability of the apparatus. The separation unit allows the free ends of the woven fabric to be separated by the rotation of the brush roller. The bristles on the brush roller are inserted into the woven fabric and separate the woven fabric into recovered fibers and textile residue by brushing off the fibers from the warp and weft threads. The feeding plate supports the woven fabric. For example, if the brush roller is inserted into the woven fabric too far from the free end, the fibers may break or become entangled. The control unit controls so that the free end of the woven fabric is maintained within the separation area. Thus, a third advantage is that the feed is controlled so that the brush roller can grip the woven fabric in an optimal way at the frayed end of the woven fabric. This further allows the separation of the woven fabric with less fiber entanglement, since the brush roller brushes the woven fabric at the frayed end. Another advantage resulting from this is that the recovered fiber length is increased. This ensures easier reuse of the recovered fibers, higher fiber quality, increased recovered fiber length, and more cost-effective recycling, as well as providing more ways in which the recovered fibers can be reused. The increased fiber length also allows the upcycling of the woven fabric, which means that the textile fibers can be reused to create products equivalent to the products from which they were recycled. To allow the reuse of the fibers, it is important to maintain a constant fiber length. Furthermore, the fiber sorting device separates the recovered fibers from the textile residue. Thus, an advantage is that the recovered fibers are easily collected for reuse without the need for manual sorting.Furthermore, the control unit allows the operation of the device or method to be controlled. Thus, an advantage is that the operation of the device or method requires less manual intervention, which makes the device more robust and easier to use.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, the control unit is configured to control the feeding means to rotate in the reverse direction if the free end of the woven fabric is fed past the separation area along the feeding direction L. The control unit controls the feeding means based on information from the sensor. This embodiment is advantageous as it minimizes the risk of the woven fabric being fed too far into the separation unit and / or fed too fast, resulting in wasting of woven material.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the invention, the separating area further comprises a cutting means connected to the sensor and arranged downstream of the brush roller, said cutting means being configured to cut the woven fabric if its free end is tangled in the feed direction L. This embodiment is advantageous in that the separating process can be continued without the need to restart the device or stop the process if the woven fabric is tangled. If the woven fabric becomes tangled during the separating, the tangled piece can be cut off and the separating process can be continued with a new piece of woven fabric. This further minimizes the amount of discarded textile fabric, since it is not necessary to discard the entire piece of woven fabric, but only the tangled part. Another advantage of this embodiment is that the cutting means is automated and connected to the sensor, allowing a more automated process with less manual intervention. Furthermore, this reduces the changeover time as well as minimizing the risk of injuries.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, the device further comprises an input sensor. The input sensor is arranged to monitor the angle β between the feeding direction L and the direction of the weft threads of the woven fabric upon insertion into the feeding means. The control unit is configured to determine whether the angle β is within an acceptable range based on information from the input sensor. The control unit sends an alert if the angle is not within this range. This embodiment is advantageous since the separation of the woven fabric becomes more efficient. Furthermore, this embodiment sends an alert if the angle is not within the range, which minimizes the need for manual checks. It is further understood that this embodiment is advantageous in that it improves the efficiency of the device.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the input sensor is configured to detect the orientation of the weft and / or warp yarns of the woven fabric in order to monitor the orientation of the woven fabric. It will be appreciated that this embodiment is advantageous in that it minimizes the need for manual intervention, which in turn reduces the risk of human error.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the invention, the feeding means comprises at least two rollers each arranged rotatably about an axis of rotation substantially transverse to the feeding direction L. This embodiment, in which the at least two rollers are arranged such that the woven fabric is guided along a curved path, is advantageous since friction between the feeding means and the woven fabric prevents the latter from sliding uncontrollably through the feeding means. It will be appreciated that this embodiment improves the control of the device, in particular the control of the feeding of the woven fabric.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the at least two rollers comprises a plurality of bristles, knobs or surface material arranged to increase the friction between the at least two rollers and the textile fabric. This embodiment is advantageous in that the friction between the textile fabric and the feeding means is increased. It will be appreciated that this embodiment further improves the control of the device and minimizes the risk of the textile fabric being fed uncontrollably through the feeding means.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least two rollers are arranged on both sides of the fabric, which is advantageous in that the friction surface between the fabric and the feeding means is increased, which may improve controllability.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the invention, the device further comprises a fabric orientation means arranged upstream of the feeding means, the fabric orientation means being configured to orient the woven fabric upon insertion into the feeding means. This embodiment is advantageous in that it allows the feeding process to be automated. This improves the precision of the device and the probability that the angle β is within the tolerance range. This embodiment is further advantageous in that the device is more suitable for industrial application.

[0026] According to an exemplary embodiment, the textile orientation means may include a feed tray and a lift. In this case, the textile fabrics are placed on the feed tray, which can then be transferred onto the lift. To transfer the feed tray to the lift, the feed tray can be placed, for example, on a conveyor belt. In another example, the feed tray can be transferred onto the lift by a user. In yet another example, the feed tray can be placed on a flat surface and placed or pushed up onto the lift by a pushing force from a mechanical shaft controlled by a motor. According to another exemplary embodiment, the textile orientation means may include a robot and a type of container in which the textile fabrics are placed. The robot may then take the textile fabrics or fabrics from the container, for example by gripping the textile fabrics with a robot arm, and orient the textile fabrics or fabrics so that they are fed to the feeding means with an angle β within a desired range. The robot may include a sensor configured to monitor the angle β such that the one or more woven fabrics can be fed to the feeding means with the angle β within an acceptable range. In one example, the robot may also include an input sensor. The robot may be a separate part of the apparatus or may be integrated with the apparatus.

[0027] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the length of the separation area along the feeding direction L corresponds to the angle α of rotation of the brush roller around the rotation axis. The angle α is in the range of 3° to 15°, preferably in the range of 4° to 12°. The angle α represents the contact surface between the woven fabric and the brush roller, and the range of 3° to 15° determines the optimal size of the contact surface for separating the woven fabric. If the contact surface is too small, the separation process becomes inefficient. If the contact surface is too large, a larger proportion of the bristles on the brush roller will be inserted into the woven fabric, increasing the risk of entangling the woven fabric. This embodiment is therefore advantageous in that the size of the contact surface is optimized.

[0028] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the bristles on the brush roller are made of a metal material, a plastic material, natural fibers, or a mixture of the above-mentioned materials. This embodiment is advantageous in that it can improve the durability of the brush roller, thereby reducing wear. It will be appreciated that this embodiment also makes it easier to insert the bristles into the woven fabric.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the feed plate is made of a hard material and has a smooth surface. This embodiment is advantageous in that it will reduce friction between the brush roller and the feed plate. It will be appreciated that this embodiment will also improve the efficiency of the separation unit.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least a section of the feed plate comprises a transparent material and the sensor is located below the transparent section of the feed plate, this embodiment is advantageous in that it prevents dirt, dust or fabric particles from getting stuck on the sensor and impairing its ability to monitor and determine the position of the downstream free end of the fabric.

[0031] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the device further comprises a user interface connected to the control unit. This embodiment is advantageous as it increases the user convenience in that the separation process can be tailored according to the user's preferences. Accurate information regarding the woven fabric can be provided by the user, further increasing the efficiency of the device.

[0032] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the distance between the brush roller and the feed plate is adjustable. The control unit is configured to adjust the distance between the brush roller and the feed plate in the separation area. The control unit adjusts this distance based on input via a user interface regarding the number of layers of fabric being fed to the device and / or information regarding the properties of the fabric. This embodiment is advantageous in that the device is versatile and can work with all fabrics. It will be appreciated that this embodiment further enhances the usefulness of the device.

[0033] According to an exemplary embodiment, the feed plate is inclined and may have a downward slope relative to the brush roller, which increases the distance between the brush roller and the feed plate downstream of the brush roller, allowing the cutting means to be located closer to the brush roller.

[0034] According to an exemplary embodiment, the woven fabric can be fed to the brush roller at an angle, i.e. not horizontally under the bristles of the brush roller. This is advantageous in that the bristles of the brush roller can obtain a better grip of the woven fabric or layer of woven fabric being fed to the brush roller. A better grip between the brush roller and the woven fabric is advantageous since the risk of entanglement of the woven fabric along the contact surface of the brush roller and the free edges of the woven fabric is reduced, meaning that the amount of fabric residue due to entanglement can be reduced.

[0035] According to one embodiment of the invention, the brush roller is elastically supported and pressed against the feed plate with a defined force, which is adapted to the number of layers of fabric being fed to the device and / or to information about the properties of the fabric. This embodiment is advantageous in that it allows several layers of fabric to be dewoven at once. It will be seen that this embodiment further improves the efficiency of the device.

[0036] According to one embodiment of the invention, the fibre sorting device further comprises suction means arranged so that the recovered fibres are separated from the textile residue and collected by the fibre collecting device. This embodiment is advantageous in that the recovered fibres have a smaller weight than the textile residue and the suction means provides an easy way to collect the recovered fibres whilst avoiding the textile residue.

[0037] According to an exemplary embodiment, the fiber sorting device may further comprise a deionization chamber configured to deionize the recovered fibers and textile residue. The deionization may disentangle the recovered fibers and textile residue that have become entangled due to the ionization. The deionization performed in the deionization chamber may further keep the recovered fibers apart. This is advantageous in that it facilitates the separation of the recovered fibers and textile residue for the fiber collection device.

[0038] According to one embodiment of the invention, the control unit is configured to adapt the operation of the suction means so that the recovered fibres are separated from the textile residues. The control unit adapts the operation of the suction means based on input via the user interface regarding the characteristics of the textile fabric being fed to the device. This embodiment is advantageous in that it can collect recovered fibres from different types of textile fabrics and minimizes the risk of collecting textile residues.

[0039] According to one embodiment of the invention, the residue chamber further comprises a circulation means arranged to circulate the textile residue in the residue chamber so that the recovered fibres mixed with the textile residue in the residue chamber are released and transferred to a fibre collecting device. This embodiment is advantageous in that recovered fibres that may be caught in the textile residue can again circulate upwards towards the fibre collecting device and be collected by any desired means. It will be appreciated that this embodiment provides for minimising the amount of missorted recovered fibres.

[0040] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the fiber collecting device comprises a fiber collecting chamber and an air venting means configured to generate an air flow through the fiber collecting device to direct the collected fibers to the fiber collecting chamber. This embodiment is advantageous in that the collected fibers can be packed in an efficient manner. It will be appreciated that this embodiment may further allow for packing a larger volume of collected fibers per unit volume.

[0041] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of: The method further comprises setting, via the user interface, one or more parameters relating to the woven fabric required by the control unit to control the operation of the device. This embodiment is advantageous in that it allows customization of the operation, thereby making the device more user-friendly. With the parameters set in the user interface, the operation of the device can be adapted to suit different types of woven fabric, which makes the device versatile.

[0042] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes a step a0 to be performed before the step a, and the step a0 includes: The method includes orienting the woven fabric within a tolerance of the angle β using a fabric orienting means as claimed in claim 9 and a control unit. This embodiment is advantageous in that it allows for automation of the feeding process and improves scalability. Orienting the woven fabric reduces the risk that the woven fabric will be outside the tolerance of the angle β.

[0043] The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of embodiments of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0044] [Figure 1a] FIG. 1a is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for separating woven fabrics according to the present invention. [Figure 1b] FIG. 1b is a schematic diagram of the separation unit and fiber sorting device with some parts removed for clarity. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the separation unit. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a top view of the woven fabric with respect to the feed direction L. [Figure 4a] FIG. 4a is a schematic diagram of the delivery means. [Figure 4b] FIG. 4b is a schematic diagram of the delivery means. [Figure 4c] FIG. 4c is a schematic diagram of the delivery means. [Figure 4d] FIG. 4d is a schematic diagram of the delivery means. [Figure 4e] FIG. 4e is a schematic diagram of the delivery means. [Figure 4f] FIG. 4f is a schematic diagram of the delivery means. [Figure 4g] FIG. 4g is a schematic diagram of the delivery means. [Figure 4h] FIG. 4h is a schematic diagram of the delivery means. [Figure 4i] FIG. 4i is a schematic diagram of the feeding means. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a control unit process according to the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a control unit process according to the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a control unit process according to the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a control unit process according to the present invention. [Figure 9a] FIG. 9a is a schematic diagram showing a feeding means together with an input means according to the present invention. [Figure 9b] FIG. 9b is a schematic diagram showing a feeding means together with an input means according to the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a brush roller according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0045] All drawings are schematic and generally not to scale and generally show only those parts necessary to clarify the invention, while other parts may be omitted or may merely be suggested.

[0046] The present aspects will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which presently preferred embodiments are shown, however, the present invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein, but rather these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness and to fully convey the scope of the present aspects to those skilled in the art.

[0047] With reference to FIG. 1a, an apparatus 100 for separating woven fabrics 210 according to the present invention is illustrated diagrammatically. The apparatus 100 comprises a feeding means 200 configured to feed the woven fabric 210 along a feeding direction L through the apparatus. The feeding means 200 comprises four rollers 250 each rotatably arranged around a rotation axis substantially transverse to the feeding direction L. The friction between the woven fabric 210 and the rollers 250 increases with the number of rollers 250. This results in feeding the woven fabric 250 in a more controlled manner through the feeding means 200. Another effect from the increased friction is that larger pieces of woven fabric can be held and fed in a controlled manner by the feeding means 200. There can also be an embodiment with three rollers 250. Another embodiment can have five or more rollers 250. It is clear that other embodiments are possible in which the rollers 250 can be any number of rollers greater than two. In one embodiment, the rollers 250 are connected to and steered by an electric motor. The electric motor may have a gearbox that may be adapted to the speed of the rollers 250 .

[0048] The woven fabric 210 is guided through the rollers 250 along a curved path along the feeding direction L. The curved path is a kind of S-shaped path in order to guide the woven fabric 210 in a controlled manner through the feeding means 200 and to increase the contact area between the fabric and the surface of the roller, thus increasing the friction between the fabric and the roller. Furthermore, the curved path ensures that the fabric is pressed towards the surface of the roller. It is clear that in other embodiments the curved path may have another shape. The rollers 250 are arranged on both sides of the woven fabric 210 to hold the woven fabric 210 stable during feeding.

[0049] In an advantageous embodiment, similar to the example in the accompanying drawings, the apparatus 100 further includes an input sensor 220 configured to monitor and determine the angular orientation, i.e., angle β, of the woven fabric 210 relative to the feed direction L to ensure that the orientation of the woven fabric is within an acceptable range to ensure efficient separation of the fibers from the woven fabric.

[0050] The woven fabric 210 is fed through the feeding means to a separation unit 300 arranged downstream of the rollers of the feeding means. The separation unit 300 is preferably arranged close to the downstream rollers of the feeding means to ensure that the woven fabric reaches the separation unit 300 at the intended position. The separation unit 300 comprises a brush roller 310 and a feeding plate 320. The brush roller 310 is rotatably arranged about a rotation axis A substantially transverse to the feeding direction L and is intended to rotate in a direction corresponding to the feeding direction of the fabric, whereby the fabric is tensioned by the brush roller 310, which also assists the desired feeding of the fabric along the direction L. The brush roller has a plurality of bristles 330 extending from a core shaped as a cylinder with a circular cross section coaxial with the rotation axis of the brush roller 210. The separation unit 300 further comprises a feeding plate 320 intended to support the woven fabric 210. The brush roller 310 is positioned such that a separation area 340 is defined between the outer ends of the bristles 330 of the brush roller 310 and the feed plate. In operation, the brush roller 310 is rotated by a suitable engine to defibrate the woven fabric 210 disposed in the separation area 340.

[0051] In one embodiment, the feed plate 320 has a smooth surface to reduce friction between the bristles 330 and the feed plate 320. In an advantageous embodiment, the feed plate 320 is made of a material that cannot spontaneously ignite. The woven fabric 210 is located on the feed plate 320 during separation.

[0052] A sensor 350 is arranged in the separating unit 300 to monitor and determine the position of the downstream free end of the woven fabric 210 fed to the separating unit 300. In one embodiment, the sensor 350 is located downstream of the brush roller 310. In another embodiment shown in Fig. 1a, the sensor 350 is located on one or both sides of the brush roller 310 in the length direction of the rotation axis A.

[0053] In another embodiment, the feed plate 320 is made of a transparent material and the sensor 350 is placed below the feed plate 320. The sensor can then monitor the web 210 through the transparent material. The sensor 350 is thus protected from dust, textile material or other types of dirt that may end up in the separation unit 300. It is clear that other positions of the sensor 350 are also possible.

[0054] The separating unit 300 further comprises a cutting means 360 arranged downstream of the brush roller 310 and connected to the sensor 350. The cutting means 360 is configured to cut the woven fabric if its free end is entangled along the feeding direction L, i.e. if the separation of the woven fabric is not successful in the separation area, the cutting means can be used to remove residual material extending downstream of the separation area. The cutting means 360 is operated and controlled by a control unit 500 acting on the information from the sensor 350. The cutting means 360 is intended to be arranged as the most downstream component in the separating unit 300, so that the cut woven fabric 210 continues into the fiber sorting device 400. The cutting means 360 is preferably mounted close to the brush roller 310.

[0055] In one embodiment, the feed plate 320 is inclined and may have a downward slope relative to the brush roller 310. This increases the distance between the brush roller 310 and the feed plate 320 downstream of the brush roller 310, allowing the cutting means 360 to be placed closer to the brush roller 310. In one embodiment, the cutting means may be a knife or scissors. It is understood that the cutting means 360 may be any type of sharp blade.

[0056] Downstream of the separation unit 300, a fiber sorting device 400 is arranged. The sorting device 400 comprises a fiber collecting device 410 and a residue chamber 420. The fiber sorting device 400 partially surrounds the separation unit 300 in order to collect as many fibers and residue materials as possible. For example, the fiber sorting device 400 can be a box, a cylinder, or another type of container. In a preferred embodiment, the edges of the fiber sorting device 400 can be rounded to prevent the collected fibers 110 or the textile residue 120 from getting caught. The fiber collecting device 410 is configured to collect the collected fibers 110. The fiber collecting device 410 partially surrounds the separation unit 300. In one embodiment shown in FIG. 1a, the fiber collecting device 410 and the residue chamber 420 are included in the same unit that partially surrounds the separation unit 300. In another embodiment, the fiber collecting device 410 and the residue chamber 420 are embodied as separate units. The recovered fibers 110 and textile residue 120 emerging from the separation unit 300 are already in the fiber sorting device 400, since the separation unit 300 is partially surrounded by the fiber sorting device 400. The fiber collecting device 410 has an opening configured to hold a suction means 430 arranged to generate an air flow through the sorting device in order to separate the lighter recovered fibers from the heavier textile residue. The suction means 430 make it possible to collect the recovered fibers 110 by suction force. The suction force is intended to transfer the recovered fibers 110 from the separation unit 300 to the fiber collecting device 410. In one embodiment shown in FIG. 1a, the fiber collecting device 410 is arranged above the separation unit 300. The residue chamber 420 is arranged below the separation unit 300. The textile residue 120 is intended to fall into the residue chamber 420 by gravity. In an advantageous embodiment, as shown in Figure 1a, the fiber collection device 400 further comprises an air extraction means 450 and a fiber collection chamber 460. The air extraction means 450 is configured to generate an air flow through the fiber collection device 410 to direct the collected fibers 110 to the fiber collection chamber 460.The fiber collection chamber 460 is intended to be the final destination of the recovered fibers 110. From the fiber collection chamber 460, the recovered fibers 110 may be packed and sent, for example, for recycling. The air removal means 450 is intended to remove air within the fiber collection chamber 460, effectively compressing the volume within the collection chamber to store primarily the recovered fibers 110, rather than excess air. In one embodiment, the air removal means may be a vacuum pump or a suction fan. It is clear that other types of air removal means are also possible.

[0057] The apparatus further comprises a control unit 500. The control unit 500 is configured to control the operation of the feeding means 200, the separating unit 300 and the fibre sorting device 400. A user interface 510 is connected to the control unit 500. In one embodiment, the control unit 500 can be an embedded system. In another embodiment, the control unit 500 can be a computer. In another embodiment, the control unit 500 can be a user. It is clear that other embodiments are possible in which the control unit 500 is another type of control unit 500. In one embodiment, the control unit 500 is connected to the rollers 250 and is able to adapt the speed of the rollers 250.

[0058] With reference to FIG. 1b, a fiber sorting device 400 according to the invention is illustrated diagrammatically. The woven fabric 210 is separated into collected fibers 110 and textile residue 120 by a separation unit 300. In one embodiment, the collected fibers have a length between 12 mm and 30 mm. The fiber collecting device 410 is configured to collect the collected fibers 110. The residue chamber 420 is configured to collect the textile residue 120. The fiber sorting device 400 further comprises suction means 430 arranged such that the collected fibers 110 are separated from the textile residue 120 and collected in the fiber collecting device 410. For example, the collected fibers 110 may have different weights depending on the characteristics of the woven fabric 210. Thus, in order to separate the collected fibers 110 from the textile residue 120, the operation of the suction means 430 is adapted to separate them efficiently. According to one embodiment, the textile residue 120 has a weight greater than the collected fibers 110. Thus, the textile residue 120 is not affected by the suction means 430 and is therefore not collected by the fiber collecting device 410. Instead, the textile residue 120 falls into the residue chamber 420. The recovered fibers 110 are affected by the suction means 430 and are drawn towards the fiber collecting device 410 where they will be collected. The suction means 430 can be, for example, a vacuum pump. In another embodiment, the suction means can be a type of suction fan that draws the recovered fibers 110 from the fiber sorting device 400 to the fiber collecting device 410. In another embodiment, the suction means 430 can be a dust separator. In other embodiments, the suction means 430 can be of another type than those mentioned herein.

[0059] The residue chamber 420 further comprises a circulation means 440. The circulation means 440 is arranged to circulate the textile residue 120 in the residue chamber 420 so as to release and transfer the collected fibers 110 mixed with the textile residue 120 to the fiber collecting device 410. For example, the textile residue 120 can be a yarn on which the collected fibers 110 are caught. As the textile residue 120 is collected in the residue chamber 420, the collected fibers 110 caught in the yarn can be missorted into the residue chamber 420. The circulation means allows the collected fibers 110 to be separated from the yarn and circulated upwards from the residue chamber 420 to the fiber collecting device 410 for collection at the intended location. The circulation means 440 is intended to circulate air in the residue chamber 420 so as to circulate and transfer the textile residue 120 and the collected fibers 110. The edges of the fiber sorting device 400 are preferably rounded to improve the circulation of air and the textile residue 120 and the recovered fibers 110. The textile residue 120 circulating upwards will fall back into the residue chamber 420 because the weight of the textile residue is too heavy to be picked up by the suction means 430. In one embodiment, the circulation means 440 can be a type of fan. In another embodiment, the circulation means 440 can be a type of air mover. It is clear that other types of circulation means 440 are also possible.

[0060] A separation unit 300 according to the present invention is illustrated in a schematic manner with reference to Fig. 2. The separation unit 300 comprises a separation area 340 defined between the bristles 330 of the brush roller 310 and a feed plate. The bristles 330 on the brush roller 310 are inserted into the woven fabric 210 adjacent to the free end of the woven fabric 210 in the separation area 340. The rotation of the brush roller 310 allows the bristles 330 to de-weave the woven fabric 210 by brushing, so as to separate the woven fabric into recovered fibers 110 and textile residue 120. The feed plate 320 supports the woven fabric 210.

[0061] In an advantageous embodiment, the length of the separation area 340 along the feed direction L corresponds to the angle α of rotation of the brush roller 310 around the rotation axis A. In one embodiment, the angle α is in the range of 3° to 15°. In an advantageous embodiment, the angle α is in the range of 4° to 12°. The length of the separation area 340 is important to avoid entanglement of the woven fabric 210. If the angle α exceeds the preferred range and a larger part of the free end of the woven fabric 210 engages with the bristles 330 of the brush roller 310, the risk of entanglement of the woven fabric 210 increases.

[0062] In a preferred embodiment, the bristles 330 are substantially perpendicular to the woven fabric 210 when the woven fabric 210 is within the separation region 340. In one embodiment, the range of angle α covers the region where the woven fabric 210 is substantially perpendicular to the bristles 330. Thus, the bristles 330 can be inserted into the woven fabric 210 before becoming substantially perpendicular to the woven fabric 210 while still being within the range of angle α. In another embodiment, the separation region 340 starts at angle α before the region where the woven fabric 210 is perpendicular to the bristles 330 and ends at angle α after this region.

[0063] In one embodiment, the bristles 330 on the brush roller 310 are formed of a metal material. In another embodiment, the bristles 330 are formed of a plastic material. In another embodiment, the bristles 330 are formed of natural fibers. In another embodiment, the bristles 330 are formed of a mixture of these mentioned materials. For example, the bristles 330 can be formed of a material that is a mixture between plastic and natural fibers. It is clear that other types of materials or mixtures of materials are also possible.

[0064] The brush roller 310 is rotatably disposed about a rotation axis A that is substantially transverse to the feed direction L. In one embodiment, the brush roller 310 may rotate in a clockwise direction to unravel the woven fabric 210. In another embodiment, the brush roller may rotate in a counterclockwise direction to unravel the woven fabric 210.

[0065] In an advantageous embodiment, the feed plate 320 is made of a hard material. In another advantageous embodiment, the feed plate 320 has a smooth surface. For example, the feed plate 320 can be made of a plastic material. In another embodiment, the feed plate 320 can be made of a metal material, for example. It is clear that other types of materials are also possible.

[0066] In an advantageous embodiment, the distance between the brush roller 310 and the feed plate 320 is adjustable. This allows woven fabrics 210 with different properties, i.e. thicknesses, to be separated into recovered fibers 110 and textile residue 120. It also allows several layers of woven fabrics 210 to be simultaneously separated into recovered fibers 110 and textile residue 120 in this device. Layers of woven fabrics 210 can be fed to the feed means 300 stacked on top of each other. In this case, the distance between the brush roller 310 and the feed plate 320 can, for example, be increased. If several layers are to be separated simultaneously, all layers should have substantially the same orientation of warp and weft threads.

[0067] The separating unit 300 further comprises a cutting means 360. The cutting means 360 is configured to cut the woven fabric 210 when the free end of the woven fabric 210 is tangled along the feeding direction L, i.e. when the separation of the fabric is not completed in the separation area. In a preferred embodiment, the cutting means 360 is arranged above the woven fabric 210. When cutting the woven fabric 210, the cutting means 360 is lowered onto the woven fabric 210 and cuts the woven fabric 210. In one embodiment, the operation of the cutting means 360 is automated. The cutting means 360 is connected to the control unit 500. The sensor 350 sends information about the position of the woven fabric 210, and the control unit 500 controls the operation of the cutting means 360 to cut the woven fabric 210. In another embodiment, the cutting means 360 is manually controlled. For example, a user may manually cut the woven fabric 210 with the cutting means 360. In one embodiment, the cutting means 360 may be a sharp blade. In another embodiment, the cutting means 360 may be scissors.

[0068] In one embodiment, the sensor 350 may be a proximity sensor. In another embodiment, the sensor 350 may be an ultrasonic sensor. In another embodiment, the sensor 350 may be a light sensor. In another embodiment, the sensor 350 may be an optical sensor. In another embodiment, the sensor 350 may be a user manually checking the position of the free end of the woven fabric 210. It is clear that other types of sensors 350 are also possible. The sensor 350 is connected to the control unit 500. The sensor 350 may send information to the control unit 500. The control unit 500 may control the operation of the separating unit 300 based on the information received from the sensor 350.

[0069] 3, a top view of a woven fabric 210 with respect to a feeding direction L is shown, in accordance with the present invention. The woven fabric 210 comprises warp yarns 230 and weft yarns 240. The apparatus 100 further comprises an input sensor 220. The input sensor 220 is positioned to monitor an angle β defined between the feeding direction L and an orientation of the woven fabric 210. In one embodiment, the angle β may be defined between the feeding direction L and the warp yarns 230. In another embodiment, the angle β may be defined between the feeding direction L and the weft yarns 240.

[0070] The input sensor 220 is configured to detect and monitor the orientation of the warp yarns 230 and the weft yarns 240 of the woven fabric 210. In one embodiment, the input sensor 220 can be a proximity sensor. In another embodiment, the input sensor 220 can be an optical sensor. In another embodiment, the input sensor 220 can be a user manually checking the orientation of the woven fabric 210. The input sensor 220 can be connected to the control unit 500 and can send information to the control unit 500. In one embodiment, the control unit 500 sends an alert based on the information received from the input sensor 220. In one embodiment, the alert can be a warning to warn that the angle β is not within an acceptable range. In another embodiment, the alert can be a signal to confirm that the angle β is within an acceptable range. In another embodiment, the alert can be both a warning and a signal.

[0071] The brush roller 310 can unravel the woven fabric 210 in an effective manner if the warp threads 230 and the weft threads 240 are arranged at an angle β during insertion into the feeding means 200. When the angle β is zero, the warp threads 230 or the weft threads 240 are parallel to the feeding direction L. In a preferred embodiment, the angle β is 45 degrees. Both the warp threads 230 and the weft threads 240 can be used to measure the angle β. In another embodiment, the angle β can be between 35 and 55 degrees. In a preferred embodiment, the angle β is different from zero.

[0072] 4a-4i, a schematic diagram of a feeding means according to the present invention is shown. In one embodiment, at least one of the rollers 250 comprises a plurality of bristles, knobs, or surface material 260 arranged to increase friction between the roller 250 and the woven fabric 210. In one embodiment, at least one of the rollers 250 comprises a plurality of bristles 260. In another embodiment, at least one of the rollers 250 comprises a plurality of knobs 260. In another embodiment, at least one of the rollers 250 comprises a surface material 260 arranged to increase friction between the roller 250 and the woven fabric 210. In one embodiment, at least one of the rollers 250 comprises teeth 270.

[0073] 4a-4i show examples of possible embodiments of the rollers 250. For example, as seen in FIG. 4a, none of the rollers 250 include a plurality of bristles 260. Another example is seen in FIG. 4b, where one of the rollers 250 includes a plurality of bristles 260. FIG. 4c shows another example where one of the rollers 250 includes a plurality of bristles 260. FIG. 4d also shows another example where one of the rollers 250 includes a plurality of bristles 260. FIG. 4e shows an embodiment where two of the rollers 250 include a plurality of bristles 260. FIG. 4f shows another embodiment where two of the rollers 250 include a plurality of bristles 260. FIG. 4g shows another embodiment where one of the rollers 250 includes teeth 270. It is understood that these embodiments are not limiting and there are other possible embodiments where the rollers 250 include a plurality of bristles, knobs, or surface material 260 arranged to increase friction between the rollers 250 and the woven fabric 210.

[0074] Bristles, knobs, or surface material 260 positioned to increase friction between the roller 250 and the fabric 210 allow for better control of the feeding means 200. Increasing friction between the roller 250 and the fabric 210 allows larger pieces of fabric 210 to be fed into the apparatus 100 because friction makes the fabric 210 less likely to slip on the roller 250.

[0075] The teeth 270 are positioned to hold the woven fabric 210 while it is fed through the apparatus 100. The teeth 270 are configured to transfer torque and speed between the rollers 250. In one embodiment in which two or more rollers 250 are provided with teeth 270, the teeth 270 intermesh with each other.

[0076] In another embodiment, roller 250 with teeth 270 is a cogwheel.

[0077] Fig. 4h shows another embodiment in which the distance d between the rollers 250 is adjustable. In one embodiment, the distance d is adjusted based on the number of layers 210' of woven fabric to be fed to the device 100. In one embodiment, the number of layers 210' of woven fabric to be fed to the device 100 is three. The distance d is then adjusted to fit the layers 210' and keep them from slipping uncontrollably through the feeding means 200. The distance d can be adjustable and controlled via a gear box connected to the device 100. The gear box can also be connected to the control unit 500.

[0078] FIG. 4i shows another embodiment in which the feeding means 200 further comprises a guide 251. The guide 251 is configured to guide the woven fabric 210 or the layer of woven fabric 210′ ​​through the feeding means 200. The risk of the woven fabric 210 falling out of the feeding means 200 is reduced by using the guide 251. The guide is arranged to partially surround the shape of the roller 250. The woven fabric 210 is arranged between the roller 250 and the guide 251. In an embodiment, the guide 251 can be a type of screen or a shaped plate. It is clear that the guide 251 can be any kind of component arranged to guide the woven fabric 210 through the feeding means 200.

[0079] With reference to FIG. 5, a flow chart illustrating the process of the control unit 500 according to the present invention is shown. The control unit 500 receives information from the sensor 350. The information from the sensor 350 includes information about the position of the free end of the woven fabric 210 in the separation unit 300. Based on this information, the control unit 500 will control the operation of the feeding means 300. If the information of the sensor 350 indicates that the free end of the woven fabric 210 is within the separation area 340, the control unit 500 will not adapt the operation of the feeding means 300. The control unit 500 will repeat this action until there is a change in the information from the sensor 350. If the information of the sensor 350 indicates that the free end of the woven fabric 210 is not within the separation area 340, the control unit 500 will adapt the operation of the feeding means 300. The control unit 500 will repeat this action until there is a change in the information from the sensor 350. The sensor 350 detects whether the free end of the woven fabric 210 is downstream of the separation area 340. For example, in a preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 500 will adapt the operation of the feeding means 300 to reverse the rotation direction of at least two rollers 250 to pull the woven fabric 210 back into the separation area 340 if the information of the sensor 350 indicates that the free end of the woven fabric 210 is downstream of the separation area 340. Furthermore, the control unit 500 will not adapt the operation of the feeding means 300 to keep the woven fabric 210 in the separation area 340 if the information of the sensor 350 indicates that the free end of the woven fabric 210 is within the separation area 340. In one embodiment, the sensor 350 may detect whether the free end of the woven fabric 210 is upstream of the separation area 340. The control unit 500 will then adapt the operation of the feeding means 300 to increase the speed of the rotational movement of the at least two rollers 250 so as to draw the woven fabric 210 into the separation area 340 when information from the sensor 350 indicates that the free end of the woven fabric 210 is upstream of the separation area 340.

[0080] With reference to FIG. 6, a flow chart showing the process of the control unit 500 according to the present invention is shown. The control unit 500 receives information from the sensor 350. The information from the sensor 350 includes information about the state of the woven fabric 210. The control unit 500 will control the operation of the cutting means 360 based on this information. If the information of the sensor 350 indicates that the state of the woven fabric 210 is not entangled, the control unit 500 will not adapt the operation of the cutting means 360. The control unit 500 will repeat this action until there is a change in the information from the sensor 350. If the information of the sensor 350 indicates that the state of the woven fabric 210 is entangled, the control unit 500 will adapt the operation of the cutting means 360. The control unit 500 will repeat this action until there is a change in the information from the sensor 350. The sensor 350 detects whether the free end of the woven fabric 210 is downstream of the separation area 340 and the state of the woven fabric 210 is entangled. The control unit 500 will then adapt the operation of the cutting means 360 for cutting the woven fabric 210 downstream of the separation area 340 if the information from the sensor 350 indicates that the free end of the woven fabric 210 is downstream of the separation area 340 and the state of the woven fabric 210 is entangled. Furthermore, the control unit 500 will not adapt the operation of the cutting means 360 to prevent the woven fabric 210 from being discarded if the information from the sensor 350 indicates that the free end of the woven fabric 210 is downstream of the separation area 340 but the state of the woven fabric 210 is not entangled.

[0081] With reference to FIG. 7, a flow chart illustrating the operation process of the control unit 500 according to the present invention is presented. The control unit 500 receives information from the input sensor 220. The information from the input sensor 220 includes information about the orientation value of the woven fabric, i.e., the angle β. The control unit 500 checks the value from the input sensor 220 against a predefined range to determine whether the value is within an acceptable range. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, if the angle β is not within the acceptable range, the control unit 500 will send an alert to the user using the device 100. The control unit 500 will repeat this action until a change occurs in the information from the sensor 220. In another embodiment, the control unit 500 will send another alert if the angle β is within the acceptable range to inform the user that the angle β is within the acceptable range. In another embodiment, the control unit 500 will do nothing if the angle β is within the acceptable range. In one embodiment, the acceptable range is 40-50 degrees. In a preferred embodiment, the acceptable range is 42-48 degrees.

[0082] With reference to Fig. 8, a flow chart illustrating the process of the control unit 500 according to the present invention is presented. The control unit 500 receives information from a user interface 510. The information from the user interface 510 includes information about the properties of the woven fabric 210. The information from the user interface 510 also includes information about the number of layers of the woven fabric 210. Furthermore, the user interface 510 allows providing information about the properties of the woven fabric 210 and the number of layers of the woven fabric 210. For example, the properties of the woven fabric 210 can be the weave density of the woven fabric 210, the fabric thread density of the woven fabric 210, the thread count of the woven fabric 210, the number of ends per inch of the woven fabric 210, or the number of picks per inch of the woven fabric 210. It is clear that other types of properties of the woven fabric are possible.

[0083] The control unit 500 reads information from the user interface 510 and uses the information to adapt the operation of the apparatus 100. For example, as shown in Fig. 8, the control unit 500 adapts the speed of the feeding means 300 based on the information from the user interface 510. For example, based on information about the weave density of the woven fabric 210, the rotation speed of the at least two rollers 250 may have to be increased or decreased before the process of the apparatus 100 starts.

[0084] 8, the control unit 500 adapts the operation of the suction means 430 based on information from the user interface 510 to separate the recovered fibers 110 from the textile residue 120. For example, based on information about the textile density of the woven fabric 210, the suction force of the suction means 430 may have to be increased or decreased before the process of the device 100 starts.

[0085] 8, the control unit 500 adapts the distance between the brush roller 310 and the feed plate 320 based on information from the user interface 510 to allow separation of different types of woven fabrics and / or different numbers of layers of the woven fabric 210. For example, based on information regarding the number of layers of the woven fabric 210, the distance between the brush roller 310 and the feed plate 320 may have to be increased or decreased before the process of the device 100 starts.

[0086] 8, the control unit 500 adapts the speed of the brush roller 310 based on information from the user interface 510. For example, based on information about the fabric yarn density of the woven fabric 210, the rotational speed of the brush roller 310 may have to be increased or decreased before the process of the device 100 begins.

[0087] In another embodiment, the control unit 500 determines a predetermined pressing force of the brush roller 310 towards the feed plate 320. This predetermined force is based on information from the user interface 510. For example, based on information about the number of layers of the woven fabric 210, the control unit 500 sets an increased or decreased predetermined pressing force before the process of the device 100 starts.

[0088] Referring to Fig. 9a, a schematic diagram of the feeding means 200 together with the fabric directing means 280 according to the present invention is presented. The fabric directing means 280 comprises a feeding tray 290 and a lift 295. The woven fabric layer 210' is placed on the feeding tray 290, which is then transferred onto the lift 295. In one embodiment, the feeding tray 290 can be placed on a conveyor belt to transfer the feeding tray 290 to the lift 295. In another embodiment, the feeding tray 290 can be transferred onto the lift 295 by a user. In another embodiment, the feeding tray can be placed on a flat surface and pushed onto the lift 295 by a pushing force from a mechanical shaft controlled by a motor. When the feeding tray 290 is placed on the lift 295, the sensor 220 monitors the orientation of the warp yarns 230 and weft yarns 240 of the woven fabric layer 210'. The sensor 220 is connected to the control unit 500 to check the angle β of the warp yarns 230 and the weft yarns 240 against the tolerance of the angle β. The lift 295 is arranged to rotate to rotate the woven fabric layer 210' to orient the warp yarns 230 and the weft yarns 240 to be within the tolerance of the angle β according to the information from the sensor 220. In one embodiment, all the woven fabric layers 210' are the same type of woven fabric 210 placed on the lift with the same orientation. Thus, when the lift 295 rotates to rotate the woven fabric layers 210' so that the warp yarns 230 and the weft yarns 240 are within the tolerance of the angle β, all the woven fabric layers 210' are rotated together and in the same orientation. In one embodiment, the number of the woven fabric layers 210' is one. In another embodiment, the number of the woven fabric layers 210' is two or more. The lift 295 is height adjustable to lift the woven fabric layer 210' to the same level as the upstream start of the feeding means. The woven fabric layer 210' can then be fed into the feeding means 200. In one embodiment, there can be a robotic arm that pushes the woven fabric layer 210' from the input tray 290 into the feeding means 200. In another embodiment, the robotic arm can be another tool suitable for pushing the woven fabric layer 210' into the feeding means 200. The process of pushing the woven fabric layer 210' into the feeding means 200 can be automated and controlled by the control unit 500.In one embodiment, the lift 295 may again lower to retrieve the next input tray 290 having the layer of fabric 210'. The lift 295 may be a motor-driven lift connected to the control unit 500.

[0089] Referring to Fig. 9b, a schematic diagram of the feeding means 200 together with the fabric directing means 280 according to the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the fabric directing means 280 further comprises a support unit 285. The lift 295 includes a spring load that will push the lift towards the support unit 285. The support unit 285 is a fixed surface against which the woven fabric layer 210' can be pressed. The woven fabric layer 210' is placed on top of the lift 295 so that the woven fabric layer 210' is placed between the support unit 285 and the lift 295. When the lift lifts the woven fabric layer 210' towards the support unit 285, the woven fabric layer 210' will reach the same level as the start of the feeding means 200 and will be picked up by the rollers 250 and enter the feeding means 200. The input tray 290 will feed more woven fabric layers 210' to the lift 295.

[0090] In one embodiment, the feeding means 200 comprises a fixture 205 with an inclined surface arranged to guide the woven fabric 210 towards the roller 250. The fixture 205 is preferably resting on the ground, with the inclined surface at the opposite end facing the feeding means 200. In this embodiment, the roller 250 comprises a roller 250' arranged to guide the woven fabric layer 210' into the feeding means 200. The roller 250' is arranged such that the woven fabric layer 210' is located between the roller 250' and the fixture 205. In a preferred embodiment, the roller 250' is arranged downstream of the lift 295 in the feeding direction L.

[0091] With reference to FIG. 10, the brush roller 310 is shown. In one embodiment, the brush roller 310 may have a cleaning process controlled by the control unit 500. The cleaning option may be, for example, a wire 370 inserted between the bristles 330. The wire 370 may be connected to the control unit 500 and may be connected to an electric motor that may steer the wire 370 in and out of the bristles 330 by a signal from the control unit 500. The wire 370 may be steered to move in a direction D along the rotation axis A of the brush roller 310 to clean the bristles 330 along the length of the brush roller 310. It is clear that other types of cleaning implements than the wire 370 may be used. The brush roller 310 rotates once the wire 370 is inserted, cleaning the brush roller 310 of any threads, textile fibers, or residues that may be trapped between the bristles 330. The waste cleaned from the bristles may then be collected and discarded. The control unit 500 may control the operation of the cleaning process, for example, by determining when the wire 370 should be inserted into the bristles 330 and for what amount of time. In one embodiment, the cleaning process may be automated to occur after a selected number of revolutions of the brush roller 310. The selected number of revolutions may be set by a user in the user interface 510. In one embodiment, the number of revolutions may be 10,000. In another embodiment, the cleaning process may be performed after each use of the device.

[0092] Although the features and elements are described above in particular combinations, each feature or element may be used alone without the other features and elements, or in various combinations with or without the other features and elements.

[0093] Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements, and the indefinite articles "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain features are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these features cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

1. An apparatus (100) for separating a woven fabric (210) into recovered fibers (110) and a textile residue (120), said apparatus (100) comprising: a feeding means (200) configured to feed said woven fabric (210) along a feeding direction L; A separation unit (300), A feed plate (320); a brush roller (310) having a plurality of bristles (330) rotatably arranged about an axis of rotation (A) substantially transverse to the feed direction L; a separation unit (300) in which the brush roller (310) is arranged such that a separation area (340) is defined between the bristles (330) of the brush roller (310) and the feed plate (320), and the woven fabric (210) is separated into recovered fibers (110) and woven fabric residue (120) in the separation area (340) by the rotation of the brush roller (310); a fiber sorting device (400) arranged downstream of said separation unit (300), said fiber sorting device (400) comprising: a fiber collection device (410) configured to collect the collected fibers (110); a residue chamber (420) configured to collect the fabric residue (120), a control unit (500) configured to control the operation of said feeding means (200), said separating unit (300) and said fiber sorting device (400); a sensor (350) arranged to monitor and determine the position of the downstream free end of the woven fabric (210) fed to the separating unit (300); The control unit (500) is configured to control the feeding means (200) based on information from the sensor (350) regarding the position of the downstream free end of the woven fabric (210) so that the free end of the woven fabric (210) is maintained within the separation area (340).

2. 2. The apparatus (100) of claim 1, wherein the control unit (500) is configured to control the feeding means (200) to rotate in the reverse direction based on information from the sensor (350) when the free end of the woven fabric (210) has been fed past the separation area (340) along the feeding direction L.

3. 3. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the separating unit (300) further comprises a cutting means (360) connected to the sensor (350) and arranged downstream of the brush roller (310), the cutting means (360) being configured to cut the woven fabric (210) when the free end of the woven fabric (210) is tangled along the feed direction L.

4. an input sensor (220) arranged to monitor the angle β between the feeding direction L and a desired orientation of the woven fabric upon insertion into the feeding means (200), The control unit (500) is configured to determine, based on information from the input sensor (220), whether the angle β is within an acceptable range and to send an alert if the angle is not within the range. The apparatus (100) of claim 1.

5. The apparatus (100) of claim 4, wherein the input sensor (220) is configured to detect a weft and / or warp orientation of the woven fabric (210) to monitor the orientation of the woven fabric (210).

6. The feeding means (200) at least two rollers (250) each rotatably arranged about a rotation axis substantially transverse to the feeding direction L, the at least two rollers (250) being arranged such that the woven fabric (210) is guided along a curved path; The apparatus (100) of claim 1.

7. 7. The apparatus (100) of claim 6, wherein at least one of the at least two rollers (250) comprises a plurality of bristles, knobs, or surface material (260) arranged to increase friction between the at least two rollers (250) and the woven fabric (210).

8. The apparatus (100) of claim 6 or 7, wherein the at least two rollers (250) are disposed on both sides of the woven fabric (210).

9. The apparatus (100) of any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a fabric orienting means (280) arranged upstream of the feeding means (200) and configured to orient the woven fabric (210) upon insertion into the feeding means (200).

10. The device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the length of the separation area (340) along the feed direction L corresponds to an angle α of rotation of the brush roller (310) around the axis of rotation, said angle α being in the range of 3° to 15°, preferably in the range of 4° to 12°.

11. The apparatus (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bristles (330) on the brush roller (310) are made from a metallic material, a plastic material, natural fibres or a mixture of these materials.

12. The apparatus (100) of claim 1, wherein the feed plate (320) is rigid and comprises a smooth surface.

13. The apparatus (100) of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein at least a section of the feed plate (320) comprises a transparent material, and the sensor (350) is disposed below the transparent section of the feed plate (320).

14. The apparatus (100) of claim 1, further comprising a user interface (510) connected to the control unit (500).

15. 2. The apparatus (100) of claim 1, wherein the distance between the brush roller (310) and the feed plate (320) is adjustable, and the control unit (500) is configured to adjust the distance between the brush roller (310) and the feed plate (320) in the separation area (340) based on input via a user interface (510) regarding the number of layers (210') of woven fabric being fed to the apparatus (100) and / or information regarding the characteristics of the woven fabric (210).

16. The apparatus (100) of claim 13, wherein the brush roller (310) is elastically supported and pressed against the feed plate (320) with a predetermined force adapted to information regarding the number of layers (210') of the woven fabric being fed to the apparatus (100) and / or the characteristics of the woven fabric (210).

17. 2. The apparatus (100) of claim 1, wherein the fiber sorting device (400) further comprises suction means (430) arranged so that the recovered fibers (110) are separated from the textile residue (120) and collected in the fiber collection device (410).

18. 18. The apparatus (100) of claim 17, wherein the control unit (500) is configured to adapt the operation of the suction means (430) so that the recovered fibers (110) are separated from the textile residue (120) based on input via a user interface (510) regarding characteristics of the woven fabric (210) being fed to the apparatus (100).

19. 17. The apparatus (100) of claim 15 or 16, wherein the residue chamber (420) further comprises a circulation means (440) arranged to circulate the textile residue (120) in the residue chamber (420) such that recovered fibers (110) mixed with the textile residue (120) in the residue chamber (420) are released and transferred to the fiber collecting device (410).

20. 2. The apparatus (100) of claim 1, wherein the fiber collection device (410) comprises a fiber collection chamber (460) and an air extraction means (450) configured to generate an air flow through the fiber collection device (410) to direct the collected fibers (110) into the fiber collection chamber (460).

21. 2. A method for separating a woven fabric (210) using the apparatus (100) of claim 1, the method comprising: a. inserting the woven fabric (210) into the feeding means (200); b. separating the woven fabric (210) into recovered fibers (110) and textile residue (120) in the separation unit (300); c. separating the recovered fibers (110) and the textile residue (120) in the fiber separating device (400); d. collecting the recovered fibers (110) from a fiber collection chamber (460); A method comprising:

22. The apparatus (100) further comprises a user interface (510) connected to the control unit (500), and the method comprises the steps of: setting, via said user interface (510), one or more parameters relating to said woven fabric (210) required by said control unit (500) to control the operation of said device (100); 22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

23. The method further includes a step a0 to be performed before the step a, and the step a0 includes: Orienting the woven fabric (210) within the tolerance range of the angle β using the fabric orienting means (280) according to claim 9 and the control unit (500).

22. The method of claim 21 , comprising:

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