How recycled glass is manufactured

Abstract

To provide a method for manufacturing glass for recycling in which a glass for recycling having reduced amount of adhered organic matter can easily be obtained.SOLUTION: In the method for manufacturing glass for recycling, a glass for recycling is manufactured from a glass fiber G1 having organic matter adhered thereto. The method for manufacturing glass for recycling includes a washing step of washing the glass fiber G1 using a liquid L1. In the washing step in the method for manufacturing glass for recycling, the glass fiber G1 may be brought into contact with the liquid L1 while being conveyed by a conveyor C. The conveyor C may include an upstream side conveyor C1 and a downstream side conveyor C2 that conveys the glass fiber G1 dropped from the downstream end of the upstream side conveyor C1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] As described in Patent Document 1, for example, there is known a method of recycling glass fibers that have not been commercialized due to factors such as cutting of the glass fibers as glass raw materials. By recycling glass fibers in this way, it is possible to contribute to achieving the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).

[0003] Here, for example, after forming a plurality of glass filaments using a bushing, the glass fibers discharged in the process of bundling the plurality of glass filaments to obtain a glass strand may have organic matter contained in the bundling agent attached thereto. When glass fibers having such organic matter attached thereto are recycled, carbides generated from the organic matter in the glass melting furnace may become foreign matter in the molten glass. Therefore, when recycling glass fibers having organic matter attached thereto, it is preferable to reduce the amount of organic matter attached thereto. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-047101 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] There is still room for improvement in terms of easily obtaining recycled glass with reduced amounts of organic matter attached from the above-mentioned glass fibers. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing glass for recycling, which can easily produce glass for recycling with a reduced amount of organic matter attached thereto. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A method for producing recycled glass that solves the above problem is a method for producing recycled glass from glass fibers to which organic matter has adhered, and includes a cleaning step of cleaning the glass fibers with a liquid. According to this method, the use of a liquid in the cleaning step makes it possible to easily wash away organic matter adhering to the glass fibers.

[0007] In the method for producing recycled glass, the glass fibers may be brought into contact with the liquid while being conveyed by a conveyor in the washing step. According to this method, the washing step can be carried out continuously.

[0008] In the method for producing recycled glass, the conveyor may include an upstream conveyor and a downstream conveyor that transports the glass fibers that have fallen from the downstream end of the upstream conveyor. According to this method, the glass fibers that have fallen from the downstream end of the upstream conveyor collide with the downstream conveyor. By causing the glass fibers to collide with the downstream conveyor in this manner, the glass fibers can be beaten and washed.

[0009] In the above-mentioned method for producing recycled glass, the conveyor may have a circulation hole for circulating the liquid that has come into contact with the glass fibers below the conveyor. This method makes it possible to prevent the liquid contaminated by washing the glass fibers from accumulating on the conveyor, and therefore makes it possible to efficiently bring the liquid with little contamination into contact with the glass fibers.

[0010] In the above-mentioned method for producing recycled glass, the glass fibers in the cleaning step may include at least one of glass filaments and glass strands, and may be transported from a glass fiber manufacturing apparatus that includes an applicator that applies a sizing agent containing the organic matter to a plurality of glass filaments, and the cleaning step may clean the glass fibers in a state wet with the sizing agent. According to this method, in the cleaning step, the organic matter adhering to the glass fibers can be brought into contact with a liquid before it completely hardens, and therefore the organic matter can be easily washed away.

[0011] In the above-described method for producing recycled glass, the glass fiber production apparatus may include a winding device that winds the glass strand formed by bundling the plurality of glass filaments, and the method may further include a determination step of determining whether or not the glass fiber has broken based on an image of the glass fiber of at least one of the glass filaments and the glass strand, and a retraction step of retracting the winding device from a position where the glass strand is wound if a break has occurred in the determination step. According to this method, for example, glass fibers that will not be used for production can be easily transported to a cleaning step while avoiding the winding device. Furthermore, it is possible to easily prevent broken glass fibers from being mixed into the glass strand that has already been wound by the winding device.

[0012] The method for producing recycled glass may further include a heating step of heat-treating the glass fibers after washing in the washing step. This method makes it possible to quickly remove liquid adhering to the glass fibers. This improves the handleability of the glass fibers. For example, the glass fibers can be crushed or easily mixed with other glass raw materials in powder form.

[0013] The method for producing glass for recycling may further include a crushing step of crushing the glass fibers after cleaning in the cleaning step. This method can produce glass for recycling that can be easily mixed with glass raw materials. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, glass for recycling with reduced amounts of attached organic matter can be easily obtained. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a part of a manufacturing apparatus for recycled glass in an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a part of a manufacturing apparatus for recycled glass. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a cleaning section of a recycling glass manufacturing apparatus. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for producing glass for recycling. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the control of the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a part of a modified example of a manufacturing apparatus for recycled glass. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a method for producing glass for recycling will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, for the convenience of explanation, some of the components may be shown exaggerated or simplified. Furthermore, the dimensional ratios of each part may differ from the actual ones. First, a manufacturing apparatus for producing glass for recycling will be described.

[0017] <Outline of the recycling glass manufacturing equipment> 1 and 2, the recycling glass manufacturing apparatus 11 is an apparatus for manufacturing recycling glass GR from glass fibers G1 having organic matter attached thereto. The recycling glass manufacturing apparatus 11 includes a cleaning section 12 for cleaning the glass fibers G1 using a liquid L1, a heating section 13 for heat-treating the glass fibers G2, and a crushing section 14 for crushing the glass fibers G3.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 1, the recycling glass manufacturing apparatus 11 includes a first conveying device 16 disposed below the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 15. The glass fiber G1 is carried into the cleaning section 12 of the recycling glass manufacturing apparatus 11 by the first conveying device 16. The first conveying device 16 can be configured, for example, by a conveyor such as a belt conveyor.

[0019] The glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 15 includes a bushing 17 that forms a plurality of glass filaments GF, and an applicator 18 that applies a sizing agent containing an organic substance to the plurality of glass filaments GF. The glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 15 also includes a gathering shoe 19 that obtains a glass strand GS by bundling the plurality of glass filaments GF, and a winding device 20 that winds up the glass strand GS.

[0020] The bushing 17 of the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 15 has a plurality of nozzles N through which molten glass MG flows. Glass filaments GF can be formed by each nozzle N of the bushing 17. The number of nozzle holes in the bushing 17 is preferably within a range of 100 to 10,000. The shape of the nozzle hole in each nozzle N of the bushing 17 may be, for example, a circle or a flat shape having a major axis and a minor axis.

[0021] Examples of the glass of the molten glass MG include E-glass (glass with an alkali content of 2% or less), D-glass (low dielectric constant glass), AR-glass (alkali-resistant glass), C-glass (acid-resistant glass), M-glass (high elastic modulus glass), S-glass (high strength, high elastic modulus glass), T-glass (high strength, high elastic modulus glass), H-glass (high dielectric constant glass), and NE-glass (low dielectric constant glass). The density of the glass is, for example, 2.0 to 3.0 g / cm. 3 is.

[0022] The sizing agent contains, for example, a resin. Examples of the resin include polyester, vinyl acetate resin, urethane resin, epoxy resin, and acrylic resin. The resin in the sizing agent may be a single type or a combination of two or more types. The resin is blended into the sizing agent, for example, as an aqueous resin emulsion.

[0023] The sizing agent preferably contains a silane coupling agent, such as aminosilane, epoxysilane, vinylsilane, acrylsilane, chlorosilane, mercaptosilane, or ureidosilane.

[0024] The sizing agent may contain a lubricant, an antistatic agent, etc., as needed. Examples of lubricants include fatty acid amides and quaternary ammonium salts. Examples of antistatic agents include polyether compounds, sulfonic acid compounds, betaine compounds, and conductive polymers.

[0025] The glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 15 includes an imaging device 21 and a control unit 22. The imaging device 21 of the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 15 captures an image of the glass filament GF formed using the bushing 17. As the imaging device 21, for example, a camera equipped with an imaging element such as a CCD or a CMOS can be used.

[0026] The control unit 22 includes an image processing unit 22a, an information storage unit 22b, and a determination unit 22c. The image processing unit 22a can perform image processing such as binarization and brightness correction on the image of the glass filament GF captured by the imaging device 21 as needed. The information storage unit 22b can store in advance images of the glass filament GF when it is normally formed without breakage, as well as threshold values ​​such as brightness values. The determination unit 22c determines whether the glass filament GF is broken based on the image of the glass filament GF. The determination of whether the glass filament GF is broken can be performed, for example, by comparing the brightness of the image of the glass filament GF with a brightness threshold based on a normal image stored in advance in the information storage unit 22b. The determination unit 22c can also be configured to determine whether the glass filament GF is broken using a learning model constructed by learning using deep learning. The learning model can be, for example, an artificial intelligence (AI) model such as a neural network model.

[0027] The control unit 22 can be configured by a processor, memory, software, an image display device, etc., which are not shown. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 15 is equipped with a position changing device 23 that changes the positions of the applicator 18, the gathering shoe 19, and the winding device 20 based on the judgment result of the judgment unit 22c. In FIG. 4, the applicator 18, the gathering shoe 19, and the winding device 20 in their use positions are indicated by two-dot chain lines, and the applicator 18, the gathering shoe 19, and the winding device 20 in their retracted positions are indicated by solid lines. The position changing device 23 retracts the applicator 18 from its use position where it applies a sizing agent to the glass filaments GF. The position changing device 23 also retracts the gathering shoe 19 from its use position where it focuses the glass filaments GF. The position changing device 23 also retracts the winding device 20 from its use position where it winds the glass strand GS. The position changing device 23 can be configured with a drive unit such as a motor and a power transmission mechanism that transmits power from the drive unit.

[0028] <Cleaning section> 1 and 3, the cleaning section 12 of the recycling glass manufacturing apparatus 11 includes an injection device 24 that injects liquid L1 and a second conveying device 25 that conveys glass fibers G1. The injection device 24 includes a plurality of injection nozzles 24a and a supply pipe 24b that supplies liquid L1 to the plurality of injection nozzles 24a. The injection nozzles 24a of the injection device 24 may be, for example, a one-fluid spray nozzle that injects only liquid L1, or a two-fluid spray nozzle that injects liquid L1 and a gas.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 3, the spraying device 24 includes a recovery section 24c that recovers the liquid L1 sprayed onto the glass fiber G1, and a liquid delivery section 24d that delivers the recovered liquid L2 to the supply pipe 24b. 1 and 3, the second conveying device 25 includes a conveyor C that conveys the glass fibers G1 along a conveying direction D. The conveyor C of the second conveying device 25 is disposed below the injection nozzle 24a of the injection device 24. As the conveyor C of the second conveying device 25, for example, a belt conveyor can be used.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 3, the conveyor C has a flow hole Ch that allows the liquid L1 that has come into contact with the glass fibers G1 to flow downward of the conveyor C. The conveyor C of the second conveying device 25 includes an upstream conveyor C1 and a downstream conveyor C2 that transports the glass fibers G1 that have fallen from the downstream end of the upstream conveyor C1. The downstream portion of the upstream conveyor C1 is inclined so as to transport the glass fibers G1 upward. The upstream portion of the downstream conveyor C2 is located below the downstream portion of the upstream conveyor C1. The glass fibers G1 that have fallen from the downstream end of the upstream conveyor C1 fall into the upstream portion of the downstream conveyor C2.

[0031] The upstream conveyor C1 may convey the glass fibers G1 horizontally or downward. Even in this case, the glass fibers G1 can be dropped onto the upstream portion of the downstream conveyor C2 by arranging the upstream portion of the downstream conveyor C2 below the downstream end of the upstream conveyor C1.

[0032] The recovery unit 24c is disposed below the conveyor C. The recovery unit 24c is provided to recover and reuse the liquid L1 used to wash the glass fibers G1. The liquid delivery unit 24d includes a container for storing the recovery liquid L2 recovered by the recovery unit 24c, a pump for delivering the recovery liquid L2, and the like. The recovery unit 24c may include a filtration device for filtering the recovery liquid L2.

[0033] <Heating part> As shown in FIG. 2, the heating section 13 of the recycling glass manufacturing apparatus 11 includes a heating device 26 and a third conveying device 27. The heating device 26 is disposed downstream of the cleaning section 12, and heats the glass fiber G2 after being cleaned in the cleaning section 12. Examples of the heating device 26 include an electric heater and a gas burner. The third conveying device 27 is disposed below the heating device 26. The third conveying device 27 is disposed downstream of the second conveying device 25 of the cleaning section 12, and conveys the glass fiber G2 after being cleaned in the cleaning section 12. The third conveying device 27 can be configured, for example, by a belt conveyor or the like.

[0034] <Crushing section> The crushing section 14 of the recycling glass manufacturing apparatus 11 is equipped with a crushing device 28. The crushing device 28 is disposed downstream of the third conveying device 27 of the heating section 13, and crushes the glass fibers G3 after being heat-treated in the heating section 13. By crushing the glass fibers G3 in the crushing section 14, recycling glass GR is obtained.

[0035] As the pulverizer 28, for example, a dry pulverizer such as a cutter roll or a jet mill can be used. The pulverizer 28 of the pulverizing section 14 may be configured with one type of pulverizer, or may be configured with two or more different types of pulverizers.

[0036] <Method of manufacturing recycled glass> Next, a method for producing the recycled glass GR will be described along with its main functions. As shown in FIG. 5, the method for producing recycled glass GR includes a cleaning step S1, a heating step S2, and a crushing step S3.

[0037] <Cleaning process of step S1> In the cleaning process of step S1, the glass fiber G1 is cleaned using liquid L1. By using liquid L1 in the cleaning process of step S1 in this way, organic matter adhering to the glass fiber G1 can be easily washed away.

[0038] The glass fibers G1 in the cleaning process of step S1 include at least one of glass filaments GF and glass strands GS. The glass fibers G1 in the cleaning process of step S1 are carried in from a glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 15. The glass fibers G1 carried in the cleaning process of step S1 from the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 15 are wet with a sizing agent. In this case, in the cleaning process of step S1, organic matter adhering to the glass fibers G1 can be brought into contact with the liquid L1 before it completely hardens, so that the organic matter can be easily washed away.

[0039] In the cleaning process of step S1 of this embodiment, the glass fibers G1 are brought into contact with the liquid L1 while being transported by the conveyor C. This allows the cleaning process of step S1 to be carried out continuously. The conveyor C includes an upstream conveyor C1 and a downstream conveyor C2 that transports the glass fibers G1 that have fallen from the downstream end of the upstream conveyor C1. In this case, the glass fibers G1 that have fallen from the downstream end of the upstream conveyor C1 collide with the downstream conveyor C2. By causing the glass fibers G1 to collide with the downstream conveyor C2 in this way, the glass fibers G1 can be beaten and washed.

[0040] The liquid L1 used in the cleaning process of step S1 in this embodiment is recovered in the recovery unit 24c. The recovered liquid L2 recovered in the recovery unit 24c can be reused as the liquid L1 to be used in the cleaning process of step S1. In the recovery unit 24c, part or all of the recovered liquid L2 may be periodically replaced with unused liquid, or part of the recovered liquid L2 may be continuously replaced with unused liquid. The type of liquid L1 may be selected taking into consideration its compatibility with organic matter. Examples of the liquid L1 include water, alcohol, and a mixture of water and alcohol.

[0041] <Heating step S2> In the heating step of step S2, the glass fiber G1 after being washed in the washing step of step S1 is heat-treated. This makes it possible to quickly remove the liquid L1 adhering to the glass fiber G1. The heating temperature in the heating step of step S2 is preferably equal to or higher than the boiling point of the liquid L1. In the heating step of step S2, the glass fiber G1 may be heated to a temperature at which organic matter remaining on the glass fiber G1 decomposes.

[0042] <Step S3: Crushing process> In the pulverization step of step S3, the glass fibers G3 that have been heat-treated in the heating step of step S2 are pulverized. In the pulverization step of step S3 of this embodiment, the glass fibers G3 are dry-pulverized to obtain glass GR for recycling.

[0043] <Control of glass fiber manufacturing equipment> 6, in the method for producing recycled glass GR of this embodiment, a glass fiber production device 15 is controlled. The control method for the glass fiber production device 15 includes an image acquisition step of step S11, a determination step of step S12, and a retraction step of step S13.

[0044] In the image acquisition process of step S11, an image of the glass filament GF formed using the bushing 17 of the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 15 is acquired using the imaging device 21. The image acquired in the image acquisition process of step S11 is subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 22a.

[0045] In the determination step of step S12, the presence or absence of breakage of the glass filament GF is determined based on the image acquired in the image acquisition step of step S11. If it is determined in the determination step of step S12 that breakage of the glass fiber has occurred (step S12: YES), the process proceeds to the evacuation step of step S13. If it is not determined in the determination step of step S12 that breakage of the glass fiber has occurred (step S12: NO), the image acquisition step of step S11 is repeated.

[0046] The image acquisition step of step S11 and the judgment step of step S12 are performed on the glass filament GF, but they may also be performed on the glass strand GS. Furthermore, the image acquisition step of step S11 and the judgment step of step S12 may also be performed on both the glass filament GF and the glass strand GS. That is, in the judgment step of step S12, the presence or absence of glass fiber breakage may be determined based on an image of the glass fiber of at least one of the glass filament GF and the glass strand GS.

[0047] 4, in the retraction process of step S13, the applicator 18, gathering shoe 19, and winding device 20 are retracted from their use positions indicated by the two-dot chain lines to their retracted positions indicated by the solid lines. According to this method, for example, glass fibers G1 that will not be used in products can be easily transported to the cleaning process while avoiding the applicator 18, gathering shoe 19, and winding device 20. In addition, it is possible to easily prevent broken glass fibers G1 from being mixed into the glass strand GS that has already been wound by the winding device 20.

[0048] The glass strand GS can be used, for example, as chopped strands cut to a predetermined length. The glass strand GS can also be used as milled fiber, roving, yarn, mat, cloth, tape, braided fabric, etc. Applications of the glass strand GS include, for example, vehicle applications, electronic material applications, building material applications, civil engineering applications, aircraft-related applications, shipbuilding applications, logistics applications, industrial machinery applications, and daily necessities applications.

[0049] <Action and effect> Next, the operation and effects of this embodiment will be described. (1) The method for producing recycled glass GR is to produce recycled glass GR from glass fibers G1 to which organic matter has adhered. The method for producing recycled glass GR includes a cleaning process (step S1) for cleaning the glass fibers G1 using a liquid L1.

[0050] According to this method, by using the liquid L1 in the cleaning process of step S1, organic matter adhering to the glass fiber G1 can be easily washed away, and therefore, the recycled glass GR with a reduced amount of organic matter adhering can be easily obtained.

[0051] (2) In the washing step S1, the glass fiber G1 is brought into contact with the liquid L1 while being conveyed by the conveyor C. In this case, the washing step S1 can be carried out continuously. Therefore, the glass GR for recycling can be obtained more efficiently.

[0052] (3) In the cleaning process of step S1, the conveyor C includes an upstream conveyor C1 and a downstream conveyor C2 that transports the glass fibers G1 that have fallen from the downstream end of the upstream conveyor C1. In this case, the glass fibers G1 that have fallen from the downstream end of the upstream conveyor C1 collide with the downstream conveyor C2. By colliding the glass fibers G1 with the downstream conveyor C2 in this manner, the glass fibers G1 can be beaten and washed. This allows organic matter adhering to the glass fibers G1 to be washed away more efficiently. Therefore, the glass GR for recycling can be obtained more efficiently. Furthermore, since the cleaning power of the glass fibers G1 can be increased, the cleanliness of the glass GR for recycling can also be easily improved.

[0053] (4) In the cleaning process of step S1, the conveyor C has a flow hole Ch that allows the liquid L1 that has come into contact with the glass fibers G1 to flow downward of the conveyor C. In this case, it is possible to prevent the liquid L1 contaminated by cleaning the glass fibers G1 from accumulating on the conveyor C, and therefore the less contaminated liquid L1 can be efficiently brought into contact with the glass fibers G1. This allows organic matter adhering to the glass fibers G1 to be washed away more efficiently. Therefore, the glass GR for recycling can be obtained more efficiently.

[0054] (5) The glass fibers G1 in the cleaning process of step S1 include at least one of glass filaments GF and glass strands GS, and are transported from a glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 15. The glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 15 is equipped with an applicator 18 that applies a sizing agent containing organic matter to multiple glass filaments GF. In the cleaning process of step S1, the glass fibers G1 are washed while wet with the sizing agent. In this case, in the cleaning process of step S1, the organic matter attached to the glass fibers G1 can be brought into contact with the liquid L1 before it completely hardens, so the organic matter can be easily washed away. This makes it easy to increase the cleanliness of the glass GR for recycling.

[0055] (6) The manufacturing method of recycled glass GR includes a determination step of step S12 and a retraction step of step S13. In the determination step of step S12, the presence or absence of glass fiber breakage is determined based on an image of the glass fiber of at least one of the glass filament GF and the glass strand GS. In the retraction step of step S13, if it is determined in the determination step of step S12 that glass fiber breakage has occurred, the winding device 20 is retracted from the use position where the glass strand GS is wound.

[0056] In this case, for example, the glass fibers G1 that will not be commercialized can be easily transported to the cleaning process in step S1, avoiding the winding device 20. In addition, it is possible to easily prevent broken glass fibers G1 from being mixed into the glass strand GS that has already been wound by the winding device 20.

[0057] In the retraction process of step S13 in this embodiment, the applicator 18 and the gathering shoe 19 are also retracted in the same manner as the winding device 20. In this case, for example, glass fibers G1 that are not to be commercialized can be more easily transported to the cleaning process of step S1.

[0058] (7) The method for producing recycled glass GR further includes a heating step (step S2) for heat-treating the glass fibers G2 after cleaning in the cleaning step S1. In this case, the liquid L1 adhering to the glass fibers G2 can be quickly removed. This improves the handleability of the glass fibers. For example, the glass fibers can be crushed or easily mixed with other powdered glass raw materials.

[0059] (8) The method for producing the recycled glass GR further includes a crushing step (step S3) of crushing the glass fiber G3 obtained by the heat treatment in the heating step of step S2. In this case, the recycled glass GR can be easily mixed with glass raw materials.

[0060] <Example of change> The above embodiment can be modified as follows: The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0061] The glass fibers G1 to be washed in the washing process of step S1 are transported from the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 15, but the glass fibers G1 that are not to be commercialized may be temporarily stored in a container and the glass fibers G1 may be transported from that container. That is, the first conveying device 16 of the recycling glass manufacturing apparatus 11 is disposed below the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 15, but may also be disposed below the container that stores the glass fibers G1, for example.

[0062] In the recycling glass manufacturing apparatus 11, the flow holes Ch of the conveyor C of the second transport device 25 may be omitted. In the recycling glass manufacturing apparatus 11, the number of conveyors C of the second conveying device 25 may be two or three or more. When the number of conveyors C of the second conveying device 25 is three or more, the glass fibers G1 can be dropped from at least the downstream end of the first conveyor and the downstream end of the second conveyor, thereby making it possible to perform beating and washing multiple times.

[0063] In the recycling glass manufacturing apparatus 11, the number of conveyors C of the second transport device 25 may be one. When cleaning the glass fibers G1 while transporting them on the conveyor C, as in the cleaning step of step S1 described above, the method is not limited to spraying the liquid L1 onto the glass fibers G1. For example, the cleaning step of step S1 may be performed by sandwiching and transporting the glass fibers G1 between mesh conveyors arranged above and below, and immersing the glass fibers G1 in the liquid L1 while being transported.

[0064] The cleaning process of step S1 can also be performed without transporting the glass fibers G1 on a conveyor C. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the cleaning process of step S1 can be performed using an agitator 29. The agitator 29 includes, for example, a container 30, an agitator 31, and a liquid supply unit 32. The agitator 31 is, for example, a propeller-type agitator, and promotes the cleaning of the glass fibers G1 by agitating the mixture GL in the container 30. The liquid supply unit 32 supplies the liquid L1 into the container 30. The container 30 of the agitator 29 has a discharge unit 30a that discharges the mixture GL of the liquid L1 and the glass fibers G1 or the liquid L1.

[0065] In the cleaning process of step S1, the mixture GL in the container 30 may be agitated by shaking the container 30. Note that the cleaning process of step S1 may also be performed by immersing the glass fibers G1 in the liquid L1 without agitating the mixture GL in the container 30. In addition, in the cleaning process of step S1, the glass fibers G1 may be cleaned by applying ultrasonic waves to the mixture GL, for example.

[0066] Two or more types of liquid L1 may be used in the cleaning section 12 of the recycling glass manufacturing apparatus 11. For example, different types of liquid L1 may be sprayed on the upstream side and downstream side of the second conveying device 25.

[0067] The temperature of the liquid L1 used in the cleaning section 12 of the recycling glass manufacturing apparatus 11 can be changed as needed. For example, the spraying device 24 may be configured so that the temperature of the liquid L1 sprayed downstream of the second conveying device 25 can be set higher than the temperature of the liquid L1 sprayed upstream of the second conveying device 25.

[0068] In the method for producing recycled glass GR, the crushing step in step S3 may be omitted. In the method for producing recycled glass GR, the heating step in step S2 may be omitted. For example, in the method for producing recycled glass GR, the glass fibers G2 after being washed in the washing step in step S1 may be naturally dried. Furthermore, if the heating step in step S2 is omitted, the glass fibers G2 to which the washing liquid has adhered may be pulverized in a wet pulverizing device in the pulverizing step in step S3.

[0069] In the manufacturing method of recycled glass GR, the judgment step S12 and the evacuation step S13 may be omitted, and the glass fiber G1 may be transported from the glass fiber manufacturing device 15 to the cleaning section 12 using a jig or the like.

[0070] In the retracting step of step S13, at least one of the applicator 18, the gathering shoe 19, and the winding device 20 may be retracted. In the recycling glass manufacturing apparatus 11, the recovery section 24c and the liquid sending section 24d of the spraying device 24 may be omitted. That is, the supply pipe 24b of the spraying device 24 may be modified to supply unused liquid L1.

[0071] In the manufacturing method of recycled glass GR, the glass fibers G1 to be washed in the washing process of step S1 are not limited to glass fibers having organic matter contained in the sizing agent attached thereto, but may also be glass fibers having organic matter attached thereto that originates from sources other than the sizing agent. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 11...Recycled glass manufacturing equipment 15...Glass fiber manufacturing equipment 18...Applicator 20... Winding device C...Conveyor C1: Upstream conveyor C2: Downstream conveyor Ch…Flow hole G1, G2, G3...glass fiber GR: Recycled glass GF: Glass filament GS: Glass strand L1…Liquid

Claims

1. A method for producing recycled glass from glass fibers having organic matter attached thereto, comprising: a cleaning step of cleaning the glass fibers with a liquid; The glass fibers in the cleaning step include at least one of glass filaments and glass strands, and are transported from a glass fiber manufacturing device; the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus includes an applicator that applies the sizing agent containing the organic substance to a plurality of glass filaments; In the washing step, the glass fibers wet with the sizing agent are washed by contacting them with the liquid while being conveyed by a conveyor.

2. 2. The method for producing recycled glass according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor comprises an upstream conveyor and a downstream conveyor that transports the glass fibers that have dropped from a downstream end of the upstream conveyor.

3. 3. The method for producing glass for recycling according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor has a circulation hole for circulating the liquid that has come into contact with the glass fibers below the conveyor.

4. the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus includes a winding device that winds up a glass strand formed by bundling the plurality of glass filaments; The manufacturing method includes a determination step of determining whether or not the glass fiber is broken based on an image of at least one of the glass filaments and the glass strands; 4. The method for producing recycled glass according to claim 1, further comprising: a retraction step of retracting the winding device from a use position for winding the glass strand when it is determined in the determination step that breakage has occurred in the glass fiber.

5. The method for producing glass for recycling according to claim 1 , further comprising a heating step of heat-treating the glass fibers after being washed in the washing step.

6. The method for producing glass for recycling according to claim 1 , further comprising a crushing step of crushing the glass fibers after being washed in the washing step.

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