Method for producing and recycling textile articles

Abstract

A method for the production and recycling of textile articles, in which said method for production includes at least the following steps: a) realization of at least one textile article; b) generation of at least one label, which contains or is associated with information referring to features of the making of said textile article; c) association of said label with said textile article; said method for recycling comprising at least the following steps: d) preparing one or more textile articles to be recycled provided with said label; e) reading said label to derive said data referring to features of said textile article; f) providing of at least one recycling line or plant including at least one operating station selected on the basis of said features for making said textile article to make a recycled textile article.

Description

METHOD FOR PRODUCING AND RECYCLING TEXTILE ARTICLESDESCRIPTIONField of application of the invention

[0001] This invention relates to a method for the production and subsequent recycling of textile articles, in accordance with the preamble to the main independent claim no. 1.

[0002] This invention is therefore advantageously used in the technical field of producing and marketing textiles and / or non-woven fabrics.

[0003] This invention is also used in the technical field of recovering used products and their recycling and / or reuse.

[0004] Thus, this invention is used in the sector for textiles - of any kind - for the manufacture of products intended for use in any field of technology, e.g. tailoring, industrial or others.State of the art

[0005] The technical sector of textile article manufacturing and marketing boasts the production of millions of tonnes of textiles each year worldwide. In fact, textiles are used not only for making clothes or the like, but also in many technical fields for a wide variety of applications.

[0006] Today, the need to limit the use of raw materials as well as to limit the production of waste and scrap is strongly felt in any technical sector and in the textile industry, in particular.

[0007] To date, the application of a so-called “circular economy” to the textile sector has not achieved the desired results.

[0008] The current state of the art requires that the recycling of textile products and articles first includes a collection and cleaning step for discarded products.

[0009] Subsequently, the known recycling method involves a step of grinding or fraying the object to be recycled, resulting in pieces of textile fibres.

[0010] Subsequently, the method for the recycling of known textile products involves a step of re-introducing these textile fibre pieces into a new production chain.

[0011] However, it is extremely rare that pieces of textile fibres obtained by grinding or fraying can be used for the production of textile articles, such as materials or non-woven fabrics.

[0012] Often, the fibres obtained in this way do not have the features suitable to obtaina quality textile product and are therefore used in different technical sectors, for the production of products of a different nature, where there is no need for the use of high- quality fabrics, e.g. for the production of insulating panels.

[0013] It should be noted that, when textile waste is used for the production of complex alternative products, such as the above-mentioned insulating panels, the fabric used therein will often no longer be recoverable or reusable. In this situation, its circularity is bound to decrease.

[0014] In any case, textile waste that is ground or frayed suffers a collapse in both its aesthetic and mechanical features. Therefore, this waste may at most be reintroduced into the production chain of new textile articles only once, and in any case, it may not replace the raw fibre (i.e. a virgin raw material) by more than a certain percentage in order to maintain the aesthetic and mechanical features of the textile product to be manufactured.

[0015] It is, therefore, clear that the main drawback of the prior-art recycling method lies in the fact that it does not allow waste textile articles to be reused in mass in new textile articles.

[0016] In fact, as mentioned above, most textile articles, in order to be recovered and reused, have to be ground and / or require treatments that in turn consume resources and raw materials.

[0017] Consequently, the textile article recycling chain is often costly, energy-intensive and / or polluting, with the result that the new product made from recycled textile material is often more expensive with lower performance than the same product made from virgin material and, furthermore, its recycling does not bring any environmental benefit. Description of the invention

[0018] This invention is intended to overcome the above-mentioned technical drawbacks by providing a method for the production and recycling of textile articles.

[0019] In particular, the main purpose of this invention is to provide a method for the production and recycling of textile articles that allows waste textile articles to be reused in an essentially circular economy.

[0020] Another purpose of this invention is to provide a method for the production and recycling of textile articles that allows textile fibres to be recovered so that they can be efficiently reused in the production of new textile articles.

[0021] Another purpose of this invention is to provide a method for the production andrecycling of textile articles that enables the production of textile articles that are easy to recover and recycle.

[0022] Another purpose of this invention is to provide a method for the production and recycling of textile articles that enables the production of textile articles from recycled fibres that are of at least equal quality to the products made from virgin textile fibres.

[0023] Another purpose of this invention is to provide a method for the production and recycling of textile articles wherein recycling is economically advantageous.

[0024] Another, and not the least important, purpose of this invention is to provide a method for the production and recycling of textile articles wherein the recycling uses less energy than prior-art recycling methods.

[0025] These purposes, together with others that will be better clarified below, are achieved with a method for the production and recycling of textile articles of the type in accordance with claim 1.

[0026] Other purposes that will be better described below are achieved with a method for the production and recycling of textile articles in accordance with the dependent claims.Detailed description of the invention

[0027] This invention relates to a method for the production and recycling of textile articles.

[0028] The method in question is intended to be advantageously used in any technical field that requires the production of textile products and articles, whether from virgin or recycled fibres.

[0029] In general, the term “article” shall be understood for the purposes of this patent application to mean any product or the like made of textile material, whether woven or non-woven.

[0030] More specifically, the textile article in question is advantageously manufactured from multiple fibres interwoven, or bonded or woven together. The fibres can be, for example, natural (cotton, wool, or the like) or synthetic (e.g. polyester or the like) or even a combination or natural and synthetic fibres.

[0031] Merely by way of non-limiting example, reference will be made below to a textile article of non-woven fabric, in particular made of polyester. As mentioned above, the article can of course be made in any shape or material.

[0032] The textile article that this invention relates to comprises at least one fibresubstrate.

[0033] In accordance with a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the fibre substrate is preferably a non-woven fabric, especially a stitch-bonded one.

[0034] According to UNI EN ISO 9092, the term non-woven fabric means an engineered, primarily planar, assembly of fibres that has been given a planned level of structural integrity using physical and / or chemical means, excluding weaving, knitting or paper making.

[0035] The term “stitch-bonded” refers to a type of non-woven fabric known to people skilled in the art, which involves binding layers of non-woven fabric fibres by means of binding threads, arranged transversally in a manner similar to warp threads, configured to create corresponding binding (or warp) lines, which run transversally through the belt of non-woven fabric.

[0036] Stitch-bonded fabric binding threads preferably define a chain stitch.

[0037] In other words, the textile article obtained using the method of the invention is a stitch-bonded non-woven fabric, which, according to official nomenclature, is referred to as a knitted fabric (e.g. with a chain binding thread); the stitch-bonded non-woven fabric is also known by the term “hybrid fabric” as it possesses some features of woven fabric and others of non-woven fabric.

[0038] Preferably but without imposing limits, the fibres of the non-woven fabric forming the substrate are suitably carded so that they are arranged essentially parallel to each other in a main extension direction.

[0039] The binding lines defined by the binding threads are preferably transverse to the main extension direction.

[0040] The textile article according to the invention also comprises at least one finishing compound distributed over at least one portion of said fibre substrate.

[0041] The term “finishing compound” is to be understood as any material or compound of materials, arranged to at least partially cover the fibres of the substrate.

[0042] More specifically, the purpose of the finishing compound is to endow the article with one or more particular technical or aesthetic features. For example, a finishing compound may be used to endow the article with a particular colouring or surface finish.

[0043] Otherwise, or additionally, the finishing compound may also have the purpose of endowing the article with a particular features or property, for example to make the article fireproof (or in any case resistant to flames or high temperatures), and / or to make thearticle hydrophobic or oleophobic, or water or oil repellent or waterproof and / or hostile to bacteria or parasites or other things.

[0044] Method for the production and recycling of textile articles, in which said method for production includes at least the following steps.

[0045] First of all, the method includes a step a) of realization of at least one textile article.

[0046] In accordance with the above-mentioned preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, step a) involves realizing a stitch-bonded non-woven fabric.

[0047] More specifically, step a) comprises a sequence of sub-steps, described in more detail below.

[0048] First of all, step a) preferably includes a sub-step a.1) of preparing a mass of fibres.

[0049] The fibre mass of sub-step a.1) preferably comprises essentially raw fibres, e.g. in the form of bales or coils.

[0050] Preferably but not necessarily, the fibre mass of sub-step a.1) is then opened up to obtain fibre portions or flakes, which are easier to process.

[0051] Subsequently, step a) preferably includes a sub-step a.2) of carding, in which the fibres of the fibre mass are processed to obtain a substantially homogeneous fibre belt or web.

[0052] Advantageously, the carding sub-step a.2) is carried out using appropriate machines, e.g. cards or the like. The carding sub-step a.2) makes it possible to produce a fibre web.

[0053] Conveniently, the card includes a rotating drum attached to a support structure so that it revolves around an essentially horizontal rotation axis.

[0054] Conveniently, the rotating drum comprises multiple teeth (known in the industry's technical jargon as “cards”), which protrude, overhanging the outer perimeter surface of the rotating drum.

[0055] The card also comprises at least one secondary rotating drum (known in the technical jargon of the industry as the “worker drum”), which is flanked by the rotating drum, also revolving around an essentially horizontal rotation axis and comprising a second plurality of teeth protruding from its outer perimeter surface.

[0056] The secondary rotating drum preferably has a smaller diameter than the rotating drum described above.

[0057] The rotating drum preferably rotates in the opposite direction to the secondary rotating drum. The outer perimeter surface of the rotating drum defines, together with the outer perimeter surface of the secondary rotating drum, a space for the fibres.

[0058] During sub-step a.2) the fibres are operatively introduced into the space to intercept the first and second group of rotating drum teeth and the secondary rotating drum.

[0059] More specifically, the teeth intercept the fibres and draw them into the space. The action of the pressure of the drums and the penetration by the teeth allow the fibres to be separated and arranged parallel to each other in a main extension direction, resulting in carded fibres.

[0060] Advantageously, the carded fibres are then transferred to another cylinder, called an unloader, from which the fibres are collected in the form of a fibre web.

[0061] Advantageously, the fibre web obtained as a result of sub-step a.2) has a homogeneous thickness and / or density.

[0062] Step a) also preferably comprises a sub-step a.3) of web laying, to obtain a belt of overlapping fibre layers. More specifically, sub-step a.3) involves folding the fibre web obtained from sub-step a.2) into layers, until a belt of overlapping fibre layers with the desired thickness is obtained.

[0063] Subsequently, step a) preferably comprises a binding sub-step a.4) in which the overlapping fibre layers are bound together to produce a textile article belt.

[0064] The binding sub-step a.4) can be carried out by mechanical and / or thermal and / or chemical processes. Among the mechanical processes, for example, sub-step a.4) may involve binding by waterjets, by needles or by the use of at least one binding thread.

[0065] In accordance with the preferred (but non-limiting) embodiment of this invention, sub-step a.4) is carried out using at least one binding thread. In this way, sub-step a.4) results in a stitch-bonded non-woven fabric.

[0066] As mentioned above, stitch-bonded non-woven fabric is also known by the term bonded non-woven fabric. Stitch-bonded non-woven fabric preferably has a structure similar to a weft and warp fabric.

[0067] Advantageously, the binding thread of sub-step a.4) is configured to cross the thickness of the fibre belt and to make one or more series of binding stitches, to define corresponding binding lines (also known in the industry as warp lines).

[0068] The binding lines are transverse (or orthogonal) to the fibres' main extensiondirection.

[0069] Step a) preferably comprises a sub-step a.5) of textile article finishing, in which the textile article is at least partially covered by a finishing compound.

[0070] In the context of this invention, the term “finishing compound” means any material or compound of materials distributed over the base fibres of the substrate in such a way as to facilitate at least partial coverage.

[0071] More specifically, the purpose of the finishing compound is to endow the article with one or more particular technical (chemical or physical) or aesthetic features.

[0072] For example, a finishing compound may be used to endow the article with a particular colouring or surface finish.

[0073] In particular, according to a first embodiment of the invention, the finishing compound may be distributed over the entire surface area defined by the base fibre substrate; in this case, therefore, the compound is distributed across all the fibres of the substrate for its entire extension.

[0074] In an additional embodiment of the invention, the finishing compound may be distributed over a limited portion of the substrate; in this case, there will be an area of the substrate over which the finishing compound has been distributed and a remaining area in which the finishing compound has not been distributed (and in which only the base fibre and possibly one or more binding lines are present).

[0075] Conveniently, the finishing compound may also have the purpose of endowing the article with a particular chemical or physical features or property, for example:- making the article fireproof (or otherwise resistant to flames or high temperatures), and / or- making the article hydrophobic or oleophobic, or water or oil repellent or waterproof and / or- making the article hostile to parasites and bacterial cultures.

[0076] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, said step a) preferably involves realizing said textile article with at least one finishing compound; this finishing compound comprises: at least one polymeric component suited for defining at least one reversible bond with said fibre substrate; at least one cross-linking agent suited for defining at least one irreversible bond with said fibre substrate and / or with said polymeric agent.Advantageously, said cross-linking agent bonds with said polymeric component to make a lattice structure.

[0077] More specifically, the finishing compound in question is, at the same time, firmly attached to the substrate but, under certain physical or chemical conditions, easily removable from the substrate.

[0078] In particular, the combination of the polymeric component and the cross-linking agent allowed the Applicant to obtain a textile article capable of maintaining the features given by the finishing compound over a long period of time, e.g. for hundreds of washes, and at the same time to return to the state of raw fibres if subjected to a particular type of treatment performed during the recycling of the article itself (as described in detail in the recycling method discussed below).

[0079] For example, a finishing compound can remain attached to the substrate without essentially losing its standard properties (e.g. mechanical adhesion of the finishing compound, colour shade, temperature resistance, etc.) until such time as the article undergoes a specific recycling treatment, e.g. carried out using a particular solvent or mixture of solvents suitable for encouraging the detachment of almost all the bonds present between the base fibre substrate and the polymeric component / cross-linking agent.

[0080] Step a) preferably comprises a sub-step a.6) of applying at least one accessory.

[0081] More specifically, sub-step a.6) involves mechanically attaching at least one accessory to said substrate. For example, sub-step a.6) may involve applying suitable closing means, such as one or more zips, and / or Velcro strips and / or buttons or the like.

[0082] Advantageously, sub-step a.6) can be carried out before or after the above- mentioned sub-step a.5).

[0083] According to the invention, in order to make the recycling of the textile article thus produced quick and easy, the method for the production of textile articles also comprises a step b) of generation of at least one label.

[0084] The main purpose of the label in question is to store and indicate multiple pieces of information on the manufacture and / or construction of the textile article, which will then be useful during a subsequent article recycling method.

[0085] The label in question, and included in the method according to the invention, allows the textile article (or at least its fibre substrate) to be used and reused in a circular economy, quickly and easily.

[0086] The label preferably contains or is associated with information relating to features of the making of said textile article.

[0087] The information on the label preferably comprises numerical or textual values to represent chemical and / or mechanical and / or structural features of the textile article and / or the fibres forming the textile material.

[0088] Said label preferably comprises information referring to finishing compounds of said textile article.

[0089] Said label preferably comprises information regarding the closing means associated with the fibre substrate in said sub-step a.6).

[0090] Said label preferably comprises information on the nature, number, and position of the closing means on the substrate.

[0091] Said label preferably comprises information on the necessary arrangement of the textile article for easy removal of the closing means in its subsequent recycling.

[0092] Advantageously, in said step b) said label can be generated by selecting a set of information chosen from a database of chemical and / or mechanical and / or structural features of possible textile articles and / or possible finishing compounds.

[0093] In other words, the label of step b) can be generated from a label standard, wherein the label standard comprises all possible variations in the realizzation and construction of textile articles.

[0094] Said step b) preferably involves generating said label with information at least of said polymeric component and / or said cross-linking agent of said finishing compound.

[0095] In accordance with a first embodiment, the label is made of fabric and / or paper and / or other material.

[0096] The method according to the invention also comprises a step c) of association of said label with said textile article.

[0097] In accordance with a first embodiment, step c) involves mechanically attaching the label to the textile article, e.g. by means of a seam. For example, step c) may involve attaching the label to the article thermally, e.g. by welding.

[0098] Otherwise, step c) may involve associating the label with the textile article without necessarily providing for a direct mechanical connection. For example, the label may be associated with the textile article packaging or, alternatively, it may be communicated electronically at the time of the sale and / or transport of the article.

[0099] The label may preferably comprise all the information referring to manufacturingfeatures of said textile article.

[0100] Step b) of generation of said label may operatively comprise a sub-step b.1) of printing said label.

[0101] In accordance with a first embodiment, sub-step b.1) can provide for printing all information referring to the production features of the textile article in textual and / or numerical form directly onto the label material.

[0102] In accordance with a different embodiment, sub-step b.1) may involve printing one or more codes associated with said information.

[0103] More specifically, the codes printed on the label are intelligible when compared with an external database that can associate the code with one or more corresponding features or manufacturing and production information.

[0104] Otherwise, step b.1) may involve printing a barcode and / or QR code and / or other connection code to an external electronic database on the label.

[0105] The information contained in or associated with the label preferably comprises information concerning the origin, and / or material used, and / or treatment undergone, and / or construction of the article, and / or quality and / or quantity of chemical treatment, and / or dye and / or any heat treatment, as well as any further information relating to the manufacture of any textile article that is known to the person skilled in the art and not described in detail below.

[0106] The label generated during step b) preferably makes the textile article traceable and makes each processing step it has undergone traceable and certifiable.

[0107] In accordance with an additional embodiment, the label generated during step b) comprises a radio frequency identification device, i.e. an RFID device, configured to contain said manufacturing information and / or to allow connection to an external information database.

[0108] Otherwise, the label generated during step b) may comprise any electronic storage and / or data connection device that can contain or allow connection to the information associated with the manufacture of the textile article.

[0109] Obviously, these electronic devices are known to the person skilled in the art and are therefore not described in detail below.

[0110] The information associated with said label of said step b) is preferably selected from at least the following groups of features concerning at least the textile material (and / or the fibres forming it and / or a finishing compound with which those fibres aretreated) forming said textile article.

[0111] According to the invention, this method also involves a method for recycling textile articles.

[0112] Advantageously, the recycling method can be used to obtain at least recycled fibres suitable for producing a new textile article that comprises at least one portion of recycled fibres, to decrease the use of virgin fibres.

[0113] The recycling method is configured to process a discarded textile article of the type described above and to obtain a recycled article.

[0114] The recycling method comprises at least the operative steps described in detail below.

[0115] The recycling method involves, first of all, a step d) of preparing one or more textile articles to be recycled with said label.

[0116] The textile article to be recycled preferably comes from a waste collection chain or the like.

[0117] The recycling method also comprises a step e) of reading said label to derive said data referring to features of said textile article.

[0118] Step e) may preferably comprise a direct reading of the label generated during step b) of the method for manufacturing the textile article by a human operator.

[0119] Otherwise, step e) may involve reading and / or scanning the label using suitable label reading means.

[0120] The reading means preferably comprise at least one electronic acquisition device, such as a camera or other optical device.

[0121] For example, if the label comprises a barcode, the reading means may include at least one scanner device configured to read barcodes.

[0122] Otherwise, if the label comprises a QR code, the reading means may comprise a camera.

[0123] The reading means also preferably comprise at least one computer in data communication with this electronic acquisition device.

[0124] For example, the electronic acquisition device can be electronically connected to a computer, which is suitably equipped with an algorithm capable of recognising and decoding the above-mentioned QR code.

[0125] Obviously, if the tag comprises an RFID device, the reading means appropriately comprise an electronic device that can be electronically associated with the RFID device and configured to decode the information it contains.

[0126] The recycling method according to the invention also comprises a step f) of providing of at least one recycling line or plant.

[0127] The recycling line or plant comprises at least one operating station selected on the basis of said manufacturing features of said textile article, in order to make a recycled textile article.

[0128] Step f) preferably involves restoring the fibres forming the textile article to an essentially raw fibre state, i.e. untangled and / or essentially free of finishing compounds.

[0129] Step f) preferably comprises an initial sub-step f.1) of cleaning the article, in which said article is treated at least to remove the finishing compounds and, more preferably, to essentially restore the fibres forming the textile article to a raw state.

[0130] For this purpose, said step f) preferably involves selecting one or more solvents capable of removing said finishing compounds from said textile article, to obtain an article of essentially raw fibres.

[0131] Advantageously, said step f) involves selecting said recycling line or plant corresponding to said label from a predetermined group of possible recycling lines or facilities.

[0132] Step f) preferably comprises a second sub-step f.2) for handling the fibres that form the article, e.g. to open up and / or separate the fibres.

[0133] Obviously, the above-mentioned first sub-step f.1) can be carried out before the second sub-step f.2) or, in accordance with a different embodiment, the second sub-step f.2) can be carried out before the first sub-step f.1) without thereby departing from the scope of protection of this patent application.

[0134] In other words, the possible recycling lines or facilities define a standard ofpossibilities for textile article recycling.

[0135] The number of possible recycling lines or facilities is preferably less than or equal to the number of possible textile article labels.

[0136] In other words, the same recycling plant can preferably be used for recycling one or more types of textile articles.

[0137] Step f) preferably involves equipping the recycling plant with a handling station for the textile article to be recycled, in accordance with the information contained in the label and read in step e).

[0138] More specifically, the handling station of the recycling plant is configured to stretch and / or rotate the textile article to appropriately direct it to a subsequent cutting station.

[0139] Advantageously, the handling station is configured to allow the removal of closing means on the textile article to be recycled, e.g. zips, buttons, or the like.

[0140] Following step f) of the recycling method, what you preferably obtain is a belt of recycled fibres.

[0141] Conveniently, the fibres can be immediately processed according to the above method for the production of a textile article or they can be arranged for storage or transport, e.g. in bales or reels.

[0142] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, the following describes a recycling plant configured to recycle a textile article of the non-woven, stitch- bonded type.

[0143] Advantageously, the recycling plant is configured to carry out processes to recycle the stitch-bonded, non-woven fabric, which comprises an essentially planar fibre substrate and multiple binding threads, which are sewn onto the fibre substrate.

[0144] In this way, the fibres that form the fibre substrate are bound together (and / or attached) by the mechanical action of the binding threads.

[0145] As mentioned above, the fibres forming the fibre substrate are preferably arranged essentially parallel to each other along the above-mentioned main extension direction.

[0146] The fibres are preferably intertwined with each other along said main extension direction and joined through the mechanical engagement exerted by the binding threads, which are preferably essentially transverse to the main extension direction.

[0147] By way of non-limiting example, binding threads can be made of polyester,viscose, polypropylene, cotton, polyamide, or a combination thereof.

[0148] Normally, the textile article to be recycled is in the form of a belt and is preferably conveyed into the plant by a conveying apparatus located upstream of further operating stations. The textile article belt is preferably handled within the recycling plant along a handling direction parallel to the main extension direction of the textile article.

[0149] In accordance with a special, non-limiting embodiment of the recycling plant, the apparatus comprises at least one cutting station, which is configured to cut the textile article belt along a first cutting direction transverse to the handling direction and along a second cutting direction essentially parallel to the handling direction.

[0150] In accordance with a different embodiment, the plant’s cutting station is configured to cut the binding threads.

[0151] In particular, the cutting station is configured to cut the binding threads so as to reduce the tenacity of the binding stitches, allowing the fibres to be freed, i.e. unwound.

[0152] The cutting station suited to cut the binding threads preferably makes it possible to recycle larger portions of the textile article and / or to cut the textile article belt along only one cutting direction, or not to cut it at all, while still allowing the fibres to be unwound (e.g. by means of a suitable carding machine).

[0153] Conveniently, the plant sorts textile fibres on the basis of their nature and composition.

[0154] For this purpose, the reading means are operatively connected with appropriate sorting means to allow an efficient division of textile fibres on the basis of their composition following the reading of the labels of two or more textile articles.

[0155] The plant and method according to the invention is preferably configured to discard unlabelled textile articles, in order to avoid the risk of polluting future recycled articles with unknown fibres.

[0156] If the label of the textile article identifies the presence of a finishing compound, the recycling plant preferably includes at least one treatment station.

[0157] Obviously, the treatment station will be suitable for treating and removing the corresponding and / or specific finishing compound.

[0158] For example, the treatment station may comprise at least one tank configured to contain at least one solvent liquid.

[0159] Step f) then involves soaking the textile article (or portions thereof obtained from the cutting station of the recycling plant) in the solvent liquid of the tank of treatmentstation for a predetermined time until the finishing compound is completely removed from the substrate fibres.

[0160] A recycling plant of the type described above is described in greater detail in Italian patent application No. 102022000025242 filed by the same Applicant, whose detailed description of the invention is incorporated herein by reference.

[0161] Advantageously, said method for recycling comprises a step g) of updating said label of said textile article in which the values of said features are updated as a result of said recycling.

[0162] For example, following the recycling of the textile article, the method for recycling involves updating the label by adding the number of times the article has been recycled and / or the products it has been treated with during the recycling process.

[0163] In this way, it is possible to trace the life of the textile article even after being recycled several times, in order to understand, for example, how much of the product is actually recycled and / or what is the efficiency of the operators in the technical sector who produce and / or recycle the article.

[0164] The textile fibres obtained as a result of step f) may preferably be used to produce a new textile article together with virgin fibres, i.e. not derived from previous recycling.

[0165] Advantageously, in accordance with the preferred embodiment mentioned above, said step f) involves selecting at least one treatment station of said textile article by means of a solvent compound suitable for breaking the chemical bonds of said lattice structure of said polymeric component and said cross-linking agent of said finishing compound.

[0166] In the jargon of the technical field of the invention, the solvent mentioned above to remove the finishing compound from the substrate fibres is called a “scouring agent”.

[0167] It should be emphasized that currently known finishing compounds (and part of the state of the art of this invention) are not removable from the fibre substrate without very invasive and energy-intensive treatments that, in any case, result in a degradation of the substrate fibre quality.

[0168] The use of a polymeric component and cross-linking agent, as well as the use of a finishing compound with a particular proportion by weight of the same, makes it possible to facilitate a treatment on the base fibres of the substrate that is able to maintain its properties basically the same over time during the normal use of the article itself andto be easily removed through specific scouring treatments that do not require high energy for their implementation.

[0169] This invention also relates to a method for the production of textile articles, which is therefore independent of a possible recycling method.

[0170] The method for producing textile articles according to the invention is of the type described above and comprises at least the following operative steps: a) manufacture of at least one textile material; b) generation of at least one label, which contains information referring to chemical and / or mechanical and / or structural features of said textile material; c) association of said label with said textile material to form said textile article; said textile article being intended to be recycled upon a reading of said label information.

[0171] This invention also relates to a method for recycling textile articles.

[0172] The method for recycling textile articles according to the invention is of the type described above and comprising at least the following steps: a) preparing one or more textile articles to be recycled provided with at least a label, which label contains or is associated with information referring to manufacturing features of said textile article; b) reading said label to derive said data referring to features of said textile article; c) providing of at least one recycling line or plant including at least one operating station selected on the basis of said features of making of said textile article to make a recycled textile article.

[0173] This invention also relates to the use of a label in the production of textile articles to identify information relating to manufacturing features (e.g. chemical and / or mechanical and / or structural ones) of a textile article and to facilitate its subsequent recycling.

[0174] According to the invention, the label associated with the textile article will contain a set of information concerning the quality of the recycled fibres, their origin and the type of recycling undergone.

[0175] In this way, a constant and timely traceability of textile fibres can be maintained, promoting a circular economy.

[0176] This invention can be produced in other variants all falling within the scope of the inventive features claimed and described; these technical features can be replaced with different technically equivalent elements and the materials used; the invention canbe of any shape or dimension as long as they are compatible with its use.

[0177] The numbers and reference marks included in the claims and description are only intended to increase the clarity of the text and must not be considered as limiting the technical interpretation of the objects or processes identified by them.

[0178] The invention thus conceived therefore achieves all the relative objectives.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Method for the production and recycling of textile articles, wherein said method for production comprises at least the following steps: a) realization of at least one textile article; b) generation of at least one label, which contains or is associated with information referring to features of the making of said textile article; c) association of said label with said textile article; said method for recycling comprising at least the following steps: d) preparing one or more textile articles to be recycled provided with said label; e) reading said label to derive said data referring to features of said textile article; f) providing of at least one recycling line or plant including at least one operating station selected on the basis of said features of making said textile article to make a recycled textile article.

2. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that said method for recycling comprises a step g) of updating said label of said textile article wherein the values of said features are updated as a result of said recycling.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said label comprises information referring to finishing compounds of said textile article.

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that said step f) involves determining one or more solvents capable of removing said finishing compounds from said textile article, to obtain an article of substantially raw fibres.

5. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that in said step b) said label is generated by means of a selection of a set of information chosen from a database of chemical and / or mechanical and / or structural features of possible textile articles and / or possible finishing compounds.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that said step f) involves selecting said recycling line or plant corresponding to said label from a predetermined group of possible recycling lines or facilities.

7. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said step a) involves realizing said textile article equipped with at least one finishing compound including: a polymeric component capable of defining at least one reversible bond with saidfibre substrate; a crosslinking agent capable of defining at least an irreversible bond with said fibre substrate and / or with said polymeric agent; said cross-linking agent by bonding with said polymeric component to make a lattice structure; said step b) involves generating said label with information at least of said polymer component and / or said crosslinking agent of said finishing compound.

8. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said step f) involves selecting at least one treatment station of said textile article by means of a solvent compound suitable for breaking the chemical bonds of said lattice structure of said polymeric component and said cross-linking agent of said finishing compound.

9. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said step f) involves equipping the recycling plant with a station for handling the textile product to be recycled, in accordance with the information contained in the label and read in said step e).

10. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the information associated with said label of said step b) is selected at least from the following groups of features concerning at least the textile material and / or the fibres composing it and / or a finishing compound with which such fibres are treated composing said textile product:11 . Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the label generated during said step b) comprises an electronic storage and / or data connection device capable of containing or allowing connection to the information concerning the production of the textile product.

12. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised inthat the information contained in or associated with said label comprises information concerning the origin, and / or material used, and / or treatments undergone, and / or construction of the product, and / or quality and / or quantity of chemical treatments, and / or colouring and / or any heat treatments carried out on said product.

13. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is configured to discard textile products that are not provided with a label, to avoid the risk of polluting future recycled products with unknown fibers.

14. Method for the production of textile articles comprising at least the following operational steps: a) realization of at least one textile material; b) generation of at least one label, which contains information referring to chemical and / or mechanical and / or structural features of said textile material; c) association of said label with said textile material to form said textile article; said textile article being intended to be recycled upon a reading of said label information.

15. Method for recycling textile articles comprising at least the following steps: a) preparation of one or more textile articles to be recycled provided with at least one label, said label contains or is associated with information referring to features of making said textile article; b) reading said label to derive said data referring to features of said textile article; c) provision of at least one recycling line or plant comprising at least one operating station selected on the basis of said features of making said textile article, in order to make a recycled textile article.

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