Abstract: The invention relates to a method of upgrading a composite material containing fibrous matter and non-fibrous plastic matter. The inventive method includes the following steps consisting in: cooling the composite material to a temperature of between ?40° C. and +10° C., grinding the cooled composite material in order to disconnect the fibrous matter from the non-fibrous plastic matter; and separating the fibrous matter from the non-fibrous plastic matter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for recovering monomeric units of a nylon from carpet material. The carpet material includes fibres containing nylon bound to a backing containing one or more non-nylon components. The carpet material contains between 15 and 35 wt. % of the nylon. The process includes: a) mechanically separating the carpet material into an enriched carpet mixture containing between 35 and 55 wt. % of said nylon and into a depleted carpet mixture having a lower content of nylon than the carpet material; and b) exposing the enriched carpet mixture to conditions at which depolymerization of the nylon is effected.

Abstract: Waste that contains fibers and combustible material is slushed in a continuous-operation high-consistency pulper (10) to suspend in water the fibers contained in the waste. From the pulper (10) are discharged substantially continuously a fiber suspension (P1) through a screen plate; and non-defibrable material (R1) by means of a mechanical transfer device (22). The fiber suspension (P1) is sorted and cleaned for use as raw material in paper or board. The non-defibrable material (R1) and the rejects (R2-R4) separated from the fiber suspension (P1) in the sorting and cleaning stages are used as fuel in energy production and/or utilized as raw material.

Abstract: A method for recovering fuel substance and providing an alternative periodic cover material for landfills by separating materials in a salvage operation. A non-sorted material stream including metallic and non-metallic components, which preferably includes automobile scrap, is fed to a shredder. After shredding, the non-sorted material stream is separated. The non-sorted material stream is first separated into two streams, namely, a heavy material stream and a light material stream. The heavy material stream is conveyed to a magnetic separator where ferrous metals are separated from non-ferrous materials. The light material stream is passed under a cross belt magnetic separator where the light ferrous metals are separated. The remaining light material stream is further separated to remove non-ferrous metal material. The remaining non-metallic material can be used as a fuel substance or as a cover material for landfills.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and an equipment for combining in one single apparatus, the functions for filtering, decontaminating, and thickening paper pulp from used paper, while providing the complementary function of clarifying the filtrates. The apparatus (1) rotates at high speed. The paper pulp is introduced through the center of the apparatus (2) and driven at its angular speed. The pulp is then brought along a grate (6) with small size holes for separating the fibers from the greater part of the water. The thickened pulp is evacuated through extraction nozzles (8). The water is clarified in the clarification zone (12) and recycled or eliminated depending on uses. More complete embodiments of the apparatus include the functions of fractionating, de-inking and purifying the pulp with slots or holes.

Abstract: A system (30) and method for determining stock consistency and for using consistency as a process variable to control some aspect of operation of a refiner (32) used to refine stock. The system includes at least one sensor (70 or 180) from which some refiner characteristic is obtained that is used by a processor (38) in determining consistency. The method uses the characteristic, such as temperature or pressure inside the refiner or in a refining zone (304) of the refiner, along with at least one other refiner parameter in determining consistency. A controller (274) uses the consistency determined in controlling some aspect of refiner operation. In one preferred controller, consistency is compared with a consistency setpoint and adjustments are made to try to converge consistency with the setpoint. The controller can be paused to accommodate other changes made to refiner operation and released when steady state refiner operation is achieved.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for fiberizing bales of pulp into substantially dry fibers and fiber aggregates, i.e., dry fluff, and metering the resulting dry fluff to a receptacle or other process, such as an airlaid process for making disposable absorbent articles.

Abstract: The invention is an efficient and cost-effective method of recovering carpet materials by reducing carpet into size-reduced fibers, slurrying the size-reduced fibers in a liquid medium, and then selectively separating the size-reduced fibers in a centrifuge. The present method is particularly appropriate for recovering nylon or polyester face fibers from post-industrial, pre-consumer carpet waste.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating adhered paper from paper-covered gypsum board, involving passing the gypsum board past a magnet to automatically remove ferrous materials from the gypsum board without stopping the process/apparatus, pulverizing that gypsum board into a screenable mixture of pieces of paper and smaller separated gypsum board particles, and then screening that mixture and segregating the pieces of paper from the gypsum board particles. This method and apparatus may optionally also include an area for manually pre-sorting and removing non-gypsum materials from the gypsum board prior to pulverization, may optionally also include additional screening steps, and may optionally also include passing the screened and segregated gypsum board particles past a second magnet. The magnets may have self-cleaning belts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of reducing particle size by the use of a supercritical fluid, generally carbon dioxide. The material is swollen by the supercritical carbon dioxide at a high pressure. After the material has been allowed to swell under a high pressure, the pressure is rapidly dropped. When the external pressure is rapidly dropped, the material explodes as the supercritical gas absorbed into the material rapidly expands outward.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating adhered paper from paper-covered gypsum board, involving passing the gypsum board past a magnet to automatically remove ferrous materials from the gypsum board without stopping the process/apparatus, pulverizing that gypsum board into a screenable mixture of pieces of paper and smaller separated gypsum board particles, and then screening that mixture and segregating the pieces of paper from the gypsum board particles. This method and apparatus may optionally also include an area for manually pre-sorting and removing non-gypsum materials from the gypsum board prior to pulverization, may optionally also include additional screening steps, and may optionally also include passing the screened and segregated gypsum board particles past a second magnet. The magnets may have self-cleaning belts.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for separating tenaciously elastic materials such as plastics and rubber from materials tearing and/or defiberizing under high mechanical stress, particularly paper, and to a device for performing said process. The process is characterized in that the mixture of materials to be separated is subjected to high radial, axial and tangential acceleration forces, whereby a mass flow of shredded fibrous material and a mass flow of substantially unshredded plastics is withdrawn separately. The device for performing the process consists of a screen basket which is cylindrical or preferably polygonal in shape and has borings in its jacket to let the defiberized material pass through, a rotatable driving shaft being arranged coaxially inside the screen basket, with blades being attached to said driving shaft, preferably in rigid connection.

Abstract: A pest control insulation building material from recycled waste paper including one or more chemical additives. The base material is fiberized, and the chemical additives may include: pesticides, disease immune additives (medicines), ammonia dust inhibitors, fire retardants, stabilizers or other additives, depending on the characteristics desired of the final product. At least one of the additives is applied as a liquid.

Abstract: A method for separating non-fibrous particulates from fibers in the substantial absence of water is disclosed. A pulverized mixture of non-fibrous particulates and fibers is introduced into a separation zone containing a plurality of revolving spiked cylinders. Revolving spikes of the respective revolving spiked cylinders contact and separate fibers from the pulverized mixture to produce non-fibrous particulates. The separated fibers have residual non-fibrous particulates which may be removed by the revolving spikes of one revolving spiked cylinders throwing or impelling the separated fibers against and into the revolving spikes of a contiguous revolving spiked cylinder. When the separated fibers impact the spikes of the contiguous revolving spiked cylinder, residual non-fibrous particulates loosen and separate from the removed fibers. The produced non-fibrous particulates have residual polyester fibers which may be removed and reclaimed.

Abstract: A method for processing mixed waste in a continuously operating processing plant comprising a plurality of successive stations which are connected to each other by means of at least one conveyor segment and wherein the mixed waste material is processed in at least one step of the inventive method and/or conveyed along at least one conveyor section, whereby the particles in the stream of mixed waste are accelerated at least in one transfer site between a conveyor section or one transfer site between two conveyor sections. Also disclosed is a processing plant for implementing said method and buffer silos which are used in the plant.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for identifying and tracking fiber and skeins during spinning and related processing. Initially, fiber is identified utilizing a fiber identifier card, and tracked utilizing a fiber tracking register. After spinning, spun fiber in the form of skeins is tracked utilizing a spinning log card. Such skeins are further marked with skein attachments for identification purposes during spinning-related processing, i.e. washing, stretching etc.

Abstract: A method for processing municipal waste substantially reduces the volume of material to be disposed into a landfill by increasing the volume of materials of value collected from the municipal waste and by composting the remaining materials to create a salable product. The process includes the removal of materials of value by magnetic devices to extract ferrous materials, by an air classifier to extract light plastic materials, by an eddy current mechanism to extract aluminum materials, and by a plastic sort mechanism to extract large plastic materials. Composting can be accomplished with a composting vessel that is located in the process either before the materials of value are removed or afterward. A grinding of the materials before a final screening allows the commercial grade compost to be separated from the materials that are to be sent to the landfill for final disposal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for separating tenaciously elastic materials such as plastics and rubber from materials tearing and/or defiberizing under high mechanical stress, particularly paper, and to a device for performing said process. The process is characterized in that the mixture of materials to be separated is subjected to high radial, axial and tangential acceleration forces, whereby a mass flow of shredded fibrous material and a mass flow of substantially unshredded plastics is withdrawn separately. The device for performing the process consists of a screen basket which is cylindrical or preferably polygonal in shape and has borings in its jacket to let the defiberized material pass through, a rotatable driving shaft being arranged coaxially inside the screen basket, with blades being attached to said driving shaft, preferably in rigid connection.

Abstract: A paper machine includes a traveling belt for carrying a fiber web, and a cutting device disposed below the belt for cutting the fiber web into smaller pieces. The cutting device has an inlet and an outlet. A guiding device guides the fiber web from the belt to the inlet of the cutting device. A pulper is connected with the outlet of the cutting device for receiving the smaller pieces of fiber web from the cutting device. The traveling belt may be in the form of, e.g., a wire, felt or water impervious belt. The cutting device may be in the form of, e.g., a shredder, fluffer, water jet cutter, laser cutter and/or roll cutter.

Abstract: There is provided a stock of paper nuggets for manufacturing composite building materials, wherein the stock of paper nuggets comprises a large portion of paper nuggets each having a thick mass, a twisted core and a tailed configuration. This stock of paper nuggets is advantageous for being composed of cohesive entities which can be manipulated on a construction site or sold to the public in bags, for use in backyard projects. The paper nuggets have good mold-filling and interlacing properties for manufacturing paper-based products having an homogenous structure and good mechanical properties. There are also provided a method and apparatus using one or more spherical rotors for penetrating a wet paper mulch, for pulling paper nuggets out of this wet paper mulch and for imparting in these paper nuggets their interlacing properties.

Abstract: A process for recycling a material containing high-tenacity fibers impregnated with a resin matrix includes introducing the material containing the high-tenacity fibers and the resin matrix into a hammer mill having a shaft mounted with at least three series or stages of hammers and a substantially cylindrical sieve disposed substantially concentrically around the shaft, milling the material for a time sufficient to grind at least about 50%, and preferably at least about 80%, of the resin into small particles, and separating the small resin particles from the fibers by means of the sieve. This process allows a very high degree of separation and does not require additional process steps like cryogenical chilling.

Abstract: A bottle decasing, breaking and separating system and method has a hopper feeder for receiving bottles and cases. The bottles and cases are supplied to a trommel by a conveyor beneath the feeder. A conveyor communicating with the trommel receives the separated and fragmented material. A chute connected to the conveyor transports the fragmented material. Lifting tubes in the trommel are for lifting, tipping and tumbling the cases and the bottles in the trommel when it rotates. Strong screens in the trommel fragment and remove the bottles tumbling in the trommel. The cases remain at upper levels above the fragmented material in the trommel. The trommel may be a drum which slopes downward and rearward from the forward to the rearward ends. A trough below the trommel receives the fragmented material from the trommel and supplies the material to a conveyor. An extension communicating with the conveyor for supplies the fragmented material from the conveyor to recycling bins.

Abstract: A method and system for producing an animal bedding material from recycled waste paper, and including one or more chemical additives. The base material is fiberized, and the chemical additives may include: pesticides, disease immune additives (medicines), ammonia inhibitors, fire retardants, or other additives, depending on the characteristics desired of the final product. At least one of the additives is applied as a liquid.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for disaggregating waste materials which contain at least partially reusable elements, mainly metals, plastics and cardboard. The waste materials are stirred in water by mechanical forces, large pieces, in particular plastic pieces, are coarsely crushed and soluble elements, in particular cardboard, are dissolved. The metallic elements are separated from the suspension as heavy materials, the remaining coarse solids, in particular plastics, are mechanically separated from the suspension, and the suspended fine solids are separated from the suspension by dewatering.