Abstract: Apparatus for separating components of post-consumer carpet—pile, adhesive, and primary/secondary backings—may initially comprise spectrographic face fiber identification. Separating substantial portions of pile from backing comprises feeding carpeting into a rotating pinned drum, with separated pile U's dropping, while a residual composition, being primarily backing, travels with the drum, to be separated therefrom using vacuum pressure, with the composite backing being sent to a press. Vacuum pressure delivers the separated U's to a spinning perforated squirrel cage to remove dislodged pieces of adhesive, by vacuum pressure applied to an interior top portion of the cage to draw pieces therein. Rotating the perforated squirrel cage, which is sealed on the exterior using a belt, permits the U's to drop into a hopper. A mesh shaker box vibrates to separate any remaining backing from the pile U's. Hammers in a fibermill remove remaining adhesive attached to the separated pile U fiber.

Abstract: A method an apparatus for reclaiming face fibers and polypropylene and/or polyvinyl chloride backing material from rolls and pieces of post-consumer carpet. The system includes a separator for separating the face fibers from the backing and for separating latex and carbon calcium powder from polypropylene backing. An extruder is provided for extruding the face fibers separated from the backing into extrusions, and a pelletizer pelletizes the extrusions. A roller opener opens the polypropylene backing into fibrous portions and also cleans such fibrous portions. Alternately, a granulator can be provided that chops and grinds the polypropylene or PVC backing into fragments after the separation of the face fibers from the backing. A heat source heats the PVC fragments, and also the polypropylene fragments (thereby separating the latex therefrom), and ultimately melts such fragments. Reclaimed fibers can be pelletized, made into extrusions, used in non-woven products and in other manners.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating components of post-consumer carpet—pile, adhesive, and primary/secondary backings—may initially comprise spectrographic face fiber identification. Separating substantial portions of pile from backing comprises feeding carpeting into a rotating pinned drum, with separated pile U's dropping, while a residual composition, being primarily backing, travels with the drum, to be separated therefrom using vacuum pressure, with the composite backing being sent to a press. Vacuum pressure delivers the separated U's to a spinning perforated squirrel cage to remove dislodged pieces of adhesive, by vacuum pressure applied to an interior top portion of the cage to draw pieces therein. Rotating the perforated squirrel cage, which is sealed on the exterior using a belt, permits the U's to drop into a hopper. A mesh shaker box vibrates to separate any remaining backing from the pile U's. Hammers in a fibermill remove remaining adhesive attached to the separated pile U fiber.

Abstract: A method an apparatus for reclaiming face fibers and polypropylene and/or polyvinyl chloride backing material from rolls and pieces of post-consumer carpet. The system includes a separator for separating the face fibers from the backing and for separating latex and carbon calcium powder from polypropylene backing. An extruder is provided for extruding the face fibers separated from the backing into extrusions, and a pelletizer pelletizes the extrusions. A roller opener opens the polypropylene backing into fibrous portions and also cleans such fibrous portions. Alternately, a granulator can be provided that chops and grinds the polypropylene or PVC backing into fragments after the separation of the face fibers from the backing. A heat source heats the PVC fragments, and also the polypropylene fragments (thereby separating the latex therefrom), and ultimately melts such fragments. Reclaimed fibers can be pelletized, made into extrusions, used in non-woven products and in other manners.