阅读说明：本技术 用于回收转印产品的方法 (Method for recycling transfer products ) 是由 M·冯比耶尔 A·拉乌 S·斯坦格林 M·哈恩 于 2021-01-20 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明包括用于回收具有至少一个载体薄膜的转印产品的方法,其中在至少一个载体薄膜上至少部分地可分离地布置有载体层,和其中在所述方法中,尤其以如下顺序进行如下步骤：a)借助于粉碎单元或粉碎装置将所述转印产品粉碎(10)成转印产品碎片,尤其是载体薄膜碎片,优选其中所述转印产品以卷绕在卷上的形式存在,b)将所述转印产品碎片,尤其是载体薄膜碎片压缩(30)成密实的制品,或将所述转印产品碎片,尤其是载体薄膜碎片挤出(31)成挤出的制品。(The invention comprises a method for recycling a transfer product having at least one carrier film, wherein a carrier layer is at least partially detachably arranged on the at least one carrier film, and wherein in the method, in particular in the following order, the following steps are carried out: a) comminuting (10) the transfer product into transfer product fragments, in particular carrier film fragments, preferably wherein the transfer product is present in the form of a roll, by means of a comminuting unit or a comminuting device, b) compressing (30) the transfer product fragments, in particular carrier film fragments, into a compact article, or extruding (31) the transfer product fragments, in particular carrier film fragments, into an extruded article.)

1. Method for recycling a transfer product having at least one carrier film, wherein a carrier layer is at least partially detachably arranged on the at least one carrier film, and wherein in the method, in particular in the following order, the following steps are carried out:

a) comminuting (10) the transfer product into transfer product fragments, in particular carrier film fragments, by means of a comminuting unit or a comminuting device, preferably wherein the transfer product is present in the form of a roll,

b) compressing (30) the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, into a compact article, or extruding (31) the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, into an extruded article.

2. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the transfer product fragments include transfer layer components and/or carrier film fragments.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

characterized in that the transfer layer composition comprises lacquer residues and/or lacquer powder and/or fine material.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the at least one carrier film comprises a material or a combination of materials selected from the group consisting of: PET, PMMA, PC, PE, PVC, ABS, PU, PBS, TPU, PP, PLA, PEF and/or PAN.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the at least one carrier film comprises PET as a main component, wherein the proportion of PET in the carrier film is greater than 97%, preferably greater than 99.9%, particularly preferably greater than 99.97%.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the at least one transfer layer, in particular the transfer layer component, has at least one layer or a combination of layers selected from the group consisting of: adhesive layer, stripping layer, decorative layer, metal layer, adhesion promoting layer, bottom coating layer and coloring layer.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

before step a) and after the transfer process and/or the lamination process and/or the insert molding process and/or the in-mold decoration process, the transfer product is wound in the form of a roll, in particular on a film core, in particular without mixing.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

before step a) and in the transfer process and/or lamination process and/or insert molding process and/or in-mold decoration process, the transfer layer is at least partially transferred to the substrate to be decorated, wherein a transfer product is provided as a by-product.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

before step a) and after the transfer process and/or the lamination process and/or the insert molding process and/or the in-mold decoration process, the transfer product is collected by means of a collection container, in particular by means of a holder and/or a receptacle and/or a transport box and/or a bundled bag.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the following steps are additionally carried out before step a):

the transfer product is wound, in particular on a film core, to provide a roll.

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the following steps are additionally carried out before step a):

the transfer product is collected by means of a collection container, in particular by means of a rack and/or a receptacle and/or a transport box and/or a bundled bag.

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the following steps are additionally carried out before step a):

the roll and/or the collecting container are transported to the comminuting unit or the comminuting device manually and/or by means of a transport device.

13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

prior to step a), the transfer product has a foreign material content in the range of 0 to 5 wt. -%, preferably 0 to 1 wt. -%.

14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

prior to step a), the transfer product has a proportion of adhesive tape and/or splicing tape in the range of 0 to 0.5 wt.%, preferably 0 to 0.1 wt.%.

15. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

when the transfer product is comminuted (10) in step a), the wound transfer product is cut into film webs, wherein the roll with the transfer product is fixed in a V-shaped recess, in particular horizontally, and is subsequently cut in the longitudinal direction to a film core by means of a knife, in particular from above or from below or from the side, and the film core is removed, in particular in the presence of the film core.

16. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

in step a), the shredding unit and/or the shredding device cuts and/or rips and/or shreds and/or tears the transfer product.

17. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

in a step a), the at least one transfer layer is at least partially removed from the at least one carrier film during the comminution (10) of the transfer product, and transfer product fragments and/or carrier film fragments and/or transfer layer components are thereby produced.

18. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 17,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the transfer product fragments have a paint residue content after step a) in the range from 0% to 100% by weight, preferably from 10% to 100% by weight, particularly preferably from 50% to 100% by weight.

19. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 18,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the transfer product fragments have a fine material fraction after step a) in the range from 0 to 20 wt.%, preferably from 0 to 5 wt.%.

20. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, have a mass after step a) in the range from 0.01mg to 100mg, preferably from 0.5mg to 10mg, particularly preferably from 1mg to 5 mg.

21. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

after step a), in particular before step b), the following steps are additionally carried out:

c) mechanically purifying (20), in particular mechanically purifying the transfer product fragments, in particular carrier film fragments, without washing liquid, in order to remove foreign material and/or transfer layer constituents.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

after step a), in particular before step c) or step b), the following steps are additionally carried out:

the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, are transported by means of a transport device and/or by means of at least one transport container, in particular a collection container and/or a holder and/or a receptacle and/or a transport box and/or a bundled bag and/or big bag, wherein the at least one transport container, in particular before step c) or step b), is filled with the transfer product fragments.

23. The method according to claim 21 or 22,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the mechanical purification (20) in step c) is carried out by means of friction, wherein the transfer product fragments are present in a dry state and further transfer layer components are removed.

24. The method of any one of claims 21 to 23,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the transfer product fragments have a paint residue content after step c) in the range from 0 to 100% by weight, preferably from 10 to 100% by weight, particularly preferably from 50 to 100% by weight.

25. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

before step b), and in particular after step c), the following steps are additionally carried out:

conveying the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, by means of a conveying device and/or by means of at least one conveying container, in particular a collecting container and/or a holder and/or a receptacle and/or a transport box and/or a bundled bag and/or big bag, wherein the at least one conveying container, in particular before step b), is filled with the transfer product fragments.

26. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

in step b), the compaction (30) is carried out by means of agglomeration, in particular by means of a plastic compactor or by means of a granulator.

27. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

compacting and/or compressing the transfer product fragments, in particular carrier film fragments, during compression (30) in step b) to provide a densified article having a higher bulk density, in particular wherein the densified article has a bulk density that is 1 to 20 times, preferably 5 to 20 times higher than the bulk density of the transfer product fragments, in particular carrier film fragments.

28. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

in step b), the following steps are additionally carried out before the extrusion (31):

in the cutting press, the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, are comminuted and/or mixed and/or heated and/or dried and/or degassed and/or compressed and/or temporarily stored, in particular in order to increase the bulk density.

29. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

during the extrusion (31) in step b), the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, are plasticized and homogenized by means of an extruder system, in particular to produce extruded and/or densified articles.

30. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

in step b), the following steps are additionally carried out after the compression (30) or extrusion (31):

liquid and/or solid state polymerization to improve material properties, in particular to increase molecular weight and/or to increase viscosity.

31. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the melting temperature of the transfer product fragments, in particular of the carrier film fragments, during extrusion in step b) is in the range from 100 ℃ to 350 ℃, in particular from 150 ℃ to 320 ℃, preferably from 260 ℃ to 290 ℃.

32. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

in step b), the melting temperature is in the range of 150 ℃ to 320 ℃, preferably 260 ℃ to 290 ℃, when extruding the transfer product pieces, in particular the carrier film pieces, in particular when the carrier film comprises PET as a main component.

33. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

in step b), the temperature is in the range of 25 ℃ to 150 ℃, preferably 40 ℃ to 120 ℃, when compressing the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments.

34. The method of any one of claims 29 to 33,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

in step b), a vacuum and/or underpressure is generated in the extruder system, which preferably ranges from 0.01mbar to 1,013 mbar.

35. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

after step b), the compacted article and/or the extruded article has a purity of from 60.0 to 100.0% by weight, preferably from 95.0 to 100.0% by weight, particularly preferably from 99.0 to 100.0% by weight.

36. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

after step b), the compact article and/or the extruded article has an intrinsic viscosity in the range of 0.3dl/g to 0.9dl/g, preferably 0.5dl/g to 0.7 dl/g.

37. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

after step b), the compacted article and/or the extruded article is colorless, transparent, devitrifying, opaque, colored, at least partially colored or colored.

38. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the compacted and/or extruded article is shaped after step b) into a cylinder and has a cylinder diameter in the range from 0.1mm to 20mm, preferably from 3mm to 10mm, particularly preferably from 4mm to 6mm and a cylinder height in the range from 0.1mm to 20mm, preferably from 3mm to 10mm, particularly preferably from 4mm to 6mm, or the compacted and/or extruded article can also be shaped after step b) into a sphere and has a diameter in the range from 0.1mm to 20mm, preferably from 3mm to 10mm, particularly preferably from 4mm to 6 mm.

39. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

after step b), the compacted article and/or the extruded article is suitable for at least one subsequent process or combination of processes selected from the group consisting of: injection molding, extrusion, pressing processes, compounding, chemical recovery, and/or energy utilization.

40. The method of any one of claims 21 to 39,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the following steps are additionally carried out after step c):

d) purifying (40) the transfer product pieces with a washing liquid by means of at least one purification device or a combination of purification devices selected from the group consisting of: a scrubber, a hot scrubber, a friction scrubber, a wet cutting device and/or a wet cutting mill, preferably wherein at least one washing liquid or a combination of washing liquids and/or washing substances selected from the group consisting of: water, washing solutions, solvents, surfactants, additives, lye/acids, grinding additives, or combinations thereof, thereby at least partially removing the at least one transfer layer from the carrier film and creating additional transfer layer components.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said step of selecting said target,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

before step d) the following steps are additionally carried out:

conveying the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, by means of a conveying device and/or by means of at least one conveying container, in particular a collecting container and/or a holder and/or a receptacle and/or a transport box and/or a bundled bag and/or big bag, wherein the at least one conveying container, in particular before step d), is filled with the transfer product fragments.

42. The method according to claim 40 or 41,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

in step d), the at least one transfer layer is removed from the carrier film by means of rubbing.

43. The method of any one of claims 40 to 42,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

in step d), further transfer layer components are removed from the washing liquid by means of at least one thermal and/or mechanical separation method, in particular filtration and/or distillation.

44. The method of any one of claims 40 to 43,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

in step d), the fraction of transfer product fragments in the washing liquid is in the range from 0.1 to 25% by weight, preferably from 1 to 10% by weight.

45. The method of any one of claims 40 to 44,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

after step d), the transfer product fragments have a purity in the range from 60.0 to 100.0% by weight, preferably from 95.0 to 100.0% by weight, particularly preferably from 99.0 to 100.0% by weight.

46. The method of any one of claims 40 to 45,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

after step d), the transfer product fragments are colorless, transparent, opaque, colored, at least partially colored, or colored.

47. The method of any one of claims 40 to 46,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the following steps are additionally carried out after step d):

e) the transfer product fragments are dried (50) by means of a mechanical dryer (51) and/or a thermal dryer (52), in particular to reduce the moisture of the transfer product fragments.

48. The method as set forth in claim 47,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

before step e) the following steps are additionally carried out:

conveying the transfer product fragments by means of a conveying device and/or by means of at least one conveying container, in particular a collecting container and/or a holder and/or a receptacle and/or a transport box and/or a bundled bag and/or sack, wherein the at least one conveying container, in particular before step e), is filled with the transfer product fragments.

49. The method of claim 47 or 48,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

in step e), the thermal dryer has a temperature in the range of 10 ℃ to 120 ℃, preferably 40 ℃ to 80 ℃.

50. The method of any one of claims 47 to 49,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

after step e), the transfer product pieces have a moisture in the range of 0% to 25%, preferably 0% to 5%.

51. The method of any one of claims 47 to 50,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

after step e), the transfer product fragments have a purity in the range from 60.0 to 100.0% by weight, preferably from 95.0 to 100.0% by weight, particularly preferably from 99.0 to 100.0% by weight.

52. The method of any one of claims 47 to 51,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

after step e), the transfer product fragments are colorless, transparent, opaque, colored, at least partially colored, or colored.

53. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

after step a) or after step b) the following steps are additionally carried out:

f) compounding (60) the densified article and/or the extruded article and/or the transfer product pieces, wherein additives are added to provide the compound with improved material properties.

54. The method of claim 53, in which the first and second regions are different,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

before step f), in particular after step b), the following steps are additionally carried out:

conveying the compacted articles and/or the extruded articles by means of a conveying device and/or by means of at least one conveying container, in particular a collecting container and/or a rack and/or a receptacle and/or a transport box and/or a bundled bag and/or big bag, wherein the at least one conveying container, in particular before step f), is filled with the transfer product fragments.

55. The method of any one of claims 53 or 54,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

in step f), the compact article and/or the extruded article is conveyed and/or plasticized and/or homogenized together with the additive in a compounder, in particular an extruder system.

56. The method of any one of claims 53 to 55,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

in step f), the molten compound is directly worked up in a shaping process, in particular an injection molding process and/or a pressing process and/or an extrusion process.

57. In accordance with the method set forth in claim 56,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

in step f), the compound has a melting temperature in the range of 100 ℃ to 350 ℃, in particular 150 ℃ to 320 ℃, preferably 260 ℃ to 290 ℃ when the forming process is carried out.

58. The method of any one of claims 56 or 57,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

in step f), the melting temperature of the compound, in particular when the carrier film comprises PET as main component, is in the range from 150 ℃ to 320 ℃, preferably from 260 ℃ to 290 ℃, when the forming process is carried out.

59. The method of any one of claims 53 to 55,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

in step f), the molten compound is additionally processed into pellets by means of strand granulation and/or underwater granulation.

60. The method of any one of claims 53 to 59,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

in step f) the melting temperature during compounding (60) is in the range from 100 ℃ to 350 ℃, in particular from 150 ℃ to 320 ℃, preferably from 260 ℃ to 290 ℃.

61. The method of any one of claims 53 to 60,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

in step f) the melting temperature is in the range of 150 ℃ to 320 ℃, preferably 260 ℃ to 290 ℃ during compounding (60), especially when the carrier film comprises PET as the main component.

62. The method of any one of claims 53 to 60,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

during compounding (60) in step f), a vacuum and/or underpressure is generated in the compounder, in particular in the extruder system, which preferably ranges from 0.01mbar to 1013 mbar.

63. The method of any one of claims 53 to 62,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

after step f), the compound and/or pellets, especially in the case where the carrier film comprises PET as the main ingredient, have a viscosity of 1kJ/m²To 100kJ/m²Preferably 5kJ/m²To 60kJ/m²Notched impact toughness in the range, in particular as measured according to Charpy at room temperature.

64. The method of any one of claims 53 to 63,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

after step f), the compound and/or pellets, in particular in the case where the carrier film comprises PET as the main ingredient, have an elastic modulus (E modulus) in the range from 1,000MPa to 10,000MPa, preferably from 1,300MPa to 8,000MPa, in particular measured at room temperature by means of a tensile test.

65. The method of any one of claims 53 to 64,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

after step f), the compound and/or pellets have a purity in the range from 20.0 to 99.9% by weight, preferably from 50.0 to 99.9% by weight, particularly preferably from 80.0 to 99.9% by weight.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a method for recovering a transfer product.

Background

It is known to use energy recovery to recover embossed films. Conventional polyester carrier materials have a relatively high calorific value of about 34,000kJ/kg and are therefore inherently suitable for alternative fuel production. Even a transfer product composed of the carrier film and the residual transfer layer which has been used has a high calorific value of about 21,000 kJ/kg. Such alternative or secondary fuels are mainly used in the cement industry, but also in power stations. Such fuels can be used to replace fossil energy sources such as coal and heavy oil.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for recycling transfer products.

This object is achieved by a method for recycling a transfer product having at least one carrier film, wherein a carrier layer is at least partially detachably arranged on the at least one carrier film, and wherein the following steps are carried out in the method, in particular in the following order:

a) the transfer product is comminuted into transfer product fragments, in particular carrier film fragments, by means of a comminuting unit or comminuting device, preferably wherein the transfer product is present in the form of a roll,

b) the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, are compressed into a compact article or the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, are extruded into an extruded article.

By such a recycling method, at least one further life cycle of the carrier material is created before the energy of the carrier material is utilized. The consumption of crude oil required to produce plastics is reduced by the greater life cycle. This protects the environment and at the same time reduces CO₂And (5) discharging. Furthermore, it is advantageous that the recycled support material can be used for the production of new support films. It is also conceivable that the recycled plastic can also be used for the production of other plastic articles, for example injection-molded parts and/or extruded parts.

It is preferably provided that the transfer product is recovered as a defective product after the transfer process and/or the lamination process and/or the insert molding process and/or the in-mold decoration process and during production. When the transfer layer of the transfer product has been at least partially transferred to the substrate to be decorated, for example a component or a sheet (bogeniferous) or a web, then the transfer product has a carrier film with a residual transfer layer arranged thereon. The residual transfer layer describes here the part of the transfer layer which is not transferred to the substrate to be decorated and therefore remains on the carrier film. In the case of defective products, the transfer layer remains completely on the carrier film. The proportion by weight of the transfer layer based on the carrier film is preferably greater in the case of defective products than in the case of transfer layers which have already been transferred. It is preferably provided that the residual transfer layer, which is essentially regarded as foreign material, is removed from the carrier film by the method, so that the carrier material is recovered as good as possible in such a way that the end product produced can be processed in a further step and has good material properties here.

In particular, it is provided that the transfer product fragments comprise transfer layer components and/or carrier film fragments. It is also preferably possible for the transfer layer component to comprise lacquer residues and/or lacquer powder and/or fine material. Fine material is understood here to mean particles which are coarser than the powder particles, but which are smaller than the fragments of the transfer product and/or the fragments of the carrier film.

Advantageously, at least one carrier film comprises a material or a combination of materials selected from: PET, PMMA, PC, PE, PVC, ABS, PU, PBS, TPU, PP, PLA, PEF and/or PAN.

Preferably, at least one carrier film comprises PET as a main component, wherein the proportion of PET in the carrier film is greater than 97%, preferably greater than 99.9%, particularly preferably greater than 99.97%.

In order to improve the recyclability of the carrier film and the material properties of the end product, it is preferably provided that the carrier material is present as pure as possible, i.e. no foreign substances and/or plastics differing from the carrier material are present.

In a further embodiment, at least one transfer layer (transferlayer), in particular a transfer monolayer (Transferschicht) component, has at least one layer or a combination of layers selected from the group consisting of: adhesive layer, stripping layer, decorative layer, metal layer, adhesion promoting layer, bottom coating layer and coloring layer. It is possible that the mentioned layer, in particular the decorative layer, is preferably a layer with a metallic material.

In particular, it is provided that the comminution device or comminution unit in step a) comprises at least one device or a combination of devices selected from the group consisting of: a guillotine, a pulverizing unit, a cutting mill, a hammer mill and/or a mill.

Preferably, the transfer product is wound in roll form, in particular on a film core, before step a) and after a transfer process and/or a lamination process and/or an insert molding process and/or an in-mold decoration process. In another embodiment, the transfer product is rolled up, in particular around a film core, without intermixing. Alternatively, the film core can also be wound in roll form without the film core, i.e. coreless, and/or wound on a film core, which is removed from the film roll after winding, so that the film roll is then present in coreless form. Such a removable film core may, for example, be part of a machine on which the transfer product is processed.

In an alternative embodiment, it is provided that the transfer product is collected, in particular not mixed, by means of a collection container. The collected transfer product may be uncut or may also be cut and/or comminuted and/or compressed and/or pressed.

By "unmixed/unmixed" is understood that each roll is wound and/or collected as much as possible of only one transfer product. Thereby ensuring good material properties of the end product or the compacted article and/or the extruded article.

In particular, it is provided that the transfer layer is at least partially transferred to the substrate to be decorated before step a) and in a transfer process and/or a lamination process and/or an insert molding process and/or an in-mold decoration process, wherein the transfer product is provided as a by-product. Preferably followed by a transfer product with a residual transfer layer.

Preferably, it is provided that the transfer product is collected before step a) and after the transfer method and/or the lamination method and/or the insert molding method and/or the in-mold decoration method by means of a collecting container, in particular by means of a holder and/or a receptacle and/or a transport box and/or a bundled bag.

The "bundled pack" preferably means a pressed transfer product whose volume is reduced by pressing. In order to hold the pressed transfer products together, it is preferably designed to bundle them with a strapping, thereby providing a bundled bag.

In particular, the following steps are additionally carried out before step a):

the transfer product is wound, in particular on a film core, to provide a roll.

A film core is understood here to mean a cardboard and/or plastic web and/or a machine part on which a transfer product is wound. The film core can either remain in the film roll or be removed from the film roll after the film roll has been wound.

It is also preferably provided that the following steps are additionally carried out before step a):

the transfer product is collected by means of a collection container, in particular by means of a rack and/or a receptacle and/or a transport box and/or a bundled bag.

Advantageously, the following steps are preferably additionally carried out before step a):

the rolls and/or the collecting container are transported to the comminuting unit or the comminuting device manually and/or by means of a transport device.

By collecting or winding, in particular collecting and/or winding the transfer product without mixing, it is ensured that foreign material is present in small amounts. In particular, it is provided that, prior to step a), the transfer product has a proportion of foreign material in the range from 0% to 5% by weight, preferably from 0% to 1% by weight (weight% ═ weight proportion in% by weight of the total weight). Because the transferred products are sorted prior to the actual recycling process, in particular in an unmixed manner, the downstream recycling process can be designed more efficiently and the resulting compact articles and/or extruded articles and/or plastic articles have improved material properties.

It is also preferably provided that, prior to step a), the transfer product has a proportion of adhesive tape and/or splicing glue in the range from 0% to 0.5% by weight, preferably from 0% to 0.1% by weight.

In the case of the comminution of the transfer product in step a), it is provided, in particular, to cut the wound transfer product into a film web, wherein the roll with the transfer product is held in a V-shaped recess, in particular horizontally, and is subsequently cut by means of a knife, in particular from above or from below or from the side, in the longitudinal direction to the film core, and the film core is removed, in particular in the presence of the film core. The web is preferably cut here in such a way that the knife cuts perpendicularly to the tangent of the side surface in the direction of the film core. In particular when cutting from above, it is advantageous that the roll is held by the V-shaped recess and no additional base is required to withstand the cutting pressure of the knife. Preferably, the method step is carried out with the aid of a guillotine.

As mentioned in the opening paragraph, the film core is preferably composed of another material than the transfer product, and is therefore preferably designed to remove this film core which acts as a foreign material.

It is preferably also possible that in step a) the comminution unit and/or comminution device cuts and/or severs and/or comminutes and/or tears the transfer product.

In a possible embodiment, provision is made for at least one transfer layer to be removed at least partially from at least one carrier film in step a) during comminution of the transfer product, and for this to result in a mixture of transfer product fragments and/or carrier film fragments and/or transfer layer component parts.

It is possible to produce transfer product fragments which have both a carrier film and at least one transfer layer. In particular, the aim is to release as much of the transfer layer components from the carrier film as possible after a plurality of method steps, so that as pure as possible carrier film fragments are produced. The carrier film fragments preferably mean fragments in which the transfer layer is completely removed and which consist only of the carrier material and/or consist of a high proportion, preferably greater than 97%, preferably greater than 99.9%, particularly preferably greater than 99.97%, of the carrier material.

In particular, it is provided that the transfer product fragments have a paint residue content after step a) of 0 to 100 wt.%, preferably 10 to 100 wt.%, particularly preferably 50 to 100 wt.%. It is also possible that the paint residue comprises paint powder.

Advantageously, the transfer product fragments have a fine material fraction after step a) in the range from 0 to 20 wt.%, preferably from 0 to 5 wt.%.

In particular, the paint residue fraction and/or the fine material fraction are successively reduced from one process step to another.

It is preferably provided that the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, have a mass after step a) of from 0.01mg to 100mg, preferably from 0.5mg to 10mg, particularly preferably from 1mg to 5 mg. The quality of the transfer product fragments is particularly important for the mechanical purification removal of the transfer layer components in step c) by means of mechanical means and/or for the drying of the transfer product fragments in step e) as completely as possible by means of a mechanical dryer.

In one embodiment, it is provided that after step a), in particular before step b), the following steps are additionally carried out: c) mechanically purifying, in particular mechanically purifying, the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, in the absence of a washing liquid, in order to remove foreign material and/or transfer layer constituents.

It is possible in particular to additionally carry out the following steps after step a), in particular before step c) or step b):

the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, are transported by means of a transport device and/or by means of at least one transport container, in particular a collection container and/or a holder and/or a receptacle and/or a transport box and/or a bundled bag and/or sack, wherein the at least one transport container, in particular before step c) or step b), is filled with transfer product fragments.

A "big bag" is understood to mean a flexible bulk material container, which is preferably composed of plastic. Preferably, the big bag has handles and/or a bail, so that the big bag can be transported or loaded by means of a crane and/or a forklift.

Advantageously, the mechanical purification in step c) is carried out by means of friction, wherein the transfer product fragments are present in a dry state and further transfer layer constituents are removed.

It is also preferably possible for the transfer product fragments to have a proportion of lacquer residues after step c) in the range from 0% to 100% by weight, preferably from 10% to 100% by weight, particularly preferably from 50% to 100% by weight.

In particular, the following steps are additionally carried out before step b) and in particular after step c):

the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, are transported by means of a transport device and/or by means of at least one transport container, in particular a collection container and/or a holder and/or a receptacle and/or a transport box and/or a bundled bag and/or big bag, wherein the at least one transport container is filled with the transfer product fragments, in particular before step b).

In one embodiment variant, it is preferably provided that, in step b), the compaction (30) is carried out by means of agglomeration, in particular by means of a plastic compactor or by means of a granulator.

It is preferably possible that, during the compression in step b), the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, are compacted and/or compressed to provide a densified article having a higher bulk density, in particular the bulk density of the densified article is from 1 to 20 times, preferably from 5 to 20 times, higher than the bulk density of the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments.

"bulk density" herein means the ratio of the mass of a bulk material to its bulk volume. Due to the higher bulk density, the space requirement for storing compact articles can be reduced. This also has a positive effect on the transport, since a larger mass can be transported without changing the volume. In addition, the bulk density also has an influence on the process parameters of the shaping process, for example injection moulding and/or extrusion.

It is also provided that, prior to the extrusion in step b), the following steps are additionally carried out:

in the cutting press, the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, are comminuted and/or mixed and/or heated and/or dried and/or degassed and/or compressed and/or temporarily stored, in particular in order to increase the bulk density.

In particular during degassing, foreign substances can be removed, for example, and then filtered off by means of a filter device.

It is advantageously provided that during the extrusion in step b), the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, are plasticized and homogenized by means of an extruder system, in particular to produce extruded articles and/or pellets. In this case, it is provided, in particular, that the transfer product fragments are heated to their melting temperature by means of heat introduction and then compressed by means of an extruder system, so that a homogeneous plastic melt is provided.

An extruder system is understood here to mean, in particular, a single-screw extruder, a co-rotating or counter-rotating twin-screw extruder, a ring extruder, a planetary screw extruder, a multiple-rotation system, a plasticator or another extruder system.

Advantageously, the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, are plasticized by means of an extruder system during the compression in step b), in particular in order to produce a compact article consisting of the compact transfer product fragments.

It is also advantageously provided that, after the compression extrusion in step b), the following steps are additionally carried out:

liquid and/or solid state polymerization to improve material properties, in particular to increase molecular weight and/or to increase viscosity.

It is preferably possible that the melting temperature of the transfer product fragments, in particular of the carrier film fragments, during extrusion in step b) is in the range from 100 ℃ to 350 ℃, in particular from 150 ℃ to 320 ℃, preferably from 260 ℃ to 290 ℃.

It is preferably possible that in step b) the melting temperature is in the range from 150 ℃ to 320 ℃, preferably from 260 ℃ to 290 ℃, when the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, are extruded, in particular when the carrier film comprises PET as main component.

It is preferably possible that, in step b), the temperature is in the range from 25 ℃ to 150 ℃, preferably from 40 ℃ to 120 ℃, when the product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, are transferred.

In particular, it is provided that, in step b), a vacuum and/or an underpressure is generated in the extruder system, which preferably lies in the range from 0.01mbar to 1013 mbar.

Advantageously, the compacted article and/or the extruded article after step b) has a purity in the range of from 60.0 to 100.0 wt. -%, preferably from 95.0 to 100.0 wt. -%, particularly preferably from 99.0 to 100.0 wt. -%. As already mentioned above, the purity advantageously improves successively from one step to another. The expression of purity preferably relates to the mass fraction of the carrier material.

It is especially envisaged that after step b) the compacted article and/or the extruded article has an intrinsic viscosity in the range of 0.3dl/g to 0.9dl/g, preferably 0.5dl/g to 0.7 dl/g.

It is also preferred that after step b) the compacted article and/or the extruded article is colourless, transparent, opaque, coloured, at least partially coloured or coloured. In particular in the case of colorless and/or transparent and/or exquisitely dense articles and/or extruded articles, it is advantageous that they can be optionally colored afterwards.

Advantageously, the compacted article and/or the extruded article is shaped cylindrically after step b) and has a cylinder diameter in the range of 0.1mm to 20mm, preferably 3mm to 10mm, particularly preferably 4mm to 6mm and a cylinder height in the range of 0.1mm to 20mm, preferably 3mm to 10mm, particularly preferably 4mm to 6 mm. Preferably, the compacted article and/or the extruded article may also be spherical after step b) and have a diameter in the range of 0.1mm to 20mm, preferably in the range of 3mm to 10mm, particularly preferably in the range of 4mm to 6 mm.

It is in particular possible that after step b), the compacted article and/or the extruded article is suitable for at least one subsequent process or combination of processes selected from the group consisting of: injection molding, extrusion, pressing processes, compounding, chemical recovery, and/or energy utilization.

Preferably, the following steps are additionally carried out before step d):

the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, are transported by means of a transport device and/or by means of at least one transport container, in particular a collection container and/or a holder and/or a receptacle and/or a transport box and/or a bundled bag and/or sack, wherein the at least one transport container is filled with the transfer product fragments, in particular before step d).

It is also advantageously possible to additionally carry out the following steps after step c):

d) purifying the transfer product fragments with a washing liquid by means of at least one purification device or a combination of purification devices selected from the group consisting of: a scrubber, a hot scrubber, a friction scrubber, a wet cutting device and/or a wet cutting mill, preferably wherein at least one washing liquid or a combination of washing liquids and/or washing substances selected from the group consisting of: water, washing solutions, solvents, surfactants, additives, lye/acids, grinding additives, or combinations thereof, thereby at least partially removing at least one transfer layer from the carrier film and creating additional transfer layer components.

In the case of transfer layers which are difficult to release, for example adhesive layers and/or pigmented layers and/or special lacquer layers and/or metal layers and/or decorative layers, mechanical purification may not be sufficient to release the transfer layer from the carrier film. Advantageously, the chemical and/or physical bond between the transfer layer, in particular the transfer monolayer, and the carrier film is at least partially dissociated during the purification, in particular with the washing liquid, thereby facilitating the removal of the transfer layer.

In particular, it is also provided that in step d) at least one transfer layer is removed from the carrier film by means of friction. By "rubbing" is here understood, in particular, the friction occurring between the transfer product fragments and the washing liquid and/or the walls of the purification device or the screen. Preferably, the friction force acting is greater than the adhesion force of a release layer, which is preferably arranged between the carrier film and the transfer layer.

It is also possible in particular that in step d) the fraction of transfer product fragments in the washing liquid is in the range from 0.1 to 25% by weight, preferably from 1 to 10% by weight.

It is advantageously provided that, in step d), further transfer layer components are removed from the washing liquid by means of at least one thermal and/or mechanical separation method, in particular filtration and/or distillation. Preferably, the method steps take place temporally close to the washing process, whereby it can be avoided that sometimes very small transfer layer components, in particular further transfer layer components, dissolve and/or disperse in the washing liquid. Preferably, as pure as possible pieces of the transfer product, in particular pieces of the carrier film, are obtained, i.e. the proportion of foreign material or of constituents of the transfer layer is as small as possible in comparison with the carrier material. In particular, it is provided that after step d), the transfer product fragments have a purity in the range from 60.0 to 100.0% by weight, preferably from 95.0 to 100.0% by weight, particularly preferably from 99.0 to 100.0% by weight. As already mentioned additionally above, the purity of the transfer product fragments improves from step to step.

It is also preferably provided that after step d) the transfer product fragments are colorless, transparent, opaque, colored, at least partially colored or colored.

In particular, it is provided that the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, have residual moisture after step d), wherein the constituents of the washing liquid in particular also adhere to the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments. It is necessary to remove residual moisture as well as constituents of the washing liquor prior to further processing, in particular compression and/or extrusion and/or compounding. For this purpose, it is advantageous to carry out a drying step after purification with washing liquid in step d). In particular, it is provided that the following steps are additionally carried out before step e):

the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, are transported by means of a transport device and/or by means of at least one transport container, in particular a collection container and/or a holder and/or a receptacle and/or a transport box and/or a bundled bag and/or sack, wherein the at least one transport container is filled with the transfer product fragments, in particular before step e).

It is also preferably possible to additionally carry out the following steps after step d):

e) the transfer product fragments are dried by means of a mechanical dryer and/or a thermal dryer, in particular to reduce the moisture of the transfer product fragments.

It is preferably possible that in step e) the thermal dryer has a temperature in the range of 10 ℃ to 120 ℃, preferably 40 ℃ to 80 ℃.

It is especially provided that after step e), the transfer product fragments have a moisture content in the range from 0% to 25%, preferably from 0% to 5%.

Preferably, the transfer product fragments have a purity after step e) in the range from 60.0 to 100.0 wt. -%, preferably from 95.0 to 100.0 wt. -%, particularly preferably from 99.0 to 100.0 wt. -%. As already described above, the purity level improves from step to step.

It is also preferably provided that after step e) the transfer product fragments are colourless, transparent, opaque, coloured, at least partially coloured or coloured.

Preferably, the following steps are additionally carried out before step f), in particular after step b):

the compacted articles and/or extruded articles and/or transfer product fragments, in particular carrier film fragments, are transported by means of a transport device and/or by means of at least one transport container, in particular a collection container and/or a holder and/or a receptacle and/or a transport box and/or a bundled bag and/or sack, wherein the at least one transport container, in particular before step f), is filled with the compacted articles and/or extruded articles and/or transfer product fragments.

In particular, it is provided that the following steps are additionally carried out after step a) or after step b):

f) compounding a densified article and/or an extruded article, wherein additives are added to provide the compound with improved material properties.

Preferably, it is provided that the compound is provided in the form of a melt and/or pellets after compounding.

Advantageously, it is possible that in step f) the transferred product pieces and/or the compacted article and/or the extruded article are conveyed and/or plasticized and/or homogenized together with additives in a compounding machine, in particular an extruder system, such as a single screw extruder, a co-rotating or counter-rotating twin screw extruder, a ring extruder, a planetary screw extruder, a multi-rotating system, a plasticator and/or another extruder system.

Advantageously, in step f), the molten compound is directly worked up in a shaping process, in particular an injection molding process and/or a pressing process and/or an extrusion process. This is advantageous in that the compound does not have to be first post-processed into pellets and then finally processed into plastic moldings and/or extruded articles in a further post-processing, preferably in an injection molding process and/or a pressing process and/or an extrusion process. Thus eliminating transportation and storage. A further advantage is that the energy consumption can be reduced, since the compound is already present in the molten state and therefore no additional melting and/or plasticization and/or homogenization is necessary for the injection molding process and/or the pressing method and/or the extrusion process.

It is preferably provided that in step f) the melting temperature of the compound when carrying out the shaping process is in the range from 100 ℃ to 350 ℃, in particular from 150 ℃ to 320 ℃, preferably from 260 ℃ to 290 ℃.

It is preferably provided that in step f) the melting temperature of the compound, in particular when the carrier film comprises PET as main component, is in the range from 150 ℃ to 320 ℃, preferably from 260 ℃ to 290 ℃, when the shaping process is carried out.

In particular, it is also provided that in step f), the molten compound is additionally processed to form granules by means of strand granulation and/or underwater granulation. Advantageously, after this process step, high-quality plastic pellets are obtained with good material properties, which can subsequently be used as a starting material in injection molding processes and/or pressing processes and/or extrusion processes.

It is preferably also provided that the melting temperature during compounding in step f) is in the range from 100 ℃ to 350 ℃, in particular from 150 ℃ to 320 ℃, preferably from 260 ℃ to 290 ℃.

It is preferably also provided that the melting temperature during compounding in step f), in particular when the carrier film comprises PET as main component, is in the range from 150 ℃ to 320 ℃, preferably from 260 ℃ to 290 ℃.

It is also preferably provided that during compounding in step f) a vacuum and/or underpressure is generated in the compounder, in particular in the extruder system, which preferably lies in the range from 0.01mbar to 1013 mbar.

Advantageously, the compound and/or the pellets have a composition after step f), in particular in the case of PET as main component, of 1kJ/m²To 100kJ/m²Preferably 5kJ/m²To 60kJ/m²Notched impact toughness in the range, in particular as measured according to Charpy at room temperature.

It is also preferably provided that after step f), the compound and/or pellets, especially in the case of PET as the main constituent, have an elastic modulus (E modulus) in the range from 1,000MPa to 10,000MPa, preferably from 1,300MPa to 8,000MPa, especially measured at room temperature by means of a tensile test.

It is possible in particular that after step f), the compound and/or the granulate have a purity in the range from 20.0 to 99.9% by weight, preferably from 50 to 99.9% by weight, particularly preferably from 80 to 99.9% by weight.

The method according to the invention is particularly suitable for recycling transfer products in which the transfer layer consists of a material different from the carrier film. Such a method provides the advantage that the used transfer product is not discarded but is additionally processed, resulting in an additional life cycle. This provides a significant economic and ecological advantage, since the production of new plastics can be dispensed with. By successive removal of the transfer layers, as pure as possible a plastic material is obtained, which can be used for producing new carrier films and/or other plastic components.

Drawings

Further embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and described below. In this case, the amount of the solvent to be used,

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a transfer product recycling process;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of the recovery process of the transfer product;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of the recovery process of the transfer product;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of the recovery process of the transfer product;

fig. 5 shows a schematic illustration of the recovery process of the transfer product.

Detailed Description

The invention is explained below in an exemplary manner according to various embodiments with the aid of the figures. The illustrated embodiments are therefore not to be construed in a limiting sense.

Fig. 1 shows an exemplary method for recycling a transfer product having at least one carrier film, wherein a carrier layer is at least partially detachably arranged on the at least one carrier film, and wherein the following steps are carried out in the method:

a) the transfer product is comminuted 10 by means of a comminuting unit or comminuting device into transfer product fragments, in particular carrier film fragments, preferably wherein the transfer product is present in the form of a roll,

b) the transfer product fragments, especially the carrier film fragments, are compressed 30 into a dense article.

It is preferably also provided that in step b) the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, are extruded 31 into an extruded article.

Preferably, the transfer product is wound in roll form, in particular on a film core, before the comminution 10, in particular before step a), after a transfer process and/or a lamination process and/or an insert molding process and/or an in-mold decoration process. It is also provided in particular that the transfer product is collected by means of a collecting container, in particular by means of a holder and/or a receptacle and/or a transport box and/or a bundled bag, before the comminution 10, in particular before step a), and after the transfer method and/or the lamination method and/or the insert molding method and/or the in-mold decoration method.

In a further embodiment, it is provided that the transfer product is wound in roll form, in particular without mixing, onto a film core. Alternatively, the winding can take place in the form of a roll and also without a film core, i.e. coreless, and/or on a film core, which is removed from the film roll after winding, so that the film roll is then present in coreless form. Such a removable film core may, for example, be part of a machine on which the transfer product is processed.

It is also designed that the transfer product can be collected without mixing. Unmixed here means that only transfer products of the same and/or similar properties, such as having the same carrier material, are wound and/or collected on a roll. Thereby ensuring that no additional foreign objects and/or foreign material flow into the recycling process. This additionally improves the quality and improves the material properties of the end product and/or the compact article and/or the extruded article.

It is also contemplated that the transfer layer is at least partially transferred to the substrate to be decorated in a transfer process and/or a lamination process and/or an insert molding process and/or an in-mold decoration process prior to comminuting 10, and wherein the transfer product is provided as a by-product.

In particular, the following steps are additionally carried out before the comminution 10: the transfer product is wound, in particular on a film core, to provide a roll. In particular, the method steps are carried out after the production of rejects. The defective product means a transfer product in which a defect occurs at the time of its production, for example, a layer to which a transfer layer may not be applied with sufficient quality. Such inferior goods are not sold to customers. In order to keep the losses occurring as small as possible, the transfer products declared as defective are recovered, whereby the material can be reused.

It is also preferably provided that, before the comminution 10, in particular in step a), the following steps are additionally carried out:

the rolls are transported to the shredding unit or shredding device manually and/or by means of a conveyor device.

It can also be provided that, during the comminution 10 of the transfer product, in particular in step a), the wound transfer product is cut into a film web, wherein the roll with the transfer product is fixed, in particular horizontally, in a V-shaped recess and is subsequently cut by means of a knife, in particular from above or from below or from the side, in the longitudinal direction to the film core and the film core is removed, in particular in the presence of the film core. This has the advantage that the transfer product can be removed quickly from the film core in a simple manner and used for further processing.

It is possible in particular that, during the comminution 10, in particular in step a), a comminution unit and/or a comminution device is used for cutting and/or severing and/or comminuting and/or tearing the transfer product.

More preferably, it is provided that, during the comminution 10 of the transfer product, in particular in step a), at least one transfer layer is at least partially removed from at least one carrier film, so that a mixture of transfer product fragments and/or carrier film fragments and/or transfer layer component parts is produced.

Advantageously, the transfer product fragments have a paint residue content after comminution 10, in particular in step a), in the range from 0 to 100% by weight, preferably from 10 to 100% by weight, particularly preferably from 50 to 100% by weight.

Advantageously, the transfer product fragments after comminution 10, in particular in step a), have a fine material fraction in the range from 0 to 20% by weight, preferably from 0 to 5% by weight.

It is also preferably possible that the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, after comminution 10, in particular in step a), have a mass in the range from 0.01mg to 100mg, preferably from 0.5mg to 10mg, particularly preferably from 1mg to 5 mg.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, it is preferably provided that the following steps are additionally carried out after comminution 10:

mechanically purifying 20, in particular mechanically purifying the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, in the absence of a washing liquid, to remove foreign material and/or transfer layer constituents.

In a possible embodiment, the comminution device and/or comminution unit is arranged separately from the mechanical purification 20, so that a transport between two process stations is required. In particular, it is provided that, after the comminution 10, in particular in step a), and before the mechanical purification 20, in particular in step c), the following steps are additionally carried out:

the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, are transported by means of a transport device and/or by means of at least one transport container, in particular a collection container and/or a rack and/or a receptacle and/or a transport box and/or a bundled bag and/or big bag, wherein the at least one transport container is filled with the transfer product fragments before the mechanical purification 20, in particular in step c).

A conveyor is understood to mean any conveying means and/or conveyor belt and/or pneumatic conveyor or the like.

Advantageously, in the mechanical purification 20 of the transfer product fragments, in particular in step c), the foreign material and/or the transfer layer constituents are removed, preferably by means of mechanical drying. The comminution 10 is preferably followed by a mechanical purification 20 in order to separate transfer layer components, in particular transfer layer residues, such as lacquer residues, lacquer powder and/or fine material, which are produced during comminution from the transfer product fragments.

In particular, mechanical purification 20 is provided by means of friction, in particular in step c), in which the transfer product fragments are present in a readily dryable state and further transfer layer components are removed.

Advantageously, the transfer product fragments, after mechanical purification 20, in particular after step c), have a paint residue fraction in the range from 0 to 100 wt.%, preferably from 10 to 100 wt.%, particularly preferably from 50 to 100 wt.%.

It is preferably possible to additionally carry out the following steps before the compression 30, in particular before step b), and in particular after the mechanical purification 20, in particular after step c):

the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, are transported by means of a transport device and/or by means of at least one transport container, in particular a collection container and/or a holder and/or a receptacle and/or a transport box and/or a bundled bag and/or sack, wherein the at least one transport container, in particular before the compression 30, is filled with the transfer product fragments.

It is also particularly provided that, during the compression 30, in particular in step b), the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments, are compacted and/or compressed to provide a densified article having a higher bulk density, in particular wherein the bulk density of the densified article is from 1 to 20 times, preferably from 5 to 20 times, higher than the bulk density of the transfer product fragments, in particular the carrier film fragments.

Another method for recycling the transfer product is illustrated in fig. 2. The method comprises the steps of pulverizing 10, mechanically purifying 20 and compressing 30 in the steps presented in fig. 1, wherein purifying 40 with washing liquid and drying 50 occur after mechanically purifying 20 and before compressing 30. In particular, in this embodiment, it is provided that, after mechanical purification 20, in particular after step c), the following steps are additionally carried out:

purifying the transfer product fragments with a washing liquid 40 by means of at least one purification device or a combination of purification devices selected from the group consisting of: a scrubber, a hot scrubber, a friction scrubber, a wet cutting device and/or a wet cutting mill, preferably wherein at least one washing liquid or a combination of washing liquids and/or washing substances selected from the group consisting of: water, washing solutions, solvents, surfactants, additives, lye/acids, grinding additives, or combinations thereof, thereby at least partially removing at least one transfer layer from the carrier film and creating additional transfer layer components.

In the case of transfer layers which are difficult to release, for example adhesive layers and/or pigmented layers and/or special lacquer layers and/or metal layers and/or decorative layers, mechanical purification 20 may not be sufficient to release the transfer layer from the carrier film. During the purification 40 with the washing liquid, the chemical and/or physical bond between the transfer layer, in particular the transfer monolayer, and the carrier film is at least partially dissociated, thereby facilitating the removal of the transfer layer.

During the purification 40 with the washing liquid, it is provided, in particular, that at least one transfer layer is removed from the carrier film by means of friction. After removal of the transfer layer, further lacquer residues and/or further lacquer powder and/or further fine material remain temporarily in the washing liquid. In order to ensure high purity for the subsequent process steps, it is provided that, during the purification 40 with the washing liquid, in particular in step d), further transfer layer constituents are removed from the washing liquid by means of at least one thermal and/or mechanical separation method, in particular filtration and/or distillation.

In order to facilitate the removal of the transfer layer from the carrier film, it has proven particularly useful in step d) to have a fraction of transfer product fragments in the washing liquid in the range from 0.1% to 25% by weight, preferably from 1% to 10% by weight, during the purification 40 with the washing liquid.

It is also preferably provided that after removal of the transfer layer components they remain in the washing liquid only for a short time, so that they do not dissolve and/or disperse in the washing liquid.

It is preferably provided that after purification 40 with the washing liquid, in particular after step d), the transfer product fragments have a purity in the range from 60.0 to 100.0% by weight, preferably from 95.0 to 100.0% by weight, particularly preferably from 99.0 to 100.0% by weight.

In particular in order to reduce the moisture of the transfer product fragments after purification 40 with the washing liquid, in particular after step d), it is preferably designed to carry out the following steps:

the transfer product pieces are dried 50 by means of a mechanical dryer and/or a thermal dryer.

Advantageously, it is also possible that after drying 50, in particular after step e), the transfer product pieces have a moisture in the range from 0% to 25%, preferably from 0% to 5%. By means of the drying 50, it is ensured that no further substances contained in the washing liquid flow downstream together.

In addition to the method steps downstream of the compression 30 shown in fig. 2, an extrusion 31 can preferably also be carried out. In particular in the case of compression 30 and/or extrusion 31, it is particularly important that the transfer product fragments to be compressed and/or extruded have a high degree of purity. It is generally the fact that the purer the material to be compressed and/or extruded, the better the material properties of the compacted article and/or extruded article after compression 30 and/or extrusion 31. By "material properties" are understood physical and chemical properties, such as density, melting temperature, strength, notched impact toughness, modulus of elasticity, shear modulus and/or viscosity. It is therefore provided in particular that after drying 50, in particular in step e), the transfer product fragments have a purity in the range from 60.0% by weight to 100.0% by weight, preferably from 95.0% by weight to 100.0% by weight, particularly preferably from 99.0% by weight to 100.0% by weight.

Another schematic diagram for recycling the transfer product is illustrated in fig. 3. The recovery method also comprises the steps already presented in fig. 1 and 2: comminution 10, mechanical purification 20 and compression 30. Instead of compression 30, extrusion 31 may also be performed. However, compounding 60 is also performed after compression 30 or extrusion 31. In an alternative embodiment, it can also be provided that the compounding 60 is carried out after the comminution 10, so that the transfer product fragments are preferably compounded directly after the comminution 10. Preferably, it is provided that the compact articles and/or extruded articles and/or transfer-printed product fragments are compounded, wherein additives are added, in order to provide the compound with improved material properties. This is particularly desirable when there is initially a transfer product with a high share of the transfer layer. This is particularly the case when inferior products are generated during the production process of the transfer product. Preferably, in the case of such a defective product, the carrier film of the transfer product is almost completely covered with the transfer layer. If this is the case, there is in particular the risk that the process steps of comminution 10 and mechanical purification 20 which are present do not sufficiently remove the transfer layer fraction. The transfer of the product fragments is therefore carried out with a high proportion of the transfer layer regarded as foreign material. Due to the high proportion of foreign material, no pure plastic is present and therefore does not have optimal material properties. In particular, the material properties can be modified by adding additives during compounding 60, so that the plastics are suitable for post-processing, for example injection molding and/or pressing and/or extrusion.

It is especially envisaged that, during compounding 60, preferably in step f), the compacted article and/or the extruded article and/or the transfer product chips are conveyed and/or plasticized and/or homogenized together with the additives in a compounding machine, especially an extruder system, such as a single screw extruder, a co-rotating or counter-rotating twin screw extruder, a ring extruder, a planetary screw extruder, a multi-rotating system, a plasticator and/or another extruder system.

Preferably, the compound and/or pellets after compounding 60, especially in step f), especially in case the carrier film comprises PET as main ingredient, preferably have a composition of at least 1kJ/m²To 100kJ/m²Preferably 5kJ/m²To 60kJ/m²Notched impact toughness in the range, in particular as measured according to Charpy at room temperature.

Further preferably, the compound and/or the pellets have an elastic modulus (E modulus) after compounding 60, especially in step f), especially in case the carrier film comprises PET as main ingredient, in the range of 1,000MPa to 10,000MPa, preferably 1,300MPa to 8,000MPa, especially measured at room temperature by means of a tensile test.

It is preferably also provided that the compound and/or the granulate, after the compounding 60, in particular after step f), has a purity in the range from 20.0 to 99.9% by weight, preferably from 50.0 to 99.9% by weight, particularly preferably from 80.0 to 99.9% by weight.

Fig. 4 shows another schematic diagram of the recovery process of the transfer product, wherein several possibilities of how such a process may be composed are set forth herein. This type of recycling process as illustrated in fig. 4 is used in particular when the transfer layer of the transferred product is transferred beforehand by a transfer method and/or a lamination method and/or an insert molding method and/or an in-mold decoration method to the substrate to be decorated. Preferably, the plastics which are as clean and pure as possible are reused by this recycling process, which can serve, for example, as a basis for new carrier films and/or other plastic articles.

Preferably, as shown in fig. 1 to 3, first a comminution 10 is carried out, followed by a mechanical purification 20. After mechanical purification 20, it is designed in particular to purify 40 the transfer product fragments with a washing liquid by means of at least one purification device or a combination of purification devices selected from the group consisting of: scrubbers, hot scrubbers, friction scrubbers, wet cutting devices and/or wet cutting grinders. In this embodiment it is also preferably provided that the at least one washing liquid comprises at least one washing liquid or a combination of washing liquids and/or washing substances selected from the group consisting of: water, washing solutions, solvents, surfactants, additives, lye/acids, grinding additives, or combinations thereof, thereby at least partially removing at least one transfer layer from the carrier film and creating additional transfer layer components.

In order to extract the moisture produced by the purification 40 of the transfer product fragments with washing liquid, it is designed in particular to dry by means of a mechanical dryer 51 and/or to dry by means of a thermal dryer 52. Preferably, other drying methods may also be used. It is especially designed to carry out the drying steps, often randomly and/or in any order. It is thus also possible, for example, to carry out drying with a combination of a mechanical dryer 51 and a thermal dryer 52.

Preferably, after drying 50 the transferred product pieces, in particular the carrier film pieces, are compressed 30, preferably by means of a plastic compactor, and/or extruded 31, preferably by means of an extruder system, into extruded articles.

Fig. 5 likewise shows a schematic representation of the recovery process of the transfer product, wherein further implementation variants are envisaged. The recycling process illustrated in fig. 5 is particularly suitable for transfer products that are highly contaminated, in particular by the transfer layer. The recycling process is designed in particular for transfer products declared as defective. As mentioned in the opening paragraph, transfer products of this type have a high proportion of transfer layer. It is also possible to process with this recycling process transfer products whose transfer layer has been transferred beforehand to the substrate to be decorated by means of a transfer method and/or a lamination method and/or an insert molding method and/or an in-mold decoration method, which transfer products are, however, mainly transfer products which have not been purified with washing liquids. Such transfer products may in particular comprise crosslinked or difficult-to-peel lacquers. By a crosslinked or difficult-to-peel lacquer is understood a layer which is irreversibly bonded to the carrier film. Preference is given here to a polymeric release layer which has a better and/or different release behavior than conventional carrier films. Such a release layer is irreversibly connected to the carrier film and a transfer layer is arranged on the release layer. The transfer layer can in particular be peeled off more easily from the carrier film with the polymeric release layer, so that a higher-value decoration of the substrate to be decorated is made possible. The recycling process presented in fig. 5 is particularly suitable for recycling highly contaminated transfer products, so that they are as simple as possible to post-process.

Preferably, the steps known from fig. 1 are first carried out: comminution 10, mechanical purification 20 and compression 30. In this example, compounding with processing in off-line process 61 and/or compounding with processing in-line process 62 is performed after compression 30.

In the off-line process 61, the compounding with processing, in particular in step f), the molten compound is preferably post-processed into pellets by means of strand granulation and/or underwater granulation. It is possible that the resulting pellets are subsequently processed in a further process step into a further carrier film and/or other plastic articles, for example by means of injection molding and/or pressing processes and/or extrusion.

The compounding with processing in the in-line process 62, especially in step f), is preferably post-treatment of the molten compound directly in the shaping process, especially in the injection molding process and/or in the pressing process and/or in the extrusion process.

List of reference numerals:

10 pulverizing

20 mechanical purification by mechanical means

30 compression

31 extrusion

40 purification with washing solution

50 drying

51 drying by means of a mechanical dryer

52 drying by means of a thermal dryer

60 compounding

61 compounding and processing in an off-line process

62 compounding and processing in an in-line process