Method and apparatus for recycling carpet

A method of separating carpet fibers from a backing material to which said fibers are secured comprising, placing a carpet strip containing said fibers and said backing on a feed belt where said backing is face up on said belt, and said fibers are closer to the surface of said belt than said backing, passing said carpet strip through a pair of nip rollers which force said carpet strip along a face of a dish plate, passing the fibers of said carpet strip over an edge on said dish plate which holds the carpet while the pins of a main drum tear apart the carpet and free the carpet pile fiber from the carpet backing fiber;

• transporting said separated carpet pile fibers to a first receptacle, positioning said backing on said pins extending from a surface of said main drum, transporting said backing on said main drum using a first guide, removing said backing on said main drum by a second guide, and transporting said shredded backing to a second receptacle.

A method of separating carpet fibers from a backing material to which said fibers are secured comprising, placing a carpet strip containing said fibers and said backing on a belt where said backing is face up on said belt, and said fibers are closer to the surface of said belt than said backing, passing said carpet between said belt and a pressing roller to retain said carpet strip in position on said belt;

• passing said carpet strip through a pair of feed rollers which force said carpet strip along a face of a dish plate, said dish plate having an edge on an upper surface, passing the fibers of said carpet strip over said edge of said dish plate, holding said carpet while the pins of a main drum tear apart and shred the carpet backing structure of said carpet strip separating said pile carpet fibers from said carpet backing fibers, transporting said separated pile carpet fibers to a first receptacle, transporting said carpet backing fibers on one or more pins extending from a surface of the main drum to a separating guide, directing said shredded backing to the surface of a negative pressure drum said negative pressure holding shredded backing fibers on said drum as said drum rotates, transporting said shredded backing fibers to a second receptacle.