Automatic selection and sorting device for waste objects intended for recycling

Description

RIPET Srl “Automatic selection and sorting device for waste objects intended for recycling” ***** 5 The present invention relates to a automatic selection and sorting device waste objects intended for recycling comprising at least one entrance, one station classification and at least one exit to at least two 10 different collection areas. In the field of recycling, separate waste collection represents a fundamental step to ensure the effectiveness of subsequent recycling processes. Currently, the infrastructure used for the 15 separate waste collection, such as collection bells, They are often bulky and place the user in front of the need to decide independently in which container to deposit your waste. This scenario increases the probability of errors, with the 20 consequent placement of waste in the compartments incorrect, deteriorating the quality of the collected material and reducing its value in the later stages of the recycling. Effective separation is crucial, since the value of the material depends on it 25 destined for recycling. Document EP3389879 describes a system of waste recovery that includes at least one sensor optician configured to acquire associated optical data to a waste product and a processor coupled to the 30 optical sensor. The processor can be configured to determine information about the waste product in based on optical data and to selectively direct the waste product to a selected destination in response to the determination of the information. These recovery systems, however, use tapes transporters and are therefore very bulky and not very usable in compact sorting systems and 5 low cost. Therefore, in the current state of the art, it is noted that growing need to develop a collection system more compact and automated, which can reduce dimensional footprint and improve accuracy 10 of the separation of waste destined for recycling. The purpose of the invention is to develop a system that allows to increase the efficiency of the processes recycling helping to significantly reduce human errors and to valorize the material 15 recovered, to meet the stringent needs of the recycling sector and improve sustainability global environmental. The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of currently known systems and 20 achieve the above purposes with a device such as described at the beginning, in which also the station of classification includes a collection compartment of the object, which collection compartment is provided with an object insertion opening, which 25 insertion opening constitutes the said entrance, and below at least one exit opening of the object, which exit opening constitutes the said exit. The exit opening can be blocked by two doors that can be moved by means of actuation 30 from a closed position, in which they form a cradle supporting the object, to an open position. At least one camera is provided in the collection compartment. A connected machine vision unit is planned to the camera and configured to identify the object and accordingly command the said means of drive for opening one or both of the above doors to drop the object into one of the said 5 at least two different collection areas. The heart of the system is represented by the automated classification station the entire sorting process. Thanks to the presence of an integrated camera with a control unit 10 machine vision, the device is capable of identify waste items accurately and automatic. This reduces the need for intervention human, limiting separation errors and increasing the speed of the sorting operation. 15 The configuration of the exit opening, managed by mobile desks, it allows you to direct the objects to two or more different collection zones. This is especially useful for managing various types of recyclable materials, improving the quality of the 20 separation. The ability to open one or both of the command doors allow you to adapt the route of the object falling based on its characteristics specifications identified by computer vision, optimizing the recycling process for different 25 categories of waste. The doors also act as a support cradle when they are in the closed position, ensuring that the objects are held in place until moment of their selection and sorting. This 30 dual functionality of the doors helps to optimize the space inside the device. In one embodiment, inside the compartment of an illuminator is provided for the collection. This allows for good illumination of the compartment. collection for improved vision accuracy artificial, with a reduction in errors sorting. 5 According to an executive example, the counters are shaped in such a way that the opening of a first said door causes the object to fall into a first said collection area and the opening of a second said door causes the object to fall into a 10 second said collection area. This door configuration offers a flexible and precise sorting capacity, allowing objects to be directed towards areas collection specifications based on the type of material. 15 This sorting method not only optimizes the separation process but also reduces the contamination between different types of materials, improving the quality of recyclable material. According to a further executive example, the 20 doors are shaped in such a way that the opening of a first said door causes the fall of the object in a first said collection area, the opening of a second said door causes the fall of the object into a second zone called 25 collection and the opening of both doors cause the fall of the object into a third zone called collection. In a further executive example, each door is equipped with at least one counterweight suitable for 30 firmly push the door towards the said closed position. The use of counterweights ensures that under conditions at rest the doors remain in the position of closure, minimizing the risk of openings accidental or malfunctions during the process of sorting. This system contributes to the operational stability of the device, ensuring that 5 each object is correctly sorted according to the predefined schedules. According to one embodiment, at least one is foreseen electromagnet to keep the doors in the closed position. 10 The use of electromagnets provides a effective and immediate locking mechanism, which further improves the security of the system closing the doors. This reduces the possibility of operational errors, maintaining precise control 15 on when and how the counters are opened and of as a result the objects are released into the different collection areas. In a further embodiment, the means of drive include linear actuators 20 electromechanics. Electromechanical linear actuators offer a quick and accurate response in opening and closing of the counters, improving the accuracy of the Object sorting. Their implementation 25 allows optimal management of cycle times device, increasing the overall efficiency of the sorting system. According to another executive example, the said cradle of support is inclined downwards in the direction of 30 removal from the said insertion opening. The tilt of the support cradle makes it easier the natural movement of objects being inserted into the housing compartment, using gravity for a smoother and less dependent transfer complex mechanisms, such as ribbons or drive belts, which reduces wear on the device and maintenance costs. 5 In a further embodiment, it is foreseen means of weighing the object inserted into the cradle support. The introduction of weighing devices allows for obtain a quantitative evaluation of the objects 10 sorted, providing essential data for a process of more detailed and targeted recycling, capable of distinguish between materials based not only on shape or to the color but also to the weight, optimizing further the separation process thanks to a 15 integration of computer vision results with the weighing data. According to a further embodiment, the compartment is delimited by walls and each door is hinged to a lower edge of a 20 corresponding to the said wall and is shaped in such a way such that, in the said closed position, presents a first portion proximal to the wall and lying on the same plane as the wall and a second portion distal to the wall and lying on a plane 25 inclined towards the additional door. The particular configuration of the doors, which integrate with the walls of the room, not only optimizes the space inside the device but It also minimizes the risk of jamming. This 30 conformation facilitates a consistent and controlled flow of objects, ensuring that the process of sorting is carried out with maximum efficiency and precision. In the open position, in fact, the counter identifies a passageway large enough for the passage of the object falling, despite the space of housing and in general the entire device are kept as compact as possible. 5 In one embodiment, the housing compartment it is sized to accommodate a single said object of refusal. These and other features and advantages of the the present invention will be more clearly apparent from the 10 following description of some executive examples not limitations illustrated in the attached drawings where: Figs. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate different views of a first embodiment of the device; Fig. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the 15 device; Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate different conditions operational features of the device in a first variant executive; Figs. 7, 8 and 9 illustrate different conditions 20 operational versions of the device in a second variant executive; Fig. 10 illustrates a further executive example of the device. The figures illustrate some executive examples of the 25 automatic selection and sorting device waste objects intended for recycling according to the present invention. The device comprises at least one input, a classification station and at least one exit to 30 at least two different collection areas 40, 41, 42. The classification station includes a compartment 1 of object collection. This collection compartment is consisting of a rigid case, preferably made of metal material, delimited by walls: two lateral ones 10 and 11, one head one 12, one tail 13 and an upper one 14. The collection compartment 1 is preferably sized to accommodate a single 5 object. The collection compartment 1 has an opening of Insertion 15 for the object, located at least in part in the head wall 12, specifically in correspondence of the lower end of 10 the latter. The case is open at the bottom, creating thus an exit opening 16 for the object. Such exit opening 16 can be blocked by two doors 2 and 3, which, when in the closed position, they form a support cradle for the object. 15 Doors 2 and 3 are hinged at the edges lower side walls 10 and 11 respectively. In the closed position, the doors 2 and 3 touch each other, in particular by mutual contact of two flanged edges 20 provided on the respective free ends. These doors can be moved from the position of closing to opening by means of drive, which preferably consist of electromechanical linear actuators 6, in particular 25 of the electromagnetic type. Each door 2, 3 is equipped with at least one counterweight 5, which steadily forces it towards the closed position. At least one is also provided electromagnet which ensures the maintenance of the 30 doors 2, 3 in the closed position. The electromagnet, not shown in the figures, can be for example foreseen in correspondence with the said flanged edges provided on the respective ends free of the two doors 2 and 3. Inside the collection compartment 1 are installed at least one camera and one illuminator, not illustrated in the figures. The upper wall 14 is provided with a 5 hole 17 for at least partial insertion of the said camera and the said illuminator inside the collection compartment 1. A computer vision unit, not shown in the figures, it is connected to the camera and is 10 configured to identify the object and command the operating means for opening one or both doors 2, 3, dropping the object into a of the different collection areas 40, 41, 42. The support cradle is tilted downwards 15 in the direction away from the opening of insertion 15, so that gravity facilitates the sliding insertion of the object into the compartment of collection 1. The case is suspended by two support arms 20 7 to a load-bearing structure, not shown in the figure. The support arms 7 are inverted U-shaped and are hinged externally to the case. The arms of support 7 are of different length, in particular the arm near the insertion opening 25 15 is shorter than the other. This way, once fixed the support arms 7 to the said structure load-bearing, the case and consequently the cradle of support are in an inclined position as described above. 30 There are also weighing devices, not illustrated in figures 1, 2 and 3, to measure the weight of the object inserted into the support cradle. The weighing means are preferably one or more load cells placed between the support arms 7 and the supporting structure. The collection compartment 1 is surrounded by the walls 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and each door 2, 3 is 5 hinged to the lower edge of the respective wall 10, 11. Each door is shaped in such a way which, in the closed position, has a first portion 20, 30 proximal to wall 10, 11 placed on the same plane as the wall, and a second portion 10 21, 31 distal to the wall and inclined towards the additional counter 2, 3. In figures 1, 2 and 3 door 2 is in position closing, while door 3 is in the closing position opening, to create the said exit opening 15 laterally oriented. Figure 4 illustrates an executive variant with a single support arm 7 and with the load cell 8 interposed between the support arm 7 and the structure load-bearing. This allows you to measure the weight of the object 20 inserted into the device and lying on the cradle of support. You can make the selection excluding bodies over a certain weight, which can then be discarded in a pre-established manner, for example being transported in a pre-established area 25 collection. Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the operation of the device in a first executive variant, showing like the shape and movement of the doors 2 and 3 allow objects to fall in two different 30 collection zones 40 and 41, depending on the mode of opening. Figure 4 shows how the opening of the first door 2 causes the object to fall in a first collection area 40. This is achieved by operating only the first door 2 and keeping it in position closing the second door 3. Figure 5 illustrates the effect of opening the 5 second door 3. In this configuration, the object falls into a second collection zone 41, distinct from the first. This is achieved by operating only the second door 3 and keeping it in position closing the first door 2. 10 Figures 7, 8 and 9 illustrate the operation of the device in a second executive variant, showing how the conformation and movement of the doors 2 and 3 allow objects to fall into three different collection zones 40, 41 and 42, depending on 15 of the opening mode. While figures 7 and 8 correspond to what illustrated in the previous figures 5 and 6, Figure 9 represents the case where both doors 2 and 3 are open at the same time. In this situation, 20 the object falls into a third collection zone 42, located centrally between the first and second zones of collection 40 and 41. Figure 10 illustrates a further example device executive where you can sort 25 objects in three (or four) different areas of collection. The tail wall 13 is provided below of a door 23 opposite the opening of insertion 15 operated by a respective actuator electromechanical linear 6 in opening and closing. 30 Opening doors 2 and 3 allows the object exit according to the modalities illustrated in figures 5 and 6 or 7-9, while the opening of door 23 allows the sorting of the object in a further collection area.

Claims

1. Selection and sorting device automatic collection of waste objects destined for recycling comprising at least one input, one 5 classification station and at least one exit to at least two different collection areas (40, 41, 42), characterized by the fact that the classification station comprises a compartment (1) of collection of the said object, which space of 10 collection (1) is provided with an insertion opening (15) of the object, which insertion opening (15) constitutes the said entrance, and below of at least one exit opening (16) of the object, the which exit opening (16) constitutes the said 15 exit, where the outlet opening (16) is occludable by at least two doors (2, 3) that can be moved by means of operation from a closed position, in which they form a cradle to support the object, at a 20 opening position, and in which the collection compartment (1) is provided at least one camera, a machine vision unit being provided connected to the camera and configured for 25 identify the object and command accordingly said means of operation for the opening of one or both the said doors (2, 3) to drop the object in one of the said at least two different zones of collection (40, 41, 42). 30 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the doors (2, 3) are shaped in such a way as to which the opening of a first said door (2) causes the fall of the object into a first said zone of collection (40) and the opening of a second saying door (3) causes the object to fall into a second said collection area (41).

3. Device according to one or more of the previous 5 claims, where each door (2, 3) is equipped with at least one counterweight (5) suitable for firmly push the door towards the said closed position.

4. Device according to one or more of the previous 10 claims, in which at least one is foreseen electromagnet to hold the doors (2, 3) in the closed position.

5. Device according to one or more of the previous claims, where the means of actuation 15 include electromechanical linear actuators (6).

6. Device according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein said support cradle is inclined downwards in the direction of departure from the said insertion opening (15). 20 7. Device according to one or more of the previous claims, in which weighing means are provided of the object inserted into the support cradle.

8. Device according to one or more of the previous claims, where the collection compartment (1) is 25 delimited by walls (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and each door (2, 3) is hinged to a lower edge of a corresponding said wall (10, 11) and is shaped in such a way that, in the said position closing, presents a first portion (20, 30) 30 proximal to the wall (10, 11) and lying on the same wall plane (10, 11) and a second portion (21, 31) distal to the wall (10, 11) and lying on a plane inclined towards the additional door (2, 3).

9. Device according to one or more of the previous claims, where the collection compartment (1) is sized to accommodate a single said object.