Auxiliary recovery battery object

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (100) for assisting in the recycling of battery objects (10), the system comprising: i) a data providing unit (101) providing a) object data associated with a battery object (10) that has been returned to a return site (30) for recycling, and b) packaging availability data associated with the availability of packaging means (20) at the return site, ii) a packaging selector providing unit (102) providing a packaging selector that generates a recommended packaging selection for a battery object when applied to the data provided by the data providing unit, and iii) a packaging selector applying unit (103) generating a recommended packaging selection for a returned battery object to be recycled by applying the provided packaging selector to the provided data. This allows to achieve an efficient recycling of battery objects, in particular in a network of possible return sites and possible recycling sites.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a system, method, and computer program for assisting in the recycling of battery objects. Furthermore, the invention relates to an apparatus for assisting in the recycling of battery objects, and the use of the system, apparatus, method, and / or computer program for assisting in the recycling of battery objects. Background Technology

[0002] The transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy as the primary energy source is widely expected to increase demand for batteries as temporary energy storage devices. However, battery production also requires limited material resources. Therefore, battery recycling is necessary to achieve a truly sustainable energy transition. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to achieve efficient recycling of battery materials.

[0004] In view of the above objectives, a system for assisting in the recycling of battery objects is proposed, wherein the system includes a data providing unit, a packaging selector providing unit, and a packaging selector application unit. The data providing unit is configured to provide data including a) object data associated with battery objects returned to a return station for recycling, and b) packaging availability data associated with the availability of packaging devices at the return station. The packaging selector providing unit is configured to provide a packaging selector, wherein the packaging selector is configured to generate recommended packaging selections for the battery objects when applied to the data provided by the data providing unit. The packaging selector application unit is configured to generate recommended packaging selections for the battery objects returned to the return station for recycling by applying the provided packaging selector to the provided data.

[0005] An efficient infrastructure for recycling battery objects can be achieved through a network of return stations to which battery objects can be returned for recycling, rather than through a single selected recycling station where battery objects are recycled. In a network of return and recycling stations, battery objects need to be transported from return stations to recycling stations, where this transport typically requires packaging at the return stations. The proposed system is specifically a system for assisting in this necessary packaging of battery objects.

[0006] Typically, any given return site will have various types of packaging devices available, but other types may not be available. Furthermore, different types of battery objects often require different types of packaging devices. Therefore, selecting the appropriate packaging device for a given returned battery object can be a relatively complex task for personnel working at the return site, especially if they have limited knowledge of packaging device availability and suitability related to the battery object. Since the proposed system can generate recommended packaging options, it greatly assists personnel at the return site responsible for selecting packaging devices for returned battery objects. This allows for more efficient recycling of battery objects.

[0007] The data providing unit can be a receiving unit configured to receive object data and / or packaged availability data. Thus, the data providing unit can correspond to a data interface to an external data source for the proposed system. The data providing unit can also be a storage unit storing object data and / or packaged availability data. Furthermore, the data providing unit can be a data determining unit configured to determine object data and / or packaged availability data based on data received from an external data source or based on data obtained from a storage unit. The data providing unit can also be any combination of a data receiving unit, a storage unit, and a data determining unit.

[0008] The packaging selector can be a trained artificial intelligence, particularly a trained machine learning model. Furthermore, since the data provided by the data providing unit can preferably be represented numerically as integers, the packaging selector can be a maximum integer linear programming problem. The packaging selector can also be viewed as a solver, as it "solves" the task of selecting a packaging device for a given battery object.

[0009] The provision of the packaging selector, performed by the packaging selector providing unit, may refer to loading and / or initializing the packaging selector. Then, the application of the packaging selector, performed by the packaging selector application unit, may refer to applying the provided packaging selector.

[0010] For example, the packaging selector providing unit can be configured to load a machine learning model that has been trained on training object data and training packaging availability data to generate corresponding recommended packaging choices. The packaging selector applying unit can be configured to apply the trained machine learning model to the object data and packaging availability data for the most recently returned battery object that still requires packaging selection, so as to generate recommended packaging choices for that battery object.

[0011] The object data associated with a battery object that has been returned to a return site for recycling preferably includes data associated with one or more of the following: battery type, battery size, battery weight, battery damage condition, battery voltage, battery capacity, battery state of charge, risks arising from the corresponding battery, one or more materials used to produce the corresponding battery, and one or more participants in the production chain associated with the corresponding battery.

[0012] A battery object can be a battery or a battery component. That is, the entire battery or only battery components can be returned to the return site for recycling, with recommended packaging options available for either of these battery objects. A battery component can refer to battery parts or materials (such as liquids) used in the battery manufacturing process. Therefore, battery liquids can also be returned separately for recycling.

[0013] The data providing unit is preferably further configured to provide recycling data associated with one or more of the following: i) recycling requirements for the returned battery objects; and ii) the destination for further transportation from the return site to the recycling site. More efficient packaging choices can also be made by generating recommended packaging options based on the recycling data.

[0014] Recycling requirements can specifically include emission requirements and dismantling requirements. The destination for further transport from a return site to a recycling site does not necessarily indicate only the location of the recycling site, but may specifically, additionally or exclusively, the location of one or more additional return sites, which can then be considered intermediate destinations. Therefore, further transport can be the collection of battery objects returned to various different return sites and subsequently transported together to the recycling site.

[0015] Even if there may not be a rule that directly relates a) the recycling requirement and / or the destination of further transportation to b) the appropriate packaging choice, or if such a rule cannot at least exist in a way that is communicated to human workers, the correlation between a) the recycling requirement and / or the destination of further transportation and b) the appropriate packaging choice may be identifiable. This correlation can be viewed as an indirect rule instructing the packaging choice, where such indirect rules may not be communicated to human workers but can be learned by the packaging selector (e.g., during its training).

[0016] For example, while recycling requirements (such as emission or dismantling requirements) may be explicitly related only to the characteristics of the battery itself, these characteristics can influence the choice of suitable packaging. Such characteristics can be any object data further mentioned above. Similarly, if recycling requirements cannot be met at all recycling sites, these requirements may implicitly impose limitations on potential recycling sites. Furthermore, if recycling sites have different requirements regarding the types of packaging they accept, these requirements can also indirectly influence the choice of suitable packaging via the recycling sites. Likewise, if the transport of a first battery object returning to a first return site is scheduled to pass through a second return site to collect a second battery object before reaching the recycling site, and if the second battery object is to be packaged or bundled together with the first battery object, and if the second return site imposes restrictions on the types of packaging that can be disposed of at that second return site to facilitate the combined packaging or bundling of the first and second battery objects, then the restrictions on the type of packaging to be selected at the first return site can be derived from the second return site.

[0017] The data providing unit can be further configured to provide transport availability data associated with the availability of transport devices used for further transport from the return station to the recycling station. In this way, the possible packaging options upon which the recommendations are based can be further constrained. Transport devices are understood herein to be additional transport devices besides packaging devices. For example, a transport device can generally refer to vehicles, and more specifically to trucks, rail vehicles (such as trains or railcars), ships, and / or aircraft.

[0018] Therefore, in addition to the battery object itself, the recommended packaging selection can also depend on both the available packaging apparatus and the available transport apparatus. For example, the packaging selector can be configured to recommend the packaging type from all available packaging types that is best suited to the available transport type, where suitability may refer to physical dimensions and / or safety requirements. Exemplary packaging types include different ISO containers, and transport types may include, for example, truck or rail transport as indicated above.

[0019] Packaging availability data can be correlated with the current availability of packaging units at the return site and / or the future availability of packaging units via transport. Therefore, recommended packaging selection can be generated not only based on packaging units currently available at the respective return site, but also additionally or exclusively considering whether the packaging unit can be delivered to that return site (and, if so, what type of packaging unit), wherein delivery of the packaging unit to the return site can be done via transport units available for transporting the battery objects to be recycled to the recycling site and / or via additional transport units (such as transport units associated with a regular logistics provider to which the return site regularly receives new packaging units).

[0020] To illustrate the advantages of the above approach, consider a scenario where, for a given battery object returning to a return station, only a suboptimal, theoretically usable packaging device is currently available at the return station. For example, based solely on currently available packaging devices, a recommended packaging choice might be associated with excessive packaging material usage and / or excessively high safety standards, both of which could also involve excessive costs. If, in this situation, there is a possibility of delivering the optimal packaging device, particularly before the expected collection of the battery object from the return station to the recycling station, the generated recommendation might not initially package the battery object, awaiting the arrival of the optimal packaging device.

[0021] Object data can be associated with multiple battery objects that have been returned to the return site for recycling. That is, the packaging selector can be configured to generate recommended packaging choices for multiple battery objects when applied to data provided by the data providing unit for multiple battery objects returned to the return site. Therefore, trade-offs can be made between packaging choices for multiple battery objects. For example, it may be preferable not to implement the optimal packaging choice for each battery object individually, but rather to implement optimization relative to multiple battery objects. The latter may result in a suboptimal packaging choice for a single battery object, but may be more efficient overall.

[0022] The packaging selector can be specifically configured to generate recommended packaging choices based on available packaging sizes and available transport device sizes. In addition to safety requirements, the relationship between the physical dimensions of the returned battery objects, packaging units, and transport devices can also significantly impact recycling efficiency. For example, by selecting a packaging unit for a given battery object that is no larger than necessary, more battery objects can be transported using a given transport device, thereby reducing the transport materials and energy required for battery recycling transportation, and thus reducing any associated costs.

[0023] Object data can also be associated with battery objects returned to different return stations, where packaging availability data can be associated with the availability of packaging units at the respective return station. In this way, optimized packaging choices can be sought based on a more global perspective of the return station network, thereby expanding the range of battery objects to address the aforementioned possible trade-offs and thus allowing for further improvements in recycling efficiency. Furthermore, transport devices can be used to transport packaging units from one return station to another along their respective routes to the recycling stations. Thus, the return station network can also be viewed as a distributed return station or return network, and the recommended packaging choices can be considered for this distributed return station or return network.

[0024] The system proposed in this paper may further include a transportation scheduler providing unit configured to provide a transportation scheduler for generating a transportation scheduling plan for transporting the battery objects to be recovered toward the recovery station via one or more transportation devices and through one or more return stations. Furthermore, the system may also include a transportation scheduler application unit configured to generate the transportation scheduling plan by applying the transportation scheduler to a given set of provided object data for battery objects and transportation availability data (specifically, a set of available transportation devices indicated by the transportation availability data). Providing and subsequently applying the transportation scheduler may refer to loading and / or initializing a corresponding trained artificial intelligence, particularly machine learning model, similar to the description regarding packaging selectors.

[0025] The transportation scheduler can be specifically configured to generate transportation scheduling plans based on route optimization for collecting battery objects from multiple return stations. For example, this optimization can be performed so that the corresponding routes taken by the transportation devices are as short as possible, or so that these routes are as fast as possible, taking into account road characteristics and / or traffic data.

[0026] Preferably, the transport scheduler is configured to generate a transport scheduling plan based on recommended packaging choices generated by the packaging selector. However, in principle, packaging choices can also be recommended based on one or more given transport scheduling plans. Thus, the packaging selector can be configured to further generate recommended packaging choices based on transport vehicles scheduled to further transport the battery objects from the return station to the recycling station.

[0027] Packaging selectors and / or transportation schedulers can be configured to generate recommended packaging choices and / or transportation schedules, respectively, based on a cost function defined on the provided data. The cost function can specifically indicate the price of each combination of values ​​from the provided data. However, other cost metrics are also possible, including safety metrics, where combinations of different metrics can also be used to define the cost function. In particular, a recommended packaging choice does not necessarily correspond to the cheapest available packaging, but may instead correspond to the safest available packaging. Therefore, the packaging selector can be configured to perform a safety assessment taking into account the potential hazards associated with a given battery object to be recycled.

[0028] The present invention also relates to an apparatus for assisting in the recycling of battery objects, the apparatus being used for these battery objects at a return station, wherein the apparatus includes a) an interface via which at least one identifier can be provided for battery objects that have been returned to the return station for recycling, b) the aforementioned system or a communication device for communicating with the system, and c) a display for displaying recommended packaging options generated by a packaging selector application unit for battery objects whose identifiers have been provided by the interface.

[0029] The aforementioned devices share the advantages of the aforementioned systems. For example, the device could be a terminal device used by a person working at a return station, whereby the person could scan a physical identifier applied to a battery object returning to the return station, read a generated recommended packaging selection from a display in response to the scan, and then apply the recommended packaging to the battery object. The device could also be a handheld device with an application installed thereon, which either performs the functions required to generate the recommended packaging selection itself or communicates with a corresponding backend (in which case the required functions can be performed remotely).

[0030] The present invention also relates to a method for assisting in the recycling of battery objects, the method comprising: a first step of providing data including a) object data associated with battery objects that have been returned to a return station for recycling, and b) packaging availability data associated with the availability of packaging devices at the return station; a second step of providing a packaging selector configured to generate recommended packaging selections for battery objects when applied to the provided data; and a third step of generating recommended packaging selections for battery objects that have been returned to a return station for recycling by applying the provided packaging selector to the provided data.

[0031] The methods described above also share the advantages of the systems and / or devices described above. In fact, the systems described above can be hardware implementations of the methods described above.

[0032] The present invention further relates to a computer program for assisting in the recycling of battery objects, the computer program including instructions that, if the program is run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the methods described above.

[0033] The present invention also relates to the use of the above-described system, device, method and / or computer program for assisting in the recycling of battery objects.

[0034] It should be understood that the system according to claim 1, the device according to claim 13, the method according to claim 14, and the computer program according to claim 15 have similar and / or identical preferred embodiments, particularly as defined in the dependent claims.

[0035] It should be understood that the preferred embodiments of the present invention may also be any combination of the dependent claims or the above embodiments and the corresponding independent claims.

[0036] These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent and will be illustrated with reference to the embodiments described below. Attached Figure Description

[0037] In the attached diagram:

[0038] Figure 1 A system for assisting in the recycling of battery objects is illustrated schematically and exemplary.

[0039] Figure 2 A return station is illustrated schematically and exemplary, to which a battery object can be returned for recycling.

[0040] Figure 3 A network consisting of return stations and recycling stations is illustrated schematically and exemplary, including routes for transporting battery objects within the network.

[0041] Figure 4 The illustration schematically and exemplary depicts the use of a system by personnel working at a return site to assist in the recycling of battery objects.

[0042] Figure 5A The first example of a transport pass is shown schematically.

[0043] Figure 5B A second example of a transport pass is illustrated schematically, and

[0044] Figure 6 A method for assisting in the recycling of battery objects is illustrated schematically and exemplary. Detailed Implementation

[0045] Figure 1A system 100 for assisting in the recycling of battery objects is illustrated schematically and exemplary. The battery object may be the entire battery 10 as indicated in the figures below, but may also be a battery component, such as a single battery part or a material (such as battery fluid) used in the battery manufacturing process.

[0046] System 100 includes a data providing unit 101 configured to provide data including a) object data associated with battery objects returned to a return station for recycling, and b) packaging availability data associated with the availability of packaging devices at the return station. Furthermore, system 100 includes a packaging selector providing unit 102 configured to provide a packaging selector. The packaging selector is configured to generate recommended packaging choices for battery objects when applied to the data provided by data providing unit 101. Additionally, system 100 includes a packaging selector applying unit 103 configured to generate recommended packaging choices for battery objects returned to a return station for recycling by applying the provided packaging selector to the provided data.

[0047] Figure 2 Return station 30 is illustrated schematically and exemplary. In the illustrated embodiment, return station 30 corresponds to a car dealership where the end customer can purchase an electric vehicle and replace their car battery. Therefore, Figure 2 The diagram illustrates an end customer returning battery 10 to workers at return station 30 for recycling. As shown, several batteries returned by end customers can be temporarily stored at return station 30, then collected from return station 30 and transported towards a recycling station for recycling. Furthermore, similarly... Figure 2 As shown, packaging units 20 of various sizes and shapes can be stored at the return station 30. The packaging units 20 are used to package the returned batteries 10 in preparation for further transport to the recycling station. Figure 2 The selection of packaging device 20 and the packaging process are typically performed by human workers at return station 30. However, in principle, partial or full automation of this task is not excluded.

[0048] Figure 3 Several return stations 30a, 30b, 30c and a recycling station 40 are illustrated schematically and exemplary. Furthermore, Figure 3The diagram also schematically and exemplary illustrates a transport device in the form of a truck 50. Truck 50 may be part of a fleet managed by a transport service provider, which may be commissioned to collect returned batteries 10 from several return stations 30a, 30b, 30c and then transport the returned batteries further to a recycling station 40 for recycling. For example, if return stations 30a, 30b, 30c are car dealerships, return station 40 may be a battery production and / or recycling plant of an original equipment manufacturer associated with the car dealership.

[0049] Figure 4 An illustrative and exemplary illustration is shown. Figure 1 How can System 100 be used? Figure 3 This is used at each of the several return stations 30a, 30b, and 30c shown. According to this usage, personnel working at the respective return stations 30a, 30b, and 30c carry a handheld device 200 with a communication device for communicating with system 100, which is implemented in the cloud in this embodiment. Device 200 includes an optical reader with an interface through which physical identifiers (such as barcodes) on the battery object 10 can be read to obtain associated object data. Additionally, packaging availability data associated with the availability of the packaging device 20 at the respective return stations 30a, 30b, and 30c is also obtained. The acquisition of object data based on physical identifiers and the acquisition of packaging availability data can be managed by the data providing unit 101 of system 100. Therefore, device 200 can be solely responsible for obtaining the identifier of a given returned battery 10 and providing it to system 100 implemented in the cloud. The recommended packaging selection can then be transmitted from system 100 back to device 200, which includes a display for showing the recommended packaging selection to a person carrying the device. The person can then package the corresponding battery 10, identified by a physical identifier on it, according to the recommended packaging selection.

[0050] In this embodiment, the data providing unit 101 provides object data from each of the plurality of return stations 30a, 30b, and 30c, specifically for the battery 10 returned at each of the return stations 30a, 30b, and 30c. In this embodiment, the data providing unit 101 also provides package availability data for all of the plurality of return stations 30a, 30b, and 30c. Both types of data are provided by the data providing unit 101 based on access to independent data structures. Specifically, the object data may be provided based on a digital pass associated with each battery 10, wherein the digital pass may be obtained from a distributed database based on the digital identifier of the corresponding battery 10. The digital identifier of the battery 10 can be considered as a digital representation of the physical identifier on the battery 10. The digital pass may partially or completely comprise the object data and / or allow access to the object data or other portions thereof. Simultaneously, packaging availability data can be provided by data providing unit 101 through access to a general database, which stores data indicating the availability of packaging equipment at any given time at several return stations 30a, 30b, 30c and from transportation equipment providers (such as trucking companies). Packaging availability data can be kept up-to-date by periodically synchronizing with the storage management systems of the several return stations 30a, 30b, 30c and the transportation equipment providers.

[0051] Furthermore, the data providing unit 101 of this embodiment provides recycling data for all batteries 10 returned to several return stations 30a, 30b, 30c, wherein the recycling data is associated with recycling requirements for the batteries 10. The recycling data can be provided, for example, by accessing a recycling requirement database (i.e., another database) that can be searched based on the numerical identifier of the battery 10.

[0052] In this embodiment, the packaging selector is configured to generate recommended packaging choices for multiple battery objects returning to several return stations 30a, 30b, 30c based on a cost function defined on the provided data. The cost function assigns a cost value to each combination of the provided data, wherein the recommended packaging choices are generated by the packaging selector to minimize costs. However, minimization can be performed by the packaging selector taking into account predefined constraints. That is, minimization can be performed by the packaging selector such that the minimum cost value is found only among all combinations of the provided data that satisfy the predefined constraints. For example, packaging availability data and recycling requirements can define necessary constraints on packaging selection such that cost minimization can be limited to packaging devices that are available and simultaneously meet the recycling requirements.

[0053] Since the cost arises not only from the packaging device itself, but also from its transportation within the network of return stations 30a, 30b, 30c and one or more recycling stations 40, system 100 preferably also includes a transportation scheduler. The transportation scheduler is configured to, given a model of possible routes between the return stations 30a, 30b, 30c and one or more recycling stations 40, and based on one or more available transportation devices, generate a transportation schedule plan for transporting the battery objects to be recycled toward one or more recycling stations 40 via one or more transportation devices, through one or more return stations 30a, 30b, 30c.

[0054] Specifically, the transportation scheduler can be configured to further generate the transportation schedule based on recommended packaging choices generated by the packaging selector for one or more battery objects that can be collected from the return station. Therefore, system 100 can treat the dual problems of a) selecting a packaging device and 2) determining a route for collecting packaged battery objects from the return station as nested problems from the perspectives of the packaging selector and the transportation scheduler, wherein the first problem, i.e., selecting a packaging device, is addressed independently first, and then the second problem, i.e., determining the collection route, is solved based on the solution to the first problem.

[0055] Similarly, in this embodiment, the transportation scheduler is also configured to generate its output, a transportation scheduling plan, based on a cost function. The cost function used by the transportation scheduler employs cost values ​​derived from packaging selections found by the packaging selector, and additionally assigns cost values ​​to each combination of one or more available transportation devices with possible routes for collecting battery objects from several return stations 30a, 30b, 30c to transport the battery objects to a suitable recycling station 40. The costs associated with transportation can vary depending on the transportation device and the selected route (depending on route length and road characteristics), as well as the compatibility between the transportation device and the selected packaging device in terms of, for example, size and shape.

[0056] The generated transportation scheduling plan can be provided for one or more transportation devices and each return station 30a, 30b, 30c scheduled for the corresponding transportation device, based on the collection time. In this case, the combined output of the package selector and the transportation scheduler will consist of the package selection and collection time for each of the multiple battery objects to be recycled. This output can be part of a transportation order issued to a transportation service provider (such as a logistics company) that manages the transportation devices.

[0057] Upon issuance of a transportation order, system 100 can generate a transportation pass, through which information about the scheduled and / or ordered transportation can be accessed. In this regard, the transportation pass can be viewed as a digital pass similar to the aforementioned pass that provides object data for the returned battery object.

[0058] A transport pass associated with a given transport device may include or provide access to one or more digital passes associated with a battery object transported using that transport device. For example, in Figure 5A The image schematically and exemplary illustrates a transport pass associated with transport along a given route, which includes a battery pass associated with the battery being transported using that transport. The battery pass, in turn, includes a material pass associated with the materials contained within the respective battery.

[0059] Referring further exemplarily to the preceding figures, the transport pass associated with the scheduled transport of truck 50 to recycling station 40 via return stations 30a, 30b, and 30c may include or provide access to a battery pass associated with the battery objects collected in this transport. The battery pass may, in turn, include a corresponding material pass associated with the materials used to produce the battery.

[0060] like Figure 5B The indicated transport pass may also include a truck identifier and a driver identifier, which can identify the corresponding transport device and its operator, such as truck 50 and its driver. These identifiers can be considered similar to the digital identifiers for battery objects further mentioned above.

[0061] Figure 6 A method 300 for assisting in the recycling of a battery object (such as battery 10 shown in the previous figures) is illustrated schematically and exemplary. Method 300 includes a step 301 of providing data, which includes a) object data associated with the battery object 10 that has been returned to return station 30 for recycling, and b) packaging availability data associated with the availability of packaging device 20 at return station 30. In another step 302 of method 300, a packaging selector is provided, which is configured to generate recommended packaging selections for the battery object 10 when applied to the provided data. Furthermore, method 300 includes a step 303 of generating recommended packaging selections for the battery object 10 that has been returned to return station 30 for recycling by applying the provided packaging selector to the provided data. Method 300 can be performed, for example, by system 100.

[0062] It has been found that in order to transport battery objects to be recycled from the appropriate return site to the recycling site, it is necessary to select packaging equipment based on data that is often not locally available to workers at the return site. This data can include object data, packaging availability data, recycling data, and transportation availability data, as described in more detail above.

[0063] As indicated above, the solutions presented in this paper are applicable to several types of battery objects. In particular, possible battery objects include high-voltage batteries, battery waste generated during research and development, and any components generated during manufacturing that require disposal by the manufacturer, which can also be considered post-industrial waste rather than post-consumer waste.

[0064] The packaging selector can be viewed as running a matching algorithm that selects packaging based on relevant data provided as input to the algorithm. This data, particularly object data, can be partially manually entered by a user (e.g., via device 200) and / or obtained by the data providing unit 101. The result of the matching algorithm, i.e., the recommended packaging selection, preferably a) satisfies predefined constraints, b) minimizes collection costs, and c) minimizes the total cost of one or more recycling cycles. Predefined constraints include: constraints regarding the relationship between packaging size and the size of the vehicle used for the corresponding transport; constraints regarding government regulations and safety standards for the transport and recycling of battery objects; constraints regarding the availability of packaging equipment at the corresponding return station or by the trucking company performing the corresponding transport, etc. Collection costs can be minimized, for example, by maximizing the load capacity of the vehicle used for the corresponding transport.

[0065] By using recommended packaging selection, i.e., a matching algorithm, expert knowledge can be leveraged to ensure efficient completion of collection orders. Furthermore, the number of collection orders rejected for safety reasons can be reduced. More broadly, it enables overall optimization of resource planning for collection systems in battery recycling.

[0066] While the aforementioned return sites 30, 30a, 30b, and 30c are described as automotive dealerships, other return sites are possible in other embodiments. For example, the battery components to be recycled may only be generated during certain recycling processes. Therefore, a return site can also refer to a recycling site. In the example, the battery may be broken down into individual components or materials (such as liquids) at some initial recycling site, where these components or materials can then be transported to additional recycling sites for chemical treatment to produce reusable materials. In this scenario, the battery is returned not to the end customer, but to an industry partner.

[0067] It should be understood that the function of a return station is usually not limited to simply returning the battery objects to be recycled. Instead, in the case of a car dealership, other services may be provided at the return station. Therefore, car repair shops can also serve as return stations. Similarly, the industrial return stations indicated above are typically production sites where, in addition to battery dismantling, the production of batteries or related products takes place.

[0068] Furthermore, it is not necessary for the description above of the packaging selector as being configured to generate recommended packaging choices independently of any scheduled transport, and the transport scheduler as being configured to generate transport schedules based on the recommended packaging choices generated by the packaging selector. In particular, in principle, it is also possible to generate a transport schedule independently first, and then generate recommended packaging choices based on that schedule. In fact, a given transport schedule can simply be received and considered as input to the packaging selector. Transport schedules can also be received, for example, from a logistics provider. As part of the received transport schedule, transport devices for several scheduled transport routes can be provided, wherein the packaging selector can then be configured to further generate recommended packaging choices for any given battery object at a return station based on the transport devices scheduled to further transport the battery object from the return station to one or more recycling stations.

[0069] By studying the accompanying drawings, this disclosure, and the appended claims, those skilled in the art, as well as those who practice the claimed invention, can understand and implement other variations of the disclosed embodiments.

[0070] In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude multiple.

[0071] A single unit or device can perform the functions of multiple items recited in the claims. The fact that certain measures are recited in different dependent claims does not indicate that combinations of these measures cannot be used advantageously.

[0072] Processes such as providing object data, packaging availability data, recycling data, and / or transportation availability data; providing and / or applying packaging selectors or transportation schedulers; and generating recommended packaging selections and / or transportation scheduling plans, which are performed by one or more units or devices, can be performed by any other number of units or devices. These processes can be implemented as program code devices and / or dedicated hardware for computer programs.

[0073] Computer programs can be stored / distributed on suitable media, such as optical storage media or solid-state media provided with or as part of other hardware, but can also be distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunications systems.

[0074] Any reference numerals in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

[0075] This invention relates to a system for assisting in the recycling of battery objects, the system comprising i) a data providing unit that provides a) object data associated with battery objects returned to a return station for recycling, and b) packaging availability data associated with the availability of packaging devices at the return station; ii) a packaging selector providing unit that provides a packaging selector that generates recommended packaging choices for the battery objects when applied to the data provided by the data providing unit; and iii) a packaging selector application unit that generates recommended packaging choices for the returned battery objects to be recycled by applying the provided packaging selector to the provided data. This allows for efficient recycling of battery objects, particularly in networks consisting of possible return stations and possible recycling stations.

Claims

1. A system (100) for assisting in the recycling of battery objects (10), the system comprising: A data providing unit (101) is configured to provide data including a) object data associated with battery objects (10) that have been returned to the return station (30) for recycling, and b) packaging availability data associated with the availability of the packaging device (20) at the return station (30). A packaging selector providing unit (102) is configured to provide a packaging selector, wherein the packaging selector is configured to generate a recommended packaging selection for the battery object (10) when applied to data provided by the data providing unit (101), and Packaging selector application unit (103) is configured to generate a recommended packaging selection for the battery object (10) that has been returned to the return station (30) for recycling by applying the provided packaging selector to the provided data.

2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, These battery objects (10) include batteries and battery components.

3. The system (100) as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein, The object data includes data associated with one or more of the following: battery type, battery size, battery weight, battery damage status, battery voltage, battery capacity, battery state of charge, risks arising from the corresponding battery, one or more materials used to produce the corresponding battery, and one or more participants in the production chain associated with the corresponding battery.

4. The system (100) as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein, The data providing unit (101) is further configured to provide recycling data associated with one or more of the following: i) the recycling requirements for the returned battery object (10); and ii) the destination (30a-c, 40) of the further transport from the return station (30) to the recycling station (40).

5. The system (100) as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein, The data providing unit (101) is further configured to provide transport availability data associated with the availability of transport devices (50) for further transport from the return station (30) to the recycling station (40).

6. The system (100) as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein, The packaging availability data is associated with the current availability of the packaging unit (20) at the return station (30) and / or the future availability of the packaging unit (20) via the transport unit (50).

7. The system (100) as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein, The object data is associated with multiple battery objects (10) that have been returned to the return station (30) for recycling.

8. The system (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein, The recommended packaging option refers to the packaging of one or more battery objects (10) that have been returned to the return site (30) for recycling.

9. The system (100) as claimed in claim 5 and any of the preceding claims, wherein, The packaging selector is configured to generate the recommended packaging selection based on the available packaging sizes and the available transport device sizes.

10. The system (100) as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein, The object data is associated with the battery objects returned to the corresponding different return stations (30, 30a-c, 40), and the packaging availability data is associated with the availability of the packaging device (20) at these corresponding return stations (30, 30a-c, 40).

11. The system (100) as claimed in claim 10, wherein, The system (100) further includes a transport scheduler providing unit configured to provide a transport scheduler configured to generate a transport schedule plan for transporting the battery objects (10) to be recovered toward the recovery station (40) via one or more transport devices (50) and one or more of these return stations (30, 30a-c).

12. The system (100) as claimed in claim 11, wherein, The packaging selector and / or the transportation scheduler are configured to generate the recommended packaging selection and / or the transportation scheduling plan, respectively, based on a cost function defined on the provided data.

13. A device (200) for assisting in the recycling of battery objects (10), the device being used at a return station (30) for these battery objects (10), wherein, The device (200) includes: An interface through which at least one identifier can be provided for a battery object (10) that has been returned to the return station (30) for recycling. The system (100) as described in any of the preceding claims, or a communication device for communicating with the system (100), and A display for showing recommended package selections generated by the package selector application unit for the battery object (10) whose identifier has been provided by the interface.

14. A method (300) for assisting in the recycling of battery objects (10), the method comprising: Provide (301) data, which includes a) object data associated with battery objects (10) that have been returned to the return station (30) for recycling, and b) packaging availability data associated with the availability of packaging devices (20) at the return station (30). Provides (302) a packaging selector configured to generate a recommended packaging selection for the battery object (10) when applied to the provided data, and A recommended packaging option is generated (303) for the battery object (10) that has been returned to the return station (30) for recycling by applying the provided packaging selector to the provided data.

15. A computer program for assisting in the recycling of a battery object (10), the computer program including instructions that, if the program is run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method (300) as described in claim 14.

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