sorting system

Abstract

Sorting plant for separating good materials from contaminants from a material stream comprising at least good materials and contaminants (6), wherein - the sorting system (1) has a control unit (10) which outputs different control signals depending on a selectable normal or reverse mode, - the sorting plant (1) has a first removal element (2) on the input side, which divides the material flow (6) into a main flow (60) and a secondary flow (20), wherein the first removal element (2) removes predominantly the contaminants or the good materials from the material flow (6) into the secondary flow (20) depending on the control signal of the control unit (10), - the main stream (60) is fed to a second removal element (7) and this divides the main stream (60) into a small stream (70) and a main bunker stream (61), wherein the second removal element (7), depending on the control signal of the control unit (10), predominantly removes the contaminants or the desirable materials from the main stream (60) in the small stream (70), and - the by-stream (20) and the low-flow (70) are fed to a third removal element (3) and this divides the combined by-stream (20) and low-flow (70) into a residual stream (31) and a secondary bunker stream (30), wherein the third removal element (3), depending on the control signal of the control (10), predominantly removes the good materials or contaminants from the combined by-stream (20) and low-flow (70) into the residual stream (31).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a sorting system for separating good materials from contaminants from a material stream comprising at least good materials and contaminants.

[0002] Sorting systems, as described above, are well-established in the art. They are used, for example, for sorting recyclable material streams such as waste glass, waste plastics, wood, and waste paper. These recyclable material streams consist of at least two components: high-quality materials and contaminants. The sorting system aims to recover high-quality materials from the recyclable material stream, meaning materials with the lowest possible proportion of contaminants. This is typically achieved by removing the contaminants present in lower concentrations from the recyclable material stream.

[0003] Due to changes in consumer behavior, the concentration of contaminants in the waste delivered to the sorting plant (from which the recyclable material stream is derived) is increasing on average. However, the fluctuation (volatility) of contaminant concentration is also increasing in the different batches of waste delivered to the sorting plant. There are waste batches with a relatively low contaminant concentration, but also batches with a relatively high contaminant concentration. This higher concentration of contaminants on the one hand, and the greater fluctuation in contaminant concentration on the other, leads to a decrease in the quality of the outgoing recyclable material stream when using the previously described standard sorting process; that is, there is a higher concentration of contaminants in the outgoing recyclable material stream.

[0004] DE 100 44 109 A1 further discloses a waste processing plant for plastic waste. This plant comprises a shredding unit and a downstream separation unit that removes insufficiently ground or shredded portions from the material stream. The separated portions are routed via a return path by undergoing further treatment of the coarse fraction. This treatment includes at least one metal separation unit, e.g., a magnetic separator for iron.

[0005] DE 10 2010 046 996 A1 also describes a separation plant with equipment for separating components from an inhomogeneous input material stream. In particular, recyclable materials such as metals and combustible materials are separated from non-recyclable residues, especially minerals such as sand, stones, porcelain, and glass, and from non-combustible materials such as PVC.

[0006] A system for sorting mixed plastic waste according to DE 203 10 406 U1 provides that the flow of material to be sorted passes through detection stations with sensors for material and / or color and / or shape identification, whereby position information is simultaneously assigned and used to selectively separate specific objects. The material flow is transported through a detection station by a conveyor system, after which at least two discharge stations are arranged such that the discharge direction of each discharge station creates a new partial flow, thus separating the material flow in this first sorting stage into at least two sorting fractions and a residual fraction, depending on the results of the detections.

[0007] The present invention is based on the objective of sorting recyclable material streams that are more volatile in their concentration of contaminants to a higher quality.

[0008] To solve this problem, the invention starts with a sorting system as described above, wherein the sorting system has a control unit that outputs different control signals depending on a selectable normal or reverse mode, and the sorting system has a first removal element on the input side that divides the recyclable material flow into a main flow and a secondary flow, wherein the first removal element, depending on the control signal of the control unit, predominantly removes the contaminants or the valuable materials from the recyclable material flow into the secondary flow, and the main flow is fed to a second removal element, which divides the main flow into a secondary flow and a main bunker flow, wherein the second removal element, depending on the control signal of the control unit, predominantly removes the contaminants or the valuable materials from the main flow into the secondary flow.and the bypass stream and the small stream are fed to a third removal element, which divides the combined bypass and small stream into a residual stream and a secondary bunker stream, whereby the third removal element, depending on the control signal of the control system, predominantly removes the good materials or contaminants from the combined bypass and small stream into the residual stream.

[0009] The clever part of the invention lies in the realization that the sorting system can be operated in two different modes: normal mode and reverse mode. In normal mode, the first removal element, viewed in the direction of the material flow, divides the material flow into a main flow and a secondary flow. Based on the normal-mode control signal from the controller, the first removal element primarily removes contaminants from the material flow into the secondary flow, and the main flow is fed to a second removal element. This second removal element then divides the main flow into a secondary flow and a main bunker flow. Based on the normal-mode control signal from the controller, the second removal element primarily removes contaminants from the main flow into the secondary flow. The secondary and secondary flows are then fed to a third removal element, which divides the combined secondary and secondary flows into a residual flow and a secondary bunker flow. Based on the normal-mode control signal from the controller,The combined secondary and small streams predominantly extract the valuable materials into the residual stream.

[0010] In reverse mode, the first removal element, viewed in the direction of the material flow, divides the material flow into a main flow and a secondary flow. Based on the reverse mode control signal from the controller, the first removal element predominantly extracts the recyclable materials from the material flow into the secondary flow, and the main flow is fed to a second removal element. This second removal element then divides the main flow into a secondary flow and a main bunker flow. Based on the reverse mode control signal from the controller, the second removal element predominantly extracts the recyclable materials from the main flow into the secondary flow. The secondary and secondary flows are then fed to a third removal element, which divides the combined secondary and secondary flows into a residual flow and a secondary bunker flow. Based on the reverse mode control signal from the controller, the third removal element...The combined secondary and small streams predominantly remove the contaminants into the residual stream.

[0011] Depending on the composition of the recyclable material stream, a decision must be made as to whether the sorting plant will operate in normal or reverse mode. If, in order to obtain the purest possible (high-quality) recyclable material stream with few contaminants, it is more successful to sort out the contaminants from the recyclable material stream, then the sorting plant will be operated in normal mode. Such a strategy is promising, for example, if the recyclable material stream has a relatively low concentration of contaminants.

[0012] However, if the concentration of contaminants in the recycling stream is relatively high, then it is more advantageous to operate the sorting plant in reverse mode and sort the good materials out of the recycling stream.

[0013] The aim of the sorting plant is to generate the purest possible, highest-quality material stream. The sorting plant proposed according to the invention achieves this requirement even with volatile and / or relatively high concentrations of contaminants in the material stream.

[0014] Typically, the proposed sorting system includes a storage bunker at the inlet, in the direction of the material flow, upstream of the first removal element. This bunker serves as a temporary storage point for the waste delivered in batches, from which the material flow is then continuously conveyed. However, the inventive proposal also functions without the use of a storage bunker; for example, the material flow is delivered in batches or continuously and is not temporarily stored in a storage bunker. The invention encompasses both variants.

[0015] Furthermore, the proposal advantageously provides for a good material bunker and a contaminant bunker at the output side of the sorting plant, and in normal mode the main bunker flow is directed into the good material bunker and in reverse mode the main bunker flow is directed into the contaminant bunker.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the proposal, it is provided that in normal mode the secondary bunker flow is directed into the contaminant bunker and in reverse mode the secondary bunker flow is directed into the good material bunker.

[0017] Furthermore, it is planned that both the good material bunker and the contaminant bunker will each consist of at least two sub-bunkers. For example, a first sub-bunker will be located after the second removal element, and a second sub-bunker will be located after the third removal element.

[0018] Alternatively, it is provided that a material diverter for the main bunker flow is provided on the output side before the good material bunker or the contaminant bunker, which can be controlled depending on the control signal of the control system, so that the main bunker flow is directed either into the good material bunker or the contaminant bunker.

[0019] This proposal is cleverly combined with the design in which a (further) material diverter for the secondary bunker flow is provided on the output side, before the good material bunker or the contaminant bunker, which, depending on a control signal from the control system, can be controlled so that the secondary bunker flow is directed either into the contaminant bunker or the good material bunker.

[0020] The proposed diverters can be designed in a variety of ways. For example, the diverter can be a rotating drop pipe positioned above the bunkers, its rotation determined by the control signal and directing the flow of material from each bunker either to the contaminant or the material bunker. Alternatively, the diverter can be designed as a switching flap or a hopper with flaps, the position of which is also determined by the control signal.

[0021] It is also planned that a bidirectional conveying device will be used as a switch.

[0022] It is thus provided that on the output side, in front of the good material bunker or the contaminant bunker, a bidirectional conveying means is provided for the main bunker flow, the conveying direction of which can be controlled depending on the control signal of the control system so that the main bunker flow is directed either into the good material bunker or the contaminant bunker.

[0023] This proposal is cleverly combined with the design in which a (further) bidirectional conveying means for the secondary bunker flow is provided on the output side, in front of the good material bunker or the contaminant bunker, the conveying direction of which can be controlled depending on a control signal from the control system so that the secondary bunker flow is directed either into the contaminant bunker or the good material bunker.

[0024] The use of two diverters, for example bidirectional conveying systems, eliminates the need for partial bunkers. The allocation of the respective bunker flows to either the contaminant bunker or the good material bunker is then achieved via the conveying system or the position of the diverter, which operates according to the selected mode: normal or reverse.

[0025] The proposed sorting system offers several advantageous options for treating the residual stream after the third removal element.

[0026] The initial proposal is to combine the residual stream with the main bunker stream, particularly before it enters the conveying system. This option is used, for example, when the quality of the residual stream is sufficiently high, or when, in the selected operating mode of the sorting plant, the residual stream is fed into the contaminant bunker and the remaining proportion of good materials in the residual stream is extremely low, meaning that further sorting would not be economical.

[0027] Another option involves combining the residual stream with the recyclable material stream before the first removal element. In this proposal, the residual stream is sorted again, ideally using the entire sorting system. This is recommended, for example, if the quality of the residual stream is unsatisfactory.

[0028] Furthermore, it is planned that the residual stream will be merged with the by-stream stream before the second or third removal element. Here too, the residual stream will be sorted again, but not with all removal elements of the sorting system, but only with one, namely the second or third removal element.

[0029] In an advantageous embodiment, the quality of the main or residual flow is also determined by a quality sensor. The control system then decides, based on the measured quality value of the quality sensor, whether or not re-sorting should take place, and if so, according to which strategy. Therefore, a corresponding distribution switch for the residual flow is located downstream of the proposed quality sensor to direct the residual flow to the different elements, as described.

[0030] Cleverly, the control unit is provided with a button or program selection for manual input, allowing the control unit to be switched between normal and reverse modes. The control unit then transmits corresponding control signals to the connected elements, or the elements can be switched directly by hand. This feature enables the operator to decide, based on the perceived quality of the recyclable material flow, whether the sorting system should operate in normal or reverse mode. The decision is communicated to the control unit via manual input. Instead of centrally controlling the connected elements via the control unit, the invention also includes a solution in which each individual element (distance element, diverter, etc.) can be switched directly between normal and reverse modes.

[0031] Instead or additionally, in a further preferred embodiment, an input sensor for the material flow is provided on the input side, before the first removal element, and the input sensor determines the proportion of good materials and / or contaminants in the material flow and transmits this information to the control system, which, based on this information, sets the sorting system to normal or reverse mode and transmits corresponding control signals to the elements connected to the control system.

[0032] A sorting system equipped in this way allows for automatic, semi-automatic or manual operation and is therefore very flexible in adapting to the different qualities of the recyclable material stream.

[0033] Furthermore, the removal element is advantageously designed to include a sensor for detecting the good material or contaminant and a sorting device for separating the good material or contaminant from the contaminant or good material and diverting them into a separate stream. Typically, an infrared or near-infrared (NIR) sensor is used. However, sensors based on other physical principles, such as optical, inductive, or capacitive sensors optimized for detecting the good material or contaminant, can also be used. The sorting device could, for example, be a strip of individually controllable air nozzles extending perpendicular to the conveying path of the recyclable material stream. The air jet emitted by the air nozzles is sufficiently strong to separate the good material from the contaminant (or vice versa, depending on the selected mode) and divert it away.Based on the measurement result of the respective sensor, the control of the removal element activates the corresponding air nozzle in order to separate the good or bad material from the bad or bad material.

[0034] The initial task is also solved by using a sorting system, as described, which is designed for sorting waste paper, cardboard, corrugated board, packaging paper, lightweight packaging, and similar materials. It has been found that the sorting system concept presented here leads to very good quality results, especially for sorting these materials.

[0035] Lightweight packaging (also called lightweight material packaging) usually consists of plastics and composite materials, aluminum or tinplate, sometimes combined with paper (beverage cartons and drinking cups). The proposed sorting system is particularly suitable for sorting such heterogeneous packaging.

[0036] Furthermore, the described sorting system is also suitable for other sorting tasks. The invention also includes the use of the described sorting system for sorting electronic waste, plastics, wood, waste wood, or waste glass. Ideally, the corresponding sensors or distance elements are then optimized for the material stream to be sorted.

[0037] In this context, it is particularly emphasized that all features and properties described in relation to the sorting system, as well as the procedures, are analogously transferable with regard to the formulation of the use according to the invention and can be used in accordance with the invention and are considered to be jointly disclosed. The same applies in the reverse direction, meaning that structural features, i.e., device-related features, mentioned only in relation to the use can also be considered and claimed within the scope of the device claims relating to the claimed sorting system and are likewise part of the disclosure.

[0038] Further features, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the wording of the claims and from the following description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawings. It shows: Fig. 1 in a block diagram the schematic structure of the sorting system according to the invention.

[0039] In the figures, identical or corresponding elements are designated with the same reference numerals and are therefore not described again unless expedient. The disclosures contained in the entire description are transferable analogously to identical parts with the same reference numerals or component designations. Furthermore, the positional designations chosen in the description, such as top, bottom, side, etc., refer to the directly described and illustrated figure and are to be applied analogously to the new position if the position changes. Individual features or combinations of features from the different embodiments shown and described can also represent independent, inventive, or inventive solutions.

[0040] In Fig.Figure 1 shows the operating mode of sorting plant 1 in both normal and reverse modes. The recyclable material stream 6 consists of good materials (shown as filled or unfilled circles) and contaminants (shown as filled or unfilled triangles).

[0041] The normal mode is represented by the unfilled circles or triangles, the reverse mode by the filled circles or triangles.

[0042] The operation of sorting system 1 in normal mode is described below.

[0043] An (optional) input sensor 19 is located at the input of the sorting system 1. This input sensor 19 is connected to a controller 10 via data transmission. If this input sensor 1 detects a high proportion of usable material in the recyclable material stream 6, the system operates in normal mode (unfilled circles and triangles). Instead of or next to the input sensor 19, a manual control or manual adjustment of the controller 10 between normal mode and reverse mode is provided, for example, by means of a push button 18.

[0044] The material stream 6 splits in the first removal element 2 into a main stream 60 and a secondary stream 20. In normal mode, contaminants (unfilled triangles) are preferably removed from the material stream 6 in the first removal element 2. For this purpose, the controller 10 is connected to the first removal element 2 via data transmission, and the controller 10 transmits a signal to the first removal element 2, based on the selected normal mode, indicating that contaminants (unfilled triangles) are to be removed from the material stream 6. However, it is possible that valuable materials (unfilled circles) may enter the secondary stream 20 during this splitting process. Therefore, a secondary sorting step is provided. For this purpose, the secondary stream 20 is fed to a third removal element 3.

[0045] The main stream 60 is fed to a second removal element 7. This second removal element 7 is also connected to the controller 10 via data transmission. The small stream 70 is extracted from the main stream 60 in the second removal element 7. This second removal element 7 (which was controlled by the controller 10 due to the selected normal mode) also removes, preferably only, the contaminants (unfilled triangles) from the main stream 60, which now appear in even smaller proportions. However, it is also possible that some desirable materials may be removed.

[0046] In the second distance element 7, the main flow 60 is split into the small flow 70 and a main bunker flow 61. The main bunker flow 61 is directed onto the bidirectional conveying device 16 (acting as a diverter), in this case a conveyor belt. The conveying device 16 has a controllable drive 17. This drive 17 is also connected to the control unit 10 via data transmission.

[0047] In the set normal mode, the conveyed main bunker flow 61 is directed to the right into the material bunker 90.

[0048] The small stream 70 branched off in the second distance element 7 is also sorted. For this sorting, the small stream 70, together with the secondary stream 20, is fed to a third distance element 3. The third distance element 3 is also connected to the control unit 10. The third distance element 3 divides the combined secondary stream (20) and small stream 70 into a residual stream 31 and a secondary hopper stream 30. In normal mode, the third distance element 3 is configured by the control unit 10 so that the usable materials (unfilled circles) enter the residual stream 31. The contaminants (unfilled triangles), on the other hand, enter the secondary hopper stream 30 and enter a second bidirectional conveyor 14 (acting as a diverter). The bidirectional conveyor 14 is also designed as a conveyor belt and has a drive 15. The drive 15 is connected to the control unit 10.The contaminants conveyed on the bidirectional conveying system 14 are discharged to the left into the contaminant bunker 91 in normal mode.

[0049] In the embodiment shown here, the residual flow 31 is combined with the main bunker flow 61 and then flows with it onto the bidirectional conveying medium 16.

[0050] Alternatively, the residual stream 31 can be sorted again with the recyclable material stream 6 (i.e., through the entire sorting plant 1) or in the combined small stream 70 main stream 60 with the secondary stream 20 (before the second removal element 7) or in the combined small stream 70 with the secondary stream 20 (before the third removal element 3). These variants are not shown here.

[0051] If either the operator manually activates button 18 in the control unit 10, or the input sensor 19 activates the sorting system 1 via the control unit 10 to operate in reverse mode (filled circles and triangles), the control unit 10 transmits corresponding commands to the data-connected elements, namely the distance elements 2, 7, and 3, as well as the drives 15 and 17 of the bidirectional conveyors 14 and 16. In reverse mode, the control unit 10 - the first removal element 2 and the second removal element 7 to remove the good materials (filled circles) from the recycling stream 6, whereby contaminants (filled triangles) may also be present. - the third removal element 3 indicates that the contaminants (filled triangles) enter the residual stream 31. - to direct the drive 17 of the bidirectional conveying means 16 to the main bunker flow 61, which in reverse mode includes contaminants (filled triangles), to the left into the contaminant bunker 91. - to direct the drive 15 of the bidirectional conveying means 14 to the secondary bunker flow 30, which in reverse mode includes materials (filled circles), to the right into the material bunker 90.

[0052] The key feature of the invention is that the sorting system has a control unit that can be operated in either a selectable normal or reverse mode. The control unit distinguishes between two modes. These two different modes are described simultaneously in the claim for each respective element (distance element, switch, etc.) and differentiated by "or". The states described before and after "or" are technically related. Reference symbol list 1 sorting system 10 Control 14 bidirectional funding 15 drive out of 14 16 bidirectional funding 17 drive out of 16 18 buttons 19 Input sensor 2 first distance element 20 Side stream 3 third distance element 30 secondary bunker power 31 Residual current 6. Recycling 60 Main current 61 Main bunker power 7 second distance element 70 Small electricity 90 material bunkers 91 Contaminant bunkers

Claims

[1] Sorting plant for separating good materials from contaminants from a material stream comprising at least good materials and contaminants (6), wherein - the sorting system (1) has a control unit (10) which outputs different control signals depending on a selectable normal or reverse mode, - the sorting system (1) has a first removal element (2) on the input side, which divides the material flow (6) into a main flow (60) and a secondary flow (20), wherein the first removal element (2) removes predominantly the contaminants or the good materials from the material flow (6) into the secondary flow (20) depending on the control signal of the control system (10), - the main stream (60) is fed to a second removal element (7) and this divides the main stream (60) into a small stream (70) and a main bunker stream (61), wherein the second removal element (7), depending on the control signal of the control unit (10), predominantly removes the contaminants or the desirable materials from the main stream (60) in the small stream (70), and - the by-stream (20) and the low-flow (70) are fed to a third removal element (3) and this divides the combined by-stream (20) and low-flow (70) into a residual stream (31) and a secondary bunker stream (30), wherein the third removal element (3), depending on the control signal of the control (10), predominantly removes the good materials or contaminants from the combined by-stream (20) and low-flow (70) into the residual stream (31). [2] Sorting system according to claim 1, characterized by, that on the output side of the sorting system (1) a good material bunker (90) and a contaminant bunker (91) is provided and in normal mode the main bunker flow (61) is directed into the good material bunker (90) and in reverse mode the main bunker flow (61) is directed into the contaminant bunker (91). [3] Sorting system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that in normal mode the secondary bunker flow (30) is directed into the contaminant bunker (91) and in reverse mode the secondary bunker flow (30) is directed into the good material bunker (90). [4] Sorting system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the good material bunker (90) as well as the contaminant bunker (91) each consists of at least two sub-bunkers. [5] Sorting system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that on the output side, upstream of the good material bunker (90) or the contaminant bunker (91), a material diverter for the main bunker flow (61) is provided, which, depending on the control signal of the control unit (10), can be controlled so that the main bunker flow (61) is directed either into the good material bunker (90) or the contaminant bunker (91) and / or on the output side, upstream of the good material bunker (90) or the contaminant bunker (91), a material diverter for the secondary bunker flow (30) is provided, which, depending on a control signal of the control unit (10), can be controlled so that the secondary bunker flow (30) is directed either into the contaminant bunker (91) or the good material bunker (90). [6] Sorting system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the residual stream (31) is combined with the main bunker stream (61), in particular before the conveying medium (16) and / or the residual stream (31) is combined with the recyclable material stream (6) before the first removal element (2) or the second removal element (2). [7] Sorting system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the controller (10) is provided with a button (18) or a program selection for manual input, with which the controller can be switched between normal and reverse mode and the controller (10) transmits corresponding control signals to the elements (2, 7, 3, 14, 16) connected to the controller (10) or the elements can be switched directly manually. [8] Sorting system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that on the input side, before the first removal element (2), an input sensor (19) is provided for the material flow (6) and the input sensor (19) determines the proportion of good materials and / or contaminants in the material flow (6) and transmits this information to the control unit (10), which, based on this information, sets the sorting system (1) to normal or reverse mode and the control unit (10) transmits corresponding control signals to the elements (2, 7, 3, 14, 16) connected to the control unit (10). [9] Sorting system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the removal element (2,7,3) has a sensor for detecting the good or contaminant and a sorting means for separating the good or contaminant from the contaminant or good material and diverting it in a stream separate from the contaminant or good material stream. [10] Use of a sorting system according to one of the preceding claims for sorting waste paper, cardboard, corrugated board, packaging paper, lightweight packaging and the like.

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