Automatic selection and sorting device for waste objects intended for recycling

Abstract

Automatic selection and sorting device for waste objects intended for recycling, comprising at least one inlet, a classification station, and at least one outlet to at least two different collection areas (40, 41, 42). The classification station comprises a collection compartment (1) for said object, which collection compartment (1) is provided with an insertion opening (15) for the object, which insertion opening (15) constitutes said inlet, and at the bottom with at least one discharge opening (16) for the object, which discharge opening (16) constitutes said outlet. The discharge opening (16) can be closed by at least two doors (2, 3) that can be moved by means of actuators from a closed position, in which they form a support cradle for the object, to an open position. At least one camera is provided in the collection compartment (1), with an artificial vision unit connected to the camera and configured to identify the object and consequently control the said actuators to open one or both of the said doors (2, 3) to allow the object to fall into one of the said at least two different collection areas (40, 41, 42).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic sorting and separation device for waste objects intended for recycling, comprising at least one inlet, a classification station, and at least one outlet to at least two different collection areas.

[0002] In the field of recycling, separate collection is a fundamental step in ensuring the effectiveness of subsequent recycling processes. Currently, the infrastructure used for separate collection, such as collection bins, is often bulky and requires users to decide for themselves which container to place their waste in. This scenario increases the likelihood of errors, resulting in waste being placed in the wrong compartments, deteriorating the quality of the collected material and reducing its value in subsequent recycling stages. Effective separation is crucial, as the value of the material destined for recycling depends on it.

[0003] Document EP3389879 describes a waste recovery system that includes at least one optical sensor configured to acquire optical data associated with a waste product and a processor coupled to the optical sensor. The processor can be configured to determine information about the waste product based on the optical data and to selectively direct the waste product to a selected destination in response to the determination of the information. However, these recovery systems use conveyor belts and are therefore very bulky and not very suitable for use in compact, low-cost sorting systems.

[0004] There is therefore a growing need to develop a more compact and automated collection system that can reduce the footprint and improve the accuracy of waste separation for recycling.

[0005] The aim of the invention is to develop a system that increases the efficiency of recycling processes, helping to significantly reduce human error and enhance the value of recovered material, in order to meet the stringent requirements of the recycling sector and improve global environmental sustainability.

[0006] The present invention is intended to overcome the drawbacks of currently known systems and to achieve the above aims with a device as described at the beginning, in which, in addition, the sorting station comprises an object collection compartment, which collection compartment is provided with an object insertion opening, which insertion opening constitutes the said inlet, and at the bottom by at least one object discharge opening, which discharge opening constitutes the said outlet. The discharge opening can be closed by two doors movable by means of actuators from a closed position, in which they form a support cradle for the object, to an open position. At least one camera is provided in the collection compartment. An artificial vision unit is provided, connected to the camera and configured to identify the object and consequently control the said actuators to open one or both of the said doors to allow the object to fall into one of the said at least two different collection areas.

[0007] The heart of the system is the sorting station, which fully automates the sorting process. Thanks to the presence of a camera integrated with an artificial vision unit, the device is able to identify waste objects accurately and automatically. This reduces the need for human intervention, limiting separation errors and increasing the speed of the sorting operation.

[0008] The configuration of the discharge opening, managed by movable doors, allows objects to be directed to two or more different collection areas. This is particularly useful for handling various types of recyclable materials, improving the quality of separation. The ability to open one or both doors on command allows the object's drop path to be adapted according to its specific features identified by artificial vision, optimizing the recycling process for different categories of waste.

[0009] The doors also act as a support cradle when closed, ensuring that objects are held in place until they are selected and sorted. This dual functionality of the doors helps to optimize space inside the device.

[0010] In one embodiment, an illuminator is provided inside the collection compartment.

[0011] This allows for good illumination of the collection compartment for improved artificial vision accuracy, with a reduction in sorting errors.

[0012] According to an example embodiment, the doors are shaped such that opening a first door causes the object to fall into a first collection zone and opening a second door causes the object to fall into a second collection zone.

[0013] This configuration of the doors offers flexible and accurate sorting capacity, allowing objects to be directed to specific collection areas depending on the type of material. This sorting method not only optimizes the separation process but also reduces contamination between different types of materials, improving the quality of the recyclable material.

[0014] According to a further embodiment, the doors are shaped so that opening a first door causes the object to fall into a first collection area, opening a second door causes the object to fall into a second collection area, and opening both doors causes the object to fall into a third collection area.

[0015] In a further embodiment, each door is provided with at least one counterweight designed to permanently urge the door towards the said closed position.

[0016] The use of counterweights ensures that the doors remain closed when not in use, minimizing the risk of accidental opening or malfunction during the sorting process. This system contributes to the operational stability of the device, ensuring that each item is correctly sorted according to the predefined settings.

[0017] According to one embodiment, at least one electromagnet is provided to keep the doors in the closed position.

[0018] The use of electromagnets provides an effective and immediate locking mechanism, which further improves the safety of the door closing system. This reduces the possibility of operating errors, maintaining precise control over when and how the doors are opened and, consequently, when objects are released into the different collection areas.

[0019] In a further embodiment, the actuators comprise electromechanical linear actuators.

[0020] Electromechanical linear actuators offer a fast and accurate response when opening and closing the doors, improving the precision of object sorting. Their implementation allows for optimal management of the device's cycle times, increasing the overall efficiency of the sorting system.

[0021] According to another embodiment, the support cradle is inclined downward away from the insertion opening.

[0022] The inclination of the support cradle facilitates the natural movement of objects being inserted into the housing compartment, using gravity for a smoother transfer that is less dependent on complex mechanisms, such as belts or drive belts, which reduces device wear and maintenance costs.

[0023] In a further embodiment, means for weighing the object inserted on the support cradle are provided.

[0024] The introduction of weighing devices allows for a quantitative assessment of the sorted objects, providing essential data for a more detailed and targeted recycling process, capable of distinguishing between materials based not only on shape or color but also on weight, further optimizing the separation process by integrating the results of artificial vision with the weighing data.

[0025] According to a further embodiment, the compartment is bounded by walls and each door is hinged to a lower edge of a corresponding wall and is shaped in such a way that, in the closed position, it has 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 inclined towards the other door.

[0026] The particular configuration of the doors, which integrate with the walls of the compartment, not only optimizes the space inside the device but also minimizes the risk of jamming. This configuration facilitates a consistent and controlled flow of objects, ensuring that the sorting process is carried out with maximum efficiency and precision. In the open position, the door provides a sufficiently wide opening for the object to fall through, despite the housing compartment and the entire device being kept as compact as possible.

[0027] In one embodiment, the housing compartment is sized to accommodate a single waste object.

[0028] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following description of some non-limiting embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs. 1, 2, and 3 illustrate different views of a first embodiment of the device; Fig. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the device; Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate different operating conditions of the device in a first embodiment; Figs. 7, 8, and 9 illustrate different operating conditions of the device in a second embodiment; Fig. 10 illustrates a further embodiment of the device.

[0029] The figures illustrate some embodiments of the device for automatically selecting and sorting waste objects intended for recycling according to the present invention.

[0030] The device comprises at least one inlet, a sorting station, and at least one outlet to at least two different collection areas 40, 41, 42. The sorting station includes an object collection compartment 1. This collection compartment consists of a rigid box, preferably made of metal, bounded by walls: two side walls 10 and 11, a front wall 12, a rear wall 13, and a top wall 14. The collection compartment 1 is preferably sized to accommodate a single object.

[0031] The collection compartment 1 has an insertion opening 15 for the object, located at least partly in the front wall 12, specifically at the lower end of the latter. The box is open at the bottom, thus creating an exit opening 16 for the object. This exit opening 16 can be closed by two doors 2 and 3, which, when in the closed position, form a support cradle for the object.

[0032] The doors 2 and 3 are hinged to the lower edges of the side walls 10 and 11 respectively. In the closed position, doors 2 and 3 touch each other, in particular by mutual contact of two flanged edges provided on their respective free ends. These doors can be moved from the closed position to the open position by means of actuators, which preferably consist of electromechanical linear actuators 6, in particular of the electromagnetic type.

[0033] Each door 2, 3 is equipped with at least one counterweight 5, which constantly pushes it towards the closed position. At least one electromagnet is also provided to keep doors 2, 3 in the closed position. The electromagnet, not shown in the figures, may, for example, be provided at the flanged edges provided on the respective free ends of the two doors 2 and 3.

[0034] At least one camera and one illuminator, not shown in the figures, are installed inside the collection chamber 1. The upper wall 14 is provided with a hole 17 for at least partial insertion of said camera and said illuminator into the collection chamber 1.

[0035] An artificial vision unit, not shown in the figures, is connected to the camera and is configured to identify the object and control the means of actuation for opening one or both doors 2, 3, causing the object to fall into one of the different collection areas 40, 41, 42.

[0036] The support cradle is inclined downward away from the insertion opening 15 so that gravity facilitates the insertion of the object into the collection compartment 1 by sliding.

[0037] The box is suspended by two support arms 7 to a supporting structure, not shown in the figure. The support arms 7 are U-shaped and hinged externally to the box. The support arms 7 are of different lengths, in particular the arm near the insertion opening 15 is shorter than the other. In this way, once the support arms 7 are fixed to the said supporting structure, the box and consequently the support cradle are in an inclined position as described above.

[0038] There are also weighing means, not shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, for measuring the weight of the object placed on the support cradle.

[0039] The weighing means are preferably one or more load cells interposed between the support arms 7 and the supporting structure.

[0040] The collection compartment 1 is bounded by walls 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and each door 2, 3 is hinged to the lower edge of the respective wall 10, 11. Each door is shaped so that, when closed, it has a first portion 20, 30 proximal to the wall 10, 11 and lying in the same plane as the wall, and a second portion 21, 31 distal to the wall and inclined towards the other door 2, 3.

[0041] In Figures 1, 2, and 3, door 2 is in the closed position, while door 3 is in the open position, to create the aforementioned sideways-oriented exit opening.

[0042] Figure 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment with a single support arm 7 and with the load cell 8 interposed between the support arm 7 and the supporting structure. This allows the weighing of the object inserted into the device and resting on the support cradle. It is possible to select objects by excluding those above a certain weight, which can then be discarded in a predetermined manner, for example by being conveyed to a predetermined collection area.

[0043] Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the operation of the device in a first embodiment, showing how the shape and movement of doors 2 and 3 allow objects to fall into two different collection areas 40 and 41, depending on the opening mode.

[0044] Figure 4 shows how opening the first door 2 causes the object to fall into a first collection area 40. This is achieved by activating only the first door 2 and keeping the second door 3 closed.

[0045] Figure 5 illustrates the effect of opening the second door 3. In this configuration, the object falls into a second collection area 41, separate from the first. This is achieved by activating only the second door 3 and keeping the first door 2 closed.

[0046] Figures 7, 8, and 9 illustrate the operation of the device in a second embodiment, showing how the shape and movement of doors 2 and 3 allow objects to fall into three different collection areas 40, 41, and 42, depending on the opening mode.

[0047] While Figures 7 and 8 correspond to what is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 above, Figure 9 shows the case where both doors 2 and 3 are open at the same time. In this situation, the object falls into a third collection area 42, located centrally between the first and second collection areas 40 and 41.

[0048] Figure 10 illustrates a further example of the device in which objects can be sorted into three (or four) different collection areas. The rear wall 13 is provided at the bottom with a door 23 opposite the insertion opening 15, which is operated by a respective electromechanical linear actuator 6 for opening and closing. The opening of doors 2 and 3 allows the object to be discharged as shown in Figures 5 and 6 or 7-9, while the opening of door 23 allows the object to be sorted into a further collection area.

Claims

1. Device for automatically selecting and sorting waste objects intended for recycling, comprising at least one inlet, a classification station and at least one outlet to at least two different collection areas (40, 41, 42), characterized in that the classification station comprises a compartment (1) for collecting said object, which collection compartment (1) is provided with an insertion opening (15) for the object, which insertion opening (15) constitutes the said inlet, and at the bottom with at least one outlet opening (16) for the object, which discharge opening (16) constitutes the said outlet, wherein the discharge opening (16) can be closed by at least two doors (2, 3) movable by means of actuators from a closed position, in which they form a support cradle for the object, to an open position, and wherein at least one camera is provided in the collection compartment (1), a vision unit connected to the camera and configured to identify the object and consequently control the said actuating means for opening one or both of the said doors (2, 3) to drop the object into one of the said at least two different collection areas (40, 41, 42).

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the doors (2, 3) are shaped such that opening a first door (2) causes the object to fall into a first collection area (40) and opening a second door (3) causes the object to fall into a second collection area (41).

3. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein each door (2, 3) is provided with at least one counterweight (5) designed to constantly urge the door towards said closed position.

4. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein at least one electromagnet is provided for holding the doors (2, 3) in the closed position.

5. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the actuating means comprise electromechanical linear actuators (6).

6. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the support cradle is inclined downwardly away from the insertion opening (15).

7. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein means for weighing the object inserted on the support cradle are provided.

8. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the collection compartment (1) is bounded by walls (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and each door (2, 3) is hinged to a lower edge of a corresponding wall (10, 11) and is shaped so that, in the closed position, it has a first portion (20, 30) proximal to the wall (10, 11) and lying on the same plane as the wall (10, 11) and a second portion (21, 31) distal to the wall (10, 11) and lying on a plane inclined towards the further door (2, 3).

9. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the collection compartment (1) is dimensioned to accommodate a single said object.

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