Recycling method and wire harness

Abstract

To provide a recycling method easily separating conductors used for electric wire by kinds, and to provide a wire harness.SOLUTION: A recycling method comprises: a coarse crushing step (step S101) for cutting a wire harness so as to be coarser than a preset minimum shredded length; an electric wire sorting step (step S102) for sorting the wire harness into electric wire and members other than the electric wire; an identification code separation step (step S106) for sorting the electric wire (2) by kinds of conductors (21) using an identification code (10) represented on the electric wire (2). The identification code (10) is represented so as to have a prescribed interval length (S2) in a longitudinal direction of the electric wire (2) so that at least one can be read even when the electric wire (2) is shredded so as to have the minimum shredded length (L0) in the coarse crushing step (step S101).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for recycling a wire harness and the wire harness. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, when recycling wire harnesses, the following procedure is followed. 1. Remove the exterior. 2. Crushing (cutting into small pieces). 3. Gravity sorting: Separation of resins (such as electrical wire coverings) and metals (including non-ferrous metals). 4. Magnetic sorting / shape sorting: Separation of metals and non-ferrous metals.

[0003] The main recycled material in wire harnesses is the conductor (non-ferrous metal) used in the core of the electric wire. There are several types of conductors used in wire harnesses (copper, copper alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy, etc.), and the conductor is selected according to the wire diameter and application. If crushing and sorting is performed in the recycling process as described above, it is not possible to separate the types of conductors, so the entire amount of the separated conductors will be recycled as miscellaneous copper or miscellaneous metals. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 5-43423 DISCLOSURE OF THEINVENTION [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, miscellaneous copper does not meet the specifications for automotive electric wires. Therefore, in order to reuse miscellaneous copper as electric wires (core wires) for new wiring harnesses (horizontal recycling), a dedicated process is required to extract pure copper by melting and refining it. Melting and refining miscellaneous copper requires a lot of energy, which increases CO2 emissions and requires the use of chemicals that have a large environmental impact.

[0006] A technology has been proposed in which an identification part indicating the material of the core wire is provided on the electric wire, making it possible to determine the name of the conductor material used in the core wire by the identification part (for example, see Patent Document 1). Although it is possible to sort the electric wires by conductor type by visually checking the identification part, sorting the electric wires is performed manually before the crushing process, which causes problems such as high costs and time for recycling.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a recycling method and a wire harness that can easily separate conductors used in electric wires by type. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The recycling method of the present invention is a method for recycling wire harnesses, comprising: a rough crushing step in which the wire harness is cut more roughly than a predetermined minimum shredding length; an electric wire sorting step in which the wire harness after the rough crushing step is sorted into electric wires and non-electric wires; and an identification code sorting step in which the electric wires after the electric wire sorting step are sorted by conductor type using an identification code written on the electric wire, wherein the identification codes are written at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the electric wires so that at least one of the identification codes can be read even when the electric wires are cut to the minimum shredding length in the rough crushing step. The wire harness of the present invention is a wire harness formed by bundling electric wires, which are the object of a recycling method including a coarse shredding process for roughly shredding and a fine shredding process for finely shredding, characterized in that an identification code indicating the type of conductor is written on the electric wires, and the identification code is written at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction of the electric wires so that at least one of the identification codes can be read even when the electric wires are cut to the minimum shredding length in the coarse shredding process. Effect of the Invention

[0009] Since the present invention is configured as described above, by separating the conductors according to their type read from the identification codes and then crushing them again to separate the conductors from the coatings, the recycling purity can be improved and the materials can be used directly for horizontal recycling without consuming extra energy or effort. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a wire harness which is a target of a recycling method according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing steps of a recycling method according to the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of the electric wire shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the electric wire after the rough crushing step shown in FIG. 2. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the identification pattern shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a sorting system used in the identification code sorting step shown in FIG. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Next, a mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter simply referred to as an "embodiment") will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] This embodiment is a recycling method for a wire harness 1 shown in Fig. 1. The wire harness 1 includes a plurality of bundled electric wires 2, and terminals 3, connectors 4, and various boxes 5 such as a junction box and a fuse box are connected to the electric wires 2. The wire harness 1 is also wrapped with tape 6 and a tube (not shown) for bundling and protecting the electric wires 2. Furthermore, the wire harness 1 is also connected with other devices such as grommets, wiring clips, and protectors (not shown).

[0013] Referring to FIG. 2, the recycling method of the present embodiment performs a rough crushing step (step S101) of roughly cutting the wire harness 1 of the recovered product used in inventory disposal products, scrapped automobiles, etc. In the rough crushing step, the electric wire 2 to be separated is shredded so that the minimum shredded length L0 (for example, 3 cm) or more is obtained.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 3, the electric wire 2 includes a conductor 21 constituting a core wire and a resin coating 22, and an identification code 10 indicating the type of the conductor 21 is written on the outer peripheral surface of the coating 22. The code length L1 in the longitudinal direction of the identification code 10 is smaller than the minimum shredded length L0, and is written at a predetermined interval length L2 in the longitudinal direction. The relationship among the minimum shredded length L0, the code length L1, and the interval length L2 is set such that, as shown in FIG. 4, even if the interval length L2 is added to twice the code length L1, it is shorter than the minimum shredded length L0 (2×L1 + L2 < L0). Thereby, at least one identification code 10 is written in a readable state in the longitudinal direction on the electric wire 2 roughly crushed in the rough crushing step.

[0015] The identification code 10 is written so as to be readable from any direction on the circumferential surface in a state where the electric wire 2 is placed. As shown in FIG. 3(a), when the code width in the circumferential direction of the identification code 10 is sufficiently smaller than the circumferential length of the electric wire 2, the identification code 10 is written at an interval smaller than 90° around the conductor 21. The identification code 10 may be written over the entire circumference as shown in FIG. 3(b).

[0016] For example, as shown in FIG. 5(a), the identification code 10 includes a start bit 11, an end bit 12, and data bits 13 sandwiched between the start bit 11 and the end bit 12. As shown in FIG. 5(b), the data bits 13 have different patterns set according to the type of conductor 21 (copper, copper alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy, etc.). That is, the start bit 11 and the end bit 12 indicate the data bits 13, and the data bits 13 indicate the type of conductor 21. The identification code 10 may include other wire information (information about the material of the coating 22) in addition to the type of conductor 21. The identification code 10 may be another barcode or two-dimensional barcode, or may be a character string or a symbol.

[0017] The wire harness 1 after the rough crushing process is subjected to an electric wire separation process (step S102) in which separation is performed by vibration, wind force, or the like, so that the electric wires 2 are separated from resin, plastic, tape, and other components other than the electric wires 2.

[0018] After the electric wire sorting step, the electric wires 2 are subjected to an iron sorting step (step S103) in which the electric wires 2 are sorted by vibration, magnetic force, or the like, so that the electric wires 2 in which the conductors 21 are non-ferrous metals are separated from ferrous metals.

[0019] The separated iron metal is recycled as high-grade steel by carrying out a blast furnace refining process (step S104) in which it is melted using a blast furnace, and the impurities are discharged as slag. Also, the electric wire 2 containing the iron metal is recycled as low-grade steel by carrying out an electric furnace refining process (step S105) in which it is melted using an electric furnace, and the impurities are discharged as slag.

[0020] The electric wires 2 whose conductors 21 are non-ferrous metals separated in the iron separation step are separated by type of conductor 21 in an identification code separation step (step S106) in which the electric wires 2 are separated using the identification codes 10. In the identification code separation step, for example, a separation system 30 as shown in FIG. 6 can be used.

[0021] The sorting system 30 includes a camera 31, collection boxes 32a to 32e, air ejectors 33a to 33d, and a sorting control device .

[0022] The camera 31 photographs the electric wires 2 transported by the conveyor 40 and outputs the photographed data to the sorting control device 34. The electric wires 2 transported by the conveyor 40 are those after the rough crushing process. At least one or more identification codes 10 are visibly written on the electric wires 2.

[0023] The collection boxes 32a to 32e are provided for each type of conductor to be separated, and are sequentially arranged downstream of the installation position of the camera 31 in the conveying direction of the electric wire 2 along the conveyor 40. The separation system 30 of this embodiment has five types of conductors: pure copper, copper alloy, pure aluminum, aluminum alloy, and others.

[0024] The air blowing devices 33a to 33d are devices that blow air toward the electric wire 2 transported by the conveyor 40. The air blowing devices 33a to 33d are arranged corresponding to the collection boxes 32a to 32d, respectively, and blow away the electric wire 2 by blowing air, and collect it in the collection boxes 32a to 32d.

[0025] The sorting control device 34 is an information processing device that operates under program control of a personal computer or the like. The sorting control device 34 extracts the identification code 10 from the photographed data from the camera 31 and recognizes the type of conductor 21 used in the electric wire 2. The sorting control device 34 instructs the air blowing devices 33a to 33d to blow air at the timing when the electric wire 2 whose type of conductor 21 has been recognized reaches the corresponding collection box 32a to 32d. As a result, the electric wire 2 whose type of conductor 21 (pure copper, copper alloy, pure aluminum, aluminum alloy) has been recognized by the identification code 10 is collected in the corresponding collection box 32a to 32d. The electric wire 2 whose type has been recognized as other by the identification code 10 and the electric wire 2 whose identification code 10 itself could not be extracted are collected in the other collection box 32e arranged at the most downstream of the conveyor 40.

[0026] The electric wires 2 collected in the collection boxes 32a to 32d are individually subjected to a fine shredding process (step S107) in which they are cut into small pieces, and then individually subjected to a conductor separation process (step S108) in which they are separated by vibration, wind force, etc., so that they are separated into the conductors 21 and the resin (coating 22).

[0027] The conductors 21 (pure copper, copper alloy, pure aluminum, aluminum alloy) separated by each conductor separation process become high-purity electric wire materials. Therefore, the separated conductors 21 can be used for horizontal recycling as they are without consuming extra energy or labor.

[0028] The separated copper alloy and aluminum alloy may be recycled as pure copper and pure aluminum by carrying out an electric refining process (step S109) and an electrolytic extraction process (step S110), respectively. In this case, the process is carried out in a separated state of copper alloy and aluminum alloy, respectively, so that it is possible to reduce the amount of electricity used and the amount of chemicals that have a large environmental impact.

[0029] As described above, the present embodiment is a method for recycling a wire harness (1), comprising: a rough shredding step (step S101) of shredding the wire harness (1) more roughly than a preset minimum shredding length (L0); an electric wire sorting step (step S102) of sorting the wire harness (1) after the rough shredding step (step S101) into electric wires (2) and parts other than the electric wires (21); and a wire sorting step (step S102) of sorting the electric wires (2) after the electric wire sorting step (step S102) into parts other than the electric wires (2) by using an identification code written on the electric wires (2). and a fine shredding process (step S107) for finely cutting each of the electric wires (2) sorted in the identification code sorting process (step S106), in which the identification codes (10) are written at a predetermined interval length (L2) in the longitudinal direction of the electric wires (2) so that at least one of the identification codes (10) can be read even if the electric wires (2) are cut to the minimum shredding length (L0) in the rough shredding process (step S101). With this configuration, the conductors 21 are sorted by type as read from the identification code 10, and then crushed again to separate the conductors 21 and the coatings 22, thereby improving the recycling purity and allowing the material to be used directly for horizontal recycling without consuming extra energy or labor.

[0030] Furthermore, this embodiment relates to a wire harness (1) formed by bundling electric wires (2) which are the object of a recycling method including a coarse shredding process (step S101) for roughly cutting the electric wires and a fine shredding process (step S107) for finely cutting the electric wires, in which an identification code (10) indicating the type of conductor (21) is written on the electric wires (2), and the identification code (10) is written at a predetermined interval length (L2) in the longitudinal direction of the electric wires (2) so that at least one of the identification codes (10) can be read even when the electric wires are cut to the minimum shredding length (L0) in the coarse shredding process (step S101). With this configuration, even after the wire harness 1 is roughly shredded in a recycling facility, the identification code 10 is always written on the electric wire 2, and the type of the conductor 21 used in the electric wire 2 can be read.

[0031] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the length (L2) plus twice the longitudinal cord length (L1) of the identification code (10) is set to be shorter than the minimum chopping length (L0). Even after rough crushing, at least one identification code 10 is still written in its entirety.

[0032] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the identification code (10) is written so as to be readable from any direction on the circumferential surface in a state in which the electric wires (2) are placed after the rough crushing step (step S101). With this configuration, the identification code 10 can be read while the item is being transported by the conveyor 40, and sorting can be automated.

[0033] The present invention has been described above based on the embodiment. This embodiment is merely an example, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible in the combination of the respective components, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1 Wire harness 2 electric wire 3 Terminal 4 Connector 5 Box 6 Tape 10 Identification Code 11 Start bit 12 End Bits 13 data bits 21 Conductor 22 Covering 30 Waste sorting system 31 Camera 32a~32e Collection box 33a~33d Air ejection device 34 Separation control device 40 Conveyor L0 Minimum chopping length L1 Cord Length L2 Interval Length

Claims

1. A method for recycling a wire harness, comprising the steps of: A rough shredding process of cutting the wire harness roughly to a length greater than a predetermined minimum shredding length; an electric wire sorting process for sorting the wire harness after the rough crushing process into electric wires and other parts; and an identification code sorting step of sorting the electric wires after the electric wire sorting step according to the type of conductor using the identification codes written on the electric wires, A recycling method characterized in that the identification codes are written at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire so that at least one of the identification codes can be read even when the electric wire is cut to the minimum shredded length in the rough crushing process.

2. A wire harness made by bundling electric wires, which is a target of a recycling method including a coarse shredding process for roughly shredding and a fine shredding process for finely shredding, The electric wire is marked with an identification code indicating the type of conductor, The wire harness is characterized in that the identification codes are written at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the electric wires so that at least one of the identification codes can be read even when the electric wires are cut to the minimum shredded length in the rough crushing process.

3. 3. The wire harness according to claim 2, wherein the length of the gap added to twice the cord length in the longitudinal direction of the identification code is set to be shorter than the minimum chopping length.

4. 4. The wire harness according to claim 2, wherein the identification code is written so as to be readable from any direction on a circumferential surface of the electric wires in a state in which the electric wires are placed after the rough crushing step.

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