Information processing device, information processing method, proposed system, and program

Abstract

To enable more effective use of resources based on the recycling of rubber waste materials. [Solution] The information processing device (10) includes a control unit (11) that acquires attribute information indicating the attributes of rubber waste materials, determines a recycling destination for the rubber waste materials based on the acquired attribute information, and notifies the determined recycling destination for the rubber waste materials.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a proposal system, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Recycling technologies are known for collecting rubber waste materials such as used tires and used rubber products and reusing them as resources. In the past, rubber waste materials were mostly recycled mainly as fuel. In recent years, research and development of recycling-related technologies have become active, and the reuse of rubber waste materials as various resources other than fuel is being studied. For example, Patent Document 1 describes that chemical products and carbonized materials are produced by pyrolyzing crushed waste tires.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, conventional configurations have not been studied for supporting the determination of recycling destinations for rubber waste materials. As a result, conventional configurations have room for improvement in terms of the effective use of resources based on recycling.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to make it possible to more effectively utilize resources derived from the recycling of rubber waste materials.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] According to the present disclosure, an information processing apparatus is configured to (1) acquire attribute information indicating attributes of rubber waste materials, determine a recycling destination of the rubber waste materials based on the acquired attribute information, The recycling destination for the determined rubber waste materials will be notified. It is equipped with a control unit. This configuration allows users to consider applicable recycling destinations from multiple perspectives, enabling the effective use of resources related to recyclable materials.

[0007] (2) In the information processing device of (1), The control unit, As attribute information of the aforementioned rubber waste materials, information is obtained that includes at least one of the brand, size, type, and compound information of the aforementioned rubber waste materials. Based on the acquired attribute information, the destination for recycling the rubber waste materials may be determined. With this configuration, it is possible to suggest an appropriate recycling destination based on information such as the brand, size, type, and composition of the rubber waste materials.

[0008] (3) In the information processing device of (1) or (2), The control unit may acquire, as attribute information, attribute information corresponding to an identifier indicated by an indicator attached to the rubber waste materials, or attribute information read from an RFID tag attached to the rubber waste materials. With this configuration, highly reliable attribute information corresponding to rubber waste materials can be obtained, and the appropriate recycling destination can be determined.

[0009] (4) In any of the information processing devices described in (1) to (3), The recycling of the aforementioned rubber waste materials may be carried out by thermal decomposition of the rubber waste materials. This configuration allows for the appropriate proposal of recycling destinations for rubber waste materials that undergo thermal decomposition.

[0010] (5) In any of the information processing devices described in (1) to (4), The aforementioned rubber waste materials may include at least one of the following: used or unused tires, used or unused rubber products, rubber scraps, and synthetic rubber or natural rubber products that do not meet specifications. This configuration allows us to propose recycling destinations for various types of rubber waste materials.

[0011] (6) In any of the information processing devices described in (1) to (5), The control unit may further determine the destination for recycling the rubber waste based on at least one of the following: marketability, legal regulations, needs, transaction price, strength of barriers to entry, total cost of recycling, and magnitude of environmental impact. This configuration allows us to propose appropriate recycling destinations not only based on the analysis results of the rubber waste materials to be recycled, but also from a more multifaceted perspective.

[0012] (7) In any of the information processing devices described in (1) to (6), The control unit may determine the destination for recycling the rubber waste materials, or the types of products to which the rubber waste materials can be applied. This configuration allows users to be informed of recommended recycling destinations with appropriate granularity.

[0013] (8) In any of the information processing devices described in (1) to (7), The control unit may determine multiple recycling destinations for the rubber waste materials. This configuration allows for the presentation of multiple recycling options, encouraging users to make informed decisions.

[0014] According to this disclosure, the information processing method is: (9) An information processing method performed by an information processing device, To obtain attribute information indicating the attributes of rubber waste materials, Based on the attribute information obtained, the destination for recycling the rubber waste materials is determined, To notify the recycling destination of the rubber waste materials that have been determined, Includes. According to such a configuration, a user can comprehensively examine applicable recycling destinations, enabling effective use of resources related to recyclable materials.

[0015] According to the present disclosure, a proposing system comprises (10) A proposing system comprising an information processing apparatus and a terminal apparatus that can communicate with each other, acquiring attribute information indicating attributes of waste rubber materials, determining a recycling destination for the waste rubber materials based on the acquired attribute information, notifying the determined recycling destination of the waste rubber materials. According to such a configuration, a user can comprehensively examine applicable recycling destinations, enabling effective use of resources related to recyclable materials.

[0016] According to the present disclosure, a program causes (11) a computer to operate as the information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (8). According to such a configuration, a user can comprehensively examine applicable recycling destinations, enabling effective use of resources related to recyclable materials. [[ID=24】Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, resources based on recycling of waste rubber materials can be used more effectively. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a proposing system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the proposing system. Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, parts having the same configuration or function are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the description of this embodiment, redundant descriptions of the same parts may be omitted or simplified as appropriate.

[0020] (Proposed System 1) Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of the proposed system 1 according to one embodiment. The proposed system 1 proposes a recycling destination based on attribute information of rubber waste materials.

[0021] In this embodiment, the rubber waste materials to be recycled include, but are not limited to, used tires and used rubber products (e.g., hoses, crawlers, etc.). For example, unused tires and rubber products may also be included. The rubber waste materials may be retreaded tires, used tires resulting from tire replacement, vehicle scrapping, etc., and End-of-Life Tires (ELTs) that have reached the end of their lifespan. Retreading refers to the process of scraping off the tread rubber of a tire, attaching new rubber, and vulcanizing it to make it reusable. In this embodiment, as an example, the description will mainly focus on tires for vehicles such as passenger cars, trucks, and buses, but other types of tires such as those for aircraft, mining, and agriculture may also be included. In other words, the type of tire is arbitrary. The rubber waste materials are not limited to final products and may include, for example, rubber scraps from factories. For example, the rubber waste materials may include buffing powder, peeling rubber, and scraps of rubber products. Buffing powder is fine rubber generated during the buffing process in retreading, where the remaining tread portion on the base tire is removed. Peeling rubber is long pieces of rubber, for example, 1-2 cm wide, that are peeled off the surface of the tire. Peeling rubber is generated by using a U-shaped or V-shaped knife like a peeler to scrape the surface of the tire. Rubber product scraps are excess rubber generated during the manufacturing process of rubber products such as tires. Rubber waste materials may contain components other than rubber. For example, rubber waste materials may be a blend of used rubber and waste plastics. Rubber waste materials may contain metal components. For example, rubber waste materials may contain metal components such as steel cords and wires that are the structural components of tires. Thus, rubber waste materials may include at least one of used or unused tires, used or unused rubber products, rubber scraps, and synthetic rubber or natural rubber off-spec products.

[0022] Rubber waste materials may be fitted with at least one of the following: an indicator that identifies an identifier for identifying the rubber waste materials, or an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag that stores attribute information of the rubber waste materials. The indicator is any marking for identifying the identifier, and may be, for example, a two-dimensional barcode, a barcode, a marker that shows a specific color, or a serial code. The indicator may also be, for example, the product name, manufacturer name, or various symbols displayed on the tire sidewall. The marker that shows a specific color is not limited to one that can be distinguished by the human eye, and may be, for example, one that is detected by a device in an extremely small amount, or one that is in the invisible light range. The indicator may be attached to the rubber waste materials by adhesion, printing, or kneading into the rubber.

[0023] As shown in Figure 1, the proposed system 1 comprises an information processing device 10, a terminal device 20, and a reader device 30. The information processing device 10 and the terminal device 20 can communicate with each other via a network 40. The terminal device 20 and the reader device 30 are connected to each other in a way that allows them to communicate with each other.

[0024] The information processing device 10 is a computer that determines the recycling destination based on the attribute information of rubber waste materials. The information processing device 10 manages a database showing the relationship between the attribute information of rubber waste materials and the recycling destination. The information processing device 10 also manages a database showing the relationship between the identifier of rubber waste materials and the attribute information. The information processing device 10 can be implemented by any computer. For example, the information processing device 10 may be a server device installed in a data center, or a server device belonging to a cloud computing system or other computing system.

[0025] Terminal device 20 is a computer operated by the user. Terminal device 20 acquires attribute information of rubber waste materials and transmits it to information processing device 10, and notifies the user of the recycling destination determined by the information processing device 10. Terminal device 20 is, for example, a general-purpose electronic device such as a PC (Personal Computer), tablet terminal, or smartphone, or a dedicated electronic device.

[0026] The reader 30 takes pictures of indicators on rubber waste materials and reads RFID tags. For example, the reader 30 may be implemented as a camera and acquire images of the indicators on the rubber waste materials. Alternatively, the reader 30 may be implemented as an RFID tag reader and read attribute information from RFID tags attached to the rubber waste materials. The reader 30 transmits the acquired images and attribute information to the terminal device 20.

[0027] Network 40 is any communication medium such as the Internet, an intranet, or a mobile communication network. The information processing device 10 and the terminal device 20 are connected to each other via Network 40 so as to be able to communicate. The reader device 30 may also be connected to Network 40 and be able to communicate with the information processing device 10. In Figure 1, one each of the information processing device 10, terminal device 20, and reader device 30 is shown, but the proposed system 1 may have multiple units of these devices. The information processing device 10 and the terminal device 20 may be implemented by the same computer. The information processing device 10 may be implemented by multiple computers that can communicate with each other and implement their respective functions. For example, the information processing device 10 may be implemented by a computer that determines the recycling destination based on the attribute information of rubber waste materials and a computer that manages the relationship between the identifier of rubber waste materials and the attribute information.

[0028] In this configuration, when the terminal device 20 receives a captured image from the reader 30, it transmits the captured image or an identifier obtained by analyzing the captured image to the information processing device 10. When the terminal device 20 receives attribute information from the reader 30, it transmits that attribute information to the information processing device 10. When the information processing device 10 receives a captured image or an identifier obtained by analyzing the captured image, it acquires attribute information of the rubber waste materials corresponding to the identifier shown in the captured image or the received identifier. Based on the attribute information acquired based on the identifier, or the attribute information received from the terminal device 20, the information processing device 10 determines the recycling destination for the rubber waste materials and notifies the user of the determined recycling destination for the rubber waste materials. Therefore, according to the proposed system 1, the user can consider applicable recycling destinations from multiple perspectives, and effective utilization of resources related to recycled resources becomes possible.

[0029] (Information processing device 10) As shown in Figure 1, the information processing device 10 comprises a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a communication unit 13.

[0030] The control unit 11 includes one or more processors. In one embodiment, the "processor" is a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor specialized for a specific process, but is not limited to these. The control unit 11 is communicatively connected to each component constituting the information processing device 10 and controls the operation of the entire information processing device 10.

[0031] The storage unit 12 includes, for example, any storage module such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), SSD (Solid State Drive), ROM (Read-Only Memory), and RAM (Random Access Memory). The storage unit 12 may function as, for example, a main memory, an auxiliary memory, or a cache memory. The storage unit 12 stores any information used in the operation of the information processing device 10. For example, the storage unit 12 may store system programs, application programs, and various information received by the communication unit 13. The storage unit 12 may, for example, maintain a database showing the relationship between attribute information of rubber waste materials acquired in the past and their recycling destinations. Alternatively, the storage unit 12 may maintain a database showing the relationship between identifiers of rubber waste materials and their attribute information. The storage unit 12 is not limited to those built into the information processing device 10, but may also be an external database or an external storage module, or network storage connected to the network 40.

[0032] The communication unit 13 includes an optional communication module that can communicate with other devices such as terminal devices 20 and network storage using any communication technology. The communication unit 13 may further include a communication control module for controlling communication with other devices, and a storage module for storing communication data such as identification information necessary for communication with other devices.

[0033] The functions of the information processing device 10 can be realized by executing a computer program (program) according to this embodiment on the processor included in the control unit 11. In other words, the functions of the information processing device 10 can be realized by software. The computer program causes the computer to execute the processing steps included in the operation of the information processing device 10, thereby realizing the functions corresponding to the processing of each step. In other words, the computer program is a program that causes the computer to function as the information processing device 10 according to this embodiment. The computer program may be recorded on a recording medium that can be read by a computer. The program includes information used for processing by an electronic computer that is equivalent to a program. For example, data that is not a direct instruction to the computer but has the nature of defining the processing of the computer falls under the category of "information equivalent to a program".

[0034] Some or all of the functions of the information processing device 10 may be implemented by dedicated circuits included in the control unit 11. In other words, some or all of the functions of the information processing device 10 may be implemented by hardware. Furthermore, the information processing device 10 may be implemented by a single computer or by the cooperation of multiple computers.

[0035] (Terminal device 20) As shown in Figure 1, the terminal device 20 comprises a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, a communication unit 23, an input unit 24, and an output unit 25. The functions and configurations of the control unit 21, storage unit 22, and communication unit 23 of the terminal device 20 are the same as those of the control unit 11, storage unit 12, and communication unit 13 of the information processing device 10, so a detailed explanation is omitted.

[0036] The input unit 24 includes one or more input interfaces that receive user input operations and acquire input information based on user operations. For example, the input unit 24 may be, but is not limited to, physical keys, capacitive keys, a pointing device, a touchscreen integrated with the display of the output unit 25, or a microphone that accepts voice input.

[0037] The output unit 25 includes one or more output interfaces that output information to the user and notify the user. For example, the output unit 25 is a display that outputs information as an image, or a speaker that outputs information as sound, but is not limited to these. Such a display may be, for example, a liquid crystal panel display or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display. At least one of the above-mentioned input unit 24 and output unit 25 may be configured integrally with the information processing device 10, or it may be provided as a separate unit.

[0038] The terminal device 20 may be implemented by a single computer or by the collaboration of multiple computers. Some or all of the functions of the terminal device 20 may be implemented by software or by hardware, similar to the information processing device 10.

[0039] (Example of operation) Figure 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the proposed system 1. The operation of each step in Figure 2 may be performed based on control by the control unit 11 of the information processing device 10.

[0040] In step S1, the control unit 11 acquires attribute information of the rubber waste materials.

[0041] Specifically, for example, the control unit 11 may receive and acquire attribute information read from the RFID tags of the rubber waste materials via the communication unit 13 from the terminal device 20 or the reader 30. Alternatively, for example, the control unit 11 may receive an identifier from the terminal device 20 or the reader 30, refer to a database, and acquire attribute information corresponding to that identifier. Alternatively, for example, the control unit 11 may receive a captured image of an indicator attached to the rubber waste materials from the terminal device 20 or the reader 30, analyze the captured image to acquire an identifier, refer to a database, and acquire attribute information corresponding to that identifier. Alternatively, the control unit 11 may acquire attribute information by reading attribute information, identifiers, or captured images from a recording medium, or by accepting input operations from the user to the information processing device 10. The control unit 11 may acquire attribute information by combining the attribute information read from the RFID tags of the rubber waste materials and the attribute information acquired based on the identifier of the rubber waste materials.

[0042] Attribute information of rubber waste materials is optional information useful for determining where to recycle them. For example, attribute information of rubber waste materials may include brand, size, type (tires, hoses, crawlers, etc.), and compound information (rubber components, fillers, antioxidants, vulcanizing chemicals, etc.).

[0043] For example, if the rubber waste material is a used tire, the attribute information may include at least one of the specifications and composition of the used tire. Specifically, for example, the attribute information may include at least one of the category, type, size, rubber properties, manufacturer, and manufacturing date of the used tire. The category of the used tire may be a classification by vehicle type, such as PSR (passenger car radial tire) or TBR (truck / bus radial tire). The type of the used tire may be a classification by function, such as studless, run-flat, or summer. The size of the used tire may be a numerical value of specifications, such as width, aspect ratio, or rim diameter. The rubber properties of the used tire may be a numerical value indicating performance, such as rolling resistance coefficient or modulus of elasticity. The manufacturer of the used tire may be a manufacturer name, for example. The manufacturing date of the used tire may be information such as the year and month of manufacture. The attribute information of the used tire may further include data on the structure of the components. The data on the structure of the components may be data on the arrangement, shape, size, and hardness of each component, such as the tread and sidewall. The structural data of the components may include, for example, drawings or images showing cross-sections. The attribute information of used tires may include the intended use of the used tires (e.g., passenger car, truck, bus).

[0044] Furthermore, the attribute information of used tires may include data on the components of at least one of the polymer, filler, and sulfur components of the used tire. Data on the polymer components of used tires may include information such as molecular weight and whether or not it contains butyl rubber. Here, fillers are added to reinforce the rubber composition, and carbon black is an example. In addition to carbon black, inorganic fillers such as silica, clay, talc, calcium carbonate, and aluminum hydroxide are also examples. Data on the filler components of used tires may include information such as whether or not it contains silica, whether or not it contains carbon black and components other than silica, and the grade of the carbon black. The grade of carbon black may be classified as, for example, SAF (Super Abrasion Furnace) or ISAF (Intermediate SAF). Data on the sulfur components of used tires may include numerical values ​​such as the amount added (content). Used tire data may further include data on compounds other than polymer, filler, and sulfur, and on regulated substances.

[0045] Furthermore, the attribute information of used tires may include the rubber compound of the tread, the composition of oils (e.g., terpene oil) contained in the used tire, antioxidants, waxes, and adhesive materials. The attribute information of used tires may also include information about the materials of the used tire (material information). The material information may include material information indicating the fiber type of organic fibers such as PET, nylon, and aramid. The material information may also include information about the inner liner. If any of the materials constituting the used tire have been recycled, the material information may indicate how many times they have been recycled.

[0046] Furthermore, the attribute information of used tires may include the tire's service history, the quality of the tire's material, and the tire's usage status. The tire's service history may include information such as the date and time the tire was installed, repair history, and retread history. The quality of the tire's material may include information such as the recycling history of the tire's material. The tire's usage status may include information such as inspection information including the remaining tread amount, the year and month of use, and the tire's driving history. The tire's driving history may include information such as the distance the tire was used, the region of use, and temperature changes.

[0047] Furthermore, the attribute information of used tires may also include tire compound information. Compound information may include, for example, the type and blending ratio of the tire rubber, the type and amount of reinforcing materials, the chemicals and additives used in manufacturing, and the recycling ratio, which is the ratio of recycled materials among the materials used. The recycling ratio may also be, for example, the proportion of recycled carbon black used in the tire out of all the carbon black used in the tire.

[0048] In step S2, the control unit 11 of the information processing device 10 stores the attribute information acquired in step S1 in the storage unit 12.

[0049] Specifically, the control unit 11 may register attribute information along with identification information of rubber waste materials in a database constructed in the storage unit 12. The control unit 11 may also register attribute information in the database in association with information such as date and time and user ID.

[0050] In step S3, the control unit 11 of the information processing device 10 determines the recycling destination for the rubber waste materials based on the attribute information acquired in step S2.

[0051] Specifically, the control unit 11 may refer to the relationship between past attribute information of rubber waste materials registered in the database and the recycling destination. For example, the control unit 11 may determine a recycling destination corresponding to past attribute information similar to the attribute information obtained in step S1 as the recycling destination for the rubber waste materials for which new attribute information has been obtained.

[0052] Alternatively, the storage unit 12 may have pre-registered rules for determining the recycling destination based on the attribute information of the rubber waste materials, and the control unit 11 may determine the recycling destination based on these rules. Such rules may be set manually in advance, or the control unit 11 may automatically determine them based on the relationship between past attribute information of rubber waste materials registered in the past and the recycling destinations.

[0053] Specifically, the control unit 11 may, for example, if the rubber waste materials are used tires, determine the optimal application destination for the oil component as a recycling destination based on at least one of the tire's use (tread, sidewall, etc.) and type (passenger car, truck, bus, etc.). Application destinations for the oil component may include, for example, fuel use, raw materials for plastic products, raw materials for rubber products, raw materials for carbon black, and application of the oil itself. This is because the physical properties (density, viscosity, aromatic content, iodine value, etc.) of the oil component obtained after recycling (chemical treatment such as pyrolysis and gasification) differ depending on the tire material. Also, the physical properties of the oil component obtained after recycling differ depending on the tire's use.

[0054] Furthermore, if the rubber waste materials are used rubber products, the control unit 11 may determine the optimal application destination for the oil component as a recycling destination based on the type of rubber product (tires, hoses, crawlers, etc.). This is because the physical properties of the oil component obtained after recycling differ depending on the type of rubber product.

[0055] Furthermore, the control unit 11 may, for example, if the rubber waste materials are used tires, determine the optimal application destination for the raw materials as a recycling destination based on at least one of the tire's use (tread, sidewall, etc.) and type (passenger car, truck, bus, etc.). The application destination for the raw materials may include resin / rubber raw materials. This is because the physical properties (density, viscosity, aromatic content, iodine value, etc.) of the oil components obtained after recycling (chemical treatment such as pyrolysis or gasification) differ depending on the tire material. Also, the physical properties of the oil components obtained after recycling differ depending on the tire's use.

[0056] Furthermore, the control unit 11 may, for example, determine the optimal application for the raw materials as a recycling destination based on the type of rubber product (tires, hoses, crawlers, etc.) if the rubber waste materials are used rubber products. This is because the physical properties of the oil components obtained after recycling differ depending on the type of rubber product.

[0057] Furthermore, the control unit 11 may, for example, if the rubber waste materials are used tires, determine the optimal application destination for the carbon black as a recycling destination based on at least one of the tire's use (tread, sidewall, etc.) and type (passenger car, truck, bus, etc.). Applications for carbon black may include tires, inks and toners, electronic materials, colorants, activated carbon, etc. This is because the physical properties (particle size, amount of impurities, amount of ash, surface activity, etc.) of the carbide obtained after recycling (chemical treatment such as pyrolysis and gasification) differ depending on the tire material. Also, the physical properties of the carbide obtained after recycling differ depending on the tire's use.

[0058] Furthermore, the control unit 11 may, for example, determine the optimal application destination for the carbon black as a recycling destination based on the type of rubber product (tires, hoses, crawlers, etc.) if the rubber waste materials are used rubber products. This is because the physical properties of the char obtained after recycling differ depending on the type of rubber product.

[0059] Furthermore, the control unit 11 may, for example, if the rubber waste materials are used tires, determine the optimal product application destination after recycling based on at least one of the tire's use (tread, sidewall, etc.) and type (passenger car, truck, bus, etc.). Product applications may include rubber products (tires, hoses, vibration damping rubber, belts, weatherstrips, shoes, fenders, rubber mats), asphalt, etc. This is because the properties of the materials, i.e., the oil and carbides obtained after recycling (chemical treatment such as pyrolysis and gasification), differ depending on the tire's components, allowing for the selection of the optimal application destination.

[0060] Furthermore, the control unit 11 may, for example, if the rubber waste materials are used rubber products, determine the optimal product application destination after recycling based on the type of rubber product (tires, hoses, crawlers, etc.). This is because the properties of the materials, i.e., the oil and carbides obtained after recycling, differ depending on the type of rubber product, allowing for the selection of the optimal application destination.

[0061] Furthermore, the control unit 11 may determine the recycling destination based on the compounding information contained in the rubber waste materials (rubber components, fillers, antioxidants, vulcanizing chemicals, etc.). Specifically, the control unit 11 may determine the optimal application destination or applicable product for the liquid (oil) component of the liquid obtained by recycling, for example, based on the composition of the rubber components contained in the rubber waste materials. Here, the optimal application destination may include, for example, fuel applications, raw materials for plastic products, raw materials for rubber products, raw materials for carbon black, and applications of the oil itself. Applicable products may include, for example, rubber products (tires, hoses, vibration damping rubber, belts, weatherstrips, shoes, fenders, rubber mats, etc.) and asphalt. For example, the control unit 11 may determine an appropriate application destination to propose based on the proportion of aromatic components, the amount of nitrogen and sulfur contained in the rubber composition, etc.

[0062] Furthermore, the control unit 11 may determine the optimal application or applicable product for the carbonized material (carbon black) obtained by recycling, for example, based on the composition of the rubber components contained in the rubber waste materials. Here, the optimal application may include, for example, tires, inks and toners, electronic materials, colorants, activated carbon, etc. Applicable products may include, for example, rubber products (tires, hoses, vibration-damping rubber, belts, weatherstrips, shoes, fenders, rubber mats, etc.), asphalt, etc. For example, the control unit 11 may determine an appropriate application to propose based on the presence or absence and content of aromatic compounds contained in the rubber composition.

[0063] Furthermore, the control unit 11 may determine, for example, the optimal application destination or applicable product for the gas obtained through recycling, based on the composition of the rubber components contained in the rubber waste materials.

[0064] Furthermore, the recycling of rubber waste materials may be carried out by any method. For example, the recycling of rubber waste materials may be carried out by obtaining substances such as liquids (oil), gases, and solids (residues such as charred materials) by thermal decomposition, similar to the method described in Patent Document 1. Decomposition may also involve a distillation process. The recycling of rubber waste materials may also be carried out by gasification.

[0065] Furthermore, if the control unit 11 can identify the intended use based on the attribute information, it may determine the result including the specific use as the recycling destination. For example, when the control unit 11 determines that the intended use is as fuel, it may specify the specific use, such as for ships, aircraft, railways, construction machinery, automobiles, private use, boilers, incinerators, industrial furnaces, lubricating oil, coke, etc. Alternatively, when the control unit 11 determines that the intended use is as carbon black, it may specify the specific use, such as for tires, inks and toners, electronic materials, colorants (pigments), activated carbon, etc. Alternatively, when the control unit 11 determines that the intended use is as a raw material for petrochemical substitutes, it may specify the specific use, such as for resins, rubber, naphtha, etc.

[0066] Furthermore, if the control unit 11 can identify a product field based on attribute information, it may determine a recycling destination that includes a specific product field. For example, when determining a recycling destination for rubber products, the control unit 11 may specify a specific product field such as tires, hoses, vibration-damping rubber, belts, weatherstrips, shoes, fenders, rubber mats, etc.

[0067] Furthermore, the control unit 11 may also consider information such as the marketability (including market trends), legal regulations, public needs, transaction prices, barriers to entry, and total costs required for recycling to determine the recycling destination. For example, the control unit 11 may prioritize selecting the most suitable recycling destination if it has high marketability and can be traded at a higher price, or if it is applicable to a specific type of product. For example, the control unit 11 may refer to the inventory levels and regulated substances of candidate recycling destinations and prioritize selecting candidates with low inventory and compliance with regulations. For example, the control unit 11 may prioritize selecting candidates with higher transaction prices and lower barriers to entry as the most suitable recycling destination. For example, the control unit 11 may also consider the total costs required for recycling and prioritize selecting recycling destinations where a recycling method that minimizes the total cost is anticipated.

[0068] Furthermore, the control unit 11 may determine the recycling destination to be an application with a lower environmental impact or a type of product to which it can be applied. For example, for each candidate recycling destination, the control unit 11 may refer to LCCO2 (Life Cycle CO2) information from the component analysis to the recycling destination and prioritize selecting the candidate with the lowest CO2 emissions per year of the product's lifespan as the recycling destination.

[0069] Furthermore, the control unit 11 may determine multiple recycling destinations. For example, the control unit 11 may calculate the suitability of each candidate recycling destination as a numerical value in light of each of the above-mentioned multiple criteria, and calculate a value indicating the suitability of the recycling destination by weighting the suitability values ​​based on each criterion. The control unit 11 may also determine candidates whose suitability value is above a certain value, or candidates that are included in the top certain number, as recycling destinations.

[0070] The control unit 11 may register the determined recycling destination in the database, associating it with the attribute information registered in step S2.

[0071] In step S4, the control unit 11 of the information processing device 10 notifies the user of the recycling destination determined in step S3.

[0072] Specifically, the control unit 11 may transmit the recycling destination determined in step S3 to the terminal device 20. The control unit 21 of the terminal device 20 may notify the user of the recycling destination received from the information processing device 10 by outputting it from the output unit 25. For example, the control unit 21 may display an image indicating the recycling destination on the display or output an audio message indicating the recycling destination.

[0073] If the control unit 11 determines multiple recycling destinations, it may notify the user of all of them. If the control unit 11 calculates a value indicating the appropriateness of each of the multiple recycling destinations, it may also notify the user of the appropriateness value for each of the multiple recycling destinations.

[0074] As described above, the proposed system 1 acquires attribute information indicating the attributes of rubber waste materials, determines a recycling destination for the rubber waste materials based on the acquired attribute information, and notifies the user of the determined recycling destination. Therefore, according to the proposed system 1, users can consider applicable recycling destinations from multiple perspectives, enabling the effective use of resources related to recycled materials.

[0075] Furthermore, after notifying the user of the recycling destination for the rubber waste materials, the proposed system 1 may acquire information on the recycling destination that was actually applied to those rubber waste materials and register the acquired information in a database. The proposed system 1 may also update the rules for determining the recycling destination from the attribute information of the rubber waste materials based on the recycling destination that was actually applied to those rubber waste materials. Therefore, the proposed system 1 can notify the user of a result that is close to the recycling destination that was actually selected.

[0076] As described above, proposed system 1 takes into account the characteristics of used tires and rubber waste materials such as rubber products, and proposes the most suitable recycling destination based on these characteristics. This allows for a multifaceted examination of applicable recycling destinations, enabling the effective use of resources.

[0077] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, multiple blocks shown in the block diagram may be combined, or a single block may be divided. Multiple steps shown in the flowchart may be performed in parallel or in a different order, depending on the processing capacity of the device performing each step, or as necessary, instead of being performed in chronological order as described. Other modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of this disclosure. [Contribution to the United Nations-led Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)]

[0078] The SDGs have been proposed to realize a sustainable society. One embodiment of this invention is considered to be a technology that can contribute to "No. 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation" and "No. 12 - Responsible consumption and production," among others. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0079] 1: Proposed System 10: Information Processing Devices 11: Control Unit 12: Storage section 13: Communications Department 20: Terminal device 21: Control Unit 22: Storage part 23: Communications Department 24: Input section 25: Output section 30: Reader 40: Network

Claims

1. Obtain attribute information indicating the attributes of rubber waste materials, Based on the attribute information obtained, the recycling destination for the rubber waste materials is determined. The recycling destination for the determined rubber waste materials will be notified. An information processing device equipped with a control unit.

2. The control unit, As attribute information of the aforementioned rubber waste materials, information is obtained that includes at least one of the brand, size, type, and compound information of the aforementioned rubber waste materials. Based on the acquired attribute information, the recycling destination for the rubber waste materials is determined. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The control unit acquires, as attribute information, attribute information corresponding to an identifier indicated by an indicator attached to the rubber waste materials, or attribute information read from an RFID tag attached to the rubber waste materials. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recycling of the rubber waste materials is carried out by thermal decomposition of the rubber waste materials.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rubber waste materials include at least one of used or unused tires, used or unused rubber products, rubber scraps, and synthetic rubber or natural rubber off-spec products.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit further determines the destination for recycling the rubber waste materials based on at least one of the following: marketability, legal regulations, needs, transaction price, strength of barriers to entry, total cost required for recycling, and magnitude of environmental impact.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines the destination for the rubber waste materials, or the type of product to which the rubber waste materials can be applied, as the destination for the recycling of the rubber waste materials.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines a plurality of recycling destinations for the rubber waste materials.

9. An information processing method performed by an information processing device, To obtain attribute information indicating the attributes of rubber waste materials, Based on the attribute information obtained, the destination for recycling the rubber waste materials is determined, To notify the recycling destination of the rubber waste materials that have been determined, Information processing methods, including those mentioned above.

10. A proposed system comprising information processing devices and terminal devices capable of communicating with each other, Obtain attribute information indicating the attributes of rubber waste materials, Based on the attribute information obtained, the recycling destination for the rubber waste materials is determined. The recycling destination for the determined rubber waste materials will be notified. Proposed system.

11. A program that causes a computer to operate as an information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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