Recycling system and wire harnesses

Abstract

To provide a recycle system capable of obtaining an electric wire material with high purity containing no contaminants through recycling, and also to provide a wire harness.SOLUTION: A recycle system is for a wire harness 1 with a plurality of electric wires 2 bundled. The recycle system includes: a data server 30 storing conductor information showing a type of a conductor used in the electric wires 2 as recycle information of the wire harness 1; and a discrimination tag reading device 20 configured to read a discrimination tag 10 attached to the wire harness 1 and acquire the conductor information from the data server 30. The data server 30 stores removal information showing a removal object to be removed from the electric wires 2 as the recycle information. The discrimination tag reading device 20 acquires the removal information from the data server 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a recycling system used for recycling wire harnesses and the wire harnesses. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, when recycling a wire harness, 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 coatings) and metals (including non-ferrous metals). 4. Magnetic sorting / shape sorting: Separation of metals and non-ferrous metals.

[0003] The main material recycled 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. When crushing and sorting is carried out in the recycling process as described above, it is not possible to separate the types of conductors. Therefore, all of the sorted conductors are recycled as miscellaneous copper or miscellaneous metals. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-313165 DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, miscellaneous copper does not meet the specifications for automotive electrical wires. Therefore, in order to reuse miscellaneous copper as the electrical wire (core wire) of new wiring harnesses (horizontal recycling), a special 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] It has been proposed to attach a medium (non-contact IC tag) containing electronic data necessary for recycling, such as the content of the constituent materials, to a wire harness and carry out a recycling process appropriate for the constituent materials (see, for example, Patent Document 1). However, wire harnesses contain various parts and metals (plating, etc.) other than the core wire. Therefore, since it is not possible to completely separate the conductors by type based on the information on the constituent materials alone, they end up being treated as miscellaneous copper.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a recycling system and a wire harness that can obtain impurity-free, highly pure electric wire material through recycling. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The recycling system of the present invention is a recycling system for a wire harness in which a plurality of electric wires are bundled, and is characterized by comprising: a data server that stores recycling information for the wire harness, including conductor information indicating the type of conductor used in the electric wires and removal information indicating items to be removed from the electric wires; and an identification tag reading device that reads an identification tag attached to the wire harness and obtains the recycling information from the data server. The wire harness of the present invention is characterized in that it is a wire harness in which a plurality of electric wires are bundled, and is equipped with an identification tag including access information to a data server that stores, as recycling information, conductor information indicating the type of conductor used in the electric wires and removal information indicating items to be removed from the electric wires. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] Since the present invention is configured as described above, it is possible to sort the conductors of electric wires by type using the conductor information, and it is possible to easily remove parts and areas that contain anything other than pure copper or pure aluminum using the removal information, thereby obtaining high-purity electric wire material free of impurities. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a recycling system according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a database of a data server illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a recycling process using the recycling system shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a joint portion to be removed. [Figure 5] 3 is a diagram showing an example of providing the removal information shown in FIG. 2 as visual information. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

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

[0012] This embodiment is a recycling system that supports the recycling of a wire harness 1. Referring to FIG.

[0013] The wire harness 1 includes a plurality of bundled electric wires 2, and various boxes such as connectors 3, terminals (not shown), junction boxes, and fuse boxes are connected to the electric wires 2. The wire harness 1 is also wrapped with tape 4 and tubes (not shown) for bundling and protecting the electric wires 2. Furthermore, the wire harness 1 is also connected with grommets, wiring clips, protectors, and the like (not shown).

[0014] An identification tag 10 is attached to the wire harness 1. The identification tag 10 is code information such as a two-dimensional barcode. The identification tag 10 includes access information to the data server 30 and specific information for identifying the wire harness 1 (harness ID, product number, lot code, individual number, manufacturing date, shipping date, etc.). The identification tag 10 may be a wireless tag such as an RFID.

[0015] The identification tag reader 20 is a device that reads the specific information and access information from the identification tag 10, and may be, for example, a handheld code reader. The identification tag reader 20 includes a reading unit 21, a communication unit 22, a display unit 23, an input unit 24, and a control unit 25.

[0016] The reading unit 21 irradiates the identification tag 10 with light and receives the reflected light, etc., to read the specific information and access information.

[0017] The communication unit 22 has a data communication function for transmitting and receiving various information to and from the data server 30 via a network 40 such as the Internet.

[0018] The display unit 23 is configured with a liquid crystal display or the like, and displays various information received from the data server 30.

[0019] The input unit 24 is composed of various operation keys, and receives instructions to read the identification tag 10, instructions to switch the various information displayed on the display unit 23, and the like.

[0020] The control unit 25 is an arithmetic processing circuit such as a microcomputer equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The ROM stores a control program for controlling the operation of the identification tag reader 20. The control unit 25 reads out the control program stored in the ROM and loads the control program into the RAM, thereby controlling the identification tag reader 20.

[0021] Data server 30 is an information processing device equipped with a communication function via network 40. Data server 30 publishes recycling information database 31 as recycling information on network 40 such as the Internet. The contents of data server 30 can be updated as needed by the supplier of wire harness 1, and more detailed information can also be added.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the recycling information stored in the recycling information database 31 is various information for efficiently recycling the wire harness 1. The recycling information includes, for example, the "harness ID," "manufacturing date," "shipping date," "shape data," "wire material," "number of connectors," "starting point," "connector position," and "joint position." The "harness ID," "manufacturing date," and "shipping date" are stored as specific information for identifying the wire harness 1. The "shape data" is stored as confirmation information for confirming the wire harness 1 to be recycled. The "wire material" is stored as conductor information indicating the type of conductor used in the wire 2. The "number of connectors," "starting point," "connector position," and "joint position" are stored as removal information indicating the positions of parts to be removed from the wire 2. The recycling information database 31 may also store information such as "presence or absence of plated wire," "material ratio of copper alloy and aluminum alloy," and "materials of parts such as connectors and terminals and presence or absence of surface treatment (plating)."

[0023] 3 shows a recycling process using the recycling system of this embodiment. Collected items that have been used in inventory clearance items or scrapped automobiles, etc., become wire harnesses 1 to be recycled. Recycling begins with a reading process in which the identification tag reader 20 reads the access information and identification information of the identification tag 10 attached to the wire harness 1 (step S101). The identification tag reader 20 accesses the data server 30 based on the access information, acquires recycling information for the wire harness 1 based on the identification information, and displays the acquired recycling information on the display unit 23.

[0024] The next step is a sorting step (step S102) in which the wire harness 1 is sorted by the type of conductor used in the electric wire 2, based on the conductor information included in the recycling information displayed on the display unit 23. In this embodiment, the conductors are sorted by type: pure copper, pure aluminum, copper alloy, and aluminum alloy. The reading step and sorting step may be automated using a device that reads the identification tag 10 of the wire harness 1 transported on a conveyor and sorts the wire harnesses by conductor type.

[0025] The subsequent recycling steps for the wire harness 1 whose conductor is pure copper and the wire harness 1 whose conductor is pure aluminum are similar. Therefore, the recycling step for the wire harness 1 whose conductor is pure copper will be described below.

[0026] A reading step is carried out using the identification tag reader 20 to read the access information and identification information of the identification tag 10 attached to the wire harness 1 whose conductor is made of pure copper (step S103). The identification tag reader 20 accesses the data server 30 based on the access information, acquires recycling information for the wire harness 1 based on the identification information, and displays the conductor information and removal information included in the acquired cycle information on the display unit 23. In the reading steps of steps S101 and S103, the display content may be switched on the identification tag reader 20 side. Dedicated identification tag readers 20 may be provided for each step.

[0027] The next step is a removal step of removing items that contain materials other than the material (pure copper) of the electric wire 2, based on the recycling information (removal information) displayed on the display unit 23 (step S104).

[0028] The removal information is information for specifying the position of the part to be removed, and includes a "starting point," a "connector position," and a "joint position." The "starting point" indicates a part that serves as a reference for specifying the position of the part to be removed, such as an identification tag 10, a relay box (R / B), or a grommet. The "connector position" is information for specifying the position of the connector 3 to be removed, and indicates the direction and distance from the "starting point." As shown in FIG. 4, the "joint position" indicates the joint part to be removed, such as an internal branch (a joint using plating or the like with a crimp terminal) or a side branch (a part where an optional connector or the like is wrapped with tape 4 or a tube). In addition, the removal information may include a "terminal position," a "box position," etc., as the part to be removed.

[0029] Furthermore, the recycling information database 31 may provide visual information as shown in Fig. 5(a) as removal information. In this case, the recycling information database 31 stores visual information such as an image or video showing the shape of the wire harness 1, and provides this visual information to the identification tag reader 20. The visual information makes it easy to grasp the starting point and the efficient placement of the wire harness 1.

[0030] Furthermore, the recycling information database 31 may provide visual information as shown in Figures 5(b) and 5(c) as removal information. In this case, the recycling information database 31 stores visual information such as an image or video showing the items to be removed from the wire harness 1, and provides this visual information to the identification tag reader 20. The visual information makes it easy to grasp the items to be removed, improving work efficiency.

[0031] After removing the wires 2 from the removal process, they are subjected to a shredding process (step S105) where they are cut into small pieces, and then a conductor separation process (step S106) where they are separated using vibration, wind power, etc. In the conductor separation process, metals (pure copper and iron metals) are separated from other materials such as resins, plastics, tapes, etc.

[0032] The metals (pure copper and ferrous metals) after the conductor separation step are subjected to an iron separation step (step S107) in which separation is performed using vibration, magnetic force, or the like, to separate the pure copper from the ferrous metals.

[0033] The pure copper separated through the conductor separation process becomes a highly pure wire material without impurities. Therefore, the separated pure copper can be used directly for horizontal recycling without consuming extra energy or effort. In the case of wire harness 1, whose conductor is pure aluminum, pure aluminum is obtained through the conductor separation process.

[0034] The wire harness 1, whose conductor is a copper alloy, is subjected to a shredding process (step S105) in which it is cut into small pieces, and then to a conductor separation process (step S106) in which it is separated by vibration, wind power, etc. In the conductor separation process, metals (copper alloys and iron metals) are separated from other materials such as resins, plastics, tapes, etc.

[0035] The metals (copper alloy and iron metal) after the conductor separation step are subjected to an iron separation step (step S107) in which separation is performed using vibration, magnetic force, or the like, to separate the copper alloy from the iron metal.

[0036] The copper alloy separated in the iron separation step may be recycled as pure copper by carrying out an electrorefining step (step S108). In this case, since the copper alloy is still separated, it is possible to reduce the amount of electricity used and the amount of chemicals that have a large environmental impact.

[0037] The wire harness 1, whose conductor is an aluminum alloy, is subjected to a shredding process (step S105) in which it is cut into small pieces, and then to a conductor separation process (step S106) in which it is separated by vibration, wind power, etc. In the conductor separation process, metals (aluminum alloys and iron metals) are separated from other materials such as resins, plastics, tapes, etc.

[0038] The metals (aluminum alloy and iron metal) after the conductor separation step are subjected to an iron separation step (step S107) in which separation is performed using vibration, magnetic force, etc., to separate the aluminum alloy from the iron metal.

[0039] The aluminum alloy that has been subjected to the iron separation process may be recycled as pure aluminum by carrying out the electrolytic extraction process (step S109). In this case, since the process is carried out in a state where the aluminum alloy is separated, it is possible to reduce the amount of electricity used and the amount of chemicals that have a large environmental impact.

[0040] The iron metals separated in the iron separation process for each material separated in the sorting process are recycled as high-grade steel by undergoing a blast furnace refining process (step S110) in which they are melted using a blast furnace, and the impurities are discharged as slag.Furthermore, the separated iron metals are recycled as low-grade steel by undergoing an electric furnace refining process (step S111) in which they are melted using an electric furnace, and the impurities are discharged as slag.

[0041] As described above, this embodiment is a recycling system for a wire harness 1 in which a plurality of electric wires 2 are bundled. The recycling system includes a data server 30 that stores conductor information and removal information as recycling information for the wire harness 1, and an identification tag reader 20 that acquires the recycling information from the data server 30. The conductor information indicates the type of conductor used in the electric wire 2. The removal information indicates items to be removed from the electric wire 2. This configuration allows the conductor information to be used to sort the conductors of the wires 2 by type, and the removal information to easily remove parts and areas that contain anything other than pure copper or pure aluminum. This allows for the production of highly pure wire material without impurities, which can be used for horizontal recycling without consuming extra energy or labor. Furthermore, horizontal recycling can be performed using a process optimized for each conductor material, eliminating the purification process, which can be useful for the production of environmentally friendly wire harnesses 1.

[0042] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the removal information includes position information indicating the position of the removal target. This configuration makes it possible to identify the location of the object to be removed, making it easier to remove parts or areas that contain materials other than pure copper or pure aluminum.

[0043] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the removal information includes the direction and distance from the origin point. This configuration makes it easier to identify the location of parts or areas that contain anything other than pure copper or pure aluminum.

[0044] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the removal information includes visual information representing the shape of the wire harness 1. This configuration allows the arrangement of the wire harness 1 to be visually grasped, improving work efficiency.

[0045] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the removal information includes visual information indicating the object to be removed. This configuration allows the removal target to be visually grasped, improving the work efficiency of the process of removing the removal target.

[0046] The present embodiment is directed to a wire harness 1 in which a plurality of electric wires 2 are bundled. An identification tag 10 including access information to a data server 30 is attached to the wire harness 1. The data server 30 stores, as recycling information, conductor information indicating the type of conductor used in the electric wires 2 and removal information indicating the position of the conductor to be removed from the electric wires 2. With this configuration, recycling information can be accessed simply by reading the identification tag 10, and the wire harness 1 can be easily sorted according to the type of conductor of the electric wire 2.

[0047] The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments. These embodiments are merely examples, 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]

[0048] 1 Wire harness 2 electric wire 3 Connectors 4 Tape 10 Identification Tags 20 Identification tag reader 21 Reading unit 22 Communications Department 23 Display section 24 Input section 25 Control Unit 30 Data Server 31 Recycling Information Database 40 Network

Claims

1. A recycling system for a wire harness in which a plurality of electric wires are bundled, a data server that stores, as recycling information of the wire harness, conductor information indicating the type of conductor used in the electric wire and removal information indicating a target to be removed from the electric wire; an identification tag reader that reads an identification tag attached to the wire harness and acquires the recycling information from the data server.

2. 2. The recycling system according to claim 1, wherein the removal information includes location information indicating a location of the object to be removed.

3. The recycling system according to claim 2 , wherein the location information includes a direction and a distance from a starting point of the object to be removed.

4. 3. The recycling system according to claim 1, wherein the removal information includes visual information representing a shape of the wire harness.

5. 3. The recycling system according to claim 1, wherein the removal information includes visual information indicating the object to be removed.

6. A wire harness in which a plurality of electric wires are bundled, A wire harness characterized in that an identification tag is attached which includes access information to a data server that stores, as recycling information, conductor information indicating the type of conductor used in the electric wire and removal information indicating items to be removed from the electric wire.

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