Method for the open-loop and / or closed loop control of plants processing lightweight packaging and / or domestic waste

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the open-loop and / or closed-loop control of plants processing lightweight packaging and / or domestic waste by changing a material flow, wherein first the processing plant is supplied with material to be processed by means of mobile technology, wherein the material is subsequently broken up and / or comminuted by means of a comminutor to form a uniform material flow on conveyor technology, wherein the material is then fed to at least one sorting stage by means of conveyor technology, wherein the following is used as a measurement variable of the method: - a filling level of a hopper of the comminutor and / or - the volume flow of the material flow, wherein the measurement variables are measured contactlessly by means of sensor technology, wherein the following is used as the open-loop and / or closed-loop control variable of the method: - the comminution behavior of the comminutor according to the loading capacity thereof, and / or - the loading of the processing plant by means of the mobile technology, and / or - the changing of the plant operating parameters, a loading signal for loading the plant being communicated to loading personnel by way of a warning message.

Description

[0001] Patent application Applicant: Stadler Anlagenbau GmbH Status: 26.09.2025 Our reference: ST 5771 -PC / CST - 1 -

[0002] METHOD FOR REGULATING AND / OR CONTROLLING LIGHTWEIGHT PACKAGING AND / OR HOUSEHOLD WASTE PROCESSING PLANTS

[0003] Description:

[0004] The present invention relates to the technical field of methods for regulating and / or controlling lightweight packaging and / or household waste processing plants, in particular for sorting or processing plants, preferably exclusively, for processing and / or preparing waste and / or valuable materials and / or recycled materials.

[0005] Methods of this type are already known in the prior art.

[0006] The technical objective of the invention is to improve the state of the art and to propose alternatives.

[0007] The technical problem is solved by an object with the technical features according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims, the description, and the figure.

[0008] All features described in connection with individual embodiments of the invention can be provided in different combinations in the object according to the invention in order to simultaneously realize their advantageous effects.

[0009] The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the patent claims and is not limited by the features explained in the description or illustrated in the figures.

[0010] According to one aspect, the technical problem of the invention is solved by a method for regulating and / or controlling lightweight packaging and / or municipal solid waste processing plants by changing a material flow, wherein the processing plant is first fed with material to be processed using a mobile technology, wherein the material is then broken up and / or shredded by means of a shredder to form a uniform material flow on a conveyor technology, wherein the material is then conveyed by means of a patent application. Applicant: Stadler Anlagenbau GmbH Status: 26.09.2025 Our reference: ST 5771 -PC / CST - 2 -

[0011] The material is fed into at least one sorting stage via conveying technology, whereby the following is used as a measured variable of the process: a fill level of a hopper of the shredder and / or the volume flow of the material stream, wherein the measured variable is measured contactlessly using sensor technology, wherein the following is used as a control variable of the process: the shredding behavior of the shredder via its load capacity, and / or the feeding of the processing plant with the mobile technology, and / or changes in the plant operating parameters, wherein a feeding signal for feeding the plant is communicated to a loading personnel by means of a warning message.

[0012] For the purposes of the invention, the material to be processed can be understood to be, for example, lightweight packaging waste and / or household waste.

[0013] A mobile technology within the meaning of the invention can, for example, be a wheel loader, with which, in particular, the material to be processed is fed to a shredder at the respective times of application.

[0014] A shredder, as used in the invention, can be, for example, a

[0015] Counter-comb shredders, bag openers, metering rollers, or similar devices are included.

[0016] For the purposes of the invention, a sorting stage can be understood, for example, as a drum sieve.

[0017] The fill level of a hopper is detected, for example, by means of a height sensor, and the volume flow of the material flow is detected, for example, by means of methods for optical distance and / or velocity measurement, such as LIDAR.

[0018] A change in the plant operating parameters can be understood, for example, as a change in the conveying speed, a change in the empty speed of the shredder hopper, or a change in the rotational speed of the shredder shaft. Patent application. Applicant: Stadler Anlagenbau GmbH. Date: September 26, 2025. Our reference: ST 5771 -PC / CST - 3 -

[0019] This allows for the creation of optimal conditions for subsequent process steps, such as classification or sorting, by ensuring a continuous material flow and preventing overfilling or underfilling of the following process stages. Discontinuous sections of the material preparation, such as feeding the system, can thus be optimally linked with continuous sections, such as material shredding.

[0020] Furthermore, in a technically advantageous embodiment of the method, it is provided that the method, as well as the sorting or processing plant, is used for the processing and / or preparation of waste and / or valuable materials and / or recycled materials.

[0021] The other advantages mentioned can therefore be particularly relevant in such waste sorting plants and processing facilities for waste materials.

[0022] In a technically advantageous embodiment of the method, the following are used as additional measured variables: the rotational speed of a shredder shaft and / or a setting of a reversing interval of the shredder and / or a setting of synchronous or asynchronous mode of the shredder and / or

[0023] Area flow of the material flow.

[0024] The emptying time of the shredder can, for example, be advantageously calculated based on the measured variable of the rotational speed of the shredder shaft.

[0025] For example, it may be provided that the rotational speed of a shredder shaft is used in one case only as a control variable and not as a measured variable, or in another case only as a measured variable and not as a control variable.

[0026] For example, it may be provided that the rotational speed is measured and, based on this, for example together with the filling level and / or a setting of the reversing interval and / or the synchronous mode and / or the asynchronous mode, a cleaning time function is determined. (Protection application applicant: Stadler Anlagenbau GmbH, Status: 26.09.2025, Our reference: ST 5771 -PC / CST - 4 - and / or the volume flow after the shredder.)

[0027] For example, a wheel loader operator might notice that the specified requirements cannot be met and communicate this as a signal to the system executing the process, causing the material currently in the shredder hopper to be processed at a lower speed. This could, for example, be for a certain period of time or until the wheel loader operator sends another signal to the system.

[0028] Furthermore, in a technically advantageous embodiment of the method, it is provided that the warning message is issued as an optical and / or acoustic and / or haptic warning message, wherein in particular the warning message is issued by means of visual marking of bunker segments and / or by means of a light signaling system and especially on a mobile device.

[0029] For the purposes of the invention, a mobile device can be understood to be, for example, a tablet, a pager, a smartwatch and / or a smartphone.

[0030] Advantageously, this allows operating personnel, such as a wheel loader driver, to be informed about operating conditions quickly and using existing resources, which can further improve the execution of the procedure.

[0031] Furthermore, in an advantageous embodiment of the method, it is provided that, as a further control and / or regulated variable, the determination of an emptying time function of the shredder is carried out by means of an emptying speed function of the shredder, in particular for each speed setting and / or reversing setting of the shredder, wherein the emptying time function and / or the emptying speed function are in particular adapted adaptively.

[0032] For example, it may be provided that the synchronous and asynchronous modes of the shredder have different emptying speeds and emptying time functions, which can have an additionally advantageous effect on the process. Patent application Applicant: Stadler Anlagenbau GmbH Date: September 26, 2025 Our reference: ST 5771 -PC / CST - 5 -

[0033] Furthermore, in an advantageous embodiment of the method, it is provided that a time delay between the feeding signal and the actual feeding is used as an additional measured variable.

[0034] Such a time delay, for example in the sense of a time lag or a delay, can additionally improve the execution of the procedure, as it can create greater flexibility in particular.

[0035] Furthermore, in an advantageous embodiment of the method, it is provided that a buffer property of subsequent processing units is used as an additional measured variable.

[0036] For example, it may be advantageously designed that the process only generates a uniform material flow to the extent that downstream units, such as drum screens and / or ballistic separators and / or similar equipment, can still homogenize the flow. The buffer capacity or homogenization potential of the downstream units can either be determined in advance through experiments and, for example, assumed to be constant, or continuously validated, for example, by near-infrared sensor data and / or volumetric flow sensor data.

[0037] Furthermore, in an advantageous embodiment of the method, it is provided that the method is validated by means of an analysis of subsequent process steps.

[0038] For example, additional near-infrared sensor data and / or volume flow sensor data can be used to advantageously detect whether any fluctuations in the process continue.

[0039] Furthermore, in an advantageous embodiment of the method, it is provided that a refill time of the shredder is calculated depending on reversing intervals.

[0040] This allows for an advantageous increase in the interval between input times, for example, when feeding material to be processed into a shredder using a wheel loader. Patent application. Applicant: Stadler Anlagenbau GmbH. Date: September 26, 2025. Our reference: ST 5771 -PC / CST - 6 -

[0041] According to a further aspect, the technical problem of the invention is solved by means of a processing plant comprising a mobile technology for feeding the plant, a shredder, the shredder comprising at least one hopper, in particular a feed hopper, a conveying technology, a sorting stage, at least one sensor, in particular a height sensor for detecting the fill level of the hopper, control and / or regulating electronics, a bunker segment, an optical display device for outputting a feeding signal, wherein the plant is configured to carry out the method according to one of the preceding claims.

[0042] Furthermore, in an advantageous embodiment of the processing plant, it is provided that an optical display device for signaling the readiness of the feed, in particular a signaling system designed as an LED unit, is arranged in the area of ​​the hopper, in particular the feed hopper.

[0043] This allows for the use of cost-effective technologies in terms of both purchase and operation, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and also enables untrained personnel to be informed, by means of a simple display, for example in the form of a traffic light or similar, above the hopper, where the respective material should be placed.

[0044] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the figures and are described in more detail below.

[0045] It shows:

[0046] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of the process.

[0047] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a method 1 for regulating and / or controlling lightweight packaging and / or municipal solid waste processing plants by changing a material flow, wherein the processing plant is first fed with material to be processed by means of a mobile technology 2, wherein the material is then broken up and / or shredded by means of a shredder to form a uniform material flow on a conveying technology 3, wherein the material is then fed to at least one sorting stage by means of a conveying technology 4, wherein the following is used as a measuring variable of the method: a fill level of a hopper of the shredder and / or patent application Applicant: Stadler Anlagenbau GmbH Status: 26.09.2025 Our reference: ST 5771-PC / CST - 7 - the volume flow of the material flow, wherein the measured variable is measured contactlessly using sensor technology, wherein the following is used as the control and / or regulated variable of the process: the comminution behavior of the crusher via its load capacity, and / or the feeding of the processing plant with the mobile technology, and / or changes to the plant operating parameters, wherein a feeding signal for feeding the plant is communicated to a loading personnel by means of a warning message 5.

[0048] Advantageously, by utilizing the best possible combination of measurement, control, and / or regulation variables for the specific case, a solution can be proposed that optimally coordinates the discontinuous components of the process, the feeding of the system, and the continuous components. This creates favorable conditions for subsequent process steps by ensuring a continuous material flow.

[0049] Patent application

[0050] Applicant: Stadler Anlagenbau GmbH Date: September 26, 2025 Our reference: ST 5771 -PC / CST

[0051] - 8 -

[0052] Reference symbol list:

[0053] 1 Procedure

[0054] 2 Feeding the processing plant 3 Formation of the material flow

[0055] 4. Material feed to sorting stage

[0056] 5 Output feed signal

Claims

Patent application Applicant: Stadler Anlagenbau GmbH Status: 26.09.2025 Our reference: ST 5771 -PC / CST - 9 - Claims:

1. Method (1) for regulating and / or controlling lightweight packaging and / or municipal solid waste processing plants by changing a material flow, wherein the processing plant is first fed with material to be processed by means of a mobile technology (2), wherein the material is subsequently broken up and / or crushed by means of a shredder to form a uniform material flow on a conveying technology (3), wherein the material is then fed by means of a conveying technology to at least one sorting stage (4), wherein the following is used as a measured variable of the method: a fill level of a hopper of the shredder and / or the volume flow of the material flow, wherein the measured variable is measured contactlessly by means of a sensor technology, wherein the following is used as a control variable of the method: the crushing behavior of the shredder via its load capacity,and / or the feeding of the processing plant with the mobile technology, and / or, Change of plant operating parameters, wherein a feed signal for feeding the plant is communicated to a loading personnel by means of a warning message (5).

2. Method (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the method is carried out on a plant for processing and / or preparing waste and / or valuable materials and / or recycled materials.

3. Method (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the following is used as a further measured variable: a rotational speed of a shredder shaft and / or a setting of a reversing interval of the shredder and / or Patent application Applicant: Stadler Anlagenbau GmbH Status: 26.09.2025 Our reference number: ST 5771-PC / CST - 10 - a setting in synchronous or asynchronous mode of the shredder and / or Area flow of the material flow.

4. Method (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the warning message is issued as an optical and / or acoustic and / or haptic warning message, wherein in particular the warning message is issued by means of visual marking of bunker segments and / or by means of a light signaling system and in particular on a mobile device.

5. Method (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a further control variable is the determination of an emptying time function of the shredder by means of an emptying speed function of the shredder, in particular for each speed setting and / or reversing setting of the shredder, wherein the emptying time function and / or the emptying speed function are in particular adapted adaptively.

6. Method (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a time delay between the feed signal and actual feed is used as a further measured variable.

7. Method (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a buffer property of subsequent processing units is used as a further measured variable.

8. Method (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the method is validated by analyzing subsequent process steps.

9. Method (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, Patent application Applicant: Stadler Anlagenbau GmbH Date: September 26, 2025 Our reference: ST 5771 -PC / CST - 11 - where a refill time of the shredder is calculated depending on reversing intervals.

10. Processing plant comprising a mobile technology for feeding the plant, a shredder, the shredder comprising at least a hopper, in particular a feed hopper, a conveying technology, a sorting stage, at least one sensor, in particular a height sensor for detecting the fill level of the hopper, control and / or regulating electronics, a bunker segment, an optical display device for outputting a feeding signal, characterized in that the plant is designed for carrying out the method (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

11. Processing plant according to claim 10, wherein the optical display device, in particular as an LED unit, is arranged in the area of ​​the hopper, in particular the feed hopper.

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