Elongated Cutting Element for Shoe Recycling Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Efficient recycling of consumer goods like shoes is hindered by inseparable connections, particularly between outsoles and uppers, which require energy-intensive separation methods that are not always effective, and existing devices are not designed for coherent surface separation of material composites.
Innovation Solution
A method and device utilizing an elongate cutting element, such as a cutting wire or cord, coupled to a separating device for precise separation of surface-connected material components, allowing for targeted dismantling and recycling by creating a clean parting line and using relative movement to separate components along predefined cutting lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If energy-intensive separation processes such as cutting, sawing or punching are used to separate material components, then separation can be achieved, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
An elongate cutting element is integrated into the commodity during manufacturing, positioned within the article such that a separating surface is created when the cutting element moves through the connecting surfaces of material components. This preliminary integration eliminates the need for energy-intensive separation processes at recycling stage.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting element is positioned at specific locations within the commodity to create predetermined separation lines. This segmentation allows the commodity to be divided into individual material components along predefined paths, enabling clean separation without excessive energy input.
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional cutting devices are used to separate surface-connected material components, then separation is possible, but the devices are not designed for coherent surface separation and require complex setups
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting element is extracted from the separating device and integrated directly into the commodity. This extraction simplifies the separating device to merely providing holding and movement functions, while the complex separation geometry is embedded in the commodity itself during manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting element acts as an intermediary between the commodity structure and the separation process. It is integrated into the commodity during manufacturing and serves as the mediating structure that enables precise separation when activated by the simple holding and movement device.
3Ease of operation
If reversible connection mechanisms are designed into material composites to enable easy separation, then recycling becomes easier, but such mechanisms are not provided for in consumer goods due to various reasons
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting element is integrated into the commodity during manufacturing, creating a built-in separation mechanism. This preliminary action during manufacturing enables easy separation during recycling without requiring reversible connection mechanisms in the traditional sense, thus avoiding the manufacturing complexities those would entail.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for recycling consumer goods (11) that are at least partially composed of planar bonded material components (33, 34) by disassembling the consumer goods (11) into individual material components or component groups, wherein an elongated cutting element (12) is provided for separating the material components of the consumer goods, characterized by the steps: - coupling the cutting element (12) with a separating device (21) designed to guide the cutting element (12) along a predefined cutting line (13), - moving the cutting element (12) in the cutting direction along the cutting line (13) transversely to the longitudinal axis (16) of the cutting element (12), whereby a linear separation takes place in the connection planes of the planar bonded material components (33, 34), - separating the material components along the separation surface created by the cutting line (13).The invention further relates to a device for carrying out such a method and a consumer item (11) with an integrated cutting element (12).