Recycled Resin Data Management for Recycling Route Selection

Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need to effectively utilize low-quality waste resin materials and ensure the quality of recycled resin materials by discriminating between mechanical and chemical recycling methods.

Innovation Solution

A data management system that includes an input device to acquire measurement data, a processing device to calculate characteristic amounts and predict remaining life, and an output device to discriminate between mechanical and chemical recycling methods based on these data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If mechanical recycling is applied to waste resin materials, then production cost and carbon dioxide emission are reduced, but quality of the recycled material deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction costVSAvoidquality of recycled material

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of recycling method selection based on the degradation degree of the waste resin material. By evaluating characteristics such as mechanical strength, optical transmittance, and chemical composition, the system determines whether to apply mechanical recycling (for lower degradation) or chemical recycling (for higher degradation), thereby optimizing both cost and quality outcomes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by measuring and evaluating the characteristics of waste resin materials, then using this information to determine the appropriate recycling method. The evaluation results feed into the decision-making process to select between mechanical and chemical recycling, ensuring optimal quality and cost effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If chemical recycling is applied to waste resin materials, then quality of the recycled material is improved, but production cost and carbon dioxide emission increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality of recycled materialVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of recycling method selection based on the degradation degree of the waste resin material. By evaluating characteristics such as mechanical strength, optical transmittance, and chemical composition, the system determines whether to apply mechanical recycling (for lower degradation) or chemical recycling (for higher degradation), thereby optimizing both cost and quality outcomes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by measuring and evaluating the characteristics of waste resin materials, then using this information to determine the appropriate recycling method. The evaluation results feed into the decision-making process to select between mechanical and chemical recycling, ensuring optimal quality and cost effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If waste resin materials with low quality are used directly, then productivity is improved, but reliability of the recycled resin material deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveutilization efficiencyVSAvoidquality stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of recycling method selection based on the degradation degree of the waste resin material. By evaluating characteristics such as mechanical strength, optical transmittance, and chemical composition, the system determines whether to apply mechanical recycling (for lower degradation) or chemical recycling (for higher degradation), thereby optimizing both cost and quality outcomes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by measuring and evaluating the characteristics of waste resin materials, then using this information to determine the appropriate recycling method. The evaluation results feed into the decision-making process to select between mechanical and chemical recycling, ensuring optimal quality and cost effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20260073363A1Recycled resin material data management system, recycled resin material data management method, program, recycled resin material sales method, recycled resin material data provision method, waste resin material discrimination device, and waste resin material discrimination method

Publication Date: 2026.03.12 HITACHI LTD

AI summary

A data management system of a recycled resin material, comprising: an input device; a processing device; and an output device, in which the input device acquires a measurement data of a recycled resin material or a waste resin material which is a raw material of the recycled resin material, the processing device calculates a characteristic amount related to at least one of a composition and a physical property of the recycled resin material or the waste resin material based on the measurement data, predicts a remaining life based on the characteristic amount of the recycled resin material or the waste resin material, and discriminates whether a mechanical recycling or a chemical recycling is to be applied to the waste resin material, and the output device outputs at least one of the measurement data, a data of the characteristic amount, a data of the remaining life, and a result of the discrimination. As a result, it is possible to effectively utilize a low-quality waste resin material as much as possible and to ensure the quality of the recycled resin material.