Recycling device and method for operating same

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing recycling devices for artificial turf are costly and inefficient, requiring them to travel under the turf to pick up strip material, which blocks the area and prolongs the recycling process.

Innovation Solution

A recycling device with an unwinding mechanism that allows strip material to be fed into it from a roll, eliminating the need for the device to travel over the area, featuring a transport system and emptying mechanism to efficiently remove filling materials, and optional components like brush means, suction means, and fractionation means for enhanced processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the recycling device travels under the turf to pick up strip material, then the device can collect the material, but the area is blocked and processing time is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidtime to reclaim area
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of the recycling device traveling under the turf to pick up material, the invention inverts the approach by having the device positioned at the edge and conveying material through a transport system that passes over or alongside the area, eliminating the need for the device to travel under the turf and thus avoiding blocking the area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a horizontal traversal approach (device moving under the turf) to a vertical/different spatial arrangement where the transport system conveys material in a different dimension or path, allowing the device to remain stationary at the edge while still collecting material efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If the recycling device processes material slowly, then the area can be reclaimed quickly, but the processing capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing capacityVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The transport system enables continuous conveyance of strip material through the recycling device, maintaining uninterrupted processing flow. This continuous action increases processing capacity while the efficient design ensures quick area reclamation, resolving the contradiction between processing capacity and processing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Ease of operation

If the device is positioned away from the affected area, then the area can be used sooner, but the device cannot directly access the material

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvearea availabilityVSAvoidmaterial collection efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The transport system acts as an intermediary between the stationary recycling device positioned at the edge and the strip material in the affected area. This mediator enables the device to remain away from the area (allowing early reclamation) while still efficiently collecting material through the conveying mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables faster and more cost-effective recycling by allowing the device to be stationed away from the area, reducing processing time, improving efficiency, and ensuring quick reclamation of the site, with enhanced purity and separation of filling materials.

Implementation Method 1

a disentanglement means (100) arranged at an inlet side and designed for disentangling a roll of the band material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

an emptying means (30) for the band material which is arranged facing the underside, in which the transport path is reversed so that the filler material can fall out of the band material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3919682B1Recycling device and method for operating same
Publication Date: 2023.01.04 SMG SPORTPLATZMACHINEBAU GMBH
  • EP3919682B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3919682B1 patent drawingFigure 2a
  • EP3919682B1 patent drawingFigure 2b

AI summary

Recycling device for removing filler material from a strip-shaped belt material (B) with a top surface comprising prongs and a bottom surface without prongs, in particular artificial turf, comprising a disentanglement means (100) arranged at the inlet side (E) and designed for disentangling a roll (R) of the belt material (B), a transport system (S) for conveying the belt material (B) along a transport path (P) from an inlet side (E) to an outlet side (A), comprising at least one transport means (10), and a discharge means (30) for the belt material (B), arranged facing the underside in which the transport path (P) is reversed so that the filler material can fall out of the belt material (B).