Aluminum Alloy Rim Sorting by Serial Number for Clean Recycling

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Solution Overview

Problem

The recycling of aluminum alloy rims is hindered by variations in elemental composition and the lack of identifying indicia, leading to inefficiencies in processing and contamination during the recycling process.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the use of serial numbers to categorize and batch aluminum alloy rims, followed by scanning and data processing to determine the appropriate category for each rim, allowing for separate processing and cleaning, including shot blasting to remove contaminants, ensuring the production of high-quality recycled aluminum alloys.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If aluminum alloy rims are recycled without sorting by composition, then recycling process is simpler and faster, but contamination occurs and product quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecycling process speedVSAvoidcontamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The recycling process is segmented into distinct stages: identification of rims by serial number, categorization by composition type, batch formation, and separate processing. This segmentation allows contaminated rims to be identified and separated before processing, preventing contamination while maintaining efficient throughput through automated sorting systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If serial number scanning and data processing are implemented for each rim, then sorting accuracy and product quality improve, but processing time and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesorting accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Serial numbers are scanned and categories are determined before the rims enter the main recycling process. This preliminary action allows rims to be pre-sorted into batches by composition type, so that subsequent processing can proceed efficiently without needing to analyze each rim individually during the core recycling operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Manual inspection and sorting of rims by composition is replaced with automated optical scanning of serial numbers and computer-based data processing. The system uses optical recognition and database matching to rapidly categorize rims, significantly reducing processing time compared to manual methods while maintaining high sorting accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Stability of the object's composition

If rims are processed separately by category, then product quality and composition consistency improve, but equipment utilization and productivity decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomposition consistencyVSAvoidequipment utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Rims of the same composition category are merged into batches and processed together through the recycling equipment. This approach maintains composition consistency within each batch while maximizing equipment utilization by processing multiple rims simultaneously rather than individually. The batching strategy allows continuous operation with optimal equipment usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This approach enables efficient sorting and processing of aluminum alloy rims, reducing contamination and improving the quality of recycled products by ensuring that each batch meets specific composition standards, thereby enhancing the recycling efficiency and product quality.

Implementation Method 1

the cleaning including shot blasting the fragments

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShot blasting: Abrasion

Data Source

PatentUS20240020639A1Method and system for processing aluminum alloy rims using rim serial numbers

Publication Date: 2024.01.18 HOUSE OF METALS

AI summary

A method and system for processing aluminum alloy rims are provided, involving providing a feed of a plurality of aluminum alloy rims of different compositions, each aluminum alloy rim in the plurality of aluminum alloy rims having a serial number distinguishing that aluminum alloy rim from other aluminum alloy rims in the plurality of aluminum alloy rims, storing in a non-transient computer-readable memory, a plurality of aluminum alloy rim categories, dividing the feed of aluminum alloy rims into a plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims by, for each rim in the feed of aluminum alloy rims, scanning that aluminum alloy rim to determine the serial number of that aluminum alloy rim; based on the serial number, operating a data processor to determine, from amongst the plurality of aluminum alloy rim categories, an aluminum alloy rim category for that aluminum alloy rim, wherein each batch of aluminum alloy rims in the plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims corresponds to a category in the plurality of aluminum alloy rim categories; and then, allocating that aluminum alloy rim to the batch of aluminum alloy rims corresponding to that aluminum alloy rim category. After dividing the feed of aluminum alloy rims into the plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims, each batch of the plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims are separately processed.