JP2002168777A - Discrimination device of plastic - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To discriminate in a short time the kind of black plastic and an additive intermingled inside the plastic, and thereby facilitate segregated recovery of the plastic. SOLUTION: This device is constituted from a cutter 3 for chipping the surface of the plastic 1, a hose 4 for collecting the chipped plastic, a discrimination means 7 for recovering the plastic by a trapping part 21, pressing the plastic onto a detection part 11 of a device body 2 (using an infrared spectroscopy) including a light source and an infrared spectrum measuring system to execute measurement, and comparing and collating the spectrum acquired by the infrared spectroscopy with an infrared spectrum pattern of various plastics determined beforehand, to thereby discriminate the plastic having the agreed infrared spectrum pattern, and a sucking device 36 for eliminating automatically after finish of discrimination.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the processing of used home electric appliances for the purpose of protecting the environment, preventing pollution, and reusing valuable resources. , A method and a device for identifying with high accuracy.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Plastics have many advantages such as lightness and durability, good transparency, good water and gas permeability, easy coloring and molding, and their use is expanded year by year due to their ease of use. Volume and usage are increasing.
However, the amount of plastic discarded has been increasing steadily, and the deterioration of the global environment and the shortage of landfill sites have become social problems.

In order to solve these problems and effectively use limited resources, plastic recycling methods have been actively studied in recent years. On the other hand, the Specific Home Appliance Recycling Law (Household Appliance Recycling Law) was enforced in April 2001, and the collection and recycling of waste home appliances became mandatory, making plastic recycling an even more important issue. Has become.

[0004] Plastic recycling methods include:
Material recycling for re-pelleting used plastics as raw materials for new molded products, thermal recycling for burning and recovering heat, and chemicals for thermal decomposition to make blast furnace reducing agents or decomposition into oils and monomers to reuse as plastic raw materials There is recycling. Among them,
Material recycling is the most appropriate method,
In the case of reusing as a plastic, when mixed with different kinds of plastic, the physical properties of the recycled plastic deteriorate. Therefore, in the material recycling, a highly accurate identification technology of the collected plastic becomes important.

Conventionally, spectroscopic methods such as near-infrared reflection spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy have been used to determine the type of plastics with high accuracy. However, in these spectroscopy, if the collected plastic to be discriminated is black,
All of the irradiated near-infrared rays or infrared rays were absorbed, and the necessary spectrum was not obtained, and identification was impossible.

For these samples, the ATR (Attenuated Total Reflection) method capable of performing high-sensitivity measurement has been known. In this measurement method, an ATR prism, which is a medium having a high refractive index that allows infrared light to pass through, and a sample material having a low refractive index are brought into close contact with each other, so that an incidence angle equal to or larger than the angle at which total reflection occurs at the interface between the prism and the sample (critical angle) A method of measuring the infrared spectrum of a sample by injecting light at an angle and observing the absorption of total reflected light by the sample. Used.

[0007]

As described above, infrared spectroscopy is effective when it is desired to identify plastics used in home electric appliances with high accuracy for the purpose of recycling. In addition, even when measurement is difficult due to absorption of infrared rays such as a black sample, A
By using the TR method, highly accurate identification is possible.

However, as a sample pretreatment for the ATR method measurement, it is necessary to create a plane having a size substantially equal to the crystal plane (about 5 mm × about 20 mm) in order to adhere to the crystal body. It takes time. Therefore, in a place where a continuous processing line is required, such as a recycling plant, simple and quick measurement in addition to high identification accuracy is an essential condition, and thus there is a problem that the conventional ATR method is not practical. Was.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an ATR-IR spectrum for discriminating plastic contained in a used home electric appliance, which can easily perform sample pretreatment in a short period of time and continuously process lines in a recycling factory. To provide a measurement system that can be put to practical use.

[0010]

According to the present invention, means for solving the above-mentioned problems are constituted as follows. That is, in the invention according to claim 1, a device for scraping the surface of the plastic to be inspected, a device body incorporating a light source and an infrared spectrum measurement system that are applied to a portion exposed from the inside, a robot for mounting the device body, and Means for comparing and comparing a spectrum obtained by the infrared spectroscopy with a spectrum of a plastic prepared in advance.

In this sampling system, a hemispherical infrared-transmitting crystal made of a material having a high refractive index and infrared light incident from the side of the crystal, and the infrared light incident on the bottom of the crystal are totally reflected by being condensed. And an optical system for guiding the reflected light to an infrared spectrometer. As a tool for scraping the surface of the plastic, a luter, an end mill, a drill, a knife, or the like is used as described in claims 6 to 9.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for shaving a surface of a plastic to be inspected, an inspection section having a built-in infrared spectrum measuring system for hitting an exposed portion from the inside, an apparatus main body having a light source built therein, And a means for comparing and collating a spectrum obtained by the infrared spectroscopy with a plastic spectrum prepared in advance.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a device for scraping a surface of a plastic to be inspected, a device for sucking the scraped plastic piece, a device for capturing the plastic piece, and a device body for capturing the captured plastic piece And a means for comparing and comparing a spectrum obtained by the infrared spectroscopy with a spectrum of a plastic prepared in advance.

According to the present invention, a device for scraping the surface of the plastic to be inspected, a device for sucking the scraped plastic piece, a device for capturing the plastic piece, and an intermittent feeding device for the captured plastic Means for transferring the captured plastic pieces to a detection unit of the main body, and an apparatus such as a robot for transferring the captured plastic pieces to an intermittent feeding device;
And means for comparing and comparing the spectrum obtained by the infrared spectroscopy with the spectrum of a plastic prepared in advance.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a device for scraping a surface of a plastic to be inspected, a device for sucking the scraped plastic piece, and a suction unit for directly supplying and discharging the sucked plastic piece to a prism portion. And an identification unit for comparing and comparing a spectrum obtained by the infrared spectroscopy with a previously prepared spectrum of the plastic, and a device main body having a light source and an infrared spectrum measuring system applied to the plastic to be inspected.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below.

[0017]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a plastic discriminating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a plastic identification device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged three-dimensional view of the main body of FIG. 1, and FIG. ,
FIG. 4 is an enlarged three-dimensional view of a luter in a portion for scraping plastic, FIG. 5 is an enlarged three-dimensional diagram of an end mill in a portion for scraping plastic, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged three-dimensional diagram of a drill in a portion for scraping plastic.

In FIG. 1, a plastic (for example, a TV)
A part of the exterior 1 is shaved by a blade 3 (for example, a router, an end mill, a drill, a cutter, or the like) attached to the tip of the robot A8. Next, the detection part 11 of the recognition device main body 2 attached to the tip of the robot B5 is pressed against the shaved portion to measure the infrared spectrum, and the infrared spectrum is measured and compared with the previously obtained infrared spectrum patterns of various plastics. The plastic having the matching infrared spectrum pattern is identified by the identification means 7.

FIG. 7 is a three-dimensional view of a plastic discriminating apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is an enlarged three-dimensional view of a plastic sample capturing unit 21, and FIG. FIG. 10 is an enlarged three-dimensional view of the plastic capturing unit 21.

In FIG. 7, a part of the plastic 1 is cut off by a cutting tool 3 (for example, a router, an end mill, a drill, a cutter, or the like) attached to the tip of the robot A8. Since the surface of the plastic 1 has foreign matters or changes with time, the suction is not performed or the suction device A is used.
The plastic is sucked through the plastic sampling hose 4 and the suction hose 27 by 36, and the plastic captured by the capture net 23 of the plastic capture unit 21 is discarded by the robot C22 into the basket 34. At this time, the switching valve 38 switches to the air generating device 37 side, and all the plastic can be discarded into the basket 34 by the air pressure.

Next, the suction device A3 is again operated by the switching valve 38.
Switch to the 6 side, scrape the plastic inside with the blade 3, capture the scraped plastic with the capture net 23, and supply it to the inspection hole 29 of the inspection unit 30 by the robot C 22. After the supply, the cylinder 32 is lowered, the plastic is strongly pressed against the detection unit 11 by the pressing rod 31, the infrared spectrum is measured, and compared with the infrared spectrum patterns of various plastics obtained in advance. The plastic is identified by the identification means 7.

After the identification, the capturing unit 21 is put on the inspection hole 29 by the robot C22, the suction device 36 is operated to suck the inspected plastic, transferred to the basket 34, and switched to the air generating device side by the switching valve 31. Discard all plastic by air pressure.

FIG. 11 is a three-dimensional view of a plastic discriminating apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 12 is an enlarged three-dimensional view when plastic is captured, and FIG. 13 is a three-dimensional view showing a method of transferring plastic to a transfer hole 35 after capturing. Is shown. In FIG. 11, a part of the plastic 1 is scraped off by the blade 3 attached to the tip of the robot A8. Since the surface of the plastic 1 has foreign matters or changes with time, the suction is not performed, or the surface of the plastic 1 is sucked by the suction device A36 through the plastic sampling hose 4 and the suction hose 27, and captured by the capture net 23 of the plastic capture unit 21. The removed plastic is discarded in the basket 34 by the robot C22.

At this time, the switching valve 38 switches to the air generator 37 side, and all the plastic can be discarded into the basket 34 by the air pressure. Next, switching to the suction device A36 side is again performed by the switching valve 38, the internal plastic is scraped off by the blade 3, the scraped-out plastic is captured by the capture net 23, and the intermittent feeding section 4 is moved by the robot C22.
0 is supplied to the transfer hole 35. After the supply, the intermittent feed unit 40 rotates, is transferred to a station having a plastic confirmation sensor A51, and is checked for the presence or absence of plastic.

Further, the intermittent feeding section is rotated, transferred to the station where the inspection section 30 is located, the cylinder B49 is lowered, and the plastic is strongly pressed against the inspection section 30 by the pressing rod 31 to measure the infrared spectrum, which is obtained in advance. The comparison is made with the infrared spectrum patterns of various plastics, and the identification means 7 discriminates the plastic having the matching infrared spectrum pattern. After the end of the identification, the intermittent feeding section 40 rotates, is transferred to the station having the plastic suction section 46, and the cylinder C48 descends to cause the plastic suction section 4 to move.
The suction device B39 is actuated in a state where 6 is in close contact with the transfer hole 35, and sucks all the discriminated plastic.

Thereafter, the intermittent feed section 40 rotates and is transferred to a station having the plastic confirmation sensor B43 to check whether or not the plastic remains in the transfer hole 35. If it remains, the capturing unit 2 is controlled by the robot C22.
After the cover 1 is placed on the transfer hole 35, the suction device A36 is operated to suck the inspected plastic, transferred to the basket 34, switched to the air generator side by the switching valve 31, and all the plastic is discarded by the air pressure. Thus, the first and second plastics can be accurately determined without being mixed with the first and second plastics.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the plastic identification device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention at the time of capturing plastic by adsorption, FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view at the end of capturing plastic, and FIG.
FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the plastic is pressed against the detection unit 11 by the pressing rod 31 after capturing the plastic, and FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the plastic is removed from the inspection hole after the determination is completed.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view showing a state in which unnecessary plastic is discarded in a basket. A part of the plastic 1 is scraped off by the blade 3 attached to the tip of the robot A8. Since the surface of the plastic 1 has foreign matters or changes with time, the suction is not performed, or as shown in FIG. 18, the portion of the capture net 61 is transferred onto the basket 34 by the robot C22 and suctioned by the suction device A36. Suction is performed through the hose 31, the air box 60 and the plastic collecting hose 4, and the plastic is captured by the capturing net 61. The switching valve 38 switches to the air generator 37 side, and all the plastic is discarded into the basket 34 by air pressure.

Next, as shown in FIG. 14, the portion of the catching net 61 is transferred onto the detecting portion 11 by the robot C22, and is switched to the suction device A36 again by the switching valve 38. The cutting tool 3 scrapes off the plastic inside the plastic 1 and captures the scraped-off plastic on a capture net 61. The switching valve 38 is again switched to the air generator 37 to separate the plastic from the capture net 61 and drop the plastic onto the detection unit.

The capture unit 21 is moved far from the detection unit by the robot C22. The cylinder 32 is lowered, the plastic is strongly pressed against the detection unit 11 by the pressing rod 31, the infrared spectrum is measured, and compared with the infrared spectrum patterns of various plastics obtained in advance, and the plastic having the matching infrared spectrum pattern is determined. It is determined by the identification means 7.

After the identification is completed, the capturing unit 2 is moved by the robot C22.
1 is moved to the detection unit. The part of the discharge pipe 62 is brought into close contact with the detection part, the intermittent feed part 40 rotates, and is transferred to the station having the plastic suction part 46, the cylinder C48 is lowered, and the plastic suction part 46 is moved to the transfer hole 3
The suction device B39 is operated in the state of being in close contact with 5, and all the discriminated plastic is sucked through the discharge hose 64.
Thus, the first and second plastics can be accurately determined without being mixed with the first and second plastics.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, the type of plastic can be identified at a low cost with a simple structure. In addition, it is possible to accurately and quickly identify all colors including black and the types of various additives contained in plastics.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plastic identification device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged three-dimensional view of an apparatus main body.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a structure of a detection unit.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged three-dimensional view of a luter in a portion for scraping plastic.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged three-dimensional view of an end mill at a portion for scraping plastic.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged three-dimensional view of a drill for shaving plastic.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a plastic identification device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged three-dimensional view of the capturing section 21 of the plastic sample.

FIG. 9 is a three-dimensional view showing a method of transferring the plastic to the detection unit 30 after capture.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged three-dimensional view of the plastic capturing unit 21.

FIG. 11 is a three-dimensional view of a plastic identification device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged three-dimensional view when capturing plastic.

FIG. 13 is a three-dimensional view showing a method of transferring the plastic to the transfer hole 35 after capturing the plastic.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a plastic identification device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention at the time of capturing plastic adsorption.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view at the end of capturing plastic.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a state in which the plastic is pressed against the detection unit 11 by the pressing rod 31 after capturing the plastic.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which plastic is removed from an inspection hole after determination is completed.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view showing a state where unnecessary plastics are discarded in a basket;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Plastic 2 Main body 3 Cutting tool 3A Luter 3B End mill 3C Drill 4 Plastic sampling hose 5 Robot B 6 Suction device A 7 Identification means 8 Robot A 9 Pallet 10 Conveyor 11 Robot arm 12 Reflecting mirror 13 Reflecting mirror 14 Glass fiber A 15 Glass Fiber B 16 Crystal 17 Crystal 21 Plastic capture unit 22 Robot C 23 Capture net 24 Arm A 25 Net mounting bracket 26 Arm B 27 Suction hose 28 Hose mounting bracket 29 Inspection hole 30 Inspection unit 31 Pressing rod 32 Cylinder 34 Basket 35 Transfer Hole 36 Suction device A 37 Air generating device 38 Switching valve 39 Suction device B 40 Intermittent feed unit 42 Hose 43 Plastic confirmation sensor B 45 Base 46 Plastic suction unit 47 Cylinder D 48 Nda C 49 cylinder B 50 Cylinder A 51 Plastic confirmation sensor A 60 air box 61 catching net 62 discharge pipe 63 pipe mounting bracket 64 discharge hose

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) // B07C 5/342 G01N 1/28 G (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Tokumasu 1st Matsushitacho, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka No. 1 Matsushita Avicy Technology Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toshio Shimamura 1-1-1, Matsushita-cho, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka F-term (reference) 2G059 AA05 BB15 DD12 DD13 EE02 EE12 FF08 HH01 JJ01 MM05 PP01 3F079 AD00 CA31 CC03 4F301 AA11 AA21 AD10

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A plastic processing section for shaving the surface of a plastic to determine the type of plastic, and a device body (using infrared spectroscopy) incorporating a light source and an infrared spectrum measuring system are attached to the tip of the robot, and a detecting section is provided. A plastic having means for measuring by pressing against plastic, comparing and comparing the spectra obtained by the infrared spectroscopy with the infrared spectrum patterns of various plastics obtained in advance, and identifying the plastic having the matched infrared spectrum pattern. Identification device. 2. A plastic processing part for shaving the surface of the plastic to determine the type of plastic, a device body (using infrared spectroscopy) having a light source and an infrared spectrum measuring system, and light from the device body using glass fiber. A detection unit that guides the
The detection unit is pressed against a plastic to measure, and a spectrum obtained by the infrared spectroscopy is compared with an infrared spectrum pattern of various plastics determined in advance to identify a plastic having a matched infrared spectrum pattern. A plastic identification device comprising: 3. A plastic processing section for scraping the surface of plastic to determine the type of plastic, a device for sucking the scraped plastic piece, a capturing section for the sucked plastic piece, and a detecting section from the capturing section. A robot for transporting a plastic piece, an apparatus body (using infrared spectroscopy) incorporating a light source and an infrared spectrum measuring system, a detection unit detachably attached to the apparatus body, and the infrared spectroscopy. A plastic identification device comprising means for comparing and comparing the spectra of various plastics whose infrared spectrum patterns have been obtained in advance and identifying the plastic having a matched infrared spectrum pattern. 4. A plastic processing section for scraping the surface of plastic to determine the type of plastic, a device for sucking the scraped plastic piece, a capture section for the sucked plastic piece, and a prism section from the capture section. A robot that transports plastic pieces, an intermittent feeder that sends multiple prisms to the detector, and a sensor that checks for the presence of plastic pieces before the detector.
A device body containing a light source and an infrared spectrum measurement system, and a detection unit detachably attached to the device body,
And a detection unit for comparing and comparing the spectra obtained by the infrared spectroscopy with the infrared spectrum patterns of various plastics obtained in advance, and identifying the plastic having the matched infrared spectrum pattern, and the plastic after measurement by the detection unit. A plastic identification device comprising: a suction unit for sucking and removing a piece; and a sensor unit for confirming that the plastic piece has been sucked and removed by the suction unit. 5. A plastic processing section for scraping the surface of plastic to determine the type of plastic, a device for sucking the scraped plastic piece, an adsorption unit for supplying the sucked plastic piece directly to the prism section, and a light source. And a device body (using infrared spectroscopy) having a built-in infrared spectrum measuring system, a detection unit detachably attached to the device body, and various plastic reds obtained in advance from spectra obtained by the infrared spectroscopy. Compared with the outside spectral pattern, a detecting unit for identifying the plastic of the matched infrared spectral pattern, and a suction unit for sucking and removing the plastic piece after measurement by the detecting unit, Plastic identification device. 6. The plastic identification device according to claim 1, wherein a filer is used as a plastic processing part for shaving the surface of the plastic. 7. The plastic identification device according to claim 1, wherein an end mill is used as a plastic processing part for shaving the surface of the plastic. 8. The plastic identification device according to claim 1, wherein a drill is used as a plastic processing part for shaving the surface of the plastic. 9. The plastic identification device according to claim 1, wherein a knife is used as a plastic processing portion for shaving the surface of the plastic.