JP2004191203A - Used resin identifying method and device (1) - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an identifying method and its device contributing on the efficient execution of sorting processing by identifying the kind and color of the resin on the basis of a bar code on a used industrial product composed of a used resin. <P>SOLUTION: The kind and color of the used resin, or other conditions of the resin in addition to the kind and color of the used resin, are identified by picking up an image of the used industrial product composed of the used resin in recycling and/or disposing the used resin. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for identifying used resin.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, interest in global environmental conservation has increased, and effective use of resources and reduction of waste have been favored. In addition, from these viewpoints, for example, used industrial products as represented by the Specific Home Appliance Recycling Law, etc. Has been shouting highly at recycling. Under such circumstances, for large industrial products represented by, for example, passenger cars or home appliances, after collecting and dismantling the industrial products, separate the collected and dismantled products into various constituent materials and recycle them. However, most of the constituent materials of such industrial products are subjected to landfill, incineration or solid fuel processing, even if the resin is recycled. Even in this case, the recycled resin is generally used as a very low-grade recycled resin such as railroad sleepers and piles. This means that the means for recycling the resin used in various industrial products is based on the type of resin itself, the type or amount of additives contained in the resin, or the state of the resin (for example, the state of coating on the resin surface). In many cases, and it is difficult to recycle as a resin of uniform quality.
[0003]
For example, when the used industrial product is a used TV and the resin is collected / reused from the used TV, the casing material of the used TV is usually made of resin. The resin, additives (for example, a flame retardant, etc.) in the resin, or the state of coating, etc., are completely different depending on the type of the used television. Furthermore, even if the used TV casings are the same model, the resin coating state (for example, the presence or absence of coating) differs depending on the region, such as the front part and the rear cover part. The resin identification process becomes complicated, and an identification method that can easily perform this process has been desired.
[0004]
By the way, a fire retardant, such as decabromodiphenyl oxide (also referred to as decabro), which is said to possibly generate dioxin when incinerated, is disliked, and a housing resin not using such a flame retardant (for example, decabro as a flame retardant). In recent years, non-deca high-impact polystyrene resins that do not contain styrene are commonly used, but many televisions produced in the past contain decabro, so even if the same type of resin is used, additives (for example, flame retardants) In some cases, different processing needs to be performed depending on the type of the data. For this reason, there has been a demand for a method capable of industrially performing the resin identification process and the separation process.
[0005]
Under the above circumstances, a resin identification device using FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer) has been proposed and studied (Patent Document 1), but the resin surface is black, If painted, the accuracy of identification is extremely reduced, and the equipment is large and / or expensive, requires pretreatment (eg, preparation of sample pieces or polishing of sample surface), or Due to various technical problems such as the time required for measurement and the like, a highly accurate and small resin identification device has been desired.
[0006]
Furthermore, even if the industrial products are of the same model, if the colors of the industrial products are different, the paints and the like contained in the industrial products are different, and as a result, the processing means of the used industrial products is different, and furthermore, Or affect the color development of industrial products after recycling. For example, if the resin of a red used industrial product is recycled as an industrial raw material, the recycled resin can be used for recycling to a black industrial product, but it can be recycled to a white industrial product. It is difficult to use from the viewpoint of color development.If the resin of a black used industrial product is recycled as an industrial raw material, the recycled resin is used for recycling to ivory industrial products It is difficult from the viewpoint of coloring.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-257569
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an identification method capable of industrially distinguishing the type and color of a used resin from a used industrial product composed of used resin, and an identification device therefor.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present inventors have conducted intensive studies to achieve the above object, and as a result, instead of directly analyzing the target resin, the type and color of the resin are identified from the image of the used industrial product containing the target resin. A possible identification method was found. Furthermore, the present inventors have found that the above-mentioned identification method is high in accuracy, simple, can be implemented industrially advantageously, and that the color of the industrial product after recycling the used industrial product resin is good. And found that the above problems can be solved at once.
The present inventors have further studied after obtaining such various findings, and completed the present invention.
[0010]
That is, the present invention
(1) At the time of recycling and / or disposal of used resin, images of used industrial products composed of the used resin are taken, and (a) the type of used resin And (b) a method of identifying a used resin, characterized by identifying other resin states in addition to the type and color of the used resin.
(2) The method for identifying a used resin according to (1), wherein the other resin state is one or more selected from the type of the additive, the content thereof, and the coating state of the resin surface.
(3) The additive is one or more of a flame retardant, a flame retardant auxiliary, a plasticizer, an antioxidant, a filler, an antistatic agent, a lubricant, and a colorant (2). The used resin identification method described,
About.
[0011]
Also, the present invention
(4) When recycling used resin and / or disposing of used resin, take an image of a used industrial product composed of the used resin, and use (a) use from the image taken. (B) In addition to the type and color of the used resin, information for identifying the state of the other resin in addition to the type and color of the used resin is obtained, and the processing means for the used resin is displayed based on the information. Display method of used resin treatment means,
(5) The display method of the used resin processing means according to (4), wherein the processing means is displayed on the surface of the used industrial product.
About.
[0012]
Also, the present invention
(6) Used in the recycling and / or disposal of used resin, and a photographing unit for photographing an image of a used industrial product composed of the used resin and a photographed image. (B) a type and color of used resin, or (b) an analysis unit for giving information for identifying other resin states in addition to the type and color of used resin. Identification device,
(7) The used resin identification device according to (6), wherein the other resin state is one or more selected from the type of the additive contained, the content thereof, and the coating state of the resin surface.
(8) The additive is characterized in that at least one or two or more of a flame retardant, a flame retardant auxiliary, a plasticizer, an antioxidant, a filler, an antistatic agent, a lubricant, and a colorant are used. ) Described used resin identification device,
About.
[0013]
Also, the present invention
(9) The used resin identification device according to (6), wherein the device is a mobile type.
(10) A method for separating used resins, which comprises separating used industrial products containing used resins as components using the identification method described in (1).
(11) A method for separating used resins, which comprises separating used industrial products containing used resins as components using the identification device according to (6).
About.
[0014]
Also, the present invention
(12) A method for reusing a used resin, wherein the resin separated by the method for separating used resin according to (10) is used as a raw material for manufacturing an industrial product.
(13) A method for recycling used resin, wherein the resin separated using the identification device according to (6) is used as a raw material for manufacturing an industrial product.
(14) An industrial product obtained by recycling the used resin separated by the used resin separation method according to (10),
(15) An industrial product obtained by recycling used resin separated using the identification device according to (6),
About.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for reusing and / or disposing of used resin by taking an image of a used industrial product composed of the used resin, and (a) using This is a method of identifying a used resin, characterized by identifying the type and color of the used resin or (b) the type and color of the used resin and other resin states.
[0016]
The used industrial product used in the present invention is a used product, and any product may be used as long as it is made of resin. For example, a material, a processed product, a final product, or the like can be given. More specifically, examples include electric / electronic products, automobiles, building materials, packaging materials, and furniture products. In the present invention, typical examples of the used industrial products are electric / electronic products, home appliances, automobiles, and the like, and more specifically, white goods, televisions, audio equipment (eg, stereo headphones, etc.), computers, and the like. Or a monitor etc. are mentioned as a preferable example.
[0017]
The used resin may be any resin as long as it contains at least one polymer compound. It may be a natural resin or a synthetic resin. It may be a thermoplastic resin or a thermosetting resin. Examples of the thermoplastic resin include an acrylic resin, a polystyrene resin (for example, rubber-free polystyrene or high impact polystyrene), a polyethylene resin, a polypropylene resin, a polybutylene resin, an ABS resin, a polyvinyl chloride resin, Polyoxymethylene or polyacetal resin, polycarbonate (PC) resin, ABS / PC copolymer resin, polyphenylene ether (PPE) resin, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) resin, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin, liquid crystal polymer (LCP) Base resin, acrylonitrile / styrene (AS) resin, biodegradable resin, and the like. Examples of the thermosetting resin include, for example, a phenolic resin, an epoxy resin, a urea resin, a melamine resin, an unsaturated polyester resin, a diallyl phthalate resin, a polyimide resin, a polyurethane resin, and a silicone resin. No.
[0018]
The image capturing means used in the present invention may be any means as long as the used industrial product can be imaged. It may be a known means, such as a means using a CCD camera. More specifically, a digital camera, a video camera, an analog camera, a scanner, or the like can be given.
[0019]
The means for identifying (a) the type and color of the used resin used in the present invention, or (b) other resin states in addition to the type and color of the used resin, is based on the (a) used Any means may be used as long as it can identify the type and color of the used resin or (b) the type and color of the used resin and other resin states. For example, a unit using a CPU and the like are listed, and a unit using a CPU and a database as shown in FIG. 3 is a preferable example. In FIG. 3, when the photographed image is input, the CPU 14 searches for resin information in the database 13. The database 13 stores product image information and resin information, and resin information is included in the product image information. The resin information includes (A) the type and color of the used resin, or (B) information on other resin states in addition to the type and color of the used resin. The CPU 14 searches for the resin information A included in the product image information A based on the product image information A. The resin information A is externally output by the CPU 14 as a search result.
[0020]
In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, desired resin information is set in advance, and then (a) the type and color of the used resin, or (b) the type and color of the used resin, and The condition may be identified. The desired resin information is information on the used resin, and includes information on the type and color of the used resin or (b) the type and color of the used resin and other resin states. In FIG. 4, when desired resin information is set and the photographed image is input, the CPU 14 searches for resin information in the database 13. The CPU 14 retrieves the resin information A-a included in the product image information A based on the product image information A and the desired resin information a. The resin information A-a is externally output by the CPU 14 as a search result.
[0021]
The type of the used resin may be any type as long as the resin can be classified. For example, the name of the resin, the properties of the resin, the state of the resin, the method of producing the resin, the name of the resin manufacturer, and the like can be given. Any classification such as upper, middle or lower may be used. More specifically, for example, natural resins and synthetic resins, thermosetting resins and thermoplastic resins, crystalline and amorphous, solid, elastic and viscoelastic, sequential and chain polymerization, or polyolefin resins, acrylic resins , Polystyrene-based resin (eg, rubber-free polystyrene or high-impact polystyrene), polyethylene-based resin, polypropylene-based resin, polybutylene-based resin, ABS resin, polyvinyl chloride-based resin, polyoxymethylene-based or polyacetal-based resin, polycarbonate (PC ) Resin, ABS / PC copolymer resin, polyphenylene ether (PPE) resin, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) resin, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin, liquid crystal polymer (LCP) resin, acrylonitrile / styrene (AS) resin, raw Degradable resin, One or more selected from phenolic resins, epoxy resins, urea resins, melamine resins, unsaturated polyester resins, diallyl phthalate resins, polyimide resins, polyurethane resins and silicone resins. No.
[0022]
The color of the used resin is not particularly limited as long as the color of the received light stimulates the human retina by reflected light. It may be a known color called a color. For example, the colors described in “JIS Z 8102: 2001, Color names of object colors”, 32-bit colors, pigment colors specified by color indexes, and the like can be used. In the present invention, a color that is not a chromatic color, for example, a metal color (for example, gold, silver or copper), a transparent color (for example, skeleton blue, skeleton red, skeleton green, skeleton orange, skeleton violet or skeleton yellow) Alternatively, an iridescent color or the like is also suitably used as the color of the used resin.
[0023]
The other resin state may be any state other than the type of the used resin and the color of the used resin as long as the state is related to the used resin. For example, one or more selected from the type of the additive contained, the content thereof, the coating state of the resin surface, and the like can be mentioned. Examples of the additives include a flame retardant, a flame retardant auxiliary, a plasticizer, an antioxidant, an ultraviolet absorber, a dispersant, a filler (organic or inorganic), an antistatic agent, a lubricant, a colorant, and resin curing. One or more selected from agents and the like. Any of these additives may be known. In the present invention, the additive contained is a flame retardant, a flame retardant auxiliary, a plasticizer, an antioxidant, an ultraviolet absorber, a dispersant, an organic filler, an inorganic filler, an antistatic agent, a lubricant or a colorant. It is preferable that the flame retardant be used, and it is most preferable that the flame retardant be classified into a flame retardant containing decabro and a flame retardant not containing decabro. The content of the above-mentioned additive is an amount set according to the kind of the additive contained in accordance with the kind of the industrial product. The coating state of the resin may be any state as long as it is a state of a painted surface. For example, the presence / absence of coating, the state of peeling of paint or the like, the state of color deterioration of the painted surface, the state of adhesion of attached matter, and the like are listed. In the present invention, the above-mentioned resin state is preferably the kind of the additive contained and / or the coating state of the resin surface, and more preferably the kind of the additive contained.
[0024]
Further, the present invention is the display method of the used resin processing means, wherein the used resin processing means is displayed based on the identification information obtained by the identification method. The display means used in the above display method may be any means as long as the used resin processing means can be displayed from the identification information obtained by the identification method. It may be a known means, for example, a means for displaying used resin processing means on the surface of the used industrial product, or a means for processing used resin by, for example, a transmitter inside the used industrial product. Means, means for displaying the used resin processing means on the display as described below, means for displaying the used resin processing means by voice, means for displaying the used resin processing means by light, or the work of the worker or Means for displaying used resin processing means in operation. In the present invention, the display method is preferably a method of displaying on the surface of the used industrial product, a method of processing the used industrial product or a used industrial product to display the processing means. It is more preferable to use a method for performing marking, and most preferable to use a method for performing marking on the used industrial product.
[0025]
The processing means may be any means using the used resin. It may be a known treatment means, for example, selected from waste treatment means such as landfill means or incineration means, and recycle means such as solid fuel conversion means, reuse means (for example, cascade use) or reuse means. One or more types of processing means. In the present invention, it is preferable that the processing unit is a recycling unit, a landfill unit, or an incineration unit.
[0026]
The display used for the display means may be any display as long as the processing means of the used industrial product can be clearly identified. For example, a display that specifies the processing means such as the name of the processing means or a place where the processing means is taken, more specifically, a display such as color coding, a pattern, a diagram, a blur, a symbol, a sound, or a light. . More specifically, for example, when the display means is a marking, a tape (e.g., one or more color tapes selected from blue, red, black, gray, yellow, green, and white, etc.), a seal, a stamp, a print, or the like is used. No.
[0027]
Further, the present invention is used when recycling used resin, and / or when disposing of the used resin, and is used as an image capturing unit that captures an image of a used industrial product composed of the used resin. (B) the type and color of the used resin from the image obtained, or (b) an analysis unit for providing information for identifying other resin states in addition to the type and color of the used resin. It is a device for identifying used resin.
[0028]
The photographing unit may be any one that can recognize the image of the used industrial product. A known camera may be used, and examples thereof include a CCD camera. The CCD camera is capable of recognizing an image of the used industrial product, and may be any camera provided with a CCD. It may be a known one, such as a digital camera, a video camera, an analog camera or a scanner.
[0029]
The analysis unit analyzes the image obtained by the imaging unit, and (a) calculates the type and color of the used resin or (b) the type and color of the used resin and the other resin state. Anything can be used as long as it can be identified. It may be a known one, such as a CPU. In the present invention, a computer having a CPU as the analysis unit is preferably used. Further, in the present invention, it is preferable that the used resin identification device is a stationary or mobile identification device.
[0030]
In the present invention, it can be manufactured by providing the used resin identification device with the photographing unit and the analysis unit. The method for manufacturing the identification device may be any method as long as the identification device can be manufactured from the imaging unit and the analysis unit, and may be a known method. For example, a method of combining the imaging unit and the analysis unit using one or more selected from a wiring, a cord, a cable, a transporter (for example, a container or a conveyor), a sorting machine, and the like can be given. In the present invention, the identification device may be used in a dedicated collection / disassembly facility. In order to input the resin information to the analysis unit in advance, a mass retailer, a transport relay point, or a manufacturing site of an industrial product before use. May be used.
[0031]
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0032]
FIG. 1 shows a used resin characterized by comprising a conveyor 1, a conveyor 2, a CCD camera 3 as an image recognition unit, a computer 7 as an analysis unit, a display 4 as a display unit, and a sorting machine 5. 1 shows an identification device. In FIG. 1, a used television 6 is used as a used industrial product. The used television 6 is transported to the conveyor 2 by the transporter 1, and the used television 6 is transported by the conveyor 2 to a position where the CCD camera 3 of the image recognition unit can shoot. When the used television 6 is transported to a predetermined position, the CCD camera 3 recognizes an image of the used television 6 (for example, the size, shape or color of the target used television) and the recognition unit. The transmitted image is transmitted. The transmitted image is analyzed by the above-described analysis unit, and is determined to be, for example, the used television 6 of the model name KV-ZISVFI manufactured by Sony Corporation.
[0033]
In the computer 7 serving as the analysis unit, the model of the used industrial product, the manufacturer thereof, (a) the type and color of the used resin used in the used industrial product, or (b) the used resin In addition to the type and color of the resin, data such as the above-mentioned other resin states (for example, the type of additive contained, its content, the presence or absence of coating, the type of coating material, the amount or film thickness, etc.) are input. When the model name is determined, the data of the model and the like input to the computer 7 can be used. For example, in the case of a used TV 6 of the model name KV-ZISVFI manufactured by Sony Corporation, the front is HIPS. For the non-deca and the rear cover, the type and color of the above resin such as decablo, or the other resin state in addition to the above resin and color are identified by HIPS. Further, by displaying the processing method of the used resin on the display 4 from the information on these resins, and / or by transmitting the processing information to the sorting machine 5, the used television 6 conveyed to the conveyor 2 is displayed. The used television 6 is sorted by the sorting machine 5 or the operator for each processing (eg, landfill processing, incineration processing, solid fuel processing, or reuse processing such as cascade use).
[0034]
In FIG. 1, a blue tape 8a is attached as an indication of the processing means (recycling processing means) of the used television 6 whose resin is non-deca HIPS, and the processing of the used television 6 whose resin is HIPS of decablo. A red tape 8b is attached as a display of the means (landfill processing means). In the present invention, after the identification, the used television 6 may be marked or the like, and the operator of the next process may determine the processing method of the target resin based on the information.
[0035]
FIG. 2 shows the above-mentioned mobile type identification device characterized by comprising a CCD camera 3, a display unit 9, a SW 11 and an antenna 12. In FIG. 2, a CCD camera 3 is mounted, and the analysis unit (CPU) is built in. A used television 6 is used as the used industrial product. When the CCD camera 3 is aimed at the used television 6 and the SW 11 is turned on, image recognition is performed by the CCD camera 3, the model and manufacturer are specified by the CPU, and the type and color of the resin are determined by the model and manufacturer. Alternatively, in addition to the type and color of the resin, other resin states are identified. Further, based on the identification result and the identified data, a resin processing means (for example, a recycling process, a landfill process or an incineration process) is displayed on the display unit 9. In FIG. 2, for example, when a new product such as a television is on the market, the latest information on the industrial product such as the television and the resin contained in the industrial product is updated by IT using the antenna 12 or the like. Or download it. It may be obtained on a recording medium such as Memory Stick ^TM10 . In the present invention, the identification device is preferably a mobile identification device as shown in FIG. 2 because a large-sized transporter or the like used for a stationary identification device as shown in FIG. 1 is not required.
[0036]
The identification method, the identification method of the processing means, and the identification device are used when a used resin is subjected to a recycling process and / or a disposal process. Examples of the disposal processing include known processing such as landfill processing or incineration processing. Examples of the recycling process include known processes such as a solid fuel process, a reuse process (for example, cascade use), and a reuse process. In the present invention, it is preferable that the identification method and the identification device are used for the separation processing of the used industrial product including the used resin, and the separated used resin is reused as a raw material for manufacturing an industrial product. It is more preferably used for a reuse process to be used, and most preferably used for a recycling process for recycling raw materials for manufacturing industrial products into industrial products.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an identification method and an identification device capable of industrially distinguishing from the type of used resin to its color by using an image of a used industrial product composed of used resin.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a used resin having a conveyor 1, a conveyor 2, a CCD camera 3 as an image recognition unit, a computer 7 as an analysis unit, a display 4 as a display unit, and a sorting machine 5. The preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 2 is a mobile type identification device characterized by including a CCD camera 3, a display unit 9, a SW 11 and an antenna 12, and a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a preferred embodiment of obtaining resin information from image information using a CPU and a database.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention when desired resin information is set in advance.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Conveyor 2 Conveyor 3 CCD camera 4 Display 5 Sorter 6 Used television 7 Computer 8a Blue tape 8b Red tape 9 Display part 10 Memory stick ^TM
11 SW
12 Antenna 13 Database 14 CPU

Claims (15)

At the time of recycling and / or disposal of used resin, by taking images of used industrial products composed of the used resin, (a) the type and color of the used resin, Or (b) a method of identifying a used resin, characterized by identifying other resin states in addition to the type and color of the used resin. The method for identifying a used resin according to claim 1, wherein the other resin state is one or more selected from the kind of additive, the content thereof, and the coating state of the resin surface. 3. The use according to claim 2, wherein the additive is one or more of a flame retardant, a flame retardant auxiliary, a plasticizer, an antioxidant, a filler, an antistatic agent, a lubricant and a colorant. Method of used resin. At the time of recycling and / or disposal of used resin, images of used industrial products composed of the used resin are taken, and (a) the used resin is The use is characterized in that, in addition to the type and color of (b) the type and color of the used resin, information for identifying other resin states is obtained, and further, a processing means for the used resin is displayed based on the information. To display the processing means for used resin. 5. The method for displaying used resin processing means according to claim 4, wherein the processing means is displayed on a surface of the used industrial product. From the photographing unit and the photographed image used for recycling and / or discarding the used resin and for photographing an image of a used industrial product composed of the used resin, An analyzer for identifying a used resin, comprising: an analysis unit for providing information for identifying the type and color of the used resin or (b) other resin states in addition to the type and color of the used resin. 7. The used resin identification device according to claim 6, wherein the other resin state is one or more selected from the type of additive contained, the content thereof, and the coating state of the resin surface. 8. The additive according to claim 7, wherein the additive is at least one or more of a flame retardant, a flame retardant auxiliary, a plasticizer, an antioxidant, a filler, an antistatic agent, a lubricant, and a colorant. Used resin identification device. 7. The apparatus for identifying used resin according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus is a mobile type. A method for separating used resins, comprising separating used industrial products containing used resins as constituent elements using the identification method according to claim 1. A method for separating used resins, wherein the identification device according to claim 6 is used to sort used industrial products containing used resins as constituent elements. A method for reusing a used resin, wherein the resin separated by the method for separating a used resin according to claim 10 is used as a raw material for manufacturing an industrial product. A method for reusing a used resin, wherein the resin separated by using the identification device according to claim 6 is used as a raw material for manufacturing an industrial product. An industrial product obtained by recycling the used resin separated by the used resin separation method according to claim 10. An industrial product obtained by recycling used resin separated using the identification device according to claim 6.

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