WO2017089995A1

WO2017089995A1 - Automatic component segregator enabled with smart capacitor testing kits

Info

Publication number: WO2017089995A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/057123
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nitin Gupta; Gaurav RATURI; Amit RIZWANI
Original assignee: Attero Recycling Pvt. Ltd.
Priority date: 2015-11-25
Filing date: 2016-11-25
Publication date: 2017-06-01
Also published as: TW201728379A

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for automatic segregation of working and non-working parts from waste printed circuit boards or electronic waste with minimal or no manual efforts. The apparatus comprises a component segregation section and a functionality check section, to segregate functional and non-functional components in the various stages depending upon their functionality, nature and reusability. The apparatus takes in the bulk waste product as feed; the entry of the same is sensed by the sensors provided on the conveyor belt and that initiates the segregation process. The components from the waste product then undergo a number of stages wherein all necessary steps are taken like, size sorting, metallic parts sorting, reusable parts sorting. The apparatus is enabled with at least one smart capacitor testing device that checks the functionality of the capacitor(s).

Description

"AUTOMATIC COMPONENT SEGREGATOR ENABLED WITH SMART

CAPACITOR TESTING KITS"

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for automatic segregation of recyclable and reusable parts from electronic wastes. More particularly, it relates to an apparatus and a method for automatic separation of the working and non-working parts of a waste printed circuit boards.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

E-waste management is an important requirement for ecologically sustainable development in many countries. Efficient sorting of waste is a major issue in today's society and is becoming a burgeoning problem for the waste management industries to ensure effective and sustainable management of waste. The economic value of waste is best realized when it is segregated.

The trend of making the manually controlled things automatic has become a common practice these days. Making things automatic reduces burden on the humans. Also, the cost and effort used in manually operated products is much higher than that of the automated systems. The main problem of manually operated waste management systems is checking and segregating components based upon their recovery, reuse potential. The usual method either involves a manual approach wherein either a person has to wander through the different spots, checking the places for waste collection or a team is required for identification and segregation of the components. This is somewhat complex and time consuming process. Hence, the present day waste management system is not as efficient as it should have been taking into consideration the advancements in the technologies that arose in the recent years. Hence, there is no safeguard regarding effective utilization of the e-waste by the proper identification, segregation and applying waste management approaches for the underlying components of the e-wastes. Moreover, there's another problem wherein recyclers need to identify values or reuse capability of underlying components of the e-wastes to determine or plan the appropriate waste management strategy. PCB's are the important components of electrical equipments that owns a precious composition of metals, non-metals, the parts like capacitors, semiconductors, inductors, removable board ports etc. Hence, recycling becomes a more complex task. The complexity of recovery process is not merely due to the disparity of precious composition; rather it is due to the existence of such removable parts that have tendency of reuse, recycle, or recovery depending on the functional state of the components. Re-using functional components like capacitors, inductors, semiconductors etc. could be a better option and cost effective approach in an effective waste management procedure.

CN101444784A discloses a method and a device for high-efficiency recovery of waste circuit boards in vacuum. As per the disclosed methodology, the waste circuit board is arranged in a vacuum vessel and heated for pyrolysis, wherein, most of pyrolysis volatile matter is cooled and liquefied into liquid oil, and the rest is taken into a gas collector; a centrifuge device separates soldering tin from the circuit board during the pyrolysis; substrates and electronic components of the pyrolyzed circuit board are assorted and collected to be further separated and recovered. The main disadvantage of this method is that the heating involved in the pyrolysis process might affect the functionality of working components even pyrolysis take place under vacuum condition.

US6234317 discloses device for sorting raw, pretreated or recycled bulk material. The device is of lesser utility in recycling purpose as the main function of component removal from PCB has to be performed separately.

In order to overcome limitations of the state of the art, one way is to come up with an approach that can ensure an effective waste management procedure irrespective of the nature, functional status, and abundance of valuable materials like metals, non-metals etc. Such approach should focus on the ease of operation, low dependence on man power and tendency to implement one or more waste management techniques at the same time without interrupting the parallel ongoing process (s). Therefore, an approach is needed that can automatically segregate the components and determine the functional state of the components which may help the recyclers to set the flow and objectives of waste management process which either may be the re-use, recycling, and recovery of the components.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide an automatic component segregator comprising a component segregation section and a functionality check section, contiguously connected to said segregation section to segregate functional and non-functional components in the various stages depending upon their functionality, nature and reusability.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) controlled apparatus that through a series of input/output modules, sensor modules and communication processors operates the segregation process in an automatic mode. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an approach for reusing the functional components present in the waste printed circuit boards or e-waste.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an approach for reusing the functional capacitor(s) present in the electronic waste.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus wherein specific parameters like temperature, speed, time can be customized as per the requirement of the segregation process.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method of segregation involving automatic operations like size sorting, metal sorting and capacitors sorting from printed circuit boards or any electronic waste products having components with scope of reuse, recovery and recycling.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a sensing mechanism enabled apparatus to sense presence of waste on the conveyor belt and initiating the belt movement. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic segregation apparatus enabled with an infrared (IR) proximity sensors or camera module for automatic sorting of components present in the waste printed circuit boards or e-wastes.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method of segregation with automatic unit operations like size sorting, metal sorting and segregation of reusable components like chip/capacitors/inductors/diodes from the printed circuit boards or e- waste.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus with a safety mechanism to protect the parts present in the e-waste from being damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for automatic segregation of working and non-working parts from waste printed circuit boards or electronic waste with minimal or no manual efforts. The apparatus comprises a component segregation section and a functionality check section, to segregate functional and non-functional components in the various stages depending upon their functionality, nature and reusability.

The apparatus automatically takes in the bulk waste product as feed; the entry of the same is then sensed by the sensors provided on the conveyor belt and initiates the segregation process. The components from the waste product then undergo a number of stages wherein all necessary steps are taken like shredding, size sorting, metal sorting, reusable parts sorting viz. chips, capacitors, resistors etc.

The removed components, particularly the capacitors are then tested by smart kits for reusability. If tested negative, they are directed towards recycling procedures. On testing bench, the removed capacitors are checked for physical integrity and further go through various component specific tests; if the capacitors pass said tests, it is qualified for reuse. If not, it is sent for mechanical recycling.

In another embodiment of the proposed invention, the apparatus is enabled with at least one smart capacitor testing device that checks the functionality of the capacitor(s). The smart capacitor testing device(s) segregates the capacitors based on charge/discharge capacity and capacitor value of electrolyte and ceramic capacitors.

The plurality of kit(s) includes separate device for checking charge/discharge capacity and capacitor values. The kits are provided on the testing bench of the segregator apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The various features, advantages and other uses of the present e-waste recycling method and apparatus will become more apparent by referring to the following detailed description and drawings in which: FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the component segregator apparatus contiguously attached with a functionality check section according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2a is a process flow diagram elucidating the component removal procedure.

FIG. 2b is a schematic flow diagram for the processing of remaining material obtained according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a process diagram depicting the various stages like size sorting, metal sorting and chips sorting according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the main component segregator along with a capacitor functionality check section according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a layout of a PLC controlled system. FIG. 5 is a layout of a PLC controlled system controlling various component removal machines equipped in the apparatus.

FIG. 6 is the process flow chart elucidating the capacitor reuse mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is the front view of the capacitor charge-discharge testing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is the perspective view of the capacitor charge-discharge testing device assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is the perspective view of the ceramic capacitor value testing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is the side view of the ceramic capacitor value testing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is the perspective view of the electrolyte capacitor value testing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is the side view of the electrolyte capacitor value testing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention now will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention set forth herein will readily occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended drawings. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. FIG. 1 is an isometric view of component segregator depicting complete system for executing the segregation process. In the first step, the e-waste components from component removal machine(s) 400 are received by the primary sieving unit 110 for sorting. Component removal machines provide two types of fractions, i.e. fine and coarse, other than the blank boards. Primary sieving unit 110 conducts screening of fraction containing Solder balls, dust, multilayer ceramic capacitor (Platinum Group Metals), high value small capacitors, pins and fine particles, which further goes for separate sorting system 300. Thereafter, the capacitors are sorted and separated by any suitable method preferably, a roller separation method. The capacitors are selectively sent towards the capacitor functionality check section 200 for the functionality determination of capacitors in terms of their charge/discharge and value capacity. The functionality check section 200 is equipped with at least one charge/discharge test device 215 and at least one capacitor value testing device 220 to assess functionality of the capacitors. For functionality assessment of capacitors, a functionality check area 210 is provided on at least one side of the section 200.

In yet another embodiment, the functionality check section comprises of at least one conveyor system to convey capacitors towards the scrutiny area 210.

FIG. 2a is a process flow diagram elucidating the component removal procedure wherein the waste material is fed into the component removal machine/apparatus. The component removal machine (CRM) performs preparatory steps like primary sorting of electronic waste, and removal of the components of the e-waste, particularly waste printed circuit boards. After component removal, the blank boards are sent for shredding and further recycling procedures. Whereas, the removed components are sent for segregation process of present invention. Precisely, the component removal machine connected prior to the segregator apparatus removes all of the working and non working components from the printed circuit boards and conveys said components for various checks to ensure proper waste management approach depending on the type and status of each component. For example, if printed circuit board is entered as feed then the apparatus would remove all the embedded components of the printed circuit boards convey all such parts for functionality check with the help of various sensing modules and smart testing kits equipped in the apparatus. If components are found in good working condition, then they are sent for reuse purpose. Similarly, if components are found defective, then other approaches of waste management could be opted based on recovery, recycle potential of such defective part(s). The blank boards after component removal are sent for metal recovery process. Referring to FIG. 2b, a schematic flow diagram for the processing of remaining material obtained is explained. The removed components are sent for size sorting, sieving, metals sorting, and chips sorting. Size sorting of the removed components is done by the rolling separation method. Whereas, metals present in the removed components are sorted through magnetic sorter.

Referring to FIG. 3, a process diagram depicting the various stages like size sorting, metal sorting and chips sorting according to an embodiment of the present invention. Size sorting is done in stages further by passing the components through rollers and segregating connectors/ports, processor jack/Iron, Capacitors/Transistors where capacitors/transistors are send to testing bench where again checking if they need to be introduced to mechanical recycling or reuse.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the main component segregator along with a capacitor functionality check section according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the segregator comprises a frame 145 to support the conveyor system 120 and other sub-assemblies. There are two types of PCB material fractions received from CRM processing other than Blank board namely fine and coarse. Primary sieving unit 110 does the screening of Fine fraction which contains Solder balls, dust, multilayer ceramic capacitor (PGM group metal), high value small capacitors, pins and fine particles, which further goes for separate sorting system. The primary sieving unit 110 forms with screen, cam mechanism for back and forth vibration. It is same as vibratory feeder.The primary sieving unit 110 receives the components from the component removal machine (CRM) 700 wherein, the coarse and fine components are separated. The coarser components includes the components like heat sink, sockets, connectors, copper coils, electrolyte capacitors, coils, connecter bases, transistors, inductors, chips, etc. The coarse components are then transferred to feeder 115 which receives all sized / coarse fraction of mixed components It works on cam mechanism for back and forth vibration. It is same as vibratory feeder. The feeder 115 is contiguously connected to the conveyor system 120. The conveyor system 120 comprises a motor driven conveyor belt that longitudinally runs along the main frame 145 and conveys the coarse fraction of mixed components which passes through various separation stages. The conveyor system further comprises cameras and proximity sensors to sense the components on the conveyor belt and triggering the motor thus moving the conveyor belt in desired direction. A plurality of roller separators 125, 130, & 140 is provided at a suitable location at an adjustable height above the conveyor belt, such that the belt runs just beneath the separators. Each roller separator unit is provided with at least one hopper 155 to receive and collect the components from the roller separator unit. Each roller separator unit segregates the components depending upon their size and transfers the remaining components towards another roller separator unit where, the components are segregated based on the same principle (size based). As discussed above, the segregated components are collected in the respective hoppers 155. Hoppers acts as guide to segregated materials and help in transfer thereof to the functionality check section 200. For segregation of magnetic components, a magnetic separator/sorter 160 is provided.

The magnetic separator/sorter is attached subsequently next to the roller separators to initiate the magnetic separation process with the components left after roller separation process and guides segregated iron material to collection bins. In another embodiment, the functionality check section 200 comprises a conveyor system, a scrutiny area 210, at least one capacitor charge/discharge testing kit assembly 215 and/or at least one capacitor value test kit assembly 220. The conveyor system conveys the segregated capacitors towards the scrutiny area wherein, the functionality assessment takes place. The charge/discharge kit assembly have a provision to test the both types of capacitors viz. electrolyte and ceramic capacitors. Referring to FIG. 5, a layout of a PLC controlled system controlling various component removal machines equipped in the apparatus. The PLC system operates all the machines, rollers and sieving motors in an automatic mode. The status of the operation is displayed on the LCD/TFT screen provided to monitor proper functioning of the apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 6, a flow chart to explain capacitor reuse mechanism is elucidated wherein each type of capacitor goes through an initial physical test. If the capacitor passes the physical test it proceeds for further tests like charge/discharge test and value test. If, in case, the capacitor fails either of the test it is sent for mechanical recycling.

Referring to FIG. 7 is the front view of the capacitor charge-discharge testing kit assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. I n this embodiment, the assembly comprises of at least one electrolyte charge/discharge testing device 400 and at least one ceramic capacitor charge/discharge testing device 500. The electrolyte capacitor testing kit comprises of a testing circuit PCB, a LED indication means for showing charge/discharge capacity 460, a power indication LED 410, and at least one connecting plate 450. Similarly, the ceramic capacitor testing device 500 comprises a testing circuit PCB, a LED indication means 560 for showing charge/discharge capacity, a power indication LED 510, and at least one connecting plate 540 provided on the base of the assembly. This charge/discharge test is carried out to check whether a capacitor is charged or discharged. For this assessment, the capacitor is connected to the connecting plates provided on the kit assembly. Upon connecting the capacitor to the connecting plates, the LED indication responds (blinks) that indicate the capacitor is in charged state. Similarly, FIG. 8 is the perspective view of the capacitor charge-discharge testing device assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is the perspective view of the ceramic capacitor value testing kit 600 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the testing kit 600 is capable of determining capacitor values for electrolyte and ceramic capacitors. The capacitor value kit has a means of displaying value of each capacitor under observation. In another embodiment, the capacitor value testing kit for a ceramic type capacitor comprises a capacitance meter with LCD display 610, a LED means for power indication, and a button 640 provided to turn the device ON/OFF, and plurality of connecting plates, i.e., a positive connecting plate 620 and a negative connecting pate 630 for connecting positive and negative terminals of the capacitor. This test is carried to determine the value of the ceramic capacitor. The capacitor is connected to the connecting plates and after the capacitor gets charged, the capacitance value is shown in the display.

Referring to FIG. 10, a side view of the ceramic capacitor value testing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is elucidated. In this embodiment, the ON/OFF button 640 to turn the state of the capacitor value kit is provided.

Referring to FIG. 11, a perspective view of the electrolyte capacitor value testing kit 800 according to an embodiment of the present invention is elucidated. In this embodiment, the testing kit 800 comprises a display means 805 for indicating capacitance values, an enclosure 810, a switch 815 to change ON/OFF state of the kit, a positive connecting plate 825, and a negative connecting plate 830.

Referring to FIG. 12, the side view of the electrolyte capacitor value kit according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided. In this embodiment, the kit comprises a positive connecting plate 830, a negative connecting plate 825 mounted on the enclosure 810. The procedure for checking capacitance values for electrolyte capacitors is same as it is done for ceramic capacitors.

Accordingly, in most preferred embodiment of the present invention is proposed an automatic component segregator for segregating electronic waste components comprising: a) a frame;

b) at least one feeder to receive the components to be segregated; c) at least one conveyor system to move the components away from the feeder, the system comprising motor driven conveyor belt, at least one proximity sensor;

d) plurality of roller separator units to segregate components according to their respective sizes, each of the unit comprising at least one roller separator and at least one hopper;

e) at least one magnetic sorter contiguous to the roller separator units to segregate magnetic components; and

f) at least one functionality check section contiguous to at least one hopper of the roller separation units comprising, at least one functionality test kit, at least one scrutiny area, and at least one means to move the components from hopper towards the scrutiny area; wherein, the conveyor system senses the load and starts transferring the components towards the roller separator units; the roller separator unit segregates and shifts the components to be checked into at least one hopper respective to the roller separator unit; and the functionality check section receives the components from at least one hopper to perform at least one functionality test of the components using said at least one functionality test kit.

Claims

CLAIMS We claim:

1. An automatic component segregator for segregating electronic waste components

comprising:

a) a frame;

b) at least one feeder to receive the components to be segregated;

c) at least one conveyor system to move the components away from the feeder, the system comprising motor driven conveyor belt, at least one proximity sensor; d) plurality of roller separator units to segregate capacitors according to their respective sizes, each of the unit comprising at least one roller separator and at least one hopper;

f) at least one functionality check section contiguous to at least one hopper of the roller separation units comprising, at least one functionality test kit, at least one scrutiny area, and at least one means to move the capacitors from hopper towards the scrutiny area; wherein, the conveyor system is triggered on as soon as the conveyor belt receives the components from said feeder thus conveying the components towards the roller separator units; the roller separator units are placed at an adjustable height above the conveyor belt such that the conveyor belt runs just beneath the separator; the roller separator unit segregates and shifts the size segregated capacitors into at least one hopper respective to the roller separator unit; the functionality check section receives the capacitors from at least one hopper to perform at least one functionality test of the capacitors using said at least one functionality test kit; and the segregator is controlled by programmable logic controller.

2. The automatic component segregator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the functionality tests can be carried in either manual or automatic mode or both.

3. The automatic component segregator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conveyor system further comprises an imaging module to detect presence of components on the conveyor belt.

4. The automatic component segregator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the components transferred on the functionality check section include electrolyte capacitors, or ceramic capacitors or both.

5. The automatic component segregator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the functionality test kit is a capacitor charge/discharge testing device, or a capacitor value testing device, or both.

6. The automatic component segregator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means to move the components from hopper towards the scrutiny area comprises a motor driven conveyor belt.

7. An automatic component segregator for segregating electronic waste components comprising:

a) a frame;

b) at least one feeder to receive the components to be segregated; c) at least one conveyor system to move the components away from the feeder, the system comprising motor driven conveyor belt, at least one proximity sensor; d) at least one roller separator unit to segregate capacitors according to their respective sizes, each of the unit comprising at least one roller separator and at least one hopper;

f) at least one functionality check section contiguous to at least one hopper of the roller separation units comprising, plurality of functionality test kits, at least one scrutiny area, and at least one means to move the capacitors from the hopper towards the scrutiny area; wherein, the conveyor system is triggered on as soon as the conveyor belt receives the components from said feeder thus conveying the components towards the roller separator unit; the roller separator unit is placed at an adjustable height above the conveyor belt such that the conveyor belt runs just beneath the separator; the roller separator unit segregates and shifts the size segregated capacitors into at least one hopper respective to the roller separator unit; the functionality check section receives the capacitors from at least one hopper to perform at least one functionality test of the capacitors using said at least one functionality test kit; and the segregator is controlled by programmable logic controller.

8. The automatic component segregator as claimed in claim 7, wherein the conveyor system further comprises an imaging module to detect presence of components on the conveyor belt.

9. The automatic component segregator as claimed in claim 7, wherein the components transferred on the functionality check section include electrolyte capacitors, or ceramic capacitors or both.

The automatic component segregator as claimed in claim 7, wherein the functionality test kit is a capacitor charge/discharge testing device, or a capacitor value testing device, or both.

11. The automatic component segregator as claimed in claim 7, wherein the means to move the components from hopper towards the scrutiny area comprises a motor driven conveyor belt.

12. The automatic component segregator as claimed in claim 7, wherein the functionality tests can be carried in either manual or automatic mode or both.