MILTON, Peter, George (Woodside Cottage, 97 Hartfield RoadForest Row, East Sussex RH18 5LY, GB)
CLAIMS
1. A method of obtaining information on waste material, which method comprises the steps of:
(i) providing an industrial waste container for the waste material,
(ii) providing the container with at least one first radio frequency identification tag,
(iii) transporting the container to baling apparatus,
(iv) emptying the waste material from the container,
(v) introducing the waste material into the baling apparatus,
(vi) baling the waste material into bales such that each bale is provided with at least one second radio frequency identification tag,
(vii) loading the bales onto a vehicle which is provided with at least one third radio frequency identification tag,
(viii) transporting the vehicle to a recycling plant for the waste material,
(ix) unloading the bales from the vehicle, (x) using the waste material in the recycling plant to produce recycled material for use in industry, and
(xi) using reader means to read the information from the first, second and third radio frequency identification tags and thereby to obtain information on the waste material.
2. A method according to claim 1 and including the step of using first camera means to photograph the emptied waste material from the container in order to provide a visual record of the content of the emptied waste material.
3. A method according to claim 2 in which the first camera means is a camera which provides a recording in the form of a plurality of still images.
4. A method according to claim 2 in which the first camera means is a video camera which provides a recording in the form of a video recording.
5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims in which the bales at the recycling plant are opened to loosen the waste material.
6. A method according to claim 5 and including the step of using second camera means to photograph the waste material from each one of the open bales in order to provide a visual record of the content of each opened bale.
7. A method according to claim 6 in which the second camera means is a camera which provides a recording in the form of a plurality of still images.
8. A method according to claim 6 in which the second camera means is a video camera which provides a recording in the form of a video recording.
9. A method according to any one of the preceding claims in which the reader means comprises a first reader for the first radio frequency identification tag, a second reader for the second radio frequency identification tag, and a third reader for the third radio frequency identification tag.
10. A method according to claim 9 in which the first reader is positioned at a predetermined start point for the container, in which the second reader is positioned at the baler apparatus, and in which the third reader is positioned at the recycling plant.
11. A method according to claim 10 and including a fourth reader for reading the first radio frequency identification tag in the recycling plant.
12. A method according to any one of the preceding claims in which the container is a skip.
13. A method according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first radio frequency identification tag is provided on the container.
14. A method according to claim 13 in which the first radio frequency identification tag is fixed to an outside part of the container.
15. A method according to any one of the preceding claims in which the waste material is introduced into the baling apparatus by a first conveyor.
16. A method according to any one of the preceding claims in which the second radio frequency identification tag is provided inside each bale.
17. A method according to any one of claims 1 - 15 in which the second radio frequency identification tag is provided on the outside of each bale after the bale is formed.
18. A method according to any one of the preceding claims in which the baling apparatus is a ram baling apparatus.
19. A method according to any one of the preceding claims in which restraining means for restraining the bales in shape is removed at the recycling plant.
20. A method according to claim 19 in which the restraining means is wire restraining means, and in which the wire restraining means is cut.
21. A method according to any one of the preceding claims in which the waste material is introduced into the recycling plant using a second conveyor.
22. A method according to any one of the preceding claims in which the waste material in the recycling plant is treated to remove unwanted parts.
23. A method according to claim 22 in which the waste material in the recycling plant is treated to remove some of the unwanted parts by immersing the waste material in water in a bath, causing the water to rotate such that a vortex is formed which traps at least some of the unwanted parts, and removing the unwanted parts from the vortex.
24. A method according to claim 23 in which the unwanted parts are removed from the vortex using a crane.
25. A method according to any one of claims 22 - 24 in which the removed unwanted parts include the second radio frequency identification tags, and in which the removed second radio frequency identification tags are stored for reuse.
26. A method according to any one of the preceding claims in which the waste material is paper or cardboard waste material, in which the recycling plant is a paper mill, and in which the re-cycled material is paper or cardboard.
27. A method according to any one of claims 1 - 25 in which the waste material is plastics waste material, in which the recycling plant is a plastics sheet material producing plant, and in which the re-cycled material is sheet plastics material.
28. A method according to any one of claims 1 - 25 in which the waste material is textile wrapping waste material, in which the recycling plant is a textile mill, and in which the re-cycled material is sheet textile material.
29. A method according to any one of the preceding claims and including a fourth radio frequency identification tag to track the location of the re-cycled material. |
A METHOD OF OBTAINING INFORMATION ON BALABLE WASTE MATERIAL
This invention relates to waste material and, more especially, this invention relates to a method of obtaining information on waste material which is able to be formed into bales.
Waste material such for example as paper, film, cardboard and textile fabrics is often recycled. The initial waste material is collected at collection points, and it is then convenient to compress the collected waste material into bales for subsequent transporting to a recycling plant. Problems often occur as a result of not knowing information on the balable waste material.
It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce the above mentioned problem.
Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method of obtaining information on waste material, which method comprises the steps of:
(i) providing an industrial waste container for the waste material,
(ii) providing the container with at least one first radio frequency identification tag,
(iii) transporting the container to baling apparatus,
(iv) emptying the waste material from the container,
(v) introducing the waste material into the baling apparatus,
(vi) baling the waste material into bales such that each bale is provided with at least one second radio frequency identification tag,
(vii) loading the bales onto a vehicle which is provided with at least one third radio frequency identification tag,
(viii) transporting the vehicle to a recycling plant for the waste material,
(ix) unloading the bales from the vehicle,
(x) using the waste material in the recycling plant to produce recycled material for use in industry, and
(xi) using reader means to read the information from the first, second and third radio frequency identification tags and thereby to obtain information on the waste material.
The method of the present invention may enable the provision of any appropriate information on the waste material, for example the location of the waste material, the type of the waste material, the content of the waste material, and the weight of the waste material.
The method of the present invention may include the step of using first camera means to photograph the emptied waste material from the container in order to provide a visual record of the content of the emptied waste material.
The first camera means may be a camera which provides a recording in the form of a plurality of still images. Alternatively, the first camera means may be a video camera which provides a recording in the form of a video recording. The camera means may retain the information for downloading as and when required. When downloaded, the information may be provided as a photograph, an image on a computer screen, or in any other desired and appropriate manner.
The method of the present invention may be one in which the bales at the recycling plant are opened to loosen the waste material.
When the bales at the recycling plant are opened to loosen the waste material, then the method of the present invention may include the step of using second camera means to photograph the waste material from each one of the opened bales in order to provide a visual record of the content of each opened bale.
The second camera means may be a camera which provides a recording in the form of a plurality of still images. Alternatively, the second camera means may be video camera which provides a recording in the form of a video recording.
The use of the first and/or the second camera means may be advantageous in helping to stop persons including non-balable waste material
in the balable waste material. For example, in order to make up the weight of a bale of the balable waste material, it might be that persons would put heavy metal objects such for example as parts of old engines, into the balable waste material. Other persons might wish simply to put non-wanted waste material such for example as plastics materials in the balable waste material. The use of the first and/or the second camera means is able to provide visual evidence of the content of the balable waste material. If the location is known where the visual evidence was obtained, then the presence of the unwanted waste material such for example as the parts of old engines or the plastics material, is able to be attributed to a particular location and perhaps often to a particular person at that location.
The method of the present invention may be one in which the reader means comprises a first reader for the first radio frequency identification tag, a second reader for the second radio frequency identification tag, and a third reader for the third radio frequency identification tag. The method may be one in which the first reader is positioned at a predetermined start point for the container, in which the second reader is positioned at the baler apparatus, and in which the third reader is positioned at the recycling plant. The first, second and third readers may be positioned elsewhere if desired. Reader means other than the first, second and third readers may be employed.
The method of the invention may be such as to include a fourth reader for reading the first radio frequency identification tag in the recycling plant.
Usually, the industrial waste container will be a skip. Other types of industrial waste container may however be employed.
The first radio frequency identification tag will usually be provided on the container. The first radio frequency identification tag will usually be fixed to an outside part of the container. The first radio frequency identification tag may alternatively be fixed to an inside part of the container.
The waste material is preferably introduced into the baling apparatus by a first conveyor. Other methods for introducing the waste material into the baling apparatus may be employed.
The second radio frequency identification tag may be provided inside each bale. In order to achieve this, the second radio frequency identification tag may be dropped into the waste material during the formation of the bale. Alternatively, the second radio frequency identification tag may be provided on the outside of the bale after the bale has been formed.
The baling apparatus is preferably a ram baling apparatus. Other types of baling apparatus may be employed.
The method of the present invention may be one in which restraining means for restraining the bales in shape is removed at the recycling plant.
The method may be one in which the restraining means is wire restraining means, and in which the wire restraining means is cut. Restraining means other than wire restraining means may be employed so that, for example, the restraining means may be a strap of a plastics material sufficiently tough to effect the restraining.
The waste material is preferably introduced into the recycling plant using a second conveyor. Other means for introducing the waste material into the recycling plant may be employed.
Usually, the waste material in the recycling plant will be treated to remove unwanted parts, for example plastics materials or heavy objects such for example as engine parts as mentioned above.
Preferably, the method is one in which the waste material in the recycling plant is treated to remove some of the unwanted parts by immersing the waste material in water in a bath, causing the water to rotate such that a vortex is formed which traps at least some of the unwanted parts, and removing the unwanted parts from the vortex. The unwanted parts may be removed from the vortex using a crane or any other suitable and desired device.
The method may be one in which the removed unwanted parts include the second radio frequency identification tags, and in which the removed second radio frequency identification tags are stored for re-use.
The method may be one in which the waste material is paper or cardboard waste material, in which the recycling plant is a paper mill, and in which the re-cycled material is paper or cardboard. The paper may be used for printing, for example printing newspapers. The cardboard may be used for packaging.
Alternatively, the method may be one in which the waste material is plastics waste material, in which the recycling plant is a plastics sheet material producing plant, and in which the recycled material is sheet plastics material. The sheet plastics material may be used for packaging, for example for wrapping purposes.
Alternatively, the method may be one in which the waste material is textile waste material, in which the recycling plant is a textile mill, and in which the re-cycled material is sheet textile material. The sheet textile material may be used for clothing, linen or any other suitable and appropriate desired purposes.
The method of the present invention may include using a fourth radio frequency identification tag to track the location of the re-cycled material.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows initial stages in a method of obtaining information on balable waste material;
Figure 2 shows an intermediate stage in the method;
Figure 3 shows end stages in the method; and
Figure 4 illustrates schematically various steps in the method.
Referring to Figures 1 , 2 and 3 there is shown a method of obtaining information on balable waste material 2. Figure 1 shows how the method comprises the steps of providing an industrial waste container 4 for the waste material 2, and providing the container 4 with a first radio frequency identification tag 6. The container 4 is filled with the waste material 2.
Figure 1 also shows how the method of the invention includes the step of transporting the container 4 to baling apparatus 7. At the baling apparatus 7, the waste material 2 is emptied from the container 4. The waste material 2 is then introduced into the baling apparatus 7.
As shown in Figure 1 , in the baling apparatus 7, the waste material 2 is baled into bales 8 such that each bale 8 is provided with a second radio frequency identification tag 10.
Referring to Figure 2, the bales 8 are loaded into a vehicle 12 which is provided with a third radio frequency identification tag 14. The vehicle 12 is shown as a trailer.
Figure 3 shows how the vehicle 12 has been transported to a recycling plant 16 for the waste material 2. The bales 8 are unloaded from the vehicle 12. The waste material 2 in the bales 8 is used in the recycling plant 16 to produce recycled material 18.
The method shown in the drawings is such that reader means 20 is employed to read the information from the first, second and third radio frequency identification tags 6, 10, 14 and thereby to obtain information on the waste material.
As shown in Figure 1 , the method of the present invention includes the step of using first camera means 22 to photograph the emptied waste material 2 from the container 4 in order to provide a visual record of the content of the emptied waste material 4. The first camera means 22 may be a camera which provides a recording in the form of a plurality of still images. Alternatively the first camera means 22 may be a video camera which provides a recording in the form of a video recording. The first camera means 22 is advantageous for providing a visual record of the waste material 2 as it was in the container 4 and before it is baled in the baling apparatus 7. Thus, any attempt to increase the weight of the waste material 2, for example by
inserting heavy iron parts, or any attempt to get rid of other waste material such for example as plastic waste material, is able to be identified and appropriate action taken.
Figure 3 shows how the bales 8 at the recycling plant 20 are opened to loosen the waste material. At this point in the method of the invention, there is provided the step of using second camera means 24 to photograph the waste material from each one of the opened bales 8 in order to provide a visual record of the contents of each opened bale 8. As with the first camera means 22, the second camera means 24 may be a camera which provides a recording in the form of a plurality of still images, or a video camera which provides a recording in the form of a video recording. The second camera means 24 is able to check the content of the waste material 2 at the illustrated point in the method of the invention. The first and the second camera means 22, 24 can both be used or, if desired, either only the first camera means 22 could be used or only the second camera means 24 could be used.
The reader means 20 is shown as a first reader 26 for the first radio frequency identification tag 6, a second reader 28 for the second radio frequency identification tag 10 at the baling apparatus 7, a third reader 30 for the third radio frequency identification tag 14 on arrival of the vehicle 12 at the recycling plant 16, and a fourth reader 32 for the second radio frequency identification tags 10 as the bales 8 are opened in the recycling plant 16.
As shown in Figure 1, the container 4 is a skip. The first radio frequency identification tag 6 is provided on the container 4. More specifically, the first radio frequency identification tag 6 is fixed to an outside
part of the container 4. Alternatively, if desired, the first radio frequency identification tag 6 could be fixed to an inside part of the container 4.
The waste material 2 is introduced into the baling apparatus 7 by a first conveyor 33.
As also shown in Figure 1 , the second radio frequency identification tag 10 is positioned inside each bale 10. This is effected as shown in Figure
1 by dropping a second radio frequency identification tag 10 into the waste material 2 as it is formed into the bales 10. Alternatively, the second radio frequency identification tag 10 could be applied to the bales 8 after they have been formed.
As further shown in Figure 1 , the baling apparatus 7 is a ram baling apparatus 2 comprising a ram 34 which moves backwards and forward on an arm 36 in a cylinder 38.
In the baling apparatus 7, the bales 8 are provided with restraining means 40 for restraining the bales 8 in shape. The restraining means 40 may be a wire restraining means or any other suitable and appropriate restraining means. The restraining means 40 is cut at the recycling plant 16 in order to allow the bales 8 to be opened up as shown in Figure 3. The waste material
2 is introduced into the recycling plant 16 using a second conveyor 42.
Figure 3 shows how the waste material 2 from the opened bales 8 is treated in the recycling plant 16 to remove unwanted parts such for example as iron parts or plastics parts. More specifically, the waste material 2 is treated to remove the unwanted parts by immersing the waste material 2 in a bath 44 containing water. The water is caused to rotate as indicated by arrow
46 such that a vortex 48 is formed which traps at least some of the unwanted parts. These trapped unwanted parts include floatable unwanted parts such for example as plastics material. The restraining metal wire and also the second radio frequency identification tags 10 get trapped by the vortex 48 and are able to be removed. Removal of the unwanted parts may be effected using a crane 50 having a crane arm 52.
Referring now to Figure 4, there is shown schematically how the waste material 2 can come from a plurality of containers with each container 4 being located at a separate site, for example at a shop, supermarket, waste refuse centre or other site. Figure 4 also shows how the reader means 20 is able to read information from appropriately sited radio frequency identification tags at two separate pieces of baling apparatus 7 and at the recycling plant 16.
It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the waste material 2 may be paper or cardboard, in which case the recycling plant 16 will be a paper mill, and the re-cycled material 18 will be paper or cardboard. Alternatively, the waste material may be plastics waste material, in which case the recycling plant 16 will be a plastics sheet material producing plant, and the re-cycled material 18 will be sheet plastics material. Alternatively, the waste material may be textile waste material, in which case the recycling plant 16 will be a textile mill, and the re-cycled material 18 will be sheet textile material. More than one of each of the radio frequency identification tags 6, 10, 14 may be employed if desired. A fourth radio
frequency identification tag may be employed to track the location of the recycled material 18. Any suitable and appropriate type of radio frequency identification tags, and any suitable and appropriate type of reader means, may be employed in the method of the present invention. In the method of the invention, where pictures are taken, then the pictures may be provided with date and time information. The obtained information may be logged at remote and/or local databases. Any local database may be linked by wireless or other telecommunication means to a central hosted database, from where information can be sent onto other databases as appropriate.
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