Abstract

The present invention concerns the field of safe disposal or recycling of devices which include flat panel displays (FPDs) such as televisions, public information screens and signs, advertising panels, computer monitors and lap-tops, tablets and computers with integrated flat panel displays. The invention provides an apparatus for the disassembly of flat panel display units (FPDs) which each comprise a display screen provided on the front face of the FPD and a housing which accommodates the screen and associated electronic circuitry, the apparatus comprising: (i) a cutting station for receiving an end-of-life FPD, the cutting station being configured and arranged to make cuts into the FPD along cutting paths which permit detachment of the entire display screen, or a cut-out sub-unit of the display screen, from the FPD, (ii) an FPD characterisation station provided in advance of, or at, the cutting station, the characterisation station being adapted to measure and/or log one or more characterising parameters or identifiers of the FPD in advance of the cutting step, (iii) a data processing system in data communication with the FPD characterisation station, the data processing system being adapted to receive and one or more of said parameters or identifiers, and derive therefrom an appropriate protocol for cutting the FPD display screen, and provide instructions in accordance with the protocol which are sent back to the cutting station so as to control the cuts. An FPD database may be associated with the data processing system, the FPD database being pre-loaded with cutting path instructions for a range of known FPDs.

IPC Classes  ?

• B09B 3/35 - Shredding, crushing or cutting

Abstract

The present invention concerns the field of safe disposal or recycling of devices which include flat panel displays (FPDs) such as televisions, public information screens and signs, advertising panels, computer monitors and lap-tops, tablets and computers with integrated flat panel displays. The invention provides an apparatus for the disassembly of flat panel display units (FPDs) which each comprise a display screen provided on the front face of the FPD and a housing which accommodates the screen and associated electronic circuitry, the apparatus comprising: (i) a cutting station for receiving an end-of-life FPD, the cutting station being configured and arranged to make cuts into the FPD along cutting paths which permit detachment of the entire display screen, or a cut-out sub-unit of the display screen, from the FPD, (ii) an FPD characterisation station provided in advance of, or at, the cutting station, the characterisation station being adapted to measure and/or log one or more characterising parameters or identifiers of the FPD in advance of the cutting step, (iii) a data processing system in data communication with the FPD characterisation station, the data processing system being adapted to receive and one or more of said parameters or identifiers, and derive therefrom an appropriate protocol for cutting the FPD display screen, and provide instructions in accordance with the protocol which are sent back to the cutting station so as to control the cuts. An FPD database may be associated with the data processing system, the FPD database being pre-loaded with cutting path instructions for a range of known FPDs.

IPC Classes  ?

• G02F 1/1333 - Constructional arrangements
• B03B 9/06 - General arrangement of separating plant, e.g. flow sheets specially adapted for refuse
• B09B 3/00 - Destroying solid waste or transforming solid waste into something useful or harmless
• H01J 9/52 - Recovery of material from discharge tubes or lamps

Abstract

The present invention concerns the field of safe disposal or recycling of devices which include flat panel displays (FPDs) such as televisions, public information screens and signs, advertising panels, computer monitors and lap-tops, tablets and computers with integrated flat panel displays. The invention provides an apparatus for the disassembly of flat panel display units (FPDs) which each comprise a display screen provided on the front face of the FPD and a housing which accommodates the screen and associated electronic circuitry, the apparatus comprising: (i) a cutting station for receiving an end-of-life FPD, the cutting station being configured and arranged to make cuts into the FPD along cutting paths which permit detachment of the entire display screen, or a cut-out sub-unit of the display screen, from the FPD, (ii) an FPD characterisation station provided in advance of, or at, the cutting station, the characterisation station being adapted to measure and/or log one or more characterising parameters or identifiers of the FPD in advance of the cutting step, (iii) a data processing system in data communication with the FPD characterisation station, the data processing system being adapted to receive and one or more of said parameters or identifiers, and derive therefrom an appropriate protocol for cutting the FPD display screen, and provide instructions in accordance with the protocol which are sent back to the cutting station so as to control the cuts. An FPD database may be associated with the data processing system, the FPD database being pre-loaded with cutting path instructions for a range of known FPDs.

IPC Classes  ?

• G02F 1/1333 - Constructional arrangements
• B09B 3/00 - Destroying solid waste or transforming solid waste into something useful or harmless
• B03B 9/06 - General arrangement of separating plant, e.g. flow sheets specially adapted for refuse
• H01J 9/52 - Recovery of material from discharge tubes or lamps

Abstract

The present invention concerns the field of safe disposal or recycling of devices which include backlit LCD flat panel displays (FPDs) such as televisions, public information screens and signs, advertising panels, computer monitors and lap-tops, tablets and computers with integrated flat panel displays (100). The disclosure provides a process for the disassembly of backlit LCD FPDs which each comprise a Liquid Crystal Display screen which occupies a front face of the FPD and a housing (101) which accommodates the LCD screen (103), with backlighting means (300) disposed adjacent a backside of the LCD display screen to provide illumination, the housing including a front border region which serves as a frame around the LCD display screen, wherein the method comprises: (i) providing an end-of-life waste FPD, (ii) conveying the FPD to a cutting station and cutting directly into the exposed LCD display screen along cutting paths which are offset inwardly from the front border regions (102), so as to create a generally rectilinear sub-unit (113) of the LCD display screen within the screen border region, (iii) causing or allowing the screen sub-unit to become detached from the screen border, and setting aside or conveying the screen sub-unit for storage, disposal or further processing, and (iv) conveying the FPD chassis remaining after sub-unit detachment to a treatment station, and removing the backlighting means in the housing rendered accessible by removal of the screen sub-unit.

IPC Classes  ?

• B09B 3/00 - Destroying solid waste or transforming solid waste into something useful or harmless
• B03B 9/06 - General arrangement of separating plant, e.g. flow sheets specially adapted for refuse
• B09B 5/00 - Operations not covered by a single other subclass or by a single other group in this subclass
• B23D 47/00 - Sawing machines or sawing devices working with circular saw blades, characterised only by constructional features of particular parts

Goods & Services

Recycling machines; waste management and recycling machines; recycling and crushing units [machines]; industrial robots; robots for industrial use. Installation of industrial machinery; providing information relating to the installation of machinery; maintenance of industrial machinery. Recycling; recycling services; treatment (recycling) of waste; providing information relating to the recycling of waste.