15 patents in this list

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Current PET bottle recycling operations face significant mechanical challenges when processing mixed-format containers at scale. Field data shows that conventional single-stage shredders struggle with throughput rates above 500 kg/hour, while producing inconsistent flake sizes ranging from 2mm to 15mm—compromising downstream processing efficiency and final material quality.

The fundamental challenge lies in balancing aggressive size reduction against equipment wear, energy consumption, and output consistency across varying bottle geometries and wall thicknesses.

This page brings together solutions from recent research—including multi-stage cutting sequences, specialized pre-processing systems, integrated label separation mechanisms, and precision blade geometries. These and other approaches focus on achieving consistent flake sizes while maintaining high throughput and minimizing maintenance requirements.

1. Waste Plastic Recycling Device with Sensor-Based Identification and Transparency Sorting Mechanism

ECOCENTRE CO LTD, 2024

Waste plastic recycling device with improved automatic sorting and crushing efficiency of waste plastic. The device uses sensors to identify waste plastic bottles and then shreds them into recyclable pieces. It sorts the pieces by transparency and stores them separately. This allows convenient recycling of plastic bottles while preventing contamination. The device also tracks user identification codes and bottle weights for compensation.

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2. Device for Automated Sorting, Shredding, and Collection of PET Bottles with AI-Driven Identification and Rotating Collection Plate

NAT CONTROL COMMUNICATION NCC, NATIONAL CONTROL COMMUNICATION, 2024

Automatic sorting, shredding and collection device for PET bottles using artificial intelligence that improves efficiency and convenience of collecting and recycling PET bottles. The device uses AI to identify and sort PET bottles, and immediately shreds them when collecting to increase collection rate. It also allows continuous addition of bottles without waiting. The device has an inlet, collection unit, crushing unit, and collection plate. The collection plate rotates to move bottles back and forth between the collection unit and crushing unit. This vertical path guides bottles into the crusher.

3. PET Recycling Machine with Sequential Material and Color Classification System

HAN MOON IL, 2023

A PET recycling machine that improves efficiency by effectively separating PET based on material and color. The machine classifies collected PET by material, then sorts the classified PET by color. It washes, disinfects, and selectively removes labels/caps from PET. The crushed PET is dehydrated and dried selectively to minimize loss. The machine uses a color recognition sorting system to sort PET by color automatically. This enables better separation compared to using just material separation.

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4. Plastic Waste Shredding Device with Roller Shredder, Separation Cleaning Mechanism, and Integrated Wash Drums

KRAUSS MAFFEI TECH GMBH, KRAUSSMAFFEI TECHNOLOGIES GMBH, 2023

Recycling device for shredding plastic waste into clean, sorted pieces that can be used immediately. The device has a roller shredder to shred the plastic waste and a roller cleaning device to prevent contamination between different types of plastic. The roller cleaning device moves the rollers apart to separate the teeth and clean them. The device also has a washing system with wash drums to clean the shredded plastic before collecting it. This ensures the plastic is pure and unmixed for reuse.

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5. Integrated Solid Waste Treatment System with Combined Compaction and Shredding Mechanism

CHEN JINCAI, 2023

Environment-friendly solid waste treatment system and processing method that combines compaction and shredding into a single machine to improve efficiency and reduce power consumption compared to separate compaction and shredding steps. The system has a scrap assembly with a movable block that compresses waste like plastic bottles. The compressed waste is then fed into a shredding assembly where it's further processed by a moving block and an extruding block that extrude and cut the waste. This integrated compaction-shredding process reduces volume and breaks down the waste more effectively compared to separate compaction and shredding steps.

6. Automated PET Bottle Crushing System with Integrated Conveyor, Cutter, and Crusher Mechanism

LKP CO LTD, 2022

Automatic PET bottle crushing system that increases recycling efficiency by automating the entire process from bottle collection to chip production. The system uses a series of conveyors, cutters, and crushers to automatically separate, cut, and crush the bottles. Bottles are fed up an inclined conveyor, then dropped vertically to face down. A cutter removes the cap, another conveyor transports the body, and a crusher pulverizes the bottles into chips. This automation eliminates manual handling, reduces contamination, extends device life, and speeds recycling compared to manual crushing.

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7. Collection Box with Dual-Stage Internal Shredding Mechanism for PET Bottles

CHA OK KYUNG, JEEWON IND CO LTD, JEEWON INDUSTRY CO LTD, 2022

Separate collection box for efficiently collecting and compacting PET bottles before recycling. The box has an internal shredding mechanism with two stages to crush the bottles. The first stage has a rotating blade to initially crush the bottles. The second stage has a fixed blade below to further crush the smaller pieces. This sequential crushing minimizes the size of the crushed material. The box also has features like bending blades to prevent jamming, hoppers to prevent hand entry, and a transparent case to view the shredding.

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8. Plastic Bottle Recycling Device with Motor-Driven Rotating Blades and Integrated Extrusion Compaction System

JIANGXI TRIDING MEDICINE PACKAGE CO LTD, 2022

Device for recycling waste plastic bottles in an environmentally friendly manner that can shred and flake plastic bottles for easier packaging and transportation. The device has a bottom plate, collection bucket, motor, rotating rod with blades, extrusion box, and discharge pipe. The blades shred the bottles when rotated by the motor. The flakes are then pushed into the extrusion box and compacted. The shredded flakes can be easily transported and packed compared to flattened bottles.

9. Automated Machine for Cutting, Compressing, and Shredding Plastic Bottles

CHEN GENXIANG, 2022

Automated plastic bottle recycling machine that cuts, compresses and transports bottles for efficient recycling. The machine has a cutting table, blocking frame, shredding mechanism with cutter, and transmission mechanism. Bottles are fed in, compressed, cut, and shredded. This allows automated processing of bottles without manual intervention. The compression and cutting steps reduce bottle size for easier transportation and handling.

10. Plastic Waste Label Separation Apparatus with Vibration and Air Curtain Mechanism

YUN IL JUNG, 2022

Label separation apparatus for plastic waste that efficiently removes labels from plastic waste like containers and bottles. The device uses vibration, air curtains, and perforated networks to separate label fragments and dust from the shredded plastic. The shredder crushes the plastic waste to generate a mixed stream of plastic, label, and adhered plastic pieces. An air curtain blocks label movement while shredding. Vibrating separation sorts the plastic pieces. Label fragments and dust pass through a perforated network and drop onto a collection plate suctioned by a fan. This isolates label fragments and dust for recycling.

11. Shredding Device with Integrated Bottle Crushing, Flow Direction, and Label Separation Mechanisms

CHEN GENXIANG, 2021

Shredding device for recycling plastic bottles that efficiently crushes the bottles, separates the labels, and improves recycling efficiency compared to conventional crushers. The device has a base with a shredding mechanism, flow direction mechanism, feeding mechanism, screening mechanism, and label strip separation mechanism. The shredding mechanism crushes the bottles. The flow direction mechanism guides the crushed fragments down. The feeding mechanism intermittently feeds more bottles. The screening mechanism separates the labels. The label strip separation mechanism removes label strips from the fragments. This allows complete shredding, label separation, and efficient recycling without reprocessing labels.

12. Shredding Machine with Rotor-Stator Assembly and Enclosed Chamber for Polyester Waste

NANFENG QIANTAI RENEWABLE RESOURCES RECYCLING CO LTD, 2021

A machine for safely and efficiently shredding waste polyester like PET bottles for recycling. The device has a shredding chamber with a rotor and stator assembly to grind the plastic waste. It also has a feeding hopper, screening section, and collection bin. The machine allows automated shredding of PET waste with reduced labor intensity and improved efficiency compared to manual crushing. The enclosed shredding chamber improves safety compared to manual crushing.

13. PET Bottle Recycling System with Dual-Stage Cutting Mechanism and Dedicated Support Components

QIU TIANTIAN, 2020

A PET plastic bottle recycling system with a unique cutting mechanism to avoid issues with complete bottle crushing. The system uses two cutting stages, one horizontal and one vertical, to pre-cut the bottles before crushing. This prevents whole bottles from jamming the crusher since they're already partially chopped. The system has dedicated cutting blocks, plates, knives, and pushers for each stage. It also has support frames, discharge mechanisms, and sliding plates to hold and move the bottles between cuts. The system components enable precise pre-cutting to avoid crushing problems.

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14. Multi-Stage Waste Plastic Shredding Device with Sequential Tearing, Rolling, Cutting, and Dicing Mechanism

XIE JINCHUN, 2020

A waste plastic shredding device for efficiently processing hot-melt plastics like recycled plastic into small pieces. The device has a multi-stage shredding mechanism with tearing, rolling, cutting, and dicing stages. This allows progressive reduction of plastic thickness and width for efficient shredding. The stages are sequentially arranged inside a housing. The device also has a feeding hopper, conveyor, and stops to guide the plastic through. It uses multiple wheels and knives driven by an electric mechanism. This provides a continuous, automated process to shred hot-melt plastics into small pieces suitable for further recycling.

15. Waste Processing System with Integrated Comminution and Sorting for Recyclable Recovery

ORGANIC ENERGY CORPORATION, 2017

Recovering recyclables from mixed waste streams by comminuting the waste to a size that facilitates separation using sorting equipment. The method involves shredding the waste before sorting to produce uniform particle sizes that can be easily separated by density, dimension, and material type. This allows more efficient and higher-yield recovery of recyclables compared to sorting unshredded waste. The shredded waste can also be fractionated by density to further enhance separation. The comminution and sorting steps are integrated into existing waste processing lines to upgrade their recycling capabilities.

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