TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY Removing Flexible Plastic Packaging from MSW Processing Equipment

TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY
Removing Flexible Plastic Packaging from MSW Processing Equipment
A new automated system to remove flexible plastic packaging from grinders, shredders, etc.
 
 

Opportunity:   Idaho National Laboratory (INL), managed and operated by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), offers the opportunity to enter into a license or collaborative research agreement to commercialize this Flexible Plastic Packaging removal technology. This technology transfer opportunity is part of a dedicated effort to convert government-funded research into job opportunities, businesses, and, ultimately, an improved way of life for the American people.
Overview:     Flexible plastic packaging (FPP) in municipal solid waste (MSW) processing equipment leads to decreased performance and requires lengthy shutdowns for manual removal, despite manually picking FPP from the waste stream. As the FPP builds up, equipment performance decreases, leading to equipment down time and dangerous work environments for laborers.
Description:    The technology integrates retractable blades with material shredding systems commonly used for MSW size reduction. The blades, once engaged, clear any FPP or other flexible material wrapped around grinding wheels. The blades can be disengaged once the wheels are cleared of wound material. This system could be integrated with other griding systems used in food processing and agricultural applications. 
Benefits:          
•    Reduces processing line interruptions from hours to minutes.
•    Eliminates the current risk to human safety.
•    Improves the overall efficiency of MSW processing equipment.
•    Reduces the need for manual labor and equipment downtime. 
Applications:    
•    Producers of MSW processing equipment
•    Waste management companies
•    Municipalities
•    MSW sorting facility operators.
Development Status:  TRL 2, the technology is in the concept phase. 
IP Status:     Provisional Application No. 63/374,326, “Method and apparatus to remove flexible materials, including plastic films, from the rotating shafts of municipal solid waste processing equipment and other types of equipment,” BEA Docket No. BA-1268.
INL seeks to license the above intellectual property to a company with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Exclusive rights in defined fields of use may be available. Added value is placed on relationships with small businesses, start-up companies, and general entrepreneurship opportunities.
Please visit Technology Deployment’s website at https://inl.gov/inl-initiatives/technology-deployment for more information on working with INL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process. 
Companies interested in learning more about this licensing opportunity should contact Andrew Rankin at td@inl.gov.