Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65F—GATHERING OR REMOVAL OF DOMESTIC OR LIKE REFUSE
  • B65F3/00—Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse
  • B65F3/001—Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse for segregated refuse collecting, e.g. vehicles with several compartments
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65F—GATHERING OR REMOVAL OF DOMESTIC OR LIKE REFUSE
  • B65F1/00—Refuse receptacles; Accessories therefor
  • B65F1/0033—Refuse receptacles; Accessories therefor specially adapted for segregated refuse collecting, e.g. receptacles with several compartments; Combination of receptacles
  • B65F1/004—Refuse receptacles; Accessories therefor specially adapted for segregated refuse collecting, e.g. receptacles with several compartments; Combination of receptacles the receptacles being divided in compartments by partitions
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65F—GATHERING OR REMOVAL OF DOMESTIC OR LIKE REFUSE
  • B65F3/00—Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse
  • B65F3/02—Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse with means for discharging refuse receptacles thereinto
  • B65F2003/022—Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse with means for discharging refuse receptacles thereinto the discharging means comprising a device for determining the weight of the content of refuse receptacles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65F—GATHERING OR REMOVAL OF DOMESTIC OR LIKE REFUSE
  • B65F3/00—Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse
  • B65F3/02—Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse with means for discharging refuse receptacles thereinto
  • B65F2003/0223—Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse with means for discharging refuse receptacles thereinto the discharging means comprising elements for holding the receptacle
  • B65F2003/023—Gripper arms for embracing the receptacle

Definitions

• the present invention relates to refuse recycling separation and collection system for garbage, trash, and the like, and more particularly to a container adapted for mechanical picking up and dumping of separated materials.
• An outdoor container having three bin which can be mechanically picked up and deposited in a compartmented truck having mechanized pickup capability.
• the contents of the outdoor container may be selectivity deposited in the truck compartments.
• the outdoor container is a rectangular cart-like device preferably having a tubular framework.
• a handle is provided at one end and a set of wheels is provided to permit easy movement.
• a stand is attached at a forward end to maintain the container essentially level.
• the tubular framework is lined with thin sheet metal or plastic and divided, for example, into three bins, one for each of the recyclable materials.
• a sheet metal or plastic cover is provided for each bin. Each cover is hinged along one edge of its bin, which is maintained closed by its weight, or, alternatively, by a latch. The lids are easily openable by a user.
• the end of the framework opposite the handle may include an identification plate attached to the upper lateral tubular member thereof which includes indicia indicative of the contents of each of the bins of the container.
• the plate may be labeled "paper”, “cans", “glass”, or the initials thereof from left to right indicating the material deposited in each bin.
• a label may be placed on each lid indicating the contents.
• I utilize a bar code for each bin marked on the plate, and for identification of the customer for collection programs in which collections are charged for by weight.
• a clamping arm assembly having a pair of horizontally extending clamp arms attached to a framework and a pair of hydraulic linear actuators which move the two arms laterally inward or outward.
• the inside surface.of each of the arms may be covered with a pad molded of resilient material having a plurality of inwardly projecting cone shaped projections as described in my U. S. Patent No. 4,175,903.
• the clamping arm assembly is attached to and positioned by a suitable pickup arm operated from a truck. To pick up the outside container, the arms are opened laterally and extended along the longitudinal sides of the outside container.
• a bar code reader may be attached to the clamping arm assembly in a position to contact and read the identification plate on the front of the outside container.
• the clamping arms are extended by the pickup arm to the point that the bar code reader may contact the identification plate, the longitudinal extension stops, and the hydraulic actuators move the arms inward to contact the tubular framework.
• the resilient cones grip the container framework securely.
• the container lids each include a latch that is released by a trip assembly mounted on at least one of the clamping arms.
• the arms may be moved downward until a hydraulically actuated lid closure element contacts and holds each outside container lid closed. It is therefore a principal object of my invention to provide an outdoor container having a plurality of bins, and which is. formed to be picked up mechanically.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the trash collection container assembly for use outside of a building and at curbside;
• Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of a pickup arm assembly of my invention for use with the outside container assembly of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a partial view of a pickup arm of the assembly of Figure 2 showing resilient cones attached thereto;
• Figure 4 is a partial top view of the container assembly of Figure 1 and the pickup arm assembly of Figure 2 in place preparatory to picking up the container assembly;
• Figure 5 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the framework of the container assembly of Figure 1 and an end view of a pickup arm of Figure 3 showing a lid release mechanism for the container of Figure 1;
• Figure 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the trash collection container assembly for use outside of a building and at curbside;
• Figure 7 is a partial perspective view of a pickup arm assembly of my invention for use with the outside container assembly of Figure 6;
• Figure 8 is a partial top view of the container assembly of Figure 6 and the
• Figure 1 illustrates a container to be normally stationed outside of a building and adapted to be moved to curbside for trash pickup.
• Outside container 30 preferably utilizes a tubular metal framework 32 having essentially rectangular sides.
• the framework provides a means for gripping of the container 30 for lifting and dumping.
• Framework 32 is covered on the inner faces thereof by panels 36 which may be of sheet metal, or sheet plastic.
• panels 36 may be of sheet metal, or sheet plastic.
• the entire container 30 may be molded from plastic having ribs on the external surface thereof to provide strength and gripping surfaces.
• a plurality of dividers 37 is provided to divide the container 30 into a plurality of bins 45. Three bins 45 are shown although it is to be understood that the system of the invention may utilize more or less than three bins.
• Each bin 45 includes a hinged lid 40; for example, lid 40B shown in an open position.
• Each lid 40 is hinged along one edge by hinge 44.
• Handles 41 are provided for manual opening of lid 40.
• a metal channel 34 may be attached around the top periphery of tubular framework 32 and divider 37 to provide a flat mating surface for lids 40. It is necessary for lids 40 to be maintained in the closed position during a pickup and dumping procedure.
• a spring loaded catch 42 is provided for each bin 45, shown in more detail in Figure 5.
• An operating rod 57 for each lock extends from catch 42 to a pivot bracket 60 attached to a lower element of pipe frame 32.
• a push plate 43 is attached to each catch 42 to permit manual release thereof for placing materials in a bin. Pressure on push plate 43 causes catch member 50 to pivot at pin 51 in bracket 53 against spring 52, releasing lid 40. As discussed below, catch 42 may also be released by pressure against rod 57.
• a pair of wheels 61 is mounted midway of container 30 with a stand 62 at one end to maintain container 30 level. A handle 50 is provided at the other end for moving container 30.
• the size of container 30, as well as the individual bins 45, may be selected in accordance with the expected volume of trash, frequency of collection, and relative amounts of separated trash. If the weight and size permits, casters may be substituted for stand 62 for ease of handling of outside container 30.
• the outside container 30 is designed in conjunction with a clamping arm assembly 100 having a pair of container clamping arms 80A and 80B as shown in Figure 2.
• a frame 90 supports a set of cylinders 91 and a set of rods 92 are telescopically inserted into cylinders 91.
• Clamping arm mounting plates 89 are attached to the respective ends of rods 92.
• a hydraulic linear actuator 93A is mounted on frame 90 and connected to mounting plate 89 of clamping arm 80A while linear actuator 93B is attached to mounting plate 89 of clamping arm 80B.
• a panel 97 may mount a bar code reader head 96 with the assembly shown in exploded view, normally mounted at the upper end of frame 90 as will be shown in more detail hereinafter.
• the inner surfaces of clamping arms 80A and 80B are covered with a resilient pad 87, each preferably having a plurality of resilient conical projections 82, and arranged in orthogonally related rows and columns disposed parallel to the longitudinal edges of arms 80A and 8OB, as best seen in Figure 3.
• Pad 87 may be formed from urethane, rubber, or the like.
• Outside container 30 may include a bin identification plate 38 attached to one end thereof as shown in Figure 1. The arrangement and contents of each bin may be indicated as at indicia 39 by appropriate legends. Additionally, a set of bar codes 41 may be provided on plate 38 for identifying the bin contents, and may also provide identification of the customer. With reference to Figures 2, 4 and 5, the operation of the clamping arm assembly 100 of Figure 2 in combination with outside container 30 will be described. When a container 30 is to be picked up, the clamping arms 80A and 80B of assembly 100 are spread apart by operation of actuators 93.
• the arms 80 and assembly 100 are then moved forward, by a pickup arm 99, along the sides of container 30 having identification plate 38 attached thereto.
• a limit switch 98 will open causing the forward movement of assembly 100 to cease.
• bar code reader 96 will be opposite bar codes 41.
• An external control system (not shown) will identify the materials in each of bins 45 of container 30. The control system will then operate actuators 93 to close, moving arms 80A and 80B inwardly.
• Limit switches 101 indicate when clamping pad 87 (best seen in Figure 4) is against tubular frame 32. Alignment is not critical since the cones 82 will deform as the tubular members 33 are gripped.
• tubular braces 33 are set at an angle with respect to vertical corner elements 35.
• angular members 33 which will prevent vertical slipping of container 30 when clamped between arms 80A and 8OB.
• lids 40 To be able to dump the contents of each bin 45 of container 30, lids 40 must be released at the proper time.
• an actuator 70 for each respective bin 45 is mounted at an angle to clamping arm 80A that operates release arm 86, pivoted by pin 85.
• a horizontal bar 84 is attached to the distal end of release arm 86.
• FIG. 6 An alternative mode of carrying out the invention is illustrated in Figure 6.
• container 30-1 is constructed as in the mode shown by Figure 1, and like reference numerals correspond to the like elements of Figure 1. In this mode, catches for lids 40 are omitted. The user accesses each bin by using handles 41, and lids 40 are normally held closed by gravity. As will be understood, lids 40 must be held closed during the pickup, lifting and inverting operation. To this end, the structure shown in Figures 7, 8, and 9 is provided. In Figure 7, a set of closure actuator elements 70-1 is provided, each having an closure element 50-1, as best shown in Figure 9.
• Arm assembly 100-1 is then lowered until closure arm 50-1 of each closure element 88 contacts lids 40 of container 30-1. Thereafter, actuators 93 operate to move arms 80A and 80B inwardly until clamping pads 87 close against vertical members 33 of Figure 6, which will be securely clamped between the resilient cones 82.
• the release mechanism to permit dumping of the contents of bins 45 is described with reference to Figure 9.
• lid 40 is held against channel member 34 by closure element 50-1.
• Plate 50 is connected to actuator 70 which is mounted at an angle with respect to arm 80A. When a lid 40 is to be opened for dumping, actuator 70 is operated, moving closure element 50-1 in the direction of the arrow.
• dumping occurs when container 30 is inverted and closure element 50-1 is moved to the position shown in phantom view in Figure 9, permitting lid 40 to open by gravity, as indicated by the dashed-line arrow.
• the container and pickup assembly has been shown in exemplary form; however, the invention is not to be limited to the specific arrangements as many variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. More or fewer bins may be provided, and in varying sizes and orientation.
• the lid closure systems may be changed to have closure devices associated with both pickup arms.
• the invention is to be limited only by the appended claims.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Refuse Receptacles (AREA)
• Refuse-Collection Vehicles (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (3)

Family

ID=22225402

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (1)

Family Cites Families (13)

• 1991
  • 1991-03-22 WO PCT/US1991/001870 patent/WO1992016414A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1991-03-22 DE DE69117057T patent/DE69117057T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1991-03-22 EP EP91906821A patent/EP0528810B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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