GB2258448A - Container handling - Google Patents

Abstract

Container handling apparatus having means for lifting large containers by way of a raisable and lowerable member (9) is adapted to lift smaller containers by providing means (13) for selectively gripping an edge of the container and arranging for a pair of spaced lifting arms (17, 19) to be selectively adjustable by means of rams (41) for transverse spacing to suit both the larger and smaller containers. The invention is particularly intended for adapting a front end lifter to lift small bins - usually lifted by specific rear end loaders. The apparatus is particularly for handling refuse. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Container Handling DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to container handling with particular application to handling containers for waste in relation to vehicle mounted packer units.

Waste management is becoming increasingly more specialised and this has led to standardisation of various container sizes and types whose contents are emptied into the packer vehicle either on the basis of regular scheduled visitor as requested when the containers are ready for emptying. Currently the packer vehicles are specifically adapted for handling a particular size and type of container. In certain situations this can reduce the efficiency of a collection operation because the operator of a vehicle capable of lifting a larger sized container has to by pass the collection of smaller sized containers which would otherwise be on his collection route.

Consequently the efficiency of the operation is reduced by the need to send out a separate specialised vehicle to collect that smaller sized container.

Such a situation occurs in the case of front end loaders designed for lifting loads of upto 4,500 kilograms and having a pair of arms at fixed spacing for engaging in respective side slots of the container for lifting and tipping the containers.

The present invention aims to provide container handling apparatus for a wider range of containers, including smaller containers such as for DIN and Comblift standards of say 1100 and 660 litres capacity, by modifying the container handling apparatus normally employed for handling larger containers, of which the front end loader is a typical example.

Such smaller containers are traditionally handled by rear end loading apparatus which locate on axles projecting from opposite sides of the container and about which the container is subsequently pivoted.

Such small containers have a hinged lid and opening of the lid is controlled by a fixed bar member which engages an abutment on the lid as the container is moved towards its final end position inverted sufficiently to discharge the contents.

The provision of such a bar member on a front loading vehicle for handling larger containers would interfere with the handling of those containers and therefor an alternative arrangement is necessary.

Accordingly the present invention provides container handling apparatus comprising means carried by a raisable and lowerable member for selectively gripping an edge of the container, and a pair of spaced lifting arms carried by the raisable and lowerable member, which arms extend for use in general parallel transversely spaced relation for cooperating engagement with an abutment of the container to resist rotation of the container relative to means gripping said edge, and wherein means is provided for controlled adjustment of the transverse spacing of the arms to suit the size of container to be lifted.

The arms may extend sufficiently to cooperate with a lid of the container or abutment thereof to hold it in an open position during the lifting and tipping movement.

Preferably said arms are carried slidably from a transverse mounting member of the raisable and lowerable member and the means facilitating adjustment comprises at least one hydraulic operated ram acting between one arm and the mounting member, and preferably two rams one for each arm, which ram or rams are conveniently controlled by the driver from the cab.

The means for selectively gripping an edge of the container conveniently comprises a lifting bar, preferably having a notched or comb-like configuration for engagement under a rim of the container and a movable clamp bar which is movable under action of actuating means such as a pneumatic ram for moving the clamp bar into contact with the edge of the container once the comb is in position under the edge of the container. The clamp bar takes the load when the container is in its tipped position and in effect becomes the pivot point for the container. Any tendency for the container to pivot is resisted by the cooperating engagement of the arms with the abutment of the container. In a preferred embodiment this is by a hook-like member which cooperates closely with a recess of the container.The recess is preferably the container hand hold.The hook-like member also takes the load during lifting.

The present invention will now be described further by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic end view showing container handling apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a more detailed end view; Figure 3 is a partial view on XX of Figure 1 with the container and the left hand side detail ommitted.

Referring now to the drawings a mini-skip conforming to DIN and Comblift standards is shown schematically at 1 with its lid 3 in a hinged open position pivoted about axis 5. The container has four wheels two of which are shown schematically at 7. One of a pair of transversely spaced limbs of a front end loader mechanism is shown at 9 and each carries at its lower end a pivoted mounting plate 10 (omitted in Figure 1) between which a transverse tubular member 11 is secured. The tubular member serves as mounting means for gripping means (shown generally at 13) for engaging an edge 15 of the container and a pair of container locating arms 17, 19. These container locating arms are the fork arms as used in existing front loaders for lifting the standard containers but modified in that they are received slidably on member 11, and preferably slightly longer - say by approximately 50mm.

Referring more particularly to Figures 2 and 3 the gripping means comprises a transverse bar 21 secured by way of mounting flanges 23 to the transverse bar 11.

The bar 21 carries a plurality of projections 27 which are adapted to engage under the edge 15 of the container and between transversely spaced webs (not illustrated) of the container. The gripping means further comprises a movable clamp bar 29 carried pivotally about axis 31 on legs 33 disposed towards opposite ends of the bar 29.

An air actuator shown partially at 35 acts to pivot the legs 33 to move the clamp bar 29 towards and away from the edge of the container which is shown dotted outline at 15 in Figure 2. Figure 2 shows the movable clamp bar in its actuated position whereby the edge of the container 15 is gripped between the teeth 27 and the bar 29. The clamp bar provides a useful safety feature to prevent the teeth from becoming disengaged from the edge of the container.

The arms 17, 19 are mounted for sliding movement along member 11 and are acted on by a respective hydraulic ram 41 of double acting type acting between an end abutment 42 on the mounting member 11 and a coupling 43 with the arm member. Thus the ram is actuable to move the arms in the direction of arrows 7 between end positions as shown in dotted and solid outline, and hold the arms in the selected position. Optionally each of the arm members carries a hook-like bracket spaced inwardly of the arm and having its free end extending upwardly. The purpose of such brackets is to engage in a recess of the container formed by bridging part (not illustrated) and acts to locate the arms transversely with respect to the container as well as resisting rotation of the container when in its tipped position by virtue of the close fit in the recessing of the container or other abutment provisions. It will be understood that movement of the gripping means upwardly to engage under the edge 15 will simultaneously cause the arms to engage the container. The arms 17, 19 are preferably arranged to contact an abutment 53 projecting from each side of the lid 3 so as to hold.the lid in an open position as shown in Figure 1.

Once the container is engaged with the gripping means and arms it can be lifted by raising limbs 9 and thereby arms 17, 19. The mounting plate 10 for member 11 is arranged to pivot simultaneously so as to maintain the orientation of the container until it is raised into a position adjacent the loading aperture of the container body ie. above and rearwardly of the vehicle cab whereupon the container is rotated about a transverse axis so that the contents are discharged from the open top into the loading aperture. During this rotational movement the arms 17, 19 serve to hold the lid in its open position and also resists any tendency for the container to become disengaged from the gripping means. Once the container has been emptied the movements are reversed and the container released when it has been returned to the ground.

Claims (10)

1. Container handling apparatus comprising means carried by a raisable and lowerable member for selectively gripping an edge of the container, and a pair of spaced lifting arms carried by the raisable and lowerable member, which arms extend for use in general parallel transversely spaced relation for cooperating engagement with an abutment of the container to resist rotation of the container relative to means gripping said edge, and wherein means is provided for controlled adjustment of the transverse spacing of the arms to suit the size of container to be lifted.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the arms extend sufficiently to cooperate with a lid of the container or abutment thereof to hold it in an open position during the lifting and tipping movement.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which said arms are carried slidably from a transverse mounting member of the raisable and lowerable member.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the means facilitating transverse adjustment comprises at least are hydraulically operated ram acting between one arm and the mounting member.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which two rams are provided, one for each arm.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claims 4 or 5 in which the ram or rams are controlled from a cab of the apparatus.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the previous claims in which the means for selectively gripping an edge of the container comprises a lifting bar, and a moveable clamp bar.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which the lifting bar has a notched or comb-like configuration for engagement under a rim of the container.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or 8 in which the moveable clamp bar is operated by a ram.

10. Apparatus constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.