WO2010092448A1

WO2010092448A1 - Device for alternatively locking and releasing a revolving flap lid of a container for solid waste or the like

Info

Publication number: WO2010092448A1
Application number: PCT/IB2010/000224
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giancarlo Brun
Original assignee: Giancarlo Brun
Priority date: 2009-02-06
Filing date: 2010-02-02
Publication date: 2010-08-19
Also published as: EP2393732A1; ITVI20090022A1

Abstract

The present invention concerns a device (110) for at least one of a container (100) of products or materials (300) like solid waste or the like, said container (100) comprising revolving flap lid (103) rotating in two opposite directions in such a way as to alternatively close and open the container (100). Said device (110) alternatively locking and releasing the revolving flap lid (103) comprises means (121) applied to the revolving flap lid (103) so as to be moved by the rotation of said flap lid, as well as locking means (130, 140) suited to be alternatively activated and deactivated in such a way as to alternatively allow and prevent the movement of the mobile means (121), thus alternatively allowing and preventing the opening of the revolving flap lid (103); furthermore, the locking means are suited to be alternatively activated and deactivated automatically by means of a device (201) suited to move the container (100).

Description

DEVICE FOR ALTERNATIVELY LOCKING AND RELEASING A REVOLVING FLAP LID OF A CONTAINER FOR SOLID WASTE OR THE LIKE

The present invention concerns the field of collection and/or handling of materials. In particular, the present invention concerns the field of collection and/or disposal of materials like for example urban solid waste or the like. In further detail, the present invention is intended to be applied to a waste bin for the collection and disposal of urban solid waste. In the present invention will be used indifferently the terms door or flap lids.

In even further detail, the present invention concerns a waste bin for the collection and/or disposal of urban solid waste, said bin comprising at least one revolving flap lid or door suited to be opened by the users so as to allow them to introduce said solid waste in said bin. In particular, the present invention concerns an automatic device for locking and releasing the flap lids or doors through which waste bins are loaded. According to the present invention, said device is suited to automatically lock the flap lids or doors of a waste bin in such a way as to keep them closed while said bin is being loaded, and to automatically release said flap lids or doors while said bin is being dumped or emptied. The present invention also concerns a waste bin with at least one revolving loading and dumping flap lid or door, said waste bin being equipped with a device as mentioned above.

Bins or containers for the collection of urban solid waste are known in the art. In particular, waste bins are known that are suited to be loaded or filled from above through one or more revolving flap lids or doors that close them. According to the intended use of said waste bins the users, in order to introduce waste inside said bins (usually located in specific areas of roads, streets or squares), open one or both the flap lids or doors of said bins, in particular rotate said flap lids or doors upwards, in such a way as to gain access to the inside of the bin. Once the waste disposal operations have been carried out, the flap lids or doors are rotated in the opposite direction and then closed. Said waste bins are dumped or emptied by means of suitable devices that are substantially capable of lifting and dumping them in such a way as to transfer their contents into the body of a truck or similar means of transport. During these operations, the flap lids or doors rotate due to gravity, with no need for the operators in charge to previously release them. If on one side the waste bins of the type described above facilitate the filling and emptying operations, on the other side the same bins cannot properly satisfy the needs that have emerged in the field of waste disposal over the years. Actually, the fact that the flap lids or doors of said waste bins can be opened by any user and at any time on one hand facilitates the filling operations, as explained above, but on the other hand doesn't allow said filling operations to be properly monitored. For example, it isn't possible to check the type of waste introduced in the bin, which furthermore is necessary in order to ensure compliance with the new regulations in matters of separate waste collection. Free access to the waste bin by users or, in other words, the possibility for the users to open the flap lids or doors of the bin as desired, doesn't even allow the quantity of waste introduced in the bin by a specific user to be checked or the identity of said user to be verified. Failure to check the quantity of waste introduced in the waste bin by a specific user makes it impossible to calculate with precision the taxes to be paid by said specific user. In the attempt to eliminate the above drawbacks at least partially, solutions have been developed according to which the waste bins are equipped with control devices like scales, optical readers, magnetic readers, strip readers or the like, and the introduction of waste inside said bins is possible only through said control devices. For this purpose, whenever a user to whom, for example, waste bags or sacks identified by an individual bar code have been previously delivered, introduces one of his/her bags in a waste bin, the control device installed on the bin will properly record the operation carried out by that user. The bins have thus been provided with systems for closing the flap lids or doors, suited to prevent the users from opening them. Among the closing systems adopted there are, for example, locks or similar systems; in particular, in the case of locks or similar systems only the operators in charge with waste disposal will be in possession of the corresponding key, a key that will be used for releasing the bin's flap lids before carrying out the dumping operations. It should be noted, in any case, that the systems of the type described above pose several problems; for example, in the case of locks the dumping operations last longer. Furthermore, in case of loss of the key, the operations must be postponed or otherwise it is necessary to force the flap lids or doors of the bins. A further problem typical of the known devices for locking and releasing the flap lids of a waste bin lies in that said devices are installed in pre-established points on said bins, so that the bins must be properly oriented in order to allow or facilitate access to said locking or releasing devices by the operators in charge with waste disposal. Even automatic devices for locking and releasing the flap lids or doors of waste bins have therefore been proposed. The intention was to allow the automatic release of the flap lids or doors during the dumping of the bin by the refuse truck and to guarantee the locking of the flap lids or doors exactly when the truck puts the bin back in the area reserved for it. In most cases, however, said automatic devices haven't shown to be reliable, and in fact the flap lids weren't properly locked, so that they could be opened and unauthorized users could gain access to the inside of the waste bins. In other cases, furthermore, the flap lids or doors remained locked even during the dumping of the bins, thus negatively affecting the emptying operations or in any case making them difficult to carry out. In other cases the activation or deactivation of said devices by the refuse truck was complicated because the truck could be coupled with the bin only following a predetermined procedure. The main object of the present invention is thus to solve or at least partially overcome the problems that characterize the solutions known in the state of the art.

In particular, it is one object of the present invention to propose a solution suited to provide a device for locking and releasing the flap lids or doors of a container that is reliable, simple and quick to apply to different types of container, as well as simple and quick to construct. In further detail, one object of the present invention is to propose a solution regarding a device for locking and releasing the flap lids of a container, for example a container or waste bin, which allows said flap lids or doors of said waste bin to be locked as soon as said bin has been emptied, in particular as soon as said bin has been uncoupled from the refuse truck. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device for containers like waste bins or the like that ensures the automatic release of the flap lids or doors of said bin as soon as it has been coupled with the refuse truck or in any case before the dumping of the bin in the refuse truck. The present invention is based on the general consideration that a device for automatically locking and releasing the flap lids or doors of a container can be effectively activated and deactivated via a means for coupling said container, for example the means usually provided on urban waste trucks. A further consideration on which the present invention is based concerns the fact that a device for locking and releasing the flap lids or doors of a container or waste bin can be effectively deactivated (so as to release the doors) by lifting and/or inclining or even overturning said container by means of a suitable device or equipment, like for example a device of the type provided on refuse trucks. In the same way, according to the present invention, a device for locking and releasing the flap lids or doors of a container or waste bin can be effectively activated (in such a way as to lock the flap lids or doors) by simply putting the container or bin back in the area reserved for it and in the position in which said bin is ready to be filled with waste. The device for locking and releasing the flap lids or doors of a waste bin carried out according to the present invention can be effectively deactivated by providing locking means suited to be moved thanks to their own weight and therefore as soon as said bin is lifted in order to be emptied. The same locking devices will move, putting the bin back on the round and thus making it ready to be filled again, in the direction opposite the direction in which they moved during the lifting of the bin; in this way, said locking devices will assume a position from which they will prevent the opening of the flap lids or doors of the waste bin. It is also possible to provide an effective device for locking and releasing the flap lids or doors of a waste bin that is suited to be activated (in such a way as to lock said flap lids or doors) by exploiting the thrust produced by the equipment, positioned on the refuse truck, through which the waste bin is lifted and dumped into the truck; said thrust is produced at the moment when the bin is connected to said device or in any case during the dumping of said device. When the waste bin is released by said device, said thrusting action will stop and therefore the device will be reactivated and the flap lids or doors will be locked again. The present invention is thus based on the further consideration that the device for locking and releasing the flap lids of a container or waste bin can be activated and deactivated (thus locking and then releasing the flap lids, respectively) by exploiting the action of the means through which said container or waste bin is coupled with the refuse truck in order to be emptied. The use of keys, bolts or similar mechanisms is thus avoided.

According to a first embodiment, the present invention concerns a device for openable containers of products or materials like solid waste or the like, said container comprising at least one revolving flap lid suited to be rotated in two opposite directions in such a way as to alternatively close and open said container, said device being suited to alternatively lock and release said at least one revolving flap lid, said device comprising means suited to be applied to said at least one revolving flap lid in such a way as to be moved by the rotation of said revolving flap lid, and also comprising locking means suited to alternatively allow and prevent the movement of said mobile means, thus alternatively allowing and preventing the opening of said at least one revolving flap lid, said locking means being suited to be automatically activated and deactivated, alternatively, by means of a device suited to move said container. When said container is coupled with the refuse truck by means of said device suited to move it, or at the latest during the lifting or dumping of said container, said locking means will be moved in a predetermined direction (thanks to the action of said coupling device) in such a way as to be uncoupled from said mobile means. The same mobile means will thus be free to move (translate or rotate), releasing the flap lids or doors of the container that thus can be emptied. When the waste container is put back on the ground in the specific area reserved for it or at the latest when said container is released, the locking means will be free to move in a direction contrary to the uncoupling direction along which they had moved while the waste bin was being emptied; the same locking means will then engage again with said mobile means, thus preventing any further movement of the same, so that the flap lids or doors of the waste bin will be locked in their closed position.

The above clearly shows that the device carried out according to the invention avoids the use of unpractical mechanisms like locks, keys, padlocks, bolts, ecc. Furthermore, the device carried out according to the invention will allow the coupling of the waste bin on more sides without affecting the operation of the lid or door locking device.

Further embodiments of the present invention are described in detail in the dependent claims.

According to a further embodiment, the subject of the present invention is an automatic device for locking and releasing the flap lids or doors of a container or waste bin, said device comprising a lever system suited to be applied to the flap lids or doors of said container (to at least one of them), and wherein said lever system comprises levers suited to rotate integrally with said flap lids or doors, as well as further levers rotatingly connected to said first levers and suited to be translated along a predetermined direction following the rotation of said flap lids and doors and therefore of said first levers. The device comprises also a bolt that is kept engaged with said translating levers through a spring or similar elastic means, so that, with said bolt in said engaged position, the translation of said translating levers isn't possible and therefore the rotation of said flap lids or doors isn't possible, either. The bolt is also suited to be moved from this engaged position, in particular to be translated against the pressure of the spring and along a direction substantially perpendicular to said translation direction of said translating levers, by exploiting the action of the device through which the container or waste bin is coupled with the refuse truck in order to be emptied. As soon as the container or waste bin has been released again, the bolt, thanks to the action of the spring, returns to its engaged position, thus preventing the translation of the translating levers and the opening of the flap lids or doors. According to a further embodiment, the object of the present invention is a device for locking and releasing the flap lids or doors of a waste bin, said device comprising at least one lever suited to be fixed to at least one flap lid or door of said waste bin so that at least one end of said lever rotates integrally with said flap lid or door. The invention also includes translating locking means suited to be alternatively engaged with and disengaged from said end of said rotating lever. In particular, the engagement and disengagement of said translating means will be obtained by exploting their own weight. They are disengaged from said lever by lifting the container or waste bin from the ground and are engaged with said lever again as soon as the waste bin is put back on the ground. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the device makes use of flexible elements like ropes, cables or similar elements suited to be connected at one end with the flap lid/s of said container or waste bin. The opposite end of said flexible connection elements will be connected to a rotating body, wherein the rotation of said rotating body in a first direction causes the tightening of said flexible connection elements (and therefore the locking of the flap lids or doors), while the rotation of said rotating means in the opposite direction will allow the slackening of said flexible connection elements and thus the opening of said flap lids or doors. In particular, said rotating means or element will be applied under the waste bin and said device will comprise a lever integrally fixed to said rotating element. When the waste bin is put back on the ground, the free end of said lever will come into contact with the ground and cause the rotating element to rotate and the flexible connection elements to be tightenend. On the contrary, when the waste bin is lifted from the ground, the lever will be free to turn or rotate in the opposite direction, in such a way as to slacken the flexible connection elements and thus allow the doors to be opened. Further advantages, objects and characteristics, as well as further embodiments of the present invention are defined in the claims and will be illustrated in the following description, with reference to the enclosed drawings; in the drawings, corresponding or equivalent characteristics and/or components are identified by the same reference numbers. In particular:

- Figures 1 and Ia show a perspective view of a container or waste bin suited to be provided with a device for locking and releasing the flap lids carried out according to the present invention;

- Figures from 2a to 2d are schematic views (side or sectional views) of a device for locking and releasing the flap lids of a container or waste bin according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

- Figures 3a and 3b schematically show the operations for coupling, lifting and emptying a container or waste bin equipped with an automatic device for releasing and locking the flap lids according to the present invention;

- Figures from 4a to 4c are schematic views (perspective or sectional or side views) of a further embodiment of the automatic device for locking and releasing the flap lids or doors of a container or waste bin carried out according to the present invention;

- Figures 5a and 5b show side views of a further embodiment of the device for locking and releasing the flap lids or doors of a container or waste bin carried out according to the present invention;

- Figures from 6a to 6d show schematic views (perspective and sectional views) of an automatic device for locking and releasing the flap lids or doors of a container or waste bin according to a further embodiment of the present invention;

- Figures 7a, 7b and 7c show schematic views of a further embodiment of the device of the invention for automatically locking and releasing the flap lids or doors of a container or waste bin;

- Figures 8a, 8b and 8c show a further device for the partial locking of the flap lids of a waste bin suited to complete the locking and releasing device that is the subject of the present invention;

- Figure 9 shows a detailed view of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures from 7a to 7c, said embodiment being completed or integrated with the device shown in Figures from 8a to 8c;

- Figure 10 shows the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures from 2a to 2d, said embodiment being completed or integrated with the device shown in Figures from 8a to 8c; - Figure 11 shows the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures from 4a to 4c, said embodiment being completed or integrated with the partial locking device shown in Figures from 8a to 8c;

- Figure 12 shows a detail of an axonometric view of a solution preferably applicable to the embodiments shown in Figures from 4a to 4c and from 5a to 5b;

- Figures 13 and 13a show schematic views of a further embodiment of the device of the invention for automatically locking and releasing the flap lids or doors of a container or waste bin;

- Figures from 14a to 14d, 15 and 16 show a further device for the partial locking of the flap lids of a waste bin suited to complete the locking and releasing device that is the subject of the present invention.

Although the present invention is described below with reference to its embodiments illustrated in the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below and illustrated in the drawings. On the contrary, the embodiments described and illustrated in the drawings clarify some aspects of the present invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims. The present invention can be usefully employed in particular but not exclusively in the field of collection, handling and disposal of waste. In particular, the device carried out according to the present invention can be advantageously applied to containers or waste bins of the type commonly used for the collection of urban solid waste. For this reason, the present invention is described here below with particular reference to its application to containers or bins for the collection of said solid waste. It should be noted, however, that the applications of the present invention are not limited to the case of bins for the collection of urban solid waste. On the contrary, the present invention can also be usefully applied to all those containers whose flap lids or doors must be locked during the filling operations or automatically released in order to carry out the emptying operations. A container or waste bin suited to be equipped with a device carried out according to the present invention is described here below with reference to Figure 1.

The container or waste bin 100 shown in Figure 1 comprises a body 101 delimited by four side walls and by one bottom wall as well as by a cover 107. Said cover 107 comprises a frame 102 in the shape of an L, two flap lids 103 being hinged or in any case revolvingly fixed to the opposite sides of the horizontal part of said frame 102. The flap lids 103 are thus suited to be rotated in the directions identified by the arrows A in Figure 1. The purpose of the present invention is to prevent the unauthorized opening of the flap lids 103, in particular to prevent the unauthorized opening of the flap lids 103 during the filling of the container or waste bin 100. The user who wants to introduce any material, like for example waste, in the container or waste bin 100 will be forced to introduce them through a device 106 while the flap lids or doors 103 remain properly locked. By way of example, the device 106 may comprise a device suited to weigh the materials or waste introduced therein or even a bar code reader, in order to identify the user and thus monitor the filling of the waste bin or container 100. The rotation of the flap lids or doors 103 along the directions identified by the arrows A will therefore be possible only and exclusively during the emptying of the waste bin. In order to be emptied, the waste bin must be coupled with the refuse truck by means of a suitable device provided, for example, on the refuse truck and comprising two arms suited to be engaged with lifting pins 105 (only one of which is shown in the figure) provided on opposite sides of the waste bin. As shown in Figure Ia, the frame 102 of the cover 107 comprises a central part 108 (which thus will substantially be in horizontal position when the cover 107 is installed on the waste bin as shown in Figure 1) as well as two side parts 109 extending from the opposite ends of the central part 108 and in a direction substantially orthogonal to it. The two side parts 109 are accomodated in two guides 104 applied to the opposite sides of the waste bin (only one of them is shown in Figures 1 and Ia) and each of them comprises a through hole 109a in which a first end of the pin 105 will be engaged, that is, the end that extends inside the guides 104 and is opposite the end with which the means for coupling and lifting the waste bin 100 will be engaged. During the dumping and/or emptying operation the cover 107 of the container or waste bin 101 can thus rotate in the rotation directions identified by the arrow B shown in Figure 1. The guides 104 comprise a first wall 104a suited to be fixed to the transversal side wall 10 It of the waste bin as well as an outside wall 104b; the two walls 104a and 104b thus define an internal space suited to house the support 109 of the frame of the cover 107 of the waste bin. The body 101 of the container 100 is finally delimited by two opposite side walls 1011 and by two opposite transversal walls 10 It. The waste bin shown in Figures 1 and Ia is equipped with a device 110 carried out according to the present invention; a first embodiment of said device is described here below with reference to figures from 2a to 2d, in which parts Said pin 130 will thus be housed in a corresponding hole made in said outside wall 104b and the end of said pin 130 housed in the guide 104 will be suited to be alternatively engaged with and disengaged from the end 122b (with its upper surface 122bs) of at least one of the two levers 122.

In Figure 2c the pin 130 is shown in the position in which it is engaged with the surface 122bs and is maintained in said position through the action of a spring 132 counteracting a surface 131b of a portion 131 of said pin 130, said portion 131 having a diameter that is longer than the diameter of the end of the pin 130 suited to alternatively lock and release the levers 122.

The spring that houses a portion of the pin 130 is compressed between the portion 131 and a fixing element 134 provided with a hole within which a further portion of the pin 130 extends. The portion 131 can be made in a single piece with the pin 130 or can be fixed to the pin 130 via transverse screws 13 Iv; in this case, the portion with increased diameter 131 will comprise a through hole housing a further portion of the pin 130. The pin 130 is partially accomodated, together with the portion 131, the spring 132 and the fixing means 134, inside a cylindrical hollow housing 135 that extends from the outside wall 104b of the guide 104.

The cylindrical housing 135 can for example be obtained inside the coupling pin 105 shown in Figure 1, thus allowing the device carried out according to the embodiment shown in Figures from 2a to 2d to be applied to a waste bin of known type.

The housing 135 is closed, on the end opposite the wall 104b of the guide 104, by a wall 135f that will thus be provided with a through hole suited to receive a portion of the pin 130. The same pin 130 comprises a threaded end 130f that engages with a bolt 133. The fixing element 134 is fixed to the cylindrical wall of the housing 135, for example by means of transverse screws 134v.

Between the bolt and the element 134 there is a moving control element 126; in particular, said moving control element 126 is maintained in the position shown in Figure 2c thanks to the action of the spring that, by exerting a certain pressure on the surface 131b, compresses said moving control element 126 between said bolt 133 and said fixing element 134.

In short, the fixing element 134 is integrally fixed to the external cylindrical wall of the housing 135 and comprises a through hole suited to allow the pin 130 to slide therein. Also the outside wall 104b of the guide 104 comprises a through hole suited to allow the pin 130 to slide therein, so that said pin 130 will be maintained in the position shown in Figure 2c thanks to the action of the spring (position in which the end of the pin opposite the threaded end 130f is engaged with at least one of the ends 122b of the levers 122); by counteracting the action of the spring, it will in any case be possible to withdraw the pin 130 from the position shown in Figure 2c, so as to disengage its end from the ends 122b of the levers 122, in particular from the contact surface 122bs of one of said levers 122. The way in which the pin 130 will be withdrawn and therefore disengaged from the levers 122 is shown in Figure 2d, in which the reference number 201b identifies a portion of a coupling device thorugh which the container or waste bin can be coupled with the refuse truck and if necessary lifted or even dumped in order to empty it.

Figure 2d clearly shows that the thrust exerted by the element 201b during the coupling of the waste bin causes the rotation of the moving control element 126 that acts on the bolt 133 and moves the pin 130 backwards in such a way as to disengage the end of the levers 122. The element 126, for example a hollow truncated cone-shaped "bell" element, will exert a counteracting action between the cylindrical housing 135 and the bolt 133. However, as soon as the thrust of the element 201 ends (for example when the waste bin is released), the hollow truncated cone-shaped "bell" element 126 returns to its original position thanks to the pressure exerted on it by the bolt 133 that compresses again the "bell" element 126 against the cylindrical housing 135, or in any case against the fixing elements 134. In the same way, and always thanks to the action of the spring 132, the end of the pin 130 engages again with the levers 122, thus preventing their translation and consequently the opening of the flap lids or doors 103 of the waste bin. The waste bin dumping steps, and therefore the operation of the device for locking and releasing the flap lids or doors of said waste bin carried out according to the present invention, are described here below with reference to Figures 3a and 3b.

Figures 3a and 3b show a truck 200 of the type used for the collection of urban solid waste and equipped with a device 201 by means of which the waste bin 100 can be coupled, lifted and dumped or in any case inclined so as to be emptied in the body of the truck 200. For this purpose, the device 201 comprises two arms (only one of which is shown in Figures 3 a and 3b), each one of said arms comprising a coupling portion 201c suited to be engaged with one of the coupling pins 105 provided on the opposite sides of the waste bin (in this regard, see also Figure 1 and the relative description). At least one of the arms 201 also comprises one end 201b suited, as will be explained below, to act on the hollow "bell" element 126 of the device for locking and releasing the flap lids 103 of the waste bin 100 that is the subject of the present invention. Figure 3b, in fact, clearly shows that while the waste bin is being dumped the hollow "bell" element 126 strikes against the end 201b of the arm 201; the result will be the rotation of the cover 107 of the waste bin but also and above all the movement of the pin 130 described above, with consequent release of the levers 122 and therefore of the flap lids or doors 103. As soon as the waste bin is put back to the ground and released, the action of the end 201b of the arm 201 will cease, thus allowing the cover to be closed again, with the supports 109 of the frame of said cover in a substantially vertical position.

In the meantime, the doors return to their closed position due to gravity.Furthermore, also the hollow "bell" element 126, which at this point isn't any longer thrusted laterally by the end 201b of the arm 201, can return to its normal position, thus making it possible to release the pin 130 whose end, thanks to the thrust of the spring 132, will be engaged again with the levers 122, thus locking again the flap lids or doors 103 in their closed position. A further embodiment of the device carried out according to the present invention is described here below with reference to Figures from 4a to 4c, in which components and/or characteristics that have already been described with reference to the previous figures are identified by the same reference numbers. The device shown in Figures from 4a to 4c comprises two main parts, in particular one part suited to be rotated during the opening of one or both of the flap lids or doors 103 of a waste bin, and one translating part. In particular, the rotating part comprises two levers 121, each one suited to be applied to a flap lid or door of a container or waste bin 100.In particular, each one of the levers 121 is fixed to the external transversal edge of a flap lid or door like the levers 121 shown for example in Figure 2a. As will be explained in greater detail below, the rotation of a flap lid 103 in the direction identified by the arrow A in Figure 4a corresponds to a rotation of the end 12 Ir of the corresponding lever 121 in the direction identified by the arrow A'. The translating part of the device comprises a structure or frame 140 with a roller or rotating element 14Or applied to the lower end of the structure 14O.The rotating element 14Or serves to prevent the structure 140 from hindering the handling of the waste bin when it is placed on the ground. At the end of the structure 140 opposite the roller 14Or there is an arc- shaped structure 140t comprising two arc-shaped contact surfaces 141s. During the operation of the device each one of the arc-shaped surfaces 141s comes into contact with a roller 12 Ir of the corresponding lever 121. The arc-shaped portion 140t also defines a seat or housing 141. During the locking of the flap lids or doors, the rollers or ends 12 Ir of the levers 121 are housed in the seat 141. Figure 4b clearly shows that the structure 140 is housed in the guide 104 applied to the side transversal wall 10 It of the waste bin 100; in particular, the structure 140 is housed in the guide 104 so that it can be translated along the direction identified by the arrow X in Figure 4b.

It can also be observed in Figure 4b that the levers 121 are integrally applied to the corresponding flap lids or doors 103 by means of intermediate levers 121a interposed between them. However, differently from the embodiment described above with reference to Figures from 2a to 2d, the levers 121 and the corresponding levers 121a aren't hinged to each other but rigidly fixed to each other, so that the angle defined by them doesn't vary during the opening of one door or flap lid 103. It is important to underline again that, during the opening of one door or flap lid 103, and therefore during the rotation of the same in the direction identified by the arrow A, the lever 121 will be rotated so that its end, in particular the roller 12 Ir applied to its end opposite the end fixed to the lever 121a, will rotate in the direction identified by the arrow A'.

With the waste bin placed on the ground as shown in Figure 4b, and therefore with the roller 14Or in contact with the ground, the structure 140 is thrusted upwards, in particular so that the ends or rollers 12 Ir are both received in the seat or housing 141.

In this way it will be possible to prevent the rotation of the levers 121 along the arrows A' and therefore the rotation of the flap lids 103 around the respective rotation axes 120 and in the directions shown by the arrows A. It will thus be impossible to open the flap lids or doors 103.

It should also be noted that with the device positioned as shown in Figure 4b it will also be impossible to rotate the cover 107; in particular, it will be impossible to rotate the frame 102 that supports the cover 107 (see the detail of the support 109) around the lifting pins 105. In particular, this is due to the fact that, as the flap lids or doors 103 are locked, if any attempt to rotate the cover 107 is made, the external edge of one of the flap lids will hit against the upper edge of the corresponding longitudinal wall of the waste bin. Figure 4c, however, shows that the device illustrated therein is suited to be automatically deactivated; in fact, if the container or waste bin 100 is lifted as shown in Figure 4c, the structure 140 is free to slide downwards owing to its own weight. Consequently, the ends or rollers 12 Ir of the levers 121 are disengaged from or come off the housing or seat 141 and thus are free to rotate in the directions identified by the arrows A'. Also the flap lids 103 can thus be rotated in the directions identified by the arrows A.

The waste bin can be emptied by proceeding as previously described with reference to Figures 3a and 3b. If, therefore, a further description of the waste bin emptying operations can be omitted, it is important to underline that the waste bin is lifted by coupling the pins 105 and lifting the waste bin by means of the lifting arms 201. While the waste bin is being dumped, the ends 201b of the lifting arms 201 come into contact with the pins 149 (each one provided on a support 109 of the frame 102 that supports the cover 107 and equivalent to the cylindrical housings 135 of the Figures 2c and 2d), exerting a lateral thrust on them. However, as at this point the flap lids 103 are free to be rotated, they will open due to gravity and will not exert any resistance against the rotation of the cover of the waste bin that therefore will be rotated as shown in Figure 3b thanks to the thrust exerted by the ends 201b of the lifting arms 201 against the pins 149. It is also important to underline that the waste bin can be coupled with the refuse truck on two opposite sides, in particular from both right and left, as shown in Figures 4b and 4c.

The embodiment of the device of the invention shown in Figures 5 a and 5b (in which parts or components already described with reference to other figures are identified by the same reference numbers) differs from the embodiment shown in Figures from 4a to 4c substantially due to the fact that the moving part 140 comprises a different seat or housing. In fact, it should be noted in Figure 5a that at the end of the structure 140 opposite the end to which the roller 14Or is applied there are two elements 14 Iv arranged in such a way as to define a substantially V-shaped seat or housing.

A further difference between the embodiment shown in Figures 5a and 5b and that shown in Figures from 4a to 4c lies in the shape of the rotating levers 121 that in the embodiment shown in Figures 5a and 5b are substantially linear and fixed to one end of the flap lids or doors 103 by means of intermediate levers 121a interposed between them.

Also in the case of the embodiment shown in Figures 5a and 5b the angles defined by each one of the intermediate levers 121a and by the corresponding lever 121 are fixed and not variable. Also in this case, furthermore, the moving structure 140 is suited to be translated by gravity along the direction X, and in particular to be translated upwards when the waste bin is placed on the ground (Figure 5a) and downwards when the waste bin is lifted.

In the position shown in Figure 5a (waste bin on the ground), the elements 141v hinder the rotation of the levers 121 in the directions shown by the levers A' and thus stop the rotation of the flap lids 103 around the corresponding rotation axes 120 and in the directions identified by the arrows A.

In this way, furthermore, it will be impossible to rotate the cover of the waste bin, exactly like in the case of the embodiment shown in Figures from 4a to 4c and for the same reasons. On the contrary, when the waste bin is lifted from the ground as shown in Figure 5b, the structure 140 slides downwards due to gravity, within the corresponding guide 104.Figure 5b shows the end 201c of the lifting arm 201 engaged with the corresponding lifting pin 105.

The levers 121 will thus come out of the seat or housing 141 defined by the elements 14 Iv and will be free to rotate in the directions identified by the arrows A'.

It will thus be possible to open the flap lids or doors 103 by rotating them around the rotation axes 120 and in the directions defined by the arrows A. The successive operations for emptying the waste bin will thus correspond to those previously described and therefore a further detailed description thereof can be omitted.

It must be underlined, however, that even in the case of the device shown in Figures 5a and 5b, during the dumping of the waste bin, and therefore with the doors free to be opened, even the cover of the waste bin can be rotated thanks to the thrusting action exerted by the ends 201b of the lifting arms 201 against the pins 149.

Also in this case the waste bin can be coupled with the refuse truck from two sides, in particular from both left and right, as shown in Figures 5a and 5b. A further variant of the embodiment shown in Figures from 4a to 4c and 5a, 5b is schematically shown in Figures from 6a to 6d in which, once again, parts, components or characteristics already described with reference to other figures are identified by the same reference numbers.

The variant shown in Figures from 6a to 6d still comprises a moving structure 140 (which can be translated along the direction X and thus in a substantially vertical direction when applied to the waste bin) with an arc-shaped end comprising two arc-shaped and symmetric surfaces 141s that define a seat or housing 141.

It is clear, therefore, that the variant shown in Figures 6a and 6b is certainly suited to be used in cooperation with the levers 121 applicable to the flap lids or doors of a waste bin of the type shown for example in Figures 4a and 4b. It should also be noted that in the variant represented and described herein the arc-shaped surfaces 141s can be replaced by elements 141 v of the type illustrated in Figures 5a and 5b, and therefore defining a V-shaped seat or housing; in this case, the variant can be used in combination with levers 121 of the type shown in Figures 5a and 5b. The main difference between the variant of Figures from 6a to 6d and the embodiments previously described lies in that the moving structure 140 isn't suited to be accomodated in one of the lateral guides 104 provided on the opposite transversal sides of a waste bin but rather in a supporting structure suited to be fixed to one of the transversal side walls 10 It of the waste bin. Said supporting structure substantially comprises two parallel tubular elements 145t, each one suited to receive a tubular element 14Ot of the moving structure 14O.The tubes or tubular elements 14Ot can thus be translated inside the tubular elements 145t. The variant also comprises a first class lever 145 with power 145p, resistance 145pl and fulcrum 145f located between power and resistance.In particular, the power is obtained by means of a weight 145p applied to the lever 145 while at the end of the lever 145 opposite the weight 145p there is a pin 145pl that extends crosswise with respect to the lever 145. Said pin 145pl thrusts against an upper bar or connection element 14Ou that connects the tubular elements 145t and is thus integrally fixed to them and against a lower bar or connection element 14Ou' .With the lever 145 positioned as shown in Figure 6a, that is, with the weight 145p in the lowest point along the trajectory of the lever, thanks to the action exerted by the pin 145pl against the connection 140u, the moving structure 140 will reach its maximum upward extension. The situation is thus equivalent to that of a waste bin equipped with the embodiments shown in Figures from 4a to 4c and 5 a, 5b positioned on the ground (ends of the levers 121 fitted in the housing 141).

Thus, rotating the lever 145 as shown in Figure 6b (note that the lever 145 can be rotated both clockwise and anticlockwise) and until the same is arranged in a substantially horizontal position, means making the pin 145pl reach its lowest position opposing the connection 140u' and thus thrusting the moving structure 140 downwards.

In the position shown in Figure 6b, the levers 121 (figures from 4a to 4c or 5a, 5b) are disengaged from the seat or housing 141 and therefore are free to rotate together with the corresponding flap lids 103 which can thus be opened.

The special feature of the variant illustrated in Figures 6a and 6b is schematically shown in Figures 6c and 6d and lies in that the lever 145 is suited to be rotated by gravity, in particular owing to the weight 145p applied to one of its ends. In fact, imagine to rotate or incline, for example by a 90° angle, the waste bin to which the variant illustrated herein will be applied: it is clear that during the rotation of the waste bin the lever 145, due to the effect of the weight 145p, will tend to remain in vertical position and with the waste bin rotated by 90° will assume the position schematically shown in Figures 6b and 6c in relation to the moving structure 140 and the fixed structure, in such a way as to form a 90° angle with the tubular elements 14Ot and 145t of said structures.

The moving structure 140 will thus be moved backward (thrusted by the pin

145pl against the connection 14Ou') from its position of engagement with the levers 121, releasing the same from the housing 141 and thus allowing the flap lids 103 to be rotated, It should be underlined that in the case of the variant shown in Figures from 6a to

6d, it will be convenient, even if not absolutely necessary, to position the lever

145 inside the waste bin while the supporting tubes 145t and the moving structure 140 can be positioned outside the waste bin.

In this case, however, it is advisable to provide a protective structure for the lever 145, in particular a structure that prevents the rotation of the lever 145 from being hindered by the materials present inside the waste bin, in particular by the waste contained therein.

It should also be noted that in this solution the pin 145pl serves both to lift and to lower the structure 140. For a detailed description of the waste bin emptying operations, it is advisable to refer to the previous description provided regarding the other embodiments of the invention.

It is however worth noting, for the sake of clarity, that Figure 6a shows a schematic view of the embodiment from the inside of the waste bin; imagine, therefore, a side wall of the waste bin interposed between the lever 145 and the rest of the structure, in particular the tubes 145t and the moving structure 140.

Figure 6b, instead, shows a view of the embodiment from the outside of the waste bin.

A further embodiment of the device carried out according to the present invention is described here below with reference to Figures from 7a to 7c, in which parts, components or characteristics that have already been described with reference to other figures are identified by the same reference numbers.

In the embodiment shown in Figures from 7a to 7c there are flexible elements

150c like ropes, cables, chains or the like applied to the flap lids 103 c with one of their ends 150a. In the example shown in the figures there are two flexible elements 150c; however, it should be noted that the number of flexible elements can vary according to the needs or circumstances.

For example, it is possible to use a single Y-shaped flexible element that thus can be applied to the two flap lids 103.

Each flexible element 150c is fixed, at the end 150fa opposite the end 150a fixed to the corresponding flap lid 103, to a revolving element 15Of like for example a drum, cylinder or the like applied to the bottom of the waste bin.

The ends 150fa are housed in corresponding grooves obtained in the rotary element 15Of and integrally fixed to it.

The invention also includes sliding elements 15Og suited to guide the flexible elements 150c along a predetermined path, in particular inside the guide 104.

A lever 150 with a free end extends from the rotary element or drum 150f.

The figures, in particular Figure 7b, show that the opening of one of the two flap lids or doors 103 or even of both of them would cause the rotation of the rotary element 150f in the direction indicated by the arrow Y, in particular anticlockwise in the example shown herein.

If the device were applied to the opposite side of the waste bin, in case of opening of the flap lids the rotary element 15Of would rotate clockwise. On the other hand, imagine the waste bin resting on the ground, and thus in the loading position that allows it to be filled: the rotation of the rotary element 15Of caused by the ropes 150c due to the rotation of the flap lids 103 would be hindered by the ground itself, against which the free end of the lever 150 would bit. It is thus clear that with the waste bin resting on the ground the device shown in

Figures 7a, 7b and 7c will make it impossible to open one or both of the flap lids or doors 103.

In fact, the latter cannot be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow A because, as explained above, the lever 150 cannot be rotated in the direction Y. On the contrary, lifting the waste bin from the ground as shown in Figure 7c means removing every obstacle that hinders the rotation of the lever 150.

Also the rotary element 15Of can thus rotate on the support 150cc, thus allowing the ropes 150c to slide inside the guide 104 and along the further guides 150g.

The flap lids or doors 103 can thus be rotated in the directions identified by the arrows A. In other words, the doors can be opened, thus allowing the waste bin to be dumped or emptied.

Even in the case of the embodiment shown in Figures from 7a to 7c, it is advisable to refer to the description given above for further details regarding the emptying operations.

An embodiment of a device for partially releasing the flap lids of a waste bin is described here below with reference to Figures from 8a to 8c, said device being suited to complete or integrate all the embodiments of the present invention previously described; it can be assumed, therefore, that further embodiments of the present invention comprise the devices previously described, completed with the device shown in Figures from 8a to 8c.

In Figures from 8a to 8c the characteristics or details of the present invention previously described with reference to other figures are identified by the same reference numbers. As previously explained, the device shown in Figures from 8a to 8c is suited to allow the at least partial release of at least one flap lid of a waste bin; in particular, the device shown in Figures from 8a to 8c is suited to allow said partial release with no need for the waste bin to be moved and coupled with the refuse truck, and therefore with no need to operate the devices for completely releasing the flap lids described above.

During the tests made on the device that is the subject of the present invention, the need or at least the usefulness was noticed, of gaining access to the inside of the waste bin without having to move or lift the waste bin; for example, it could be useful or convenient to inspect the contents of the waste bin so as to verify the presence and/or absence of specific products, waste or materials. Checking the contents would also serve to destine the same contents to different objects (for example, in the case of waste, to different disposal plants), depending on the contents of the waste bin. Once the contents of the waste bin have been verified, it is however possible to empty it following the procedure described above, that is, by automatically releasing its flap lids by means of the device carried out according to one of the embodiments of the present invention described above. Figures from 8a to 8c show that the partial release device illustrated therein comprises a first lever 501 and a second lever 502; said first and second lever 501, 502 are connected to each other via means 503 suited to allow their relative rotation (see in particular Figure 8b). The means 503 are suited to be locked or released by means of a key 504.

The lever 501 comprises connection means 501c suited to connect the end of the lever 501 (the end opposite the end to which the means 503 are fixed) to lever systems or sliding means, for example lever systems or sliding means belonging to one of the devices for automatically locking and releasing the flap lids of a waste been previously described.

In the same way, the lever 502 comprises connection means 502c also suited to fix the lever 502 to lever systems or sliding means of other devices. The levers 502 and 501 can be rotated in relation to each other in such a way as to be able to assume in particular the two relative positions shown in Figures 8a and 8c.

In particular, the levers can be locked in the position shown in Figure 8a by means of the key 504 that operates the locking means 503; on the contrary, by releasing the means 503 with the key 504 it will be possible to rotate one or both the levers 501, 502 so that they assume the final position shown in Figure 8c. Figure 8b shows an intermediate position of the levers 502 and 501 during the relative rotation of the same.

It is also clear from Figures 8a and 8c that in position 8a the distance Dl between the connection means 502c and 501c will correspond to the minimum distance between said connection means.

Rotating the levers 502 and 501 means varying the distance Dl until reaching the maximum value D2 in the position shown in Figure 8c. It is therefore clear that by inserting the device shown in Figures from 8a to 8c into a lever or cable it will be possible to increase or decrease the overall length of said lever or cable. Assuming, for example, that two sections of the cable 600 (only one section of which is shown in Figures from 8 a to 8 c) are connected to the connection means 502 and 500c, respectively, with the device in the position shown in Figure 8a the overall length of the cable will be given by the sum of the lengths of the two sections plus the distance Dl; releasing the means 503 with the key 504 so as to allow the rotation of the levers 502 and 501 means increasing the working length of the cable until it corresponds to the sum of the lengths of the two cable sections plus the distance D2.

Therefore, the cable will be used to connect two elements (of which, for example, one can be fixed and the other moving); by releasing the means 503 with the key 504 so as to allow the rotation of the levers 502 and 501 it will be possible to vary the relative distance between said two elements of a value corresponding to the difference between D2 and Dl.

The following description, with reference to Figure 9, concerns the application of the device shown in Figures from 8a to 8c to the embodiment of the present invention previosuly described and illustrated in particular in Figures from 7a to 7c.

As shown in Figure 9, the device 500 has been inserted in one of the two sliding means 150c; said sliding means or cable 150c will thus comprise 2 sections, the first one of which will have a first end connected to the flap lid 103 (via the connection means 150a) and a second end connected to the lever 502 via the connection means 502c. In the same way, the second section of the cable (the lower one in relation to the device 500 of Figure 9) will include a first end connected to the lever 501 via the connection means 501c and will extend until acting on the rotating drum 15Of (see Figure 7a). Furthermore, with the device 500 in the position shown in Figure 8a, the cable will substantially be tightened between the flap lid 103 and the drum 15Of so as to prevent the rotation of the flap lid 103 along the arrow A, thus making it impossible to open the flap lid 103. In any case, when the device 500 is operated, in particular, so as to release the means 503 with the key 504, the levers 502 and 501 are free to rotate in relation to each other; the rotation of the levers 502 and 501 will thus result in the extension or increase of the overall length of the cable 150c, so that, in this case, by acting on the flap lid 103 it will be possible to rotate the same by an angle that depends on the difference D2-D1, thus allowing the flap lid 103 to be opened at least partially.

By properly choosing the length of the levers 502 and 501 it will thus be possible to determine the opening amplitude of the flap lid 103 in such a way as to adapt it to the intended purposes; for example, in order to proceed to the inspection of the contents of the waste bin it will be sufficient to open the flap lids to a limited extent, while it will be necessary to open them much more in order to remove the contents, and therefore in the latter case longer levers 502 and 501 will be used. The following description, with reference to Figure 10, concerns the application of the device or mechanism 500 to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figures from 2a to 2d and previously described. It is clear from Figure 10 that in this case the mechanism 500 has been inserted in the lever 122; said lever 122 therefore comprises two sections, in particular a first section 122x interposed between the lever 121 and the device 500 and a second section 122y extending from the device 500, in particular from the opposite side of said device 500 with respect to the first section 122x. Although in Figure 10 some details have been omitted for clarity's sake, the above clearly shows that the section 122x has one end connected to the lever 502 via the connections 502c, while in the same way the section 122y has one end connected to the lever 501 via the connection means 501c. By means of the device 500 it will thus be possible to vary the overall length of the lever 122 in a way similar to that described above with reference to the cable 150c of Figure 9.

If, therefore, with the device 500 locked in the position of Figure 8a the length of the lever 122 (and therefore the position of the lever 121) corresponds to the position in which the flap lid is closed (not shown in Figure 10), by releasing the device 500 so as to allow the relative rotation of the levers 502 and 501 it will be possible to allow the rotation of the lever 121, which will cause an extension of the lever 122 and therefore allow the flap lid 103 to be opened at least partially. The application of the partial locking device 500 to the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures from 4a to 4c is described here below with reference to Figure 11 ; it should however be noted that, due to the similarities between the embodiment shown in Figures from 4a to 4c and those illustrated respectively in Figures 5a-5b and from 6a to 6d, the following description must be considered as referred also to the applications of the device 500 shown in Figures 5a-5b and 6a-6b. In Figure 11, the frame 14Ot has been modified in such a way as to be able to vary the relative position of the curved surfaces or slides 141s in relation to the horizontal part 141 so of said frame 14 It along the vertical line V. Said curved surfaces or slides 141s are in particular connected to the horizontal part 141 so through intermediate sections 140m in each one of which one device 500 will be inserted.

Analogously to what has been explained above, by means of the devices 500 it will be possible to vary the length of said intermediate sections 140m and thus the distance between the surfaces 141s and the horizontal section 141 so. Assuming, therefore, that in the position in which the ends 12 Ir of the levers 121 are engaged in the seat 141 one device 500 is inserted in each one of the intermediate sections 140m, with said device 500 in the position of Figure 8c, and therefore in the position of maximum extension in which the distance of the connection means 502c and 501c corresponds to the maximum distance D2, it can also be understood that by releasing the device, in particular by releasing the means 503 with the key 504 so as to allow the rotation of the levers 502 and 501, it will be possible to reduce the extension of the intermediate sections 140m. In particular, it will be possible to translate the surfaces or slides 141 (in the case of the example) in the vertical direction V so as to reduce the distance between said surfaces 141s and the horizontal section or element 141 so. More particularly, in the example shown in Figure 11 the surfaces can rotate around the fulcrum 14 If, reaching the position indicated by the broken line. In this way it is possible to disengage the ends 12 Ir of the levers 121 from the seat 141; said levers are thus free to rotate and it is possible to rotate one or both of the flap lids 103 in the direction shown by the arrow A and therefore to open the waste bin at least partially.

A solution applicable to all the embodiments illustrated in particular in the Figures from 4a to 4c and 5a, 5b is described here below with reference to Figure 12, said solution being suited to complete or integrate all the above mentioned embodiments of the invention previously described; it is clear that further embodiments of the present invention comprise the devices described above, completed with the solution shown in Figure 12. The reference numbers indicated in that figure correspond, for the same elements, to those previously used in the description of the above mentioned embodiments. According to the solution illustrated in Figure 12, the roller or rotating element 140r is slidingly applied to the lower end of the structure 140 and between the roller 14Or and the structure there are elastic means comprising a helical spring 140m.More particularly, the roller 14Or is fixed by means of a pin 140p slidingly fitted into a hole made in the bottom 140f of the structure 140. The spring 140m has the function to maintain the structure 140 lifted in such a way as to keep the bin's flap lids locked, and the waste bin must be lifted to a predetermined height in order to allow the flap lids to be released. It should also be noted that the particular shape of the surfaces 141s, an arc of a circle, which has been selected in the embodiments shown in Figures from 4a to 4c, from 6a to 6d and in Figure 11 , forces the straightening/return to the vertical position of the frame 107 with which the flap lids 103 are associated, thus ensuring that the waste bin can be closed when it is positioned on the ground. A further embodiment of the device carried out according to the present invention is described here below with reference to Figures 13, 13a, from 14a to 14d, 15 and 16, in which components and/or characteristics that have already been described with reference to the previous figures are identified by the same reference numbers.

Also the device shown in Figures 13, 13a, from 14a to 14d, 15 and 16 comprises two main parts, in particular one part suited to be rotated during the opening of one or both of the flap lids or doors 103 of a waste bin, and one translating part. In particular, the rotating part comprises two levers 121a, each one suited to be applied to a flap lid or door of a container or waste bin 100. In particular, each one of the levers 121a is fixed to the external transversal edge of a flap lid or door like the levers 121 shown for example in Figure 2a. A corresponding lever 121 is constrained to each one of the levers 121a. In particular, one lever 121 (the one on the left in Figure 13) is permanently constrained to the corresponding lever 121a via fixing means 12Of like screws, bolts, nuts and the like, so that the mutual position of this lever 121 and of the corresponding lever 121a is predetermined and cannot change over time and/or during the operations involving the waste bin. As regards the other lever 121 (the one on the right in Figure 13), this is constrained to the corresponding lever 121a via a locking/releasing mechanism 503 (described in greater detail below), suited to be operated, in fact, so as to pass from a locked to a released position and vice versa. With the mechanism 503 in the locked position, the lever 121 is rigidly constrained to the corresponding lever 121a, so that their mutual position, in particular the angle defined by the two levers, cannot vary; on the contrary, with the mechanism 503 in the released position, the lever 121 can rotate in relation to the corresponding lever 121a so that the mutual position of the two levers 121 and 121a may vary. As will be described in greater detail below, with the mechanism 503 in the released position it is possible to open the corresponding flap lid 103 (thus gaining access to the inside of the waste bin), even with the waste bin resting on the ground and with no need to lift it. The translating part of the device comprises also in this case a structure or frame 140 with a roller or rotating element 140r applied to the lower end of the structure 140.

The rotating element 14Or thus still serves to prevent the structure 140 from hindering the handling of the waste bin when it is placed on the ground. At the ends of the structure 140 opposite the roller 140r there is a structure (in this case not arc-shaped but in a similar shape) 14Ot comprising two contact surfaces 141s.

Each one of the contact surfaces comes into contact with and/or strikes against one of the levers 121 and comprises a first portion 14 IsI, a second portion 141s2 and a third portion 141s3. The surfaces of the two portions 141s2 and 141s3 represent the actual contact and/or striking surfaces, of which the surface 141s2 is intended to come into contact with the substantially rectilinear part of the corresponding lever 121 while the surface 121s3 is intended to come into contact with the terminal hook-shaped portion 12 Ir of the lever 121; see in this regard also Figures 14a, 14d as well as Figures 15 and 16. In this way, the thrust exerted by the surfaces 141s on the corresponding levers 121, and substantially due to the weight of the waste bin when this is resting on the ground, is uniformly distributed on the levers 121, partly on the rectilinear portion and partly on the terminal hook-shaped portion 12 Ir, thus allowing or in any case not hindering the operation of the device 503 and therefore the release of the lever 121 from the corresponding lever 121a.

The surfaces 141s also define a seat or housing 141 for the levers 121, in particular for their terminal portions or parts 12 Ir.

Figure 13b clearly shows that even in this case the structure 140 is housed in the guide 104 applied to the side transversal wall 10 It of the waste bin 100; in particular, the structure 140 is housed in the guide 104 so that it can be translated along the direction identified by the arrow X in Figures 13, 13a. It is important to underline again that, during the opening of a door or flap lid 103, and therefore during the rotation of the same in the direction identified by the arrow A, the lever 121 would be rotated so that its end 12 Ir tends to rotate in the direction identified by the arrow A' .

With the waste bin placed on the ground as shown in Figure 13, and therefore with the roller 140r in contact with the ground, the structure 140 is thrusted upwards, in particular so that the ends 12 Ir are both received in the seat or housing 141. In this way it will be possible to prevent the rotation of the levers 121 in the direction indicated by the arrow A' and therefore the rotation of the flap lids 103 around the respective rotation axes 120 and in the directions indicated by the arrows A.

It will thus be impossible to open the flap lids or doors 103. It should also be noted that with the device positioned as shown in Figure 13 it will also be impossible to rotate the cover 107; in particular, it will be impossible to rotate the frame 102 that supports the cover 107 (see the detail of the support 109 shown in the preceding figures) around the lifting pins 105. In particular, this is due to the fact that, also in this case, as the flap lids or doors 103 are locked, if any attempt to rotate the cover 107 is made, the external edge of one of the flap lids will hit against the upper edge of the corresponding longitudinal wall of the waste bin.

Also the device of Figure 13, however, can be automatically deactivated; in fact, when the container or waste bin 100 is lifted, the structure 140 is free to slide downwards owing to its own weight.

Consequently, the ends 12 Ir of the levers 121 are disengaged from or come off the housing or seat 141 and thus are free to rotate in the directions identified by the arrows A'. Also the flap lids 103 can thus be rotated in the directions identified by the arrows A.

The emptying of the waste bin can thus be carried out as previously described. Regarding the waste bin emptying operations, reference should be made to the description provided above, and a further detailed description of the operations can be omitted, being it sufficient to remember that following the lifting of the waste bin the flap lids 103 are free to be rotated, so that they open due to gravity and don't counteract the rotation of the waste bin cover, which thus is rotated as shown in Figure 3b thanks to the thrust exerted by the ends 201b of the lifting arms 201 against the pins 149. The embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 13, 13a, from 14a to 14d, 15 and 16, comprises, as explained above, a locking/releasing device 503 suited to allow at least one flap lid to be opened with the waste bin resting on the ground and therefore in a certain way bypassing the automatic system described above. Said locking/releasing device and/or mechanism will be described in detail here below with reference in particular to Figures 13 a, from 14a to 14d, 15 and 16, in which components that have already been described are identified by the same reference numbers.

As regards Figure 13a, it shows how a flap lid 103 is opened with the waste bin resting on the ground. It is clear therefore that in this case the mechanism 503 is in the released position, with the lever 121 free to rotate in relation to the corresponding lever 121a.

It should be noted, in particular, that in the case of Figure 13a the angle formed by the lever 121 and the corresponding lever 121a is different from the angle formed by the same levers in the case illustrated in Figure 13.

In fact, as the lever 121 is free to rotate in relation to the corresponding lever 121a (thanks to the release of the mechanism 503), when the flap lid 103 is thrusted upwards in the direction indicated by the arrow A, the end 12 Ir will be able to come out of the seat 141 with no need to translate the structure 140 downwards, and therefore with no need to lift the waste bin.

It will thus be possible to access the inside of the waste bin, for example to inspect its contents and/or to deposit special items or materials inside it, for example bulky materials that cannot be introduced in the waste bin through the device 106 previously described.

Figures from 14a to 14d and 15 show the structure and operation of the locking/releasing device. The same comprises an element 503m that can be translated along the direction indicated by the arrow Z and when locked is housed in a seat obtained in the lever 121.

Since the entire device 503 is integral with the lever 121a as shown in Figure 16, it is clear that with the element 503m housed in the seat 503s it won't be possible to rotate the lever 121 in relation to the lever 121a so that the two levers 121 and

121a are integrally constrained to each other.

Vice versa, rotating the key 504 means translating the moving or translating element 503m, releasing its end from the seat 503s (see Figure 14b); in this way the lever 121 will be disengaged from the lever 121a and will thus be free to rotate in relation to the lever 121a.

At this point, it is possible to imagine the lever 121a fixed to the flap lid 103 of a waste bin.

Rotating said flap lid in the direction indicated by the arrow A in Figure 13, in particular upwards, means rotating also the lever 121a. The rotation of the lever 121a isn't possible, however, when it is constrained to the lever 121 by means of the mechanism 503 positioned as shown in the figure. By acting on the mechanism 503 as shown in Figure 14b, however, it is possible to release the two levers 121a and 121 so that they can rotate in relation to each other. In particular, the lever 121a follows the flap lid 103 in its rotation so that 5 the angle β can vary (become smaller) and allow the ends 12 Ir of the lever 121 to come out of the seat 141.

The Figures 14c and 14d clearly show the variation of the angle β during the mutual rotation of the levers 121 and 121a. Figures from 14a to 14d as well as 15 and 16 show a further detail of the i o embodiment of the invention illustrated therein.

It can be noted, in fact, that the lever 121 actually consists of two portions 121c and 121b integrally fixed and/or constrained to each other, the terminal part 12 Ir being formed on the portion 121c. The two portions 121c and 121b are fixed to each other through fixing means

15 that comprise bolts and corresponding nuts 121fb engaging in corresponding seats 120fa formed in the two portions 121c and 121b.

It will thus be possible to choose the most suitable mutual position of the two portions 121c and 121b, in particular the position that is best suitable for the seat 141 and therefore for the shape of the surfaces 141s2 and 141s3 and/or their

20 relative orientation.

In particular, by slightly loosening the nuts and/or bolts 120fb it is possible to rotate the lever portion 121c in relation to the portion 121b, and this rotation is possible thanks to the size and shape of the seats 120fa. Once the portions 121c and 121b have reached their ideal mutual position, the

25 nuts and/or bolts 120fb can be tightened, thus definitively fixing the two lever portions in the most convenient mutual position.

A further detail of this embodiment (clearly visible in Figure 16) is represented by the fact that between the part 503i of the mechanism 503 that engages with the lever 121a (via the fixing pins 503p housed in corresponding holes 121af of the

30 lever 121a), and thus definitively between the two levers 121 and 121a, there is a spring 504m that is stretched during the mutual rotation of the levers 121a and 121, in particular while the angle β defined by them decreases as previously explained with reference to Figures 14c and 14d, and thus while the flap lid 103 is being opened.

35 The tension accumulated in the spring will facilitate the closing movement of the flap lid 103 and therefore the repositioning of the end 121r of the lever 121 in the seat 141.

The above clearly shows that the locking/releasing mechanism 503 previously described can be adapted, with suitable modifications that will appear obvious to anyone skilled in the art, also to the embodiments of the invention previously described with reference to Figures from 4a to 4c, 5a and 5b, as well as from 6a to 6d. Each of these embodiments can thus be alternatively conceived as comprising a locking/releasing mechanism of the type described above, as well as at least two levers 121a and 121, said mechanism being interposed between them in such a way as to alternatively allow and prevent the mutual rotation of said two levers.

It has thus been shown that the invention described above achieves all the set objects. In particular, the present invention makes it possible to solve the problems posed by the containers known in the art. It has in fact been demonstrated that the device carried out according to the present invention prevents the unauthorized opening of the flap lids or doors of a container, in particular when the container is positioned on the ground or in any case isn't coupled with the loading and dumping equipment. The device, in any case, is automatically deactivated during the emptying operations, so that prior to the emptying procedure no additional operations are necessary to deactivate the device. Furthermore, the device that is the subject of the present invention is suited to be applied to any of the containers or waste bins known in the art, the same device being easy and quick to manufacture and to apply to said containers or waste bins. While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular embodiments shown in the figures, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated and described herein; on the contrary, further variants of the embodiments described herein fall within the scope of the present invention, scope which is defined in the claims. It should also be noted that locking/releasing mechanism 503 can be also of electric and electromagnetic type commanded by an electronic key.

Claims

1. Device (110) for an openable container (100) of products or materials (300) such as solid waste or similar products, said container comprising at least one revolving flap lid (103) suited to be rotated in two opposite directions so as to alternatively open and close said container, said device (110) being suitable for alternatively locking and releasing said revolving flap Hd, characterized in that said device comprises means (121) suited to be applied to said at least one revolving flap lid so as to be moved by the rotation of said revolving flap lid, as well as locking means (130, 140) suited to be alternatively activated and deactivated so as to alternatively allow and prevent the movement of said mobile means (121), thus alternatively allowing and preventing the opening of said at least one revolving flap lid (103), and in that said locking means are suited to be alternatively activated and deactivated in an automatic manner by means of a device (201) suitable for moving said container (100). 2. Device according to claim 1), characterized in that said mobile means comprise at least one lever (121) suited to be rotated integrally with said at least one flap lid (103), and in that said locking means (130, 140) are suited to alternatively allow and prevent the rotation of said at least one lever (121), thus alternatively allowing and preventing the opening of said at least one flap lid (103).

3. Device according to claim 2), characterized in that it also comprises at least one element (122) suited to be translated along a first direction, said locking means being suited to be translated along a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first translation direction of said at least one element (122), so as to alternatively engage with and disengage from said at least one element (122), thus alternatively allowing and preventing the rotation of said first lever (121).

4. Device according to claim 3), characterized in that said second element (122) comprises a first end and a second end (122b) opposite said first end, said first end of said element (122) being rotatingly connected to said first lever (121), the rotation of said first lever (121) causing therefore the translation of said second end (122b) of said element (122) along said substantially vertical direction.

5. Device according to claim 4), characterized in that said locking means comprise a pin (130) suited to alternatively engage with and disengage from said second end (122b) of said element (122), thus alternatively allowing and preventing the rotation of said first lever (121).

6. Device according to claim 5), characterized in that said locking means comprise elastic means (132) suited to maintain a first end of said pin (130) in an engaged position with said second end (122b) of said element (122), as well as counteracting means (126) suited to act on said elastic means (132) so as to disengage said first end of said pin (130) from said second end (122b) of said element (122).

7. Device according to claim 6), characterized in that said counteracting means (126) are suited to act on a second end of said pin (130) opposite said first end, and in that said counteracting means are suited to be activated by said device (201) suitable for moving said container (100).

8. Device according to claim 5) or 6), characterized in that said counteracting means are suited to be rotated on a plane on which said pin (130) lies. 9. Device according to claim 1) or 2), characterized in that said at least one lever (121) comprises a first end suited to be integrally fixed to said at least one revolving flap lid (103) and a second end opposite said first end, and in that said locking means (130, 140) are suited to alternatively engage with and disengage from said second end of said first lever (121) so as to alternatively allow and prevent the rotation of said first lever (121), therefore alternatively allowing and preventing the opening of said at least one revolving flap Hd. lO.Device according to claim 9), characterized in that said locking means comprise a mobile structure (140) that can be translated on the rotation plane of said first lever (121), said mobile structure (140) comprising an area of engagement (141) suited to alternatively engage with and disengage from said second end of said first lever (121).

11. Device according to claim 10), characterized in that said mobile structure (140) can be translated through gravity on a substantially vertical plane due to the effect of the lifting movement of said container by means of said device (201). 12.Device according to claim 9) or 10), characterized in that it comprises a mechanism (145) suited to translate said mobile structure (140). 13. Device according to claim 12), characterized in that said mechanism comprises a first class lever (145).

H.Device according to claim 13), characterized in that said mechanism comprises a weight (145p) applied to an end of said lever and suited to rotate said lever by gravity during the rotation of said container (100) by means of said device (201), and in that said structure (140) can be translated along a predefined direction due to the effect of the resulting rotation of the second end of said lever (145). 15.Device according to claim 1) or 2), characterized in that said device comprises at least one flexible element (150c) suited to be connected at one end (150a) to said at least one revolving flap lid (103), at least one revolving element (15Of) suited to be rotatingly fixed to said container (100), the second end (150fa) of said flexible connection element (150c) being connected to said revolving element (15Of), said locking means being suited to alternatively allow and prevent the rotation of said revolving element (15Of) thus alternatively preventing and allowing the opening of said at least one flap lid

(103). lό.Device according to claim 15), characterized in that said locking means comprise a lever (150) integral with said revolving element (15Of) and suited to be locked in a first predefined position and to be released from said first predefined position by lifting said container (100) by means of said device

(201).

17.Device according to any one of the claims from 1) to 15), characterized in that said device comprises a mechanism (500) suited to deactivate said locking means (130, 140). lδ.Device according to claim 17), characterized in that said mechanism (500) comprises a first lever (501) and a second lever (502) rotatingly connected to each other via means 503. 19.Device according to claim 18), characterized in that said levers (501, 502) are suited to assume at least one first position of minimal extension and a second position of maximum extension.

2O.Device according to claim 19), characterized in that said mechanism (500) is inserted in said locking means (130, 140) so that by varying the relative position of said levers (501, 502) it is possible to vary the extension and/or the position of said locking means.

21. Device according to any one of the claims from 9 to 14, characterized in that it comprises at least one second lever (121a) interposed between said at least one lever (121) and said flap lid (103), and in that a locking/releasing mechanism (503) is interposed between said lever (121) and said second lever (121a) in such a way as to alternatively allow and prevent the rotation of said lever (121) in relation to said lever (121a), so that when said mechanism is in said locked position said second end of said lever (121) can be disengaged from said locking means (130, 140) only through the activation of said locking means (130, 140), while with said mechanism (503) in the released position said second end of said lever (121) can be disengaged from said locking means (130, 140) with no need to activate said locking means (130, 140), so as to allow said flap lid (103) to be opened.

22. Device according to any one of the claims from 9 to 14, characterized in that a locking/releasing mechanism (503) is of electric and/or electromagnetic type commanded by an electronic key.