AU2004214518A1

AU2004214518A1 - A refuse receptacle and a pick-up device with increased pick-up tolerance

Info

Publication number: AU2004214518A1
Application number: AU2004214518A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Udo Frohlingsdorf
Original assignee: Sulo Umwelttechnik GmbH
Current assignee: Sulo Umwelttechnik GmbH
Priority date: 2003-09-24
Filing date: 2004-09-22
Publication date: 2005-04-07
Anticipated expiration: 2024-09-22
Also published as: EP1518801A1; DE10344516A1; AU2004214518B2

Description

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AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION NAME OF APPLICANT(S):: Sulo Umwelttechnik GmbH Co. KG ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys 1 Nicholson Street, Melbourne, 3000, Australia INVENTION TITLE: A refuse receptacle and a pick-up device with increased pick-up tolerance The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5102 Sla The invention relates to a refuse receptacle having a collar-shaped pick-up region at the rim of the upper filling opening which can be undergripped by a pick-up comb in particular a straight pick-up comb of a pick-up device. The invention further relates to a pick-up device.

From prior art it is known that refuse receptacles of the above generic type have a full perimeter collar arranged at the upper rim of the filling opening wherein in particular the forward region of this collar directed towards the lifting and tipping device of a refuse vehicle is designed as the pick-up region for a pick-up comb so that a refuse receptacle of the customary type having a substantially rectangular or square cross section can be undergripped by such a comb in order to raise the refuse receptacle.

Complementary to this, the upper collar region of the refuse receptacle during pickup can be covered by a locking means to ensure that a refuse receptacle in the overhead upside down position during the emptying process does not slip from the pick-up comb.

To date, it is known from prior art, that the generic refuse receptacles are positioned by operators in front of the pick-up devices of the receiving compartment of a refuse collection vehicle, in particular a rear loader, to facilitate a smooth emptying process.

If required, this handling requires that the refuse receptacle is directly placed onto the pick-up comb which in prior art designs is rectilinear.

Meanwhile, refuse collection vehicles are increasingly deployed which are described as side loaders and where a refuse receptacle is intended to be picked up from a lateral position in relation to the vehicle and emptied in a fully automatic manner without deployment of any further handling personnel. This system has to date been 2 based on the prerequisite that the refuse receptacles are positioned at the road side by their owners in a very precise manner so that a side loading refuse vehicle can grip and empty such a precisely positioned refuse receptacle by means of the hitherto rectilinear pick-up comb.

In the event that a refuse receptacle is not sufficiently well positioned at the side of the road it can happen that a refuse receptacle is not properly gripped, falls out of the pick-up device and is damaged and/or the contents of the container is tipped onto the road, or that the driver has to alight in order to position the refuse receptacle accurately.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a pick-up device and a refuse receptacle which allows for larger positioning and orientation tolerances so that such containers can be automatically picked up and emptied by the new-design side loading refuse vehicles.

In a first aspect of the invention the solution is provided in that in a refuse receptacle having a collar-shaped rim as pick-up region at the upper filling opening which, in particular, can be undergripped by a straight pick-up comb of a pick-up device, wherein the forward edge of the collar-shaped pick-up region is extended to project forward by such a distance in relation to the forward wall of the refuse receptacle, that the smallest distance between the forward edge and the forward wall of the refuse receptacle corresponds to 10-30%, preferably 10-15 of the width of the refuse receptacle.

In accordance with the terminology relating to the present invention, the forward wall of a refuse receptacle or the forward edge at the forward collar of the pick-up region is understood to be that side of the refuse receptacle which is directed towards the collection side, i.e. the lifting and tipping device at the refuse collection vehicle performing the emptying process.

In accordance with prior art designs, the forward collar-shaped pick-up region at the filling opening is now only projecting forward by such a distance in relation to the forward wall that a rectilinear pick-up comb, in particular a standard or DIN comb, when handling the currently used standard refuse receptacles, must have no more than an about 1 degree deviation in relation to the positioning of the forward edge at the pick-up region of the receptacle. This was sufficient hitherto, since customarily the refuse receptacle was manually placed on the pick-up comb by an operator or was at least accurately positioned by the operator. In the event, that this tolerance of alignment between the pick-up comb and the forward edge of the refuse receptacle is exceeded, a reliable undergripping of this pick-up region by the pick-up comb, for instance of a side loader, can no longer be ensured.

By extending the forward edge of the collar-shaped pick-up region at the rim of the upper filling opening in relation to the forward wall of the refuse receptacle to project forward by a distance of about 10 30 preferably 10 15 of the refuse receptacle width, it can be achieved in accordance with the present invention that a misalignment of this forward edge of the refuse receptacle in relation to the pick-up comb of the customary type of about 1 6 degrees can be reached. This corresponds to about six times the current tolerance so that in particular in automatically operating side loading vehicles, a secure pick-up of the refuse receptacles can be ensured. Correspondingly, the owners of the refuse receptacles are no longer required to observe an accurate positioning when placing the refuse receptacles for collection at the side of the road.

It is essential with regard to the idea of the invention that the forward edge in relation to the forward wall is extended forward by a value of at least 10 of the refuse receptacle width in order to achieve a sufficient tolerance. There is however a limit as to how far this forward edge can be extended since due to the extension of the forward edge region, instabilities may be created on the other hand, so that a forward extension of up to about 30 of the refuse receptacle width appears feasible and a forward extension up to 15-20 is preferred.

Complementarily, it can be proposed that the upper peripheral edge at the filling rim of the refuse receptacle be at least in its forward region reinforced, for instance by a honeycomb web structure at the underside of a collar-shaped pick-up region, by an Iso-Grid structure at the underside of such a collar-shaped region, by vertically extending webs, at least in segments, which extend from the underside and are supported on a receptacle wall or, if required, also by a hollow profile design of the upper pick-up edge, wherein this hollow profile design can be disposed at least in the forward region but also all around the receptacle opening, in particular in that the upper collar wall is defined by a double wall. All the aforementioned reinforcement measures can be combined in any manner or can be employed individually.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, which can be alternatively or cumulatively applied, a greater alignment tolerance in a refuse receptacle having a collar-shaped pick-up region at the rim of the upper filling opening can also be achieved in that at least one container wall, at least in its upper region, and the upwardly adjacent collar-shaped pick-up region, at least in sections, have a circular arcuate shape, which can be undergripped by an, at least in sections, circular arcuate pick-up comb of a pick-up device.

In accordance with this aspect of the invention, a pick-up comb can by contrast with the prior art not only be rectilinear but can in particular also be, at least in part, circular arcuate so that hereby during the application of the pick-up comb at an also circular arcuate pick-up region, a self-centring automatically occurs so that already by virtue of this feature, larger tolerances are achieved.

Further, in this aspect, it can be proposed in particular that the collar-shaped pick-up region which in accordance with the invention is circular arcuate, describes a larger circular arc than that of the pick-up comb, and in particular that the pick-up region essentially extends from the one lateral wall of the refuse receptacle to the other lateral wall of the refuse receptacle, i.e. across an angle of 180 degrees.

In the event the circular arcuate pick-up comb of a corresponding pick-up device is designed such that it only extends across a lesser angle than 180 degrees, the pick-up tolerance upon gripping of the refuse receptacle corresponds to the magnitude of the difference between these two angles.

In the event that for example the circular arc of the pick-up comb only extends to an angle of a preferred 120 degrees, a refuse receptacle with a circular arcuate pick-up region of up to 180 degrees in an angle range of 30 degrees can be misaligned vis a vis the lifting/tipping devices and/or the pick-up device of a refuse receptacle, whilst nonetheless a secure pick-up by the pick-up device is achieved.

If required, it can be proposed in this aspect that the lid be pivotally attached to the refuse receptacle in such a manner that it does not present an impediment in any of its possible positions during the emptying process.

In accordance with the invention, it can thus be proposed that in the pick-up device the circular arcuate pick-up comb extends across an angle of, in particular, 80 140 degrees, preferably of 120 degrees, in a circular arc, to ensure a large tolerance in the orientation of the refuse receptacle.

In a further development of the invention it is proposed that a refuse receptacle, besides a known rectilinear pick-up region, in particular of the aforementioned or known type, has a further pick-up region which is designed for a circular arcuate pick-up comb.

In this case, the positioning of these two different pick-up regions can be such that opposite the circular arcuate pick-up region there is arranged a rectilinear pick-up region for the purpose of undergripping by means of a rectilinear pick-up comb. The two pick-up regions for circular arcuate and rectilinear pick-up combs are correspondingly disposed on two diametrically opposed sides of a refuse receptacle in accordance with the invention so that these refuse receptacles can be employed whilst one or the other type of pick-up comb is used regardless which particular refuse collection vehicle employed. Thus, such a refuse receptacle can be emptied in the classical manner using a rear loader and rectilinear pick-up comb as well as using a side loader having a circular arcuate pick-up comb to achieve a larger tolerance.

Even where a circular arcuate collar defines the pick-up region at the upper rim, such a collar can be extended forward in relation of the equally circular arcuate adjacent wall of the refuse receptacle, wherein the underside of the collar is designed such that the pick-up comb upon undergripping is automatically placed in the correct position, which is for instance safeguarded by a wedge-shaped or funnel-shaped design of the underside and/or the corresponding elements of the pick-up comb, so that a selfcentring is thereby achieved.

For a refuse receptacle having different pick-up regions at opposite sides it can for instance be proposed that the circular arcuate pick-up region is arranged at the side of the refuse receptacle where the wheels are disposed. Alternatively, this arrangement can be positioned at the other side.

Also, the pick-up region for circular arcuate pick-up combs can be provided with the reinforcement measures, as proposed for the rectilinear pick-up combs, and/or they can be equipped with for instance circular arcuate locking means.

Such a circular arcuate locking means can from above cover the circular arcuate pick-up collar at the refuse receptacle and thus ensure a secure clamping of the refuse receptacle in the pick-up device. In this arrangement, the circular arcuate locking means can preferably extend curved across the same angle region as the pick-up comb arranged therebelow. The angle selected may also be greater. An arcuate locking means further offers the advantage that the refuse receptacle in its overhead position during the emptying process is supported via its upper rim or pick-up collar additionally in adjacent lateral regions so that lesser buckling loads result in the pickup collar.

In accordance with a further design, proposed alternatively or cumulatively to the preceding embodiments, there can simultaneously be provided on one side of a refuse receptacle a pick-up region for a straight pick-up comb as well as one for a circular arcuate pick-up comb. On this particular side of a refuse receptacle, the receptacle wall will preferably also have a circular arcuate shape since only thereby is its compatibility with both pick-up comb types guaranteed. In this arrangement, the forward edge of the collar is however designed to be rectilinear.

A construction of this kind offers the advantage that, regardless of the selected type of refuse collection vehicle and/or its particular device, such a refuse receptacle can be emptied by means of a pick-up comb designed to be rectilinear or arcuate.

By comparison with the previously described embodiment, the simultaneous arrangement of both pick-up regions on the same side of a refuse receptacle further offers the advantage that the refuse receptacle does not require specific positioning dependent on the pick-up device being deployed, since both types of pick-up devices approach and grip the same side of the refuse receptacle. In such an arrangement the two pick-up regions can preferably be arranged on the side of the refuse receptacle which is opposite the side where the wheels are attached.

In this configuration it is also possible to use locking means which are either arcuate or rectilinear since the upper collar region has a forward rectilinear edge.

In order to achieve in particular that the opened lid of a refuse receptacle does not present an impediment during the emptying process in the aforementioned embodiments, the lid can be pivotally attached at a region of the upper rim of the refuse receptacle perpendicularly to the pick-up region for a rectilinear pick-up comb. By contrast with prior art designs, in this embodiment the lid does not open towards the rear requiring an operator to bend across the refuse receptacle opening when turning open the lid, but opens laterally relative to the positioning of the refuse receptacle in relation to the pick-up device at the lifting/tipping device of a refuse collection vehicle.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the following drawings.

Shown are in Figure 1 a customary refuse receptacle having a forwardly extended collar Figure 2 a refuse receptacle having a circular arcuate pick-up configuration Figure 3 a refuse receptacle having two regions for a rectilinear and a circular arcuate pick-up configuration Figure 4 several aspects of the illustration of a refuse receptacle in Figure 3 Figure 5 a refuse receptacle having both pick-up types on the one side Figure 6 a top view of a refuse receptacle according to Figure Figure 1 shows, in the illustration on the left, a refuse receptacle in accordance with the invention by contrast to the one of prior art design in the right hand illustration, which refuse receptacle from a top view onto the lower region has a full perimeter collar 4 around the opening of the refuse receptacle with the forward region 4a of the collar being undercut allowing it to be undergripped by a rectilinear pick-up comb 2. This pick-up comb can have several tooth-like projections which are shown as solid black areas in the two illustrations as per Figure 1.

The right hand view as per Figure 1 shows that the forward edge 5 of the forward pick-up region and/or the forward collar 4a are extended forward in relation to the forward wall 6 of the refuse receptacle 1 only so far that due to the given distance the pick-up comb 2 must be positioned with an angular deviation of 1 degree maximum to ensure a secure undergripping of the pick-up region 4a.

By contrast, the left hand view as per Figure 1 shows that the forward edge 5 of the shaped pick-up region 4a in relation to the forward wall 6 of the refuse receptacle 1 is extended so far that the pick-up comb 2 in relation to the forward edge 5 can have an angular deviation of up to 6 degrees, whereby in the angle range of 0 6 degrees a secure undergripping and thus pick-up of the refuse receptacle 1 is ensured.

This can be achieved in that the distance between the forward edge 5 and the forward wall 6 of the refuse receptacle is about 10 30 preferably 10 15 of the width B of the refuse receptacle. Instead of the width B of the refuse receptacle, it is also possible in this case to use the width of the pick-up comb 2 as standard of reference.

The embodiment in the left illustration of Figure 1 further shows that the underside of the collar-shaped pick-up region 4a is reinforced by a honeycombed web structure in order to reduce the stress when the refuse receptacle is raised and tipped by means of the pick-up comb in the emptying process.

Figure 2 shows a further option to achieve a greater tolerance in the positioning of a refuse receptacle in relation to the pick-up device, for instance of a side loader. It is shown that the forward wall 6 of a refuse receptacle 1 is at least circular arcuate in the forward region, i.e. the wall region 6 in the refuse receptacle 1, at least in sections, has an essentially cylindrical or conical (if the receptacle has a downward taper) external shape. This results in an equally circular arcuate forward collar 4a at the upper rim of the filling opening 3 of the refuse receptacle, which collar 4a extends across an angle of 180 degrees. This collar region is in this case for instance disposed on the side that is opposite the wheels of the refuse receptacle.

In accordance with the invention, it can be proposed to undergrip the circular arcuate, forwardly extended collar 4a by means of a pick-up comb 7 which is also, at least in sections, of a circular arcuate design, at least across a region of approx. 3 120 degrees. Due to the circular arcuate design of the pick-up region across about 180 degrees and the circular arcuate design of the pick-up comb 7 across only about 120 degrees, this results in an angular tolerance of up to 30 degrees upon the positioning of the receptacle in relation to the pick-up device of a lifting/tipping device, for instance a side loader.

Since in this case, under exploitation of the extreme tolerance, the opening of the refuse receptacle and perhaps the lid cannot be positioned correctly in relation to the lifting/tipping device of the refuse vehicle, it can be proposed as a complementary measure in accordance with the invention that an automatic turning of the refuse receptacle be performed within the pick-up device and/or the lifting/tipping device which can for instance be carried out by using markings on the lifting/tipping device and on the refuse receptacle.

Figure 3 shows a further alternative embodiment of a refuse receptacle 1 which has both forms of pick-up arrangements, wherein in this case the forward region of the refuse receptacle 1 is defined as the one which is intended for pick-up by a rectilinear pick-up comb 2. At this forward region, the collar-shaped pick-up region can be designed in the manner already described in the preceding embodiments.

Figure 3 further shows that the rectilinear pick-up region is arranged opposite a circular arcuate pick-up region at which the collar-shaped pick-up region 4b is formed to be circular arcuate across an angle of about 180 degrees. At this region.. It is also possible for a circular arcuate pick-up comb of the type illustrated here to approach and grip this particular region by describing an arc across an angle region of about 120 degrees and lift the refuse receptacle 1.

Since in this case there are provided pick-up regions at both regions, i.e. at the forward region 4a and the rearward region 4b of the collar 4 around the full perimeter of the opening 3 of the refuse receptacle, it is further proposed in accordance with the invention to attach the lid 10 of the receptacle laterally, i.e. so that the rotation axis of the hinge 11 of this lid is about perpendicular to the axis of the wheels of the refuse receptacle 1. Similarly, this rotation axis 11 is aligned about perpendicularly to the rectilinear pick-up region in the forward region of the edge 4a.

Figure 4 shows the receptacle shape as per Figure 3 from several views. In this case, the edge 5 of the forward collar 4a is extended forward in relation to the forward wall of refuse receptacle 1, as it has been described with regard to the embodiment of Figure 1. Such a forwardly extended design is however in this present case not absolutely necessary.

The rearward circular arcuate collar region 4b includes reinforcement in the form of a honeycomb structure, wherein furthermore a handle 13 is arranged at this collar region 4b. Figure 4 further shows that the upper wall region of the wall 9 is of a rectilinear design to match the straight path of the pick-up comb 2, whereas the rearward wall region of the refuse receptacle 1 is of a circular arcuate design to match the circular arcuate pick-up comb.

Figure 4 shows the laterally attached lid 10 of the refuse receptacle in the opened position, which in this position with the lid flipped open neither impedes the emptying process carried out by an arcuate pick-up comb via the pick-up collar 4b nor by a rectilinear pick-up comb via the pick-up collar 4a.

Figures 5 and 6 show different views (figure 5 is a bottom view, and figure 6 is a top view) of a receptacle 1 having a forward pick-up collar 4a, whose forward edge 5 is rectilinear, which is however arranged at a circular arcuate forward wall 6 of a refuse receptacle so that immediately adjacent the upper region of the wall 6 there is an arcuate pick-up region as well as a straight pick-up region to receive an arcuate or a straight pick-up comb respectively.

The respective pick-up regions can in this case be formed in the underside of the projecting collar 4a by a correspondingly matched design of the lower web structure 14 so that an automatic self-centring effect is achieved for the two different pick-up combs 2 and 7 respectively. For this purpose, recesses can be provided in the web structures 14 and matched with the respective combs.

In particular this embodiment, as shown in figures 5 and 6, offers the advantage that a refuse receptacle thus embodied can only ever be placed at the side of the road in one alignment regardless of with which particular pick-up device the lifting/tipping device of a refuse collection vehicle is equipped. Such a refuse receptacle can therefore have the design known per se in the prior art wherein only the forward wall of the refuse receptacle 6 which is assigned to the pick-up device has a circular arcuate shape at least in its upper region.

Otherwise the lid can be attached in this instance at the rearward edge 4c in the known manner or also, as the present invention proposes, at a lateral edge 4d.

The reference numerals in the following claims do not in any way limit the scope of the respective claims.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

Claims

1. A refuse receptacle having a collar-shaped pick-up region at the rim of the upper filling opening which can be undergripped by a pick-up comb, in particular a straight pick-up comb, of a pick-up device, characterised in that the forward edge (4a) of the collar-shaped pick-up region is extended to project forward by such a distance in relation to the forward wall of the refuse receptacle that the smallest distance between the forward edge (4a) and the forward wall corresponds to 10-20%, preferably 10-15 of the width of the refuse receptacle

2. A refuse receptacle having a collar-shaped pick-up region at the rim of the upper filling opening which can be undergripped by a pick-up comb of a pickup device, in particular in accordance with Claim 1, characterised in that, at least one container wall at least in its upper region, and the upwardly adjacent collar-shaped pick-up region at least in sections, have a circular arcuate shape, which can be undergripped by a, at least in sections, circular arcuate pick-up comb of a pick-up device.

3. The refuse receptacle in accordance with Claim 2, characterised in that opposite the circular arcuate pick-up region (4b) there is arranged a rectilinear pick-up region (4a) for the purpose ofundergripping by means of a rectilinear pick-up comb.

4. The refuse receptacle in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the circular arcuate pick-up region (4b) is arranged at the side of the refuse receptacle where the wheels are disposed.

5. The refuse receptacle in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that on the side of a receptacle wall having a circular arcuate shape, in its upper region, there can simultaneously be provided a pick-up region for a straight pick-up comb and a pick-up regionfor a circular arcuate pick-up comb.

6. The refuse receptacle in accordance with Claim 5, characterised in that the two pick-up regions (4a, 4b) are arranged on the side which is opposite the side where the wheels are attached.

7. The refuse receptacle in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lid (10) is pivotally attached at a region of the upper rim perpendicularly to the pick-up region (4a) for a rectilinear pick-up comb.

8. A pick-up device, in particular for picking up a refuse receptacle in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a pick-up comb which, at least in sections, is of a circular arcuate design.

9. The pick-up device in accordance with claim 8, characterised in that the pick- up comb is circular arcuate across an angle of 80 140 degrees, in particular of 120 degrees.

The pick-up device in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a locking means is assigned to a pick-up comb which is circular arcuate at least in sections, by means of which locking means the pick-up region of a refuse receptacle can be covered.

11. The pick-up device in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the locking means extends across the same angle region as the pick-up comb.

12. A refuse receptacle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings and/or Examples.

13. A pick-up device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings and/or Examples.

14. The steps, features, compositions and compounds disclosed herein or referred to or indicated in the specification and/or claims of this application, individually or collectively, and any and all combinations of any two or more of said steps or features. DATED this TWENTY SECOND day of SEPTEMBER 2004 Sulo Umwelttechnik GmbH Co. KG by DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys for the applicant(s)