AU2009100618A4

AU2009100618A4 - Waste transfer apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU2009100618A4
Application number: AU2009100618A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Scott Brian Prior; Kevin Adrian Stewart
Original assignee: SMART LOAD Pty Ltd
Current assignee: SMART LOAD Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2009-06-25
Filing date: 2009-06-25
Publication date: 2009-07-30
Anticipated expiration: 2017-06-25
Also published as: WO2010148426A1; AU2010265830A1; AU2009100618B4

Description

1 WASTE TRANSFER APPARATUS FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 This invention relates to waste transfer apparatus and in particular to apparatus for use in waste transfer stations. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 10 Waste transfer stations provide a facility where solid waste can be taken to be stored and sorted prior to being transferred to another location for treatment, recycling or landfill. Waste transfer stations were introduced in an attempt to increase the amount of waste that is recycled and thereby to reduce the amount of waste that is disposed via landfill sites. These facilities have also been used in 15 remote or rural areas where no landfill sites exist. Generally there are four methods employed for waste recovery including a flat floor facility, push pit, open top bins and direct deposit into transfer container/truck. There are important operational and safety issues of concern 20 with each type of transfer facility. Flat floor transfer stations require the user to deposit their waste directly onto the floor of the transfer site. The waste is then sorted manually by staff and transferred to the appropriate treatment facility. This type of facility does not 25 allow for optimum compaction and storage of waste. Furthermore, in a flat floor site the users are not separated from the waste which is both a health and safety risk to users and requires staff to maintain a high level of supervision. More commonly, waste transfer facilities employ a method which allows a user to 30 deposit their waste directly into the storage pit or container thereby separating users from the waste and providing a more efficient means for compaction and 2 storage of waste. One such facility is a push pit whereby users can drop waste directly into a pit for sorting. Transfer stations using open top bins or trucks have a cavity in the floor which 5 houses the bin or truck into which the user drops their waste. The main hazard involved with these facilities is the risk of users falling into the residual waste pits or bins. Commonly, guard rails and fences have been used around the edge of the pits to prevent users from falling. However, the user must lift their waste over the guard rail which can easily result in injury. 10 An alternative solution is disclosed in NZ509996 (A) in which the pit or bin is sealed with a retractable cover. This cover is adapted to receive the waste and when retracted allows the waste to fall into the pit. However the user is still at risk of falling into the pit when the cover is retracted. 15 Alternatively, a mechanical tray can be used to tip the waste into the pit or bin. There are several different trays that have been used in waste transfer stations including a waist height tray which tilts to deposit the waste into the bin. This requires that the waste be lifted onto the tray which can result in lifting injuries. 20 Ground level trays have been used to prevent these injuries but are not as safe as they remain open at the back of the tray and do not completely safeguard the user from falling into the pit. Furthermore, these trays are prone to tipping over and generally require fixtures to secure them in place and as such cannot be 25 easily removed for repair or re-location. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a waste transfer 30 apparatus which overcomes the disadvantages and limitations of prior waste delivery methods or at least to provide a useful alternative.

3 STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention a waste transfer apparatus comprises a loading belt at ground level and an articulating mechanism which lifts and tilts the 5 tray to transfer the waste into a pit or bin. Preferably the centre of gravity of the loaded apparatus remains within the base of the apparatus during transfer. 10 Preferably the articulating mechanism is driven by one or more hydraulic struts. Preferably the articulating mechanism is operated remotely. Preferably the base contains any liquid spill from the belt. 15 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention is now described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 20 Fig 1 is a perspective view of a waste transfer apparatus with the transfer belt in the loading position Fig 2 is a side elevation of the waste transfer apparatus of Fig 1 Fig 3 is a side elevation of the waste transfer apparatus with the belt midway 25 through its tipping movement and Fig 4 is a side elevation of the waste transfer apparatus with the belt in the emptied position Fig 5 is a side elevation of a waste transfer apparatus with an alternative belt arrangement in the loading position 30 Fig 6 is a side elevation of the apparatus in Fig 5 with the belt midway through its tipping movement 4 Fig 7 is a side elevation of the apparatus in Fig 5 with the belt in the emptied position and Fig 8 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus corresponding to Fig 6. 5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In Fig 1 and Fig 2 waste transfer apparatus 1 has belt 2 made from a durable and flexible material reaching between arms 9. Belt 2 is in the loading position on the ground which allows for easy transfer of waste. Plate 3 beneath belt 2 forms a 10 base for apparatus 1 and contains any liquid that leaks from the waste. Guards 4 on either side of belt 2 contain the waste during the tipping operation and belt 2 is also surrounded by a safety fence with an entry gate (not shown). Safety screen 5 ensures that users cannot enter the waste disposal pit when belt 15 2 is in the loading position. After the waste is loaded onto belt 2 tipping is activated remotely from control box 6 which operates hydraulic struts 7. Struts 7 rotate arms 9 upwards and scissor linkage 8 also allows struts 7 to rise upwards thus lifting and tilting belt 2 as 20 shown in Fig 3. As arms 9 continue to rotate screen 5 is pushed upwards out of the way by links 10 and belt 2 wraps around bar 11 thus emptying the waste into the bin as shown in Fig 4. Fig 5 shows an alternative transfer belt arrangement in which hydraulic struts 12 25 pivot about fixed points 13 and attach to arms 9 via brackets 14. When struts 12 are activated arms 9 rotate upwards and belt 2 wraps around bar 15 as shown in Fig 6 and Fig 8. Lower section of belt 2 then drops as shown in Fig 7 thus emptying the waste into the bin. 30 5 ADVANTAGES Waste transfer apparatus 1 is constructed to maintain its centre of gravity when loaded within its supporting base during operation and so does not require fixing 5 to the ground. Further it is of lightweight construction and is easily transported by trailer allowing removal of the system for relocation and maintenance. Accordingly it will be obvious that transfer apparatus 1 allows easy transfer of waste onto belt 2 at ground level and so minimises lifting injuries. Belt 2 is 10 flanked on either side by guards 4 to contain the waste during transfer. The safety fence ensures that users cannot enter during operation. Further the system can only be operated from remote control box 6 when the gate of the safety fence is closed. 15 VARIATIONS It will be realized that the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example only and that all other modifications and variations as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of 20 the invention as herein set forth. Throughout the description and claims of this specification the words "comprise" and variations of that word such as "comprises" and "comprising" are not intended to exclude other additives components integers or steps. 25

Claims

1. A waste transfer apparatus comprising a flexible loading belt mounted on a base at ground level and an articulating mechanism which lifts and tilts the belt to 5 transfer the waste into a pit or bin.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 which is adapted to maintain its centre of gravity within its base during transfer. 10

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the articulating mechanism is driven by one or more hydraulic struts.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the articulating mechanism is operated remotely. 15

5. The apparatus of claim 1 which the base contains any liquid spill from the belt. 20 25 30