EP0473603B1

EP0473603B1 - A device for charching and discharging at least two kinds of waste material

Info

Publication number: EP0473603B1
Application number: EP90905733A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Roger Lagerqvist
Original assignee: Norba AB
Current assignee: Norba AB
Priority date: 1989-03-30
Filing date: 1990-03-30
Publication date: 1993-01-07
Anticipated expiration: 2010-03-30
Also published as: WO1990011952A1; SE8901119L; ATE84275T1; SE8901119D0; DE69000736T2; ES2038055T3; SE500653C2; EP0473603A1; FI914543A0; FI98616C; DE69000736D1; FI98616B; DK0473603T3

Abstract

Device for loading and unloading at least two types of waste material through a loading- and unloading opening (7, 8) for each type of material to a container (2) comprising a containment vessel (4, 5) for each type of material. A feeding arrangement (15) feeds waste material from a loading hopper to the containment vessels during a loading phase and seals said opening during a closing phase and the loading hopper is swung away to a withdrawn position during an unloading phase. The feed device (15) extends across the width of both loading- and unloading openings (7, 8) and is common to both openings. The loading hopper consists of a first loading hopper (21) for the first type of waste material and extends across the width of one of the loading- and unloading openings (7) and forms a part of a unit (1) pivotively connected to the container (2), which unit also carries the feed device. A second loading hopper (22) forms a second unit pivotively connected to the container and which extends across the width of the second loading- and unloading opening (8). Unloading the first type of waste material occurs after swinging away solely the first unit with the first loading hopper and feed device. Unloading of the second type of waste material occurs after also swinging away the second unit, whereby both loading hoppers are accordingly swung away.

Description

Technical field:

The present invention relates to a device for loading and unloading at least two types of waste material through a loading- and unloading opening for each type of material to a container comprising a containment vessel for each type of material, which device comprises a loading hopper and a feed device for feeding the waste material from the loading hopper to said containment vessel during a loading phase and for essentially sealing said openings during a closing phase and which together with the loading hopper swings away to a withdrawn position during an unloading phase.
Recycling of waste raw material is increasing year by year. There are many methods for sorting raw material from waste but increasingly it has begun to be recognized that the most practical method is not to mix the waste in the first instance, but to collect it in assorted fractions from the source, for example from households.

Background art:

Several manufacturers have previously produced waste recovery vehicles based on conventional rear-loading refuse trucks with an extra container between the cab and the usual waste container. The extra container for paper, glass, tin cans etc is loaded from the side immediately behind the cab, whilst the large container is loaded from the rear as before.
Such a vehicle is cheap and simple but is lacking in efficiency and ergonomics during loading. Thus, it is desired that a vehicle for two types of waste material has a common loading opening at the rear, divided by longitudinal partition walls into two loading hoppers and two containers Such vehicles have also been built in small numbers. They have the disadvantage, amongst others, of being expensive since, for example, two separate unloading plates and hydraulic cylinders therefore are required for their emptying.
The most serious disadvantage is, however, the problem of emptying/unloading the containers. For reasons of geometry the most common prior art type of compression device has, in its upper end position when the container forms a closed (two closed) vessel, an L-shaped line which does not correspond with the dividing line between the tail-gate section and the container when the tail-gate section is opened/lifted for unloading. This always results in a certain outflow of material from the container (or containers) when the tail-gate section is opened.
This is a serious disadvantage with two parallel containers, one with, for example, glass and the other containing normal waste, when the two types of waste material are wanted to be emptied at different locations and the two types of waste material are not wanted to be mixed. The outflow volume can easily be around 1 to 3 m³ depending on the container's/tail-gate section's size and the sliding angle of the material. This problem can certainly be solved with two separate feed devices but this is a very complicated and costly solution.
Up until now this problem could not be resolved in any technically/economically acceptable way. Ideas concerning closure curtains, doors etc have existed, but they have all failed because the "limitation line" and "opening line" have not coincided, as described above.

Solution:

The object of the present invention is to allow separate handling during loading as well as unloading of the various types of waste material in a container having at least two containment vessels without the need for separate feed devices for the vessels.
Said object is achieved by a device according to the present invention which is characterized in that said feed device extends across the width of both loading- and unloading openings and is common to both openings, that the loading hopper consists of, on the one hand, a first loading hopper for the first type of waste material, which hopper extends across the width of one of the loading- and unloading openings and forms a part of a unit pivotably connected to the container, which unit also carries the feed device, and on the other hand a second loading hopper which forms a second unit pivotably connected to the container and which extends across the width of the second loading- and unloading opening, by means of which unloading of the first type of waste material occurs after swinging away solely the first unit with the first loading hopper and feed device, whereby said second loading hopper is maintained in its lower position below its cooperating opening in order to collect any waste material which falls out, and unloading of the second type of waste material occurs after also swinging away the second unit whereby both loading hoppers are accordingly-swung away.

Brief description of the drawings:

The invention will be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the attached drawings in which

Figures 1 and 2 show a side elevation, respectively a plane view of a vehicle equipped with the device according to the invention,
Figure 3 is a rear view of the vehicle with the device according to the invention,
Figure 4 is a side view of a part of the vehicle with the device according to the invention in the unloading position for one type of waste material, whilst
Figure 5 is a corresponding rear view of the vehicle with the device according to the invention.

Best mode for carrying out the invention:

The device according to the present invention for loading and unloading waste material is built as an integrated unit which is normally called the tail-gate section 1. This is pivotably affixed to the rear portion of a container 2 which is carried by a truck 3. The transportable unit which in its entirety is usually called a refuse vehicle is used for the collection of waste material from a plurality of locations, for example from households, to be transported and delivered to, by way of example, a waste collection depot. Such a type of vehicle is hereby intended for the separate handling of various types of waste material, in the shown example for two types of material, so that these can be separately unloaded at different locations. The container 2 is hereby divided into two separate containment vessels 4,5, for example one containment vessel for conventional waste and one containment vessel for e.g. glass, paper or tin cans or similar material which can be recycled in some form. The containment vessels are so arranged that they are divided by a
longitudinal separation wall 6 which means that the container's 2 loading- and unloading openings 7,8 are arranged side by side at the rear of the vehicle, separated by the rear edge portion 9 of the separation wall 6. Accordingly, the container 2 has one loading- and unloading opening 7,8 for each of the containment vessels 4,5 and thus for each type of waste material. In each containment vessel there is situated an unloading device 10,11 in the form of an unloading plate which is operated by not shown hydraulic cylinders to expel the waste material separately from each containment vessel at the unloading location in question.
The tail-gate section 1 comprises means for loading the waste material and forms a closing hatch for the material between a loading phase and an unloading phase, i.e. a closing phase, normally during transport between loading and unloading phase. The tail-gate section 1 is constructed with two outer end pieces 12,13 which are rigidly connected together, and is hingedly attached to the con-tainer 2 by its upper portion, or, more accurately, it is connected to a rear frame member 14 which surrounds both the loading- and unloading openings 7,8. The tail-gate section 1 further comprises a feed device 15 which is schematically shown in the drawings and which, for example, is of the type described in Swedish Patent Application 880049-3.2. The feed device principally consists of a transport plate 16 which suitably is a closed plate which extends across the width of both openings 7,8. A press plate 17 is hingedly connected to the transport plate and serves as a pivoting ladle. The feed device 15 is driven by not shown hydraulic cylinders for movement between an upper end position, as shown in Figure 1, and a lower position in which the press plate 17 performs a swinging movement in a way which is described further in the above- mentioned patent application. The feed device 15 is hereby controlled in a guide arrangement consisting of two guides 18,19 which are arranged in the end pieces 12,13, one guide in each end piece. The complete feed device 15 including hydraulic cylinders is carried by the tail-gate section 1, whereby the hydraulic cylinders are suitably positioned so as to connect with the end pieces 12,13 in such a way that the complete feed device accompanies the upswinging motion of the tail-gate section as further described in more detail.
Near its base the tail-gate section 1 accommodates a loading hopper which is situated between the two end pieces 12,13 but which, according to the invention, is divided into two loading hoppers, one hopper for each type of waste material. The first loading hopper 21 is fixedly attached to the tail-gate section and is thus further referred to as the fixed loading hopper and forms a rounded curved lower part to the tail-gate section and extends from the one end piece 12 over a width which corresponds to the width of one loading- and unloading opening 7 and is adapted to permanently accompany the swinging motion of the tail-gate section together with the feed device 15. The fixed loading hopper is suitably provided with a smaller end piece 23, substanially corresponding to the depth of the hopper. The second loading hopper 22 consists of a separate pivotable part which is pivotably mounted separately at the rear upper end of the container 2, i.e. pivotable relative to both the remaining section which forms the tail-gate section and the container 2. This loading hopper 22 which, for the sake of clarity, in the following will be called the pick-up unit, is formed as a part of the total loading hopper 20 and covers principally the width which remains to the side of the fixed loading hopper 21, i.e. it extends principally across the width of the second loading- and unloading opening 8. This separate pick-up unit 22 is built from two substanially identical, mutually parallel end pieces 24 and a curved lower part 25 having the same concave shape as the lower part of the fixed hopper. From and to a height which principally corresponds to the lower edge 27 of the loading- and unloading opening 8, the pick-up unit 24 is opened in the direction towards the loading- and unloading opening 8 to allow the loading and unloading of waste material. The upper sloping edge line 28 of the end pieces 24 is so directed and situated that the end pieces do not come into conflict with the transport plate 16 of the feed device 15, but instead form, as shown in Figure 1 together with the transport plate 16 in the closing state, i.e. between the loading phase and the unloading phase, a good sealing of the loading- and unloading opening edge, since in this position, the transport plate 16 closes against both end pieces 24 of the pick-up unit. The press plate 17 completes the seal since it principally extends from the lower end of the transport plate to the lower edge 27 of the loading- and unloading opening. Because of the character of the material and the low-positioned hopper there is no practical significance if material falls down through the gaps between the various parts. The 24 edge line 28 of the end piece terminates substanially at the same level as the underside of the guides 18,19.
Because of the above-described construction of the pick-up unit 22, the transport plate 16 can accordingly, as disclosed above, be undivided and extend across the width of both the loading- and unloading openings 7,8 and sealing of both loading- and unloading openings is achieved despite the angled shape of the feed device 15 so that this profile never corresponds with the level 29 of the openings 7,8, as shown in Figure 1. However, as best shown in Figure 3, the press plate 17 is split just in front of the two adjacent adjacent end pieces 23, 24 of the two loading hopppers 21,22. In this way the press plate is divided into two synchronously working parts 30,31 rigidly connected together. Besides the press plate's function as closing part in a closing start position and final position, the press plate also cooperates with the transport plate 16 in the loading phase by being brought to perform a to-and-fro swinging movement about a hinge 33 common to it and the transport plate so that the press plate is made to sweep both the loading hoppers along their respective bottom portions 25,26 or, alternatively, solely the bottom portion 26 of the fixed loading hopper 21, as described in the following.
During loading of waste material, the tail-gate section 1 with the feed device 15 is in the starting position shown in Figures 1,2 and 3. Accordingly, the complete tail-gate section 1 and the pick-up unit 22 are swung down to a position just in front of the loading- and unloading openings 7,8. Both the loading hoppers 21,22 are hereby available for loading, so that, by way of example, the fixed loading hopper 21 is supplied with rubbish, for example rubbish sacks, which are laid in its bottom portion 26, whilst a second type of waste material, which can be, for example, glass, paper or tins, is placed in the bottom portion 25 of the second loading hopper 22. Thereafter the feed device 15 is started and it performs one or several feed cycles with a substanially reciprocal movement of the complete feed device, combined with a swinging movement of chiefly the press plate 17, whereby both its parts 30, 31 are made to sweep the respective bottom portions and convey the waste material, the first type of waste material through loading- and unloading opening 7 to the first containment vessel 4 and the second type of waste material through loading- and unloading opening 8 to the containment vessel 5, whereby waste material can be continually placed in both loading hoppers and which is then fed into the respective containment vessel with each sweeping movement of the press plate 17.
After the loading is completed, the feed device 15 returns to its final position as shown in Figure 1 where, in a closing phase, the feed device seals the openings of both containment vessels against falling out material. Further loading at each loading location is carried out as detailed above, after which the vehicle transports the waste material to a rubbish depot for the separate unloading of each type of waste material at various locations. Unloading of the first type of waste material, which has been loaded into containment vessel 4 and may be conventional waste, hereby occurs. Not shown hydraulic cylinders swing up the tail-gate section 1 with the fixed loading hopper 21 together with the feed device 15 so that both loading- and unloading openings 7,8 are revealed, whilst the pick-up unit 22 remains in its position, see Figures 4 and 5. By activation of the unloading device 10, which plate is pushed forward along the containment vessel 4, possibly in combination with tipping of the container 2, the first type of waste material which is in the containment vessel 4 is unloaded through the loading- and unloading opening 7. Since the loading- and unloading opening 8 is also uncovered, a certain quantity of material from the containment vessel 5 falls out through this opening. This second type of waste material falls, however, into the pick-up unit 22 since, during this phase, it is kept in its swung-down position since it is completely disengaged from the tail-gate section 1 and accordingly is not swung upwards with its movement.
After unloading the first type of waste material from the containment vessel 4, the tail-gate section 1 is swung back to its starting position according to Figure 1, whereafter the feed device 15 is activated so that waste material which has fallen into the loading hopper of the pick-up units can be fed back into the containment vessel 5. This can take place during transportation to the next unloading location whereat the second type of waste material is to be unloaded. When the second unloading location is reached, the tail-gate section 1 is again swung up, however this time the pick-up unit 22 is also swung up so that its loading hopper 25 is removed from its place in front of the loading- and unloading opening 8. This upswinging can occur either with separate drive devices to achieve the swinging movement of the pick-up unit 22 and that of the tail-gate section, or by a mechanical coupling of the pick-up unit 22 with the tail-gate section via a coupling mechanism, such as a simple pin which extends through holes in the end pieces of the pick-up units and the tail-gate section or similar, so that separate drive devices are not needed for the pick-up unit 22. The drive devices can, like those for the tail-gate section 1, be hydraulic cylinders. When the loading- and unloading opening 8 is completely uncovered, the unloading device 11 is activated whereby its press by means of hydraulic cylinders, is moved through the containment vessel 5 and pushes out the second type of waste material to the desired location. After unloading is completed, the tail-gate section 1 and pick-up unit 22 are swung down, whereafter the vehicle is ready for the next loading round.
The invention is not restricted to the above described embodiment and the embodiment shown in the drawings, but can be varied within the scope of the following claims. For example it is possible that the tail-gate section does not engage the pick-up unit between its end pieces, but has its one end piece positioned to the side of the inner end piece of the pick-up unit, whereby the feed device 15 with its transport plate 16 and press plate 17 nevertheless extends across the width of both loading- and unloading openings 7,8. In principle it is possible that the pick-up unit 22 be provided with one or more additional pick-up units arranged side by side and positioned in front of each respective containment vessel, which can accordingly be two or more in number.

Claims

Device for loading and unloading at least two types of waste material through a loading- and unloading opening (7,8) for each type of material to a container (2) comprising a containment vessel (4,5) for each type of material, which device comprises a loading hopper and a feed device (15) for feeding the waste material from the loading hopper to said containment vessel during a loading phase and for essentially sealing said openings during a closing phase and which together with the loading hopper swings away to a withdrawn position during an unloading phase, characterized in that said feed device (15) extends across the width of both loading- and unloading openings (7,8) and is common to both openings, that the loading hopper consists of on the one hand a first loading hopper (21) for the first type of waste material, which hopper extends across the width of one of the loading- and unloading openings (7) and forms a part of a first unit pivotably connected to the container (2), which unit also carries the feed device, and on the other hand a second loading hopper (22) which forms a second unit pivotably connected to the container (2) and which extends across the width of the second loading- and unloading opening (8), by means of which unloading of the first type of waste material occurs after swinging away solely the first unit with the first loading hopper and feed device, while said second loading hopper is maintained in its lower position below its cooperating opening (8) in order to collect any waste material which falls out, and unloading of the second type of waste material occurs after also swinging away the second unit such that both loading hoppers are swung away.
Device according to claim 1 in which said first unit (1) comprises two connected end walls (12,13), between which the feed device (15) is supported, characterized in that the second unit (22) for the second type of waste material is situated within the end walls (12,13) of the first unit and possesses its own end walls (24) arranged so that in said closing phase it connects against a plate (16) included in the feed device (15), which plate (16) extends across both of the loading- and unloading openings (7,8), one end wall of said second unit connecting to, and forming an extension of, a dividing wall (6) between the two containment vessels (4,5).
Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device comprises a coupling mechanism which operates between a decoupled position in which the first unit is arranged to be swung away whilst the second unit is maintained in a non-swung away position, and a coupled position in which both units are connected together to be mutually swung away.