EP1399375A1

EP1399375A1 - Twin grab head

Info

Publication number: EP1399375A1
Application number: EP02738986A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bryan Geoffrey Black; Owen Ross Williams
Original assignee: Manco Solid Waste Ltd
Current assignee: Manco Solid Waste Ltd
Priority date: 2001-05-02
Filing date: 2002-05-02
Publication date: 2004-03-24
Also published as: EP1399375A4; AU2002311698A1; NZ511473A; WO2002088001A1; WO2002088001A8

Abstract

A versatile pick up assembly for the distal end of a vehicle's pick up arm (3) having at least two of (i) a spaced pair of clamping arms (2) capable in use of being actuated to move from an undeployed condition to a deployed condition and vice versa, (ii) a spaced pair of arms (9) each adapted to engage a central top pivot feature of an opposed end or side of an appropriate bin or the like, said arms being capable of being moved from an undeployed condition to a deployed condition and vice versa, and (iii) relatively movable comb (6) and reaction (5) jaws, the comb jaw being below the reaction jaw of the jaw pair, the jaw pair being such that at least one is actuable to move from a relatively spaced apart condition to a closer relative condition.

Description

MULTI GRAB HEAD TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a multi-role head for a bin uplift arm, eg; apparatus adapted to enable the uplifting of bins or the like containers (hereafter "bins") and more particularly, although not solely, to a multi role pick up head useful for association with a lift arm (such as a robotic arm that may be mounted from a vehicle for bin uplifting, tipping and return purposes) such as might be used in refuse collection.

BACKGROUND ART Typically bins for holding materials that may require tipping out of the contents

(eg; refuse bins, raw material bins, or the like) have at least one feature that enables the uplifting thereof by appropriate apparatus. See for example the catalogue of Mango Engineering Group Ltd, US Patent 5851100 and the prior art patent specifications discussed in US Patent 5851100. Typical types of bin to be encountered have features such as (I) a top or side wall supported central outstand adapted to provide a pivot axis for bin tipping purposes, (ii) a peripheral rim or other outstand member from a wall thereof adapted to be indexed from below (and which optionally may be clamped from above in addition) and or simply a shape and side wall configuration or rimming that lends itself to clamping.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a single head arrangement having a capability (because of its more than one role) of picking up a diverse range of bins yet is nonetheless one that when used in, for example, a side loader from a motor vehicle with a top or bottom park feature preferably can present substantially no more fetter to vehicle manoeuvring than do existing single role pick up heads.

It is to such apparatus assemblies thereof and related methods and means that the present invention is directed.

In one aspect the present invention consists in a versatile pick up assembly for the distal end of a pick up arm (preferably articulated about horizontal pivot axis and robotic), said pick up assembly comprising or including at least two of i) a spaced pair of clamping arms capable in use of being actuated to move from an undeployed condition to a deployed condition and vice versa, ii) a spaced pair of arms each adapted to engage a central top pivot feature of an opposed end or side of an appropriate bin or the like, said arms being capable of being moved from an undeployed condition to a deployed condition and vice versa, and iii) relatively movable comb and reaction jaws, the comb jaw being below the reaction jaw of the jaw pair, the jaw pair being such that at least one is actuable to move from a relatively spaced apart condition to a closer relative condition. Preferably at least (i) and (iii) are present. Preferably all of (i), (ii) and (iii) are present.

Preferably said spaced pair of clamping arms (I) are of a wraparound kind each preferably pivoted from the body of the head from which (ii) and/or (iii) are/is also supported.

Preferably said spaced pair of arms (ii) are adapted to engage a male outstand of a suitable bin preferably in a recess or opening of the arm.

Preferably said spaced pair of arms (ii) are each pivoted about a vertical axis from said body but alternatively may be deployed by a pivot axis that is horizontal or may be slightly extendable from an undeployed to a deployed condition.

Preferably said comb and reaction raw pair has a upwardly directed comb as the lower j aw and a complementary reaction j aw that is moveable from an undeployed raised condition relatively downwardly with respect to the comb to provide the clamping effect or limitation of the movement available to an appropriate comb indexing bin.

Preferably said assembly includes hydraulic means to activate the deployment of said wrap around type clamping arms. Preferably said assembly includes hydraulic means (or other fluid actuated means, eg; air) actuable to cause the moving together and moving apart of said comb and reaction jaw pair.

Preferably said comb jaw can be any jaw of a kind preferably having at least two upstanding members or other contour adapted to engage into one or more recesses, channels or the like of a suitable bin and preferably said reaction jaw is any jaw that co-acts sufficiently to hold any such engagement.

Preferably one only of the comb and reaction jaw pair is actuable and that preferably in one embodiment of the invention is the top reaction jaw yet in another embodiment can be the comb jaw. ^"Whilst it is possible to move both the comb and reaction jaws economies render that unnecessary.

Preferably said spaced pair of arms (ii) are actuable (preferably by hydraulic or other means) to deploy from an undeployed condition. Preferably each wrap around type clamping arm in one embodiment is adapted to engage on opposite ends or sides of a single bin or the like but in other embodiments may be adapted to provide a lateral containment force on a pair of bins or the like each preferably separated by a dividing member or reaction protuberance carried by the assembly adapted to intersect the space between such pair of bins. See for example our New Zealand Patent Specification No. 511472 and its equivalent PCT specification. The full contents of which is here included by way of reference.

Preferably said versatile pick up assembly is in use on an engaged pick up arm), far less extensive outwardly when each of said spaced pairs (i) and (ii) are in their undeployed condition. In yet a further aspect the present invention consists in a pick up arm assembly of a type to engage and uplift at least one bin, said assembly including a head at the distal end of the robotic arm which has a capability of making at least two different types of interengagement with a bin selected from (1) a wrap around clamping engagement, (2) a bin pivot providing engagement and (3) a substantially vertically moving relative indexing and/or clamping engagement, wherein in an undeployed condition (e.g. stowed or parked condition) the assembly has one or both of the engagement features of (1) and/or (2) more proximate to the distal end of the robotic arm than when either or both (1) and/or (2) are deployed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

A preferred from of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

Figure 1 shows a preferred side loading and bottom parking robotic arm partly extended and having at its distal end a multi-role head having in an undeployed condition the means of engagement (I), (ii) and (iii) previously defined,

Figure 2 is a similar apparatus of Figure 1 but having the arms (ii) deployed to engage the outstands of an appropriate bin to provide for a stable uplift thereof albeit with some tendency to pivot about a pivot axis at or adjacent the top of the bin being uplifted, Figure 3 is apparatus as shown in Figures 1 and 2 but with the swing out arms and their mount from the body extensions of the head preferably having been removed such that the multi-role head in this case is a duel role head,

Figure 4 is an elevation of a MGB (the OTTO™ MGB 120) capable of engagement by at least clamps (I),

Figure 5 is a plan view of the MGB of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is one elevation of an OTTO™ MGB 660,

Figure 7 is another elevation of the bin of Figure 6 showing outstands capable of engagement by a complementary feature of at least arms (ii), each of the bins of Figures 4 to 7 possibly lending themself (where necessary) to uplifting by the comb (iii), and

Figure 8 shows the retractable bin divider "A" than can in addition be incorporated such divider being disclosed in our patent specification filed simultaneously herewith.

Whilst described with a bottom park sider loading arm the head can alternatively be at the distal end of any of the other arms referred to, eg; as a retrofit. We have devised a pick up head with multiple clamping and/or bin uplift features, a vertically adjustable comb type pick up feature (preferably a clamp) , in conjunction with the single or twin wraparound clamp feature (whether clamping clamp against clamp on a single bin or singly against one of two proximate reaction member separated bins).

This clamping device can incorporate one or all of the following features; a) a comb adjusting vertically with the comb bar rigid, b) a comb bar adjusting vertically in combination with the comb, c) two air or hydraulically activated arms that enable larger MGB bins with central mounted external pivot points to be collected, and/or d) any, some or all the above with or without additional vacuum assisted clamps.

In the preferred embodiment as shown in Figures 1 and 2 the body 1 is mounted to the end of the outer boom fabrication 3 and to the end of the twin levelling link rods 7. Each of the mountings of the body 1 to the members 3 and the members 7 is on a pivot axis such that the pivot axes of the connection in one instance with the member 3 and in the other instance with the twin rods 8 can provide control of the orientation of the body 1.

The spring arm members 2 (the preferred clamps (I)) are mounted to the body 1 by joint pins. It provides a clamping action to grab hold and release a garbage receptacle. Two way hydraulically operable cylinders provide for the movement of each arm 2 from the undeployed condition shown in Figure 1 through to a swing around condition whereby, together, they will clamp about an appropriately sized bin. Such swing arms can be undeployed by withdrawal back from such an extended outwardly condition back to the conditions shown in Figure 1. The vertically pivoted arms 9 as shown in their undeployed condition in Figure 1 and in a deployed condition (but no bin being shown for clarity) have openings or other bin complementary features (male or female) at or adjacent the end thereof. These can receive an appropriate outstanding member each on an opposite side of a bin to enable the uplifting thereof. Such features preferably enable slotting over the bin. See for example Figure 7 where such a bin is shown with outstands 10.

In one preferred form of the present invention the deployment and undeployment of the arms 9 is manual whilst in other forms (not shown) it can be under the actuation of an appropriate actuation operable from the vehicle, eg; hydraulic, pneumatic, solenoid or the like. The comb and reaction j aw pair comprises the downwardly moveable and upwardly returnable clamping jaw 5 which coacts with the upstanding fixed (relative to the body 1) comb jaw 6.

It can be seen in the undeployed condition as in Figure 1 that when the lift arm is further retracted into its parked or stowed condition from the partly outreaching deployed condition as shown in Figure 1 that very little in the way of lateral extension of the multi- role head occurs which will preclude close travel to the curb thereby enably close to the bin positioning to minimise traffic interference.

The diverse range of bins with which such a pick up head as shown in Figures 1 and 2 can engage include a wide variety of sizes of mobile garage bins including 120 MGBs, 140 MGB and 240 litre MGBs. These can for example be from 120 to 1600 litre bins whether of the OTTO™ brand or otherwise.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A versatile pick up assembly for the distal end of a pick up arm (preferably articulated about horizontal pivot axis and robotic), said pick up assembly comprising or including at least two of (i) a spaced pair of clamping arms capable in use of being actuated to move from an undeployed condition to a deployed condition and vice versa, (ii) a spaced pair of arms each adapted to engage a central top pivot feature of an opposed end or side of an appropriate bin or the like, said arms being capable of being moved from an undeployed condition to a deployed condition and vice versa, and

(iii) relatively movable comb and reaction j aws, the comb j aw being below the reaction jaw of the jaw pair, the jaw pair being such that at least one is actuable to move from a relatively spaced apart condition to a closer relative condition.

2. A pick up assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least (i) and (iii) are present.

3. A pick up assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein all of (i), (ii) and (iii) are present.

4. A pick up assembly as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein said spaced pair of clamping arms (i) are of a wraparound kind.

5. A pickup assembly of claim 4 where each clamping arm is pivoted from a body from which (ii) and/or (iii) are/is also supported.

6. A pick up assembly as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein said spaced pair of arms (ii) are adapted with a recess and/or opening to engage a male outstand of a suitable bin.

7. A pick up assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein said spaced pair of arms (ii) are each pivoted about a vertical axis from said body.

8. A pick up assembly of claim 2 or 3 wherein each arm of said spaced pair of arms (ii) is deployable by rotation about a substantially horizontal axis.

9. A pick up assembly of claim 2 or 3 wherein each arm of said spaced pair of arms (ii) is at least in part extendable from its undeployed to deployed conditions.

10. A pick up assembly as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein said comb and reaction jaw pair has a upwardly directed comb as the lower jaw and a complementary reaction jaw that is moveable from an undeployed raised condition relatively downwardly with respect to the comb to provide the clamping effect or limitation of the movement available to an appropriate comb indexing bin.

11. A pick up assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein said assembly includes hydraulic or pneumatic means actuable to cause the moving together and moving apart of said comb and reaction j aw pair.

12. A pick up assembly as claimed in claim 10 or 11 wherein said comb jaw can be any jaw of a kind having at least two upstanding members or other contour adapted to engage into one or more recesses, channels or the like of a suitable bin and said reaction jaw is any jaw that co-acts sufficiently to hold any such engagement.

13. A pick up assembly as claimed in claim 10, 11 or 12 wherein one only of the comb and reaction jaw pair is actuable.

14. A pick up assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein said assembly includes hydraulic means to activate the deployment of said wrap around type clamping arms.

15. A pick up assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein said spaced pair of arms (ii) are actuable by hydraulic or pneumatic means to deploy from an undeployed condition.

16. A pick up assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein each wrap around type clamping arm is adapted to engage on opposite ends or sides of a single bin.

17. A pick up assembly of claim 4 wherein each wrap around type clamping arm is adapted to provide a lateral containment force on a pair of bins separated by a dividing member or reaction protuberance carried by the assembly adapted to intersect the space between such pair of bins.

18. In combination, a pick up assembly of any one of the preceding claims and a vehicle pick up arm assembly adapted to far less extensive outwardly from the vehicle when each of said spaced pairs (i) and (ii) are in their undeployed condition(s).

19. A pick up arm assembly of a type to engage and uplift at least one bin, said assembly including a head at the distal end of a robotic arm, such head having a capability of making at least two different types of interengagement with a bin selected from (1) a wrap around clamping engagement,

(2) a bin pivot providing engagement and

(3) a substantially vertically moving relative indexing and or clamping engagement, herein in an undeployed condition (e.g. stowed or parked condition) the assembly has one or both of the engagement features of (1) and/or (2) more proximate to the distal end of the robotic arm than when either or both (l)and/or (2) are deployed.

20. A pick up arm assembly of claim 19 having all ((1), (2) and (3)) types of interengagement capability.

21. The Use of apparatus of any one of the preceding claims to uplift bins.

22. The use of claim 21 which is in the course of a vehicle's collection of garbage.