EP2456691B1 - Collection truck for emptying waste collection receptacles - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a collection truck for emptying waste collection bins.

The patent application US-A-5,004,392 discloses a collection truck according to the preamble of claim 1.

It is known that the handling of the collection bins generates noise disturbances which it has already been attempted to remedy by providing various devices for attenuating noise on the bins.

These devices reduce the noise generated by the containers when they are rolled on the ground or when their covers are opened or closed, which already constitutes significant improvements.

On the other hand, when the bins are emptied by collection trucks, the noise generated continues to be very significant, which poses variable problems, depending on the environment in which the operations are carried out. We know that, in a silent environment, collection trucks are a source of noise that some residents can complain about.

The present invention aims to propose a solution to this problem.

The present invention relates to a collection truck according to claim 1.

Within the meaning of the present invention, the term kinematics of mechanical emptying means the criteria defining the trajectory and orientation of the tank at each instant of its emptying movement and dynamic mechanical emptying means means the criteria defining the speed and the acceleration of the tank at each instant of its emptying movement, speed and acceleration being algebraic data, that is to say potentially negative, which includes decelerations.

The invention makes it possible to implement bin emptying operations reducing the noise emissions caused by the truck itself and by the sound interactions, of shock or vibration types, occurring between each bin and the truck during emptying, by precisely adapting the trajectory of the tank, its orientation, its speed and its acceleration at all times, so as to make the emptying operation as quiet as possible.

In the state of the art, the parameters determining the trajectory, orientation, speed and acceleration of the tank during its emptying were determined as a function of the desired emptying efficiency and, above all, so as to ensure the emptying of all types of tanks. likely to be emptied by the collection truck. Consequently, certain parameters were necessarily oversized with respect to certain tanks and certain inappropriate trajectories, at least with regard to the noise generated, in particular because rapid and brutal movements were often retained as providing the best average efficiency of emptying vis-à-vis several types of tanks.

In a first embodiment which is not part of the present invention, the truck comprises a manual means for selecting between several emptying modes, each emptying mode corresponding to a different setting of the configurable member of the mechanical emptying means.

This embodiment has the advantage of being very simple to execute: the person responsible for presenting containers to the truck for emptying selects an emptying mode before triggering the emptying. The emptying modes offered can depend on the type of bin or more simply on a choice between "speed", "energy saving" and "silence". This choice can be made by the operator depending on the time available and the environment in which the emptying takes place. Another possible choice, compatible with the previous one, is “normal cycle” or “very dirty cycle”, depending on what the operator can observe from the contents of the tank.

According to claim 1, the invention is implemented with collection bins of the type comprising an electronic label containing data, said label being readable by a reader on board the collection truck.

• un lecteur d'étiquette électronique capable de prélever des informations contenues dans une telle étiquette portée par un bac lorsque ce bac est présenté pour son vidage,
• un moyen de détermination d'un mode de vidage adapté aux données lues sur l'étiquette électronique,
• un moyen de paramétrage de l'organe paramétrable des moyens de vidage, en fonction du mode de vidage adapté.

According to the invention, the collection truck comprises:

• an electronic label reader capable of picking up information contained in such a label carried by a bin when this bin is presented for emptying,
• a means of determining an emptying mode adapted to the data read from the electronic label,
• a means for configuring the configurable member of the emptying means, as a function of the suitable emptying mode.

The Applicant has already described, in particular in FR2899362 , a collection tank having the characteristics adapted to this embodiment.

• type de bac, en référence à une liste de types connus. Dans ce cas, le camion de collecte peut accéder à une base de données, à distance ou embarquée, faisant la relation entre chaque type de bac connu et des données dimensionnelles et/ou massiques exploitables par le moyen de détermination d'un mode de vidage adapté, ou directement entre chaque type de bac connu et un paramètre à fournir à l'organe paramétrable des moyens de vidage.
• données dimensionnelles et/ou massiques exploitables par le moyen de détermination d'un mode de vidage adapté.

The data present in the electronic label carried by the container can be of different types, namely:

• bin type, with reference to a list of known types. In this case, the collection truck can access a database, remotely or on-board, making the relationship between each type of known bin and dimensional and / or mass data usable by means of determining an emptying mode adapted, or directly between each type of known tank and a parameter to be provided to the configurable member of the emptying means.
• dimensional and / or mass data usable by the means of determining a suitable emptying mode.

In addition to this data, the electronic label can of course contain data relating to the maintenance of the bin, the owner of the bin, any billing for collection, etc. as described in FR2899362 .

The two previous embodiments (manual and that of the present invention) can be combined in a third embodiment in which the data present in the electronic label of the container makes it possible to determine the emptying mode suitable for the container and the operator. can add their preference regarding the emptying mode. In this case, the choices available to the operator can be, as previously described: "speed", "energy saving" or "silence", or even "normal cycle" or "very dirty cycle", depending on his judgment when he observes the bac.

In one embodiment, compatible with what has been previously described, the trajectory and / or the speed and / or the acceleration of the lifting arm of the container during the complete lifting movement of the container can take at least two configurations.

• Si un mode d'économie d'énergie ou de silence est choisi, le compacteur peut être déclenché moins souvent.
• Si des données relatives au bac sont exploitées, le mouvement du compacteur peut être synchronisé avec celui des moyens mécaniques de vidage de façon à éviter de mettre le bac en contact avec le compacteur lorsqu'il se trouve dans la benne. Une autre possibilité est de limiter le mouvement du compacteur dans le même but.

In another embodiment of the invention, compatible with the previous ones, the collection truck comprises a compactor and a means for parameterizing the movements of this compactor and this parameterization means is controlled as a function of the emptying mode selected. For example :

• If an energy saving or silent mode is chosen, the compactor can be triggered less often.
• If data relating to the bin are used, the movement of the compactor can be synchronized with that of the mechanical emptying means so as to avoid bringing the bin into contact with the compactor when it is in the bucket. Another possibility is to limit the movement of the compactor for the same purpose.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the lifting arm comprises an upper comb and a lower support, the upper comb being intended to engage under a flange of the tank for lifting it, while the lower support is intended to lean against the side of the tray located under the comb, the lifting arm being oriented, depending on the geometry of the tray, provided by its electronic label or by a database, so that the support lower is already pressing against the tray blank when the comb raises the tray. In this way, the bin does not bump against the support when it takes off from the ground, which is a source of noise.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, a configurable lifting member is a set of at least two grippers, for example a comb and support couple on the one hand, circular pliers on the other hand, or several comb couples and support of different dimensions, said set of grippers being capable of presenting, for lifting a container, the gripper adapted to this container, according to the indications provided by the electronic label of the container.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, a configurable member consists of a damping bar, located in the upper part of the rear of the truck, above the opening of the bucket, damping bar against which a container being emptied comes to rest when it has been overturned by the mechanical lifting means.

The damping bar can be configured, according to the invention, so as to position itself automatically at the right distance taking into account the dimensions of the bin provided by its electronic label or by a database, so that said bin, once overturned , come to lean against it, leaving a minimal, even negative, clearance (that is to say under stress), so as to eliminate the noise-generating vibrations due to repeated shocks from the tank against the damping bar.

According to the present invention, a configurable member is a lifting arm which, depending on the geometry of the container, provided by its electronic label or by a database, orients the container when placing it on the ground so as to put first the bin wheels in contact with the ground, then the bin feet. In this way, rubbing of the feet of the container on the ground is avoided, which reduces noise emissions.

• des moyens de pesée d'un bac au début de son levage,
• un moyen de détermination d'un mode de vidage adapté au poids du bac,
• un moyen de paramétrage de l'organe paramétrable des moyens de vidage, en fonction du mode de vidage adapté.

In another embodiment of the invention, compatible with the previous ones, the collection truck comprises:

• weighing means of a container at the start of its lifting,
• a means of determining an emptying mode adapted to the weight of the tank,
• a means for configuring the configurable member of the emptying means, as a function of the suitable emptying mode.

In this case, it is not necessary to have an electronic label containing mass data relating to the tank. The actual weight of the bin, including waste, is taken into account to determine the most appropriate emptying mode for emptying the bin.

A favorable embodiment of the invention relates to a combination of a collection truck as described above and at least one collection bin of the type comprising an electronic label containing data, said label being readable by a reader. on board the collection truck.

• l'invention préserve les bacs, en particulier leurs couvercles, et les camions de collecte en les sollicitant moins mécaniquement,
• l'invention permet des économies d'énergie en permettant un diminution de l'énergie consommée par les moyens mécaniques de levage lors de certaines phases du vidage,
• l'invention permet de sécuriser l'opération de levage et notamment de préhension du bac, si cette première étape du levage est adaptée au type de bac vidé, ce qui améliore la sécurité du personnel chargé de présenter les bacs au camion.

The invention provides the main advantage of allowing noise reduction during emptying of the tanks, but also additional advantages, corollaries of the principal, and in particular:

• the invention preserves the bins, in particular their lids, and the collection trucks by stressing them less mechanically,
• the invention allows energy savings by allowing a reduction in the energy consumed by the mechanical lifting means during certain phases of emptying,
• the invention makes it possible to secure the lifting operation and in particular for gripping the container, if this first lifting step is adapted to the type of empty container, which improves the safety of the personnel responsible for presenting the containers to the truck.

• la figure 1 est une vue de côté de l'arrière d'un camion de collecte et d'un bac de collecte de déchets selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention, le bac de collecte de déchets étant prêt à être levé ;
• la figure 2 est une vue analogue à la figure 1, le bac de collecte de déchets étant en position de vidage.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a side view of the rear of a collection truck and a waste collection bin according to an embodiment of the invention, the waste collection bin being ready to be lifted;
• the figure 2 is a view analogous to the figure 1 , the waste collection tank being in the emptying position.

The figure 1 shows the back of a collection truck 1 for emptying waste collection bins 20.

The collection truck 1 comprises a collection bucket 2. A lifting arm 3, 4, 5 is fixed to the rear of the truck 1 by known means. This arm includes a support 5 fixed on the truck and able to move vertically, a link 3 which can pivot around two horizontal axes situated at its ends, one of these axes being carried by the support 5, and a gripper 4 articulated on the link 3 around from its other horizontal axis. The gripper 4 takes an essentially vertical position when the arm 3, 4, 5 is in the rest position. These three components of the lifting arm 3, 4, 5 include means (not shown) for controlling their movement. These means can in particular be configured so that the acceleration of the lifting arm, either of the support and / or of the link, is variable. These means may for this purpose include one or more proportional valves.

The gripper 4 comprises, in its upper part, a comb 6 and, in its lower part, a support 7. As is known, the comb is intended to engage under a collar 21 for gripping the container 20 while the support 7 is intended to come to bear against the blank of the container 20 to compensate for the torque generated by the comb when it pulls the container upwards by exerting a force not passing through the center of gravity of the container. The collection truck 1 also comprises a damping bar 8 pivotally fixed along a horizontal axis in the upper rear part of the truck 1, above the opening of the bucket 2. This damping bar 8 serves to prevent the tank 20 to tilt in the bucket 2 when it is at the top of its upward travel. This bar 8 carries means 10 for damping its movement relative to the truck 1. These means 10 are conventional. These means 10 may also include means (not shown) for controlling the displacement of the bar. The free end of the damping bar 8 carries means 9 for attenuating noise during contact of the tank 20 with the damping bar 8.

The bin 20 is a known collection bin. As already mentioned, it comprises a gripping flange 21 capable of cooperating with the comb 6 in order to allow the lifting arm 3, 4, 5 to lift the container 20. The lower part of the container has two wheels 23 and two feet 24.

In an example not forming part of the present invention, the truck 1 carries a manual means 11 for selecting the emptying mode.

In this embodiment, the person responsible for presenting trays 20 to the truck 1 for emptying them chooses, by means of manual selection means 11, the emptying mode the most suitable mode. The choice can be made between “speed”, “energy saving” and “silence” mode. Another possible choice, compatible with the previous one, is "normal cycle" or "very dirty cycle". These choices are made by the operator as a function of the time available, the environment in which the emptying takes place and what he observes as to the content of the tanks.

The operator places the tray 20 facing the comb 6. The comb 6 engages under the grip collar 21. Then, the lifting arm 3, 4, 5 starts to move to lift the tank and bring it into the emptying position with the speeds, the accelerations (positive and negative, i.e. decelerations) and the trajectory determined by the choice of emptying.

For example, when the operator chooses "rapid" emptying, the lifting arm is controlled so that the speed of the lifting arm quickly reaches a significant value. In addition, the lifting arm is not or little decelerated when approaching the damping bar.

When the operator chooses “economic” emptying, in order to save energy on the truck, the acceleration varies gradually so that the lifting arm gradually reaches a low lifting speed. In addition, the lifting arm is not or little decelerated when approaching the damping bar.

When the operator chooses "silent" emptying, the lifting arm is decelerated gradually as it approaches the damping bar so that its speed is almost zero when the bin is near the bar. amortization.

In addition, when the operator chooses the “very dirty” cycle, the tank can be controlled so as to make a slight backward movement and is again advanced against the damping bar, so as to be thrown several times against the damping bar during the same lifting movement.

The figure 2 represents the tray 20 in the emptying position. In this figure, the dotted lines represent the part of the bin hidden by the wall of the tipper of the collection truck. The container 20 is positioned against the damping bar 8 and the noise attenuation means 9 is in direct contact with the lower part of the container 20. The content of the container 20 falls into the collecting bucket 2.

The lifting arm 3, 4, 5 sets in motion to deposit the tank 20 on the ground. The parameters of the trajectory and of the speed and the acceleration during the descent depend on the choice of emptying made by the operator. The operator collects the empty tray 20 and can present another tray 20 for the emptying operation. During the "silent" mode, the lifting arm is for example also decelerated very gradually so that the speed of this arm is almost zero when the tank touches the ground.

Note that the invention is not limited to what has been described above.

We will now describe embodiments of the invention. These modes are compatible with each other.

The invention is implemented with collection bins 20 of the type comprising an electronic label 22 containing data (type of bin, dimensional data, maintenance, etc.), said label 22 being readable by an on-board reader (not shown) on collection truck 1. The truck also includes a means of determining an emptying mode adapted to the data read from the electronic label 22 and a means of setting at least the lifting arm 3, 4, 5, but also possibly of the bar 8 depreciation, depending on the appropriate emptying mode. Depending on the data read from the electronic label, the speed; the acceleration and / or movement (or trajectory) of the lifting arm and its support and / or the positioning of the damping bar are configured so as to optimize the emptying of the collection tank.

The invention and the example of the truck with a manual selection means described above can advantageously be combined with one another.

In another embodiment, the data read from the electronic label make it possible to configure the movement of the lifting arm so that the comb 6 engages under the flange 21 of the container to lift it while the gripper 4 is oriented so that the lower support comes to rest against the blank of the tray located under the comb. In this way, the tank does not bump against the support when it takes off from the ground.

In another embodiment, the damping bar 8 also carries means (not shown) for movement control allowing its positioning. Thus, according to the data read on the label carried by the bin, once the bin at the top of its travel, said bin comes to rest against the damping bar, leaving minimal, even negative, play so as to eliminate the noises generated by repeated shocks from the tank against the damping bar if the latter is incorrectly positioned.

According to the present invention, the data read from the electronic label make it possible to configure the movement of the lifting arm 3, 4, 5, and in particular the orientation of the gripper 4, so as to first deposit the wheels 23 of the container 20 then 24 feet to remove the noise that can be generated by the friction of the feet of the tray during removal if they touch the ground first.

In another embodiment of the invention (not shown), compatible with the previous ones, the collection truck comprises means for weighing a bin at the start of its lifting, a means for determining an appropriate emptying mode the weight of the tank and a means of configuring the configurable member of the emptying means, according to the appropriate emptying mode. In this case, it is not necessary to have an electronic label containing mass data relating to the bin. The weight of the bin, including waste, is taken into account to determine the most appropriate emptying mode for emptying the bin.

It is understood that the embodiments which have just been described have no limiting character and that they may receive any desirable modifications insofar as they do not depart from the scope of the claims.

Claims (12)

1. Collection truck (1) for emptying waste collection receptacles (20), comprising a collection body (2) and mechanical emptying means (3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10) for taking hold of a receptacle (20) to be emptied and subjecting it to a complete emptying movement, from the moment when said receptacle (20) is lifted from the ground to the moment when it is placed back on the ground, and including the moment when the receptacle (20) is flipped upside down in order to be emptied into the collection body (2), the truck comprising:

   - an electronic label reader (22) capable of extracting information contained in such a label (22) on a receptacle (20) when said receptacle (20) is positioned for being emptied,

   - a means for determining an emptying mode suited to the data read from the electronic label (22), said truck (1) comprising:

   - at least one configurable member among the mechanical emptying means (3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10), said at least one configurable member being able to follow at least two operating modes distinguished by at least one parameter that determines the kinematics and/or the dynamics of the mechanical emptying means during the complete emptying movement of a receptacle (20),

   - a means for configuring said at least one configurable member of the emptying means according to the suitable emptying mode,

   said truck being characterized in that one configurable member is the lifting arm (3, 4, 5) which is designed to orient the receptacle (20) when placing it on the ground such that the wheels (23) of the receptacle (20) are brought into contact with the ground first, followed by the feet of the receptacle (24), depending on the geometry of the receptacle (20) as indicated by its electronic label (22) or by a database.
2. Collection truck (1) according to claim 1, comprising a manual means (11) for making a selection from a plurality of emptying modes, each emptying mode corresponding to a different configuration of the configurable member of the mechanical emptying means (3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10).
3. Collection truck (1) according to claim 2, wherein the proposed emptying modes are dependent on the type of receptacle (20).
4. Collection truck (1) according to either claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the proposed emptying modes are dependent on a choice between "speed", "energy saving" and "silence" made by the operator on the basis of the time available and the environment in which the emptying is taking place.
5. Collection truck (1) according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the proposed emptying modes are dependent on a choice between "normal cycle" or "very dirty cycle" made by the operator on the basis of what he observes about the contents of the receptacles.
6. Collection truck according to claim 5, comprising means for accessing a database which is located remotely or on board and establishes the connection between known types of receptacle (20) and dimensional and/or mass data that can be utilized by the means for determining a suitable emptying mode, or establishes the direct connection between each type of known receptacle (20) and a parameter to be supplied to the configurable member of the emptying means (3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10).
7. Collection truck (1) according to any of claims 1 to 6, comprising a means for configuring the movements of its compactor, this configuration means being controlled according to the selected emptying mode.
8. Collection truck (1) according to claim 7, wherein the movement of the compactor is synchronized with that of the mechanical emptying means (3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10) so as to prevent the receptacle (20) from being brought into contact with the compactor when said receptacle is in the collection body (2).
9. Collection truck (1) according to claim 7, wherein the movement of the compactor is limited so as to prevent the receptacle (20) from being brought into contact with the compactor when said receptacle is in the collection body (2).
10. Collection truck (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the configurable member is the lifting arm (3, 4, 5) comprising an upper comb (6) and a lower support (7), the upper comb (6) being intended to engage under a flange (21) of the receptacle (20) so as to lift said receptacle, whereas the lower support (7) is intended to rest against the side of the receptacle (20) located below the comb (6), the lifting arm (3, 4, 5) being oriented, depending on the geometry of the receptacle (20) as indicated by its electronic label (22) or by a database, such that the lower support (7) already abuts the side of the receptacle when the comb (6) lifts the receptacle (20).
11. Collection truck (1) according to any of claims 1 to 10, comprising:

    - means for weighing a receptacle (20) at the start of the process whereby said receptacle is lifted,

    - a means for determining an emptying mode suited to the weight of the receptacle (20),

    - the means for configuring the configurable member of the emptying means (3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10) according to the suitable emptying mode.
12. Combination of a collection truck (1) according to any of claims 1 to 11 and at least one collection receptacle (20) of the type comprising an electronic label (22) containing data, said label (22) being readable by the reader on board the collection truck (1).

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