FR2726540A1 - Container with bottom emptying trapdoor, esp. for glass recycling - Google Patents

Abstract

The container includes a liftable central tube (7) which moves vertically up and down and is connected to a trapdoor (3) in the base of the container. The connection is by use of a slider (5) which is secured to the trapdoor and is free to move relative to the body of the tube, which it surrounds.The tube includes one or more projections (15) which cooperate with a pivoting hook (13) having a stop surface (14). A catch (17) secured to the tube engages the hook as the tube moves vertically, to move it into a position in which its stop surface engages the tube to restrict its vertical movement and control the position of the trapdoor via the slider.

Description

 The present invention relates to a bottom emptying container in particular for collecting waste and in particular glass.

 Such containers are commonly placed on the public highway so that users can come and deposit their empty glass bottles there.

 A collection truck comes regularly, either to empty the full container, or to replace it with an empty container, the full container being subsequently emptied in an appropriate place.

 In all cases, it is necessary to be able to carry out at will, either the movement of the container and its emptying, or the movement of the container without emptying it, and this, in a reliable manner.

 For reasons of simplicity, it is advantageous to carry out these two types of operation using the same lifting device.

 Devices have already been proposed for this purpose, but these known devices involve manual intervention on the container, either to unlock a hatch of the container, or to arm a sensor which causes the opening of the bottom of the container when it is approached. on contact with a surface.

 In addition, these known devices are unreliable because the conditions under which they operate lead them to deteriorate rapidly.

 The present invention aims to provide a suitable container, without manual intervention, & be lifted a first time without opening its bottom wall, then lifted a second time by opening its bottom wall, in a completely automatic manner.

 Thanks to the invention it is possible, during a first lifting operation, to move a full container between its position of use and a position below its emptying location and, during a second lifting operation, emptying said container.

 The present invention relates to a container comprising a lifting tube able to move up and down in the container, a hatch capable of opening to allow the emptying of the container from the bottom, a slide secured to the hatch capable of sliding around the lifting tube between a high position in which the hatch is closed and a low position in which the hatch is open, and movable means between an open position and a closed position, the lifting tube being able, in the position closing of the movable means, climb into the container until it abuts against the slide thus maintained in the high position, then descend into the container by placing said movable means in their open position, and, in the open position of the movable means , climb into the container to an intermediate position in which the slide is free to slide down, then descend into the container by placing said mob means islands in their closed position.

 In other words, in accordance with the invention, the container can be lifted for the first time by pulling on its lifting tube, which then moves upwards in the container until it comes to bear against the slide of the hatch .

 The lifting tube then pulls on the slide, which keeps the hatch closed and causes the container to be lifted.

 The container can then be placed in the location where it is to be emptied and the lifting tube lowered inside the container.

 By pulling the lifting tube again, the container is raised while the slide is no longer held in the high position.

 Therefore, the slide descends along the lifting tube, which allows the opening of the hatch.

 Once emptied, the container is put back on its place of use where, coming into contact with the ground, the hatch closes and the slide goes up along the lifting tube.

 When the hatch is completely closed and the container rests on the ground, the lifting tube is lowered back into the container where it returns to its initial position.

 The container according to the invention notably comprises three embodiments which are illustrated in the drawing.

These three embodiments are described by way of nonlimiting examples of the scope of the invention, with reference to the drawing in which
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention,
FIGS. 2 to 9 represent the device of FIG. 1 during its operation,
FIG. 10 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 showing a second embodiment of the invention,
FIGS. 11 to 16 represent the device of FIG. 10 during its operation,
FIG. 17 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 showing a third embodiment of the invention, and
- Figures 18 to 25 show the device of Figure 19 during its operation.

 In the drawing, the parts which are identical from one embodiment & another bear the same reference number.

 The figures represent a container 1, the bottom wall 2 of which is constituted by a hatch with two leaves 3 mounted on hinges 4.

 The flaps 3 of the hatch are able to pivot down, as can be seen in FIG. 5, but cannot penetrate inside the container 1.

 In the container rest position, the hatch is closed because the leaves 3 bear on the ground, the container 1 resting on the hatch.

 The two leaves 3 are integral with the same slide 5, each by means of a connecting rod 6 articulated to the slide and to one of the leaves.

 The slide 5 is engaged around a lifting tube 7, axially movable in the container, and whose lower end 8 comprises a stop 9 and whose upper end 10, which protrudes from the container 1, comprises a lifting ring 11.

 The lifting tube 7 extends over most of the height of the container and passes through a lock housing 12 which extends from the upper part of the container 1 to the vicinity of the slide 5.

 Inside this lock case, there is a tilting hook 13 between two stable positions which are visible for example in FIGS. 1 and 5.

 The hook 13 has a spout 14 which, in the first stable position, called the closed position, of the hook, visible in FIG. 1, is distant from the lifting tube, and which, in a second stable position, called the open position , the hook, visible in Figure 5, is located near the lifting tube.

 In the closed position illustrated in Figure 1, the hook 13 is in abutment against a stop 13a.

 In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 9, the lifting tube 7 also includes a spout 15 which is able to cooperate with the spout 14 of the tilting hook 13.

 Above its spout 15, the lifting tube 7 has a cam 16 which is able to push the tilting hook 13 back into its closed position when the lifting tube 7 is lowered into the container 1.

 A cleat 17 is also mounted on the lifting tube 7 around an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the lifting tube 7 and below the spout 15.

 This cleat 17, during the rise of the lifting tube 7, retracts when it comes into contact with the tilting hook 13, as visible in FIG. 3.

 On the other hand, during the descent of the lifting tube 7, the cleat 17, bearing on a stop 18 integral with the lifting tube, places the tilting hook 13 in its open position, as visible in FIG. 4.

 The operation of the device in FIG. 1 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 9.

 In FIG. 2, the container 1 filled with waste rests on the ground 19, the tilting hook 13 being in its first stable, closed position.

 Using a lifting device, not shown, the lifting tube 7 is moved upwards by pulling on its lifting ring 11, as shown in FIG. 3.

 In this figure, it can be seen that the cleat 17 which is shown in broken lines during its passage in the vicinity of the tilting hook 13, retracts, leaving the latter in its first stable, closed position.

 The stop 9 which is located at the lower end 8 of the lifting tube 7 comes to bear on the slide 5, which, thus maintained in the high position by means of the connecting rods 6, exerts traction on the leaves 3 of the hatch .

 The flaps 3 can not penetrate inside the container, the latter lifts.

 The container 1 can then be moved to a dumping location, for example on a pile of waste 20 inside a bucket, not shown.

 The container 1 is then lowered until it rests on the pile of waste 20, as shown in FIG. 4.

 The container 1 resting on the pile of waste 20, the descent of the lifting tube 7 is continued until the cleat 17 meets the tilting hook 13 and, bearing on its stop 18, place said tilting hook in its second position stable, open.

 The spout 14 of the tilting hook 13 is then placed above the spout 15 of the lifting tube 7.

 The descent of the lifting tube 7 is then stopped, leaving a visual mark 7a, provided for this purpose at the upper end of the latter, protruding from the container, and the direction of movement of the lifting tube 7 is reversed to pull it up.

 The tilting hook 13 being integral with the lifting tube 7 by its spout 15, the container 1 is raised, while the slide 5 is free to move along the lifting tube 7 to descend until it takes a low position in support on stop 9.

 As a result, the leaves 3 of the hatch open outwards, letting the waste fall, as shown in FIG. 5.

 When it is completely emptied, the container 1 can be returned to the position of use.

 I1 is then brought back with its hatch open to its place of use where it is deposited as shown in FIG. 6.

 Resting on the ground 19, the flaps of the hatch pivot by raising the slider 5 to the high position along the lifting tube 7.

 When the container 1 rests completely on the ground 19, the descent of the lifting tube 7, as shown in FIG. 7, is continued until it is completely inserted into the container.

 The cam 16 then pushes the tilting hook 13 back into its first stable, closed position, the container 1 then being in the state shown in FIG. 9, which is the same as that in FIG. 2.

 The container is ready to be refilled and emptied as just described.

 In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 to 16, the spout 15 of the lifting tube is integral with a first tilting part 22 pivotally mounted around an axis 23 substantially perpendicular to that of the lifting tube 7.

 This tilting part 22 comprises, opposite its spout 15, a heel 24 which is able to cooperate with an intermediate stop 25 secured to the container, as will be explained below.

 In FIG. 11, the container 1 filled with waste is in the same state as in FIG. 2, the tilting hook 13 being in its first stable, closed position.

 By pulling the lifting tube 7 upwards, its stop 9 is brought into contact with the slide and the container 1 is raised, as shown in FIG. 12.

 Simultaneously, the tilting part 22, which is pivotally mounted on the lifting tube 7, comes into contact with a cam 26, placed in the upper part of the container 1, which places it in an inclined position as visible in FIG. 12.

 The container 1 is then placed on a pile of waste 20 and the lifting tube 7 is lowered inside the container 1.

 The cleat 17 then straightens the tilting hook 13 to place it in its second stable, open position.

 The heel 24 of the tilting part 22 then meets the intermediate stop 25, which causes the descent of the lifting tube 7 to be interrupted.

 Compared to the previous embodiment, this second embodiment has the advantage that the lifting tube is not likely to descend too low relative to the container, because the heel 24 of the tilting part 22 is stopped by the stop intermediate.

 We can also see that the visual reference 7a remains outside the container.

 Otherwise, the cam 16 of the lifting tube could replace the tilting hook 13 in its first stable, closed position, which would prevent the spout 14 of this tilting hook 13 from cooperating with the spout 15 of the lifting tube 7, the container would then be again in the initial state shown in FIG. 11.

 By again pulling the lifting tube 7 upwards, the container 1 is lifted as described above, which causes the hatch to open, as illustrated in FIG. 14.

 Simultaneously, the tilting part 22 returns to its first position, its spout 15 resting on that 14 of the tilting hook 13.

 After complete emptying, the container 1 is replaced in its place of use as illustrated in FIG. 15, the cam 16 of the lifting tube 7 pushing the tilting hook 13 to return it to its first stable, closed position, as illustrated in Figure i6.

 The tilting part 22 can no longer take its inclined position, even accidentally following an impact, because the intermediate stop 25 limits its angular movement by constituting, by its vertical face 25a, a stop for the heel 24.

 In the third embodiment, illustrated in Figures 17 to 25, the spout 15 and the cam 16 of the lifting tube 7 are integral with a second tilting part 27 mounted on the lifting tube 7 around an axis 28 substantially perpendicular to the axis of the lifting tube.

 In FIG. 17, the part 27 is shown in a first stable, closed position.

 During the first lifting of the container, shown in Figures 18 and 19, the hatch remains closed as described above.

 The tilting part 27 comes into contact with the upper cam 26 and takes a second stable, open position, in which the cam 16 retracts the tilting part 27 which is in abutment by a stop 27a against the lifting tube 7.

 When the container 1 is placed on the pile of waste 20, as illustrated in FIG. 20, the lifting tube 7 goes back down into the container and the cleat 17 places the tilting hook 13 in its second stable, open position.

 As in the previous embodiment, if the lifting tube 7 descends too low inside the container, the tilting hook 13 is not likely to return to its first stable position, due to the fact that the cam 16 is retracted. It is therefore unnecessary to provide a visual cue & the upper part of the lifting tube, as in the two embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 16.

 When the lifting tube 7 is again pulled upwards, the tilting hook 13 and the tilting part 27 cooperate, which causes the container to be lifted and the hatch to open.

 Simultaneously, the tilting part 27 returns to its first stable, closed position, supported by a stop 27b on the lifting tube, as seen in FIG. 21.

 By resting the empty container on the ground, as illustrated in FIG. 22, the lifting tube 7 is lowered back into the container, as visible in FIG. 23.

 The cam 16 of the tilting part 27 then pushes the tilting hook 13 back into its first stable, closed position, as shown in FIG. 24, and the container 1 is again in the initial state, as visible in FIG. 25 .

 Note that in this embodiment, it is imperative that the tilting part 27 and the tilting hook 13 are balanced so that the cam 16 can push the spout 14, and not the reverse.

 It is understood that the embodiments which have just been described have no limiting character and that they can receive any desirable modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (4)

 1. Container for emptying from the bottom, characterized in that it comprises a lifting tube (7) capable of going up and down in the container (1), a hatch (3) capable of opening to allow emptying of the container (1) from the bottom, a slide (5) integral with the hatch (3) and capable of sliding around the lifting tube (7) between a high position in which the hatch (3) is closed, and a position low in which the hatch (3) is open, and movable means (13,15,16,17; 22 ;; 27) between an open position and a closed position, the lifting tube (7) being able, in the closed position of the mobile means, climb into the container (1) until it abuts the slide (5) thus held in the high position, then descend into the container (1) by placing said mobile means in the open position , and, in the open position of the movable means, mount in the container (1) to an intermediate position in which the slide (5) is free to slide down, then descend into the container (1) by placing said movable means in the closed position.  2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the mobile means comprise a spout (15) integral with the lifting tube, a tilting hook (13) integral with the container (1) and comprising a spout (14) able to cooperate with the spout (15) of the lifting tube, a cleat (l7) integral with the lifting tube capable of moving the tilting hook in an open position and a cam (16) integral with the lifting tube capable of replacing the tilting hook (13) in a closed position.  3. Container according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the spout (15) of the lifting tube is integral with a first tilting part (22) which comprises, opposite the spout (15 ), a heel (24) able to cooperate with an intermediate stop (25) integral with the container, when said first tilting part (22) is tilted to retain the lifting tube in the intermediate position.  4. Container according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the spout (15) and the cam (16) of the lifting tube (7) are integral with a second tilting part (27) which can be tilted to retract the cam (16).