GB2102384A - Collecting apparatus for refuse sacks and garbage containers - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for collecting garbage sacks or the like comprises at least two basket or cage members (12), each having a bottom portion (13) and a side wall (14) and being movable with respect to the other cage member from a first position, in which the cage members substantially form a cage or basket, to a second, open position in which the cage members jointly define a bottom opening as well as a side wall opening. To make possible or facilitate collecting and gripping of a heap of garbage sacks, which have been deposited upon the ground or another support surface, by means of the basket, the basket comprises a third, stationary wall part (15) which in the first position of the cage members (12) is located between said cage members, whose bottom portions (13) slope down towards a gap or slot which separates them from each other and is located substantially just opposite the stationary wall member. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for collecting refuse sacks, and garbage containers Field of the Invention This invention relates to an apparatus according to the preamble of Claim 1.

Background Art An apparatus of this general kind which is disclosed in the US Patent No. 3 446 337 comprises a basket or receptacle which has a substantially tight bottom and in which one can place and/or empty full garbage containers manually. The basket or receptacle consists of two parts which are hinged to each other on a substantially vertical axis for forming an opening through which the garbage container may be introduced into the receptacle, whereby tiring lifting of the garbage container over the wall of the receptacle is obviated. Through a horizontal pivot axis the receptacle is pivoted to a lifting arm whose other end is connected to a refuse collecting vehicle, similarly on a second horizontal pivot axis which is parallel to the first axis.By swinging the lifting arm and the garbage container it is possible to elevate and turn the latter and empty its contents into the vehicle. An essential drawback of this known system resides therein that the driver can not load or fill the receptacle without leaving the vehicle.

Disclosure of the Invention The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple and manageable apparatus of this general kind which is intended particularly for garbage or refuse sacks deposited upon the ground. This object is attained thanks to the fact that the apparatus according to the invention is so constructed as is set forth in the characterizing clause of Claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the foilowing detailed description and the annexed drawings which diagrammatically and as non-limiting example illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a very diagrammatic plan view of part of a refuse collecting van and a collecting apparatus for refuse sacks which is attached to the van and is shown in its closed position in which it has the shape of a cage or basket.

Fig. 2 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 1 and illustrating the collecting device in its open position (the "gripping position").

Fig. 3 illustrates the basket according to Fig. 1 as seen in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an end view as seen in the direction of the arrow B in Fig. 1 and illustrates the basket in its lowered position ("the collecting position").

Fig. 5 is a partial plan view on a larger scale and illustrates parts of the basket and its suspension means.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment In the drawings 1 designates a refuse collection body and 2 a loading hopper both of which constitute parts of a vehicle which is not further illustrated. A lift arm which is generally designated 3 is at its one end pivoted on a pivot shaft 4 in a carrying support 8 (Fig. 4) on the vehicle not further illustrated. The rotation or elevation of the arm 3 is brought about by a hydraulic ram 25. In the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 ("the collecting position") the lift arm rests in a support 5. The lift arm 3 is telescopic and comprises a main part 6 and an extension arm or member 7 which may be telescoped out of and into the main part 6. At its outer end which is remote from the pivot axis 4 the lift arm 3 is connected to a carrier arm 9 which extends along one of the walls of the loading hopper 2, substantially parallel to the pivot axis 4.

The carrier arm 9 is rotatable on its longitudinal axis by means of a hydraulic ram which is most clearly shown in Fig. 4 and comprises a pivotal piston cylinder 20 and an appurtenant piston rod 21 as well as pivot arms or links (not shown).

At its free end which is remote from the lift arm 3 the carrier arm 9 has a bracket 10 which is most clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 for the basket or collecting device according to the invention which is generally designated 1 This cage or basket comprises two halves 12, each having a bottom 13 and a side wall 14. Besides the two wall parts 1 4 the side wall of the basket comprises a third wall part 1 5 which is rigidly connected to the bracket 10 for the basket. The basket 11 is constructed of tubes or bars which are united into a framework by welding or the like. In its closed position the basket as seen in a plan view is oval with respect to its bottom as well as the upper edge of its side walls, as is most clearly apparent from Fig. 1.The two parts 1 3 of the bottom of the basket 11 have boundary edges which face each other and in the closed position of the basket extend along the longest diameter of the bottom oval. The two halves of the bottom slope down towards these boundary edges from the respective side wall 14, as is most clearly shown in Fig. 3. As is also apparent therefrom, said boundary edges define edges which at the closing rotation of the basket halves 1 2 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position according to Fig. 1 penetrate under the bottoms of the sacks which are to be gripped by and collected into the basket 11. In the closed position of the basket said edges of the bottom halves form between themselves a gap or slot 24, which prevents sacks from becoming sheared off at the closing of the basket.

As is most clearly shown in Fig. 1 the side walls 14, 1 5 of the basket are substantially vertical except in the region of the wall part 1 5 and those portions of the walls 14 which are located nearest said part, where the side walls converge slightly downwards. This means that the longest diameter of the upper edge of the side walls which according to the above and Fig. 1 forms a closed oval, is longer than the longest diameter of the bottom oval which coincides with the part of the first-mentioned diameter, as seen in a plan view.

The two basket halves 12 are each carried by an angle arm 17, said angle arms being rotatably carried by the bracket 10 and actuatable by hydraulic ram means 18 under the intermediary of two levers or the like 25, 26, which is shown only in Fig. 5, and an interconnecting link 27 for opening and closing the basket, i.e. transfer of the basket halves from the position according to Fig. 1 to the position according to Fig. 2 and vice versa.

To make possible individual movements of the basket halves 12 in relation to each other they are carried by the angle arms 1 7 through the intermediary of springs 23 (Fig. 4).

The extension and retraction of the telescopic extension arm or outer part 7 of the lift arm 3 and the closing of the basket halves 12 by means of the ram 1 8, the elevation of the lift arm 3 by the ram 25 and the rotation of the basket 11 through the ram means 20-21 is preferably carried out hydraulically by means of a hydraulic system belonging to the vehicle and comprising valves which are actuated from the driver's cabin or another suitable part of the vehicle.

When collecting (closed refuse sacks which are pre-supposed to have been deposited "heap wise" at the side of a road or street, the refuse van or collecting vehicle drives along the street and stops at each collecting operation with the basket 11 (in the position according to Fig. 1) close to and just opposite a refuse sack heap. By manipulating the appurtenant hydraulic valves the driver first opens the basket 11 into the position shown in Fig. 2 and extends the extension arm 7 so that the basket halves 1 2 are about to embrace the refuse sack heap.After that the basket halves are closed so that the refuse sack heap is embraced by the basket 11 which is now swung up or elevated above the loading hopper 2 by the rotation of the lift arm 3, possibly after that the extension arm 7 has been retracted more or less into the telescope arm 6. Finally, the refuse sacks in the basket 11 are emptied by turning the basket more or less upside down through the rotation of the carrier arm 9. Subsequent to the emptying operation the basket is returned to its initial position by carrying out the above operations in the reverse sequence.

The embodiment described above and illustrated in the drawings is, of course, to be regarded merely as a non-limiting example and may as to its details be modified in several ways within the scope of the following claims. In particular, the basket 11 may thus be opened and closed by displacing its halves translationally from and towards each other instead of rotating them.

Furthermore, the invention may be applied to other objects than refuse sacks and refuse vans.

Claims (7)

1. Apparatus, for collecting refuse sacks, garbage containers or the like, which have been deposited on the ground or another support surface, comprising two basket or cage members (12), each having a bottom portion (13) and a side wall (14), said cage members being movable in relation to each other from a first, closed position in which they substantially form a basket or a cage to a second, open position in which they jointly define a bottom opening as well as a side wall opening, characterized in that the basket or cage comprises a third, stationary wall part (15) which in the first position of the wall members (12) is located between them and is rigidly united with a bracket (10) on which the two movable cage members are pivotally journalled or movably supported in another way, and in that the bottom portions (13) are at least in part located just opposite respective portions of the stationary wall part (1 5) and jointly form a substantially complete cage or basket bottom (13 + 13).

2. Apparatus, according to Claim 1, characterized in that the two adjoining edges of the bottom portions (1 3) of the movable cage or basket members (12) form a slot (24) or gap between themselves in the first position of the two movable basket or cage members (12).

3. Apparatus, according to Claim 2, characterized in that the two bottom portions (13) slope down towards said slot (24) or gap in said first position of the two cage members, as seen in a cross sectional view, substantially perpendicular to said gap.

4. Apparatus, according to Claim 2, characterized in that the basket, as seen in a plan view, is substantially oval with respect to its composite bottom (13 + 13) as well as the upper boundary edge of the composite wall (14 + 1 5 + 14) in said first, closed position, and in that said gap or slot (25) between the bottom portions (13) of the two movable members substantially coincides with the longest diameter of the oval.

5. Apparatus, according to Claim 4, characterized in that the longest diameter of the oval formed by the upper edges of the walls (14, 1 5) in the closed position of the cage members (12) is longer than the longest diameter of the bottom oval.

6. Apparatus, according to Claim 1, characterized in that the two movable cage members (12) are resiliently suspended in carrier arms (1 7) which are pivotable, preferably synchronously, with respect to the bracket (10) on axes which are substantially vertical and parallel to each other.

7. Apparatus, for collecting refuse sacks, garbage containers or the like, which have been deposited on the ground or another support surface, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.