GB2224766A - Litter/leaves collecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for collecting litter and leaves from substrates comprises a drum 2 having an array of spikes 12 extending radially from the peripheral surface thereof. The drum is rotatably mounted in a frame 4 which also supports a comb 8 with tooth 10 which are laid tangentially against the drum surface between the spikes. The spikes 12 are arranged on the drum surface such that the drum 2 can rotate with the comb teeth 10 at the base of the spikes. In use, the drum 2 is rolled across a substrate such that the spikes 12 pierce the substrate and material deposited thereon and lift such material from the substrate. The orientation of the comb 8 is such that the teeth 10 strip such material from the spikes 12 and carry it away to a receptacle 14 also mounted in the frame. The spikes 12 may be mounted directly on the drum 2 or on a belt which extends around two or more such drums. The drum or drums may themselves support the frame on a substrate. Alternatively the frame may be self-supporting with the spacing between the spikes and the substrate adjustable thereon. <IMAGE>

Description

COLLECTION DEVICES This invention relates to collection devices, and particularly such devices for collecting litter and leaves from relatively soft substrates such as grass, sand, earth and uncompacted gravel. Devices of the invention can also be adapted for use on hard substrates, such as pavements and roads. They are specially suitable for use in private gardens, as well as in larger parkland areas where deposits of leaves and/or litter particularly are a problem.

Litter has been traditionally collected in public parks on a spike manipulated by a member of the ground staff. Such a device is clearly unsuitable for leaf collection where much greater quantities of material must be collected. For this purpose, various brushing devices have been proposed, but these have not proved wholly satisfactory, particularly where the material to be collected has adhered to the substrate for some reason.

For example, wet leaves can be relatively difficult to dislodge from soft ground.

According to the present invention, a collection device comprises a drum rotatably mounted on a frame, the drum having an array of spikes extending radially from the peripheral surface of the drum. A comb mounted on the frame has teeth which are laid tangentially against the drum between the spikes, and the array of spikes is such that it permits the drum to rotate with the comb teeth against the drum surface; ie, at the roots of the spikes.

In use the drum is rolled across a substrate such that the spikes pierce the substrate and material deposited thereon, and carry the material away from the substrate.

As the drum rotates the material reaches the point of engagement with the comb, which strips the material from the spikes and carries it to a receptacle also mounted on the frame. Normally, the spikes are mounted directly on the drum, but they can equally be mounted on a sleeve which is itself secured to the drum surface. Further, and as described below, in some variants of the invention, the spikes can be mounted on a belt which extends around two or more drums or rollers.

In its simplest form, a device of the invention is adapted for manual operation, and the weight of the device can be selected such that there is sufficient contact pressure between the spikes and the substrate to achieve sufficient penetration of the spikes to lift material therefrom. Of course, the operator can apply further vertical pressure if desired. In these embodiments, a drum normally provides the only means of supporting the device on the substrate. However, an additional rolling mechanism may be included which enables the contact pressure tv be varied.

An additional rolling mechanism of the kind just referred to, in its most simple form provides an alternative support for the frame at an axis spaced from the drum axis. By transferring the weight of the device between the drum and the rolling mechanism, the contact pressure between the drum and the substrate can be varied.

Such transfer is easily effected by pivoting the device about the axis of the additional rolling mechanism. A suitable additional rolling mechanism may comprise a roller or a pair of coaxial wheels rotatable about an axis fixed on the frame and spaced from and substantially parallel to the drum axis. In a development of this variant of the invention, the drum may be mounted on the frame between two such rolling mechanisms such that the spacing of the frame itself over the substrate is effectively predefined. A separate mechanism can be provided for altering the height of the drum axis relative to the frame. In another alternative, such an additional rolling mechanism may take the form of wheels disposed at either axial end of the drum, with means for raising or lowering the drum bzf:ween them.

Where the drum is mounted on a framework which is supported on its own rolling mechanism, the spikes on the drum may be deliberately spaced from the substrate for picking up larger objects such as cigarette boxes, from hard as well as soft substrates; for example roads or pavements. Larger spikes will normally be used in this variant, and the drum will normally be positively driven, conveniently by direct coupling to a rolling mechanism.

This embodiment can be suitable for picking up quite heavy objects such as empty drinks cans which are relatively easily pierced. A modification of this embodiment replaces the drum with a spiked belt extending around rollers which provides an extended contact area over the substrate, and the flexibility of the belt serves to hold the objects prior to passage under a roller where the object is fully entrained on the spikes.

In some embodiments of the invention, the device may include two drums, each bearing spikes and having an associated comb and receptacle, the drums being mounted on the frame for rotation about spaced parallel axes thereon.

The drums may be of different weights such that one exerts a greater contact pressure on the substrate than the other. Thus, if the device is moved over a substrate with the lighter drum in front, the more loosely deposited material is first collected on the lighter drum, and the more tightly adhered material removed by the heavier.

Where two drums are used in this fashion, the forward drum will normally be of smaller diameter than the other.

In these embodiments, it car. also be desirable to have the drums coupled together for synchronous rotation. This can be accomplished by a chain or belt, and can ensure that the spikes on the drums are out of phase as they successively engage the same area of substrate. In this way, what is missed by the forward drum should be collected by the rearward drum.

In another variant of the invention, the drum may be replaced by a pair of drums with a belt extending round them, the belt bearing the array of spikes on its outer surface. The comb is again mounted on the frame, but with its teeth laying against the belt. In this variant, the array of spikes on the belt will define longitudinal regions between the spikes which permit movement of the belt around the drums. The two drums will normally be arranged one above the other such that the lower drum presses the belt against the substrate. The comb will normally be laid against the belt as it passes around the upper drum. This variant of the invention can be particularly suitable when large quantities of material are to be collected, and a deeper collector then would otherwise be usable is required.It will be appreciated that the capacity of the collector will be to some extent dependent upon the vertical distance between the comb and the substrate, and by adopting this variant of the invention, it will be appreciated that a very substantial receptacle capacity can be achieved with rollers of relatively small diameter as spaced vertically by as little as 50 to 80 cms. This variant can also be useful in a device of small overall dimensions when relatively inaccessible areas of substrate are to be cleared. With drums of short axial length arranged above one another, the device is particularly manoeuvrable and can be used in flower beds and the like to reach between small and relatively closely spaced plants.

In the above variant of the invention, the belt and drums may be mounted on a separate assembly which can be selectively lowered on the frame to make contact between the belt on the lower drum and the substrate. The assembly would usually be lowered against a spring force, and provision can also be made for accelerating the rotation of the drums as it is withdrawn, this ensuring that collected material is stripped from the belt at the upper drum. A suitable mechanism for accelerating the drums comprises a rack fixed in the frame, and a pinion on the upper drum.With suitable gearing and engagement and disengagement of the rack, the lower drum will be rotated by movement of the device over the substrate in the lowered position of the frame but as it is released, and rises in the frame, the pinion engages the rack and is rapidly rotated to carry the collected material to the upper drum for discharge.

In devices according to the invention using belt mounted spikes, there is of course a risk that material picked up from the substrate will become dislodged from the spikes as the relevant portion of the belt moves from one drum or roller to the other. This risk may be substantially reduced by the deployment of a pressure belt carried by an auxiliary frame. As for many Applications this pressure belt will be superfluous, it is normally detachably mounted on the frame so that it can be readily removed.

Devices according to the invention can be coupled together for movement as a unit over a substrate. The coupling may be articulated such that the unit is suitable for covering undulating surfaces, and typically the unit will include at least three devices coupled together in two dimensions. In this arrangement, they are suited to being towed by a tractor or other machine, and of course in this form the coupled devices constitute a piece of apparatus particularly suitable for covering large areas.

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a top plan view of a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a rear view of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic side view of an arrangement of coupled drums according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 is a side view showing a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 shows a side view of a fourth embodiment of the invention; Figure 7 shows a side view of a fifth embodiment of the invention; Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the invention; Figure 9 is a rear view of a modification to the embodiment of Figure 8; and Figure 10 is a top plan view of apparatus comprising a plurality of devices according to the invention coupled together.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 a drum 2 is mounted on a frame 4 for rotation about an axis indicated at 6. Forward, or to the left as shown in Figures 1 and 2, of the drum axis 6 is mounted a comb 8 with teeth 10 extending substantially tangentially of the drum 2 and lying against the peripheral surface thereof.

On the drum 2 is arranged an array of spikes 12, and as is apparent from Figure 1, the spikes are arranged in spaced parallel planes perpendicular to the drum axis 6. In this way, the teeth 10 of the comb 8 interdigitate with the spikes 12 without interference. Forward of the comb 8, the frame supports a receptacle 14 for receiving material from the comb 8.

In use of the device of Figures 1 to 3, it is moved in a forward direction across a substrate such that the spikes 12 on the drum 2 pierce the substrate and lift deposited material therefrom. The material is carried round the axis 6 as the drum rotates to the point of engagement of the teeth 10 with the drum surface. As the drum rotation continues, the material is stripped from the spikes and directed into the receptacle 14. The stripped spikes are then ready for re-engagement with the substrate.

The contact pressure between the drum 2 and the substrate will depend primarily upon the weight of the device as a whole, but can of course also be varied by the Application of downward pressure on the frame 4. The device according to this embodiment of the invention is generally suited for a manual operation, and the contact pressure is therefore relatively easy to adjust. However, provision may be made for adding weights to the frame and/or the drum 2. In another alternative, the device may be provided with a variety of drums and/or combs, to provide a different density of spikes in the array and different weights of drum. The drum itself may be formed in interconnected segments, or a range of separate drum surface units may be provided.

Figure 4 shows two drums 16 and 18 mounted in a single frame (not shown) for synchronous rotation as they are rolled over a substrate 20 to assure their synchronous rotation, they are coupled by means of a chain or belt 22 extending around pulleys or gear wheels 24 and 26.

Separate combs 28 and 30 are provided, and means are provided for directing material stripped from both rollers to the same receptacle indicated at 32.

Figure 5 shows a further development of the invention in which a frame 34 is mounted on two pairs of wheels 36 and 38. The front pair of wheels 36 are in the form of casters which allow the frame to be steered.

Between the pairs of wheels 36 and 38, a drum 40 bearing spikes 42 as described above is mounted for rotation about an axis 44. The axis 44 is mounted in a separate sub-frame 46 linked to a handle 48 pivotally attached to a frame member 50. A comb 52 as previously described is also fixedly mounted relative to the sub-frame 46, and the drum unit as a whole can be lowered or raised by movement of the handle 48. Downward movement of the sub-frame is resisted by a spring 54 so that the drum is normally raised clear of the substrate when the handle is released.

In use, the device of Figure 4 is moved across a substrate, and the drum 40 lowered as required to pick up material therefrom. In other respect, the device operates in the same manner as that of Figures 1 to 3 to transfer material from the substrate to a receptacle (not shown).

Figures 6 and 7 show two further developments of the invention in which drum 40 is mounted on a fixed axis in the frame 34. The drum can be power driven, or directly coupled to the rotation of the wheels 38 as shown. As is apparent, the spikes do not pierce the substrate in this embodiment, but extend sufficiently low to engage larger objects such as drinks cans shown at 31.

This embodiment will normally be heavier than those described above, and the whole structure can be more resilient so as to be suitable for heavy duty use. Figure 7 shows an adaptation of the Figure 6 embodiment in which the drum is replaced by a belt 33 extending around rollers 35. The disposition of the rollers can be such as to provide a tapering forward region in which objects are effectively held prior to full engagement by the spikes as they pass under the lowermost roller. The location of the comb 37 and the receptacle 39 in the embodiments of Figures 6 and 7 can be forward or rearward of the drum or belt as shown.

The devices of Figures 6 and 7 can also be used to pick up useful; ie, non-litter items. For example, they might be used to collect fruit such as windfall apples for cider making or other purpose for which the minor damage caused by the spikes is not a problem. Another application is in industrial environments where foam or soft items are to be collected for re-use, and it will be noted that the device is in this respect selective, and will leave smaller or unpiercable waste matter.

It will be appreciated that the embodiment of Figures 5 to 7 can be adapted to omit the front pair of wheels 36 whereby the device will be supported by the rear pair of wheels 38 and the rollers 35 or drum 40 alone.

Such a modification can also render the movable mounting of the drum 40 in the frame 34 superfluous, contact pressure variation being achieved by pivoting the device about the common axis of the rear wheels 38.

Figure 8 shows a further variant of the invention in which instead of being mounted directly on a drum, an array of spikes 56 is carried on a belt 58 which extends around two drums 60 and 62 mounted for rotation about two spaced parallel axes 64, 66. This device enables the receptacle 68 to be of greater depth, depending upon the spacing of the axes 64 and 66, and the comb 70 lies against the belt as it passes around the upper drum 62.

Provision may also be made in this variant for retaining material on the belt as it is carried between the lower (60) and the upper (62) drum, and a pressure belt 72 is illustrated for this purpose. Such a pressure belt will be mounted on a separate frame (not shown) for attachment to the main frame 74 of the device. The pressure belt 72 as shown is formed with ridges which can be disposed to engage between the spikes 56 to securely retain material thereon.

Devices generally of the kind shown in Figure 8 are particularly suitable for use in flower beds or other inaccessible areas. The actual length of each drum can be relatively small, say 10 to 20 cms, and with a vertical spacing between the axes 64 and 66 of say 50 cms, the device may be readily manoeuvered in such Applications by means of extend handles 76.

Figure 10 illustrates a variation of the Figure 9 embodiment in which the two drums are mounted in a separate assembly lowerable in the main frame of the device. The drum axles 61, 63 are fixed in beams 73, 75 vertically slidable in the frame members 74. A pinion 77 is attached to the upper drum 62, and a rack 79 is formed on the adjacent main frame member 74. Means (not shown) are provided for forcing the assembly downwards in the frame against a spring force, during which movement the pinion engages with the rack. The pinion has a free wheel mechanism, and accordingly the drum 62 is not rotated during this downward movement. At its lowermost position, the pinion has passed the end of the rack, and the drums are able to be rotated by engagement between the spikes on the belt 58 and the substrate.When the assembly is released, the spring force raises the assembly, and as the pinion 77 engages the rack 79, the drums are driven rapidly to carry material collected on the spikes 56 around the upper drum 62 and into the receptacle 68. The speed of the rapid rotation will be set by the dimensions and teeth on the rack and pinion, and additional gearing may be employed if needed.

Figure 10 shows a plan view of a plurality of devices generally in accordance with the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3 coupled together in a manner suitable for towing by a tractor or similar device. Corresponding reference numerals have been used. It will though, be noted that the forward device 80 is oriented with its receptacle 14 in front of its drum 2, while in the rearward devices 82 and 84, the receptacles 14 are disposed behind the respective rollers 2. The orientation of the combs 8 in the devices 82 and 84 is correspondingly reversed, and the teeth 10 thereof will extend downwardly and forwardly to engage the respective drums 2.

In the apparatus of Figure 10, the coupling between the devices 80, 82 and 84 is articulated to permit independent movement of the devices over an undulating substrate. Thus, the couplings 86 are universal, providing rotation about the horizontal axis of the drum 2 of the device 80, and about a perpendicular but also horizontal axis extending rearwardly therefrom.

Also in the apparatus of Figure 7, it will be noted that the forward device 80 is provided with a frame extension 88 for attachment to a tractor, and in this embodiment the devices 80, 82 and 84 will be adapted to operate under their own weight.

Where a multiplicity of drums are used in a single device of the invention as in Figure 4, or where a multiplicity of devices are used in a single apparatus as in Figure 10, provision may be made for delivering all the material collected to a common receptacle. Of course conveyor belts can be used to achieve this, coupled to the various drums, but the drums and/or devices may be designed and oriented such that this is not necessary.

Thus for example, the devices of the apparatus shown in Figure 10 can be oriented such that collected material is delivered to a single receptacle disposed between the forward device 80 and the rearward devices 82, 84, the receptacle extending substantially the full width of the apparatus as defined by the rearward devices. In all embodiments of the invention, chutes may be employed to carry material from the respective drum or comb to the receptacle.

It will be appreciated that the size of the devices and apparatus of the invention can be varied for different Applications, as of course can the weight as described above and the length of the spikes. Longer spikes may be suitable where the surface of the substrate is particularly uneven. Longer spikes can also be useful on particularly soft surfaces such as sand, and where two or more rollers are employed in the same device or apparatus, then different lengths of spike can be used on each roller. Devices and apparatus according to the invention can also be used in conjunction with known collections devices such as brush or vacumn systems.

Claims (20)

1. A device for collecting material from a substrate comprising a frame; a pair of drums mounted on parallel axes in the frame; a belt extending around the drums and bearing an array of spikes on its outer surface; a comb mounted on the frame with teeth laying against the belt, the array of spikes on the belt defining longitudinal regions between the spikes which permit movement of the belt around the drums with the teeth of the comb laid thereagainst; and a receptacle for receiving material from the comb, the device being movable across a substrate with the spikes of the belt directed towards the substrate such that material on the substrate is successively picked up by the spikes, stripped therefrom by the comb and carried to the receptacle.

2. A device according to Claim 1 including means for retaining material on the spikes as they are carried to the comb.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 comprising an upper and a lower drum, and wherein the comb engages the belt at the surface of the upper drum.

4. A device according to Claim 3 wherein the frame is separately supported and the upper and lower drums are carried on an assembly mounted in the frame for movement between an upper, disengaged position and a lower position at which the spikes on the belt around the lower drum are positioned to engage a substrate; and means for moving the assembly between said positions.

5. A device according to Claim 4 including separate means for advancing the belt around the drums on the assembly.

6. A device according to Claim 5 wherein the advancing means are operable in response to movement of the assembly from its lower to its upper position.

7. A device according to Claim 5 or Claim 6 wherein the advancing means are operable to advance the belt at least the distance between the drums on the assembly in a single cycle.

8. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the drums are mounted on substantially parallel, horizontally spaced axes, and wherein the belt is carried along a path including a straight section in which the spikes thereon are directed away from the frame and towards the substrate.

9. A device according to Claim 8 including additional guide means for defining the straight section of the belt path.

10. A device according to Claim 9 wherein the additional guide means comprises additional drums.

11. A device according to any of Claims 8 to 10 wherein the belt path includes an inclined section contiguous with the straight section.

12. A device for collecting material from a substrate comprisng a frame; a drum rotatably mounted on the frame with an array of spikes extending radially from the peripheral surface thereof; a comb mounted on the frame with teeth laid tangentially against the drum, the array of spikes on the drum surface defining annular regions between the spikes spaced axially relative to the drum such that the teeth of the comb engage between the spikes while permitting rotation of the drum; and a receptacle for receiving material from the comb, the device being movable across a substrate with the spikes of the drum in rolling engagement with the substrate such that material on the substrate is successively picked up by the spikes, stripped thereform by the comb and carried to the receptacle.

13. A device according to Claim 12 including an additional rolling mechanism for supporting the device on a substrate, the device being adjustable to vary the engagement of the drum with a substrate by selective transfer to said mechanism.

14. A device according to Claim 13 wherein the mechanism comprises coaxial wheels, one on either side of the drum, and means for altering the height of the wheel axis relative to the drum axis.

15. A device according to Claim 13 wherein the mechanism comprises a roller or a pair of coaxial wheels rotatable about an axis fixed on the frame spaced from and substantially parallel to the drum axis.

16. A device according to Claim 15 wherein the drum is mounted on the frame between two said rollers or pairs of coaxial wheels, and including means for altering the height of the drum axis relative to the frame.

17. A device according to any of Claims 12 to 16 including two said drums mounted on the frame for rotation about spaced parallel axes thereon.

18. A device according to Claim 17 wherein the drums are coupled together for synchronous rotation.

19. A device for collecting material from a substrate substantially as described herein with reference to any of the accompanying-drawings.

20. Apparatus for collecting material comprising a plurality of devices according to any preceding Claim coupled together for simultaneous movement across a substrate.