GB2589880A - Refuse collection container - Google Patents

Abstract

A refuse collection container 201 with a floor and side walls containing a controllable mechanically movable 209 bin 300 holder 206 accessible by a side wall aperture. There may also be a door 205 which in combination with the walls fully encloses the mechanism so that it cannot be seen from outside. The mechanism can include a chamber 912 with upper and side apertures to receive a bin which moves along a rotational, curvilinear or translational path to pivot 924 it relative to a frame 805 over an obtuse angle. The walls and floor can be lined with sound deadening layer such as plastic, rubber, fibreglass or foam. The power can derive from a hydraulic ram 209, a pneumatic ram, an electric ram, a rotary actuator, an electric motor and gear set and/or a linear fluidic cylinder connected to a lever 922. The controller can prevent movement of the mechanism based on input from sensors such as one to detect presence of a bin, one to detect obstacles, one to detect if the door is open. The door is electrically lockable. The container can be mounted on a vehicle.

Description

REFUSE COLLECTION CONTAINER

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to containers for refuse collection.

Particularly although not exclusively the embodiments relate vehicle mounted containers for refuse collection.

Background of the Invention

[0002] In many countries household refuse is now pre -sorted by the householder or operative into different types as a first stage of recycling. Typically, household refuse may be sorted into separate boxes or bins, each box or bin containing a separate category of refuse such as plastics, metal, paper, cardboard, glass, food and general household waste. The boxes or bins are typically open topped rectangular containers having four smooth faced side walls, a floor and having a grab handle at each side, and being of dimensions such that the average householder or operative can pick up the box and carry it at chest height, when full of items for recycling, for example cans, bottle or jars or paper /cardboard and have a typical capacity in the range 30 to 50 litre [0003] Typically a known refuse collection truck comprises a conventional vehicle chassis having an internal combustion engine and a drive train or an electric drivetrain with electric motors and batteries, or a hybrid power unit and drive train, a driver and passenger cab or compartment together with associated fuel systems, steering and braking systems on to which is mounted a body having one or a plurality of compartments for accepting different refuse types on the same vehicle, whilst keeping those different refuse types separated from each other.

[0004] Referring to Figure 1 herein, there is shown schematically a known multi waste collection truck as manufactured by Terberg Matec, having multiple separate compartments for different types of household waste. Such trucks can have up to 12 separate compartments for different waste types. The compartments are generally accessible from either side of the vehicle and from the rear of the vehicle. In the example shown, there are separate compartments for cardboard, glass, paper, food and plastics/cans.

[0005] The known Terberg Mateo Kerbloader® multi waste collection truck 5 also has compartments for cardboard, food waste, and other types of refuse. The relatively larger rear compartment is purely for cardboard, or in the case of some operators, purely for paper.

[0006] In general, glass items such as glass bottles or jars are collected by the householder and placed in an open rectangular bin type containers (storage box type) by households and left out for collection. A human operative has to pick up the bin/box, carry it to the truck and empty the contents of the bin into the glass container compartment of the truck.

[0007] When placing glass items into a bin collection compartment, the glass items are thrown against each other which results in generation of noise. Under current effective safety legislation refuse truck operatives cannot be exposed to more than 85 dBA of noise. A-weighted decibels, abbreviated dBA, or dBa, or dB(a), are an expression of the relative loudness of sounds in air as perceived by the human ear. In the A-weighted system, the decibel values of sounds at ow frequencies are reduced, compared with unweighted decibels, in which no correction is made for audio frequency. This noise level is not a peak noise level, but is measured over an extended time period. The cumulative exposure to noise needs to be within prescribed levels by the health and safety executive, but the legislation allows for peak levels to exceed a noise threshold value. Current UK health and safety executive guidelines provide for microphones to be positioned at a distance between 0.5m and 5m from a vehicle and require overall levels not to exceed 85 dBA, but this value may change with future changes in legislation.

[0008] The known refuse truck has port hole apertures in the side of the container through which bottles and jars can be fed through one at a time, and this reduces the noise as only one item at a time is dropped onto the glass within the compartment. However this mode of use, whilst complying with noise regulations takes quite a long time to empty a glass collection refuse bin.

[0009] Each compartment usually has a larger rectangular aperture 5 through which a bin may be tipped by a human operator, so the operator can either tip the bin into the glass compartment, or feed the bottles through the smaller porthole one at a time.

[0010] To tip the bin through the larger aperture, the operative lifts them up to a door or hatch on the side of a refuse vehicle at about chest height, places the base of the bin on a ledge of the hatch, and tips the box into a compartment. The force needed to rotate and tip the box or bin is provided by the human operator's muscles. This is a quite fast and efficient way of emptying the bins into the glass compartment.

[0011] Although the prior art vehicles comply with health and safety executive sound regulations within their specification of use, operatives do not always use the equipment as specified because they want to maintain speed of refuse collection. Operatives tend to leave the hatches or doors of the containers open to tip or throw in the bottles in instead of feeding the bottles through the circular portholes one at a time. In this mode of usage, both the 85 dBA sound levels can be exceeded over a work shift, which poses a health and safety risk to refuse truck operatives.

[0012] With known refuse trucks which comply with current noise safety regulations, operatives can still be exposed to higher peak dB levels of noise, even if it is just for a short time.

[0013] In another prior art refuse collection system, a truck has a compartment for glass, which has a hatch or door. The bin is tipped into the side of the truck through an open hatch, and an upper rim of the bin connects with a corresponding shaped chute and the bin and chute tip together. Using this arrangement, there is a level of soundproofing because the noise of the glass items contacting each other can only be heard through the material of the plastic bin which is 2 to 3 mm thick. This reduces the noise somewhat, but the glass can still be heard through the plastic of the bin.

[0014] Speed of operation is important and operatives try to collect as many collection boxes of bottles as they can in one shift. Most of the noise caused is not from the bottles hitting the floor of the bin, but rather from the noise of the glass hitting itself when tipped into the bin or vehicle.

[0015] An object of the embodiments herein is to provide reduced noise levels experienced by the refuse truck operators placing glass items into a compartment on the refuse truck, whilst maintaining as fast a collection rate as possible.

Summary of the Invention

[0016] According to one embodiment, a refuse collection vehicle comprises an enclosed refuse collection container having sound insulated walls; a chamber which is accessible via an aperture in a side of the container for passing a refuse box or bin inside said container; a rotatable platform for holding a refuse box or bin; and a tipping mechanism for rotating the platform; wherein the tipping mechanism tips the platform from a first position to a second position in order to empty the bin.

[0017] Preferably the tipping mechanism only operates when the aperture is clear of obstructions.

[0018] In another embodiment, a refuse collection vehicle comprises an enclosed refuse collection container having sound insulated walls; a chamber which is accessible via an aperture closeable by a door or hatch in a side of the container for passing a refuse box or bin inside said container; a rotatable platform for holding a refuse box or bin; and a tipping mechanism for rotating the platform; wherein the tipping mechanism tips the platform from a first position to a second position in order to empty the bin.

[0019] Preferably the tipping mechanism only operates when the door or hatch is in the closed position so that the container compartment is acoustically sealed when the tipping occurs.

[0020] Preferably the tipping mechanism operates to tip a box or bin in a path which lies parallel to the side of the compartment in which the aperture is provided, so that the contents of the bin or box fall in a location which is offset laterally from the aperture along a side of the compartment in which the aperture lies, so that there is no direct line of sight between the position immediately outside the aperture and the position within the compartment at which the contents of the box or bin are emptied.

[0021] The tipping mechanism picks up the refuse bin, turns or rotates the bin within the enclosed compartment so as to tip out the contents of the bin into the interior of the compartment, and returns the bin to the upright position when empty. The bin is rotated to an angle sufficient to discharge the contents through the open top of the bin under gravity, with the contents of the bin sliding down the wall(s) of the bin and emptying out of the open aperture at the top of the bin. Where a door is provided, the tipping mechanism only operates when the access door is closed so that the noise of items tipping out of the refuse bin is contained within the compartment and operators outside of the compartment are isolated from the noise of the refuse items within the compartment.

[0022] The panels of the side walls, end walls, floor and roof of the container compartment are preferably lined with a sound absorbent material in order to deaden the noise of glass items hitting the floor and sidewalls of the compartment and to provide sound insulating between the interior of the compartment and positions outside the compartment. The sound absorbent material may comprise plastics sheet; rubberised sheet, or an acoustic deadening foam material or other acoustically insulating materials.

[0023] The embodiments presented herein provide a solution whereby the operator opens a door in the side of the truck and slides the bin upright into a mechanical tipper inside the container on the truck, the door is closed, and the mechanical tipper rotates the box or bin, thereby tipping out the contents.

[0024] The box is only tipped when the door is closed. The compartment is acoustically insulated with rubberised material or other insulating material to deaden sound, and so when the container is closed (door closed) sound levels are very much reduced.

[0025] The mechanical tipper only tips when the door is closed. If the door is opened, for safety reasons the tipping motion is stopped, so that operatives do not get their arms stuck in a mechanism. This also has the side-effect of reducing externally heard noise when door is opened.

[0026] The box or bin can only be emptied into an enclosed acoustically insulated container from a position inside the container, and when the hatch or door is closed.

[0027] According to a first aspect there of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for collecting refuse comprising: a refuse collection container; said refuse collection container comprising a floor panel and a plurality of wall panels; a moveable holder for holding a refuse box or bin; a movement mechanism for moving said holder; said movable holder being located within said refuse collection container; wherein said movement mechanism moves said platform from a first position to a second position; an aperture in a said wall of said collection container, enabling access to said movable holder; and a controller for controlling operation of the movement mechanism; wherein the controller operates to move the movement mechanism between said first and second positions.

[0028] Said apparatus may comprise one or more proximity sensors to detect whether there is an object in an immediate vicinity of said aperture, wherein said controller prohibits operation of said movement mechanism when said one or more proximity sensors detect an object in an immediate vicinity of said aperture.

[0029] Preferably said apparatus comprises a chamber for holding a refuse box or bin and there may be provided one or more sensors for sensing whether a refuse box or bin is present in said chamber, wherein said controller prohibits operation of said movement apparatus when said one or more sensors indicate that said chamber is empty.

[0030] Preferably said movable holder and said movement mechanism are contained fully within said collection container and are movably operable only within said collection container.

[0031] The apparatus may comprise a door which is openable and closable across said aperture, for closing said aperture. Where a door is provided, preferably said apparatus further comprises a sensor for sensing whether the door is open or closed. Where a door is provided, preferably the controller operates to move the movement mechanism between the first and second positions, only when a said sensor indicates that the door is in a closed position, and to inhibit tipping operation of the movement mechanism when the door sensor indicates that the door is open position.

[0032] Preferably said apparatus is operable such that when said door sensor detects that the door is open, a signal is sent to the controller which acts to to stop operation of the movement mechanism.

[0033] In an embodiment where there is no door, and the access aperture is open, preferably the controller operates to inhibit movement of the movement mechanism and the movable holder when an obstruction is detected across the aperture.

[0034] Said wall panels and said floor panel may be connected together by welds or rivets, bolts, adhesives and/ or fasteners..

[0035] Preferably individual ones of said floor panel, and said wall panels are lined with a sound deadening material.

[0036] Said sound deadening material may comprise a material selected from the set: a plastics sheet; a sheet of flexible rubberised material; a plastics coating; a rubberised coating; a fibreglass layer; a plastics foam composite layer.

[0037] Preferably said refuse collection container comprises: a first side wall; a second side wall; a first end wall; a second end wall; at least one floor panel; and at least one roof panel a door located in a said wall said walls, floor panel and roof panel forming an enclosed compartment without any direct unobstructed acoustic path from a position inside said compartment to a position outside of said compartment when said movement mechanism is in a said second position, in which said movable holder is in a bin or box emptying position.

[0038] Preferably said movement mechanism comprises a receptacle for holding a refuse bin or box; said receptacle comprising: a first end; a second end; a first side; and a second side; a perimeter surrounding a first aperture, said first aperture located at said first side; and an upper perimeter surrounding an upper aperture.

[0039] Preferably said movement mechanism rotates said holder over an obtuse angle between said first and second positions. However in the general case, the movement mechanism may rotate over any angle from less than 90° to greater than 180° in order to tip the contents of the bin into the container compartment.

[0040] Preferably said movement mechanism comprises a frame, said movable holder being pivotally connected to said frame; and a movement means connected to said frame and to said movable holder, for moving said movable holder between a first loading/unloading position, and a second inverted position.

[0041] The movement means may comprise an extendable and contractable linear ram, wherein a first end of said ram is connected to said frame and a second. The said movement means may comprise a powered movement means selected from the set: an hydraulic ram or cylinder; a pneumatic ram or cylinder; an electric ram or cylinder; a rotary actuator; one or more electric motors and one or more gear sets.

[0042] Preferably said movement means comprises an extendable and contractable linear ram, wherein a first end of said ram is connected to said frame and a second end of said ram is connected to a lever, said lever being connected to said movable holder, whereby rotation of said lever backs to rotate said rotatable holder between said first and second positions.

[0043] In other embodiments, instead of a linear ram, a rotary actuator may be used. Said movement means may comprise one or more electric motors and gear sets.

[0044] A path of movement of the holder between said first and second positions may comprise a path selected from the set: a rotational path of movement; a curvilinear path of movement; a translational path of movement.

[0045] Where a door is provided, said apparatus may further comprise a 15 door lock for locking the door when the movement mechanism is moving. The door lock may be an electronically operated door lock, or may be a mechanically operated door lock, for example a slam lock.

[0046] According to a second aspect there is provided a method of operation of an apparatus for collecting refuse in an enclosed container compartment, said container compartment comprising: a plurality of side walls; a floor; and a roof panel, a loading and unloading aperture located in a said side wall; a holding receptacle for holding a refuse bin; and a tipping mechanism for tipping said holding receptacle, said method comprising: loading a refuse bin in said holding receptacle position and with said holding receptacle in a first, loading / unloading position; activating said tipping mechanism to move said holding receptacle between said first position and a second position, wherein in said first position said holding receptacle is in an upright attitude, and in said second position said holding receptacle is in an inverted or partially inverted position, or an inclined position; returning said tipping mechanism from said second position back to said first position; and removing said refuse bin from said holding receptacle.

[0047] Preferably said step of loading a refuse bin in said holding receptacle comprises sliding said bin into said movable holder in a direction substantially parallel to an axis of angular movement of said movable holder adopted by said movable holder when said movable holder moves between said first and second positions. Preferably said refuse bin is loaded into said movable chamber or holder or bin holding receptacle in a direction which is transverse to a plane which contains a line of movement of the movable holder.

[0048] Preferably said step of removing said refuse bin from said holding receptacle comprises sliding said bin out of said holding receptacle in a direction substantially parallel to axis of angular movement of said holding mechanism adopted by said holding mechanism when said holding mechanism moves between said first and second positions.

[0049] Said method may comprise sensing whether there is any object or obstruction in an immediate vicinity of said loading aperture, for example on an outside of said container compartment, and prohibiting operation of said tipping mechanism if a said object or obstruction is detected, and allowing movement of said tipping mechanism if no obstruction or object is detected in the vicinity of said aperture.

[0050] Said method may comprise prohibiting movement of said tipping mechanism whilst a door across said aperture remains open, and allowing of said tipping mechanism whilst a door across said aperture is closed.

[0051] According to a third aspect there is provided a method for collecting refuse from a plurality of open refuse bins, into an acoustically sealable collection compartment having one or more apertures and one or more doors closing said one or more apertures, said method comprising: inserting a said refuse bin in a first direction into said sealable collection compartment, by sliding said bin in a first direction through a said aperture in a wall of said compartment into a bin holder; acoustically sealing said collection compartment by closing a said door to a closed position across said aperture, moving said bin holder within said collection compartment over a path of movement between a first position in which the bin is upright and a second position in which the bin is inverted; returning said bin holder to said first position; when said bin holder is in said first position unlocking a said door across an aperture in said wall of said compartment to expose one end of said refuse bin; and removing said refuse bin from said collection compartment.

[0052] Preferably said method comprises returning the bin from said second position to said first position whilst a said aperture of said compartment is sealed by a said door.

[0053] Preferably said method comprises tipping said refuse bin such that a base of said refuse bin is moved over an obtuse angle between said first position and said second position.

[0054] Preferably said method further comprises locking a said door whilst 1 0 said bin holder is moving between said first position and said second position; and unlocking said door when said bin holder is in said first position.

[0055] The invention includes a method of operation of an apparatus for 15 collecting refuse in an enclosed container compartment, said container compartment comprising: a plurality of side walls; a floor; and a roof panel, a loading and unloading aperture located in a said side wall; said door extending across an aperture in said sidewall; a holding receptacle for holding a refuse bin; and a tipping mechanism for tipping said holding receptacle, said method comprising: loading a refuse bin in said holding receptacle with said door in an open position and with said holding receptacle in a first, loading / unloading position; closing said door; whilst said door remains closed, activating said tipping mechanism to move said holding receptacle between said first position and a second position, wherein in said first position said holding receptacle is in an upright attitude, and in said second position said holding receptacle is in an inverted position; returning said tipping mechanism from said second position back to said first position, whilst said door remains closed; opening said door when said tipping mechanism is in said first position; and removing said refuse bin from said holding receptacle.

[0056] In the various of the above embodiments, the movable bin holder mechanism, and the movement mechanism are fully enclosed within the floorplan of the container compartment and are shielded from the operatives by the external side walls and end walls and roof panel of the container compartment.

[0057] The operatives are prevented from becoming caught in the movable components of the mechanisms within the container compartment by either a closable door and or a set of proximity sensors around the aperture through which the bins or boxes are entered into the bin holder, which sense whether the aperture is closed for human accessibility or whether there is an obstruction in the aperture and only permit operation of the moving parts when the container compartment is either sealed by the door, or where there is no door, or the door was left open, there is no obstruction across the aperture.

[0058] Other aspects are as set out in the claims herein.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0059] For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, there will now be described by way of example only, specific embodiments, methods and processes according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows schematically a known multi waste refuse collector truck having multiple compartments for different refuse types; Figure 2 shows schematically in perspective cut away view a container compartment with movement mechanism according to a first specific embodiment of the present invention in an empty condition; Figure 3 shows schematically the container compartment of Figure 2 in an initial loading configuration; Figure 4 shows schematically the container compartment of Figure 2 in a loaded condition prior to emptying of a refuse bin; Figure 5 shows schematically inversion of a refuse bin to tip the contents of the refuse bin into the void inside the container compartment for emptying the bin; Figure 6 shows schematically the empty bin returned to the loading/unloading configuration within the container compartment of Figure 2; Figure 7 shows the container compartment of Figure 2 in an unloading stage where a bin has been emptied and is now being removed from the container compartment; Figure 8 shows in perspective view a movement mechanism of the container compartment for holding a refuse bin and inverting the refuse bin; Figure 9 shows the movement mechanism in an inverted condition where a bin holder has been moved so that its base rotates through an obtuse angle in order to empty a refuse bin held within the bin holder; Figure 10 shows schematically the movement mechanism having a bin holder in a first position for loading and unloading a bin, and a second position for emptying a refuse bin; Figure 11 shows schematically in view from one side the bin movement mechanism showing movement of a bin holder from a first level position in which a bin is loaded or unloaded into the mechanism and a second raised or inverted position in which a contents of the bin can pass through an upper most aperture of the bin holder in order to empty into the container compartment; Figure 12 shows schematically a control mechanism for the door and tipping mechanism of embodiments of the refuse collecting apparatus; Figure 13 shows schematically a further embodiment container compartment having an open aperture and with the movement mechanism as described with reference to the above first embodiment; and Figure 14 shows schematically and arrangement of light-emitting devices around a side or an of the container compartment which provide a safety cutout mechanism for stopping the movement mechanism in case of obstruction of the 25 open access aperture.

Details Description of the Embodiments

[0060] There will now be described by way of example a specific mode contemplated by the inventors. In the following description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding. It will be apparent however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without limitation to these specific details. In other instances, well known methods and structures have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the description.

[0061] In the drawings, like components are denoted by like reference numerals across the different views.

[0062] Referring to Figure 2 herein, there is illustrated schematically in perspective view a refuse container compartment fitted to a refuse collection vehicle according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. The refuse 1 0 container 200 comprises a first side wall 201; a second side wall 202; a first end wall 203; a floor 204; a roof (not shown in Figure 2); a hatch door 205 located in the first sidewall; and a bin holding and tipping mechanism 206 located inside the container compartment between the first and second sidewalls, first and second end walls, floor and roof.

[0063] Shown in Figures 2 to 7 herein, to aid clarity only the first and second sidewalls 201, 202, first end wall 203 and floor panel 204 are shown. However, the container compartment is fully enclosed with a roof panel and a second end wall panel.

[0064] In the best mode, the first and second sidewalls, first and second end walls, roof and floor are fabricated from panels of sheet metal material. Each of the side walls, end walls, roof and floor have a sound insulating material on the inside of the compartment. The sound insulating material may be a rubberised or plastics sheet material attached to the sheet metal panels of the side walls, end walls, roof and floor. The sound insulating material of the walls, floor and/or roof of the container compartment may be made from a composite material, for example a composite foam sheet material. Preferably, the sound insulating material covers the whole of the inwardly facing surface of each panel, and an inwardly facing surface of the door so that in use the noise of glass bottles, jars or other glass items being tipped into the compartment is absorbed by the sound absorbent material, such that from a position outside of the compartment the audible noise to an operator in the immediate vicinity of the compartment is significantly reduced and attenuated to a level which is within long-term safety limits, and preferably below 85 dBA, as measured within a 0.5 metre space surrounding the perimeter of the outer facing outside surfaces of the compartment, when the hatch 205 is in a closed position.

[0065] The sound insulating or sound absorbent sheeting material which lines the compartment may be secured to the sheet metal panels of the side walls, end walls, floor and roof by any suitable means, including adhesive, nuts and bolts, rivets, or other like. In other embodiments, the sound insulating material may be a dipped or spray on plastics or rubber coating which adheres directly to the inwardly facing surfaces of the sheet metal panels. In yet further embodiments, the side walls themselves may be fabricated as a bonded laminate having a first layer of sheet metal panel, a second layer of rubberised or plastics sound absorbent material, and optionally a third layer of harder wearing plastics, rubberised, fibreglass or similar sheet material, where the second layer is sandwiched between the first and third layers, and has a higher sound deadening quality compared to the outer metal panel, and the third layer.

[0066] The door 205 is connected to the sidewall 201, so that the door is openable and closable with respect to the first sidewall 201. In a closed position, the door closes an aperture in the side wall 201, and when in an open position, the door lies adjacent to the open aperture, and lies clear of the aperture allowing easy access of the aperture.

[0067] The door may be a hinged door or a sliding door. In the case of sliding door, the door preferably slides in a plane parallel to a main plane of the sidewall 201. Where the door is a sliding door, preferably the door slides substantially horizontally with respect to the main base of the container compartment, but in other embodiments, the door may slide up and down, substantially vertically.

[0068] In the case of a hinged door, the hinge may be a substantially upright hinge for door which swings in a horizontal or lateral plane with respect to the container compartment, or the hinge may have its main axis substantially horizontal for a door which swings in a vertical or upright plane with respect to the container compartment.

[0069] Preferably the door is hinged substantially horizontally along a lower edge of the door, so that when the door is opened it hangs down parallel to the outer face of the side wall 201, leaving an open aperture in the side wall. Alternatively, the door 205 may be hingedly connected to the side wall 201 on an upright edge of the door, so that the door opens about an upright or nominally vertical axis so that when opened, the door lies substantially parallel to the outer 1 0 most surface of the sidewall 201, and can be retained in the open position by the side of the open aperture by a latch mechanism.

[0070] The sheet metal panels of the first and second sidewalls, first and second end walls, the floor panels and roof panels may be connected to each other at their edges by welding so as to form a rigid compartment which has minimum air gaps at the connections between the edges of the panels through which sound vibrations may pass, with the exception that one of the panels may be attached by screw fixings to allow maintenance access to the inside of the compartment for maintenance of the tipping mechanism, and for cleaning off the inside of the compartment.

[0071] Typically a conventional plastics rectangular refuse bin comprises a substantially rectangular floor panel, first and second opposing upright side wall panels which face opposite each other across the floor panel; first and second opposing upright end wall panels each of which are connected to the first and second opposing side panels; an overturned substantially "U" shaped lip extending around an upper perimeter of the sidewalls and end walls; and first and second handles attached to the upper parts of the respective first and second end walls, the arrangement being that the bin has an open top aperture surrounded by the "U" shaped lip. Usually the end walls and sidewalls are angled so as to diverge outwardly from the base so that the perimeter of the upper end of the bin is wider than the outer perimeter around the base of the bin, enabling the bins to partially locate within each other when the bins are stacked one on top of each other.

[0072] The tipping mechanism comprises an outer frame 207; a rotatable bin holding receptacle 208; and an extendable and retractable ram 209 which operates to rotate the holding receptacle 208 between a first position in which the bin holding receptacle is substantially level and can receive an open recycling collection bin, and a second, tipping position in which the bin holding receptacle is inverted so that the bin contained in the bin holding receptacle is tipped upside down. In one embodiment, the bin tips at an angle of 25° to the horizontal, so that a plane which coincides with an upper rim of the open end of the bin is at 25° to horizontal, with the floor and walls of the bin being higher than the lowest pad of the upper rim, and the bin being inverted. More detail of the construction of the tipping mechanism is described with reference to Figures 8 to 11 herein.

[0073] Looking at the container compartment in plan view, the whole bin holder and tipping mechanism assembly is contained within an outer perimeter of the container compartment. Similarly, looking at the container compartment in side view, the bin holder and tipping mechanism is fully enclosed within a perimeter of the container compartment, and likewise, looking at the container compartment in end view, the complete bin and tipping mechanism is enclosed within the outer perimeter of the container compartment. The bin holder and tipping mechanism are fully contained and enclosed within the container compartment and within an outer perimeter coinciding with the walls, floor and roof of the container compartment.

Operation [0074] Referring to Figures 2 to 7 herein, there will now be described a sequence of operation of the refuse container and its tipping mechanism in a refuse collection operation.

[0075] In Figure 2 herein there is shown the container in an initial condition in which the door 205 is closed and the rotatable bin holding receptacle tipping mechanism. The bin holding receptacle 209 is in an empty state in a first level or horizontal position, ready for receiving a refuse collection bin containing a load of glass items including bottles, jars, or other glass receptacles. In the initial state the door or hatch 205 is closed in the first sidewall and the receptacle 209 of the tipping mechanism is empty.

[0076] Referring to Figure 3 herein, a human operator walking outside of the refuse truck collects a rectangular plastics bin 300, which the householder has filled with items of glassware such as bottles, jars, lightbulbs, or other household refuse glass. The human operator opens the door 205 which exposes an aperture in the first sidewall 201 and rests one end of the bin 300 on a lip or ledge at a lower part of the aperture and slides the bin 300 through the aperture and into the bin holding receptacle 208.

[0077] The bin 300 is slid into the receptacle 208 in a direction transverse to a main plane occupied by an outer face of the first side wall 201, said direction coinciding with a main axis of rotation about which the receptacle rotates.

[0078] Referring to Figure 4 herein, there is illustrated schematically the bin 300 inside the receptacle 208 with the door 205 in a closed position. The angle of rotation of the bin holding receptacle is such that in the first position the bin is held in the receptacle 208 so that the bin is in an upright position, meaning that the upper open end of the bin is held such that the glass items within the bin rest within the bin under gravity, and in the second position, the receptacle 208 rotates by a sufficient angle to invert the bin to a position where the glass items slide out of the open upper end of the bin under the force of gravity.

[0079] In the first position, the base of the bin is placed substantially horizontally or level with respect to the container compartment when the container compartment, or the truck containing the compartment is on a flat horizontal surface. However in the general case, in the first position a plane coinciding with the basic bin the not be exactly horizontal or level with respect to the container compartment when said compartment is positioned in the horizontal or level position relative to the ground, but the bin should be positioned with its base either level or sufficiently near level that the contents of a full bin remain inside the bin when the bin is in the first position.

[0080] In the second position, the plane coinciding with the base of the bin is preferably at either an obtuse angle or a reflex angle compared to the position of the base when in the first position. That is, preferably the angle of rotation of the bin over its path of movement from the first position to the second position is greater than 90°. In the best mode, the angle of rotation of the bin in the second position is an obtuse angle, compared with the position of the bin in a first position, 1 0 in the second position being more than 900, but less than 180°.

[0081] The bin holding receptacle 208 comprises a frame having a floor, a closed off second end, a closed off first side and closed off second side and an overhanging lip extending along an upper edge of the second side which is angled relative to the second side. A perimeter around a first end of the receptacle bounds the first aperture through which a refuse bin may pass to enter into the receptacle holding bin and be removed from the receptacle holding bin. A perimeter around an upper end of the bin holding receptacle is large enough so that bottles of glass items contained in the bin can pass through the receptacle easily when the bin is inverted, but small enough such that its dimensions do not permit the bin to fall through the upper aperture of the receptacle, and so that the bin is retained within the movable receptacle in its first position, in a second position, and at all positions between the first and second position.

[0082] Referring to Figure 5 herein, there is shown schematically the container compartment after movement of the bin holding receptacle 206 to the second position in which the receptacle has swung through an obtuse angle relative to its first position, and in which the sides of the receptacle 206 are tilted at an angle to the level or horizontal plane. The open end of the bin coincides with an aperture at an upper end of the bin holding receptacle 206 so that glass items in the bin fall out of the bin under the force of gravity, whilst the bin itself is retained in the bin holding receptacle by the upper edge plates of the bin holding receptacle.

[0083] The ram may be controlled so as to rotate the bin from the first position to the second position whilst the compartment is closed, and when the movable bin holding receptacle is at the second position, it may be reversed angularly by a small acute angle from the second position towards the first position and then immediately returned in the first rotational direction back to the second position in order to rock or shake the refuse bin within the bin holding receptacle to ensure full emptying of the contents of the refuse bin into the container compartment before returning the empty refuse bin from the second inverted position back to the first substantially level or horizontal position. The door 205 remains closed throughout the bin tipping mechanism tipping the bin from the first position to the second position and back again, so that at all times when glass is being tipped and emptied from the bin there is no direct air path or acoustic path between the glass in the container compartment and the outside of the container compartment, and the human operator cannot access the moving tipping mechanism because the door 205 is closed.

[0084] Referring to Figure 6 herein, there is illustrated schematically the bin rotator mechanism returned to a stowed position in which the bin has been emptied, and the door 205 remains closed.

[0085] Referring to Figure 7 herein, there is illustrated schematically the bin rotator and tipping mechanism in the stowed or first position, and where the operator has opened the loading/unloading door 205 and can grab the handle on the end of the refuse bin to slide the refuse bin out of the bin holding receptacle.

The human operator manually pulls the empty refuse bin out of the bin tipping mechanism in a direction transverse to the perimeter of the loading aperture and parallel to the rotational axis about which the bin holding receptacle rotates.

[0086] In the above operation, a human operator collects a rectangular plastics bin 300, and rests one end of the bin on the floor of the bin holding receptacle 208 with the loading/unloading door 205 open, pushes the bin into the loading hatch, that is, into the tipping receptacle and closes the door 205. The operator may press a button on the side of the compartment to activate the tipping mechanism which rotates the bin, inverting the bin 20 bin into the compartment, and then return the empty bin to the level loading /unloading position. The operator opens the door, grabs the handle on the end of the bin and pulls the bin out of the loading hatch. The mechanical tipper only tips when the door is closed, so that there is no direct unobstructed acoustic path between the interior of the container compartment and the vicinity outside of the container compartment. If the door is opened, for safety reasons the tipping motion is stopped, so that operatives do not get their arms caught in the tipping mechanism.

1 0 [0087] Referring to Figure 8 herein, the tipping mechanism 206 comprises an outer frame 207; a rotatable bin holding receptacle 208; and an extendable and retractable ram 209 which operates to rotate the bin holding receptacle 208 between a first position in which the bin holding receptacle is substantially level and can receive an open recycling collection bin, and a second, tipping position in which the bin holding receptacle is inverted.

[0088] In the embodiment shown, outer frame 207 is fabricated from lengths of substantially "L" profiled angled metal pieces which are bolted and/or welded together. The outer frame comprises a first end structure 800 comprising the first upper beam 801; first upright beam 802; second upright beam 803; and a first lower beam 804 arranged in a first rectangular arrangement.

[0089] A second end structure 805 comprises a second upper beam 806; a third upright beam 807; a fourth upright beam 808 and a second lower beam 809.

The third and fourth upright beams are connected together at an upper end by the second upper beam 806 and are connected together at the lower ends by the second lower beam 809, in a second rectangular arrangement.

[0090] The first and second rectangular end structures 800, 805 lie opposite each other, and spaced apart from each other connected at their lower ends by first and second side members 810, 811 respectively, with an additional stabilising beam 812 extending between the second and fourth upright members 803, 808 respectively.

[0091] Bin holding receptacle 208 comprises an inner frame comprising a substantially rectangular base fabricated from three straight lengths of angle bar 900-902 surrounding a flat sheet metal panel 903 which forms a floor of the bin holding receptacle; a first end aperture framed by a first upright bar 904 on a first side, a second upright bar 905 on a second side, an upper cross member 906, a lower cross member 907. A second end of the receptacle is framed by angled bar 902 which extends across the base of the receptacle, a third upright bar 908, the fourth upright bar 909 and a second upper cross member 910, which surround a 1 0 second end panel 911.

[0092] Between first upright bar 904 at the first end of the receptacle, and third upright bar 908 at the second end of the receptacle there extends a first side panel 912. Between upright angle bar 901 at the first end of the receptacle and fourth upright bar 909 at the second end there extends a second flat sheet metal side panel 913, the first and second side panels spaced apart from each other with a cavity there between, and facing each other across the cavity.

[0093] At an upper end of second side panel 913, there is provided an angled upper panel 914 which extends between the first and second upper cross members 906, 910. Each of the upper cross members have a relatively longer straight portion, and that the second side of the bin each cross member has a relatively shorter angled portion 915, 916 respectively, in each case, the main length of the relatively shorter angled portion making an obtuse angle with the relatively longer straight portion. The angled upper panel 914 extends between the first and second angled portions. At the top of the bin holding receptacle, a substantially rectangular aperture surrounded by the first and second upper cross members, the angled upper panel 914, and an upper cross member 915 which extends on the first side above the first side panel 912.

[0094] At the upper ends of the first upright beam 802 and the third upright beam 807 there are provided respective first and second sets of rotational bearings 923, 924 respectively. Each rotational bearing is mounted within a corresponding respective bearing housing. First bearing housing 925 is bolted to the first upright beam 802. Second bearing housing 926 is bolted to a bracket 927 which is welded or bolted to the third upright beam 807.

[0095] The upper part of the first side of the receptacle has at a first end a first axle plate 920 which has a first stub axle which rotates within the first bearing, and at the second end of the receptacle, there is a second protruding axle plate 921 which has a second stub axle which rotates within the second bearing.

[0096] The second stub axle is also rigidly connected to a lower end of a lever arm 922, so that a lower end of the lever arm rotates the whole lever when the stub axle rotates in the second bearing.

[0097] On the second end of the second rectangular end frame there is fitted a ram 209. The ram comprises a cylinder 930 and an extendable and retractable piston 931 which moves in and out of the cylinder to extend or contract the overall length of the ram. The ram is arranged so that a distal end of the cylinder is rotatably connected to a ram mounting bracket 932 which is bolted or welded to the fourth upright beam 808 at or near its upper end. The proximal end of the piston 931 which protrudes out of the cylinder has a pivotal connection and is connected to an upper end of the lever arm 922 so that as the ram extends the lever arm is pushed in a first rotational direction, thereby rotating the second stub axle which is rigidly connected to the receptacle 208 causing the receptacle to raise out of the frame in a rotational movement from the first position to the second position, and when the ram is contracted, the piston 931 is drawn into the cylinder 930 causing the upper end of the lever arm 922 to be pulled towards the proximal end of the cylinder and rotating the receptacle 208 in an opposite rotational direction from the second position to the first position.

[0098] At the base of the frame there is provided a first lower plate 940 connected to the first lower beam 804 upon which there are one or more rubber or plastics stop members 941 upon which the lower part of the second side of the receptacle 205 rests when the bin is in the first position, and at the second end of the frame there is a second lower plate 942 which carries a second set of rubber or plastics stop members 943 upon which a lower part of the second end of the bin holding receptacle 208 rests when in the first, level position.

[0099] In use, the first end aperture allows access into the bin holding receptacle in a direction substantially parallel to the planes of the first side panel 912, second side panel 913 and lower floor panel, and in a direction transverse to a plane occupied by the second end panel 911. A refuse collection bin is slid into the bin holding receptacle through the end aperture at the first end of the receptacle. When the receptacle is moved from the first position to the second position, the upper lip provided by the upper panel 914 prevents the bin falling out of the receptacle, whilst holding the bin inverted. The dimensions of the upper aperture surrounded by the perimeter of the upper cross members and upper panel 914 is smaller than the dimensions of the upper end of the refuse bin which is placed in the receptacle so that the upper part of the bin cannot fall through the upper aperture of the bin holding receptacle 208.

[0100] In the embodiment shown, the first and second side panels 912, 913, the floor panel 903 and end panel 911 are of flat sheet metal. The flat panels may be coated with a sound absorbent material, for example plastics coating, or may have a plastics sheeting or a laminate structure to improve the sound deadening qualities of the sheet material. Alternatively, the sheet material may be a reinforced plastics sheet material or a fibreglass sheet material so as to reduce the noise produced by operation of the tipping mechanism itself, irrespective of whether it is loaded with a refuse collection bin.

Movement mechanism control [0101] Referring to Figure 12 herein, there is illustrated schematically a control unit for controlling operation of the tipping mechanism. The control unit of Figure 12 may be used to control embodiments of the mechanism either with or without a closable door across the aperture. The control unit comprises an electronic controller 1200; an electrical power supply 1201; optionally, in the case where a hydraulic ram is used, a hydraulic power supply 1202, which can be replaced by a pneumatic power supply in the case of a pneumatic ram, or an electric power supply case of an electric ram; a ram 1203 which can either be a hydraulic ram, a pneumatic ram or an electric linear actuator as appropriate; a servo 1204 which in the case of an electric ram comprises an electric servo, which supplies electric current to the ram, or in the case of a hydraulic ram, comprises a hydraulic control unit which controls operation of the ram 1203 and in the case of a pneumatic ram comprises one or more pneumatic control valves; optionally, a door position sensor 1205 for sensing whether the side mounted door is in an open or a closed position where a door is fitted; a tipping mechanism position sensor 1206 for determining which position the tipping mechanism is in; an alarm and monitoring unit 1207 which generates an alarm signal and/or a monitoring signal or display which can be displayed remotely, for example in the driver's cab of a vehicle and/or on the side of the container compartment showing an operational state of the container compartment and its doors and tipping mechanism; and a door lock 1208 for locking the compartment door when the movement mechanism / tipping mechanism is operating. The door lock may be electrically operated, or may be a mechanical lock which is manually operated [0102] The actuating ram 209 which provides motive power to tip the bin holding receptacle 206 is controlled by the control mechanism which supplies either hydraulic pressure, or electric current or pneumatic pressure as appropriate to the actuating ram, depending whether an hydraulic ram, electric linear actuator type ram or pneumatic ram is used. The door is provided with an electronic sensor to determine when the door is closed or open position. The sensor sends a signal to the electronic control circuit which is either an OPEN signal or a CLOSED signal depending on the status of the door. The controller may comprise a human activated pushbutton which the bin operator can press in order to tip the bin. The controller will not activate operation of the tipping mechanism when the OPEN signal is present, so that when the door is open, the tipping mechanism is static.

The tipping mechanism will only operate when the CLOSED signal is received from the door position sensor 1205. This ensures firstly that the operator cannot place their arm through the open door into the bin holding receptacle whilst the bin holding receptacle is moving for safety reasons, and secondly ensures that whilst the tipping mechanism is in operation, the door must be closed, and therefore the container compartment is acoustically sealed.

[0103] The actuator position sensor 1206 may comprise a position sensor which senses directly the position of the bin holding mechanism. This sensor may be in addition to any sensor on the electric or hydraulic ram 1203 which is provided as part of that ram itself, or part of its control mechanism as provided by the manufacturer of the ram.

[0104] A box position sensor 1209 communicates with the electronic controller 1200. In an embodiment without an external door (open aperture embodiment), the box position sensor senses whether a box is in position in the bin receptacle chamber and sends a signal to the electronic control which inhibits movement of the actuator or ram when no box is present.

[0105] The alarm sensor and monitor 1207 may comprise a visual display presented remotely, for example in the driver's cab of a refuse collection vehicle which enables the driver to see whether the compartment door is open or closed, and see visually whether the tipping mechanism is being used. Configuration of the visible and/or audible alarm may be varied depending on health and safety regulations and on the operational requirements of the users of the compartment. For example, the users of the compartment may specify either that the vehicle must be stationary when the tipping mechanism operates, or alternatively that the tipping mechanism can operate whilst the vehicle is rolling or crawling forwards at low speed, depending upon the operational requirements of the refuse collection vehicle.

Automatic door locking and unlocking [0106] The door hatch 205 is preferably provided with an automatic lock which operates when the movement mechanism or tipping mechanism is in movement, so that a human operator cannot open the door whilst the movement mechanism is in movement between the first and second positions. The locking mechanism only unlocks when the tipping mechanism is in the first position (loading/unloading position). The controller provides a separate maintenance mode whereby the locking mechanism can be overridden by maintenance personnel when servicing the tipping mechanism.

Alternative embodiments, variations and modifications [0107] Whilst in the embodiments shown herein, the bin holding receptacle 209 is shown as moving in a circular rotational direction between a first position and a second position, about a fixed axis of rotation, in other embodiments, in the general case the path of movement of the bin holding receptacle between the first position and the second position may follow any path which achieves tipping of 1 0 the bin from an initial upright position in which the open upper end of the bin faces upwardly, and in which glass items within the bin are retained in the bin by gravity to a second inverted position in which the bin is inverted so that the glass items pass out of the open upper end of the bin under force of gravity. Such paths of movement may include for example, elliptical paths, paths of movement which comprise a combination of a translation and rotational movement, and/or curved paths of movement.

[0108] In a second embodiment which has all of the features as described herein before with respect to the first embodiment, there is provided an additional second aperture and a second door closing the second aperture, in which the first aperture and first door aligned with the bin holding receptacle when the receptacle is in the first position where the bin is substantially level or upright, and an additional second aperture is provided in the same sidewall as the structure, where the second aperture aligns with a position of the bin holding receptacle when it is in the second position with the bin inverted.

[0109] Operation of the second embodiment is substantially as hereinbefore described with respect to the first embodiment with the exception that when the receptacle is in the second, inverted bin position, the second aperture can be opened by opening the second door and the bin can be removed in the inverted position through the second aperture.

[0110] This may enable improved speed because it allows a second human operator to remove an empty bin through the second aperture, whilst a first human operator is holding a full bin ready to place the full bin in the first aperture. In this embodiment, both doors may be always automatically locked when the movement mechanism is in moving operation, and the doors are only unlocked when the movement mechanism is static.

[0111] As with the first embodiment, when the bin is being emptied inside the container compartment the compartment remains acoustically sealed. In the second embodiment, the tipping mechanism is restricted from tipping when either of the first or second doors are opened.

[0112] In a further modification, instead of the door covering the aperture which gives access for the bin to be placed in the bin holding receptacle being a hinged swing-down or swing-across oriented door operated by manual movement by the operative, the door may be replaced by an automatically controlled and/or automatically actuated sliding door, which operates in moving from an open position to a closed position or vice versa faster than a human can open or close a manually openable and closable swinging door. The automatically operated sliding door may be operated by pressing an electric control button mounted on the side of the compartment by the operative.

[0113] Alternatively, an automatically operated sliding door may be operated by in response to signals generated by one or more proximity sensors mounted on the door itself and/or on the sidewall of the compartment around the aperture which may automatically close the door when it is detected that a human operative is outside a predetermined distance or range of the aperture, for example beyond 0.5m or beyond lm from the perimeter of the aperture, that is, at a distance where there is no danger of a human operator getting their arm or other body part trapped in the fast closing door, and may automatically open when the operator is within a predetermined distance from the perimeter of the aperture, to allow the operator to remove the bin from the receptacle or place a bin into the receptacle. In all cases, the control mechanism may ensure that the tipping mechanism immediately stops when the sliding automated door is not in a fully closed position.

[0114] In yet a further variation, the movement means comprising the ram and lever may be replaced by one or more electric stepper motors and gear sets, where a gear attached to a rotatable shaft of a stepper motor rotates a gear attached to an axle for movement of the bin holder about a rotational path of movement between a said first position and second position.

Open aperture embodiment [0115] Referring to Figure 13 herein, there is shown a further embodiment apparatus for collecting refuse. In the further embodiment, there is provided an apparatus for collecting refuse as described herein before with reference to the first embodiment, and which has all of the technical features of the first embodiment, as described herein, but with the following exceptions and variations.

[0116] In the further embodiment, instead of there being a hinged or sliding door across the aperture 1300 in the side wall or end wall of the container compartment, through which a refuse box or bin is inserted into the bin holding mechanism, there is no door or closure member across the aperture and the aperture remains open in use. To determine whether it is safe to tip the box and whether a box is present in the box chamber, there is provided one or a plurality of light sensors, and/ or a box position sensor 1209 and the door lock 1208 is absent.

[0117] Referring to Figure 14 herein, there is illustrated schematically an aperture in the side wall or end wall of the further embodiment refuse collection apparatus showing a plurality of light beams 1400 extending across an aperture in a said wall to provide a "light curtain" or "light screen" across the aperture. The light screen is formed by one or a plurality of diode laser beams or light beams produced by other focused beams of light emitting devices 1401, for example a light emitting diodes, which are directed across the aperture between opposing portions of the rim 1403, 1404 surrounding the aperture in the side or end wall.

Around the periphery of the aperture there are provided one or more light-emitting devices 1402, for example semiconductor diode laser devices operating in the visible or infrared wavelength range as is known in the art. Each light-emitting device emits a light beam across the aperture in a direction substantially parallel to a main plane which coincides with the perimeter around the aperture. Opposite each light emitting device there is provided a corresponding respective light sensor device which detects the presence or absence of the light being emitted by the light source.

[0118] When all of the one or plurality of light sensors indicate reception of a full power or substantially full power light beam, that is, a strong and uninterrupted light signal from the light source, the control circuit 1200 enables operation of the servo and ram in order to operate the tipping mechanism for emptying the bin.

[0119] However when one or more of the light beams are interrupted, for example by a box, or a person's limb obstructing one or more light beams then the control circuit 1200 inhibits any further movement of the tipping mechanism, so that the tipping mechanism can only operate movably when there is no obstruction to the light beams extending across the open aperture. The control circuit 1200 substantially instantaneously stops movement of the tipping mechanism as soon as the light beams are interrupted, at ideally within 0.1s of the light beam being interrupted, so that a person putting their hand into the open aperture cannot trap their hand or arm in the moving tipping mechanism. Similarly, if an operative mistakenly tries to insert a pin into the open aperture whilst the tipping mechanism is moving, the tipping mechanism will stop substantially instantaneously.

[0120] The tipping mechanism may be inhibited from moving by the electronic controller 1200 when the box position sensor 1209 indicates that there is no box present, and enabled to perform a tipping operation when the box position sensor 1209 indicates that a box is present. The tipping mechanism may be controlled such that: * when the box position sensor indicates a box is present, and the light sensors and/or proximity sensors around the aperture indicate that there are no obstructions around the aperture, then the tipping mechanism is enabled to operate; and * when the box position sensor indicates there is no box present, the tipping mechanism is prohibited from operating; and * when light curtain and/or proximity sensors around the aperture indicate that there is an object in the immediate vicinity outside the aperture or in the aperture, the tipping mechanism is prohibited from operating.

[0121] In this embodiment, the container compartment is not fully acoustically sealed during operation, as there is no door or other closure member across the aperture. However, optionally there may be provided additional acoustic sealing around the tipping mechanism and bin holder in the form of a casing or housing around the outer frame 800, closing the ends of the frame between the upright beam members 807, 808 and between the upright beam members 802,803 such that when the bin holder is in the fully tipped position, there is substantially no direct unobstructed acoustic passage between the interior of the container compartment and the casing inside the compartment which holds the tipping mechanism. The interior of the container compartment is acoustically shielded from positions outside the container compartment by the floor, walls and roof of the container compartment, and by the sides, floor and roof of an enclosure around the bin holder when in the extended or tipping position / bin emptying position when there is movement of glass articles against each other and against the sides and floor of the container compartment.

Advantages [0122] In some of the embodiments presented herein, the contents of the bin are only emptied when the door to the refuse containing compartment is closed. If the door is not in a fully closed position, that is, it is open or partially open, the tipping mechanism is inhibited from operating, so that a human operator cannot access the tipping mechanism whilst the tipping mechanism is in a moving condition, except under a specific deactivated mode used by maintenance personnel for routine maintenance of the tipping mechanism, thereby ensuring that the arm of the operator will not get caught in the tipping mechanism. Further, the tipping mechanism is inhibited from emptying a bin when the door is not fully closed, ensuring that the there is no direct acoustic air path between the noise created by the glass items smashing against each other and the outside of the container compartment, thereby reducing the noise levels outside the container compartment when there are moving glass items inside the container compartment.

[0123] In other embodiments where there is no external door to the bin loading compartment, these may have the advantage of additional speed of use, but without the benefit of a fully acoustically sealed compartment. However the tipping motion of the bin holder which tips the contents of the bin at a position away from the aperture, and where there is additional acoustic shielding around the bin holding mechanism may still provide significant noise reduction as measured at a position outside the container compartment. Tipping the contents of the bin laterally, to the side of the open aperture may allow a noise reduction advantage.

[0124] Operation of the automated tipping mechanism herein may not be as quick in use as it is for the prior art systems, in which a human operative manually tips the box or bin to empty it into an open hatch, because use of the automated tipping mechanism it involves the human operator releasing their grasp on the handle or handles of the bin whilst the automated tipping mechanism operates. However, considerations of safety of the human operator over ride considerations of speed of operation, and the speed of operation of the automated tipping mechanism may be optimised so that tipping from the first position to the second position, and returning the empty bin from the second position to the first position may be achieved in a time period of less than one second, and preferably in a time period of 0.5 seconds or less.

[0125] Whilst a pivoted rotational movement of the bin holder has been described herein, for all embodiments described, with variation of the bin holder path and the movement mechanism, the bin holder may be moved in a translational path, elliptic or other curved or curvilinear path of movement rather than through a pure rotational movement [0126] In the specification any technical feature described with reference to one embodiment can be substituted for an equivalent technical feature described in any other embodiment herein in any combination or permutation, unless such technical features are described as being mutually exclusive, as alternatives, or such substitution would be technically incompatible, and each embodiment should be understood to include all of the technical features of each other embodiment herein, unless otherwise stated.

Claims (26)

1. Claims 1. An apparatus for collecting refuse comprising.a refuse collection container; said refuse collection container comprising a floor panel and a plurality of wall panels; a moveable holder for holding a refuse box or bin; said moveable holder being located within said refuse collection container; a movement mechanism for moving said holder; wherein said movement mechanism moves said holder between a first position and a second position; an aperture in a said wall of said collection container, enabling access to said moveable holder; and a controller for controlling operation of the movement mechanism.
2. 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said movable holder and said movement mechanism are contained fully within said collection container and are movably operable within said collection container.
3. 3. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising one or more proximity sensors to detect whether there is an object in an immediate vicinity of said aperture, wherein said controller prohibits operation of said movement mechanism when said one or more proximity sensors detects an object in an immediate vicinity of said aperture.
4. 4. The apparatus as claimed in any one of preceding claims, further comprising a chamber for holding a refuse box or bin; and one or more sensors for sensing whether a refuse box or bin is present in said chamber, wherein said controller prohibits operation of said movement apparatus when said one or more sensors indicate that said chamber is empty.
5. 5. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: a door which is openable and closable across said aperture; a sensor for sensing whether said door is open or closed and wherein the controller operates to move the movement mechanism between said first and second positions only when said sensor indicates that said door is in a closed position.
6. 6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, operable such that when said sensor detects that the door is open, a signal is sent to the controller to stop operation of the movement mechanism.
7. 7. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein individual ones of said floor panel, and said wall panels are lined with a sound deadening material.
8. 8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said sound deadening material comprises a material selected from the set: a plastics sheet; a sheet of flexible rubberised material; a plastics coating; a rubberised coating; a fibreglass layer; a foam composite layer.
9. 9. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said refuse collection container comprises: a first side wall; a second side wall; a first end wall; a second end wall; at least one floor panel; and at least one roof panel a door located in a said wall said walls, floor panel and roof panel forming an enclosed compartment without any direct unobstructed line of sight path from a position inside said 30 compartment to a position outside of said compartment when said movement mechanism is in said second position.
10. 10. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said movement mechanism comprises a receptacle for holding a refuse bin; said receptacle comprising: a first end; a second end; a first side; and a second side; a perimeter surrounding a first aperture, said first aperture located at said first side; and an upper perimeter surrounding an upper aperture.
11. 11. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said movement mechanism moves said movable holder over an obtuse angle between said first and second positions.
12. 12. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said movement mechanism comprises a frame, said movable holder being pivotally connected to said frame; and a movement means connected to said frame and to said movable holder, for moving said movable holder between a first loading/unloading position, and a second inverted position.
13. 13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein said movement means comprises a powered movement means selected from the set: an hydraulic ram; a pneumatic ram; an electric ram; a rotary actuator; one or more electric motors and one or more gear sets.
14. 14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said movement means comprises an extendable and contractable linear ram, wherein a first end of said ram is connected to said frame and a second end of said ram is connected to a lever, said lever being connected to said movable holder, whereby rotation of said lever backs to rotate said rotatable holder between said first and second positions.
15. 15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said movement means comprises one or more electric motors and gear sets.
16. 16. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a path of movement of the holder between said first and second positions may comprise a path selected from the set: a rotational path of movement; a curvilinear path of movement; a translational path of movement.
17. 17. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, as appendant to claim 3, further comprising an electrically operable door lock for locking the door when the movement mechanism is moving.
18. 18. A method of operation of an apparatus for collecting refuse in an enclosed container compartment, said container compartment comprising: a plurality of side walls; a floor, and a roof panel, a loading and unloading aperture located in a said side wall; a holding receptacle for holding a refuse bin; and a tipping mechanism for tipping said holding receptacle, said method comprising: loading a refuse bin in said holding receptacle with said holding receptacle in a first, loading! unloading position; activating said tipping mechanism to move said holding receptacle between said first position and a second position, wherein in said first position said holding receptacle is in an upright attitude, and in said second position said holding receptacle is in an inverted position; returning said tipping mechanism from said second position back to said first position; and removing said refuse bin from said holding receptacle.
19. 19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said step of loading a refuse bin in said holding receptacle comprises sliding said bin into said holding receptacle in a direction substantially parallel to an axis of angular movement of said holding mechanism adopted by said holding mechanism when said holding mechanism moves between said first and second positions.
20. 20. The method as claimed in claim 18 or 19, wherein said step of removing said refuse bin from said holding receptacle comprises sliding said bin out of said holding receptacle in a direction substantially parallel to axis of angular movement of said holding mechanism adopted by said holding mechanism when said holding mechanism moves between said first and second positions.
21. 21. The method as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 20, in which there is provided a door which is openable and closeable across said aperture, said method comprising prohibiting movement of said tipping mechanism whilst said door remains open.
22. 22. The method as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 20, in which there 1 0 are provided a plurality of light beams across said loading and unloading aperture, further comprising inhibiting operation of said tipping mechanism when a said light beam is obstructed by an object.
23. 23. A method for collecting refuse from a plurality of open refuse bins, into an acoustically sealable collection compartment having one or more apertures and one or more doors closing said one or more apertures, said method comprising: inserting a said refuse bin in a first direction into said sealable collection compartment, by sliding said bin in a first direction through a said aperture in a wall of said compartment into a bin holder; acoustically sealing said collection compartment by closing a said door to a closed position across said aperture; moving said bin holder within said collection compartment over a path of movement between a first position in which the bin is upright and a second position in which the bin is inverted; returning said bin holder to said first position; when said bin holder is in said first position unlocking a said door across an aperture in said wall of said compartment to expose one end of said refuse bin; and removing said refuse bin from said collection compartment.
24. 24. The method as claimed in claim 23, further comprising returning the bin from said second position to said first position whilst a said aperture of said compartment is sealed by a said door.
25. 25. The method as claimed in claim 23 or 22, comprising tipping said refuse bin such that a base of said refuse bin is moved over an obtuse angle between said first position and said second position.
26. 26. The method as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 25, further comprising locking a said door whilst said bin holder is moving between said first position and said second position; and unlocking said door when said bin holder is in said first position.