600,571. Vehicle fittings for loading; load-handling apparatus. LINDE, H. Feb. 9, 1945, No. 3346. [Classes 78 (iii) and 78 (iv)] A device for emptying the contents of bins into a refuse collecting container comprises a bin carrier which is moved upwards along rails on the container by a hoisting mechanism from which it is suspended, the bin being connected to the carrier by an operator depressing the carrier when this is at its lower hoisting position so as to bring coupling members on the carrier below supporting members on the bin and then releasing the carrier to allow this automatically to rise to its lower hoisting position, during which upward motion said coupling members automatically engage, from below, said supporting members when these are positioned by the operator in the path of the coupling members, the bin and carrier being thereafter hoisted and tilted to the emptying position by the hosting mechanism. The Figures show the application to a device for emptying refuse bins into a container at the rear of a vehicle, the refuse, when in the container being compressed by a screw 2. The refuse is discharged through an aperture in a plate 4 corresponding in size and shape with the top of the bin, the plate 4 being pivotally mounted at its lower end and hingedly connected at its upper end to a coverplate 7 mounted on pivoted arms 9, and having its aperture normally closed by a lid 10 fixed to the plate 7. The carrier for the bins comprises side members 12, Figs. 3, 5, connected by a sustaining bar 15 and provided with wheels 16, 17 engaging in channels 11 mounted on the vehicle. It is raised and lowered bv ropes 22 passing over guide rollers 23 to drums 24 preferably driven through gearing from the engine of the vehicle. The rollers 23 are mounted on arms 27 on a shaft 27a having an arm 29 controlled by a spring 28. When a bin is to be coupled to the carrier, the carrier is depressed temporarily against the action of this spring to the dotted line position, Fig. 1, by the operator pressing his foot on the bar 15, whereby carrier hooks 18 are lowered below bin suspension members 41. The bin is now inclined towards the vehicle to permit the hooks to engage the members 41 when the carrier is released and moves upwards under the action of the spring 28. The bin is positioned correctly with respect to the carrier by flanges 40 on the members 41 co-operating with guide plates 19 on the carrier. By operating the control lever 26, the carrier is hoisted along the rails 11 together with the bin, the lower part of the latter engaging a rubber block 44.in the bar 15. When the carrier wheels 16 reach the top of the rails 11 they are guided inwards by inwardlybent end portions of the rails. In this position, the wheels 17 come opposite openings 33 in the rails, whereby the tension in the ropes 22 causes the wheels to swing outwardly and upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2. By this tilting movement, the wheels 16 are guided into members 32 and through these displaced downwardly whereby the members 41 become engaged by-hooks 5 on the plate 4. At the same time the handle 42 on the lid of the bin engages a projection 43 in the lid 10. The tension in the ropes 22 causes the carrier and the bin to be tilted together with the plate 4 around the pivot of the latter, while the lid 10 is swung inwards and causes the lid 37 to be swung upwards and leave free passage for the refuse to be discharged through the aperture in the plate 4. As the lid 10 is swung inwards with the plate 7, the hook 6 on the plate 4 falls down and catches behind the flange 36 on the bin to couple this with the plate. When the bin is fully tilted, the hoisting mechanism is automatically stopped. When this is again operated for lowering the bin, on the device reaching the intermediate position shown in Fig. 2, the hook 6 is removed from the flange 36 by the lid 10 and the lowering of the bin is free to continue. Shortly afterwards, the members 12 of the carrier press against a transverse angle iron 45 on the rails 11 so that the wheels 16 are lifted off the hooks 5 and the wheels 17 are guided into the rails 11 by an abutment 35. When the carrier reaches its lowest position with the bin standing on the ground, the latter is released by the operator again lowering the carrier by means of his foot to disengage the members 41 from the hooks 18. Specification 532,803 is referred to.