WO2015184634A1

WO2015184634A1 - Garbage bin lifter

Info

Publication number: WO2015184634A1
Application number: PCT/CN2014/079353
Authority: WO
Inventors: Klass ZWIGGELAAR
Original assignee: Hyva Mechanics (Yangzhou) Co. Ltd.
Priority date: 2014-06-06
Filing date: 2014-06-06
Publication date: 2015-12-10

Abstract

A garbage bin lifter (10) comprises a frame (12) pivotable about a frame axis (30); a bin pickup (16) arranged to engage a garbage bin (2); a linkage mechanism (14) coupled to the bin pickup (16) and the frame (12); and an actuation assembly comprising a linear actuator (20) coupled to the linkage mechanism (14). The actuation assembly can be operated to cause the linear actuator (20) to generate linear movement to sequentially: (i) cause the linkage mechanism (14) to raise the bin pickup (16) with respect to the frame from a lowered position to a raised position, and then (ii) pivot the frame (12) and therefore the bin pickup (16) about the frame axis (30), the bin pickup being pivoted from the raised position to a tipping position.

Description

GARBAGE BIN LIFTER

The invention relates to a garbage bin lifter, in particular, although not exclusively, to a garbage bin lifter for a garbage collection vehicle.

Garbage collection vehicles (otherwise known as garbage trucks) are often used to collect household garbage from garbage bins. The garbage collection vehicle typically comprises an opening at the rear into which garbage from the bins can be tipped or emptied. It is known to provide a garbage bin lifter which can be operated to automatically pick up a garbage bin and invert it to tip the contents of the bin into the opening.

In a previously considered arrangement, a garbage bin lifter is provided which comprises a hydraulic cylinder coupled to a frame, to which is rigidly fixed a bin pickup. The frame is pivotally attached to the garbage collection vehicle and the hydraulic cylinder can be actuated to pivot the entire frame and bin pickup. Pivoting of the frame and bin pickup causes the bin to be picked up and inverted to tip the contents into the opening of the collection vehicle. The bin lifter causes the bin pickup to follow a circular lifting arc defined by the distance between the bin pickup and the pivot axis of the frame. Whilst this arrangement may be satisfactory, the pickup-height range may be limited.

It is therefore desirable to provide an improved garbage bin lifter which has an increased pickup-height range.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a garbage bin lifter, comprising: a frame pivotable about a frame axis; a bin pickup arranged to engage a garbage bin; a linkage mechanism coupled to the bin pickup and the frame; and an actuation assembly comprising a linear actuator coupled to the linkage mechanism; wherein the actuation assembly can be operated to cause the linear actuator to generate linear movement to sequentially: (i) cause the linkage mechanism to raise the bin pickup with respect to the frame from a lowered position to a raised position, and then (ii) pivot the frame and the bin pickup about the frame axis, the bin pickup being pivoted from the raised position to a tipping position. The actuation assembly may be capable of being operated to cause the linear actuator to generate linear movement to sequentially move the bin pickup through: (i) a first pickup phase of movement in which the linkage mechanism raises the bin pickup with respect to the frame from a lowered position to a raised position, and then through (ii) a second tipping phase of movement in which the frame and the bin pickup are pivoted about the frame axis, the bin pickup being pivoted from the raised position to a tipping position. The linear movement generated by the linear actuator may be an extension or a retraction. The linkage mechanism may be configured such that the orientation of the bin pickup is

substantially constant (i.e. the orientation of the bin pickup does not change) during the pickup phase (raising of the bin pickup from a lowered position to a raised position). In other words, the linkage mechanism may fix the orientation of the bin pickup with respect to the frame. This may increase the vertical pickup range of the bin lifter. The bin pickup may be capable of engaging a garbage bin as it is raised from the lowered position to the raised position. The frame axis may be substantially transversely (i.e. horizontally) extending. The linkage mechanism may comprise an input link pivotably coupled to the frame such that it can pivot (with respect to the frame) about an input link axis. The input link may be coupled to the bin pickup and the linear actuator. There may be a plurality of input links transversely spaced, each pivotably coupled to the frame such that they can pivot about a common input link axis. The bin pickup and linear actuator may be coupled to the input link on opposing sides of the input link axis. The distance between the input link axis and the position at which the linear actuator is coupled to the input link may be less than the distance between the input link axis and the position at which the bin pickup is coupled to the input link. If there is a plurality of input links, each one may be coupled to the bin pickup and the linear actuator. The input link axis may be substantially parallel to the frame axis. The input link may be pivotally coupled to the bin pickup. The input link may be pivotally coupled to the bin pickup such that the bin pickup can pivot (with respect to the input link) about a first pickup axis, which may be substantially parallel to the frame axis. The linkage mechanism may further comprise a support link pivotably coupled to the frame such that it can pivot (with respect to the frame) about a support link axis which is substantially parallel to and spaced from the input link axis, and pivotably coupled to the bin pickup such that the bin pickup can pivot with respect to the support link about a second pickup axis spaced from the first pickup axis. The support link axis may be spaced from the input link axis in a direction perpendicular to both axes. The second pickup axis may be substantially parallel to the frame axis. The second pickup axis may be spaced from the first pickup axis in a direction perpendicular to both axes. The first and second pickup axes may be parallel to the frame axis. There may be a plurality of support links transversely spaced, each pivotably coupled to the frame such that they can pivot about a common support link axis. With the frame in a resting position, the input link axis and the support link axis may intersect a substantially vertical line perpendicular to the axes.

The linkage mechanism may form a four-bar linkage with the frame and bin pickup. This may retain the bin pickup in a fixed orientation with respect to the frame.

The frame may comprise first and second laterally spaced side arms. The frame may further comprise a transversely extending bar or member connecting the first and second side arms together. The garbage bin lifter may further comprise a catch which when disengaged causes linear movement generated by the linear actuator to cause the linkage mechanism to move the bin pickup relative to the frame. When engaged, the catch may cause linear movement generated by the linear actuator to pivot the frame about the frame axis. The catch may be automatically or manually engaged and disengaged. The catch may be arranged such that when the bin pickup is in the lowered position the catch is disengaged. Raising the bin pickup from the lowered position to the raised position may cause the catch to (automatically) engage. The catch may comprise a first catch member coupled to the frame and a second catch member coupled to the linkage mechanism. The catch may be arranged such that when the bin pickup is in the lowered position the first and second catch members are spaced from one another such that the catch is disengaged. Raising the bin pickup from the lowered position to the raised position may cause the first and second catch members to come into contact with one another so as to engage the catch. In one embodiment, the first catch member may comprise the end of a slot coupled to the frame and the second catch member may comprise a pin or axle coupled to the linkage. During raising of the bin pickup from the lowered to the raised position, the pin may slide within the slot. In the raised position, the pin may abut the end of the slot. This may limit any further movement of the bin pickup with respect to the frame. The pin may extend in a direction parallel to the frame axis (i.e. in a transverse direction). The pin may be coupled to the input link. The linear actuator may be arranged to generate linear movement in a direction perpendicular to the frame axis. The linear actuator may comprise a hydraulic or a pneumatic cylinder. The actuation assembly may comprise a single linear actuator or a plurality of linear actuators arranged in parallel side-by-side. If there is a plurality of linear actuators, they may be arranged to operate synchronously. If there is a plurality of linear actuators, they may be arranged such that they generate linear movement along parallel directions. The actuation assembly may be operable to cause the or each linear actuator to perform a single stroke to cause the linkage mechanism to raise the bin pickup frame from a lowered position to a raised position (pickup phase), and then pivot the frame and the bin pickup about the frame axis (tipping phase).

The bin pickup may transversely extend in a direction parallel to the frame axis. The bin pickup may comprise a pickup lip, such as a comb, which is arranged to engage with the edge of a bin.

The garbage bin lifter may further comprise a securing mechanism, such as a clamping mechanism, comprising a securing member, such as a clamping member, coupled to the bin pickup which is moveable between an open position in which the bin pickup can engage a bin and a closed position in which a bin engaged with the bin pickup is secured, such as being clamped, thereto. The securing mechanism may be arranged such that the securing member moves from an open configuration to a closed configuration as the linkage mechanism raises the bin pickup from the lowered position to the raised position (i.e. during the pickup phase). The garbage bin lifter may be for a garbage collection vehicle having a vehicle body, wherein the frame is arranged to be pivotally coupled to the vehicle body, and wherein the linear actuator is arranged to be coupled to the vehicle body such that it can act between the vehicle body and the linkage mechanism. An end of the linear actuator may be arranged to be pivotably coupled to the vehicle body.

The invention also relates to a garbage collection vehicle, comprising: a vehicle body; and a garbage bin lifter in accordance with any statement herein, wherein the frame is pivotally coupled to the vehicle body, and wherein the linear actuator is coupled to the vehicle body such that it can act between the vehicle body and the linkage mechanism According to another aspect there is provided a method of emptying a garbage bin using a garbage bin lifter or a garbage collection vehicle in accordance with any statement herein, the method comprising: presenting a garbage bin to the bin pickup; operating the actuation assembly so as to cause the linear actuator to generate linear movement which sequentially: causes the bin pickup to engage the bin; causes the linkage mechanism to raise the bin pickup and bin with respect to the frame from a lowered position to a raised position, and pivots the frame and therefore the bin pickup and bin about the frame axis, the bin pickup and bin being pivoted from the raised position to a tipping position in which the bin is at least partially inverted so that garbage within the bin is emptied.

The invention may comprise any combination of the features and/or limitations referred to herein, except combinations of such features as are mutually exclusive. Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 schematically shows a garbage collection vehicle provided with a garbage bin lifter in a (a) lowered, (b) raised, and (c) tipping position;

Figure 2 schematically shows a side view of the garbage bin lifter of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 schematically shows a perspective view of the garbage bin lifter of Figure 1 ; Figures 4, 5 and 6 schematically show an enlarged view of the garbage bin lifter in a lowered, raised and tipping configuration respectively; and

Figure 7 schematically shows the lowered, raised, and tipping configurations of the bin lifter superimposed on one another, with the lifting line of the bin pickup indicated.

Figure 1 shows a garbage bin collection vehicle 1 , otherwise known as a garbage truck, for collecting garbage from garbage bins 2. The collection vehicle 1 comprises a vehicle main body 3, a rear opening 4 into which garbage can be emptied or tipped, and a bin lifter 10 which is attached across the rear of the vehicle body 3 in the vicinity of the rear opening 4. As can be seen from Figure 1 , the bin lifter 10 can be operated to pick up a bin 2 (Figure 1 b), and invert it (Figure 1 c) so as to empty the garbage within the bin 2 into the opening. The bin lifter 10 can also be operated to return the emptied bin 2 to the ground. As will be described in detail below, the bin lifter 10 is arranged such that it can pickup bins 2 having, or at, a range of heights. This range, known as the pickup-height range, may be greater than that achieved with previously considered arrangements.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the bin lifter 10 comprises a main frame 12, a linkage mechanism 14, a bin pickup 16, a clamping mechanism 18, and an actuation assembly comprising a single linear actuator in the form of a hydraulic cylinder 20. As will be described in detail below, the main frame 12 is arranged to be pivotally attached to the vehicle body 3, the linkage mechanism is 14 is attached to the main frame 12, the bin pickup 16 is attached to the linkage mechanism 14 and the hydraulic cylinder 20 has a first end arranged to be pivotally attached to the vehicle body 3 and a second end attached to the linkage mechanism 14.

The main frame 12 is generally transversely extending (i.e. horizontally extending) and comprises first and second transversely spaced side arms 22 that are parallel to a plane perpendicular to the transverse direction. The side arms 22 are integrally formed and comprise an upper inclined portion 24, a vertical portion 26 and a horizontal portion 28. The upper ends of the side arms 22 are arranged to be pivotally attached to the rear of a vehicle body 3 such that the frame 12 can pivot about a transversely extending (i.e. horizontal) frame axis 30 with respect to the vehicle body 3. The ends of the lower horizontal portions 28 form stops 32 which are arranged to abut the vehicle body 3 to define the resting position (Figure 1a) of the frame 12. An upper transversely extending bar 33 is provided which attaches the side arms 22 together.

The bin pickup 16 is generally transversely extending and comprises a main pickup member 34 provided with a transversely extending pickup lip 36, or comb, which can engage with the edge of a bin 2. The bin pickup 16 also comprises first and second pickup arms 38 that are pivotally connected to the main pickup member 34 about transversely spaced axes that are perpendicular to the transverse direction. The pickup arms 38 can be pivoted between a stowed position (Figure 3) in which they are substantially parallel to the transverse direction, and an extended position in which they extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transverse direction. The first and second pickup arms 38 have engagement recesses 40 that can be used to engage a bin provided with trunnion pins. A transversely extending push pad 42 is provided towards the lower end of the main pickup member 34 and is arranged to support and reduce pressure on a garbage bin 2.

The clamping (or securing) mechanism 18 is attached to the bin pickup 16 and comprises a transversely extending clamping member 44. The clamping member 44 is pivotally attached to the main pickup member 34 such that it can pivot about a transversely extending axis between an open position (Figure 2) in which the pickup lip 36 can engage the edge of a bin 2, and a closed position in which a bin engaged with the pickup lip 36 is secured thereto. A mechanism is provided which causes the clamping member 44 to pivot between the open and closed position upon operation of the hydraulic cylinder 20.

The linkage mechanism 14 comprises four transversely spaced input links 46, a transversely extending input link axle 48, and four transversely spaced support links 50.

The input links 46 extend in a direction perpendicular to the transverse direction, and a first end of each input link 46 is attached to the input link axle 48 to form an input link assembly. The second opposing end of each input link 46 is pivotably attached to a lower portion of the main pickup member 34, such that the main pickup member 34 (and hence the bin pickup 16) can pivot with respect to the input links 46 about a first pickup axis 52. The first pickup axis 52 is parallel to the frame axis 30 (and therefore the transverse direction). The first and second end input links 46 of the input link assembly are pivotally attached at a mid-point to the first and second side arms 22 of the main frame 12 respectively. This allows the input link assembly, and hence each input link 46, to pivot with respect to the main frame 12 about an input link axis 54 that is parallel to the frame axis 30 (and therefore the transverse direction). The distance between the axis of the input link axle 48 and the input link axis 54 is less than the distance between the first pickup axis 52 and the input link axis 54. The support links 50 extend in a direction perpendicular to the transverse direction, and are spaced from the input links 46. The support links 50 are arranged in two pairs, with a pair of support links 50 pivotably attached either side of a respective side arm 22 of the main frame 12. The support links 50 can pivot with respect to the main frame 12 about a support link axis 56 which is parallel to the frame axis 30. The support link axis 56 is also parallel to and spaced from the input link axis 54. A second opposing end of each support link 50 is pivotably attached to an upper portion of the main pickup member 34, such that the main pickup member 34 (and hence the bin pickup 16) can pivot with respect to the support links 50 about a second pickup axis 58. The second pickup axis 58 is parallel to the frame axis 30 (and therefore the transverse direction). The second pickup axis 58 is also parallel to and spaced from the first pickup axis 52.

The hydraulic cylinder 20 has a first end that is arranged to be pivotally attached to the vehicle body 3 such that it can pivot about an axis 60 parallel to the frame axis 30. The second opposing end of the cylinder 20 is attached to the input link axle 48 and can pivot about the axis of the axle 48. The single hydraulic cylinder 20 is centrally located between the side arms 22 of the frame 12, and extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the frame axis 30. The hydraulic cylinder 20 is part of an actuation assembly which comprises a control system. The actuation assembly can be operated to cause the hydraulic cylinder 20 to generate linear movement (i.e. it can extend or retract the piston). The linear movement is generated in a direction perpendicular to the transverse direction.

The bin lifter 10 also comprises a catch mechanism which comprises first and second transversely spaced catch plates 62 and the first and second ends of the input link axle 48. The catch plates 62 are substantially parallel to a plane which is perpendicular to the frame axis 30 each is provided with an arcuate slot 64. The radius of the slot 64 is substantially the same as the distance between the axis of the input link axle 48 and the input link axis 54. A catch plate 62 is attached to each support arm 22 of the main frame 12, and the ends of the input link axle 48 are located within the slots 64. As will be described in detail below, when the hydraulic cylinder 20 is actuated, the ends of the axle 48 slide within the slots 64. When the ends of the axle 48 reach the ends of the slots 64, the catch mechanism is engaged.

As briefly described above, the bin lifter 10 can be attached to the rear of a garbage collection vehicle 1 with the main frame 12 welded to the rear of the vehicle body 3 in the vicinity of the opening such that it can pivot about the transversely extending main frame axis 30. The end of the hydraulic cylinder 20 is also welded to the rear of the vehicle body 3 such that it can pivot about the axis 60. In the resting (or non- operational state) of the bin lifter 20, the stops 32 abut a part of the vehicle body 3 which limits the clockwise movement (Figure 1 a) of the frame 12 about the frame axis 30. The operation of the bin lifter 10 will now be described with reference to Figures 4, 5 and 6.

As shown in Figure 4, initially, the frame 12 is in a resting position and the bin pickup 16 is in a lowered position. The clamping member 44 is also pivoted away from the pickup lip 36 and so the pickup lip 36 is ready to engage with the edge of a bin 2. The ends of the input axle 48 are spaced from one of the ends of the slots 64 of the catch plates 62 and therefore the catch mechanism is disengaged. In order to engage and pickup a bin, the actuation assembly is operated which causes the position of the hydraulic cylinder 20 to extend, generating linear movement in a direction perpendicular to the frame axis 30. Initially, the extension of the hydraulic cylinder 20, the end of which is attached to the input link axle 48, causes downward movement of the input link axle 48, with the ends of the axle sliding in the slots 64 of the catch plate 62. This movement causes the input links 46 to pivot in an anticlockwise direction (in Figures 4-6) about the input link axis 54. This results in the bin pickup 16 rising from a lowered position (Figure 4) to a raises position (Figure 5) with respect to the main frame 12 which remains fixed in the same position. During this pickup phase of movement (i.e. the bin pickup moving from a lowered to a raised position), the orientation (i.e. the angle) of the bin pickup 16 does not change, and the orientation is therefore fixed with respect to the main frame 12. The orientation of the bin pickup 16 is configured to be optimal for picking up a bin 2, and the orientation is configured by the lengths of the links 46, 50 and the positions of the pivot axes 52, 54, 56, 58. The orientation of the bin pickup 16 remains fixed because of the four-bar linkage formed by the main frame 12, bin pickup 16, input links 46 and support links 50. Thus, throughout the pickup phase of movement, a bin 2 can be picked up by the bin pickup 16. This may increase the pickup-height range of the bin lifter 10.

As the bin pickup 16 rises from the lowered to the raised position, the clamping member 44 is caused to pivot from the open position (Figure 4) to the closed position (Figure 5), in which it clamps a bin 2 engaged with the pickup lip 36 to the bin lifter 10. The clamping mechanism comprises a mechanism comprising an arrangement of cams and rollers which causes the movement of the clamping member 44. During the initial extension of the hydraulic cylinder 20, the ends of the input link axle 48 slide within the slots 64 of the catch plates 62. This permits the linkage mechanism 14 to move the bin pickup 16 with respect to the main frame 12 from the lowered position to the raised position. When the ends of the axle 48 reach the ends of the slots 64, the catch mechanism is engaged. This defines the raised position of the bin pickup 16 and prevents any further relative movement between the bin pickup 16 and the main frame 12.

With the bin pickup 16 in the raised position and the catch mechanism engaged, further linear movement generated by the hydraulic cylinder 20 causes a second, or tipping, phase of movement in which the entire main frame 12 is pivoted in the anti-clockwise direction (in Figures 4-6) about the frame axis 30. Since the linkage mechanism 14 and the bin pickup 16 are attached to the main frame 12, this causes the bin pickup 16, which is engaged with a bin, to be pivoted from the raised position to a tipping position (Figure 6). In the tipping position, a bin 2 engaged with the bin pickup 16 is inverted and therefore the garbage is tipped or emptied into the opening 4 of the collection vehicle 1. During the tipping phase of movement, the catch mechanism remains engaged and there is no or limited relative movement between the bin pickup 16 and the frame 12.

Once the bin 2 has been tipped or emptied, the hydraulic cylinder 20 is retracted which lowers the bin 2 back to the floor in a reverse of the above described process.

The lifting line traced by the pickup lip 36 of the bin lifter 10 during actuation of the hydraulic cylinder is shown in Figure 7. As can be seen, there is a first pickup phase P sequentially followed by a second tipping phase T.

In the first pickup phase P of movement, the bin pickup 16 is raised from a lowered position to a raised position and the orientation of the bin pickup 16 remains constant. During the pickup phase of movement the bin pickup 16 is in an orientation in which it can engage with the edge of a bin 2. The lowered position of the bin pickup 16 defines a minimum pickup height H_MIN and the raised position defines a maximum pickup height H_MAX- The difference between these two heights is defined as the pickup-height range H_R. Maintaining the bin pickup 16 in a fixed optimal orientation during the pickup phase increases the pickup-height range H_R, which allows a wider range of bins to be picked up. Following this phase of movement, there follows a tipping phase T in which the bin pickup 16 is pivoted (with the main frame 12) about the frame axis 30. The path of movement is defined by the distance between the pickup lip 36 and the frame axis 30.

Advantageously, the bin lifter 10 uses only a single hydraulic cylinder 20 to generate a substantially vertical pickup phase in which the orientation of the bin pickup 16 remains constant, and a tipping phase in which the bin pickup 16 is pivoted. This minimises the weight, complexity and cost of the lifter 10.

It has been described that there is a single hydraulic cylinder. However, it should be appreciated that other types of linear actuators could be used. Further, a plurality of linear actuators could be used, with the actuators arranged side-by-side in parallel (i.e. all acting together as one).

Although it has been described that the bin lifter 10 is for a vehicle, in other embodiments the bin lifter 10 could be mounted to a static structure.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A garbage bin lifter, comprising:

a frame pivotable about a frame axis;

a bin pickup arranged to engage a garbage bin;

a linkage mechanism coupled to the bin pickup and the frame; and

an actuation assembly comprising a linear actuator coupled to the linkage mechanism;

wherein the actuation assembly can be operated to cause the linear actuator to generate linear movement to sequentially: (i) cause the linkage mechanism to raise the bin pickup with respect to the frame from a lowered position to a raised position, and then (ii) pivot the frame and therefore the bin pickup about the frame axis, the bin pickup being pivoted from the raised position to a tipping position.

2. A garbage bin lifter according to claim 1 , wherein the linkage mechanism comprises an input link pivotably coupled to the frame such that it can pivot with respect to the frame about an input link axis, wherein the input link is coupled to the bin pickup and the linear actuator.

3. A garbage bin lifter according to claim 2, wherein the bin pickup and linear actuator are coupled to the input link on opposing sides of the input link axis.

4. A garbage bin lifter according to any of claims 2 or 3, wherein the input link axis is substantially parallel to the frame axis.

5. A garbage bin lifter according to any of claims 2-4, wherein the input link is pivotally coupled to the bin pickup such that the bin pickup can pivot with respect to the input link about a first pickup axis.

6. A garbage bin lifter according to claim 5, wherein the linkage mechanism further comprises a support link pivotably coupled to the frame such that it can pivot with respect to the frame about a support link axis which is substantially parallel to and spaced from the input link axis, and pivotably coupled to the bin pickup such that the bin pickup can pivot with respect to the support link about a second pickup axis spaced from the first pickup axis.

7. A garbage bin lifter according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame comprises first and second transversely spaced side arms.

8. A garbage bin lifter according to claim 7, wherein the frame further comprises a transversely extending bar connecting the first and second side arms together.

9. A garbage bin lifter according to any preceding claim, further comprising a catch which when disengaged causes linear movement generated by the linear actuator to cause the linkage mechanism to move the bin pickup relative to the frame, and which when engaged causes linear movement generated by the linear actuator to pivot the frame about the frame axis.

10. A garbage bin lifter according to claim 9, wherein the catch is arranged such that when the bin pickup is in the lowered position the catch is disengaged, and wherein raising the bin pickup from the lowered position to the raised position causes the catch to engage.

1 1. A garbage bin lifter according to claim 10, wherein the catch comprises a first catch member coupled to the frame and a second catch member coupled to the linkage mechanism.

12. A garbage bin lifter according to claim 11 , wherein the catch is arranged such that when the bin pickup is in the lowered position the first and second catch members are spaced from one another such that the catch is disengaged, and wherein raising the bin pickup from the lowered position to the raised position causes the first and second catch members to come into contact with one another so as to engage the catch.

13. A garbage bin lifter according to any preceding claim, wherein the linear actuator is arranged to generate linear movement in a direction perpendicular to the frame axis.

14. A garbage bin lifter according to any preceding claim, wherein the linear actuator comprises a hydraulic or a pneumatic cylinder.

15. A garbage bin lifter according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuation assembly comprises a single linear actuator or a plurality of linear actuators arranged in parallel side-by-side.

16. A garbage bin lifter according to any preceding claim, wherein the bin pickup transversely extends in a direction parallel to the frame axis.

17. A garbage bin lifter according to any preceding claim, wherein the bin pickup comprises a pickup lip which is arranged to engage with the edge of a bin.

18. A garbage bin lifter according to any preceding claim, further comprising a securing mechanism comprising a securing member coupled to the bin pickup which is moveable between an open position in which the bin pickup can engage a bin and a closed position in which a bin engaged with the bin pickup is secured thereto.

19. A garbage bin lifter according to claim 18, wherein the securing mechanism is arranged such that the securing member moves from an open configuration to a closed configuration as the linkage mechanism raises the bin pickup from the lowered position to the raised position.

20. A garbage bin lifter according to any preceding claim, wherein the garbage bin lifter is for a garbage collection vehicle having a vehicle body, wherein the frame is arranged to be pivotally coupled to the vehicle body, and wherein the linear actuator is arranged to be coupled to the vehicle body such that it can act between the vehicle body and the linkage mechanism.

21. A garbage collection vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle body; and

a garbage bin lifter in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the frame is pivotally coupled to the vehicle body, and wherein the linear actuator is coupled to the vehicle body such that it can act between the vehicle body and the linkage mechanism.

22. A method of emptying a garbage bin using a garbage bin lifter in accordance with any of claims 1-20 or a garbage collection vehicle in accordance with claim 21 , the method comprising:

presenting a garbage bin to the bin pickup; operating the actuation assembly so as to cause the linear actuator to generate linear movement which sequentially:

causes the bin pickup to engage the garbage bin;

causes the linkage mechanism to raise the bin pickup and garbage bin with respect to the frame from a lowered position to a raised position, and

pivots the frame and therefore the bin pickup and bin about the frame axis, the bin pickup being pivoted from the raised position to a tipping position in which the garbage bin is at least partially inverted so that garbage within the garbage bin is emptied.