Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a procedure and a device at a waste-transportation
vehicle for, by means of at least two lift cradles having variable initiation height
and being fitted thereto in a boot or trunk, allowing, without mixing together, the
lifting and emptying of different waste fractions into one dust compartment for each
fraction from different standardized dustbins in the same vehicle having one lift
cradle for each waste fraction.
Prior Art
[0002] It is required by modern waste-transportation vehicles that they separately can handle
at least two kinds of waste, often more. The size of the bins that the waste is kept
in, before it is to be taken care of by the vehicle, varies today in such a way that
it sets limits for how many different types of waste one and the same vehicle can
handle. In addition, the lift cradles of the vehicles, by means of which the bins
are handled, have to be constructed in such a way that they can handle both small
and large bins, at the same time as emptying has to be performable starting from ground
level as well as from an elevated loading position, such as a loading ramp having
a height above ground of maximum 1,3 m. Usually, the waste is handled in such a way
that it is loaded into a load container belonging to the vehicle from dustbins that
are attached to a motor-driven guide mechanism arranged at the rear part of the vehicle
and from where it, using means belonging to the vehicle, is brought into the load
space, where it is compressed. In transportation of, above all, recyclable material
of different types, e.g., returnable packaging's such as aluminium cans or PET bottles,
respectively, it is of the utmost importance that the different waste fractions are
carefully separated, otherwise the respective loaded matter will in principle be discarded
and instead of constituting a renewable resource simply having to be deposited.
[0003] Since this waste generally consists of discrete and in many cases partially compressed
packages, the possible mixing together of the waste fractions will almost exclusively
arise in connection with emptying from a loading ramp, in which case the waste container
that is emptied according to prior art has been lifted in such a manner that there
is a risk that parts of the contents unintentionally fall down into the wrong load
container.
[0004] In connection with the following handling of the waste, different kinds of sensor
stations are used, in which the waste is scanned, e.g., the PET fraction is scanned
using a metal detector in order to find out whether the load is "clean" from metal
contents or not. If this is not the case, the lot has to be discarded as a consequence
of it being too resource-demanding to manually search through the lot.
The Invention in Brief
[0005] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a procedure and a
device of the above-mentioned type, which makes it possible to be able to highly reliably
guarantee that a mix of fractions in connection with emptying from a loading dock
of the type mentioned is prevented.
[0006] According to the invention, the respective lift cradle is mounted for the prevention
of spillage beside the intended waste container on a turntable that, if the size of
the bin is such that some part of the opening thereof during the course of emptying
in connection with turning for emptying risks ending up above a partition or external
wall of a waste container, the bin is lowered by means of the turntable by a motion
co-ordinated with the motion of the lift cradle so much that this is prevented.
[0007] By the procedure and the device according to the invention, it is prevented that
spillage of one waste fraction is mixed with another during the emptying. Thereby,
it is attained that recyclable resources can be made use of and be re-used to a substantially
greater extent than previously.
[0008] In the following, the invention will be described in more detail, reference being
made to a preferred embodiment example shown in the appended drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 shows a perspective view over a waste-handling equipment for a waste-transportation
vehicle,
Fig. 2 shows a view straight from behind of the rear part of the waste-transportation
vehicle,
Fig. 3 shows a side view of a side part of a bin lifting unit for a lift cradle of
the waste-handling equipment,
Fig. 4 shows a side view over parts of a rear part of the cradle of a waste-transportation
vehicle close by a ramp including a dustbin,
Fig. 5 shows a view corresponding to Fig.4 but in which the dustbin has been brought
inward toward the vehicle into a finished lift position,
Fig. 6 shows a view corresponding to Fig. 5 but in which the dustbin has been lifted
up a bit,
Fig. 7 shows a view corresponding to Fig. 6 but in which the dustbin at the same time
as it is lifted has been lowered at the front edge thereof,
Fig. 8 shows a view corresponding to Fig. 7 but in which the initiated lowering motion
of the dustbin has continued,
Fig. 9 shows a view corresponding to Fig. 8 but in which the initiated lowering motion
of the dustbin has continued further,
Fig. 10 shows a view corresponding to Fig. 9 but in which the motion corresponding
to a tipping has rotated the bin 90°,
Fig. 11 shows a view in which the tipping of the bin has passed 90°, and
Fig. 12 shows a view corresponding to full tipping state.
Detailed Description
[0009] The instant invention generally relates to a device for a lift cradle for a waste-transportation
vehicle, more specifically a lift cradle 1, 2 intended to be arranged on the rear
of such a vehicle.
[0010] In the following, the details included in the device according to the invention are
described as well as, after that, the mutual interaction thereof. As is seen in Fig.
1, which in a perspective view shows a rear part of the lift cradle(s) 1, 2 of a waste-transportation
vehicle, as well as a waste container 3 and 4, respectively, associated to each such
cradle, as well as also a dustbin 5 that is rolled out into a position for taxing
in, lifting and emptying.
[0011] In the shown state, the lift cradle 1 of one 3 of the containers is in a lower position
for the lifting and emptying of a dustbin from ground level, while the lift cradle
2 of the other one 4 of the containers is in a position for the lifting and emptying
of a dustbin from a level that corresponds to a loading dock/loading ramp or the like.
The respective lift cradle 1, 2 is driven via a chain transmission 6 of a hydraulic
motor 7 in order to move up or down. From this figure, it is also seen that each one
of the two lift cradles, at the respective bottom parts thereof, embodies an extensible
rubber cloth 8, which serves as spillage protection but also constitutes stipulated
safety barrier to be drawn out automatically in connection with the motion of the
lift cradle. The rubber cloth is arranged in the form of a roller-blind-like arrangement
in such a way that the extension thereof from a storage roller takes place simultaneously
with the cradle being pushed upward and the rubber cloth automatically returning at
the same time as the cradle is brought back to the lower position thereof.
[0012] Fig. 2 shows the lift cradles 1, 2 as seen straight from behind, and similarly to
Fig. 1, the right cradle 2 herein is here shown elevated into a state for emptying
from a loading dock or the like. Because of that, the rubber cloth 8 is, as has been
described, also drawn up. The left lift cradle is in the lower position thereof, and
thus in a state for emptying of a dustbin from ground level. In this figure, the hydraulic
motors 7 of the respective lift cradles 1, 2 are seen more clearly. In this view,
the chain transmissions 6 are concealed behind protective plates 9.
[0013] Fig. 3 shows a side part 10 of a bin lift that stands for hoisting of the respective
cradles 1, 2 from the level where the dustbins are collected to the level on which
they are emptied. The cradles 1, 2 are intended for catching hold of and lifting as
well as swinging a dustbin 5 (not shown in this figure) before the same is emptied
at the upper part of the respective containers 3, 4. The cradles 1, 2 is moved by
means of the motor 7 (not shown in this figure) on the output shaft of which there
are gears (not shown) that are rolled against movable chains that are fixed to the
cradles (not shown) and contained in guides 8.
[0014] One end 12 of the respective lift cradle 1, 2 has a curvature that comprises deep
"notches" 13. In connection with the hoisting of the lift cradle 1, 2, said "notches"
13 are intended to catch hold of pins 17 on a so-called turntable 14, which, under
the impact of the motion of the cradle, pretty much as the engagement between a rack
and a gear with a large pitch for both, swing around a dustbin 5 that is fixed to
the cradle 1, 2 into a position for emptying. The turntable 14 is, under the impact
of a hydraulic cylinder that acts between itself and a fixed part of either of the
containers 3, 4, movable upward/downward in a guide 16. A motion indicator (not shown),
which is incorporated in the hydraulic control of the turntable, senses when the two
notches 13 of a cradle 1, 2 have arrived in such a position that both of them are
in engagement with the pins 17 of the turntable 14, wherein the turntable 14 and the
chain transmission 6, by means of a functionality that is incorporated in a control
unit (not shown) for the move of the cradle 14, both are actuated to execute a co-ordinated
motion of the cradle 1, 2 as well as the turntable 14, so that the dustbin will move
in a way that means that nothing of the material contained therein falls outside the
respective container during a course of emptying.
[0015] In the following, the course of an emptying cycle for a dustbin will be described
in more detail, reference being made to a sequence of Figs. 4-12, from which a complete
emptying sequence from start to finish is seen. Accordingly, in Fig. 4, it is seen
how the rear part of a waste-transportation vehicle, more precisely containers 3,
4 and lift cradles 1, 2 have been reversed to a loading ramp 18. In the figure, all
details described above take part and are present in one or other activity phase.
For instance, the lift cradle is, in a manual or automatic way, elevated into a position
in such a way that a dustbin 5, only by being run close by the cradle 1, 2, easily
can be coupled together with the same by means of hooks 19 in order to be lifted up
for emptying purposes. In the corresponding Fig. 5, it is shown how the dustbin 5
has been rolled inward toward the lift cradle 1, 2 and aligned in such a way that
the hooks 19 can engage the edge of the bin. 5. In Fig.6, it is only seen that the
dustbin 5, by means of the cradle 1, 2, has been lifted up a short distance. In this
connection, it should be noted that the turntable 14 still is in the upper rest position
thereof. According to Fig.7, the dustbin 5 has been lifted up further, one of the
notches 13, which previously have been described in connection with Fig. 3, having
caught hold of the first one of the pins 17, which makes the cradle 1, 2 to swing
out in the way shown. Also the other notch 13 has initiated an engagement with the
second one of the pins 17, also the turntable 14, by means of hydraulic cylinder,
having started a motion downward in the figure. In Fig. 8, it is seen that the elevation
of the point of contact of the cradle clearly has been lowered considerably. This
has been effected by a motion of the turntable 14 at the same time as a co-ordinated
lowering of the cradle 1, 2 has been commenced. It is also seen clearly that the lowering
of the cradle and the turntable 14 is just as great that the inner, lower corner of
the dustbin 5 situated closest to the containers 3, 4 clears from interfering with
the floor surface of the loading dock 18. What just has been mentioned is even more
evident in Fig. 8; notice particularly that the turntable 14 is slightly observable
behind the hydraulic cylinder 15, and here, the position thereof is clearly changed.
Fig. 9 constitutes actually a continued steady state of what is shown in Fig.8 and
shows the continuity of the co-ordinated motion of the chain transmission 6 and the
motion of the turntable and does not require any further explanation. According to
Fig. 10, the dustbin 5 has reached a position in which the opening thereof is situated
in the vertical plane and this motion continues via Fig. 11 to the position shown
in Fig. 12, in which complete emptying is expected to have occurred under the impact
of gravity on the recovery material contained in the dustbin. Notice particularly
that the rotation of the bin 5 in the lifted position thereof between Fig. 8 and Fig.
12 in principle is provided by the fact that the turntable 14 "runs away from" the
chain transmission 6.
[0016] The invention should not be considered to be limited by the description above, but
is only limited by the accompanying claims, for the interpretation of which support
can be found in the description.
1. Procedure at a waste-transportation vehicle for, by means of at least two lift cradles
(1, 2) having variable initiation height up to 1,30 m above roadway and being fitted
thereto at a boot, allowing, without mixing together, the lifting and, into one waste
container (3, 4) for each fraction, emptying of likewise at least two waste fractions
from different standardized dustbins (5) in the same vehicle having one lift cradle
(1, 2) and one waste container for each waste fraction, characterized in that the respective lift cradle (1, 2), for the prevention of spillage beside the intended
waste container (3, 4), is associated to a turntable (14) that, if the size of the
bin is such that some part of the opening thereof during the course of emptying in
connection with turning for emptying risks ending up above a partition or external
wall of a waste container (3, 4), the bin is lowered by means of the turntable (14)
by a motion co-ordinated with the motion of the lift cradle so much that this is prevented.
2. Procedure according to claim 1, characterized in that the respective lift cradle (1, 2) is driven by a chain transmission (6) driven by
a hydraulic motor (7).
3. Procedure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the turntable (14) is lowered under the impact of a hydraulic cylinder (15) that
mechanically is coupled to the lower end of the turntable (14).
4. Device for a waste-transportation vehicle for at least two waste fractions embodying
at least two lift cradles (1, 2) having variable initiation height up to 1,30 m above
roadway and being fitted thereto at a boot, characterized in that it furthermore embodies a hydraulically operated vertically displaceable turntable
(14) associated to the respective lift cradle (1, 2), which turntable, by pins (17)
arranged thereon, in a tooth-engagement-like manner, is arranged to co-operate with
recesses (13) arranged on the respective lift cradle, the turntable (14) being arranged
in such a way that it, after the pins (17) thereof having engaged completely with
the recesses (13), sensors via an electronic control system being arranged to initiate
the vertically downward motion of the turntable (14) in such a way that the dustbin
(5), by a co-ordinated motion of the lift cradle and the turntable, becomes swingable
more than a quarter of a revolution without any part of the bin interfering with the
surroundings, and whereby the dustbin becomes swingable without mixing together of
the different waste fractions taking place.
5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the respective lift cradle (1, 2) has a chain transmission (6) driven by a hydraulic
motor (7).
6. Device according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the turntable (14) is lowerable under the impact of a hydraulic cylinder (15) that
is attached to the lower end thereof.