Method and device for a waste collecting vehicle

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device according to the preamble of claim 1, 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] According to DE 44 08 723 A1 a device for handling waste bins, more precisely to swing such a bin around a temporary fixation shaft to be emptied, is known.

[0003] A device according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from DE43 38 838 A1.

[0004] 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.

[0005] 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.

[0006] 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

[0007] 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.

[0008] The invention provides a device according to claim 1.

[0009] 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.

[0010] The device for fitting at the rear part of a waste transportation vehicle comprises at least two waste containers. The device comprises at least two lift cradles, the lift cradles having variable initiation height up to 1,3 m above roadway when said device is fitted to said vehicle. Each lift cradle has two notches arranged on a curvature on one end of the lift cradle and is driven upwards or downwards by a chain transmission driven by a hydraulic motor. The device furthermore embodies a hydraulically operated vertically displaceable turntable associated to each respective lift cradle, each turntable having two pins arranged thereon to co-operate in a tooth-engagement-like manner with the curvature of a respective lift cradle and a motion indicator incorporated in the hydraulic control of the turntable. Each turntable is arranged in such a way that, after hoisting of a dustbin fixed to the lift cradle, one of the notches catches hold of the first one of the pins causing the lift cradle to swing the dustbin in a position for emptying until the second pin is completely engaged with the other one of the notches, said engagement being sensed by the motion indicator such that by means of a functionality incorporated in an electronic control system the co-ordinated downward motion of the lift cradle and the turntable is initiated so that the dustbin moves in a way that material contained therein will not fall outside a container during emptying.

[0011] By 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.

[0012] 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

[0013] 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.

[0014] 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.

[0015] 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.

[0016] 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.

[0017] Fig. 3 shows a side part 10 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 11.

[0018] 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 1, 2, 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.

[0019] 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.

[0020] 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.

Claims

1. A device for fitting at the rear part of a waste transportation vehicle, comprising at least two waste containers (3, 4), the device comprising at least two lift cradles (1, 2), the lift cradles (1, 2) having variable initiation height up to 1,3 m above roadway when said device is fitted to said vehicle,
characterized in
that each lift cradle (1, 2) has two notches (13) arranged on a curvature on one end of the lift cradle (1, 2) and is driven upwards or downwards by a chain transmission (6) driven by a hydraulic motor (7), the device furthermore embodies a hydraulically operated vertically displaceable turntable (14) associated to each respective lift cradle (1, 2), each turntable (14) having two pins (17) arranged thereon to co-operate in a tooth-engagement-like manner with the curvature of a respective lift cradle (1, 2) and a motion indicator incorporated in the hydraulic control of the turntable, whereby each turntable (14) is arranged in such a way that, after hoisting of a dustbin (5) fixed to the lift cradle (1, 2), one of the notches (13) catches hold of the first one of the pins (17) causing the lift cradle (1, 2) to swing the dustbin (5) in a position for emptying until the second pin (17) is completely engaged with the other one of the notches (13), said engagement being sensed by the motion indicator such that by means of a functionality incorporated in an electronic control system the co-ordinated downward motion of the lift cradle (1, 2) and the turntable (14) is initiated so that the dustbin (5) moves in a way that material contained therein will not fall outside a container (3, 4) during emptying.

Ansprüche

1. Eine Vorrichtung zum Anbringen am hinteren Teil des Abfalltransportfahrzeugs, bestehend aus mindestens zwei Abfallcontainern (3, 4), wobei die Vorrichtung mindestens zwei Hubhalterungen (1, 2) umfasst, wobei diese Hubhalterungen (1, 2) nach der Montage der Vorrichtung am Fahrzeug die Möglichkeit der Einstellung der Initialhöhe bis zu 1,3 m über der Fahrbahn besitzen,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass jede Hubhalterung (1,2) zwei Kerben (13) aufweist, die an der Krümmung an einem Ende der Hubhalterung (1,2) angebracht sind, und mittels eines von einem Hydraulikmotor (7) angetriebenen Kettengetriebes (6) angehoben oder abgesenkt wird; darüber hinaus umfasst die Vorrichtung einen hydraulisch angetriebenen, vertikal verschiebbaren Drehteller (14) für jede Hubhalterung (1, 2), wobei jeder Drehteller (14) zwei Stifte (17) besitzt, die in einer solchen Weise darauf angeordnet sind, dass sie in die Krümmung der jeweiligen Hubhalterung (1, 2) eingreifen, sowie mit einer Bewegungsanzeige ausgestattet ist, die in die hydraulische Steuerung des Drehtellers integriert ist, wobei jeder Drehteller (14) so angeordnet ist, dass nach dem Heben eines an der Hubhalterung (1, 2) befestigten Abfallbehälters (5) eine der Kerben (13) den ersten Stift (17) ergreift, wodurch die Hubhalterung (1,2) den Abfallbehälter (5) in die Entleerposition schwenkt, bis der zweite Stift (17) vollständig in die andere Kerbe (13) eingreift, wobei das Eingreifen von der Bewegungsanzeige erfasst wird, so dass mittels einer mit dem elektronischen Steuerungssystem integrierten Funktionalität eine koordinierte Abwärtsbewegung der Hubhalterung (1, 2) und des Drehtellers (14) eingeleitet wird, wodurch der Abfallbehälter (5) sich so bewegt, dass das darin befindliche Material beim Entleeren nicht aus dem Container (3, 4) fällt.

Revendications

1. Dispositif à installer dans la partie arrère du véhicule de collecte des déchets, se composant d'au moins deux conteneurs à déchets (3, 4), muni d'au moins deux berceaux de l'élévateur (1, 2), et ces berceaux de l'élévateur (1, 2) comportent un environnement de réglage de la hauteur initiale après leur mise en place sur le véhicule jusqu'à 1,3 m au-dessus de la surface de la chaussée, caractéristique en ce que chaque berceau de l'élévateur (1,2) a deux rainures (13) faits sur la courbure d'une des extrémités du berceau de l'élévateur (1,2) et est levé ou descend au moyen d'une transmission à chaîne (6) actionnée par un moteur hydraulique (7); en outre, ce dispositif comporte un plateau tournant à déplacement vertical à entraînement hydraulique (14), pour chaque berceau respectif de l'élévateur (1, 2), et chaque plateau tournant (14) possède deux boulons (17) disposés sur lui de manière à permettre l'engrènement sur la courbure du berceau respectif de l'élévateur (1,2) et un indicateur de mouvement incrporé dans le système de commande hydraulique du plateau tournant, et chaque plaque tournane (14) est disposée de façon à ce que, après la levée du conteneur à déchets (5) fixé au berceau de l'élévateur (1, 2), une des rainures (13) s'engrène sur le premier boulon (17), en faisant le berceau de l'élévateur (1, 2) incliner le conteneur à déchets (5) vers la position de vidange, jusqu'au moment où l'autre boulon (17) s'engrène entièrement sur l'autre rainure (13), et cet engrènement, après sa détection par la sonde de mouvement, grâce à la fonction du système de commande électronique, déclenche un mouvement coordonnée du berceau de l'élévateur vers le bas (1, 2) et le plateau tournant (14) permet le mouvement du conteneur à déchets (5) de telle sorte que son contenu ne tombe pas en dehors de la benne (3, 4) pendant le vidange du conteneur à déchets.

Drawing