|
(11) | EP 1 074 487 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
|
|
| (54) |
System for lifting a container from a seat embedded in the ground and discharging wastes from the container into a body situated on a vehicle System zum Anheben von Behältern aus einer unterirdisch angeordneten Aufnahme und zum Entladen von Abfällen aus diesen Behältern in einem Sammelfahrzeug Système pour lever des récipients d'un logement enterré dans le sol et pour décharger des ordures de ces récipients dans un véhicule de ramassage |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0001] The present invention relates to collection of solid urban wastes, with particular reference to a system for lifting a container situated in a seat embedded in the ground and discharging wastes contained in the container into a body situated on a vehicle, according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a system is known, e.g. from document EP-A-576405.
[0002] Known containers for collecting solid urban wastes are housed in suitable seats embedded in the ground and equipped with a liftable cover.
[0003] The arrangement of the containers in the seats embedded in the ground and not accessible directly from outside allows to free the street from usual wheeled containers and to avoid bad smell and bacteria originating from the wastes prolonged stay in the containers.
[0004] The containers embedded in the ground are emptied by devices which lift, partially or wholly, the container from the embedded seat.
[0005] The systems for partial lifting the containers, usually allow to access from outside the lifting attachment points of the containers.
[0006] Therefore, in order to empty the container, the waste collecting vehicle must engage the container at the lifting attachment points, lift the container completely and overturn it, so that the wastes fall into a suitable body, joined to the vehicle.
[0007] These operations are extremely complicated and can be carried out only by skilled operators. Moreover, these operations can be dangerous for the operators if they are not carried out with maximum attention and care.
[0008] The devices which lift completely the containers from the relative seats, prepare the container to be overturned onto the bodies joined to the vehicles.
[0009] Also in this case, the operations necessary to empty the container cannot be promptly carried out and anyway, it is always necessary to overturn the container.
[0010] Moreover, it is to be pointed out that, once emptied into the body of the waste collecting vehicle, the container must be positioned again in the region of the lifting device, so as to be replaced inside the embedded seat.
[0011] Therefore, special coupling elements must be provided for coupling the container with the lifting device, so as to facilitate repositioning operations.
[0012] This considerably increases design and manufacture difficulties for such types of lifting devices, thus increasing considerably the costs.
[0013] The object of the present invention is to propose a device for lifting a container from a seat embedded in the ground and discharging waste contained in the container into a body situated on a vehicle, which allows to avoid the above problems.
[0014] More precisely, the object of the present invention is to propose a system, which ensures a complete lifting of a container from the embedded seat and consequently emptying thereof by simple and reliable operations, safe for the operators.
[0015] Another object of the present invention is to propose a system, which allows to discharge the waste accumulated in the container without using interposed means for coupling with the waste collecting vehicle.
[0016] A further object of the present invention is to propose a system, which obtains the above objects by a simple, extremely functional solution which is cheap with respect to its operation.
[0017] The above mentioned objects are obtained by a system having the characterstic features of claim 1.
[0018] These characteristic features of the present invention will be pointed out in the following description of a preferred, but not only embodiment, with reference to the enclosed tables of drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 schematically shows a lateral view of the proposed system in the working position, in which the container is housed inside the embedded seat;
- Figure 2 is a schematic lateral view of the proposed system in the working position, in which the container is completely lifted up and the waste contained therein are discharged into the body of the waste collecting vehicle;
- Figure 3 schematically shows a lateral view of an interesting embodiment of the proposed system during a working step, in which the container is emptied and the waste contained therein discharged into the body of the waste collecting vehicle;
- Figure 4 is a schematic cross-section view taken along line IV - IV of Figure 3;
- Figures 5a and 5b are schematic lateral views of particularly significant elements of the proposed system, in two distinct working positions;
- Figure 6 is a schematic cross-section view taken along line VI - VI of Figure 5a;
- Figure 7 is a schematic front section view of other significant elements of the proposed system;
- Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the detail K of Figure 1.
[0019] With reference to the above figures, reference numeral S indicates a seat embedded in the ground, in which a container C for collecting solid urban waste is housed. A closing cover 300, moved in known way around a hinge 301, is associated to the seat S.
[0020] The reference numeral 100 indicates the system for lifting the container C from the embedded seat S and for discharging the waste R contained therein into a body placed on a vehicle.
[0022] The container C is rigidly supported by a platform P, which is controlled by the first working unit 1 housed in a recess 10 made in the bottom wall of the embedded seat S near a side wall S3.
[0023] The first working unit 1 includes hydraulic lifting means 4 fastened, e.g. as shown in Figure 1, to the wall S3 of the embedded seat S.
[0024] The lifting means 4 include e.g. a pair of hydraulic pistons 45, only one of which is shown, moving vertically inside the relative cylinders.
[0025] Each of the pistons 45 supports, at its upper end, a pair of rotating sprocket wheels 46, only one of which is shown, which engage with chains 47.
[0026] The chains 47 are fastened, with their first end 47a, to a wall 4a of the actuators 4, and with their second end 47b, to the platform P.
[0027] The engaging of the chains 47 with the sprocket wheels 46 defines mechanisms 5, which cooperate with the hydraulic lifting means 4, so as to allow the platform P to translate alternately in a vertical direction.
[0028] First sliding means 6 are supported for rotation by the platform P in the region of two lateral ends.
[0029] The first sliding means 6 include two pairs or rollers, first 61 and second 62, each of which includes lower rollers 61b and upper rollers 61a.
[0030] The lower rollers 61b and the upper rollers 61a roll inside a groove 59 made in first vertical guides 60.
[0031] The lower ends of the first vertical guides 60 are equipped with second sliding means 7, including a two pairs or rollers, third 71 and fourth 72, each of which includes lower rollers 71b and upper rollers 71a.
[0032] The lower rollers 71b and the upper rollers 71a roll inside a groove 69 made in second vertical guides 70.
[0033] The second vertical guides 70 are fastened to the opposite side walls S1 and S2 of the seat S.
[0034] Thus, the platform P slides alternately with respect to the first vertical guides 60, while the first vertical guides 60 slide alternately with respect to the second vertical guides 70.
[0035] The platform P moves between two separate working positions: a lowered position H1 and a raised position H2, operated by the above first working unit 1 and by the sliding of the first sliding means 6 inside the first vertical guides 60 and the sliding of the second sliding means 7 of the first vertical guides 60 with respect to the second vertical guides 70.
[0036] When the platform P is in the lowered position H1 (Figure 1), the container C disappears completely inside the embedded seat S, and when the platform P is in the raised position H2 (Figures 2, 3), the container C is completely lifted up and positioned near a vehicle and the relative body for discharging waste.
[0037] In its inside, the container C is equipped with an inclined bottom 11, which extends from a first head 12 to a second head 13, opposite to the first one; the latter is constituted by putting an active panel 80 over a passive panel 81.
[0038] The above mentioned second working unit 2, joined to the container C in the region of the first head 12, includes an actuator 20 connected to driving means 30 situated in the region of the inclined bottom 11 and extending from the first head 12 to the second head 13.
[0039] The driving means 30 include a worm screw 31, connected to an actuator 20, and a lead nut 32, which is fastened, by a strip 33, to a pushing surface 40, situated inside the container C, parallel to the first head 12 and to the second head 13.
[0040] The strip 33 passes through a slot 35 made in the inclined bottom 11 and equipped with a protection seal 34.
[0041] The driving means 30 are aimed at moving, in cooperation with supporting and guiding means 39, the pushing surface 40 from the first head 12 to the second head 13, and vice-versa.
[0042] The translation of the pushing surface 40 from the first head 12 to the second head 13 allows to push and compact the waste inside the container C toward the second head 13.
[0043] The above mentioned supporting and guiding means 39 include upper wheels 42 and lower wheels 41, fastened rotatably to the pushing surface 40.
[0044] The upper wheels 42 and the lower wheels 41 are equipped, as shown in Figure 7, with relative grooves 410 aimed at coupling with corresponding upper section bars 43 and lower section bars 44, fastened to the opposite inner lateral walls 48 and 49 of the container C.
[0045] The above mentioned upper section bars 43 and lower section bars 44 extend from the first head 12 to the second head 13 parallel to the inclined bottom 11, thus having the same inclination.
[0046] The above mentioned active panel 80 is fastened rotatably to the lower edge of the second head 13 and is connected to the above mentioned third working unit 3, which includes a pushing actuator 8 situated near the second head 13.
[0049] According to an interesting embodiment, the recess 10 housing the first working unit 1 can be made in the region of the central area S4 of the pavement of the embedded seat S.
[0050] Some technical-functional precautions are taken, so as to avoid spreading outside of possible miasma generated by the waste, as shown in Figure 8.
[0051] With reference to Figure 8, the reference numeral 302 indicates a tubular element which surrounds the upper part of the seat S.
[0052] A base 303 of a section bar 304 with a substantially U-like vertical section, is fastened to the tubular element.
[0053] The outer wing 305 touches the ground and has an upper part 305A which is inclined outwards and joins a horizontal part 305B flush with the upper part of the cover 300, when the latter is in the closing position of the seat S.
[0054] The inner wing 306, whose height is smaller than the thickness of the cover, receives a permanent gasket 307.
[0056] When the cover is in closing position, the head 400A of the beam 400 leans against the tubular element 302, but is inner with respect to the inner wing 306, while the dimensions of the covering sheet 401 allow it to be placed near the inclined part 305A.
[0057] The part 401A of the covering sheet 401 extending from the head 400A of the beam 400 is stiffened by a section bar 405, which is situated below it and fastened to the head 400A and to which the part 401A is fastened.
[0058] A first seal 415 is fastened to the inner edge of the beam 400 and is aimed, with the cover 300 in the closing position, at going in abutment on the tubular element 302, while a second seal 416 is aimed at going in abutment on the permanent gasket 307 and a third seal 417 goes in abutment on intercepting the inclined part 305A.
[0059] When the cover is in the closing position, the combined action of the first seal 415, second seal 416, third seal 417 cooperating respectively with the tubular element 302, the permanent gasket 307 and the inclined part 305A, creates tightness between the inside and outside, as well as between outside and inside.
[0060] The base 303 of the section bar 304 features an aperture 303A communicating with a discharge and/or drainage duct 420: thus possible liquids which for any reason are present in the section bar 304, are immediately moved away therefrom.
[0062] When the waste accumulated in the container is collected, the operator activates, by a suitable command given from outside, the first working unit 1, so as to lift the container situated in the lowered position H1; in step relation with this operation, the cover 300 is rotated, so as to be arranged vertical (Figure 2).
[0063] The lifting means 4 raise the pistons 45 allowing the chains 47 to turn around the sprocket wheels 46 thus raising the ends 47b fastened to the platform P.
[0064] The platform P begins to slide upwards due to the translation of the first sliding means 6 inside the first vertical guides 60.
[0065] The first vertical guides 60 begin to slide upwards inside the second vertical guides 70 in step relation with reaching, by the first sliding means 6, of the stop of the first vertical guides 60.
[0066] It is to be pointed out that the height of the pistons 45 and of the length of the chains 47 allow to raise further the first vertical guides 60 with respect to the second vertical guides.
[0067] This advantageously allows to lift the container C with respect to the embedded seat S, so as to place it in adjacency of the body of the waste collecting vehicle.
[0068] The second working unit 2 is operated in step relation with reaching, by the container C, of the raised position H2, in which the container is completely lifted.
[0069] The actuator 20 activates the driving means 30, which begin, cooperating with the supporting and guiding means 39, to translate the pushing surface 40, situated in correspondence to the first head 12 of the container, toward the second head 13.
[0070] The translation of the pushing surface 40 toward the second head 13 causes the shift and compacting of the waste contained in the container toward the second head 13.
[0072] The third working unit 3 is operated in step relation with the beginning of the pushing surface 40 translation.
[0073] The pushing actuator 8 acts on the active panel 80 making it rotate outwards and the passive panel 81 oscillates and rotates freely.
[0074] The rotation of the active panel 80 creates the opening necessary to discharge the waste and to empty the container.
[0075] The passive panel 81, free to oscillate, slows down the waste movement outward, orienting them toward the body situated below.
[0076] When the container is completely emptied, or anyway, when the pushing surface 40 has reached the second head 13, the actuator 20, through its driving means 39, withdraws the pushing surface 40 back to the first head 12.
[0077] In step relation, the third working unit 3 operates the device 8 for repositioning the active panel 80 to closing configuration.
[0079] Meanwhile, also the first working unit 1 is operated, so as to reposition the container, ready to collect new waste, inside the embedded seat.
[0080] One of the major advantages of the system proposed by the present invention is that it allows to lift completely the container from a seat embedded in the ground and to discharge the waste contained therein without lifting again or overturning the container.
[0081] The three working units of the proposed system allow the waste collecting operators to work in whole security by performing completely automated and extremely fast operations.
[0082] It is to be pointed out that two pairs of vertical guides, one pair sliding with respect to the other, allow advantageously to lift the container on different levels, in relation to different body dimensions.
[0083] Moreover, the inclined bottom, together with the pushing surface situated inside the container facilitates the waste discharging operations.
[0084] The container can be lifted in a continuous, fast and regular way, due to the chains 47 turning around the sprocket wheels 46 lifted by the pistons 45.
a first working unit (1) housed in a recess (10) made in the bottom wall of the embedded seat (S) and aimed at translating alternately a platform (P) supporting rigidly said waste collecting container (C) in a vertical direction between two separate working positions: a lowered position (H1), in which the waste collecting container (C) disappears completely inside said embedded seat (S), so as to accumulate waste, and a raised position (H2), in which the waste collecting container (C) is completely lifted and positioned near the body of said waste collecting vehicle;
said waste collecting container (C) including an inclined bottom (11) extending from a first head (12) to an opposite second head (13) said second head (13) including a first active panel (80), hinged along the lower edge of said second head (13), and a second passive panel (81), hinged along the upper edge of said second head (13) and disposed over said first panel (80);
a second working unit (2) joined to said waste collectig container (C) in the region of said first head (12) and including an actuator (20) connected to driving means (30) situated in the region of said inclined bottom (11), said actuator (20) aimed at, together with supporting and guiding means (39), moving a pushing surface (40) from said first head (12) to said second head (13) and vice-versa, so as to compact and push the waste towards said second head (13); and
a third working unit (3) situated near said second head (13) and including a pushing actuator (8) connected to said first active panel (80), aimed at rotating said first active panel (80) outwards in step relation with the translation of said pushing surface (40) from said first head (12) to said second head (13), thereby allowing said second passive panel (81) to rotate freely, rotation of the first active panel (80) creates the opening necessary to discharge the waste (R) and to empty the waste collecting container (C), said pushing actuator (8) also aimed at closing said first active panel (80) when the container (C) has been completely emptied, thereby closing said second passive panel (81).
eine erste Arbeitseinheit (1), die in einer in der Bodenwand der eingebetteten Aufnahme (S) gebildeten Ausnehmung (10) untergebracht ist und dazu dient, eine den Müllsammelbehälter fest abstützende Plattform (P) in einer vertikalen Richtung abwechselnd zwischen zwei getrennten Arbeitsstellungen translationsförmig zu bewegen, und zwar einer unteren Stellung (H1), in der der Müllsammelbehälter (C) vollständig innerhalb der eingebetteten Aufnahme (S) verschwindet, um Müll zu speichern, und einer angehobenen Stellung (H2), in der der Müllsammelbehälter (C) vollständig angehoben und in der Nähe des Körpers des Müllsammelfahrzeuges angeordnet ist, wobei der Müllsammelbehälter (C) einen geneigten Boden (11) hat, der von einem ersten Kopf (12) zu einem gegenüberliegenden zweiten Kopf (13) verläuft, wobei der zweite Kopf (13) eine erste aktive Platte (80) und eine zweite passive Platte (81) umfasst, von denen die erste aktive Platte längs des unteren Randes des zweiten Kopfes (13) angelenkt ist und die zweite passive Platte längs des oberen Randes des zweiten Kopfes (13) angelenkt und über der ersten Platte (80) angeordnet ist,
eine zweite Arbeitseinheit (2), die mit dem Müllsammelbehälter (C) im Bereich des ersten Kopfes (12) angeordnet ist und eine Betätigungsvorrichtung (20) umfasst, die mit Antriebsmitteln (30) verbunden ist, welche im Bereich des geneigten Boden (11) angeordnet ist, wobei die Betätigungsvorrichtung (20) dazu dient, zusammen mit Abstütz- und Führungsmitteln (39) eine Schubfläche (40) von dem ersten Kopf (12) zu dem zweiten Kopf (13) und umgekehrt zu bewegen, um dadurch den Müll in Richtung auf den zweiten Kopf (13) zu verdichten und zu schieben, und
eine dritte Arbeitseinheit (13), die in der Nähe des zweiten Kopfes (13) angeordnet ist und eine schiebende Betätigungsvorrichtung (8) umfasst, die mit der ersten aktiven Platte (80) verbunden ist und dazu dient, die erste aktive Platte (80) in abgestufter Beziehung zu der Translationsbewegung der Schubfläche (40) von dem ersten Kopf (12) nach außen zu dem zweiten Kopf (13) zu drehen, um dadurch eine freie Drehbewegung der zweiten passiven Platte (81) zu ermöglichen, wobei die Drehung der ersten aktiven Platte (80) den Öffnungsvorgang bewirkt, der erforderlich ist, um den Müll (R) abzugeben und den Müllsammelbehälter (C) zu entleeren, wobei die schiebende Betätigungsvorrichtung (8) ferner dazu dient, die erste aktive Platte (80) zu schließen und dadurch die zweite passive Platte (81) zu schließen, wenn der Behälter (C) vollständig entleert wurde.
une première unité de travail (1) logée dans un renfoncement (10) formé dans la paroi inférieure du logement enterré (S) et servant à translater alternativement une plateforme (P) supportant rigidement ledit conteneur (C) de collecte des ordures, dans une direction verticale entre deux positions de travail séparées: une position abaissée (H1) dans laquelle le conteneur (C) de collecte d'ordures disparaît complètement à l'intérieur dudit logement enterré (S), de manière à accumuler les ordures, et une position soulevée (H2), dans laquelle le conteneur (C) de collecte des ordures est complètement soulevé et positionné à proximité de la benne dudit véhicule de collecte des ordures;
ledit conteneur (C) de collecte des ordures incluant un fond incliné (11) s'étendant depuis une première tête (12) jusqu'à une seconde tête opposée (13), ladite seconde tête (13) incluant un premier panneau actif (80), articulé le long du bord inférieur de ladite seconde tête (13), et un second panneau passif (81), articulé le long du bord supérieur de ladite seconde tête (13) et disposé au-dessus dudit premier panneau (80),
une seconde unité de travail (2) réunie audit conteneur (C) de collecte des ordures dans la région de ladite première tête (12) et incluant un actionneur (20) raccordé à des moyens d'entraînement (30) situés dans la région dudit fond incliné (11), ledit actionneur (20) ayant pour objet de déplacer, conjointement avec des moyens de support et de guidage (39), une surface de poussée (40) depuis ladite première tête (12) vers ladite seconde tête (13) et vice versa de manière à compacter et repousser les ordures vers ladite seconde tête (13); et
une troisième unité de travail (3) située à proximité de ladite second tête (13) et incluant un actionneur de poussée (8) raccordé audit premier panneau actif (80) et visant à faire tourner ledit premier panneau actif (80) vers l'extérieur, selon une relation graduée la translation de ladite surface de poussée (40) depuis ladite première tête (12) vers ladite seconde tête (13), ce qui permet audit second panneau passif (81) de tourner librement, la rotation du premier panneau actif (80) créant l'ouverture nécessaire pour évacuer les ordures (R) et vider le conteneur de collecte des ordures, ledit actionneur de poussée (8) servant également à fermer ledit premier panneau actif (80) lorsque le conteneur (C) a été complètement vidé, ce qui permet la fermeture dudit second panneau actif (81).