Stationary container for refuse provided with a device for centring it and setting it at a distance from other similar containers

Abstract

 A stationary container (16) for refuse is provided, on the bottom of the tank, with a centring device (18) comprising at least one female element designed to receive, by mating of the shapes, a corresponding fixed relief positioned in the area for parking the container (16) and with damping means designed to reduce any impact during repositioning. The sides of the tank of the container (16), at least in the part close to the bottom, are appropriately sized and inclined outwards by an angle α with respect to the vertical in order to impress upon any possible refuse bags resting on the sides of the container (16) a thrust outwards and prevent said refuse from dropping back and/or accumulating in the area for parking of the container (16).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the sector of mechanized refuse collection and more in particular to a device for positioning and setting the stationary refuse bins at a distance from one another.

[0002] It is known that containers for refuse (for solid urban refuse or for differentiated collection) - also referred to as "bins" - prearranged for mechanized refuse collection that are currently available on the market are unified as regards the characteristics of design and construction.

[0003] Bins are likewise divided into mobile ones and stationary ones (which are without wheels or else with wheels exclusively for positioning purposes).

[0004] Stationary refuse containers, which have flat or rocking lid or lids and can be handled using any suitable lifting device, irrespective of the capacity and the constituent material, are made up in all cases of two main components or assemblies: a tank and a lid.

[0005] Amongst other components, applied to the tank, at the bottom, in addition to the offtake for discharge (a draining hole equipped with a purposely provided plug), are suitable resting elements, at least two of which provided with sliding (anti-stick) rollers to favour positioning thereof when they are deposited on the ground.

[0006] Current standards that specify the dimensions and requisites of the aforementioned stationary containers do not envisage a specific distance of the bottom of the tank from the ground, but only the minimum distance from the ground that the plug of the discharge hole is to have.

[0007] Normally, the distance from the ground of the bottom of the tank varies according to the capacity and the model of container.

[0008] With current characteristics, it occurs very frequently that the bins are displaced from their original site (which is defined when they are located, taking into account the problems regarding traffic, visibility, and safety) on account of a wrong repositioning either by the vehicle that carries out collection or by the users, who, above all in areas where there are parking problems, deliberately shift the containers to make room for their own vehicles. This involves not only problems of an operative nature during mechanized collection (bins turned round, set out of line, or brought up too close to one another), but also dangers for road traffic or for pedestrians, invading the pavement or pedestrian crossings, ramps for disabled persons, etc.

[0009] Disclosed in the patent application No. EP 0842 871 is a bin for refuse collection comprising positioning means having a concave shape, which cooperate with means having a convex shape, fixed on the surface of installation so as to position the bin itself in a pre-set position. Furthermore, to keep the surface of installation unencumbered by refuse thrown on the ground alongside the bin there is envisaged the presence of a fence that delimits on three sides said surface of installation.

[0010] The above solution is not altogether satisfactory in so far as it does not allow recovery of the possible misalignment of the bin with respect to its original position following upon its movement and involves the use of fences or barriers that are ill-suited to use in historical centres both for aesthetic reasons and for reasons of safety.

[0011] The purpose of the present invention is hence to provide an improved bin to be produced ex novo, and/or a device/kit that will enable modification of current containers already in use, which enable implementation of an innovative solution that will:

1. guarantee identification of the place for parking the container;

2. guarantee an optimal distance of a number of containers from one another in order to facilitate the operations of picking-up by the vehicles that carry out refuse collection (preventing interference of the corresponding lifting pins and failure of the forks of the vehicle);

3. render more problematical displacement of the containers by the users;

4. reduce the noise during repositioning on the ground;

5. reduce the likelihood of failure of the container as regards the pins for picking up, and squeezing of the bottom and of the resting elements;

6. reduce the likelihood of failure of the pick-up devices (forks) of the vehicles used for refuse collection, which can undergo breakdown and failure in the steps of recovery of the bin in the case where the latter are located in positions too close to one another or not properly aligned.

7. improve the operations of repositioning of the container on the ground in the presence of refuse left on the ground up against the container itself, facilitating removal of the refuse from the sides of the container during lifting thereof and preventing also slipping in the area that the container itself will have to re-occupy once it has been emptied without the use of vertical barriers or fences;

8. prevent underneath the container accumulation of refuse having dimensions such as to render positioning of the container problematical; and

9. improve the operations of picking-up of the container by the vehicle that carries out collection by facilitating realignment of said container to the axis of the road and perpendicular to the pick-up device of the vehicle (guiding the container itself during repositioning on the ground in order to correct possible wrong manoeuvres and incorrect repositioning by the vehicle).

[0012] This has been obtained with a container having the characteristics illustrated hereinafter.

[0013] A first characteristic regards modification of the shape of the male and female elements of the centring device.

[0014] A second characteristic regards the fact that there is envisaged the use of a number of pairs of male and female elements arranged in such a way as to guarantee not only positioning in the parking area but also alignment of the container with respect to the axis of the road or to the axis of reference of the installation.

[0015] A third innovative characteristic lies in the fact that the sides of the tank of the container extend downwards until they cover at least partially the wheels and/or the feet of the container itself.

[0016] A fourth innovative characteristic lies in the fact that the sides of the container, preferably in the part close to the bottom, are appropriately inclined outwards by an angle α with respect to the vertical so as to impress on possible refuse bags resting on the sides of the container itself a thrust outwards in order to prevent the refuse from possibly dropping back into the parking area of the container.

[0017] Alternatively, there is envisages application to stationary containers already in use of a modification kit comprising a base adaptable to the bottom of the container itself that has a slot similar to what has been described previously and that is likewise equipped with sides appropriately inclined outwards, which perform the same function illustrated above, impressing on possible refuse bags resting on the sides of the containers a thrust outwards, thus preventing the refuse from possibly dropping back into the area for parking of the container.

[0018] In both of the embodiments described (container and kit), the part of the centring device is made up of a fixed element of a male type designed to penetrate into the slot of a female type described above, by mating of the shapes.

[0019] Said male element can be fixed directly to the ground or even form part of a platform of larger dimensions capable of adapting to the dimensions of the container that is to receive it.

[0020] In order to facilitate insertion of the above male element in the slot set at the base of the container, also provided are projections and/or grooves mutually arranged on the side surfaces of the two male and female elements.

[0021] According to a characteristic of the invention, the angle of the generatrices of the side surfaces of the male element and of the corresponding side surface of the female element is variable according to the material of which the male element is made and the type of container used, taking into account the reference standards, the spaces available, the heights, etc.

[0022] For producing the centring device any material can be used. However, it is preferable to have recourse to a material that will enable reduction of the noise of operation during repositioning of the bin.

[0023] It should be pointed out that the innovations that are described may be made on all types of stationary refuse containers, irrespective of their capacity and the material of which they are made.

[0024] The description of the invention will be better understood with reference to the annexed plates of drawings, which illustrate some embodiments thereof provided by way of example. In particular:

Figures 1a and 1b are, respectively, a perspective view and a front elevation of a bin of a traditional type;

Figure 1c is a perspective view of a bin provided with an already known centring device;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the bin according to the present invention;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same bin;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view from beneath according to the plane of trace A-A of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an example of embodiment of the male element that forms the fixed part of the centring device;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a second example of male element of a conical shape;

Figure 7A is a perspective view from above of a first kit for modifying a container already in use;

Figure 8A shows by way of indication a container on which the kit of Figure 7A is mounted, in the step in which it is repositioned on the centring element fixed to the ground;

Figures 7B and 8B show, respectively, in perspective view and during repositioning on the centring element fixed to the ground a variant of the kit for modifying a container already in use provided with feet of its own;

Figures 9 and 10 show from above two different solutions for the part on the ground of the centring device: one provided with just one male element and the other with two male elements; and

Figures 11 and 12 show in perspective view and in side elevation, respectively, the fixed part of the centring device made up of a pair of male elements that project from a platform of larger dimensions.

[0025] With reference to the aforesaid figures, a bin 13 of a traditional type is illustrated in Figure 1. As may be seen, its sides 14 are tapered towards the inside in the proximity of the bottom, i.e., in the area where the refuse bags, which for various reasons are not suitably deposited by users inside the bin, are very often rested.

[0026] Illustrated in Figure 1c is a bin for refuse collection provided with a positioning device as described in the patent application No. EP 0842 871. It comprises two parts co-operating with one another: a female element or slot made on the bottom of the tank of each refuse container and a corresponding male element or fixed relief, which is appropriately positioned in the parking area of the container, which is delimited on three sides by a confinement barrier.

[0027] According to the present invention, a first innovative characteristic lies in the fact that the sides of the bin at its bottom base are appropriately flared outwards (Figures 2 and 3).

[0028] In particular, as may be seen in Figure 8, the angle of the sides 19 of the container in the stretch close to the bottom 21 must guarantee, during lifting (force F) of the container, a component (Fp = Fsinα), which is a function of the angle α of inclination of said surface with respect to the vertical (Figure 8), which pushes any possible bags away from its own sides.

[0029] Furthermore, the sides of the container have an extension such as to leave a free gap between the bottom edge and the resting surface such as not to disturb the movement of the container but at the same time to reduce/prevent accumulation of cumbersome refuse in the area for parking of the container.

[0030] In a first embodiment, the centring device is incorporated in the bin 16 (Figures 2 and 3) by providing a slot 18 in the bottom 21 of the container itself, as may be seen in Figure 4.

[0031] The slot may have a prismatic shape, be shaped like a pyramid, a truncated pyramid, be conical or be shaped like a truncated cone and/or be generated by a solid of revolution, and is designed to receive, by mating of the shapes, a male element that is fixed directly to the ground or on a platform or slab raised from the ground, of larger dimensions. An example of such a male element is illustrated in Figure 5 in the form of a projection shaped like a pyramid with a square base 20. Figure 6 shows, instead, in plan view a projection that is conical with a circular base 22.

[0032] Other possible shapes for the male element are those of a solid with an elliptical base and a vertex set at the centre of the ellipse or a solid with parallel elliptical bases.

[0033] A second embodiment (illustrated in Figures 7a and 8a) regards a modification kit for a bin already in use that uses the original feet of the bin itself: in this case, recourse is had to a base 24 that is fixed with known means on the bottom part of the tank of the container itself and that has a female element or slot 18 similar to what has been described previously, which will come to occupy the space comprised between the bottom of the tank and the ground, appropriately dampened by means of elastic bearings 26, as illustrated in Figure 8a.

[0034] Said base 24 is likewise equipped with sides 19a appropriately slanting or flared outwards for performing the same function illustrated above by the sides 19 and to impress on possible refuse bags resting thereon a thrust outwards.

[0035] Preferably, the slot 18 is provided with projections/grooves having the function of guides, which facilitate centring of the container during repositioning on the ground.

[0036] A second modification kit (illustrated in Figures 7B and 8B) is instead equipped with integrated resting feet 28 of its own appropriately dampened with elastic means 30 of a known type.

[0037] On the other hand, according to a further characteristic of the invention, the devices for centring the bins and setting them at a distance from one another such as the one illustrated so far can even have more than one male element and female element co-operating with one another. In this case, the use, for example, of a pair of conical projections or ones shaped like a truncated cone with a circular base, of a pair of projections with an elliptical base and a vertex set at the centre of the ellipse, or of a pair of projections with parallel elliptical bases, in addition to guaranteeing proper centring, form guides that facilitate realignment of the container to the axis of the road and perpendicular to the pick-up device of the vehicle.

[0038] Furthermore, the male element or elements can be positioned projecting from the bottom of the bin, whilst the female element or elements may be made directly on the ground or in a platform made of appropriate anti-impact material, such as, for example, recycled rubber.

Claims

1. A stationary container for refuse provided with a device for centring it and setting it at a distance from other similar containers of the type comprising two separate parts co-operating with one another, one of which, fixed with respect to the container, is a female element or slot positioned on the bottom of the tank of each refuse container and the other is a corresponding male element or relief, which is fixed in an appropriate position in the area for parking of the container so as to adapt to said female element, said container being characterized in that the sides of said bin at least in the area close to its bottom base are appropriately inclined outwards by an angle α with respect to the vertical designed to guarantee, during lifting (force F) of the container, a component (Fp = Fsinα), which is a function of the same angle α, that moves any bags that may have been rested against the sides away from the sides themselves during lifting of the bin by the machine that carries out refuse collection.

2. The stationary container for refuse as per the preceding claim, characterized in that the sides of the container extend downwards so as to leave between their bottom edge and the resting surface a free gap such as to guarantee proper movement of the container itself, reducing and/or preventing the accumulation of cumbersome refuse in the area for parking of the container itself.

3. The stationary container for refuse as per Claim 1, characterized in that said container is provided with damping means capable of reducing the impact on the parking surface during repositioning.

4. The stationary container for refuse as per the preceding claim, characterized in that the female element or slot is made directly on the bottom of the tank of the container itself by moulding or machining.

5. The stationary container for refuse as per Claim 1, characterized in that in the case of a bin already in use the female element or slot (18) is made on an appropriate base (24), designed to be fixed with known means on the bottom part of the tank of the container itself so that said slot will come to occupy the space comprised between the bottom of the tank and the ground; said base (24) being provided with sides (19a) appropriately slanting or flared outwards at least in the stretch close to the bottom for guaranteeing, during lifting (force F) of the container, a component (Fp = Fsinα), which is a function of the angle α of inclination of said surface with respect to the vertical, designed to move any bags that may have been rested against the sides away from the sides themselves during lifting of the bin by the machine that carries out refuse collection.

6. The stationary container for refuse as per Claim 4, characterized in that the base (24) is without feet and the female element (18) is provided with damping means (26) of its own.

7. The stationary container for refuse as per Claim 4, characterized in that the base (24) integrates resting feet (28) provided with damping means (30).

8. The stationary container for refuse as per any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said slot has a prismatic shape, is shaped like a pyramid, like a truncated pyramid, is conical, or is shaped like a truncated cone and/or has the shape of a solid of revolution and in any case designed to receive, by mating of the shapes, the corresponding fixed relief appropriately positioned in the area for parking of the container.

9. The stationary container for refuse as per Claim 1, characterized in that the male element and the corresponding female element of the centring device have the shape of a solid with an elliptical base with a vertex set at the centre of the ellipse.

10. The stationary container for refuse as per Claim 1, characterized in that the male element and the corresponding female element have the shape of a solid with parallel elliptical bases.

11. The stationary container for refuse as per Claim 1, characterized in that the male element of the centring device is fixed directly to the ground.

12. The stationary container for refuse as per Claim 1, characterized in that the male element of the centring device is integrated with a platform, of larger dimensions, that can be fixed to the ground, which is able to adapt to the dimensions of the container that it is to receive and to identify the area of installation.

13. The stationary container for refuse as per Claim 1, characterized in that, to facilitate insertion of said male element into said female element or slot set at the base of the container, projections and/or grooves are provided mutually arranged on the side surfaces of the two male and female elements.

14. The stationary container for refuse as per Claim 1, characterized in that the centring device also comprises more than one male and female element co-operating with one another, in order to guarantee the alignment with respect to a pre-set reference axis.

15. A stationary container for refuse provided with a device for centring it and setting it at a distance from other similar containers of the type comprising two separate male and female parts co-operating with one another, characterized in that the part fixed with respect to the container is a male element or relief projecting downwards positioned on the bottom of the tank of each refuse container and the other is a corresponding female element or slot, which is appropriately positioned in the area for parking of the container so as to receive said male element, said element or elements being made directly on the ground or in a platform made of appropriate anti-impact material.

16. The stationary container for refuse as per the preceding claim, characterized in that the sides of the bin at least in the area close to its bottom base are appropriately inclined outwards by an angle α with respect to the vertical.

17. The stationary container for refuse as per the preceding claim, characterized in that the angle of the sides of the container in the stretch close to the bottom is designed to guarantee, during lifting (force F) of the container, a component (Fp = Fsinα), which is a function of the angle α of inclination of said surface with respect to the vertical, that is designed to move any bags that may have been rested against the sides away from the sides themselves during lifting of the bin by the machine that carries out refuse collection.

Drawing