Device for emptying refuse receptacles

Abstract

 A device (1) for emptying refuse receptacles into a collecting container comprises at least one loading device (2) as well as screening elements (4) which are fitted to the frame on either side of the loading device (2). Each of the screening elements (4) can be moved between a screening position, in which the screening element (4) screens off the area of movement (3) of the loading device (2) on the side, and a non-screening position, in which the screening element (4) does not screen off this area of movement (3). Each screening element (4) is provided with one or more operating elements (11) for operating the loading device (2). The loading device (2) is designed to carry out an automatic loading cycle. Furthermore, the loading device (2) can be operated directly by means of the operating elements (11) and is provided with a safeguard which inhibits the use of the automatic loading cycle when the screening elements (4) are in the non-screening position. The loading device (2) can be operated by means of the operating elements (11) on one of the screening elements (4), both in the screening position and in the non-screening position of the screening elements (4).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for emptying refuse receptacles according to the preamble of claim 1. Such devices can be found, for example, on dustcarts.

[0002] A device of this type is known from EP 540 981. With the known device, a beam-shaped screening element is provided having an operating panel with operating elements near a free end for operating the loading device. The other end of each screening element is hingedly attached to the structure of the loading device. The screening element may be folded back from a screening position, in which the operating panel is accessible, to a non-screening position, in which the operating elements are not accessible, as a result of which the loading device cannot be operated when the screening elements are in the non-screening position. Thus, hazardous situations are prevented. The known loading device does not work at all when the screening elements are in the non-screening position.

[0003] It is an object of the invention to provide an improved device of the abovementioned type.

[0004] This object is achieved by a device according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized by the fact that the loading device is designed to carry out an automatic loading cycle and can also be operated directly by means of the operating elements and is provided with a safeguard which inhibits the use of the automatic loading cycle when the screening elements are in the non-screening position, and that the loading device can be operated by means of the operating elements on one of the screening elements, both in the screening position and in the non-screening position of the screening elements.

[0005] With the aid of the device according to the invention, it is possible to empty a refuse receptacle automatically when the screening elements are in the screening position. During automatic emptying, the device carries out the operations of lifting up the receptacle, the movement for emptying the receptacle and replacing the receptacle in an automated manner. In addition, the device according to the invention offers the possibility of emptying the refuse receptacles "manually" by means of the operating elements on the screening elements when the screening elements are in the non-screening position, which is in contrast to the device disclosed in EP 540 981. The expression "manually" is intended to mean that every movement of the device is "manually" controlled by the operator by means of the operating elements. As soon as the operating elements are no longer being operated, the device stands still. The underlying idea is that when the operator is near one of the screening elements which are in the non-screening position in order to control the movement of the device, this person will not be in the dangerous area of movement of the loading device. Furthermore, the operator can then immediately stop the device if another person should find themselves or is in danger of finding themselves in a hazardous situation.

[0006] Solutions are known per se from the prior art in which the operating elements are not arranged on the screening elements, but on the side of the frame of the device. The loading device can be operated "manually" by means of these operating elements. However, this known solution has the drawback that when the screening elements are in the screening position and the device is able to perform an automatic loading cycle, the operating elements are a considerable distance away from the work space. If, for example, two persons wheel refuse receptacles to the loading device in order to have them emptied automatically, and one becomes trapped or another hazardous situation arises, the other person cannot easily reach the operating elements in order to carry out an emergency stop, without moving into the area of movement themselves, for example. This drawback is overcome by the device according to the invention.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a pivoting arm is in each case provided on either side of the loading device which is rotatably mounted on a structural part of the device, and furthermore a guide is provided in which the screening elements are coupled to the guide at in each case one end in order to guide the respective end of the screening element in the vertical direction, and in which the pivoting arm is hingedly connected to the screening element at a distance from the guided end of the screening element. In this preferred embodiment, the screening elements can be moved between the screening position, in which the guided end thereof is in a bottom position, and the non-screening position in which the guided end is in a top position.

[0008] Preferably, a handle is provided on the screening element. The handle offers a hand-hold when the device is fitted on a dustcart and the loaders want to ride along on the dustcart on a footboard.

[0009] The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a device according to the invention with screening elements in a non-screening position;

Fig. 2 shows a side view of the device in the position from Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a detail from Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a device according to the invention with screening elements in a screening position;

Fig. 5 shows a side view of the device in the position from Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 shows a detail from Fig. 4.

[0010] The figures show a device for emptying refuse receptacles which is denoted overall by reference numeral 1. The waste is emptied into a collecting container (not shown) which is often found on a dustcart. The specific device 1 shown here is intended to be fitted on the rear side of a dustcart.

[0011] The device 1 comprises a loading device 2 by means of which four-wheeled refuse containers can be emptied. In addition, it is also possible to empty two relatively small two-wheeled refuse receptacles next to one another. The area (viewed in the direction of travel) behind the loading device 2 which is denoted by reference numeral 3 is the area of movement of the loading device. 2.

[0012] Screening elements 4 are provided on either side of the loading device 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the screening elements 4 are substantially beam-shaped, but could also be of a different shape. The end 5 of each screening element 4 is hingedly attached to a guide 6, which guide 6 extends substantially vertically. The respective end 5 can move up and down in the guide 6 between a bottom position, shown in Figs. 4 and 6, and a top position, shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Furthermore, a pivoting supporting arm 7 is provided on each screening element 4. The pivoting supporting arm 7 is, by one end thereof, hingedly mounted on the frame of the device 1 by means of a hinge 9. By means of the other end, the pivotable supporting arm 7 is hingedly connected to the screening element 4 by means of a hinge 8 at a distance from the guided end 5 of the screening element 4. By means of the illustrated arrangement, the screening element 4 can be moved from a non-screening position, which is illustrated in Figs. 1-3, to a screening position, which is illustrated in Figs. 4-6, and vice versa.

[0013] In the screening position, the screening element 4 is swung out and, in the illustrated embodiment, is at an angle of approximately 60°-70° with respect to the vertical. The area of movement 3 of the loading device 2 is then laterally screened off. The guided end 5 of the screening element 4 is then in the bottom position on the guide 6 and the supporting arm 7 is swung out.

[0014] In the non-screening position, the supporting arm 7 is not swung out and the end 5 is in a top position on the guide 6. As a result, the screening element 4 is in a position in which it is not swung out, at an angle which is preferably 0°-15° with respect to the vertical.

[0015] At the free end of the screening elements 4, an operating panel 10 is in each case arranged which is provided with a number of operating buttons 11. By means of the operating buttons 11, the loading device 2 can be operated.

[0016] With the device according to the invention, it is possible to empty a refuse receptacle automatically by means of a control system if the screening elements 4 are in the screening position (Figs. 4-6). During an automatic loading cycle, the device 1, controlled by the control system, carries out the lifting of the receptacle, the turning over of the receptacle in order to empty it and the replacing of the receptacle automatically. The position of the screening elements 4 is detected by means of suitable detection means which are connected to the control system. If the detection means indicate that the screening elements 4 are in the screening position, the option of automatic operation is made available.

[0017] Furthermore, the device 1 according to the invention offers the possibility of emptying refuse receptacles by means of the operating elements 11 on the screening elements 4. This is possible when the screening elements 4 are in the screening position (Figs. 4-6), but also when they are in the non-screening position (Figs. 1-3). The latter may, for example, be advantageous when the screening elements 4 have to be kept in the non-screening position due to space being limited. In the case of such "manual" operation, each movement of the device is directly controlled by the operator by means of the operating elements 11. As soon as the operating elements 11 are not operated, the loading device 2 stands still. As the operator is near one of the screening elements 4 which is in the non-screening position in order to control the movement of the device directly, he/she will not be situated in the dangerous work area of the loading device 2. Furthermore, the operator can then stop the device immediately, for example by means of an emergency button on the operating panel 10, if another person is or might be in danger of finding themselves in a hazardous situation.

[0018] During use, refuse receptacles are wheeled to the rear side of the dustcart by one or more persons and positioned within reach of the loading device 2, i.e. in the area of movement 3. In the case of automatic operation, the loading device 2 will pick up and empty the refuse receptacles itself. As, according to the invention, the operating buttons 11 in the screening position of the screening elements 4 are situated on the rear side next to the area of movement 3, the operating buttons 11, in particular the emergency button, are situated, in case of an emergency, within reach of the persons who are working at the rear of the vehicle. As a result, they are able to act quickly and, without having to go into or around the area of movement 3, to stop the device 1 quickly.

[0019] A handle 12 is arranged on the screening element 4 in the area between the end 5 of the screening element 4 and the operating panel 10. In the non-screening position of the screening element 4, the handle 12 offers a hand-hold when the device 1 is fitted on a dustcart and the loaders want to ride along on the dustcart on a footboard 13. These handles 12 are in such a position that the person on the footboard 13 can ride along in an ergonomical position.

[0020] The embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention illustrated in the figures relates to a so-called rear-loader for a dustcart. However, it will be clear that the invention is not limited thereto, but can also be used, for example, with so-called side loaders, in which refuse receptacles are picked up and emptied by means of a loading device fitted to the side of the dustcart. It will furthermore be clear that the use of the device is not solely limited to dustcarts.

Claims

1. Device for emptying refuse receptacles into a collecting container comprising a frame and at least one loading device as well as screening elements which are fitted to the frame on either side of the loading device, each of which can be moved between a screening position, in which the screening element screens off the area of movement of the loading device on the side, and a non-screening position, in which the screening element does not screen off this area of movement, in which each screening element is provided with one or more operating elements for operating the loading device, characterized in that the loading device is designed to carry out an automatic loading cycle and can also be operated directly by means of the operating elements and is provided with a safeguard which inhibits the use of the automatic loading cycle when the screening elements are in the non-screening position, and in that the loading device can be operated by means of the operating elements on one of the screening elements, both in the screening position and in the non-screening position of the screening elements.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a pivoting arm is in each case provided on either side of the loading device which is rotatably mounted on the frame of the device, and in that a guide is provided on the frame of the device in which the screening elements are coupled to the guide at in each case one end in order to guide the respective end of the screening element in the vertical direction, and in which the pivoting arm is hingedly connected to the screening element at a distance from the guided end of the screening element.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a handle is provided on the screening element.

Drawing