WASTE CONTAINER

Abstract

 Waste container, comprising a containment tank (2) carrying a covering assembly (7) having a movable closing element (8). Lifting pins (12) protrude externally from the side walls (4) of the tank (2) for the engagement with a mechanized gripping and tipping assembly. A manual actuation device (16) comprises a control lever (17) and a transmission kinematic mechanism (25) to cause the closing element (8) to move from the closed position to the open position, in consequence of translation of the control lever (17) from a first to a second operating position. The control lever (17) is pivoted with respect to one of the side walls (4) and movable between a rest position and a work position around its own fulcrum axis which coincides with a geometric axis X-X of the lifting pins (12).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a waste container. More particularly, the invention is conveniently usable on containers for the collection of municipal waste of the type prepared to be taken from the ground and emptied by means of a tipping action to pour the content into a tray of a vehicle.

[0002] For the purpose of waste collection, the use of containers that, typically positioned on the sidewalks or on the roadside, are suitable to be used by citizens for the temporary transfer of waste is widespread. A very common type of waste container essentially comprises a substantially parallelepiped-shaped containment tank, closed at its top by a covering element provided with at least one opening delivery door. The delivery door is suitable to be brought, acting manually directly on it or by means of a pedal control, from a closing condition to an opening condition to allow the introduction of waste into the containment tank by the user.

[0003] Such container is described, e.g., in EP 3018078 A1, in the name of the same Applicant.

[0004] When the container has to be emptied, a special mechanical equipment mounted on board of a vehicle set up for the purpose is suitable to engage the container at a pair of lifting pins protruding from the opposite side walls of the tank, to lift and empty it with a tipping motion that causes the opening of the covering element so as to free the leakage of waste.

[0005] The need of having a manual control lever to facilitate the opening of the delivery door also by disabled people forced to move in a wheelchair is increasingly being affirmed. In this respect, document ES1071518U illustrates a container provided with a control lever of the opening for disabled persons, pivoted on the side wall of the container. Mechanical sending members allow to determine the lifting of the delivery door following a lowering of the control lever by the user.

[0006] However, the Applicant has perceived that the current solutions for the installation of the manual control lever can be improved in different aspects.

[0007] In particular, the installation of the manual control lever entails, in addition to the cost of the additional mechanical components required by the installation, a significant increase in the mechanical processing required for the pivoting of the lever on the side wall of the tank. Such processes also involve logistical problems in the production sites of the containment tanks. In fact, the tanks intended for the installation of the manual control lever must follow a processing cycle different from those that must be devoid of them.

[0008] It was also found that at the current state of the art the control lever and its constraint components tend to be completely exposed outside the tank. This leads to functional reliability problems over time, due to the exposure of the mechanical components to accidental impacts and bad weather.

[0009] In addition, the visibility of the mechanical components directly exposed negatively impacts on the overall aesthetic appreciation of the container, a factor not negligible as they are elements that contribute to urban furnishings.

[0010] The object of the present invention is to overcome the limits of the prior art, and in particular to achieve a reduction of the production and logistical costs related to the need of equipping the containers with a manual control for opening the delivery door.

[0011] We also want to propose a technical solution that offers the possibility of easily installing the manual control lever even on existing containers that do not have it, by means of operations that can also be performed directly on site by simple disassembly and reassembly of parts without requiring mechanical processing.

[0012] A further object of the invention is to provide a technical solution that is suitable to effectively protect at least the most delicate mechanical components from bad weather and/or accidental impacts.

[0013] Last but not least, the object is to offer a waste container in which the presence of the manual control lever and the functional parts related to it do not impact excessively on the overall aesthetic vision.

[0014] In this respect, the Applicant has understood that by exploiting the presence of the lifting pins protruding from the side walls of the tank, a hinging of the manual control lever can conveniently be achieved, without requiring additional mechanical processing on the side walls of the container for the installation of the lever itself.

[0015] More particularly, it is an object of the invention a waste container according to claim 1.

[0016] The invention makes unprecedented use of the presence of the lifting pin for the purpose of pivoting the manual control lever.

[0017] The installation of the manual control lever is thus significantly simplified during the assembly of the container under construction, drastically limiting the number of components and mechanical processing required in the prior art for the installation of the manual control lever.

[0018] The absence of mechanical components exposed on the side walls of the container offers better aesthetic qualities to the container as a whole, and also simplifies the protection from the bad weather of the parts used for the pivoting of the lever and its connection with the return kinematics, also exploiting the presence of components aimed also at the protection of the lifting pin.

[0019] The proposed technical solution also lends itself to offering a better overall aesthetic appearance of the container, thanks to the appreciable reduction of the mechanical parts exposed.

[0020] In at least one preferential embodiment, the invention can further include one or more of the following preferred features.

[0021] Preferably, said geometric axis lies in a vertical plane close to a centre of gravity of the container.

[0022] Preferably, the lifting pins protrude horizontally outside the side walls of the containment tank.

[0023] Preferably, said at least one lifting pin is engaged, e.g. rotatably, through a pair of support bushings integral with respective mutually spaced support walls, in turn rigidly carried by the containment tank.

[0024] Preferably, there are also provided contrast boxed elements fixed against the side walls of the containment tank, below the lifting pins.

[0025] Preferably, said control lever extends above an upper edge of the respective contrast boxed element.

[0026] Preferably, the control lever has its own constraint end carrying a collar rotatably fitted around the lifting pin.

[0027] Preferably, the collar is axially interposed between the support bushings of the lifting pin.

[0028] Preferably, the transmission kinematic mechanism comprises a push arm pivoted to a fixed support bracket with respect to the lifting pin.

[0029] Preferably, the transmission kinematic mechanism comprises a transmission connecting rod having a first end pivoted to the control lever in proximity to a constraint end of the latter with the lifting pin, and a second end constrained the push arm.

[0030] Preferably the support bracket is made in the form of a shaped plate, fitted on the lifting pin between the constraint end of the control lever and one of the support bushings.

[0031] Preferably, the support bracket has lateral expansions acting against abutment seats carried internally of the contrast boxed element, to inhibit rotation of the bracket itself around the lifting pin.

[0032] Preferably, the transmission kinematic mechanism operates on a transmission pulling member operatively constrained to the control lever and the closing element.

[0033] Preferably, the transmission kinematic mechanism operates on a rod operatively constrained to the control lever and to a control arm fixed to the closing element.

[0034] Preferably, the transmission kinematic mechanism operates on the transmission pulling member by means of the push arm.

[0035] Preferably, the transmission kinematic mechanism operates on said rod by means of the push arm.

[0036] Preferably, the transmission kinematic mechanism is housed inside the boxed element.

[0037] Preferably, the contrast boxed element comprises an upper cap extending above the constraint end of the control lever to the lifting pin.

[0038] Preferably, a primary actuation device operable to move the closing element from the closed position to the open position is further provided.

[0039] Preferably, the primary actuation device comprises a control pedal pivoted on one of the side walls of the tank, close to one of its bottom walls and movable between a rest position and a work position around its own hinging axis.

[0040] Preferably, the primary actuation device comprises a transmission pulling member operatively constrained to the control pedal and the closing element to force a translation of the latter from the closed position to the open position, following translation of the control pedal from the first to the second operating position.

[0041] Preferably, the transmission kinematic mechanism operates on an abutment insert rigidly fixed along the transmission pulling member.

[0042] Preferably, the control lever has an arm arranged in a substantially parallel pattern and adjacent to the respective side wall.

[0043] Preferably, the arm extends externally to the side wall and the containment tank.

[0044] Preferably, the arm extends away from the respective lifting pin towards one of the longitudinal walls.

[0045] Preferably, the arm 12 extends along an almost horizontal direction.

[0046] Preferably, the control lever has a gripping portion on the continuation of the arm.

[0047] Preferably, the control lever has a gripping portion which is horizontally arranged and parallel at an appropriate distance from one of the longitudinal walls of the containment tank.

[0048] Preferably, the control lever ends with the gripping portion.

[0049] Preferably, the covering assembly has a pair of side plates raised from the side walls of the containment tank.

[0050] Preferably, the covering assembly has at least one closing element hinged to the side plates.

[0051] Preferably, said at least one closing element is defined by a delivery door.

[0052] Preferably, the transmission kinematic mechanism is substantially housed within the containment tank.

[0053] Preferably, the transmission kinematic mechanism comprises at least one sleeve integral with a constraint end of the control lever.

[0054] Preferably, the sleeve is rotatably fitted around said lifting pin.

[0055] Preferably, the sleeve protrudes into the containment tank through one of the side walls.

[0056] Preferably, the transmission kinematic mechanism comprises at least an inner arm extending radially from the sleeve.

[0057] Preferably, the inner arm acts on an inner pulling member to activate an actuation lever mechanism.

[0058] Preferably, the actuation lever mechanism is housed next to the respective side plate.

[0059] Further characteristics and advantages will become more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred, yet not limiting, embodiment of a waste container, according to the present invention. Such a description will be set out hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings given only for illustrative and, therefore, non-limiting purpose, in which:

• Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a waste container, according to the present invention;
• Figure 2 shows the container of Figure 1 with a delivery door in the opening condition;
• Figure 3 shows a detail of Figure 1, highlighting the components of the manual control device for opening the delivery door;
• Figure 3a shows an enlarged detail of Figure 3, with some parts removed to highlight the components of the transmission kinematic mechanism;
• Figure 4 shows a detail of Figure 2, highlighting the components of the manual control device in an opening condition of the delivery door;
• Figure 4a shows an enlarged detail of Figure 4, with some parts removed to highlight the components of the transmission kinematic mechanism;
• Figure 5 shows the detail of Figure 1 sectioned in a vertical plane coinciding with the axis of the lifting pin;
• Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a detail of an embodiment of the invention, highlighting the components of the manual control device in a closing condition of the delivery door;
• Figure 7 shows the embodiment of Figure 6, seen in perspective interrupted from the inside of the containment tank;
• Figure 8 shows, from a different angle, a detail of Figure 7 sectioned in a vertical plane containing the geometric axis of the lifting pin;
• Figure 9 is a cross-section illustrating the embodiment of Figure 6, 7 and 8, from the inside of the containment tank.

[0060] With reference to the mentioned figures, number 1 generally indicates a waste container, according to the present invention.

[0061] The container 1 comprises a containment tank 2 having a substantially prismatic configuration, having a pair of longitudinal walls 3 and a pair of side walls 4 respectively opposed, which rise perimetrically from a bottom wall 5 to define a substantially quadrangular plan profile. A covering assembly 7 is engaged at an upper perimeter edge 6 of the containment tank 2, e.g. having a pair of side plates 7a raised from the side walls 4, and at least one closing element that, in the illustrated example, is defined by a delivery door 8. The delivery door 8, e.g. hinged to the side plates 7a of the covering assembly 7 around an opening axis Z-Z, is movable between a closed position (Figure 1), wherein it inhibits access to the containment tank 2, and an open position (Figure 2), wherein it enables the delivery of waste inside the containment tank itself.

[0062] The opening of the delivery door 8 can usually be obtained by means of a primary actuation device 9, which comprises a control pedal 10 pivoted to at least one of the side walls 4 of the containment tank 2, near the bottom wall 5. In the illustrated example there are two control pedals 10, each associated with one of the side walls 4. Each control pedal 10 is movable between a rest position (visible in Figures 1 and 2) and a work position following a lowering around its own hinging axis Y-Y. A transmission pulling member 11, preferably in the form of a flexible rope, is operatively constrained to the respective control pedal 10 and to a control arm (not shown in the drawings) fixed to the delivery door 8, to force the latter a translation from the closed position to the open position, following the translation of the control pedal 10 from the rest position to the work position.

[0063] When the user stops pushing, the control pedal 10 can be recalled to the rest position by the weight of the delivery door 8, and/or by suitable elastic elements not shown as not relevant for the purposes of the invention.

[0064] A pair of lifting pins 12 is fixed to the upper part of the containment tank 2 (only one of which is visible in the drawings), which protrude horizontally outside the side walls 4, according to a common geometric axis X-X, preferably lying in a vertical central plane of the same tank, containing the centre of gravity of the container 1 or in any case close to it. The lifting pins 12 are adapted to be engaged by respective gripping arms, not shown, forming part of a mechanized gripping and tipping assembly of the container, usually installed in a waste collection vehicle.

[0065] As exemplified in Figure 5, each lifting pin 12 can be rotatably engaged through a pair of support bushings 13 integral with respective mutually spaced support walls 14, in turn rigidly carried by the containment tank 2. The support walls 14 of each lifting pin 12 can be part of a respective contrast boxed element 15, fixed against the side wall 4 of the containment tank 2 and extending vertically below the lifting pin 12. The contrast boxed elements 15 are suitable to provide support and thrust seats to the aforementioned gripping and tipping assembly, in order to determine the overturning of the container 1 as a result of a rotation around the geometric axis X-X. In the illustrated example, the lower end of each boxed element encloses the articulation of the respective control pedal 10.

[0066] According to the present invention, the waste container 1 is conveniently equipped with a manual actuation device 16, which can be activated to move the delivery door 8 or other closing element from the closed position to the open position, so as to allow the use of the container itself also for disabled people, typically forced to move in a wheelchair.

[0067] The manual actuation device 16 comprises at least one control lever 17 pivoted near one of the side walls 4 of the containment tank 2, according to a fulcrum axis that coincides with the geometric axis X-X of the lifting pins 12.

[0068] Preferably, the control lever 17 has an arm 18 arranged in a substantially parallel pattern and externally adjacent to the respective side wall 4. As can be seen in the Figures, the arm 18 extends externally to the side wall 4 and the containment tank 2, away from the lifting pin 12 along an almost horizontal direction towards one of the longitudinal walls 3. On the continuation of the arm 18, a gripping portion 19 is arranged horizontally and parallel at an appropriate distance from the adjacent longitudinal wall 3 of the containment tank 2. Preferably, the control lever 17 ends with the gripping portion 19. A connecting section 20, curved around the junction between the side wall 4 and the longitudinal wall 3, connects the gripping portion 19 to the arm 18 of the control lever 17.

[0069] As better seen in Figures 3a and 4a, on the opposite side with respect to the gripping portion 19, the control lever 17 has its own constraint end 17a carrying a collar 21 rotatably fitted around the lifting pin 12, preferably by interposing an anti-friction bushing 22, and axially interposed between the support bushings 13 of the lifting pin 12 itself.

[0070] Starting from the collar 21, the arm 18 of the control lever 17 conveniently extends above an upper edge 15a of the contrast boxed element 15. Said upper edge 15a may be defined by an opening formed laterally in the boxed element or by an upper end thereof, as in the illustrated example. As best seen in Figures 3 and 4, the contrast boxed element 15 can further comprise a covering upper cap 23 extending above the lifting pin 12 and the constraint end 17a of the control lever 17, so as to enclose the latter therein. A side slit 24 arranged in the upper cap 23 is freely crossed by the arm 18 of the control lever 17 so as to allow its angular oscillation around its own fulcrum axis X-X, between a rest position (Figures 1, 3, 3a) and an operating position (Figures 2, 4, 4a), obtainable by a manual lowering action exerted by the user on the gripping portion 19.

[0071] A transmission kinematic mechanism 25 achievable in different ways, for example by rods, pulleys, pulling members, ropes and/or gears, conveniently interconnected with each other, imposes to the delivery door 8 a translation from the respective closed position to the open position following the movement of the control lever 17 from the rest position to the work position.

[0072] In a preferred embodiment, better represented in Figures 3 to 5, the transmission kinematic mechanism 25 provides that near the constraint end 17a of the control lever 17 a first end 26a of a transmission connecting rod 26 is pivoted, the second end 26b of which is constrained to a push arm 27. The push arm 27 is in turn pivoted to a support bracket 28 fixed with respect to the lifting pin 12.

[0073] The support bracket 28 can be conveniently made in the form of a shaped plate, fitted on the lifting pin 12 between the collar 21 of the control lever 17 and one of the support bushings 13, preferably the one closest to the side wall 4 of the containment tank 2. Two lateral expansions 28a of the support bracket 28 are adapted to act against abutment seats carried internally of the contrast boxed element 15, for example at the upper cap 23, to inhibit rotations of the support bracket itself around the lifting pin 12. Preferably, the distance L1 between the push arm constraint points 27 with the support bracket 28 and the transmission connecting rod 26, is shorter than the distance L2 between the geometric axis X-X and the constraint point of the same transmission connecting rod 26 with the arm 18 of the control lever 17. Such distances L1, L2 may be suitably chosen in order to obtain an adequate multiplication/demultiplication factor of the force applied to the control lever 17 and/or of the displacements imposed on the push arm 27 for the purpose of lifting the delivery door 8. In this regard, it may be provided, if necessary, that the transmission connecting rod 26 is constrained on an extension of the arm 18 of the control lever 17, protruding beyond the lifting pin 12.

[0074] On the opposite side with respect to the hinging point with the support bracket 28, the push arm 27 has an active end 27a slidably crossed by the transmission pulling member 11 and acting against an abutment insert 29 fixed along the pulling member itself. A lowering action of the push arm 27 therefore causes a traction of the transmission pulling member 11 and the consequent lifting of the delivery door 8 from the closed position to the open position. In the illustrated example, the transmission kinematic mechanism 25 operating on the abutment insert 29 conveniently exploits the presence of the transmission pulling member 11 associated with the control pedal 10. However, at least one preferred embodiment variant can include a specific transmission pulling member or a rigid rod operatively constrained to the control lever 17 and the control arm 18 fixed to the delivery door 18 or other closing element.

[0075] If necessary, elastic return organs (not shown) can be provided which operate between the control lever 17 and a fixed part with respect to the side wall 4, in order to ensure that the control lever 17 itself maintains the rest position even when the actuation of the control pedal 10 causes the lowering of the abutment insert 29 fixed along the transmission pulling member 11.

[0076] In a possible preferred embodiment, better illustrated in Figures 6 to 9, the transmission kinematic mechanism 25 is preferably housed inside the containment tank 2. As best seen in Figures 6 and 8, the constraint end 17a of the control lever 17, e.g. by means of the collar 21, is made integral with a sleeve 30 rotatably fitted around the lifting pin 12 and protruding inside the containment tank 2 through the side wall 4. From the sleeve 30, an inner arm 31 that acts on an inner pulling member 32 to activate an actuation lever mechanism 33 extends radially inside the containment tank 2. The actuation lever mechanism 33, housed next to the respective side plate 7a and not described in detail since it is achievable in different ways, determines the lifting of the delivery door 8 following the traction exerted on the inner pulling member 32 due to the lowering of the control lever 17 towards the work position.

[0077] The present invention allows significant improvements compared to the state of the art, using in a new and convenient way mechanical parts typically present in the containers without manual actuating devices, in order to effectively constrain the control lever 17 and mechanically return its actuation for the purpose of opening the delivery door 8. This circumstance makes it possible to significantly reduce the components and mechanical processes necessary to equip the container 1 with the manual actuation device. It is also simplified the installation of the manual actuation device 16 also on containers already in use, by means of simple assembly operations for the purpose of adapting them to the use by people with disabilities. The joints of the control lever 17 and the transmission kinematic mechanism 25 are suitable to be conveniently hidden inside the contrast boxed element 15, for the benefit of the safety of use, the overall aesthetic appreciability and reliability over time, since the joints are adequately protected from accidental impacts and external agents.

Claims

1. Waste container, comprising:

a containment tank (2) having longitudinal walls (3) and side walls (4) arranged perimetrically to define a substantially quadrangular plan profile;

a covering assembly (7) engaged to an upper edge (6) of the containment tank (2) and having at least one closing element (8) movable between an opening position, wherein it enables the delivery of waste inside the containment tank (2), and a closing position wherein it inhibits the access to the containment tank (2);

a pair of lifting pins (12) protruding externally from the side walls (4) and configured for the engagement with a mechanized group for gripping and tipping the container installed on a vehicle used for the collection of waste;

a manual actuation device (16), activatable to move the closing element (8) from the closed position to the open position, wherein the manual actuation device (16) includes:

a control lever (17) pivoted near one of the side walls (4) of the containment tank (2) and movable between a rest position and a work position around an its own fulcrum axis;

a transmission kinematic mechanism (25) to cause the closing element (8) to move from the closed position to the open position, in consequence of translation of the control lever (17) from the first to the second operating position;

wherein the fulcrum axis of the control lever (17) coincides with a geometric axis X-X of at least one of the lifting pins (12).

2. Container according to claim 1, wherein said at least one lifting pin (12) is engaged through a pair of support bushings (13) integral with respective mutually spaced support walls (14) rigidly carried by the containment tank (2).

3. Container according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising contrast boxed elements (15) fixed against the side walls (4) of the containment tank (2) below the lifting pins (12), wherein said control lever (17) extends above an upper edge (6) of the respective contrast boxed element (15).

4. Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the control lever (17) has an its own constraint end (17a) carrying a collar (21) rotatably fitted around the lifting pin (12), preferably axially interposed between support bushings (13) of the lifting pin (12).

5. Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission kinematic mechanism (25) comprises:

a push arm (27) pivoted to a support bracket (28) fixed with respect to the lifting pin (12);

a transmission connecting rod (26) having a first end (26a) pivoted to the control lever (17) in proximity to a constraint end (17a) of the latter with the lifting pin (12), and a second end constrained to the push arm (27).

6. Container according to claim 5, wherein the support bracket (28) is made in the form of a shaped plate, fitted on the lifting pin (12) and axially interposed between the constraint end (17a) of the control lever (17) and one of the support bushings (13).

7. Container according to claim 6 when dependent on claim 3, wherein the support bracket (28) has lateral expansions (28a) acting against abutment seats carried internally of the contrast boxed element (15), to inhibit rotations of the support bracket (28) around the lifting pin (12).

8. Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission kinematic mechanism (25) operates, preferably by the push arm (27), on a transmission pulling member (11) operatively constrained to the control lever (17) and to the closing element (8).

9. Container according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein the transmission kinematic mechanism (25) is housed inside the contrast boxed element (15).

10. Container according to one or more of claims 3 to 9, wherein the contrast boxed element (15) comprises an upper cap (23) extending above a constraint end (17a) of the control lever (17) to the lifting pin (12).

11. Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission kinematic mechanism comprises: at least a sleeve integral with a constraint end of the control lever rotatably fitted around said lifting pin and protruding inside the containment tank through one of the side walls; and at least an inner arm radially extending from the sleeve and acting on an inner pulling member to activate an actuation lever mechanism housed next to the respective side plate.

Drawing