[0001] The subject of the present invention is a waste container loading device on a bin-washer
motor vehicle, and a bin-washer motor vehicle provided with said device.
[0002] More particularly, the invention may be adopted on vehicles intended for the automated
washing of containers of the so-called skip-bin type.
[0003] The use of waste containers, herein also referred to as "bins" for ease of description,
generally made of metal or synthetic material, of the type suitable to be placed on
the ground, usually on a pavement and/or at the roadside, to allow citizens to dispose
of their waste, and to be periodically emptied by means of a lifting and tipping action
by a gripping device installed on a suitably equipped motor vehicle, is well known
in the urban waste collection.
[0004] In order to prevent bacterial flora from proliferating, with the consequent deterioration
of hygienic conditions and the spread of unpleasant smells, bins must be thoroughly
washed at certain intervals. The washing operation is carried out with the aid of
special bin-washer motor vehicles, equipped with a washing unit served by loading
devices capable of picking up the bin from the ground, lifting and tipping it inside
a washing chamber, in which one or more assemblies of nozzles delivering water, or
other pressurised washing liquid, operate.
[0005] Currently known loading devices, usually having a construction design very similar
to the gripping devices typically used on motor vehicles intended for waste collection,
essentially comprise a pair of lifting arms installed laterally to the washing unit,
on the side of the motor vehicle, as for example disclosed in
EP 1454848 A1. Appropriate kinematic mechanisms make it possible to move the lifting arms from
a rest position in which they are approached with respect to the washing unit so as
to take as little space as possible within the contour of the motor vehicle, towards
a gripping position in which they protrude laterally with respect to the side to reach
suitable hooking elements arranged on the bin to be treated. The lifting arms are
then suitable to pick up the bin from the ground and, in a lifting and tipping manner,
support it in an upside-down position in the washing chamber to submit it to the treatment.
Once the operation is complete, the bin is placed back on the ground and the arms
of the lifting device may be returned to their rest position to allow the motor vehicle
to resume its travel.
[0006] The Applicant believes that in the loading devices of the type described above, it
is important to ensure that in the rest condition the lower ends of the lifting arms
do not protrude significantly below the body in order not to interfere with areas
generally intended to house other service equipment generally installed on the vehicle,
so as to facilitate the installation of the loading device without having to make
modifications to the vehicle to reposition such equipment.
[0007] Document
EP 1454848 A1 discloses an embodiment of the aforementioned loading devices for use on both bin-washer
motor vehicles and waste collection motor vehicles, where the problem described above
is addressed by installing the lifting arms on a mobile carriage along a telescopic
structure provided with a first guide frame hinged above the vehicle and a second
guide frame sliding along the first frame between a lowered position and a raised
position. The structure as a whole may be moved away from and towards the side of
the vehicle around its upper hinging axis to let the lifting arms engage the bin,
which must be lifted from the ground. In the rest condition, the second frame is retracted
in a raised position with respect to the first frame with the entire structure placed
close to the side of the vehicle, and the carriage is positioned at the top of the
second frame so that the ends of the arms do not protrude below the lower edge of
the body.
[0008] However, it has been found that the known technical solutions are structurally complex
and do not allow to actually keep the arms entirely outside the space areas dedicated
to service equipment, while at the same time retaining satisfactory operability for
the purpose of gripping, lifting and tipping the container.
[0009] The object of the present invention is to overcome the limitations of the state of
the art by proposing a loading device that is particularly suitable to be installed
on bin-washer motor vehicles, the lifting arms of which can be easily placed in a
rest condition with their lower ends outside the space in the lower area of the chassis,
typically dedicated to the installation of service equipment.
[0010] A further object of the invention is to offer a structurally simplified loading device
that can be manufactured cost-effectively and that can be easily installed on bin-washer
motor vehicles.
[0011] In this regard, it was found that by making each of the lifting arms in two parts
that are telescopically sliding with respect to each other, it is possible to provide
them with an extensibility suitable for reaching the bin on the ground in order to
grip it, while maintaining, at rest, a compact arrangement such as to remain entirely
above the areas of the vehicle dedicated to service equipment. It is also possible
to significantly simplify the overall structure of the loading device, to the benefit
of production and maintenance costs as well as of the overall reliability of the system.
[0012] More particularly, a subject of the present invention is a waste container loading
device on a bin-washer motor vehicle, according to claim 1.
[0013] In accordance with a further aspect, the invention relates to a bin-washer motor
vehicle equipped with the device herein described and claimed.
[0014] In at least one preferred embodiment, the invention may also have one or more of
the following preferred features.
[0015] Preferably, in the rest position said at least one lifting arm has a longitudinal
descending development from the respective proximal end towards the distal end.
[0016] Preferably, in the rest position said at least one lifting arm has a longitudinal
development arranged according to a substantially vertical orientation.
[0017] Preferably, in the retracted position, the gripping terminal is positioned above
said geometric reference plane.
[0018] Preferably, at least one extension actuator operating between the first and second
portion of the lifting arm to move the second portion between the retracted and the
extracted positions is further provided.
[0019] Preferably, in the retracted position, the gripping terminal is spaced from the road
surface according to an extent greater than a minimum distance between the road surface
and said geometric reference plane.
[0020] Preferably, the rotational drive assembly comprises a rotary actuator operating on
at least one drive shaft engaged to the first portion of the lifting arm.
[0021] Preferably, the drive shaft comprises at least one polygonal section segment slidably
crossing the proximal end of the lifting arm.
[0022] Preferably, an extractor assembly carrying the lifting arm and the rotational drive
assembly, and movable parallel to the geometric reference plane away from and towards
the washing unit, is also provided.
[0023] Preferably, the extractor assembly is movable perpendicular to a longitudinal extension
direction of the chassis.
[0024] Preferably, the extractor assembly is movable along a horizontal direction. Preferably,
the extractor assembly is movable between an approach position where the lifting arm
is approached to the washing unit, and an exit position wherein the lifting arm is
moved away from the washing unit. Preferably, the extractor assembly comprises: a
pair of guides integral with the chassis; a pair of extraction beams engaged to the
guides and sliding longitudinally with respect to them; and at least one extraction
actuator operating on the extraction beams to move them between the approach position
and exit position.
[0025] Preferably, an elevator assembly carrying the lifting arm and the rotational drive
assembly, and movable in a direction perpendicular to the geometric reference plane,
is also provided.
[0026] Preferably, the elevator assembly is movable between a raised position in which the
gripping terminal is positioned above the geometric reference plane and a lowered
position in which the gripping terminal is positioned below the geometric reference
plane.
[0027] Preferably, the elevator assembly comprises: a pair of uprights;
a carriage slidably guided along the uprights; and at least one lifting actuator that
can be selectively activated to move the carriage between the raised position and
the lowered position.
[0028] Preferably, the uprights are integral with the extraction beams.
[0029] Preferably, the carriage is integral with the rotary actuator of the rotational drive
assembly.
[0030] Preferably, said upper surface is defined by two chassis longitudinal members extending
along one direction of travel of the motor vehicle.
[0031] Further features and advantages will better appear from the detailed description
of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a waste container loading device
on a bin-washer motor vehicle, and of a motor vehicle equipped with such a device,
in accordance with the present invention.
[0032] Such description will be set forth hereinafter with reference to the accompanying
drawings, provided for merely indicative and therefore nonlimiting purposes, wherein:
- Figure 1 schematically shows, in a perspective view, the loading device installed
in a rest condition on a bin-washer motor vehicle;
- Figure 2 is a cross-section of the motor vehicle of Figure 1;
- Figure 3 highlights, in a perspective view, the device during the movement of the
lifting arms to a gripping position;
- Figure 4 highlights, in a perspective view, one of the lifting arms with a distal
portion thereof in a retracted position;
- Figure 5 shows, from a different angle, the lifting arm of Figure 4 during the movement
of its distal portion towards an extracted position;
- Figure 6 highlights the loading device with an elevator assembly in the lowered position,
while an extractor assembly moves to an exit position to have the lifting arms engage
a waste container or bin;
- Figure 7 shows from a different angle the device when tipping the bin over a washing
chamber.
[0033] With reference to the above-mentioned figures, a waste container loading device on
a bin-washer motor vehicle in accordance with the present invention is globally referred
to as 1. The device 1 is suitable to be installed in combination with a washing unit
2 on a bin-washer motor vehicle globally referred to as 3.
[0034] As known, the washing unit 2 comprises a body 4 within which one or more tanks may
be housed for the supply and/or collection of water or other washing liquid. A washing
chamber 6 is defined between the body 4 and a driver's cab 5 of the motor vehicle,
wherein a set of suitably distributed nozzles 6a delivers the washing liquid.
[0035] The washing unit 2 is supported by a load-bearing chassis 7, typically comprising
two chassis longitudinal members 7a extending behind the driver's cab 5 parallel to
the direction of travel of the motor vehicle 3. More specifically, the washing unit
2 is preferably fixed to be supported on the longitudinal members 7a, at an upper
surface thereof which lies in a geometric reference plane P spaced parallel to the
road surface T on which the motor vehicle 3 rests.
[0036] The loading device 1, located adjacent to one of the sides of the motor vehicle 3
and longitudinally positioned near the washing chamber 6, comprises at least one lifting
arm 8 carried by a rotational drive assembly 9. In a preferred embodiment, two lifting
arms 8 are provided, parallel to each other and mutually spaced along at least one
drive shaft 10 forming part of the rotational drive assembly 9.
[0037] Each one of the lifting arms 8 has a first portion 8a and a second portion 8b telescopically
engaged with respect to each other. The first portion 8a extends from a proximal end
11 of the lifting arm 8 arranged above, and slidably engages the second portion 8b
which in turn carries a gripping terminal 12a located at a distal end 12 opposite
the proximal end 11. At least one extension actuator 13, for example in the form of
a fluid-dynamic cylinder, operates between the first and second portions 8b of each
of the lifting arms 8, to move the second portion 8b between a retracted position
and an extracted position.
[0038] The rotational drive assembly 9 comprises a rotary actuator 14 preferably located
in a symmetrically centred position with respect to the lifting arms 8 and operating
on the drive shaft 10 to rotate it about its own rotation axis X. The drive shaft
10 may comprise one or more segments with a polygonal section, such as a square section,
slidably crossing the proximal end 11 of each of the lifting arms 8. The rotation
of the drive shaft 10 is transmitted to each one of the lifting arms 8 by their respective
proximal end 11, so as to impose an angular rotation to the lifting arms themselves
from a rest position in which, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the gripping terminal
12a is approached with respect to the washing unit 2.
[0039] It may be conveniently provided that the lifting arms 8 are movable along the drive
shaft 10 upon the action of one or more adjustment actuators 10a, each one operating
between the rotational drive assembly 9 and the first portion 8a of the respective
arm 8, in order to adapt the distance between the lifting arms 8 to the dimensions
of a bin 15 to be submitted to the washing treatment.
[0040] The rotational drive assembly 9, and consequently the lifting arms 8, are carried
by an elevator assembly 16 preferably movable in a vertical direction, perpendicular
to the geometric reference plane P. The elevator assembly 16 has a carriage 17 integral
with the rotary actuator 14 of the rotational drive assembly 9. The carriage 17 is
slidably guided along a pair of vertical uprights 18 and movable along the latter
between a raised position and a lowered position upon control of at least one lifting
actuator 19 selectively activated for this purpose.
[0041] The elevator assembly 16 is in turn carried, together with the rotational drive assembly
9 and the lifting arms 8, by a movable extractor assembly 20 moving away from and
towards the washing unit 2, along a horizontal direction parallel to the geometric
reference plane P and perpendicular to the direction of longitudinal development of
the chassis 7.
[0042] Preferably, the extractor assembly 20 comprises a pair of guides 21 integral with
the chassis 7, for example fixed above the longitudinal members 7a. A pair of extraction
beams 22, sliding longitudinally with respect to the guides, rigidly supporting the
uprights 18 of the elevator assembly 16, is slidably engaged to the guides 21. At
least one extraction actuator 23 operates on the extraction beams 22 to move them
between an approach position and an exit position, in which the lifting arms 8 are
respectively moved closer to and away from the washing unit 2.
[0043] A typical operating sequence of the loading device 1 will now be described.
[0044] While the motor vehicle 3 is travelling, the loading device maintains a rest condition
wherein, as visible in Figure 1, the extractor assembly 20 is in the approach position
and the elevator assembly 16 keeps the carriage 17 in the raised position, while the
rotational drive assembly 9 keeps the lifting arms 8 in the rest position, vertically
oriented downwards. The substantially vertical orientation of the lifting arms 8 approaching
the washing unit 2 makes it possible to keep the loading device 1 substantially within
the contour of the motor vehicle 3, avoiding protrusions that may represent a danger
to road traffic.
[0045] At the same time, the second portions 8b of the lifting arms 8 each maintain a retracted
position, wherein the respective gripping terminal 12a is close to the rotation axis
X of the drive shaft 10. As better shown in Figure 2, in such a retracted position,
the gripping terminal 12a of each lifting arm 8 is spaced from the road surface T
according to an extent H (Figure 2) greater than a minimum distance Hm between the
road surface and the geometric reference plane P. In other words, each gripping terminal
12a is positioned above the geometric reference plane P, so that the loading device
1 does not invade a service space S underlying the latter, typically intended for
the installation of service equipment for the operation of the motor vehicle 3, such
as, for example, fuel tanks or compressed fluids, braking systems, or other.
[0046] The motor vehicle 3 is suitable for being stopped at the side near the bin 15 or
another type of waste container that must be submitted to the washing treatment. The
bin 15 has one or more hooking elements 24 operatively engageable by the gripping
terminals to allow the lifting arms 8 to pick up the bin 15 from the ground and lift
it in a tipping manner to position it upside down on the washing chamber 6, as shown
in Figure 7. In the example shown, the hooking elements 24 consist of pins protruding
from opposite side walls of the bin 15. However, different types of bin 15 with different
configurations of hooking elements 24 may be provided, corresponding to respective
different configurations of gripping terminals 12a and/or lifting arms 8, all falling
within the innovative scope of the present invention.
[0047] When the motor vehicle 3 is stopped next to the bin 15, the rotational drive assembly
9 causes the movement of the lifting arms 8 towards a gripping position, shown in
Figure 3, in which each of them has a downward sloping orientation with the respective
gripping terminal 12a moved away from the washing unit 2 and protruding laterally
outside the contour of the motor vehicle 3.
[0048] The action of the extension actuators 13 can then be controlled, upon the action
of which the second portions 8b of the lifting arms 8 are displaced, with respect
to the respective first portions 8a, radially to the rotation axis X, towards an extracted
position in which each gripping terminal 12a is moved away from the rotation axis
X as shown in Figure 5.
[0049] The gripping terminals 12a in the extracted position are suitably spaced from the
rotation axis X according to an extent suitable to easily reach the hooking elements
24 on the bin 15, and to allow tipping it over the washing chamber 6.
[0050] Concurrently with the extraction of the second portions 8b of the lifting arms 8,
the elevator assembly 16 can be actuated, bringing the carriage 17 together with the
lifting arms 8 from a raised position in which, as in Figures 1 to 5, the gripping
terminals 12b are arranged above the geometric reference plane P, to a lowered position
(Figure 6) in which the gripping terminals 12b are positioned below the geometric
reference plane P in order to facilitate the engagement of the hooking elements 24
with a movement from below.
[0051] If the distance between the bin 15 and the motor vehicle 3 requires it, the extractor
assembly 20 can also be operated to move the gripping arms closer to the bin 15 and
to allow the operating engagement of the hooking elements 24, as shown in Figure 6.
[0052] Once hooked, the rotational drive assembly 9 causes a further rotation of the lifting
arms 8 away from the rest position, in order to determine the lifting and tipping
action of the bin 15. At the same time, the extractor assembly 20 can be returned
to the approach position while the elevator assembly 16 returns the carriage 17 together
with the lifting arms 8 to the raised position, so that the bin 15 can be tipped over
the washing chamber 6 with a further angular excursion of the lifting arms 8 upon
the action of the rotational drive assembly 9, as shown in Figure 7.
[0053] Once completed the washing treatment, a sequence of movement opposite to that described
above makes it possible to reposition the bin 15 on the ground, preferably in the
same previously occupied position, and return the entire loading device to its rest
condition with the lifting arms 8 vertically approached to the washing unit 2 and
the gripping terminals 12b above the geometric reference plane P.
1. Waste container loading device on a bin-washer motor vehicle (3), configured for installation
on a bin-washer motor vehicle (3) comprising a washing unit (2) supported by a chassis
(7) having an upper surface lying in a geometric reference plane (P) spaced parallel
from the road surface (T);
wherein the loading device (1) comprises:
at least one lifting arm (8) having a proximal end (11) disposed above and a distal
end (12) opposite the proximal end (11) and carrying a gripping terminal (12a) operatively
coupled with at least one hooking element (24) carried by a waste container (15);
a rotational drive assembly (9) operating on the proximal end (11) of the lifting
arm (8) to move it around a rotation axis (X) from a rest position in which the gripping
terminal (12a) is approached with respect to the washing unit (2) towards a gripping
position in which the gripping terminal (12a) is moved away from the washing unit
(2);
wherein said at least one lifting arm (8) has a first portion (8a) extending from
the proximal end (11) radially to the rotation axis (X), and a second portion (8b)
carrying the distal end (12), slidably engaged with the first portion (8a) and movable
radially with respect to the rotation axis (X) from a retracted position in which
the gripping terminal (12a) is approached with respect to the rotation axis (X), towards
an extracted position in which the gripping terminal (12a) is moved away from the
rotation axis (X).
2. Device according to claim 1, wherein in the retracted position the gripping terminal
(12a) is positioned above said geometric reference plane (P).
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising at least one extension actuator
(13) operating between the first and second portion (8a, 8b) of the lifting arm (8)
to move the second portion (8b) between the retracted position and the extracted position.
4. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein in the retracted
position the gripping terminal (12a) is spaced from the road surface (T) according
to a greater extent than a minimum distance between the road surface (T) and said
geometric reference plane (P).
5. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the rotational drive
assembly (9) comprises a rotary actuator (14) operating on at least one drive shaft
(10) engaged to the first portion (8a) of said at least one lifting arm (8).
6. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the drive shaft (10)
comprises at least a polygonal section segment slidably crossing the proximal end
(11) of said at least one lifting arm (8).
7. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, further comprising an extractor
assembly (20) carrying said at least one lifting arm (8) and the rotational drive
assembly (9), and movable parallel to the geometric reference plane (P) away from
and towards the washing unit (2).
8. Device according to claim 7, wherein the extractor assembly (20) is movable between
an approach position wherein said at least one lifting arm (8) is approached to the
washing unit (2), and an outlet position wherein the lifting arm (8) is moved away
from the washing unit (2).
9. Device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the extractor assembly (20) comprises:
a pair of guides (21) integral with the chassis (7);
a pair of extraction beams (22) engaged with the guides (21) and sliding longitudinally
with respect to them;
at least one extraction actuator (23) operating on the extraction beams (22) to move
them between the approach position and the exit position.
10. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, further comprising an elevator
assembly (16) carrying said at least one lifting arm (8) and the rotational drive
assembly (9), and movable in a direction perpendicular to the geometric reference
plane (P).
11. Device according to claim 10, wherein the elevator assembly (16) is movable between
a raised position in which the gripping terminal (12a) is arranged above the geometric
reference plane (P) and a lowered position in which the gripping terminal (12a) is
arranged below the geometric reference plane (P).
12. Device according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the elevator assembly (16) comprises:
a pair of uprights (18) preferably integral with the extraction beams (22);
a carriage (17) slidably guided along the uprights (18), and preferably integral with
the rotary actuator (14) of the rotational drive assembly (9); and
at least one lifting actuator (19) which can be selectively activated to move the
carriage (17) between the raised position and the lowered position.
13. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which said upper surface
is defined by two longitudinal members (7a) of the chassis (7), extending along a
direction of travel of the motor vehicle (3).
14. Bin-washer motor vehicle (3), comprising:
a washing unit (2) supported by a chassis (7) having an upper surface arranged according
to a geometric reference plane (P) spaced parallel from a road surface (T);
a container loading device (1) made according to one or more of the preceding claims,
associated with the washing unit (2) at a side of the motor vehicle (3).