CLOSURE DEVICE FOR WASTE COLLECTION BINS AND WASTE COLLECTION BIN EQUIPPED WITH SAID DEVICE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a closure device for waste collection bins. The present invention also relates to a waste collection bin equipped with said device.

[0002] Examples of collection bins equipped with a closure device are known from US 2013/334229 A1, US 2006/016816 A1 and US 6 053 354 A, wherein US 2013/0334229 A1 discloses a closure device according to the preamble of claim 1. In particular US 6 053 354 A provides a waste collection bin equipped with a closure device comprising a covering element having a proximal portion rotatably coupled to the support structure and a distal portion movable about a pivoting axis (X) of the proximal portion, and an access door rotatably coupled to the distal portion of the covering element about a joint axis (Y) parallel to the pivoting axis (X).

[0003] In particular, the present invention is suitable for use on waste collection bins of the type that stand on the ground - usually on a pavement and/or at the side of a road - to allow the collection of waste from local inhabitants, and which are emptied at regular intervals by being lifted and tilted by means of a gripper device installed on an appropriately equipped motor vehicle.

[0004] Examples of such tiltable collection bins are known from DE 197 47 020 A1 and NL 1 009 273 C1. In particular NL 1 009 273 C1 provides a waste collection bin equipped with a closure device comprising a support structure rigidly carried on top of a containment tank and a covering assembly operatively borne by the support structure to close the containment tank at the top. The covering assembly comprises at least one covering element having a proximal portion rotatably coupled to the support structure and a distal portion movable about a pivoting axis of the proximal portion. Various waste collection bins of the type described above are known in the prior art and essentially comprise a collection tank, made of metallic or synthetic material, with a closure device at the top.

[0005] The closure device must guarantee adequate protection of the contents against atmospheric factors, theft and/or vandalism and prevent the entry of animals, while ensuring ease of access for users wishing to use the waste collection bin.

[0006] Current trends focusing on sorting waste collection also impose an adequate monitoring of the type of objects that can be placed in each bin, to prevent the introduction of materials that do not comply with certain specifications, typical of the sort of waste for which that particular waste collection bin is used. In that respect, one measure that is typically used consists in providing the closure device with one or more access doors, each associated with a filling mouth of an appropriate shape and size suitable for exclusively enabling insertion of objects of a shape and size consistent with those typical of the type of waste to be collected. The opening of the access door may be subject to recognition of an ID code assigned to each user, so that it is also possible to monitor the amount and type of waste collected by each person or group of people.

[0007] To guarantee a convenient and effective emptying of the collection bin in the tilting phase, it is also needed that the closure device also is provided with a large emptying door that is normally held in the closed position when the waste collection bin is standing on the ground for normal use and can be opened when the waste collection bin is tipped, for enabling the waste to fall into the hopper of the waste collection vehicle.

[0008] The emptying and access doors may be accessible from respectively opposite sides of the waste collection bin, typically identified as the "road side" and the "pavement side". In other words, the closing element in the waste collection bins of the type described above may have, on the pavement side, one or more access doors having relatively small dimensions, and a large door on the road side, usually locked for users and which can only be opened in consequence of the tilting of the waste collection bin during emptying.

[0009] However, the consequent limitation associated with the possibility of only permitting the collection of waste through one side of the waste collection bin prevents its proper use in particularly narrow roads and/or in circumstances in which it has to be placed close to walls, fences or other architectural barriers, as is typically the case for example in lanes or relatively narrow roads. In this case, the user has no option but to insert the waste through the larger opening, which must necessarily be arranged on the road side to allow the waste collection bin to be emptied. However, installation in such circumstances would mean waste would have to be collected through the large door, with the subsequent loss of control over the type of waste that is collected.

[0010] Waste collection bins in which the access doors are incorporated in the larger emptying door have also been developed, so that waste can also be collected from the road side while keeping the emptying door closed. However, the subsequent structural weakening of the emptying door, the increased weight on the latter due to the installation of the access doors and of the electronic and/or electromechanical apparatuses connected to them, and the significant forces applied to the assembly during the tilting of the waste collection bin make it difficult to achieve a satisfactory degree of efficiency and functional reliability.

[0011] A further limit that has been found in the solutions in which the access doors are incorporated in the emptying doors is the fact that they cannot be fitted with a pedal to facilitate waste collection under hygienic and ergonomic conditions.

[0012] According to the present invention, the Applicant believes that the prior art can be improved, with a closure device suitable to incorporate in a single closing element the function of providing controlled access as regards the placing of waste in the waste collection bin, and that of opening to enable the effective emptying of the waste collection bin by tilting. In particular, the Applicant has found that it is possible to optimise the containment and distribution of the masses and adequately protect any electronic and electromechanical devices from excessive stresses, by using a covering assembly that has a covering portion oscillatably constrained to a support structure that can be rigidly anchored to the tank of the waste collection bin, and a closure portion that can be moved separately to permit the collection of waste in the waste collection bin, and jointly with the covering portion to open a wide passage through which the waste can pass during emptying.

[0013] More in particular, the invention relates to a closure device for waste collection bins, as claimed in claim 1.

[0014] According to a further aspect, the invention also relates to a waste collection bin incorporating said closure device, as claimed in claim 13.

[0015] The transverse dimensions of the covering element influence the size of the opening that is created to allow waste to be placed in the waste collection bin, when the access door is raised by the user to an open condition.

[0016] The covering element is, in turn, able to rotate about the pivoting point during the tilting of the waste collection bin, pulling with it the access door attached to it, to guarantee a wide opening through which the waste can flow out during emptying, regardless of the size of the access door.

[0017] By appropriately sizing the covering elements and access doors it is therefore possible to adapt the closure device to suit any type of waste for which the waste collection bin, on which the closure device must be fitted, is intended.

[0018] The access door remains available to the user for waste collection, regardless of the fact that the covering element is being held in the rest condition.

[0019] The use of the support structure allows easily installing the closure device, even on tanks of existing waste collection bins, eventually in substitution of the closure devices with which they were previously equipped.

[0020] Further preferred characteristics of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims. More in particular, in at least one of the aforesaid aspects, the invention further comprises one or more of the following preferential characteristics.

[0021] The distal portion and the proximal portion are rigidly integral with the covering element.

[0022] Preferably, the support structure comprises at least a pair of side panels mutually spaced apart and each of which can be fixed to the continuation of a side wall of the containment tank.

[0023] On occurrence, the support structure may also be provided with respective front and/or rear panels, extending between the side panels on the vertical continuation of the front and back walls, respectively, of the containment tank.

[0024] Preferably, each of said covering elements and access doors, or at least one of them, is made in the form of a monolithic shingle.

[0025] Preferably, each of said covering elements and access doors, or at least one of them, has its own pivoting axis or, respectively, joint axis extending perpendicularly with respect to the side panels of the support structure, and/or parallel to a tilting axis of the waste collection bin. Preferably, longitudinal ends of the covering element overlap and rest on the support structure.

[0026] Preferably, the longitudinal ends of the covering element are aligned with respect to one another along a direction parallel to the pivoting axis. Preferably, the end edge of the access door rests on the support structure and/or on an upper edge of the front wall of the containment tank. Preferably, the covering assembly further comprises at least one auxiliary access door rotatably constrained to the support structure.

[0027] It is therefore possible for waste to be collected easily from two respectively opposite sides of the waste collection bin, for example from the road side and from the pavement side, without undermining the efficacy of emptying said bin, which can always be performed from the road side towards which said covering element is operated, and without undermining the use of the waste collection bin by users when it has to be placed against a wall of a building, fence or other architectural barrier which obstructs access from the pavement side.

[0028] Preferably, the auxiliary access door is constrained close to or in correspondence with the pivoting axis of the proximal portion.

[0029] Preferably, the dimensions of the access door and of said auxiliary access door are substantially identical.

[0030] In an example of a preferred embodiment, there are at least two of said covering elements and two access doors, each rotatably constrained to the distal portion of one of said covering elements.

[0031] Preferably, the pivoting axes of the proximal portions of said covering elements are coincident with one another.

[0032] Preferably, the pivoting axes of the proximal portions of said covering elements are spaced apart with respect to one another.

[0033] Preferably, in the rest condition the distal portion of the covering element rests close to or against, the support structure.

[0034] The selective engagement devices are also configured to release the covering element to allow it to move to the open condition, in consequence of tilting of the closure device - or of the entire waste collection bin when the closure device is mounted on the containment tank - about a horizontal tilting axis.

[0035] The selective engagement devices are configured to determine the switching from the locked condition to the released condition in consequence of the tilting of the closure device - or of the entire waste collection bin when the closure device is mounted on the containment tank - between the waste collection condition and the waste emptying condition.

[0036] Preferably, the selective engagement devices operate between the covering element and a locking lug integrally attached to the support structure.

[0037] Preferably, said selective engagement devices comprise a pendulum carried by the covering element so as to be able to oscillate about a horizontal axis and which can be positioned vertically below a locking lug integrally attached to the support structure.

[0038] Alternatively, the selective engagement device of the covering device may consist of a pair of mechanical gravimetric devices (pendulums) located close to the ends of the horizontal pivoting axis of the access door.

[0039] According to further possible alternative embodiments, the pendulum or pendulums may be constrained to the support structure, with the locking lug(s) integral with the covering element.

[0040] Preferably, the horizontal axis of oscillation of the pendulum is parallel to the pivoting axis of the covering element and/or to said horizontal tilting axis.

[0041] There are also preferably provided locking devices acting on said access door and at least one electronic control unit, acting on the locking devices to selectively enable the opening of the access door.

[0042] Preferably, the electronic control unit is fixed to the support structure.

[0043] The absence of the additional kinematic mechanisms used in the prior art solutions to obtain a shifting of the cover in order to widen the opening during the emptying process, advantageously makes it possible to have two separate control pedals, each associated with one of the access doors, one on the road side and the other on the pavement side. Preferably, each pedal is hinged to the base of the vertical walls of the containment tank, for example close to the vertical centre line thereof.

[0044] Further characteristics and advantages will become clear from the following description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of a closure device for waste collection bins and of a waste collection bin incorporating said device, according to the present invention. Said description will now be provided with reference to the figures in the accompanying drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, in which

• Figure 1 is a perspective view from the pavement side of a closure device according to the present invention, coupled to the containment tank of a waste collection bin;
• Figure 2 is a perspective view from the road side of the device in Figure 1 with an access door in the raised condition during waste collection.
• Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views, respectively from the pavement side and from the road side, of an alternative embodiment of the invention, provided with a computerised electronic control unit;
• Figure 5 shows a cross section of the device of Figure 2;
• Figure 6 shows the device of Figure 2 in the tilted condition during emptying of the waste collection bin;
• Figure 7 is a side view of a structural arrangement of the devices shown in the previous Figures;
• Figures 8 to 11 are side views of structural arrangements of respective alternative embodiments of the device according to the invention.

[0045] With reference to the accompanying Figures, denoted as a whole by reference numeral 1 is a closure device for waste collection bins, according to the present invention. The device 1 is suitable to be coupled to a containment tank 2 to implement, as a whole, a waste collection bin 3 denoted as a whole by reference numeral 3.

[0046] For that purpose, the device 1 essentially comprises a support structure 4 that can be rigidly engaged on the top perimeter edge of the containment tank 2, for example by means of threaded members, rivets or welding. In the example that is illustrated, the containment tank 2 has a truncated pyramid shape with a rectangular base, in which a front wall 5 and a rear wall 6 face one another and are joined to one another by two side walls 7 arranged opposite one another. Each side wall 7 bears, in correspondence with a vertical centre line, respective grip pivots 8 arranged coaxially with respect to one another and which can be operatively engaged by a tilting device (not illustrated) installed on-board a waste collection vehicle.

[0047] The support structure comprises a pair of side panels 9 spaced apart from one another and each of which can be fixed to the continuation of one of the side walls 7 of the containment tank 2. If necessary, the support structure 4 may also be provided with respective front panels (not present in the examples that are illustrated) and rear panels 9a (Figure 9), extending between the side panels 9 on the vertical continuation of the front 5 and rear walls 6 of the containment tank.

[0048] A covering assembly 10 designed to close the containment tank 2 of the waste collection bin 3 at the top is operatively coupled to the support structure 4. The covering assembly 10 comprises at least one covering element 11 having a proximal portion 11a rotatably constrained to the support structure 4 in correspondence with a first pivoting axis X preferably perpendicular to the side panels 9 of the support structure 4, and parallel to a tilting or common alignment axis X₁ defined by the grip pivots 8. Said pivoting axis X may be defined for example by at least a first hinge 12 that is fixed with respect to the support structure 4. The covering element 11 also has a distal portion 11b movable about the first pivoting axis X due to the oscillation of the entire covering element 11, between a rest condition in which the distal portion thereof 11b rests on the support structure 4 (e.g., Figures 3 and 5), and an open condition in which the distal portion 11b is spaced from the support structure 4 (Figure 6).

[0049] The covering assembly 10 further comprises at least one access door 13 rotatably constrained to the distal portion 11b of the covering element 11, preferably about a first joint axis Y parallel to the first pivoting axis X. The joint axis Y may be defined, for instance, by at least a second hinge 14 that is movable with respect to the support structure 4. The access door 13 is angularly movable about its joint axis Y, between a rest condition in which it lies with its end edge resting on the support structure 4 and an open condition (Figures 2 and 4) in which its end edge is raised with respect to the support structure 4 to create an opening through which the containment tank 2 can be accessed.

[0050] In the examples that are illustrated, each of said covering elements 11 and access doors 13 is made in the shape of a monolithic shingle, extending perpendicularly with respect to the side panels 9 of the support structure 4, parallel to the first pivoting axis X. In the rest condition, the longitudinal ends of the covering element 11 overlap and rest on the top edges of the side panels 9 of the support structure 4, whereas the end edge of the access door 13 rests on the front panel of the support structure 4 and/or on the top edge of the front wall 5 of the containment tank 2. Alternatively, in the rest condition the covering element 11 may be supported only by the access door 13 owing to the connection determined by the movable hinge 15, in the distal portion 11b.

[0051] As illustrated by way of example in Figures 1 to 8, the covering assembly 10 may further comprise at least one auxiliary access door 15, rotatably constrained to the support structure 4, for example by means of a respective auxiliary hinge 12a close to the first pivoting axis X of the proximal portion 11a or so as to coincide therewith. The auxiliary access door 15, which in a preferred embodiment is substantially identical in size to the access door 13, permits the collection of waste from the side of the waste collection bin 3, usually from the so-called "pavement side" opposite the side towards which the covering element 11 operates with the respective access door 13.

[0052] There may also be provided appropriate locking devices 16, acting on each of the access doors 13, 15, to hold them in the closed condition to prevent unauthorised access through the closure device 1. Said locking devices 16, which are not described in detail in that they can be implemented in a known way, may for example comprise electromechanical latches fixed to the inside of the support structure 4 or which can be engaged in the containment tank 2.

[0053] At least one electronic control unit 17, which is also not described in detail in that it can be implemented in a known way, operates the locking devices 16 to selectively enable the opening of one or both of the access doors 13, 15, preferably in consequence of the recognition of an ID code previously assigned to the user, for example read from a badge or keyed in from a keypad. Advantageously, the electronic control unit 17 may be fixed to the support structure 4, for example to one of the side panels 9 or to one of the walls 5, 6, 7 of the containment tank 2, as indicated in the example shown.

[0054] The covering element 11 may, if necessary, bear a reading unit 18, which could interface with the electronic control unit 17 to monitor the level of filling inside the containment tank 2, for example by means of ultrasound sensors or other reading devices.

[0055] During normal use, the waste collection bin 3 stands on the ground in a waste collection condition, normally at the side of a road. The front wall 5 of the containment tank 2 and the covering element 11 face the so-called "road side" of the waste collection bin 3, that is to say, they face the road. The rear wall 6 of the containment tank 2 and the auxiliary access door 15 face the so-called "pavement side", opposite to the road side.

[0056] In order to introduce waste in the waste collection bin 3, the user identifies him or herself using the electronic control unit, which subsequently controls the locking devices 16 to enable the opening of at least one of the access doors 13, 15. It may be possible to enable the opening of both of the access doors 13, 15, or of just one of them, for example selectable by the user and/or based on the data obtained by the reading unit 18 as a function of the level of waste in different areas of the containment tank 2 so as to ensure the equal distribution of waste inside said tank.

[0057] The user may therefore open the access door 13 manually or using a control pedal 19 located at the base of the containment tank 2. Advantageously, there may be two separate control pedals 19, each connected to one of the access doors 13, 15 respectively facing the road side and the pavement side, hinged to the base of the vertical walls of the containment tank 2 close to the vertical centre line, and connected to said doors by means of levers and/or tie-rods which are not illustrated since they are known in the prior art.

[0058] When the access door 13 is opened, waste can be introduced into the containment tank 2 through the opening that is created between the covering device 1 and the containment tank 2. The size of the opening may be relatively small, dictated by the size of the access door which, in the design and construction stage, can be chosen according to the dimensional characteristics of the type of waste for which the waste collection bin 3 is to be used. For example, if the waste collection bin 3 is used to collect paper and card board, the opening could be in the form of a slot just a few centimetres high.

[0059] To be emptied, the waste collection bin 3 is designed to be lifted from the ground and overturned by rotating about the grip pivots 8 over a hopper with which the waste collection vehicle is fitted. The consequent tilting of the closure device 1 about the horizontal tilting or common alignment axis X₁ of the grip pivots 8 causes the opening of the covering element 11, due to the force of gravity, which moves from the rest condition to the open condition, also bringing with it the access door 13 constrained at the second hinges 14. In the waste emptying condition illustrated in Figure 6, a large opening is therefore created in the closure device, through which the waste can flow freely out of the containment tank 2 and fall into the hopper due to the force of gravity.

[0060] Between the access door 13 and the covering element there may be limiting means 31a to limit the maximum angular travel of said door about the second hinges 14 in order to prevent excessive movements and possible collisions inside the hopper of the vehicle.

[0061] To prevent accidental or unintentional opening of the covering element 11 when the waste collection bin 3 is standing on the ground, selective engagement devices 20 may be provided to selectively hold the covering element 11 in the rest condition, when the covering device 1 is in the waste collection condition. The selective engagement devices 20 preferably operate between the covering element 11 and a locking lug 22 integrally attached to the support structure 4.

[0062] The selective engagement devices 20 can be switched between a locked condition in which they hold the covering element 11 in the rest condition, and a released condition in which they free the covering element 11 so that it can be moved.

[0063] The switching from the locked condition to the released condition may advantageously occur in consequence of tilting of the closure device 1 - or of the entire waste collection bin 3 when the closure device is mounted on the containment tank 2 - between the waste collection condition and the waste emptying condition.

[0064] Said selective engagement devices 20 may for example comprise at least one pendulum 21 or other mechanical gravimetric device, borne by the covering element 11 so as to be able to oscillate about a horizontal axis, preferably parallel to the pivoting axis X and/or to the tilting axis X₁, and which can be positioned vertically below the locking lug 22. The pendulum 21 is therefore suitable to interfere with the locking lug 22 to prevent the covering element 11 from being raised by the user, in order to prevent the introduction of objects of a size and shape not consistent with the type of waste for which the waste collection bin 3 is intended.

[0065] Alternatively, the pendulum 21 may be connected to the support structure 4, with the locking lug 22 integral with the covering element 11.

[0066] The selective engagement devices 20 can be switched between the locked condition and the released condition without interfering with the access door 13. The user can therefore introduce waste through the access door 13, even when the covering element 11 is held in the rest condition.

[0067] During the tilting of the waste collection bin 3 towards the emptying condition, the pendulum element 21 oscillates owing to the force of gravity about its own axis of constraint, so as to release the locking lug 22 and so allow the movement of the covering element 11 towards the opening condition.

[0068] Figures 8 to 11 illustrate further preferred embodiments of the invention. For the sake of conciseness, only certain distinguishing aspects of these will now be described, with respect to the embodiments described above in detail and illustrated in Figures 1 to 7, since their other aspects are conceptually identical.

[0069] The example in Figure 8 is conceptually identical to that of the structural examples illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 but, unlike these, the auxiliary access door 15 is constrained to the support structure 4 in correspondence with the same pivoting axis X defined by the first hinge 12 which constrains the covering element 11.

[0070] In the example in Figure 9 only the access door 13 is constrained to the covering element 11 by means of the respective second hinge 14. The covering element 11 is, in turn, constrained to the support structure 4 by means of the first hinge 12 placed, for example, at the top of the rear panel 9a on the vertical continuation of the rear wall 6 of the containment tank 2.

[0071] In the example in Figure 10 there are two covering elements 11 constrained to the support structure 4 along a common pivoting axis X by means of a single first hinge 12, and each of which bears a second hinge 14 to engage a respective access door 13.

[0072] Figure 11 shows an embodiment with two covering elements as envisaged in Figure 6, but constrained to the support structure in correspondence with respective first hinges 12 arranged side by side so that the respective pivoting axes are at a short distance from one another.

Claims

1. Closure device for waste collection bins, comprising:

a support structure (4) rigidly engageable with the top of a containment tank (2);

a covering assembly (10) operatively borne by the support structure (4) to close the containment tank (2) at the top,

wherein the covering assembly (10) comprises:

at least one covering element (11) having a proximal portion (11a) rotatably coupled to the support structure (4) and a distal portion (11b) movable about a pivoting axis (X) of the proximal portion (11a);

at least one access door (13) rotatably coupled to the distal portion (11b) of the covering element (11),

wherein the covering element (11) is configured for moving, from a waste collection condition to a waste emptying condition, between a rest condition in which the distal portion (11b) rests on the support structure (4) and an open condition in which the distal portion (11b) is spaced from the support structure (4),

characterized in that the covering element (11) is configured for moving from the rest condition to the open condition in consequence of a tilting of the closure device (1) about a horizontal tilting axis (X₁),
and in that the access door (13) is rotatable about a joint axis (Y) parallel to the pivoting axis (X), wherein said covering element (11) and access door (13) have the respective pivoting axis (X) and joint axis (Y) extending parallel to the horizontal tilting axis (X₁),

the closure device further comprising selective engagement devices (20) configured for switching in consequence of the tilting of the closure device without interfering with the access door (13), between a locked condition in which they hold the covering element (11) in the rest condition when the covering device (1) is in said waste collection condition, and a released condition in which the covering element (11) is able to move.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the support structure (4) comprises at least a pair of side panels (9) mutually spaced apart and each of which can be fixed to the continuation of a side wall of the containment tank (2).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the covering assembly (10) further comprises at least one auxiliary access door (15) rotatably coupled to the support structure (4), preferably close to the pivoting axis of the proximal portion (11a).

4. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising at least two of said covering elements (11) and two access doors (13), each rotatably coupled to the distal portion (11b) of one of said covering elements (11).

5. Device according to claim 4, wherein the pivoting axes (X) of the proximal portions (11a) of said covering elements (11) are coincident with one another.

6. Device according to claim 4, wherein the pivoting axes (X) of the proximal portions (11a) of said covering elements (11) are spaced apart with respect to one another.

7. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein in the rest condition the distal portion (11b) rests on, close to or against, the support structure (4).

8. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said selective engagement devices (20) comprise a pendulum (21) borne by the covering member (11) that is able to oscillate about a horizontal axis and which can be positioned vertically below a locking lug (22) integrally attached to the support structure (4)

9. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, further comprising locking devices (16) acting on said access door (13) and at least one electronic control unit (17) acting on the locking devices (16) to selectively enable the opening of the access door (13).

10. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein each of said covering element (11) and access door (13) is made in the form of a monolithic shingle.

11. A waste collection bin (3), comprising a containment tank (2) and a closure device according to one or more of the preceding claims.

Ansprüche

1. Verschlussvorrichtung für Abfallsammelbehälter, umfassend:

eine Halterungskonstruktion (4), die steif mit der Oberseite eines Aufnahmebehälters (2) in Eingriff gelangen kann;

eine Abdeckungsanordnung (10), die betriebswirksam von der Halterungskonstruktion (4) getragen wird, um das Aufnahmebehälter (2) an der Oberseite zu verschließen,

wobei die Abdeckungsanordnung (10) umfasst:

mindestens ein Abdeckungselement (11), aufweisend einen proximalen Abschnitt (11a), der drehbar mit der Halterungskonstruktion (4) gekuppelt ist, und einen distalen Abschnitt (11b), der um eine Schwenkachse (X) des proximalen Abschnitts (11a) drehbar ist;

mindestens eine Zugangstür (13), die drehbar mit dem distalen Abschnitt (11b) des Abdeckungselements (11) gekuppelt ist,

wobei das Abdeckungselement (11) konfiguriert ist, um sich von einem Abfallsammelzustand in einen Abfallentleerungszustand zu bewegen, zwischen einem Ruhezustand, in dem der distale Abschnitt (11b) auf der Halterungskonstruktion (4) ruht, und einem offenen Zustand, in dem der distale Abschnitt (11b) von der Halterungskonstruktion (4) beabstandet ist,

dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Abdeckungselement (11) konfiguriert ist, um sich vom Ruhezustand in den offenen Zustand infolge eines Kippens der Verschlussvorrichtung (1) um eine horizontale Kippachse (X₁) zu bewegen,

und dadurch, dass die Zugangstür (13) um eine Gelenkachse (Y) drehbar ist, die parallel zur Schwenkachse (X) angeordnet ist, wobei sich die jeweilige Schwenkachse (X) und die Gelenkachse (Y) des Abdeckungselements (11) und der Zugangstür (13) parallel zur horizontalen Kippachse (X₁) erstrecken,

wobei die Verschlussvorrichtung zudem selektive Eingriffsvorrichtungen (20) umfasst, die konfiguriert sind, um infolge des Kippens der Verschlussvorrichtung ohne Interferieren mit der Zugangstür (13) zwischen einem verriegelten Zustand, in dem sie das Abdeckungselement (11) in der Ruheposition halten, wenn sich das Abdeckungselement (1) im Abfallsammelzustand befindet, und einem gelösten Zustand, in dem das Abdeckungselement (11) in der Lage ist, sich zu bewegen, umzuschalten.

2. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Halterungskonstruktion (4) mindestens ein Paar Seitenpaneele (9) umfasst, die gegenseitig beabstandet sind und jeweils an der Weiterführung einer Seitenwand des Aufnahmebehälters (2) fixiert werden können.

3. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei die Abdeckungsanordnung (10) zudem mindestens eine Hilfszugangstür (15) umfasst, die drehbar mit der Halterungskonstruktion (4) gekuppelt ist, vorzugsweise nah an der Schwenkachse des proximalen Abschnitts (11a).

4. Vorrichtung nach einem oder mehreren der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, umfassend mindestens zwei der Abdeckungselemente (11) und zwei Zugangstüren (13), jeweils drehbar gekuppelt mit dem distalen Abschnitt (11b) von einem der Abdeckungselemente (11).

5. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 4, wobei die Schwenkachsen (X) der proximalen Abschnitte (11a) der Abdeckungselemente (11) miteinander übereinstimmen.

6. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 4, wobei die Schwenkachsen (X) der proximalen Abschnitte (11a) der Abdeckungselemente (11) voneinander beabstandet sind.

7. Vorrichtung nach einem oder mehreren der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der distale Abschnitt (11b) in der Ruheposition auf der, nah an der oder gegen die Halterungskonstruktion (4) ruht.

8. Vorrichtung nach einem oder mehreren der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die selektiven Eingriffsvorrichtungen (20) ein Pendel (21) umfassen, das durch das Abdeckungselement (11) getragen wird, das in der Lage ist, um eine horizontale Achse zu schwingen und das vertikal unter einer Verriegelungsöse (22) positioniert werden kann, die in einem Stück an der Halterungskonstruktion (4) angebracht ist.

9. Vorrichtung nach einem oder mehreren der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, zudem umfassend Verriegelungsvorrichtungen (16), wirkend auf die Zugangstür (13), und mindestens eine elektronische Steuereinheit (17), wirkend auf die Verriegelungsvorrichtungen (16), um das Öffnen der Zugangstür (13) selektiv zu ermöglichen.

10. Vorrichtung nach einem oder mehreren der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei sowohl das Abdeckungselement (11) als auch die Zugangstür (13) in Form einer monolithischen Schindel ausgebildet sind.

11. Abfallsammelbehälter (3), umfassend ein Aufnahmebehälter (2) und eine Verschlussvorrichtung nach einem oder mehreren der vorhergehenden Ansprüche.

Revendications

1. Dispositif de fermeture pour bacs de collecte de déchets, comprenant :

une structure de support (4) se mettant en prise fermement avec le sommet d'un réservoir de contenance (2) ;

un ensemble de recouvrement (10) fonctionnellement supporté par la structure de support (4) pour fermer le réservoir de contenance (2) au sommet,

dans lequel ledit ensemble de recouvrement (10) comprend :

au moins un élément de recouvrement (11) comportant une portion proximale (11a) couplée en rotation à la structure de support (4) et une portion distale (11b) mobile autour d'un axe pivotant (X) de la portion proximale (11a) ;

au moins une porte d'accès (13) couplée en rotation à la portion distale (11b) de l'élément de recouvrement (11),

dans lequel l'élément de recouvrement (11) est configuré pour déplacer, d'une condition de collecte des déchets à une condition de vidage des déchets,

entre une condition de repos dans laquelle la portion distale (11b) repose sur la structure de support (4) et

une condition d'ouverture dans laquelle la portion distale (11b) est espacée de la structure de support (4),

caractérisé en ce que l'élément de recouvrement (11) est configuré pour se déplacer de la condition de repos à la condition d'ouverture suite à une inclinaison du dispositif de fermeture (1) autour d'un axe d'inclinaison (X₁) horizontal,

et en ce que la porte d'accès (13) peut pivoter autour d'un axe d'articulation (Y) parallèle à l'axe pivotant (X), dans lequel ledit élément de recouvrement (11) et la porte d'accès (13) comportent l'axe pivotant (X) respectif et l'axe d'articulation (Y) se prolongeant parallèlement à l'axe d'inclinaison (X₁) horizontal,

le dispositif de fermeture comprenant de plus des dispositifs de mise en prise (20) sélectifs configurés pour commuter suite à l'inclinaison du dispositif de fermeture sans interférer avec la porte d'accès (13), entre une condition bloquée dans laquelle ils maintiennent l'élément de recouvrement (11) dans la condition de repos lorsque le dispositif de recouvrement (1) se trouve dans ladite condition de collecte des déchets, et une condition de libération dans laquelle l'élément de recouvrement (11) peut se déplacer.

2. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la structure de support (4) comprend au moins une paire de panneaux latéraux (9) mutuellement espacés et pouvant chacun être fixé à la continuation d'une cloison latérale du réservoir de contenance (2).

3. Dispositif selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel l'ensemble de recouvrement (10) comprend de plus au moins une porte d'accès (15) auxiliaire couplée en rotation à la structure de support (4), de préférence à proximité de l'axe pivotant de la portion proximale (11a) .

4. Dispositif selon l'une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, comprenant au moins deux desdits éléments de recouvrement (11) et deux portes d'accès (13), chacune accouplée en rotation à la portion distale (11b) d'un desdits éléments de recouvrement (11).

5. Dispositif selon la revendication 4, dans lequel les axes pivotants (X) des portions proximales (11a) desdits éléments de recouvrement (11) coïncident réciproquement.

6. Dispositif selon la revendication 4, dans lequel les axes pivotants (X) des portions proximales (11a) desdits éléments de recouvrement (11) sont espacés les uns par rapport aux autres.

7. Dispositif selon l'une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, dans lequel dans la condition de repos, la portion distale (11b) repose sur, à proximité de ou contre la structure de support (4) .

8. Dispositif selon l'une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, dans lequel lesdits dispositifs de mise en prise (20) sélectifs comprennent un pendule (21) supporté par l'organe de recouvrement (11) pouvant osciller autour d'un axe horizontal et pouvant être positionné verticalement en dessous d'un ergot de blocage (22) fixé de façon solidaire à la structure de support (4).

9. Dispositif selon l'une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, comprenant de plus des dispositifs de blocage (16) agissant sur ladite porte d'accès (13) et au moins une unité de commande (17) électronique agissant sur les dispositifs de blocage (16) pour activer sélectivement l'ouverture de la porte d'accès (13).

10. Dispositif selon l'une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, dans lequel chacun desdits élément de recouvrement (11) et porte d'accès (13) est réalisé sous la forme d'un bardeau monolithique.

11. Bac de collecte (3) de déchets, comprenant un réservoir de contenance (2) et un dispositif de fermeture selon l'une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes.

Drawing