Material or article handling – Device for emptying portable receptacle – For emptying contents thereof into portable receiving means
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-30
2003-11-11
Lillis, Eileen D. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Device for emptying portable receptacle
For emptying contents thereof into portable receiving means
C414S403000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06644906
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to refuse receptacle lifts for use with a refuse collection load box or a refuse gathering vehicle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a low or slim profile self-adapting apparatus, i.e., that is capable of lifting refuse receptacles of varying sizes and shapes using a self-adapting clamp arm and then dumping the contents of the refuse receptacle into a load box or other refuse container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Receptacles for the receipt, temporary storage, and/or transport of refuse are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. While the traditional, round metal garbage can is still utilized, many have been replaced with generally larger and lighter receptacles constructed from various plastics and other synthetic materials. Features may include for example hinged covers, locking covers, wheels, and handles in various locations and configurations. Capacities may range for example from 30 gallons to 95 gallons.
Typically, on the day of collection, the receptacle is placed near curb-side for pick-up involving a gathering vehicle. The refuse collected in such conventional receptacles from residences and businesses must be then transported usually by a commercial or municipal service to a treatment or disposal site. Generally, a refuse gathering vehicle equipped with a compactor is used to transport the contents of the receptacle from curb side to such a later site. Consequently, the receptacle's contents must be conveyed to a designated compartment on the gathering vehicle. Current conventional containers can weigh as much as 200 pounds when loaded. Various receptacle dumping mechanisms exist for delivering a receptacle's contents into the compartment of a gathering vehicle. For example, dumping mechanisms that include a movable carriage configured to receive a receptacle and dump its contents into a gathering vehicle are described in Brown et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,804,277), Shive (U.S. Pat. No. 3,894,642), and Wyman et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,751). The disclosures of such patents are incorporated herein by reference.
While such types of lift devices and associated receptacles generally permit mechanized dumping (as opposed to manual), various drawbacks and inefficiencies persist. For example, some of such prior art receptacle dumping mechanisms typically may tend to dump the contents of the receptacle only near the very back of the refuse-receiving opening of the garbage truck. A typical garbage truck has a large opening located at its rear to provide access to a relatively large trash container carried on the truck. A dumping apparatus as discussed above is usually mounted adjacent such opening, such as at or on a rear bumper of a truck. A built-in trash compactor is also typically present in the container for compacting refuse therein. If the contents of the receptacle are dumped only at the very back of such refuse-receiving opening (as is often the case), a compaction cycle (i.e. operation of the built-in compactor of the garbage truck) must be run after almost each successive receptacle dumping so as to push the dumped contents forward, i.e. away from the very rear of the garbage truck, to make room for the next dumping. Having to frequently repeat compacting cycles is very time consuming, since a garbage truck normally would include a great number of stops at relatively short intervals on its route, and also adds to wear and tear on the compactor equipment.
Another drawback of some of such prior art mechanized dumping devices is the sheer size of the unit itself. Many prior art dumping devices have a width (i.e. projection from the rear bumper of the garbage truck) in a range of about 16 to 20 inches, not including the trash receptacle mounted for dumping. A safety hazard is thus presented by structure which projects substantially from the rear of the vehicle, particularly since it cannot be seen by the driver of the truck.
Also, as an additional practical matter, garbage trucks outfitted with such prior art (relatively thick) dumping apparatuses for smaller residential trash receptacles cannot be simultaneously used for dumping larger commercial trash dumpsters. Such dumpsters are normally pivoted against pivot members mounted at the rear of the truck itself while being winched upward with a powered cable mounted at the top of the garbage truck. Such dual use of a garbage truck is normally not possible with the typical prior art residential receptacle dumping device because there is not sufficient clearance for the commercial dumpster to be pivoted on the truck-mounted pivot members around the prior art residential dumping devices due to their relatively thick width.
Additionally, some refuse-gathering vehicles have their refuse-receiving openings on the sides of the truck, rather than at their backs. Such side-loading vehicles typically cannot safely use such prior art dumping devices again because they generally extend too far from the side of the truck.
Commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,812 discloses a receptacle lift and slim profile power unit addressing certain of the disadvantages of typical receptacle dumping apparatuses referenced above. The width of such a lift is substantially less than typical receptacle dumping apparatuses and includes a power drive unit that is also of reduced width. Such reduced profile allows such lift configuration to be used in conjunction with existing refuse gathering vehicles to overcome problems with the typical receptacle lifts above discussed. Such lift may also be used to dump receptacle contents a predetermined distance up into a refuse gathering vehicle so that the vehicle's compactor unit does not require operation after each dumping cycle. It may also be installed on a gathering vehicle so as not to interfere with the lift mechanisms that may already be present on a gathering vehicle for dumping other types of containers such as larger bins typically not used for residential, curb-side pick-up. The disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,812 is incorporated herein by reference.
Due to the various unique geometries of the receptacles available and in use, typical prior art lifts may not be functional with all receptacle types currently encountered during a refuse pick-up. For example, the handles on various receptacles may be located at different heights, have different shapes, and be positioned at different orientations on a receptacle. The height, width, and overall volume of each receptacle may vary widely. Commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,308,211 and 5,333,984 disclose various receptacle types and certain lifter variations. The disclosures of all such patents are hereby incorporated herein by reference. The container may be structured for dumping by a correspondingly configured lift. Similarly, the lift in place on a particular gathering vehicle may only be configured to receive a receptacle meeting the particular specifications of that lift. While generally uniform receptacles on any given pick-up route could be used to ensure the functionality of the lift with all receptacles encountered by the gathering vehicle, such a requirement may not be practical. Even though existing prior art lifts may be modifiable for a given receptacle type, a lift capable of adapting automatically to a variety of container types without prior modification and while in use during a refuse pick-up route would provide additional benefits over existing apparatuses. Such a lift that also incorporates the features of U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,812, so as to overcome the limitations of the typical receptacle lift as above identified would be even more desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an adaptable, refuse receptacle lift for use with a refuse collection load box or a refuse gathering vehicle. A unique self-adapting clamp arm is used to provide a lift that automatically self-adapts to the size and shape of a variety of receptacles while the lift is in use and without requiring prior modifications each time a different receptacle type is e
Bayne Machine Works, Inc.
Fox Charles A
Lillis Eileen D.
McAndrews Held & Malloy Ltd.
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