Automated cover

• US 10,144,585 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2017
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Heil Company (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Curotto Can LLC (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: Curotto, John Domenic
• Primary Examiner(s): Dager, Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US15/797,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20180118461A1
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1623 with means for assisting the opening or closing thereof, e.g. springs spring-actuated swinging wings E05F1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1638 Electromechanically operated lids
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/184 Weighing means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/12 Conjoint motion of lids, flaps, and shutters on vehicle and on receptacle; Operation of closures on vehicle conjointly with tipping of receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 65/005 Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 65/23 Devices for tilting and emptying of containers
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/53 for swinging wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/73 responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/706 Shafts
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/445 Switches
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2999/00 Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass

Abstract

The disclosure describes a novel collection bin for a waste collection vehicle. The collection bin includes an automated cover system.

Claims

1. A collection bin with an automated cover system comprising:

a vessel attached to a frame;

at least one pocket attached to the frame for receiving at least one fork prong of a fork assembly of a waste collection vehicle;

a cover;

a flap, the flap attached to the cover;

a pivot system, the pivot system comprising;

a rotatable bar,

an anchor portion attached to the rotatable bar and at least one of the vessel and the frame, and

a moveable portion attached to the rotatable bar, wherein the moveable portion attaches to at least one of the cover and the flap; and

an actuator system mounted to at least one of the vessel and the frame, the actuator system is moveably coupled to the rotatable bar.

2. The collection bin of claim 1, wherein the flap is positioned within a sleeve sewn into the cover.

3. The collection bin of claim 1, wherein the actuator system is a rotary air cylinder.

4. The collection bin of claim 1, wherein the moveable portion moves based on a rotation of the rotatable bar.

5. The collection bin of claim 1, further comprises at least one of a whisker switch and a proximity switch in communication with the actuator system for opening and closing the cover.

6. The collection bin of claim 1, further comprising a power source connector coupled to the actuator.

7. The collection bin of claim 6, wherein a power supply is coupled to the actuator via the power source connector.

8. The collection bin of claim 1, wherein the pivot system further comprises a drive system.

9. The collection bin of claim 8, wherein the drive system comprises at least one of a cam system, a lever system, a ratchet and pawl system, a rack and pinion system, a gear system, and a coupling system.

13. The automated cover system of claim 1, wherein the flap and the cover move based on a rotation of the rotatable bar.

10. An automated cover system, comprising:

a cover;

a flap, the flap attached to the cover;

a pivot system, the pivot system attaches the cover and the flap to a rotatable bar and provides an anchor portion for attaching the rotatable bar to a collection bin; and

an actuator system, the actuator system is moveably coupled to the rotatable bar and the actuator system provides a mounting system for attaching the actuator to the collection bin.

11. The automated cover system of claim 10, wherein the flap is positioned within a sleeve sewn into the cover.

12. The automated cover system of claim 10, wherein the actuator system is a rotary air cylinder.

14. The automated cover system of claim 10, further comprises at least one of a whisker switch and a proximity switch in communication with the actuator system for opening and closing the cover.

15. The automated cover system of claim 10, further comprising a power source connector coupled to the actuator.

16. The automated cover system of claim 10, wherein the pivot system further comprises a drive system.

17. The automated cover system of claim 16, wherein the drive system comprises at least one of a cam system, a lever system, a ratchet and pawl system, a rack and pinion system, a gear system, and a coupling system.

18. A method for preventing material contained inside a collection bin from being blown out of the collection bin, the method comprising:

monitoring movement of a fork assembly on a waste collection vehicle;

generating an actuation command based on the step of monitoring the movement of the fork assembly thereby sending an actuation command to an actuation system; and

actuating the actuator system based on the actuation command,

wherein the step of actuating the actuator system moves a cover attached to the collection bin.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising actuating the actuator system based on a command received from an operator selected trigger.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising manually moving the cover attached to the collection bin.