Automated loader

• US 20060153667A1
• Filed: 01/07/2005
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing Inc. (Oshkosh Corporation)
• Original Assignee: McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing Inc. (Oshkosh Corporation)
• Inventors: Meldahl, Brian R., Pruteanu, Claudiu D., Bice, Randall L., Gillard, Jason M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,559,735 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/408
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/023 Gripper arms for embracing the receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/0266 comprising at least one telescopic arm
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/0276 capable of moving towards or away from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/046 with additional means for assisting the tipping of the receptacle after or during raising
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/08 Platform elevators or hoists with guides or runways for raising or tipping receptacles pivotable guides or runways B65F3/041

Abstract

A container handling mechanism suitable for mounting on the side of a refuse vehicle for loading material from refuse containers is disclosed that includes a lift assembly, having a pair of spaced, generally parallel lift support members, attachable to a refuse vehicle, a carriage device reciprocally operable along the lift support members of the lift assembly, a container grabbing system carried by the carriage device and further including a pair of opposed grabber fingers and an actuator system for closing and opening the grabber fingers to engage and release containers of interest, the container grabbing system being vertically pivotable on a short radius for adjusting the position of and tipping a container. A chain and cylinder drive system operates the carriage device along the lift assembly, and a control system controls operation of the container handling mechanism.

Claims

1. A container handling system suitable for mounting on the side of a receptacle for accessing, grabbing, lifting, tipping and returning refuse or other containers, comprising:

(a) a laterally adjustable lift assembly attachable to a side of a refuse vehicle charging hopper or other receptacle and having a pair of spaced, generally parallel lift support members;

(b) a carriage device carried by and reciprocally operable along said lift support members of said lift assembly;

(c) a container grabbing system attached close to a rotary actuator for carrying and generally vertically pivoting said container grabbing system on a short radius carried by said carriage device and further comprising a pair of opposed grabbing fingers and an actuator system for closing and opening said grabber fingers to engage and release a container;

(d) a carriage drive system for operating said carriage device along said lift support members; and

(e) a control system for controlling operation of said container handling mechanism.

2. A container handling system as in claim 1 wherein said carriage drive system further includes a pair of combined chain and cylinder mechanisms, one mounted along each of said lift support members.

3. A container handling system as in claim 2 wherein said carriage is carried by and between a pair of chains, one associated with each of said combined chain and cylinder mechanisms;

4. A mechanism as in claim 3 wherein each of said lift support members includes a double-acting, double-ended, fluid operated cylinder operable along a cylinder rod fixed to said lift support member such that said cylinder moves relative a fixed rod and a chain loop comprising one of said pair of chains carried by said cylinder on spaced sprockets, said chain being fixed to said lift support member at one point and to one end of said carriage at another point such that reciprocal movement of said cylinder also causes said chain to move said carriage relative to said cylinder in the same direction an equivalent distance.

5. A container handling system as in claim 1 further comprising a reciprocally operable bottom-extending frame for laterally moving the lower portions of said lift support members laterally to adjust the lateral reach of said container grabbing system.

6. A container handling system as in claim 1 wherein said container grabbing system is mounted from a vertically pivotable short-armed yoke carried and pivoted by said rotary actuator.

7. A container handling system as in claim 6 wherein said rotary actuator is a double-ended rotary actuator.

8. A container handling system as in claim 1 wherein said container grabbing system includes a closed hydraulic actuator system for closing and opening said grabber fingers.

9. A container handling system as in claim 1 wherein said container handling system is attached to the charging hopper of a side-loading refuse vehicle.

10. A container handling system as in claim 4 further comprising a reciprocally operable bottom-extending frame for laterally moving the lower portions of said lift support members laterally to adjust the lateral reach of said container grabbing system.

11. A method of emptying a container including steps of:

(a) using a laterally adjustable lift assembly including generally parallel support members and a carriage device reciprocally operable along said lift support members and carrying a container grabbing system pivotally mounted by means of a rotary actuator to access lift and tip a container and return the container to an original location; and

(b) including the step of using a pair of double-acting, double-ended fluid operated cylinders in conjunction with a pair of chain loops such that one of said pair of chain loops is carried by each cylinder on spaced sprockets, said chain being fixed to said lift support member at one point and to one end of said carriage at another point such that reciprocal movement of said cylinder also causes said chain to move said carriage relative to said cylinder in the same direction an equivalent distance.

12. A method as in claim 11 wherein said lift assembly accesses containers laterally by moving the lower portion of the lift support members to adjust the lateral reach of said container grabbing system.