BELT OPERATED CONTAINER HANDLING SYSTEM FOR SIDE LOADER

• US 20180134487A1
• Filed: 11/16/2016
• Published: 05/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Con-Tech Manufacturing, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Con-Tech Manufacturing, Inc.
• Inventors: McNeilus, Grant, Meldahl, Brian R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,308,429 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/023 Gripper arms for embracing the receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/0276 capable of moving towards or away from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/041 Pivoted arms or pivoted carriers
• 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 simplified lift and lowering system is provided that includes a base carriage arrangement that operates along a stationary belt attached to a pivoting arm. The arm has a lower end that is capable of linear lateral extensions and the upper end that returns to the same position when the arm is retracted. The arm has a curved upper portion and is mounted to discharge or dump containers into the charging hopper section of a side-loading refuse vehicle. The stationary belt is carried in a recessed central area of the arm and is anchored at the upper end of the curved section of the arm and attached to a spring-loaded belt tensioner at the lower end of the arms.

Claims

1. A belt operated container handling system for a side loading refuse truck comprising:

(a) a pivoting laterally extendable arm having a curved upper portion, a recessed central area extending along the arm, a permanently stationary belt member having an underside tread carried in said recessed central area;

(b) a base carriage arrangement supported as and adapted to travel along said pivoting laterally extendable arm by travelling along said belt using said underside tread, said base carriage arrangement further comprising a hydraulic motor attached to a drive sprocket, said sprocket adapted to travel along the underside tread of said belt for moving said base carriage along said arm; and

(c) a container grabber carried by said base carriage arrangement for capturing and releasing containers to be emptied.

2. A belt operated container handling system as in claim 1 further comprising a support structure for said pivoting laterally extendable arm adapted to be attached to a side loading refuse truck and including pivoting members that enable the upper portion of the arm to be lowered as the bottom linearly extends a hydraulic cylinder for controlling the later extension and retraction of said arm.

3. A belt operated container handling system as in claim 1 wherein said drive sprocket is flanked by a pair of spaced idler sprockets for maintaining said belt on said drive sprocket.

4. A belt operated container handling system as in claim 1 wherein said stationary belt member is anchored at the upper curved portion of the pivoting laterally extendable arm and held by an adjustable tensioning device that includes a clamping device at the lower end of said arm.

5. A belt operated container handling system as in claim 3 wherein said stationary belt member is anchored at the upper curved portion of the pivoting laterally extendable arm and held by an adjustable tensioning device at the lower end of said arm.

6. A belt operated container handling system as in claim 3 further comprising rollers and guide wheels for carrying said base carriage arrangement along said pivoting, laterally extending arm.

7. A belt operated container handling system as in claim 4 further comprising rollers and guide wheels for carrying said base carriage arrangement along said pivoting, laterally extending arm.

8. A belt operated container handling system as in claim 7 wherein said guide wheels are connected under said pivoting laterally extending arm in pairs, each pair having a single shaft which with associated structure maintains said base carriage arrangement and said pivoting laterally extending arm.