Litter retrieving machine

• US 4,608,725 A
• Filed: 02/21/1985
• Issued: 09/02/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Proficiency Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Proficiency Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Jackson, Samuel G.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBERTS JR, EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US06/704,078
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 15/83, 15/84, 15/85, 15/340, 15/3, 298/22 D, 298/22 J, 171/19, 171/45, 171/63, 56/328 R
• US Class Current: 15/3
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 51/00 Apparatus for gathering together crops spread on the soil, e.g. apples, beets, nuts, potatoes , cotton, cane sugar
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 12/00 Cleaning beaches or sandboxes

Abstract

An apparatus for collecting litter from roadways and grounds includes a ground engageable rotating drum with easily removable and replaceable fingers which slip in and out of channels mounted on the drum. A spring finger assembly rotates against the drum to aid in litter pickup and to strip material from the drum and deposit same on a conveyor. The conveyor directs the litter into a hopper, which, when full, is lifted by an arrangement of pivots and linkage arms to raise upwardly, then swing rearwardly and tip to dump the litter into a suitable receptacle.

Claims

1. A litter retrieving machine comprising:

(a) a framework for movement over a ground surface;

(b) a ground engageable rotating drum mounted in said framework and having a plurality of fingers mounted to said drum for engagement and retrieval of litter;

(c) stripper means for removing said litter from between said fingers;

(d) conveyor means for transporting said litter from said stripper means;

(e) a hopper mounted in said framework and communicating with said conveyor means;

(f) a mechanism for lifting and dumping said hopper extending between said hopper and said framework and including a jointed arm arrangement having an upper arm member with one end pivotally mounted to said hopper and a lower arm member with one end pivotally mounted to said framework;

said upper and lower arm members being connected at an elbow joint;

(g) pivot means extending between said framework and said hopper; and

(h) said mechanism including motive means extending between said framework and said lower arm member and connected to said lower arm member at a pivot point positioned between said one end and said elbow joint;

said motive means being operable to using said lower arm member upwardly to cause said upper and lower arm members to extend about said elbow joint, urge said hopper upwardly, and swing said hopper about said pivot means to dump the materials therein.

2. A litter retrieving machine comprising:

(a) a framework for movement over a ground surface;

(b) a ground engageable rotating drum mounted in said framework and having a plurality of channel members extending across the surface of said drum;

(c) a plurality of fingers mounted to said drum for engagement and retrieval of litter and having bases slidably mounted in said channel members for ease of removal and replacement of said fingers;

(d) stripper means for removing said litter from between said fingers;

(e) conveyor means for transporting said litter from said stripper means;

(f) a hopper mounted in said framework and communicating with said conveyor means;

(g) a mechanism for lifting and dumping said hopper extending between said hopper and said framework and including a jointed arm arrangement having an upper arm member with one end pivotally mounted to said hopper and a lower arm member with one end pivotally mounted to said framework;

said upper and lower arm members being connected at an elbow joint;

(h) pivot means extending between said framework and said hopper; and

(i) said mechanism including motive means extending between said framework and said lower arm member and connected to said lower arm member at a pivot point positioned between said one end and said elbow joint;

said motive means being operable to swing said lower arm member upwardly to cause said upper and lower arm members to extend about said elbow joint, urge said hopper upwardly, and swing said hopper rearwardly about said pivot means to dump the materials therein.

3. A load carrying transporter comprising:

(a) a framework for movement over a ground surface;

(b) a hopper mounted in said framework for holding materials;

(c) a mechanism for lifting and dumping said hopper extending between said hopper and said framework and including a jointed arm arrangement having an upper arm member with one end pivotally mounted to said hopper and a lower arm member with one end pivotally mounted to said framework;

said upper and lower arm members being connected at an elbow joint;

(d) pivot means extending between said framework and said hopper;

(e) said mechanism including motive means extending between said framework and said lower arm member and connected to said lower arm member at a pivot point positioned between said one end and said elbow joint;

said motive means being operable to swing said lower arm member upwardly to cause said upper and lower arm members to extend about said elbow joint, urge said hopper upwardly, and swing said hopper about said pivot means to dump materials therein; and

(f) a latch means extending between said framework and said hopper and having arm means outwardly swingable to urge said hopper outwardly as said hopper is being raised, thereby urging said upper arm member to swing at said elbow joint relative to said lower arm member and commence tilting of said hopper.

4. A load carrying transporter comprising:

(a) a framework for movement over a ground surface;

(b) a hopper mounted in said framework for holding materials;

(c) a mechanism for lifting and dumping said hopper extending between said hopper and said framework and including a slide member movable upwardly and downwardly and having a top end with said hopper pivotally mounted thereto and a jointed arm arrangement having an upper arm member with one end pivotally mounted to said hopper spaced from said slide member top end and a lower arm member with one end pivotally mounted to said framework;

said upper and lower arm members being connected at an elbow joint;

(d) pivot means extending between said framework and said hopper;

(e) said mechanism including motive means extending between said framework and said lower arm member and connected to said lower arm member at a pivot point positioned between said one end and said elbow joint;

said motive means being operable to swing said lower arm member upwardly to cause said upper and lower arm members to extend about said elbow joint, urge said hopper upwardly, and swing said hopper about said pivot means to dump materials therein; and

(f) a latch means mounted on said slide member and extending between said framework and said hopper, said latch means including an abutment means, an outwardly swingable latch arm, and a catch mounted on said framework whereby when said abutment means engages said catch as said slide member and said hopper are being raised, said latch arm swings outwardly and urges said hopper outwardly, thereby inducing tilting of said hopper about the top end of said slide member.