Apparatus for handling refuse containers and the like
First Claim
1. Apparatus for handling refuse containers and the like of various cross-sectional dimensions for grasping, elevating and tipping said containers to discharge the contents of said containers, said apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
a first pair of rigid arms mounted spaced apart on said frame for pivotal movement at said frame between a retracted position and a container grasping position, said first pair of rigid arms including means forming container engaging surfaces on respective ones of said first pair of rigid arms;
means for actuating said first pair of rigid arms to move said first pair of rigid arms between said positions; and
means supported on said frame between said first pair of rigid arms forming another container engaging surface and cooperable with said first pair of rigid arms for holding said container, and being movable away from said frame to engage and support said container as said container is biased toward said frame by said first pair of rigid arms;
said means forming said another container engaging surface comprises a second pair of arms mounted spaced apart on said frame for pivotal movement between a retracted position and a container grasping position in conjunction with said first pair of rigid arms,each of said second pair disposed along an inner surface of a corresponding one of said first pair of rigid arms for engaging said container by moving away from said frame as said container is biased toward said frame by said first pair of rigid arms.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A container handling apparatus for refuse containers of various sizes includes a frame mounted on an elevating and dumping mechanism disposed on a refuse collection vehicle. The apparatus includes opposed primary container engaging arms pivotally secured to the frame and secondary container engaging arms pivotally secured to the frame inboard of the pivot points of the primary arms. Hydraulic cylinder actuators are operable to move the primary arms from a retracted position substantially within the normal clearance width profile of the vehicle to a position for engaging and gathering the container to be grasped between the primary and secondary arms. The configuration of the primary and secondary arms provides for grasping containers of various diameters and for tolerating misalignment of the apparatus with respect to a container during driveby pickup operations. Alternate embodiments of the apparatus include opposed primary arms and a transversely extendable and retractable container engaging member to provide three point contact with the container. A second alternate embodiment includes two opposed primary arms which overlap each other to grasp containers of various sizes between the arms and the frame.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. Apparatus for handling refuse containers and the like of various cross-sectional dimensions for grasping, elevating and tipping said containers to discharge the contents of said containers, said apparatus comprising:
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a frame; a first pair of rigid arms mounted spaced apart on said frame for pivotal movement at said frame between a retracted position and a container grasping position, said first pair of rigid arms including means forming container engaging surfaces on respective ones of said first pair of rigid arms; means for actuating said first pair of rigid arms to move said first pair of rigid arms between said positions; and means supported on said frame between said first pair of rigid arms forming another container engaging surface and cooperable with said first pair of rigid arms for holding said container, and being movable away from said frame to engage and support said container as said container is biased toward said frame by said first pair of rigid arms; said means forming said another container engaging surface comprises a second pair of arms mounted spaced apart on said frame for pivotal movement between a retracted position and a container grasping position in conjunction with said first pair of rigid arms, each of said second pair disposed along an inner surface of a corresponding one of said first pair of rigid arms for engaging said container by moving away from said frame as said container is biased toward said frame by said first pair of rigid arms. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Apparatus for handling a refuse container and the like comprising:
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a frame; means for supporting said frame on a refuse collection vehicle; opposed first and second arms pivotally mounted at one end, respectively, on said frame and spaced apart one from the other for pivotal movement between an open retracted position and a container grasping position, each of said arms including a container engaging surface formed thereon; actuator means for moving said arms between said positions; roller means mounted on the distal ends of each of said arms opposite said one end for engaging a container to gather said container into a position to be grasped by said engaging surfaces on said arms; and means forming at least a third container engaging surface for engaging a container to grasp said container between said arms, said means forming at least a third container engaging surface being rollably extensible away from said frame to engage said container including third and fourth arms mounted on the frame for pivotal movement between said first and second arms. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. Apparatus for handling refuse containers and the like of various cross-sectional dimensions for grasping, elevating and tipping said containers to discharge the contents of said containers, said apparatus comprising:
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a frame; a first pair of arms mounted spaced apart on said frame for pivotal movement between a retracted position and a container grasping position, said first pair of arms including means forming container engaging surfaces on respective ones of said arms; means for actuating said first pair of arms to move said first pair of arms between said positions; means supported on said frame and forming another container engaging surface and cooperable with said first pair of arms for holding said container for movement of said container to discharge the contents thereof; said means forming said another container engaging surface including a second pair of arms mounted spaced apart on said frame for pivotal movement between a retracted position and a container grasping position in conjunction with said first pair of arms; said arms of said second pair of arms pivotally mounted on said frame between said first pair of arms, and each of said arms of said second pair of arms engageable with a corresponding arm of said first pair of arms for movement with said first pair of arms toward said container grasping position; and said arms of said second pair of arms further including channel section members pivotally mounted on said frame and movable to a retracted position wherein a portion of said frame is nested in said arms of said second pair of arms.
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Specification