Lid opening device/loader assembly and method of collecting recyclable materials
First Claim
1. A refuse vehicle comprising a vehicle body, a retractable arm assembly having one end mounted to the vehicle body, a retractable arm assembly having one end mounted to the vehicle body, a loading mechanism being mounted to the other end of said retractable arm assembly, said retractable arm assembly being adapted to extend away from the vehicle in order for the loading mechanism to directly engage a bin having a closure member movable between open and closed positions, and on retraction of the retractable arm assembly, the loading mechanism being adapted to empty the contents of the bin into a container on the refuse vehicle during a bin emptying operation, the bin emptying operation involving movement of the bin from an initial rest position to an emptying position and then to a final rest position where the bin is released from the loading mechanism, said leading mechanism having means for opening the closure member and means for maintaining the closure member in said opened position when said bin reaches its final rest position and said loading mechanism is disengaged from said bin.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
During a normal waste collection service, an automated loading mechanism is used to empty the contents of a bin into a refuse vehicle. The bin has a closable lid which includes a message on its underside such that the message is displayed when the lid is open. The message indicates that recyclable wastes, such as glass, paper or the like are to be collected in a subsequent collection to the normal waste collection. A lid opening device including a lever arm which operates to automatically open the lid of the bin is employed during an emptying operation so as to display the message. This message indicates to the homeowner that the required recyclable waste can be placed into the bin, and by closing the lid, the collection service is signaled to empty the contents of the bin.
33 Citations
10 Claims
- 1. A refuse vehicle comprising a vehicle body, a retractable arm assembly having one end mounted to the vehicle body, a retractable arm assembly having one end mounted to the vehicle body, a loading mechanism being mounted to the other end of said retractable arm assembly, said retractable arm assembly being adapted to extend away from the vehicle in order for the loading mechanism to directly engage a bin having a closure member movable between open and closed positions, and on retraction of the retractable arm assembly, the loading mechanism being adapted to empty the contents of the bin into a container on the refuse vehicle during a bin emptying operation, the bin emptying operation involving movement of the bin from an initial rest position to an emptying position and then to a final rest position where the bin is released from the loading mechanism, said leading mechanism having means for opening the closure member and means for maintaining the closure member in said opened position when said bin reaches its final rest position and said loading mechanism is disengaged from said bin.
- 9. In a loading mechanism for a refuse vehicle, the loading mechanism during a bin emptying operation moving a bin having a closure member from an initial rest position to an emptying position and then to a final rest position, the improvement comprising closure member opening means provided in conjunction with said loading mechanism to open the closure member to the bin prior to the bin achieving the final rest position, said closure member opening means including a lid opening device adapted to automatically open the lid of the bin, the lid opening device including an arm having a proximal end attachable to the loading mechanism and a free end remote from the loading mechanism, and having a lid engagement means such that when operatively attached to said loading mechanism, said lid opening device can be activated to move said lid engagement means between a lid disengaged position to a lid engaged position whereupon said lid opening device can operate to open the lid of the bin, said lid engagement means including a first class lever pivotally connected adjacent the free end of the arm, said first class lever having a roller adapted to contact a bin lid at one end a connecting rod pivotally connected at the other end, said connecting rod being operable to pivot said first class lever during an emptying operation.
Specification