Conveying and processing apparatus for vehicle mounted size reduction equipment

• US 5,215,264 A
• Filed: 01/02/1991
• Issued: 06/01/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lynn C. Lundquist
• Original Assignee: Lynn C. Lundquist
• Inventors: Lynn C. Lundquist
• Primary Examiner(s): Eley, Timothy V.
• Application Number:
  US07/636,594
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 241/97, 241/98, 241/99, 241/37.5, 241/101.7, 241/DIG. 38, 241/186 R, 241/101.2, 241/236, 241/235, 241/285.1, 241/285.2
• US Class Current: 241/37.5
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 21/02 Transportable disintegrating plant
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/12 Conjoint motion of lids, flaps, and shutters on vehicle and on receptacle; Operation of closures on vehicle conjointly with tipping of receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/203 with charging teeth, cutters or the like mounted on an axle or a drum B65F3/202, B65F3/205, B65F3/206 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 241/38 Solid waste disposal

Abstract

This invention pertains to an apparatus which facilitates the curb-side collection of recyclable waste products. It does so by incorporating a size reduction cutting or crushing head into a mobile unit designated primarily for truck mounting. The conveying and processing apparatus further provides a means whereby said recyclable waste products can be conveniently fed into the unit at a location, or multiple locations, convenient to an operator, or multiple operators, during said collection procedure. The apparatus provides the conveying and processing equipment necessary to move said recyclable material from the feed location to a size reduction cutter or crusher head mounted centrally to any such conveying components. Upon completion of the size reduction stage, the unit further provides the means of holding the processed recyclable material prior to its discharge at a collection facility. The invention is concerned with the mounting means of said cutter or crusher head in order to provide a means of rapid installation and removal for either the purpose of maintenance or that of a change of waste material function for the mobile mounted apparatus. Simplicity of general operation and maintenance of the apparatus are also concerns addressed by this invention.

Claims

1. A vehicle mounted conveying assembly for recycling waste products comprising:

a powered size reduction mechanism, including a removable size reduction head, mounting rails fixed to the vehicle, for said size reduction head which allow horizontal removal of said size reduction head from the assembly;

a powered conveyor mechanism having a conveyor housing, including an infeed area, a discharge area located adjacent and above said size reduction head, and a conveyor belt having conveyor flights spaced therealong for conveying waste products from said infeed area to said discharge area; and

drive means, including at least one motor, for powering said size reduction mechanism and said conveyor mechanism; and

a personal safety system including a crash bar and door assembly and safety shut down switch, wherein said crash bar and door assembly are constructed and arranged to activate said safety shut down switches when horizontal pressure is applied to said crash bar or to said door, and which is further constructed and arranged to activate said safety shut down switches when vertical pressure is applied to said door when said door is in an open condition;

wherein said conveyor housing is constructed and arranged to be vertically removed from the assembly, independent of said size reduction means.

2. The vehicle mounted conveying assembly of claim 1 further including a rail mounting area for said size reduction head.

3. The vehicle mounted conveying assembly of claim 1 further including a slidably disengaging gear drive between said size reduction head and said drive means.

4. The vehicle mounted conveying assembly of claim 1 further including clamping means to locate said size reduction head in a working position.

5. The vehicle mounted conveying assembly of claim 4 wherein said mounting rails and said clamping means allows interchange of a multiplicity of size reduction heads.

6. The vehicle mounted conveying assembly of claim 1 wherein said infeed area is constructed and arranged to be readily accessible to an operator from a standing position beside the vehicle mounted conveying assembly.

7. The vehicle mounted conveying assembly of claim 1 wherein said conveyor housing further includes a return path for unprocessed material so that said material inadvertently bypassing said size reduction head is returned to said infeed area.

8. The vehicle mounted conveying assembly of claim 1 further including a material holding bin, and a dispersal system for dispersing processed material in said material holding bin.

9. The vehicle mounted conveying assembly of claim 1 which further includes a drive train having gears therein, including a drive module having a hydraulic motor and hydraulic controls which are attached to the conveying assembly as a unit.

10. The vehicle mounted conveying assembly of claim 9 which includes a sliding mount and shim plates and wherein said drive module is positioned relative to any single gear in the drive train by slidably positioning said module in one plane of adjustment and lifting said module with said shim plates for positioning in a second plane of adjustment.

11. The vehicle mounted conveying assembly of claim 1 further including an undershot conveying belt with flights communicating with a flight chute for the purpose of transporting material in a steep incline.

12. The vehicle mounted conveying assembly of claim 11 wherein said conveyor flights have a substantially rigid lower member and a flexible upper member.

13. The vehicle mounted conveying assembly of claim 1 further including a conveying belt with flights communicating with a stationary belt for the purpose of transporting material in a steep incline.

14. The vehicle mounted conveying assembly of claim 13 wherein said stationary belt is tensioned by spring biased tensioning paddles.