Clamshell basket loader
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for grabbing, lifting, inverting and unloading an object of interest into a selected material receiving compartment of a collection vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a mechanized swivel mount fixed with reference to a material receiving location, and adapted for angular displacement in a first plane;
(b) a two element articulated, mechanized arm attached at one end to said swivel mount including a pair of segments disposed to pivot in a second plane which intersects said first plane, said articulated arm being operable between stowed, extended, retracted, lift and inverting positions;
(c) said pair of segments including an inner arm segment and an outer arm segment wherein said inner arm segment has a fixed end fixed to said swivel mount mechanism and includes a mounting pivot joint for pivoting, said inner arm segment including a coordinating linkage means and a linking pivot joint linking said inner arm segment to one end of said outer arm segment, said outer arm segment having a free end;
(d) a support member for carrying a converging object grabbing device pivotally connected by a pivot joint to the free end of said outer arm segment;
(e) a converging object grabbing device comprising a clamshell system having a pair of opposed, mechanized, cooperating scoops that have open faces and inner portions that are pivotally connected to said support member for angular displacement, said scoops being aligned in spaced relation, and disposed to converge and diverge to enclose and release objects of interest; and
(f) a linear operating device connected between said mechanized arm and said object grabbing device offset from said pivot joint for pivoting said object grabbing device in said second plane, including said pair of opposing, mechanized cooperating scoops, in relation to said free end of said arm so that the open faces are directed outward when the apparatus is in a retracted, stowed position, the open ends face downward when grabbing an object of interest, and are directed backward when said articulated arm is in a dumping position such that the inner portions of said scoops enclose an upper portion of the object of interest.
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Abstract
A loading device mounted to a collection vehicle is disclosed. The loading device may comprise several embodiments for scooping a soft-sided object through either a horizontal or vertical plane. The loading device is attached to a mechanized arm for compound angular displacement and operable between a stowed, extended, lift, and dump positions. A swivel mount interconnects the mechanized arm to the collection vehicle and further compounds the angular displacement and operating positions of the loading device.
95 Citations
6 Claims
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1. An apparatus for grabbing, lifting, inverting and unloading an object of interest into a selected material receiving compartment of a collection vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a mechanized swivel mount fixed with reference to a material receiving location, and adapted for angular displacement in a first plane; (b) a two element articulated, mechanized arm attached at one end to said swivel mount including a pair of segments disposed to pivot in a second plane which intersects said first plane, said articulated arm being operable between stowed, extended, retracted, lift and inverting positions; (c) said pair of segments including an inner arm segment and an outer arm segment wherein said inner arm segment has a fixed end fixed to said swivel mount mechanism and includes a mounting pivot joint for pivoting, said inner arm segment including a coordinating linkage means and a linking pivot joint linking said inner arm segment to one end of said outer arm segment, said outer arm segment having a free end; (d) a support member for carrying a converging object grabbing device pivotally connected by a pivot joint to the free end of said outer arm segment; (e) a converging object grabbing device comprising a clamshell system having a pair of opposed, mechanized, cooperating scoops that have open faces and inner portions that are pivotally connected to said support member for angular displacement, said scoops being aligned in spaced relation, and disposed to converge and diverge to enclose and release objects of interest; and (f) a linear operating device connected between said mechanized arm and said object grabbing device offset from said pivot joint for pivoting said object grabbing device in said second plane, including said pair of opposing, mechanized cooperating scoops, in relation to said free end of said arm so that the open faces are directed outward when the apparatus is in a retracted, stowed position, the open ends face downward when grabbing an object of interest, and are directed backward when said articulated arm is in a dumping position such that the inner portions of said scoops enclose an upper portion of the object of interest. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeMcNeilus Truck and Manufacturing Inc. (Oshkosh Corporation)
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Original AssigneeMcNeilus Truck and Manufacturing Inc. (Oshkosh Corporation)
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InventorsChristenson, Ronald E.
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Primary Examiner(s)Keenan, James W.
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Application NumberUS09/063,618Time in Patent Office441 DaysField of Search414/406, 414/408, 414/487, 414/547, 414/549, 414/550, 414/555, 414/624, 414/695.5, 414/732, 414/739, 294/68.23, 294/68.26US Class Current414/408CPC Class CodesB65F 2003/023 Gripper arms for embracing ...B65F 2003/0273 capable of rotating around ...B65F 3/046 with additional means for a...B65F 3/048 Linkages B65F3/041 takes pr...
