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Automated loader

  • US 7,559,735 B2
  • Filed: 01/07/2005
  • Issued: 07/14/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2005
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A container handling system mounted on the side of a receptacle suitable for operating in close quarters for accessing, grabbing, lifting, tipping and returning refuse or other containers, comprising:

  • (a) a laterally pivoting lift assembly designed to be fixed to a side of a refuse vehicle charging hopper or other receptacle and having a pair of spaced, generally parallel lift support members, each support member having a fixed upper end pivotally mounted to a fixed top mount member and a lower free portion connected to a lateral adjustment frame assembly so that lateral pivotal adjustment is occasioned by linear travel of said lateral adjustment frame to pivot said lift support members;

    (b) said lateral adjustment frame further comprising a pair of spaced parallel lateral support members connected to said lift support members and to a common cross-member which, in turn, is connected to a fluid cylinder mechanism for moving the lower portions of said lift support members laterally;

    (c) a carriage device carried by and reciprocally operable along said lift support members of said lift assembly;

    (d) a container manipulating assembly carried by said carriage device and further comprising(1) a container grabbing assembly comprising opposed grabbing fingers and an actuator system for closing and opening said grabber fingers to engage and release a container;

    (2) a rotary actuator including a short-armed yoke connected to generally vertically pivot said container grabbing assembly;

    (e) a carriage drive system for operating said carriage device along said lift support members and including a pair of mechanisms, each mechanism including a fixed cylinder rod, a traveling fluid-operated cylinder operable along said rod and an associated fixed chain, one of said mechanisms being mounted along each of said lift support members and configured such that said carriage travels a greater distance than said cylinders; and

    (f) a control system for controlling operation of said container handling system.

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