Automated loader

• US 7,559,735 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2005
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing Inc. (Oshkosh Corporation)
• Original Assignee: McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing Inc. (Oshkosh Corporation)
• Inventors: Pruteanu, Claudiu D., Bice, Randall L., Gillard, Jason M., Meldahl, Brian R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lowe; Michael S
• Application Number:
  US11/030,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20060153667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,649 Days
• Field of Search: 414/409, 414/410, 414/421, 414/425, 414/482, 414/525.1, 414/527, 414/540, 414/541
• US Class Current: 414/409
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/023 Gripper arms for embracing the receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/0266 comprising at least one telescopic arm
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/0276 capable of moving towards or away from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/046 with additional means for assisting the tipping of the receptacle after or during raising
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/08 Platform elevators or hoists with guides or runways for raising or tipping receptacles pivotable guides or runways B65F3/041

Abstract

A container handling mechanism suitable for mounting on the side of a refuse vehicle for loading material from refuse containers is disclosed that includes a lift assembly, having a pair of spaced, generally parallel lift support members, attachable to a refuse vehicle, a carriage device reciprocally operable along the lift support members of the lift assembly, a container grabbing system carried by the carriage device and further including a pair of opposed grabber fingers and an actuator system for closing and opening the grabber fingers to engage and release containers of interest, the container grabbing system being vertically pivotable on a short radius for adjusting the position of and tipping a container. A chain and cylinder drive system operates the carriage device along the lift assembly, and a control system controls operation of the container handling mechanism.

Claims

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.

2. A container handling system as in claim 1, wherein said carriage is carried balanced by and between a pair of members, one attached to each chain of said combined chain and cylinder mechanisms.

3. A container handling system as in claim 2, wherein said pair of mechanisms includes an arrangement wherein:

(a) each said cylinder rod is fixed to one of said lift support members such that when actuated, cylinder moves along a fixed rod; and

(b) each said associated chain being in the form of a loop of chain carried by said cylinder on spaced sprockets, said loop of chain being fixed to said lift support member at one point and to said carriage at another point such that reciprocal movement of said cylinder also causes said associated chain loop to move said carriage relative to said cylinder an additional equivalent distance.

4. A container handling system as in claim 1, wherein said pair of mechanisms includes an arrangement wherein:

(a) each said cylinder rod is fixed to one of said lift support members such that when actuated, cylinder moves along a fixed rod; and

(b) each said associated chain being in the form of a loop of chain carried by said cylinder on spaced sprockets, said loop of chain being fixed to said lift support member at one point and to said carriage at another point such that reciprocal movement of said cylinder also causes said associated chain loop to move said carriage relative to said cylinder an additional equivalent distance.

5. A container handling system as in claim 1, wherein said rotary actuator is a double-ended rotary actuator.

6. A container handling system as in claim 1, wherein said container grabbing assembly includes an enclosed hydraulic actuator system for closing and opening said grabber fingers.

7. A container handling system as in claim 1, wherein said container handling system is fixed to the charging hopper of a side-loading refuse vehicle.