Gripper system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An automated gripper system comprising:
- a mounting plate configured to be retrofitted via a permanent attachment to a fork tube that connects two forks of a fork assembly, the two forks for engaging a commercial waste container;
a frame attached to the mounting plate; and
at least two opposite movable arms attached to the frame, the at least two opposite movable arms move toward each other upon actuation, each of the at least two opposite movable arms comprising belting attached to the movable arms to securely hold a waste bin,wherein when the mounting plate is retrofitted to the fork tube, the at least two opposite movable arms are positioned in a rest position until actuation of the movable arms to allow the fork assembly to selectively engage the commercial waste container and the waste bin without requiring any repositioning of the at least two opposite movable arms into the rest position, andwherein when the mounting plate is retrofitted to the fork tube, the at least two opposite movable arms are configured to engage and lift the waste bin when the waste bin is both positioned anywhere between the two forks and the waste bin is within a distance of at most 24 inches from the at least two opposite movable arms.
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Abstract
The disclosure describes a novel approach of utilizing a front loading waste collection vehicle. A gripper system is added to the fork tube of a front loading waste collection vehicle. The gripper system allows a front loader to lift and dump waste bins into the truck'"'"'s hopper for the collection of trash, recyclables and/or other materials.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An automated gripper system comprising:
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a mounting plate configured to be retrofitted via a permanent attachment to a fork tube that connects two forks of a fork assembly, the two forks for engaging a commercial waste container; a frame attached to the mounting plate; and at least two opposite movable arms attached to the frame, the at least two opposite movable arms move toward each other upon actuation, each of the at least two opposite movable arms comprising belting attached to the movable arms to securely hold a waste bin, wherein when the mounting plate is retrofitted to the fork tube, the at least two opposite movable arms are positioned in a rest position until actuation of the movable arms to allow the fork assembly to selectively engage the commercial waste container and the waste bin without requiring any repositioning of the at least two opposite movable arms into the rest position, and wherein when the mounting plate is retrofitted to the fork tube, the at least two opposite movable arms are configured to engage and lift the waste bin when the waste bin is both positioned anywhere between the two forks and the waste bin is within a distance of at most 24 inches from the at least two opposite movable arms. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A front loading waste collection vehicle comprising:
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a hopper attached to a vehicle; a fork assembly attached to the vehicle, the fork assembly including a fork tube connecting two forks for engaging a commercial waste container; and an automated gripper system retrofitted to the fork assembly, the gripper system comprising; a mounting plate attached to the fork tube of the fork assembly wherein the mounting plate is retrofitted to the fork tube of the fork assembly; a frame attached to the mounting plate; and at least two opposite movable arms attached to the frame, the movable arms move toward each other upon actuation, each of the at least two opposite movable arms comprising belting attached to the movable arms to securely hold a waste bin, wherein the at least two opposite movable arms are positioned in a rest position until actuation of the movable arms to allow the fork assembly to selectively engage the commercial waste container and the waste bin without requiring any repositioning of the least two opposite movable arms into the rest position, and wherein the at least two opposite movable arms are configured to engage and lift the waste bin when the waste bin is both positioned anywhere between the two forks and the waste bin is within a distance of at most 24 inches from the at least two opposite movable arms. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An automated gripper system comprising:
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a mounting plate configured to be retrofitted via a permanent attachment to a fork tube, the fork tube connects two forks of a fork assembly for engaging a commercial waste container; a frame attached to the mounting plate; and at least two opposite movable arms attached to the frame, the movable arms move toward each other upon actuation, each of the at least two opposite movable arms comprising belting to securely hold a waste bin, the at least two opposite movable arms are located within a depth of the frame when in a rest position, and the at least two opposite movable arms rotate from the rest position about an axis in a direction towards each other and away from the fork tube, wherein when the mounting plate is retrofitted to the fork tube, the at least two opposite movable arms are structured to and positioned in the rest position until actuation of the at least two opposite movable arms to allow the fork assembly to selectively engage the commercial waste container and the waste bin without requiring any repositioning of the at least two opposite movable arms into the rest position, and wherein when the mounting plate is retrofitted to the fork tube, the at least two opposite movable arms are structured and positioned to engage and lift the waste bin in any position between the two forks and in any orientation when the waste bin is within a distance of at most 24 inches from the at least two opposite movable arms.
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Specification