Gripper system

• US 8,753,062 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2010
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Heil Company (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Curotto-Can Inc. (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: Curotto, John Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): KEENAN, JAMES W
• Application Number:
  US12/688,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20100183410A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,614 Days
• Field of Search: 414/408, 414/555, 414/736, 294/192, 294/198
• US Class Current: 414/408
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/023 Gripper arms for embracing the receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/0279 the discharging means mounted at the front of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/041 Pivoted arms or pivoted carriers

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.

Claims

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, 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.

2. The gripper system of claim 1, further comprising a bumper attached to a side of the frame opposite the fork tube.

3. The gripper system of claim 1, further comprising a connector for connecting the gripper system to a power system of a waste collection vehicle.

4. The gripper system of claim 1, further comprising a connector for connecting the gripper system to a hydraulic system of a waste collection vehicle.

5. The gripper system of claim 1, further comprising a connector for connecting the gripper system to a pneumatic system of a waste collection vehicle.

6. The gripper system of claim 1, wherein the belting is made of rubber.

7. The gripper system of claim 1, wherein the at least two opposite movable arms are attached to each other by a link bar assembly.

8. The gripper system of claim 1, wherein the gripper system is a self powered system.

9. The gripper system of claim 1, wherein the waste bin includes non-containerized waste.

10. The gripper system of claim 1, wherein the frame has a depth that is equal to or less than a space between the fork tube and the commercial waste container when the commercial waste container is engaged by the fork assembly.

11. The gripper system of claim 10, wherein the at least two opposite movable arms are located within the depth of the frame when in the rest position.

12. The gripper system of claim 11, wherein the depth of the frame is in a range from 9.75 inches to 14.75 inches.

13. The gripper system of claim 1, wherein the at least two opposite movable arms are located within a depth of the frame when in the rest position.

14. The gripper system of claim 1, wherein 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.

15. A front loading waste collection vehicle comprising:

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.

16. The front loading waste collection vehicle of claim 15, further comprising:

at least one bumper attached to the fork assembly, the at least one bumper adapted to contact the commercial waste container when loaded on the fork assembly,

wherein the gripper system is positioned behind the at least one bumper on the fork assembly.

17. The front loading waste collection vehicle of claim 15, further comprising:

at least one bumper attached to the fork assembly, the at least one bumper adapted to contact the commercial waste container when loaded on the fork assembly,

wherein the gripper system is positioned to contact the commercial waste container when loaded on the fork assembly.

18. The front loading waste collection vehicle of claim 15, wherein the at least two opposite movable arms powered by a hydraulic system of the vehicle and connected to each other with a link bar assembly are configured to lift 1000 pounds.

19. The front loading waste collection vehicle of claim 15, wherein the frame has a depth that is equal to or less than a space between the fork tube and the commercial waste container when the commercial waste container is engaged by the fork assembly, and

wherein the at least two opposite movable arms are located within the depth of the frame when in the rest position.

20. An automated gripper system comprising:

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.